Shouting the names of abilities.

Characters shouting ability names in combat.


  • Total voters
    62

TheMonotonePuppet

A Puppet Colored by Medication
Joined
Apr 24, 2023
Messages
2,839
Points
153
Seems to be a pretty common troupe. Personally I find it kind of corny. From personal experience I don’t think you’d have enough time to think about something like that while fighting.

See it in a bunch of stories, so curious about what you think.
I like the corniness of it, particularly when it is a joke or a young kid doing it. And the rare, ultra-hype (that allow for a buildup moments), it can be super badass.
I only dislike it when they use the names as a trigger for the release of magic, but give the main character silent casting to make them more cool. Or make the reverse. They are the only one in the world to trigger magic via name.
 

TheMonotonePuppet

A Puppet Colored by Medication
Joined
Apr 24, 2023
Messages
2,839
Points
153
MC: Mystletainn Kiiiiick!!!
*Chansaw noises intensifies*
Enemies: THATS NOT A FUCKING KICK!! *gurgle as their whole bodies being split open by a chainsaw*


Personally I think it's fun to add them. Adds more flavor in the battle. Imagine if the moves they used is [The Goal of All Life Is Death], or [Arrival of Dragon Snake With Dust Fog And Explosive Soul Wind] or [Shocking Departure of Year Dream Wave and Dang Hun Sound]. The more mouthful the names, the cooler they are. I have yet to see a move with a paragraph length, but I hope to see it one day.



In Jujutsu Kaisen's case, the logic is that if your enemies know how their moves work, the more potent it is. You can see characters explaining their moves towards their enemies, which is a pretty cool trick since you can't easily counter curses.
I friggin' LOVE THIS! Super misleading names are hilarious!
 

Sola-sama

Corpo
Joined
Aug 14, 2019
Messages
781
Points
133
This is turning into a sex thread real fast.
It's because of @CupcakeNinja 's [Sexual Harassment Breathing: 47th Style, Molesting Shitpost]. Everytime he posted something on the forums, the words he typed turned into a sexual harassment case, contaminating every thread into sex.
 

AnonUnlimited

????????? (???/???)
Joined
Apr 18, 2022
Messages
4,573
Points
183
It really depends on the language. WHen I watch anime, and it's in japanese it doesn't feel weird. It feels weird in english though.

It doesn't feel weird in Jackie Chan Adventures when Hak Fu does it however.
 

RepresentingPride

I'm looking for Disney Sleds
Joined
Jul 24, 2023
Messages
1,514
Points
153
It really depends on the language. WHen I watch anime, and it's in japanese it doesn't feel weird. It feels weird in english though.

It doesn't feel weird in Jackie Chan Adventures when Hak Fu does it however.
It's mostly due to the fact that another language can sound better cause you didn't understand it.

To give an exemple, I tried to translate (with ai help, so I don't think it's perfect) an attack that sound awfull in my language and are passable in english (for me) in japanese, and since I didn't understand at all japanese, it sound better than the english version.

The attack was : Collapsing Barrier, which become something like, Houkai Shuushuku Kekkai in japanese.
 

FleecedSheep

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2023
Messages
52
Points
58
In essence, it's both lazy and useful if done right. I mean, when someone says "Fireball!" You pretty much have an idea of what they mean already, right? No need for lengthy explanations. Makes it easier for both writer and reader.
 

SigmArc

Active member
Joined
May 19, 2021
Messages
1
Points
43
Is there need for it? is it for flavoring? is it bring childish elements to favor the young readers, to target the action and create a buzz?

Like a Catchphrases, in advertisement
 

TheEldritchGod

A Cloud Of Pure Spite And Eyes
Joined
Dec 15, 2021
Messages
3,445
Points
183
Its a trope thing.

I am working on a LitRPG. He shouts the name of the spells as he casts them. Why? To signify that he has to state verbal components to trigger the spell. I place it in [] To signify it is in an alien language, so he isn't saying [Revivify] but a bunch of tonal grunts. If he has silent casting, it instead becomes a word he thinks.

That doesn't work for someone in HKN where elementalism is the name of the game, and it isn't triggered spell effects.
 

BlackKnightX

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 8, 2021
Messages
1,730
Points
153
If you want dramatic, go for it. If you want gritty, don't do it. It does add some oomph to the attack in mediums like anime, manga, mahwa, light novel, etc. These mediums are exaggerated to begin with. Some find it cringe, but that exaggeration is why these mediums are so good; it reaches your emotions better.

But, say, in live action, shouting attack names won't work. First of all, why waste time on something like that in a fight that's probably so damn fast? (Sometimes way faster that you can even utter a single word.) Second, why give away your next move?

To expand on the second point, you might be able to use it as a strategy to trick your opponent by shouting the wrong name and then attack with another move. Then again, there's still point number one you have to worry about.
 

MatchaChocolate69

? Your Valentine ?
Joined
Sep 25, 2023
Messages
859
Points
133
I love this trope.
It's very cringe, sometimes unbearably cringe, and quite cheesy, but the level of awkwardness goes full circle and ends up at the opposite pole, becoming cool, especially when techniques or spells are activated with a chant like in Fate o in Bastard!!
 
Top