Comedic elements with a "serious" fictional world

Okay, I have this fictional game world as many of you might know.


The thing is, I want that the world I have created is taken seriously even though playable cast is hardly something most would consider anywhere near serious. The thing is, that comedic element is the characters, not the world itself. Lore part of my "the clans" world is intended to be taken seriously.


So how do you balance seriousness vs comedy in your world(s)?

I think it would be pretty normal for a group of people, even faced with heavy circumstances, to crack jokes and have fun with each other. Especially if they're forming friendships with each other. I think it's about making your characters real, believable and showcase how they act with each other. Most people aren't doom, gloom, and tears 24/7 even if the events they are faced with are difficult.

As for balancing it with your world you just have to make their reactions believable. So, if something really serious happens, your cast needs to have the proper reaction. Probably won't be wise cracking anymore if we walk up to the village and see that it is on fire. In fact, the heaviness of the situation can be highlighted if your party was enjoying their time until that very moment.

I think Chrono Trigger did a good job with this.  There were definitely parts when characters in the game joked with or teased each other. 

As for a particular character, it really depends on HOW the person deals with tragedy.  Some people laugh out loud at funerals, because they have really no other way of coping with it.  They wouldn't crack jokes, but there MIGHT be a kind-hearted person with poor social skills who thinks the best way to lighten the mood is by telling a joke.  Of course, said joke would fall flat with people who are grieving.

Some people try to ease tension by teasing or telling jokes, so maybe if it's not a Big Tragedy, but more of a "We have a hard mission ahead of us," they might tell jokes, tease or play pranks to try to lighten the mood.

Or they might do that if they're just plain bored.  If you have a very active or playful character and the party is on board a ship for a long voyage, maybe s/he starts cracking jokes or playing pranks.

Chrono Trigger also had a really nice moment where ALL of your player characters kick back and reflect on what's happened in-game so far (after you rescue Robo when he's restored the desert).  Not funny but good character development.

So you can definitely have bits of comedy and such in the middle of a serious game.    As long as it's in character and the other people (party members and NPCs) respond appropriately.  You could even have the party breaking down into laughter when they see the town burning, showing they're going insane....OR have them leave the town, and the party then breaks down in tears (or one person if, say, it was one person's Doomed Hometown).

So, done right they add nicely to character development.

I try to keep the jokes and comedy to when the characters are among themselves and avoid including it during the more serious cutscenes.  I want my characters to not come off as stiff and lack any kind of sense of humour but are more like real people.  They're all supposed to be friends and sometimes they just want something to lighten the mood.  They do know there are times when they need to be serious, though.

I definitely recommend adding comedic elements to the dialogue. Continuous Emo Gloominess and Seriousness is boring and annoying.

To the Moon did the comedic vibes very well in a real serious game.

Well, it sounds like I'm on a right track.