Probably the greatest issues about Dungeons and Dragons it's the sport's huge cosmology – an infinite multiverse that gives just about limitless storytelling potential. Over the a long time, the sport's numerous editions have launched intensive accounts of most of the worlds on this cosmology, the place gamers can outline their D&D video games and discover. With the way forward for reside motion D&D media on maintain since Paramount paused its D&D present plan in 2024, maybe it's time to return to the drafting board for extra concepts.
A lot of D&DThe worlds of have been detailed in main sourcebooks and even whole field units through the years, and a few have solely appeared in classics. Dungeons and Dragons journey modules, however even the smallest of those present loads of aesthetic and narrative inspiration for aspiring showrunners and screenwriters. The big variety in these settings would additionally permit for lots of experimentation with genres. along with the extra conventional sword-and-sorcery-adjacent fare that D&D is mostly thought-about a synonym for.
5
Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms Marketing campaign Set (Superior Dungeons & Dragons, 1st version; 1987)
2023 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves already launched a live-action Forgotten Realms world, however the movie's occasions concerned solely a small a part of the setting's huge geography, primarily centered on the town of Neverwinter. Nevertheless, the Forgotten Realms are huge, having been a key configuration for D&D because the launch of the primary Forgotten Realms Marketing campaign Set in 1987and had been the scene of among the greatest recognized D&D video video games, like Baldur's Gate, Icewind Valleyand By no means Winter Nights sequence.
Though Forgotten Realms typically feels "fundamental" in comparison with a few of D&Dextra esoteric settings, such because the apocalyptic and sandy desert of Darkish Solar, remains to be filled with all of the superb issues that make any D&D unimaginable surroundings. Faerûn's attractive landscapes, cosmopolitan cities like Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter, and the number of potential protagonists and antagonists imply that the Forgotten Realms is a buffet of potentialities for any author eager to do extra than simply adapt current ones. D&D adventures like Waterdeep: Dragon Heist.
4
ravenloft
Ravenloft journey module (Superior Dungeons & Dragons, 1st version; 1983)
The world of ravenloftin contrast to another core D&D setting, attracts closely on the aesthetics and tropes of traditional gothic horror, significantly novels like Dracula and Frankenstein. Whereas the opposite worlds D&Dof the multiverse are discrete planets, Ravenloft is a disconnected pocket dimension referred to as the Demiplane of Dread, which is able to manifesting anyplace within the multiverse as unusual mists that entice individuals and snatch them to one of many numerous Domains contained inside it.
Every Area of Dread is dominated by a Darkish Lord, somebody who has come to the eye of the Demiplane's ruling Darkish Powers for the heinous crimes they've dedicated, and their Domains correspond to their crimes. The notorious vampire Depend Strahd von Zarovich is one such Darklord, and the eternally in style Curse of Strahd D&D journey module can be the plain place to begin for any author eager to deliver the mists of ravenloft for all times; contemplating the recognition of Netflix Castlevania anime franchise, based mostly on the video video games of the identical title, a reside motion ravenloft might have already got a fan base ready.
3
Strixhaven
Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos (Dungeons & Dragons, Fifth Version; 2021)
Magic faculties have been a well-liked setting for fantasy media since lengthy earlier than Harry Potterthe unusually anachronistic wizarding ethnostate; legendary novelist Ursula Okay. LeGuin established trendy magic faculty tropes in her 1968 novel A Wizard of Earthseaand the style has continued to evolve since then. In D&Dthe time period "faculty of magic" usually means the varied classes of spells which could possibly be solid by magic customers (divination, evocation, and so forth), however 2021 Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos modified that crossing D&D ended the Magic: the reunion set Strixhaven: Faculty of Wizards.
The eponymous Strixhaven College is the most important faculty for wizards within the multiverse; Its campus is made up of 5 schools, every based by an Elder Dragon and with a distinct focus, each tutorial and magical. Though not the unique MtG neither the set nor the reference guide present a lot details about the world exterior the varsity grounds, the multiversal nature of the varsity permits it to exist anyplace D&Dof the huge cosmology that writers might want for. With the sourcebook's concentrate on Strixhaven as a spot of acceptance and numerous studying environments, it could be an outstanding various to HBO's more and more problematic Harry Potter.
2
Dragonlance
Dragons of Despair (Superior Dungeons & Dragons, 1st Version; 1984)
D&Dunique excessive fantasy setting Dragonlance has been a mainstay of the franchise for many years, with dozens of journey modules and sourcebooks, tons of of novels and even a recipe guide launched through the years, all of which have come collectively to rework the world of Krynn into one of the vital vibrant and well-documented fantasy worlds to by no means see the silver display screen. That's a disgrace, as a result of DragonlanceThe intensive timeline is filled with tales that should be instructed.
From the epic Struggle of the Spear to the devastating Struggle of SoulsKrynn's timeline overflows with tales that might be unimaginable to see in live-action. One of many probably most fun issues concerning the adaptation Dragonlance that's what number of dragons the sequence options; the Struggle of the Lance has whole waves of troopers combating one another on the again of a dragon, dueling within the skies above their armies like a dwelling storm. Dragonlance additionally has among the greatest villains in D&D deserving live-action variations, such because the ruthless Kitiara and the tragic loss of life knight Lord Soth.
1
Eberron
Eberron marketing campaign setting (Dungeons & Dragons, version 3.5; 2004)
Whereas Dragonlance It's a excessive fantasy setting, Eberron enhance it as you go full magopunk. Whereas a conspiracy of dragons makes an attempt to control the occasions of Eberron's historical past in accordance with an historical prophecy, the mortal realms are nonetheless recovering from a century-long conflict that noticed using sensible and terrifying magical applied sciences. Eberron It's a setting the place magic isn't mysterious or uncommon however omnipresent, part of most individuals's on a regular basis lives because it powers the world's unimaginable lightning trains and airships, in addition to the dwelling constructs often known as warforged.
If ravenloft and D&Dabout gothic horror, and Dragonlance It's an epic conflict story, so Eberron and D&D channeling Thirties journey novels. Eberron provides a movie noir really feel to its cities, just like the socially (and actually) stratified Sharn, Metropolis of Towers, the place organized crime and excessive society conflict at debutante balls, but additionally has sufficient historical ruins hidden in lethal jungles to place Indiana Jones to disgrace. A reside motion Eberron he can be problem the conventions of conventional fantasyreminding viewers all over the place of the inverse of Clarke's Third Regulation - "Any sufficiently superior magic is indistinguishable from expertise."