Favorite D&D Campaign Setting?

[Libertad]

Which setting do you most enjoy to read, play in, or both?

For me, it's probably Eberron. I particularly like its magi-tech and pulp aspect, and the Dragonmarked Houses are a cool touch which shapes the setting. The pseudo-modern vibe is just enough to provide an interesting backdrop while still maintaining plenty of D&D's tropes so that it doesn't feel completely alien.

I also find that the nations and continents are diverse enough to host all kinds of adventures in, with very few "Shires" of sedentary activity. Demonic cults in the Shadow Marches, undead and militaristic tyranny in Karrnath, cloak and dagger politics in Zilargo.

What is your favorite setting, and what do you most like about it?

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Greyhawk. Forever.

(Minor nod to FR and Mystara)

 

[Ranes]

Empire of the Petal Throne! Ha, ha, ha, harghle! No.

Probably Greyhawk in spite of all its truly utterly awful place names. Familiarity and longevity let it get under your skin.

From the last twenty years? Ptolus, in spite of the pussies.

 

[Lord Mhoram]

Spelljammer. I love space settings, and I loved the style and tone of it.

 

[Mark Hope]

Dark Sun for non-standard fantasy. Lost Lands (the Necromancer Games/Frog God Games setting) for more traditional gaming.

Planescape and Spelljammer are runners-up in the former, while Greyhawk and Wilderlands take second place in the latter .

 

[Wicht]

Kingdoms of Kalamar is probably my favoritist, though since the release of Pathfinder and Kenzer going over to Hackmaster, I haven't used it. But its still a gold standard to me of how to do a setting right.

I do like Golarion, use breeds familiarity and fondness.

I have high hopes for this setting in the works called Kaidan.

 

[Balesir]

Probably Birthright/Cerilia. I really wish it (both world and political systems) had been reworked for 4E; it never really worked well mechanically in 2e, but I think it could have really shone with a 4e revamp.

 

[Shemeska]

Planescape - PS pretty much got me into D&D, and it also likewise got me into writing. It's a major, major influence on my gaming style and likes to the present day.

Golarion - This is fast approaching being my favorite, because I've been fortunate to work in Paizo's sandbox with some regularity the past few years.

Ravenloft - Loved the atmosphere and the quasi-Planescape meshing together of various settings together in islands in the Mists. Really cool setting, both the original 2e version and the 3e Arthause version. Wasn't a fan of the 4e use of some of the setting's elements, and though we know little details yet, I'm rather wary of the 5e potential use of "Ravenloft" as a border between the Material and the Negative Energy Plane.

Forgotten Realms* - This one is tricky, because I loved it, played in it a ton, and really dug the deep, rich history of the setting. But looking at the 4e version, I honestly no longer recognize it as the same setting. I'm quite possibly done with the setting moving forward, though I'll happily use 1e/2e/3e material in any Planescape games that touch upon Toril at all.

 

[JeffB]

GH
FR
The Known World
The Wilderlands
Tekumel

 

[Greg K]

Al Quadim (Land of Fate Boxed Set), Dark Sun (original boxed set), Ravenloft (2e Realms of Horror Boxed Set)