Terminology Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Terminology Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ssvegeta555
03-15-07, 03:09 AM Lately I've been confusing myself with some planar terminology, specificly Cosmology and Multiverse. I've used the two interchangeably for a while now, but now I think that they may be seperate terms.
I know Cosmology is a collection of planes. But is the Multiverse the same thing? Or is it a collection of multiple Cosmologies?
Shemeska the Marauder
03-15-07, 04:24 AM The Multiverse commonly refers to the Great Wheel Cosmology. Beyond that depends on the person and their meaning really. The Far Realm is technically another multiverse, and so is the nameless reality that the Keepers came from. Neither of them fit within the Great Wheel cosmology, though they are connected by various ways or methods. I would refer to any higher order structure implied by the connections as being meta-cosmology or extra-multiversal. But some people may refer to the Great Wheel as the local cosmology, and the link to the Far Realm and other realities though the Deep Ethereal as all being part of the same multiverse.

There's no absolute convention, just some general trends that have been adopted by more people than not.
Sorcen_Anenooata
03-15-07, 07:40 AM Personally I use the term universe to encompass one campaign setting. Greyhawk is an alternate universe, Eberron is an alternate universe, etc. The mulitverse is everything collectively. Cosmology would be a collection of planes. Although techinically cosmology means the study of the cosmos, cosmos meaning anything outside of the earth, for lack of a better definition.
ssvegeta555
03-15-07, 04:31 PM So it's basicly subjective based on the cmapaign in question? Very interesting.

Sorcen_Anenooata, I think differently about the universe. I think the universe is a very large space contained within it's own plane, or divided up in layers. So the Material Plane is one universe, the Abyss it's own universe and so on. So I guess naturally, the muliverse is a collection of multiple universes, making the Comsology.

Looks like the terms are in place for my campaign. :P
ripvanwormer
03-15-07, 07:33 PM The Multiverse is a cosmology that includes more than one universe.

A cosmology is the planar scheme in any one campaign. In theory, a cosmology can include only one universe.

A universe is a single plane of existence.
Geogoose
03-16-07, 08:52 AM Cosmology refers to the campaign specific orientation of the different planes. Different campaign settings often use custom cosmologies to reflect the campaign specific deities.

Multiverse applies whenever a cosmology has more than a single plane of existence. A single plane would be a Universe.
Sorcen_Anenooata
03-16-07, 09:59 AM I've been outvoted :P . It does indeed seem like the definitions will vary from person to person and campaign to campaign. If you wanted the general consensus of the boards then go with the defintions that ssvegeta555, Geogoose, and ripvanwormer listed. I have a feeling that will be the majority opinion.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ssvegeta555 03-15-07, 03:09 AM	Lately I've been confusing myself with some planar terminology, specificly Cosmology and Multiverse. I've used the two interchangeably for a while now, but now I think that they may be seperate terms. I know Cosmology is a collection of planes. But is the Multiverse the same thing? Or is it a collection of multiple Cosmologies?
Shemeska the Marauder 03-15-07, 04:24 AM	The Multiverse commonly refers to the Great Wheel Cosmology. Beyond that depends on the person and their meaning really. The Far Realm is technically another multiverse, and so is the nameless reality that the Keepers came from. Neither of them fit within the Great Wheel cosmology, though they are connected by various ways or methods. I would refer to any higher order structure implied by the connections as being meta-cosmology or extra-multiversal. But some people may refer to the Great Wheel as the local cosmology, and the link to the Far Realm and other realities though the Deep Ethereal as all being part of the same multiverse. There's no absolute convention, just some general trends that have been adopted by more people than not.
Sorcen_Anenooata 03-15-07, 07:40 AM	Personally I use the term universe to encompass one campaign setting. Greyhawk is an alternate universe, Eberron is an alternate universe, etc. The mulitverse is everything collectively. Cosmology would be a collection of planes. Although techinically cosmology means the study of the cosmos, cosmos meaning anything outside of the earth, for lack of a better definition.
ssvegeta555 03-15-07, 04:31 PM	So it's basicly subjective based on the cmapaign in question? Very interesting. Sorcen_Anenooata, I think differently about the universe. I think the universe is a very large space contained within it's own plane, or divided up in layers. So the Material Plane is one universe, the Abyss it's own universe and so on. So I guess naturally, the muliverse is a collection of multiple universes, making the Comsology. Looks like the terms are in place for my campaign. :P
ripvanwormer 03-15-07, 07:33 PM	The Multiverse is a cosmology that includes more than one universe. A cosmology is the planar scheme in any one campaign. In theory, a cosmology can include only one universe. A universe is a single plane of existence.
Geogoose 03-16-07, 08:52 AM	Cosmology refers to the campaign specific orientation of the different planes. Different campaign settings often use custom cosmologies to reflect the campaign specific deities. Multiverse applies whenever a cosmology has more than a single plane of existence. A single plane would be a Universe.
Sorcen_Anenooata 03-16-07, 09:59 AM	I've been outvoted :P . It does indeed seem like the definitions will vary from person to person and campaign to campaign. If you wanted the general consensus of the boards then go with the defintions that ssvegeta555, Geogoose, and ripvanwormer listed. I have a feeling that will be the majority opinion.