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

[TheDelphian]

D&D 5E - 5e Compatible Gamma World

So I recently (past year) finished my conversion of Gamma World to 5th edition. I know a few exist but they are of the more recent D&D 4th edition version which, while I liked it in some ways, was not my favorite. I preferred the actually 4th edition published in 1992 (I think). It was pre 3rd...

www.enworld.org

Gamma world can be done.

And imagine if it was done by professionals!

 

[not-so-newguy]

I always wanted to play on of those flying monkey things

They start with a 'Y.' I want to say Yakuza, but that can't be right.

I always liked the elastic blobby ones. Dralasites? I think that's what they were called.

 

[Marc_C]

They start with a 'Y.' I want to say Yakuza, but that can't be right.

I always liked the elastic blobby ones. Dralasites? I think that's what they were called.

• Yazarians : Monkeys
• Dralasites : Blob
• Vrusks : Insect

They were updated in the d20 Future book (3e).

 

[Urriak Uruk]

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.

How dare you suggest Gamma World is SAFE when these guys are strutting around!

 

[Kobold Avenger]

• Yazarians : Monkeys
• Dralasites : Blob
• Vrusks : Insect

They were updated in the d20 Future book (3e).

Or Hadozee, Plasmoids and Rastipedes if Spelljammer.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

They start with a 'Y.' I want to say Yakuza, but that can't be right.

I always liked the elastic blobby ones. Dralasites? I think that's what they were called.

So, you like Kangaroos? I have just the race for you!!!!!

At least Humma didn't have the Ifshnit problem .... "What did you say?"

 

[TheAlkaizer]

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.

I both agree and disagree.

I've played Starfinder for a full year before COVID hits. It's very much pathfinder in space. It really is. It's not sci-fi as much as science-fantasy. There's all the same races, some new space races. There's a big overlap in monsters, etc.

However, the different setting does allow the telling of new stories. Having played D&D and fantasy settings for almost 15 years prior, I was overwhelmed by all the new narrative tools, stories and ideas I could put forward. It really unsettled me in a good way.

So I don't think it's entirely retreating to the same old ground. However, you're also right that doing a proper sci-fi game and exploring different themes, fantasies, power dynamics and a different scale could be really good!

 

[THEMNGMNT]

A few years back Mike Mearls suggested that there could be 5E versions of old games like Gamma World. I know for a fact that if 5E Gamma World were released my players would DEMAND that I run it.

 

[S'mon]

I thought this would be about a science-fantasy type hardback setting for D&D. Wizards and Warlocks in SPAAAAACE. An SF RPG is a very different thing.

Personally I'd love a D&D sci-fantasy setting that was nova guns & solar blades, flying cosmic dragons into battle against the Chaos Wizards of the Darkstorm Galaxy.

 

[Stormonu]

Don't forget about Star*Drive, too. (And Star Wars d20, if they file the serial numbers off )

I'd like to see the 5E equivalent of d20 modern, I think it would be much better than the 3E/3.5E version, which completely fell apart around 10th level. If they could put together a generic Sci-Fi system that can handle Star Trek, Star Wars, Babylon 5, Starship Troopers, Robotech, Star Blazers (2199), Warhammer 40K, Gamma World, Metamorphosis Alpha, Mass Effect, Star*Drive, Star Frontiers, Planet of the Apes and Dune - that's the type of system we need.