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n00b questions.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Aug 06, 2004 0:42:09 I've only played Forgotten Realms when it comes to D&D. But the idea of plane-hopping and adventuring sounds bizarre enough to be loaded with fun. So I'm curious about it, and here are my very n00bish questions.

Is 'Planescape' an existing book? Or is it possibly based off of Planar Handbook and Guide to the Planes?

Where can I get official info on this, if not there?

Thanks in advance.

-Oddling
#2
Shemeska_the_Marauder
Aug 06, 2004 1:41:39
Originally posted by Oddling
I've only played Forgotten Realms when it comes to D&D. But the idea of plane-hopping and adventuring sounds bizarre enough to be loaded with fun. So I'm curious about it, and here are my very n00bish questions.

Is 'Planescape' an existing book? Or is it possibly based off of Planar Handbook and Guide to the Planes?

Where can I get official info on this, if not there?

Here's the short answer: The MotP and Planar Handbook are based upon Planescape, not the other way around. Planescape was a 2nd edition campaign setting for DnD that was singularly responsible for most of the detail on the planes of DnD. The Manual of the Planes is effectively watered down Planescape with less detail, it even quotes directly from Planescape material at times.

Planescape was printed between 1994 and 1998 and folded back into the generic DnD line shortly after WotC bought TSR. It revolved around Sigil, the City of Doors, and was intended to allow characters to adventure in the planes from even early levels. It didn't view the planes as explanar dungeons to go to at high level and kill fiends and take their treasure, which was how 1e tended to treat it, and how 3e has started to move back towards.

Planescape had a VERY unique flavor and atmosphere to the way it treated the planes. One of the central tenants of the setting was 'Belief = Power', along with the law versus chaos conflict on the outer planes, manifest in the Blood War.

Most everything you'll see in 3rd edition made by WotC concerning the planes is watered down Planescape.

Most of the Planescape books can be bought as pdfs from Svgames, and there's a hearty 2nd hand market for the books on Ebay, though some of the box sets can command $100 or more for one or two of the rare ones because demand is simply that high for it given the quality of the material.

3e information on Planescape, put into 3e rules can be found at the official 3e Planescape site Planewalker including the 3e Sigil guide by yours truly. ;)
#3
sildatorak
Aug 06, 2004 10:29:52
Originally posted by Shemeska the Marauder
the 3e Sigil guide by yours truly. ;)

I've got a non-n00b question to follow up on that. So the 3e Sigil guide is written in character by "the editor" ala The Factol's Manifesto. Did you write it as you-know-who (I won't say his name in front of you) or did you write it as Shemeska pretending to be him?

Also, welcome to the most mind-blowing campaign setting ever made, Oddling. The Planes are realms where anything is possible, and a canny spiv can work her way up from a street-urchin level thief to a potent blood-war meddler that changes the face of the war (at least for a little while).
#4
zombiegleemax
Aug 06, 2004 10:32:53 Wow, thanks a lot for the response.

"No more questions, your honor!"

I'm gonna do my best to hunt down some of that old material and check out your 3e revision.

-Oddling
#5
Shemeska_the_Marauder
Aug 06, 2004 14:22:51
Originally posted by Sildatorak
I've got a non-n00b question to follow up on that. So the 3e Sigil guide is written in character by "the editor" ala The Factol's Manifesto. Did you write it as you-know-who (I won't say his name in front of you) or did you write it as Shemeska pretending to be him?

OOC:

Whoops, sorry for the confusion there. The 3e Sigil guide I penned was written from the perspective of The Editor / A'kin. Or at least the asides within the text and the forward were written by him. It's quite possible that some of the text was by others and compiled by him, or that he wrote it all but attempted to stay in an impersonal voice except when he comments specifically as himself throughout the text (The latter is what I intended. If it's awkward at all I apologize).
#6
voldenuit
Aug 06, 2004 23:40:44
Originally posted by Shemeska the Marauder
OOC:

Whoops, sorry for the confusion there. The 3e Sigil guide I penned was written from the perspective of The Editor / A'kin. Or at least the asides within the text and the forward were written by him. It's quite possible that some of the text was by others and compiled by him, or that he wrote it all but attempted to stay in an impersonal voice except when he comments specifically as himself throughout the text (The latter is what I intended. If it's awkward at all I apologize).

Hm...however, the Editor of the Factol's Manifesto did go out of the way to hint that Shemeska the Marauder was partly responsible for the information in the book.

So, it might be a nice little riposte from Shemeska to commission the Guide to Sigil as if it had been written by the same Editor, especially if by doing so, she can take advantage of the mystique and aura involved. Typical 'loth subtlety. Now that the factions have been chased out of town, Shemmy might be capitalising on the "Faction Fever" that erupted after the War.

Either way, the book was written by a 'loth. We may not be sure which 'loth, exactly, but you'd be a damn fool to trust either of 'em :D
#7
sildatorak
Aug 07, 2004 18:09:37
Originally posted by Voldenuit
Either way, the book was written by a 'loth. We may not be sure which 'loth, exactly, but you'd be a damn fool to trust either of 'em :D

One of my favorite in-game quotes is on pretty much the same subject.

"A'kin is a really nice guy, but I don't trust him as far as I can spit."
#8
Shemeska_the_Marauder
Aug 08, 2004 0:03:54
Originally posted by Sildatorak
One of my favorite in-game quotes is on pretty much the same subject.

"A'kin is a really nice guy, but I don't trust him as far as I can spit."

That's similar to an in-game quote from my players, referring to A'kin: "He's rather nice and friendly... for a godless abomination."

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Aug 06, 2004 0:42:09	I've only played Forgotten Realms when it comes to D&D. But the idea of plane-hopping and adventuring sounds bizarre enough to be loaded with fun. So I'm curious about it, and here are my very n00bish questions. Is 'Planescape' an existing book? Or is it possibly based off of Planar Handbook and Guide to the Planes? Where can I get official info on this, if not there? Thanks in advance. -Oddling
#2 Shemeska_the_Marauder Aug 06, 2004 1:41:39	Originally posted by Oddling I've only played Forgotten Realms when it comes to D&D. But the idea of plane-hopping and adventuring sounds bizarre enough to be loaded with fun. So I'm curious about it, and here are my very n00bish questions. Is 'Planescape' an existing book? Or is it possibly based off of Planar Handbook and Guide to the Planes? Where can I get official info on this, if not there? Here's the short answer: The MotP and Planar Handbook are based upon Planescape, not the other way around. Planescape was a 2nd edition campaign setting for DnD that was singularly responsible for most of the detail on the planes of DnD. The Manual of the Planes is effectively watered down Planescape with less detail, it even quotes directly from Planescape material at times. Planescape was printed between 1994 and 1998 and folded back into the generic DnD line shortly after WotC bought TSR. It revolved around Sigil, the City of Doors, and was intended to allow characters to adventure in the planes from even early levels. It didn't view the planes as explanar dungeons to go to at high level and kill fiends and take their treasure, which was how 1e tended to treat it, and how 3e has started to move back towards. Planescape had a VERY unique flavor and atmosphere to the way it treated the planes. One of the central tenants of the setting was 'Belief = Power', along with the law versus chaos conflict on the outer planes, manifest in the Blood War. Most everything you'll see in 3rd edition made by WotC concerning the planes is watered down Planescape. Most of the Planescape books can be bought as pdfs from Svgames, and there's a hearty 2nd hand market for the books on Ebay, though some of the box sets can command $100 or more for one or two of the rare ones because demand is simply that high for it given the quality of the material. 3e information on Planescape, put into 3e rules can be found at the official 3e Planescape site Planewalker including the 3e Sigil guide by yours truly. ;)
#3 sildatorak Aug 06, 2004 10:29:52	Originally posted by Shemeska the Marauder the 3e Sigil guide by yours truly. ;) I've got a non-n00b question to follow up on that. So the 3e Sigil guide is written in character by "the editor" ala The Factol's Manifesto. Did you write it as you-know-who (I won't say his name in front of you) or did you write it as Shemeska pretending to be him? Also, welcome to the most mind-blowing campaign setting ever made, Oddling. The Planes are realms where anything is possible, and a canny spiv can work her way up from a street-urchin level thief to a potent blood-war meddler that changes the face of the war (at least for a little while).
#4 zombiegleemax Aug 06, 2004 10:32:53	Wow, thanks a lot for the response. "No more questions, your honor!" I'm gonna do my best to hunt down some of that old material and check out your 3e revision. -Oddling
#5 Shemeska_the_Marauder Aug 06, 2004 14:22:51	Originally posted by Sildatorak I've got a non-n00b question to follow up on that. So the 3e Sigil guide is written in character by "the editor" ala The Factol's Manifesto. Did you write it as you-know-who (I won't say his name in front of you) or did you write it as Shemeska pretending to be him? OOC: Whoops, sorry for the confusion there. The 3e Sigil guide I penned was written from the perspective of The Editor / A'kin. Or at least the asides within the text and the forward were written by him. It's quite possible that some of the text was by others and compiled by him, or that he wrote it all but attempted to stay in an impersonal voice except when he comments specifically as himself throughout the text (The latter is what I intended. If it's awkward at all I apologize).
#6 voldenuit Aug 06, 2004 23:40:44	Originally posted by Shemeska the Marauder OOC: Whoops, sorry for the confusion there. The 3e Sigil guide I penned was written from the perspective of The Editor / A'kin. Or at least the asides within the text and the forward were written by him. It's quite possible that some of the text was by others and compiled by him, or that he wrote it all but attempted to stay in an impersonal voice except when he comments specifically as himself throughout the text (The latter is what I intended. If it's awkward at all I apologize). Hm...however, the Editor of the Factol's Manifesto did go out of the way to hint that Shemeska the Marauder was partly responsible for the information in the book. So, it might be a nice little riposte from Shemeska to commission the Guide to Sigil as if it had been written by the same Editor, especially if by doing so, she can take advantage of the mystique and aura involved. Typical 'loth subtlety. Now that the factions have been chased out of town, Shemmy might be capitalising on the "Faction Fever" that erupted after the War. Either way, the book was written by a 'loth. We may not be sure which 'loth, exactly, but you'd be a damn fool to trust either of 'em :D
#7 sildatorak Aug 07, 2004 18:09:37	Originally posted by Voldenuit Either way, the book was written by a 'loth. We may not be sure which 'loth, exactly, but you'd be a damn fool to trust either of 'em :D One of my favorite in-game quotes is on pretty much the same subject. "A'kin is a really nice guy, but I don't trust him as far as I can spit."
#8 Shemeska_the_Marauder Aug 08, 2004 0:03:54	Originally posted by Sildatorak One of my favorite in-game quotes is on pretty much the same subject. "A'kin is a really nice guy, but I don't trust him as far as I can spit." That's similar to an in-game quote from my players, referring to A'kin: "He's rather nice and friendly... for a godless abomination."