while I understand it may vary from setting to setting, what is the knowledge that a common person has of other planes or worlds? What I mean by that is, for the average NPC resident of a D&D setting, with no years in magical study, or affiliation with someone who would have that knowledge, what do they know of the greater planar cosmology? (If your setting possesses one.) I just want to learn how other DMs treat this information, so I can see how I'd like to treat it in my homebrew setting.
1. Most of the population is not trained in Arcana so they have next to zero information about other planes of existence beyond the fact that those exist
2. They know for a fact that gods exist and have their homes somewhere in other planes
3. They are aware that there are "evil planes" though they probably wouldn't be able to distinguish between Abyss and Nine Hells
4. Through various temples and libraries the knowledge is readily availabe
5. Names of the planes - some are known (through traditions, sermons in the temples, perhaps some idioms or sayings), most are not.
Somewhat like Lathlaer said, at least for the Realms, the average NPC is going to know the planes exist, but not much beyond that. The gods in FR are very real, so people are going to know of them, and know they have planes (and that you go to the realm of your god when you die), and the realms the gods live in (elves know the Seldarine live in Arvandor, for example), but they aren't going to know the more obscure planes.
while I understand it may vary from setting to setting, what is the knowledge that a common person has of other planes or worlds? What I mean by that is, for the average NPC resident of a D&D setting, with no years in magical study, or affiliation with someone who would have that knowledge, what do they know of the greater planar cosmology? (If your setting possesses one.) I just want to learn how other DMs treat this information, so I can see how I'd like to treat it in my homebrew setting.
I have no personality.
I run in FR so here is how it goes:
1. Most of the population is not trained in Arcana so they have next to zero information about other planes of existence beyond the fact that those exist
2. They know for a fact that gods exist and have their homes somewhere in other planes
3. They are aware that there are "evil planes" though they probably wouldn't be able to distinguish between Abyss and Nine Hells
4. Through various temples and libraries the knowledge is readily availabe
5. Names of the planes - some are known (through traditions, sermons in the temples, perhaps some idioms or sayings), most are not.
Somewhat like Lathlaer said, at least for the Realms, the average NPC is going to know the planes exist, but not much beyond that. The gods in FR are very real, so people are going to know of them, and know they have planes (and that you go to the realm of your god when you die), and the realms the gods live in (elves know the Seldarine live in Arvandor, for example), but they aren't going to know the more obscure planes.
What would be the DCs of these if say they use either Arcana, Religion or another possibly relevant skill check?
Most common folk know a little bit, in a vague sense. Close to what the 'average' person in the real world knows about planets.
They sure have hear at least a couple stories, but very little hard facts. They have "Hollywood" type knowledge.
A check depends on the information. 13 is fine for basic things, 15 fine for uncommon. With 20 up there for 'real' details.