I think the definition changes from one group to the next.

The fantasy genre is probably the most well liked, heavily used genre in TTRPGs. I don’t think everyone digs medieval European fantasy as much as the industry force feeds it to us. Personally, I like a mix of different cultures and genres. However, Dragonbane, my fantasy game of choice currently, is pretty much the definition of medieval European fantasy given that it came from Europe.

Disclaimer: Statements expressed in this article are strictly my opinion. If you disagree or have a different opinion, that’s okay. I’m not an expert on everything. I’m not always right. I’m just writing from my experience as I know it. Your mileage may vary.

But the very term “fantasy” takes on such a wide scope and volume of different aspects and subgenres. Star Trek is science fantasy. Harry Potter is alternate modern-ish world fantasy. (Ignore the whole JK Rowling controversy for a second.) Lord of the Rings is pretty much the poster child for medieval fantasy. Journey to the West and all of its sequels are Eastern/Asian steampunk fantasy. My point is “fantasy” is whatever, whenever, however we want it to look.

It could be super subtle like a witch who can create a cup of tea by waving her hand over a cup of water. The magic scale usually determines at least part of what defines fantasy. Technology we don’t understand can appear as magic. This tale has been retold in Babylon 5 and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Our cell phones would appear quite magical to a peasant in medieval India.

Dragonbane Mirth & Mayhem.

I prefer mid to lower magic in my TTRPGs. Dragonbane has some spells, but magic items have been left to the imaginations of Game Masters and players unlike other games that have entire books of them. Yes, Dungeons & Dragons can be run with no magic. I’ve seen it done. I just think it’s better suited to more magic.

(*Please note that Free League Publishing doesn’t pay me to talk about their games. I just love Dragonbane that freakin much! Please forgive my adoration.)

Another aspect of fantasy is that of monsters. We see this all the way from H.P. Lovecraft’s works all the way down to modern paranormal YouTube with the occasional vaguely identifiable as something weird cryptid sightings. Are they real or just a product of someone’s imagination? Is it just simple pareidolia? Personally, I believe we live in a world of energy and vibration where all manner of things exist that seem impossible. What’s real and what is fantasy intersect in the strangest of places sometimes. (*I’ll have to rewrite the synchronicity article sometime. There are things out there so strange you just can’t make them up.)

Without crossing the lines between fantasy and reality too much, I just wanted to point out that fantasy is a broad multi-spectrum continuum that stretches in several different directions at once. With all of the various fantasy TTRPGs that sprouted up in 2023-now, we’re seeing a lot of the common medieval fantasy tropes. Here in the next few years I predict we will see a shift in the directions of modern and future fantasy situations. (I’m still hoping for a massive superhero genre revival, but…)

What I’m trying to say is always keep an open mind when it comes to creating fantasy content. You can go subtle, or you can go cosmic. Magic and monsters can take many forms and create many situations. Anything that takes the ordinary up a notch into weird and extraordinary could be fantastic.

Thank you for being here with me today. I appreciate you. Keep it real, but please strive for positivity, too. Please embrace the things that bring you the most joy in your life.