D&D: How ‘Path Of Planebreaker’ Brings Universe-Hopping Adventure To 5E
‘Tis the season for new 5th Edition campaign settings! Today, Monte Cook and Co. bring you a world-shattering, space-faring moon for 5th Edition.
There’s something in the air– because new 5th Edition Campaign settings are falling out of the sky like Amigos. In today’s case, that’s exceptionally literal. Monte Cook’s new setting, created with a team of RPG veterans, is all about a plane-shattering moon that is hurtling across the multiverse through all realities.
And with it comes a city built amid the comet-like tail of realities (or worldpools) that lie in its wake. Path of the Planebreaker is equal parts planar space travel, exploration, and multiversal mysteries. And it seems like an ambitious 5th Edition setting.
If you’re looking for something that has a bit of Planescape‘s old feel, this is a great place to start. Path of the Planebreaker has a lot of the “creatures from all sorts of worlds and realities thrown together” vibe that made Planescape‘s central city, Sigil, stand out. It’s not just cosmopolitan, it’s cosmos-politan.
It’s angels and demons and time-tossed explorers all gathered in a city– but there’s a unique twist to the setting. The book features RPG veterans like Sean K. Reynolds (of Pathfinder and D&D fame), Bruce R. Cordell, and of course, Monte Cook. Between the lot, there’s a lot of “plane-hopping” adventure credits.
Let’s take a look at what makes the setting tick.
What is the Planebreaker?
Path of the Planebreaker brings the planes to adventurers of all levels. Much like Planescape, it wants to open the multiverse’s doors from the outset. Characters of 1st level and beyond can engage in plane-hopping adventures.
How, you ask? It’s all courtesy of the eponymous Planebreaker– a cursed moon, or moon-sized structure (there are some who would tell you “that’s no moon”). Whatever you call it, it hurtles through the multiverse, crashing from one plane into the next, forever “fleeing from a catastrophe that predates existence itself.”
The Planebreaker visits all planes, all demiworlds, and all dimensions. Gods and demons, angels and mortals, undead and outsiders alike–all eventurally see it streak across their realm.
How the Planebreaker Affects the Multiverse
But it’s not just a screaming magical moon. It’s like a magical comet. Planar debris streaks across it as it rips through time and space and reality. And swept up in its wake are tears and eddies of reality, sometimes called “worldpools”, that make up a frothing mix of realities called the Sea of Uncertainty.
The Planebreaker leaves a connection to every world it has visited. A planar connection called simply “the Path” connects travelers to all the planes that the Planebreaker has previously visited. You might be swept up in the Path or discover it on your own, but either way, once you start walking it, you will invariably see the Sea of Uncertainty.
And rising up from within is the other central conceit of the setting, the city of Timeborne.
The City of Timeborne
The City of Timeborne stands on an island overlooking the Sea of Uncertainty. The community’s population includes refugees, planar explorers, dimensional traders, opportunists, and those hiding from something. Some are beings no one has ever previously encountered, but other residents include humans and other humanoid terrestrial species, as well as celestial and infernal beings.
Naturally, nobody knows who built this. There are gates beneath the city that take you through dangerous passages to the Planebreaker itself. And for those who dare to travel that most dangerous terrain, there are secrets and treasures untold.
That’s the setting. The Campaign itself will get you a 5th Edition sourcebook chock full of new worlds, new monsters, new treasures, magic items– and that’s on the DM’s side.
For players? There’s even greater wealth. There are new planar classes, new subclasses for extant 5E classes, new feats, spells, and even player character species options.
As stretch goals are met, more books will unlock. This includes a Player’s Guide, a Planar Bestiary, and a “resource deck.” Check out the campaign below for more info.
Back Path of the Planebreaker
