From Wikipedia:
The Stormtrooper effect, also called Stormtrooper syndrome, is a cliché phenomenon in works of fiction where minor characters (cannon fodder) are unrealistically ineffective in combat against more important characters (almost always the protagonists “equipped” with character shields). The name originated with the armed Imperial Stormtroopers in the original Star Wars trilogy, who, despite their considerable advantages of close range, overwhelming numbers, professional military training, full armor, military-grade firepower, and noticeable combat effectiveness against non-speaking characters, were incapable of seriously harming the protagonists. The effect is generally employed either to increase the dramatic tension of an action scene or to accentuate the heroes’ fighting prowess.
and
The Inverse Ninja Law (by analogy to inverse-square law), is a similar phenomenon that occurs frequently in martial arts movies, anime, and role playing games. It is also sometimes called the Anime Ninja Effect or the Rule of One.
The Inverse Ninja Law states that the effectiveness of a group of ninjas is inversely proportional to the number of ninjas in the group. While a single enemy ninja is often portrayed as a significant threat to the protagonists, a large group of ninjas is significantly less of a threat, and as such is easily defeated. This is sometimes applicable to other close combat–oriented minions as well.
(via reddit)
Comments
18 Comments so far. Leave a comment below.Hey ! Who changed the name ?
When I was growing up (before Starwars), we used to call it the Roy Rogers Law. The more bad guys there were , the worst the shooting got. You never died playing Roy or the “Duke”.
Rambo lived by this law.
there’s also the old conundrum about who would win in a battle between storm troopers and TOS star trek red shirts. a group who couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn vs. the uninsurable.
funny–I’m 74 and all these years I believed that the name stormtrooper was coined for Hitler’s army in WWII.
I’m sure it was. But those stormtroopers were quite effective, not at all reflecting the fictional effect.
Betty you dumb old broad. Get off the internet until you learn how to read.
Dave…you’re amazing.
David, kiss Betty’s wrinkl;ed old ass.
Betty, stormtroopers were late WWI assault German soldiers, armed with grenades, primitive sub-machine guns and other short ranged, light weapons to overwhelm Allied resistance like a sudden Storm. WWII say a recurrence of the term in describing ‘all’ German soldiers. But don’t mind me, I’m just a History Grad.
Mr. History Grad, aren’t you supposed to be respecting the commentary from people like Betty in order to learn more about your subject?
Or, realize that, being an old person, she might have a bit of a hazy memory?
Asshole!
As we all know, old people suck. Go die in a fire Betty
@ Sir David Von Mudkip
What the F*ck is wrong with you, i dont think you would dare to say that to her standing standing in front of her. F*cker
German soldiers were just called SS-Soldat which meant Schutzstaffel
People do things like this to stir up trouble on stupid internet forums like this. People take comments like this seriously, thinking that the people they make fun of are actually going to come back and check on the comment they left, just to make sure that no one makes fun of them. Actually, people like you DO come back to see what someone else has wrote, because YOU have no life outside of checking on the forums that you start shit on! Do you seriously think someone like Betty, a 70 year old woman, or me for that matter, is going to come back to this forum to defend ourselves of you people that don’t have shit else to do? Our lives ARE better than starting shit online.
the irony of that, cosmo;
why’re you writing to them if you say they don’t come back?
you guys have no lives
The forum is hilarious!
I love this website.
Go die in a fire, Nick!
*insert obligatory “shopped” comment*