Post by Kenneth New on Oct 8, 2013 16:00:27 GMT -5
I just read an article by James Wyatt at the Wizards web site, called "Who got science in my fantasy?". I suggest people read the article if they want to follow the discussion in this thread.
I've come to the conclusion that James Wyatt and I are probably pretty incompatible as far fantasy and gaming preferences are concerned. He's enthralled with the grandeur of Tolkien, where I'm a much bigger fan of Robert E. Howard, Fritz Lieber and especially George RR Martin. I'm more likely to be inspired by a novel by Mario Puzzo. Louis L'Amour or Ken Follet when designing a fantasy world or adventure than I am to be inspired by a high fantasy novel.
In Rhiada creatures (humanoid or not) that live in the world follow the rules of science. They evolved from earlier forms, they can be accurately described by the science of anthropology and their cultures must make sense in a historical and behavioral sense. You can't assume that every orc, or group of orcs, is evil by nature because no non-planar race is inherently evil (or good).
There are exceptions. Creatures that are purely supernatural have magical origins that cannot be explained by science. This category includes elementals, genies, demons, devils, agathions, angels, deva, daemons, and other planar beings. Even fey creatures can fall into this category.
The background for Tolkien's works are the myths and legends of the ancient world, enclosed in a thick framework of catholic symbolism. And this is why I'm not much of a Tolkien fan.
I've come to the conclusion that James Wyatt and I are probably pretty incompatible as far fantasy and gaming preferences are concerned. He's enthralled with the grandeur of Tolkien, where I'm a much bigger fan of Robert E. Howard, Fritz Lieber and especially George RR Martin. I'm more likely to be inspired by a novel by Mario Puzzo. Louis L'Amour or Ken Follet when designing a fantasy world or adventure than I am to be inspired by a high fantasy novel.
In Rhiada creatures (humanoid or not) that live in the world follow the rules of science. They evolved from earlier forms, they can be accurately described by the science of anthropology and their cultures must make sense in a historical and behavioral sense. You can't assume that every orc, or group of orcs, is evil by nature because no non-planar race is inherently evil (or good).
There are exceptions. Creatures that are purely supernatural have magical origins that cannot be explained by science. This category includes elementals, genies, demons, devils, agathions, angels, deva, daemons, and other planar beings. Even fey creatures can fall into this category.
The background for Tolkien's works are the myths and legends of the ancient world, enclosed in a thick framework of catholic symbolism. And this is why I'm not much of a Tolkien fan.