5 Best D&D Settings Of All Time

A Dungeons & Dragons recreation is simply pretty much as good as its setting. Regardless of what number of enjoyable encounters and attention-grabbing alternatives they discover, they are going to have a tough time touchdown if the world round them does not meet the identical requirements. Fortunately, there’s been no scarcity of nice D&D settings over time.

From the unique world of Greyhawk to the unusual realms of Planescape, one of the best D&D settings all deliver one thing distinctive to the desk. Whether or not you need to devise a customized world or pull it from third-party supplies, all of those official worlds are filled with nice supplies to contribute to any marketing campaign.

greyhawk

It is traditional for a purpose.

Greyhawk serves because the core basis of D&D in some ways. D&D’s first setting was Blackmoor, the brainchild of D&D co-creator Dave Arneson, however Greyhawk was finally institutionalized because the setting for numerous adventures.

Of all the most important D&D settings, Greyhawk adheres most completely to the traditional medieval fantasy really feel, throwing a bunch of harmful beasts right into a low-tech world with loads of real-world inspiration. As the private setting of D&D co-creator Gary Gygax, Greyhawk started as only a dungeon, however finally expanded into a posh realm with its personal historical past.

One of many best items of proof of Greyhawk is the town of Greyhawk itself, which has been detailed and fleshed out in a sequence of books and appendices over time. If you happen to’re searching for a metropolis to base your marketing campaign on, you will be hard-pressed to discover a higher metropolis than Greyhawk. And that may be a much less overwhelming choice than venturing into the extra risky world of Forgotten Realms.

Greyhawk has been comparatively sidelined lately as a result of elevated emphasis on the Forgotten Realms, however our 2024 Dungeon Grasp’s Information targeted on the setting as start line for brand spanking new Dungeon Masters and campaigns. Nevertheless, if you wish to be taught extra about Greyhawk, you will need to learn among the books written for previous editions of D&D.

raven loft

I need to make it darker

Lately, Ravenloft falls beneath the Forgotten Realms umbrella, but it surely’s really its personal setting. The darkish lands of Barovia haven’t any actual connection to the opposite Forgotten Realms, carving out a formidable area of interest as a gothic setting fully faraway from the realm’s heroic fantasy ambiance.

Ravenloft is closely influenced by Dracula, but it surely’s the small print of that world that make it shine. Strolling by means of the streets of the cities of Barovia, Valaki, and Kletsk, you are prone to come throughout decidedly uncommon characters and memorable, ugly tales. There’s little good in Ravenloft, however that makes fleeting sparks of hope and likelihood encounters with useful NPCs all of the extra good.

D&D 5e’s iconic Curse of Strahd marketing campaign takes place in Ravenloft, but it surely may be an attention-grabbing setting for a customized Gothic journey. The 2026 lineup of D&D books contains a number of new references for the setting, making it simpler to increase the scope of Curse of Strahd or transfer away from Curse of Strahd totally. Even when it sticks intently to the script, Curse of Strahd is a reasonably non-linear journey with a whole lot of room for experimentation, and the identical Dungeon Grasp can simply run 5 fully completely different campaigns with the identical supply.

Ravenloft additionally turned a pivotal level in D&D historical past, as the unique Ravenloft module paved the way in which for a higher emphasis on advanced, character-oriented tales. With out the Ravenloft setting, the light-hearted and heroic points of D&D may look very completely different at this time.

flat panorama

It is time to get bizarre

D&D has by no means been afraid to embrace the bizarre, and most marketing campaign settings strike a stability between the wildest fantasies and well-grounded parts. Planescape, however, is a failure. Throwing fantasy tropes and conventions out the window, this setting is the right choice for these uninterested in what Greyhawk and the Forgotten Realms have to supply.

Subsequently, it’s not essentially one of the best setting for rookies. Operating Planescape marketing campaign could be troublesome, and supplemental supplies are far and wide. In a world of practically limitless alternatives, each the Dungeon Grasp and the celebration could wrestle to discover a clear route.

Nevertheless, as soon as everyone seems to be aware of D&D, Planescape generally is a nice expertise. Like Greyhawk, you will have to transcend the 5e books and dive into older dietary supplements to dig deeper. Nevertheless, the 5e materials is rather more intensive than the Dungeon Grasp’s Information’s introduction to Greyhawk, so it is a completely cheap start line.

For individuals who merely need a style of Planescape with out the effort of operating a marketing campaign inside a setting, Planescape: Torment can be an amazing choice. Developed by Black Isle Studios, which additionally created Baldur’s Gate 2 and Icewind Dale, Planescape: Torment is hailed as among the finest D&D video video games ever created.

Eberron

completely pulpy

In recent times, among the most iconic D&D settings have come earlier than the twenty first century, as Wizards of the Coast has been eager to introduce totally new worlds. The largest exception is Eberron, an addition to D&D 3.5e that debuted in 2004 as the results of a contest to suggest new marketing campaign settings.

Because of this, Eberron additionally emerged as a extra totally fashioned and constant setting than most different choices. This world, targeted on expertise with pulpy flavors and magical powers, can outline and rework any marketing campaign you set. Whether or not you are searching for a gritty noir story or a serialized journey sensibility, Eberron helps fantastical tales that transcend the realm of conventional heroic fantasy.

One of many greatest unifying parts of the Eberron marketing campaign is its deal with shades of grey. Eschewing both the essential good/evil dichotomy of traditional D&D campaigns or the pervasive darkness present in Ravenloft, Eberron values ​​nuance.

Like Ravenloft, Eberron has additionally benefited from latest releases. The 2025 ebook Eberron: Forge of the Artificer is a comparatively skinny ebook, but it surely’s filled with new subclasses, feats, characters, airship guidelines, and extra.

forgotten realm

In all probability every little thing you want

The Forgotten Realms are the principle setting of D&D 5e, and it is no shock that they’ve earned this standing. So far as heroic fantasy goes, Forgotten Realms has every little thing you may need. The Sword Coast alone contains all kinds of attention-grabbing cities, and increasing the scope of the setting additional reveals simply how far-reaching the thought is.

Whereas Greyhawk was created for the precise function of D&D, Forgotten Realms got here out a few years earlier and was conceived by recreation designer Ed Greenwood in his childhood. Fortunately, the parts that sparked his younger creativeness are good for tabletop play. Additionally on show are many D&D ventures in different mediums, together with iconic ebook sequence akin to “The Legend of Drizzt,” video games akin to “Baldur’s Gate,” and the movie “Dungeons & Dragons: Thieves’ Honor.”

Regardless of serving because the default setting in 5e, The Forgotten Realms didn’t obtain a considerable up-to-date sourcebook till just lately. A lot of the supplementary materials was unfold out between varied marketing campaign books and the anemic Sword Coast Adventures Information. Luckily, D&D rectified this drawback with the 2025 launch of Forgotten Realms: Adventures of Faerun and Heroes of Faerun, which supply a welcome deep dive into the setting.

If you happen to’re searching for a particular sort of play, there are a lot of causes to decide on a extra specialised marketing campaign setting. Nevertheless, if you need all of it, Dungeons & Dragons’ Forgotten Realms kitchen sink method can do just about every little thing.