D&D (2024) What Licensed IP Do You Want For 5E?

[Stormonu]

So if this is the list of universe beyond sets

• The Lord of the Rings
• Warhammer 40,000
• Stranger Things
• Doctor Who
• Transformers
• Assassin's Creed
• Final Fantasy
• Spider-Man
• Spongebob Squarepants

Which of these could have cool D&D adventures, mini supplements, dice bags or whatever?

Well, for Transformers (& GI Joe), Renegade has done fairly well with their system, and I like their system better than straight-up 5E (it's a mix of Alternity/Cortex & D&D). Several times I have considered using Renegade's game system for D&D itself.

40K has Wrath & Glory and I am FINE with that never being 5E - it's got its own dice pool system and I think it works great for properly setting that world to match its fiction. Trying to make 40K/WHFB a 5E system would be a huge disservice, IMHO.

...And that's another big thing. I think 5E is lousy for certain game types (especially modern/future); it's why I like West End D6 Star Wars over any D20 iteration, for example. D&D's class system and exponential level growth just doesn't match with some properties. I very much remember the days of the d20 glut and the attempt to turn every game into a D&D/D20 version and there were a lot that just didn't work well in a D&D framework.

Everyday Heroes took a stab at being "modern 5E" and has several world books - Pacific Rim, King Kong, Escape From New York and several others that could all be 5E universes, I suppose. But, I have the base EveryDay Heroes books and gave a stab at running it, but my players didn't really like that system.

Sometimes, a bespoke system just does a property better.

 

[Reynard]

Sometimes, a bespoke system just does a property better.

I think that is true in nearly all situations, even if there's a good bit of "inspiration" from an established system.

That said, it doesn't really address the idea that we are likely to see some 5E-ized IP. The question is still "which ones would you prefer to see."

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of a multi-property team up with Blizzard. Pretty much all Blizzard's properties could be translated to 5E.

 

[Corinnguard]

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of a multi-property team up with Blizzard. Pretty much all Blizzard's properties could be translated to 5E.

There are a couple of World of Warcraft homebrews for 5e on GM Binder.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of a multi-property team up with Blizzard. Pretty much all Blizzard's properties could be translated to 5E.

Given how many brands get added to Overwatch as for-pay skins, it seems natural that Hasbro and Microsoft/Blizzard would be in contact at some point.

 

[Stormonu]

Diablo is a shoe-in, I mean it's been done before for both 2E and 3E. And I recall there was a 3E version of World of Warcraft in the past, so that's definitely something that could be brought to life once again.

Can't comment on Overwatch as I haven't played/know much about the property, but that might fall under doing a d20 Modern/Everyday Heroes book (or two...).

 

[Corinnguard]

And I recall there was a 3E version of World of Warcraft in the past, so that's definitely something that could be brought to life once again.

Which was made using the game mechanics from 3.5e. Blizzard Entertainment later made a second edition version of the World of Warcraft RPG. I remember taking a liking to its' Runemaster class. If the WoW RPG was converted to 5e, I could see the Runemaster becoming a Monk subclass.

 

[Reynard]

Which was made using the game mechanics from 3.5e. Blizzard Entertainment later made a second edition version of the World of Warcraft RPG. I remember taking a liking to its' Runemaster class. If the WoW RPG was converted to 5e, I could see the Runemaster becoming a Monk subclass.

The WoW RPG was made by Sword and Sorcery Studios nea White Wolf, not in house by Blizzard.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Which was made using the game mechanics from 3.5e. Blizzard Entertainment later made a second edition version of the World of Warcraft RPG. I remember taking a liking to its' Runemaster class. If the WoW RPG was converted to 5e, I could see the Runemaster becoming a Monk subclass.

Now that WoW is 20 years old (and Hearthstone is 10 years old), I would expect any Warcraft RPG released nowadays to hew a lot closer to the game, rather than inventing new stuff like the Runemaster.

The good news is there's now a ton of lore and content, including an interesting planar structure and, separately, fantasy outer space environments, so there's lots more to work off of than the original RPG had. (Plus massive amounts of concept art that Blizzard already owns and can sprinkle into the books.)

 

[Stormonu]

Which was made using the game mechanics from 3.5e. Blizzard Entertainment later made a second edition version of the World of Warcraft RPG. I remember taking a liking to its' Runemaster class. If the WoW RPG was converted to 5e, I could see the Runemaster becoming a Monk subclass.

I think I still have that in my storage unit somewhere, along with the Everquest RPG. (...And the StarCraft Alternity set)

As for 3E/3.5E, I tend to lump that together in one system when I'm talking about it. I used a lot of 3E stuff in my 3.5E games so I rarely bother to differentiate.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I think I still have that in my storage unit somewhere, along with the Everquest RPG.

The EverQuest RPG I'd love to see are the late Brad McQuaid's original D&D campaign setting notes. I know Azeroth has evolved somewhat since then, but the core game is so clearly him automating his original D&D game, it'd be great to see it in all its nerdy glory.