''Planescape'' is a campaign setting for the ''

Dungeons & Dragons ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) originally created and designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical ...

'' fantasy

role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, or abbreviated as RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out ...

, designed by Zeb Cook, and published by TSR in 1994.

Description

''Planescape'' encompasses numerous planes of existence, creating an entire cosmology called the Great Wheel, which was originally developed in the 1987 ''

Manual of the Planes The ''Manual of the Planes'' (abbreviated MoP) is a manual for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game. This text addresses the planar cosmology of the game universe. The original book (for use with ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st Edit ...

'' by

Jeff Grubb Jeff Grubb (born August 27, 1957) is an author of novels, short stories, and comics, as well as a computer and role-playing game designer in the fantasy genre. Grubb worked on the ''Dragonlance'' campaign setting under Tracy Hickman, and the ' ...

. This includes many of the other ''Dungeons & Dragons'' worlds, linking them via inter-dimensional magical portals.

Cosmology

The ''Dungeons & Dragons'' cosmology as reflected in ''Planescape'' consists of a number of planes, which can be divided into the following regions: * The

Inner Plane The planes of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' roleplaying game constitute the multiverse in which the game takes place. Each plane is a universe with its own rules with regard to gravity, geography, magic and morality. There have been various offi ...

s (representing planes of elemental nature, such as Water, Earth, Fire, and Air, as well as the Positive and Negative energy planes) * The Ethereal Plane * The Prime Material Plane * The Astral Plane * The Outer Planes (representing alignments and the primary domains of the various deities, where their petitioners spend their afterlives) ''Planescape'' "solidified the Great Wheel cosmology that began in 1e and would later be reinstated in 5e as the dominant of three theoretical models".

Outer Planes

The Outer Planes consist of: the Abyss, Acheron, Arborea, Arcadia, Baator, Beastlands, Bytopia, Carceri, Elysium, Gehenna, Gray Waste of Hades, Limbo, Mechanus, Mount Celestia, the Outlands, Pandemonium, and Ysgard.

Sigil

''Sigil'', the "City of Doors", is located atop the ''Spire'' in the Outlands. It has the shape of a

torus In geometry, a torus (: tori or toruses) is a surface of revolution generated by revolving a circle in three-dimensional space one full revolution about an axis that is coplanarity, coplanar with the circle. The main types of toruses inclu ...

, and the city itself is located on the inner surface of the ring. There is no sky, simply an all-pervasive light that waxes and wanes to create day and night. Sigil cannot be entered or exited save via portals. Although this makes it quite safe from any would-be invader, it also makes it a prison of sorts for those not possessing a portal key. Thus, many call Sigil "The Bird Cage" or "The Cage". Though Sigil is commonly held to be located "at the center of the planes" (where it is positioned atop the infinitely tall Spire), some argue that this is impossible since the planes are infinite in all dimensions, and therefore there can never truly be a center to any or all of them. Curiously, from the Outlands, one can see Sigil atop the supposedly infinite Spire.

Factions

Within Sigil there are philosophy-derived factions. Before the event known as the ''Faction War'', the groups controlled the political climate of Sigil. Each of these factions is based on one particular belief system; one faction's beliefs make them enemies while others make them allies. There are fifteen factions in total.

''The Faction War''

In 1998, TSR published ''Faction War'', an adventure that effectively closed the book on Planescape, as it was then ending the product line. The culmination of several adventures leading up to that point, the Faction War brought an end to the factions' control of the city. Instigated by the power-hungry Duke Rowan Darkwood, factol of the Fated, in a bid to dethrone the Lady and rule Sigil himself, the war spread throughout the city before the Lady of Pain, with the aid of a group of adventurers (the players' characters), intervened.

Sects

Sects are in many ways identical to the Factions, differing in that they are not based in Sigil. Sects are often highly specific to the particular planes they originate from, though historically many of the Factions were once Sects and some Sects were once Factions.

Rules

There are three principles (or

heuristics A heuristic or heuristic technique (''problem solving'', '' mental shortcut'', ''rule of thumb'') is any approach to problem solving that employs a pragmatic method that is not fully optimized, perfected, or rationalized, but is nevertheless ...

) governing the world of Planescape: the Rule-of-Three, the Unity of Rings, and the Center of the Multiverse.

Rule-of-Three

The first principle, the Rule-of-Three, says simply that things tend to happen in threes. The principles which govern the planes are themselves subject to this rule.

Unity of Rings

The second principle is the Unity of Rings, and notes that many things on the planes are circular, coming back around to where they started.

Center of All

The third principle (fitting neatly into the Rule-of-Three above) is the Center of All, and states that there is a center of everything—or, rather, wherever a person happens to be ''is'' the center of the multiverse... From their own perspective, at least. As most planes are functionally infinite, disproving anyone's centricity would be impossible. In ''Planescape'', this is meant philosophically just as much as it is meant in terms of multiversal geography. The fact that anywhere could be the center of the multiverse in this view also implies that nowhere can be said to be the only absolute true center. This sparks a lot of arguments and violence since some people believe the City of Doors to be the center due to its uncommon number of portals to other planes and position in the Outlands and some factions also claim different centers, each with their own significance.

Publication history

Development

''Planescape'' is an expansion of ideas presented in the ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' ''

Dungeon Master's Guide The ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' (''DMG'' or ''DM's Guide''; in some printings, the ''Dungeon Masters Guide'' or ''Dungeon Master Guide'') is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons''. The ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' co ...

'' (First Edition) and the original ''

''. When ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition was published, a decision was made not to include angelic or demonic creatures, and so the cosmology was largely ignored. However, fan demand for a 2nd Edition ''Manual of the Planes'' was strong enough to justify its expansion into a full-fledged

campaign setting A campaign setting is a setting for a tabletop role-playing game or wargame campaign. Most campaign settings are fictional worlds; however, some are historical or contemporary real-world locations. A '' campaign'' is a series of individual adve ...

, and so in 1994 Planescape was released. David "Zeb" Cook developed Planescape when he was assigned to create "a complete campaign world (not just a place to visit), survivable by low-level characters, as compatible with the old ''

'' as possible, filled with a feeling of vastness without overwhelming the referee, distinct from all other TSR campaigns, free of the words 'demon' and 'devil' and explainable to Marketing in 25 words or less". For inspiration, Cook listened to Pere Ubu,

Philip Glass Philip Glass (born January 31, 1937) is an American composer and pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. Glass's work has been associated with minimal music, minimalism, being built up fr ...

and ''

Alexander Nevsky Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky (; ; monastic name: ''Aleksiy''; 13 May 1221 – 14 November 1263) was Prince of Novgorod (1236–1240; 1241–1256; 1258–1259), Grand Prince of Kiev (1249–1263), and Grand Prince of Vladimir (1252–1263). ...

'', read '' The Dictionary of the Khazars'', '' Einstein's Dreams'', and '' The Narrow Road to the Deep North'', and for fun at "Bad Movie Nights", watched such films as ''

Naked Lunch ''Naked Lunch'' (first published as ''The Naked Lunch'') is a 1959 novel by American author William S. Burroughs. The novel does not follow a clear linear plot, but is instead structured as a series of non-chronological "routines". Many of thes ...

'' and '' Wolf Devil Woman''. Cook came up with the idea that all of the activity in Sigil would revolve around

factions Faction or factionalism may refer to: * Political faction, a group of people with a common political purpose * The Faction, an American punk rock band * Faction (''Planescape''), a political faction in the game ''Planescape'' * Faction (literatu ...

, each of which would be built upon ideas taken to their extreme. He also felt that Sigil was necessary as a crossroads for the planes and a campaign center which could be both an adventure location itself and somewhere to hide out, which characters could quickly get to and from. Cook decided to adapt the ''Manual of the Planes'' because the older material made survival on the planes too difficult or complex, so he ignored anything that made gameplay more complicated, which left the "descriptions of twisted and strange creations". Cook conceived of the look for the setting from images such as "the gloomy prisons of Piranesi's ''Le Carceri'' etchings, and Brian Froud's illustrations and surrealist art", and Dana Knutson was assigned to draw whatever Cook wanted to see. According to Cook, "before any of us knew it, nutsondrew the Lady of Pain. I'm very fond of the Lady of Pain; she really locks up the Planescape look. We all liked her so much that she became our logo".

2nd edition

The '' Planescape Campaign Setting'' was released, for ''AD&D'' 2nd Edition, in April 1994. The campaign setting was followed by a series of expansions detailing the '' Planes of Chaos'' (by

Wolfgang Baur Wolfgang Baur (born 1968) is an American game designer, best known for his work with ''Dragon'' magazine. He designs role-playing games and is known for his work at Wizards of the Coast. Baur is also the founder of Open Design LLC, later known ...

and Lester W. Smith), the ''Planes of Law'' (by Colin McComb and Baur), and the ''

Planes of Conflict ''Planes of Conflict'' is an accessory for the second edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, published in 1995. Contents ''Planes of Conflict'' contains six maps and five manuals for use wit ...

'' (by McComb and Dale Donovan). From 1994 to 1998, "''Planescape'' was a major setting" for ''Dungeons & Dragons''. The setting also had a small number of novels.

Later editions

Upon the release of 3rd Edition, Planescape, along with most other settings, were discontinued, although fan sites such as planewalker.com were allowed to continue to use the material and update it to the new edition. The 3rd Edition ''

'' (2001), the 3.5 Edition ''

'' (2003), and the '' Planar Handbook'' (2004) also used the general layout of the planes and some of the details from the setting, including Sigil, but these are not part of the Planescape line. Sigil is described in the 4th edition ''

'' (2008) and expanded upon in ''Dungeon Master's Guide 2'' (2009). Shannon Appelcline, author of ''Designers & Dragons'', commented that while Sigil "had been largely ignored during the 3e era", it "was faring better in 4e, despite the large-scale restructuring of D&D's cosmology" due to small inclusions in the ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' (2008) and ''Manual of the Planes''. Appelcline highlighted that it was the 4th Edition ''Dungeon Master's Guide 2'' which "saw the return of the fan-favorite setting of Sigil" which "was laid out as a full paragon-level setting. There's not much new here for old-time fans of ''Planescape'', but there was one ''big'' change as a result of ''Faction War'' (1998). The factions that caused much of the conflict in ''Planescape'' are now gone. ..The ''Dungeon Master's Guide 2'' also contains 'A Conspiracy of Doors', the first Sigil adventure to see print in many years". The 5th Edition ''Player's Handbook'' (2014) also contains a section explaining the planes and briefly mentions Sigil. There is also some information on Sigil in the 5th Edition ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' (2014). In July 2022, ''Unearthed Arcana: Wonders of the Multiverse'' was released as part of the

Unearthed Arcana ''Unearthed Arcana'' (abbreviated UA) is the title shared by two hardback books published for different Editions of Dungeons & Dragons, editions of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game. Both were designed as supplements to the co ...

public playtest series for the 5th Edition. Both ''

Polygon In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure made up of line segments connected to form a closed polygonal chain. The segments of a closed polygonal chain are called its '' edges'' or ''sides''. The points where two edges meet are the polygon ...

'' and '' ComicBook.com'' highlighted that the new character race – the Glitchling – and other references to the Planescape setting might indicate a

reboot In computing, rebooting is the process by which a running computer system is restarted, either intentionally or unintentionally. Reboots can be either a cold reboot (alternatively known as a hard reboot) in which the power to the system is physi ...

of the setting for 5th Edition. Charlie Hall, for ''Polygon'', commented that "this wouldn't be the first time that Wizards used playtest materials to tease a reboot of a classic setting". Christian Hoffer, for ''ComicBook.com'', wrote that "while described as a collection of material from around the Multiverse, many ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fans noticed that it contained multiple references to Mechanus, Sigil, the Outlands, and other areas explored in the popular Planescape setting. ..Based on the last handful of public playtests, it appears that ''Dungeons & Dragons'' is gearing up for some sort of multiversal book in the near future. Whether this is a true Planescape re-launch or just a book that uses the D&D cosmology remains to be seen". A three-volume box set titled ''Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse'' was released in October 2023 for 5th Edition.

Reception

''Pyramid'' magazine reviewer

Scott Haring Scott D. Haring is an American game designer who has worked primarily on role-playing games. Career Scott Haring began working in the adventure gaming industry in 1982. Haring had a long career with Steve Jackson Games, having worked at the compa ...

said ''Planescape'' is "the finest game world ever produced for ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''". Haring described the writing as "wonderful", also saying that it "has got one of the most distinctive graphic looks I've seen in any game product" and that the "unusual drawings remind ima little of Dr. Seuss". Trenton Webb of British RPG magazine ''Arcane'' called Planescape "the premier ''AD&D'' world", noting its hallmark as "a bizarre juxtaposition of legend and nightmare". Game designer

Rick Swan Rick Swan is a game designer and author who worked for TSR. His work for TSR, mostly for ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'', appeared from 1989 to 1995. Swan also wrote '' The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games'' (1990), published by St. Martin' ...

said that the original ''

'' had in a sense been "reincarnated as the Planescape setting ... TSR's most ambitious campaign world to date. Abandoning the straightforward but dry approach of the ''Manual'', the Planescape set reads less like a textbook and more like a story. Characters take precedence over game systems, high adventure supplants the physics lessons". Curtis D. Carbonell, in the book ''Dread Trident: Tabletop Role-Playing Games and the Modern Fantastic'', wrote: "Planescape's sophistication marked it as D&D's answer to its own simplistic medieval-European-inspired fantasy settings, .. Planescape channeled the Weird before

China Miéville China Tom Miéville ( , born 6 September 1972) is a British speculative fiction writer and Literary criticism, literary critic. He often describes his work as "weird fiction", and is allied to the loosely associated movement of writers called ...

brought the 'new weird' genre into focus .. With Planescape, we have an attempt by an AD&D game setting to add layers of intellectual complexity to a game often driven by much more simplistic mechanism. The greatest commerce isn't loot, treasure, magic items, etc.; it is belief so strong it can shape reality". In a review of ''The Great Modron March'', ''Backstab'' magazine contributor Philippe Tessier called the presentation of Planescape products superb in general. In his 2023 book ''Monsters, Aliens, and Holes in the Ground'', RPG historian Stu Horvath noted, "If there is a problem with ''Planescape'', it would be its vast strangeness. There's a lot to explain and not nearly enough space to fit it all in." However, Horvath lauded the artwork, saying, "The art picks up where the words leave off. ''Planescape'' is the apex of the aesthetic-driven, high-concept ''Dungeons & Dragons'' setting. Dana Knutson developed all of the concept artwork for the setting, which

Robh Ruppel Robh Ruppel is an American artist best known for his work on role-playing game products. Critic Joseph Szadkowski of ''The Washington Times'' has referred to him as a "horror genius". Early life Robh Ruppel grew up in Bellaire, Texas, and atte ...

turned into covers, and Tony DiTerlizzi used to fill out the interiors." Horvath concluded, "''Planescape'' often feels built for something besides conflict — the art, the philosophy, and the infinite reaches encourage exploration in a way few other ''D&D'' settings do: Characters are encouraged to just walk off into the multiverse until they find something to wonder at."

Awards

The '' Planescape Campaign Setting''

boxed set A boxed set or (its US name) box set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box, hence 'boxed', and offered for sale as a single unit. Music Artists ...

won the 1994

Origins Award The Origins Awards are American awards for outstanding work in the gaming industry. They are presented by the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) at the Origins Game Fair on an annual basis for games released in the preceding year. For example, t ...

for ''Best Graphic Presentation of a Roleplaying Game, Adventure, or Supplement''.

Official products

Boxed sets

* 2600 '' Planescape Campaign Setting'' * 2603 '' Planes of Chaos'' * 2607 ''Planes of Law'' * 2610 ''A Player's Primer to the Outlands'' * 2615 ''

'' * 2621 '' Hellbound: The Blood War''

Miniatures

* 10–519 "Planescape Miniatures" – box includes ten miniatures (Duke Rowan, Factol Hashkar, Factol Sarin, Factol Pentar, Lord Graz'zt, Lady of Pain, Erin Montgomery, Lord Pazrael, Factol Rhys, and Karris the Indep) and a Lady of Pain badge (made from the same metal material as the miniatures, but with a pin and backing like a "tie tac" so it can be worn as a "badge"). * 10–520 Planescape Miniatures "Powers of Chaos" – box includes eight miniatures (Baphomet, Bast, Corellon Larethian, Gorellik, Lolth, Loki, Ygorl, and Faerie Queen of Air and Darkness). * 10–521 Planescape Miniatures "Powers of Law" – box includes eight miniatures (Clangeddin Silverbeard, Hecate, Set, Tyr, Maglubiyet, Horus, Gruumsch, and Moradin). * 10–522 Planescape Miniatures "Powers of Conflict" – box includes eight miniatures (Cronus the Titan, Garl Glittergold, Tefnut, Hades, Cat Lord, Hel, Skerrit, and Arawn).

Accessories

* ''Planescape Conspectus'' * 2609 ''In the Cage: A Guide to Sigil'' * 2611 ''The Factol's Manifesto'' * 2620 '' The Planewalker's Handbook'' * 2623 '' On Hallowed Ground'' * 2624 '' Uncaged: Faces of Sigil'' * 2625 '' A Guide to the Astral Plane'' * 2630 ''Faces of Evil: The Fiends'' * 2633 ''A Guide to the Ethereal Plane'' * 2634 ''The Inner Planes'' * 2602 ''Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix'' * 2613 ''Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II'' * 2635 ''Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix III'' * ''The Planescape Sketchbook''

Adventures

* 2601 '' The Eternal Boundary'' * 2604 ''Well of Worlds'' * 2605 ''In the Abyss'' * 2606 '' The Deva Spark'' * 2608 ''Fires of Dis'' * 2614 ''Harbinger House'' * 2619 '' Something Wild'' * 2626 '' Doors to the Unknown'' * 2628 ''The Great Modron March'' * 2629 '' Faction War'' * 2631 '' Dead Gods'' * 2632 ''Tales From the Infinite Staircase''

Video game

The setting was featured in the computer game '' Planescape: Torment'', which portrayed the ''Planescape'' world (specifically Sigil, the Outlands,

Baator In the fantasy role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'', an Outer Plane is one of a number of general types of plane (Dungeons & Dragons), planes of existence. They can also be referred to as ''godly planes'', ''spiritual planes,'' or ''divine p ...

, Carceri, and the Negative Energy Plane). It is now a cult game and was out of print until its DVD re-release as a budget title in 2009. It was released as a download on GOG.com in 2010 and soon became the "second most wanted game" on the site. An enhanced edition by Beamdog was released on April 11, 2017. Marketed as a spiritual successor to ''Planescape: Torment'', '' Torment: Tides of Numenera'' was released in February 2017. The game takes inspiration from the previous game but is not itself based in the Planescape setting.

Collectible card game

TSR published a

collectible card game A collectible card game (CCG), also called a trading card game (TCG) among other names, is a type of card game that mixes strategy game, strategic deck building elements with features of trading cards. The genre was introduced with ''Magic: The G ...

based on the ''Planescape'' setting called '' Blood Wars''. The game featured major locations, personalities, and features of the Planescape setting and also introduced new creatures that were added to the role playing game setting as part of subsequent products.

Novels

* ''Fire and Dust'' (1996), by

James Alan Gardner James Alan Gardner (born January 10, 1955) is a Canadian science fiction author. Early life and education Born in Simcoe, Ontario, he attended the University of Waterloo, where he published his first story, "The Phantom of the Operator", in 19 ...

, a rejected title that the author has since published as a free online manuscript

* ''Pages of Pain'' (December 1997), by

Troy Denning Troy Denning is an American fantasy and science fiction author and game designer who has written more than two dozen novels. Background Denning grew up in the mountain town of Idaho Springs, Colorado. An avid reader of science fiction and fan ...

, () * ''Torment'' (October 1999), by Ray Vallese and Valerie Vallese, () *:''Torment'' is based on an early script of ''Planescape: Torment''.

Blood Wars Trilogy

* '' Blood Hostages'' (January 1996), by J. Robert King, () * '' Abyssal Warriors'' (June 1996), by J. Robert King, () * ''Planar Powers'' (August 1997), by J. Robert King, () ** ''Planar Powers'' won the

s for Best Game-Related Novel of 1997.

References

External links

''The Unity of Rings''
comic including basic information on Planescape
Planescape Survival Guide
Ongoing Planescape webcomic (since 2005)
The Acaeum's All Things Planar
Planescape collector's product list and forums
Planescape Collector's Guide
an expanded, reasonably comprehensive guide to products released for the Planescape setting {{D&D topics Dark fantasy role-playing games Dungeons & Dragons campaign settings Origins Award winners