[8] The first role-playing settings from the early 1970s (such as World of Greyhawk and Blackmoor) were based on works in the fantasy literary genre by authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis.
As a result, common fantasy elements in campaign settings include magic and supernatural/mythological creatures, such as dragons, elves, dwarves and orcs.
Common elements involve futuristic technology, contact with alien life forms, experimental societies, and space travel.
Science fiction settings for role playing were introduced with Metamorphosis Alpha in 1976—dungeon adventuring on a "lost starship"[12]—and in 1977 soon followed with Traveller, a space opera game.
[14] Due to the success of Star Wars, and the franchise's impact on popular culture, many science fiction settings were introduced or adapted during the 1980s.
These settings tended to focus on organizations and societies in which generally normal people fight against malevolent supernatural entities.
Another style of horror game reversed the roles, with player characters acting as supernatural creatures, such as vampires and werewolves.