D&D General Recommend me a somewhat contained setting

[Zeromaru X]

Unfortunately the planned Nentir Vale Gazetteer got canceled. The closest thing to it is what’s in the 4e DMG (similar to the Greyhawk section in the 2024 5e DMG).

Bill Slavicsek said that most of the new elements he had created for the Gazetteer were used as the setting for the Mark of Nerath novel. That I have already read and included in the aforementioned guide.

I'm going to check it and then put it on my drive, to share it here

 

[pukunui]

Bill Slavicsek said that most of the new elements he had created for the Gazetteer were used as the setting for the Mark of Nerath novel. That I have already read and included in the aforementioned guide.

I'm going to check it and then put it on my drive, to share it here

Cool. I was just looking through my accumulated material on Nentir Vale, and it turns out I somehow already have your "History of the Nentir Vale" document.

 

[Hussar]

I have to admit, I wish there were a lot more settings like this. Small(ish), self contained settings that aren't an entire world.

There does seem to be rather a dearth of this sort of thing.

While very bare bones, check out Tomkin Press - The Ironsworn Family of Tabletop Roleplaying Games Ironsworn. It's a fantastic little setting, about the size you're looking for.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I wonder.

If the Nentir Vale Gazetteer was already paid for, and WotC owns the material created for it (not just the underlying IP), it'd be interesting to figure out how many manhours would be required to get it to a saleable state on D&D Beyond and maybe DMs Guild.

WotC likes to look forward, not back, but if they've already sunk a bunch of time and money into this, how much more would it take to get it across the finish line? Do they already have maps and art in the can, for instance?

 

[Reynard]

I think I might use @Dyson Logos Autumn Lands as my map foundation and populate it.

 

[Older Beholder]

I’m kinda curious of those that do run sandboxes, do you a use homebrew setting, or a pre-existing campaign setting? Do you have a go to setting or does it differ with each campaign?

 

[Cruentus]

I’m currently running a sandbox in Greyhawk, in Sterich to be specific, using the Gold box (just a lot of framework, light on detail), and placing it at the end of From the Ashes. From there, it’s all homebrew on the starting village/area in Sterich, what’s immediately around it, and I’m pulling from all kinds of 3PP, homebrew, and old TSR materials to offer plot hooks or interesting areas to explore.

I’ve already had players ignore all the plot hook offerings and decide to try to set up a caravan/merchant career.

Usually I switched settings for each campaign, but this time I’m using the same setting, and every time folks play, they add to the fabric of the area, the lore and myths about goings on, and they sometimes precipitate events that will play out over time. I’m also keeping it fairly ‘local’ and ‘focused’ rather than ‘here is the world map, where do you want to go next’. Though they can decide to leave Sterich, it is a sandbox, after all.

 

[Zeromaru X]

I wonder.

If the Nentir Vale Gazetteer was already paid for, and WotC owns the material created for it (not just the underlying IP), it'd be interesting to figure out how many manhours would be required to get it to a saleable state on D&D Beyond and maybe DMs Guild.

According to Bill Slavicsek, he didn't finish the first draft of the book when they cancelled it. So, all of his ideas were used as the basis of the Mark of Nerath novel, as I mentioned before. I also have the theory that the few material created for the Gazetteer was later repurposed for Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale, but I don't have any evidence about that.

 

[Smackpixi]

Moonshae Isles if you’re looking for a lower magic setting, I mean it’s still Fogotten Realms but the setting is arcane rare. www.dmsguild.com/product/248303/Moonshae-Isles-Regional-Guide Baldman Games has done some great stuff. that’s setting guide, which is really a greatly expanded take on the Dungeon #196 article, Backdrop: The Moonshae Isles article. Both can be found pirated free pretty easy if you want to peak. Baldman has a couple dozen AL adventures on DMsGuild set there if you need an assist to giving people something to do somewhere there. Bonus, about the size of and based on Britain.

 

[Voadam]

The Paizo Pathfinder mini gazetteers are usually great for being fairly contained areas with multiple sites and factions all based around a big theme (Gothic horror land, fantasy ancient Egypt land, fantasy viking lands, Thundarr the Barbarian themed land, etc.). Most of them are 64 page sourcebooks, a few 32 page ones.

The Basic D&D Gazetteers are good for this too but they vary in quality. I do not recommend the Orc one or the adventurer theme park Carribean Islands one.

Kobold Press's Midgard has a bunch of neat kingdoms and some regional/player sourcebooks but they are fairly short and sparse with a little more Pathfinder 1e player mechanics and broad regional background focus.

1e and 2e Forgotten Realms had a bunch of regional sourcebooks that would probably be great.

I will second Freeport, it is mostly a single city on an island with a few secondary island sites but the Statless Pirate's Guide is fantastic and has tons of factions and defined themed city sections to work from. Great urban, Cthulhu, and pirate themes to work with.