Beyond Staunwark Island? (the best of other settings)

[Ry]

My campaign setting has been running for about three years on an island that's less than 100 miles across. It's been great, but one of these days the PCs are going to leave that island, and I've got to be ready with an exotic world awaiting them. So I'm looking for suggestions on what lands lie far and wide beyond Staunwark, and I'm curious what sources people will bring up.

So what exotic lands (from any setting or source) do you think are the best? What countries and kingdoms do the best job of having a style that the players can really engage with?

 

[Khairn]

What's the setting and your island like?

Is there technology mixed with magic ? renegade dieties ? planar travel ?

For some reason, Midnight (FFG) with Izrador in all his dark majesty is popping into my head.

 

[Ry]

To a large extent, Staunwark feels like "Default-Setting low-level D&D" - the kind of place Barakus or the Shackled City was placed in. Relatively flavorless, to accomodate the "beer and pretzels" kind of game. But when they leave the island, I want them going to exotic lands and encountering things they wouldn't expect - I almost want leaving the island to be like leaving the prime material plane in Planescape.

 

[Akrasia]

Check out the 'Wilderlands' stuff from Judges' Guild. When the PCs leave the island they could arrive there. Adventures galore -- with an 'old school' and 'sword-and-sorcery' flavour.

 

[The Grackle]

To a large extent, Staunwark feels like "Default-Setting low-level D&D" - the kind of place Barakus or the Shackled City was placed in. Relatively flavorless, to accomodate the "beer and pretzels" kind of game. But when they leave the island, I want them going to exotic lands and encountering things they wouldn't expect - I almost want leaving the island to be like leaving the prime material plane in Planescape.

Do you like mixing genres? One of my favorites is to have D&D characters run into a more technologically advanced society. It's always fun roleplaying fantasy characters oohing and aahing over trains and blimps.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Have them land on Nyambe. There can be a world past that, but that makes a good "surprise!" continent.

 

[Quickleaf]

As far as a world goes, I think you'd really enjoy Codex Arcanis (Paradigm Concepts). I've only just now had a chance to look at a copy of the player's guide and I am impressed. Just so you know, your island could replace Freeport, which is worked into the setting. There is lots of variation. Imagine the Roman Empire with magic and failed technologies and you'd have an idea for Arcanis.

Of course, you can't go wrong with Al-Qadim. Maybe mix in a bit of Oriental Adventures and an Indian culture and you've got enough exotic adventure to last a life time. And you probably could mine some ideas from Eberron, with it's emphasis on pulp action in exotic locations.

 

[danbuter]

How about Eberron? Having the PC's meet shifters and warforged would definately be a big change. And with all the laws about passports and various post-war problems, they would have a lot to do.