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D&D Worldbuilding: Planar Cosmology

When designing a cosmology, the primary goal is to explain the rules of physics that will affect the players, or at least affect their understanding of the game setting on a larger scale. You can always go with a traditional D&D model like the Great Wheel, World Tree, or World Axis if you don’t want to bother with creating one, or the players might simply not have knowledge of planes other than the Material Plane. Heck, maybe they don’t exist! But if you DO want to create a cosmology, make sure you think about the things that will matter to your campaign.

Your cosmology might depend on the story you want to tell. If you plan to have the players travel to other planets, you’ll need to map them out. If you plan to have players hopping from plane to plane, you will need to explain how they affect one another and how they connect and how they are different. If your campaign takes place in an unusual world very different from our own, you might need to explain what those differences are and what causes them.

To start with, I would first determine what sorts of planes exist in your world. There can be many, even infinite, or just a few or a couple of planes. Once you have those, you can arrange them and determine how they interact. A lot of this stuff is picked up from the 3e Manual of the Planes, with some new ideas added.

Planar Traits

For each plane, you should determine its traits as they would affect the players and the other inhabitants of the plane. When you make these decisions, you should always consider how they will affect the inhabitants; how they evolve, how they act, and how they advance technology to make their lives easier.

Planar Shape: This is honestly my favorite part of creating a plane. It can lead to truly memorable and unique planes. Remember Sigil? Of course you do. It’s a city lining the inside of a donut. Imagine a whole plane shaped like that and how interesting it would be as a campaign setting. To help brainstorm this, look around you and imagine how ordinary objects would look like as a plane and how it would affect creatures within.

Keep reading

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@omfgreylo Show how to print, fold, and make holes for #fanficbookbinding

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If I have to see it so do you.

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"Cooking is an art, baking is a science. Candy making is sorcery. It's black magic. I'm six failed attempts at fudge in, candy is a cruel joke that sugar plays on god"

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The stigma of self-inserts is so harmful to the creative process. Relax. Admit it. Everything you make is derivative of yourself, always, no exceptions. You can turn the mirror into tinier and tinier shards or you can make it as big as you want to reflect as much as you want. At the end of the day it's always going to show you inside of it. Pretending otherwise is stupid.

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if i think about the hunger games in peeta's perspective i WILL start sobbing

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This list includes doctors in the United States, Australia, Canada, and Europe!

Even if you're not the target demographic, please share for any of your friends who may be.

And if you or someone you know would like to be added to the list, there's a place for that!

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@themysterioust​ this is why Tofu is banned from the kitchen

life becomes so beautiful when you start cooking rice in liquids other than water

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A faerie introduces himself. Then, holding out a hand, asks, “And your name, please?”

And, like a fool, you give it to him.

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translator? uhm.. im actually trans right now

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New D&D comic! Featuring Daddy Lazarus

My D&D comics on tapas

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Reblog if you’re over 20 and still read/write fan fiction.

I’m curious!

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the distinction between board games and TTRPGs only exists in your heart baby

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I started a band with friends called 999 Megabytes

Still haven’t gotten a gig though

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If Bad Boys sounds like a name made by kids on the playground, and Cleo’s team is just playing house, and Impulse giving Bdubs a clock feels like a kindergarten marriage…is this ENTIRE season just a big playground game of pretend at recess?? Did Jimmy push Tango off the tire tower and immediately apologize because he felt bad?? Is Bdubs’ boogey kill the equivalent of someone telling him he’s the bad guy, and him pointing at Skizz and going “BANG! You’re dead!” because like - that would make so much fckn sense honestly.

It’s recess, boys, and they’re pulling out EVERY game in the playground handbook

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y’know I’ve been having thoughts about mumbo not being in limited life so…….

“No. Absolutely not.”

Mumbo splutters, “W-What? Why not?!”

Grian stares at him, expression very serious. He crosses his arms. “Because, Mumbo,” is all he says.

A frown threatens to pull on Mumbo’s lips, as he already feels the corners of his mouth twitching. He stares down at his boyfriend with a bit of incredulousness. This was not the answer he expected upon asking Grian if he could join the next life game. Last Life had been quite fun, even if it was a bit overwhelming and terrifying all at once. He had liked it. It was nice to let loose. And Grian seemed plenty happy he was there! So, “Why?” he repeats himself. “Is it — was I bad at the game? Oh goodness, I didn’t ruin it for the others, did I?”

He sees something in Grian’s eyes crack, and the avian is pulling his gaze away. “It’s nothing like that. I’d even say you were great, Mumbo.”

“So then why can’t I join this next one?” Mumbo asks, beginning to feel just a bit frustrated. “Just give me a straight answer, Gri. That’s all I want.”

Grian looks up at him, and Mumbo attempts to plead with him with his eyes. He watches the very moment Grian’s resolve breaks, seeing it in the way his shoulders sag as he uncrosses his arms.

“The life games are different from Hermitcraft,” Grian says, and Mumbo blinks.

“Well — yes. I know what I’m signing up for, Grian,” he replies, though not rudely. He doesn’t see the issue here. “I was in Last Life, remember?”

Grian frowns in return, “That’s the point.” The way Grian says it makes it seem like that one sentence holds the answer to Mumbo’s question. He says it like it’s obvious, which it very much isn’t to Mumbo.

He resists the urge to groan. “Grian, mate, I really don’t see the issue here,” he reaches for Grian’s hands, taking them in his hands.

The way Grian looks at him breaks Mumbo, just a little bit. Because Grian looks at him with a bit of desperation, with this pleading gleam in his eyes. You’re going to make me say it? Is what his state communicates to Mumbo. He squeezes his hands in comfort. Encouragement. And, “Whatever the reason is, you can tell me, dove. I’m not going to be upset.”

Grian opens his mouth, hesitating before finally giving in. “I never wanted you to see me. In one of those games,” he admits.

“What?” Mumbo asks, looking at him.

“We all become a little different in those games. A little more violent, bloodthirsty. The moment someone turns red, everything changes,” Grian continues, looking down at their hands. “I’ve done things I’m not proud of… taking your final life being one of them. So I — Mumbo I can’t let you join another game.”

Oh… Mumbo stares at Grian with a bit of surprise, as well as pain. “But Scar,” he points out, because he is a complete and utter spoon.

Pain flashes across Grian’s face, and his grip on Mumbo’s hands tighten just a bit. “Scar is… he’s different,” he mutters. “I don’t want him there either, but he’s been a part of these games since the start. And no matter how hard I try, I can’t stop him.” He brings one of Mumbo’s hands up to his lips, pressing a lingering kiss against his fingers. “I’m sorry, Mumbo, but please… I can’t have you both there.”

And Mumbo begins to understand. He knows these games can weigh heavily on the others, Grian especially. He remembers how he was when they all came back from Third Life. How Grian and Scar were. He doesn’t think either of them ever fully recovered from it.

Mumbo remembers pleading with Grian to join Last Life, wanting to understand what it was that they experienced. What was it that affected his boyfriends so thoroughly that caused them not to talk for weeks?

He had quickly understood.

“Oh, Grian,” Mumbo murmurs it very softly, moving to hold his face in his hands. “Grian, love, it’s okay. I understand.” He offers Grian a comforting smile. Grian, who had previously been tense in his hold, seems to relax at that. He sags in Mumbo’s grasp, and Mumbo can’t help his soft chuckles. He moves to kiss his nose, “Thank you for telling me,” he says, because he is grateful for the answer. “Nothing you do in those games will ever make me stop loving you, alright?”

Grian’s face breaks out in warmth, and he inhales quietly. He moves to embrace Mumbo, holding him tight. “Thank you,” he mumbles, “I love you too.”

Mumbo makes a mental note to be prepared with lots of blankets and snacks for when Grian and Scar come back from this next game.

He gives Grian a little squeeze, as well as a kiss to his hair. I’m here.

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*guy stumbles out of torture labyrinth, covered in dirt and blood, clothes torn, on the verge of passing out with a thousand yard stare* maybe... Maybe I will buy myself a yummy treat. As a reward