Why high-fantasy is a limiting medium for storytelling.

High-fantasy is a popular genre in both literature and gaming, but it can also be a limiting medium for storytelling. Here are a few reasons why:

  1. Constraints of the fantasy world: In high-fantasy, the world and its rules are often predetermined and established in advance. This can limit the scope of the story and make it difficult to introduce new and innovative elements without breaking the rules of the world.
  2. Overreliance on tropes: High-fantasy is often associated with certain tropes and conventions, such as dwarves, elves, magic, and mythical creatures. While these elements can be enjoyable, they can also become predictable and stale, making it difficult to tell new and unique stories.
  3. Lack of emotional depth: High-fantasy is often focused on epic battles, grand adventures, and world-saving quests. While these elements can be thrilling, they can also distract from character development and emotional depth. Characters in high-fantasy may be thinly drawn, and their motivations and inner lives can be overshadowed by the larger story.
  4. Difficulty in grounding the story: High-fantasy is often set in an entirely fictional world, which can make it difficult to connect with the audience and ground the story in reality. This can result in a disconnect between the characters and the audience, reducing the impact of the story.
  5. Limited audience appeal: High-fantasy is a niche genre, and while it has a dedicated fanbase, it may not appeal to a wider audience. The fantastical elements and complex world-building can be off-putting to some, and the genre may struggle to attract new fans.

Of course, these limitations do not apply to all high-fantasy stories, and there are many examples of well-written, engaging, and emotionally rich high-fantasy stories. However, it is important to be aware of these limitations and to work to overcome them in order to create a truly compelling and memorable high-fantasy story.