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Unique and Underutilized Fantasy Settings; Where You At?
Why Don’t We See More [fill-in-the-blank] Fantasy?
Even to this day, most fantasy feels Tolkien’esque. I love Tolkien’esque fantasy. However, I also love outliers that take place in unique or underutilized fantasy settings. This episode of the podcast throws out a couple examples of non-traditional fantasy worlds and wonders, “Why don’t we see more?”
Space Fantasy
Star Wars isn’t science fiction. Instead, I argue it’s a space fantasy and contains traditional sword and sorcery elements spun in a unique way. I also call out some of my favorite RPGs, past and present, as good examples of fantasies set in space.
Colonial Fantasy
Colonial fantasy – sword and sorcery meets black powder weaponry – is quickly becoming my favorite genre. Melee weapons, magic and guns exist in tense balance with each other. I throw out a couple favorites demonstrating this particular setting at its finest.
CORRECTION: Luc Besson had nothing to do with Brotherhood of the Wolf. I got this wrong in the podcast; it was directed by Christophe Gans.
Other Underutilized Fantasy Settings
In addition to space and colonial fantasy I call out a few other under-represented time periods. Would the wild west work? What about the stone age? I also wonder aloud why the Tolkien’esque world remains the go-to setting.
References
Phantasy Star IV
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantasy_Star_IV:_The_End_of_the_Millennium
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
https://www.gog.com/game/arcanum_of_steamworks_and_magick_obscura
A Promise of Blood, Book 1 in Brian McClellan’s Powder Mage Trilogy
https://www.amazon.com/Promise-Blood-Powder-Mage-Trilogy/dp/0316219045
The Gunslinger Born, published by Marvel Comics
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Tower-Gunslinger-Peter-David/dp/0785121447/
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Why Don’t We See More [fill-in-the-blank] Fantasy?
Even to this day, most fantasy feels Tolkien’esque. I love Tolkien’esque fantasy. However, I also love outliers that take place in unique or underutilized fantasy settings. This episode of the podcast throws out a couple examples of non-traditional fantasy worlds and wonders, “Why don’t we see more?”
Space Fantasy
Star Wars isn’t science fiction. Instead, I argue it’s a space fantasy and contains traditional sword and sorcery elements spun in a unique way. I also call out some of my favorite RPGs, past and present, as good examples of fantasies set in space.
Colonial Fantasy
Colonial fantasy – sword and sorcery meets black powder weaponry – is quickly becoming my favorite genre. Melee weapons, magic and guns exist in tense balance with each other. I throw out a couple favorites demonstrating this particular setting at its finest.
CORRECTION: Luc Besson had nothing to do with Brotherhood of the Wolf. I got this wrong in the podcast; it was directed by Christophe Gans.
Other Underutilized Fantasy Settings
In addition to space and colonial fantasy I call out a few other under-represented time periods. Would the wild west work? What about the stone age? I also wonder aloud why the Tolkien’esque world remains the go-to setting.
References
Phantasy Star IV
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantasy_Star_IV:_The_End_of_the_Millennium
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
https://www.gog.com/game/arcanum_of_steamworks_and_magick_obscura
A Promise of Blood, Book 1 in Brian McClellan’s Powder Mage Trilogy
https://www.amazon.com/Promise-Blood-Powder-Mage-Trilogy/dp/0316219045
The Gunslinger Born, published by Marvel Comics
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Tower-Gunslinger-Peter-David/dp/0785121447/