[Meta #2] Verisimilitude and Worldbuilding

[writerawakened]

AWW YEAH! Alright, boys and girls, hot on the heels of Meta #1 is Meta #2--and fashionably late to boot! By December I'll have it all done, BAM!

Today I was just musing on the idea of verisimilitude (or specifically, seeming authentic while not neccessarily being so) in writing--specifically in writing a medieval setting like FE, because that's what

Comments

[amielleon]

I think your average reader (that is, not a history buff in the right area) doesn't have an eye for historical accuracy so much as connotative accuracy.

Phones ring fiercely modern. (Ha ha ring.) You see a phone in a Fire Emblem fic, you think what the fuck. Phones, phones are modern. Computers, we're talking digital age

[writerawakened]

Yeah, I do think something like a gas stove would be closer to passing as setting-appropriate. :P Cooking appliances seem to denote a common need as opposed to a computer's luxury (mostly), but when you get into the range (ha ha :P) of more contemporary things like, say, microwaves, it seems to suggest a level of convenience above that of pure necessity. Microwaves are a convenient way to cook stuff, but they're also ultimately unnecessary. On a similar note, going back to my example of arquebuses, I think a lot of readers would say that firearms tend to connote modernity, because "guns = modern warfare = pew pew!" So for those readers, it would jar them out of the story just by that denotation, which is what I like to avoid

[amielleon]

I do think that ultimately how modern something is affects how out of place it seems in an FE fanfic. But I believe that the exceptions to that show us more about the exact truth behind the generalization.

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It would be era-appropriate -- cannons were around near the end of the middle ages, says wiki. I think the cannon is an example that argues against historical accuracy bettering suspension-of-disbelief: it's period-appropriate, yet seems out of place for FE!

[writerawakened]

I think the cannon is an example that argues against historical accuracy bettering suspension-of-disbelief: it's period-appropriate, yet seems out of place for FE!

Yeah, that's the point I was trying to make re: medieval firearms. In that case verisimilitude would contradict "accuracy." Maybe I should have clarified that in my post XD;;

[xirysa]

I like this post.

Honestly, I think I tend to just write whatever suits what I'm writing. Along the way I develop a headcanon for things, so in some places you can see a sort of consistency, but for the most part I make it up as I go.

But. I do try to make a point to keep things believable--to fit both the time period and medieval setting, but also to hit the "fantasy" aspects that are characteristic of FE as well. Worldbuilding is loads of fun, but at the same time you're doing it for a pre-established world--there are certain things, I feel, you've got to adhere to, otherwise it's not really FE (or whatever!) fanfiction anymore, but something that just happens to share a name with the "source" material, you know?

I think that, as long as it's believable and, as you said, roughly consistent with what's given in the games, there shouldn't be too much of a problem.

[writerawakened]

Thanks! :D

Ultimately, I think complete historical accuracy is less important than the work being consistent with itself. Basically, if it works for you, go with it! :D

Worldbuilding is loads of fun, but at the same time you're doing it for a pre-established world--there are certain things, I feel, you've got to adhere to, otherwise it's not really FE (or whatever!) fanfiction anymore, but something that just happens to share a name with the "source" material, you know?

I agree completely. Bern might be the Holy Roman Empire, or Prussia, or whatever, but it's still Bern. Same goes for the other nations. This actually ties into what I hope to address next post.

[xirysa]

8D Awesome!

That's actually one of the biggest issues I have for places like Sacae and Jehanna--those obligatory "exotic" lands in the games. Sacae especially, I think; for example, even though (in my opinion, at least) there are definite suggestions that Sacae was heavily inspired by Mongolia (and, to an extent, American plains Indians) I really don't agree with the general sentiment that Sacae = Mongolia by any means, or that Etruria = Renaissance Italy and what have you.

Sure, the influence is there, but that's really all it is: influence.

[hooves]

I partially agree with Ammie in that I think making it roughly believable is about as good as most people try for, and it's worth reaching for yourself, as an author.

Keeping things cut and dry is impossible in a world where pegasi exist (and can actually fly), and people shoot fire out of their hands and strike down bandits with lightning.

Which I think might sorta tie into your sequel thoughts.

I've done a lot of reading, and even though my brain leaks info like a sieve (and I remember the stupidest shit), I try to gather up my own headcanonish thoughts to keep for future usage. Of course, I had a meta to write about this, too, but different. Also I'm even lazier than you. I'll eventually get to it...uh...

[mark_asphodel]

*thumbs up*

Frankly, I think an arbquebus or six would fit in just fine in either Magvel or in FE11/12 Archanea. Luke and Rody would look sweet packing those. I could always explain away gunpowder as "dragon technology."

I think about the farthest out I've gone on the disbelief branch is insisting on a "water closet" in an FE3 story. But hey, they had flush toilets in Crete, allegedly...

[writerawakened]

I could always explain away gunpowder as "dragon technology."

Hah! Awesome! I can imagine it in Magvel: Prince Ephraim walks away from the ashen, disintegrated corpse of the undead Morva with a bag full of black ashes. Five years later, the army of Renais is outfitted with the latest weaponry fueled by the mysterious "dragonpowder" (the possibilities are endless!) XD

[gunlord]

Now that is a cool idea 8_8