Campaign Setting Resource recommendations?

[woonga]

I'm a relatively new (~2+ years) DM currently running two different homebrew campaigns set (loosely) in different areas of the Forgotten Realms. For the more recent one, I found the campaign guide from the D&D Next "Murder in Baldur's Gate" adventure to be a fantastic resource, giving lots of details to flesh out the city as a living, breathing place that I'm able to reference and build on for my players without having to come up with everything from scratch. I've found some of the details from the Out of the Abyss adventure to be similarly useful as I homebrew adventures in the Underdark, and the monster details in VGtM have been excellent as well.

For those familiar with previous editions, are there other specific supplements you all would recommend in a similar vein of rules-agnostic "campaign settings"? I'd even be interested in any you found particularly good that weren't Forgotten Realms, since the homebrew world we've got going could very easily incorporate from other established settings if they had something good to offer.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

4e Threat to the Nentir Vale is a monster manual divided into factions instead of being classified in alphabetical order. It gives some lore (that could be refluffed for your FR) with a lot of monsters stats for a specific faction. Very interesting material to convert.

In the same edition, Hammerfast, city of adventure is a really interesting take on the classic dwarf hold. I use its content to fluff Mithril Hall for my FR.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Vornheim, for Lamentations of the Flame Princess, comes immediately to mind. It’s a unique city to begin with, and the way it’s presented, as more of a toolkit, makes it all the more so.

Hollowfaust, the City of Necromancers is another favorite of mine. It’s for 3e, set in the Scarred Lands, but I’ve found it to be pretty portable, and cool enough that any extra effort is worth it.

For the Realms, the old Volo’s Guides are almost completely system-agnostic, and I feel like I’ve more than gotten my money’s worth over the years.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Vornheim, for Lamentations of the Flame Princess, comes immediately to mind.

You remind me: OP should also look at Veins of the Earth for LotFP if he's interested in ''underworld'' setting such as the Underdark and such.

 

[woonga]

Will definitely look into these, thanks! I've heard of the Nentir Vale setting, but am not really familiar with it, so will be interested to check it out.

And I have need of a robust dwarven hold in the very near future, so that Hammerfast resource could be gold.

 

[woonga]

Vornheim, for Lamentations of the Flame Princess, comes immediately to mind. It’s a unique city to begin with, and the way it’s presented, as more of a toolkit, makes it all the more so.

Hollowfaust, the City of Necromancers is another favorite of mine. It’s for 3e, set in the Scarred Lands, but I’ve found it to be pretty portable, and cool enough that any extra effort is worth it.

For the Realms, the old Volo’s Guides are almost completely system-agnostic, and I feel like I’ve more than gotten my money’s worth over the years.

I had no idea about the previous "Volo's Guides"- these look great. And those unique city settings with Vornheim and Hollowfaust are very, very helpful. Thank you!

 

[TheSword]

I’m a big forgotten realms fan and have had pretty much every book at some point or other. AD&D forgotten realms has a huge resource of campaign suplements some of which could be a setting for dozens of adventures. There are three that stand out for me.

The Ruins of Mythdrannor: A large living monster haunted ruin with lots of factions, history and great locations. (Myth Drannor became a lot less interesting when it was tamed!) the mythal adds a unique element that players can learn to take advantage of. The place really is fantastical.

Menzoberranzan: for me the definitive guide to dark elf cities, full of details of houses, drow treachery, magic and traditions.

City of Splendours: a detailed description of Waterdeep (the real iconic city of D&D - no one made board games, computer games or recent campaign books about the City of Groghawk). There is also a 3.5 hardback update to the original.

I have a soft spot for Volos Guides (in particularly ...Guide to Magic as it has the best descriptions of Artifacts) however the tour guides are a bit too detailed if you know what I mean. You don’t need to know that Triboars pub landlord has three daughters, Priscilla, Penny and Patty. Better to save brain RAM for things that will improve the story. They also fall prey to the old Forgotten Realms flaw of having a half dozen high level adventurers in every hamlet.

if I was to pick one of the three I’d go with Ruins of Myth Drannor, probably my favourite campaign supplement of all time.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

You’re welcome! My copy of Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep is particularly well-used. So many adventure hooks and little details that bring the city to life.

I had no idea about the previous "Volo's Guides"- these look great. And those unique city settings with Vornheim and Hollowfaust are very, very helpful. Thank you!

 

[Chris Walz]

There is a whole line of Gazeteer products from 2e that detail a number of different lands. Their quality varies (IMO) but you might find something you like, The whole line (I think, at least) is available on www.dmsguild.com.

 

[Jester David]

Grand History of the Realms
Volo's Guide to Waterdeep
Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast

They have quote a few books expanding on subsections of the setting:
The Drow of the Underdark
The Seven Sisters
Giantcraft
Elves of Evermeet
The Code of the Harpers
Cult of the Dragon