I know medieval fantasy is considered a cliche, but is that just the old english kinda ones? Is a world with cultures based off most cultures here (english, norse, asian, african, ect), a cliche one?
It is just that years ago, I built up a fantasy race and I only recently realised how similar it was to fantasy ancient china. I already have a viking like race and more, so my world is almost like our world but fantasy. Of course, the cultures are not the exact same and there are still several made up ones. What are your thoughts on this?
I like the sound of it! Fantasy should be separated from the real world but it shouldn't be so separated so that the readers have no idea what you are talking about. Even if it means there are no humans, maybe the races have human characteristics.
What makes fantasy worlds cliche are overused tropes and bad writing. I assume you know of a few:
"Farm Boy of Destiny"
"The City"
"The Council Will Decide Your Fate"
"We're The Same, You and I"
"Evil Emperor Mal-bad, or Whatever"
"Token Sahaugin (Fish Man) or None At All"
but is that just the old english kinda ones?
Kinda, yeah. I feel like it's been done a lot despite the fact that there's literally nothing at all stopping you (or any other authors for that matter) from basing your fantasy world off of literally any other time/place. There's so many really cool places and time periods in the world and all of them have potential to be the backdrop of a really awesome fantasy. Like what if you had a fantasy that took place in a desert? A tropical rainforest? A tundra? That would be sweet.
That being said though you can still have a really awesome and well developed fantasy world that is based of Medieval England that is still not that cliched (there's lots of really great ones out there). I guess it just really depends on the execution.
…What are your thoughts on this?
I'm here for it.
@Shadow_Knight!!!!!
Yeah, I see. I have just seen a lot of posts where people wanted modern fantasy or more light hearted kind of magic.
My world doesnt have elves, dwarves, centaurs, etc. It has like levels or sorcerors. Like ordinary humans, then ones who dont have magic but are stronger or more able to endure than ordinary people, than there is weak magic, than strong magic, etc.
I havent found many fantasy books, I like so I dont really know what is overused.
And then there are races who you wouldnt call humans but resemble them in one way or another.
What makes fantasy worlds cliche are overused tropes and bad writing. I assume you know of a few:
"Farm Boy of Destiny"
"The City"
"The Council Will Decide Your Fate"
"We're The Same, You and I"
"Evil Emperor Mal-bad, or Whatever"
"Token Sahaugin (Fish Man) or None At All"
I heard a few named. And I hope I am not guilty of any of them.
My book is about an enslaved boy, whose tribe has been enslaved and is now getting wiped out. He doest take a stand thought at first despite being the cheiftain son because he is tired of fighting and doesnt want to be a hero (besides, he has an okay master and a pretty laid back life). It isnt until someone dies because of this choice, he realise he cant keep sitting back. But even then he only helps, it isnt until the end he takes lead. He is a reluctant hero, the kind who wants nothing more but just live quietly.
. Like what if you had a fantasy that took place in a desert? A tropical rainforest? A tundra? That would be sweet.
All the books I want to write are based around the lives of several different characters all of which live in this fantasy world. One of these characters does actually live in a desert setting another in the tundra setting.
But it is also a universe that connects to earth, as well as several other universes. One is a high tech modern, fantsay world and one is a world of like witches, pixies, gnomes, etc. This isnt mentioned in almost any of the books. But I do want to write a book involving each. So I am going to explore the possibilities of different worlds, but mainly focusing just on my main world.
The answer is complicated but I'll try to simplify it in one word: stereotypes
Are your knights believers of a heavily light-themed religion and are willing to go to extreme lengths to follow it?
Are your goblins dumb creatures who can't form a complex society and like to steal a lot?
Are your mages old and wise?
Are your elves mostly tall blonde archers who heavily utilize magic?
Are your dwarves mountainous folk who heavily utilize archery and have large beards?
Is the north of your world a mountainous, snowy place full of Barbarians that just scream: "Scandinavia in the middle century"?
Is your south a giant desert full of people who, upon closer inspection, are just muslims?
If you have a plotline, is it "Light vs dark, good vs evil" themed, aka one side completely good and one completely evil?
Are your Giants big but slow and stupid?
Are your Ogres, Orcs and Trolls complete savages who enjoy human suffering and employ brute force?
It's not that having culture inspired countries like South Eastern Asian ones or Scandinavian ones is bad, it's how they are employed. The biggest advice I have is "mix things up". For example: how about a snowy, mountainous north, but the people there are civilized and pacifist, despite their hostile enviroment? What if dwarves were powerfull magic practicioners that live in forests, while elves live in mountains? Here is one I'm writing about right now: what if the giants were not only big, but inteligent, and way more kind to strangers than the rest of the races, but because of their rebelion against oppression of other "non pure" races, were cast into the un-fertile mountains.
Let's further explore it, what if the giants split into those who support racism and those who do not, thus forming different cultures even though they belong to the same race?
TL;DR: If you want to make a culture or stereotype based race/country/culture, make some sort of twist, and explore how that twist would shake things up
@Lord Vucic
I dont actually have elves, goblins, dwarves, orcs and giants although some races may have similar traits.
Knights follow their rulers but even then it may only be to a certain degree. Some may put their beliefs before king, while some put family first and others follow their king with blind loyalty.
My mages are young and old alike as they are a race, though it is the younger ones who are mainly mentioned as they are warriors and healers. The old ones would be retired and not heard about as much.
I am partly guilty about the northern country. The land is divided, by two races of men. One are lively adventurous people who have a passion for traveling, particulary by sea. The other race are more similar to vikings, at least by looks. They are very soft and gentle with each other but more hostile to strangers. They do raid one neighboring country during hard times. I would not call them barbarians though. They have villages and try to make best with what they have.
As for my desert people, I dont think they resemble muslims. I dont know much about muslim culture. They are descended from soldiers who rebeled against their king and fled to the desert and learned how to survive. Although they are known as rogues, they were actually in the right as the king was a usurper and these are the real kings loyal followers. They built a city and eventually the desert became a seperate kingdom of its own. They trade with outsiders with valuables they have mined.
And no, I do not really use good vs evil. Both sides have faults and virtues.
@Lord Vucic
I dont actually have elves, goblins, dwarves, orcs and giants although some races may have similar traits.
Knights follow their rulers but even then it may only be to a certain degree. Some may put their beliefs before king, while some put family first and others follow their king with blind loyalty.
My mages are young and old alike as they are a race, though it is the younger ones who are mainly mentioned as they are warriors and healers. The old ones would be retired and not heard about as much.
I am partly guilty about the northern country. The land is divided, by two races of men. One are lively adventurous people who have a passion for traveling, particulary by sea. The other race are more similar to vikings, at least by looks. They are very soft and gentle with each other but more hostile to strangers. They do raid one neighboring country during hard times. I would not call them barbarians though. They have villages and try to make best with what they have.
As for my desert people, I dont think they resemble muslims. I dont know much about muslim culture. They are descended from soldiers who rebeled against their king and fled to the desert and learned how to survive. Although they are known as rogues, they were actually in the right as the king was a usurper and these are the real kings loyal followers. They built a city and eventually the desert became a seperate kingdom of its own. They trade with outsiders with valuables they have mined.
And no, I do not really use good vs evil. Both sides have faults and virtues.
Yeah, i used goblins and the like only as an example.
From what i can hear, it sounds interesting enough. You handled the north pretty well as far as I'm concerned, just make sure that the 2 tribes are seperated by some mountain or river as for the distinction not to be completely arbitrary. The desert sounds intruiging as well!
Also, I really like the idea of a slave boy living a content life learning that "No, even though I'M ok, the others aren't, meaning this situation is bs.". I'll definetely check you out some time!
The answer is complicated but I'll try to simplify it in one word: stereotypes
Are your knights believers of a heavily light-themed religion and are willing to go to extreme lengths to follow it?
Are your goblins dumb creatures who can't form a complex society and like to steal a lot?
Are your mages old and wise?
Are your elves mostly tall blonde archers who heavily utilize magic?
Are your dwarves mountainous folk who heavily utilize archery and have large beards?
Is the north of your world a mountainous, snowy place full of Barbarians that just scream: "Scandinavia in the middle century"?
Is your south a giant desert full of people who, upon closer inspection, are just muslims?
If you have a plotline, is it "Light vs dark, good vs evil" themed, aka one side completely good and one completely evil?
Are your Giants big but slow and stupid?
Are your Ogres, Orcs and Trolls complete savages who enjoy human suffering and employ brute force?
It's not that having culture inspired countries like South Eastern Asian ones or Scandinavian ones is bad, it's how they are employed. The biggest advice I have is "mix things up". For example: how about a snowy, mountainous north, but the people there are civilized and pacifist, despite their hostile enviroment? What if dwarves were powerfull magic practicioners that live in forests, while elves live in mountains? Here is one I'm writing about right now: what if the giants were not only big, but inteligent, and way more kind to strangers than the rest of the races, but because of their rebelion against oppression of other "non pure" races, were cast into the un-fertile mountains.
Let's further explore it, what if the giants split into those who support racism and those who do not, thus forming different cultures even though they belong to the same race?
TL;DR: If you want to make a culture or stereotype based race/country/culture, make some sort of twist, and explore how that twist would shake things up
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your giant idea sounds like the giants from the movie ella enchanted!! bit silly but you should check it out!
