Rule of Cool or extensive explanations

[Gurkhal]

So I have a question.

Say, as an example, that I want to include heraldry, as roughly used in Western Europe during the High Middle Ages, in a setting which is distinctly not Western Europe in the High Middle Ages and otherwise tries to cleave closely to historical realities. How extensively would you feel the author's explanation for this has to be to make sense and keep the disbelief going?

Two examples below.

Say that I want to have essentially Vikings but them to have a system of clan/family symbols and colors to identify themselves on their shields, banners, jewelry, clothing etc.?

Or have a nation inspired by one from Antiquity, say the Samnites or Etruscans, which would use locality-based symbols and colors on their shields but the nobles families would have their own symbols and color combinations on their shields and the shields of their direct dependents.

In neither case would there be the kind of social and cultural surroundings that gave rise to heraldry in the real world but it would boil down to: author likes heraldry and thinks it would be useful and cool in the story thus its included.

Would you, as a reader, think that Rule of Cool is sufficient or would you want the author to be able to explain why this element is present in a setting/story that otherwise cleaves very close to the historical realities of the cultures being used for inspiration?

 

[Ban]

I find the concept of heraldry generic enough that it would not stick out to me, as long as there are aristocrats (or other elites) to bear the heraldry. The notion of creating such icons to represent a lineage seems a common sense one, and I see no reason why it could not emerge through a differing path. That is, unless you were to use heraldic imagery that is distinctly real-world European. If all the emperors have eagles, all the kings have lions and crosses are emblazoned throughout, I'd consider it a bit derivative. Even then, I doubt it would elicit more than a raised brow from me even then. It is a minor matter.

 

[Mad Swede]

The idea of using symbols and colours to identify clans, individuals or states is not exclusively European and it is much earlier than Middle Ages. The oldest mention of what we would now call heraldic symbols that I have seen is in Aeschylus' play Septem contra Thebas, written in 467BC. Other examples would be the Mon or Mondokoro used in Japan, and the Tamghas used as emblems by the Eurasian nomads to identify a particular tribe, clan or family.

So yes, you could use some form of heraldry in your stories, even in a non-European context. It could be a rule of cool, but it would also be believable (at least for those who know something about heraldry as a whole).

Oh, and one other thing. The various Nordic clans did indeed use colours to identify themselves, usually on their cloaks and sometimes on their shields. These could be single colours or they could be combinations, the most common colours being red, yellow, blue and black. They also often had some form of symbol on their shields, and these are first recorded in documents during the 1200s. Also used on shields were the metal colours silver and gold, and sometimes green and more rarely purple.

 

[pmmg]

I am not sure its the rule of cool, but having colors to differentiate fleets and armies of different nations should not seem unusual. If it was that they used historical emblems, all the better. It would seem a natural thing to draw upon in the midst of a war with many many factions fighting in them.

One things that I would mention though, is identity to which band a clan may go to. If one empire uses white and opponent uses red, there might be some deference to show you are on the white team first, against the red team, and changing those colors mid-battle might have some significance.

There would probably be some colors that could be raised for defeat or for aid.

 

[skip.knox]

I agree with the others. Go with it. It's not ahistorical at all.

 

[Gurkhal]

Thank you for your input, guys. I shall proceed with this project.

 

[JBCrowson]

I am not sure its the rule of cool, but having colors to differentiate fleets and armies of different nations should not seem unusual. If it was that they used historical emblems, all the better. It would seem a natural thing to draw upon in the midst of a war with many many factions fighting in them.

One things that I would mention though, is identity to which band a clan may go to. If one empire uses white and opponent uses red, there might be some deference to show you are on the white team first, against the red team, and changing those colors mid-battle might have some significance.

There would probably be some colors that could be raised for defeat or for aid.

If your battle-wear changes from white to red mid battle, you're probably not going to see who wins

 

[A. E. Lowan]

Writing Urban Fantasy, we lean pretty hard on the Rule of Cool. Not because I'm lazy - though I am, it is known - but because in the middle of a desperate chase down the highway, it really messes with the pacing to go into a discussion about the metaphysics of lobbing spell fire at high end sports cars.

 

[pmmg]

I'd like to submit next to the rule of cool, an addendum, which I will call the Holdo Maneuver, which is when something looks cool, and seems like it might be covered by the rule of cool, but really its not cool and it ruins something special to have it. Which is to say...if you are going to go with rule of cool, make sure its an area where its actually going to be seen as cool.

Holdo Maneuver...killing 7 Star Destroyers with a single jump to lightspeed.

 

[pmmg]

I should have mentioned, but my time to edit has run out, but the Holdo Maneuver, being and example of the Rule of Cool gone wrong, is really a reminder that this great craft of creating stories people want to read is an art. Sometimes Rule of Cool works splendidly, and is a great fit for your story and sometimes, its not. Its up to us, the artist, to know when that is and execute well.

 

[A. E. Lowan]

Okay, this is what I'm talking about. The Rule of Cool is highly dependent on pacing to pull off, so this is what it looks like on the page. Bit long, but it's fast.

From Ties of Blood and Bone: The Second Book of Binding...

~~~

Instinct took over and Winter let Alerich pull her along, running beside him toward the big patron parking lot. Footsteps sounded against the cobblestones of Pacifica Street behind them and echoed off the brick buildings, Magnus Ashimar in hot pursuit. Only the occasional human pedestrian kept them from casting spells at each other, for which Winter was grateful. The Servants of the Eldest would not look favorably on public displays of magic.

But once they made it to their warded cars, all bets would be off. Unless they actually managed to hit a human’s vehicle, the humans on the road would instinctively avoid them, but not be able to see them.

Winter’s foot skidded on some ice, nearly bringing her down, but Alerich’s arm wrapped around her waist and held her to his side, keeping her upright.

One of the other men snapped out with his fingers and the doors of Alerich’s red sports car flew open, dinging one of the cars beside it. They piled inside, the two men in the back and Alerich in the driver’s seat with Winter beside him. They had barely thrown the car into drive when a flash and a crunch sounded against the side, followed by cursing from the back seat. Apparently, Magnus had found an opening for a spell, but the steel body of the car and whatever spellwork Alerich and his friends had placed on it had absorbed its fury.

Alerich floored the gas and they went skidding along the slick pavement, passing Magnus as he dove into a black SUV.

The shops along Sequoia Avenue went by in a blur. There was another flash and one of the men cried out in alarm. “He’s got a tracker on us. Can you get it off?”

“Not and drive, Thomas.” Alerich glanced at Winter. “Seatbelts, everyone. This is going to be a rough ride.”

Winter pulled her seatbelt on, watching Alerich closely. “Jessie has gone missing. Do you have something to do with that?”

Alerich grimaced and cursed under his breath. “No, I don’t. I would never hurt her. But I think I know who did. With my father busy chasing you, it must have been his sport, Bastian.”

Winter could sense the truth in his words. “Who is Bastian?”

Alerich slipped past a truck like it was standing still and then was forced to slow by turning onto Merchant Street. “He’s a sadistic little shit in service to my father. We’ll need to get her back before he hurts her.”

Winter’s heart sped up even faster. “Where are they?”

“My bet is the vineyard my father has rented. But first, we need to get him off our tail, or there won’t be much left of us to put together a rescue.”

Winter pointed to the onramp coming up ahead. “Get to the Outer Road and to Mulcahy House. The House has powerful protections. Your father won’t be able to get in.”

The taller of the other two men looked up from his phone. “Fitz Martin. Pleasure to rescue you. Will he be able to knock it down?”

Winter smiled and shook her head. “Not in this lifetime.”

Alerich sped up the onramp to the Outer Road, forcibly slowed by traffic and the road, the black SUV keeping pace behind them. The SUV suddenly roared and bucked, pulling up alongside them, and with a sudden jerk to the right rammed the sports car from the side, eliciting a scream from Winter.

Alerich fought to keep control, to not run off the ramp or into any of the other vehicles. He slammed on the breaks, forcing his father to shoot ahead, and then floored the gas, roaring up behind and around the SUV, taking cover behind a semi.

A tire on the semi blew in a veil of blue sparks, swinging the trailer wide across traffic, and Alerich barely missed being swept off the road, pumping magic into the engine to force it forward faster. Ever faster. He shot past the disabled semi and roared past a sedan onto the open road.

Somehow, Magnus was also able to pour magic into his engine. Winter could feel it as the SUV crept ever closer to their bumper, threatening to ram them again.

Her mailbox came into sight, the gold lettering shining against the big black box. “We’re here! Turn left!”

Alerich again slammed on his breaks, forcing his father to panic brake behind him, and then he hit the gas, barreling toward the mile-long drive. He came into the turn in a smoking skid, leaving long black streaks behind him, and floored it as he tore up the lane, engine screaming.

The SUV was not far behind. Winter watched in the mirror as Magnus’s arm extended from the window, flames licking along his hand. No! The fireball struck them in the back left, lurching the car up and forward on its front tires. Thomas cried out in pain.

The back end of the sports car slammed down to the pavement, bouncing Winter hard against her seatbelt. Alerich reached over and jerked her belt free. “We have to get out of this car.” He snapped his own and turned to help Fitz with Thomas. The SUV was stopping behind them.

They needed more time.

Winter pulled her paintball gun from her bag and checked the potion ball hopper. Banishing potion would do her no good, here, but thankfully she had traded it out before meeting the wolves just in case things went sideways. She pushed her door open and used the top of the car to aim, just like Etienne had taught her to.

Three large, sickly yellow splats appeared on the SUV, one on the hood and two on the windshield. Immediately, the splats began to smoke heavily as the material they adhered to disintegrated. Magnus leapt from the smoking SUV, coughing and jerking at his jacket as it, too, smoked from small holes across one breast and a sleeve.

Fitz turned and looked as the three men exited the sports car, Thomas supported between the other two, and laughed raucously. “That’s delightfully unpleasant.”

Winter kept her paintball gun pointed at Magnus and flashed a small smile. She may be only a potion master, but she was still capable of some very unpleasant things. Unfortunately, actually shooting the other wizard wasn’t one of them, so while he slapped and cursed at her potion she stuffed the gun in her bag and ran for the House, pulling Alerich and his friends with her.

Thankfully, they did not have far to run—Alerich’s speeding having made quick work of the drive’s mile—and within a few dozen yards they were in the circle drive. However, Magnus did not need much time to recover, and a bolt of pure magic shot past them, skidding off the shield Alerich had cast on Winter and knocking her to one side. She scrambled to keep her feet, one hand on the pavement, and kept going.

Etienne came out of the House, gun in hand, glowering. “What the fuck is this?”

Winter waved him back. “Get back inside! Now!”

Etienne glanced behind her, and then surged forward, picking her up, and running back inside with his full sidhe speed… which was a bit faster than was expected.

But Winter did not have time to comment. Etienne put her on her feet and ran outside to help the others.

Winter slammed the door as Alerich brought up the rear, throwing raw magic at his father and setting a small tree on fire. “Everyone, back. Away from—”

A tremendous blast hit the front door, cracking it inwards and causing the magical wireframe of the House to shudder… and then it twisted in reverse, reforming and strengthening like a broken bone.

Winter stood, gasping for breath. “It’s a faerie building. He can’t destroy it because it constantly renews itself from Faerie itself. Just stay away from the windows. As you saw, he can knock them inwards a bit.”

Her phone rang, and she startled, almost forgetting it was in her pocket. It was Brian. “Brian, I am so sorry. Things exploded and we’re now at Mulcahy House.”

“That’s a relief. I’m at your store and I was worried you’d disappeared, too.”

Winter smiled at Alerich. “No, it’s okay. Someone did make a grab for me, but I was rescued.”

“I’m coming out to you.”

There was another explosion outside. “Let me call you with the all clear, first. It’s not safe out there, right now.”

“All right. I’ll be waiting.”

Etienne nodded as Winter ended the call. “Now that that is settled.” He pointed his gun at Alerich. “Tell me why I shouldn’t shoot him.”

 

[A. E. Lowan]

I should have mentioned, but my time to edit has run out, but the Holdo Maneuver, being and example of the Rule of Cool gone wrong, is really a reminder that this great craft of creating stories people want to read is an art. Sometimes Rule of Cool works splendidly, and is a great fit for your story and sometimes, its not. Its up to us, the artist, to know when that is and execute well.

Curiously enough, I had half of this conversation last night on FB. Someone dropped the assertion that Rey is a Mary Sue and Luke, somehow, is not because... training, I guess? Ever notice that the female designation of Mary Sue gets tossed around like Mardi Gras beads, but Gary Stu is not only a term that's late to the party, it's also uncommon.

Same observation applies, here. I think if Vice-Admiral Holdo had been carrying a package under that pretty dress, the talk would focus more on the Rule of Cool and not nitpicking about *Just a single ship blah blah blah seven star destroyers grumble whine eat a Hot Pocket* Not only does the Rule apply here, it fits within the established metaphysics that Star Wars has already established as canon. Holdo folded space itself, just like anyone initiating lightspeed. Lucas himself fudged around the physics and never did seem to take his own worldbuilding seriously, hence movie saga from brain of teenage boy.

So, the Holdo Maneuver. Cool? Yes. Like how cool? Extremely. Little ship? Capital ships aren't exactly tiny. Lightspeed? Unless they go plaid I'm willing to take the ride.

 

[pmmg]

Well...we don't live in a world here Holdo had been a male, so we dont get to know. But we do live in one where her solution to their problem was one of the things that turned many fans away from the franchise. It may be as you say, but it may also be something else.

Are you trying to say that the rule of cool can never be wrongly applied? I will stand by my assertion the application of such things falls more into its proper use being an art, and sometimes it is employed poorly.

 

[A. E. Lowan]

Well...we don't live in a world here Holdo had been a male, so we dont get to know. But we do live in one where her solution to their problem was one of the things that turned many fans away from the franchise. It may be as you say, but it may also be something else.

Are you trying to say that the rule of cool can never be wrongly applied? I will stand by my assertion the application of such things falls more into its proper use being an art, and sometimes it is employed poorly.

Nope. I don't like sweeping statements and there are no absolutes. Not even death or taxes. They're just common. Possibly because I hated Philosophy and only took one class, a Tuesday, before I realized that they had made all that crap up. I do like absolutes and sweeping statements in debate. They let me to not only immediately crush my opposition, but to do it with flair.

Irish. We are the originators of all things flairy, fairy, and boozy. You can get any and all at random intervals. Just make sure to bring the good dice.

When I was in high school the Urban Fantasy thing was making itself into a real, solid subgenre, and we played a tabletop RPG - before the tables were largely abandoned - called Shadowrun. And in this game there were "cool rolls." It was entirely possible, and in fact I'm the one who did it, to fail a series of rolls so badly that my character fell out of a moving convertible. Last roll: the Cool Roll. Natural 20. I hit the pavement so hard I bounced back up to my feet, twitched my leather jacket back into place, and looked so good doing it that a group of Japanese high school girls started snapping pics.

That is the Rule of Cool.

Yes, it's possible for a cool moment to not land with a reader. Even happens to me, once in an while. But that's on the author for not vibing with their audience, not on the execution of the Rule. But, if things are failing that badly, the author may be better served to either get a better grasp of their audience, or explore what genres may be better fits for their inclinations.

 

[pmmg]

I am not sure I can make sense of all of that, but it seems like we agreed. I accept.

I rest a lot of weight on the artform of all of it. Rule of Cool can come in at the right moment, break all the rules and still be worth it because of the payoff, but it can also tear down years of work, and make trivial all that has come before. I agree, it is entirely on the author to know their art. And if they are blessed enough to have an audience, know them too. Heck...they better know them...those are the ones you end up writing for.

 

[A. E. Lowan]

I am not sure I can make sense of all of that, but it seems like we agreed. I accept.

I rest a lot of weight on the artform of all of it. Rule of Cool can come in at the right moment, break all the rules and still be worth it because of the payoff, but it can also tear down years of work, and make trivial all that has come before. I agree, it is entirely on the author to know their art. And if they are blessed enough to have an audience, know them too. Heck...they better know them...those are the ones you end up writing for.

No worries. Most people can't make sense of me. Which is actually pretty funny, since I'm the one who does all of the social media stuff.

 

[Michael Terrance]

I find the concept of heraldry generic enough that it would not stick out to me, as long as there are aristocrats (or other elites) to bear the heraldry. The notion of creating such icons to represent a lineage seems a common sense one, and I see no reason why it could not emerge through a differing path. That is, unless you were to use heraldic imagery that is distinctly real-world European. If all the emperors have eagles, all the kings have lions and crosses are emblazoned throughout, I'd consider it a bit derivative. Even then, I doubt it would elicit more than a raised brow from me even then. It is a minor matter.

Agreed. Family symbols were not unique to Western Europe. Look, for example, at Japanese clan symbols.

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

I would say do what you think is cool but have the right amount of explanation to make it work/believable.
I have a Different narrative use for the Dark Nut enemy type in my Zelda story and the idea itself is cool, but I still have to explain how they came to be and why. Then I gotta ask myself how much of that information does the reader NEED to know to understand their importance to the world building. Which, is something I admittedly suck at lol

 

[pmmg]

Art will never take second place to rules and regulations ~The Xena Scrolls.

Happen to be watching Xena again, and this gem popped out. Could it be?...That Xena had taught this all those years ago.

 

[A. E. Lowan]

I would say do what you think is cool but have the right amount of explanation to make it work/believable.
I have a Different narrative use for the Dark Nut enemy type in my Zelda story and the idea itself is cool, but I still have to explain how they came to be and why. Then I gotta ask myself how much of that information does the reader NEED to know to understand their importance to the world building. Which, is something I admittedly suck at lol

Everyone has something they suck at. Mine is transitions. Give me sex (please), give me quality violence. but dear heavens, don't ask me to get characters across a bloody street. There's only one way to keep it from happening.

Practice. Lots and lots of practice. And once you have a solid acquaintance with the "rules" in your head - I'd call them expectations - you can start breaking them to see how they respond.