Just started my first campaign and am wondrously new to the world of D&D. I have also been watching Critical Role. With that being said, I'm looking for books, or official reference material on the world that is D&D. From a beginners standpoint, or beyond, do any of you have recommendations on official books / guides to read to get a better understanding of this world? Thanks in advance for all feedback, much appreciated!
Adjacent to the regular world of Forgotten Realms is an area called the Underdark, which is full of underground civilizations and monstrosities. The first half of the Out of the Abyss adventure is a pretty good resource.
In addition to Forgotten Realms, Wizards has several other settings: Greyhawk, Ravenloft, Eberron, Plancescape, and more. Greyhawk doesn't have a 5e book yet, so look to wikis or older editions for lore. Ravenloft is introduced in the Curse of Strahd adventure. Eberron was originally in 3.5, but there is a setting book currently in development for 5e that you can get called the Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron. Wizards also made a setting book based on their Magic: The Gathering game about the plane of Ravnica.
The Critical Role show takes place in the Tal'Dorei settings, which is Matt Mercer's own creation (not a Wizards of the Coast product). You can get a setting book from Green Ronin Publishing here
Forgotten Realms: Fantasy Greyhawk: Fantasy Dragonlance: High Fantasy Ravenloft: Gothic Eberron: Magitech Dark Sun: Apocalypse Planescape: Interdimensional travel via portals Spelljammer: Interdimensional by sailing ships through space
Ravnica: intrigue (not a true D&D setting, but published by Wizards)
Tal'Dorei: Fantasy (not an official setting, still a good one though)
Generally a campaign will pick one setting to use and stick with it for that campaign. I would suggest Forgotten Realms, Eberron, or Tal'Dorei if only because they have the most recent books about them and seem to be the most popular.
Hey all!
Just started my first campaign and am wondrously new to the world of D&D. I have also been watching Critical Role. With that being said, I'm looking for books, or official reference material on the world that is D&D. From a beginners standpoint, or beyond, do any of you have recommendations on official books / guides to read to get a better understanding of this world? Thanks in advance for all feedback, much appreciated!
There are a lot of different things that are D&D.
The best resource is probably various wikis for Forgotten Realms, which is the default 5e setting.
The most helpful 5e book about that settings is probably the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide.
Storm King's Thunder and Waterdeep Dragon Heist both have good information about the setting as well.
Adjacent to the regular world of Forgotten Realms is an area called the Underdark, which is full of underground civilizations and monstrosities. The first half of the Out of the Abyss adventure is a pretty good resource.
In addition to Forgotten Realms, Wizards has several other settings: Greyhawk, Ravenloft, Eberron, Plancescape, and more.
Greyhawk doesn't have a 5e book yet, so look to wikis or older editions for lore.
Ravenloft is introduced in the Curse of Strahd adventure.
Eberron was originally in 3.5, but there is a setting book currently in development for 5e that you can get called the Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron.
Wizards also made a setting book based on their Magic: The Gathering game about the plane of Ravnica.
The Critical Role show takes place in the Tal'Dorei settings, which is Matt Mercer's own creation (not a Wizards of the Coast product). You can get a setting book from Green Ronin Publishing here
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Thanks a ton for the info! I have a lot to dive into and digest.
Super brief overview of all of them
Forgotten Realms: Fantasy
Greyhawk: Fantasy
Dragonlance: High Fantasy
Ravenloft: Gothic
Eberron: Magitech
Dark Sun: Apocalypse
Planescape: Interdimensional travel via portals
Spelljammer: Interdimensional by sailing ships through space
Ravnica: intrigue (not a true D&D setting, but published by Wizards)
Tal'Dorei: Fantasy (not an official setting, still a good one though)
Site Info: Wizard's ToS | Fan Content Policy | Forum Rules | Physical Books | Content Not Working | Contact Support
How To: Homebrew Rules | Create Homebrew | Snippet Codes | Tool Tips (Custom) | Rollables (Generator)
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Feats | Spells | Magic Items
Other: Beyond20 | Page References | Other Guides | Entitlements | Dice Randomization | Images Fix | FAQ
Generally a campaign will pick one setting to use and stick with it for that campaign. I would suggest Forgotten Realms, Eberron, or Tal'Dorei if only because they have the most recent books about them and seem to be the most popular.
Site Info: Wizard's ToS | Fan Content Policy | Forum Rules | Physical Books | Content Not Working | Contact Support
How To: Homebrew Rules | Create Homebrew | Snippet Codes | Tool Tips (Custom) | Rollables (Generator)
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Feats | Spells | Magic Items
Other: Beyond20 | Page References | Other Guides | Entitlements | Dice Randomization | Images Fix | FAQ
I've been beefing up on my FR lore lately by watching a ton of Jorphdan and AJ Pickett on YouTube.