History Main / StandardJapaneseFantasySetting

* '''Monsters and [[MonstrousHumanoid Demihumans]]:'''[[note]]Any species which is regarded as non-human. Some can be [[BizarreAlienBiology extremely far removed from humanoids]], while others may be humanoid or civilized enough to be regarded as "demihuman", which also sometimes takes the place of Beastfolk or are lumped in with mazoku. Where the line is drawn between monsters and demihumans, or [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman whether or not said line exists to begin with]], is often disputed even InUniverse.[[/note]]

* '''Monsters and [[MonstrousHumanoid Demihumans]]:'''[[note]]Any species which is regarded as non-human. Some can be [[BizarreAlienBiology extremely far removed from humanoids]], while others may be humanoid or civilized enough to be regarded as "demihuman", which also sometimes takes the place of Beastfolk or are lumped in with mazoku. Where the line is drawn between monsters and demihumans, or [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman if there even IS a line]], is often disputed even InUniverse.[[/note]]

*** Dark elves are dark-skinned and sometimes blonde rather than having [[AmazingTechnicolorPopulation unearthly blue or black skin]], and usually function more like an ethnicity than a separate race. While they live separately from other elves (who they may be in conflict with), and sometimes have strange customs or [[EvilMakeover a more villainous fashion sense]], [[DarkIsNotEvil they are not usually evil]].

** In terms of races, it features the trinity of humans, elves, and dwarves, who inhabit the continent of Dicathen. It has its own take on the demon race in the form of the Vritra Clan of basilisks and their Alacryan ServantRace, who are ostensibly humans but with the blood of the Vritra in their veins making them spout various inhuman features, most notably HornsOfVillainy. The basilisks themselves are one of the eight races of Asuras, the PhysicalGod[=s=] of the world who are essentially a MageSpecies responsible for uplifting the mortal populations of both Dicathen and Alacrya, and their ranks include more esoteric races such as dragons, phoenixes, leviathans, hamadryads, sylphs, titans, and the unique pantheon race whom are the ProudWarriorRace among them. There is even [[spoiler:a long-extinct race of {{Precursors}}, the Djinn, who not only left behind their ruins across both Dicathen and Alacrya, but from whom the protagonist and his family descend from]].
** The setting is primarily a MedievalEuropeanFantasy and despite not being a true RPGMechanicsVerse does feature several RPG-esque elements. Aside from the usual AdventureGuild[=s=], DungeonCrawling, and E to S rank classifications for both adventurers and mana beasts, the progression of mages can be assessed via the level of their mana core, which range from black all the way to white. Mana crystals are also used in the creation of various artifacts. In addition, both Dicathen and Alacrya are mostly in MedievalStasis due to {{Magitek}} having taken precedence over mundane technology, and FantasyGunControl is in effect with gunpowder weapons being a relatively new innovation.
** The story seems to invoke a LightDarknessJuxtaposition as seen in the DivineConflict between the Indrath and the Vritra, but it ultimately turns out to be a major case of [[spoiler:GodAndSatanAreBothJerks. The Vritra are already reprehensible enough antagonists given their warmongering, FantasticRacism towards their Alacryan subjects, and unethical experimentation, but it is revealed that the reason for their StartOfDarkness was because they uncovered the DarkSecret of the Indrath and got exiled for it. It is revealed that the Indrath committed genocide on the ancient Djinn out of petty jealousy over their mastery of aether, and even in the present prove to be no better than the Vritra given how they still end up orchestrating genocide throughout various points in the story]]. Notably, despite this portrayal, the religious aspect is heavily downplayed as the Asuras, despite being perceived as gods, are not often worshipped.

[[folder: Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'' is a sandbox RPG which took some influence from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' plus most of the contents of this trope, including a protagonist that is TrappedInAnotherWorld, characters with common anime stereotypes, enemies like [[BlobMonster Slimes]] and [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent Hilichurls]], and a IWillFindYou main plot that will lead him/her to wondering all the new world looking for "[[PhysicalGod The Seven]]". It's very "Japanese Fantasy Setting" but it was made by Chinese company Creator/MiHoYo, the creators of ''VideoGame/HonkaiImpact3rd''.

* ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'' is a JRPG Sandbox game which took some influence on ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' plus most of the contents of this trope, including a protagonist that is TrappedInAnotherWorld, characters with common anime stereotypes, enemies like [[BlobMonster Slimes]] and [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent Hilichurls]], and a IWillFindYou main plot that will lead him/her to wondering all the new world looking for "[[PhysicalGod The Seven]]". It's very "Japanese Fantasy Setting" but it was made by Chinese company Creator/MiHoYo, the creators of ''VideoGame/HonkaiImpact3rd''.

** [[MasterArcher Archers]]: Will usually be lithe and lean, and physically weaker than the melee classes. Their bows will almost invariably be longbows or shortbows -- crossbows may be used en masse by a trained RedShirtArmy, but "heroes", adventurers and other important characters will prefer firing by hand.

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'' is a JRPG Sandbox game which took some influence on ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' plus most of the contents of this trope, including a protagonist that is TrappedInAnotherWorld, characters with common anime stereotypes, enemies like [[BlobMonster Slimes]] and [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent Hilichurls]], and a IWillFindYou main plot that will lead him/her to wondering all the new world looking for "[[PhysicalGod The Seven]]". It's very "Japanese Fantasy Setting" but it was made by Chinese company Creator/MiHoYo, the creators of ''VideoGame/HonkaiImpact3rd''.
[[/folder]]

** MasterSwordsmen: A specialist in wielding swords better than anyone else, often capable of {{Speed Blitz}}ing enemies by [[CleanCut cutting them in half]] before they can react, or swinging their sword so hard that it can [[SwordBeam cut from a distance]]. Often wield [[KatanasAreJustBetter the most katana-like swords they can get their hands on]], or are outright referred to as "samurai". While they commonly wield one-handed swords, they will very rarely use it with a [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe shield]]. [[RoyalRapier Fencers and rapier-wielders]] are almost always either [[DaintyCombat women]], [[{{Bishonen}} effeminate men]], or the occasional GentlemanAdventurer, sometimes even crossing over with {{Wuxia}}.

* ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'' is a JRPG Sandbox game which took some influence on ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' plus most of the contents of this trope, including a protagonist that is TrappedInAnotherWorld, characters with common anime stereotypes, enemies like [[BlobMonster Slimes]] and [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent Hilichurls]], and a IWillFindYou main plot that will lead him/her to wondering all the new world looking for "[[PhysicalGod The Seven]]". It's very "Japanese Fantasy Setting" but it was made by Chinese company Creator/MiHoYo, the creators of ''VideoGame/HonkaiImpact3rd''.

The first TropeCodifier of Japanese MedievalEuropeanFantasy comes from 1986, when the [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs video game/manga/video game manga]] magazine ''Comptiq'' began publishing "Replays" -- [[AfterActionReport transcripts]] of a ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons, TabletopGame/RuneQuest,'' and ''TabletopGame/TunnelsAndTrolls'' fusion campaign titled ''Roleplay/RecordOfLodossWar''. ''Lodoss'' became popular enough to receive paperback compilations and even be edited into a novel series, which would go on to become some of Japan's first domestic HighFantasy literature. Pressure from lawyers at TSR would force ''Lodoss'' to switch from ''D&D'' to a homebrew system, which would eventually become the basis for ''TabletopGame/SwordWorldRPG'' (a.k.a. the ''2d6 System''), produced by Group SNE (translators for many Western tabletop [=RPGs=] at the time).

[[folder:Roleplay]]
* ''Roleplay/RecordOfLodossWar'' is one of the {{Trope Codifier}}s for Japanese media. Originally an AfterActionReport of a ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' campaign and later adapted to every medium under the sun, it was the first introduction of many Japanese fans to ''D&D''-style fantasy, later becoming the inspiration for dozens of anime, light novels and video games.
[[/folder]]