...Why does every fantasy-epic have to morph into "Game Of Thrones?" Can't we just ENJOY things and dial back the GRIMDARK?

BECAUSE GRIMDARK IS MATOOR AND ADULT! >:c

Only very superficially, and certainly not when you forget to kick the writing up a notch. I'm old enough to remember comics in the 90's.

Because not every fantasy-epic becomes "Game of Thrones" and even those that do to some extent don't inherently become gritty and grimdark as a result.

Also, wholly noblebright settings are just as dumb as wholly grimdark ones.

"Noblebright". That's a new one.

Not really, it's as old as grimdark is.

Really? It's the first I've heard of that term. Usually, when people say something's not "grimdark", they usually use the word(s) "typical X" or "standard Y".

More specifically, the terms grimdark and noblebright are equally old, the former popularized by Warhammer 40k's tagline and the latter invented as an antonym.

The genres they describe are as old as human society.

Fair enough.

Only because you lack vision and hate things that are fun and hopeful. ^w^

False; I hate boring settings, unbelievable characters and uncompelling narratives, regardless of the genre they exist in.

I rest my case. Give my regards to Todd McFarlane and go back to masturbating over "The Snyder Cut." We're done here.

If it helps, I like more positive stories too. There's enough gloom and doom in the real world already, we don't need to see it in fiction too!

At least, not at the moment. I'd wait until we have an economic upturn before hitting the dark stuff again. Right now escapism is what we need!

Fuck you too, Anthos.

I am too, and I was being facetious.

Because that's what most fantasy-epics would be like in real life: war-torn worlds filled with bloodthirsty fantastic creatures and people hardened but traumatized from constantly fighting them.

To borrow some lyrics from "Epic Rap Battles Of History:"

"But NEWS FLASH! The genre's called FANTASY!
It's meant to be unrealistic, you myopic manatee!"

You've got a point there. That's why I like works that handle it realistically, but not in a pessimistic way; the realistic way things would turn out is still there, but there's at least so light-heartedness so you don't get stressed out.

Right? I read comic-books and fantasy-novels to ESCAPE reality, not to be reminded how much it would suck if it were real.

Which is important, don't get me wrong- "head in the clouds, feet on the ground" and all that. But as Terry Pratchett observed-

"Let there be goblin hordes, let there be great environmental threats, let there be giant mutated slugs if you really must, but let there also be hope. It may be a grim, thin hope- an Arthurian sword at sunset- but let us know that we do not live in vain."

Contrarily, people also read fantasy novels for compelling stories, some of which entail grim realism.

Again... because you lack vision and think anything that might appeal to a seven-year-old is "for r*t@rds."

Rob Liefeld and Mark Millar send their regards.

Easy now.

What's with you and assumptions? I like high fantasy/fiction as well, but unlike you I don't demonize grim and/or dark stories out of hand and instead judge ALL media based on their individual merits.

I agree, and that quote's a very, very good quote, indeed. It's why I don't much care about works that're dark and gritty for the sake of darkness and grittiness. Take Snyder's take on DC, for example; I mean, the reality of a world like that would be harsh, but not that harsh.

Yeah, I like Zack Snyder as a filmmaker. I love "300" as a dumb barbarian hack-and-slash picture.

But Superman and Doctor Manhattan are not the same guy. They just aren't. Period.

Nope. They're not the same at all. But I agree with you about 300; that was pretty good.

It's a perfect version of what it wanted to be... even if what it wanted to be was a lovingly-polished monument to Dumb built on a foundation of "Dumber." But like the man said- "It's not what a movie is about, it's how it is about it."

It's definitely how it is about it, yes.

So, basically like the works of J R R Tolkien, from the "Silmarillion" to "The Lord of the Rings". AKA, the well that every hack fantasy writer dug out of, including George R R "I swear I'm getting the series done, guys!" Martin.

Yes, just like their works. And what epic works they are.

Everyone likes different things. Doesn't make them wrong, nor you wrong. :3 Why judge others so harshly for it?

...You must have a lot of friends with very strong feelings about "Ethics In Games Journalism." Either that, or you're a majority-shareholder at Image Comics. Circa 1992.

Spare me that wishy-washy "Respectability Politics" nonsense. I will not tolerate the intolerant, nor will I tolerate my imagination and whimsy being polluted with "DARKNESS! NO PARENTS!" dreck that's only appealing to insecure 13-year-olds and Neo-Nazis... but I repeat myself.

So because someone likes something you don't, you choose to tell them they're stupid for liking it. Anthos, I implore you to both grow AND shut the fuck up. You don't get the right to shit on anyone who dares to have a different opinion than yours.

Yes, dark fantasy can get REALLY dark. But dammit if some of the best fantasy works aren't on the darker edge of the spectrum. But dark fantasy's existence doesn't lessen the value of the lighter, softer fantasy stories. And anyone who thinks it does needs a tall glass of reality sauce.

Which, by the way, you've been in serious need of reality sauce infusion for fucking YEARS. But I'm getting off topic. Stop treating people like idiots for the way they build their stories and shut the fuck up, Pierce.

I mean, 14 definitely has its lighter moments

No no no no... *brings a warm blanket and cocoa*

Yeesh.... what could've possibly happened?

Parting Glass happened

PTSD comes with the life of being a murder hobo, sorry.

Ah to be young and innocent and the optimistically naive level one again

"The good ol days"

she should get therapy if she has ptsd

I just want to give her a Hug. Poor thing :(

Yeah, that's about right.

Man the recent expansion must've been the Nightmare to end all Nightmares

Nah that's not the recent expansion. I don't think Mary handled Heavensward very well.

OUCH.

Hey, if she doesn't want that armor set, you know because of the nightmare-inducing memories it would conjure up, could I have it?

I gotta know her story lol

i imagine this has something to do with one Haurchefant Greystone, if I had to guess.

Yeah no clue about final fantasy

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E3J22GDXIAECJFT.jpg

... And it runs way better than Pokemon Scarlet and Violet too!

…..
I just want a normal answer and nothing to compare it to?

the answer is that FF14 has a "Main Scenario Quest" where your character is known as The Warrior of Light, and they have many adventures with a secret cabal of individuals trying to save the world known as the Scions of the Seventh Dawn.

Cobat draws this character (Mary Muffin) as if she were the actual Warrior of Light and what she would do in various situation the Warrior of Light gets put through. That cat boy that she's constantly thirsty for and he's oblivious? that character is G'raha Tia from Final Fantasy XIV. Mary Muffin is a Lalafell, a diminutive race of people from Final Fantasy XIV.

This character is a Final Fantasy XIV Fan Character.

The heavensward expansion is a very... snow-filled expansion, and very bad things happen to the Warrior of Light and their compatriots. It is very emotional stuff and I feel like robbing you of that in a furaffinity comment is a terrible way to go about doing it.

I gave you a name to look up if you are REALLY curious as to what the heck image is about and want to spoil yourself on an EXCELLENT collection of narrative stories that are connected via an MMORPG.

As I said I’m not much of a final fantasy fan and I simply wanted to know what happened in this said story. Not much care if I get spoiled when I ask. And I don’t have the system nor time to play the game. And when I did search I wasn’t given much info because google and YouTube don’t know how to provide proper information sometimes. Appreciate what info I could have then.

Welcome to the North Country, southlander..!

Oh boy! Welcome to PTSD train on most adventures on FF14, i feel her pain. Poor Lalla.

Relatable.

An appropriate response. We've all been there in-game.

You know after seeing alot of iseakis, to be honest this would happen to the protagonist if where to happen in real life. I know this isnt an iseaki picture but still

How in the heck did this spawn a debate?

Meanwhile my char went from having SEVERE PTSD from Azeroth to having ff14 be the greatest bit of theraphy one could ever imagine!

Also she and Mary will fight to the death over their husbando :B