[Edit] - I was in a rush previously so should've added the other thing. The world can work however you want it to, basically, create a portal or door anywhere. You can even draw mythological inspiration and I feel like liminal sites are really good places for this. A liminal site is somewhere where two worlds meet. So for example, a beach is where the land and sea meets. Peat bogs, were considered liminal gateways to the underworld. Mountains were often considered sacred because they land met the heavens (tower of babel). Caves again seen as gateways to other places, and finally pools in deep dark forests. Basically anywhere can be somewhere that two worlds or elements meet and therefore could be a place of travel between planes.
My players didn't have access to Plane Shift yet and I wanted them to travel to the Shadowfell and a couple elemental planes. Here's what I did:
- Had some cultists perform a summoning ritual that opened a portal. Get too close, you get sucked in.
- Naturally occurring weak spots between the planes. With enough willpower and magic, it becomes a budget Plane Shift spell, with some wild magic risk thrown in.
- Quantum Leap style planeswalker caravan! Join them and travel all over time and space. Getting off that ride is the tricky bit...
Then there's the old standby options: of scrolls of Plane Shift, a powerful wizard NPC, or "a deity poofs you somewhere because they like you or need you to do something". Best to reserve that last one for a very special circumstance, but it can be fun.
Yeah, much like allot of plot devices you can make them NPC, items, monsters or environmental features. Here are a few more detailed options:
a monster that opens a portal as part of a battle, as it's lair, when it dies or contains a component for a spell
an npc like a hag or wizard that has a ritual, spell or knowledge of some other method
a portal that opens naturally in a specific time/place or when providing a certain item or key
A device whether it be a ship or an artifact that can take you between dimensions
A book might hold a spell or ritual the players need
You can also combine, mix and match those. Find a book that summons a demon that opens a portal. Find a hag that asks for a monster that makes a potion. Find a monster that makes a portal the leads to an artifact.
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What are some ways I can get my party to travel to a new plane of existence eg. the abyss, celestia?
DMG is your friend here:
Creating a Multiverse - Dungeon Master's Guide - Sources - D&D Beyond (dndbeyond.com)
[Edit] - I was in a rush previously so should've added the other thing. The world can work however you want it to, basically, create a portal or door anywhere. You can even draw mythological inspiration and I feel like liminal sites are really good places for this. A liminal site is somewhere where two worlds meet. So for example, a beach is where the land and sea meets. Peat bogs, were considered liminal gateways to the underworld. Mountains were often considered sacred because they land met the heavens (tower of babel). Caves again seen as gateways to other places, and finally pools in deep dark forests. Basically anywhere can be somewhere that two worlds or elements meet and therefore could be a place of travel between planes.
DM session planning template - My version of maps for 'Lost Mine of Phandelver' - Send your party to The Circus - Other DM Resources - Maps, Tokens, Quests - 'Better' Player Character Injury Tables?
Actor, Writer, Director & Teacher by day - GM/DM in my off hours.
To the things in Aquilan's post, I'd add, Spelljammer is coming out very soon. and there's a spell called Dream of the Blue Veil.
My players didn't have access to Plane Shift yet and I wanted them to travel to the Shadowfell and a couple elemental planes. Here's what I did:
- Had some cultists perform a summoning ritual that opened a portal. Get too close, you get sucked in.
- Naturally occurring weak spots between the planes. With enough willpower and magic, it becomes a budget Plane Shift spell, with some wild magic risk thrown in.
- Quantum Leap style planeswalker caravan! Join them and travel all over time and space. Getting off that ride is the tricky bit...
Then there's the old standby options: of scrolls of Plane Shift, a powerful wizard NPC, or "a deity poofs you somewhere because they like you or need you to do something". Best to reserve that last one for a very special circumstance, but it can be fun.
Thanks for the tips
Yeah, much like allot of plot devices you can make them NPC, items, monsters or environmental features. Here are a few more detailed options:
You can also combine, mix and match those. Find a book that summons a demon that opens a portal. Find a hag that asks for a monster that makes a potion. Find a monster that makes a portal the leads to an artifact.