Medieval European Fantasy: Difference between revisions

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Christianity can occur, but is [[Lowest Cosmic Denominator|fairly rare]]. [[Mythopoeia]] is possible, as well as [[Crystal Dragon Jesus]]. This will partly depend on whether it's a [[High Fantasy]] or [[Low Fantasy]] setting, as [[Religion Is Magic|religion and magic are often closely associated]].

This is also frequently the setting of Japanese [[RPG]]s, [[Wutai]] aside. And mostly Western [[RPG]]s in between Sci-Fi games. And the first settings of ''[[Dungeons ~~and~~ Dragons]]'' are perhaps the most well-known example (even though most D&D setting avert this trope, sheer popularity of Faerûn setting makes this trope almost synonymous with D&D). Notably averted however in [[Wuxia]], which is a sister trope (Chinese fantasy with a long literary tradition, set in a pseudo-historical [[Alternate Universe]] China, featuring magic, [[Knight Errant|wandering errant martial artists]], legendary artifacts, [[Dragons]] and the rest). Played straight in Japanese [[Anime]], oddly enough, except for works like ''[[Princess Mononoke]]''.

This is also frequently the setting of Japanese [[RPG]]s, [[Wutai]] aside. And mostly Western [[RPG]]s in between Sci-Fi games. And the first settings of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' are perhaps the most well-known example (even though most D&D setting avert this trope, sheer popularity of Faerûn setting makes this trope almost synonymous with D&D). Notably averted however in [[Wuxia]], which is a sister trope (Chinese fantasy with a long literary tradition, set in a pseudo-historical [[Alternate Universe]] China, featuring magic, [[Knight Errant|wandering errant martial artists]], legendary artifacts, [[Dragons]] and the rest). Played straight in Japanese [[Anime]], oddly enough, except for works like ''[[Princess Mononoke]]''.

[[Hollywood History|Often depicts]] the setting as more [[Arcadia]] and the [[Ghibli Hills]] than the actual medieval Europeans viewed it as, though [[The Dung Ages|not always]].

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* ''[[Magic Knight Rayearth]]'' has an interesting subversion. Cephiro itself is certainly Medieval European Fantasy. But the three Magic Knights are summoned from Japan. And Autozam represents the United States of America, Chizeta represents India, and Fahren represents China.

* ''[[Panzer World Galient]]''

* ''[[Record of Lodoss War]]'' (Based directly on the creator's [[Tabletop Games]] campaign. They started out playing ''[[Dungeons ~~and~~ Dragons]]'' but later switched to the Japanese system ''Sword World RPG'' and, after that, a game system of their own invention.)

* ''[[Record of Lodoss War]]'' (Based directly on the creator's [[Tabletop Games]] campaign. They started out playing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' but later switched to the Japanese system ''Sword World RPG'' and, after that, a game system of their own invention.)

* ''[[Rune Soldier Louie]]'' (set in the ''[[Record of Lodoss War]]'' universe)

* ''[[Scrapped Princess]]''

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* The [[Deryni]] works of [[Katherine Kurtz]] feature feudal governance and a Christian Church to rival the secular government.

* The Kingdom of the Isles from ''[[The Riftwar Cycle]]'', although it's implied this may be because its people are [[Transplanted Humans|directly descended from European refugees fleeing the Enemy]], in the same way that Kesh is of Asian stock.

* Being based on the setting that gave birth to [[RPG]]s, more or less any book universe based off of ''[[Dungeons ~~and~~ Dragons]]''. Especially ''[[Dragonlance]]''.

* Being based on the setting that gave birth to [[RPG]]s, more or less any book universe based off of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''. Especially ''[[Dragonlance]]''.

* Averted by the ''[[Earthsea Trilogy]]'': the people are various shades of brown (except for the barbarians, who are white), and the society seems more ancient than medieval.

* ''[[Ranger's Apprentice]]'' is a young adult/children's series with this setting. Occasionally the stories move beyond "Europe", however.

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== [[Tabletop Games]] ==

* The most famous gaming examples are, [[Ur Example|of course]], the majority of settings for ''[[Dungeons ~~and~~ Dragons]]''.

* The most famous gaming examples are, [[Ur Example|of course]], the majority of settings for ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''.

** D&D actually subverts this trope big time. Only Greyhawk and Faerûn truly qualify. Maztica is [[Mayincatec]], Kara-Tur is [[Far East]], Rashemen/Thay is [[Darkest Africa]], Zakhara is [[Qurac]] of Arabian Nights variety, [[Dark Sun|Athas]] is based on Ancient Mesopotamia/Egypt , [[Ravenloft]] is [[Anachronism Stew]] with strong hints of 19th century, [[Dragonlance]], despite its chivalric orders is vaguely pre-medieval and don't even get me started on [[Planescape]] multiverse...

* [[Justified Trope|Justified]] in ''[[GURPS]] Fantasy'' with the world of Yrth, where a massive magical backfire several centuries before the current date transported in large numbers of humans from medieval Europe, who then did their best to build themselves a new home that looked and worked more or less like what they came from. Simultaneously ''double'' subverted by the nation of Sahud—first, it was populated with medieval ''Asians'', and second, they were mostly peasants from four or five different cultures, who tried to do the same as the Europeans but ended up with a society that looked less like any actual Asian nation of the period and more like ''The Mikado'' on acid, as written by [[Monty Python]].

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== [[Video Games]] ==

* The ''vast'' majority of western [[RPG]]s (as shown by the page quote). Listing exceptions would probably be easier.

** This was likely caused by ''[[Dungeons ~~and~~ Dragons]]''. Many western [[RPG]]s basically [[Follow the Leader|seek to be as much like Dungeons and Dragons as possible]], even when they aren't actually owned by the same company.

** This was likely caused by ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''. Many western [[RPG]]s basically [[Follow the Leader|seek to be as much like Dungeons and Dragons as possible]], even when they aren't actually owned by the same company.

* Many eastern rpgs and adventure games as well.

** This is probably cause by long running series such as ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'', ''[[Fire Emblem]]'', and ''[[Final Fantasy]]'', all of which started in the mid to late 80's.

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* ''[[Castlevania]]'' takes place at various points in history, including the [[Middle Ages]], [[The Renaissance]], the modern age, and even [[Twenty Minutes Into the Future]], though the overall aesthetic is [[Gothic Horror]].

* ''[[Phantasy Star III]]'' has a variant: {{spoiler|it turns out that the entire medieval-style world the game takes place in is in reality an Arc-like spaceship that was fleeing the destruction of a very technologically advanced planet, and all the inhabitants are descendants of the ship's original population. After about 1,000 years and a lot of conflict, they lost their ancestors' technological advancements as well as the knowledge about the real nature of their world.}}

* ''[[~~Runescape~~]]''

* ''[[RuneScape]]''

* Most of ''[[The Elder Scrolls]]'' games plays this more-or-less straight, the main exception being ''[[Morrowind]]'', which has as one minor theme the [[Culture Clash]] between the Empire's Medieval European Fantasy-ness and the Dunmer's native traditions. There are also elements of [[Steampunk]] with the Dwemer ruins.

* Medieval Mode in ''[[Team Fortress 2]]'' and the ''cp_degrootkeep'' map, which surprisingly has modern-day computers hidden in the castle.

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[[Category:Speculative Fiction]]

[[Category:Video Game Settings]]

[[Category:~~Medieval European Fantasy~~]]

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]