Favorite d20 Settings

[fmitchell]

Since a previous thread got slightly muddled, I'd like to open this poll to find out what d20 Modern settings and rules people are using.

[fmitchell]

BTW, since I don't like d20 that much, but wanted to vote in my own poll, I'd have to say "other".

• True20 looks interesting, but I've yet to play it. (And I forgot to add it to the poll.)
  
• I sometimes raid d20/OGL sources for ideas, but end up converting them to FATE, GURPS, or RuneQuest. (Technically, RuneQuest is OGL ... but not d20-compatible by a long shot.)
  
• While I appreciate the core d20 mechanic, I prefer skill-based systems. So I'm intermittently working on a rule set which uses *only* skills, even for areas normally covered by basic stats or levels. Actually, Blue Devil Games's Passages takes that approach, but they've yet to release a "generic" version.

In all honesty, though, I did play in Gary's "Midnight" game and enjoyed it ... except for the combats, which tended to drag with seven players. (Sorry, Gary.)

[Moritz]

Star Wars d20

[fmitchell]

Star Wars d20

Original or Saga Edition? I've heard some good things about Saga Edition.

Oh, and if the guy who voted for "Homebrew Past (incl. Fantasy)" could elaborate, I'd be very interested.

[Moritz]

I've not yet even touched the saga edition. And I've not played the d20 in over a year. I just like being all nostalgic and saying it. I do like the game mechanics of d20 but in this I chose Star Wars because of the fact it's Star Wars.

[rabkala]

I would have to say, Home brew future. I hate being overly constrained by a written setting. I tend to abhor the setting elitists which want to give a lecture about every minuscule detail. I guess my universe is just big enough to hold them all somewhere.

[Moritz]

Oh, I was doing a little reading on Buck Rogers yesterday and found that there's a d20 Buck Rogers RPG out there. I was shocked.

PS: Wilma in the blue jumpsuit was hawt.

[Jonas Boggs]

I voted for Dark Matter because we are starting a campaign with it now. However, I just got my Monte Cook WoD book and I am starting to flesh out a long term campaign of my own design, so I think that will soon be my favorite

[pawsplay]

I'm biased, but Dawning Star is a great sci-fi adventure setting.

[Drohem]

I ran a successful Urban Arcana campaign based in Hollywood, CA. I used to live in Los Angeles and most of the players still lived there, so it was easy to incorporate real places and landmarks into the campaign.

I really like the concept of creatures integrating into our world with no hope of returning to their old worlds. Also, the fact that their memories of their old world fade eventually.

[Snuffy]

Hello - I voted other simply because I haven't played any of the d20 games. I'm interested in checking the d20 out, but is there a core rule book for d20 or it by setting (ie Star Wars)? Thanks!

BTW - other for me was Rifts rules with some tweaks. I've been throwing their timeline out the window and tweaking some rules just to simplify/quicken gameplay sometimes.

[fmitchell]

I'm interested in checking the d20 out, but is there a core rule book for d20 or it by setting (ie Star Wars)?

EDIT: As Drohem mentions below, d20 is split into plain "d20" (the Open Gaming License, or OGL, parts of D&D) and "d20 Modern" (the subject of this subforum). Confusing matters further, WotC certifies a "d20" logo on all d20-based games that meet certain conditions, such as requiring the D&D books; games without this certification must call themselves "OGL". Informally, though, most people consider any game using the d20 SRD (System Reference Document) or d20 Modern SRD a "d20 RPG".

d20 Modern is the core book from WotC, with d20 Future, d20 Apocalypse, etc. as add-ons. WotC converted Dark Matter and Star*Drive, once settings for Alternity, to d20 Modern/Future.

Others have taken the d20 SRD or d20 Modern SRD and created settings (sometimes with new/modified rules) under the OGL license. Examples include Mongoose's OGL line, Spycraft, and Arthaus's Gamma World.

Star Wars started off as a setting for d20 (Modern?), but Star Wars Saga Edition is essentially its own d20-based rules system (on a par with True20). A lot of ideas from Saga Edition were trial runs of features slated for D&D 4e.

[Drohem]

Hello - I voted other simply because I haven't played any of the d20 games. I'm interested in checking the d20 out, but is there a core rule book for d20 or it by setting (ie Star Wars)? Thanks!

The 3.5 Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook is the core book for d20 fantasy and has no setting tied to it directly. Forgotten Realms and Eberron are the officially supported campaign settings for D&D by Wizards of the Coast and each has a separate campaign book detailing the settings, and setting specific rules.

The d20 Modern core book is the rulebook for non-fantasy d20 games. There is no specific setting tied to the d20 Modern core book, but it does have several campaign concepts briefly outlined to give the GM an idea. Urban Arcana is a d20 Modern campaign setting based in today's modern world, and has details on running a d20 Modern campaign with some D&D fantasy elements cross-over.

Unfortunately, d20 Modern hasn't been supported greatly by WotC. However, Green Ronin Publishing has produced some excellent d20 Modern books.

If you're an experienced GM and don't want to use pre-established WotC campaign settings, then all you really need for fantasy is the 3.5 Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual (these three together are the core books for d20 fantasy) or the d20 Modern Core book. There are enough suggestions and ideas in these core books so that you can create your own campaign settings.

Also, there is a sleigh-full of third-party d20 fantasy materials out there, so that literally any campaign setting under the sun could be found in print.

[Fsuphilosophy09]

I created my own d20 modern setting its part modern part future pl 6.5 basically heres the supplemental

tell me what ya think?

D20 Modern: First Contact

The year is 2100 and the world is a completely different place. The raping of the environment due to Global warming has ushered in a revamped Jurassic age where temperatures rarely drop lower than the high 60's. Many scientists of the twenty-first century thought global warming would destroy life as we know it as temperatures rise uncontrollably but the new climate has created a lush growth all over the world. Deserts suddenly became plains lands, plains became light forests, and forests became full out lush jungles. The jungles of the twenty-first century are now a new breed of climate the nearly impassable “Super Jungle”. This new direction of ecosystem has dramatically changed civilization due to the eager and forced move to improved renewable resources in the twenty-second century.
The wanton use of fossil fuels and non-renewable resources has long been dead. Scientists and corporations evolved to basic renewable resources such as solar, geo-thermal, wind, wave, and the in some instances even simple compressed air machines. This new energy output brought with it new corporations dealing entirely with advancing technology. Think tanks designed to push society into the new unchartered technologies. One of the corporations, Kaku Inc. made the discovery that would forever change the world in the year 2052, Fusion energy. The new advancement allowed society to completely remove itself from expendable energy sources. The advancements created vehicles and power production methods requiring no fueling, expending no waste product, and that could run nearly for an unlimited amount of time. This new advancement would thrust society into a new arena of political governing body, the mega-corporation.
In the year 2060, just 8 years after society accepted fusion technology, Kaku Inc. made a bold move and attempted to overthrow a governmental body. The world as we knew it would be thrust into a new type of world war. The nations of the world allied against the corporations, but would ultimately fail in their endeavor lacking the resources and technological advancement of the mega-corporations mercenary shock troops. In the aftermath of “The Corporation Wars” the nations of the old earth were disbanded and a new form of government were established where the lines between “citizen” and “employee” were completely blurred. People lived in societies founded, based around, and governed by the corporation for which they work for. Fearing rebellion, corporate hostility, and ultimate self destruction the corporations all signed treaties disbanding the major military forces of the old world powers and instead making new corporations whose mercenary war fighting services were sold to all available corporations who could afford them.
Imagine being able to fight for any cause merely for the sake of payment. Being above the law, nay being THE law as hired by the corporation in the area where you choose to live and work. The only down side would be that you would be at the mercy and will of the major corporation which hires you. The leading military corporation is Sicario Inc. they are known for their technological advancements as well as their ability to field most any kind of military, law enforcement, or investigative force. From the simplest task to the most complex military campaign Sicario Inc. can conduct simple investigation missions, out right counter-interdictions, and full out military assualts for the right price.
As an Employee of Sicario Inc. you are organized into regiments, the regiments are further broken down into companies, companies into platoons, and platoons into teams. Each unit is used and deployed based on the contract Sicario Inc. is hired for. AS an example if Sicario were to be hired for a large scale assault the entire regimental force you belong to may be moved out and deployed to an engagement theater. The company is very protective of its employees and all employees are injected with a nano-technology package up being hired and successfully completing a training mission. The nano-package consists of a communications colony, a bio-monitoring colony, and of course the localized GPGAN access and control module. Represent us well soldier.

“Sicario Inc. your all-purpose military solutions firm.”

[rabkala]

Its not earth shattering or revolutionary, but a nice little set up for a game. The mega-corp military outfit can be a good backdrop for all sorts of adventure.

I wish more people liked d20 modern/future, all my games have been fun while using it.