reelo
Hero
Something that doesn't get explored enough, imho, is PRE-feudal times. The period between the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and the Norman conquest seems to me ideal:
You have medieval weapons and armor (well, not plate, but leaving that out you can just adapt the ACs for other types up/down) you have both isolated villages and larger towns, you have crumbling ruins from a collapsed empire, you have people moving and settling, you have invaders and/or traders from faraway, you have religious strife ....
So if you want "medieval" D&D without all the hassle of a King»Duke»Count/Earl»Baron»Knight hierarchy, look for the Migration period, it has all you need.
You have medieval weapons and armor (well, not plate, but leaving that out you can just adapt the ACs for other types up/down) you have both isolated villages and larger towns, you have crumbling ruins from a collapsed empire, you have people moving and settling, you have invaders and/or traders from faraway, you have religious strife ....
So if you want "medieval" D&D without all the hassle of a King»Duke»Count/Earl»Baron»Knight hierarchy, look for the Migration period, it has all you need.