TL;DR: Here, I’d like to share the picture of the Fantasy subgenre that is dearest to me, which I refer to as ‘Primæval’ Fantasy, and contrast it with ‘Modernic’ Fantasy subgenres.
We who love fiction share a mixed appetite for varying levels of drama, conflict, intrigue, mystery, action, etc. But why do some of us love Dark Age Fantasy in particular? I think that on the deepest level we choose the Fantasy genre for a specific reason—to step into the “Mythical Otherworld,” a premodern, mammoth world that is radically different from our own world. And it’s not sufficient to have merely a “different” world than ours—if that were the case then any other genre would do just as well (especially sci-fi).
(Again, accepting the term,) Primæval Fantasy-lovers are pursuing a particular feeling, that of mystical, Ancient/Dark Age Otherness. The typical pictures may be some mixture of King Arthur’s Camelot, & Tolkien’s Middle Earth, filled with endless forests, dangerous caverns and mystical glades. We want the magic of that old mythology brought to life in the Fantasy tales we read/play in within our RPGs.
Of course, our pallets vary widely (thus spawning the myriad of subgenres), but I also think it’s not completely subjective. Some of us hate spicy foods, some love it, but we all pretty much agree that some foods do not belong together. We may love pizza or peanut-butter or oatmeal, but we don’t throw them together in a blender to consume them. We can at least agree that genres should maintain some boundaries, else the very meaning of ‘genre’ falls apart.
And for those who are in love with this Primæval version of Fantasy, a ubiquitous problem threatens to creep in, that of Modernity.
Primæval Fantasy is much more than a technologically primitive world, looking like the Dark Ages (or even older). It actively pushes away from the Modern world in every way, aiming at the psychological/sociological paradigms of Premodern people.
But this isn’t about recreating versions of specific historical eras. While Primæval Fantasy certainly needs to be in a pre-industrialized world (at least pre-1400, and preferably far earlier, in my opinion), that’s not sufficient for obtaining the feeling we’re seeking in this subgenre. For example, the feeling can be achieved in a setting that resembles the year 500 AD in (what we now call) Britain because of the chaos in that time & place. But that doesn’t mean going back in time even further generates the feeling we want. For example, c. 200BC-400AD, Ancient Rome would not facilitate the Primeval Fantasy feeling. Why? Because they were an extremely organized, informed, and controlled civilization. They had elaborate laws and protocols, and highly disciplined armies, with maintained roads that allowed people to travel in relative peace and security. So, even though it is surely Ancient, the fact of its widespread control actually steers the mindset towards Modernity.
The Modernic Fantasy subgenre, by contrast, makes far less of an effort (or none at all) to reach the feeling of that Fantasy universe. Instead, it feels a lot like the world is filled with a million LARPers/SCA members instead of people and societies of this desired Otherworld. Sure, they are (usually) lacking guns and cars, but the anachronisms do not stop with tools and toys. They may be walking around in 11th Century clothes & cities, but they are (to various degrees) living far closer to a 21st Century mindset, or at least to a larger degree than those aspiring to the feeling of the Primeval Fantasy subgenre.
Of course the lines between these subgenres are fuzzy and are (to some degree) subjective -- But not completely. Even though the same trappings are present, there is a clear, significant difference in the output. Over the past few decades, many comedies have been produced featuring supernatural (especially, undead) elements. But no one in their right mind believes that Shaun of the Dead is actually a Horror movie (in spite of asinine movie sites listing it as such). Yes, there are zombies overtaking the town, people are dying, etc., but the spirit of the movie is completely comedic.
As Judge Potter Stewart famously said regarding porn, “I know it when I see it.” A similar (albeit, more subtle) element is at work here.
The Primæval Fantasy subgenre works at emulating the Ancient/Dark Age worldviews of people. For example, ghosts, spirits, witches, curses and gods should be unquestionably real and dangerous to these people. The characters should never deconstruct religion or gods; they may be terrified (or even hate) these supernatural elements and creatures, but never sit back in their philosopher’s chair and explain a culture’s “mythological inheritance.” Skepticism (and atheism) should be alien to these worlds. These characters should feel awe and reverence with the creatures of faerie.
A Fantasy world aiming for this subgenre should feel vast, and largely unexplored. Most importantly, it should feel untamed. The world should not be mapped out, hex-by-hex for any to see. Knowing the world in this detail shrinks it, diminishing its mystery (as with Ancient Rome). The persistent feeling of fear of “what’s out there” presses in on the inhabitants, encouraging them to stay clumped together. These Fantasy characters should never take any supernatural place, being or magical spell lightly.
In Modernic Fantasy, Magic is equated with science--it can be categorized and controlled. We're all aware of Clarke's famous 'law': “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” But I think that this is a genre-dependent conclusion. It's certainly true of the SciFi genre, but not at all in this type of Fantasy I'm after.
In Primæval Fantasy, magic isn’t at all about the effects it brings. A spell that gives light is not just a flashlight. A spell that wounds someone is not just the counterpart to a gun. Scrying is not radar detection.
Again, the point of a Primæval Fantasy setting is to generate this feeling of "Ancient, Mysterious Otherworld-ness".
Science & modern technology gives us measurements and equations; magic is the tapping into the ineffable—the realm of the faerie. Magic is bound up with mystery and (often) the divine. It is dangerous and frightening because it is reaching into a realm where mortals dare not go, and where they cannot exert any control.
With regards to RPGs, many synergistic influences have pushed gamers into the Modernic subgenre direction, including computer role playing games (especially WoW), and the subsequent effects those games have had on the RPG industry, etc. from ~20 years ago. Many gamers are happy with these subgenres, and good for them.
But I find that there are many other RPers who have a strong appetite for this Primeval version of Fantasy, but are so inundated by the Modernic versions (now prominent with D&D) that they don’t know how to make the shift.
It is possible, and it starts by recognizing the elements I have outlined above. It requires wiping the slate clean, and rebuilding the Secondary world from the ground up, replacing presuppositions, worldviews, societies, & psychologies to strive towards a deeply Ancient, Premodern world.
Daniel
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