D&D (2024) DMG Chapter Preview: James Wyatt Talks Cosmology

[Yaarel]

While we don't really know the origin of ogres in mythology to me they always felt too close to hill giants.

Ogres are a blend of traditions. Even so, the name "ogre" derives from the Latin word "Orcus", which is the name of the underworld in Roman folkbelief, analogous to Greek Hades (and D&D Shadowfell).

A possible understanding is, the ogres are monsters from the underworld sent to punish oath breakers.

Both orc and ogre derive linguistically from "Orcus".

Probably there is an affinity between the underground Orcus and the earthy nature spirits, such as giants.

 

[Demetrios1453]

Wyatt's enthusiasm on this makes me wonder if we'll be seeing a full Manual of the Planes type book a couple of years or so down the line. Also, since the current team considers the Multiverse to be the setting of the game, a book covering that in detail does make some sense. Also, since the Outlands and Sigil won't have to be covered in detail (since they were in the Planescape set, although I would expect at least some sort of overview coverage), that will free up some room for other things to be explored a bit more in-depth, or even make more room for alternative planar systems.

 

[Parmandur]

Wyatt's enthusiasm on this makes me wonder if we'll be seeing a full Manual of the Planes type book a couple of years or so down the line. Also, since the current team considers the Multiverse to be the setting of the game, a book covering that in detail does make some sense. Also, since the Outlands and Sigil won't have to be covered in detail (since they were in the Planescape set, although I would expect at least some sort of overview coverage), that will free up some room for other things to be explored a bit more in-depth, or even make more room for alternative planar systems.

I feel like they are building out a "Domains of Delight" sort of Fey equivalent to Ravenloft more so now after reading the development they give the Feywild here.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Wyatt's enthusiasm on this makes me wonder if we'll be seeing a full Manual of the Planes type book a couple of years or so down the line. Also, since the current team considers the Multiverse to be the setting of the game, a book covering that in detail does make some sense. Also, since the Outlands and Sigil won't have to be covered in detail (since they were in the Planescape set, although I would expect at least some sort of overview coverage), that will free up some room for other things to be explored a bit more in-depth, or even make more room for alternative planar systems.

I think it'll happen eventually, at least a more in depth look at all of the planes.

 

[SkidAce]

Yea, very similar to my headcanon, although in mine the Elemental Chaos is simultaneously Limbo.

Same.

 

[Yaarel]

The 2024 Feywild feels distinctly disconnected from the Material Plane.


Thus the Feywild is unsuitable for animistic themes, which must involve the actual features of nature in the Material Plane.

The 2024 Feywild which I characterized as "twilight zones", can also be Domains of Delight, which is fun enough to explore What-If scenarios.

But that means the Ethereal Plane is probably the only plane that is relevant for animism. Its Border Ether explicitly overlaps the Material Plane. Thus a particular river has a "soul" (spirit, mind, personality). The river is itself a nature being, and additionally can project its "soul" into the Ethereal Plane, ghostlike, in a form like a human or animal or other magical phenomenon. Plus the Ether lends itself to Elemental themes, where Earth, Water, Air, and Fire are in the Material Plane landscapes, waterscapes, skyscapes, and sunlight. Natural enough.

I need to think thru how the animist works exactly, but Ether makes sense enough. Perhaps the Positive Ether overlaps both the Fey Crossing in the Material Plane, and the alternate Delight Domain in the Feywild.

 

[Yaarel]

Wyatt's enthusiasm on this makes me wonder if we'll be seeing a full Manual of the Planes type book a couple of years or so down the line. Also, since the current team considers the Multiverse to be the setting of the game, a book covering that in detail does make some sense. Also, since the Outlands and Sigil won't have to be covered in detail (since they were in the Planescape set, although I would expect at least some sort of overview coverage), that will free up some room for other things to be explored a bit more in-depth, or even make more room for alternative planar systems.

To explore a vast area like a plane, I prefer a broad sketch of what it all looks like. However, for specific details, I only want local settings, that exist as a sample of what is across the vast area. The local settings can be plugged into any setting.

For example, Menzoberranzan is a local setting, within a vast maze of Underdark caverns that span across Faerun. I would rather have a map of all the Underdark under Faerun. But then for details, only have Menzoberranzan as an example of a Lolth conquered Drow city, an other more typical Drow city that is Nonevil, plus a third city that is perhaps a Mindflayer city.

Likewise, big picture plus specific locales for any vast area, including planes.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Nope. No mention of Mt. Olympus in the Traveling the Luter Planes sectionafter describing Portals and Spells, there are four transplants features that each get a few paragraphs:

• The Infinite Staircase
• The River Oceanus
• The River Styx
• Yggdrasil, the World Tree

Nor is there any mention of Olympia in Arborea, the three layers are:

• Arvandor: Towering trees, colorful wildflowers, abundant grain, and delicious fruit create a lush environment
• Aquallor: An eternal ocean by the River Oceanus is home to teeming sea life and mighty storms
• Mithardir: A desert of white sand abandoned by whatever powers once lived there.

I always felt Mithardir needed further development, like how is Mithardir a heavenly paradise, it really doesn't fit with the rest of Arborea never mind the Upper Planes.

I do believe I read somewhere that it was the Mulhorandi Pantheon that used to dwell there, but there are also other suggestions.

 

[Parmandur]

I always felt Mithardir needed further development, like how is Mithardir a heavenly paradise, it really doesn't fit with the rest of Arborea never mind the Upper Planes.

I do believe I read somewhere that it was the Mulhorandi Pantheon that used to dwell there, but there are also other suggestions.

The Advebtures in Arborea paragraph suggests that exploring that very question could be fun in a campaign.

 

[Oofta]

The 2024 Feywild feels distinctly disconnected from the Material Plane.

Not sure where you're getting the idea that the Feywild is disconnected. From the 2024 DMG

The Feywild and the Shadowfell are parallel dimensions occupying the same cosmological space as the Material Plane. The landscapes of these three planes are similar, but those of the Feywild are more marvelous and whimsical, while those of the Shadowfell are more bleak and ominous. Passage between the Material Plane and these other realms is sometimes effortless, even accidental. Adventurers might enter a grove of trees on the Material Plane and suddenly find themselves in a lush, colorful forest on the Feywild or a grim wood of dead trees on the Shadowfell.​

Thus the Feywild is unsuitable for animistic themes, which must involve the actual features of nature in the Material Plane.

The 2024 Feywild which I characterized as "twilight zones", can also be Domains of Delight, which is fun enough to explore What-If scenarios.

But that means the Ethereal Plane is probably the only plane that is relevant for animism. Its Border Ether explicitly overlaps the Material Plane. Thus a particular river has a "soul" (spirit, mind, personality). The river is itself a nature being, and additionally can project its "soul" into the Ethereal Plane, ghostlike, in a form like a human or animal or other magical phenomenon. Plus the Ether lends itself to Elemental themes, where Earth, Water, Air, and Fire are in the Material Plane landscapes, waterscapes, skyscapes, and sunlight. Natural enough.

I need to think thru how the animist works exactly, but Ether makes sense enough. Perhaps the Positive Ether overlaps both the Fey Crossing in the Material Plane, and the alternate Delight Domain in the Feywild.

Which again ... doesn't seem to fit. Maybe I'm just missing something but also from the 2024 DMG

Feywild Adventures​

The Feywild gives physical expression to powerful emotion and excels at metaphor. When characters venture into the Feywild, they might find themselves robbed of a cherished memory or deep regret, then later find the stolen memories embodied in little figurines or lockets. A mischievous sprite might sneak up behind a character who is laughing loudly and steal their laughter, robbing the character of the ability to laugh until the sprite is found and the laughter—perhaps taking physical form as a bouquet of lovely flowers—reclaimed.​

​

Physical objects representing emotion and metaphor seems to also lean into animism. Doesn't specifically go into what your discussing, but neither do any of the other planes.

Obviously people can have different approaches and takes, I only take the planes as a vague suggestion and one possibility myself. I just don't see the 2024 rules supporting your statements or I've lost track of the conversation.