The Prime Material Plane (also called the Material Plane, the Prime Material, or just the Prime) is the central plane of existence

Plane (Dungeons & Dragons)

The planes of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game constitutes the multiverse in which the game takes place.In the earliest versions of Dungeons & Dragons, the concept of the Inner, Ethereal, Prime Material, Astral and Outer Planes was introduced; at the time there were only four Inner Planes...

 in the Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...

role-playing game

Role-playing game

A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...

. The Prime Material Plane is the primary location of most Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting

Campaign setting

A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...

s, with the exceptions of Ravenloft

Ravenloft

Ravenloft is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. It is an alternate time-space existence known as a pocket dimension called the Demiplane of Dread, which consists of a collection of land pieces called domains brought together by a mysterious force known only as "The Dark...

and Planescape

Planescape

Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...

.

The inhabitants of each Material Plane always refer to their own plane as the Prime Material Plane.

In the cosmology shared by the Planescape

Planescape

Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...

and Spelljammer

Spelljammer

Spelljammer is a campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, which features a fantastical outer space environment....

settings, there is only one Prime Material Plane, which contains many different worlds. In other cosmologes, such as that used by the Manual of the Planes

Manual of the Planes

The Manual of the Planes is a manual for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. This text addresses the planar cosmology of the game universe....

, there are numerous different Material Planes. (The Third Edition Manual of the Planes refers exclusively to the "Material Plane" rather than the "Prime Material Plane".)

In the Planescape campaign setting, those persons coming to the extraplanar city of Sigil from the Prime are referred to as "primes" themselves. "Primes" are often treated as clueless inferiors by the planar elitists who dwell in Sigil and other planes.

In 4th Edition, the terms "Prime Material Plane" and "Material Plane" are no longer in use, the plane of existence on which adventures normally take place is known as the natural world.

External links

• Material Plane, D&D Glossary