Exploring Bytopia
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- Bytopia, also known as the Twin Paradises of Bytopia, is a lawful good/neutral good aligned plane of existence. It is one of a number of alignment-based Outer Planes that form part of the standard Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) cosmology, used in the Planescape, Greyhawk, and some editions of the Forgotten Realms campaign settings.
Bytopia is a virtuous plane of cultivated beauty, and is home to many of the deities of the gnomish pantheon.
That's hilarious the Adamantine Dragons consider evil to be stupid. And because they consider it stupid, evil in their presence attains a certain degree of stupid(if you go near them knowing you're evil that is).
It's the sort of logical forward-backstep that just gives me the chortles.
DM: You successfully entered Bytopia!
Whole party: Good! Let's find one of our gods!
DM: You find another great kingdom in your travels, this one ironically has no king and...
PC: Why have we not found one of our gods yet? We are on their plain.
DM: Bytopia is infinite in size. None of you with divine-based powers contacted a single god.
Whole Party: We hate you.
This was a divine realm I had not heard of
Sounds like an ideal place to live too me.
"You may call me beetle... today" love this detail.
Just finished a couple sessions in my planar campaign in Bytopia. Some notes:
1. The plot hook for my planar-jumping party was that the Gnomes were hosting an inventing contest, or "InventorCon" as we named it. The planar portal they came through had a small town around it to watch for a motley assortment of inventors from various races, but since the party were not on "the guest list", they playfully pretended to be working on a town-guarding Steam Golem (Tome of Beasts) that went berserk as the townsfolk pretended to ask for help in corralling it (a way to test if newcomers were heroic and willing to help). The party ended up using Banishment to make it disappear for a minute while they fled out of town, apparently not wanting to be helpful whatsoever. I had their alignments shift towards neutral, but the plane ended up making them all go back to LG/NG soon thereafter anyway.
2. In order to enter the contest, one of the judges (an Artificer) asked the party to travel from Dothion to Shurrock to retrieve some specific gems they needed for a creation of their own. The party had access to Fly, Polymorph and such, but decided to simply climb one of the pillars connecting the two sides. I made them make Strength (Athletics) AND Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks to climb and then deal with the sudden shift of gravity on the other side, though the total travel time wasn't too long since the layers are only 1 mile apart.
3. In the mountain chain they went to retrieve the gems, an Alkilith had perched itself in an opening and started pumping out Demons (how the Alkilith got there is another story I likely won't get to in my campaign unfortunately). The party first fights a pumped-up Nabassu who had come through first several hours/days before and munched on some native beasts, then the party sees a horde of other demons killing off another Nabassu (they had been hunting the Nabassus when the portal was discovered). I rolled a D20 every round to have a new demon come through, and the party immediately starting running without even seeing the Alkilith. Various flying demons stopped their retreat for a while, and they ended up chopping through 14-15 demons before fleeing for good. Since the Demons were starting to swarm the area as they fled, an Adamantium Dragon appeared above and disintegrated/exploded the entire mountain top to protect the plane, with the party barely escaping (although they took a bunch of damage as rocks rained from the sky).
4. The inns charged basically nominal fees, if any, and if the party was ever hungry they could take any amount of food they wanted from ample stores (though having a fine cook make something special did have a cost). The gnome in the party was also a crafter and a Bard, making him quite popular with the locals, although he felt too afraid to go pay his deity (Nebelun) a visit personally even though it was only a day away from where they were staying.
Bitopia; where all roads go both ways.
Always was curious about Bytopia. To me it just didn't make as much sense as the other goodly aligned planes, but your video has helped me get my brain around it.
happy to help :)
I wonder if it would be possible to create an Adamantium dragon born. They would make for an interesting Paladin order, good aligned, militaristic, hardy and capable to creating a white hot cleaning fire.
Oooooo... I think I am going to steal that idea!
Almost sounds like the order of Bathmat in some ways.
Depends on how often, and even when you get what abilities. I would see them having the ability to coat their chosen weapon in the cleansing fire early in their career, and then gaining variations on how they can use it over time, with the last one being calling it down like one might a smite. Have the power an even potency of the flames be dependent both of the level of the player an also something like a faith stat it could be quite potent an yet not op.
There is also the idea that the potency could be curbed based on where they use it. Kinda like how the Adamntium dragons can only use their time stop breath in defense of their home plane. could do the same here that when used outside of defending the clergy/order or holdings of the order the potency of the flames is quite abit weaker.
@@elricengquist9989 You mean Bahamut.
Bahamut is a lawfull-good God, who takes the form of a platinum dragon.
Baphomit is a Chaotic-Evil Deamond-Lord, who takes the form of a giant minnotaur.
Their names are easy to confuse, but they could not be much more different from each other.
B.t.w. there is an order of dragonborn paladins, known as the platinum order.
Paladins, not clerics. Dragonborn are ussually too proudly indipenent to want to be a cleric or warlock.
Also, most dragonborn are not too happy with the Dragons of any kind, because their ancestors were enslaved by them on Abir. Most don't care too much for the Gods either, because they were unable to hear dragonbor prayrs on Abir.
I love how many of your pictures of heaven are of Palau.
Outstanding depth of subject matter from all fields. How about one on Unther, an interesting enough place before the Time of Troubles, now ironically as fractious as the area upon which it was based (Mesopotamia/Iraq). The resurgence? of Gilgeam is an intruiging theme and could be an interesting higher level campaign. Given that it is also now a potentially fertile area for religious protelyzation, there could be any number of holy wars/religious-based campaigns. Keep up the great work.
This one was very good but celestia was the best D&D video on the internet have a good evening.
Even though I've been subscribed to you for a couple years now, Jorphdan's bytopia video sent me to you AJ! Much love
Awesome! Thank you!
That intro was so immersive, you must be an awesome DM.
Orkboss oh I wouldn't talk for that long as a DM, there's faster ways to describe the scene.
jordan the ph is silent sent me here
karupt422 me too
Me three.
Oh neat, AJ, pickrtt sent me to jorpdan on the stellar dragpn collap
What collab?
Hey there A. J., been listening to your videos for a few weeks now. Just wanted to say thank you for putting these out there. I'm trying my hand at DMing for the first time. I have to say that listening to your videos has made it much more enjoyable and much less intimidating. Thank you so much for the lore and for being so down to earth.
My pleasure, and have fun running your games!
These planar videos keep getting cooler and cooler! You often bring up some really interesting history of the DnD universe, do you think you could make a video history lesson one day?
Dawn war, spell plague ect.
That would be amazing to understand that stuff better. The past relationships of the deities that influence their current behavior.
You're awesome!
Coach Colbath that's the plan, first I have to get a good grasp of the topics, after all, by making these vids, I am educating myself.
I ran a adventure in this setting where the middle layer of the open sky between the two layers was being invaded by a neutral evil faction that was creating floating islands in the region thru a unknown mechanical means, which they actually lived on. The players were sent up to this region to learn about the intentions of this faction, since even though some called it a invasion the actual faction did not openly attack or were hostile to the rest of the plane actually.
Interesting, what sort of society did the invading faction have, were they humanoids? Where did they come from?
For the most part they are a race of humanoids that have a relationship with a pair of semi-intelligent insectoid like creatures that have either a symbiotic relationship or a parasitic type one based on which of them were attached(if you ever played Legend of Legia they are based off the Serus in that setting.). Their physical bodies show they have suffered alot from both living in a crumbling world, and also pollution an corruption.
As a whole they are in more of a refugee type mentality an look, with them coming into the plane only afew months prior to the adventure an creating a few of these islands using their insectoid type creatures to connect the nearby ones. The actual islands are created from bits of their world that had passed thru a fissure in the planar barrier caused possibly by the cataclysm happening on their planet.
For the most part their society is quite self oriented, though not the point of exploiting, or sacrificing other's needs for your own (this is a change that happened though after their arrival, on their world it was unbridled self interest with no worry of the whole.). More like you make sure you get as much as you can out of what you do for yourself, while still providing an sustaining the rest of the society. Most of their technology is biological using the Seru-type creatures as both companions, as well as tools or weapons, since the creature merges with the host becoming a single being with two personality aspects to it.
I actually got Gaerdal Ironhand's Hammer in a 2e Campaign. Could been an interesting plot hook item. Shame nothing came of it because it would have been a great excuse to visit Bytopia.
AJ can you do a video on elemental apocalypse dragons? Also can you make a video on your opinion if all the dragons had a free for all what one would win?
bytopia seems like a good place to live
More like the perfect place to live too me.
Your work is so usefull to my campain. Thanks!
Glad I could help!
An ancient adamantium dragon would be scary as Fuck. Out curiosity would the CR of said dragon be?
29!
great video although i have a question what happens if you dig too deep in bytopia? what would happen if you took a dwarven mining guilg to bytopia and they just start diggin? the plane is infinite in 2 dimension or 3 dimensions? do yoe eventually fall into an endless void?
You would eventually hit a molten core, which probably has links to the elemental chaos. In the lore, the various gods and some titans present on the planes have portals to lots of different realms and other planes of existence. But yes, potentially, there is an infinite amount of down on each of the twin planes, and the mining, as mentioned, is more extensive on Shurrock. Good question, thank you!
thanks to you
Is bytopia infinite or does it expand as more life appears
@@AJPickett Huh, just imagined id be like Looney Toons and you'd dig so deep you wind up on the opposite surface that was above you.
So the outer planes are kind of linked. The two rivers flow through the upper and lower planes, conflicts rage between them and parts can move from plane to plane. I would personally have the mythral mines of Donthion connect with the dwarven mines of Mount Celestia. But the fun part about the planes is that they are malleable and change to however you want them to be.
Got to say love the videos (so do my kids, they ask to listen to the monster man). Thank you for all the time you put into making these videos and the time you take to respond to your subscribers, viewers. Awesome stuff.
Having said that, have you ever thought of doing a monster ecology video on Bog Blokes?
Sweet now time to send my dnd party there lol
Adamantine dragons are so fricking bad ass. I bet the purple dragons in the underdark are only afraid when adamantine dragons goes to the underdark.
Good Morning AJ... great video, I could never collect so much info, thank you again for your video's. I have a question if that is okay, I was wondering if you are still going to do more videos on the "oriental adventures" world. The Ogre Mage was always a good random encounter or boss type. Really enjoyed OA. Have a great day AJ !!
Thanks you, and yes, I have plans to cover the Oni (Ogre Mage) and more of the different regions of Kara-Tur :)
You are the man.
We the men. ;D
Great video. So hard. To find good info on this realm in 5e
Hello,
I really liked the intro! Fantastic Gnome voice and good video😉.
I'm thinking of a Quest, with floating Crystal's and a desert beyond. Would that fit here¿ I would like some natural threat like a sandstorm that turns living things into stone or into crystal. What do you think¿
Hugs
DID you say elemental Apocalypse dragons? Wheres the video of those?
Considering recent developments will you be covering Chult soon?
Joshua Kirk it is now on the explores list.
This is where you send a murder hobo and trap them on Bytopia , and wait for them to screw up majorly when the dragon shows up.
Good plan.
I'll be honest. I'm having a hard time understanding what you're saying 50% of the time but it's still interesting.
My favorite Outer Realm: If I had to be a Petitioner, Bytopia would be my preferred destination.
So much free real estate 🥺
@@AJPickett, for me it's the perfect balance:
"When I feel I need a challenge in life, I look up and see Shurrock enticing me with its promise of adventure. And when I am weary of adventures and desire a more gentle, rythmic stability to life, I need but look up and see Dothion welcoming me home."
You did a fantastic job describing the Twin Paradises!
A utopian place. Yay. There are multiple heavens in D&D it seems.
12:34 shouldn’t it be cyan colored?
So... if I want an Ancient Adamantine Dragon what do I do?
Ooo great question, had to think about this one...
Use the Tarrasque as a base template, no horn attack, no spell deflection, add tail and wing attacks, frightful presence is the same as an ancient red, breath weapon is the same damage, but reduced spread, greater range, and recharges 4-6 (it is like a jet of flame, more than a cone of fire). The magic knowledge of an Ancient would be greatly increased and they would be accompanied by other Adamantine dragons most of the time, so, you would be fighting off waves of adults as the Ancient just blasts the party from range.... also, with the Ancient, spend a legendary save to use the time stop ability whenever they want.
"Game over man, game over" Hicks.
AJ Pickett Thanks
Anytime Chad-Solomon, thanks for the question.
BTW, "melee" is pronounced "may-lay". It's a French word. It's NOT pronounced "mee-lee".
Yes is it, because that is how I pronounce it :)
Possible remastered video candidate. What about Gary glittergorn the gnome god
Garl Glittergold, lol.
@@AJPickett oops sorry same thing kind of
What about glitterod glittleborn or the gnome God I might have misspelled his name
Garl Glittergold?
Kiwi?
if all of the animals in this plane are intelligent wouldn't that include the cattle or are they still as dumb as can be im going with still dumb as can be. plus ravens are probably my favorite animal so wouldn't mind chatting with one
The intelligence is high animal intelligence, the cows are still cows, they still do cow stuff, they think about grass a LOT, the animals follow their usual behavior, but are just more self aware. Animals which normally form companionship relationships with people are even more so inclined, so Dogs, Cats, Horses and such, can be very close to their humanoid friends.
im pretty sure cats are self aware enough as it is already :). not that it really matters still like cats have 2 as pets.
also im been thinking of getting new dog wonder what summoning rituals or legal forms would have to do get one from their and since it is at least partly lawful good plane so a dog from their would probably make a excellent pet or service animal if the owner is good i would assume.
What would happen if someone used a reckin ball and destroyed this place from the outside?
The dragons would stop you.
Jorphdan sent me n_n
the problem is if animals were intelligent enough to understand good and evil and still acted like wild animals they would be chaotic, evil, or both so why is this classed as a plain of law and good, also the whole frowning on charity is not relay good either. this sound more like a LN,N,CN, plane rather than a good one.
tyler patti yes, it is both lawful good and lawful neutral. As for animals, they are true neutral, acting on instinct. They have very high animal intelligence.
This is actually one of the big holes that alignment has. What is Neutral to you, due to cultural norms, can be good or evil to someone else.
It depends on context.
Benjamin Lupine That’s not how alignment works in D&D, you need to have a universal standard or else the planes don’t work. If something that is good for an angel is evil in a material plane culture then that material plane culture is probably inherently evil, think on that.
The smallest race gets the infinite space plane for their gods. Ironic.
DRAGALS! Hahaha
Huh, that kobold lover deleted his comment. Good riddance.
The what now?
AJ Pickett there was someone arguing in the comments about how Garl Glittergold should be in the lower planes for his “crimes”. I simply asked “then why is Kurtulmak in hell?” And then he left.
@@jonathanwells223 Touchy subject I guess!
I can answer the question. Because the gods are not just. Because Glittergold is part of the right club he gets off with his villiany free and clear while those who did no wrong get punished for doing their duty. Don't believe the lies of the so called "good" gods. Don't you find it suspicious how they have just happened to let destructive outsiders squat in the planes all these eons? Or that the only force allowed to deal with them are so called fallen brethern? Wake up people!
What would cause a party to venture here how could a dm lure them here.I didn't like the funny voice stuff very cringy like fetid cheese lol
You don't like funny voices, well shit, you would hate to be in a game I am running then. The Gnomes love to travel, they are quite capable of finding their way back and forth to the prime material planes, and, they know magic.. plane shift works fine on Bytopia. I like to imagine there are all these wooded glades with ancient stone circles the gnomes use to create portals, kind of like Neolithic Stargates.
@@AJPickett esper the bard did a gnome voice it sucked too lol very interesting I like the adamantium dragon
a realm populated by mostly Gnomes? this must be hell
Dothian sounds like a good place to live to me. The only downsides for me, would be that there isn't really a sky, and the fact dying is still possible dispite being an afterlife.
Btw, I know if you die on the lower planes you ussually get permi-death, but what happens if you die on the upper-planes, or in Mechinus, Limbo, or the Outlands?
Markus Nävergård say hello to Asmodeus for me right before you’re grinded into a lemure
Sounds boring.
shamusfarmer That’s the upper planes for you. Maybe you would like the Infinite Layers of the Abyss better, never a boring day in that place!