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in: 2000 publications, AD&D 2nd edition publications, Adventure modules

The Vortex of Madness and Other Planar Perils

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The Vortex of Madness and other Planar Perils is a 96-page adventure module for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition released in January 2000.

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers for an adventure module.

Official synopsis[]

Have your AD&D® players been everywhere and slain everything? Are they getting bored with the same old world? Need to shake them up? Then drop them into the Vortex!

Step through the portal into:

  • The Vortex of Madness: In the depths of Limbo, a lost legend warps reality. Discover the fate of one of history's great madmen in this mind-bending locale.
  • The Citadel of Gith Reborn: A lone githyanki fortress in the vast gray of the Astral Plane holdas a grave threat to the rule of the lich-queen. Has the legendary Gith returned?
  • Leonis: On an obscure demiplane, a crazed wizard defies both magic and science with his creations. Are his secrets worth dying for?
  • The Black Acropolis: Zeus imprisoned the Titans in the pit of Tarterus countless millennia ago—but even the Great Cage can't hold them forever.
  • The City of Glass: The "Sigil of the Elements" is the destination on the Plane of Water. Here are possibilities as endless as the Bottomless Deep itself.

The Vortex of Madness presents five intriguing places on the Inner and Outer Planes. Designed for high-level campaigns, each site is a gateway to adventure. Whether for a single visit or a continuing tour, The Vortex of Madness has all you need to take your game beyond the Prime. The book also includes an optional storyline linking all five planar locales.

These adventure sites can be used with the PLANESCAPE setting or any other ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® game world.

Content[]

The Vortex of Madness and other Planar Perils is a 96-page adventure module set in the planes of the Great Wheel cosmology, as explored in the Planescape campaign setting. However, the Planescape sourcebooks are not necessary to use this product.

The book details five planar sites:

  • The Vortex of Madness is a pocket domain in Limbo, a rare stable area of unknown origin. It is home to Baron Lum the Mad and features The Machine of Lum the Mad.
  • The Black Acropolis is a location associated with the Greek pantheon, and located on Othrys, the outer layer of Carceri.
  • Leonis, the Demiplane of Invention, is realm conjured by a wish spell, where the wizard Leonis wished for a realm where his creations would work.
  • The Citadel of Gith Reborn is a githyanki fortress in the Astral Plane.
  • The City of Glass is in the Elemental Plane of Water.

Development and release[]

Development[]

The book was written by Chris Pramas. Art was provided by Dana Knutson and Hannibal King.

Release[]

The Vortex of Madness and other Planar Perils was released by Wizards of the Coast in January 2000 for $17.95 US, or $26.95 Canadian.

On February 28, 2017, it was re-released in digital format. It is currently available on DriveThruRPG and Dungeon Masters Guild for $4.99.

Reception and influence[]

Critical reception[]

As of 2023, The Vortex of Madness and other Planar Perils reached the rank of Gold seller on DriveThruRPG.

Influence on other works[]

External links[]

References[]


Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition
Core rules
Player's Handbook • Dungeon Master Guide
Monstrous Compendium Volume One • Monstrous Compendium Volume Two • Monstrous Manual
First Quest • Introduction to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Game • The Complete Starter Set • Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game
Optional core rules
Player's Option: Combat & Tactics • Player's Option: Skills & Powers • Player's Option: Spells & Magic
Dungeon Master Option: High-Level Campaigns • Campaign Option: Council of Wyrms
Supplement lines
Player's Handbook Rules Supplement • Dungeon Master's Guide Rules Supplement
Monstrous Compendium Appendix • Monstrous Compendium Annual
Encyclopedia Magica • Historical Reference • The Magic Encyclopedia • Monstrous Arcana • Priest's Spell Compendium • Wizard's Spell Compendium
Other supplements
Bastion of Faith • Book of Artifacts • Castle Sites • Chronomancer • City Sites • College of Wizardry • Country Sites • Den of Thieves • Dungeon Builder's Guidebook • Guide to Hell • Legends & Lore • Rogues' Gallery • Shaman • Tome of Magic • The Vortex of Madness and Other Planar Perils • Warriors of Heaven • World Builder's Guidebook
Adventures
The Apocalypse Stone • Axe of the Dwarvish Lords • Cleric's Challenge (II) • The Dancing Hut of Baba Yaga • Destiny of Kings • Die Vecna Die! • Dragon Mountain • Dungeons of Despair • Fighter's Challenge (II) • The Gates of Firestorm Peak • A Hero's Tale • Labyrinth of Madness • The Lost Shrine of Bundushatur • Moonlight Madness • The Murky Deep • Night Below: An Underdark Campaign • A Paladin in Hell • Return to the Tomb of Horrors • Reverse Dungeon • Road to Danger • The Rod of Seven Parts • The Shattered Circle • The Silver Key • Swamplight • Tale of the Comet • Tales of Enchantment • Temple, Tower, & Tomb • Thief's Challenge (II) • TSR Jam 1999 • Wizard's Challenge (II)
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