Favorite Setting That Has Novels

[Fobok]

If you count Star Wars (where the RPGs are set in the world of the novels, rather than vice-versa), it's definitely first. A Song of Ice and Fire is definitely up there as well.

Battletech is my top choice, however, of novels that are based off of a game setting rather than the other way around. (I really hope they someday return to making novels like they used to.)

My second choice is Forgotten Realms.

 

[Elf Witch]

I have read a lot of gaming fiction over the years. My three favorites have been the Shadowrun, Dragonlance and Pathfinder. I have read the Pathfinder novels before I played the game.

 

[RetroGameView]

One thing that I think a lot of settings could benefit from is not so much novels as a really good anthology of short stories - that's a good way to cover a lot of ground quickly. I'm thinking of something like the "Dragonlance Tales" or "Realms of Valor". But good, obviously!

I enjoy a good short story anthology. Another book I have in my collection but haven't read yet is Tales of the Old World, a Warhammer Fantasy short story anthology.

 

[Scrivener of Doom]

My favourite setting is the Forgotten Realms. Unfortunately, it has novels. Even more unfortunately, most of them are not very good.

My second favourite setting is Dark Sun. It also has novels. I'm finally starting to read them... but I suspect I won't get very far.

 

[delericho]

If you count Star Wars (where the RPGs are set in the world of the novels, rather than vice-versa)

Technically, not only did the RPG come before the novels, but when Timothy Zahn was researching for "Heir to the Empire" he was sent a whole bunch of WEG RPG books for the purpose. So, technically, it is the novels that are set in the RPG world.

(Of course, both are ultimately in the film world. And, recently, SW canon has of course become... controversial. )

 

[ShadowDenizen]

Though I"m more of a fantasy than a sci-fi fan (and I don't actually PLAY Warhammer of 40K), I've been liking the "Horus Heresy" saga from the Black Library.

I'm on Book 5, and have enjoyed all of the novels so far. I've heard that the novel chronology gets kinda wonky after Book 6, and the books are of varying qulaity. And there's ALOT of them; but I'm gonna stick with it until it gets to be too much.

 

[Storminator]

My favorite setting with novels is Thieves World. Sure, the novels came first but only by a little bit.

Ooooh. That's a good answer! I had forgotten about those. I really liked some of those stories.

PS

 

[Fobok]

Technically, not only did the RPG come before the novels, but when Timothy Zahn was researching for "Heir to the Empire" he was sent a whole bunch of WEG RPG books for the purpose. So, technically, it is the novels that are set in the RPG world.

Splinter of the Mind's Eye came out in 1978. The Han Solo adventures trilogy came out in 1979 and 1980. The Lando Calrissian Adventures trilogy came out in 1983. West End Games came out with their Star Wars RPG in 1987. So, the novels came first.

But you're right, it's the movie universe, especially now. Though, I am looking forward to the new unified canon approach with the novels coming from here on out. Though, as far as any Star Wars games I run, if I do run any again, will still be in the Legends continuity until such time as the new unified canon gets filled out a bit more.

 

[RevTurkey]

Lord of the Rings?

I.C.E's Middle Earth game was fun and The One Ring is good as well.

Mistborn?
Pendragon?
I give Thieves World a nod as well.
Elric/Michael Moorcock Eternal dooda books?
Call of Cthulhu

and for me the most recent winner...

The Laundry...based on Charles Stross' excellent series of novels.

 

[RetroGameView]

I.C.E's Middle Earth game was fun and The One Ring is good as well.

I have MERP first and second editions. Those games are special to me.

The Laundry...based on Charles Stross' excellent series of novels.

I had heard of the game but I didn't know there were novels associated with it. Or that it was associated with novels. The name Charles Stross sounded very familiar to me so I started poking around and I see I have the Fuller Memorandum by him. I haven't read it yet and I see it's part of that series. I'll have to move it farther up my reading list.