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A Guide to the Astral Plane (2e)

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"So - why do they call it the silver void? Must mean there's nothin' there? Right?" 
    - Some clueless sod
 
Most berks think the Astral Plane's an empty place, serving as nothing but a cosmic highway connecting all the other places in the multiverse. Canny planewalkers know differently, though. Here are just a few of the "Secrets" of the Silver Void that this book explains:
  • It is the backdrop of the multiverse, where phenomena such as space and time are so vastly different form " normal" that only a true blood knows his way around.
  • When he's on the Astral Plane, a basher moves, fights, and acts solely with his mind.
  • It is the closest thing the multiverse has to a " plane of magic," where sorcery and spells are not only more powerful, but are palpable, tangible objects.
  • The primary inhabitants are the infamous githyanki, an ancient race of wizards and warriors who know the dark of many secrets forbidden to others.
  • The Astral Plane is literally the dead-book of the gods.
Now, that's not nothin', is it, berk?

*****

Product History
 
Monte Cook's Guide to the Astral Plane (1996) is that very rare rules supplement that is a joy to read due to entertaining text; attractive to look at thanks to good graphic design, and well organized, it is so full of plot hooks and game ideas that you could practically run an entire Astral campaign from this 96-page book alone. It takes a feature of D&D that has been around since the early days and spins it out into a legitimately fun source of adventure. Whether you run a Planescape game or not, regardless of the rules system and edition you use, this is a worthwhile book to buy if your heroes ever venture into the Astral.
 
Huh. Re-reading that last paragraph, I think I might like this one a little bit. It's justified, though: the rules fatigue you get from reading some game books never happens with this supplement, mostly because it's so darn entertaining to read. Snarky quotes from Planeswalkers pepper the book, occasionally with responses from the people they're speaking to. The result breaks up the pacing just enough to catch the eye and underscore important points in the text.
 
Berk Berk Berk Berk Berk. Berk Berk? Berk! The one caution for non-Planescape fans is that this book, like almost all Planescape products, uses a moderate amount of cant (or "planar slang") throughout. It's kept to a reasonable level, far less intrusive than a few Planescape products that have laid it on a little too thick even in non-first-person rules discussions, but the slang may seem affected and intrusive to people not familiar with the custom. 
 
That said, try saying "berk" about twenty times quickly. It's sort of fun. Berk.
 
Organization. The book starts off by discussing the nature of the Astral Plane, Astral movement, Astral combat, Astral magic, and proficiencies. Some interesting concepts are explored here, including the nature of combat in a plane where physical strength has no meaning. Magical addiction, Astral ships, the nature (or lack of) extradimensional spaces, spell keys to make magic spells function correctly, and the like are all explained.
 
Following that are chapters on "conduits" - the whirling connections that criss-cross the endless starry field of the Astral - and Color Pools, portals into other worlds. These are both used to travel around the Astral, and knowing how to use them becomes key to not getting yourself into more trouble than you can handle. From there the book discusses dead gods, the forgotten and rotting husks of slain deities that dot the Astral Plane. Hey, if a god dies, the corpse has to go somewhere. Making these into explorable adventure locations was an act of genius by someone on the Planescape team. Each dead god is a uniquely themed, unpredictably exciting site where deific memories may be the best treasure you can find.  
 
Githyanki, the Lich-Queen, and You. Major chapters cover the githyanki and other Astral denizens. Githyanki have been a fan favorite ever since they graced the cover of the original 1e Fiend Folio; the militaristic race and their evil, undying Lich-Queen have featured in scores of adventures. Secrets of the race are revealed here, including their different organizations and societal structures, their cities, and their fortresses. Githyanki plans and tactics are discussed, and rules are even supplied for making them player characters - good luck trying to not get devoured by the Lich-Queen after 11th level, though.
 
Other Astral monsters get their own chapter. Brain collectors, devas, and the ever-famous (thanks to its appearance on the cover of the 1st edition AD&D Manual of the Planes) Astral dreadnought join a handful of other monsters that swim the Astral for prey. There aren't many standouts here - Astral streakers are handy messenger birds, but not particularly useful foes -- but there's good variety for rounding out the already established planar monsters.
 
Locations in Nowhere. The book finishes up with a series of nine Astral encounters, mapped locations that provide spectacular play. An unimaginably large floating cloud of undead skeletons, the headquarters of a faction who wish to kill the gods themselves, a living sea of intelligent water, a warehouse and prison for the detritus of the multiverse... these, and more, provide locations for adventuring. 
 
To sum up, this book is one of the winners in the Planescape line. Fun to read and useful for a planar campaign, it turns a boring transitional plane into a place of mystery and adventure.
 
About the Creators. A core Planescape author, award-winning author Monte Cook started working as a freelancer for TSR in 1992 and left Wizards of the Coast in 2001 to start Malhavoc Press. His 2012 Kickstarter for the post-apocalyptic science fction roleplaying game Numenera raised over $500,000. We like to think of him lounging in his secret lair and gaming with solid gold dice, but the truth is that he remains one of the most creative and hard-working authors in the industry.
 
About the Product Historian
 
History and commentary of this product was written by Kevin Kulp, game designer and admin of the independent D&D fansite ENWorld. Please feel free to mail corrections, comments, and additions to kevin.kulp@gmail.com.

We (Wizards) recognize that some of the legacy content available on this website does not reflect the values of the Dungeons & Dragons franchise today. Some older content may reflect ethnic, racial, and gender prejudice that were commonplace in American society at that time. These depictions were wrong then and are wrong today. This content is presented as it was originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed. Dungeons & Dragons teaches that diversity is a strength, and we strive to make our D&D products as welcoming and inclusive as possible. This part of our work will never end.

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Reviews (4)
Discussions (44)
Customer avatar
Bryan M March 18, 2024 6:46 pm UTC
This is the only major 2E book for Planescape without a print-on-demand option. I really need this to complete my collection. Come on, Wizards — cut a guy a break!!
Customer avatar
Ethan K January 24, 2024 1:47 am UTC
POD please!
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William T January 19, 2024 6:33 pm UTC
POD Please!
Customer avatar
Richard G November 02, 2023 1:20 am UTC
POD
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Luca Z October 20, 2023 8:25 am UTC
I can't understand why there is a Print On Demand version of A Guide to the Ethereal Plane, but not of this one.
Customer avatar
Jason H August 21, 2023 8:09 am UTC
PoD Please
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Philip S August 18, 2023 1:20 pm UTC
POD. Yes please.
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Jason H August 03, 2023 7:09 pm UTC
POD Please
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Vasileios T June 25, 2023 5:37 pm UTC
PURCHASER
POD Please.
Customer avatar
Paul S June 21, 2023 2:12 am UTC
Sure wish this was print on demand.
Customer avatar
Chris E June 18, 2023 9:42 pm UTC
Why is there no print on demand? Is it because WOTC rewrote a bunch of astral lore? Even so old heads and planescape players are likely only ones interested
Customer avatar
Rosa W June 15, 2023 2:48 am UTC
POD, please.
Customer avatar
Hunter M February 25, 2023 12:34 am UTC
POD for Ethereal Plane and Inner Planes books, but no Astral Plane book!?
Customer avatar
Daniel D February 23, 2023 3:30 pm UTC
POD please!
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neil T January 28, 2023 5:13 am UTC
Pod
Customer avatar
Timothy J December 29, 2022 10:20 pm UTC
Are there any plans to offer this product POD?
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Product Information
Platinum seller
Author(s)
Pages
96
Edition
1.0
ISBN
0-7869-0438-0
Publisher Stock #
TSR 2625
File Size:
32.34 MB
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File Last Updated:
April 30, 2013
This title was added to our catalog on April 30, 2013.