Reaching the Outer Planes	Survival in the Outer Planes	Movement in the Outer Planes	Encounters in the Outer Planes	Combat in the Outer Planes
Magic in the Outer Planes	Player Characters	Features of the Outer Planes	Outer Plane Descriptions	Beyond the Outer Planes
-	-	Manual of the Planes	-	-

The outer planes are also called the Planes of Power since they
are the homes of the most powerful extraplanar beings int he
known planes of xistence. They have a mixture of elements that
supports a rich diversity of life, often (but not always) similar to life
on the Prime Material planes. It is unknown whether this is
because the inhabitants of the outer planes affect the creatures
on the Primes, or because the Prime planes impose order on the
outer planes.

The conventional view of the outer planes is of a great wheel
divided into 16 pieces. Each piece is the upper layer of a plane
and is joined ot the upper layers of the two planes adjoined to it.
Planes have a variable # of planar layers, also called
levels. In the center of the wheel, joined to it by the Astral plane,
are the Prime Material, Ethereal, and inner planes.

The above is accurate as far as it goes, but things are more
complicated than that. Each planar layer is physically infinite in
the same manner as the Prime Material, inner, and Ethereal planes.
The Astral plane co-exists with the first (uppermost, closest
to the Astral) layer of each plane, but there are also conduits
that reach the deeper layers, enabling rapid movement of beings
and great powers from one plane to another. Each layer of the
outer planes contains a number of different realms ruled by
various Deities or forces.

It has also been revealed that there is another outer plane that
does not fit into the wheel concept, but has strong connections
with four mutually opposing planes. This 17th plane, the plane of
Concordant Opposition, is usu. placed below the wheel. In this
picture, the outer planes look like a cup filled with an Astral soup
in which various alternate Prime Material planes float.

The planes are rougly aligned according to good vs. evil
and Law vs. Chaos. The plane of Concordant Opposition is
often referred to as a plane of true neutrality.

Here are the 17 known outer planes:
 

The arrangement of these planes agrees with the standard
view of alignments: good and evil on opposite sides, Law and
Chaos squared off against each other. In this layout, the planes
have the following characteristics:

Creature Alignments and Layers of the Outer Planes

Name	Alignment	Layers
Nirvana	Lawful Neutral	1
Arcadia	Neutral Good Lawfuls	3
Seven Heavens	Good Lawfuls	7
Twin Paradises	Neutral Good Lawfuls	2
Elysium	Neutral Goods	4
Happy Hunting Grounds	Neutral Good Chaotics	3
Olympus	Good Chaotics	3
Gladsheim	Chaotic Good Neutrals	3
Limbo	Chaotic Neutrals	5
Pandemonium	Chaotic Evil Neutrals	4
Abyss	Chaotic Evils	666*
Tarterus	Evil Chaotic Neutrals	6
Hades	Neutral Evils	3
Gehenna	Lawful Evil Neutrals	4
Nine Hells	Lawful Evils	9
Acheron	Lawful Evil Neutrals	4
Concordant Opposition	True Neutrality	1

* Best estimate

    The alignments of the creatures on each plane follow that of
the plane itself. Creatures in Hell tend toward LE
behavior, while those in Olympus tend toward chaotic actions.
The exception is Concordant Opposition, which contains
a mixture of all alignments.

    The names of the planes are often descriptive of only a small
part of them. These appellations reflect the belief systems of
those who wrote the first tomes on the planes. The Greek and
Norse pantheons control part of the first layers of Olympus and
Gladsheim, respectively, but since these were the first beings
encountered, their names were used for the entire planes. Similarly,
Heaven && Hell were named for their relative positions
on the planar wheel and the number of known layers. <>
The DM can alter the names to fit the flavor of his campaign,
but this book will retain the original names.

    The planes from Arcadia to Gladsheim, across the top of the
wheel, are commonly known as the Upper Planes, or planes of
Good, as there are good components in their alignments. Similarly,
the planes from Acheron to Pandemonium, across the bottom
of the wheel, are called the Lower Planes, or the planes of Evil.
Those from Paradise through Nirvana to Gehenna are called
the planes of Law, while those from the Happy Hunting
Grounds through Limbo to Tarterus are the planes of Chaos.
Only the plane of Concordant Opposition is regarded as a true
neutral plane.

    The outer planes lack an ethereal cloud and relatively easy
access to the raw energies of the inner planes. Beyond the first
layer of each plane, there is no ready access to the Astral plane,
though most planes have a # of fixed portals attached to
conduits leading to other planes.

    Finally, the outer planes are hospitable to Prime Material life. A
wide variety of unique creatures roam each plane. The outer planes are
home to a majority of the Deities, those unique beings
who are often referred to as gods && goddesses. The traveller is
advised to MOVE cautiously && carefully through those territories
claimed by Deities.

Reaching the Outer Planes

    All travel to the outer planes involves moving through the
Astral--there are no outer planar vortices that connect directly
between the outer and Prime planes. The degree to which the
traveller must MOVE through the Astral is determined by the method
of movement.

    Three common methods are conduits, spell effects, and color
pools. Conduits and spell effects MOVE the traveller rapidly into
the outer planes, while astral color pools enable travellers to
check out an AREA before they enter.

    Conduits are also called wormholes or gates. They usu.
have <one> mooring in the Prime Material and other in a specific
location in an outer plane (though there are also conduits that
lead from one outer plane to another). The Prime Material end is
often a temple complex or other loc. dedicated to a particular
deity, while the other terminus is in part of the realm ruled by
that Deity. This terminus is not necessarily on the top layer of
the outer plane.

    Travel via conduit through the Astral is rapid (<one> round) and
not noticed by the travellers, so it appears that the travellers step
off the Prime and directly into the desired outer plane. Astral
beings cannot affect those in conduits.

    Conduit travel has the advantage of bringing the physical body
along without a trip into the Astral plane. Its disadvantages are
threefold: a gate must be found in the Prime plane, the gates are
often guarded, and the terminus location may not be friendly to
the traveller. Conduit travel is safest when the traveller is xpected
or is powerful enough to deal w/ any hazards on the far side.

    Conduit travel takes those who enter the conduit and all they
wear and carry into the other plane. The travellers cannot break
the sides of the conduit to enter the Astral plane (indeed, most
travellers are unaware that the Astral is traversed in the course of
conduit travel).

    Only a few high-level spells enable the caster to MOVE directly
into the outer planes. Each spell has advantages and disadvantages.

The clerical spell, plane shift, transports the caster and his
companions to any known plane. The destination plane is determined
by the material component of the spell, a tuning fork of a
particular material. A single note brings the caster brings the caster to the top layer
of the outer plane attuned to the tuning fork. Deeper regions are
said to be reached by combinations of chords, so that a group of
random chords may TAKE the player to a random layer of the Abyss.

    The plane shift spell grants little control over the part of the
plane the caster arrives in. While this does not matter in the amorphous
inner, Ethereal, and Astral planes, the widely varying natures
of the outer planes make random placement rather
unpleasant. This spell is usually guided by a basic idea of where
the caster wants to go in that planar layer, so the dorp-off point is
usu. not too far off. Use the following table for travel into the
outer planes by plane shift spell.
 

Die Roll	Effect
1-20	Within 100 yards of where the caster visualized
21-60	Within 10 miles of where the caster visualized
61-90	Within 1,000 miles of where the caster visualized
91-00	Within 1,000 miles of the AREA visualized, and usu. in the realm of another powerful xtra-planar being. (At least you hit the right plane!)

The clerical and M-U gate spell can also reach the outer
planes by summoning a Deity and beseeching it to return with
the caster (and any allies) to another plane. This is not beyond the
abilities of any Deity or Demi-Deity, but most operate according
to the following rules: A Deity will not transport individuals to
another Deity's realm if the other Deity is of equal or higher
level; a Deity will not let a group of mortals into its home plane to
wreak havoc; a Deity will agree to such transportation if there is
sufficient reward for the Deity to do so.

    The teleport without error spell and the succor spell can also
span the planes. The former requires some knowledge of the
destination, with the standard chance of teleporting too high or
low. The latter is an automatic teleport that brings the characters
to an outer plane only if that spell was originally CAST in that outer plane.

    Several devices duplicate spell abilities. The amulet of the planes transports
the wearer randomly into the first layers of the
outer planes in the same maner as a plane shift spell. In this
case, the DM selects a point of arrival and rolls to see how far
away the character lands from it. The well of many worlds transports
the user into the first layer of any outer plane or any Alternate
Material plane, at the choice of the DM.

    All of the preceding spells and items bring the travellers physically into the
plane, with all worn and carried items.

    The frequent choice of xtra-planar travellers, such as adventurers
seeking to sneak into the lair of a petty demigod or arcanadaemon
lordling, is the Astral color pool. The passage into the Astral plane and loc. of a color pool (see page 62) enables <>
the traveller to VIEW the terrain before entering it . He can also
MOVE the viewpoint to a safe loc. before entering the plane.
The disadvantages of this method of travel have been mentioned
earlier, incl. the psb. detection of the Astral viewing
point and that only the topmost layers of the planes can be
reached.

    A traveller who is physically in the Astral plane can enter an outer plane
by passing through the appropriate color pool. If the
region is inhospitable to mortal life, the traveller can be injured or
slain. The physical traveller brings all his magickal items through
the portal with him, even the ones that lose their magickal auras in
the new plane.

    An astrally projected traveller can also enter a color pool, but
the passage creates a new body out of materials int he other
plane. (If the traveller enters in a relatively terrestrial environment,
his new body is close to normal flesh in appearance and effect).
The traveller who attempts to materialize in an xtra-planar pool of
magma becomes a magma-like creature--immune to fire but
doubly affected by water. For this reason care is advised for the
traveller who manifests in a strange form (one cautionary tale
involves a traveller who became solid rock and eroded as he
moved). DMs are encouraged to be fiendishly creative in assigning
advantages & disadvantages to forms that players create.

    The astral individual retains his silver cord on the new plane. It
is invisibly attached to the traveller and disappears after 10 feet <>
back into the Astral. The astrally projected traveller can still return
to his original body in 1d100 rounds (he xpresses that desire
and is immed. returned to his original body). If the silver cord is
cut while the traveller is in the outer planes, the traveller does
not perish. What happens is that he can no longer return to the
Astral or his original body without casting another astral spell and
reinhabiting his original form. The traveller is immed. aware
when his silver cord has been snapped. This is usu. a sign that
one of the more powerful natives of the plane is aware of the character's
presence.

    When an astral traveller passes through a color pool, any magickal
items that will not function in the outer plnae (that is, totally
lose their magickal abilities) do not pass through the pool but
return to the traveller's original body (if possible). If such items
cannot be reunited with the original body, their astral presences
erode and the physical item decays in 1d10 turns.

ADQ: The 1st level of each outer plane
can be entered from the astral plane.
Presumably, one could go from the 1st
level to other levels of the plane, but how
is this done? Just how does one get to the
2nd Hell, the 7th Heaven, or the 314th
layer of the Abyss? Do you have to go
through all the preceding layers? Are
layers astro-geographically adjacent so
that one can be entered from another, or
is some spell or device required to teleport
into these planes?
ADA: The layers of each of the grouped
outer planes (7 Heavens through Arcadia)
are "planographically adjacent"; tourists
must pass through them in numerical order to
reach the "deepest." But certain powerful
local residents of each group have, no
doubt, discovered certain "short cuts" for
faster passage.
    Note also that the turning forks employed
in the cleric's plane shift spell bypass all
such planography, allowing access directly
to any plane. A gate spell bestows similar
direct access.
(Polyhedron #26)
 

Survival in the Outer Planes

    In general, the outer planes are similar to the PMPs.
When adventuring in the outer planes, survival depends
on the particular nature of the plane occupied. WHile portions of
these planes pose hazards, the planes themselves are not hostile
to intruders from the Prime.

    The best way to describe the outer planes is that they are like
the Primes, only more  so. The mountainous regions of these
planes dwarf the lesser peaks of the Primes, their breezes are
sweeter, their storms fiercer, their freezing domains colder, and
their deserts hotter & drier.

    Breathing: The atmosphere of the outer planes are generally
breathable to most travellers from the Prime Material plane.
Those that are greatly different are noted under their descriptions.

    Time: The flow of time in all the outer plnaes is similar to that in
the PMPs (true time flows at the same rate as
subjective time). Travellers tire and require food at the usual intervals.

    Gravity: Gravity is localized in the outer planes. There is a general
down that may hold for miles in all directions, then suddenly
change into a new direction. Those within the AREA of that gravity
field are affected normally. Damage can occur only if the unprepared
traveller crosses into another gravity field and falls upon a
solid object. Gravity field boundaries often mark the edge of a
Deity's realm, as all lawful Deities and most chaotic ones maintain
a distinct gravity within their realms.

    Direction: Magnetic directions are different for each realm. A
traveller going N in one realm, crosses into another realm and
finds that N is now in another direction.

    Two direction-finding devices xist. The planar compass is a
weather vane made of orcanthium. <link to DF thread here> This enchanted device
spins faster if a planar boundary or portal is approached. A traveller can
determine roughly how far he is from a boundary to another layer
or portal to another plane by observing the spin of the planar
compass.

    The other device is a magical gem known as a power compass.
Such a gem flashes a steady light if a Demi-, Lesser, or Greater
Deity is within range. This detection occurs only if the Deity
manifests itself in its true godly form. It does not work if the Deity
is disguised as another creature. The power compass is best
used for detecting large concentrations || pantheons of Deity-level beings.

    Food and Drink: The outer planar traveller tires, thirsts, and
grows hungry at the same rates as in the Prime plane. The availability
of materuals to satisfy these needs for astral travellers in
nonhuman bodies is left to the DM.

    Vision and Senses: The ability to detect other objects in the
outer planes is as for the PMP in similar circumstances. Infravision
(but not ultravision) functions in the outer planes.

Movement in the Outer Planes

    Travellers who have labored with mental conundrums in the
Ethereal plane, overcome forces of will in the Astral plane, and
sought elemental guiudes in the inner planes are usu. grateful
that movement through most of the outer planes is similar to
movement through the Prime plane. There are, however, differences
that become obvious only when you reach the borders
between realms in a layer, between layers of a plane, or between
planes.

Interrealm Borders in a Layer

    A realm is a region that operates under a common set of physical
laws (gravity has the same strength && direction throughout
the realm magnetic directions are consistent, etc.). Realms are
usu. (but not always) under the control of a particular Deity ||
a group of Deities organized into a pantheon. Different Deities
and pantheons can occupy the same layer of a plane in peaceful
(or not-so-peaceful) coexistence. Realm borders are usu. (but
not always) marked by a change in the terrain to reflect new physical
laws.

    The borders between realms indicate changes in physical
laws, in particular gravity, but other physical effects like temperature,
winds, and sentience can also be affected. Within a planar
layer, these realm borders have a physical edge, so the traveller
sees them from a distance and knows when he is passing from
one realm to another (e.g., the new realm could be at
right angles to the first).

    Moving from one realm to another is done by stepping over the
border. Upon crossing the line, all effects of the new realm TAKE
immediate effect. A realm w/ gravity at right angles to the previous
realm makes the traveller walk up what previously was a
vertical surface, while a realm whose gravity is the esrever of its
neighbor makes the unwary fall down (previously up) immediately
upon entry. Cautious travellers inspect realm borders carefully
before crossing them.
 

    As movement through the outer planes is physical, and most
landmarks (SAVE in the planes of Chaos) are fixed, maps of the
general AREA help the traveller get around. DMs can create these
maps with an eye to the fact that Deities often MOVE things
around as they see fit--features and terrain tend to change from
one visit to the next. (That is, the DM is free to set up such realms
according to his own tastes and sense of deviousness.) In general,
a five-mile trip in the outer planes takes the same time and
effort as a five-mile trip in the PMP.

    As a final note on travel on a particular planar layer, remember
that the outer planes have no ethereal component, so travel via
the Ethereal is impossible. Astral travel is limited to the first layers
of the plane (except for conduits and permanent gates to the
lower planes).

Interlayer Borders in a Plane

    The borders betwen the layers of a plane overlap, similar to
the overlap of the Ethereal and PMPs. It is possible
to travel from one layer of a plane to another by exerting one's
desire to break through the interlayer barrier. Every traveller wishing
to breach such a barrier must make a successful Ability
Check against his WIS to break through the barrier. Breaking
through a barrier at a certain point always brings travellers to the
same loc.. Thus several travellers who break through from
the same place find themselves together on the next layer, even
though they had to break through separately.

    The barriers between planar layers are shown as straight lines
in the diagrams, but they take many shapes in the outer planes:
thick irregular areas, circular paths, thin borders, or spheres of
planar space. They have no effect on travel to other planes, but
they facilitate movment into other layers of the plane. Note that
major concentrations of power rarely xist in layer interfaces, as
these barriers see a lot of traffic. Occasionally Deities reside in
these borders if they control the territories on both sides of the
interfaces.

    Conditions in adjacent planar layers can differ greatly, according
to the nature of the plane and its ruling inhabitants. In the
case of Hell, all layer barriers open into mid-air above
the next lower plane. A traveller moving from the third layer of Hell
into the fourth layer finds himself a half mile up from the ground of
the fourth layer. This holds true for most of the Hells and contributes
to the common perception that they are rings leading down
deeper into a pit. This setup also makes it difficult for adventurers
to leave deeper levels the way they came. In a similar fashion,
each layer of Heaven is topped by mountains of incredible
grandeur. It is on thes lofty peaks that interlayer barriers
lead to the next layer.

    Barriers are usually (70%) one way, so that the traveller has to
find another way back. In the Hells in particular, most of the ways
back are either well-guarded or high above the ground, creating
problems for those who wish to leave.

    Magickal items generally do not lose further effectiveness as
they descend through the layers, unless the Deities that rule
those realms have specific banshments against certain spells or
items (Orcus takes a dim VIEW of arrows of demon-slaying and
thus they do not work in his realm). Specific spell effects that violate
the general rules set down in the magick section are more
common in the chaotic planes and in those layers in which a single
Deity holds sway.

Interplanar Borders

    In addition to travel within a plane, there is movement from
outer plane to outer plane--from the Twin Paradises to Elysium, for
example. This occurs via magickal portals similar in function to
conduits. These whisk the traveller to either a specific or random
location in the other plane.

    The appearance of these portals varies from plane to plane,
as well as from portal to portal. In the plane of Arcadia, a portal
may appear as a thin fog stretched between two apple trees, while in
one of the lower planes it may appear as a foul-smelling, foreboding
cave. The River Styx flows through many portals in the lower planes
and provides a regularly-used highway through these planes.

    These portals generally only appear in the top layer of the
planes, though some free-standing portals that pass through the
Astral (like the Yggdrasil) pierce the lower reaches of some
planes. Certainly portals are most common in the top-most layer
of a plane, so that travellers searching them out have a 1 in 6
chance of finding a portal per day (unless the Deities of that
realm have closed them or restricted access).

    Each time a traveller moves to a new outer plane, his magickal
items lose an additional plus and can become non-magickal. For
example, a traveller in the Prime with a sword +3 moves into the
Astral where his weapon becomes a sword +2. Upon entering
Limbo he is wielding a sword +1. The sword becomes non-magickal
if he enters another outer plane. (Once he re-enters the Astral,
his sword becomes +2 again.) Thus if he wants his sword to be
magickal in the plane of Gladsheim, for example, he must re-enter
the Astral from Limbo, then go directly from the Astral to Gladsheim.

    The portals between outer planes are often (50%) one-way and
also often (50%) intermittent (lasting a few hours to a few weeks),
with the rate of their appearances varying from Prime Material
days to weeks apart. There is no apparent pattern to where they
appear on other planes, so two portals that are adjacent in Olympus
may lead to radically different areas of Gladsheim. DM cruelty
is encouraged in dealing with this aspect of portals.

Encounters in the Outer Planes

    The outer planes are host to a large # of native creatures
that are very different from those on the PMPs.
Describing all the creatures of the outer planes would fill another
book of this size. Also, many creatures from these planes have
already been described in the MM, MM2, and FF books.
There are many unique creatures
here as well as familiar creatures that differ from realm to realm.

    Defining typical encounter charts for the various outer planes
is therefore akin to tyring to set up a typical encounter chart for an
entire PMP campaign. It cannot be done except
for those areas the DM has developed; in these areas the charts
must be devised by the DM.

    The DM is not being abandoned because there is a large
amount of source material available. The MMII provides
frequency charts for the various layers of Hell.
From these the DM can create standard charts, populated by
creatures of his own devising, monsters from other planes modified
for his campaign setting, and monsters already known to live
in the planes. In this manner the DM can create encounter tables
that are unique to his version of the outer planes.

    The following are general notes on encounters, which may be
of aid to the DM.

    Unique Powers: Singularly powerful beings, such as demon
lords, solars, Demi-Deities, and Lesser and Greater Deities,
appear only in very unusual circumstances as random encounters
(that is, on a typical table, as a result of a 2 or a 20). They are
usually out on their own missions. Unless the party attempts to
attack or attract attention, these beings ignore those who pose no
threat to their realms.

    Human Travellers: Human travellers are uncommon in the first
layer of each plane and rare at best on the deeper layers. Since
many humans arrive in the outer planes against their will (falling
into conduits, summoning or offending the wrong Deities, playing
with the wrong magickal items, etc.), they display a wider variety
of classes than found in the Ethereal or Astral (in which most
human travellers are there intentionally). <?>

Human Subtable for the Outer Planes
 

Class D100 Roll	Subclass D100 Roll	Character  Type	Level  Range
1-25	1-70	FIGHTER	5-20
-	71-80	Ranger	4-24
-	81-82	Barbarian	6-25
-	83-90	Cavalier	5-20
-	91-00	Paladin	4-24
26-50	1-80	CLERIC	4-24
-	81-00	Druid	4-23
51-80	1-80	MAGIC-USER	3-30
-	81-00	Illusionist	4-24
81-99	1-90	THIEF	5-24
-	91-98	Thief-Acrobat	6-24<>
-	99-00	Assassin	6-15
00	-	OTHER (DM's choice)	-
-	-	Monk	10-17
-	-	Bard    (7-8 F, 6-9 (Th)	13-20

    Adventurers are encountered in groups of 1d20 individuals.
Groups of <four> or les are of exceptional level (add <four to the
level range, subject to the limitations of race and class). Abilities &&
equipment are as determined on page 175 of the DMG.
Human travellers range from those with a purposeful
mission to those who fell into the wrong well and found
themselves with no way to get home.

    Native Creatures: Creatures whose descriptions list them
as natives of a particular plane or group of planes (such as the devils
in the Hells or the devas in the upper planes) physically exist in
these planes and can be permanently slain there.

    In the outer planes, only the weaker non-natives have their
physical bodies present; the stronger non-natives (greater
daemons, hierarch modrons, more powerful slaadi) leave their
original bodies behind and have new ones created on the plane
as for astral projection. Unique creatures found outside their
native planes are always in non-original bodies. Demi-Deities,
Lesser Deities, and Greater Deities have great control over their
existences in their own realms, as noted on page 124 in Appendix IV.

Combat in the Outer Planes

    Combat in the outer planes is similar to that in the Prime Material,
though the natures of particular realms, layers or planes
sometimes alter specific details. There are no general penalties
to armor, weapons, or missile combat except the decrease in
magickal bonuses due to distance from the Prime plane. The
effects of the outer planes on magickal weapons are detailed
on page 81. <>

    Fire, cold, ice, and other magickal attacks function normally in
the outer planes, though there are exceptions for certain planes
and their layers. Prime material plane poison does not function
against creatures from the outer planes when they are in their
home planes. There may be substances that affect these creatures
like poison, but they have not yet been found (and are liekly
different for each plane).

Magic in the Outer Planes

    The physical requirements for spell-casters are the same as in
the Prime Material combinations of spoken words, physical gestures,
and material components. Physical limitations of various
realms (such as the depths of the River Styx) may affect magick,
but the ability to CAST spells is not hampered by the general natures
of the outer planes.

    The outer planes have an extra-dimensional component, so all
spells that USE non-planar space (such as rope trick) function normally.
Only the uppermost layer of each plane has direct acces
to the Astral, so spells tha trequire access to the Astral function
only in that layer. The outer planes are only considered adjacent
on that topmost layer, thus spells that reach into other planes
must reach from the top layer and then out. Conduits and permanent
features that extend into other planes cannot be used as
media to CAST spells through. Thus a lower layer of a plane with a
conduit through the Astral does not enable a spell caster to USE
the astral spell. Spells that require access to powers && creatures
in the inner planes and PMPs do not function
unless otherwise noted.

    The outer planes are home to a variety of creatures && phenomena
(such as weather) that are familiar to the traveller. These
are, however, outer planes in nature and are unaffected by Prime
planar spells that summon, communicate, control or prevent
entry by these creatures. Comparable spells exist for each plane,
but they must be learned by the traveller in that plane (for example,
speak with animals of Elysium). These are not considered
modifications of existing spells. Spells CAST by beings native to
the outer planes can affect creatures in any layer of their home
plane, as well as travellers from the PMPs. There are
no plane-specific spellks that affect elemental phenomena
(such as fires and the creation of water or air).

    Cantrips of all types do not function in the outer planes. The
magickal energies of these planes tend to overwhelm such simple
spells (as if covered by a protection from cantrips) spell). WHen a
cantrip is CAST, the only effect is a loud popping noise.

    Certain types of spells function differently (or do not function at
all) in planes of a particular alignment (such as the planes of Law,
the Chaos planes, and the upper and lower planes). Modifications
are listed in the individual descriptions of the planes.

    Finally, Deities (demi-gods, lesser gods, and greater gods)
and other mighty beings reside in the Planes of Power in greater
concentrations than in any of the other known planes. These
beings may be immune to spells of particular types by virtue of
their ability scores or their powers on their native planes. Check
Appendix IV for more information.

Abjurations

    Abjuration spells CAST by a extraplanar traveller have no
effect on beings that are native to the plane the traveller is in (native
beings have a "home court advantage"). Abjuration spells CAST
against nonnative creatures function normally, as do abjuration
spells and spell-like abilities used by outer planar natives in home
planes and in the Astral and PMPs.

Examples

    * The protection from evil spell and related spells have no
effect against evil devils in the Nine Hells, as this is their home
stomping ground. They are effective in the Nine Hells against a
band of marauding demons from the Abyss. The protection from
good version can be used against extraplanar travellers of that
alignment.

    * Similarly, the exorcise spell does not function against an outer
planar spirit in its home plane.

    * The druidical spells repel insects, anti-plant, and anti-animal
shells function normally against creatures of these types from the druid's
home plane, but they do not affect outer planar insects, plants, or
animals.

Special Case

    * The dispel magic spell disrupts spells CAST by creatures
native to the outer planes. If a dispel magic is CAST upon an astrally
projecting traveller, success forces him to return immediately to
his home plane.

Alterations

    Alteration spells work normally with the following special modifications.

    * The Chaos planes (Happy Hunting Grounds to Tarterus,
inclusive) have a random effect on alteration spells that call
matter into being (for example, create water) or change matter into
other shapes (the polymorph spells). The chance of a random
effect for these types of alteration spells depends on the plane:
 

Happy Hunting Grounds and Tarterus	20%
Olympus and Abyss	40%
Gladsheim and Pandemonium	60%
Limbo	80%

    The random effect on created matter is that its appearance is
altered (a create water spell might produce a liquid with the thickness
of syrup or blue in color, or any other change the DM
desires). This does not affect the properties of the substance
(thick, red water still functions as water--quenching thirst, bathing,
dousing fire elementals, etc.).

    The random effect on spells that alter the shape of matter is
that they may either not function at all or they sort of function, but
not in the intended manner. Consult the following table if a random
effect is indicated:
 

D100 Roll	Effect
1-10	TARGET does not change in appearance || properties.
11-30	TARGET changes in appearance, but retains all the properties of the original.
31-50	TARGET does not change in appearance, but gains the properties of the new form.
51-70	TARGET changes to resemble some nearby random object or creature, but retains abilities of its original form.
71-90	TARGET changes to resemble some nearby random object or creature and gains the abilities and powers of that object or creature.
91-00	TARGET changes in form and function into something not in the nearby AREA. DM fiendishness is encouraged.

    * Access to the Astral and other planes is described in the preceding
general section. Lesser and Greater Deities can seal off
sections of their realms to extra-planar intruders (see Appendix IV
for the powers of the gods in their home planes). Travellers can
USE alteration spells to enter these portions of the planes, but
they cannot leave them. Other forms of egress (conduits, journeying
physically to the edges of realms where such a ban does
not apply, or crossing barriers to other layers of the plane) are
unaffected.

Examples

    * A purify food and drink CAST in the Abyss might (40% chance)
TURN the matter into a foul-smelling brew. The meal is wholesome
and filling, only its appearance is unusual. The same spell CAST on
the plane of Gladsheim has a 60% chance of appearing as a full
feast with glittering cups && polished silverware (the cups &&
silverware are only temporary and disappear in 3d4 turns).

    * An attempt to polymorph a slaad into a duck would have a
80% chance of a random effect in the plane of Limbo. This
could lead to a variety of results: The slaad is unaffected, the slaad
remains but is convinced it is a duck, the slaad becomes a duck and
retains its slaad intelligence and abilities, the slaad resembles a fellow
traveller and retains slaad abilities, the slaad resembles a fellow
traveller and has that traveller's powers, or the slaad turns into a sentient
oak tree (or whatever the DM wishes to TURN it into).

    * An individual in the upper layers of the Nine Hells can plane
shift, but below the seventh layer, most powers have sealed their
realms so that a traveller can plane shift in, but he cannot leave by
that method. Similarly, the word of recall spells does not function
in these deeper layers.

    * Blink and vanish rely on the Ethereal plane to work and thus
do not function in the outer planes. Duo-dimension shunts part of
the body into the Astral plane--this spell only works in the topmost
layer of each outer plane. Rope trick, which accesses extra-dimensional
space, functions normally, but it does not transverse
the gap between planes or planar layers.

    * As noted in the general rules, the control weather spell does
not function, though the gust of wind (which calls into being a
piece of air) does, with the standard chances misfiring noted
earlier.

Conjurations/Summonings

    Conjuration and summoning spells operate under the following
limitations:

    * Non-native beings are not summonable unless they are in
adjacent planes or planar layers. Conduits do not count in determining
adjacent planes.

    * Creatures native to the plane can be called upon, but they
are not controlled by the spell caster. Any tasks given such creatures
must be negotiated. Protective inscriptions used in the
PMPs have no effect in the outer planes for
restraining native creatures.

    * Prime planar conjuration or summoning spells that affect
specific types of creatures do not affect the outer planar equivalents
of those creatures. Special spells (not modified versions of
Prime planar spells) must be CAST to so affect outer planar creatures.
A conjure animals spell does not work, but a conjure Elysian animals
spell works in the plane of Elysium.

    * Power-rank beings (demi-gods and above) respond to conjuration
&& summoning spells only if they want to. None of these
beings appears before a summoner without a good idea of what
awaits. They never manifest themselves in areas of great peril
(such as the realm of a more powerful being).

    * Certain deities are immune to the effects of conjuration &&
summoning spells, in particular those that have just a verbal
component (see page 124 for the abilities of Deity-rank beings).

Examples

    * Creatures similar to insects live in most of the outer planes.
Some even resemble terrestrial insect life. Despite this, insect
plague and summon insects do not function on these creatures
unless CAST by a native to their plane. Native spell casters can
CAST such spells in their home plane and the PMPs.
These beings can instruct a patient traveller in USE of such
specific spells (summon Abyssal insects, for example).

    * A being called upon by a gate spell is aware of the situation
in the AREA of the caster and will not come if there is any danger of
conflict with creatures of similar || greater power. In such situations,
the being called upon will send a # of lesser creatures
as aid only if the situation is desperate. A Deity will never
pass through a gate to a location more than two planes or planar
layers away.

Special Cases

    * The wish, limited wish, and alter reality spells are granted by
the nearest Deity capable of granting such a desire. Deities
examine these requests more carefully here than in the Prime
Material; they deny those spells that would upset their realms.
Some Deities refuse to grant wishes by travellers in their realms.

    *  The find familiar will bring a familiar to the caster. The familliar
is either an imp, quasit, brownie, or pseudo-dragon. The DM is
free to add other suitable candidates, or to modify the appearance
(though not the abilities) of the beings (an imp that resembles
a black cat, or a badger with brownie-like powers). For quick
reference, consult the following:

    Nirvana: Brownie (50%) or Imp (50%)
    Arcadia: Brownie (90%) or Imp (10%)
    Seven Heavens: Brownie
    Twin Paradises: Brownie (75%) or Pseudo-dragon (25%)
    Elysium: Brownie (75%) or Pseudo-dragon (25%)
    Happy Hunting Grounds: Brownie (25%) or Pseudo-dragon (75%)
    Olympus: Pseudo-dragon
    Gladsheim: Pseudo-dragon (50%) or Quasit (50%)
    Limbo: Pseudo-dragon (50%) or Quasit (50%)
    Pandemonium: Pseudo-dragon (10%) or Quasit (80%)
    Abyss: Quasit
    Tarterus: Quasit (75%) or Imp (25%)
    Hades: Quasit (75%) or Imp (50%)
    Gehenna: Quasit (25%) or Imp (75%)
    Nine Hells: Imp
    Acheron: Brownie (10%) or Imp (90%)

    A familiar so rolled responds to the summons regardless of the
type of familiar called for, though if its alignment differs from that
of its master, it will at least seek to convert its master to its
alignment (and it may try to arrange the destruction of its master).

    * Certain spells that do not function normally becasue they
require access to an inaccessible plane can be used for another
purpose. The conjure elemental, invisible stalker, and aerial servant
spells cannot call these beings into the outer planes, but if
CAST upon the shores of the river Styx (see the end of this section),
they summon Charon, the Boatman of the lower planes. Any conjuration
|| summoning spell CAST on the shores of the Styx
attracts the attention of a charonadaemon.

Divinations

Divination spells are severely limited within the outer planes.

    * Spells that detect or identify alignment respond mainly to the
alignment of the plane, overwhelming the alignments of any
beings in the plane. These spells function normally if the plane is
of a different alignment than that being detected.

    * The vast majority of existing structures in the outer palnes
are creations of Deities. These edifices radiate a strong aura that
overwhelms the magical auras of lesser strength in the AREA.

    * A Deity can be contacted only if it is in an adjacent plane.

Examples

    * A succession of divination spells are CAST on a paladin in
Hell. A detect evil registers the evil all around the paladin.
Similarly, a know alignment shows the LE nature of the
plane and not the paladin's true alignment. A detect good reveals
the paladin's goodness, as it is specifically aimed at that particular
alignment. A detect balance shows only that the entire region
is extremely out of balance with neutrality. A detect magick registers
positive, regardless of whether the paladin has magickal items.

    * The commune spell CAST in Elysium only contacts the cleric's
deity if that deity makes his home in the Twin Paradises, Elysium,
the Happy Hunting Grounds, or the Astral plane. This applies no
matter what layer of Elysium the spell caster is in.

    * Commune with nature does not function, as the nature of
outer planes is alien to the Prime planar caster and the PMP
is more than one full plane away. Reflecting pool,
which taps into the inner planes, does not function because of the
planar distance between the Astral and Ethereal.

Special Cases

    * Contact other planes treats each planar layer as a full plane
for # of planes crossed in figuring chance of knowledge,
veracity, and insanity. An individual can cross a max. of 10
planar layers when casting this spell in the outer planes. (That is,
a caster pm tje 40th layer of the Abyss can only reach the 30th to
50th layers of the Abyss for answers). The entries in the "Elemental"
row on the table (in the spell description) are for the PMP;
ignore this row in the outer planes.

    * The true sight spell and the devices that mimic its abilities
have a potent effect on their users in the outer plaens. This spell
reveals the true nature of the plane in terms of Law and Chaos,
good and evil. Those viewing unadulterated Law or Chaos are
frozen in place for 1d10 turns. At the end of this time they must
roll a successful save vs. Spell or suffer the effects of a feeblemind
spell. Those viewing unblemished good or evil are
similarly affected; they must roll a successful save vs.
Spell or be changed to the alignment of the AREA being viewed.
Effects are cumulative, so that a LG individual in
Acheron who performs this action will be affected for 2d20 turns,
plus must roll <two> saves, one for feeblemind, the other for
alignment change. Those in the plane of Concordant Opposition
are not paralyzed, but must make a save vs. Spell or be
left insane for 1d10 years.

Enchantments/Charms

    Enchantment && charm spells function within these general
guidelines:

    * Spells directed toward specific creatures do not function
against the outer planar equivalents of those creatures. These
spells do work against Prime Material natives that are encountered
in the outer planes.

    * Deities with sufficiently high WIS ignore the effects of
enchantment && charm magick.

    * Planes beyond the outer plane (incl. all its layers) the
caster occupies cannot be accessed, though extra-dimensional
space can be.

Examples

    * An animal friendship spell works with Prime Material animals
that are encountered, but not with thhose native to the outer planes.
The equivalent outer planar spells can be learned in the
outer planes, subject to the limitations on spell teaching &&
research. Each plane has a different version of this spell.

    * The deeppockets spell reaches into extra-dimensional
space, so it functions normally. Shadow walk, on the other hand,
requires access to the demi-plane of Shadow and thus does not
function.

Special Cases

    * Non-Deity level denizens of the outer planes are considered
to be monsters. Thus charm monster (as well as the alteration
speak with monsters) works against these beings.

    * Beings of Power are not as dependent on their physical
forms, so the druidic spell finger of death is useless against them,
though it may function against their lesser minions, causing
those beings' hearts (or equivalent organs) to cease functioning.

    * Spells that involve confusion-like effects are enhanced in the
Chaos planes and diminished in the planes of Law. The saving
throw in the chaotically aligned planes suffers a -4 penalty,
while in the lawful planes it receives a +4 bonus. The planes of
Elysium, Concordant Opposition, and Hades grant no benefit or
penalty.

    * The magick jar spell, or any enchantment || charm spell that
leaves the caster's original body unoccupied, creates the risk of
that body being occupied by a native of the outer planes (see
under necromantic spells). <link>

Evocations/Invocations

    All invocation && evocation spells function with the following
limitations:

    * Invocations only work if the cleric's deity resides in that plane.

    * Other planes and planar layers can be reached into only if
the other plane or layer is spatially adjacent to the traveller's current
plane.

    * Local conditions in a realm or planar layer can dictate the
behaviour of physical objects in that realm || planar layer.

Examples

    * The astral spell can be CAST only from the topmost layer of
each outer plane (where it is spatially adjacent). The energy drain
spell, on the other hand, cannot be CAST as it requires contact with
the Negative Material plane. (As an aside, undead that are
encountered in the lower planes retain their life-draining abilities
despite the planar distance, as this is a natural [or unnatural]
function. The plane of Orcus is not a lot of fun in any event, as the
Lord of the Undead likely has a conduit leading into the Negative
Material plane).

    * A wall of ice spell suffers from the same restrictions in the
outer planes as it does in the inner planes. In unusually warm
areas, such as the infernal reaches of Hell, or Muspelheim
on the second layer of Gladsheim, the wall's duration
may be halved || quartered, according to local conditions.

Illusions/Phantasms

    Spells that USE illusion && phantasm magick can be CAST normally
in the outer planes, with the following caveats:

    * The caster should be aware that many of the creatures of the
outer planes, in particular the Greater Deities, who possess
superior ability scores, are immune to some illusionary attacks &&
effects.

    * Similarly, many of the creatures of the outer planes are of
sufficient INT && level to perceive invisible individuals.

    * Spells that rely on demi-shadow magick && shadow magick
function at half strength && half effects.

Examples

    * The illusionist spells shadow monsters, demi-shadow monsters,
and shades create creatures with half the standard HP
and half the standard damage when attacking. Their
chance to hit is unaffected.

    * Similarly, the spells demi-shadow magick && shadow magick
inflict only half thier listed damage || effects, though saves
against those spells are unaffected.

Necromantics

    Necromantic magick has no effect on the natives of the outer
planes in their home planes. Similar spells that do affect the
natives of the plane are used by those natives; these spells also
affect travellers from the Prime, Astral, and inner planes.

Examples

    * A pit fiend in his home plane of Hell canot be
affected by a cause light wounds or a destruction spell. By the
same token, such a creature cannot receive a heal spell or be
raised while in that plane. The pit fiend's ability to animate dead is
unaffected. Were the pit fiend in Acheron, however, the fell beast
could be affected by a slay living or by healing magic.

    * Spells that involve a body uninhabited by a spirit (raise dead,
resurrect and the spell magick jar) create an opportunity for native
spirits. These sentient spirits have a 1% chance per day per
depth of layer of inhabiting the vacant body. An individual who
perished on the third layer of Hades has a 3% chance per day of
his body being occupied before it was raised, while on the 100th layer
of the Abyss the body is definitely occupied if vacant for even
one day. This usurping being is never a unique creature. The
usurper will nto release the body willingly; it must be exorcised.
Such behavior occurs primarily in the lower planes and Chaos
planes, as forces that are neither evil nor chaotic would not consider
the occupation of the body of another.

    * Spells that reincarnate lost individuals USE the encounter
tables for the plane occupied. Reincarnated individuals are of the
prevailing alignment of the plane.

Special Case

    * The regeneration spell in the Chaos planes (as well as
devices that mimic its effects) can produce bizarre results when
regenerating lost limbs. There is a chance (similar to that involving
polymorph-type magick for each chaos plane) that a different
member is regenerated. DM fiendishness is again encouraged,
but keep in mind that the upper planes should cause less malformation
than the lower planes (an upper-planar odd regeneration
might be a silver || golden arm, while in the lower planes it might
cause a twisted piece of wood or the limb of some demonic creature
to appear).

Combination Spells

    As for most planes of existence, spells that are combinations of
spell types suffer al the restrictions && advantages of all types in
their casting.

Magical Items in the Outer Planes

    Magickal items taken form the PMP operate
under the following restrictions:

    * Weapons are reduced by <one> plus for each plane they are
taken through. This does not apply to planar layers, but does
apply to moving from plane to plane. A sword +4 becomes a
sword +2 in the first outer plane the traveller enters (as he must
also traverse the Astral plane). If the traveller moves to an adjacent
outer plane without first passing through the Astral, his
weapon becomes a sword +1. If the weapon becomes nonmagickal,
all special abilities are lost (except that weapons designed to
affect particular creatures in the outer planes retain their powers
in all the outer planes).

    * Armor and similar protective devices that offer defensive
bonuses suffer reductions as do weapons. Planar layers again do
not count, and items that have set AC values are unaffected.

    * Potions, scrolls, and other magickal items suffer the same
limitations as the spells they mimic. Those that USE abjuration
magick cannot repulse an outer planar creature in its native plane.

    * Magickal items that reach into extra-dimensional space function
normally. Those that access the Astral plane only function on
the topmost layer of an outer plane. Those that draw power from
the inner planes, or access the Ethereal, do not function.

    * Local conditions (i.e., a layer || realm that is totally ice bound or
under water) dictate special limitations on magickal spells &&
devices according to the physical nature of the layer or realm.

Player Characters

Magic-Users and Illusionists

    See the previous section for the effects on spells in the these planes.
Mages && illusionists regain spells normally in these planes provided that they bring along their spell books.

Clerics and Druids

See the previous section for the effects on spells in the Outer Planes. <>
As for other clerical and druidic abilities:
 

This only applies to evil undead. Those undead of neutral alignment
are treated as they are on the PMP. The modifiers <>
are reversed for clerics attempting to TURN a paladin
or command undead.
 

Thieves

    The abilities and their sub-classes and split-classes
are generally unaffected by the outer planes, but may be altered
by physical conditions in various realms & planar layers.

Fighters

    Abilities of fighters are unchanged in the outer planes.

Rangers

    Rangers retain their tracking and surprise abilities in the outer
planes. Those who have druidical spells operate under the same
restraints as druids. The ranger benefit against giantkind applies
to giants and similar creatures that are encountered in the outer
planes (such as those that live in Jotunheim).

Barbarians

    Of all the non-Prime planes, barbarians are least threatened
by, and most at home with, the outer planes. Some planes such
as Arcadia and the Happy Hunting Ground are ideal for these
characters. Barbarians who remain in a portion of the planes (no
larger than a realm, as the interrealm borders smack of fell sorcery)
for sufficient time can treat that region as well-known for
barbarian abilities.

Cavaliers

    Cavaliers retain their fighting abilities without handicap in the
outer planes. Horses brought into the outer planes generally
function without hindrance (subject to the nature of the realm the
cavalier is in).

Paladins

    Paladin combat abilities are unaffected by the outer planes.
Their other special abilities are modified as follows:

    * Detect evil is affected as for the spell.
    * Protection from evil does not work against evil creatures in their home planes.
    * Dispel magick (given by a holy sword) works in the outer planes.
    * Laying on hands can be done for all creatures, whether natives or not.
This is an exception to the general rules of necromantic healing spells.
    * Similarly, the paladin can cure disease as normal.
    * Paladins of sufficient level to turn undead and CAST clerical
spells do so with the advantages && disadvantages of the cleric, as given earlier.
    * A paladin's mount is unaffected in ability & HP. In
the upper planes of Law (Arcadia, Heaven, and Twin Paradises),
the mount's INT is increased to average and it
can speak with its owner in common or the alignment language of LG.
    * A holy sword carried into the outer planes by a paladin does
not lose any pluses (in fact it regains those pluses lost for travel into the Astral plane).

Monks

    Monk fighting abilities are unaffected by the outer planes.
Monk special abilities to speak with animals and plants are
negated in the outer planes. The dreaded quivering palm has no
effect on creatures that can be hurt only by magickal items.

Features of the Outer Planes

    The inhabitants and unique features that can be found in the
Planes of Power vary greatly from plane to plane and are detailed
briefly in the general descriptions for each plane that follow this
section. This section describes three particular features that
span a number of palnes. The spell-crystals can be found in
almost every layer of every plane, while the river Styx flows
through the lower planes only, and Oceanus in the planes of Elysium
and Olympus.

Spell-Crystals

    These are the outer-planar forms of the various spells used to
contact the outer planes or to bring creaturesfrom those planes
into a PMP. To the traveller (and to most native
creatures of less than 19 INT), these crystals appear
identical. Their effects become apparent only when a living creature
(of any plane) touches them.

    These multi-faceted crystals vary in shape from one inch to one
foot across and can be any color in the spectrum. Size and color
apparently have no relation to the type fo spell, though as noted,
creatures native to that AREA of INT 19 or higher can tell
which spell created a particular crystal. Travellers are advised to
AVOID spell crystals. DMs should treat such objects as rare ||
very rare encounters.

    A crystal can represent anything from a contact other plane or
similar divination spell to summoning || conjuration magick that
sucks the individual touching it into a PMP. If that
PMP is the traveller's home plane, there is no
effect SAVE that the individual returns safely home (those astral
projecting travellers are bounced randomly to another plane).
Being summoned to an alternate PMP results in
the traveller being treated as an extra-dimensional creature for
purposes of spell effects and abilities.

The River Styx

    The river Styx is a permanent conduit through the lower
planes, from the battlefields of Acheron through the Nine Hells,
Gehenna, Hades, Tarterus, the Abyss, and Pandemonium. It
functions in much the same way as the Yggdrasil as a method of
transportation through these planes. Contrary to speculation, the
Styx does not extend into the Astral plane, though portals do
stand on the banks of the river, enabling the boatmen of that fell
river to reach the Astral plane.

    The Styx is always in motion as it flows through the top layers of
each of the seven lower planes. The fifth level of the Nine Hells,
which contains the world-ocean Stygia, is connected to the Styx,
as are a number of the deeper layers of the Abyss. The Styx does
not appear to have a origin or a final outflow, nor does it MOVE linearly
to adjacent planes. Boatmen have been able to pass from
Acheron to the Abyss in a matter of hours, without passing
through the planes between them. The tangled skein that is the
full flow of the Styx has not been measured. Perhaps it cannot be
measured, seeing as it is an infinitely long river that passes
through a number of infinite planes.

    Those who touch, drink, or are immersed in the Styx forget
their entire past life, including spells and all alignments SAVE their
original one. A save vs. Spell is applicable, with a successful
SAVE acting as a forget spell CAST by a 15th-level wizard
(the previous <five> minutes before touching, drinking, or immersion
are forgotten). A successful save protects the traveller for <ten>
minutes (though he forgets that he has successfully resisted the
effect of the river).

    Those who are immersed in the river have the standard chance
of drowning in the swift flow. There is also a 50% chacne of being
dragged into another plane before reaching the shore. The same
holds for boats, in addition to a 20% chance of overturning for
small craft and a 10% chance for large vessels.

    Nonnative travellers boating upon the Styx, or those attempting
to water walk || fly across it have a 40% chance of attracting the
attention of 5d6 hydrodaemons or 3d4 styx devils (the latter if in Hell).
Most travellers on the Styx rely instead on the
native boatmen of the planes, Charon and the charonadaemons.

    Charon can TAKE the travellers anywhere on the Styx, as well as
into the Astral, Ethereal or Prime planes. Transit time is 1d100 turns.
Normal encounters apply, and in these encounters Charon
does not interfere unless his boat is threatened.

    Charonadaemons are lesser daemons who work in the service of
Charon as boatmen. They share his knowledge of the Styx, the
Astral, the Ethereal, and the various Prime planes. The time for transit
by charonadaemon is longer, 1d10 days, and normal encounters
occur. Like Charon, the charonadaemons do not attack || interfere
with party actions. There is a 10% chance per day of travel with a
charonadaeom that the boat picks up other travellers (who are
native to the current plane and probably hostile to the party).
Charon, if hired, does not stop for other passengers.

    Charon, the charonadaemons, and the hydrodaemons are
found in the MM2 under the daemons entry. Styx devils
are found in the FF tome under devil. <edit>

The River Oceanus

    The river Oceanus links the planes of Elysium, Happy Hunting Grounds,
and Olympus in much the same way that the Styx links
the lower planes. Like the Styx, the Oceanus disappears and
reappears a number of times in different layers of the planes, but
it seems to follow a course that begins in Thalasia, the third layer
of Elysium, flows through the second and first layers of that
plane, then across the topmost layer of the Happy Hunting Grounds,
then into the topmost layer of Olympus to its final REST in
the second layer of that plane, which is called Ossa.

    The Oceanus is a more natural river than the Styx, and no harm
comes to those who drink of it. The Oceanus, however, does
pose all the normal dangers of a large river, and does not have
the supernatural boatmen of the lifeblood of the lower planes, the
Styx.

Outer Plane Descriptions

    Space does not permit a full description of every realm in every
layer of every plane--only a brief description of each plane and its
major layers and realms can be attempted. Physical descriptions
and general information are discussed first for the plane, followed
by any special rules that apply. Also mentioned are the various portals
to and from each plane. Following this are the major realms and general
areas that the outer planar traveller can encounter, as well as
their native creatures and Great Deities, according to the general
AD&D campaign system. Only those Deities that have been
detailed in the Deities & Demigods and Unearthed Arcana tomes are
included for discussion, but this should be interpreted as the
complete list of the Deities that inhabit these planes. Those gods
specific to the established campaigns of the AD&D game are best
detailed in their individuals realms. Finally, a summary of the abilities
of new creatures is included so that judges are not at a total loss in,
say, the Court of Shang-Ti.

    The entries that follow are intended as game settings for teh
AD&D game system. They are not intended to describe, promote,
or ridicule any existing faiths or beliefs. Those seeking accurate
and detailed backgrounds of the various pantheons are directed
toward reference books on the subject, as the material that
appears within is a mixed bag of pure fantasy, game balance,
and mythological lore.

Beyond the Outer Planes

    What is presented in the preceding pages is a summary of the
realms, layers, and planes that make up the known planes of
xistence. This is by no means the final word on the subject, as
the nature of these infinite realms defies any all-encompassing
treatises. There can be any # of realms in a layer, so that a
third || fourth major pantheon can xist in Olympus/Arvandor, ||
an evil deity created by the DM can dominate a section of
Hell where no arch-devils rule. It is also possible that there
are further layers beyond those that hav been discovered and
reported. There may be an eighth heaven or a third paradise that
is undiscovered || unreachable by the spells && abilities known
to researchers. Gladsheim may have as many layers as the
Abyss, but lacks the Abyssal method of reaching them.

    Finally, our conception of the planes has grown with the
AD&D game. Original presentations of the inner planes make no
mention of the quasi- and para-elemental planes, and early discussions
of the outer planes leave out Concordant Opposition.
There may be more such planes beyond the scope of the model
of the planes presented here. There may also be a different form
of Astral space between the outer planes && planes farther out,
or within the center of Concordant Opposition.

    Even without new planes, there are enough wild && unexplored
known lands to occupy the xtra-planar traveller for years.
The demi-planes that float in the Ethereal may be the size of
worlds, their only limitation being that they are finite where the
other planes are infinite. Alternate PMPs enable
travellers to visit worlds that are Earth-like or not-so Earthlike,
familiar, hostile, and strange. The only limitation to planar adventures
is the imagination of those involved. This tome's purpose is
to help fire the imaginations of DMs and players so that they
xplore the myriad planes of the AD&D system.
 

OUT ON A LIMB

Plane articles


Dear Editor:
When I noticed the article on "The Nine
Hells" I was very pleased. I had been looking
for some information on any of the Outer
Planes for some time. After reading the article,
one question came to mind. Are you planning
on printing any more articles on the Outer (or
Inner) Planes? I would appreciate it greatly to
see some articles on that topic.

Simon Dunsmoor
Clearwater, Fla.
(Dragon #79)


We aren't really "planning" more articles on
other planes of existence, simply because we
don't have any manuscripts on those topics
right now, and we learned a long time ago to
not anticipate that we'll get certain kinds of 
submissions. But, as a general rule, we are partial
to other-planes articles; if and when we
receive such a manuscript that's well written
and comprehensive, we'll probably make a big
effort to publish it as soon as possible. With
the recent release of Monster Manual II, the
body of information on other planes (particularly
the Abyss and Nirvana) has been greatly
expanded. Maybe some ambitious writer will
take advantage of that fact to turn out something
of the same quality (if not quantity) as
the "Nine Hells" material. 

-- KM
(Dragon #79)

ScottyG wrote:
Gary, there's a rule that first appeared in Q1 stating that magic items lose pluses based on how many planes removed they are from the Prime. I thought I remember reading on a recent thread elsewhere that you weren't fond of that rule, and would have handled it differently had you had the opportunity to release some planer material, but now I can't find the thread or the quote. Is that correct, or is my memory off?
Scott

Your memeory ios correct. the value of magical weapons might remain unchanged, increase, or decrease on different planes. that is a comples matter and depends on the nature of the magic used to enchant each particular sort of weapon. fortunately, it is no longer something i need concern myself with, or I'd have a difficult task of classification and table-making on my plate :roll:

Cheers,
Gary

Bombay wrote:
Hey Gary

Just coming off a Total Party Kill(Demon webs at the pyramid with the drow/zombies.)

One real issue i came up with is the bonuses on items while on another plane, was hoping maybe you could shed some more light on a couple of items, would you give the saving throw or AC bonuses to the following.

Boots of striding and sprining(+1), Staff of power(+2), Cloak of Displacement(+2)

I initially ruled no, but was unsure, thanks.

bk

Off hand I'd say that all three of those items would likely dfunction normally on a netherplane.
Nothing there would interfere with their powers.
 

Cheers.
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Soel
Hello, Gary!

I don't know if you've covered this question before (very likely, I'd guess,) but I would like to ask you about your initial inspiration for coming up with differing distinctions for the fiendish creatures. Mainly, what caused you (taking an assumption it was your idea to do this,) to separate the classical demon into demons and devils and others?

I can understand having a hell, but I guess another part of the question is, why were other lower planes of existence created?

Thanx in advance!

Howdy Soel,

The separation of demons and devils followed rather naturally from the use of the alignments.
Demons in mythology are typically depicted as being brutish and chaotic, while devils are more orderly and cunning, so there you have the distinction.

The lower planes were a drawn from mythology as well, those being the realms of evil, the evil dead, and whatever was malign.

Cheers,
Gary