Calling out named attacks?

[ThisAdamGuy]

You know that thing they do in animes, where they'll yell the name of their attacks? How do you feel about that in books? For example, if a character had a special move called Binding Blade that immobilizes their opponent for a few seconds, would it annoy you if they yelled "Binding Blade!" every time they used it? Let's say they use that attack once per fight, twice at the most, so it comes up a lot but it's not like they're yelling "Binding Blade!" twenty times per page. They have other named attacks too, but mostly they just use generic, unnamed moves.

 

[Prince_Azmiran_Myrian]

Serious Punch.

 

[SirContro]

Serious Table Flip

 

[Prince_Azmiran_Myrian]

My gut instinct is to call it silly, but after thinking on it for a moment I see it as a concise description of what the character is doing.

You could either describe the move, make the combat generic, or have a fancy stylish sounding phrase that conveys the whole action.

 

[RainyLiquid]

I feel like it just sort of depends on the attack and theme of the story. Like if it's one character doing it constantly, or if it's the whole verse kind of thing. One thing I usually like is magic. In a lot of media spells require verbal words to cast. By having something like that you make it required to say the name of something to use it, otherwise it simply won't work, and that can even come up in combat. A character tries to say a spell but then someone covers their mouth or the area is trapped in silence making it impossible, and now the spell just doesn't work. I think in cases like that where there is actually a reason to say the name makes it make more sense. It could also be something like saying the name powers it up vs just firing it out willy-nilly. That's just me though.

 

[BearlyAlive]

Can't write cultevasion novels without having the characters scream overly long attacks that would make even a hipster barrista look twice.

 

[Dec]

You know that thing they do in animes, where they'll yell the name of their attacks?

Yes, and it always annoys me.
Unless this is a comedy that points out bad tropes and makes fun of them, then it's okay

How do you feel about that in books?

I hate those. Ruins the fun for me.
Unless this is a comedy that points out bad tropes and makes fun of them, then it's okay

For example, if a character had a special move called Binding Blade that immobilizes their opponent for a few seconds, would it annoy you if they yelled "Binding Blade!" every time they used it?

Yes, it would. Very. And I would hope that he gets hit with a brick to his head every time he does so.
Unless this is a comedy that points out bad tropes and makes fun of them, then it's okay

 

[Fairemont]

Your character spent a lot of time thinking up the perfectly cool name for their techniques. They sure as hell gonna make sure everyone knows them!
Can also be psychological.

"FALCON PAWNCH!"

*Kicks them in the groin instead*

Throw them off. Keep them guessing.

Besides, if you start charging up your attack and call it the Heaven Splitting Demon Slaying God Cleave of the Nine Realms Hero then people gonna question whether they wanna throw hands with that.

 

[NotaNuffian]

You know that thing they do in animes, where they'll yell the name of their attacks? How do you feel about that in books? For example, if a character had a special move called Binding Blade that immobilizes their opponent for a few seconds, would it annoy you if they yelled "Binding Blade!" every time they used it? Let's say they use that attack once per fight, twice at the most, so it comes up a lot but it's not like they're yelling "Binding Blade!" twenty times per page. They have other named attacks too, but mostly they just use generic, unnamed moves.

Yes.

Unless you make it so that shouting has meaning, then by all means.

Also, the latest CNs mitigate this problem by MC not shouting but rather, just the author stating the move's name so that the readers know the move is upcoming.

This can be done in printed works (ie novels and comic) but not animated or live action because then it is just a freeze frame with the subtitle of the move's name.

 

[Fairemont]

One other thing that can be useful as the writer is the name of a technique can replace a lot of descriptive elements. If you've got a complicated technique, but the readers know what it is, you can just throw the name out there. I do that with my martial arts scenes.

 

[ThisAdamGuy]

Also, the latest CNs mitigate this problem by MC not shouting but rather, just the author stating the move's name so that the readers know the move is upcoming.

Sure, but to me at least "And then he used Binding Blade" sounds a lot clunkier than just having the character say "Binding Blade!" and moving on since, by that point, the reader should already know what Binding Blade does.

 

[JayMark]

If the attack needs an incantation to cast or saying the name of an attack is a way to power it with mana then I'm ussually okay with it. That's how I internally reconciled the seeming silliness and became okay with it. It does annoy me a tad hearing the same attack name over and over, but not like it's some unforgivable sin either.

Giving normal physical attacks without special / magical abilities names annoys me more. It would be like having a boxer who calls out the names of all punches before throwing them but they are just normal techniques that every other boxer uses.

 

[NotaNuffian]

Sure, but to me at least "And then he used Binding Blade" sounds a lot clunkier than just having the character say "Binding Blade!" and moving on since, by that point, the reader should already know what Binding Blade does.

Nah, it is less of "and then he use Blinding Blade" and more like below.

"MC leaps forward.

Blinding Blade!

*insert the effects it had on target*"

So author cheaped out on the speech bubble.

Instead of MC yelling "Blinding Blade!"

The author just wrote Blinding Blade and got over it.

Less on MC shouting on stage and more on author tapping on fourth wall.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

This is something that sometimes "My Vampire System" does well and sometimes it does very tediously.
About 1/3 of the time, the character names his move - Shadow Step! Blood Swipe! Shadow Void! and it's kind of cool the first time or two it comes up, but then it's just kind of distracting.
However, when the narrator mentions "then he performed a Shadow Step and struck his foe from behind with a Blood Swipe" that does not feel quite as ... blatant. It lets the reader know what happened without saying "He teleported to a point five feet behind his opponent and used his blood as a ranged weapon in its weakest attack form." or something equally convoluted.
So I say "use as a spice - use it for flavoring but don't let it overpower every other seasoning"

 

[FanAttic]

I hayed it. How do people get snared by the obvious? You need to shut your trap to catch your enemies unawares.

 

[Valmond]

Good way to get yourself unalive.
Or at least, for the love of god. If you are gonna do that, make sure they can’t escape first.
—————
I mean, here is the sensible way to do it. You remember Valkyrie Profile?

Yeah, the name is called out after the enemy is bound by spears. Trapped by its binding force, and while the spear is coming straight at them.

You ain’t getting outta that one.

 

[ZanderDander]

There's a certain cheesiness that I adore with yelling out special attacks and spells. I prefer when there is a reason to do it in universe and isn't just because, though. Like there being a somatic requirement for magic, strengthening the effect, or it being the way to activate abilities.

As for frequency, just save it for the most impactful moments. It's basically catchphrases for action. Don't overuse it and people will enjoy it.

 

[VertisGuguChalimoth]

When Vertis was creating the spell list, this was one of the things that came to mind.

Luckily Vertis found a reason for them to say their "named attacks" but it's gonna need some work around.

 

[Rezcore]

Time to break you all. Knights did that in tournaments

 

[naosu]

POW* Smash! "Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-dah Batman!!"

Just kidding.

So... I like doing sounds for bodies being mutilated. It seems like the right thing to do. Shh-pluck... Sh-platt...

Any good zombie RPG has to have a shh-pluck...