In Russian literature there is a concept of “маленький человек”, “small person” if you were to translate it. The concept came from realism works of 18th century and dedicated itself to showcasing the life of an average man. Not particularly strong, small in social weight and stature, not exactly standing out in terms of character or any innate ability, but still human and still portrayed sympathetically.
It is something you can call a humanitarian writing concept, yet when I see games with tagline “you are a normal, average person” it isn’t really focused on relationship with the world, on commonality of men, on humanity that unites us, on something, well… small, smaller than we’re used to. Small and normal man, unassuming and weak, can be a main and focal character, but it requires different kind of writing and different focus, something I don’t really see often in games like that. It isn’t really the same thing as works using concept of “small person”.
@Rinnegato
I think it’s more of stale, not overused. Sanderson left a very annoying trail behind him that many people try to emulate - no, magic must have elaborate and complicated system, everyone must dedicate themselves to writing one to the detriment of other things, magic must be infodumped in horrible amounts.
It can be simplified and streamlined, honestly, and it would not harm it one bit. Write something your magic can’t do and don’t stray from it. Write limits for it. You’re golden.