D&D 4E Any Chance of a 4E Birthright redo?

[BulletMagnet]

Hi guys and gals. First post in along time since the old En boards. I was wondring if there was any interest in this setting? To me, it is the most adult minded settings ever created. It required a high level of proficiency in dm'ing to come up with great political based story arcs, and a great deal of roleplaying from the players, something that post 3e has been missing since the change to a tactical simulation with some role playing splashed in for effect. I wish they would do it for us old "grognards" who wish for a more mature setting, mature meaning not seeing how far I can cheese out the rules to make a awesome killing machine with no story or background. Thoughts, comments, insults ?

 

[Inferno!]

I was wondring if there was any interest in this setting?

I'd love to see a new Birthright, but I also think it has a snowballs chance in...well, you get the idea.

To me, it is the most adult minded settings ever created...I wish they would do it for us old "grognards" who wish for a more mature setting, mature meaning not seeing how far I can cheese out the rules to make a awesome killing machine with no story or background. Thoughts, comments, insults ?

I suspect you're in for some flames from Ravenloft and Planscape fans who would say those settings are for mature roleplayers too. While I'm a grognard too, and agree with your sentiments about Birthright, the tone of your post comes across as somewhat condescending. A more neutral tone may facilitate a more productive discussion.

 

[Shieldhaven]

I have really liked what Birthright.net did with updating the setting to 3.x, and I hope that those same stalwarts will take on the task of 4e updating. It's one of my favorite settings too. =)

Haven

 

[drothgery]

I'd guess we're a lot more likely to see a 'Book of Regency' or 'Heroes of Nobility' type book (or a major part of DMG3 or 4) with rules and ideas for running a campaign where PCs are rulers (or otherwise have very significant non-adventuring leadership responsiblities) rather than a refresh of Birthright.

I rather liked the setting myself, but Birthright, like Planescape and Ravenloft, is really mostly about things that aren't all that setting-specific.

 

[Banshee16]

I'd guess we're a lot more likely to see a 'Book of Regency' or 'Heroes of Nobility' type book (or a major part of DMG3 or 4) with rules and ideas for running a campaign where PCs are rulers (or otherwise have very significant non-adventuring leadership responsiblities) rather than a refresh of Birthright.

I rather liked the setting myself, but Birthright, like Planescape and Ravenloft, is really mostly about things that aren't all that setting-specific.

Well, I guess so....if you leave out the Bloodlines, the Awnshieglien, Tiemavril weapons, Sidhelien, the more realistic take on religions (where you could have multiple churches of the same diety all killing each other or working against each other, due to differences in doctrine, etc.), the political gamesmanship....

I think there's a fair bit that's setting specific. The main stuff that that isn't is largely tied to the domain rules, which could be used for other settings. I do think Aebrynis stands on its own, though.

Banshee

 

[Steely Dan]

I'd love to see a new Birthright, but I also think it has a snowballs chance in...well, you get the idea.

Yeah, my impression is that it didn't do too well; there were already enough pseudo-European campaigns out there at the time

While I like some of the flavour (the shadow plane, abominations and what have you), in general I found it as dull as dish water.

 

[Atlatl Jones]

Yeah, my impression is that it didn't do too well; there were already enough pseudo-European campaigns out there at the time

While I like some of the flavour (the shadow plane, abominations and what have you), in general I found it as dull as dish water.

What I loved about it was that it wasn't dull "pseudo" European, but much closer to actual dark ages / medieval European history, with the myth turned up to 11. IMO TSR made a mistake by marketing it as a "medieval rulership mini-game," rather than the mythological and interesting historical elements.

I'd love to see it remade for 4e, but it's never going to happen. It wouldn't sell well enough, and thematically it's too close to the other settings.

From what I've heard about 4e, it seems that blood powers could be types of paragon paths and maybe epic destinies.

 

[Blastin]

My favorite setting. LOVE it. Would love to see it redone for 4E, but agree with the above that it ain't gonna happen. I can wish though

 

[Incenjucar]

I can wish though

Not in 4E you can't.

Hopefully they'll at least make some conversions for the unique rules of the setting at some point, for use in any flavor campaign.

 

[Cam Banks]

I ran a Birthright campaign for about 3 years, first with 3.0 and then with 3.5 after those books were released. I used the Birthright d20 conversions from Birthright.net together with some of my own ideas, and rather than set it in Cerilia I took Elizabeth Willey's Argylle books-- 'The Well-Favored Man,' 'A Sorcerer and a Gentleman,' and 'The Price of Blood and Honor'--and set the campaign in those. All of the Birthright tropes were included, from the Sidhelien to the gods and Bloodlines, even Deismaar, it's just that I used a different map and added the notion of the Spring, the Well, and the Stone as powerful magical sources.

It was probably the best campaign I have ever run, and it never felt remotely generic, so I would expect something similar from any update for 4e.

Cheers,
Cam