Reddit reviews The Black Company Campaign Setting

First, hey, look at this. I really like this book. It does some stuff to handle things in 3.5 that I don't like, is well flavored, and worth your time.

I used it to run a 3.5 variant, even though I'm really not a fan of 3.5. It works, at least at the level and scale that I ran it, although I essentially used the world post-glittering stone, so my players that hadn't read it wouldn't be left out.

As far as command, the players were largely in the employ of a crimelord in a faction-ridden city, mostly acting as his officers to a certain degree. Running the command structure as the GM, especially in the beginning, I find to be in keeping with the feel of The Black Company.

I never really made full use of the mass combat rules in the system, as I prefered to focus on the small unit engagements, in the midst of an abstracted conflict. YMMV.

I bought the campaign setting book for its background/detail on the BC world, and thought it was well worth the money. The Amazon reviews may be helpful: https://smile.amazon.com/Black-Company-Campaign-Setting/dp/1932442383/

If you do decide to buy it, I would recommend getting it direct from Green Ronin, as the copies on Amazon tend to be pretty pricey and GR has slightly-dinged copies still for sale at $30. https://greenroninstore.com/products/the-black-company-campaign-setting-scratch-dent

For RPGs, check out Reign which handles low fantasy really well.

The Black Company novels have relatively low fantasy feel (even if high fantasy elements are going in the background), and there's an RPG for it that's pretty snazzy.

As for movies, a lot of 70s/80s fantasy movies were low-fantasy on account of budget limitations. So, movies like Lady Hawke, Sword and the Sorcerer, Excalibur, Krull, and Beastmaster would all be worth checking out.

http://www.amazon.com/Mythic-Vistas-Company-Campaign-Setting/dp/1932442383

Seconded.

The problem with DIY low-magic or no-magic campaign worlds for 3.X D&D is that the system is both delicate and interlocking. Change something in one place (like switching to a Wounds/Vitality system, or a spell points system, or trying to move combat into skills, etc.) and you'll find it has wide-ranging and drastic effects all throughout the system. Without extensive playtesting, you're bound to run into all kinds of issues you never imagined.

You can avoid this by going with a published game world and/or modified d20 system, because those companies have done playtesting, taking lots of work and brain acrobatics off your hands.

Look into these:

Iron Heroes

The Black Company

Midnight (The second edition is probably better, but also more expensive. You can find the first edition for pretty cheap.)

Someone else mentioned using d20 Modern, which is actually a good idea, but your players might balk at the different approach to classes (six base classes, one each based on a primary attribute -- Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, Constitution).

You can order it from [Amazon.com.] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1932442383/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Wte9ybF1W5RM4)

I'm not sure it addresses all of them directly, but the magic system in The Black Company RPG from Green Ronin is really incredibly detailed, complex and a lot more fluid than D&D style "I memorize X spells" kind of stuff.

This is a black company campaign setting book for dnd 3.5 that you would probably find extremely useful.