Do you Prefer Your Fantasy Setting Epic or Grimy?

jhkim · March 16, 2018, 03:57:49 PM

Quote from: RPGPunditdo you prefer fantasy settings that are epic and full of majestic sights, castles and giant statues and magical wonders and stunning vistas? Or are you more at home with a setting full of filthy cities and pirate dens and half-starved peasants living in mud-huts?

Quote from: CRKrueger;1029673Is there a setting in particular you are thinking of that does not contain both?

What CRKrueger said.

In general, my answer is yes - I like many different kinds of fantasy. That's my answer for a lot of things, but I feel like it's good to repeat it. I like epic fantasy like great heroes in Middle Earth for gaming, as well as non-epic fantasy like playing a small group of missionaries in Harn who just want to establish a new church. I like clean fantasy like princes and princesses of Amber, as well as grimy fantasy like In a Wicked Age playing strange monsters and victims.

Beldar · March 16, 2018, 04:16:05 PM

Quote from: Armchair Gamer;1029680Perhaps "AD&D 1st Edition vs. AD&D 2nd Edition" would be closer to what the Pundit really meant?

I began playing with 2nd edition, so that no doubt flavors my answer. I like the heroic vibe from 2nd edition and I don't see the rules as significant different enough to matter when compared to 1st edition.

Obviously, 1st edition was dungeon and treasure focused and it did that well. 2nd edition opened the door a little bit for a larger style of play and I prefer it.

Votan · March 16, 2018, 05:30:32 PM

I thought low-magic and epic would be an unpopular response but it seems to be pretty common.

Lord of the Rings was nice. Game of Thrones has epic elements (less so A song of Ice and Fire). Conan has a mix as well. Purely grimy and impoversihed isn't my most favorite setting, although anything can be enjoyable if well done.

Chris24601 · March 16, 2018, 05:53:26 PM

Quote from: Armchair Gamer;1029680Perhaps "AD&D 1st Edition vs. AD&D 2nd Edition" would be closer to what the Pundit really meant?

BAH! If I had to pick a game from that era it'd be BECMI or Palladium Fantasy (1st Edition).

AsenRG · March 16, 2018, 06:19:15 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;1029058In general, do you prefer fantasy settings that are epic and full of majestic sights, castles and giant statues and magical wonders and stunning vistas? Or are you more at home with a setting full of filthy cities and pirate dens and half-starved peasants living in mud-huts?

Obviously both, I play Exalted:D!

Krimson · March 16, 2018, 08:47:01 PM

My default D&D setting is Sigil, and for other games it's Post Cyberpunk (in the sense that Megacorporations are no more evil than they are in the real world) so certainly both. If you're going to go with Medieval Authentic, then grime is certainly the order of the day. But I do like those fantasy cities with clean streets and shiny towers.

Elfdart · March 16, 2018, 09:35:03 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;1029058In general, do you prefer fantasy settings that are epic and full of majestic sights, castles and giant statues and magical wonders and stunning vistas? Or are you more at home with a setting full of filthy cities and pirate dens and half-starved peasants living in mud-huts?

Yes.

amacris · March 17, 2018, 02:21:21 PM

Quote from: CRKrueger;1029672I'm not sure that "High vs. Low" or "Epic vs. Grimy" explains my preferences.

"Overt vs. Covert" or "Present vs. In Your Face" or "Magic vs. Technology" might be a better way to phrase it.

Look at the Hyborian Age as Gronan pointed out. There's lots of magic present. Conan runs into Sorcerers, monsters or Demons in nearly every story. in Tower of the Elephant there's a city controlled by an immortal sorcerer and in the Scarlet Citadel, another immortal sorcerer essentially runs a kingdom. Then there's Stygia, Khitai, the Seers of Yimsha. In Aquilonia, the Priests of Asura (even though you don't see the direct action) have capabilities of magical communication and travel that wouldn't seem out of line in a D&D world, and even though they are hated, no one impedes or attacks their funeral barges because of their magical defenses.

Magic is frickin' everywhere. But, it's not In Your Face. People don't light lamps with magical lighters. Stygia is rumored to go to battle with Priests of Set who conjure plagues, but there is no Nemedian College of War Magic with squads of Pyromancers.

Magic is still dangerous and very powerful sorcerers are as rare or rarer than high-end academics.

I'd say generally I like magic, even if powerful, to not have gotten to the part where it starts replacing technology.
As far as types of campaigns go, I like worlds that are more human/realistic/verisimilar. But just because a Sword & Sorcery PC might be broke and on the run from his last titanic debauch, doesn't mean he can't hire on as a caravan guard and end up saving the world.

Amen.

I would argue (and in fact designed a supplement around the notion) that based on your criteria, Hyboria and Middle Earth have more in common with each other than either does with contemporary game-worlds such as Faerun, Krynn, Ptolus, Eberron, etc.

Christopher Brady · March 18, 2018, 02:51:37 AM

Quote from: CRKrueger;1029672I'm not sure that "High vs. Low" or "Epic vs. Grimy" explains my preferences.

"Overt vs. Covert" or "Present vs. In Your Face" or "Magic vs. Technology" might be a better way to phrase it.

Look at the Hyborian Age as Gronan pointed out. There's lots of magic present. Conan runs into Sorcerers, monsters or Demons in nearly every story. in Tower of the Elephant there's a city controlled by an immortal sorcerer and in the Scarlet Citadel, another immortal sorcerer essentially runs a kingdom. Then there's Stygia, Khitai, the Seers of Yimsha. In Aquilonia, the Priests of Asura (even though you don't see the direct action) have capabilities of magical communication and travel that wouldn't seem out of line in a D&D world, and even though they are hated, no one impedes or attacks their funeral barges because of their magical defenses.

Magic is frickin' everywhere. But, it's not In Your Face. People don't light lamps with magical lighters. Stygia is rumored to go to battle with Priests of Set who conjure plagues, but there is no Nemedian College of War Magic with squads of Pyromancers.

Magic is still dangerous and very powerful sorcerers are as rare or rarer than high-end academics.

I'd say generally I like magic, even if powerful, to not have gotten to the part where it starts replacing technology.
As far as types of campaigns go, I like worlds that are more human/realistic/verisimilar. But just because a Sword & Sorcery PC might be broke and on the run from his last titanic debauch, doesn't mean he can't hire on as a caravan guard and end up saving the world.

I also agree with this. I like my setting to be fantastical, as I'm sure I'm said before, probably in this thread. Like flying castles and continents, where select individuals have access to alien techniques that may or may not be actual magic, but like CR says, it's not 'In Yo' Face'.

RPGPundit · March 21, 2018, 11:18:49 PM

Grimy and Grimdark are two different things, you guys.

AsenRG · March 22, 2018, 09:05:08 AM

I know, but many settings might well combine all three.

Christopher Brady · March 22, 2018, 04:33:55 PM

Quote from: AsenRG;1030737I know, but many settings might well combine all three.

Ironically, Warhammer, the poster child for all things Grimdark does all three.

James Gillen · March 22, 2018, 06:12:38 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;1030673Grimy and Grimdark are two different things, you guys.

I guess we need a primer.

JG

Gronan of Simmerya · March 23, 2018, 02:29:03 PM

This is yet another reason why the original Arneson/Gygax paradigm of multiple PCs per player, played at different times, is genius. You can have a myriad of experiences in the single campaign.

AsenRG · March 25, 2018, 01:31:24 AM

Quote from: CRKrueger;1029673Is there a setting in particular you are thinking of that does not contain both?

Warhammer40k and Blue Rose;)?