[moved] Avoiding campaign clichés

[Cap. Karnaugh]

Every genre/setting/campaign has its own clichés that -preferably- should be avoided when creating our worlds. Which ones do you consider the worst? (I'm focusing more on medieval fantasy, but any genre will do)

[Hibou]

Races tied to specific real-world cultures.

[Matt Larkin (author)]

I think the discussion in the philosophy thread is relevant here.

Every genre/setting/campaign has its own clichés that -preferably- should be avoided when creating our worlds.

Not necessarily should be avoided. Cliches become cliches because the themes resonate with an audience, and some endure and define their respective genres. Others can be refurbished into something new and different, or reinterpreted. It depends greatly on your goal in creating the setting.

In creating a fairytale setting, I think the setting would thrive on evil knights kidnapping princesses, malevolent dragons demanding sacrifices, and all the classics.

[Llum]

Time Travel.

[Kindling]

I agree, I think clichés should only be avoided if they are used unthinkingly, as in, putting elves in your setting because it's fantasy, therefore there are elves, rather than because you have a genuine purpose for them within your creation. Indeed, I think some of the most creative work, not just in setting design, but in any art-form, comes when people intelligently explore "cliché" elements and find unique angles to approach them from.

Other than, as I said, the simple unthinking use of clichés - or perhaps a better way to put it is their use without good reason - I think the only reason they should be avoided is due to personal taste... so I suppose I could name a few of the core-D&D-esque fantasy tropes that I personally find distasteful...

Races with set alignments

Active and provably existent deities EDIT: actually, these could be done well, possibly. I suppose what I really dislike are religions based on such deities. They just don't ring true, unless you quite drastically redefine what you mean by a deity in your setting...

Multiple unconnected "schools" or "classes" of magic (arcane/divine, spontaneous/prepared, magic/psionics, etc.)

Apostrophes

[O Senhor Leetz]

...putting elves in your setting because it's fantasy, therefore there are elves, rather than because you have a genuine purpose for them within your creation.

Other than, as I said, the simple unthinking use of clichés - or perhaps a better way to put it is their use without good reason - I think the only reason they should be avoided is due to personal taste... so I suppose I could name a few of the core-D&D-esque fantasy tropes that I personally find distasteful...

Races with set alignments

Active and provably existent deities EDIT: actually, these could be done well, possibly. I suppose what I really dislike are religions based on such deities. They just don't ring true, unless you quite drastically redefine what you mean by a deity in your setting...

Multiple unconnected "schools" or "classes" of magic (arcane/divine, spontaneous/prepared, magic/psionics, etc.)

I couldn't have written this better myself. well, actually mine would have been more scathing, so thank you for putting it gently.

[Lmns Crn]

I can't think of many bad examples from this community-- from what I've read around here, we're all pretty good about not unthinkingly reusing stale cliches in boring ways. And I'm of the opinion that just about anything works if you put a modicum of original, critical thought into it.

However, please note a few of the perennial offenders:

- a long-imprisoned primordial evil is awakening at last

- the four classical elements are hilariously overemphasized

- elves are just like humans, only better in every way

- dwarves have only five personality traits: smithing, subterraneanism, surliness, Scottishness, and beer

- magic and technology are set up as equals and opposites, grudge match time

- dragons just lounge around all day on huge piles of gold, waiting for marauding adventures to come poke them with swords

I dunno, I'm going to stop writing now, before I accidentally start listing things I'm overdoing myself.

[LordVreeg]

And don't forget, sometimes it is cool to take a cliche and do it differently or better.

[Llum]

a long-imprisoned primordial evil is awakening at last

the four classical elements are hilariously overemphasized[/quote]

This is true, probably because of their simplicity.

[O Senhor Leetz]

- dragons just lounge around all day on huge piles of gold, waiting for marauding adventures to come poke them with swords

that's actually a scientific fact.

[Elemental_Elf]

- dragons just lounge around all day on huge piles of gold, waiting for marauding adventures to come poke them with swords

Last time I checked, there were an awful lot of Half-Dragons running around, and we all know the sultry bar wench from the dirtfarmton is too busy with her day job to take a long walk through the Shadowwoods, up the Darkcliff Mountains, over the Duskdoom Bridge and into the dragon's lair just for a passionate night of ecstasy...  

[Cap. Karnaugh]

[quote Kindling][...]I think clichés should only be avoided if they are used unthinkingly[...][/quote][...]from what I've read around here, we're all pretty good about not unthinkingly reusing stale cliches in boring ways[...][/quote][...]And don't forget, sometimes it is cool to take a cliche and do it differently or better.[...][/quote]
Well, in that case I think it would cease to be a cliché. But totally agree, it's nice to see a twist in something "common"

[Cap. Karnaugh]

Oh! My personal favorites (been there, done that, got the mage's invisibility robe):

a) Orcs/Goblins/Hobgoblins are bad. Period. Their only motivation is to kill, rampage and take the money the tooth-fairy gave to children.

b) The human-elf-dwarf-something alliance vs the orcish nation.

c) The "tolkienesque" elf based on the movie...I know it looked cool to see them attack synchronously, but hey, let's  give them some background, shall we?

d) The chosen. Please! I'm sick of "the chosen one" monologue. Are the gods or Destiny so reckless to put the faith of millions (usually) of beings in the hand of a SINGLE person?

(I like the next one, but I've seen it way to many times)

e) Gods alliances (usually Greek, Nordic, Indian and some other pantheon) to defeat some "ultimate" evil, likely being the Chaos itself.

[Cap. Karnaugh]

[quote Elemental_Elf]Last time I checked, there were an awful lot of Half-Dragons running around[...][/quote]
And dragons as well. I always thought that being so massive, their territory would span for thousands of kilometers, and being so territorial (even the good ones) it would be impossible for humanoid races to have kingdoms if the dragons population was to big. Despite that, I've played in campaigns were you always had an abundance of them to slay at any level...

[Elemental_Elf]

[quote Elemental_Elf]Last time I checked, there were an awful lot of Half-Dragons running around[...]

Very true, however Dragons do possess the ability to polymorph, so they can leave their big caves and go off to enjoy the sights and sounds of all the little people he allows to live on his land. Plus Dragons tend to live in areas most kingdoms shy away from - scary forests, high mountains, arid deserts and the ocean.