Potential Article: Academic Institutions in Planescape

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Anetra's picture
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Potential Article: Academic Institutions in Planescape

Schools/universities/etc in Planescape. Not many are mentioned in canon - the most memorable of them (aka, the only one *I* remember) is Grenpoli, the devil school in Baator where devils are taught to be devils.

We're including a new one with Issue 3, though, the Universities of Axis on Mechanus. What other badass academic institutions can we squeeze into the zine, though?

... And what is the state of education in the setting anyway? Are there schools in Sigil? How much do they cost? What kinds of families send their children to school, and what kinds don't? How many adventurers are likely to have an education? What about settlements outside of Sigil? Are children educated in the City of Brass? Is Dis? In Tradegate?

How do the different factions feel about education? The Guvners and the Believers of the Source would seem predisposed to approval, but how do they feel about public vs private schools, about the poor getting educations, or about bothering to educate them as children at all?

Or what about class-based educations? Where do wizards go to apprentice on the Planes? Are there any big organized towers or wizarding schools, like you might see on a prime setting? How about clerics? Temples and divine realms of knowledge gods?

sciborg2's picture
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Re: Potential Article: Academic Institutions in Planescape

This is a great topic, sadly I'm coming up blank for ideas at the moment.

It does, however, provide a motivation for people to leave the pastoral wonders of their Upper Planar home and make the journey to the Outlands or Sigil.

Another thing that makes this a great topic is the question about Good and paternalism. Should celestials take the Prime Directive approach, or cheat like the Minds of Banks' Culture?

I wonder if exemplars use free education as a way to spread their propaganda. One example I have is the Fractal Heresy, this idea put forth by a Guvner Mathematician that all Chaos is simply complex Law so the people of Mechanus can do whatever they want. Would Ygorl promote this idea, or is he afraid making people believe this would cause to become an Axiom of the Wheel?

Fiends would likely rely on clever rationalizations for historical evils such as slavery/apartheid/genocide/etc.

Obviously people could tie in their Real Life (tm) politics, but I think that's best left to players and groups comfortable with that.

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Anetra's picture
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Re: Potential Article: Academic Institutions in Planescape

I'm blanking on it as well, unfortunately, but I'm sure that someone will come up with something in time for one issue or another. I'm very excited to see the subject get explored!

Wicke's picture
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Re: Potential Article: Academic Institutions in Planescape

You could have faction run schools:

A (very loosely) joint run school of the arts by Xaositect and Sensates.

A drama school that acts as a front for the Anarchs looking to recruit.

A school focused on criminal justice, headed by members of the Hardheads, Guvners and Mercy Killers.

Bleaker run hospital/medical school.

-------------------------

You could have grand schools devoted philosophical studies in the upper planes where you could literally debate with some of the greatest minds in existence. Maybe there's a college that originated from a Prime that sought out to do exactly that, and it's grown into a full on educational institution. The school could port people in from the Prime, then go out for day trips to different upper planes to have philosophical conversations with petitioners, or just to experience the different planes. Base it out of Sigil or the Outlands.

Schools devoted to studying the great literary works of the planes. Students would learn different languages, then study the works that are written in that language. Imagine a student being conversant in the great works of a dozen different prime worlds.

Prime Studies college: a school devoted to teaching planars about the different prime worlds in existance. Could involve travelling to the different prime worlds and attending classes in different ones to get an idea of what the Primes are like. Planar students could go forth and do ethnographic studies for their chosen prime.

It comes down to thinking about the sorts of things that are studied in the real world, then putting a Planescape spin on it.

sciborg2's picture
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Re: Potential Article: Academic Institutions in Planescape

Those are some great ideas Wicke - I *love* Prime Studies.

I had a few bits in the Dark Roads brain storms about universities. I'm waiting on Wolfgang to see if we have permission to take our own unpublished stuff and use it.

One location that did get a mention were the Towers of Persuasion, where celestials learn how to argue for morality.

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Anetra's picture
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Re: Potential Article: Academic Institutions in Planescape

Upper planar Grenpoli - nice!

sciborg2's picture
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Re: Potential Article: Academic Institutions in Planescape

I actually have some extra stuff on those towers, was going to just post it but I figure best to get the OK from Wolfgang first.

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Mask's picture
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Re: Potential Article: Academic Institutions in Planescape

I guess there will be "official" schools especially at the lawful planes, while on chaotic planes more personal teachers will be found.

For example Archeron could have big boot camps, which might even train "guests", if they pay enough - another reason for PCs to visit this plane.

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Re: Potential Article: Academic Institutions in Planescape

Great idea for research. This would be a new and perfect thing for brain storming.

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