Classics Unboxed: Planescape Campaign Setting

It’s hard not to think about the numerous campaign settings that were released for D&D when one thinks of 2nd Ed.  In fact, campaign settings are likely the reason for that edition’s popularity throughout the 90’s.  The era of the boxed sets brought gamers many jewels, and to many, the brightest one of all was Planescape.

Planescape was released in 1994, and was designed by David “Zeb” Cook, who also happens to be credited with the 2nd Ed. design for D&D.  Planescape took the Great Wheel cosmology developed by Jeff Grubb in the Manual of the Planes and fleshes it out in a sort of victorian setting chock full of inspiring artwork and writing.  It always ranks at the top of the charts in terms of best boxed sets of the era, and it’s not hard to see why.  The artwork by Toni DiTerlizzi (Spiderwick Chronicles) is inspiring, and was completely out of the ordinary for anything D&D had seen at the time.  It really is a fine, fine gaming product.

The set includes the following contents:

• A Players Guide to the Planes:  a 32 page book introducing players to the multiverse.
• A DM’s Guide to the Planes:  a 64 page book full of secrets for the DM regarding Sigil and the Planes.
• Sigil and Beyond:  A 96 page book introducing Sigil, The City of Doors.  It serves as a starting point from which players can branch out to other planes.
• Monstrous Supplement:  A 32 page book full of planar monsters. Modrons anyone?
• 4 double-sided poster maps by Robert Lazzaretti depicting Sigil, Outlands, Outer Planes, and Factions of the Planes

In 1994, it had a MSRP of $30.00.

Here now is a gallery of all the contents included in the box:

To many, Planescape was the gold standard of boxed sets of the 2e era, and now you can see for yourself what the box is all about.  I hope you enjoyed this planar trip down memory lane.