D&D General Let's make the upper planes playable!

[Demetrios1453]

It would be nice if WoTC officially brought back the non-angelic Celestials in 5.5e and gave them a stat box of their own. Perhaps in a Monster Manual 2?

I mean, they did, at least in part. The 5e Planescape set has stat blocks for some of the archons and guardinals, although not all.

 

[ezo]

So what can be done?

Use them.

I've used most (the 5 red circles I've never used) of the outer planes at one time or another:

In AD&D the Manual of the Planes was very useful and good IMO for establishing the setting and such.

Sometimes the PCs had to:

• get something from the plane
• consult a god or other being there
• rescue someone
• stop an invasion
• etc.

Frankly, you can use any normal adventure plot and put it in an outer plane if you want to. Each plane is unique and has its own creatures living there.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

As for the locals, the Planescape set confirmed that archons and guardinals still exist, so that's Mt Celestia and Elysium covered. The upcoming 5e MM will have the beast lords, who were the most notable native group in the Beastlands. Formians haven't been updated to 5e yet, but it's not unreasonable that they're still hanging out in Arcadia. Given the archons and guardinals are still around, the original eladrin would presumably still be in Arboria, but they would have to have a different name since it's since been co-opted by others. That really just leaves us with Bytopia and Ysgard without dedicated locals, and the later would likely just be filled with warrior types.

Didn't one of the Spelljammer races that are celestials get retconned in erratic to have been created in Ysgard by it's Gods?

 

[Henadic Theologian]

I mean, they did, at least in part. The 5e Planescape set has stat blocks for some of the archons and guardinals, although not all.

I suspect Hound Archons will be the PHB along with Lion Guardinals I forget what they are called. Maybe Throne and Trumpet Archons as well.

Planescape had some glaring gaps in their Archon & Guardinal line ups and I suspected that they were being saved for the MM.

 

[Corinnguard]

I suspect Hound Archons will be the PHB along with Lion Guardinals I forget what they are called. Maybe Throne and Trumpet Archons as well.

Planescape had some glaring gaps in their Archon & Guardinal line ups and I suspected that they were being saved for the MM.

Leonals. Let's hope that they were saved for the MM.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

The upper planes are currently useless for gaming potential beyond "paradise invaded."

Mount Celestia and Aboria, might be helpful if you squint, but has anybody ever used Bytopia?

So my challenge is as follows.

Let's make the upper planes somewhere enjoyable to run an adventure with a definite theme and opponents.

Stipulations.

1. Every outer plane needs its locals. Part of the problem is that they use Angels as a grab bag to fill in the whole upper planes, thus making them generic.
2. Every plane needs one unique thing that can be built on.
3. It cannot be just because it was invaded by bad guys, and you are bad enough, dude, to save the planes.
4. It still has to be built on the same overall themes. You cannot turn Bytopia into a plane of the Abyss or anything like that.

So what can be done?

Well now we also have Empyreans and Iota Empyreans Celestial versions filling the upper planes as well as Angels. There you have Archons for Mount Celestia although I'd have them have outposts on Arcadia & Bytopia as well. Guardinals for Elysium, although I'd have them have outposts on Beastlands and Bytopia as well (maybe a Archon Guardinal conflict on Bytopia).

Beastlands also Beast Lords, Awakened Animals & Plants.

With Eldarin being taken by the Feywild and that fact that the Greco-Roman side of Arborea is being deemphasised it feels like the Feywild I'd earing Arboria's lunch too much.

Still Arboria & Ysgard are the two Upper Planes that actually welcomes and encourages monsters to settle on the plane so their heroes have something to do. Arborea has Hydras for example. Ysgard has evil giants. It's actually easier to find adventures on Arboria and Ysgard because they encourage the heroic epic quest in a way that the Lawful Good planes don''t.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

In my campaigns, the upper planes are not all "Peaceful" they are "aligned" and lots of emotions are possible. Every alignment has people who engage in combat. It does not need to be evil or to the death.

The Upper Planes can have regions where people can test their mettle in non-lethal ways, whether via duels, skill challenges, puzzles, scavenger hunts, and other ideas. Fighting someone doesn't mean they will kill you. Maybe being defeated in a certain areas cause you to be sent back, and one would have to start their quest all over again, if it was even allowed.

My Outer Planes have "Dungeons" that are challenges to earn experience and rewards, and the good ones may or may not be lethal to mortals, depending on the theme.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

In my campaigns, the upper planes are not all "Peaceful" they are "aligned" and lots of emotions are possible. Every alignment has people who engage in combat. It does not need to be evil or to the death.

The Upper Planes can have regions where people can test their mettle in non-lethal ways, whether via duels, skill challenges, puzzles, scavenger hunts, and other ideas. Fighting someone doesn't mean they will kill you. Maybe being defeated in a certain areas cause you to be sent back, and one would have to start their quest all over again, if it was even allowed.

My Outer Planes have "Dungeons" that are challenges to earn experience and rewards, and the good ones may or may not be lethal to mortals, depending on the theme.

Also Planar ideals of Good may not always line up with mortal ideals of goodness and conflicts can emerge.

 

[Corinnguard]

In PF, Guardinals were renamed Agathions, and there is one kind of Agathion that I wish could be brought over to D&D. The Draconal Agathion.

Draconal - Monsters - Archives of Nethys: Pathfinder 2nd Edition Database

Dragon agathions, known as draconals, number among the most powerful of their kin, and also the wisest, embodying the wisdom of the benevolent philosopher-king. With their wisdom comes an elevation above material matters, making them the most removed from the troubles and lives of mortals...

2e.aonprd.com

Edit: Think of them as Celestial Dragonborn.

 

[dave2008]

Frankly, you can use any normal adventure plot and put it in an outer plane if you want to. Each plane is unique and has its own creatures living there.

Sure, but that is not really engaging the idea of the outer planes to its fullest is it?