D&D 5E (2014) What are the more interesting 5e settings?

[Ancalagon]

I think that limiting yourself to "5e settings " is a mistake. There are so many great settings out there, and in general it's not hard to convert something to 5e.

I would recommend Yoon Suin but there are many others.

 

[jayoungr]

want to know what are some 5e compatible settings that are IYO interesting?

Most of the third-party settings I'm most excited about are still in the works (I backed a bunch of Kickstarters earlier this year). Here are some that have at least partial material available:

Odyssey of the Dragonlords
Greek myth inspired, but with dragons. The book is due out in a month or so, but meanwhile, there's an extensive free player's guide available for download: Odyssey of the Dragonlords: Player's Guide - PDF (FREE)

Snowhaven
Far north setting, gritty, detailed history, full of intrigue, with the beginnings of firearms technology. Again, this is the shorter version of the setting book; a longer version is due out early next year.

Lasers and Liches
"Cyberpunk Saturday morning cartoon world" is the closest I can come to describing this one. The test material is PWYW.

Monsters of Murka
Political satire, largely directed at the current US administration. I almost hesitate to mention this one because it's going to be highly subjective whether you enjoy it or not, but for some groups, it might be right up your alley.

Arcana of the Ancients
A 5E space fantasy supplement by the creators of Numenera. The full book is due out next year, but this is a preview.

Also, have you checked out the free Plane Shift documents for playing in the various worlds of Magic: the Gathering?

Amonkhet
Dominaria
Innistrad
Ixalan
Kaladesh
Zendikar

As long as you're aware the levels and hit points and magic-as-tools of D&D mean you can never come close to anything resembling the feeling of a true LOTR experience.

I'm a longtime Tolkien fan. I've played both TOR and AiME. And while TOR does it better, AiME does, in my opinion, "come close to something resembling the feeling of a true LOTR experience." They've reworked 5E pretty thoroughly to minimize the aspects you are concerned about.

If you want to step into 3rd Party, Kobold Press' Midgard is very good, with several high quality books in print and PDF. World Book, Player Options, Monsters, and Adventures.

I second this recommendation. I'll add that Midgard also has a Southlands which is less European-centric: there's an Egypt analogue, a sub-Saharan-flavored region, plant people, wasp people, and pirates! The setting book is Pathfinder-only, but most if not all of the adventures set in the Southlands have been converted for 5E.

 

[muppetmuppet]

Dark Sun

 

[Tyler Do'Urden]

"The setting book is Pathfinder-only, but most if not all of the adventures set in the Southlands have been converted for 5E."

The Midgard Worldbook thoroughly covers the Southlands - with the exception of the sub-Saharan portion, which is yet to come (as are the lands of the far east frequently mentioned throughout the book).

I'll put in another vote for Midgard. I was putting together my own setting until I found it and immediately thought, "ah, this one has everything I want in it... I'll just use this".

(And a vote for AIME, which I'd be running if I wasn't running Midgard.)

 

[Zardnaar]

"The setting book is Pathfinder-only, but most if not all of the adventures set in the Southlands have been converted for 5E."

The Midgard Worldbook thoroughly covers the Southlands - with the exception of the sub-Saharan portion, which is yet to come (as are the lands of the far east frequently mentioned throughout the book).

I'll put in another vote for Midgard. I was putting together my own setting until I found it and immediately thought, "ah, this one has everything I want in it... I'll just use this".

(And a vote for AIME, which I'd be running if I wasn't running Midgard.)

The book barely covers the northern tip of the Southlands. Even then it's a lot less detail.

If you have/get Southlands book for Pathfinder and Southland Heroes for 5E it's not hard to run.

 

[Garthanos]

I can add a plus one for Midgard. Gorgeous map, high quality.

Bought it last year with some money mum left me, only playing it for the first time next week tough.

Midgard Map

You arent kidding that is gorgeous

 

[Zardnaar]

You arent kidding that is gorgeous

Yep it's the World of Tome of Beasts

 

[Urriak Uruk]

I got two suggestions, even though I’m sure the OP has a bunch of options to chew on. I really like this thread, it’s pointing me out to all these great settings I haven’t heard of!

So Pathfinder’s world Golarion actually is available for 5e without converting, as the creators there have made their “Kingmaker” adventure path 5e compatible. That’s not the entire world of Golarion, but even that one forest area is pretty good.

Also another Kickstarter that just got funded is “Grim Hollow,” which is honestly more material for Ravenloft. Lots of new rules and material including how to become a lich.

 

[Zardnaar]

Golarion isn't that hard to convert except maybe some of the prestige classes which would need to be redone for 5E.

Red Mantis Rogue archetype. An assassin who can wildshape into a giant preying mantis.