D&D 5E The Call is Out: D&D SciFi Should Be The Next Campaign Setting / Expansion

[CleverNickName]

We've run Esper Genesis on Roll20 a couple of times, and it's excellent. It's essentially what you have described above: a 5th Edition D&D campaign setting, reskinned with sci-fi elements in place of fantasy. You should definitely check it out if you are craving a sci-fi/sci-fantasy style of game.

 

[LordEntrails]

Gamma World would be "safe". It's really not much more than adding psionics and an post apocalyptical setting. Easy, low risk. It would be an evolutionary choice. This could enable something like the settings and worlds from Shanara or even Mad Max.

Star Frontiers would be revolutionary (relatively). I too have a strong emotional attachment to this one, and still play it bi-weekly. The setting is very strong and compelling. The original rules are weak, and the Zeb rules are arguably not an improvement. But, that could/would be solved with a good conversion to 5E. I will note their are a couple of fan 5E conversions as well as the RPG Frontier Space which is very siumilar in feel and can be used to run a game in the SF setting.

SF would also put a good damper on SFRPG from Paizo, though Star Frontiers would sort of share the same acronym and could be undesirable. But they games would be drastically different.

Well done, I would enjoy either. And, as for the printing press that is D&D, I don't see a new 5E ruleset impacting that. Unlike Greyhawk etc, there would really not be any splitting of the fan base, but rather widening and capturing a broader market that already exists and they don't compete in.

 

[payn]

No thanks, I'll stick to Traveller for Sci-Fi.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

I just wanted to let you know (@Snarf Zagyg ) that gamma world was official updated for 4e. I never played it, but I heard it worked with the 4e rules really well.

 

[Monayuris]

Stars Without Number does what I need for a sci-fi game.
But I would support a Star Frontiers ported to 5E.

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

I think a sci-fi game that used the d20 a/d engine is feasible, but I'm not sure it'd be worth the return on investment for WotC.

Outside a gonzo science fantasy setting, something that uses the PHB rules set would be pretty trash.

 

[meltdownpass]

The problem I have with this is that I don't really want, "Dungeons & Dragons ... IN SPACE!" which I believe is inevitably what would happen. I don't see it as realistic for WOTC to commit to creating a product that doesn't draw upon established D&D tropes and the IP-specific elements. Simultaneously, if the setting is just Space Humans, Space Elves, Space Dwarves, Space Dragons, etc. it's retreading the same old ground and won't really provide any of the actual elements of science fiction that I find appealing.

 

[dave2008]

I just wanted to let you know (@Snarf Zagyg ) that gamma world was official updated for 4e. I never played it, but I heard it worked with the 4e rules really well.

Yes, you can still get the rules from DriveThruRPG: Gamma World (4e)

And you can PoD (soft cover)

 

[dave2008]

I demand space goggles!

View attachment 134304

I always wanted to play onE of those flying monkey things

 

[MarkB]

There's also Dark Matter, which goes for a magitech / science fantasy setting and is fully compatible with 5e. I'm getting ready to run their starter set adventure next month.

One good thing about the new Tasha's options for character races is that it's relatively easy to whip up new alien species by using the customisation options for existing species or the option to create a custom lineage from scratch, and I'm encouraging my players to use that option if none of the existing species options in the setting appeal to them.