Spelljammer
Encyclopedia
Spelljammer is a campaign setting
for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
(2nd edition) role-playing game
, which features a fantastical
(as opposed to scientific
) outer space
environment.
Spelljammer introduced into the AD&D universe a comprehensive system of fantasy astrophysics
, including the Ptolemaic concept of crystal spheres. Crystal spheres may contain multiple worlds and are navigable using ships equipped with "spelljamming helms". Ships powered by spelljamming helms are capable of flying into not only the sky but into space
. With their own fields of gravity and atmosphere, the ships have open decks and tend not to resemble the spaceship
s of science fiction
, but instead look more like galleon
s, animals, birds, fish or even more wildly fantastic shapes.
The Spelljammer setting is designed to allow the usual sword and sorcery
adventures of Dungeons & Dragons to take place within the framework of outer space tropes. Flying ships travel through the vast expanses of interplanetary space, visiting moons and planets and other stellar objects.
Like the Planescape
setting, Spelljammer unifies most of the other AD&D settings and provides a canonical method for allowing characters from one setting (such as Dragonlance
) to travel to another (such as the Forgotten Realms
). However, unlike Planescape it keeps all of the action on the Prime Material Plane
and uses the crystal spheres, and the "phlogiston"
between them, to form natural barriers between otherwise incompatible settings. Though the cosmology
is derived largely from the Ptolemaic system of astronomy
, many of the ideas owe much to the works of Jules Verne
and his contemporaries, and to related games and fiction with a steampunk
or planetary romance
flavor. A strong Age of Sail
flavor is also present.
All bodies of any size carry with them an envelope of air whenever they leave the surface of a planet or other stellar object. Unlike real-world astrophysics, this air envelope is not dispersed by the vacuum of space. These bubbles of air provide breathable atmosphere for varying lengths of time, but 3 months is considered "standard".
. Each sphere varies in size but typically they are twice the diameter of the orbit of the planet that is furthest from the sun or planet at the centre of the sphere (the system's primary).
The surface of the sphere is called the "sphere wall" and separates the void of "wildspace" (within the sphere) from the "phlogiston" (that surrounds and flows outside the sphere). The sphere wall has no gravity and appears to be impossible to damage by any normal or magical means. Openings in the sphere wall called "portals" allow spelljamming ships or wildspace creatures to pass through and enter or exit from a crystal sphere. Portals can spontaneously open and close anywhere on the sphere wall. Magical spells (or magical items that reproduce their effects) can allow a portal to be located. Other magic can open a new portal or collapse an existing one. Ships or creatures passing through a portal when it closes may be cut in two.
Note that unlike the Ptolemaic system, the crystal spheres are not nested within each other.
, and houses an entire city on its back. All spacefarers (people who live in wildspace) have heard of the Spelljammer but very few have ever seen it themselves. It is this ship that gives its name to "spelljamming", "spelljamming helms" and anything else connected with spelljamming. The ship has been reported to have been seen in countless spheres for as long as records go back. Even some groundlings (people who live on planets that have very little or no commerce with spelljamming communities) have legends about it. There are hundreds of conflicting legends about this ship, and a mythology has developed about the ship that is similar to the legends surrounding The Flying Dutchman
.
As a living thing (although it does not consume any matter, it does absorb heat and light through its ventral (or under) side and uses them to produce air and food for its inhabitants), the Spelljammer has a complex life cycle and means of procreation. Normally the ship has no captain and wanders the cosmos seemingly aimlessly. When the Spelljammer has a captain, obtained through another complex process, it will create Smalljammers (miniature versions of the Spelljammer) that go forth as its spawn. Apparently there can only be one Spelljammer at any one time. One Smalljammer will mature into a full Spelljammer ship if its predecessor is ever destroyed.
, dwarves
, xenophobic beholder
s, rapacious neogi, militant giff (humanoid hippopotami
), centaurlike dracons, hubristic elf
armadas, spacefaring orcs called "scro", mysterious arcane, the Thri-kreen
insectoids, and bumbling tinker gnomes
. Illithid
s were another major race, but were presented as more mercantile and less overtly evil than in other D&D settings. The Monstrous Compendium series added many more minor races. The simian Hadozee were also introduced into the setting and, later, incorporated into the 3.5 rules in the supplemental book Stormwrack.
's other campaign worlds had their own sections in the Spelljammer Boxed Set - Realmspace for the Forgotten Realms
, Krynnspace for Dragonlance
, and Greyspace for Greyhawk
. Along with the new sphere - Clusterspace - they were known as the "Big Three and Astromundi". For more details, see List of Spelljammer crystal spheres. Dark Sun
, Ravenloft
and Mystara
weren't included, as the first two did not fit with the setting and the Mystara only used the D&D rules, not the AD&D rules.
The core Spelljammer product line consisted of four boxed sets: Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space
(ISBN 0-88038-762-9) introduced the setting and provided the basic rules for spelljamming travel. Legend of Spelljammer (ISBN 1-56076-083-4) expanded on the setting, in particular the Spelljammer itself. The War Captain's Companion (ISBN 1-56076-343-4) provided more detailed ship-to-ship combat rules, and The Astromundi Cluster (ISBN 1-56076-632-8) provided a roleplaying campaign.
The line was expanded by a number of accessories. Lost Ships
(ISBN 0-88038-831-5) expanded the number of ships, while Practical Planetology (ISBN 1-56076-134-2) assisted DMs who wished to create their own spelljamming setting. The Rock of Bral (ISBN 1-56076-345-0) provided a home base for adventuring parties, and Realmspace
(ISBN 1-56076-052-4), Krynnspace
(ISBN 1-56076-560-7) and Greyspace
(ISBN 1-56076-348-5) gave information about the crystal spheres housing TSR's three main campaign worlds. TSR also published a DM's screen (ISBN 1-56076-053-2) and two Monstrous Compendium
s (ISBN 0-88038-871-4 and ISBN 1-56076-071-0).
A series of five connected adventures was released in the modules Wildspace
(ISBN 0-88038-819-6), Skull & Crossbows
(ISBN 0-88038-845-5), Crystal Spheres (ISBN 0-88038-878-1), Under the Dark Fist (ISBN 1-56076-131-8) and Goblins' Return (ISBN 1-56076-149-0). Also published was a longer campaign, Heart of the Enemy (ISBN 1-56076-342-6) and Space Lairs (ISBN 1-56076-609-3) contained short standalone adventures.
When TSR started to produce a line of handbooks in 1992, they added the Complete Spacefarer's Handbook (ISBN 1-56076-347-7) to cover spelljamming travel.
A full product list is given in the external links.
before they were incorporated into Wizards of the Coast
. Although Wizards of the Coast
has not produced any new Spelljammer products they have given permission for a non-profit website, named Beyond the Moons, to continue support for the setting. Beyond the Moons is the official Spelljammer website and produces new material for Spelljammer AD&D (2nd edition), and converts existing AD&D material to work with the 3rd edition game.
magazine (with Dungeon
#92). Using the D20 system
, it provided new rules for firearms and spelljamming, as well as skills, feats and prestige classes. Spelljammer monsters
such as neogi and giff were not used. Instead, it featured creatures from the Monster Manual
such as drow, formian
s and yuan-ti
.
system.
between September 1990 and November 1991 with the creative team of Barbara Kesel, Michael Collins and Dan Panosian. Spelljammer comics also uses Jasmine, a winged human character originally introduced from Forgotten Realms comics
, as one of the lead characters.
, before TSR was incorporated into Wizards of the Coast
. The novels were interconnected and formed "The Cloakmaster Cycle". The novels tell the story of Teldin Moore, a 'groundling' farmer on Krynn who has a powerful and apparently cursed magical cloak that was given to him. He then ends up on a quest, which takes him first into wildspace and then away from his home sphere to distant crystal spheres. The series showcases the wonders and perils of the Spelljammer universe. The novels are now out of print.
in 1992 and was called Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace
.
In 2002 a team of freelance game modification developers created "The Arcane Space Tileset" for Neverwinter Nights
. This tileset included Spelljamming ships, Space and Atmospheric terrains, along with Monsters and NPC's, all set within the Spelljammer 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...
for the Advanced 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...
(2nd edition) 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...
, which features a fantastical
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
(as opposed to scientific
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
) outer space
Outer space
Outer space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
environment.
Spelljammer introduced into the AD&D universe a comprehensive system of fantasy astrophysics
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
, including the Ptolemaic concept of crystal spheres. Crystal spheres may contain multiple worlds and are navigable using ships equipped with "spelljamming helms". Ships powered by spelljamming helms are capable of flying into not only the sky but into space
Space
Space is the boundless, three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless four-dimensional continuum...
. With their own fields of gravity and atmosphere, the ships have open decks and tend not to resemble the spaceship
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
s of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, but instead look more like galleon
Galleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
s, animals, birds, fish or even more wildly fantastic shapes.
The Spelljammer setting is designed to allow the usual sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery is a sub-genre of fantasy and historical fantasy, generally characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent conflicts. An element of romance is often present, as is an element of magic and the supernatural...
adventures of Dungeons & Dragons to take place within the framework of outer space tropes. Flying ships travel through the vast expanses of interplanetary space, visiting moons and planets and other stellar objects.
Like 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...
setting, Spelljammer unifies most of the other AD&D settings and provides a canonical method for allowing characters from one setting (such as Dragonlance
Dragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
) to travel to another (such as the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
). However, unlike Planescape it keeps all of the action on the Prime Material Plane
Prime Material Plane
The Prime Material Plane is the central plane of existence in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
and uses the crystal spheres, and the "phlogiston"
Phlogiston theory
The phlogiston theory , first stated in 1667 by Johann Joachim Becher, is an obsolete scientific theory that postulated the existence of a fire-like element called "phlogiston", which was contained within combustible bodies and released during combustion...
between them, to form natural barriers between otherwise incompatible settings. Though the cosmology
Cosmology
Cosmology is the discipline that deals with the nature of the Universe as a whole. Cosmologists seek to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and ultimate fate of the Universe at large, as well as the natural laws that keep it in order...
is derived largely from the Ptolemaic system of astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, many of the ideas owe much to the works of Jules Verne
Jules Verne
Jules Gabriel Verne was a French author who pioneered the science fiction genre. He is best known for his novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , A Journey to the Center of the Earth , and Around the World in Eighty Days...
and his contemporaries, and to related games and fiction with a steampunk
Steampunk
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United...
or planetary romance
Planetary romance
Planetary romance is a type of science fiction or science fantasy story in which the bulk of the action consists of adventures on one or more exotic alien planets, characterized by distinctive physical and cultural backgrounds...
flavor. A strong Age of Sail
Age of Sail
The Age of Sail was the period in which international trade and naval warfare were dominated by sailing ships, lasting from the 16th to the mid 19th century...
flavor is also present.
Spelljamming helms
Spelljamming helms are the central setting concept which allow interplanetary and interstellar space travel for vessels which would otherwise not be spaceworthy. Within the Dungeons & Dragons universe, they are a method of converting magical energy into motive power.Gravity and Air
All bodies of a sufficiently large size have gravity. This gravity usually (but not always) exerts a force equal to the standard gravitational attraction on the surface of an Earth-sized planetary body. Gravity in the Spelljammer universe is also an exceptionally convenient force, and almost always works such that "down" orients itself in a manner most humanoids would find sensible.All bodies of any size carry with them an envelope of air whenever they leave the surface of a planet or other stellar object. Unlike real-world astrophysics, this air envelope is not dispersed by the vacuum of space. These bubbles of air provide breathable atmosphere for varying lengths of time, but 3 months is considered "standard".
Crystal Spheres
A crystal sphere (also known as a crystal shell) is a gigantic spherical shell which contains an entire planetary systemPlanetary system
A planetary system consists of the various non-stellar objects orbiting a star such as planets, dwarf planets , asteroids, meteoroids, comets, and cosmic dust...
. Each sphere varies in size but typically they are twice the diameter of the orbit of the planet that is furthest from the sun or planet at the centre of the sphere (the system's primary).
The surface of the sphere is called the "sphere wall" and separates the void of "wildspace" (within the sphere) from the "phlogiston" (that surrounds and flows outside the sphere). The sphere wall has no gravity and appears to be impossible to damage by any normal or magical means. Openings in the sphere wall called "portals" allow spelljamming ships or wildspace creatures to pass through and enter or exit from a crystal sphere. Portals can spontaneously open and close anywhere on the sphere wall. Magical spells (or magical items that reproduce their effects) can allow a portal to be located. Other magic can open a new portal or collapse an existing one. Ships or creatures passing through a portal when it closes may be cut in two.
Note that unlike the Ptolemaic system, the crystal spheres are not nested within each other.
The Phlogiston
The phlogiston (also known as "the Flow") is a bright, extremely combustible gas-like medium that exists between the Crystal Spheres. A signature property of the substance is that it does not exist within the boundaries of a crystal sphere, to the degree that it cannot be brought into a crystal sphere by any known means up to and including the direct will of deities. Every crystal sphere floats in the phlogiston, very slowly bobbing up and down over time. Travel between Crystal Spheres is facilitated by the formation of "Flow rivers" — sections of the phlogiston which have a current and greatly reduce travel time. Travel through the "slow flow" (i.e. off the Flow rivers) is possible, but very dangerous.The Spelljammer
The Spelljammer is a legendary ship which looks like a gigantic manta rayManta ray
The manta ray is the largest species of the rays. The largest known specimen was more than across, with a weight of about . It ranges throughout waters of the world, typically around coral reefs...
, and houses an entire city on its back. All spacefarers (people who live in wildspace) have heard of the Spelljammer but very few have ever seen it themselves. It is this ship that gives its name to "spelljamming", "spelljamming helms" and anything else connected with spelljamming. The ship has been reported to have been seen in countless spheres for as long as records go back. Even some groundlings (people who live on planets that have very little or no commerce with spelljamming communities) have legends about it. There are hundreds of conflicting legends about this ship, and a mythology has developed about the ship that is similar to the legends surrounding The Flying Dutchman
The Flying Dutchman
The legend of the Flying Dutchman concerns a ghost ship that can never make port, doomed to sail the oceans forever. It probably originates from 17th-century nautical folklore. The oldest extant version dates to the late 18th century....
.
As a living thing (although it does not consume any matter, it does absorb heat and light through its ventral (or under) side and uses them to produce air and food for its inhabitants), the Spelljammer has a complex life cycle and means of procreation. Normally the ship has no captain and wanders the cosmos seemingly aimlessly. When the Spelljammer has a captain, obtained through another complex process, it will create Smalljammers (miniature versions of the Spelljammer) that go forth as its spawn. Apparently there can only be one Spelljammer at any one time. One Smalljammer will mature into a full Spelljammer ship if its predecessor is ever destroyed.
Races
Alien races inhabiting the Spelljammer universe included humansHuman (Dungeons & Dragons)
Humans are a race available for player characters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. Although short-lived by comparison, humans are the most populous of all Dungeons & Dragons races. They are renowned for their diversity and ambition, and although they lack specializations like...
, dwarves
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
, xenophobic beholder
Beholder
The beholder is a fictional monster in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It resembles a floating orb of flesh with a large mouth, single central eye, and lots of smaller eyestalks on top with deadly magical powers....
s, rapacious neogi, militant giff (humanoid hippopotami
Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
), centaurlike dracons, hubristic elf
Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
armadas, spacefaring orcs called "scro", mysterious arcane, the Thri-kreen
Thri-kreen
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the thri-kreen, or "mantis warriors", are an insect-like monstrous humanoid race. Thri-kreen are one of the primary player character races of the Dark Sun campaign setting, and have also appeared in the Spelljammer and Forgotten Realms campaign...
insectoids, and bumbling tinker gnomes
Gnome (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, gnomes are one of the core races available for play as player characters. Some speculate that they are closely related to dwarves; however, gnomes are more tolerant of other races and of magic, and are skilled with illusions...
. Illithid
Illithid
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, illithids are monstrous humanoid aberrations with psionic powers. In a typical Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, they live in the moist caverns and cities of the enormous Underdark...
s were another major race, but were presented as more mercantile and less overtly evil than in other D&D settings. The Monstrous Compendium series added many more minor races. The simian Hadozee were also introduced into the setting and, later, incorporated into the 3.5 rules in the supplemental book Stormwrack.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (2nd edition)
The Spelljammer space fantasy supplement was released in 1989. Several of TSRTSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
's other campaign worlds had their own sections in the Spelljammer Boxed Set - Realmspace for the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
, Krynnspace for Dragonlance
Dragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
, and Greyspace for Greyhawk
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
. Along with the new sphere - Clusterspace - they were known as the "Big Three and Astromundi". For more details, see List of Spelljammer crystal spheres. Dark Sun
Dark Sun
Dark Sun is a Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting featuring the fictional desert world of Athas. The original Dark Sun Boxed Set campaign setting was released in 1991....
, 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 Mystara
Mystara
Mystara is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role playing game. Although it has officially been dropped from production by its creators, many fans continue to develop and evolve this fantasy setting jointly, continuing its original theme of group development.-Development:It...
weren't included, as the first two did not fit with the setting and the Mystara only used the D&D rules, not the AD&D rules.
Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space
Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space is a boxed set accessory published in 1989 for the Spelljammer campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:...
(ISBN 0-88038-762-9) introduced the setting and provided the basic rules for spelljamming travel. Legend of Spelljammer (ISBN 1-56076-083-4) expanded on the setting, in particular the Spelljammer itself. The War Captain's Companion (ISBN 1-56076-343-4) provided more detailed ship-to-ship combat rules, and The Astromundi Cluster (ISBN 1-56076-632-8) provided a roleplaying campaign.
The line was expanded by a number of accessories. Lost Ships
Lost Ships
Lost Ships is an accessory for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:Lost Ships is a Spelljammer supplement which describes a sort of Sargasso Sea in space. In this place, derelict ships gather and weird creatures abound, and some things have lain asleep there for a...
(ISBN 0-88038-831-5) expanded the number of ships, while Practical Planetology (ISBN 1-56076-134-2) assisted DMs who wished to create their own spelljamming setting. The Rock of Bral (ISBN 1-56076-345-0) provided a home base for adventuring parties, and Realmspace
Realmspace
Realmspace is an accessory for the Spelljammer campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The book was written by Dale "Slade" Henson, and was published in 1991...
(ISBN 1-56076-052-4), Krynnspace
Krynnspace
Krynnspace is an accessory for the Spelljammer campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The book was written by Jean Rabe, and was published in 1993....
(ISBN 1-56076-560-7) and Greyspace
Greyspace
Greyspace is an accessory for the Spelljammer campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The book was written by Nigel Findley, and was published in 1992. Cover art is by Tom Baxa, with interior illustrations by David O...
(ISBN 1-56076-348-5) gave information about the crystal spheres housing TSR's three main campaign worlds. TSR also published a DM's screen (ISBN 1-56076-053-2) and two Monstrous Compendium
Monstrous Compendium
The Monstrous Compendium is a series of accessories for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Volumes:MC1 Monstrous Compendium, Volume One was published by TSR in 1989...
s (ISBN 0-88038-871-4 and ISBN 1-56076-071-0).
A series of five connected adventures was released in the modules Wildspace
Wildspace (module)
Wildspace is an adventure module published in 1990 for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Plot summary:Wildspace is a Spelljammer scenario which serves as an introduction to space campaigning...
(ISBN 0-88038-819-6), Skull & Crossbows
Skull & Crossbows
Skull & Crossbows is an adventure module published in 1990 for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Plot summary:...
(ISBN 0-88038-845-5), Crystal Spheres (ISBN 0-88038-878-1), Under the Dark Fist (ISBN 1-56076-131-8) and Goblins' Return (ISBN 1-56076-149-0). Also published was a longer campaign, Heart of the Enemy (ISBN 1-56076-342-6) and Space Lairs (ISBN 1-56076-609-3) contained short standalone adventures.
When TSR started to produce a line of handbooks in 1992, they added the Complete Spacefarer's Handbook (ISBN 1-56076-347-7) to cover spelljamming travel.
A full product list is given in the external links.
Dungeons & Dragons (3rd edition)
The Spelljammer line of products was discontinued by TSRTSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
before they were incorporated into Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
. Although Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
has not produced any new Spelljammer products they have given permission for a non-profit website, named Beyond the Moons, to continue support for the setting. Beyond the Moons is the official Spelljammer website and produces new material for Spelljammer AD&D (2nd edition), and converts existing AD&D material to work with the 3rd edition game.
Spelljammer: Shadow of the Spider Moon
In 2002, Paizo published a new campaign setting for Spelljammer in issue 151 of PolyhedronPolyhedron (magazine)
Polyhedron was a magazine which started out as the official publication of the RPGA . Publication began in the year 1981, and the target audience was players of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game...
magazine (with Dungeon
Dungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
#92). Using the D20 system
D20 System
The d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
, it provided new rules for firearms and spelljamming, as well as skills, feats and prestige classes. Spelljammer monsters
Monsters of Spelljammer
The Spelljammer campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game includes numerous monsters not typically found in other settings.-Bionoid:...
such as neogi and giff were not used. Instead, it featured creatures from the Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
such as drow, formian
Formian
In the fictional world of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, formians are extraplanar insectoid outsiders.-Publication history:...
s and yuan-ti
Yuan-ti
The yuan-ti are a fictional species of evil snakemen in the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. The species comprises a number of castes. In some campaign settings, the yuan-ti are descended from evil human cultists who mixed their bloodlines with those of serpents...
.
Dungeons & Dragons (4th edition)
Spelljammer content appears in the 4th edition Manual of the Planes, referencing Spelljammer ships as one method of traveling between planes (and providing information for in-game use for an example Spelljammer vessel).Hackjammer and Hackmaster
In 2005, Kenzer & Co. released Hackjammer (ISBN 1-59456-037-0), a campaign supplement which converted much of the Spelljammer setting to the HackmasterHackMaster
HackMaster is a role-playing game produced by Kenzer & Company, being a revised expansion of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. It started out as a fictional game, a parody of the most ludicrous aspects of D&D played by the characters of the Knights of the Dinner Table comic strip by Jolly R. Blackburn...
system.
Spinoffs
As was common practice at TSR at the time, a number of tie-in products were produced for the Spelljammer line.Comics
Fifteen comics set in the Spelljammer universe were published by DC ComicsDC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
between September 1990 and November 1991 with the creative team of Barbara Kesel, Michael Collins and Dan Panosian. Spelljammer comics also uses Jasmine, a winged human character originally introduced from Forgotten Realms comics
Forgotten Realms (comic)
Forgotten Realms is a fantasy based comic book set in Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms campaign setting, written by Jeff Grubb and illustrated by Rags Morales and Dave Simons-Plot:The Hand of Vaprak #1 - #4Dragonreach #5 - #8Minder's Story #9...
, as one of the lead characters.
Novels
Six novels set in the Spelljammer universe were published by TSRTSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
, before TSR was incorporated into Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
. The novels were interconnected and formed "The Cloakmaster Cycle". The novels tell the story of Teldin Moore, a 'groundling' farmer on Krynn who has a powerful and apparently cursed magical cloak that was given to him. He then ends up on a quest, which takes him first into wildspace and then away from his home sphere to distant crystal spheres. The series showcases the wonders and perils of the Spelljammer universe. The novels are now out of print.
- Beyond the Moons by David Cook, (July, 1991) (ISBN 1-56076-153-9)
- Into the Void by Nigel FindleyNigel FindleyNigel D Findley was a game designer, editor, and an author of science fiction and fantasy novels and role-playing games .-Biography:Nigel Findley was born in Venezuela, in 1959...
, (October, 1991) (ISBN 1-56076-154-7) - The Maelstrom's Eye by Roger E. MooreRoger E. MooreRoger E. Moore is a designer of role-playing games. He is best known for his long-running tenure as editor of Dragon magazine, and was the founding editor of Dungeon magazine.-Early life:...
, (May, 1992) (ISBN 1-56076-344-2) - The Radiant Dragon by Elaine CunninghamElaine CunninghamElaine Cunningham is an American fantasy and science fiction author, especially known for her contributions to the Dungeons & Dragons role playing game campaign setting of Forgotten Realms, including the realms of Evermeet, Halruaa, Ruathym and Waterdeep.-Biography:Elaine Cunningham grew up in New...
, (November, 1992) (ISBN 1-56076-346-9) - The Broken Sphere by Nigel FindleyNigel FindleyNigel D Findley was a game designer, editor, and an author of science fiction and fantasy novels and role-playing games .-Biography:Nigel Findley was born in Venezuela, in 1959...
, (May, 1993) (ISBN 1-56076-596-8) - The Ultimate Helm by Russ T. Howard, (September, 1993) (ISBN 1-56076-651-4)
Computer games
Only one computer game set in the Spelljammer universe was ever produced. It was published by SSIStrategic Simulations, Inc.
Strategic Simulations, Inc. was a video game developer and publisher with over 100 titles to its credit since its founding in 1979. It was especially noted for its numerous wargames, its official computer game adaptations of Dungeons & Dragons, and for the groundbreaking Panzer General...
in 1992 and was called Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace
Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace
Spelljammer: the Pirates of Realmspace is a computer game for MS-DOS and was released by SSI in 1992. It is a Dungeons & Dragons PC computer game using the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Second Edition, Spelljammer rules. Spelljammer was programmed and designed by Cybertech...
.
In 2002 a team of freelance game modification developers created "The Arcane Space Tileset" for Neverwinter Nights
Neverwinter Nights
Neverwinter Nights , produced by BioWare and published by Infogrames , is a third-person perspective computer role-playing game that is based on third edition Dungeons & Dragons and Forgotten Realms rules. It was originally to be published by Interplay Entertainment, but the publisher's financial...
. This tileset included Spelljamming ships, Space and Atmospheric terrains, along with Monsters and NPC's, all set within the Spelljammer Campaign setting.
External links
- Spelljammer: Beyond the Moons (the official Spelljammer website) for D&D 3rd edition and AD&D 2nd edition
- Elminster's Library - Spelljammer - The Cloakmaster Cycle
- Dragonhelm's Guide to Krynnspace at Dragonlance NexusDragonlance NexusThe Dragonlance Nexus is a Dragonlance fansite that was created in 1996 as "Dragon Realm". The site was overhauled and a new name was given to it as the "Dragonlance Nexus". Beginning on November 28, 2005, the site began publishing articles written by established authors starting with an article on...
- Beyond the Moons - Crimson Sphere at Spelljammer.org
- Tarkas Brain Lab IV (listed as Helm System for 3e) at Spelljammer.org
- Spelljammer: Shadow of the Spider Moon at AndyCollins.net