i have a dm running a campaign there, and i dont know what i need to know, which is very far from knowing it.
also if there are differnt ages of something (i looked at a few posts to make myself feel stupid) i dont know what one we are playing in.
im also wondering about the cosmology of ,what is it kyrann or something, because i know allot about the planes and being rasied there would account for my lack of knowledge on the, umm, yeah whats-it-called continent. also my dm told me that there was no trasistive planes or outter and inner planes (astral, ethereal,nine hells, emmental planes,) but he cant even spell lolth correctly (no,no hes not stupid (probably smarter than other people i know), its more of an inside joke).
also questions and comments (preferably on how i should make a char) are welcome. and am i even asking the right questions?
[note] my dm might scrap the campaign, or change the setting since hes still planing, but id still like to know...
Yes the current age(era) is important to know. Get that information to us and we can tell you more about that age. And there is only 5 ages(era's) on krynn.
The main continent on Krynn is called Anaslon.
The main PC races are Human(barbarian, civilized), Elves(Qualinesti, Silvanesti, Kagonesti, half-elves, and 2 sea elves), Dwarves(Mountain, Hill, Dark, Gully{very stupid}), Gnomes(unique ask DM), Kender, Minotaurs, Irda(type of ogre), Half-ogre
Depending on your DM also Centaurs, Baaz Draconians, Kapak Draconians might be avalible.
All the main PhB classes should be avalible. But your DM might remove the Paladin, and possibly the Monk Class just a forewarning. Psyonics do not exsist on krynn, but could be if the DM allowed it.
Two new class Mystic, and the Noble class.
Depending on the age(era) your DM is running the Mystic, and Sorcerer class might not be avalible to play, and the bard might be without spells.
Clerics, Druids, Rangers, and Paladins have to have a patron diety to cast spells no if's, and's, or but's about it .
The main PrC Wizards of High Sorcery(WoHS abbev.), Knights of Solamnia(KoS), Knights of Neraka(KoN){might not be avalible depending on the age(era)}, The Steel Legionnaire(might not be avalible depending on the age of play)
If you have any other questions just shoot them out too us, and someone will jump up and answer if not multiple people will.
These 21 deities have many different names and some people and races don't worship the same pantheon or recognize certain deities as being the same.
For instance Sargonnas, the deity of War, Vengance, and Retribution is called Sargas by the minotaur... who would probably cut out your tounge if you said he was "That pitiful human deity Sargonnas".
Depending on era of play there may be less gods (Post War of Souls Age of Mortals sees two deities fall from the pantheon), but never more.
One of the major themes of Dragonlance is The Balance. Above all else the balance must be maintained. Terrible things happen if either good or evil tips the scales too much. One great instance is the zelot Kingpriest of Istar which strove to destroy all evil in the land... and pretty much did so... then turned on the neutrals... then good that was not 'good enough' untill he was convinced he was holier than the gods, demanded godhood.... and caused the first Cataclysm when the gods responded by dropping a firey mountain on top of him, which tore apart the continant.... upsetting the balance is bad mmmmmm'kay?
The other big theme is Free Will. Mortals were given free will, and the right to choose their own path, the gods cannot force them, (though they can trick them... but even tricked the mortal made the choice, a bad misinformed one, but still a choice). Taking away free will is bad (again see the Kingpriest).
This isn't to say good still doesn't strive to help others and redeam people, this isn't to say that evil still isn't... well evil. The scales constantly tip this way and that... such is the nature or free will. Its when the scales become so heavily stacked one way that the scales flip over that's when bad things happen.
Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Astral, Ethereal, Shadow
ok, so are those planes the same as the planes presented in the manual of the planes? or are they differnt in some way? where did you hear that, cause my dm told me otherwise?
and is law and choas the same as the good and evil balance?
and there is no blood war? (if you dont know what the blood war is, just say yes)
and are there any divided/warring kindoms i should know about?
ok, so are those planes the same as the planes presented in the manual of the planes? or are they differnt in some way? where did you hear that, cause my dm told me otherwise?
and is law and choas the same as the good and evil balance?
and there is no blood war? (if you dont know what the blood war is, just say yes)
and are there any divided/warring kindoms i should know about?
Your DM is misinformed. The information on the planar cosmology of the Dragonlance world is located in the Dragonlance Campaign Setting. The elemental planes and transitive planes are for all intents and purposes the same as those detailed in Manual of the Planes.
There is no blood war.
There are plenty of warring kingdoms ... too numerous to go into any sort of detail, but here's a brief (non-inclusive) list:
-Minotaur Empire has invaded the Silvanesti elf realm
-Tarmak (brute) empire has invaded the Plains of Dust and Duntollik (human/centaur realm)
-Qualinesti elf realm is occupied by hordes of goblinoids
-Solamnia has had half of its territory occupied by first a Blue Dragon Overlord, and now by the Knights of Neraka that administered his domain for him.
and is law and choas the same as the good and evil balance?
You had to ask the hard question didn't you? Yes, and no is your answer.
You see there was this little thing called the "Chaos War" where Chaos (capital C) the pure incarnation of chaos (little C) tried to unmake the world. All the gods (even those that are chaotic, Branchala, Sirrion, etc) had to come together and fight alongside mortals to keep Chaos from unmaking creation. I supose you could say that even the chaotic gods are lawful to some extent since they are gods of creation.
The nature of The Balance itself is lawful... so in a metaphorical and physical sense the greatest threat Krynn ever faced was Chaos incarnate.
However some context may be relivant. Sit down for a history leason and there are variations on this story (even the gods don't agree in the setting, and the creation story seems to alter a bit with each new edition sooo...)
There was the High God... and he (she, it) decided to create... so it brought forth three 'children' from the void, raw nothingness. the gods Paladine, Gilean, and Takhisis (the hows and whys are debatable). Good, neutral, and evil respectivly. These three decided to make a world, and out of the void drew the lesser gods. One of these was Reorx, the forger. He forged the world according to the three's design, but the sparks from his forge were found to be 'alive', the sparks were souls. The gods all coveted the souls and wanted them for themselves... thus the All Saints War was fought. Eventually it was decreed (some say by the High God) that each of the pantheons (Light, Twilight, and Darkness, good, neutrality, and evil) would create one race. The Gods of Light make the elves, the Gods of Twilight made humans, and the Gods of Darkness made ogre (the high ogre, more beautiful and magical than the elves... obviously they didn't stay that way... a story for another time).
Free will was gifted to the races so they may choose their destiny... it's at this point Reorx the forger was tricked by Hiddukel (evil god of lies... go figure) to try to capture a piece of the void, the pure chaos of raw existance and make it into a gem, so that the scales would always be assured to swing. Reorx screwed up.... instead of capturing a piece... he imprissoned Chaos itself... Thus the Grey Gem was created.
Long story short (too late) the Grey Gem could never be contained or captured for very long, not even by the gods. It roamed free over Krynn and twisted the beings it came in contact with into new races, (Dwarves, Kender, Goblins, Gnolls, Giants... all these are called 'Grey Gem races'). Thus it was untill the Irda (a sect of High Ogre that were good aligned and avoided 'The Fall of the Orge' ) came into possession of the Grey Gem... and they got the bright idea to crack it open... and freed Chaos. Chaos, The Father of All and Nothing (so he was called since Creation was formed from the essence of chaos but he was never the forger) was... a little angry, and decided to destroy the plaything of the High God's children. Chaos brought into being horrible abominations upon the worlds (Dragons made of pure fire, Shadow Wights... holes in esistance that would erase you from all memory).
It took the combined efforts of all the Gods and mortals to stop Chaos. Although what exactly happened to Chaos after the Chaos War... is a bit of a mystery.
From what I've read about the Rise of Solamia trilogy, the first book involves this mysterious new character kicking the Nerakan knights out of Palanthas and elsewhere and sending them back to Neraka.
And on "warring nations", we can also add the ogres allying with the minotaurs against humans and elves. Plus they are probably trying to reclaim parts of the realm of Sable.
Additionally, Solamnics, elves and Ergothians are probably trying to regain Southern Ergoth from the forces of Gellidius.
and there is no blood war? (if you dont know what the blood war is, just say yes)
Not in the Planescape sense, no. However the gods of darkness have demons and devils serving them, and the gods war against each other using these armies. But its not really a Blood War, and the gods focus more on mortal conflict on Krynn.
They have the Abyss(Evil), the Dome of Creation(good), The Hidden Vale(neutral), Material Plane, Eart, Air, Water, Fire, Astral, Ethereal, Shadow
There are also three other key "planes."
The Ethereal Sea (not to be confused witht he Ethereal Plane mentioned above. This is basically the "Beyond" that is always talked about. The gods came from here, but other than that...I don't know much about it...it's just...well, beyond. ;)
The Ethereal Plane...otherwise known as the Gray (or the Grey, depending on who's writing it). The souls may depart to here (if they don't move on, or aren't called to one of the gods), and there's speculation that the huldrefolk (and perhaps other fey creatures) came from here. I think other than that...it is supposed to function like the Ethereal Plane from the MotP.
The Void of Chaos. This is a "small" area within the Beyond where chaos reigns supreme. This was where Reorx went to capture the essence of chaos within the Greygem (and inadvertently captured Chaos instead). It has been speculated that Chaos was actually once a deity of creation, more powerful than the rest, but still just a normal god. He betrayed the Highgod and was banished to the Void of Chaos. Trapped within the Void, this god (Ionthas) went insane. Surrounded by nothing but chaos, he finally came to believe that he truly was the "physical" manifestation of chaos...an entity of an idea, Chaos. When Reorx came to capture the essence of chaos from the Void, Chaos saw his chance for escape, and entered the Greygem willingly. Although he was trapped in the gem, he was free of the Void and he could trounce around Krynn, playing with the Highgod's creation...doing what he could to cause chaos and destruction. The rest...well, Nived did a good job of explaining it.
The last place is called the River of Souls, which travels throught he Gate of Souls. This is the most enigmatic of them all in that it's not really clear (even after the War of Souls, the Appendix, and the DLCS) what this is. It would appear that when people die, their souls have choices on where they can go (or at the very least, varied place where they go...not sure how much choice there is in the matter). The soul could stay and become a ghost or some other form of ethereal undead...this is probably the fate of those who become trapped in the Gray, as it is in contact with all planes at once. The soul could go to its patron deity to serve them in the afterlife (this has been seen a few times with Chemosh (Lord of the Undead), Hiddukel (Broker of Souls), Takhisis (Queen of Darkness), and even Paladine (Lord of Good)). The final choice is that the soul may move on in the River of Souls to the "next stage of existance." Whatever that means. Either way...once in the River of Souls (which again touches all planes) the soul moves on and through the Gate of Souls...at which point your guess is as good as mine as to where they go or what becomes of them.
So...there you go. It's kinda like Dragonlance 101 from everyone. Hopefully we are being of some help.
(EDITED because of inaccuracies)
The main PC races are Human(barbarian, civilized), Elves(Qualinesti, Silvanesti, Kagonesti, half-elves, and 2 sea elves), Dwarves(Mountain, Hill, Dark, Gully{very stupid}), Gnomes(unique ask DM), Kender, Minotaurs, Irda(type of ogre), Half-ogre
And Half-kender.
Depending on your DM also Centaurs, Baaz Draconians, Kapak Draconians might be avalible.
Ogre is another powerful race. And of course the Bestiary of Krynn has all sorts of rules for different monstrous races.
Two new class Mystic, and the Noble class.
There are two others: The mariner (self explanitory) and the master (basically the PC version of the expert). The noble is pretty self-explanitory, but the mystic is basically the divine magic counterpart to the sorcerer.
There are of course a ton of new PrCs...they're great (mostly) but Dragontooth hit the nail on the head with the main ones mentioned above.
Cheers,
Cam
You don't want to confuse the Ethereal which is within the "bubble" of the planes surrounding Krynn, and the boundless Ethereal Sea outside of it. The Gray is that which is within, and Beyond is that which is without, although portals between the Gray and the Beyond are responsible for much of the troubles that lead up to the War of Souls (especially since it was through one of those pathways that Takhisis moved the world and past the Gate of Souls).
Damn! I was going off of memory...I was hoping I'd gotten it right.
So the Ethereal Plane is the Gray and the Ethereal Sea is the Beyond?
Damn! I was going off of memory...I was hoping I'd gotten it right.
So the Ethereal Plane is the Gray and the Ethereal Sea is the Beyond?
That's ... interesting because the Towers of High Sorcery on page 152 says that the Ethereal Sea = The Gray.
That's ... interesting because the Towers of High Sorcery on page 152 says that the Ethereal Sea = The Gray.
See...that's what I thought it was supposed to be...because The Gray and the Ethereal Plane (of the MotP) isn't supposed to be the same place, is it?
That's ... interesting because the Towers of High Sorcery on page 152 says that the Ethereal Sea = The Gray.
The space outside of the bubble of planes = Deep Ethereal, Ethereal Sea, etc etc. It's connected to the Ethereal that's inside the bubble, which is known as the Gray, and in fact it's probably fair enough to say that the outside Ethereal could also be known as the Gray given that they're connected.
The Beyond is most definitely what lies outside the bubble.
Cheers,
Cam
.
The Beyond is most definitely what lies outside the bubble.
Fair enough, Cam. You've sold me on it.
what about Krynn space?
As far as I'm concerned, there is no Krynnspace in the Spelljammer sense. But if you're talking about Krynn space (as in Krynn's space, ie, the solar system that Krynn exists in)...well, that'd all be on the material plane.
what about Krynn space?
There is no Krynnspace.
Cheers,
Cam
So no spelljammer then?
There is no Spelljammer.
Cheers,
Cam
There is no Spelljammer.
Cheers,
Cam
Thank the High God. Krynn for Dragonlancers and only Dragonlancers! Down with the Spelljammers!!
*shivers at the thought of hippo-headed gun freaks*
The space outside of the bubble of planes = Deep Ethereal, Ethereal Sea, etc etc. It's connected to the Ethereal that's inside the bubble, which is known as the Gray, and in fact it's probably fair enough to say that the outside Ethereal could also be known as the Gray given that they're connected.
Cheers,
Cam
Per the DLCS, the Astral and Shadow planes are also connected to the Ethereal Sea. By that logic, the Astral and Shadow planes would also be considered "the Gray". Is that what you're saying?
Per the DLCS, the Astral and Shadow planes are also connected to the Ethereal Sea. By that logic, the Astral and Shadow planes would also be considered "the Gray". Is that what you're saying?
No, they're separate. Although unless you have ranks in Knowledge (the planes), you probably think anything like that's the Gray.
Khellendros has ranks in Knowledge (the planes), doesn't he? I would hope so...
Cheers,
Cam
Thank the High God. Krynn for Dragonlancers and only Dragonlancers! Down with the Spelljammers!!
*shivers at the thought of hippo-headed gun freaks*
Hey, I like Spelljammer.
I do agree though that it would mess with Krynn too much.
No, they're separate. Although unless you have ranks in Knowledge (the planes), you probably think anything like that's the Gray.
Okay, I know I said you sold me on it...but just one more question.
You're saying the actual "Gray" is the Ethereal Plane, correct? Even though by default, the Ethereal Sea could be, too...
The question is...which plane are the standing stone gates connected too? Meaning, throughout the 5th Age...which plane are we calling the "Gray?" The Ethereal Sea, or the Ethereal Plane?
Towers of High Sorcery says the Ethereal Sea...that doesn't mean it's right, though.
Khellendros has ranks in Knowledge (the planes), doesn't he? I would hope so...
He sure does ... his modifier ends up being 60+.
Interestingly enough, the old SAGA materials states that the Gray = the Ethereal plane and the Astral plane ...
The question is...which plane are the standing stone gates connected too? Meaning, throughout the 5th Age...which plane are we calling the "Gray?" The Ethereal Sea, or the Ethereal Plane?
Towers of High Sorcery says the Ethereal Sea...that doesn't mean it's right, though.
As far as official printed word, the Gray appears to be the Ethereal Sea ... if you believe ToHS.
but the Abyss is really the first level of Hell in the mainstay D&D world.
That's BS as far as I was concerned in 2nd edition AD&D days. And completely not true as far as 3rd edition is concerned.
The Abyss is the Abyss. It is its own plane. It is an evil plane, and that's it. It's not lawful, it's not chaotic, it's just evil. It's not the Abyss of the MotP nor is it the 1st level of Hell from BoVD.
That actually brings up an interesting question...since it's just a plane of evil, not chaotic or lawful...do both demons and devils inhabit the Abyss? (I'm pretty sure this is explored in the DLDMS...but I can't remember for sure).
That actually brings up an interesting question...since it's just a plane of evil, not chaotic or lawful...do both demons and devils inhabit the Abyss? (I'm pretty sure this is explored in the DLDMS...but I can't remember for sure).
Yes they do! The Abyss is home to all fiends, with the Dome of Creation being the home of all celestials. It's an unqualifiably vast plane that doesn't really behave in any single consistent way (even though it may seem to from the books).
Cheers,
Cam
You're saying the actual "Gray" is the Ethereal Plane, correct? Even though by default, the Ethereal Sea could be, too...
As far as I'm aware, there's only one way out of the bubble - the Gate of Souls. However, there are multiple paths out of that gate, and these are the portals Khellendros learned to access. The Gate didn't really block anything during the early Age of Mortals of course, since the planar bubble was absent. Krynn was surrounded by Takhisis' necromantic barrier but it was wide open to all manner of outsiders, hence the arrival of the alien overlords.
The Gray was introduced along with the huldrefolk I believe, back in Tales of the Lance, and expanded upon in the Fifth Age novels and SAGA products. It should technically apply to the Ethereal plane only, but perhaps all three transitive planes are referred to it in that fashion. The Astral is "brighter" and the shadow plane is "darker" than the ethereal, hence the Gray association.
Cheers,
Cam
It should technically apply to the Ethereal plane only, but perhaps all three transitive planes are referred to it in that fashion.
So...you're saying we should add that sidebar to the erratum over at the DragonlanceForums, eh?
That's fine...I just wanted to make sure I understood it correctly.
So...you're saying we should add that sidebar to the erratum over at the DragonlanceForums, eh?
That's fine...I just wanted to make sure I understood it correctly.
Next time you're in a debate with one of those Aesthetics regarding the nature of the planes, feel free to point him my way, yes. I'll talk in circles a little and then make some kind of vague point and he should be satisfied.
Cheers,
Cam
Next time you're in a debate with one of those Aesthetics regarding the nature of the planes, feel free to point him my way, yes. I'll talk in circles a little and then make some kind of vague point and he should be satisfied.
LOL! Yeah, I'll do that...I know I'm spinning at the moment.
I really wouldn't care if it was in a novel, but since it's a game book, we need to be clear on what it is supposed to be, I think. It seems to me that it'd just be easier (read: less confusing) to say it was a typo in ToHS than trying to explain why it could be right.
For, while you may be right that one could probably call the Shadow, Astral, Ethereal Planes and even the Ethereal Sea the Gray, it does say that the Huldrefolk use the gates to open a portal into the Ethereal Sea. That would be an incorrect statement, no matter how you play with the idea, right? So it should read "Ethereal Plane."
I think I've got it straight in my head now...
I have no idea where the gates go...perhaps they're designed to go to the Ethereal Sea via the Ethereal Plane (since it's the Ethereal Plane that is so close to the Material Plane)...so perhaps both truly are "the Gray." I know for sure that the Ethereal Sea was inaccessable during the early 5th Age...so when Khellendros finally got the gate open at the end of Eve of the Maelstrom he was probably only able to acess the Ethereal Plane (and couldn't get to the Sea).
I don't know. From now on...when people start discussing the cosmology...I'm just going to nod and smile.
off this whole ethereal thing...
are there half-feinds and yugoloths in dragonlance? and what about other outsiders?
i know there arnt any orcs, but are there goblins and kobolds?
also how common is planar travle?
oooooook,
off this whole ethereal thing...
are there half-feinds and yugoloths in dragonlance? and what about other outsiders?
Yeah, they are there, but the setting doesn't really focus on them. Basically, if the DM wants them, they can exist. Otherwise, it's not really a selling point for dragonlance
i know there arnt any orcs, but are there goblins and kobolds?
also how common is planar travle?
Planar travel is pretty much unheard of. Goblins and Kobolds are really common, especially goblins. They're basically the fodder race in DL.
The monsters I mentioned that don't belong on krynn are it. All other monsters from the Monster Manual 1, 2, and 3 exsist on Dragonlance. Unless its Psionic creature. Also most od ball Dragons don't exsist on Krynn like Gem Dragons, Fang, and can't think of the other ones. Shadow Dragons do exsist on Krynn. Also no Half-dragons, but this is one of the creatures that can be shoed in by the DM if he wants to. Not a big deal to allow, or disallow them.