Poll: Fantasy Stereotypes I try to avoid

[RatRace123]

The "Humans are dicks" stereotype.
Present in all forms of fiction that feature multiple sentient races.

I get that we can be assholes sometimes most of the times, but I'd like to think that in an entire country, there would be some decent humans outside of the protagonists.

 

[TheIronRuler]

The "Humans are dicks" stereotype.
Present in all forms of fiction that feature multiple sentient races.

I get that we can be assholes sometimes most of the times, but I'd like to think that in an entire country, there would be some decent humans outside of the protagonists.

That's the "greedy" part I added to humans.

 

[RatRace123]

That's the "greedy" part I added to humans.

Yeah, the racial (fantasy racial) stereotypes are what get me the most.

 

[Chrinik]

The worst stereotypes (coincidentally Tolkien inspired) are the axe wielding dwarf and the longbow wielding elf. Oh, and the human scion who uncovers his destiny.

Other stereotypes include the eccentic, possibly senile wizard and of course the unnamed doom looming over the land. What is it with unnamed doom? Can't we have named doom for a change?

EDIT - Buttered toast.

A named doom? Hm, how about Sauron, how´s that for a name?

To be clear on the Fantasy thing, I voted all of the above, simply for a fact that THESE elements MAKE UP fantasy, so excluding any of it will not make people recognize it as a fantasy story...
But to be fair, Orcs, Elves, Dwarfs and co, Magic and or "medival" setting, make the most appearance.
Hey, how about a fantasy story, which is set not in a fictional 11th century, but in a fictional 21st...I mean, common! Elven snipers, Orcs wielding RPGs and MGs, Dwarfen shock troopers...that would be AWESOME.
If it has been done, and it is any good, please point me in the direction, thanks.

 

[Chrinik]

There's another big cliche that's missing: The THING!

You know, the ring/sword/gem/potion/flower/armor/spell/staff/forge/...THING. It's the ONLY item that will let our hero/party/whiny teen destroy the ultimate evil wizard/dragon/spell/king/ancient god and let his family/town/country/world live happily ever after...

Until the sequel.

The technical term for that is "the MacGuffin"... "MacGuffin - a motivating element in a story that is used to drive the plot. It actually serves no further purpose."

 

[Tax_Document]

Rise of Legends had an awesome fantasy!

 

[slightly evil]

I'd go for Orcs, elves etc. but the chosen one thing gets to me above all the others. to paraphrase the great B.Y.S.G. Croshaw, there shouldn't be a 'standard fantasy setting'
and a small point, but fantasy and scifi are pretty much the same thing. (I prefer science to magic, or better yet, both)

 

[TheIronRuler]

I'd go for Orcs, elves etc. but the chosen one thing gets to me above all the others. to paraphrase the great B.Y.S.G. Croshaw, there shouldn't be a 'standard fantasy setting'
and a small point, but fantasy and scifi are pretty much the same thing. (I prefer science to magic, or better yet, both)

Ben Yahtzee Star-Gate Croshaw?

 

[rockyoumonkeys]

Honestly, I have no problem with any of those cliches. What bores me in fantasy is when it tries to be too "realistic". When there are large-scale battles and armies and political maneuvering. When things like magic and monsters are toned down or eliminated entirely and replaced with gritty battle-hardened men going to war. Those things don't interest me at all.

 

[TheIronRuler]

Honestly, I have no problem with any of those cliches. What bores me in fantasy is when it tries to be too "realistic". When there are large-scale battles and armies and political maneuvering. When things like magic and monsters are toned down or eliminated entirely and replaced with gritty battle-hardened men going to war. Those things don't interest me at all.

I have the exact opposite opinion from you.
People killing each other and making strategic marriages is fine.
But adding magic and unicorns is even better!

 

[Vault101]

The "Humans are dicks" stereotype.
Present in all forms of fiction that feature multiple sentient races.

I get that we can be assholes sometimes most of the times, but I'd like to think that in an entire country, there would be some decent humans outside of the protagonists.

dont forget the elves....those oh so supior elves who are totally awsome and better than human scum

The worst stereotypes (coincidentally Tolkien inspired) are the axe wielding dwarf and the longbow wielding elf. Oh, and the human scion who uncovers his destiny.

Other stereotypes include the eccentic, possibly senile wizard and of course the unnamed doom looming over the land. What is it with unnamed doom? Can't we have named doom for a change?

EDIT - Buttered toast.

A named doom? Hm, how about Sauron, how´s that for a name?

To be clear on the Fantasy thing, I voted all of the above, simply for a fact that THESE elements MAKE UP fantasy, so excluding any of it will not make people recognize it as a fantasy story...
But to be fair, Orcs, Elves, Dwarfs and co, Magic and or "medival" setting, make the most appearance.
Hey, how about a fantasy story, which is set not in a fictional 11th century, but in a fictional 21st...I mean, common! Elven snipers, Orcs wielding RPGs and MGs, Dwarfen shock troopers...that would be AWESOME.
If it has been done, and it is any good, please point me in the direction, thanks.

yeah Ive always thourght it would be interesting to have a story basically middle earth in moddern day

anyway as mentioned before this idea of "chosen one" generally just seems stupid I mean what youre enitre existance is to be the hero? wheres the fun in that?

 

[slightly evil]

I'd go for Orcs, elves etc. but the chosen one thing gets to me above all the others. to paraphrase the great B.Y.S.G. Croshaw, there shouldn't be a 'standard fantasy setting'
and a small point, but fantasy and scifi are pretty much the same thing. (I prefer science to magic, or better yet, both)

Ben Yahtzee Star-Gate Croshaw?

Benjamin Yahtzee Sebastian Godzilla Croshaw
from the ZP review of Neir I think

 

[SH4DOWSL4Y3R]

And lastly, Do you spread Jam, Butter or Chocolate on your bread or toast? (six options are available therefore I couldn't fit that in my poll).

i deem this the only question i shall answer for now, with Jam and vegemite, the toast of the (slightly insane) Gods!

 

[Grunt_Man11]

Tolkienesque "races" are a drag and proof positive of laziness. I give props to the occasional authors who at least make the minimal effort of disguising their elves, dwarves, hobbits, orcs and trolls with different names or surface appearances -- most can't even be bothered to do that -- but it's still not hard to identify them. (Plagiarized Tolkienesque or D&D monsters are a related cliches; any use of "wight" to denote "monster," for instance.)

I think there is another reason why many put Tolkenian races in their fantasy story. (Though for many of them laziness is the reason.)

The reason is that people will still make comparisons and claim they are the same as the Tolkenian standard races, or just seeing them as Orcs and Elves.

The writer could have a detailed list of fully developed races who each have their own original design, culture, customs, and name; but that won't some smart@$$ from coming along and stating that this race are "this world's Orcs," or "this world's Elves."

So some figure if people are just going to see them as Orcs and Elves anyway, then why not call them Orcs and Elves.

 

[Frotality]

elves and dwarves and their associated stereotypes.

side note: even so, i would love to see a modern fantasy...something with those stereotypes, where dwarves are wall street and elves are pretentious art snobs. perhaps mages end up like immigrant workers using their magic to mass produce some magitech goods.

 

[TheIronRuler]

I've been reading your posts and I want to comment about what I am about to do in my universe - whatever different race or different culture I may introduce, they'll all be human.
Not Humanoid, but human.
I could introduce african-like traders from afar, or asian-like merceneries coming to the land to become rich. I can even pretend to have Neanderthals still alive in a far distant land (though I probaly won't do that.)
There are distinct traits that differ us from other humans (though very few) some cause complete seperation, like skin color or the shape of ones' eyes.
Think about it, a black emissary coming to greet the king only to be jailed and executed for being... black? only for being different, their religion can condem them or accept them.

If I am going to have distinct humaniod races, then I will probably use the following methid :
Man with physical deformity gets banished from his home. he sets up a tavern along the way. He gathers similar humans and they form a village. A rumor of Dwarve-like/elve-like/randomname-like village spreads, the village grows and they build walls. Then all deformed people are welcomed to be there as the superior race, and all born 'normal' are inferior and must be banished (Or maybe have an exmination like in the Spartan culture). There you go - A city of little people claiming they are the next stage in evolution! You'd have normal people liviong in hiding as their parents don't want to dispose of them, conflicts between two factions - one for equality for all men and the other for the superiority of their 'race', etc.
The protagonist can be that guy that fucks it all up and tells them they're mutants. That's be a laugh.

 

[Bobbity]

Feudalism is fine, but the others are all a tad over-used. Doesn't mean that they can't still be good if used well though.