D&D 5E The D&D Multiverse How it Was and How They Might Be Screwing it Up.

[Demetrios1453]

I personally am not at all a fan of this idea that there is explicitly one true cosmology (the 5E Great Wheel) that all campaign settings share. Even 4E allowed Eberron to have its own unique cosmology rather than force it into following the World Axis model. If I understand correctly, in 5E Eberron the true cosmology is the Great Wheel, and Eberron's unique planes of existence are part of some kind of inferior sub-cosmology contained within one Crystal Sphere.

I similarly dislike the idea that all worlds share the same Feywild and Shadowfell (although to be fair this detail popped-up late in 4E).

Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes also says that all elves in all worlds of the Multiverse were created by Corellon, even if a given world's elves no longer remember their creator. Basically, any campaign setting whose origin for elves does not involve Corellon is now non-canon. It's not too much of a stretch to say that the Forgotten Realms' cosmology in 5E is now the cosmology of all D&D campaign settings, and any source that contradicts it is unaware of the true nature of the Multiverse.

Two points here - in the Eberron PDF, the setting being part of the standard D&D Multiverse is only one of several options available, and it's specifically left for the DM to decide. So, officially, Eberron being part of the standard Multiverse is a definitive "maybe, it depends."

Secondly, as already pointed out, the current standard D&D cosmology is actually Greyhawk in origin, with the Forgotten Realms only adopting it afterwards. In fact, a unique FR cosmology was attempted during 3e (the "World Tree" cosmology), and it's quite different than the standard Great Wheel Multiverse. It was also widely disliked and quietly dropped for a return to the standard moddel afterwards...

 

[pukunui]

I assume this holds true even in worlds such as Dark Sun and Birthright, which previously had alternate origins.

FWIW the 2e Complete Book of Elves posits that Athasian elves evolved from nomadic high elves.

 

[Jester David]

To me, this feels a little like when you have a crossover with Marvel and DC comics. Like Superman vs. Spider-man. Where for that issue they just pretend the heroes are in the same universe and Spider-man could swing from New York to Metropolis.

The hardcover book comes out and says "Ravnica is part of the D&D multiverse". But, really, it's only for that one book. Because none of the big planar events or lore of Magic will have any impact on D&D or future D&D stories, and vise versa. Just like all the big cosmological changes and shake-ups from the past of D&D had zero impact on Magic.

The D&D Multiverse isn't Dominia. Sigil is at the centre of the multiverse and not the Nexus. The Blind Eternities and Aether are not a thing in D&D. Crystal Spheres and phlogiston are not in MtG. The Nine Hells in D&D are different from the Nine Hells of Magic the Gathering.


I'm sure it's possible to reconcile the radically different cosmologies and unite the two product lines... but I doubt very much that's what they're doing. I expect they're doing the absolute minimum amount of explanation and just saying "Ravnica and the Magic planes are in the same multiverse as D&D now, m'kay?"

 

[Zardnaar]

FWIW the 2e Complete Book of Elves posits that Athasian elves evolved from nomadic high elves.

I assumed they are mutated halfling.

 

[gyor]

Honestly, my only complaint about ravnica is that its alot like planescape, atleast on the surface. But Im willing to give it a look when it is released. Just remember, you dont have to use it the way they wrote it. Most of their settings are in need of personal touches.

The governing structure is similar to Planescape, but that is almost all. As I understand it most people on Ravnica don't know there are other planes (at least until now maybe), it's not a plane hot spot (that role tended to be Dominaria).

In fact inspire of it's size and cosmopolitan outlook and diversity, I think most Sigilans would consider Ravnica a backwater, even compared to say Toril or Krynn, perhaps only rescently discovered in game time line wise.

 

[cbwjm]

I assumed they are mutated halfling.

Aren't all the races on athas, other than halflings, evolved from halflings using their lifeshaping magic?

 

[gyor]

Two points here - in the Eberron PDF, the setting being part of the standard D&D Multiverse is only one of several options available, and it's specifically left for the DM to decide. So, officially, Eberron being part of the standard Multiverse is a definitive "maybe, it depends."

Secondly, as already pointed out, the current standard D&D cosmology is actually Greyhawk in origin, with the Forgotten Realms only adopting it afterwards. In fact, a unique FR cosmology was attempted during 3e (the "World Tree" cosmology), and it's quite different than the standard Great Wheel Multiverse. It was also widely disliked and quietly dropped for a return to the standard moddel afterwards...

Eberron being part of the D&D universe is Canon, it's the other options that are optional.

 

[Zardnaar]

Aren't all the races on athas, other than halflings, evolved from halflings using their lifeshaping magic?

Generally except for Kreen . Some were created later via magic such as Dray and Half Giants.

 

[Zardnaar]

Never had teleportation circles before 4e, that was a 4e addition, you have the teleportation spell and planeshift in previous edition, but Teleportation circles are a 4e invention to my knowledge. So in FR that makes them only a recently developed magic technology.

Teleport circle is basically a nerfed teleport without error and teleport and TWE were spells specifically mentioned in Spelljammer. I think the theme is clear though no teleporting between worlds.
The create helm spells were lever 6 or 7+ and that creates a temporary Spelljamming helm so I don't think having teleport work in a Spelljammer game is a good idea. Why would high level PCs jam anywhere if they can just teleport instead its much quicker and safer.

 

[gyor]

Teleport circle is basically a nerfed teleport without error and teleport and TWE were spells specifically mentioned in Spelljammer. I think the theme is clear though no teleporting between worlds.
The create helm spells were lever 6 or 7+ and that creates a temporary Spelljamming helm so I don't think having teleport work in a Spelljammer game is a good idea. Why would high level PCs jam anywhere if they can just teleport instead its much quicker and safer.

Mass Transportation of goods and passangers.