History Main / StandardFantasySetting

* The local geography is usually pseud-European in appaerence, with areas based on Africa or Asia serving as more remote exotic locals while no direct equivalent of the Americas and Australia is likely to be present.

* Ente Isla from ''Literature/TheDevilIsAPartTimer''.

* ''Literature/InheritanceCycle''.

* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', the TropeMaker, shares a universe with ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'', ''Literature/HistoryOfMiddleEarth'', and the rest of Literature/TolkiensLegendarium. It made and/or [[TropeCodifier codified]] many of the associated tropes, including LeftJustifiedFantasyMap, the StandardFantasyRaces, an AlwaysChaoticEvil enemy race that forms the backbone of TheHorde (although Tolkien was never entirely comfortable with this one), {{Arcadia}}, and even some light FantasyCounterpartCulture (with the Shire as a stand-in for rural pre-WWI England, and Gondor being compared to Byzantium by WordOfGod).

** The local geography usually includes a variety of pseudo-medieval farming villages, a ShiningCity or a few, the BigBad's ominous fortress, [[GrimUpNorth frozen and barbaric northlands]], and a sprawling EnchantedForest.

[[AC:Geography and Setting]]
* The world is usually [[MedievalEuropeanFantasy an European-style pseudo-Medieval setting]], with temeperate landscapes, architeture, and society loosely based on a generalized version of pre-modern Europe.
** Human societies usually include at least a few {{Fantasy Counterpart Culture}}s, especially if they're based on [[CreatorProvincialism the author's own culture]]. Particularly common ones are pseudo-Viking raiders, pseudo-Mongol HordesFromTheEast, a decadent foreign empire that may resemble the Byzantines, Turks or Persians, and a "base" society broadly resembling late medieval Western Europe.
** Generally MedievalStasis; the general dividing line is that any technology that Creator/LeonardoDaVinci wouldn't have drawn renders the setting non-compliant, unless said technology is a [[LostTechnology relic of the past]]. Some kind of explicit FantasyGunControl may also be in play: you'd better learn how to use a bow, Mack, 'cause that gun's just gonna click.
** The SwordAndSandal subgenre thrives in a FantasyCounterpartCulture in the ancient world and -- just to make life confusing -- can [[DecadeDissonance cheerfully co-exist]] with other portions of the world having a pseudo-medieval setting. Similarly, technology is [[SchizoTech often all over the place]], with Iron, Bronze, and Stone-age weapons existing alongside actual Middle Age- and early Renaissance-era weapons, while clothing and architecture may appear more Victorian than medieval. The local religion, similarly, tends to be mixture of ancient and medieval, often resembling something like Classical polytheism structured like the Roman Catholic Church.
** The local geography usually includes a variety of pseudo-medieval farming villages, a ShiningCity or a few, the BigBad's ominous fortress, [[GrimUpNorth frozen and barbaric northlands]], and a sprawling EnchantedForest.

* [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Dragons]]: Dragons are, after all, central to both the TropeMaker (''Literature/TheHobbit'') and the TropeCodifier (''Dungeons and '''Dragons''''')

'''Natives:'''
* Post-Tolkien, this usually has at least three of the StandardFantasyRaces of heroic peoples.
** [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Dwarves]]: Stout, honest folk who live in underground halls in the mountains.
** [[OurElvesAreDifferent Elves]]: Ancient, delicate and declining, they live in {{Treetop Town}}s in ancient forests or in shining cities.
** Humans: [[HumansAreAverage The most mundane group]], usually making up the majority of the population and having the most countries. Often, humans are divided into multiple groups. Normally, this is done by using [[PeopleOfHairColor hair color]] and/or a FantasyCounterpartCulture. Some cases may further divide humans by the natives and [[TrappedInAnotherWorld the modern kid who]] [[ReincarnateInAnotherWorld dropped in]].
** Any of the above called by [[NotUsingTheZWord a different name]] is allowed. (This applies to [[HumansByAnyOtherName humans, too]].)
** FantasticSapientSpeciesTropes in general.
* [[OurMonstersAreDifferent Monsters]]: These are usually divided between regular wild monsters (which can range from slightly more aggressive wild beasts to things like griffins and dragons) and monstrous sapient beings, such as goblins, orcs, trolls, ogres, or any sort of big, ugly, muscled humanoid filling in the basic niche. They're barbaric, hostile, and a constant danger to the heroic peoples, but modern works may portray them more sympathetically.

'''Countries and governments:'''

'''Magic and Powers:'''

'''Geography and Setting:'''

'''Common ingredients:'''

* Countries and governments:
** TheEmpire: The primary antagonistic government, usually the largest as well. The Empire is powerful, decadent, amoral and expansionistic; it's usually ruled by squabbling nobility competing for power with each other while trying to court favor with the ruler, and will eye its neighbors with acquisitive interest. It may be led by the story's main villain, in which case stopping it when it tries to conquer the world will be the primary focus of the story.
** TheGoodKingdom: Usually the land the heroes come from, a bright and peaceful land of rolling hills, rustic hamlets and bustling cities. It will typically be menaced by the Empire/Dark Lord/Horde's ambitions and plots.
** TheAlliance: This will typically either replace or include the Good Kingdom. Once the villain makes itself known, the good nations of the world will band together in an alliance to defend themselves.
** TheHorde: A great mass of monsters, barbarians and despoilers on the warpath. In some works, the Horde will be acting of its own initiative; in others, it'll be the army or pawn of a greater force. It's usually [[TheUndead undead]] or [[OurOrcsAreDifferent orcish]], and every so often made up of {{beast m|an}}en when the author wants a little variety or is a [[UsefulNotes/FurryFandom fur fan]]. For even more variety, all three may turn up at once.
** {{Bland Name|Product}} versions of {{Camelot}} and {{Avalon}}.
* {{Standard royal court}}s. {{Decadent Court}}s may be added if the world is [[CrapsackWorld terrible]] or a DarkFantasy setting.
* [[MedievalEuropeanFantasy A (usually) European-style Pseudo-Medieval setting.]]
** Often one or more {{Fantasy Counterpart Culture}}s, especially if they're based on [[CreatorProvincialism the author's own culture]].
** Generally MedievalStasis; the general dividing line is that any technology that Creator/LeonardoDaVinci wouldn't have drawn renders the setting non-compliant, unless said technology is a [[LostTechnology Relic Of The Past]].
*** FantasyGunControl: You'd better learn how to use a bow, Mack, 'cause that gun's just gonna click.
** The SwordAndSandal subgenre thrives in a FantasyCounterpartCulture in the ancient world and -- just to make life confusing -- can [[DecadeDissonance cheerfully co-exist]] with other portions of the world having a pseudo-medieval setting.
*** Similarly, technology is [[SchizoTech often all over the place]], with Iron, Bronze, and Stone-age weapons existing alongside actual Middle Age- and early Renaissance-era weapons with clothing and architecture that may appear more Victorian than medeival.
** The local geography usually includes a variety of pseudo-medieval farming villages, a ShiningCity or a few, the BigBad's ominous fortress, [[GrimUpNorth frozen and barbaric northlands]], and a sprawling EnchantedForest.

The generic {{fantasy}} setting. HighFantasy, HeroicFantasy, and LowFantasy are usually set here, along with many {{Tabletop RPG}}s and {{Video Game}}s; however, this is not required. This is NewerThanTheyThink. TropeMaker ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', though written earlier, only developed a cult following in TheSixties. ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', beginning in 1974, and ''[[Literature/TheSwordOfShannaraTrilogy The Sword of Shannara]]'', the 1977 first novel by Creator/TerryBrooks, acted as {{Trope Codifier}}s.

All of the above are inherited, to one extent or another, from [[FollowTheLeader Following The Leadership]] of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings.''

See also StandardJapaneseFantasySetting, to see how Japan has further shaped the trope.

* The author of ''Manga/DragonKnights'' is a huge fan of ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' and it ''shows''. Even though it's a Japanese series, none of the names adapt well to the Japanese language, there are European-style castles, and European-style dragons. There are four races: humans, dragons, faeries, and demons, everyone important seems to carry swords, and most of them have magic. Also, dragons.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} Fantasy''; the Empire and the Dwarves ''heavily'' utilize firearms and even have experimental SteamPunk technology, while the Skaven's {{Magitek}} gives them [[IncrediblyLamePun ratling]] [[GatlingGood guns]], rat-portable flamethrowers, sniper rifles, energy cannons, mechanical lighting-spewing hamster-wheels, etc.

* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': Though it's diverged a lot, it's still clearly this (or ''Warhammer Fantasy'') at the foundations, but [[DarkerAndEdgier darker]], and [[RecycledInSpace on a galactic scale]] [[{{GRIMDARK}} and darker]] -- there are the elves (Eldar), dwarves (Squats, [[CanonDiscontinuity wiped out]] for not fitting the tone), orcs (Orks), the Forces of Darkness (Chaos) in an interstellar {{Mordor}} (The Eye of Terror) the Kingdom of Men (The Imperium of Man) with [[ThePaladin paladin knights]] (the {{Space Marine}}s) and the absent True King (the GodEmperor of Man, confined to the life-support of the Golden Throne).

* The setting of ''Literature/SwordOfShadows'' resembles the standard, but is set in [[GrimUpNorth the subarctic regions of its world]], is missing nonhuman races except for the Sull (a ProudWarriorRace of elf-equivalents) and [[TheUndead the Unmade]], and the focus is more heavily on the "barbarian" Clansmen than the "civilized" part of the world.

* ''Podcast/{{Hello From the Magic Tavern}}'', in order to {{parody}} the genre, intentionally takes place in a mashup of ''Literature/{{The Lord of the Rings}}, Literature/{{Narina}}, Literature/{{Harry Potter}}, Videogame/{{The Legend of Zelda}}, Tabletopgame/{{Dungeons and Dragons}}'', and ''Literature/{{Conan the Barbarian}}'', complete with orcs, elves, dwarves, genies, {{talking animal}}s, wizards, witches, mages, vampires, dragons, centaurs, and a {{Dark Lord}}.

* ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' takes the chrome of the standard and then goes its own way with it. MedievalStasis is averted (particularly over the course of the series as a whole), most magic in Valdemar is PsychicPowers, and humans and various [[IntellectualAnimal Intellectual Animals]] are the only sapient species. However, the original Tarma and Kethry stories are besides having {{Magical Native American}}s pretty standard, suggesting that most of Velgarth is more standard than not; Valdemar is just a weird hermit kingdom up in the corner of the map that does everything their own way. Even in Valdemar, the ''Literature/LastHeraldMageTrilogy'' is pretty much paint-by-numbers medieval fantasy other than the note that the time of plate armor and tournaments is past; it's only afterward that Valdemar starts to really diverge.
** The backstory of the setting includes a cataclysmic war that ended civilizations across the continent and left few people to repopulate and rebuild, making it a technically AfterTheEnd setting, but it's not really clear how standard the previous ones were. Renowned sorcers put their power to [[UpliftedAnimal uplifting animals]] and creating new species, and there were colleges studying what's called "mondern medicine", neither of which come up much if at all in the mainline series.

** Any of the above being called by [[NotUsingTheZWord a different name]] is allowed. That applies to [[HumansByAnyOtherName humans, too]].

The generic {{fantasy}} setting. HighFantasy, HeroicFantasy, and LowFantasy are usually set here, along with many {{Tabletop RPG}}s and {{Video Game}}s; however, this is not required. This is NewerThanTheyThink. TropeMaker ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', though written earlier, only developed a cult following in TheSixties. ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', beginning in 1974, and ''[[Literature/TheSwordOfShannaraTrilogy The Sword of Shannara]]'', the 1977 first novel by Terry Brooks, acted as the {{Trope Codifier}}s.

''Literature/TheToughGuideToFantasyland'' by Creator/DianaWynneJones will tell you pretty much everything you would like to know about the place (minus a few {{dead horse|Trope}}s and [[DeadUnicornTrope unicorns]]). If you can get your hands on a copy, Barbara Ninde Byfield's 1967 guide ''The Glass Harmonica'' (reprinted in 1973 and 1994 as ''Literature/TheBookOfWeird'') is informative and funny. See also AirportNovel. For the antithesis of Standard Fantasy Setting-style fantasy see UrbanFantasy, MagicRealism and MundaneFantastic.

* Post-Tolkien, this usually has at least three of the StandardFantasyRaces of heroic peoples:

* ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' takes the chrome of the standard and then goes its own way with it. MedievalStasis is averted (particularly over the course of the series as a whole), most magic in Valdemar is PsychicPowers, and humans and various [[IntellectualAnimal Intellectual Animals]] are the only sapient species. However, the original Tarma and Kethry stories are very standard indeed, and it's indicated that most of Velgarth is more standard than not; Valdemar is just a weird hermit kingdom up in the corner of the map that does everything their own way. Even in Valdemar, the ''Literature/LastHeraldMageTrilogy'' is pretty much paint-by-numbers medieval fantasy; it's only afterward that Valdemar starts to really diverge.

** ''TabletopGame/WagaduChronicles'' is a third-party setting based on AncientAfrica, the creators said they wanted to raise awareness of African Culture and deliberately subvert this trope.

Another TropeMaker is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Morris William Morris]], who wrote many such works in the 1890s. Four were reprinted by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballantine_Adult_Fantasy_series Ballantine's Adult Fantasy Series]] from 1969-73. That series is another likely TropeMaker in itself.

* ''Literature/WraithKnight'': The setting is a collection of fantasy kingdoms of LightIsGood races from a warm Southern continent locked in an eternal war with a DarkIsEvil set of races from the frozen Northern continent. These races include Sidhe (elves), Formor (orcs), and Trow (trolls) with humans locked in the middle. One side is also led by a PhysicalGod GodOfEvil who routinely invades the South while the side of good has a less active GodOfGood. [[spoiler: The subversion is that this is all due to the fact the setting is a playground created by distant future humans and the two gods are working together to create a ForeverWar.]]

* The ''Dragon Crown War'' is a borderline example. The only common nonhuman races are elves (the most commonly-encountered ethnicity of whom, the Vorquelves, border on EnslavedElves as downtrodden refugees from a destroyed homeland) and dragons; the setting's "dwarves", the urZrethi, are actually ancient matriarchal shapeshifters who were [[spoiler: created though they abandoned that allegiance long ago]]; the BigBad's armies are composed primarily of the Wookiee-like gibberkin rather than the more traditional orcs; finally, MedievalStasis is averted as gunpowder and cannons are invented in the prequel and the technology becomes increasingly widespread over the course of the main trilogy.
* ''Literature/TheFirstDwarfKing'' seems to be a standard medieval fantasy at first, but before long, hints of something else begin to creep in. For starters, the characters use [[SwordAndGun guns instead of bows and arrows]]. [[spoiler: Eventually, it becomes apparent that the setting is a ScienceFantasy with (admittedly heavy) HighFantasy elements.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. While there is TheEmpire and a kingdom along with rebel fighters, MagicAIsMagicA, and a variety of other fantasy world tropes, there are several differences. Most prominently, instead of being in a European-esque world, the Avatarverse is a fantasy counterpart to East Asia (mostly China and Japan), with some Inuit culture thrown in for good measure. The only other races with human-level intelligence are spirits who all pretty much reside in a different world, and MedievalStasis is completely subverted, with nascent SteamPunk in the original series (ironclad steamships, tanks, [[spoiler:mega-drills, submarines, and zeppelins]]), which evolves into all-out DieselPunk in [[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra the sequel]] (complete with radio, skyscrapers, automobiles, film, [[spoiler: biplanes, and mecha-tanks]]).

* The country of Hallendren in ''Literature/{{Warbreaker}}'' is essentially the kind of place that exists in a StandardFantasySetting, but off the edge of the map. Here the story is set in it. As Creator/BrandonSanderson puts it in an annotation:

** ''TabletopGame/WagaduChronicles'' is a 3rd party setting based on AncientAfrica, the creators said they wanted to raise awareness of African Culture and deliberately subvert this trope.

*** Similarly, technology is [[SchizoTech often all over the place]], with Iron, Bronze, and Stone-age weapons existing alongside actual Middle Age- and early Renaissance-era weapons.

Another TropeMaker is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Morris William Morris,]] who wrote many such works in the 1890s. Four were reprinted by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballantine_Adult_Fantasy_series Ballantine's Adult Fantasy Series]] from 1969-73. That series is another likely TropeMaker in itself.

''Literature/TheToughGuideToFantasyland'' by Creator/DianaWynneJones will tell you pretty much everything you would like to know about the place (minus a few [[DeadHorseTrope dead horses]] and [[DeadUnicornTrope unicorns]]). If you can get your hands on a copy, Barbara Ninde Byfield's 1967 guide ''The Glass Harmonica'' (reprinted in 1973 and 1994 as ''Literature/TheBookOfWeird'') is informative and funny. See also AirportNovel. For the antithesis of Standard Fantasy Setting-style fantasy see UrbanFantasy, MagicRealism and MundaneFantastic.

** [[OurElvesAreDifferent Elves]]: Ancient, delicate and declining, they live in {{Tree Top Town}}s in ancient forests or in shining cities.

* FunctionalMagic
** MagicAIsMagicA, almost invariably
** BlackMagic (DarkIsNotEvil is allowed as an implementation detail)
** {{Squishy Wizard}}s
** LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards

** {{Bland Name|Product}} versions of {{Camelot}} and {{Avalon}}
* {{Standard royal court}}s
** {{Decadent Court}}s may be added if the world is [[CrapsackWorld terrible]] or a DarkFantasy setting.

** Often one or more {{Fantasy Counterpart Culture}}s. Especially if they're based on [[CreatorProvincialism the author's own culture]].

* ''Literature/RecordOfLodossWar'' is the TropeCodifier 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.

* Ente Isla from ''LightNovel/TheDevilIsAPartTimer''.
* ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'' plays it straight while parodying everything.
* ''Roleplay/RecordOfLodossWar'' is the TropeCodifier 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.

''Literature/TheToughGuideToFantasyland'' by Creator/DianaWynneJones will tell you pretty much everything you would like to know about the place (minus a few [[DeadHorseTrope dead horses]] and [[DeadUnicornTrope unicorns]]). If you can get your hands on a copy, Barbara Ninde Byfield's 1967 guide ''The Glass Harmonica'' (reprinted in 1973 and 1994 as ''Literature/TheBookOfWeird'') is informative and funny. See also AirportNovel. For the antithesis of StandardFantasySetting-style fantasy see UrbanFantasy, MagicRealism and MundaneFantastic.

* ''Literature/{{Spelljammer}}'' has most of the standard tropes, except that the StandardFantasyRaces are replaced by LionsTigersAndHumansOhMy, with humans as a minority.