Cool and Common Sense
We can have Both!
Images from Raiders of the Lost Ark included under fair use for purposes of education and commentary.
Fantasy and adventure stories should have their epic moments. Immersive stories find a way to pair cool and common sense.
If you’re watching a movie or TV show and the following things happened without explanation, what would you think?
A woman walks outside in a downpour but doesn’t get wet. In the next scene at the store, all her credit cards are declined yet moments later she is carrying several bags to her SUV.
Or, a sports car races along a dangerous, winding mountain road to evade a pursuing truck. Around one bend, the car is shown having a busted mirror and scraped front fender. When the car rounds the next bend, it is in pristine condition.
Would you wonder what’s happening? Would these scenes break immersion for you?
As storytellers — how do we take out the need for mental gymnastics or hand waving to get all the pieces to fit?
Once you have a scene developed, look for and pull at the loose threads.
This famous scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark is a classic example. Characters should use resources available to them, not conveniently forget for the sake of a first draft cool idea. I think the scene is remembered for its direct, practical resolution and Indy’s incredulous look, as if there could ever be any other result.
Simple. Effective. Memorable.
Dune is an iconic story, and much is made of the contrast between incredibly advanced intergalactic technology and the prominence of swords, knives, and daggers in combat.
I can see where individual duels would rely upon positioning, grappling, and very deliberate movements to pass the personal protective shields, but this tactic in larger combat is puzzling, in particular, for galactic powers with enormous resources.
The key point here is don’t lose sight of the arms race within your own story. As we craft our stories, in addition to writing the hero’s viewpoint, look at the situation from other perspectives. How would you try to foil your own plans? Or, have some friends or early-version readers play the part of the opposition.
I think this kind of thought experiment provides for a richer and more durable setting — and greater immersion for the reader or viewer.
There is a climactic scene in one of the Dune movies where the armies charge one another in disorganized rushes akin to ancient tribes.
Much is stated about the ineffectiveness of lasers or projectile weapons against the personal shields, and therefore, blades or other piercing weapons are used.
The shields also are described as having the ability to be modulated, even to the point of forming a complete barrier around an individual to where air flow could be cut off. A shield can be adjusted to allow slower-moving things (described as permitting movements of a certain number of centimeters per second) — air, for example — but would stop projectiles or fast-moving weapon strikes.
In thinking about foiling this individual shield + sword wielder tactic, I would think consolidated pike formations could have their place, especially in defending strongholds. Macedonian phalanx or Spanish tercios reborn. Flamethrowers or chemical weapons could have their place as well.
Since the shield allows for ambient air, would a strong, sustained gust of wind essentially suffocate someone wearing a shield since the air is flowing faster than the permitted intake parameters? Even a giant fan may do the trick.
How about a shield around a shield? If shields can be tuned to form an impermeable barrier, how about a drone that throws a shield around a group of fighters? Now, this larger shield is actually a net.
The comments about Dune are based on observations from the recent movies and knowledge of the general canon. If you’re aware of examples from the books that explore the tactics and countertactics further, please leave a comment.
One certainly can enjoy a story as presented, but in considering our own immersive settings, spend some time to test and strategize against those initial ideas. Running these “what if” experiments can lead to even better results and a greater understanding of the setting you’re creating — no matter the direction you choose to take it.
What do you think? What scenes from fantasy or adventure stories resonate most with you, offering insights which informed your own worldbuilding?