D&D 5E DMG Preview: The Multiverse

[Parmandur]

Intriguing; the worlds are divided by epic, heroic or sword and sorcery types of fantasy. I wonder if this is something gone into earlier in terms of setting up a campaign?

 

[AmerginLiath]

That division interests me. As I noted in the "What campaign settings would you want?" thread, I think that WotC isn't going to bring back a setting unless it can differentiate which mechanics that setting brings focus to. With FORGOTTEN REALMS stealing so much of GREYHAWK's stuff (and via the Tiamat and Elemental Evil APs, stealing even more), it's interesting to the DMG specifying how the "feel" of the 'generic fantasy' (as they're derisively called) settings differ. Heroic Fantasy is very distinct from the Appendix N Sword & Sorcery Fantasy in terms of what the heroes are expected to be able to accomplish in the world and what corners they may have to cut for them and those they care about to survive. Likewise, Epic Fantasy (often known as Romantic Fantasy in the older definition of that term) focuses on the effects and ramifications of choices (including those in relationships & enmities) as the micro goes macro.

I get a real sense of a Combat, Exploration, Social breakdown with the Heroic, Sword & Sorcery, and Epic Fantasies concept – Gygaxian Greyhawk was always more about exploring and trying to get at the loot without disturbing the monsters & traps beyond your ken, which 5e bakes back into the rules again; Weis & Hickman's Krynn was a world where loyalty & friendship where often the ethical fulcrum behind the vastness of continent-wide wars, which was the first thought I had when Mearls discussed the BattleSystem playtest and the Social system.

 

[Dausuul]

I never liked Planescape, so that bit leaves me cold, but there are some other interesting details. In particular, notice how the settings are all categorized into one of three types:

• Heroic Fantasy (Forgotten Realms, Eberron, Birthright)
• Epic Fantasy (Dragonlance)
• Sword and Sorcery (Greyhawk, Dark Sun)

(There may be, and probably are, others on the list; the page is cut off, so we can't see 'em all.)

I wonder if the DMG goes into more detail on types of settings?

 

[doctorhook]

Looks pretty cool! Shame we can't see more of the chapter; I'm becoming gradually more enamored with the possibilities of Spelljammer (a far more interesting interplanar setting than Planescape, in my opinion).

 

[doctorhook]

I never liked Planescape, so that bit leaves me cold, but there are some other interesting details. In particular, notice how the settings are all categorized into one of three types:

• Heroic Fantasy (Forgotten Realms, Eberron, Birthright)
• Epic Fantasy (Dragonlance)
• Sword and Sorcery (Greyhawk, Dark Sun)

(There may be, and probably are, others on the list; the page is cut off, so we can't see 'em all.)

I wonder if the DMG goes into more detail on types of settings?

Yeah, it's a bit odd that Eberron is supposed to have the same tone as FR and Birthright, especially given 3.5E's emphasis on Eberron as "pulp/steampunk fantasy"...but maybe they didn't want to split hairs so finely.

 

[Bolongo]

Yeah, it's a bit odd that Eberron is supposed to have the same tone as FR and Birthright, especially given 3.5E's emphasis on Eberron as "pulp/steampunk fantasy"...but maybe they didn't want to split hairs so finely.

Well, if they only want to have 3 subdivisions of fantasy, I'd say pulp is closer to heroic than it is to sword&sorcery.

Edit: At least the kind of pulp that Eberron exemplifies, with lots of flashy magic and flashy combat. I'm well aware that historically, the first stories written in the S&S genre were published in pulp magazines, but I feel the term "pulp" has mutated a bit since its origins.

 

[Bolongo]

*OH, they've retconned the torus. Well, that's boring.

I was about to ask "retconned how?" but then I read the passage again and realized it's actually describing a ringworld. But the text still doesn't match the picture. It specifically says you can see "the far side of the city directly overhead", but in the picture that mountain would block such a view.

 

[NiClerigo]

Eberron is mentioned in the DMG: oh yeah! My favorite campaign setting

 

[occam]

"Beyond the central continent of Faerûn, Toril includes the regions of Al-Qadim, Kara-Tur, and Maztica."

This makes me oh so happy. Always loved Maztica and it is nice to see they returned it to its rightful place.

Agreed!

 

[GMforPowergamers]

man, I hope that Aebrynis aka Birthright will be making a comeback, especially when mass combat comes out...