Critical Role Tell me the selling points of Tal'Dorei / Wildemount, without mentioning Critical Role, Matt Mercer, etc.

[Charlaquin]

I dont it generic at all. Are people reading the same thing I am

Just of top my head
-civilization is built off a very advanced earlier civilization that died off. So you have guns, robots, airships and other advancements not seen generic settings. They had flying cities that crashed that contain unknown horrors.

I mean, that’s like one of the key fundamental building blocks of European fantasy. The specifics of what technology the preceding civilization had vary from setting to setting, but the idea of “current society is built on the bones of an older, better society that collapsed for reasons now shrouded in myth” is older than Tolkien, ultimately tracing its origins back to actual medieval Europe and its relationship with the Roman empire. It’s an absolute staple of the fantasy genre, and is usually the reason D&D adventurers find powerful magic items in ancient ruins and tombs. The people who came before knew how to work wonders we can no longer even dream of reproducing, so we salvage what we can from the detritus of their fallen civilization.

There’s a civilization that lives on the moon

That’s less common, but not particularly unique.

And as others have said, it’s not really a bad thing that the setting is derivative. If anything that’s one of its major points of appeal. It’s very familiar-feeling for fans of just about any fantasy fiction, which makes it highly approachable. You don’t need to study a bunch of obscure lore to “get it,” cause if you’ve consumed any fantasy media in the past few decades, you’ll pretty much know what to expect.

 

[TiQuinn]

I don’t know that I would expect any setting to be completely original at this point. Not even really sure that’s a worthwhile goal for any RPG. There’s a reason Empire of the Petal Throne didn’t catch on as a major setting (and I’m not talking about Barker’s personal politics.) You can be so original that you alienate the audience you’re trying to sell to. What I don’t know is that Matt Mercer ever looked at Mystara’s Shadow Elves when coming up with the Kryn Dynasty. He may have or he may not have. It’s kind of irrelevant, IMO. The idea of a good or neutral aligned Drow civilization was put into motion as soon as one said “Drow are evil, live underground and worship Lolth.” It begged for an alternative approach that flips that script.

 

[wicked cool]

Not to sound like an ass but CR isnt the first to do that. I applaud them for taking a lot of old AD&D stuff (and other sources) putting new paint on it, and sending it back out into the world.

Agree but I don’t consider it generic . Barrier peaks was a 1 off and Everton isn’t as advanced as mercers world

 

[Aurel Guthrie]

Not to sound like an ass but CR isnt the first to do that. I applaud them for taking a lot of old AD&D stuff (and other sources) putting new paint on it, and sending it back out into the world.

Not being the first doesn't mean it's generic, otherwise 99% of everything would be generic nowadays /Hyperbole

 

[Clint_L]

And as others have said, it’s not really a bad thing that the setting is derivative. If anything that’s one of its major points of appeal. It’s very familiar-feeling for fans of just about any fantasy fiction, which makes it highly approachable. You don’t need to study a bunch of obscure lore to “get it,” cause if you’ve consumed any fantasy media in the past few decades, you’ll pretty much know what to expect.

I agree - it's a feature, not a flaw!

When a setting is too idiosyncratic, I don't want to run it - it feels like the property of the creator. I might think it is totally cool and admire the heck out of the creativity, but I want a campaign world where I can impose my own vision. Exandria gives me that - it has enough detail to get me started, but I never feel like my hands are tied, and it doesn't bother me at all to ignore what I don't like.

For me, a contrast would be Ebberon. I think it is an awesome world, but I have no desire to run a campaign there - the creator's vision is amazing, but (for me) overpowering.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

-civilization is built off a very advanced earlier civilization that died off

You thinking of Blackmoor?

That's a very common fantasy trope. It's in Conan and Lord of the Rings for a start!