This isn't a rant or a complaint, just generally interested to find out why for example, mages have to more or less wear robes (i know there's sub categories such as battle mage etc), why dwarves have to have long beards, be stout etc and elfs have to be slender and are always considered the wisest race in almost (not all) every RPG video game, board game, film etc, etc I have ever seen. It seems creators are forced to adhere to a certain unwritten rule book when implementing certain mythical races.
RPG stereotyping - how did it all come about?
Débuté par
BlacJAC74
, déc. 20 2014 01:49
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#3
Posté 20 décembre 2014 - 01:53
Kaiser Arian XVII
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I blame Bethesda and Bioware.
#4
Guest_Lathrim_*
Posté 20 décembre 2014 - 01:53
Guest_Lathrim_*
Guest_Lathrim_*
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They can typically be traced back to one such example that turned out to be financially and critically successful. Lord of the Rings, for one, contains a significant number of fantasy stereotypes that you have mentioned.
From there onwards, it's a matter of not fixing what isn't broken. If X works, it works. Going against the rules is not a popular decision in the entertainment industry, and there's a reason for that-- failure is thought of as more likely to happen when one does that.
- A Crusty Knight Of Colour aime ceci
#5
Posté 20 décembre 2014 - 02:00
Jeremiah12LGeek
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My guess is that is because of Tolkien's work.
This is the answer to 90% of all questions about why fantasy/RPG things are the way they are.
The only reason D&D has "halflings" is because of copyright.
#6
Posté 20 décembre 2014 - 02:02
Liamv2
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My guess is that is because of Tolkien's work.
Pretty much this. Most fantasy stories are based in Tolkien esque universes.
#7
Posté 20 décembre 2014 - 02:04
mousestalker
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Tolkien, then the need to balance races and classes for D&D. That's why wizards generally do not get to wear armour.
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#8
Posté 20 décembre 2014 - 02:06
LoonySpectre
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Mages in robes are done mostly for competitive balance. I would prefer heavily armoured mage with ranged spells to a heavily armoured warrior with a sword 20 times out of 20.
#9
Posté 20 décembre 2014 - 02:12
BlacJAC74
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Thanks for the answers, people. Makes sense about the mages now it has been spelled out for me. Just never understood and looking at it logically, why a mage would go into battle dressed in something that amounts to no more than a thin piece of cloth and why elven races aren't stout whilst Dwarven races aren't slender.
#10
Posté 20 décembre 2014 - 02:19
Beerfish
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Mages in robes make perfect sense, go back to the DnD games read up and see why. They have to make subtle moves, have lots of room for spell components etc.
#11
Posté 20 décembre 2014 - 02:27
Kaiser Arian XVII
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I didn't read the content of OP, just the title. Current RPG is like this because of Bethesda and Bioware.
But the whole thing began with Tolkien and then developed by D&D games and stories.
