The "Generic" Criticism

[Bossner]

It is a high fantasy RPG set in an imaginary universe. There is magic. There are good guys and bad guys.

From that standpoint, I guess you could call it "generic".

But to me, "generic" usually refers to something plain - black and white - boring - simple. The lore, races, combat and magic in this game are different enough from other fantasy games for it to at least be a little unique. The Well of Souls alone is a good idea that I've been waiting for (it will come in especially handy in the MMO - I tend to die occasionally).

But, people need to have something to complain about.

The truth is, I understand what they are looking for. Read one of Brandon Sanderson's novels (Mistborn or The Way of Kings) if you want to see originality in high fantasy. The magic systems alone are extremely unique. I'd love to play a game where I could be an "Allomancer".

Still, if you are interested in playing a fantasy RPG or MMO, you are likely to run across some familiar things. I actually sort of like it that way. Makes me feel more at home.

Is that the cousin to the Aloemancer, Reducer of Sunburn?

[Finneon]

Is that the cousin to the Aloemancer, Reducer of Sunburn?

Ha! That's awesome. That would be a great power to have in RL. I live in Florida after all.

[Bossner]

Ha! That's awesome. That would be a great power to have in RL. I live in Florida after all.

I've heard about this guy from a few people so I'm going to have to go ahead and check him out.

[Kurik Lein]

The truth is, I understand what they are looking for. Read one of Brandon Sanderson's novels (Mistborn or The Way of Kings) if you want to see originality in high fantasy. The magic systems alone are extremely unique. I'd love to play a game where I could be an "Allomancer".

I love the Mistborn series, did you know an RPG is being made for it and Sanderson is writing the story and dialogue for it? Also I know in Reckoning magic was relatively new but hopefully later on they provide a lot more background on it to explain how it works and such. I don't want magic to just be magic.

[Dynimix]

Just going slightly off topic here, has anyone every tried to make an IP of there own? This is not an attack on the topic, just an honest question. I have been working on my own "High Fantasy IP" for a while and I continually go back and rewrite parts because they feel "generic" or in other words, they seem to mimic the Tolkien genre. But I have found ways to make it unique, I simply wonder if it is enough. Any suggestions.

[Malikai]

Should also read some of Steven Erikson's "Malazan Book of the Fallen" if you havent. It started as pnp game world co created by Ian Esslemont. Highly imaginative and a fun read. It blends so many genres together seamlessly to create a truly unique setting that is fully fleshed out into a living breathing world.

Which is what I expect Amalur to become over time. With what we know being only the basics at this point, it is easy to see it as generic until everything ties in and comes alive as, what I hope to be, another great world of its own. I see fictional worlds much like our own. Everything can be broken down into a few basic elements common throughout, but the combinations result in a wide array of fashions giving everything and everyone their identity and uniqueness.

[eidos]

Just going slightly off topic here, has anyone every tried to make an IP of there own? This is not an attack on the topic, just an honest question. I have been working on my own "High Fantasy IP" for a while and I continually go back and rewrite parts because they feel "generic" or in other words, they seem to mimic the Tolkien genre. But I have found ways to make it unique, I simply wonder if it is enough. Any suggestions.

Technically, nothing is truly original since we all build off of something else even if we are unaware of it. As I stated earlier in this thread, generic is a term that should be used when something requires the audience will use their own imagination to "put flesh upon the skeleton" that the creator built. An example of a purely generic setting:

There is a keep by a river near a road that goes through a forest with a cave that houses nasty creatures.

Any additional thought, such as where the road is coming from and where it is going through, names of locations, why they are named the way they are, what sort of creatures and why, etc. starts breaking it away from generic.

[Dynimix]

Technically, nothing is truly original since we all build off of something else even if we are unaware of it. As I stated earlier in this thread, generic is a term that should be used when something requires the audience will use their own imagination to "put flesh upon the skeleton" that the creator built. An example of a purely generic setting:

There is a keep by a river near a road that goes through a forest with a cave that houses nasty creatures.

Any additional thought, such as where the road is coming from and where it is going through, names of locations, why they are named the way they are, what sort of creatures and why, etc. starts breaking it away from generic.

Thank you, Eidos! That is a very valid point.

[Eisenhorn]

I think it was generic in a way, but it took it further for me by having the two different mortal races of elves and then the Fae. The different human types and their different cultures made it less bland for me too. But yes, overall it's a tad generic. Some may disagree, but I found The Witcher 2 to be the least generic fantasy game I've ever played, yet it still had the same races all the others have (humans, elves, dwarves, trolls, etc)

I think generic doesn't really matter at the end of the day if you feel totally immersed in a world. Reckoning did that for me. A lot of reviewers couldn't get over the superficial qualities and barely spent any REAL time with the game.