Green Rocks: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

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An object or technology with powers so diverse and magical that it can cause almost any effect as needed by the plot.

 

If an actual substance, a common variation is to have it come [[Color Coded for Your Convenience|in different colors]], each with a varying set of effects. This occasionally ties in with [[Elemental Rock-Paper-Scissors]], with each color variation attuned to a different classical element.

 

 

If the effects are controlled by a character instead of being random, that's a [[Green Lantern Ring]]. When it is exotic, difficult to find and you must have it to power the [[Applied Phlebotinum]], it is [[Unobtainium]]. When the Green Rocks are crystals that double as a [[Gotta Catch Them All]], it is a [[Mineral MacGuffin]]. If '''Green Rocks''' are animal or vegetable rather than mineral, they might be domesticated as a [[Multipurpose Monocultured Crop]].

 

{{examples}}

== Anime ==

* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam 00]]'' continues this trend with the mysterious GN Particles, which can jam communications, be used as a propellant, be used as protective shielding, and is even the basis for the Gundams' energy swords. GN Particles have the added bonus of coming in two distinct "flavours"; the "Pure", blue coloured particles used by the protagonists, and "Impure", red particles used by the villains in their mass-manufactured drives. Incidently, the red particles seem to impede cell functions and healing in humans, while the blue version ''improves'' it.

* Devil Fruit, from the anime ''[[One Piece]]''. Eating one can give you just about any superpower imaginable, the type depending on the fruit you ate. Powers range from animal transformation to elemental control to coming back from the dead as a living skeleton. What really pushes it into Green Rocks territory is the ability for inanimate objects to "eat" the animal-type fruits, becoming [[Empathic Weapon]]s in the process. But, unlike some Green Rocks, the devil's fruits have a strong stigma. The user is unable to swim, and loses all power upon significant contact with seawater. In addition, the result of eating the fruit is generally unknown. You could control lightning, or you could gain a completely (or seemingly) useless ability. There is no antidote, and eating a second fruit is thought to cause instant death.

** Devil Fruit Powers seems to encompass any sort of power you can think of, and more. However this means that it also encompasses the sucky ones. Namely there's a fruit that allows you to change into each type of animal (ranging from specific species to a general family). However, this means that if an animal ate a fruit that turned them into their own species, it effectively robbed them the ability to swim, while giving them nothing. Again, there's no way of knowing this beforehand. Word of God stated that if a Human ate the Human fruit, they would simply be "enlightened", but didnt elaborate on what this meant or if animals had the same effect. Good thing only one fruit of each kind exists, and the human one was eaten by a deer.

== Comic Books ==

* In the original ''[[Superman]]'' comics, Red Kryptonite had a totally random yet temporary effect.

* In ''[[The Incredible Hulk]]'' comic books, gamma radiation often has a completely random effect on the individual exposed, usually something to do with their psychological makeup, although this effect is often completely arbitrary.

** This is the way they explained gamma radiation turning Hulk into a id-like monster, She-Hulk into a fun-loving Amazon, Doc Samson into a musclebound superhero type, and the Abomination into [[Meaningful Name|pretty much what you'd expect]].

 

 

* Tiberium from the ''[[Command & Conquer]]'' series is the most valuable substance in the world (leading to the GDI and Nod fighting over it) and will either kill or mutate anybody who steps in it. It also corrupts the land so much in the sequels that by the second game's expansion, the Earth's air and atmosphere is one year or so away from become totally toxic to humans. To top it off, it's part of an alien invasion plan. It's green, of course. There's also a blue variety, which has aged considerably, and thus is much more valuable, but tends to... ''react'', when people start slinging explosives around. There's supposedly red too...

** To be fair, Tiberium (at least the CNC 1-2 variety) contains valuable metals in high yields, conveniently sent to the surface [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6906MLBkIsM in packed crystals]. In CNC3, its more unappealing properties come through radiation. Either way, its extremely toxic, and in Tib Dawn/Sun's case, mutagenic.

* Literal green rocks appear in ''Super [[Karoshi]]'', and as an obvious [[Expy]] of [[Superman|Kryptonite]], they exist solely to take you out of your [[Super Mode]]. Since the object of every Karoshi game is to die, this is a good thing for you.

* Prismere in ''[[Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning]]''. This strange crystal starts out blue but turns an eerie blood red after absorbing magical power. The power provided by Prismere is enough to alter the Fate of living beings—something that is normally impossible. The main villains of the game the Tuatha Deohn use Prismere in ''everything''—their armor, their weapons, and even their shrines. This is bad, since fully charged Prismere also drives magical beings like the Fae completely insane. Mortals on the other hand can use Prismere equipment with no ill side effects.

 

== Webcomics ==

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Applied Phlebotinum]]

[[Category:Magic Items Index]]