So This Just Arrived...

Just now, a heavy package arrived at my door. Inside is Sasquatch Game Studios Primeval Thule campaign setting for D&D 5th Edition. It's a full-colour hardcover, about 270 pages. I haven't had chance to delve into it yet, but I can report that it certainly smells of book. Sasquatch, as you may know, produced Princes of the Apocalypse for WotC. Thule's a little different to that - it's a setting inspired by the likes of Conan, featuring Great Old Ones and dark magic. It's barbaric, savage, and mysterious. Oh, and primeval. Below I've posted a few photos of the book, since I literally just got it and haven't been able to read it yet!

 

[the Jester]

That looks like a beautiful book. I hope the content's good! I love the sword & sorcery style (as opposed to high fantasy), so this might be right up my alley. I look forward to hearing what you think of it.

 

[Saplatt]

My main thought is that it has more plot/adventure hooks than you can shake a stick at.

As to whether it's more "sword and sorcery" than "high fantasy" .... hmmmm. There's certainly an S&S flavor to it, but if you use everything "as written," I think it probably still leans more towards high fantasy.

There are many ways to adjust that, of course, from restriction of classes (especially full spellcasters), exclusion or substitution of certain races (especially dwarves), fewer magic items, and so forth.

 

[dave2008]

Love the cover art - reminds me of classic Conan book covers. Thank you for sharing!

 

[neobolts]

How are the crunchy bits of the book set up, is it full-on 5E mechanics or more "edition neutral/vague"?

More specifically, which publishing route did they take?:*

• Since they have a direct working relationship with WotC, is this a licensed product or some sort of gentlemens' agreement?
• Or are they going the OGL/SRD workaround route?
• Or simply relying on IP law?

This book sounds very appealing, but I've been wary of trying any of the 5E via OGL products because I've wondered how much additional work they are to use.


*(Head here for a crash course in the distinctions.)

 

[occam]

There's certainly an S&S flavor to it, but if you use everything "as written," I think it probably still leans more towards high fantasy.

There are many ways to adjust that, of course, from restriction of classes (especially full spellcasters), exclusion or substitution of certain races (especially dwarves), fewer magic items, and so forth.

Indeed. I've been planning to reskin the non-human races to make them exotic varieties of people, not much more different from regular folks than those of Atlantean descent (who are still considered "human"). The Imystrahlim may be more slender and of paler skin than most, but they aren't "elves" and don't have pointy ears. The people of Kal-Zinan may be somewhat shorter and stockier than most, but they aren't "dwarves". The "halflings" of the jungle are pygmies. The mechanical differences between races can be explained as mostly cultural anyway, and the few that aren't, like Darkvision and Trance... well, there is some magic in the world.

 

[Morrus]

How are the crunchy bits of the book set up, is it full-on 5E mechanics or more "edition neutral/vague"?

Oh, full-on mechanics. it's a proper setting book. I haven't read it though yet, but it has monsters, races, spells, class options, all the stuff you'd expect.

More specifically, which publishing route did they take?:*

• Since they have a direct working relationship with WotC, is this a licensed product or some sort of gentlemens' agreement?
• Or are they going the OGL/SRD workaround route?
• Or simply relying on IP law?

I can't speak for them, but there is an OGL in the back, so I'm guessing at your second option.

This book sounds very appealing, but I've been wary of trying any of the 5E via OGL products because I've wondered how much additional work they are to use.

IME, very easy. I've not yet seen any that require additional work.

*(Head here for a crash course in the distinctions.)

I don't need to - I wrote that article.

 

[neobolts]

IME, very easy. I've not yet seen any that require additional work.

Very good to hear. I was worried that OGL 5e books had to "tap dance" around certain rules and descriptions in an unhelpful way. This may end up being my first 3pp 5e print purchase.

I don't need to - I wrote that article.

That link was for the benefit of other people wandering into this thread. I felt a civic duty to preempt a derailing of the thread with another ZOMG D&D ILLEGAL HAX discussion.

 

[MerricB]

I've been playing in a 5E Primeval Thule campaign - it's a lot of fun. (And the two adventures released for it so far are really good). I have the 13th Age version of the book, and the pdf of the 5E volume. The binding is absolutely gorgeous in my book. (I make not of it because most binding isn't, especially of the 5E D&D books).

Cheers!

 

[Von Ether]

but there is an OGL in the back

Read more: http://www.enworld.org/forum/newrep...72ce590162c9b06b1119517b494706d#ixzz3vjybBTSR

Interesting, I wonder how it varies from the 3e version. 4e's had been bit more restrictive, hadn't?