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[Sword and Sorcery Month] So, what is Sword and Sorcery? (Patreon)

Published:
2024-07-02 14:04:43
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Content

This month's theme is Sword and Sorcery (well, "Dark Sun," but we might as well explain its origins in the genre). Here are the basics of this fantasy sub-genre.

Considerably Less Glamorous and All About Fast-Paced Action

Sword and sorcery focuses on gritty, intense action rather than the polished heroism of high fantasy. The pacing is brisk, with a constant sense of urgency and danger. This, naturally, lends itself well to roleplaying games.

Mighty Warriors Fighting Supernatural Horrors

Central characters are formidable warriors who face off against eldritch abominations, evil sorcerers, and other supernatural threats. Their battles are visceral and often desperate. Of course, there's lots of minions in the way before they get to the big bads.

Political and Criminal Leaders as Pawns of Dark Powers

Political intrigue and criminal underworlds are common, with leaders often manipulated by malevolent, unseen forces. This adds layers of complexity and danger to the heroes' quests. The "cultist opening a portal to hell through which a monster is coming out" trope comes from this setting.

Run-or-Die Moments

Characters frequently find themselves in life-or-death situations where quick thinking and resourcefulness are as important as physical strength.

Slow to Trust

Trust is earned, not given freely. Although they may have some key allies, protagonists are often wary and cautious, having learned through harsh experiences to rely on themselves. Don't be shocked when the hero's best ally becomes a traitor.

Larger-Than-Life Protagonists

Heroes are men and women of action, driven by personal motivations and operating in morally grey areas. They are typically outsiders who rely on sheer willpower and physical prowess to achieve their goals.

Roots in Pulp Novels

The genre originated in pulp magazines, with notable authors like Robert E. Howard, Fritz Leiber, and Michael Moorcock. These stories were characterized by their fast-paced narratives and adventurous themes.

Files

Comments

Shawn Porter

I've been thinking of running my next campaign in an environment like this (thanks for the honorable mention). Here's my intro paragraph (feel free to use):

Shawn Porter

Satarga is a land of high heat and dry desert, where the lowest temperatures are in the 80s in the cooler months, with an average of 110 for eight months of the year. Most of the land is sparsely populated by various tribes, human and other. These tribes generally coexist, but are suspicious and sometimes downright hostile towards each other, particularly over water rights and what little arable land exists.

Shawn Porter

The only thing that makes the city livable is the confluence of two rivers that join here. Between the cooling effect of the flowing waters, and the ability to grow food along the rivers’ banks, Satarga has achieved a tiny bit higher standard of living than the rest of the country for many miles around. This tiny city-state is controlled by the all-powerful Guild of the Alchemy Masters.