Hello friends and welcome back to Trope-Day, where we spend our Tuesdays discussing random tropes found in the fantasy genre of literature, with special guest appearances by film, anime, and video games as well.
Last week we explored a Greek mythology inspired plot trope. This week we are taking a look at a trope that I personally became familiar with from playing video games.
Glass Cannon
Anyone who has played a wizard in a tabletop RPG is keenly aware of just how fragile spellcasters can be. But this trope is not limited to just RPGs. You can find Glass Cannons littered throughout all kinds of fantasy related media.
Glass Cannons tend to be extremely powerful, usually spellcasters or other kinds of ranged combatants, that don’t fare well when enemies get up close and personal. In video games, this is to make sure that there is balance between the different types of classes and characters. Likewise, when it comes to literature, no one wants to read about all-powerful characters or antagonists that both pack a heavy punch and are impossible to bring down.
Examples of Glass Cannons can be found in television, like the original Romulan Birds of Prey from the classic Star Trek series, film, like Scarlet Witch from the MCU movies, and, of course, video games like… well, pretty much any wizard or long range sniper kind of character. Even Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games might be considered a Glass Cannon. If a character is deadly from a distance, yet will fold like a wet noodle when in melee, they probably fall under this trope.
How would you subvert the Glass Cannon trope? Or would you play it straight? Let me know in the comments. Until next time friends, may your writing be plenty and your struggles be few.
Kerry Share
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