{"id":307,"date":"2021-12-19T17:37:52","date_gmt":"2021-12-19T23:37:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/?p=307"},"modified":"2021-12-19T17:42:11","modified_gmt":"2021-12-19T23:42:11","slug":"planescape-myway-3-survey-of-the-outer-planes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/2021\/12\/19\/planescape-myway-3-survey-of-the-outer-planes\/","title":{"rendered":"Planescape MyWay 2: Survey of the Outer Planes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Gygax’s ring of 16 planes was a big idea in the late 70s. Their arrangement gave them relationships to each other that were organized around the twin axes of law\/chaos and good\/evil. They explained where clerics, priests, monsters and others got their supernatural aid and supplied an adventuring challenge for high level characters. The ties to alignment made it clear they were a component of what has been called cosmic destiny in later years. Not to get into it here but alignment in 1st Edition was more than a personality test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reading Manual of the Planes (1e) was the first time I carefully considered this collection of cosmic planes. They have been carried forward into every edition of Dungeons & Dragons so saying they’re important is an understatement. They are part of what we might call the meta setting for D&D. They are a part of the game that is intended to be used with every setting, published or home brew. Back in 1st Edition, which is the only edition of the game that interests me from 1st to 5th, the planes had little detail by design. Dungeon masters were supposed to modify them for their own campaigns so that’s just what I’ll do. I’m actually interested to see what results if I try to work with the material rather than replace it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that surprised me was the support for Deities & Demigods. If I was a true grognard I would take it for granted but I never played with anyone who owned the book. Many real-world deities were mentioned in Manual of the Planes but I have no desire to use them. I want fantasy gods for my fantasy campaigns. I remember so many invented gods for D&D but I’m discovering now they were attached to published settings like Greyhawk & Forgotten Realms. Manual of the Planes tried to stay setting neutral (unaware of the D&D meta setting that was forming). There are a number of gods mentioned for non-human races but I don’t like those either. Why would a god restrict themselves to humans and ignore elves? I would think they’d like worship from anyone. Also, it makes the gods look like the invention of mortals rather than beings that existed before them. I’m not going to take the time to invent my own fantasy gods and pantheons at this point but I want to note that my setting will have gods worshipped by more than one race. Also, I will have gods that have different names and descriptions among different races that share noticeable similarities. Different gods or the same gods that acknowledge multiple names? Let the sages debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each of the Outer Planes has an alignment but it appears Gygax wanted more variety than eight planes in the ring. He doubled it to 16 but there are 8 planes with nebulous alignments. The Twin Paradises are neutral good lawful, for example. That’s supposed to mean it’s halfway between neutral good and lawful good. I guess a person can roll with that but what I can’t accept is how to handle resident powers. One of the points of cosmic destiny is each alignment has powerful, extra-planar beings behind it that want to influence the residents of the Prime Material Plane. What powers do I put in “sort of lawful good”? I like the variety of 16 planes but if each is supposed to be the home of an alignment and there aren’t that many alignments how do I sort out the mess? The 1st Edition writers didn’t sweat it. Plenty of gods to go around, I guess. I can’t accept that. I want to have the opportunity to make cosmic destiny a part of my games. That means gods (well, powers – I don’t call D&D devils “gods” but they are extra-planar powers) need to have relationships to alignments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My solution? The powers congregate with similar powers in home planes where they have a home court advantage. Not every god in a pantheon has the same alignment but as a group they pursue goals tied to their pantheon’s alignment. That means 8 planes are not homes to pantheons. Powers can visit them and may even take up residence but I want that to be rare. Besides, isn’t it fun to send players to planes that aren’t known to be under a clear set of overlords? I want some mysterious planes. Enter the Old Gods. The Old Gods aren’t around anymore. They existed long ago and people debate what happened to them. Some of their names are remembered but many were lost. The current planar powers don’t like to acknowledge them. Each plane that is home to an alignment is bordered by two planes that retain the influence of the Old Gods. These are buffers to help explain why pantheons haven’t wiped each other out. Any conquest would have to deal with two planes and that’s getting pretty difficult. Also, a plane that is mysterious and avoided by the gods is going to look that much more ominous to players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each of the Outer Planes needs to either be an alignment’s home or hint at a cosmic function. That way every plane has a point. Let me run through the list of Old God planes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n