D&D General Kara Tur 5e

[Corinnguard]

Plenty of folks in the RPG industry aren't in it (as opposed to some other work) for the money.

I like to think homebrewers like Laser Llama do it because they've figured out how to make a class not only look better but work better too. And that can be something of a challenge with regards to certain classes, like the Ranger. If I was to play another Ranger, I would pick his version of the class.

 

[haakon1]

It seems to be the only "safe" way, from the megacorp point of view. If you want different in today's world, look outside WotC.

Sounds right.

I think OA was the first (or one of the first) D&D setting that wasn’t quasi European (unlike Greyhawk, Known World, FR - though it preceded FR, I think). I assume it did OK since they created so many other settings.

Could perhaps be money in something different, but we all know the risk of going non-European.

 

[Corinnguard]

The fella in the lower left corner is a Ryujin. This is what some Nishikin can become after experiencing a moment in their lives when they have experienced a great tragedy or some other life-changing event. This particular Ryujin is a Fighter (Skeletal Blade). For those of you who have watched the Naruto anime, Skeletal Blades are sort of like the character Kimimaro.

Kimimaro

Kimimaro (君麻呂) was the sole survivor of the Kaguya clan. Upon dedicating his life to Orochimaru, he became the leader of the formerly-named Sound Five (音隠れの忍五人衆, Otogakure no Shinobi Gonin Shū, literally meaning: Hidden Sound Shinobi Five People), until he fell ill, which forced him to leave the...

naruto.fandom.com

 

[Demetrios1453]

Sounds right.

I think OA was the first (or one of the first) D&D setting that wasn’t quasi European (unlike Greyhawk, Known World, FR - though it preceded FR, I think). I assume it did OK since they created so many other settings.

Could perhaps be money in something different, but we all know the risk of going non-European.

I mean, they have taken a first step in that with Calimshan in the upcoming FR books. I don't doubt that they are using it as a trial balloon to gauge if further exploration into non-Western-inspired settings is viable.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I like to think homebrewers like Laser Llama do it because they've figured out how to make a class not only look better but work better too. And that can be something of a challenge with regards to certain classes, like the Ranger. If I was to play another Ranger, I would pick his version of the class.

Heard good things about their work.

 

[Jonstark]

Just my 2 cents, but PLEASE NOT YET ANOTHER FEUDAL JAPAN. I'm not hating on Japan, but we already have tons:

- Rokugan

- Oath of the Dragon Samurai

- Kamon

- Mists of Akuma

Heck even Kara-Tur itself focused almost exclusively on the Kozakura and Wa. Not in the original boxed set, but nearly all of the modules were set there (except for the best Oriental Adventures module: Mad Monkey vs Dragon Claw).

But the Kara-Tur setting had so much more going for it. Shou Lung, Tu Lung, Koryo... I want the full spectrum of fantasy feudal Asia, not just feudal Japan. And while we have a lot of 5E campaign settings within a fantasy-feudal-Japan analogue, we surprising have almost none for the rest of Asia. Just 'Undying Corruption' (which I don't own but looks pretty great) which is a fantasy-feudal Korea setting (good idea since Korea has been banging out some great fantasy shows/movies lately). And nothing at all based off of a fantasy-feudal China (Imagine how cool it could be to have a Warring States period wherein 'great generals' rampaged back and forth similar to the 'Kingdom' manga/anime).

So I'm hoping that if Kara-Tur 5E does happen, it will at least resemble the original boxed set from 2E, with a broad focus on all of Asia and not just Japan.

And I want lots of martial arts. Cultivation. A place where the Murim heroes run wild. And lots of Asian monsters.

By the way, if they do decide to do Kara-Tur 5E, then they should just immediately hire the guy who wrote 'The Relentless Heavens' and transport that supplement to be used in Kara-Tur (I know someone already mentioned it). It's one of the best 5E supplements I've ever seen, and it contains a new levelling system that can be easily bolted on to the existing 5E framework for martial arts cultivators, so that any character (if they can find a teacher, or a cultivation method) can decide to level up traditionally, or level up cultivation, or both. It's fantastic.

I know it's too much to hope that the mindlessly cowardly PC morons will ever use the 'Oriental Adventures' moniker again, but if Kara-Tur 5E happens, it damn well better be still called 'Kara-Tur'.

 

[Azzy]

But the Kara-Tur setting had so much more going for it. Shou Lung, Tu Lung, Koryo... I want the full spectrum of fantasy feudal Asia, not just feudal Japan. And while we have a lot of 5E campaign settings within a fantasy-feudal-Japan analogue, we surprising have almost none for the rest of Asia. Just 'Undying Corruption' (which I don't own but looks pretty great) which is a fantasy-feudal Korea setting (good idea since Korea has been banging out some great fantasy shows/movies lately).

Not to derail the topic, but do you have any recommendations in that regards?

 

[jian]

Not to derail the topic, but do you have any recommendations in that regards?

Kingdom and Alchemy of Souls come to mind immediately.

There’s also a metric ton of non-medieval fantasy, more urban fantasy (KPop Demon Hunters, My Roommate is a Gumiho, A Korean Odyssey, Mystic Pop-Up Bar etc) but while those are useful for general Korean mythology and folklore I’m not sure they’d provide much material for D&D otherwise.

(That said, the core story of Mystic Pop-Up Bar, for instance - a young witch who is manipulated by evil aristocrats hangs herself in despair but accidentally does so on a spirit tree, causing magical disruption and allowing the country to be invaded and thousands to be killed; for this horrendous outcome she is condemned in the afterlife to become a spirit servant sent back to the world to help people as a tavern owner; if she doesn’t help as many people as those killed during the invasion (10 000) within a set time then she goes to Hell - is perfectly functional as a D&D plot. She could either be an important NPC or even the PCs’ patron, as she needs their help to protect 10 000 people.)

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

mindlessly cowardly PC morons

Mod Note:

That kind of dog whistle doesn’t play well here. Keep it to yourself.

 

[Tonguez]

Kingdom and Alchemy of Souls come to mind immediately.

There’s also a metric ton of non-medieval fantasy, more urban fantasy (KPop Demon Hunters, My Roommate is a Gumiho, A Korean Odyssey, Mystic Pop-Up Bar etc) but while those are useful for general Korean mythology and folklore I’m not sure they’d provide much material for D&D otherwise.

(That said, the core story of Mystic Pop-Up Bar, for instance - a young witch who is manipulated by evil aristocrats hangs herself in despair but accidentally does so on a spirit tree, causing magical disruption and allowing the country to be invaded and thousands to be killed; for this horrendous outcome she is condemned in the afterlife to become a spirit servant sent back to the world to help people as a tavern owner; if she doesn’t help as many people as those killed during the invasion (10 000) within a set time then she goes to Hell - is perfectly functional as a D&D plot. She could either be an important NPC or even the PCs’ patron, as she needs their help to protect 10 000 people.)

I really enjoyed Alchemy of Souls, I've quite been enjoying the Historic Dramas too, theres a whole host of Joseon era movies which are fantastic - War of the Arrows, The Admiral and Shadows in the Palace (which has some supernatural elements)