Going Astral ?

[gpetruc]

I'm not sure on how you can actually go in the astral plane

Correct me if I'm wrong:
- Astral Projection (9th): go in the astral plane as an astral form and not physically.
- Planeshift (7th for arcanes, 5th for divines): you can go in the astral plane (but arriving at 8d100 km from the true destination? but since astral travel is subjective this makes little sense). Can bring up to 8 people
- Dimension Door (4th level): if you D-door inside a material object (and you fail some will saves, that you can freely decide to fail) you are "trapped" in the Astral Plane ... but what does "trapped" mean ? can you simply move away (at least using another D-Door exactly opposite to the first) and then you're physically in the astral plane ?
(This can bring only few other people, if they're light)
- Gate (9th level)
- Probability Travel (9th level, psion): you physically enter the Astral Plane

Now: are all these methods correct ?
And, if they are, what's the point of ever getting Probability Travel when you can either have Planeshift or D-Door, at a lower cost and with other options ?

Thanks

 

[gfunk]

I'm not sure on how you can actually go in the astral plane

Correct me if I'm wrong:
- Astral Projection (9th): go in the astral plane as an astral form and not physically.

Correct.

- Planeshift (7th for arcanes, 5th for divines): you can go in the astral plane (but arriving at 8d100 km from the true destination? but since astral travel is subjective this makes little sense). Can bring up to 8 people.

Correct. The off target arrival for Plane Shift really only makes sense when made in reference to planar portals. I assume that these portals, leading to the Outer Planes, are fixed for the most part. Also, there are large features of the Astral Plane that are static like bodies of dead gods or Githyanki cities.

- Dimension Door (4th level): if you D-door inside a material object (and you fail some will saves, that you can freely decide to fail) you are "trapped" in the Astral Plane ... but what does "trapped" mean ? can you simply move away (at least using another D-Door exactly opposite to the first) and then you're physically in the astral plane ? (This can bring only few other people, if they're light)

Trapped means that you are stuck there forever unless you have a magical way to extricate yourself. You couldn't D. door back b/c this spell does not work across planes -- you are already in the Astral and cannot teleport back to the Prime.

- Gate (9th level)
- Probability Travel (9th level, psion): you physically enter the Astral Plane)

Correct. I have no idea about P. Travel, but you can enter any plane with pinpoint accuracy using Gate.

Now: are all these methods correct ?
And, if they are, what's the point of ever getting Probability Travel when you can either have Planeshift or D-Door, at a lower cost and with other options ?

If P. Travel is similar to Gate then you can arrive on any plane with perfect accuracy. Planeshift is a very messy way to travel because of the randomness of the spell -- it is best used as an escape. I suppose that Dimension Dooring into a solid object is a cheap way to get into the Astral though. However, getting back to a specific place on the Prime will be a bitch, unless you have one of the higher level spells you mentioned.

Also, Astral Projection has one huge advantage over all the rest. If your astral body is killed, then your regular body simply wakes up and you do not die. The other methods of travel like P. Shift and D. Door physically move you to the Astral so you can die there.

The other spells on your list have far more utility than simply going to the Astral Plane. Using Gate, P. Travel, or Plane Shift, you can go to any plane you want.