d20 Past - Anyone using it?

[Bobitron]

I'd like to get back to the original topic.

I don't have d20 Past yet, but if & when I should acquire it (hopefully as part of an SRD update), I plan to use it to detail a setting based on the War of 1812. Flintlock espionage, native forces, Redcoats versus Yanks... I think it could be fun.

That, and I wanted to base a setting on Elizabethan England. Mostly because I'd love to have a setting where Shakespeare himself is a major NPC.

Here's a question: If d20 Past was everything you wanted it to be, how would you use it?

You just described two of the games I have kicking around in my head

Take the 1812 one back a few years, I want to run the opening of the Revolutionary War.

The new Marvel '1602' book and the Harry Turtledove book 'Ruled Britannia' have got me interested in a turn of the century espionage game.

I thought I read about a flintlock era D20 book coming out, but I can't remember where...

 

[GMSkarka]

I thought I read about a flintlock era D20 book coming out, but I can't remember where...

Atlas Games. Northern Crown. Colonial America Fantasy setting.

 

[Bobitron]

Thanks, GMSkarka. That was the one. The teaser text looked great. If this book gets anywhere near the praise that Nyambe recieved, I'll pick it up.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I have it, and have read it, and was underwhelmed.

There is not enough information about any of the periods to count as even a 'broad strokes outline'. There was nothing about any of the periods to make them stand out at all. I can't even just blame the length of the book for its shortcomings, even what is there does not go into enough detail to start a campaign.

While I think that a book the size of D20 past would be unlikely to ever come out from WotC I can't really tell why they bothered doing this one the way they did at all.

Not a terrible book, but not very good either, maybe a 2 out of 5.

The Auld Grump, who really wanted to like it... trust me on this.

 

[Bran Blackbyrd]

Sounds like it has the same problem every other D20M book has; too much focus on the damned FX and FX heavy campaign examples you won't use anyway, not enough focus on the Modern.
Honestly, who needs campaign examples to run a game that takes place in the modern world? As far as recent past and near future; if you haven't read enough books and seen enough movies to make your own campaign... :\

 

[arscott]

Sounds like it has the same problem every other D20M book has; too much focus on the damned FX and FX heavy campaign examples you won't use anyway, not enough focus on the Modern.

Not everybody hates FX in their modern games. In my case, one of the big draws of D20M is that it provides a low-magic, less gear-centric alternative to standard d20. Besides, in the core book itself, non FX classes outnumber FX classes 2 to 1. 3 to 1 if you count base classes.

Honestly, who needs campaign examples to run a game that takes place in the modern world? As far as recent past and near future; if you haven't read enough books and seen enough movies to make your own campaign... :\

The same people that buy Realms, Eberron, or other setting books, I'd imagine. It's not like their's any dearth of Medieval-Era Fantasy book either.

 

[SWBaxter]

The same people that buy Realms, Eberron, or other setting books, I'd imagine. It's not like their's any dearth of Medieval-Era Fantasy book either.

Sure, but those are at least relatively thorough treatments. d20 Past is the Forgotten Realms, Eberron, and Greyhawk all released in one 96 page book, with no further material planned. I don't think such a product would be particularly successful in the D&D market, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that a similar product isn't meeting with universal acceptance in the d20 Modern market.

 

[Kanegrundar]

When was the last time ANY book was met with "universal" acceptance?

Kane

 

[Ranger REG]

When was the last time ANY book was met with "universal" acceptance?

Define "universal." The collection of RPG communities or just the D&D fan community?

 

[Kanegrundar]

Define "universal." The collection of RPG communities or just the D&D fan community?

Hehehe...Why do I get the feeling that this could turn into a discussion on the what the definition of "is" is?!?!?

To answer, I would say the community that would actually buy and be interested in the product.

Kane