TheKillerBs
Maester
Ask yourself if you would gain anything from using fantasy equivalents for these things. If the answer is no, I see no reason to redress the Western elements. Cowboys with magic sounds pretty flipping awesome.
^^ What Russ said.
I am a firm believer that the world of the story should exist to support the actual story. Is your story about a seafaring people who are expanding trade and dominance? Check out the Phoenicians. Is your story about a nature based people resisting being conquered by an invading 'civilized' force? Read up on the Germanic tribes vs. The Romans.
There's nothing stopping you from dipping into many cultures, religions, peoples, and places to create a pastiche of your own. As long as it works organically and makes sense anything is possible.
Then here's a question, how do you let your readers know that your fantasy world isn't just some sort of Alternate history of the real world?
Then here's a question, how do you let your readers know that your fantasy world isn't just some sort of Alternate history of the real world?
Then here's a question, how do you let your readers know that your fantasy world isn't just some sort of Alternate history of the real world?