What is the diffrence of the D&D settings?

[Sythe]

Like Forgotten Realms, Ravencroft,Planescape, and Greyhawk?

[Nightowl2]

They're simply different world settings. Places in the Forgotten Realms, for example, don't appear in Greyhawk, and vice versa. There may be differences in the deities, and some monsters, too. Basically, it's for variety.

Nightowl2

[Albromor]

Greyhawk was the first major world setting for Dungeons and Dragons and it came out in the early 1980s at the hight of 1st Edition Rules. The old Judges Guild also had a world setting of their own which was the only alternative out there at that time. Once TSR went with the Forgotten Realms setting with 2nd Edtion Rules, Greyhawk and 1E were eclipsed though there are many to this day who still play by 1E in Greyhawk.

Greyhawk has great intrigue. There is tons to do and under the right DM it is a lot of fun. Somebody once derided Greyhawk in another post, but they don't know what they are talking about.

As for those others that you listed I couldn't help you other than to say NightOwl2 is correct in that they are different settings for different tastes. Planescape is the setting for other planar campaigns.

I know many D&D players, especially 2E (this is solely from my observations) players (but not all), don't like the d20 system and 3E which is soon to be 3.5E. (I laugh at this because now 2E'ers can understand what 1E'ers felt about 2E and FR). As a long time D&D player I welcome the changes and the myriad of great options out there for the DM to offer players. For example, not only does WotC have their Monster Manual, but Swords & Sorcery has an extremely useful Monster Manual of their own. Since it is d20 the DM is free to use whatever he wants from the latter Manual even if he is running his campaign in Greyhawk, Forgotten Realms, the Scarred Lands, etc. New is Good!

[Nerull]

Originally posted by Sythe: Like Forgotten Realms, Ravencroft,Planescape, and Greyhawk?

Greyhawk: The very first campaign world. Still my all-time favorite. Lots of intrigue, lots of variety in the areas. Many of the best modules of all time came out in that setting (Temple of Elemental Evil, Against the Giants, Queen of the Demonweb Pits). Powered up, but not to the extreme. Feel is of a standard medieval D&D setting.

Forgotten Realms: Very well fleshed out. Easiest on the DM, as most of the stuff you need is very well fleshed out already. Also makes it the most popular setting, as there is plenty of material out there and many notable figures developed in the campaign (Driz'zt, Elminster, etc.). However, ridiculously overpowered. High level wizards out the butt, magic everywhere, etc. Love the development, hate the overpowered game play.

Planescape: Cool because of how unique it is; you actually start out as a planar traveller. Thus, you can travel all over the planes, and meet all kinds of denizens. However, not too well fleshed-out, and not too much material out there. Great for flavor (see the computer game Planescape: Torment), but takes some work to flesh out the campaign.

Ravenloft: Gothic horror setting. Cool for that reason, but downside is that evil is very powerful (like in many horror novels/movies). Thus, players can rarely make major changes (the main bad guys are like mini-deities), and fear and horror have more effect on the person. Thus, cool because it is a horror setting, but hard on the players because it is a horror setting.

Dark Sun: Unique setting on a desert planet/dying world. Very high powered with a lot of psionics, but way off the beaten path as far as a campaign setting (not many metal items, little armor, dragon/mages ruling the cities where reading is banned, etc.). Not a huge amount of material out there on it, either.

Dragonlance: Pretty cool setting. Standard medieval setting. Pretty well fleshed out. However, this was originally designed around one set of characters and their campaign, and you can really feel that when you read through the stuff.

Personally, I rank the above (my own opinion, knowing that everyone will have their own):

• Greyhawk
• Forgotten Realms
• Dark Sun
• Planescape
• Ravenloft
• Dragonlance