What kind of fantasy battles are the most interesting to you?

Staag

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 22, 2023
Messages
26
Points
53
To me, the best battles are the ones that feel more like skirmishes. Like, there's one side then another and it's just chaotic fight where each member of the fight contributes their unique abilities to the battle.
 

RepresentingPride

I'm looking for Disney Sleds
Joined
Jul 24, 2023
Messages
1,514
Points
153
I think it depend mainly of the build up before it, but I tend to prefer vengeance fight or sacrifice fight maybe?
 

Cortavar

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 30, 2023
Messages
149
Points
83
To me, the best battles are the ones that feel more like skirmishes. Like, there's one side then another and it's just chaotic fight where each member of the fight contributes their unique abilities to the battle.

Any kind of battle can be riveting, or extremely boring, or anything in between. You need a few things to make a battle interesting:

- Stakes. Not the physical ones (unless you're battling a vampire, then go for them), the story ones. The battle must be important to the characters. A schoolyard brawl vs a bully that's been hampering your child character for a while will be more interesting than the 20th fight against a dragon of your OP monster slaying character.
- Expectations. A good writer will let the readers know where on the power scale the participants in the fight are at the beginning. That's why litRPGs are so popular, they have an easily understandable power gauge.
- Dynamic action. Attacks, parries, evasion, counters, feints, etc... The characters need to adjust to the flow of battle, and to be active on their own.
- Terrain, surprises and other optional elements. Yes, a battle can be good without any unforeseen moves, clever use of the environment, exploitation of a participant weakness, psychology tricks or other story tropes. But done right, and in the right amount, these elements contribute greatly to the intensity of the battle.

All of those elements are not limited to fantasy battles, nor to physical battles between a few characters. You can have armies spar on a large battlefield, or courtesans face one another in a battle of wits, and if you apply the same ingredients as for a battle (Stakes, Expectations, Dynamic action and some optional elements), you'll have an interesting conflict!
 

RepresentingDesire

Eye of Desire
Joined
Aug 9, 2023
Messages
1,346
Points
153
Any kind of battle can be riveting, or extremely boring, or anything in between. You need a few things to make a battle interesting:

- Stakes. Not the physical ones (unless you're battling a vampire, then go for them), the story ones. The battle must be important to the characters. A schoolyard brawl vs a bully that's been hampering your child character for a while will be more interesting than the 20th fight against a dragon of your OP monster slaying character.
- Expectations. A good writer will let the readers know where on the power scale the participants in the fight are at the beginning. That's why litRPGs are so popular, they have an easily understandable power gauge.
- Dynamic action. Attacks, parries, evasion, counters, feints, etc... The characters need to adjust to the flow of battle, and to be active on their own.
- Terrain, surprises and other optional elements. Yes, a battle can be good without any unforeseen moves, clever use of the environment, exploitation of a participant weakness, psychology tricks or other story tropes. But done right, and in the right amount, these elements contribute greatly to the intensity of the battle.

All of those elements are not limited to fantasy battles, nor to physical battles between a few characters. You can have armies spar on a large battlefield, or courtesans face one another in a battle of wits, and if you apply the same ingredients as for a battle (Stakes, Expectations, Dynamic action and some optional elements), you'll have an interesting conflict!
Actual good writing advice and a explanation how battles function?! What a shame that I'm the only on who is going to appreciate it.
 

BearlyAlive

I'm not savage, you're just average
Joined
Oct 13, 2021
Messages
1,984
Points
153
Tactical battles. Doesn't matter if siege battles, open field, or duel style, as long as it isn't me see, me punch or involves friendship-fueled last-minute nuclear strike deus-ex-machina ass-pull power-ups.
 

nemonusquam_

Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2023
Messages
53
Points
18
For battles in general, not just Fantasy, I'd say what makes them stand out is the set piece where it unfolds, making the combatants adapt in unique ways.
 

Garon

Active member
Joined
Dec 10, 2023
Messages
117
Points
28
Battle. Where do I understand who is doing what? For example hunter x hunter. I still can't forget the battle between Kuroro and Hisoka. This is one of those battles where everyone uses their strongest abilities and tactics. I need fights like this.
 
Top