Planescape has returned to Dungeons & Dragons. Planescape: Adventures within the Multiverse consists of three new books: the setting guide Sigil and the Outlands; Flip of Fortune’s Wheel, the marketing campaign guide; and Morte’s Planar Parade, the bestiary.
Very like the Spelljammer launch from final yr, it is available in each a normal and variant set, has two totally different DM screens, and has a double-sided map. Greg Tito, Wes Schneider, and Justice Arman spoke to a gaggle of press final week, explaining the brand new, the outdated, and the daring in relation to the brand new Planescape.
Planescape was first developed in 1994 and drew on mythos established within the ‘80s, when the Handbook of Planes was launched. It was constructed “to be every thing,” mentioned Schneider. Since then it’s come out and in of editions, having been re-released within the early 2000s to align with 3.5. The present replace for 5e was hinted at in playtest paperwork when eagle-eyed followers observed “Sigil”—the principle metropolis of the Planescape setting—popping up in taste textual content. Planescape, very like Radiant Citadel, is supposed to have doorways to particular settings—Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms, and Grey Hawk to call just a few. Moreover, surrounding Sigil are 16 gatetowns which are doorways to the opposite planes.
Arman said that there have been numerous “alternatives so as to add” to what got here earlier than, particularly because the designers thought-about how folks play D&D now as in comparison with the ‘90s. Arman was conscious that they couldn’t “sure, and” their approach out of all expectations. “You possibly can’t have Planescape with out the Woman of Ache,” he mentioned, earlier than describing her place within the setting and her mysterious powers to forestall gods from getting into the town and punish anybody who crosses her gaze.
Probably the greatest methods to get your character via Planescape, or any mysterious land, is to introduce a information character. Enter your good friend and mine, Morte, a speaking cranium that may assist DMs loredump on their gamers with out ever breaking character. Moreover Morte there’s going to be Mimirs—magical gadgets that maintain a complete lot of data hosted within them, sort of like Siri, however with magic as an alternative of the web retaining them updated on all of the deep wikidives. Morte is just not a Mimir, however he’s the “viewpoint” character for the three books, which is a captivating little little bit of introspection.
Arman described Sigil’s courthouse as being on the middle of the multiverse the place trials from throughout the realms happen. Marut patrol the courthouse and ship those that violate the legal guidelines of dying and the multiverse to the courthouse to fulfill their judgement.
The books will embrace a number of factions in Sigil, every of which embody a philosophy on the multiverse inside the metropolis. There may be the Fraternity of Order, the Mercy Killers, the Arms of Havoc, and others. They’re in fixed “dialog” as concepts rise and fall in recognition and philosophies change inside the populace at massive. Characters can be part of up with these factions and be part of them inside the sport.
The journey—Flip of Fortune’s Wheel—forces the gamers right into a multiversal glitch the place in the event that they die, or even when one thing “dramatic” occurs to them, they grow to be an alternate universe model of themselves. Schneider explains that if you’ll return “barely totally different.” You may die “with a mustache and are available again with out one, or you would be the identical character however now you’re a wizard, or an elf.” Schneider says that you simply get three variations of your self to play as you try and piece collectively who you might be all through the marketing campaign.
The bestiary, Morte’s Planar Parade, reveals off “a number of planar creatures” that the characters may run into. The guide additionally provides the DM info on the best way to make any creature a “planar creature” utilizing “planar influences.” The thought is {that a} creature could be affected by the portals and gates surrounding Sigil and the Outlands, which may basically change its skills, nature, and look. The bestiary can also be the place the faction stats are outlined.
The alternate cowl is illustrated by Toni DiTerlizzi, who did numerous the unique artwork for Planescape again within the ‘90s. These covers might be obtainable solely at bodily sport shops.
You possibly can entry the Planescape books digitally on D&D Past on October 3. The bodily launch date is October 17. Preorders are obtainable now on the D&D Strore and Amazon.
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