Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse introduces a gateway to the D&D multiverse, blending rich lore with exciting gameplay. This collection, featuring a sourcebook, adventure guide, bestiary, and DM screen, focuses on iconic locations like Sigil, the City of Doors, and the Outlands, offering limitless storytelling and planar exploration opportunities for both new and seasoned players.
Overview of the Planescape Setting
Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse presents a unique Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting centered on the multiverse. It introduces Sigil, the City of Doors, and the Outlands as key locations, blending diverse planes and factions to create endless storytelling opportunities. The setting emphasizes exploration, moral ambiguity, and the interconnectedness of planes, offering a rich backdrop for adventures;
The Concept of the Multiverse in Planescape
In Planescape, the multiverse is an infinite expanse of interconnected planes, each representing a unique reality. These planes include the Material Plane, Inner Planes, Outer Planes, and the Far Realm, each with distinct properties and inhabitants. The multiverse is structured according to the Great Wheel cosmology, where planes are arranged in a vast wheel, with the Outlands at the center. Planes are separated by dimensional barriers but connected through portals, allowing for travel between them. The multiverse is dynamic, with shifting landscapes and ever-changing alignments, making it a place of endless discovery. Planescape emphasizes the idea that every possibility exists somewhere in the multiverse, creating a rich tapestry for adventures that explore themes of existence, reality, and the infinite.
Key Locations: Sigil and the Outlands
Sigil, the City of Doors, is a central hub in Planescape, floating above the Outlands. It serves as a crossroads for travelers from all planes, with portals (doors) leading to every corner of the multiverse. Sigil is ruled by the enigmatic Lady of Pain, whose power and motives are shrouded in mystery. The city’s chaotic nature reflects its diverse inhabitants, from planar factions to adventurers. The Outlands, a vast, desolate plane, act as a buffer between the Inner and Outer Planes. They are home to the River Styx and settlements like the Gate-Town of Ribcage, serving as a staging ground for explorers and planar entities. Both Sigil and the Outlands are essential for understanding the multiverse’s dynamics and navigating its infinite possibilities.
The Sourcebook: Lore and Mechanics
This section delves into the rich lore of the multiverse, detailing planar cosmology and its inhabitants. It also provides mechanical rules for planar travel and character creation, ensuring seamless integration into adventures.
Lore of the Multiverse
The multiverse is a vast, interconnected tapestry of planes, each representing a unique reality. At its core lies the Great Wheel cosmology, where planes are arranged in a circular structure, reflecting balance and harmony. The Material Plane serves as the anchor, while the Inner Planes embody elemental forces and the Outer Planes represent philosophical ideals. The Far Realm, a realm of madness, exists beyond this structure, defying logic. Planescape explores the infinite possibilities of these realms, weaving stories of divine beings, ancient conflicts, and the delicate balance of power. This lore provides a rich foundation for adventures, offering players and DMs alike a deep, immersive world to explore and shape.
Planar Mechanics and Alignment
Planar mechanics govern how characters interact with the vast expanse of the multiverse, defining movement, survival, and influence across the planes. Alignment—a character’s moral and ethical stance—plays a pivotal role, shaping interactions and adventures. The Law-Chaos axis reflects order versus freedom, while the Good-Evil axis represents morality and selfishness. These alignments influence how beings perceive and react to characters, with certain planes amplifying or punishing specific traits. For instance, a lawful good character may thrive in Mechanus but face hostility in the Abyss. Planar mechanics also detail how magic, spells, and abilities function differently across planes, adding layers of strategy and unpredictability to adventures. This system creates a dynamic, immersive environment where alignment and planar rules intertwine to craft unique storytelling opportunities.
The Adventure Guide
The Adventure Guide offers tips for crafting immersive Planescape campaigns, helping DMs create engaging stories and navigate the multiverse’s infinite possibilities while inspiring player creativity.
Exploring Sigil, the City of Doors
Sigil, the City of Doors, is a sprawling metropolis that serves as the crossroads of the multiverse. Nestled within the Outlands, it is a place where portals to countless planes converge, making it a hub of intrigue and adventure. The city is governed by the enigmatic Lady of Pain, whose presence ensures a fragile order amidst the chaos. Players can explore vibrant districts like the Market Ward, where exotic goods and information flow freely, or delve into the underworld of the Sewers, teeming with hidden dangers. Sigil’s unique layout, with its shifting skies and labyrinthine streets, challenges even the most seasoned adventurers. The city’s diverse factions, such as the Free League and the Revolutionary League, offer endless opportunities for political intrigue and conflict. DMs can use Sigil’s unpredictable nature to craft dynamic encounters, ensuring no two visits are ever the same.
Navigating the Outlands
The Outlands, a vast, chaotic plane, serves as a transitional realm between the Material Plane and the Inner Planes. Its ever-shifting landscapes, from scorched deserts to lush forests, make it a challenging yet fascinating place to explore. Portals to various planes dot the terrain, but navigating them requires skill and caution. The River Styx, a treacherous waterway, flows through the Outlands, posing both a hazard and a potential route for adventurers. DMs can use the Outlands’ unpredictability to craft dynamic encounters, such as random planar fluctuations or encounters with wandering monsters. The plane’s lack of a centralized authority means adventurers must rely on their wits and alliances to survive. Its proximity to Sigil also makes it a hotspot for planar travelers seeking new destinations.
The Bestiary: Planar Creatures
The bestiary details iconic and obscure beings, from celestial angels to fiendish demons, each with unique abilities tied to their planar origins. New creatures expand gameplay possibilities.
Classic Planar Entities
The bestiary revisits iconic beings like devils, demons, and celestial guards, cornerstone creatures of the Planescape universe. Devils, with their rigid lawful nature, originate from the Nine Hells, while demons, chaotic and destructive, hail from the Abyss. Celestial guards embody goodness, serving as protectors of the Upper Planes. These entities are deeply tied to the multiverse’s balance, offering insight into the cosmic struggle between order and chaos. Each entry details their origins, behaviors, and roles in the multiverse, providing DMs with rich lore to integrate into adventures. These classic creatures are not just enemies but symbols of the planes’ diverse ideologies, making them essential for authentic Planescape storytelling and gameplay experiences.
New Additions to the Bestiary
The bestiary introduces fresh planar entities to enrich your adventures. Among these are the enigmatic Hound of Tindalos, predatory beings from the Far Realm, and the mysterious Xill, shape-shifting horrors from the Abyss. These new additions expand the multiverse’s diversity, offering unique challenges and encounters. The Hound of Tindalos, for instance, stalks prey across dimensions, while the Xill adapt to their surroundings, making them formidable foes. These creatures are not just enemies but gateways to deeper storytelling, allowing DMs to craft immersive experiences that highlight the multiverse’s infinite complexity. Each entry includes detailed stats and lore, ensuring they seamlessly integrate into any Planescape campaign, providing players with unforgettable adversaries and encounters.
The DM Screen: Tools for Planescape Adventures
The DM Screen provides essential tools for Planescape adventures, including quick reference charts for planar travel and encounter ideas with NPC stats for seamless storytelling.
Planar Travel Rules and Charts
Planar travel rules and charts are essential for navigating the vast exponents of the multiverse. Detailed mechanics outline how characters can move between planes, whether through portals, spells, or innate abilities. Charts provide clarity on the distances, risks, and requirements for interplanar journeys, ensuring DMs can create balanced encounters. The system also includes rules for surviving the chaotic conditions of the Astral Plane and the unpredictable nature of the Far Realm. These tools help DMs manage the complexities of planar exploration, making it easier to create immersive adventures. Additional resources include encounter tables tailored to specific planes, ensuring that travel is as exciting as the destinations themselves.
Encounter Ideas and NPC Stats
Encounter ideas and NPC stats are meticulously crafted to bring the multiverse to life. DMs will find a wide array of challenges, from navigating the politics of Sigil’s factions to battling planar creatures like githyanki and astral dreadnoughts. NPC stats are detailed, offering unique personalities and motivations that align with their planar origins. Encounter tables are tailored to specific planes, ensuring that each adventure feels distinct and immersive. The section also includes rules for creating custom NPCs, allowing DMs to craft encounters that fit their campaign’s narrative. With a focus on balance and creativity, these resources empower DMs to create unforgettable experiences in the vast expanse of the multiverse.
Planar Travel and Exploration
Planar travel and exploration are central to Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse. The Great Wheel cosmology offers infinite planes, each with unique environments, challenges, and phenomena. Portals, gates, and magical means allow adventurers to traverse these realms, but risks like dimensional barriers and unstable portals await. Explorers must navigate shifting landscapes, interact with enigmatic beings, and unravel the mysteries of the multiverse while adapting to its ever-changing nature.
The Great Wheel Cosmology
The Great Wheel cosmology in Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse presents a structured view of the multiverse, organizing planes into a vast, interconnected system. At its center lies the Outlands, a neutral plane connecting the wheel’s spokes, which extend to various planes. The Upper Planes, including Mount Celestia, Arcadia, and the Twin Paradises, embody order and good, while the Lower Planes, such as Acheron, the Gray Wastes, and Baator’s Nine Hells, represent chaos and evil. Portals and gates facilitate travel between planes, but navigating these pathways requires skill and caution to avoid perilous detours or encounters. Understanding the Great Wheel is crucial for adventurers to navigate the multiverse effectively, offering rich opportunities for exploration and discovery in this boundless expanse.
Dimensional Barriers and Portals
Dimensional barriers and portals are essential elements in Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse, governing travel between planes. Barriers are magical or physical obstacles that prevent or restrict planar transitions, often safeguarding sensitive locations or entire planes. Portals, however, serve as gateways, connecting disparate planes or regions within the same plane. These can be permanent, like the portals in Sigil’s Great Bazaar, or temporary, created through spells or artifacts. Navigating these gateways requires precise knowledge, as missteps can lead to unintended destinations or dimensional instability. Portals are also tied to the Astral Plane, a realm of thought and energy, further complicating travel mechanics. Understanding these barriers and portals is crucial for adventurers seeking to traverse the multiverse effectively, as they hold the key to unlocking new worlds and avoiding deadly traps. This system adds depth and strategy to planar exploration, enriching both player and DM experiences.
Iconic Figures and Factions
Iconic figures like the enigmatic Lady of Pain and the mysterious Great Mother shape Planescape’s lore, while factions such as the Free League, Harmonium, and Revolutionary League dominate its politics. These groups and individuals embody the multiverse’s chaotic balance, offering adventurers allegiance, conflict, or inspiration. Their intricate rivalries and philosophies create a rich tapestry for exploration and storytelling, making them central to any Planescape campaign.
The Lady of Pain and the Great Mother
The Lady of Pain, enigmatic ruler of Sigil, embodies mystery and power, her presence both captivating and terrifying. Her role as the city’s protector is matched by her ruthless enforcement of its laws. The Great Mother, a divine figure tied to fertility and the cosmos, contrasts with the Lady’s austerity, representing life and destiny. Both figures are central to Planescape’s lore, shaping the multiverse’s balance. Their intricate dynamics and symbolism inspire adventurers, offering themes of justice, creation, and the unknown. These iconic beings embody the multiverse’s duality, blending chaos and order in ways that define Planescape’s unique identity and endless storytelling potential.
Planar Factions and Their Roles
Planar factions are organizations that shape the multiverse’s politics and philosophy. Each faction represents a distinct ideology, influencing events in Sigil and beyond. Groups like the Harmonium advocate order, while the Free League champions freedom. The Doomguard and Bleak Cabal embody nihilism and chaos, respectively. These factions often clash, creating dynamic conflicts for adventurers. Membership offers access to resources, allies, and unique quests, but also draws enemies. The factions’ rivalries and alliances are central to the multiverse’s intrigue, providing endless opportunities for exploration and role-playing. Their presence enriches the setting, inviting players to align with or oppose these powerful forces, deepening the story and world of Planescape.
Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse offers a boundless canvas for exploration and storytelling. With its richly detailed multiverse, iconic locations like Sigil, and intricate factions, the setting invites players and DMs to craft unique adventures. The blend of fantasy and philosophical themes creates a dynamic world where no two journeys are alike. From navigating the politics of planar factions to uncovering ancient secrets, the possibilities are endless. This sourcebook is not just a guide but a gateway to limitless imagination, inspiring countless stories and unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re exploring the Outlands or delving into the mysteries of the Great Wheel, Planescape promises a adventure like no other.