So I ask of you, if you could take D&D's default middle age fantasy and push it into another genre, what would it be, and which edition's rules would you use? And tell me why it would be awesome.
hum, lets see what D&D has to offer.
- a class system emulating an easily quantifiable "zero-to-hero" trope, and clear character archetypes
- an abstract damage/health system without specific injuries where "are you dead?" is a simple yes/no question
- characters that can go through a lot of damage/punishment as they gain levels without being inconvenienced
- easy access to healing. Even without magic, the rest mechanics is generous in that regard
- a cyclic limited resources system renewable through simple rest
- magic. D&D has magic that obeys specific rules and limited resources. You can refluff spells as weird science, psionics, or mutant powers, but the specific nature of spells and limiting nature of spell slots remain. You can remove it altogether, but you just chopped 50% of the game right there, so why use D&D?
- a short-ish list of wide-broad skills
- a very detailed combat system, a very simple exploration system, and an even simpler social interaction system.
- emphasis on individual actions (coordination of teammates as opposed to group actions)
So with that in mind, everything with the word "fantasy" works rather well, whether it is in space, in a pseudo-medieval earth-like setting, in a Princess of Mars planet-fantasy type etc.
everything historical "but with magic!" can work too, as long as you can accept the resource-limited aspect of magic (too bad Harry Potter cast expeliarmus last round, now he's out of magic!)
Everything pseudo-medieval with a twist, like a Dark Crystal setting, or anthropomorphic settings like Humblewood or mouse guard work rather well too.
Most Japanese-animation genre can easily fit the system too.
some weird science genres can work, like Girl Genius gas-lamp fantasy. Again, anything where you can justify your scientist running out of science will work ("what do you mean I can't use another battery for my fireball cannon!?!")