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Why does fantasy dominate RPGs?
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<blockquote data-quote="Ratskinner" data-source="post: 7092456" data-attributes="member: 6688937"><p>I think it has to do with the participatory/indentification aspect. Watching a character and playing one at table are different, even if we might call both processes "identifying with" the character. TV/movies are often called "passive" media, while rpg-ing (I would think) is not so much.</p><p></p><p>With SciFi heroes, much though we may love to watch them, we don't really want (as much) to <em>be</em> them. In part, I think this is because their lives generally stink in ways we recognize too keenly. (I mean really, how much actual "Speculative Fiction" is based on "Hey look how great things would be if X" vs. "OMG! If X then the world as we know it is doomed!") We <em>know </em> that we don't want to get shot at, or forced out of our jobs by automation, or infected with super-viruses, or live in a post-apocalypse or whatever. That's why there's a lot of crossover between scifi and horror. Additionally, you've got all the weird "fridge-logic" problems of sci-fi. I mean, the general "schtick" of scifi is to propose a new discovery/technology/something than you layer onto our base understanding of the world. That kind of thing can be hard to make into a repeatably fun rpg experience. Even Star Trek has problems pulling it off at table. Plus, law enforcement, etc. obviate the need for the typical hero to get all that involved. </p><p></p><p>Fantasy, on the other hand, is different. Who <em>doesn't</em> want to be the mighty warrior or powerful wizard? We sweep all the suffering and problems of a quasi-medieval/iron-age society out of mind. Disease, starvation, and filth are problems for orcs, not our heroes. I think that's easier, because we aren't so used to them. Similarly, characters in a fantasy 'verse are more likely to be able to heed the call to adventure without running afoul of the law. </p><p></p><p>Anyway, that's my $.02, hope it was worth the read. Good question, though.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ratskinner, post: 7092456, member: 6688937"] I think it has to do with the participatory/indentification aspect. Watching a character and playing one at table are different, even if we might call both processes "identifying with" the character. TV/movies are often called "passive" media, while rpg-ing (I would think) is not so much. With SciFi heroes, much though we may love to watch them, we don't really want (as much) to [I]be[/I] them. In part, I think this is because their lives generally stink in ways we recognize too keenly. (I mean really, how much actual "Speculative Fiction" is based on "Hey look how great things would be if X" vs. "OMG! If X then the world as we know it is doomed!") We [I]know [/I] that we don't want to get shot at, or forced out of our jobs by automation, or infected with super-viruses, or live in a post-apocalypse or whatever. That's why there's a lot of crossover between scifi and horror. Additionally, you've got all the weird "fridge-logic" problems of sci-fi. I mean, the general "schtick" of scifi is to propose a new discovery/technology/something than you layer onto our base understanding of the world. That kind of thing can be hard to make into a repeatably fun rpg experience. Even Star Trek has problems pulling it off at table. Plus, law enforcement, etc. obviate the need for the typical hero to get all that involved. Fantasy, on the other hand, is different. Who [I]doesn't[/I] want to be the mighty warrior or powerful wizard? We sweep all the suffering and problems of a quasi-medieval/iron-age society out of mind. Disease, starvation, and filth are problems for orcs, not our heroes. I think that's easier, because we aren't so used to them. Similarly, characters in a fantasy 'verse are more likely to be able to heed the call to adventure without running afoul of the law. Anyway, that's my $.02, hope it was worth the read. Good question, though. [/QUOTE]
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