Manual of the Planes

INTRODUCTIONIntroductionThis book is about elsewhere.It is about heaven and hell. It is about the buildingblocks of the universe and the palaces of the deities. Itis about glowing portals and paths through mist andshadow.It is about the universe and the cosmology that holdsit all together. It is about the planes of existence.The idea of “elsewhere”—realms and domains morepowerful and more strange than our own—has alwaysbeen a part of our mythology. Orpheus descends into theland of the dead, and deities dwell on Olympian mounts.Beings both fair and foul are summoned from far-offrealms to do the caster’s bidding. Terra incognito. Landsunknown. Here be monsters.Manual of the Planes is more than just a listing of thehomes of the devils, demons, celestials, and elementals.It provides the tools that you can use to create your ownuniverses and cosmologies. You can customize the layoutof your planes just as you do the nations and cities ofyour adventures—and the planes have infinite potentialfor expansion.Manual of the Planes requires the use of the Player’sHandbook, DUNGEON MASTER’s Guide, and Monster Manual.With it you can build your own universes and turn yourplayers loose in the other planes of existence.Go explore!MANUAL OF THE PLANESThis book presents information for both the DungeonMaster and players, taking them on a grand tour of theplanes. Manual of the Planes is primarily for DMs, thoughplayers can read through its pages as well. If your DM iscreating a unique cosmology, you won’t spoil any surprisesby reading this book.Nature of the Planes (Chapter 1): This chapteranswers the basic questions: What is a plane, and whatdo we do with them? It explains planar traits, the buildingblocks of your cosmology. It’s a do-it-yourself guideto building your own dimensions and universes.Connecting the Planes (Chapter 2): Having builtyour worlds, this chapter delves into stringing themtogether. How do you move from plane to plane, andwhat are the access points?Characters and Magic (Chapter 3): This sectionpresents new options for characters, including prestigeclasses (divine agent, gatecrasher, planar champion, andplaneshifter) and new spells such as ether blast, realitymaelstrom, and shadowfade.The Material Plane (Chapter 4): This chapter beginsa grand tour of the planes by discussing the plane youprobably call home. The Material Plane is usually thecore of your campaign and the start of all stories.The Transitive Planes (Chapter 5): These are theplanes that take you elsewhere, planes of transportationand movement. They are the glue that holds the otherplanes together, but each has its own perils.The Inner Planes (Chapter 6): This chapterexplores the raw elements and energies that make upyour cosmology. They are the most hostile of the planes,and powerful elementals call them home. They are rawpower without direction.The Outer Planes (Chapter 7): The deities themselvescall these planes home, as do other extraplanarpowers that meddle with mortals and the Material Plane.They are the homes of pantheons and deities.The Demiplanes (Chapter 8): These are minorplanes, bits of folded reality shaped by their creators. Onthe demiplanes, the DM can throw away the rules andcreate anything imaginable.Throughout these chapters, examples are provided forthe “Great Wheel”—the D&D cosmology. The GreatWheel is a representation of the planar arrangementdescribed in the D&D rulebooks and the one most playersare familiar with. But these examples are presentedonly as a handy starting point for those who want somethingto use immediately. DMs are encouraged to createtheir own cosmologies that reflect the needs of theirown campaigns. Using the Great Wheel is fine for a typicalfantasy campaign, but it might not be the best choicefor a campaign that is closely connected to a specific culturesuch as the ancient Greeks or the Norse.Monsters (Chapter 9): Here you’ll find monsters andcreatures that live on these planes. These include bothfull monster write-ups and templates that allow the DMto give an otherworldly aspect to creatures from theMaterial Plane.Appendix: Finally, we offer examples of differenttypes of planes and planar arrangements that are notpart of the Great Wheel. These demonstrations of“cool stuff you can do” stress that, even though Manualof the Planes presents the D&D cosmology, you can dowhatever you like for your own adventures. Insideyou’ll explore such interesting places as the ElementalPlane of Wood, the Plane of Mirrors, and the Outer Planeof Faerie.Now, with the tools provided within this book, youcan build your own mythic universes and turn yourimagination loose on the wonders of many universes.May it take you elsewhere.4