Although there are plenty of adventure modules made by Wizards of the Coast, many players still opt to set theirDungeons and Dragonscampaigns in homebrew settings. While many DMs invent homebrew settings just for a campaign, making an entire fantasy world is a lot of work that isn’t always worth the effort, as players have to familiarize themselves with this new world. Sometimes, it’s easier to setD&Dcampaigns in pre-existing worlds, making it easier for players to get the ball rolling in a world that they have already spent some time in.
Plenty of worlds have been hosts toD&Dcampaigns, withCritical Role’s Exandria being a good example of an official alternative to the Forgotten Realms. Other TTRPGs have usedD&D5e as a way to appeal to more players by adapting their worlds and rules intoD&D, likeRuins of Symbaroumbringing the dark world ofSymbaroumtoDungeons and Dragons' rules. Still, these worlds are usually only well-known in their respective niches.One alternative,theUnofficial Elder Scrolls Tabletop RPG,adaptsD&D5eand puts players on the famous continent of Tamriel, possibly killing two birds with one stone.
The Unofficial Elder Scrolls TTRPG Uses D&D To Bring Skyrim To The Tabletop
Having A Known World To Set A Campaign In Has A Few Advantages
TheUnofficial Elder Scrolls Tabletop RPGtakesD&D5e and adapts it to the world of Nirn, changing the names of classes to better fit the people of Tamriel. Core elements should befamiliar enough toD&Dplayers, with the character customization system being largely the same with different names and some new additions, like choosing star signs for a player character. It also has faithful descriptions of races to get characters to fit well into the world ofElder Scrolls, and using this homebrew ruleset has a few advantages over using the Forgotten Realms.
Tamriel is the continent whereThe Elder Scrollsgames take place, but the world is called Nirn. The entire universe is called Mundus.
Almost everyone has heard ofSkyrim,and mostD&Dplayers have probably played the game, whether on consoles back in 2011 or heavily modded on PC. Most people have a baseline understanding of the world, and that saves time on world-building. DMs don’t need to create their own history with the surprisinglydeep lore of theElder Scrollsseriesat hand.This helps when DMing lore-enthused players who always ask questions, and the players that don’t care about anything but fighting at least know the gist of the world if they have playedSkyrim.
More importantly, it can give a campaign a better focus. With so muchD&Dcontent being out right now, choosing what to include can be a difficult prospect, especially if other players are seasoned and want to use content from specific books. This can be tricky with a homebrew setting when trying to work out if content from a specificD&Dbook fits into a DM’s world. With theUnofficial Elder Scrolls TTRPG,everything is already set up for a DM, and is the perfect alternative to the Forgotten Realms if they don’t want to use an adventure module.
The Elder Scrolls TTRPG Is Perfect For A Homebrew Campaign With A Different Feel
Sometimes Homebrew Campaigns Just Feel Like The Forgotten Realms Anyway
One of the toughest things about making a homebrew campaign is trying to get it to feel different from what Wizards of the Coast already offers with the Forgotten Realms. This isn’t always the goal, andhomebrew campaigns that feel quintessentiallyD&Dare just as valid as campaigns trying to do something different, but if players like the feel of Bethesda’sElder Scrollsgames for a change of pace, this is a good alternative. More importantly, it gives players the unique opportunity to create their version ofElder Scrolls 6at home.
Homebrew refers to any unofficial content not made by Wizards of the Coast (when regardingD&D).
It sometimes feels like Bethesda will never releaseTheElder Scrolls 6,and, while the setting has been theorized, practically no information on the project has been provided.Elder Scrolls 6faces high expectations, which likely won’t be met considering Bethesda’s current run of form. Instead,players could use theUnofficial Elder ScrollsTTRPGto create their own vision forES6and have their players run through it. At least no one will have to deal with flying mammoths and NPCs getting stuck walking into walls.
Dungeons And Dragons: All Paladin Subclasses, Ranked From Least To Most Powerful
Paladins are one of the coolest subclasses in Dungeons and Dragons both conceptually and mechanically, all thanks to their iconic Oaths.
TheUnofficial Elder Scrolls TTRPGhas enough mechanical changes to makeD&Dfeel like it fits into Tamriel, with the changes to the spell-casting system being a good example. Spell slots have been removed in favor of Magicka Points. Instead of needing a specific spell slot to cast a spell at a certain level,higher-level spells require more Magicka Points, so players could spam low-level spells or wait to unleash more powerful incantations. This feels a little closer toSkyrim’s spell-casting system, although Magicka will not return after waiting a while.
The Elder Scrolls TTRPG Could Be An Entry Point For New Players
And There Are Plenty Of Quest Ideas Through Mods
There are quite a few ways to get intoD&Dnow, withCritical RoleandBaldur’s Gate 3being prime examples, even if they have the side effect of potentially raising expectations for the average campaign too high. It’s hard for anyone to match what Matt Mercer does as a DM, and presenting theForgotten Realms in as interesting a way asBG3is no mean feat, butusingThe Elder Scrollsas an entry point might be easier. Players know the world, and Bethesda’s storytelling is often hit or miss, so it helps set more realistic expectations.
I Got Tired Of Waiting For The Elder Scrolls 6, So I Decided To Play The Next Best Thing
The Elder Scrolls 6 feels like it will never come out, so I decided to play the next best thing: a huge open-world fantasy RPG no one talks about.
Those who have playedSkyrimand want to get into TTRPGs might find that this homebrew ruleset is perfect for getting them involved, andDMs can find inspiration for quests through mods. AgrandSkyrimmod likeVigilantor something more concentrated like the puzzle-focusedSirenrootcould be perfect for a campaign, or DMs could go wild and take players to other countries that get less focus from Bethesda, like Summerset and Elysweyr. With it being based on 5e, it isn’t a bad option for players to learnD&D.
It does feel likeThe Elder Scrollsseries deserves its own TTRPG considering how long the IP has been around and how much it has influenced the fantasy RPG genre. While it isn’t official,this adaptation usingDungeons and Dragons5e is the closest thing out there and lets DMs use the continent of Tamrielas their playground. Whether just used to introduce people toDungeons & Dragonsor selected because players loveSkyrim, this is one homebrew ruleset worth checking out, especially as a free release with plenty of content and even more planned for the future.
