I agree, it's tempting to try and make a whole planet one thing, but a bad idea in the long run.

Right now I'm working out my planet. It's . . . different. Like our moon, its rotation around the sun has one side of the planet always facing the sun, and one side always in darkness. Normally, this would equal a planet unable to support life because the sun facing side would be too hot, and the other side too cold.

But, my planet also has a rather large moon that cuts across the sun side of the planet often enough to create a 'Goldie Locks Belt" where life exists. Because it's at able the equater, there's a similar climate throughout the life belt, but there will still be different ecological areas. A small mountain range cuts the living territory in half, creating a natural boundry for my two sentient species. There are deserts on either side of the living belt, where the shade is just enough for survival, but the sun is on it enough to dry up the water. There are two artic areas on either side where the border between the moon crossing and the dark side of the planet are. And there are no oceans. The whole planet is fresh water, with lots of lakes/rivers cutting through the land. So I can play with swamp areas, forests, mountains, deserts, and whatever else I might think of.

Thank you,

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"I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters loose."
-Stephen King