I want to play through the campaign for Settlers 2 with 1080p resolution. To do this, am I better off with the Gold Edition from GOG with Return to the Roots installed or the History Edition from Ubisoft? Both are on sale right now.

10 anniversary edition

some other settlers with HD runnable have some issues, gaming or story or hd easy setup or possible
ubisoft not ready

I have no interest in the 10th Anniversary Edition

You need the Gold Edition or an original CD version. The History Edition isn't supported: https://github.com/Return-To-The-Roots/s25client/issues/1122

I know how to run each edition. I only want to know which way of playing the game is better for someone who wants to go through the campaign at 1080p.

Am I better off with the one sold on GOG + Return to the Roots *OR* The History edition (with no other mods) sold on UbiSoft. Both ways will let me play the campaign at 1080p. For anyone who is familiar with both editons, which way is better for playing the campaign at 1080p? Both versions allow it. Which one will give me a better experience?

Make the Return to the Roots Mod compatible with the GoG Version please.

Hey,

Spike here (RttR) - I think it depends on.
- Return to the Roots is currently not compatible with the History Edition
- I honestly don't know what the GOG Version is, I guess it is the Settlers II Gold version, isn't it?
- RttR does support the campaign (but it will not be the same experience as some features are missing)
- The History Edition has some weird sound for the forester

So:
History Edition: If you just want to play the campaign at 1080p, nearly same experience as the original
GOG Version (Assuming it is the Gold Version): If you do not care about 1080p but you may want to try multiplayer or custom campaigns or AddOns in RttR later (we do require the original files, so you need a legal copy)
RttR: If you are fine with some differences (some maps are harder, some are easier) and you are fine with some quirks (like you currently need to replace some maps), but you want the freedom of some additional features the original does not have.

Judging by only your post, I'd go for the History edition, as I think this is currently still the best way to play the campaign.

Hope that helps :)

Check Ubisoft Settlers History Collection

but that may be massive scale deployment of unwanted CD storage for download seekers of truth or options to be made, but good work Ubisoft in this forgotten franchise, here on GOG.

But newer addition to this franchise is there, including consoles and better PCs:
The Settlers: New Allies