D&D General What is your favorite D&D cosmology?

Mercurius

Legend

• May 18, 2021

• #1

If you have to pick only one. I realize there is overlap, or rather some of them are just different versions of the same thing, so in a way it is more a question of cosmological approach.

I personally like them all, and hope that if--no, when--WotC finally tackles the planes, they offer chapters on different cosmologies and how to incorporate any and all into your campaign. But if you had to choose just one...or rather, which do you like best?

Here are some visual aids (my apologies for the simplicity of the Dark Sun one - it was the only one I could find; it is kind of nice, in a homebrew way, though):

Traditional AD&D Cosmology, aka The Great Wheel:

Great Wheel, the Planescape variant:

The Realms Cosmology, aka The World Tree:

The World Axis (4E Era):

Mystara Cosmology:

Eberron Cosmology:

Dark Sun cosmology:

Spelljammer, aka Wildspace:

 

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Scribe

Legend

• May 18, 2021

• #2

Planescape, by far.

 

el-remmen

Moderator Emeritus

• May 18, 2021

• #3

In my mind, "cosmology" is a just a mortal understanding of the cosmic and any or all versions can exist or could even change from encounter to encounter with it - so I never worried to much about codifying it.

 

Stormonu

Legend

• May 18, 2021

• #4

Planescape.

Though, where is the Spelljammer one from? (And I’ve never considered Spelljamming as a cosmology, TBH)

 

Bitbrain

Lost in Dark Sun

• May 18, 2021

• #5

4e world axis

 

Hatmatter

Laws of Mordenkainen, Elminster, & Fistandantilus

• May 18, 2021

• #6

I love the contributions here...loving the images...thanks!

I voted "All or most of them," but I do really love Dungeon Mastering Spelljammer. I also love having characters traverse the planes.

 

Snarf Zagyg

Notorious Liquefactionist

• May 18, 2021

• #7

Githyankis are here again, oh lord
Severed my silver cord, was a year or more
I hope I can hold on a little longer
Ether cyclone been blowin' for days
The sword was made of silver, the world made of gray
I've been runnin' for days without rest

The great wheel in the PHB keeps on turnin'
I don't know what plane I'll be in tomorrow
Great wheel in the back of the PHB keeps on turnin'

I've been trying to make it home
Hope I make it before too long
I can't take this very much longer
Thought Leo's tiny hut would keep me from the rain
Now trapped in the ethereal, never gonna make it home again
No light, no dark, no sun is risin'
Here I'm stuck, here I'll stay

Oh the great wheel in the PHB keeps on turnin'
I don't know what plane I'll be in tomorrow
Ooo the great wheel in the back of the PHB keeps on turnin' ....

 

Charlaquin

Goblin Queen (She/Her/Hers)

• May 18, 2021

• #8

The World Axis is my favorite from an official setting. My own setting incorporates elements of it, along with elements of the Cronicles of Darkness... umm... I don’t know if their metaphysics can really be called a “cosmology”... and a sort of Cosmic Orrery, which is kind of similar to Eberron’s cosmology.

 

M

Malmuria

Hero

• May 18, 2021

• #9

I love planescape but the great wheel is a mess.

 

Ath-kethin

Elder Thing

• May 18, 2021

• #10

I like the planar structure of the Primeval Thule setting. PCs aren't expected to visit the planes, they are expected to contact and summon things form them.

2nd place for me is Eberron though.