Happy Friday, everyone! I hope those of you on holiday are having a good one.
I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for system-agnostic setting books. If such a thing exists, I’m thinking particularly of any that break down the world (places, peoples, history, etc.), provide guidelines for creating PCs regardless of the system you’re using, and provide either adventures or story starters to help the GM. Bonus points if the book has instructions or guidelines on “how to use” it, such as what it covers and at what points you’ll need to consult your chosen system to complete a process.
I’m getting ready to edit a project along these lines and wanted to get a sense of how it’s done. Thanks in advance for your help!
Yoon-Suin, The Dark of Hot Springs Island, and the four ‘zines that make up The Thousand Islands.
Yoon-Suin, The Dark of Hot Springs Island, and the four ‘zines that make up The Thousand Islands.
Ultraviolet Grasslands
Ultraviolet Grasslands
Have you ever looked at Osprey Publishing? They have a lot of military related books, but they also have some imprints that are not focused on military history. Check out the Dark Osprey Myths and Legends, and the Open Book lines.
Have you ever looked at Osprey Publishing? They have a lot of military related books, but they also have some imprints that are not focused on military history. Check out the Dark Osprey Myths and Legends, and the Open Book lines.
Jim Jones I’ve not. Thanks for the suggestion!
Jim Jones I’ve not. Thanks for the suggestion!
Krevborna is pretty good, it’s a gothic/bloodborne type setting. Even though the author says that his go-to game is 5e, he doesn’t have anything specifically d&d in the book.
Krevborna is pretty good, it’s a gothic/bloodborne type setting. Even though the author says that his go-to game is 5e, he doesn’t have anything specifically d&d in the book.
There are very few truly agnostic setting books. I’ve looked. There are a few effectively agnostic settings, and there are quite a few mostly agnostic books.
For truly agnostic (meaning no mechanics at all in the book), the only ones I can think of are:
• The Actuator
• Deluge
• Strange Nations
• Swordfish Islands
• Mystery of the Shattered World
• The Art of Magic: The Gathering books (I’m not kidding)
Effectively agnostic include those that have been ported to a bunch of different systems, where the specifics of the system matter much less than the specifics of the setting. So, stuff like:
• Freeport
• Primeval Thule
• Strange Stars
• Hârn
Mostly agnostic setting books include those where the specifics of the game are mostly missing from the text. (Often, game-specific stuff is in an appendix, or something similar). There are a bunch of these. Some that do it better than others:
• Much of FATE’s Worlds of Aventure series.
• The original Delta Green
• Ptolus
• The original five BattleTech house books (more history than guide book).
• The “direction” series in the Exalted: Second Edition line.
There are very few truly agnostic setting books. I’ve looked. There are a few effectively agnostic settings, and there are quite a few mostly agnostic books.
For truly agnostic (meaning no mechanics at all in the book), the only ones I can think of are:
• The Actuator
• Deluge
• Strange Nations
• Swordfish Islands
• Mystery of the Shattered World
• The Art of Magic: The Gathering books (I’m not kidding)
Effectively agnostic include those that have been ported to a bunch of different systems, where the specifics of the system matter much less than the specifics of the setting. So, stuff like:
• Freeport
• Primeval Thule
• Strange Stars
• Hârn
Mostly agnostic setting books include those where the specifics of the game are mostly missing from the text. (Often, game-specific stuff is in an appendix, or something similar). There are a bunch of these. Some that do it better than others:
• Much of FATE’s Worlds of Aventure series.
• The original Delta Green
• Ptolus
• The original five BattleTech house books (more history than guide book).
• The “direction” series in the Exalted: Second Edition line.
Maze of the Blue Medusa is rich with characters, factions, and “how to” nods to the GM.
Maze of the Blue Medusa is rich with characters, factions, and “how to” nods to the GM.
Lester Ward Very thorough. Many thanks!
Lester Ward Very thorough. Many thanks!