Manual of the Planes is a 128-page sourcebook for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition released in 1987.
Official synopsis[]
"...from Arcadia to Pandemonium, from the plane of elemental Fire to the Astral plane, vast new worlds of adventure are now open to players." A vital source book for players and DMs of all levels of experience, the Manual of the Planes details the manifold worlds of the known planes of existence. This book describes the inhabitants, rulers, and environments of these worlds, as well as rules for movement, survival, combat, and spell use in these alien surroundings. A different style of AD&D adventures awaits!
Content[]
Development and release[]
Development[]
The book was written by Jeff Grubb. Art was provided by Stephen Fabian and Jeff Easley.
Release[]
Manual of the Planes was released by TSR in 1987 for $15.00 US.
On January 22, 2013, it was re-released in digital format. It is currently available on DriveThruRPG and Dungeon Masters Guild for $9.99.
Reception and influence[]
Sales[]
Manual of the Planes sold 137,068 copies between 1987 and 1993, nearly all of those in its year of release. It sold 111,711 copies in 1987, 8,122 copies in 1988, 7,819 copies in 1989, 8,066 copies in 1990, and 1,495 copies in 1991. It sold effectively a negative number of copies in following years due to returns: -144 copies in 1992, and -1 copies in 1993.[1]
Critical reception[]
As of 2023, Manual of the Planes (1e) reached the rank of Platinum seller on DriveThruRPG.
Influence on other works[]
Manual of the Planes inspired Manual of the Planes (3e) (2001) and Manual of the Planes (4e) (2008).
The planar cosmology defined in this work was a key inspiration for the Planescape campaign setting.
The cover art was famously borrowed by the creators of the 1993 game Doom to make the Cacodemon|Cacodemon.