D&D 5E 30/5 D&D Alumni Archives: Beyond Feudalism - Experimental Genres

[gweinel]

And here is an article, probably the first of a new series of articles, that i found it interesting to appear at the WotC site.

http://www.wizards.com/DnD/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4alum/20140530

It discusses about the genres beyond Feudal Fantasy: Pulp (Isle of Dread - Eberron), Horror (Ravenloft), Science (Spelljammer), Dark Fantasy (Lankhmar) and Oriental.

 

[Bluenose]

Lankhmar is their example of Dark Fantasy? Seriously? Not quite where I'd place it, to be honest.

Still, the articles shows they're at least thinking about genre. Hopefully that means they'll try and do something with them. I'm a little surprised that there's no mention of Dark Sun which strikes me as an example of another genre (Post-Apocalyptic).

 

[Thaumaturge]

I'm a little surprised that there's no mention of Dark Sun which strikes me as an example of another genre (Post-Apocalyptic).

I was, too. But there is this bit.

We’ll touch upon these settings in a later article that looks at how D&D continued to grow beyond its Feudal beginnings in the 2E, 3E, and 4E eras.

So, I assume we'll see a discussion of Dark Sun at a future point.

Thaumaturge.

 

[TerraDave]

Lankhmar is their example of Dark Fantasy? Seriously? Not quite where I'd place it, to be honest.

Still, the articles shows they're at least thinking about genre. Hopefully that means they'll try and do something with them. I'm a little surprised that there's no mention of Dark Sun which strikes me as an example of another genre (Post-Apocalyptic).

Lankhmar is not Game of Thrones...and I would also see it more as pulp, but it certainly has an edge that say LotR does not. Actually, where would you put the Sanctuary series? Maybe urban fantasy more specifically then dark fantasy.

Also, I do think this is the start of a series. If dragon and dungeon do come back, supporting older settings and campaign styles would be an obvious focus...

 

[Mercurius]

Game of Thrones isn't Dark Fantasy, it is Torture Porn Fantasy.

 

[Agamon]

Lankhmar is their example of Dark Fantasy? Seriously? Not quite where I'd place it, to be honest.

I haven't read Lankhmar, but I have read Abercrombie's First Law series, which is definitely dark fantasy. And I thought that Leiber's stuff was along the same vein.

 

[Agamon]

Game of Thrones isn't Dark Fantasy, it is Torture Porn Fantasy.

I see it more as political intrigue fantasy, but hey, whatever you're in to.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I haven't read Lankhmar, but I have read Abercrombie's First Law series, which is definitely dark fantasy. And I thought that Leiber's stuff was along the same vein.

I feel like Leiber is a lot more optimistic, in that people tend to recover from horrible stuff more, and horrible crimes get avenged, albeit brutally/crudely/accidentally, rather than actually furthering the people who commit them (in the longer-run). He is also more or less disinterested in power/rulership/leadership, whereas Abercrombie (like other solidly Dark Fantasy authors) tends to be quite interested in it.

I'd say he was pulp but inspired a lot of dark fantasy.

 

[Thaumaturge]

Game of Thrones isn't Dark Fantasy, it is Torture Porn Fantasy.

No. That's the Sword of Truth series.

Ugh.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

No. That's the Sword of Truth series.

Ugh.

Thaumaturge.

Indeed - GoT presents horror to create horror in the audience, generally, whereas SoT presents horror in a far more voyeuristic and "Isn't this thrilling?!" kind of way.