Extraplanarity

From PathfinderWiki

The term extraplanar can be used to describe two distinct concepts in metaphysics:

  • Something foreign to the current plane. Indeed, the antonym of this usage is native.
For example, an outsider native to a different plane than the Material Plane is an extraplanar outsider with regard to the Material Plane, while an outsider native to the Material Plane is a native outsider in that plane. Likewise, when a native of the Material Plane travels to another plane, that creature is considered an extraplanar creature with regard to the destination plane.1
(One exception involves the transitive planes, to which very few creatures are native; creatures that inhabit transitive planes are almost always in transit from one plane to another.)12
This usage is most often applied to describe a visitor from another plane ("extraplanar wanderers"), or a location or action outside of the current plane ("extraplanar city", "extraplanar trade").3
  • Something that exists outside of any plane, without regard to physical or metaphysical dimensions. This usage is most often applied to magic that creates unique states or dimensions beyond the reach of any plane, and is sometimes synonymous with (or incorrectly in place of) the terms extradimensional or nondimensional. The term is also used to describe demiplanes not encapsulated in other planes.4
For example, a bag of holding stores objects in a tiny extradimensional space. While this space is naturally also extraplanar, the term is less specific and should be avoided in favor of extradimensional.5 Countless extraplanar realms, such as pocket universes, exist outside of other known planes, and many are ruled by gigas.6

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Jason Bulmahn. (2009). Bestiary (First Edition), p. 312. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-183-1
  2. Robert Brookes et al. (2018). Planar Adventures, p. 149. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-044-6
  3. Thurston Hillman. (2018). Shadow Absalom. Distant Realms, p. 38. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-046-0
  4. Robert Brookes et al. (2018). Planar Adventures, p. 5. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-044-6
  5. Jason Bulmahn et al. (2009). Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook (1E), p. 501. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-150-3
  6. Patrick Renie. (2015). Ecology of the Gigas. Shadow of the Storm Tyrant, p. 75. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-730-7