Canon D&D Lore Doesn't Have To Be Canon

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Newcomers to may have difficulty deciphering whether the game is simply a heroic fantasy rule set, or if it takes place in a specific world, but veterans can confirm there is actual canon lore, though it can be ignored. While provides a framework under which a Dungeon Master can create their own homebrew campaign setting, there are also official fantasy worlds published by Wizards of the Coast that form the multiverse. The 5e rules have seen many classic settings return, but often with changes or timeline advancement. The DM and players should discuss how much they want canon to matter in their campaign.

The setting is the default 5e world, but it is only one of many available to gaming groups. Currently, 5e offers resources for campaigns set in,,, and even the worlds of and. Third-party campaign books add The to the mix and the bleak setting of the video games, among many others. Each of these worlds contains its own history and lore, including iconic NPCs, locations, and factions. While some DMs might aim to run a canon game to fully embrace a setting’s unique identity, this can pose complications for many groups.

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has undergone timeline shifts, as the default year of the setting advances, along with setting-wide events like the Time of Troubles and the Spellplague which provide a rationalization for the rule changes with each edition. Conversely, is largely unchanged, and is different from campaign world. restricts certain player-character races that are not present in the setting, and does not allow for all classes due to that world’s absence of gods. A group might want to run a 5e campaign set during the 4e Spellplague, or simply change ’s canon to allow more