The “official” world of D&D is typically the Forgotten Realms, which is the setting most published adventures take place in. Other well-known worlds include Greyhawk, Eberron, and Dragonlance, but Forgotten Realms is the most commonly used. Using official material isn’t bad at all—it provides maps, lore, deities, and regions that are already fleshed out, which can be very helpful for new DMs and players. It gives players a familiar structure and immersion, since they don’t know what to expect.
That said, if you want to let your creativity run wild, creating your own world is often more rewarding. A homebrewed world gives you the freedom to design politics, geography, factions, and lore exactly how you want. Even if you start with an official setting, you can still modify it for your story. Official material is a tool, not a restriction.
The “official” world of D&D is typically the Forgotten Realms, which is the setting most published adventures take place in. Other well-known worlds include Greyhawk, Eberron, and Dragonlance, but Forgotten Realms is the most commonly used. Using official material isn’t bad at all—it provides maps, lore, deities, and regions that are already fleshed out, which can be very helpful for new DMs and players. It gives players a familiar structure and immersion, since they don’t know what to expect.
That said, if you want to let your creativity run wild, creating your own world is often more rewarding. A homebrewed world gives you the freedom to design politics, geography, factions, and lore exactly how you want. Even if you start with an official setting, you can still modify it for your story. Official material is a tool, not a restriction.
Even if players don’t explore everything in your world, it’s still worth building. Having a detailed world is great for practice and creativity, and it gives you material for future campaigns. If players return to the same setting, you can continue stories, revisit old mysteries, or introduce new adventures seamlessly.