Line #42 SoYouWantTo/WriteAHeroicFantasy


1	HeroicFantasy, also known as Sword and Sorcery, the genre of wizards, dragons, and magic!
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3	Heroic Fantasy is oftentimes described as pertaining to a certain aspect of fantasy (or alternatively, swords and sorcery fantasy), but its actually a rather blurred line between this genre and some of the other genres of fantasy. Tends to be distinguishable from HighFantasy by its scale — the problems are generally those of the hero, not the world — and moral standards — absolute evil and absolute good make fewer appearances. (Well, absolute good makes fewer. Absolute evil, in the form of a ReligionOfEvil, an EldritchAbomination or the like, makes a convenient foe.) Also by its tendency to be an endless series of adventure, partly because the smaller scale makes it more plausible, and partly because the heroes are very prone to love being InHarmsWay.
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5	Since this genre is oftentimes built around classic tropes, it is suggested you read [[SoYouWantTo/WriteAStory So You Want To Write A Story]] first before you check out the tips on this page. You may also want to read SoYouWantTo/WriteAHighFantasy -- the lines between that subgenre and this one are not fixed in concrete.
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8	!'''Necessary Tropes'''
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10	* Magic. You gotta have magic. While in some cases [[{{Demythification}} there isn't any magic at all]], the vast, ''vast'' majority of Heroic Fantasy has some sort of magic. It's not called Sword And '''Sorcery''' for nothing.
11	** If you do decide to have magic, the next thing you have to do is [[MagicAIsMagicA create a set of rules for it]]. They don't have to be explicitly stated in the book, but at least be sure you make it consistent.
12	** Also make sure you explain where your magic comes from, whether it is created through rituals, a person's emotions, [[{{Mana}} drawn from the Earth]], [[CastFromHitpoints drawn from their life force]], won from [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demons]] by performing VirginSacrifice, generated by using EyeOfNewt ingredients that you had to cross a MoralEventHorizon just to collect, what have you.
13	** And whatever you do, make sure you ''stick to the rules you set''. Nothing turns people off a series faster than them breaking their already-defined rules.
14	** Decide whether your magic is morally neutral or [[MagicIsEvil outright evil]]. Older stories often drew on a BlackAndGrayMorality and portrayed magic as just about always evil. This is less common nowadays.
15	* You'll need to do some {{worldbuilding}}. A ''lot'' of {{worldbuilding}}. Particularly if you are going for a series. Since you are essentially describing a world that none of your readers can lay their eyes upon, readers of this genre expect you to include a map within the first few pages of your book. Build up the environments of your world, as well as its ecosystems, the cultures that inhabit it, and their history. Don't worry if it doesn't seem like all this will go well with the book -- [[AllThereInTheManual that's what writing the separate world guide is for]].
16	** And how technological is it? It often has a SchizoTech mish-mash of any historical era up to the medieval era.
17	* Last but not least, Heroic Fantasy needs an adventurer to do the adventuring required by the genre. Originally, a la Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian, a mighty warrior with an endless love of InHarmsWay, providing an occasion for his endless adventures against {{Evil Sorcerer}}s, {{Sorcerous Overlord}}s, [[ReligionOfEvil Religions Of Evil]], and monsters of every kind, and a distinct tendency to AntiHero-dom, mitigated only by the absolute nastiness of his foes. Sometimes a woman warrior; Literature/JirelOfJoiry was the first character (not just female character) to follow in Conan's footsteps.
18	** Making the character magically oriented, less blood-thirsty, and morally less gray are all options that have been followed over the years.
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20	!'''Choices, Choices'''
21	* The StandardFantasyRaces are more common in HighFantasy, but not unknown here. Others just use part of the palette (humans and elves most of the time). Still others keep humans, often PeopleOfHairColor, but add in [[{{Mythopoeia}} other races all their own]]; this is, in fact, the older form, with such {{Trope Maker}}s and {{Trope Codifier}}s as Creator/RobertEHoward, who added [[FrazettaMan ape-men]], [[SnakePeople snake men]], and {{Eldritch Abomination}}s to a basically human world, and Creator/FritzLeiber who populated Nehwon with humans and "ghouls" -- humanoids transparent except for their bones.
22	* Number of Books. Literature/ConanTheBarbarian loves InHarmsWay and would never stop adventuring. Many lesser known heroes of Heroic Fantasy have similar sentiments. Since their problems tend to be personal rather than world-shaking in scale, they can indeed have a whole sequence of unrelated conflicts to go on for as long as your imagination holds out.
23	* How technological can you make it and still have it be Heroic Fantasy? Consider muskets, cannons, and other technological innovations.
24	** It's also possible to update the setting by using UrbanFantasy or ScienceFantasy elements.
25	* Are you going to have an anti-hero or a genuinely good person? Your character's morals will affect your work--If they're an anti-hero, it'll be Sword And Sorcery. If they're a good person, it's Heroic Fantasy.
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27	!'''Pitfalls'''
28	* {{Fantasy World Map}}s. Word of advice, at least do a little research on [[ShownTheirWork how climate patterns work before you draw your map]]. Don't have deserts right next to tundra (unless, that is, it's a cold desert like Antarctica), or rain-forests where rain-shadows should be. And be very, very careful with rivers. While it wasn't as common in the past, people are starting to notice when one makes a meteorological mix-up. If you do have climate patterns that are unrealistic by Earth standards, you will need to explain them, possibly in terms of magic.
29	* Consistency. Go through your story and look for inconsistencies, and choose to either correct or explain them.
30	* The genre's roots in the 1930s, and certain later writers who wanted to go '''back''' to the 1930s, have led to critiques of elements of the genre as sexist, racist and fascist. While there's nothing wrong with being inspired by older works, be careful to avoid replicating those problematic elements, as people are far less likely to turn a blind eye to them in the modern day.
31	* There are already heaps of Conan clones running around. Do something different instead of just adding another one to the pile.
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33	!'''Potential Subversions'''
34	* The setting in Heroic Fantasy is almost invariably a kingdom or empire, more often than not one where the ruler is aged and decrepit, and enemies are poised to tear the [[VestigialEmpire once mighty empire]] to pieces. While this certainly does add tension to the story, this plot element has become so common as to almost become cliché. While it might have worked for the Romans, or [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Tolkien]], you want to distinguish yourself from the pack. Why not try for a setting where the primary ruling power in the region is a [[TheFederation republic of]] the heroic races. Or perhaps the setting is TheEmpire, but it is at the height of its power, and the protagonists discover a group wishing to destroy it from the inside (like ''[[Series/TwentyFour 24]]'', but with elves).
35	* Heroic Fantasies oftentimes have a stagnant culture, with slavery being prominent, ample FantasticRacism, and huge [[SlidingScaleOfGenderInequality gap between the two sexes]]. Why not create a Heroic Fantasy where men and women are treated equally, or one where one of the major subplots is the orc struggle for civil rights?
36	* MedievalStasis. If your "current year" is 1453, swords and sorcery is all well and good, but when the "current" year is well into the 4000s? Mix it up a little. Add some WeirdWest or UrbanFantasy elements.
37	* LeftJustifiedFantasyMap. "Humans came from a mysterious continent to the east and that's all we know about it; I see no reason to find out more" translates to TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot. Have the heroic races launch (or have launched) a counter-expedition. Or a follow-up expedition.
38	* Try having a ''good'' {{necromancer}}.
39	* If you want to see a Human you can just look out the window. If you want to see an Orc you can just use the internet. Why not have a cast of obscure mythological beings?
40	* While Heroic Fantasy characters are typically lone wanderers, consider making them a member of a wider organization [[CowboyCop (albeit most likely a rebellious member)]].
41	* Consider making your protagonist's exploits part of a wider conflict.
42	* The "heroic" barbarian isn't so heroic as the ''story'' makes him out to be; Instead, he'll be viewed by the public as a complete maniac who [[BloodKnight has an endless, slakeless thirst for blood]], and will usually run his weapon through whoever and whatever pisses him off (that is to say, [[HairTriggerTemper just about anybody and anything respectively]]). ''Nobody'' is safe from his wrath, [[OneManArmy and no army can ever hope to feasibly stop him]], with the nation that sent the army to deal with him following suit as he leaves a trail of destruction in his wake.
43	* How about switching around the BarbarianHero of the HeroicFantasy with the FarmBoy of the HighFantasy ? It could make for some interesting (and comedic) moments when the so-called hero of the land is just this wee lad with his father's hereditary blade.
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45	!'''Writers' Lounge'''
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47	!!'''Suggested Themes and Aesops'''
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49	!!'''Potential Motifs'''
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51	* Bad Guys!\
52	The ReligionOfEvil, practicing VirginSacrifice to summon demons; the EvilSorcerer meddling with ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow; the supernatural in origin [[TheVamp vamp]] and other {{Eldritch Abomination}}s. Do not stint on your bad guys!
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54	* Why ''is'' your hero adventuring anyway? Your main character's motivation will tell you a lot about them.
55	!!'''Suggested Plots'''
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57	* {{Revenge}}! The EvilOverlord, the EvilSorcerer, the high priest (or priestess) of the ReligionOfEvil has injured your character. Revenge is called for!
58	* An expedition to (or from) the newcomer race's ancestral homeland (see above).
59	* TheMagicComesBack or [[TheMagicGoesAway Goes Away]]
60	* And of course, there's always the good old treasure hunt.
61	** You could have your characters explore [[WorldBuilding the world you built]] while you're at it. Maybe the FantasyWorldMap isn't complete yet? (Of course, the one you created needs to be complete. But your characters don't need to know everything you know!)
62	* Consider having a morally gray protagonist who over the course of the series becomes either [[HeelFaceTurn more heroic]] or [[FaceHeelTurn more evil]].
63	* It is possible for them to be a good person-having them go on a quest to save their hometown or someone they care about is a possible plot.
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65	!'''Departments'''
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67	!!'''Set Designer''' / '''Location Scout'''
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69	!!'''Props Department'''
70	* No fantasy story is complete without a vast array of magical and mundane weapons. However, you must take precautions. Just like how in a modern story you had better know how many rounds are in the clip of your protagonist's gun, in a fantasy story you should be aware that while duel-wielding claymores sounds like a recipe for badass, unless your character is a 9-foot-tall super dexterous master swordsman, or towering demon-lord, this is pretty much infeasible.
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72	!!'''Costume Designer'''
73	* Research armor types, their pitfalls and their strong points, before assigning them to your warrior character because "they look cool."
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75	!!'''Casting Director'''
76	* The InHarmsWay loving adventurer has many advantages. For one thing, he will not eye an EldritchAbomination and decide he needs a more pacific means of earning his living.
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78	!!'''Stunt Department'''
79	* This is an action-heavy genre, so you'll want to have some impressive fight scenes. Most likely, you'll want to have a mix of "normal" fights, large-scale battles, and set piece confrontations with the main villains.
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82	!'''Extra Credit'''
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84	!!'''The Greats'''
85	* ''Literature/ConanTheBarbarian''
86	* Creator/FritzLeiber's ''Literature/FafhrdAndTheGrayMouser''
87	* Creator/MichaelMoorcock's ''Literature/TheElricSaga''

Context SoYouWantTo / WriteAHeroicFantasy