D&D 5E (2024) Let's dream up new FR-style books for other Settings.

[UngainlyTitan]

In another thread, I was discussing what an Underdark-themed book in the format of the new Forgotten Realms Heroes of Faerun & Adventures in Faerun books, and what that would look like.

... I recognise that an Underdark-themed book would not technically necessarily "count" as a different setting from FR, but seeing as it certainly could be 'ported over, I think it's worth considering. Heck, the same is true for Kara-Tur or various other parts of Toril, so just imagine that we are using the term "Setting" loosely here.

For the purposes of this exercise, we are assuming two books: One DM-Facing, and one Player-Facing.

Our DM-Facing (FRAiF) example has the following structure:
1) Around 50 "one-shot"-style Adventure Modules.
2) 5 Fleshed-out Locations.
3) A short adventure.
4) Magic Items: 7 of them.
5) Bestiary: 38 Monsters.

Our Player-Facing (FRHoF) example has the following structure:

1) Character Options: 8 subclasses, 19 backgrounds, & 34 Feats
2) Guide to the Region: Calendar, Currency, Languages, 11 Locations fleshed out for your character to be from.
3) Gods: How religion works, 42 Gods outlined.
4) Equipment: 24 new things to buy.
5) Magic: How magic works, 19 "new" Spells.
6) Factions: Politics & 8 Factions.

Obviously, we don't need to match any given section exactly - but generally, what would you like to see for your favorite setting, if you could create a book that is much along those lines?

I think the format is a solid one for any major world setting, Greyhawk, Dark Sun, Dragonlance etc. I am not sure I want it for the planes, basically there are too much planes. Perhaps for Sigil but for general planes. I would like to see an anthology of low level adventures that use portals, mid level adventures that give some fantastic locations and perhaps a high level AP.
Maybe the low to mid level adventures could be bundled with a gazetteer a bestiary and some magical options.

 

[Corinnguard]

I think the format is a solid one for any major world setting, Greyhawk, Dark Sun, Dragonlance etc. I am not sure I want it for the planes, basically there are too much planes. Perhaps for Sigil but for general planes. I would like to see an anthology of low level adventures that use portals, mid level adventures that give some fantastic locations and perhaps a high level AP.
Maybe the low to mid level adventures could be bundled with a gazetteer a bestiary and some magical options.

Heroes of Sigil and Adventuring in the City of Doors.

 

[TravDoc42]

I am thinking to disconnect Eladrin from alignment. I would like to see Neutral Good Eladrin in urban magitech cultures populating Elysium. And so on.

The nongood planes seem to have different creature type tags (Devil, Demon Modron, Yugoloth, etcetera). But as far as I can tell in 5e, all the Good alignment planes have "Angels"? Does each Good alignment have a different kind of Angel? Is the Elf a kind of Angel? Is the playable version of a CG Angel the same thing as an Aasimar or an Elf?

That's an interesting idea!!

 

[Parmandur]

We kind of need a sister thread to this one: "What areas should Adventures in Faerun II: Elminster Boogaloo cover in detail?"

I've often stated that Cormyr should have gotten in-depth coverage in this book, as well as Thay. Let's hope it does well enough that we can get a sequel covering further areas of the setting nicely in-depth!

I would posit that there is a lot of potential for Campaign books across the broader FR with Gazateers similar to that in the DM book.

 

[Tessarael]

I'd like to see a D&D 2024 Underdark book or two. The closest 5E had was the Out of the Abyss adventure. There's enough material to do both a Heroes of the Underdark for players, and an Adventures in the Underdark for the DMs. Though I'd be inclined to name them in a catchier fashion, such as Villains of the Underdark and Delving in the Underdark.

 

[mamba]

Ok, here is my attempt at a two book DL

The 11 locations for the Heroes book

• Abanasinia
• Qualinesti
• Thorbardin
• Solamnia
• Silvanesti
• Ergoth
• Sancrist
• Taman Busuk
• Nordmaar
• Balifor & Goodlund
• Bloodsea Isles

Factions

• Knights of Solamnia (Sword, Rose, Crown)
• Mages of High Sorcery (Black Robes, Red Robes, White Robes )
• Dragonarmies (Black, Blue, Green, Red, White)

Gods are obvious

For the DM book I would update the DL1-14 books. If this is cheating, here are the 5 fleshed out locations (ok, 6, because I think two are relatively small)

• Abanasinia with Xak Tsaroth, Pax Tharkas
• Solamnia with Palanthas and High Clerist Tower
• Thorbardin and Skullcap
• Icewall with Icewall Castle
• Blood Sea of Istar with Istar Ruins
• Sanction

This can get 50 side quests, I doubt there is room in the AP version of it. The short adventure then is a less railroady DL1

 

[Parmandur]

For the DM book I would update the DL1-14 books

It would be a doozy iof a book, but an update for the DL modules still feels more like "when" more than "if".

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Ok, here is my attempt at a two book DL

The 11 locations for the Heroes book

• Abanasinia
• Qualinesti
• Thorbardin
• Solamnia
• Silvanesti
• Ergoth
• Sancrist
• Taman Busuk
• Nordmaar
• Balifor & Goodlund
• Bloodsea Isles

Factions

• Knights of Solamnia (Sword, Rose, Crown)
• Mages of High Sorcery (Black Robes, Red Robes, White Robes )
• Dragonarmies (Black, Blue, Green, Red, White)

Gods are obvious

For the DM book I would update the DL1-14 books. If this is cheating, here are the 5 fleshed out locations (ok, 6, because I think two are relatively small)

• Abanasinia with Xak Tsaroth, Pax Tharkas
• Solamnia with Palanthas and High Clerist Tower
• Thorbardin and Skullcap
• Icewall with Icewall Castle
• Blood Sea of Istar with Istar Ruins
• Sanction

This can get 50 side quests, I doubt there is room in the AP version of it. The short adventure then is a less railroady DL1

That sounds really great. Much better than what we got, but that's not a problem - it doesn't have to compete, really, as it would be a great companion to it, if anyone were so inclined.

 

[Tessarael]

One thing that I would encourage for a setting like the Underdark is to write it so that it can be readily used with settings like Eberron, Exandria, Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, and Midgard (Kobold Press). Some cities and deities might need to be renamed, but many of the Underdark species are common between these, or substitutes could be suggested where appropriate.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

One thing that I would encourage for a setting like the Underdark is to write it so that it can be readily used with settings like Eberron, Exandria, Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, and Midgard (Kobold Press). Some cities and deities might need to be renamed, but many of the Underdark species are common between these, or substitutes could be suggested where appropriate.

I agree that would be ideal, but ultimately I disagree, but only because I think that it's easier to choose to change aspects of a book to suit a place that is different from its assumed setting than it is to get much out of a product that is made to purposefully generic.

What I mean is, I wouldn't want an Underdark product to have to replace Gracklestugh, or Blingdenstone, or Mantol Drith, or the things established about Menzoberranzan in Drizzt's books.

Sure, other places could have something roughly equivalent, but it would be better to show them in all their glory than to make them generic and expect you to add the elements that make them those places. YMMV.