Planar Cities [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTimePost
Solitare

08-08-07, 07:24 PM
I was reading the CO boards a while back, and I remember some discussion about travelling to cities in the non-material planes becasue they were rife with magical items. However, I just flipped through manual of the planes and planar handbook, and didn't see any detail of planar cities that related to their discussion. Do these cities really exist, and if so what book would they be described in?
Shemeska the Marauder

08-08-07, 07:49 PM
I was reading the CO boards a while back, and I remember some discussion about travelling to cities in the non-material planes becasue they were rife with magical items. However, I just flipped through manual of the planes and planar handbook, and didn't see any detail of planar cities that related to their discussion. Do these cities really exist, and if so what book would they be described in?

I wouldn't look to the CO boards for anything particularly in-depth. ;)

Planar cities aren't going to be giving magical items away for free or anything, but for many of them, such items will be more readily available for purchase or trade because of the resources prevelant on those planes, and the general glut of spellcasters therein compared to the average world on the prime material. The magical traditions in some planar cities might lend themselves to particular items that are rare or entirely unknown on any city on the prime.

In particular, cities that are major planar trade hubs are: Sigil the City of Doors (see 2e Planescape campaign setting, 2e In the Cage, 2e Faction War, 2e Factols Manifesto, 2e Uncaged, 3e Planar Handbook, 3.5 Expedition to the Demonweb Pits), Tradegate (2e Players Primer to the Outlands), City at the Center (2e Planes of Conflict), City of Brass (2e Secrets of the Lamp, 2e Inner Planes, 3e Planar Handbook), the City of Glass (2e Inner Planes, 2e Vortex of Madness), and even Dis or Grenpoli (2e Planes of Law, 2e Fires of Dis, 3.5 FC:II).
Solitare

08-08-07, 08:52 PM
I wouldn't look to the CO boards for anything particularly in-depth. ;)

Planar cities aren't going to be giving magical items away for free or anything, but for many of them, such items will be more readily available for purchase or trade because of the resources prevelant on those planes, and the general glut of spellcasters therein compared to the average world on the prime material. The magical traditions in some planar cities might lend themselves to particular items that are rare or entirely unknown on any city on the prime.

In particular, cities that are major planar trade hubs are: Sigil the City of Doors (see 2e Planescape campaign setting, 2e In the Cage, 2e Faction War, 2e Factols Manifesto, 2e Uncaged, 3e Planar Handbook, 3.5 Expedition to the Demonweb Pits), Tradegate (2e Players Primer to the Outlands), City at the Center (2e Planes of Conflict), City of Brass (2e Secrets of the Lamp, 2e Inner Planes, 3e Planar Handbook), the City of Glass (2e Inner Planes, 2e Vortex of Madness), and even Dis or Grenpoli (2e Planes of Law, 2e Fires of Dis, 3.5 FC:II).

Thank you. Our party isn't looking for free magical items, just locations where items might be more prevelant. Magic items are (at present point in our campaign) about 40-70% less common in the world then normal. We are hoping that plane shifting to another plane will give us greater access to magical items. I noticed that almost all of those sources you listed are 2e. The ones that are 3e, I didn't see details describing the availability of magical items. Is it purely a DM decision?
primemover003

08-08-07, 08:59 PM
As Shemeska pointed out the best cities on the Planes for commerce are Sigil, The City of Brass, Tradegate, the City of Glass, Plague-Mort, & Dis.

I would also recommend Balefire, the City of Lanterns on the Plane of Shadow. There are two major organizations there that create magic items based on shadow and light. You can find Balefire's full write up in Dragon issue #322 and some small mention of it in the Tome of Magic.

Erelhi-Cinlu is also a great metropolis that could be a fun stop... it's not planar but with the recent githyanki involvment in the Vault of the Drow's civil war there are some planar connections to it. You can find it described in Drow of the Underdark and Dragon issue #298.
Shemeska the Marauder

08-08-07, 09:17 PM
The ones that are 3e, I didn't see details describing the availability of magical items. Is it purely a DM decision?

Pretty much, yeah. I'm not aware of any stat given to cities in 3e that has anything to do with item availability. You've pretty much got the total value of the city/economy as a whole, and the limit for purchases. I don't personally like the stat, and in some cases such as the values given for Sigil, they're woefully small, but that's all there really is.
ripvanwormer

08-08-07, 09:20 PM
Erelhi-Cinlu is also a great metropolis that could be a fun stop... it's not planar but with the recent githyanki involvment in the Vault of the Drow's civil war there are some planar connections to it. You can find it described in Drow of the Underdark and Dragon issue #298.

There's a portal to the Demonweb in the Fane of Lolth there, and some trade with the planes goes on through that portal (the PCs enter Erelhei-Cinlu through that portal, as part of a weapons shipment from elsewhere in the planes, in Dead Gods). But githyanki, yugoloths, and other creatures go to Erelhei-Cinlu by other means as well.

Here's a list of planar towns and cities.

ABYSS:

Broken Reach - In Pazunia, contains gate to Outlands (Planes of Chaos, 3e Manual of the Planes, Fiendish Codex I)
Gallowsgate - Pazunia
Raazorforge - Pazunia
Styros - Pazunia
Naratyr, City of the Dead - Thanatos
Lachrymosa, the Cauldron of Tears - Thanatos
City of Straight Curves - Thanatos
Orcusgate - Thanatos
Lash Embrar - Thanatos
Golmin Thur - Thanatos
Volstaad - Iron Wastes
Lemoriax - Gaping Maw
Zoragmelok - Hollow's Heart
Xhubhullosk - Shedaklah
Eddleston's Blessing - Androlynne
Golmendicoria - Androlynne
Melantonberg - Androlynne
Rivenheart - Shendilavri
Zelatar - Azzagrat
Samora - Azzagrat
Feng-Tu, City of Disease and Madness - Feng-Tu (Abyss layer 300; 1e Manual of the Planes)
24 Armanite towns in Abyss layer 377 - Oxblood, Amber, Basalt, and so on. (PoX)
Mal Arundak, the City of Confusion - Abyss layer 403

ACHERON:

Vorkehan (Mercykiller town) - Avalas, Acheron
Mesk - Avalas, Acheron (Planes of Law player's book)
Istvarhan - Mobile orc fortress in Avalas, Acheron
Clangor goblin towns (Grashmog, Redspike, Shetring) in Avalas, Acheron
Nishrek orc towns (Blood Armor, Broken Skull, Iron Fist, Rotting Eye, Three Fang, White Hand) in Avalas, Acheron
Resounding Thunder (realm of Lei Kung) towns: Black Water, Eight-Devils-Laughing, Nihao. In Avalas, Acheron
Hammergrim (Laduguer's realm) towns: Coldember, Deathknell, Forgegloom, Hopeglimmer in Thuldanin, Acheron
Zoronor, the City of Shadows (bladeling town) in Ocanthus, Acheron

ELEMENTAL PLANE OF AIR:

The Citadel of Ice and Steel (Djinni city) in the Elemental Plane of Air
Blurophil (Riven city; Tales From the Infinite Staircase) - Plane of Air
Ur Mar Nidas (City of the Blameless Court; PSMCIII) - Plane of Air

In Arborea/Olympus:

Thrassos
Grandfather Oak
Brightwater
Arkenos
Polykeptolon
Thalassia

In Arborea/Ossa:

Elshava
Coldcurrent
Corilla
Pearldrop

In Arborea/Pelion:

Coriandor (elven village; The Inner Planes)

Arcadia/Abellio:

The Ghetto (Planes of Law player's guide)
Mandible (formian city)
Marduk (Marduk's city)

Arcadia/Buxenus:

Melodia (Harmonium town)
Mage's Rest (in Azuth's realm)
Thekele-re (in Ra's realm)
Gizekhtet (in Isis' realm)
Memphiria (in Osiris' realm)
Klictrik (Formian city; Tales From the Infinite Staircase)

Astral Plane:

Tu'narath (githyanki city)
Githmir (githyanki city)
T'n'ekris (githyanki city)
Xamvadi'm (githyanki city)
TorNav'roc (githyanki city; TftIS)
The Swallowed City (A Guide to the Astral Plane)
N’gati (Dragon #305)

Baator:

Bronze Citadel (Avernus; Guide to Hell) (Bel's fortress)
Darkspine (Avernus)
Frekstavik (Kurtulmak's realm, Avernus)
Nibellin (Kurtulmak's realm, Avernus)
Snjarll (Kurtulmak's realm, Avernus)
Iron City of Dis (Dis)
Knoll of Blades (Dis; PoL Monstrous Supplement)
False Sigil (Dis)
Jangling Hiter, City of Chains (Minauros)
Minauros the Sinking (Minauros)
The City of Man (Minauros; Alasta the Keen's city; FoE)
Abriymoch (Phlegethos)
Tantlin, City of Ice (Stygia)
Khas-tep (in Set's realm, Stygia)
Tukhamen (in Set's realm, Stygia)
Grenpoli, City of Diplomacy (Maladomini)
Malatanni (Maladomini, Hellbound)
Malagard (Maladomini)
Mephistar (Cania)
Malsheem (Nessus)

The Beastlands, Krigala:

Signpost (Signer town)
Triberove
Ilifar-in-the-Wind (Avariel town; TGMM)

The Beastlands, Brux:

Al Karak Elam-Jhankhal (Avariel town)
Waysign (Signer town)

Bytopia:

Yeoman (Dothion)
Quarry (Shurrock)

Carceri:

The Bastion of Last Hope (Anarchist town, Othrys)
Fetaphon (Cathrys)
Gallowshome (Colothys)
Gaola (Well of Worlds, Colothys)
Straifling (WoW, Colothys)

Elemental Plane of Earth: Sevenfold Mazework (Dao capital, in the Great Dismal Delve)

Elysium:

Release From Care
Pax Benefice (in Principality - see The Deva Spark)
The City of the Star (Istar's realm)
Portico (in Thalasia)

Demiplanar cities:

Moil, the City That Waits (A Guide to the Ethereal Plane, Libris Mortis)
Inphirblau (Phirblas demiplane; A Guide to the Ethereal Plane, PSMC3)
Union (Epic Level Handbook)

Deep Ethereal:

Freehold City (A Guide to the Ethereal Plane)

Elemental Plane of Fire:

City of Brass
Suhkteh Albarrana (efreeti outpost; PoX)

Gehenna:

Fo Ling Po (Khalas)
The Walking City (3e MotP)
Corrieton (in Math Mathonwy's realm)
Nimicri (Chamada)
Maeldur et Kravuik (Yugoloth citadel; Hellbound)
Hulgis' Cleft (Mungoth)
Portent (Mungoth)
Aasbern (in Loviatar's realm)
Smertzen (in Loviatar's realm)
Cold Fever (in Shargaas' realm, in Krangath)

Gray Waste:

Town-at-the-Center
The Village (in Abbathor's realm)
The Suffering City (in Kelemvor's realm)
Death of Innocence (in Niflheim)
Branwallis (in Annwn)
Ainnira (in Annwn)
Annoeth (in Annwn)
Cauldron (in Annwn)
Valgrind (in Hel's domain)
Corpus (in Pluton)

Quasielemental Plane of Lightning: Stormfront (djinni city)

Limbo:

Barnstable (displaced halfling village)
The Floating City (githzerai capital)
Shr'akt'lor (githzerai capital)

Paraelemental Plane of Magma: Fields of Nevermore

Material Plane:

Ilkkool Rrem (illithid city; Epic Level Handbook, The Speaker in Dreams)
Carrigmoor (Beyond Countless Doorways, Malhavoc Press)
Lost City of Ubar (Dayya) - Janni metropolis (Secrets of the Lamp)
Panchengjuduohuh (The Sunken City of Endless Doors; Mad Monkey vs. Dragon Claw adventure for 1e Oriental Adventures)
The Citadel on Honor Island in The Kingdom of Ierendi gazetteer for the Mystara setting.

Mechanus:

Delon-Estin-Oti
Fortress of Disciplined Enlightenment (Guvner citadel)
Haven
Mythenosca (Myconid city; TftIS)

Quasielemental Plane of Mist: Adrift

Mount Celestia:

Fortress Eternal and Everlasting (Lunia)
Heart's Faith (Lunia)
Nemmiron (Lunia)
Soul's Desire (Lunia)
Marrashad (in the realm of Goldfire, Mercuria)
Pashrita (Goldfire, Mercuria)
Amberwell (Green Fields, Venya)
Bunberry Hills (Green Fields, Venya)
Candlewood (Green Fields, Venya)
Marston-on-the-Water (Green Fields, Venya)
Thistledowns (Green Fields, Venya)
Turtle Creek (Green Fields, Venya)
Berronar's Side (Erackinor, Solania)
Istor's Forge (Erackinor, Solania)
The Rift (Erackinor, Solania)
Stonefall (Erackinor, Solania)
Empyrea, City of Tempered Souls (Mertion)
Rempha, City of the Sands of Time (Mertion)
Soqed Hezi, City of Swords (Mertion; the demigod Al'Akbar is a guest here)
Yetsirah, the Heavenly City (Jovar)

Paraelemental Plane of Ooze: Gnome's Home

The Outlands:

Sigil, City of Doors (seemingly located above the Spire)
Sum of All (Rilmani city; TftIS)
Centered Focus (Rilmani village; TftIS)
Excelsior (gate town to Mount Celestia)
Tradegate (gate town to Bytopia)
Ecstasy (gate town to Elysium)
Faunel (gate town to the Beastlands)
Sylvania (gate town to Arborea)
Glorium (gate town to Ysgard)
Xaos (gate town to Limbo)
Bedlam (gate town to Pandemonium)
Plague-Mort (gate town to the Abyss)
Curst (gate town to Carceri)
Hopeless (gate town to the Grey Waste)
Torch (gate town to Gehenna)
Ribcage (gate town to Baator)
Rigus (gate town to Acheron)
Automata (gate town to Mechanus)
Fortitude (gate town to Arcadia)
Ironridge (in Dwarven Mountain)
Strongale Hall (Vergadain's realm; in Dwarven Mountain)
Soot Hall (Dugmaren's realm; in Dwarven Mountain)
Deepshaft Hall (Dumathoin's realm; in Dwarven Mountain)
Thebestys (in Thoth's realm)
Conall (in Tir na Og)
Westcote (in Tir na Og)
Cromlech (in Tir na Og)
Delaney (in Tir na Og)
Song's Joy (in Oghma's realm)
Gwyllach (in Tir na Og)
Donall (in Tir na Og)
Muirshead (in Tir na Og)
Lindow (in Tir na Og)
The Marketplace Eternal (realm of Zilchus, Shinare, Sera, and Waukeen)

Pandemonium:

The Madhouse (Pandesmos)
City of Eternal Darkness (Eloéle and Anshar's realm; Pandesmos)
Windglum (Phlegethon)

Quasielemental Plane of Radiance: The Kingdom of the Blind

Plane of Shadow:

Sphur Upra (gloaming city; The Underdark)
City of Onyx (khayal city; 3e Tome of Magic)
Balefire, City of Lanterns (Dragon #322)
Greelox Cities (Dungeon #35)
Elirhondas (Tarmuid’s realm; Races of Destiny)

Paraelemental Plane of Smoke: The Hidden City


Elemental Plane of Water

P'unkar, The City of Glass
Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls (Marid realm)

Ysgard:

Skeinheim (ring-giver town, Ysgard)
Steadfast (bariaur town, Ysgard)
Frey's Hall (Alfheim)
Himinborg (Asgard)
Mahogany (Gates of the Moon)
Meerrauk (Jotunheim)
Okalnir (Jotunheim)
Utgard (Jotunheim)
Bresiris (Merratet, Bast's realm)
Eowr (Merratet)
Rummm (Merratet)
Noatun (Vanaheim)
Njarlok (Surtr's realm, Muspelheim)
Brassberg (Aasterinian's realm, Nidavellir)
Ashbringer (Nidavellir)
Dokkar (Svartalfheim)
Yggwyrd (Svartalfheim)