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A short compendium on the planes and layers. Since there seems to be no objection to the planar setup I posted earlier, I'll use that one, but I don't think these planes will be too incompatible with other setups. I'll start with the lawful planes.
The Outer Planes
These are the planes where the gods supposedly live, and where the souls go for their afterlife. Default Traits:
Infinite (most layers are infinite as well)
Divinely Morphic
Normal Time, Normal Gravity
Multiplanar Features
The River Oceanus
This river flows through the Heavens, the Blessed Gardens and the Glades of Freedom. Side arms may also reach individual layers on other planes. A channel, thought to be the cooperative work of Delanor and Sela, connects the domains of the deities, and also flows through the City of Trades.
The Stygian Waters
The river of the lower planes, it is sometimes considered the dark mirror of Oceanus, but sages usually dismiss it as seeing mirrors that don't exist. It is unclear where the river starts or where it ends. It seems to flow both from the Hells to the Abyss, and from the Abyss to the Hells, leading some to believe that it feeds itself, as a perpetuum mobile. However, frequent bogs, seas and other bodies of water, filled with Styx Water can be found throughout the lower planes, suggesting there is more to the river. Traits:
Waters of End: The waters of the Styx cause various ill effects, most commonly forgetfulness. Drinking a glass of such Styx Water deals 1d3 points of temporary Intelligence damage. Immersion in this sort of Styx Water deals 1d6 points of temporary Intelligence damage per minute. Distilled Styx Water of this sort could make people forget their actual abilities.
The Lawful Good Plane
Commonly called "The Heavens" or "The Oceanus Spring", from the large river that starts here and flows through the planes of good.
Default Traits:
Mildly good and lawful aligned
Impeded magic (chaos and evil)
Layers:
The Observatorium
The layer Antonidas calls home. The layer is large, but finite, sporting a huge tower and a dome. Supposedly, one can use the facilities of the layer to view all of creation. Traits:
Divination Spell Power - Casters get a +2 bonus on the effective caster level of divination spells they cast on this layer (for the purpose of level-depending variables only).
Delanor's Harbor
This is the layer where Delanor's ship anchors on the rare occasion he leaves it in the heavens.
The Lawful Neutral Plane
Commonly called "The Arch-Kingdom" or "The Pillars of Order", due to the huge mountains commonly found on this plane.
The City of Trades
A finite layer that houses a huge city. The City of Trades is the origin of a planar race called the mercanes. The houses tend to be large, not only due to the fact that the mercanes themselves are large, but also because they house servants of diverse races.
Library of Blades
This layer is said to be the home of Gliran. It takes its name from a huge building in which one can find weapons with runes scribed onto them, so they can act as spellbooks. Several inevitables guard the library, making thievery a dangerous and usually deadly undertaking.
Shural-kazi's Monastery
Despite the fact that the deity originally inhabiting this plane is no longer Shural-kazi, but Shural, the traditional name is still in use. Little is know about the layer, except that, after the binding of Taurusk, the monastery has shrunk slowly. Nowadays, this shrinking seems to have stopped.
The Lawful Evil Plane
Commonly called "The Hells" or "The Pits", due to a tendency of the plane to have layers with extreme depths.
Default Traits:
Mildly evil and lawful aligned
Impeded magic (chaos and good)
Layers:
Jareth's Labyrinth
This layer evokes the feeling of a board game, made up of many more board games. The home plane of Jareth, one should be careful not to be challenged to a game.
Ba'atzri, City of Devils
The city of devils is a nightmarish sight, but oddly easy and clear to navigate. Energy bursts at what could be considered parks serve not only the devils' amusement, but also are harvested for several odd materials.
The Neutral Good Plane
Commonly called "The Fields of Good" or "The Blessed Gardens", from the large amount of cultivated land found on this plane.
Default Traits:
Strongly good aligned
Impeded magic (evil)
Layers:
Halina's Garden
Halina's Garden is home to some of the largest trees, bushes and other plants in the universe. The layer is nearly overflowing with life and every sensation is strengthened. Traits:
Minor Positive-Dominant
Enhanced Magic: Spells on the druid spell list (even when cast by non-druids) are empowered. Spells that allow plants to grow in some way are maximized instead.
Sun-Blessed Fields
The layer over which Hyrag holds sway, it is always bathed in sunlight. Traits:
Purifying Light: On these blessed fields, Fortitude saving throws made against disease, poison and similar effects receive a +5 sacred bonus. Undead cannot enter this layer under normal circumstances, and are shunted off to a random location in the outer planes.
Eternal Sun: No spell, spell-like ability or supernatural ability can reduce the light level in this layer below shadowy illumination.
The Hunting Grounds of the Cycle
This layer is said to be home to Verdante, and is in constant, but slow flux. In keeping with Verdante's view on the cycle of life, many different environments can be found, including a few villages and a city.
The True Neutral Plane
Commonly called "The Common Grounds" or "The Pillar of Creation", due to the enormous mountain that serves as the connection between the outer planes and the energy plane - even though it is a misnomer, as many sages will be quick to note.
Default Traits:
Mildly neutral aligned
Layers:
Lover's Rest
A small, finite layer attributed to the goddess Ulura. Legend says that Ulura sometimes hides persecuted couples away here.
Land of Speech
The Land of Speech one of the layers considered Russna's home (the other being the Observatorium, where she helps Antonidas). Some say that she shares the layer with her sister Phyrah, giving her a welcome home when she wants to rest from her travels. Traits:
Gift of Speech: All creatures that have a language can communicate with each other regardless of language barriers.
The Neutral Evil Plane
Commonly called "The Wastes" or "The Depths of Evil", since many layers can only be reached by travelling downwards.
The Web of Lies
This layer bleeds into the Howling Madness, as it is the plane attributed to the drow pantheon. It is said that Lilitu and Mishtuli will reside here once reunited.
Eternal Night
This dark layer is reputedly the home of the assassin god Seto. It is whispered that ravens with scythes for wings plow through the darkness. Traits:
Unpierced Darkness: No effect can raise the light level in this layer above shadowy illumination.
Falcon's Flight
Few can say they have been on this layer - fewer still can say they wanted to be there, and were there. The layer seems to be always just a few steps awayof those who want to reach it, constantly receding so that one never reaches it. One should be careful when giving up all hope, though, as this is often the only step required to enter Taka's realm.
The Chaotic Good Plane
Commonly called "The Glades of Freedom", since forests and glades are among the most dominant terrain feature of the plane, or "The Heroic Domains" since common belief says all heroes reside here as reward for their good deeds.
Default Traits:
Mildly good and chaotic aligned
Impeded magic (evil, law)
Layers:
The Dancehall
Though Grendath's home is considered to be the Material Plane, the Dancehall is said to be his favorite spot on the planes.
The Winding Roads
Supposedly the paths followed by Mongrel when he is outside the Material Plane, the Winding Roads lead through manifold terrain. It is said that any road's end leads to a portal to the Material Plane, and that the Wanderlust Inn follows the Winding Roads on its travels.
The Chaotic Neutral Plane
Commonly called "The Unsteady" or "The Churning Chaos", due to the fact that almost anything on this plane can change on a moment's notice.
Default Traits:
Strongly chaotic aligned
Impeded magic (law)
Highly Morphic
Many random traits.
Layers:
Winds of Change
Half a layer, and half a phenomenon of the plane, the Winds of Change rarely stay in one place for long. Reputedly, Halor and Shurassa make their home in this region that ranges from a gentle breeze to a maelstrom making all other storms look like gentle breezes.
The Chaotic Evil Plane
Commonly called "The Abyss" or "The Howling Madness", for the winds commonly storming through this plane.
The Web of Lies
This layer bleeds into the Depth of Evil, as it is the plane attributed to the drow pantheon. It is said that Lilitu and Mishtuli will reside here once reunited.
Bloodstained Battlegrounds
Despite the absense of its alleged master, the Battlegrounds still exhibit all the traits attributed to Taurusk. Many demons have sought to gain control of the layer, but it seems the layer relishes the conflict they bring, tying itself stronger to Taurusk this way. Traits:
Thirsting for Blood: Any wound caused by a melee weapon continues to bleed, causing 1 point of damage per round. A Heal check (DC 20) or a Healing spell of third level or higher stops the bleeding.
Warrens of Hatred
Home to Kazikazi, these tunnels appear broken, unfinished and yet seem to possess a cunning instinct, rearranging themselves, in vengeance against anyone who would dare intrude into the home of the goblin deity.
__________________ Also posts as Ashardalon (here and elsewhere) and as Eques Concordia and Guinea Pig (only elsewhere).
I'd like to suggest that the outer planar traits of Divinely Morphic, Normal Time, Normal Gravity be default, not common. They certainly make sense for the lawful planes, but I'm not sure all three are appropriate for, say, the chaotic neutral plane.
__________________ While I play D&D, it is not my game of choice, regardless of edition.
"You're insane AND Jurassic, GW." - garyh
"The reverse side also has a reverse side." - Japanese proverb
----- Steamworks: A guide for introducing technology to a fantasy setting. (d20) Journey: The journey of a thousand miles begins beneath your feet... (Work in progress)
Well, unfortunately, I didn't flesh her out all that well, so I don't have much in the way of ideas.
__________________ While I play D&D, it is not my game of choice, regardless of edition.
"You're insane AND Jurassic, GW." - garyh
"The reverse side also has a reverse side." - Japanese proverb
----- Steamworks: A guide for introducing technology to a fantasy setting. (d20) Journey: The journey of a thousand miles begins beneath your feet... (Work in progress)
I haven't read much about LEW, but cannot resist reading about the planes...
There are some of these locations which features very nice ideas, that I'd be glad to see in our settings as well.
BTW, are you also going to design chaotic planes as usual, or are you purposefully making a deviation from standard symmetries?
__________________ "There is no survival without order, there is no evolution without chaos." "You have to see past the RAW to understand the rules of the game." "And rules are OVERRATED by the way!
There will be chaotic planes as well, I just need to un-fry my brain. As you propably notices, I named the Glades of Freedom and the Howling Madness. Those are names I'd like to use for the Chaotic Good/Chaotic Evil plane, respectively. The more traditional "Abyss" will also refer to the CE plane in my proposal, even though I was quite tempted to give that name to the NE plane.
I also think I may have an idea for Taka's layer. Again, once I un-fry my brain.
__________________ Also posts as Ashardalon (here and elsewhere) and as Eques Concordia and Guinea Pig (only elsewhere).
I'd like to revive this thread. It got barely any discussion, which is surprising to me because the planes are some of my favorite parts of a campaign setting. LEW has a particularly cool planar setup, with the ying yang and the spinning and the Enworphant (who is [or at least once was] named Morrus, I recently discovered), it's all very original and I like it a lot.
KO had some good one sentence blurbs about each plane, but I'm not sure they're unique enough. Some strike me as rather bland facsimiles of the standard (Greyhawk, I guess?) planes. The more original ones are a little confusing (Taka's plane, Falcon's Flight, I think I understand, but it's a bit vague). I think KO was trying to be vague and just toss out ideas, hoping for some discussion, but it just never happened.
Don't let me put words into your mouth, though, KO. =P
My own personal thoughts: Each plane should have "flavor text" and "rules information". The flavor text perhaps can be determined with a knowledge (the planes) check. Maybe every plane should have a series of knowledge checks as well? The rules information would be less vague, and have specific damages dealt, and all the "planar trait" information. Exactly how to get onto Taka's plane might be unknown to any character, but a DM needs to know how to handle a character's actions.
Also, I think inter- and intraplanar travel should be discussed. Maybe that's a whole different thread, but I don't like the "I think about it and I'm there" mechanic. There should be gate spells required, or allied deities should have permanent gates to each other's planes, or something. It always struck me as out of place that every plane had infinite layers, I think that could be discussed as well.
As far as I know, nobody's actually visited a planar location, so all this is up for a total revamp. I have a few ideas of my own, I'll need to flesh them out, though. I think I've rambled enough. I've probably just made some poorly thought out comments, but this is a brainstorm, so... whatever.
KO had some good one sentence blurbs about each plane, but I'm not sure they're unique enough. Some strike me as rather bland facsimiles of the standard (Greyhawk, I guess?) planes. The more original ones are a little confusing (Taka's plane, Falcon's Flight, I think I understand, but it's a bit vague). I think KO was trying to be vague and just toss out ideas, hoping for some discussion, but it just never happened.
Don't let me put words into your mouth, though, KO. =P
More or less. I also didn't want to put too many constraints on the planes for further expansion (even if the standard Nine Hells are infinite, there's still only Nine of them). And yes, it's definitely inspired () by the Great Wheel, so that's where some of the blandness comes from.
Quote:
My own personal thoughts: Each plane should have "flavor text" and "rules information". The flavor text perhaps can be determined with a knowledge (the planes) check. Maybe every plane should have a series of knowledge checks as well? The rules information would be less vague, and have specific damages dealt, and all the "planar trait" information. Exactly how to get onto Taka's plane might be unknown to any character, but a DM needs to know how to handle a character's actions.
That's what I tried to do, add specific traits to the planes and layers in question in addition. Knowledge checks would certainly be a nice addition as well. Regarding Taka's plane, it is a bit tough to rulify. A Will save every X feet that you can't fail voluntarily? Have to cast crushing despair on oneself? It isn't exactly as easy as saying "Ok, I lose my hope. I'm in." (What's next, a portal you can only go through by not wanting to go through, but you really want to go through it because a giant golem smith awaits you beyond? )
Quote:
Also, I think inter- and intraplanar travel should be discussed. Maybe that's a whole different thread, but I don't like the "I think about it and I'm there" mechanic. There should be gate spells required, or allied deities should have permanent gates to each other's planes, or something. It always struck me as out of place that every plane had infinite layers, I think that could be discussed as well.
Gate may be overkill. Plane Shift should be enough, if we want to get rid of that idea. I added some finite layers (the City of Trades), and some of the "building" layers may be finite as well.
Quote:
As far as I know, nobody's actually visited a planar location, so all this is up for a total revamp. I have a few ideas of my own, I'll need to flesh them out, though. I think I've rambled enough. I've probably just made some poorly thought out comments, but this is a brainstorm, so... whatever.
The Heroes Must Rise team has reached the Astral plane (and established that the Githyanki exist there - now I'm wondering how long it'll take until someone wants to play a Gith ). Patlin did have some Knowledge checks for the plane as well.
Quote:
Anyway, discuss, folks!
Yes, please!
By the way, I made a change to my proposal here. When I originally wrote up the Web of Lies, I must have forgotten some facts of the Drow deities.
__________________ Also posts as Ashardalon (here and elsewhere) and as Eques Concordia and Guinea Pig (only elsewhere).
Rystil proposed the idea that the dark elves hate spiders (and possibly used it in an adventure). It isn't necessarily the case for the deities themselves. Also, the name Web of Lies may be more figurative than literal, not to mention the legends may be wrong. If the layer is a literal spider web, ignorant surface dwellers may have thought "Hey, it's a big spider web, and this Lilitu goddess is so a spider, they must be connected!"
__________________ Also posts as Ashardalon (here and elsewhere) and as Eques Concordia and Guinea Pig (only elsewhere).
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They are the default traits that apply unless another trait is given. I should change that.
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Linear Mode
