D&D Settings

[Slartibartfast]

I don't know if this belongs on Gaming or here. I make mention of a computer game or two but is mostly posted to know more about D&D "worlds".

I'm a bit curious and would like to know a summary of all the settings that exist (or existed) for Dungeons & Dragons. This includes the old "Classic" D&D, AD&D, etc. So far these are the ones I've heard:

• Forbidden Realms - apparently the most popular, and the one used in most computer games. I'm kinda familiar with this one, mostly from the Baldur's Gate series. I think the world's name is Faerun (or Fâerun or Faerûn or whatever - maybe not) I know there are places lke Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter, Icewind Dale, Waterdeep, and there's an eastern-themed territory called Kara-Tur. There are your average gods of pain, protection, fire, murder, suffering, etc like Tyr, Helm or Bhaal (rip). It's your basic run-of-the-mill D&D setting with lots of mages, elves, dwarves, halflings, and no special "rules" or "laws" that govern magic or physics other than the ones in the D&D rulebook. PC games that have been based on this one are Pool of Radiance, Icewind Dale 1&2, Neverwinter Nights, Eye of Beholder series.
• Dragonlance - I know next to nothing about this one. I know there was an arcade game called Heroes of the Lance, but never played it. Then there's a dragon "simulator" called Dragonstrike.
• Dark Sun - basically Mad Max meets D&D, minus the tech. The world is called Athas. There are lots of deserts, crazy people, psionics, slavery, deserts, elemental magic, and deserts. There are two computer games I know based on this world: Shattered Lands and Wake of the Ravager.
• Planescape - ok, somebody thought of the cool idea that "alignments" as well as "elements" and the real world were correspondent to "planes", created an interesting city in the middle of it all called Sigil with a ridiculously high density of inter-dimensional portals and a Lady who is a bitch, more powerful than a God but gets really pissed if you worship her. Also there's the concept that all the other "settings" are actually worlds that coexist in the same plane albeit are sort of different planets, and can be accessed via portals. The only game I know is named Torment.
• Spelljammer - like Planescape, there is the concept of all the other settings coexisting, only instead of portals you take a boat, enchant it and travel in some kind of liquid that is between the worlds. I also know little about this one.
• Greyhawk - again, no idea. There's a

Other places that I don't know where they belong:

• Karameikos - this seems to be the "world" where the original "basic" D&D was set. I still have the books somewhere. Don't know where (if at all) this one fits with the others in modern D&D.
• Krynn - methinks this is for Dragonlance. There were a few games like Death Knights of Krynn about an undead army and a knight who banged a dragon and they were boyfriends, only to kill her later when he turned into an undead knight.

For any of these worlds, or any other that I missed, it would be great if someone did a summary of what they know (not quoting the entire book ) and the main difference(s) with the others (specially FR). Thanks.

[lgot]

Greyhawk is the original setting. It was abandoned when they focused in Forgotten but with thrid edition they returned to work there. It is a basic world, with mostly of basic classes.

Dragonlance was very popular serie of novels as well and achived this status inside TSR but never got as popular as a game. Basically a world about evil-good fighting, well written. The world is Krynn.

Ravenloft was a "plane" for addult and evil games and probally the second most popular setting of TSR. Was abandoned after a odd "finishing" but now is being re-worked again.

Mystara was a very basic world, created to hold "D&D" games when the second edition was up. If I am not mistaken it is how Karameikos was named.

Gamma World was a high-tech game. Big failure.

Birthright. Playing with Regents. Big failure.

[Brother-Captain Gaius]

Forbidden Realms - apparently the most popular, and the one used in most computer games. I'm kinda familiar with this one, mostly from the Baldur's Gate series. I think the world's name is Faerun (or Fâerun or Faerûn or whatever - maybe not) I know there are places lke Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter, Icewind Dale, Waterdeep, and there's an eastern-themed territory called Kara-Tur. There are your average gods of pain, protection, fire, murder, suffering, etc like Tyr, Helm or Bhaal (rip). It's your basic run-of-the-mill D&D setting with lots of mages, elves, dwarves, halflings, and no special "rules" or "laws" that govern magic or physics other than the ones in the D&D rulebook. PC games that have been based on this one are Pool of Radiance, Icewind Dale 1&2, Neverwinter Nights, Eye of Beholder series.

Its "Forgotten Realms". Also, magic is not totally "standard". Arcane magic (i.e. wizards, sorcerors, bards) draw the power for their spells from the Weave, a creation of an earlier incarnation of Mystra. Shar disliked Mystra's massive amount of power and control over the Realms and created a mirror Shadow Weave, which works a bit differently and is not compatible with normal magic and for the most part the two operate independent of each other. During the Time of Troubles in 1358 DR Ao, the Overgod, banished all gods except Helm to the Prime Material plane without their divine powers. Without Mystra's power, the Weave became unstable and she sacrificed herself to preserve it with questionable results. Magic became unreliable in all Toril (the planet). When the gods regained their divinity (with some significant changes to positions, hierarchies, etc.) a wizard by the name of Midnight assumed the role of Mystra and repaired the Weave to the best of her ability. But "Wild Magic" and "Dead Magic" zones were still all over the place, and they should be fairly self-explanatory.

[CaptainChewbacca]

I love Spelljammer. Its my favorite.

[Slartibartfast]

Ok, so what are the major differences between Mystara, Greyhawk and Forgotten Realms, other than historical? (like the Time of Troubles, that happened a long time ago and doesn't seem to affect much now)

[lgot]

Mystara is not even huge developed, it was just a couple of adventures together.
Greyhawk was very very basic. The structure is similar to Toril.
The difference is Forgotten is much more developed, much bigger and this allow them to have a lot of variety not to say a lot of pantheons (Forgotten is almost like, if there is anything in D&D, you can find in Forgetten). There is slighty differences of races, magic, but mostly of it is just a reflex of the world's background.

[SirNitram]

Ok, so what are the major differences between Mystara, Greyhawk and Forgotten Realms, other than historical? (like the Time of Troubles, that happened a long time ago and doesn't seem to affect much now)

*blinks*

The Time Of Troubles wasn't 'a long time ago', I don't think it's even twenty years ago as of 3rd edition. The immense magical fallout has left Wild and Dead magic everywhere. The Gods are still recovering from that spot of insanity. I wouldn't call that 'not affected'.

[Slartibartfast]

Ok, so what are the major differences between Mystara, Greyhawk and Forgotten Realms, other than historical? (like the Time of Troubles, that happened a long time ago and doesn't seem to affect much now)

*blinks*

The Time Of Troubles wasn't 'a long time ago', I don't think it's even twenty years ago as of 3rd edition. The immense magical fallout has left Wild and Dead magic everywhere. The Gods are still recovering from that spot of insanity. I wouldn't call that 'not affected'.

Sorry, I haven't seen much effect of the ToT on the setting other than loose plot elements in the computer games... what's this "wild magic" or "dead magic" you talk about, and how does the insanity of the Gods reflected on the players' adventures other than backstory?

[SirNitram]

Ok, so what are the major differences between Mystara, Greyhawk and Forgotten Realms, other than historical? (like the Time of Troubles, that happened a long time ago and doesn't seem to affect much now)

*blinks*

The Time Of Troubles wasn't 'a long time ago', I don't think it's even twenty years ago as of 3rd edition. The immense magical fallout has left Wild and Dead magic everywhere. The Gods are still recovering from that spot of insanity. I wouldn't call that 'not affected'.

Sorry, I haven't seen much effect of the ToT on the setting other than loose plot elements in the computer games... what's this "wild magic" or "dead magic" you talk about, and how does the insanity of the Gods reflected on the players' adventures other than backstory?

I don't know how well represented they are in the games. The setting itself, however, has these huge stretches of magical fallout.

One, causes any spell cast to misfire rather spectacularly. Another, prevents any magic, even magic-like abilities, from working. The appearance of the Bhaalspawn, the rise and death of Xvim, Cyric in general, and the missing Waukeen are all fairly notable plot points for those who have gone beyond their hometowns.

[Slartibartfast]

One, causes any spell cast to misfire rather spectacularly. Another, prevents any magic, even magic-like abilities, from working. The appearance of the Bhaalspawn, the rise and death of Xvim, Cyric in general, and the missing Waukeen are all fairly notable plot points for those who have gone beyond their hometowns.

So they're like ultra-high/unreliabe and no-mana zones then? Ok... but anyway I don't understand the non-standard claim by JediNeophyte, if the standard is basically now FR, then everything there IS standard D&D 3rd ed.

So what are people saying, that Mystara/Greyhawk were a bit of a draft or early versions of the world, with little or no background, and Faerün is mostly a fleshed out, story heavy world in comparison?

Then we can conclude that these are more similar than they are different. On the other hand there's Krynn with some "special" elements like moon wizards (who get their powers from a red or black moon or something like that) and dragons everywhere... and Ravenloft, Planescape & Spelljammer are even more original. Right?

[Slartibartfast]

That should be "Darksun, Ravenloft, Planescape & Spelljammer are more original". I hope I didn't leave any other important one out...

[SirNitram]

One, causes any spell cast to misfire rather spectacularly. Another, prevents any magic, even magic-like abilities, from working. The appearance of the Bhaalspawn, the rise and death of Xvim, Cyric in general, and the missing Waukeen are all fairly notable plot points for those who have gone beyond their hometowns.

So they're like ultra-high/unreliabe and no-mana zones then? Ok... but anyway I don't understand the non-standard claim by JediNeophyte, if the standard is basically now FR, then everything there IS standard D&D 3rd ed.

FR is the most generic setting put out now. That doesn't mean it's identical to the rules, there's lots of small changes for those who look.. Spellfire, Runemagic, Elven High Magic, and Netherese Magic come to mind, just for magic.

So what are people saying, that Mystara/Greyhawk were a bit of a draft or early versions of the world, with little or no background, and Faerün is mostly a fleshed out, story heavy world in comparison?

Greyhawk has alot of background story, in my experience. And the Realms is, while most generic, still not just identical.

Then we can conclude that these are more similar than they are different. On the other hand there's Krynn with some "special" elements like moon wizards (who get their powers from a red or black moon or something like that) and dragons everywhere... and Ravenloft, Planescape & Spelljammer are even more original. Right?

This is still jumping from 'most generic' to 'completely generic'.

[Slartibartfast]

Additionally, can someone explain a bit more of Spelljammer? Does it involve traveling between different "worlds" as in Toril vs other ones? If so, what are the most popular ones.

[SirNitram]

Additionally, can someone explain a bit more of Spelljammer? Does it involve traveling between different "worlds" as in Toril vs other ones? If so, what are the most popular ones.

Spelljammer is, like Planescape, partly a setting, and partly a way to get around. You can travel from Krynn to Toril on a Spelljammer, but there's plenty to do in deep space without it.

[Slartibartfast]

This is still jumping from 'most generic' to 'completely generic'.

Not generic, just "traditional" if you will (including Krynn).

[SirNitram]

This is still jumping from 'most generic' to 'completely generic'.

Not generic, just "traditional" if you will (including Krynn).

The Realms is the most 'traditional', yes(Wizards with beards, greedy dragons, etc), but this still runs into the fact there are alot of unique elements to it. You won't find many Dracoliches outside of hte Realms.

[Slartibartfast]

I meant more that Greyhawk, Mystara, Krynn and Realms are more traditional that for instance Darksun. Even less traditional is Planescape (with all the plane-hopping) and even LESS traditional is Spelljammer with the "space-opera"-ish theme, and even more ship2ship action than char2char.

By what I read I figure out that the first four settings have a lot more in common, than the others. Of course each has its unique points (except maybe Mystara which sounds pretty vague) like the Dracoliches or the Bhaalspawn in Realms, the Moon - dragon - wizard mafia thingy in Krynn (which I don't quite know what is yet), and whatever there is that is unique with Greyhawk...

If anything, by being the "standard" game, Realms is almost a synonym of D&D. Even if rules are added a bit, most people would consider these rules "normal". But anyway, there's a lot more FR material than anything else, so I'm more interested in how many ways and how strongly the other settings differ WITH Realms - or even how every realm (including FR) differ from what you consider the most generic, base & traditional D&D.

I'm not dissing FR, in fact what I want to know is WHAT makes each setting unique... and admittedly there are only token differences between the first four.

[SirNitram]

By what I read I figure out that the first four settings have a lot more in common, than the others. Of course each has its unique points (except maybe Mystara which sounds pretty vague) like the Dracoliches or the Bhaalspawn in Realms, the Moon - dragon - wizard mafia thingy in Krynn (which I don't quite know what is yet), and whatever there is that is unique with Greyhawk...

Only VECNA the most horrific Lich ever to ascend, and the horde of Artifacts that surrounds his rise and fall(And eventualy descent into Ravenloft, a highly traditional setting.. If Gothic Horror is your tradition).

If anything, by being the "standard" game, Realms is almost a synonym of D&D. Even if rules are added a bit, most people would consider these rules "normal". But anyway, there's a lot more FR material than anything else, so I'm more interested in how many ways and how strongly the other settings differ WITH Realms - or even how every realm (including FR) differ from what you consider the most generic, base & traditional D&D.

I'm not dissing FR, in fact what I want to know is WHAT makes each setting unique... and admittedly there are only token differences between the first four.

I wouldn't call them token differences. Greyhawk is a very strange world, sometimes hard to come to grips with, in comparison to FR. With the massive Drow fortresses, places like the Temple of Elemental Evil, and the massive underground cities that lurk under the ground, it's a wierd place. Kas and Vecna just turn it up a notch.

Krynn, well, I don't know that well.

Toril is high-Fantasy. HIGH Fantasy. You can buy magic items, airships skid the skies from the Shining South, ancient civilizations occasionally vomit up a lost artifact that threatens destruction, Gods walk among men, and magic is everywhere.

[Slartibartfast]

Only VECNA the most horrific Lich ever to ascend, and the horde of Artifacts that surrounds his rise and fall(And eventualy descent into Ravenloft, a highly traditional setting.. If Gothic Horror is your tradition).

You mean Greyhawk? Is Vecna a part of it? Then why are his bodyparts lying around all over Faerûn?

I wouldn't call them token differences. Greyhawk is a very strange world, sometimes hard to come to grips with, in comparison to FR. With the massive Drow fortresses, places like the Temple of Elemental Evil, and the massive underground cities that lurk under the ground, it's a wierd place. Kas and Vecna just turn it up a notch.

I don't have any experience with Greyhawk at all...

Krynn, well, I don't know that well.

I played one of the SSI games. Apparently there's a very powerful item called the Dragonlance which basically kills dragons in one or two blows, and there are mages who can only cast spells if their moon is up (red or black), and if you're a 6+ level mage you must belong to some guild by taking a very life-threatening test, but not much else.

Toril is high-Fantasy. HIGH Fantasy. You can buy magic items, airships skid the skies from the Shining South, ancient civilizations occasionally vomit up a lost artifact that threatens destruction, Gods walk among men, and magic is everywhere.

Yeah I remember that the original Mystara, the only way to get a magic item was to find it (though "magic-users" at top levels could make them) in a dungeon, and they NEVER were available for purchase, not even potions.

BTW I found an interesting page about Mystara here.

[Crayz9000]

Only VECNA the most horrific Lich ever to ascend, and the horde of Artifacts that surrounds his rise and fall(And eventualy descent into Ravenloft, a highly traditional setting.. If Gothic Horror is your tradition).

*gets Slash'EM flashbacks*

[Ghost Rider]

Vecna has trancened pretty much a great deal of D&D.

You have modules of him in both Ravenloft and Planescape.

[lgot]

So what are people saying, that Mystara/Greyhawk were a bit of a draft or early versions of the world, with little or no background, and Faerün is mostly a fleshed out, story heavy world in comparison?

Mystara is. But you are making a confusion.Greyhawk had a lot of background a lot of characters that have their importance. But the problem is when they reached a peak of story and short of "finished" a age, they didnt not (like they did with Forgetten with the Time of Troubles being the jump to keep on the development of Toril) worked with that for years. Latelly they returned it, but of course, FR got the advantage.

If anything, by being the "standard" game, Realms is almost a synonym of D&D. Even if rules are added a bit, most people would consider these rules "normal". But anyway, there's a lot more FR material than anything else, so I'm more interested in how many ways and how strongly the other settings differ WITH Realms - or even how every realm (including FR) differ from what you consider the most generic, base & traditional D&D.

I dunno, If I would say what was THE standard setting, It would be Greyhawk. It was the first one and TSR even acts this way - you still see a lot of Tenser, Mordeinkain, Bigsy stuff around in the Second edtion and even now in the 3th edition there is still some remains of it and they offer the Greyhawk gods to people start from...

You mean Greyhawk? Is Vecna a part of it? Then why are his bodyparts lying around all over Faerûn?

There is some characters of TSR that are beyond the settings and Vecna is one of them. He is far from a lich from Greyhawk, had a domain in Ravenloft, turned in a god and his artifacts are so famous that are not limited to planes. (Mostly, Famous among the players. There is a couple of orther artifacts that are like that)

[Archaic`]

Additionally, can someone explain a bit more of Spelljammer? Does it involve traveling between different "worlds" as in Toril vs other ones? If so, what are the most popular ones.

Spelljammer is, like Planescape, partly a setting, and partly a way to get around. You can travel from Krynn to Toril on a Spelljammer, but there's plenty to do in deep space without it.

Speaking of which, is Krynn still cut off from the planes and all the other crystal spheres on the prime thanks to the effects of Chaos, or has it since been restored?

[Peregrin Toker]

On the subject of Forgotten Realms:

This day I borrowed a Forgotten Realms sourcebook at the library and I am currently reading it. It almost blew my away... Everything is so... so... complicated.

I mean, there's simply so much that I figure that a good Forgotten Realms game requires the players and Dungeon Master to be very, very much into it.

As somebody who recently has became interested in D&D - I ask: How possible is it to comprehend all that for a newbie??

And am I right that you need to get a little accustomed to all the detail of Forgotten Realms??

[Vendetta]

Dragonlance - I know next to nothing about this one. I know there was an arcade game called Heroes of the Lance, but never played it. Then there's a dragon "simulator" called Dragonstrike.

The Dragonlance campaign setting never took off. The novels based on it were popular though. (A lot of people don't even know ther ewas a campaign setting, let alone that it came first)

Planescape - ok, somebody thought of the cool idea that "alignments" as well as "elements" and the real world were correspondent to "planes", created an interesting city in the middle of it all called Sigil with a ridiculously high density of inter-dimensional portals and a Lady who is a bitch, more powerful than a God but gets really pissed if you worship her. Also there's the concept that all the other "settings" are actually worlds that coexist in the same plane albeit are sort of different planets, and can be accessed via portals. The only game I know is named Torment.

The Planescape campaign setting was originally developed because, early on in AD&D history, anything vaguely weird was being attributed to the "Outer Planes". Said Planes were therefore becoming incredibly chaotic and filled with all sorts of different stuff. Planescape was an attempt to bring some kind of structure to the chaos, by aligning the planes around the nine major alignments. It has officially been dropped as of 3E. (pity, it's probably the most interesting D&D camaign setting)

This day I borrowed a Forgotten Realms sourcebook at the library and I am currently reading it. It almost blew my away... Everything is so... so... complicated.

The sourcebooks tend to assume you've read at least one of the three core rulebooks.

The core rulebooks are:

Player's Handbook
Dungeon Master's Guide
Monster Manual

If you want to learn to play, before jumping into any settings, read the PHB.

(and try to find a DM who either knows all the rules or almost none of them for your first few sessions, that way you're either learning to play with someone who can show you the ropes, or smeone who will be more inclined to make rules up for the sake of keeping the game flowing if they don't know the specifics)