Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common. Fantasy is generally distinguished from the genres of science fiction and horror by the expectation that it steers clear of scientific and macabre themes, respectively, though there is a great deal of overlap between the three, all of which are subgenres of speculative fiction. In popular culture, the genre of fantasy is dominated by its medievalist form, especially since the worldwide success of The Lord of the Rings and related books by J. R. R. Tolkien. Fantasy has also included fairy tales, wizards, sorcerers, orwitchcraft, (etc.), in events which avoid horror. In its broadest sense, however, fantasy comprises works by many writers, artists, filmmakers, and musicians, from ancient myths and legends to many recent works embraced by a wide audience today.
The Runelords by David Farland is a good fantasy series of books. I would recommend a read, but it gets over the top halfway through the second book
It's fun to play, although you get bogged down after a while because you can't start sieges on your own, and the AI tends to just walk around after a while. I've played it for quite a while some time ago as a Rohirrim, but after a while, Rohan refused to attack Isengard itself, even though it was completely wrecked and easy to take down. It also uses the first game, so it doesn't look as fancy as the other ones, but the cool looking armour makes up for it. It's mostly inspired by the books, although factions like Rohan and Isengard are clearly inspired by the films. Such a shame they didn't give the Easterlings their film armour, because that always looks fucking badass.
It's set in 600's England and it is the most immersive mod I've played. You can start off as a slave, join your lords army as a front line grunt, go work in salt mines, beg on streets, be a bard and sing for a living, start a business, buy whores, hunt and what not. That mod is fucking amazing. And best improvement to combat in my opinion is that missiles (arrows..) are much more dangerous and terrifying. http://www.moddb.com/mods/brytenwalda
Wheel of Time. A good series. I would argue it to be rival LOTR in depth, but without the chewing-on-hard-tack part. The Inheritance Cycle, of course. Good books for people getting into the genre.
