Would Anyone Like an Elric Campaign Book for D&D?

RPGPundit · May 17, 2017, 03:10:29 AM

Elric's setting has a long history with Chaosium, with both the "Elric!" and "Stormbringer" games. Aside from the fact that in the edition I played you could end up with one character being stuck with a beggar while the other has a Melnibonean sorcerer-prince, I thought it was pretty good.

But this is also probably the most famous fantasy setting that has never had a D&D setting treatment (certainly now that even Middle-Earth finally has one).
Do you think there'd be any special virtue to it existing? Or is the Chaosium version already enough?

Voros · May 17, 2017, 03:12:19 AM

I would love to check out the original 1e/2e Stormbringer so I could say one way or the other.

TrippyHippy · May 17, 2017, 03:30:18 AM

There was the Dragon Lords of Melnibone made for D20 way back, by Chaosium. This was their attempt at doing Stormbringer for D&D.

It wasn't very good, so nobody remembers it.

The Warlock, especially with the Pact of the Blade, is basically an Elric archetype for D&D 5E.

But anyway, yes, I would love to see a D&D adaptation of Stormbringer.

Spinachcat · May 17, 2017, 04:09:30 AM

I play Stormbringer (the GW 3rd edition which is actually a repackaged 2nd) and FOR ME, the system and setting are deeply tied together. If I were to do a Stormbringer D&D, it would require lots of rethinking of D&D-isms to make me interested.

Dumarest · May 17, 2017, 10:08:06 AM

Not especially. Personally I find adaptations of properties to games to be fairly useless as they tend to reflect one writer's take on a book/show/movie which may not line up with mine. Also, when they adapt a property to an existing game it more often (to me) feels like they are adapting the property to meet the needs of the game; I'd rather someone designed a game around the property like King Arthur Pendragon or Ghostbusters. When stuff is written up for D&D it seems (to me) like forcing a square peg into a round hole.

darthfozzywig · May 17, 2017, 11:53:24 AM

I'd rather have a Great Pendragon Campaign style book for Elric. Not that I'd ever get around to playing it, but it would be fun to read.

finarvyn · May 17, 2017, 12:31:17 PM

I'd enjoy 5E versions of Elric and other classic literary settings such as Lankhmar (done in Savage Worlds, DCC, and AD&D, but not 5E) or Hyboria (done in d20 and others; I didn't really like "Primal Thule" which was supposed to be very Conan-like).

I'm also surprised that WotC hasn't put out a 5E Modern or 5E Future sourcebook. 5E shouldn't be limited to fantasy settings.

Christopher Brady · May 17, 2017, 01:28:57 PM

I'd rather have an Eternal Champion/Hawkmoon instead.

Larsdangly · May 17, 2017, 02:11:26 PM

This is a case where you'd be hard pressed to improve on Chaosium's product line. They really did a lot, and it was very good. I guess it is out of print, but that doesn't matter to me personally; the books are available, the ink hasn't evaporated off the page, so what's the problem?

That said, a D&D treatment would be welcome. It's been tried for 3E, and it was fine but also pretty generic - not lots of stuff to use at the table. And, of course, if you love D+D at all you already own a copy of Deities and Demigods that includes the Melnibonean materials!

Krimson · May 17, 2017, 02:36:29 PM

If I had the time, I would probably email Mike and ask him about it though I've never actually chatted with him about RPGs. It's usually something about cats. I have Dragon Lords of Melnibone and it sucks. I'd just use D&D. Elric has always been an NPC in our 1e games even to this day.

Azraele · May 17, 2017, 02:42:29 PM

tenbones · May 17, 2017, 02:44:50 PM

Hell, I would welcome Elric: Monopoly Edition. You can't have enough Elric.

5e Elric? Sure!

Nerzenjäger · May 17, 2017, 03:04:45 PM

Yes, of course. My homebrew campaign setting is heavily influenced by the cosmopsychedelic fantasy of the Eternal Champion.

Just Another Snake Cult · May 17, 2017, 05:26:33 PM

I personally think that the unfairness and deadliness of 1st ed Stormbringer are features, not bugs, an essential part of that game's unique je ne sais quoi. Not a popular opinion these days, I know.

But still, a D&D 5e or DCC RPG Elric book could could be cool, particularly if Moorcock himself were somehow involved.

tenbones · May 17, 2017, 05:31:36 PM

Quote from: Just Another Snake Cult;962987I personally think that the unfairness and deadliness of 1st ed Stormbringer are features, not bugs, an essential part of that game's unique je ne sais quoi. Not a popular opinion these days, I know.

But still, a D&D 5e or DCC RPG Elric book could could be cool, particularly if Moorcock himself were somehow involved.

He particularly hates fantasy these days. It's become too formulaic for him. It would be awesome of course... I'd like a Eternal Warriors series of games. 5e or otherwise. Cover all of it - Erekose, Corum, Hawkmoon, Elric, Aubec, Cornelius - give it all to meeeee!!!!!