TEXT: Manual of the Planes FAQ 
  1 
  10/15/02 
  Manual of the Planes 
  Frequently Asked Questions 
  Last Updated 10/15/02 
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  Manual of the Planes FAQ 
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  I see in the Manual of the Planes that the Great Wheel 
  cosmology has sixteen Outer Planes. Do these in any way 
  mirror the Faerûnian cosmology, other than some 
  obvious parallels such as Baator (The Nine Hells) and the 
  Abyss? 
   Faerûn has a unique cosmology, although Faerûn’s various 
  planes have the traits described in Manual of the Planes. For 
  example, Faerûn’s Outer Planes are divinely morphic. 
  Furthermore, the cosmology presented in the FORGOTTEN 
  REALMS Campaign Setting assumes that no other cosmologies 
  exist anywhere else. That is, the book assumes that the Great 
  Wheel does not exist at all. 
   
   What is the Faerûnian equivalent to the Seven Heavens 
  (Celestia now). Where are the Green Fields and Warriors 
  Rest in relation to Elysium and Ysgard respectively? Are 
  the Barrens of Doom and Despair a pocket of Hades? I 
  thought that Cyric made his home on Pandemonium, but 
  in the FORGOTTEN REALMS Campaign Setting, Cyric’s 
  realm is called the Supreme Throne. Is the Supreme 
  Throne a part of Pandemonium? 
   As noted in the previous answer, the cosmology of the 
  FORGOTTEN REALMS Campaign Setting is completely different 
  from the standard D&D (Great Wheel) cosmology. No part of 
  the FORGOTTEN REALMS cosmology is part of the Great 
  Wheel. 
   
   Is there no connection between the FORGOTTEN REALMS 
  cosmology and the Great Wheel at all? 
   You can assume the FORGOTTEN REALMS cosmology is 
  connected to other cosmologies via the Plane of Shadow (as 
  hinted on page 62 of Manual of the Planes). That’s strictly 
  optional, however. 
   
   How do I use the Manual of the Planes with my 
  FORGOTTEN REALMS campaign? What if I decide to link 
  the FORGOTTEN REALMS cosmology and the Great Wheel? 
  Can you use the Astral Plane to go anywhere in the two 
  cosmologies? What about the Ethereal and Shadow 
  Planes? 
   In general, you have two options for using the Manual of 
  the Planes in a FORGOTTEN REALMS campaign. First, you can 
  assume that the FORGOTTEN REALMS cosmology is the only 
  cosmology that exists, which is the default assumption for 
  FORGOTTEN REALMS campaigns. Or, you can assume that the 
  FORGOTTEN REALMS cosmology is part of a larger multiverse 
  that contains two or more cosmologies. If you take this 
  option, you should assume that the Plane of Shadow provides 
  the sole link between the FORGOTTEN REALMS cosmology and 
  other cosmologies. You can, of course, choose other options, 
  but these two involve the least work on your part and allow 
  you to make the fullest use of future FORGOTTEN REALMS 
  game material. 
   If you choose the first option, you can make use of all the 
  Manual of the Planes rules that deal with planar traits and 
  interplanar travel. The transitive planes in the FORGOTTEN 
  REALMS cosmology work a little differently than what’s 
  described in the Manual of the Planes, however: 
   The Astral Plane: In the FORGOTTEN REALMS cosmology, 
  the Astral Plane is a transitive plane, but it is finite, not 
  infinite, and its various branches and tendrils give the 
  cosmology its treelike shape. The diagram on page 157 of the 
  FORGOTTEN REALMS Campaign Setting shows the Astral 
  Plane’s branched structure. 
   The Astral Plane is coterminous (see page 17 in the 
  Manual of the Planes) with every other plane in the 
  cosmology, but because the plane is not infinite, interplanar 
  travel in the FORGOTTEN REALMS cosmology is possible only 
  along an astral branch. The heavy lines on the diagram show 
  these astral branches. Note that it is not possible to travel 
  from one plane to another without passing through Toril (the 
  Prime Material Plane). Some of the FORGOTTEN REALMS 
  deities have forged minor astral links, however, between 
  some Outer Planes and demiplanes; these are shown as light 
  lines on the diagram (for example, between Arvandor and 
  Brightwater). 
   The Astral Plane of the FORGOTTEN REALMS cosmology 
  offers no connections with other cosmologies, not even to 
  any Astral Planes that might exist in other cosmologies. In all 
  other respects, the Astral Plane is identical to the Astral Plane 
  described in the Manual of the Planes. 
   The Ethereal Plane: The Ethereal Plane is coexistent with 
  Toril, but it offers no links or access to any other plane. It is 
  otherwise identical to the Ethereal Plane described in the 
  Manual of the Planes. It is also a transitive plane, even 
  though it can’t take you anywhere. 
   The Shadow Plane: The Shadow Plane is coexistent with 
  Toril, but it offers no links or access to any other plane. If 
  you decide to run a FORGOTTEN REALMS campaign in which 
  other cosmologies exist, the Shadow Plane is the link 
  between them. Shar and Mask have realms here, and it’s a 
  good bet that these areas are at least mildly evil-aligned and 
  otherwise function as divinely morphic locales. 
   Note that a campaign that includes both the Great Wheel 
  and the Faerûnian Cosmology poses a few problems. For 
  example, there are several deities, such as Bahamut, Corellon 
  Larethian, and Lolth, that are present in both cosmologies. 
  You can assume that such deities have analogs that exist in 
  both cosmologies simultaneously, or you can assume that the 
  deities split their time between the two cosmologies, traveling 
  between them via the Plane of Shadow. 
   Outer Planes: The FORGOTTEN REALMS Outer Planes are 
  divinely morphic, as are the Outer Planes described in the 
  Manual of the Planes. At present, their other planar traits are 
  unrevealed, but one can make some educated guesses about 
  them just based on which deities dwell on each plane. 
   The Abyss: Mildly chaos and evil aligned. The Abyss of 
  the FORGOTTEN REALMS cosmology is nearly identical to the 
  Abyss described in the Manual of the Planes, except that the 
  only planar link is the astral branch to Toril. 
   Arvandor: Mildly chaos and good aligned. This plane is 
  similar to the first layer of Arborea. 
   The Barrens of Doom and Despair: Mildly law and evil 
  aligned. This plane is similar to Gehenna, but without the 
  River Styx. 
   Brightwater: Mildly good aligned; similar to the first layer 
  of Arborea, but less so than Arvandor. 
   Cynosure: A demiplane that serves as a meeting place for 
  the deities. As neutral ground, Cynosure has no alignment or 
  energy traits. Although it is a demiplane and of finite size, 
  any deity can travel there. When that deity leaves, however, 
  the deity must return to the plane from whence he or she 
  
  Manual of the Planes FAQ 
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  came. 
   Demonweb Pits: Mildly chaos and evil aligned. The 
  Demonweb Pits are similar to the description in the Manual 
  of the Planes, except that this is a separate plane, not a 
  location on the Abyss. 
   Dragon Eyrie: Mixed alignment and elemental traits. The 
  plane’s prevailing traits undoubtedly vary depending on 
  which deity’s realm you happen to be in. 
   Dwarfhome: Mildly law and good aligned. The plane is 
  similar to Eracknor, which is part of Celestia, but Dwarfhome 
  is a plane unto itself. 
   Dweomerheart: No alignment traits, mixed magic traits. 
   The Fugue Plane: A demiplane that serves as a collection 
  point for the souls of the dead. Like Cynosure, the Fugue 
  Plane is neutral ground and has no alignment or energy traits. 
  (The personal realms of Jergal and Kelemvor probably have 
  alignment traits appropriate for these deities.) Although it is a 
  demiplane and of finite size, the souls of the dead can travel 
  there from anywhere in the cosmology.  
   Fury’s Heart: Mildly chaos and evil aligned. The plane is 
  similar to both Orthrys and Cathrys (both layers of Carceri), 
  but without the River Styx. 
   Gates of the Moon: Mildly chaos aligned. 
   The Golden Hills: Mildly good aligned; similar to the 
  Golden Hills region of Dothion (part of Bytopia), but a plane 
  in its own right. 
   Green Fields: Mildly good aligned; somewhat similar to 
  Venya (a layer of Celestia). 
   Hammergrim: Mildly law and evil aligned; similar to 
  Dwarfhome, but foul and evil. 
   Heliopolis: Mixed alignment traits and mixed elemental 
  traits. The plane’s prevailing traits undoubtedly vary 
  depending on which deity’s realm you happen to be in. 
   House of Knowledge: Mildly neutral aligned with no 
  energy traits; similar to the Outlands. 
   House of Nature: Mildly neutral aligned with no energy 
  traits; similar to the Beastlands, but without the River 
  Oceanus. 
   House of the Triad: Mildly law aligned; similar to the first 
  layer of Ysgard, but a plane in its own right and with a lawful 
  bent. 
   Nishrek: Mildly chaos and evil aligned. Nishrek is similar 
  to the first layer of Ysgard, but dangerous and evil. 
   The Nine Hells (Baator): Mildly law and evil aligned. The 
  Hells of the FORGOTTEN REALMS cosmology is nearly 
  identical to those described in the Manual of the Planes, 
  except that the only planar link is the astral branch to Toril. 
   The Supreme Throne: Mildly chaos and evil aligned; 
  similar to a closed cavity on Agathon (a layer of 
  Pandemonium), but a plane in its own right. 
   Warrior’s Rest: Mildly chaos aligned; similar to the first 
  layer of Ysgard, but a plane in its own right and with a 
  chaotic bent. 
   Inner Planes: FORGOTTEN REALMS cosmology’s Inner 
  Planes are divinely morphic, just as the Outer Planes are. The 
  only planar links are the astral branches leading to Toril. 
  They are otherwise similar to the Inner Planes described in 
  the Manual of the Planes. 
   
   I’m unclear about a few things from the Manual of the 
  Planes. Assuming I am using the Great Wheel cosmology, 
  exactly where are some spells that access the Ethereal 
  Plane available or unavailable? Can I cast spells that 
  access the Ethereal Plane in the Outer Planes? 
   No, you cannot cast ethereal-related spells in the Great 
  Wheel’s Outer Planes (see the sidebar on page 55 of the 
  Manual of the Planes). You also cannot use those spells in 
  any other locale that doesn’t have access to the Ethereal 
  Plane, such as in a cosmology that lacks an Ethereal Plane.  
   Be aware that the list of ethereal-related spells on page 32 
  is somewhat misleading. For example: Spells marked with an 
  (F) work anywhere; these are force spells that have some 
  effect on the Ethereal Plane but work fine without Ethereal 
  Plane access. Also, the Divination spells see invisibility, true 
  seeing, and zone of revelation work fine without an ethereal 
  connection; they, too, can affect the Ethereal Plane but don’t 
  depend on it. 
   Finally, the zone of respite spell also works without 
  Ethereal Plane access. (It, too, blocks travel to the Ethereal 
  Plane.) Likewise, the dimensional anchor spell keeps 
  creatures from leaving whatever plane they’re currently on 
  and does not depend on Ethereal Plane access. 
   
   Can I use spells that access the Astral Plane on the 
  Ethereal Plane? 
   Yes, see page 46 in Manual of the Planes.  
   
   Can I cast spells that access the Astral Plane within the 
  Astral Plane, such as teleport? 
   Yes. If you’re on a plane, your spells have access to that 
  plane. 
   
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/D&D 3rd Edition/FAQ/Manual of the Planes FAQ.pdf