Great Wheel

The Great Wheel is the dominant cosmological model in the D&D multiverse. It posits that the metaphysical planes of existence align with the Good-Evil and Law-Chaos axes of morality.

The basic structure of the GW is as follows. The metaphysical world is composed of the Outer Planes, which are structured in alignment with Good-Evil and Law-Chaos; there is a Lawful Good plane (Celestia), a Chaotic Evil plane (the Abyss), et cetera.

In a similar manner, the basic building blocks of the material universe—matter and energy—originate in the Inner Planes. The Inner Planes fall into two categories: the Elemental Planes (Air, Earth, Fire, Water) and the Energy Planes (Positive Energy and Negative Energy).

Then there's the material plane (where we are), and its echoes (the Shadowfell and Feywild). Between the material plane and the Outer Planes lies the Astral Plane; and between the material plane and the Inner Planes lies the Ethereal Plane.

Outer Planes

The Outer Planes represent the metaphysical realms. They are roughly akin to the astral dominions of the World Axis.

A quick note regarding the OPs: there are actually 17, not 9. This is because, in the Outer Planes, the Good/Evil and Lawful/Chaotic side of all of the all of the non-True Neutral alignments are represented. Basically there are an additional 8 planes which sit "in between" all of the alignments you're familiar with (excluding True Neutral). For example, in between Neutral Good and Lawful Good is the Lawful side of Neutral Good, which I call "Neutral Good (L)". Another example is Ysgard. Think of Ysgard as Chaotic Neutral with Good leanings, whereas Pandemonium is Chaotic Neutral with Evil leanings.

The OPs are (going from Good -> Evil and Lawful -> Chaotic):

• Good:
  • Arcadia (Lawful Neutral (Good))
  • Celestia (Lawful Good)
  • Bytopia (Neutral Good (Lawful))
  • Elysium (Neutral Good)
  • Beastlands (Neutral Good (Chaotic))
  • Arborea (Chaotic Good)
  • Ysgard (Chaotic Neutral (Good))
• Neutral:
  • Mechanus (Lawful Neutral)
  • Outlands (True Neutral)
  • Limbo (Chaotic Neutral)
• Evil:
  • Acheron (Lawful Neutral (Evil))
  • Nine Hells (Lawful Evil)
  • Gehenna (Neutral Evil (Lawful))
  • Hades (Neutral Evil)
  • Carceri (Neutral Evil (Chaotic))
  • Abyss (Chaotic Evil)
  • Pandemonium (Chaotic Neutral (Evil))

Outer Planes of the Great Wheel
	Lawful	Neutral (L)	Neutral	Neutral (C)	Chaotic
Good	Celestia	Bytopia	Elysium	Beastlands	Arborea
Neutral (G)	Arcadia				Ysgard
Neutral	Mechanus		Outlands		Limbo
Neutral (E)	Acheron				Pandemonium
Evil	Nine Hells	Gehenna	Hades	Carceri	Abyss

See also

• World Axis
• World Tree
• Great Beyond
• Eberron