Manual of the Planes

Shapes of the PlanesinfiniteGreat Wall ofthe GodsY milesfiniteX milesedge of the universeCHAPTER 1:NATURE OFTHE PLANESfinite, self containedMorphic TraitsThis trait measures how easily the basic nature of theplane can be changed. Some planes are responsive to sentientthought, while others can only be manipulated byextremely powerful creatures. And some planes respondto physical or magical efforts.Alterable Morphic: These planes are the norm. Objectsremain where they are (and what they are) unless affectedby physical force or magic. You can build a castle, animate astatue, or grow crops in an alterable plane, changing yourimmediate environment as a result of tangible effort.Static: These planes are unchanging. Visitors cannotaffect living residents of the plane, nor objects that thedenizens possess. Any spells that would affect those onthe plane have no effect unless the plane’s static trait issomehow removed or suppressed. This is similar to castinga time stop spell, but it’s even harder to affect creatures orobjects. Spells cast before entering a plane with the statictrait remain in effect, however.Even moving an unattended object within a staticplane requires a Strength check (DC 16). Particularlyheavy objects may be impossible to move (see CarryingCapacity in Chapter 9 of the Player’s Handbook).Highly Morphic: On the opposite end of the spectrumare highly morphic planes, which change so frequentlythat it’s difficult to keep a particular area stable.Such planes may react dramatically to specific spells,sentient thought, or the force of will. Others change forno reason. In the D&D cosmology, the Outer Plane ofLimbo is a highly morphic plane.Magically Morphic: Specific spells can alter the basicmaterial of these planes. The Plane of Shadow, which canpqqqqrsLAYERED PLANESInfinities may be broken into smaller infinities, and planes intosmaller, related planes. These layers are effectively separateplanes of existence, and each layer can have its own planartraits. But the layers of a plane have an affinity to each other,and travel may be easier or more common between them.Layers are connected to each other through a variety of planargates, natural vortices, paths, and shifting borders.Access to a layered plane from elsewhere usually happenson a specific layer: the first layer of the plane, which can beeither the top layer or the bottom layer, depending on thespecific plane. Most fixed access points (such as portals andnatural vortices) reach this layer, which makes it the gatewayfor other layers of the plane. The plane shift spell also depositsthe spellcaster on the first layer of the plane.All layers of a plane are connected to the Astral Plane, sotravelers can reach specific layers directly through spells suchas astral projection. But often the first layer is the one mosthospitable to planar travelers.pqqqqrs11