D&D 5E Pitch me a new WotC setting (+)

[Laurefindel]

S'why I said "Steamfantasy"

And while it is a hard-magic version of steamfantasy, they've got trains and noir detective stories, and a general vibe that fits the concept of steamfantasy even if they don't have the gears and widgets for the aesthetics of steamfantasy.

I guess you could call it "Magitech" instead, but that doesn't encapsulate Sharn's style, either.

I think it's the word "steam" that leads to confusion, insofar as Eberron is a steampunk/steam fantasy-setting-but-without-steam. I find it closer to gas-lamp fantasy but this is neither here nor there; a "non-victorian steam fantasy setting but without steam" actually describes Eberron pretty well to the non-initiated.

 

[Corinnguard]

I guess you could call it "Magitech" instead, but that doesn't encapsulate Sharn's style, either.

Any adventuring that takes place solely in Sharn would probably count as Urban Fantasy.

 

[Laurefindel]

The "reskin" setting. Reskin all basic races/species as human ethnicities, reskin magical traditions into something (slightly) different matching the mechanics of the classes, and reskin monsters to different aesthetics. Elevator pitch:

The world has moved into a new age after the academicians (wizards) democratized magic by applying the new emerging principles of science to hedge wizardy and overthrew the reign of the mages (druids) granted magical powers by serving elder spirits. Witches (clerics) still cater to the lesser spirits of the wind, rain, forest, and rivers either from magical boutiques in the cities or from their cottages holding ancient shrines to the guardian and fey spirits, for without them the world would whither and die. To keep their kind alive, fey spirits sometimes abduct human souls and replace them with one of their own, creating changelings (warlocks) who rediscover their fey nature as they grow among humans and are ultimately faced with the choice of accepting humanity and die, or turn into monsters such as vampires or hags feared by spirits and mortal alike. While the new gods of virtue do not meddle in the affair of mortals, many celestial and fiendish entities have less scruples about granting magical powers to humans (sorcerers) and in the north, worship of the olden gods is not completely forgotten and some still practice the magical art of runecasting (paladins). Throughout the continent, remnants of old knightly orders who once served the mages roam aimlessly in search of a new identity, shunned by the populace who call them marauders (rangers). In the cities, the growth of science led to many technological advancements facilitating population growth and welfare in general. Armies now use firearms in battle but perhaps in nostalgia of a disappearing age, acrobatic scoundrels (monks), swashbuckling rogues, heavily-focused duelists (barbarians) and iron-clad warriors still hold the greatest romantic admiration in the eyes of children and storytellers.

 

[mamba]

a setting built in the same vein, in which there are a few specific factions which divide the world and player races onto opposite sides of a dividing line, would probably sell well out of the gate

Dragonlance?

 

[Reynard]

I think it's the word "steam" that leads to confusion, insofar as Eberron is a steampunk/steam fantasy-setting-but-without-steam. I find it closer to gas-lamp fantasy but this is neither here nor there; a "non-victorian steam fantasy setting but without steam" actually describes Eberron pretty well to the non-initiated.

The setting is broadly aetherpunk. If you watch Arcane -- probably the best current autherpunk thing, and it actually embraces the "punk" beyond the aesthetic -- you can definitely see how Eberron is much closer to it than steampunk.

 

[bedir than]

Bloomburrow, an upcoming Magic the Gathering set, is all intelligent talking animals with no humanoids at all. I know Humblewood exists, but D&D co-oping the MtG world would be wonderful.

 

[humble minion]

It probably isn't 'cozy' exactly, but the Obojima kickstarter, with it's Studio Ghibli aesthetic (how that aesthetic translates to gameplay i have no idea...) and seemingly elaborate crafting system, is going absolutely gangbusters and will waltz through the $1 million mark. Bit of an eye-opener to me, not sure if WotC are drawing any lessons from it though.

 

[Laurefindel]

It probably isn't 'cozy' exactly, but the Obojima kickstarter, with it's Studip Ghibli aesthetic (how that aesthetic translates to gameplay i have no idea...) and seemingly elaborate crafting system, is going absolutely gangbusters and will waltz through the $1 million mark. Bit of an eye-opener to me, not sure if WotC are drawing any lessons from it though.

ohhh, didn't know about this one! Looks very interesting

 

[Steampunkette]

Dragonlance?

Ehhhh... kinda.

Dragonlance has that sort of design, but it's not made to be played from both perspectives. You play the Heroes and you fight the Faceless Hordes and you occasionally fight the Big Bad. But that's really all there is to it.

Warcraft, Warhammer, Starcraft, etc. are meant to show different facets of factions and heroes on both sides of the battlefield.

Well. Kinda. Warcraft -gets- that way, but started out pretty Dragonlance with "Orcs Bad. Humies Good." But it wouldn't be nearly the cultural phenomenon it is, today, if it hadn't let people play Heroes of the Horde.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

Ehhhh... kinda.

Dragonlance has that sort of design, but it's not made to be played from both perspectives. You play the Heroes and you fight the Faceless Hordes and you occasionally fight the Big Bad. But that's really all there is to it.

Warcraft, Warhammer, Starcraft, etc. are meant to show different facets of factions and heroes on both sides of the battlefield.

Well. Kinda. Warcraft -gets- that way, but started out pretty Dragonlance with "Orcs Bad. Humies Good." But it wouldn't be nearly the cultural phenomenon it is, today, if it hadn't let people play Heroes of the Horde.

Though it is worth noting that the instant you could play a Horde elf, they became the most-popular playable race in the game, bar none except perhaps human.

People like playing beautiful "bad" boys/girls. Blood elf gave players all the "savage Horde, we do what we want, we respect no law but force" stuff they craved, while still getting to be traditionally attractive. Even having blatantly overpowered alternatives (e.g. draenei back in BC) didn't dent the tide of blood elves.