The Material Plane
The Material Plane is the plane of existence that we all live on. It has a single set of natural laws that all existence abides by. In a standard campaign, it typically functions in the same way our universe does, with clusters of galaxies made of billions of stars, some with planetary systems orbiting them. It is, at least theoretically, infinite.
Because it is what we as players (and as characters) are by far most familiar with, the Material Plane serves as the standard by which all other planes tend to be measured. While this can help make the other planes easy to understand, it is important to remember that only the Material Plane itself (and probably a few demiplanes) actually abide by the natural laws it has in place. Viewing the other planes with a strictly material perspective turns them into impossibilities.
The Material Plane is always unaligned, all elements are represented in the natural order and its laws are static. It therefore becomes easy to assume that the Material Plane is a plane of near-perfect balance (though it does have a slight lawful leaning), especially when its laws are the ones we know; however, while this is mostly true, there is one very important and easily over-looked imbalance in the Material Plane. Positive energy is dominant over negative energy. Don't get me wrong, the Material Plane is ALWAYS completely unaligned. Negative energy is able to exist within the Material Plane just as easily as positive energy; it just doesn't exist in anywhere near the same quantity. This is the reason life is abundant in places and undeath doesn't occur naturally.
Also, for every Material Plane there is an "equal but opposite" unaligned plane where negative energy is dominant over positive (the Plane of Shadows). Furthermore, since these planes coexist (overlap completely), they form a sort of "buffer zone" together where both energies are equal (the Ethereal Plane). These imbalances must exist (and must balance out) in order for a Material Plane to exist at all. Otherwise, it would just be another section of the empty void that is the Astral Sea.
Many campaigns only have one Material Plane. Since it is effectively infinite, it would be sufficient to cover all realms of possibility (under one set of natural laws). However, since the Astral Plane is also infinite, many DMs will say that there are an infinite number of Material Planes. Either way can be correct, and it's up to your DM to decide which is true.
As a DM, when considering if your campaign has one or infinite Material Planes, consider one question. How were they formed? If you decide that there is a chance (however miniscule) that rogue energies in the Astral Plane alone can form the necessary imbalance to create a Material Plane, then there would be infinite Material Planes (since the Astral Plane is infinite). However, if you decide that a Material Plane forming on its own is impossible and divine help is required, then in all likelihood there would only be one. Remember, either way can be correct.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
The Planes: An Overview
Planes are without a doubt the most complicated aspect of the D&D game and it's very easy to form misconceptions regarding their exact nature, location, etc. This post and ones to follow will detail (or attempt to) each plane as it exists in the standard D&D world. Your DM, of course, has the final say in the nature of the planes, what planes exist, etc.
Planes can, essentially, be divided into five broad categories: Material, transitive, inner, outer, and demiplanes.
The Material Plane (also called the Prime Material Plane)
The Material Plane is physical reality. Assuming a standard campaign, it is the world that your characters are born and adventure in. To put it in real-world perspective, the Material Plane is Earth, the solar system, the Milky Way galaxy, the universe and everything you know to exist.
Well, that pretty much covers everything; why have other planes? Because:
A.) The nature(s) of reality and infinity are fairly malleable and it's not out of the question that other existences could exist.
B.) The nature of reality doesn't cover the things you don't know to exist, such as after-life(s).
C.) It's a fantasy world.
The Transitive Planes
Called such because of their extensive use in travel (either between planes or to different locations on the same plane), the Astral, Ethereal and Shadow Planes are the most confusing and, in my opinion, the most compelling of the planes.
The Astral Plane (also called the Astral Sea)
The ultimate paradox, the Astral Plane consists of infinite existences and infinite nothingness. All planes exist within the Astral Plane. Travelling to any of the other planes (excluding the other transitive planes) involve first travelling through the Astral Plane, as does using teleportation spells. Actually travelling to the Astral Plane (not just through it) is a very difficult, expensive and risky endeavor.
The Ethereal Plane
Serving as the buffer between the Material Plane and the Plane of Shadows, the Ethereal plane is coexistent with both (that is, they overlap completely). A person on the Ethereal Plane experiences reality as if it were an insubstantial ghost. Dreams originate on the Ethereal Plane.
The Plane of Shadows
Not so much a transitive plane as an 'Anti-Material Plane', the Plane of Shadows forms the opposite nature of physical reality. A traveller there would view it as a (often twisted) "reflection" of the Material Plane, where everything is in black-and-white. Spellcasters often use the Plane of Shadows to travel immense distances across the Material Plane or to form quasi-real shadow effects.
The Inner Planes
Consisting of specific elements or types of energy, the Inner Planes form the building blocks of reality. The six Inner Planes are the Elemental Planes of Air, Earth, Fire and Water, as well as the Positive and Negative Energy Planes. It's easy to envision these as being contained by the Material Plane (hence why they are called "Inner" Planes). This is not actually the case; the Material Plane and the Inner Planes do not overlap anywhere.
The Outer Planes
Often called the Upper and Lower Planes (a misnomer, they do not exist above or below anything), the Outer Planes exist beyond both the mortal world and reality itself. The Outer Planes exist along the boundaries of the Astral Plane (which itself is infinite, how can it have boundaries? Well... we'll get into that). The Outer Planes are the realms of the Gods and include the varying after-life(s).
Demiplanes
Demiplanes is a catch-all term for finite extra-dimensional spaces. While all other planes are theoretically infinite in size, a demiplane's size can be measured (though, depending on the plane, it may take a while). Most demiplanes are accessed via the Astral or Ethereal Planes, though some have much more limited means of access.
This may well be raising more questions than are being answered. Rest assured, more detailed posts will follow.
Planes can, essentially, be divided into five broad categories: Material, transitive, inner, outer, and demiplanes.
The Material Plane (also called the Prime Material Plane)
The Material Plane is physical reality. Assuming a standard campaign, it is the world that your characters are born and adventure in. To put it in real-world perspective, the Material Plane is Earth, the solar system, the Milky Way galaxy, the universe and everything you know to exist.
Well, that pretty much covers everything; why have other planes? Because:
A.) The nature(s) of reality and infinity are fairly malleable and it's not out of the question that other existences could exist.
B.) The nature of reality doesn't cover the things you don't know to exist, such as after-life(s).
C.) It's a fantasy world.
The Transitive Planes
Called such because of their extensive use in travel (either between planes or to different locations on the same plane), the Astral, Ethereal and Shadow Planes are the most confusing and, in my opinion, the most compelling of the planes.
The Astral Plane (also called the Astral Sea)
The ultimate paradox, the Astral Plane consists of infinite existences and infinite nothingness. All planes exist within the Astral Plane. Travelling to any of the other planes (excluding the other transitive planes) involve first travelling through the Astral Plane, as does using teleportation spells. Actually travelling to the Astral Plane (not just through it) is a very difficult, expensive and risky endeavor.
The Ethereal Plane
Serving as the buffer between the Material Plane and the Plane of Shadows, the Ethereal plane is coexistent with both (that is, they overlap completely). A person on the Ethereal Plane experiences reality as if it were an insubstantial ghost. Dreams originate on the Ethereal Plane.
The Plane of Shadows
Not so much a transitive plane as an 'Anti-Material Plane', the Plane of Shadows forms the opposite nature of physical reality. A traveller there would view it as a (often twisted) "reflection" of the Material Plane, where everything is in black-and-white. Spellcasters often use the Plane of Shadows to travel immense distances across the Material Plane or to form quasi-real shadow effects.
The Inner Planes
Consisting of specific elements or types of energy, the Inner Planes form the building blocks of reality. The six Inner Planes are the Elemental Planes of Air, Earth, Fire and Water, as well as the Positive and Negative Energy Planes. It's easy to envision these as being contained by the Material Plane (hence why they are called "Inner" Planes). This is not actually the case; the Material Plane and the Inner Planes do not overlap anywhere.
The Outer Planes
Often called the Upper and Lower Planes (a misnomer, they do not exist above or below anything), the Outer Planes exist beyond both the mortal world and reality itself. The Outer Planes exist along the boundaries of the Astral Plane (which itself is infinite, how can it have boundaries? Well... we'll get into that). The Outer Planes are the realms of the Gods and include the varying after-life(s).
Demiplanes
Demiplanes is a catch-all term for finite extra-dimensional spaces. While all other planes are theoretically infinite in size, a demiplane's size can be measured (though, depending on the plane, it may take a while). Most demiplanes are accessed via the Astral or Ethereal Planes, though some have much more limited means of access.
This may well be raising more questions than are being answered. Rest assured, more detailed posts will follow.
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