The Abyss: Infinite or 666 layers?

[Arnwyn]

Re: Re: Re: Re: The Abyss: Infinite or 666 layers?

Just curious why? Is it THAT much better because it's infinite? I suppose it boils down to personal taste.

Yes, purely personal taste. I suppose I like the idea of a bottomless, infinite pit of horrors. Makes it unique compared to the other planes. The 9 Hells is cool because there *is* a definite bottom, and we know what's down there, and it's awful. The Abyss is cool because, as a contrast, it *doesn't* have a bottom.

Besides, what would be down on Layer #666? Could it be as cool as Asmodeus? Would it be "just another layer"? I don't feel like making something "compete" (so to speak) with the 9 Hells/Nessus/Asmodeus, so infinite works for me.

Whoa... that turned out to be a lot more long-winded than I thought. Really, my response was supposed to be "Yeah, just personal taste".

 

[Mr Fidgit]

Re: Re: Re: The Abyss: Infinite or 666 layers?

If so, in 1e it was 666, but in 2e and 3e it's infinite. (The 2e Planescape box set "Planes of Chaos" specifically notes that the Abyss is infinite

thanks for the clarification

i never got into Planescape and only read a couple of the books, so as far i knew the 'infinite Abyss' was a 3e MotP change...

 

[King_Stannis]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The Abyss: Infinite or 666 layers?

Yes, purely personal taste. I suppose I like the idea of a bottomless, infinite pit of horrors. Makes it unique compared to the other planes. The 9 Hells is cool because there *is* a definite bottom, and we know what's down there, and it's awful. The Abyss is cool because, as a contrast, it *doesn't* have a bottom.

Besides, what would be down on Layer #666? Could it be as cool as Asmodeus? Would it be "just another layer"? I don't feel like making something "compete" (so to speak) with the 9 Hells/Nessus/Asmodeus, so infinite works for me.

Whoa... that turned out to be a lot more long-winded than I thought. Really, my response was supposed to be "Yeah, just personal taste".

Keep in mind, though, that if it is indeed, infinite, you will eventually encounter plane that contains a group of demons wearing dresses and performing "Riverdance" for admiring audiences.

That's the flip side to the infinite possibilities, I guess,

 

[Crothian]

I guess the real question is does having 666 layers or being infinite really effect the game? I've had players explore two or three layers of the Abyss, so either way we have a lot of ground to cover. I'm not sure it really matters to me either way.

 

[The Sigil]

*Singing Song*

Six-Hundred-Sixty-Six Abyssal Layers,
Six-Hundred-Sixty-Six Layers,
You clean one out
Gate in and out
Six-Hundred-Sixty-Five Abyssal Layers

Six Hundred-Sixty-Five Abbysal Layers,
Six-Hundred-Sixty-Five Layers,
You clean one out,
Gate in and out
Six Hundred Sixty-Four Abbysal Layers...

*ends singing*

You get the idea... I know it's not canon, but I see it as 666 Layers of Infinite Size and random order - Layer 2 is not always "between" (if that is the right word) Layer 1 and Layer 3. That's the chaotic nature of the beast. I see each layer as kind of a hypersphere with all the spheres constantly being shaken around like marbles in a bag - the adjacent marbles are everchanging. So if you just keep gating "down" you will go on for infinity (because you repeat layers)...

Just a thought.

--The Sigil

 

[tarchon]

There are 666 layers, but the base of the number system is random, between 6 and infinity.

 

[ranix65]

IMC, the Abyss below #666(isn't that Orcus' layer?) contains the cow level on a layer(yes, the cow level from Diablo), containing Baphomet's most elite, crack troops, all half-fiend minotaurs.

I prefer them being infinite, myself.

 

[RSKennan]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The Abyss: Infinite or 666 layers?

Keep in mind, though, that if it is indeed, infinite, you will eventually encounter plane that contains a group of demons wearing dresses and performing "Riverdance" for admiring audiences.

That's the flip side to the infinite possibilities, I guess,

That to me seems like a common misinterpretation of infinity. Just as you have infinite digits above 1, 2 or any number of your choice, it is a fallacy to assume that every possibility is represented in an infinite "set". You could have infinite even, odd, or theoretically prime numbers. There is no reason to assume that you would find something like you mention, no matter how long you traveled. I prefer infinite levels of evil bad-assitude, for my games.

I'm sure you were just joking, but there are some people who believe what you were insinuating wth regards to infinity.

 

[CmdrSam]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The Abyss: Infinite or 666 layers?

Keep in mind, though, that if it is indeed, infinite, you will eventually encounter plane that contains a group of demons wearing dresses and performing "Riverdance" for admiring audiences.

That's the flip side to the infinite possibilities, I guess,

I know it's a cool thought, but unfortunately, just because there are an infinite number of planes doesn't mean you can find anything you want in them.

Think about it this way: you can have an infinite number of apples without having any oranges...

Just a brief digression,

--Sam L-L

 

[ranix65]

I always thought that part of infinity was that anything was possible(I.e., if you look through the Great Library IMC, you will eventually find the spells from another game, Tedify[makes the undead rise and dance Thriller style, killing your opponents], Golden Knights[a spell cast by an elf in a homebrew Final Fantasy P&P game. Quote: "The golden KNIGHTS! they will DESTROY YOU!!!!!!!" it's similar to Knights of the Round spell from FF7]; also, you can actually find out what the Demon Princes and Arch-Devils are actually afraid of(Orcus fears treading on the Cow Layer, as it's referred to in the Great Library; Asmodeus can be killed permanently, but only while he stands on the Plane of Celestia ; etc.)