Tone & Setting Alignment

Noble vs. Grim & Bright vs. Dark

What is Tone/Setting Alignment?

Terms established within the fantasy genre, such as Grimdark and Noblebright, are utilized to quickly identify the tone and setting of a universe. Commonly known as the mood alignment this terminology has been adopted to provide a potential reader / player an idea of what kind of adventure they should expect.
Grimdark is often potrayed as a bleak and evil place where existence is suffering incarnate. Within a Grimdark universe, there are no heroes, only protagonists of questionable goals and bankrupt morals. Truly pure indviduals may attempt to carve out a niche of hope, only to be snuffed out by a tide of rancor.
Inversely, the world of a Noblebright setting is cheerful and overflowing with hope, justice, and joy; often portrayed as fairytales with another happy ending just around the next corner.

Noble vs. Grim - Tone

Represented by a scale of { Noble, Knight, Gray, Bleak, Grim } the x-axis describes the agency and impact characters, and primary actors, of a setting are capable of making. Within Noble worlds, the actions and sacrifices of a single individual will often become widespread and even permanent. Grim settings by stark contrast are not always evil or bad by nature, but instead are locked in their ways and unchangable by the means of a single person or entity. Either enforced by a great power, god or government, there is little in the way of worldly change. The people of this world accept it for what it is. It would take an incredible exertion of effort to create meaningful impact, and even then those changes are often temporary and short-lived.

Determing Noble / Grim

• How much agency do protagonists / antagonists have?
• How permanant are the actions of heroes / villains?
• How common are heroes or villains?
• How self interested are the people of this world?

Bright vs. Dark - Setting

Ranging on a scale from { Bright, Glow, Core, Dim, Dark } the
y-axis represents the general 'feel' of the world or setting. It's in the air you breath, the food you eat, the ground you tread upon. Most commonly these terms will correlate with how naturally good or evil the setting is, or rather how frequently the average occupants of a setting will experience either hope or despair. Life within a Bright world are often very safe and peaceful, even if that peace is often at the cost of personal liberties. Dark settings are more akin to a hopeless abyss. Things could always improve, but doing so will usually involve great irreversible sacrifice.

Determing Bright / Dark

• What is the life of the average citizen like?
• Is the world filled with hope or wracked by despair?
• What is the general morality of the world?
• What are the general aesthetics of the world?

	Noble	Knight	Gray	Bleak	Grim
Bright	Noblebright Things are good and always will be good. Heroes are plentiful and good natured. The world is a peacful place full of hope. Disney (the movies) Adventure Time Pokemon	Knightbright While things can occasionally get tense, a select group of heroes is all that it take to bathe the world in light and keep evil forces at bay. Marvel Universe	Graybright A world of adventure and discovery. Often less about changing the world, and more about exploring it as it is. Star Trek WorldAnvil Examples Fillimet by	Bleakbright The agency of the indvidual is slipping away. Either by choice or force, the world is kept safe even at the cost of personal liberties. A utopian democracy where citizens might have a say, but can influence very little within the grand scheme of things. Ghost in the Shell	Grimbright Peace and prosperity are assured through superior force. The evils of the world are kept at bay, at the cost of the indvidual. A utopia built upon a foundation of unseen despair. Disney (the corporation) Roman Empire WorldAnvil Examples Ethnis by Ademal Jacklyn & Barron
Glow	Nobleglow The world has seen better days, but the people still live comfortable lives and happy existences. A single champion can shape the entire world as an avatar of justice. Avatar: The Last Airbender Princess Mononoke Chronicles of Narnia WorldAnvil Examples Kal-Adur by Violet Hall	Knightglow Occasionally unruly, the driving combined efforts of groups can collectively alter the world and shape its very nature. Organizations are actively seeking to improve the livelihood of eveyone, even if met with frequent opposition. My Hero Academia Minecraft WorldAnvil Examples Manifold Sky by BCGR_Wurth	Grayglow Often a large place filled with many beings, the effects of a single person can often be lost in a universe of decisions. Evil may have a role to play, but the world often self corrects with an overwhelming force of hope. Star Wars WorldAnvil Examples World of Wizard's Peak by Chris L	Bleakglow While hope wafts through the air, things are bad and a mere stumble away from getting worse. Heroes and villains alike may fight for their own objectives, even if the world at large often has its own plans and intends to see them through. Mass Effect Neon Genesis Evangelion Maana's Cylinder by Pouaseuille	Grimglow Usually your dystopia with a silver linning of hope. There is often an active effort to stoke the embers of resistance, to make a better world. Even if met with limited success. The Handmaid's Tale
Core	Noblecore Often fighting over a teertering world between virtue and chaos, a single hero is all that is needed to turn the tide and decide the very fate of the universe. Fable - Lionhead Studios Harry Potter Death Note WorldAnvil Examples Aesontis by Jacob Billings	Knightcore Hanging on a thin thread between hope and despair; given enough effort, groups of indviduals may be able to make a dramatic effect on the world. Even if true permanence is just beyond reach. D&D: Forgotten Realms WorldAnvil Examples Bræd by Jakob Bolt	Graycore The world is neither good nor evil, but possesses some degree of both. Heroes do not decide the fate of this world, but the collective efforts of everyone partaking in it will shape the direction it takes. As close to the real world as you can possibly get. The Office The Sims WorldAnvil Examples Lathai by Anna	Bleakcore Filled with protagonists doing bad things with good intentions, proverbally passing the hot-potato of despair from one party to the next. The only way the world can improve is a complete cultural overhaul. The Matrix The Last of Us	Grimcore The world exists as it is and it always will. Stagnation rules the day, and the status quo will always be preserved by the powers that be. The world is neutral because the natural order is enforced. 1984 - George Orwell
Dim	Nobledim Either actively recessing into an age of darkness, or on the verge of escaping one. Heroes have the power to steer the course of the future, even if doing so almost garuntees sacrificing their life in this noble pursuit. Lord of the Rings Halo: Combat Evolved Hollow Knight	Knightdim The line is blurred between criminals and leaders as those in power are pushing ever further towards oppression. Life for a commoner is hard and getting harder -- key figures among the community stand as the final word; occasionaly banding together to suppress any opposition of their collective power. The Witcher WorldAnvil Examples Cathedris by Stormbril	Graydim Life sucks and the powers that would be are often bickering too much to make it better. While small sparks of faith preside in the people, they'll be fighting an uphill battle against organized relgions, governments, and even the elements to improve things. Dune - Frank Herbert WorldAnvil Examples Melior by	Bleakdim Things never seem to go well for the protagonists at hand. While almost always escaping the cold grip of death, characters in these worlds are often constantly tormented by misfortune and have seldom much power to prevent it. A Series of Unfortunate Events WorldAnvil Examples Etrea by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull Qet by Garrett Grace Lewis	Grimdim Life is rough, one moment you're a hero, the next a corpse. Many agents may be struggling to achieve their own objectives, but in doing so will cause the end of another's journey, and eventually their own. Game of Thrones
Dark	Nobledark The world is ruled by suffering and misery, while the overall setting can be a miserable place to exist the actions of a single individual can often be enough to turn the tides and carve out a niche of peace. Dark Souls WorldAnvil Examples Ravare by Damion Otter	Knightdark A rugged place to live, often run by criminals, thugs, and other seedy characters. Despair has made a home on the streets, yet the organized actions of key groups would be enough to fuel embers of hope, or snuff it out altogether. Gotham Batman Series Mad Max: Fury Road	Graydark As it stands, things are bad, and the only way to fix it would be through hard work on a grand scale. The world is evil because people accept it as evil, and insufficient change has been made to rectify it. Hunger Games	Bleakdark The world is a dumpster fire, and there never seems to be enough water to put it out. As opposed to making the world better, many would rather find ways to live with how it is now. Even if doing so means either sacrificing your life or your morality. Fallout WorldAnvil Examples Cenorad by Sloqush Cinders of the Cataclysm by Tobias Linder	Grimdark The world is hopeless and all is lost. The lights of hope are quickly extinguished under the trampling foot of evil influences and ill-intentions. Warhammer 40k. Call of Cthulhu Darkest Dungeon

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