psychic mind flayer
First Post
I'm new to D&D, and I just fond out about Eberron, Forgotten Realms, etc. Which is the best to play in? Is there a D&D world (or map) too?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Suggestions for Campaign settings?
- Thread starter psychic mind flayer
- Start date
It really depends on what style of play you're looking for. Forgotten Realms is a high-fantasy, high powered campaign, whereas the default Greyhawk is a more political, intrigue based campaign. Heck, Greyhawk could probably be anything you like - unfortunately it is no longer supported except as a default campaign setting. Eberron is a kind of magictech campaign with lightning rails (trains) and airships (planes). It you like steampunk type games, then go for that setting, although some don't think it's like that.
Then there is Ravenloft for all your horror needs, and unofficially Planescape which many argue is the best around, and Darksun. There've been a whole host of other campaign settings through the years, so it really depends on what you want. In 3e you can choose from Iron Kingdoms, to Scarred Lands, to Ptolus which is coming in the next year or so. There's Oathbound, Freeport, Nyambe (African) and many others. If you narrow down your style of play and what kind of campaign setting you're after, then we can maybe suggest something.
Pinotage
Then there is Ravenloft for all your horror needs, and unofficially Planescape which many argue is the best around, and Darksun. There've been a whole host of other campaign settings through the years, so it really depends on what you want. In 3e you can choose from Iron Kingdoms, to Scarred Lands, to Ptolus which is coming in the next year or so. There's Oathbound, Freeport, Nyambe (African) and many others. If you narrow down your style of play and what kind of campaign setting you're after, then we can maybe suggest something.
Pinotage
My favorite is Eberron, because it's the one that adheres the most to the current incarnation of the rules - most other settings are designed as "fluff" first, and then having that fluff shoe-horned into the D&D rules. Eberron, on the other hand, was designed to take the rules into account. That doesn't mean it doesn't have good fluff though - quite the opposite.
griff_goodbeard
First Post
My favorites are Eberron, Ravenloft, and Greyhawk, but as Pinotage said, it really depends on your style of play.
Voadam
Legend
psychic mind flayer said:
Well each world has something a little different to offer. Eberron has more of a pulp feel to the world. FR is standard high magic D&D with a lot of stuff out for it.
In my experience The DM is more of a factor than the world for how enjoyable a campaign setting is to play in.
The setting is merely the background for the game, it can add a mood or feel to a game, but it is the game itself that is more important for how fun it is to play in.
rbrt_spade
First Post
fr,dl and homebrew-the best
DreamChaser
Explorer
if you want an easy dungeon campaign without much fluff, just go with the Greyhawk stuff in the core rules. But beware, it can be a little generic and under emphasizes the non-human races and cultures.
if you want literally every option ever produced for any game anywhere to be somewhere in the world, go with Forgotten Realms. But beware, the land is populated with people who are so powerful your players may feel secondary.
if you want a powerful sense of history giving the game huge context, go with Dragonlance. But beware, this is a land where huge events have already occurred and the great heroes have already existed. There is a great deal of historical weight to get past.
if you want gothic horror, go with Ravenloft. But beware, there are a number of alternate rules (horror and madness) that must be learned to play this one.
if you want a high powered tour of the endless multiverse, go with Planescape. But beware, just learning the ideas and terminology of this system took me a few weeks--its a very rich setting and thus potentially very complicated. Plus it is no long officially supported.
if you want magic suffused into every aspect of daily life, without demigods walking the land, go with Eberron. But beware, some players find it too "techy" and not "fantasy" enough for their tastes.
iif you want high powered magic/psionics in a harsh desert world, check out Dark Sun. But beware, this is a harsh world with many optional rules. Plus it is no longer officially supported.
if none of these sound good, look for one of the hundreds of other options or create your own.
DC
if you want literally every option ever produced for any game anywhere to be somewhere in the world, go with Forgotten Realms. But beware, the land is populated with people who are so powerful your players may feel secondary.
if you want a powerful sense of history giving the game huge context, go with Dragonlance. But beware, this is a land where huge events have already occurred and the great heroes have already existed. There is a great deal of historical weight to get past.
if you want gothic horror, go with Ravenloft. But beware, there are a number of alternate rules (horror and madness) that must be learned to play this one.
if you want a high powered tour of the endless multiverse, go with Planescape. But beware, just learning the ideas and terminology of this system took me a few weeks--its a very rich setting and thus potentially very complicated. Plus it is no long officially supported.
if you want magic suffused into every aspect of daily life, without demigods walking the land, go with Eberron. But beware, some players find it too "techy" and not "fantasy" enough for their tastes.
iif you want high powered magic/psionics in a harsh desert world, check out Dark Sun. But beware, this is a harsh world with many optional rules. Plus it is no longer officially supported.
if none of these sound good, look for one of the hundreds of other options or create your own.
DC
dcollins
Explorer
psychic mind flayer said:
Greyhawk is theoretically "the D&D world", it's what the core rules are built on. For example, all the gods and wizard-spell names in the core rules are from Greyhawk.
On the one hand, WOTC doesn't publish any specific "Greyhawk" resources anymore. But on the other hand, the official RPGA Living Greyhawk campaign is played at many conventions around the country, and has an organized national campaign behind it.
IMO:
Forgotten Realms (FR) is one of my favorites. It has been around for a long time and WoTC is still publishing products to support the gameworld. Some say that FR has been over developed (fluff) but it offers beginners plenty of resources to use. Just remember that FR has alot of material that is unique to that setting.
Dragonlance has been reintroduced, but WoTC hasn't seen fit to publish very many support products as of yet. Dragonlance was my first intro to D&D so it will always have a special place for me.
Greyhawk is too generic and bland for me.
I have been diving into the Scarred Lands recently. It is a great setting, but it lays very heavy on the role of the Gods and the Titans. To me, it is very brutal world (high magic and tough monsters) but . Sadly however; Sword and Sorcery Studios is no longer supporting the setting, but there are plenty of products out to support it already that you could pick up at reduced prices. I am working on new Scarred Lands campaign and getting ready to set it in motion, should be loads of fun.
Forgotten Realms (FR) is one of my favorites. It has been around for a long time and WoTC is still publishing products to support the gameworld. Some say that FR has been over developed (fluff) but it offers beginners plenty of resources to use. Just remember that FR has alot of material that is unique to that setting.
Dragonlance has been reintroduced, but WoTC hasn't seen fit to publish very many support products as of yet. Dragonlance was my first intro to D&D so it will always have a special place for me.
Greyhawk is too generic and bland for me.
I have been diving into the Scarred Lands recently. It is a great setting, but it lays very heavy on the role of the Gods and the Titans. To me, it is very brutal world (high magic and tough monsters) but . Sadly however; Sword and Sorcery Studios is no longer supporting the setting, but there are plenty of products out to support it already that you could pick up at reduced prices. I am working on new Scarred Lands campaign and getting ready to set it in motion, should be loads of fun.
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