How old is the Far Realm?

[Cyronax]

It exists beyond time and space!

But seriously, in game? I believe it is as old as the Planes themselves, as old as all of Creation. I believe that the official explanation of the Far Realm is that it's the very edge of Reality, where the Planes start to bleed off into non-existence (Nihilo, or the Outer Dark, in my campaign), and Reality itself begins to unravel and peel apart in layers like an onion.

At least I really seem to recall reading that somewhere. Maybe I've gotten it confused with how I use it in my game, but I'm pretty sure that's the official description of the Far Realm.

Aaron,

I think you have just quoted one of the alternate planar setups for Limbo. The Manual of the Planes gave a variant Limbo that was worded very similar, and had Limbo serving as a sort of meta-plane (instead of just the CN cog on the Great Wheel). The Far Realms' lingo doesn't refer to it as the outer edge of reality, but its a concept that is very cool nonetheless.

IMC, the Far Realm and Limbo (in the variant mentioned above) are merged and serve as the backdrop to reality. I essentially have the Prime surrounded the two Ethereal Planes, which contain multiple demiplanes of varying sizes. Some demiplanes are the size of Outer Planes in RAW, but still operate like the standard demiplane, in that they have limited portal access. The elemental planes don't exist, being component parts of the Prime. (Plane Shift as a spell is non-existent IMC.

Cheers,

C.I.D.

 

[Celebrim]

Basically, you said that color without stats is impotent. I'm pointing out some obvious counter-examples

You are? Basically, the examples you raised seem to prove the point that not every situation warrants mechanics, with which I can agree. But proving that not every situation warrants stats doesn't disprove that color without stats is impotent, as I think you will see.

 

[Nifft]

I think you have just quoted one of the alternate planar setups for Limbo. The Manual of the Planes gave a variant Limbo that was worded very similar, and had Limbo serving as a sort of meta-plane (instead of just the CN cog on the Great Wheel). The Far Realms' lingo doesn't refer to it as the outer edge of reality, but its a concept that is very cool nonetheless.

IMC, the Prime can be thought of as a slice of light burning through the Icy Void, leaving behind it the colorless Ether. (The product of this burning is "time". The direction of the Prime's travel is "the future". )

So there are at least two Transitive planes: the Icy Void ("Shadow") and the Wake ("Ethereal"). Those are "forward" and "backward" from the Prime.

But you could also go "sideways" -- not into the icy unformed future ("shadow") or into the world of ghosts and memories ("ethereal"), but into the turbulence, the churning froth, smoke and ash that are the not-quite-real. This is known as both Limbo and the Astral plane.

You can get to any other plane (outer or inner) from each of the three transitives.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Nifft]

But proving that not every situation warrants stats doesn't disprove that color without stats is impotent, as I think you will see.

Okay, show me.

Thanks, -- N

 

[Sound of Azure]

IMC, the Prime can be thought of as a slice of light burning through the Icy Void, leaving behind it the colorless Ether. (The product of this burning is "time". The direction of the Prime's travel is "the future". )

So there are at least two Transitive planes: the Icy Void ("Shadow") and the Wake ("Ethereal"). Those are "forward" and "backward" from the Prime.

But you could also go "sideways" -- not into the icy unformed future ("shadow") or into the world of ghosts and memories ("ethereal"), but into the turbulence, the churning froth, smoke and ash that are the not-quite-real. This is known as both Limbo and the Astral plane.

You can get to any other plane (outer or inner) from each of the three transitives.

Cheers, -- N

That's heaps cool, Nifft. I've always been hopeless with alternate cosmologies. Totally yoinked!

 

[Mouseferatu]

IMC, the Prime can be thought of as a slice of light burning through the Icy Void, leaving behind it the colorless Ether. (The product of this burning is "time". The direction of the Prime's travel is "the future". )

So there are at least two Transitive planes: the Icy Void ("Shadow") and the Wake ("Ethereal"). Those are "forward" and "backward" from the Prime.

But you could also go "sideways" -- not into the icy unformed future ("shadow") or into the world of ghosts and memories ("ethereal"), but into the turbulence, the churning froth, smoke and ash that are the not-quite-real. This is known as both Limbo and the Astral plane.

You can get to any other plane (outer or inner) from each of the three transitives.

Cheers, -- N

Wow. That's major-league cool, man. I have no idea when I'll be able to use it, but consider it yoinked.

 

[Nifft]

Just to complete my thread-jack, here's a picture from my website:

Cheers, -- N

 

[jameswilliamogle]

To answer the OP's questions, one way is to play a Binder until you can bind 3 vestiges, then bind Karsus and Ipos and Dahlver-Nar, set Planar Attenuation to the Far Realm, and use a custom Staff of Plane Shift with Karsus to go there. You'll be immune to the crazies from Dahlver-Nar, even if Planar Attenuation doesn't work. After all, its your DM that will determine the answers as it pertains to your campaign, anyway.

 

[DJCupboard]

I don't think it would be meaningless to come up with Far Realms "Lords." I think it would be foolish to find some way to get to the Far Realms intact and presume that they have any status there. Were I to use the Far Realms in my game, Far Realms outsiders trapped here would make mention of great lords (like Cthullu does), but have that be an artifact of their minds (or whatever far realm equivalent there may be) getting warped by our incomprehensible reality.

 

[Joshua Randall]

Okay, show me.

Where's the : popcorn : smiley when he's needed?!