Zendikar: The greatest D&D setting never published

[Asmor]

I made a couple of posts about this on my blog, but I feel it should get some more attention.

Quick background for those not too familiar with the game Magic: The Gathering. Every year, WotC releases a new "block" of three sets which, as of late, have each been taking place in a setting unique to that particular block.

The newest one is called Zendikar, and I humbly submit that it is the greatest D&D setting never published. In particular, it seems well-suited to 4th edition's Points of Light paradigm, as there is little to know well-established civilization.

Magic is all about mana (magical energy), and every plane has it. However, Zendikar's mana is unique and powerful, and warps the world. Cities are uncommon as it's entirely possible what is a beautiful plains this morning might suddenly split into a fiery chasm this afternoon and then erupt into a towering mountain this evening.

On top of that, gravity itself is warped and there are floating islands and blobs of vegetation to be found everywhere.

Add to all of this the "ancient civilization leaves behind buried treasures" cliche and you've got a setting that encourages adventuring, has no real "safe" spots, and has lots of potential for unique and exciting adventures.

Here's an article which discusses the setting's themes, inhabitants, and regions, which is what initially piqued my interest. And here they discuss how the setting's design and aesthetics came to be, with lots of concept and finished artwork.

I leave you with some particularly evocative images that I think should seal the deal.

 

[Hussar]

Heh. Y'know I think we're far enough along that the idea that mixing MtG with D&D will no longer bring out the horrified reactions that we might have gotten some time ago. I've always thought that MtG had some fantastic ideas that would fit right in with D&D.

However, I think it actually might be the other way around. MtG doesn't want D&D to nick it's stuff.

 

[Asmor]

Funny you should say that. Some quotes from the design article...

Wayne Reynolds (who was especially key in allowing his deep knowledge and experience with D&D provide us with a party/teamwork feel that was not D&D visually. We wanted that adventuring party resonance, but not by stepping on the heels of another of our properties.)

Reynolds, of course, is well known for his D&D illustrations and, in particular, is one of the iconic Eberron artists.

Also, one thing I hadn't mentioned is the adventuring party thing... Adventure is one of Zendikar's themes, and they created a mechanic of "allies" which are based off of adventuring heroes, and they all aid each other. In particular, they designed the allies in three broad molds: fighters, wizards and clerics. Nope, no D&D there at all.

The visual direction for humans was this: no polished metal—Zendikar is too harsh an environment for the inhabitants to have nice things. At the same time, we talked openly about avoiding D&D's design sensibility, so what we came to was this: gear and armor would be edgy and even complicated in design, but utilitarian in materials and construction.

Not really sure how that's striking a huge difference from D&D's design, but at the very least that was one of their goals.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Personally, I'd love to see an edition- even FRPG- neutral setting book for the various Magic stuff. It could be done like Stewart Cowley's "Terran Trade Authority" books.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Spacecraft-2000-2100-D-Stewart-Cowley/dp/0890092117]Amazon.com: Spacecraft 2000-2100, A.D. (9780890092118): Stewart Cowley: Books[/ame]

While they weren't written with RPGs in mind, they did eventually spawn one (now 2).

Just write up the books, gazetteer style, with locales and personalities of note...AND THE ART...and I'll buy them.

Then again, I've been using M:tG cards for RPG inspiration since it hit the shelves...I ran a PC based on the Hurloon Minotaur about 2 years after that card got published.

Since then, I've also used cards from Everway, Hyborean Gates, Doomtroopers, and so forth for PC/campaign inspiration.

 

[mach1.9pants]

The guys in the 2nd to bottom image are the dumbest adventurers that I have ever seen.

 

[Jonny Nexus]

Put me down in the "those pictures look awesome!" camp. I've always loved the idea of a floating fragmented worldlets. It does look seriously cool.

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

The guys in the 2nd to bottom image are the dumbest adventurers that I have ever seen.

Looks like my group!

So, there are cracked bones and old blood splattered all over the alcove? I step in!

We have a running joke (stolen from Ren & Stimpy) about "pushing the shiny red button."

 

[jdrakeh]

Yes, that does look awesome! I wish more settings were like this (or Eberron and Athas) than Fantasy Europe re-skinned.

 

[Aberzanzorax]

Add my voice to the chorus of, yes this is awesome.

Makes me think a bit of the plane of Limbo (unless I'm confusing it with Pandemonium).


ALSO: Excellent point above regarding "settings that aren't just reskins of our own world" to paraphrase.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Yes, that does look awesome! I wish more settings were like this (or Eberron and Athas) than Fantasy Europe re-skinned.

Damned disheartening. Twenty-five years after Oriental Adventures, twenty years after Final Fantasy, and pastiches of Fantasy Japan are still "exotic" and there are still people complaining that Monks and Ninja don't have any place in "fantasy" settings.