Is Warcraft in the Dark Fantasy category?

[Feanoro]

its high fantasy

Good one!

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It's cheap comic book level fantasy, and even at its height, it was always a copy of better works.

Infracted.

[Vakir]

It's cheap comic book level fantasy, and even at its height, it was always a copy of better works.

"High fantasy" isn't indication of quality (like "high art"), it's just a designation of setting. They're not incorrect.

The Eye of Argon is hot fucking trash, but it's still high fantasy.

[TheFirstOnes]

It was in vanilla. Not anymore.

Not trying to call you a Classic Andy here...

However, you're dead wrong for this.

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Good one!

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It's cheap comic book level fantasy, and even at its height, it was always a copy of better works.

Funny meme, really laughed at that -.-

Not funny. Also, I don't think you get what "High Fantasy" means. Cause WoW definitely has High Fantasy elements. Specifically with Argus, the Seat of the Pantheon, and even Cosmic Realms such as the Shadowlands (That in itself is INCREDIBLY High Fantasy).

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Warcraft isn't dark, its dim and thats a big difference.

No, it can be incredibly dark. The issue is that WoW in itself isn't "Dark Fantasy".

[Orby]

From https://thoughtsonfantasy.com/2015/1...genres/#gothic

High Fantasy

Perhaps the most traditional sub-genre, high fantasy or epic fantasy takes place in an entirely fictional fantasy world. The stories are often lengthy and epic, involving multiple characters and large-scale quests where the fate of the world rests on the shoulders of the heroes. Some people use the term epic fantasy to specifically refer to more lengthy or large-scale high fantasies, however many (myself included) use the terms epic and high interchangeably.

Typical Elements: lengthy journeys, dragons, magicians, assassins, legendary swords, royalty, medieval societies, battles, a hero or heroine of humble origins, exotic names, a map on the inside cover.

I mean WoW is moulded in this genre

[LilSaihah]

It is definitely high fantasy/epic fantasy.
There's a reason that more than a few Warcraft film critics blasted it for being a LOTR clone - because it sits in the exact same genre.

[TheFirstOnes]

From https://thoughtsonfantasy.com/2015/1...genres/#gothic

High Fantasy

Perhaps the most traditional sub-genre, high fantasy or epic fantasy takes place in an entirely fictional fantasy world. The stories are often lengthy and epic, involving multiple characters and large-scale quests where the fate of the world rests on the shoulders of the heroes. Some people use the term epic fantasy to specifically refer to more lengthy or large-scale high fantasies, however many (myself included) use the terms epic and high interchangeably.

Typical Elements: lengthy journeys, dragons, magicians, assassins, legendary swords, royalty, medieval societies, battles, a hero or heroine of humble origins, exotic names, a map on the inside cover.

I mean WoW is moulded in this genre

Essentially, yes. It's almost every bit of Fantasy out there, really lmaooo. But overall, it should be High/Epic Fantasy, or even Heroic Fantasy tbh.

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I mean, hell, the Cosmic Realms and its Pantheons are about as High Fantasy as you could get. We know too little of the First Ones to say shit about them. I'm waiting for that Grimoire to come out, tbh.

My assumption: First Ones (THEY CAME FIRST) > Cosmic Framework such as the Influences (Powers), and their respective realms, starting with Light and Shadow > Cosmic Pantheons > Reality.

Either way. It's High Fantasy as fuck.
Either way,

[Xilurm]

It's cheap comic book level fantasy, and even at its height, it was always a copy of better works.

I disagree about the bolded part being the case of why its not high fantasy. They could still copy things and make it decent. But the writing and the fact they are mashing together so many genres makes it hard. Half of Legion was Sci-Fi. I don't know much D&D but that also has "space ships" right? Atleast there was one in the Baldur's Gate III cinematic. But the spaceships in Legion were just sci-fi spaceships. They were machines, could fire lasers and what not. And the fact that the Legion lost with such technology makes it really hard to take it seriously.

[Raisei]

Nah, Dark Fantasy I would see in Abercrombie's brilliant First Law and it's continuations.

Then we have Edgy Murder Porn Fantasy with Song of Ice and Fire.

WoW is quite clearly molded after Tolkien's works with some additions and original ideas, so it most definately is High Fantasy.

[TheFirstOnes]

I disagree about the bolded part being the case of why its not high fantasy. They could still copy things and make it decent. But the writing and the fact they are mashing together so many genres makes it hard. Half of Legion was Sci-Fi. I don't know much D&D but that also has "space ships" right? Atleast there was one in the Baldur's Gate III cinematic. But the spaceships in Legion were just sci-fi spaceships. They were machines, could fire lasers and what not. And the fact that the Legion lost with such technology makes it really hard to take it seriously.

We did kinda wield the most powerful Artifacts in the Physical Universe at the time...

So, I’d argue their defeat was pretty believable.

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Also, they weren’t really “traditional” ships. They were infused with the Fel in order to run the way they do. Similar to how the Titans use Arcane and other Magic’s for their shit, or how the Eternals use Anima for their shit, or how Light and Shadow use whatever tf for their shit...

[Th3Scourge]

Wow has no idea what it is anymore

[Xilurm]

We did kinda wield the most powerful Artifacts in the Physical Universe at the time...

So, I’d argue their defeat was pretty believable.

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Also, they weren’t really “traditional” ships. They were infused with the Fel in order to run the way they do. Similar to how the Titans use Arcane and other Magic’s for their shit, or how the Eternals use Anima for their shit, or how Light and Shadow use whatever tf for their shit...

Couldn't they just bombard everything from orbit though?

[Sunderella]

My Little Pony is probably darker than WoW.

[Beloren]

If they produced an Arthas origin movie it'd be considered dark. A lot of the themes in earcraft are pretty dark, its about war culture... but people like to keep their cartoon tinted glasses on

Yes, I thought the warcraft movie was dark, as it fleshed out many of the things in what they would look like, especially warlocks and fel power.. really dark. ARthas movie would be grim dark.

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And now we're back to the portrayal vs realistic ramifications.

MoP's story is TECHNICALLY incredibly dark, those are the realistic ramifications. An entire country built upon the remnants of an old god that has seeped into the land itself causing your worst emotions to manifest as horrifying tar like monsters IS HORRIFYING ON PAPER.

BUT IN REALITY you also fight literal rabbit people in a field with giant carrots. That's the portrayal.

There's a mismatch that you dont see in traditional dark fantasy. Tonally WoW is completely off in almost every aspect.

Hence why it isn't dark fantasy in PRACTICE.

We can talk nuclear bombs and carnage all day long but at the end of the day tonally you've still got goblin pool party animals chilling in Orgrimmar along with fake grass mats.

doesn't that just mean the dark theme is disguised with overly colourful characterisation... so the characterisation isn't that dark, but the content and story is for what it is, almost liek it is packaged lighter to reach younger audiences and beat rating restrictions to capture the child market which is bascially your future support and..

When i think of what we fight, what we face, what we have to do, all of it is pretty dark, it just doesn't always look that way.

[StationaryHawk]

Couldn't they just bombard everything from orbit though?

I don't recall them ever doing so. Having structures that can travel through space doesn't mean they have the capability to reliably fire upon a target from orbit.

Legion ships were more commonly seen teleporting to their destination and acting as mobile outposts. Even when they did go on the offensive, it was always from a low altitude, because they weren't sci-fi spaceships.

[Beloren]

And would you look at that. It is by far the most popular storyline done by Blizzard. It was also released 20 years ago. You can maybe argue that the campaigns following Arthas are dark fantasy, but not WC3 as a whole, and definitely not WarCraft as a whole.

Funnily enough in the WoW era the closest we get to dark fantasy is a continent where you aren't allowed to feel strong emotions because even doubting yourself enough can give birth to giant monsters that kill all your friends and we can see pretty lasting effects of war on the people and the landscape. Yep, Pandaria.

Treu, but while non-dark things happen, even some quests, all our focus is around those dark events, and those terrible events happen so often.. to me that is what tips it

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Warcraft isn't dark, its dim and thats a big difference.

Rofl Arrashi.. so cynical.

[VinceVega]

What do you think? I've felt it was border line for a long time, but having watched a bit more fantasy recently, it definitely is very much in the dark Fantasy category, it's not as Dark as Warhammer or elderscrolls, those are almost downright occultic, but it's not far off.

it's got some light elements and comic release, but it's not the wonder fest you might associate fantasy with.. but then if you think about it, most fantasy is pretty dark.

Nothing in this game is dark. Everything is offset with humor.
ICC - Professor and the two "children"
Maldraxxus - EVERYTHING
Undead in general - have been a bit menacing in vanilla but got completly jokeified in Wotlk.
Old Gods - They don't really do anything... like ever...

And ironically the most serious covenant are the nightfae... weirdly enough.

Also wow is not even really just a fantasy. It is more a mix between steampunk/fanatsy/scifi. Like the question "What genre should our game be? was answered with "Yes!"

[huth]

It could mean 1000 things, you were very vague. Based on current developments it seems that another Primarch ( probably Lion ) will return. But even if they all did, even if the Emperor returned, humanity is still fucked by having way too many enemies.

The Tyranids, the Orks, Chaos, Nekrons are all Imperium level threats.

It means you're stuck in a tunnel and something is heading your way very quickly.

[Le Conceptuel]

Nothing in this game is dark. Everything is offset with humor.
ICC - Professor and the two "children"
Maldraxxus - EVERYTHING
Undead in general - have been a bit menacing in vanilla but got completly jokeified in Wotlk.
Old Gods - They don't really do anything... like ever...

And ironically the most serious covenant are the nightfae... weirdly enough.

Also wow is not even really just a fantasy. It is more a mix between steampunk/fanatsy/scifi. Like the question "What genre should our game be? was answered with "Yes!"

I really think you don't understand exactly what makes something "dark". Something's not made not dark by the presence of humor. In fact, the entire concept of black comedy is based on the synthesis of darkness and humor. Even within that spirit, I'm sure we could all agree that, say, Dark Souls is dark, but it has Onion Knights and talking crows.

[Easo]

Noblegrim at best. Was pretty much noblebright before recent couple expansions.

[Le Conceptuel]

Noblegrim at best. Was pretty much noblebright before recent couple expansions.

Nobledark, you mean. Noblegrim refers to two contradictory philosophies.