Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 sigil_beguiler Mar 14, 2009 2:05:05	I don't believe that WoTC will go down this path. But it is something I think be interesting to see, and wondering what others would think. I have talked about this idea a bit before in other threads, so some reading may already know the idea. What if instead of Settings we got, "Setting Construction Books". Essentially they be books devoted to Homebrewers and them helping to develop settings. Each series could be focused on different kinds of settings. For example there has been lots of talk how there are many Generic High Fantasy settings, well there could be one series of books for High Fantasy. Another for say Steampunk (or simply Technology in Fantasy), another for Horror and so on and so forth. It would be divided up somewhat similar to how it currently is. A DM book, a Player's book and a Adventure book. However the insides be quite different. The DM book would cover such things as Monsters, Templates for Organizations, etc. It would be very much a book of ideas with mechanics placed where appropriate. Nothing would be directly connected to the other to enhance a "drag and drop" idea where the DM would simply take what he wants. Instead of concrete fluff the book be instead be based around giving many hooks, alternatives, etc. The Player's book would cover a Class or Race or two, Powers, Feats, Items, Backgrounds that fit that series. However unlike a normal Setting book where they would have fluff and backstory to tie it into a Setting this would give a bare minimum. A Race or Class would probably be given the multiple ideas format as the fluff in the DM book. Once more the crunch would be very isolated from each other to enhance the "drag and drop" element. The Adventure book would be based around showing how the DM could tie together the different elements of the DM and Player books into a single whole. It would give a "multi-layered" adventure showcasing how the adventure would unfold with different options represented. To make this smoother the DM book an Player's book could be divided into sections, soo... Lets take Technology there could be a section for Clockwork, another Steampunk, another Magitech, etc. The adventure would showcase how the adventure would work out with each different type. Essentially these books would be based around not giving a concrete setting but a whole assortment of ideas, mechanics and options for building your own settings within these different tropes. By keeping the different elements separated as well it allows one to isolate and take specifically what one wishes. Now potentially this could simply fit into the regular schedule, but given the size and its shared aspects I placed it as a alternative to Settings. So yes, what does the rest of the community think of such a idea.
#2 LFK Mar 14, 2009 2:09:58	If they intend on having a yearly DMG then this is essentially what they'll need to start filling those with anyway. I wouldn't mind having both settings and more "how to build your own world" books.
#3 bone_naga Mar 14, 2009 2:28:34	If WotC doesn't do it, then I'm sure someone else will. The Legend and Lair series did a couple of those for 3e, like Darkness & Dread for horror and a Steampunk one that I can't remember the title of.
#4 Alter_Boy Mar 14, 2009 18:32:20	The DMG series seems to be heading that way, if 3.5ed's DMGII was any indicator.