''Planes of Conflict'' is an accessory for the second edition of the ''
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
Several different editions of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game have been produced since 1974. The current publisher of ''D&D'', Wizards of the Coast, produces new materials only for the most current edition of the ga ...
''
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...
role-playing game
A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, 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 these roles within ...
, published in 1995.
Contents
''Planes of Conflict'' contains six maps and five manuals for use with the
Planescape
''Planescape'' is a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, designed by Zeb Cook, and published in 1994. It crosses numerous planes of existence, encompassing an entire cosmology called the Great Wheel, as dev ...
setting.
The set details the
Beastlands
In the fantasy role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'', an Outer Plane is one of a number of general types of planes of existence. They can also be referred to as ''godly planes'', ''spiritual planes'' or ''divine planes''. The Outer Planes are ...
,
Bytopia
In the fantasy role-playing game '' Dungeons & Dragons'', an Outer Plane is one of a number of general types of planes of existence. They can also be referred to as ''godly planes'', ''spiritual planes'' or ''divine planes''. The Outer Planes a ...
,
Elysium
Elysium (, ), otherwise known as the Elysian Fields ( grc, Ἠλύσιον πεδίον, ''Ēlýsion pedíon'') or Elysian Plains, is a conception of the afterlife that developed over time and was maintained by some Greek religious and philos ...
,
Carceri,
Gehenna
The Valley of Hinnom ( he, , lit=Valley of the son of Hinnom, translit=Gēʾ ḇen-Hīnnōm) is a historic valley surrounding Ancient Jerusalem, Ancient Jerusalem from the west and southwest. The valley is also known by the name Gehinnom ( ...
, and the
Gray Waste
In the fantasy role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'', an Outer Plane is one of a number of general types of planes of existence. They can also be referred to as ''godly planes'', ''spiritual planes'' or ''divine planes''. The Outer Planes are ...
.
These planes provide the checks and balances that hold all the other planes within the great Planescape wheel in place, despite Law and Chaos trying to control these planes and swing the multiverse their way.
Each of these planes drains the lawful and chaotic tendencies from the personalities of characters who spend time on them, each plane bending characters to its own form of neutrality.
This set breaks down the nature, inhabitants, and ecosystems of these six worlds using the quotes, pictures, and slang in signature Planescape style, presenting information as a mixture of gossip, observation, and conjecture.
The referee's manual concisely provides a foundation on which to build a game while leaving enough freedom to allow the referee to work creatively.
The set includes four quick-start adventures that illustrate what these planes have to offer.
Publication history
''Planes of Conflict'' was designed by
Dale Donovan
Dale A. Donovan is a game designer who has worked primarily on role-playing games.
Career
Dale Donovan began working in the hobby-gaming industry in 1989. A past editor of Dragon magazine, Donovan worked for TSR, Inc., Wizards of the Coast, and H ...
,
Colin McComb
Colin McComb (born May 1970) is an American writer and game designer, who is best known for his work designing the Planescape setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game, and as the creative lead for the role-playing video game '' Torm ...
, and
Monte Cook
Monte Cook is an American professional tabletop role-playing game designer and writer, best known for his work on ''Dungeons & Dragons''.
Role-playing industry career
Early years
Cook has been a professional game designer since 1988, worki ...
, and was published by
TSR in 1995. The box cover artist is
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 att ...
, the book cover artists are
DiTerlizzi and Robh Ruppel, and the interior artist is DiTerlizzi.
Reception
Trenton Webb reviewed ''Planes of Conflict'' for ''Arcane'' magazine, rating it a 9 out of 10 overall.
He felt that each of the planes detailed "express six very different views of extreme neutrality. For while Order and Anarchy cannot gain a foothold here, Good and Evil can. Each force influences three of the neutral planes, but with surprising effects."
He found three of the set's quick-start adventures to be "excellent, drawing on the nature of the neutral planes to give the game and the NPCs contained within real power", but he felt that "Militancy Justifies The Means", the remaining adventure, "wibbles on too much about the politics of conflict, but works fine as a standard Planescape outing".
As part of the Planescape line, Webb felt that the production standards "continue to shame all other TSR offerings with quality artwork, powerful design and crisp text. ''Planes of Conflict'' links perfectly into other Planescape works, and die-hard cutters will instantly want to plunge their parties into all manner of neutral nastiness."
He concluded the review by stating that with this expansion pack, "Planescape confirms its position as the premier ''AD&D'' world. Its hallmark is a bizarre juxtaposition of legend and nightmare. As such, ''Planes of Conflict'' is an excellent, almost psychotic example of the twisted logic that makes the multiverse fun to roam."
Reviews
*''Dragon'' #229
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Planes Of Conflict
Planescape supplements
Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1995