Best 5e non-D&D setting(s)?

[TyGuy]

When I search for 3rd party settings I get D&D settings like Tal'dorei and Dark Sun. But I'm looking for settings like Adventures in Middle Earth. Settings for the jaded D&D 5e players that want a little more than reskins of PHB classes, a couple new subclasses, or one new mechanic like psionics.

I've seen a few settings that go off the rails like a Stargate SG1 role-playing game. But very little objective review from normal players that have tried those settings and can give an honest pros & cons. Or just frankly share why some settings are unplayable or only good for a silly one-shot.

What are some of the better/best 5e-rules-based non-D&D settings you've tried or at least been exposed to enough to get an informed opinion?

[Comaward]

Esper Genesis - interstellar sci-fi setting. A sort of D&D meets Mass Effect.

The Scarred Lands - bronze age post-apocalyptic setting. The apocalyptic event was actually the gods and titans having a knock-down drag out fight. If that sounds boring, did I forget to mention that the central ocean is now this weird mixture of blood and salt water?

[KorvinStarmast]

When I search for 3rd party settings I get D&D settings like Tal'dorei and Dark Sun. But I'm looking for settings like Adventures in Middle Earth. Settings for the jaded D&D 5e players that want a little more than reskins of PHB classes, a couple new subclasses, or one new mechanic like psionics.

I've seen a few settings that go off the rails like a Stargate SG1 role-playing game. But very little objective review from normal players that have tried those settings and can give an honest pros & cons. Or just frankly share why some settings are unplayable or only good for a silly one-shot.

What are some of the better/best 5e-rules-based non-D&D settings you've tried or at least been exposed to enough to get an informed opinion? Someone (Libertad) just posted a review of an Italian based setting. here is the link (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?633555-Let-s-Read-Brancalonia-Spaghetti-Fantasy-Setting). Looks like it has a lot to offer.

This dark ages mod may be worth a look (http://dnd-edit.tumblr.com/search/dark+ages).

[MaxWilson]

When I search for 3rd party settings I get D&D settings like Tal'dorei and Dark Sun. But I'm looking for settings like Adventures in Middle Earth. Settings for the jaded D&D 5e players that want a little more than reskins of PHB classes, a couple new subclasses, or one new mechanic like psionics.

I've seen a few settings that go off the rails like a Stargate SG1 role-playing game. But very little objective review from normal players that have tried those settings and can give an honest pros & cons. Or just frankly share why some settings are unplayable or only good for a silly one-shot.

What are some of the better/best 5e-rules-based non-D&D settings you've tried or at least been exposed to enough to get an informed opinion?

Not sure if this is different enough for you (it's PHB-compatible) but it's the best 5E book I own, so I'll put in a plug for Sandy Peterson's Cthulhu Mythos for 5E.

Review here: http://www.tabletopunited.com/index.php/reviews/92-sandy-petersen-s-cthulhu-mythos-5e

Available in PDF or hardcover here: https://petersengames.com/cthulhu-mythos/

[GeneralVryth]

I believe there are Star Wars and Mass Effect adaptions of 5e if you look around. Not sure if that is what you are looking for, but there are there.

[Anonymouswizard]

When I search for 3rd party settings I get D&D settings like Tal'dorei and Dark Sun. But I'm looking for settings like Adventures in Middle Earth. Settings for the jaded D&D 5e players that want a little more than reskins of PHB classes, a couple new subclasses, or one new mechanic like psionics.

I've seen a few settings that go off the rails like a Stargate SG1 role-playing game. But very little objective review from normal players that have tried those settings and can give an honest pros & cons. Or just frankly share why some settings are unplayable or only good for a silly one-shot.

What are some of the better/best 5e-rules-based non-D&D settings you've tried or at least been exposed to enough to get an informed opinion?

It honestly might be easier to just go outside of D&D entirely.

Romance of the Perilous Land (https://ospreypublishing.com/romance-of-the-perilous-land) is a fairly heavy hack of 5e, I believe via the Black Hack rules. It gets rid of subclasses entirely, simplifies monsters a tad too much, and has some rules that are probably more trouble than they're worth (I'm looking at you opposed checks). But if you get past it's weirdness like level-dependent difficulty modifiers it's a pretty decent low fantasy game more based on British Folklore than pulp fantasy. Think King Arthur and Robin Hood.

It is roll-under though, which some people dislike for unfathomable reasons.

Side note: like most Osprey games it's probably cheapest ordered from Amazon, not directly.

[greenstone]

I spent two years GMing in Primeval Thule (http://www.sasquatchgamestudio.com/products/primeval-thule/). I love it.

It is swords & sorcery meets Cthulhu mythos (and in fact the big C is available as a warlock patron).

It is set in Hyboria (the world of Conan and Red Sonja), but 1,000 years before the sandaled feet of Conan trod the world. It is a bronze-age world, where steel is a forgotten art (except by the dwarves, and they are not telling anyone). It is a low tech world. No stirrups, no full-plate armour.

It is a very, very human-centric world (total Dwarf population, 20,000 or less, same for Elves). No orcs, no goblins, no fey. No Underdark (and thus no drow, svirfneblin, duergar, etc).

Civilisation is new. The oldest human city is only a couple of decades old.

I love the lack of civilisation. While I like the Forgotten Realms, I feel constrained by the fact that there is 6,000+ years of very well documented history everywhere.

Some of the things about the world that I really liked GMing:

Every monster is unique. The party don't "fight a beholder", the fight "the dreaded eye tyrant, the only one in the world!" Every big monster is unique and challenging (as a GM, you should change up every single monster to keep the players guessing).

No-one is civilised. There aren't knightly orders or established libraries or guilds. Every merchant and noble and politician is out for themself. Social skills are extremely valuable (if you don't bribe the majordomo then you'll never get an audience with the baron).

Churches are run like organised crime - make money for the church, protect the church's secrets, work against the church's enemies (the other churches).

I really like the Serpentfolk as the ancient enemy of humankind.

[Wraith]

Dark Matter (https://darkmatter.magehandpress.com/) is a sci-fi setting for D&D. Specifically, it's that weird 1980's idea of sci-fi where everyone in the far future wears neon lights on their clothes, has enormous hair-dos and listens to synthesizer music, so it's an eclectic taste, but it's certainly a very vibrant and colourful one! :smalltongue:

[Chronic]

I've read a fair number of non WotC content, and in the end, very few stuck. The first one is Odissey of the Dragonlords, a Greek themed campaign on a mythical island where the 500 hundred year old pact between the primordial gods and the newer humanoid gods is about to run out and will plunge the island into turmoil.
incredible art, really well written campaign which develop a good story but still let a lot of freedom to gm and players.
Many new subclass, many of them quite fun and fairly well balanced. Additional epic paths and epic boons, new races, a really nice bestiary.
I think this book is around 500 pages of superb work.

The second is recent and is iron kingdoms requiem. The iron kingdoms is the official setting for the tabletop wargame Warmachine. I do not play it, but I've always liked their setting of a fantasy world during it's industrial revolution, creating 9 feet tall advanced steam powered automatons to wage war. With the recent requiem (it was kick-starter a few month ago), they decided to complexify the 5e experience a bit, with a few more systems and a few more things to track.
Slightly more gritty, slightly more things to track, almost no magic item, replaced by mechanika (objects powered by magical battery) , many guns available etc.
4 new classes, new subclasses for old classes, new spells, spells restriction for the setting, a system to discourage pop up healing (a good one I think, which isn't that common).

Probably a bit messy overall, but a really cool setting and many good ideas.

[KorvinStarmast]

I spent two years GMing in Primeval Thule (http://www.sasquatchgamestudio.com/products/primeval-thule/). I love it.

It is swords & sorcery meets Cthulhu mythos (and in fact the big C is available as a warlock patron).
{snip}
I really like the Serpentfolk as the ancient enemy of humankind. Sounds like my kind of setting. Does this have a 5e version or did you do it for 3.5?

[greenstone]

Sounds like my kind of setting. Does this have a 5e version or did you do it for 3.5?

Sasquatch Games have released it for a number of game systems. I used the 5E one (here at DriveThru (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/168149/Primeval-Thule-5e-Campaign-Setting)) which I supported on Kickstarter (my name is in the book :smallsmile:). They have a free guide (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/129630/Primeval-Thule-Travelers-Guide)that does a good job of setting the scene.

Another thing I like about the game is that there are only nine gods, each of which fits nicely into the Shalom Schwartz model of motivation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_Basic_Human_Values)(merging Conformity and Tradition into one motivation), which I used instead of alignment (http://easydamus.com/alignmentreal.html).

[KorvinStarmast]

Sasquatch Games have released it for a number of game systems. I used the 5E one (here at DriveThru (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/168149/Primeval-Thule-5e-Campaign-Setting)) which I supported on Kickstarter (my name is in the book :smallsmile:). They have a free guide (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/129630/Primeval-Thule-Travelers-Guide)that does a good job of setting the scene.

Another thing I like about the game is that there are only nine gods, each of which fits nicely into the Shalom Schwartz model of motivation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_Basic_Human_Values)(merging Conformity and Tradition into one motivation), which I used instead of alignment (http://easydamus.com/alignmentreal.html).Thank you, and I'll need to ponder the pie chart of Schwartz. Interesting, probably need to read up on it and see if it would fit my game world.

[thompur]

I'll be joining a campaign in August set in Monty Cook's Ptolus.

[greenstone]

I'll be joining a campaign in August set in Monty Cook's Ptolus.
Ooooooo please do come back here and post a review.

[KorvinStarmast]

Sasquatch Games have released it for a number of game systems. I used the 5E one (here at DriveThru (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/168149/Primeval-Thule-5e-Campaign-Setting)) which I supported on Kickstarter (my name is in the book :smallsmile:). They have a free guide (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/129630/Primeval-Thule-Travelers-Guide)that does a good job of setting the scene. I am doomed. I want all of them. To quote Freddy Mercury out of context ....

I want it all
I want it all
I want it all
And I want it now!

[Thunderous Mojo]

I'll be joining a campaign in August set in Monty Cook's Ptolus.

I ran multiple Ptolus campaigns up until the D&D playtest...I've skimmed the 5e Ptolus release and it still seems to be a great setting.

That said...Ptolus is still firmly in the baseline of D&D like campaigns.

For a Science Fantasy style experience, I recommend Monte Cook Games' Arcana of the Ancients, Beasts of Flesh and Steel, and the module Where the Machines Wait.

Where the Machines Wait, is an excellent adventure, with many cool elements. I rate the module as the best adventure I have read, that was created for 5e.

If you like the crashed Nethril Flying City trapped in ice in Rime of the Frostmaiden, you will like Where the Machines Wait.
It is Bruce Cordel at his adventure writing best!

I also like Sandy Petersen's 5e Cthulhu Mythos. Even if you never use the book exactly as written...the book is a great source of inspiration, is a fun read, is one of the most comprehensive guides to the Cthulhu Mythos that could exist, and showcases what the 5e system can do when designers have the courage to be different.

Mechanically, not everything exactly works smoothly, but the 'cool factor' is worth the effort. Playing as a Dreamland Cat PC that is also another PC's Familiar is fantastic. Want PC races with Natural Attacks that also count as Light, Finesse weapons....the book has them!

Odyssey of the Dragonlords is also worthy of a mention. Combine this product with some of the Theranos D&D Sourcebook rules, and you have a great setting, reminiscent of Ancient Greek mythology.

Someone gave me a book PDF....Mindjammer...which is supposed to be a 5e compatible, Psionic style game, set in something like the Traveller Universe.

I haven't read it, since I suspect it was pirated, and I won't touch pirated RPG products....but 5e style Psionic Traveller sounds ambitious.

[MaxWilson]

I'll be joining a campaign in August set in Monty Cook's Ptolus.

For a second I misread that as "Monty Python's Ptolus," which honestly excited me until I realized you didn't write that. :)

[MrStabby]

For a second I misread that as "Monty Python's Ptolus," which honestly excited me until I realized you didn't write that. :)

For lighter hearted settings I did run a Diskworld campaign once. It worked surprisingly well... if you are after settings rather than material, I can recomend it.

[Sparky McDibben]

For lighter hearted settings I did run a Diskworld campaign once. It worked surprisingly well... if you are after settings rather than material, I can recomend it.

Actually just stole the picture box from Colour of Magic so my PC could take "elfies."