Poll: Fantasy Stereotypes I try to avoid
- Thread starter TheIronRuler
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I'd go for Orcs, elves etc. but the chosen one thing gets to me above all the others. to paraphrase the great B.Y.S.G. Croshaw, there shouldn't be a 'standard fantasy setting'
and a small point, but fantasy and scifi are pretty much the same thing. (I prefer science to magic, or better yet, both)
and a small point, but fantasy and scifi are pretty much the same thing. (I prefer science to magic, or better yet, both)
Honestly, I have no problem with any of those cliches. What bores me in fantasy is when it tries to be too "realistic". When there are large-scale battles and armies and political maneuvering. When things like magic and monsters are toned down or eliminated entirely and replaced with gritty battle-hardened men going to war. Those things don't interest me at all.
I have the exact opposite opinion from you.rockyoumonkeys said:
People killing each other and making strategic marriages is fine.
But adding magic and unicorns is even better!
dont forget the elves....those oh so supior elves who are totally awsome and better than human scumRatRace123 said:
yeah Ive always thourght it would be interesting to have a story basically middle earth in moddern dayChrinik said:
anyway as mentioned before this idea of "chosen one" generally just seems stupid I mean what youre enitre existance is to be the hero? wheres the fun in that?
Benjamin Yahtzee Sebastian Godzilla CroshawTheIronRuler said:
from the ZP review of Neir I think
i deem this the only question i shall answer for now, with Jam and vegemite, the toast of the (slightly insane) Gods!TheIronRuler said:
I think there is another reason why many put Tolkenian races in their fantasy story. (Though for many of them laziness is the reason.)BobDobolina said:
The reason is that people will still make comparisons and claim they are the same as the Tolkenian standard races, or just seeing them as Orcs and Elves.
The writer could have a detailed list of fully developed races who each have their own original design, culture, customs, and name; but that won't some smart@$$ from coming along and stating that this race are "this world's Orcs," or "this world's Elves."
So some figure if people are just going to see them as Orcs and Elves anyway, then why not call them Orcs and Elves.
elves and dwarves and their associated stereotypes.
side note: even so, i would love to see a modern fantasy...something with those stereotypes, where dwarves are wall street and elves are pretentious art snobs. perhaps mages end up like immigrant workers using their magic to mass produce some magitech goods.
side note: even so, i would love to see a modern fantasy...something with those stereotypes, where dwarves are wall street and elves are pretentious art snobs. perhaps mages end up like immigrant workers using their magic to mass produce some magitech goods.
I've been reading your posts and I want to comment about what I am about to do in my universe - whatever different race or different culture I may introduce, they'll all be human.
Not Humanoid, but human.
I could introduce african-like traders from afar, or asian-like merceneries coming to the land to become rich. I can even pretend to have Neanderthals still alive in a far distant land (though I probaly won't do that.)
There are distinct traits that differ us from other humans (though very few) some cause complete seperation, like skin color or the shape of ones' eyes.
Think about it, a black emissary coming to greet the king only to be jailed and executed for being... black? only for being different, their religion can condem them or accept them.
If I am going to have distinct humaniod races, then I will probably use the following methid :
Man with physical deformity gets banished from his home. he sets up a tavern along the way. He gathers similar humans and they form a village. A rumor of Dwarve-like/elve-like/randomname-like village spreads, the village grows and they build walls. Then all deformed people are welcomed to be there as the superior race, and all born 'normal' are inferior and must be banished (Or maybe have an exmination like in the Spartan culture). There you go - A city of little people claiming they are the next stage in evolution! You'd have normal people liviong in hiding as their parents don't want to dispose of them, conflicts between two factions - one for equality for all men and the other for the superiority of their 'race', etc.
The protagonist can be that guy that fucks it all up and tells them they're mutants. That's be a laugh.
Not Humanoid, but human.
I could introduce african-like traders from afar, or asian-like merceneries coming to the land to become rich. I can even pretend to have Neanderthals still alive in a far distant land (though I probaly won't do that.)
There are distinct traits that differ us from other humans (though very few) some cause complete seperation, like skin color or the shape of ones' eyes.
Think about it, a black emissary coming to greet the king only to be jailed and executed for being... black? only for being different, their religion can condem them or accept them.
If I am going to have distinct humaniod races, then I will probably use the following methid :
Man with physical deformity gets banished from his home. he sets up a tavern along the way. He gathers similar humans and they form a village. A rumor of Dwarve-like/elve-like/randomname-like village spreads, the village grows and they build walls. Then all deformed people are welcomed to be there as the superior race, and all born 'normal' are inferior and must be banished (Or maybe have an exmination like in the Spartan culture). There you go - A city of little people claiming they are the next stage in evolution! You'd have normal people liviong in hiding as their parents don't want to dispose of them, conflicts between two factions - one for equality for all men and the other for the superiority of their 'race', etc.
The protagonist can be that guy that fucks it all up and tells them they're mutants. That's be a laugh.
My biggest fantasy pet peeve in fantasy isn't up there...
Powerful, abundant, convenient magic with no drawbacks that can easily replace all conventional technology... yet doesn't replace any of it. If there must be magic, I say write it the way George R. R. Martin does in A Song of Ice and Fire. Smallish effects that come at an incredibly high price to the caster.
Powerful, abundant, convenient magic with no drawbacks that can easily replace all conventional technology... yet doesn't replace any of it. If there must be magic, I say write it the way George R. R. Martin does in A Song of Ice and Fire. Smallish effects that come at an incredibly high price to the caster.
Like the fundemental law in FMA, the alchemy.loc978 said:
I hope you know what I'm talking about since you have colonel Mustang in your avatar.