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<blockquote data-quote="Psion" data-source="post: 1936852" data-attributes="member: 172"><p>Nice list, but obviously one conceived for literature. Which is a fair starting point, since many RPGers are fantasy reader and many RPG conventions are inspired by literature. But some trends are different; for example, Arthurian seems like a much smaller subset of fantasy RPGs. And at the same time, certain subgenres are much larger.</p><p></p><p>Fantasy Hero for Hero 4 had a list of fantasy subgenres that carried with it a few of the prejudices that many frothing D&D bashers hold.</p><p></p><p>FH for Hero 5 was much better reasoned, and discussed genres in two different axes: subgenres and metagenres, and the discussion is very fuctional with several examples of conventions that would be used in campaigns of this sort.</p><p></p><p>Listed subgenres include:</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Crossworlds fantasy - a very common subgenre, often overlooked as a category in listings like this. The genre features magical worlds that protaganists travel to, though they are often from a contemporary world, which has a big impact on how the story plays out. Examples: Narnia, Three Hearts and Three Lions, Harry Potter (yes, these are big brushes...)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Epic fantasy - Romantic story of heroic struggles against overpowering enemies. LotR and immitators, Belgariad, etc. (The book lists Thomas Covenant in both this and the Crossworlds and High fantasy categories. So at least the Steve Long has more vision than some folks when it comes to the reality of genre "border fuzziness."</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">High Fantasy - Defines it pretty much as we tend to define it here - powerful presence of magic in the setting. D&D is listed as a prime example, as is Dying Earth, Earthsea, etc.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Low Fantasy - The converse. Setting features little magic or pricey magic. Deryni, Three Musketeers, Song of Ice and Fire, Book of the New Sun, etc.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Swords and Sorcery - defines it as most of us do, not as Elton does. Action-adventure fantasy focusing primarily on warriors and roguish characters. Conan, Elric (though I might call that high fantasy as well), Clark Ashton Smith, Fafhrd and Grey Mouser.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Urban Fantasy - Or modern fantasy. Buffy, Charles DeLint, World of Darkness, etc.</li> </ul><p></p><p>Meta-genres, which are hopefully self-explanatory:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Comedy</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Horror</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Mystery</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Romance</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tragedy</li> </ul></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Psion, post: 1936852, member: 172"] Nice list, but obviously one conceived for literature. Which is a fair starting point, since many RPGers are fantasy reader and many RPG conventions are inspired by literature. But some trends are different; for example, Arthurian seems like a much smaller subset of fantasy RPGs. And at the same time, certain subgenres are much larger. Fantasy Hero for Hero 4 had a list of fantasy subgenres that carried with it a few of the prejudices that many frothing D&D bashers hold. FH for Hero 5 was much better reasoned, and discussed genres in two different axes: subgenres and metagenres, and the discussion is very fuctional with several examples of conventions that would be used in campaigns of this sort. Listed subgenres include: [list] [*]Crossworlds fantasy - a very common subgenre, often overlooked as a category in listings like this. The genre features magical worlds that protaganists travel to, though they are often from a contemporary world, which has a big impact on how the story plays out. Examples: Narnia, Three Hearts and Three Lions, Harry Potter (yes, these are big brushes...) [*]Epic fantasy - Romantic story of heroic struggles against overpowering enemies. LotR and immitators, Belgariad, etc. (The book lists Thomas Covenant in both this and the Crossworlds and High fantasy categories. So at least the Steve Long has more vision than some folks when it comes to the reality of genre "border fuzziness." [*]High Fantasy - Defines it pretty much as we tend to define it here - powerful presence of magic in the setting. D&D is listed as a prime example, as is Dying Earth, Earthsea, etc. [*]Low Fantasy - The converse. Setting features little magic or pricey magic. Deryni, Three Musketeers, Song of Ice and Fire, Book of the New Sun, etc. [*]Swords and Sorcery - defines it as most of us do, not as Elton does. Action-adventure fantasy focusing primarily on warriors and roguish characters. Conan, Elric (though I might call that high fantasy as well), Clark Ashton Smith, Fafhrd and Grey Mouser. [*]Urban Fantasy - Or modern fantasy. Buffy, Charles DeLint, World of Darkness, etc. [/list] Meta-genres, which are hopefully self-explanatory: [list] [*]Comedy [*]Horror [*]Mystery [*]Romance [*]Tragedy [/list] [/QUOTE]
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