Making new setting/world for campaigns... should I go all human or standard mix

[zefjoe]

So I have been creating a new world setting for campaigning in. Plans are to make it game system independent. It will be a fantasy/sci-fi hybrid. An ancient "science so advanced it appears to be magic" to the post -apocalyptic remnants existing at a pre-industrial level.

My main sticking point is whether to use just humans with various races/cultures or the usual fantasy mix of humans and a plethora non-human species [which can be explained with backstory/history] ... or perhaps a twist of this by using a few COMPLETELY alien species instead.

I've looked at various rpg websites for posts like this and got some feedback, but I'm curious as to FG players likes and dislikes...

So TLDR if you were to play in a new world setting would you want...
1) humans only
2) i likes my "furries"
3) gimmee something different

[LordEntrails]

Hey zefjoe, welcome to the forums.

Hmm, this is a tough one, and is really all dependent upon what you want the feel of your setting to be. I'm old school, in that I like my sci-fi settings to have aliens and not fantasy races. But there are lots of questions, is it single world? Or have the non-humans come from other worlds either via space travel or portals?

One way to look at it, is some race like the Minbari (I've been re-watching Babylon 5 recently) could be akin to elves, and heavy worlders could fill the niche of dwarves. Or you could just have elves and dwarves...

Hmm, sorry I'm not much help. I guess it all comes back to what you imagine your setting to be...

[Zacchaeus]

I'd lean towards a mix of human/alien. After all where would Star Trek be without Worf or Star Wars without Jar-Jar Binks ... on no wait...

[Intruder]

Funny, your timing is uncanny.
Search youtube for 'Post Apocalyptic D&D Game'.

Some of the very people I am watching about 'West Marches' also posted on your concerns.

As LordEntrails stated, it does depend on how YOU see it.

[Ken L]

Honestly, just build a world that you want. It's really a pool of imagination for your players to uncover. My first handcrafted world I built off a one-shot scenario for my in-person group. I molded it to my player's tastes and it I've found that it loses its wonder but it reflected much of their agency.

My second attempt after having run several published adventures or modified settings (Taldor) I crafted a world without any input and from a short 3 session game, there's always a burning curiosity from my players as well as myself in writing new lore or maps.

[Nylanfs]

What's wrong with everyone being cats? (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/monarchies-of-mau-fantasy-tabletop-rpg/)