I swear every single JRPG has some kind of precursor race. It’s to the point where I’d be interested in seeing alternative ways to keep things fascinating. I actually do love the mystery that “mysterious vanished” precursor races bring, but surely they’re not the only way to give that feeling?
Forgotten Realms (D&D’s main setting) has all of that and more:
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advanced precursors in spades
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several alien races (e.g. Mind Flayers) that often double as an enemy
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some regular-ish people who are able to make advanced technology that somehow doesn’t revolutionize society (e.g. the artificer character class)
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Although it is a rather nice crutch, especially when the next alternative is “The invention is trivial, refer to the margins” type of world-building.
Just finished playing Horizon: Zero Dawn and this is honestly so true lol. Despite it, it’s still a good game with an intriguing storyline imo
Tbf, that’s a major plot point of the game (if not the entire plot itself), rather than a “sidenote” (like Final Fantasy games - love them but they do that a lot).
