Plane

Physical Traits: These traits set the laws of nature,

including gravity and time.

• Elemental and Energy Traits: These traits determine

the dominance of particular elemental or energy forces.

• Alignment Traits: Just as characters may be lawful

neutral or chaotic good, a plane might be tied to a particular moral or ethical outlook.

• Magic Traits: Magic works differently from plane to

plane, and these traits set the boundaries for what it

can and can’t do.

These traits usually apply to the plane as a whole, but

a plane is a vast place. There may be particular locations   within a plane where the rules are different, perhaps because of natural effects, godly interference, or magical localities. PHYSICAL TRAITS The two most important natural laws set by physical traits are how gravity works and how time passes. Other physical traits set the boundaries of the plane (if it has any) and the nature of its borders. Finally, a physical trait sets the nature of matter itself, ranging from static and unchanging to random and ever-shifting. Gravity One variable that the DM can change is gravity, ranging from heavier to lighter to absent entirely. Furthermore, the direction of gravity’s pull may be unusual, and it might even change directions within the plane itself. Normal Gravity: Most planes have gravity similar to that of the Material Plane. That is, if something weighs 10 pounds on the Material Plane, it weighs 10 pounds here as well. The usual rules for ability scores, carrying capacity, and encumbrance apply. Heavy Gravity: The gravity of this plane is much more intense than the Material Plane. As a result, Balance, Climb, Jump, Ride, Swim, and Tumble checks suffer a –2 circumstance penalty, as do all attack rolls. All item weights are effectively doubled, which might affect a character’s speed. Weapon ranges are halved. A character’s Strength and Dexterity are not affected, but these ability scores don’t let the character do as much. This limitation applies to both travelers from other planes as well as natives, though the natives know of the limitation and plan accordingly. You can double or triple the heavy gravity effect for particular planes, though they won’t be popular destinations with adventurers. Characters who fall on a heavy gravity plane take 1d10 points of damage for each 10 feet fallen, to a maximum of 20d10 points of damage. Light Gravity: The gravity of this plane is less intense than on the Material Plane. As a result, creatures find that they can lift more, but their movements tend to be ungainly. Characters on planes with the light gravity trait suffer a –2 circumstance penalty on attack rolls and Balance, Ride, Swim, and Tumble checks. All items weigh half as much. Weapon ranges double, and characters gain a +2 circumstance bonus on Climb and Jump checks. Strength and Dexterity don’t change as a result of light gravity, but what you can do with such scores does change. These advantages apply to travelers from other planes as well as natives. Falling characters on a light gravity plane take 1d4 points of damage for each 10 feet of the fall, to a maximum of 20d4 points of damage. You can choose to decrease gravity even further, doubling or tripling the effect for that particular plane. No Gravity: Individuals in a plane without gravity merely float in space, unless other mechanisms (such as magic or force of will) are available to provide a direction for gravity’s pull. An example of a plane with no gravity is the Astral Plane, where everyone gets around by simply imagining themselves moving in a particular direction. Objective Directional Gravity: The strength of gravity is the same as on the Material Plane, but the direction is not the traditional “down” toward the ground. It may be down toward any solid object, at an angle to the plane itself, or even upward, creating a chandelierlike world where everyone has to hang on or be thrown out into the void. In addition, objective directional gravity may change from place to place. The direction of “down” may vary, so individuals may suddenly find themselves falling upward (similar to the reverse gravity spell) or walking up walls. Travelers on planes with objective directional gravity tend to be cautious. No one wants to discover the hard way that the 100-foot corridor ahead has become a 100- foot-deep pit. Subjective Directional Gravity:The strength of gravity is the same, but each individual chooses the direction of gravity’s pull. Such a plane has no gravity for unattended objects and nonsentient creatures. This can be very disorienting to the newcomer, but is common on “weightless” planes such as the Plane of Air. Characters can move normally on a solid surface by imagining “down” near their feet. For pockets of matter in the Elemental Plane of Air, this is the most common way to generate one’s own gravity. If suspended in midair, a character “flies” by merely choosing a “down” direction and “falling” that way