Looking for Recommendations for a High Fantasy Campaign Setting

[Elodan]

The Diamond Throne from the Arcana Unearthed/Evolve game would be my suggestion.

Unfortunately though, Arcana Evolved books are hard to come by. I think they've stopped printing them.

I use Arcana Evolved mixed with some D&D as my rule-set. I just didn't find the world and a majority of the races all that interesting.

 

[Elodan]

It does indeed, and lacking any subsequent clarification, I'm going to assume that you mean the actual, "textbook" definition of high fantasy, as described right here.

In my opinion, that rules out settings like Iron Kingdoms and Eberron which, although I love them dearly, I wouldn't consider high fantasy in the traditional sense. It also rules out the Wilderlands, which—despite being called officially The Wilderlands of High Fantasy—seem to have a very strong Sword & Sorcery vibe, not a high fantasy one.

I'd also throw The Kingdoms of Kalamar into the ring here. Hârn is almost extreme in this regard, and therefore abandons some of the default D&D assumptions, which Kalamar retains. To use an analogy, if deciding that focusing on verisimilitude and "realism" were like getting rid of animal products, Kingdoms of Kalamar would be the vegetarian setting, while Hârn would be the much more strict Vegan setting. Plus, it hasn't been thrown out there yet and it definately should; where are all the Kalamar advocates who usually swarm on these types of threads by now?

Your assumption was correct. I'm talking traditional high fantasy, such as Tolkien and Terry Brook's Shannara. I want my humans, dwarves, elves and hobbits to fight the powers of evil, rescue the princess and so forth.

I'm not afraid of settings with non-traditional races and such (I use races from both Eberron and AE), but I do want it to fit the traditional stuff without it feeling like it's been forced in.

I'm also not worried about 3E/4E rule-sets.

Kenzer does some quality products. I'll have to take a look at Kalamar.

Feel free to keep the suggestions coming.

 

[Elodan]

If by High Fantasy you mean Tolkien, Donaldson type stuff, there's Midnight.

We looked at Midnight (and it's an excellent setting btw) but felt it was too dark for our tastes.

 

[Pinotage]

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Arcanis yet. It's got to be one of the best campaign settings out there. I'd highly recommend Arcanis - it's fantastic, gritty, fantasy setting with intrigue, power struggles, and battles against a demon-infested world.

Also, one of the other fantastic settings I've seen in Blood Throne. For True20, but a great setting with teleporting stones, wagons riding mana lines, and all sorts of goodness.

Pinotage

 

[Treebore]

Your assumption was correct. I'm talking traditional high fantasy, such as Tolkien and Terry Brook's Shannara. I want my humans, dwarves, elves and hobbits to fight the powers of evil, rescue the princess and so forth.

I'm not afraid of settings with non-traditional races and such (I use races from both Eberron and AE), but I do want it to fit the traditional stuff without it feeling like it's been forced in.

I'm also not worried about 3E/4E rule-sets.

Kenzer does some quality products. I'll have to take a look at Kalamar.

Feel free to keep the suggestions coming.

OK, then Dawnforge and Oathbound are probably too high fantasy for you. Arcanis is also awesome, but probably doesn't fit into what your looking for. Iron Kingdoms is still a good possibility. I don't like firearms and technology in my fanatsy, but I like how IK did it. Which shocked me.

From what your describing Wilderlands and Kalamar are likely going to be what your looking for, oh, and Erde/Airhde as well. Aeroth (DCC 35, Goodman Games) is given such a light touch you can probably make it into just the right High Fanatasy your looking for. Scarred Lands is also worth looking at.

 

[Desdichado]

OK, then Dawnforge and Oathbound are probably too high fantasy for you. Arcanis is also awesome, but probably doesn't fit into what your looking for. Iron Kingdoms is still a good possibility. I don't like firearms and technology in my fanatsy, but I like how IK did it. Which shocked me.

From what your describing Wilderlands and Kalamar are likely going to be what your looking for, oh, and Erde/Airhde as well. Aeroth (DCC 35, Goodman Games) is given such a light touch you can probably make it into just the right High Fanatasy your looking for. Scarred Lands is also worth looking at.

?? High fantasy isn't defined by how fantastic it is. It means something else entirely.

 

[Treebore]

?? High fantasy isn't defined by how fantastic it is. It means something else entirely.

Um, I did read the linked definition and his response. So I am answering within my understanding of what he is looking for. I own, and have read, all 23 of all the settings previously linked. There is no way for me to know exactly what it is he wants without some solid conversation, but based on what is said here I stand by what I said.

 

[Dimitri Mazieres]

It does indeed, and lacking any subsequent clarification, I'm going to assume that you mean the actual, "textbook" definition of high fantasy, as described right here.

Interesting article. And if by High Fantasy you mean a setting where (one of) the underlying theme(s) is Good vs. Evil, then Midnight is definitely an option, and for that matter, Ravenloft as well.

 

[Elodan]

Um, I did read the linked definition and his response. So I am answering within my understanding of what he is looking for. I own, and have read, all 23 of all the settings previously linked. There is no way for me to know exactly what it is he wants without some solid conversation, but based on what is said here I stand by what I said.

Part of the problem is that I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for either. It's like pr0n, I'll know it when I see it. I'm looking for something interesting but not overwhelming and meeting the criteria of being able to run a high fantasy campaign there.

While I've read some of the reviews for Dawnforged, Scarred Lands and such, I'm not sure if I'm getting the feel of the setting. Maybe I'm over thinking this. I was hoping to get recommendations from others with the why they like the setting, it's strengths and weaknesses.

I managed to borrow a copy of the Kalamar CS and it looks fairly interesting. My only concern is that is doesn't seem to cover anything non-human.

 

[Treebore]

Part of the problem is that I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for either. It's like pr0n, I'll know it when I see it. I'm looking for something interesting but not overwhelming and meeting the criteria of being able to run a high fantasy campaign there.

While I've read some of the reviews for Dawnforged, Scarred Lands and such, I'm not sure if I'm getting the feel of the setting. Maybe I'm over thinking this. I was hoping to get recommendations from others with the why they like the setting, it's strengths and weaknesses.

I managed to borrow a copy of the Kalamar CS and it looks fairly interesting. My only concern is that is doesn't seem to cover anything non-human.

They have additional books covering specific non humans, like the goblins.