WotC Why WotC SHOULD Make A New Setting

[Mecheon]

Dont let people fool you. Fantasy in an urban enviroment is urban fantasy.

If someone asks for an Urban Fantasy recommendation and you give them Ravnica or Sigil, though, they're perfectly in the right to go "the hell are you on about, that's not urban fantasy?". Because, no, Urban Fantasy is a very specific term and set of tropes, and D&D has only really touched it with the modern stuff in 3e

There's a very definitive and common genre term that's, frankly, reached far wider into people than any D&D setting. I'm surprised people are saying they've never heard of it. It was all over the market with Twilight and its derivatives alone, yet alone its predecessors

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I really wish I understood why folks feel.the necessity to argue against commonly accepted genre definitions.

Sometimes they are stupid?

I mean if a genre is defined in a way that completely defies logic, why "respect" it?

And with how common it is to see people use the term in a less extremely narrow way, I doubt that the majority of people who know the term use it the way you want them to.

Finally, the wikipedia article doesnt define it as narrowly, and settings like Ravnica fit. It literally says the setting doesnt have to be the real world or a version of it. It just has to be familiarly urban.

Thus Sharn not fitting in most sourcebooks while Sigil and Ravnica do.

 

[Parmandur]

I really wish I understood why folks feel.the necessity to argue against commonly accepted genre definitions.

Having reviewed the Wikipedia article, it is hard to see how Guild asters Guide to Ravncia doesn’t count: it is a secondary world with exaggerated features (the city covers the whole planet), but it does seem to fit the tropes.

 

[Mecheon]

Having reviewed the Wikipedia article, it is hard to see how Guild asters Guide to Rabncia doesn’t count: it is a secondary world with exaggerated features (the city covers the whole planet), but it does seem to fit the tropes.

Urban Fantasy is a very specific niche that tends to involve secret groups in the modern day, particularly in the romance side, with those beings living secretly. Tends to go into romance. Vampire is the obvious example when it comes to RPGs

Ravnica is a giant city-wide Standard Fantasy City that is not modern and does not play into anything like that

Its way, way off

 

[Tigris]

Sometimes they are stupid?

I mean if a genre is defined in a way that completely defies logic, why "respect" it?

It is really not. It is "some fantasy in an urban setting".

And not a fantasy setting with urban elements. That would be "urbanic fantasy" or something along the line.


Also this is really really broadly used, in novels, games, series etc.

 

[Parmandur]

Urban Fantasy is a very specific niche that tends to involve secret groups in the modern day, particularly in the romance side, with those beings living secretly. Tends to go into romance. Vampire is the obvious example when it comes to RPGs

Ravnica is a giant city-wide Standard Fantasy City that is not modern and does not play into anything like that

Its way, way off

Well, no, thst is not what the Wikipedia article says, and no, thst is not what Ravncia is.

 

[Keldryn]

Artwork is basically the thing which makes or breaks a setting for the average buyer. Very few people glance at a giant text wall and want to investigate. But a cool picture can start people reading.

I've owned the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer for almost 25 years and I've never been able to read through it. Page after page of walls of text. I simply cannot get inspired to read it. Modern layout and evocative art would probably help considerably.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

It is really not. It is "some fantasy in an urban setting".

And not a fantasy setting with urban elements. That would be "urbanic fantasy" or something along the line.


Also this is really really broadly used, in novels, games, series etc.

Yes, that is what i have been saying?

 

[Reynard]

Sometimes they are stupid?

I mean if a genre is defined in a way that completely defies logic, why "respect" it?

And with how common it is to see people use the term in a less extremely narrow way, I doubt that the majority of people who know the term use it the way you want them to.

Finally, the wikipedia article doesnt define it as narrowly, and settings like Ravnica fit. It literally says the setting doesnt have to be the real world or a version of it. It just has to be familiarly urban.

Thus Sharn not fitting in most sourcebooks while Sigil and Ravnica do.

Having reviewed the Wikipedia article, it is hard to see how Guild asters Guide to Rabncia doesn’t count: it is a secondary world with exaggerated features (the city covers the whole planet), but it does seem to fit the tropes.

Look, both of you are obviously intentionally arguing the term for some sort of internet points. Congratulations. You win. The rest of us, who actually go to the book store, will simply smile, nod, and wave at you as you wander.

 

[Mecheon]

Well, no, thst is not what the Wikipedia article says, and no, thst is not what Rabncia is.

The first sentence of the Wikipedia article is "Urban fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy, placing supernatural elements in a contemporary urban-affected setting". That is precisely what it says. Vampire and the other World of Darkness stuff is Urban Fantasy. The only time D&D was ever urban fantasy was back with Urban Arcana, hence the name.

Ravnica (RaVnica, not RaBnica. I don't mean to pick on typos but its the second time) is not contemporary