Favorite Third-Party Settings

[Zhaleskra]

Diomin
Forbidden Kingdoms

With Forbidden Kingdoms, I'm thinking that if I ever run a "basic" D&D game again (highly unlikely), I want to replace the Cleric and Paladin classes with the Clergy and Chosen classes. Mostly for the "sometimes God says "no"" aspect, and also for allowing more flavors of Paladins without referencing alignment. Come to think of it, I may do the same thing with Diomin due to the "Paladins of any alignment" clause. That, and although available, Earth shattering magic doesn't happen very often on Diomin.

 

[malladin]

Sticking to fantasy and avoiding my own writing, but thanks Herobizkit: , I rate highly

Warlords of the Accordlands: dark and stylish if a little mechanically messy.

Midnight: really dark and sets players new challenges overcoming evil, since its already won.

Nyambe: Outstanding, a great fusion of African cultures and fantasy, mechanically ahead of its time.

Conan OGL: It's Conan!, Nuff said.

Nigel

 

[Gothmog]

In order of preference:

1. Midnight tied with Arcanis- both of these settings just ooze flavor, and have been some of the most enjoyable gaming experiences I've ever run or played in.

2. Iron Kingdoms

3. Conan

4. Etherscope- this is just weird and cool and creepy- I love it!

Pretty much the further away from core D&D a setting is, the better I like it. I got a copy of Ptolus, read part of it, and found it not to my liking at all- its essentially "more D&D than D&D". To some folks I realize thats a strength, but to me its a major weakness. I gave my copy to a friend for his birthday, and from what he's told me, he's not too enthused with it either. I even got one of the limited edition giant vinyl maps, and I'm thinking of selling it on Ebay soon since its no use to me.

 

[kobold]

Glorantha the Second Age by Mongoose
System-less
Magical
Different, but similar -it's like Vanilla with Hot Fudge and Whipcream and nuts and a cherry!
The God Learner Empire - an aggressive, expansive empire whose upper echelon/ class members have unlocked the secrets of the gods, capable of re-writing the myths that formed the world.
Empire of the Wyrm’s Friends - an aggressive, expansive empire who practice the powerful dragon magics, hoping to transform their empire and peoples in to a giant cosmic dragon.
And all the rest of the amazing cultures trying not to get gobbled up be the above two.
This is an excellent book –not just for the RuneQuest snob, but the everyday gamer.

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

I swore off FR several years ago. I settled on Wilderlands and have not even bothered looking very hard at anything else.

 

[Treebore]

In order of preference:

1. Midnight tied with Arcanis- both of these settings just ooze flavor, and have been some of the most enjoyable gaming experiences I've ever run or played in.

2. Iron Kingdoms

3. Conan

4. Etherscope- this is just weird and cool and creepy- I love it!

Pretty much the further away from core D&D a setting is, the better I like it. I got a copy of Ptolus, read part of it, and found it not to my liking at all- its essentially "more D&D than D&D". To some folks I realize thats a strength, but to me its a major weakness. I gave my copy to a friend for his birthday, and from what he's told me, he's not too enthused with it either. I even got one of the limited edition giant vinyl maps, and I'm thinking of selling it on Ebay soon since its no use to me.

Let me know when you list it. b o r z o i a d d i c t at yahoo dot com

 

[MonsterMash]

Wilderlands of High Fantasy classic S&S setting with scope to include or ignore high tech elements.

Glorantha

 

[Odhanan]

I'll echo Glorantha for RuneQuest. Definitely one of my favorite RPG fantasy settings ever. It's complex, magical, mythological, mystical, it's high fantasy yet low as well, defies categories and styles to be something truly original and vibrant. It's alive. That world's so great!