Spelljammer

• 1. Origins And Publication History

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  In 1989, TSR released the boxed set Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space. This launch marked the first of many new campaign settings published by the company that year. Jeff Grubb created the setting to introduce a universe of magical starships traversing crystal spheres. These spheres contained all existing earthbound Dungeons & Dragons worlds. The product line included sections for Realmspace, Krynnspace, and Greyspace alongside a new sphere called Clusterspace. Dark Sun, Ravenloft, and Mystara were excluded from this initial release because they did not fit the setting or ruleset. Shannon Appelcline later noted that the game offered a way to connect every single D&D fantasy world. It was one of the first true crossovers in role-playing games. Several boxed sets followed including Lost Ships in 1990 and Realmspace in 1991. The Astromundi Cluster arrived in 1993 as a soft reboot of the line. Adventure modules like Wildspace appeared in 1990 while Heart of the Enemy came out in 1992. Monstrous Compendium installments detailed monsters in 1990 and 1991. By 1993, Space Lairs and The Astromundi Cluster became the final products of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons era. TSR released Planescape in 1993 to replace Spelljammer. The product line was discontinued before Wizards of the Coast acquired TSR in 1997. Paizo published an article titled Spelljammer: Shadow of the Spider Moon in May 2002. Wizards updated neogi rules in Lords of Madness during May 2005. A new boxed set titled Spelljammer: Adventures in Space launched on the 16th of August 2022.

• 2. Fantasy Astrophysics And Cosmology

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  A crystal sphere acts as a gigantic spherical shell containing an entire planetary system. Each sphere varies in size but typically measures twice the diameter of the orbit of the planet farthest from its sun. The surface of the sphere is called the sphere wall and separates wildspace from phlogiston. Gravity usually exerts a force equal to standard gravitational attraction on Earth-sized bodies. All bodies carry an envelope of air whenever they leave the surface of a planet or other stellar object. These bubbles provide breathable atmosphere for varying lengths of time with three months considered standard. Wildspace resembles outer space but features different physics where gravity directs toward the center of planet-sized bodies. On large objects like spacecraft gravity runs along a flat plane through the long axis allowing characters to stand on decks. The phlogiston exists between Crystal Spheres as a bright extremely combustible gas-like medium. It does not exist within boundaries of a crystal sphere even by direct will of deities. Every crystal sphere floats in the phlogiston bobbing slowly up and down over time. Travel between spheres uses Flow rivers which are sections of phlogiston that reduce travel time significantly. Travel through slow flow off these rivers remains possible but very dangerous. Portals open and close spontaneously anywhere on the sphere wall allowing ships to pass through.

• 3. Races And Alien Civilizations

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  Alien races inhabiting the Spelljammer universe included xenophobic beholders and rapacious neogi. Militant giff appeared as humanoid hippopotami while centaurlike dracons roamed the void. Hubristic elf armadas patrolled the skies alongside spacefaring orcs called scro. Mysterious arcane entities served as the sole manufacturer and distributor of spelljamming helms. Thri-kreen insectoids and bumbling tinker gnomes added variety to the population. Illithids were presented as more mercantile and less overtly evil than in other settings. Simian Hadozee were introduced into the setting and later incorporated into 3.5 rules in Stormwrack. The Monstrous Compendium series added many minor races to the mix. These creatures traveled through wildspace aboard ships powered by magical helms. They navigated crystal spheres using portals that opened and closed at will. Some species like the Arcane controlled the technology needed for interstellar travel. Others like the Neogi operated as traders within the phlogiston currents. The diversity of life allowed for complex interactions between groundlings and spacefarers. Giff warriors often clashed with Draconic forces over territory in the spheres.

• 4. The Legendary Spelljammer Ship

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  A legendary ship looks like a gigantic manta ray housing an entire city on its back. All spacefarers have heard of this vessel but very few have ever seen it themselves. It gives its name to spelljamming helms and anything connected with the practice. Reports claim the ship has been seen in countless spheres for as long as records go back. Even some groundlings living on planets with little commerce hold legends about it. Hundreds of conflicting myths surround the ship similar to legends of The Flying Dutchman. As a living thing it absorbs heat and light through its ventral side to produce air and food. The ship has no captain and wanders the cosmos seemingly aimlessly until a specific process occurs. When a captain is obtained the ship creates Smalljammers that go forth as spawn. There can only be one Spelljammer at any one time. One Smalljammer matures into a full ship if its predecessor is destroyed. This cycle ensures the survival of the species across generations of travelers.

• 5. Expansion Into Comics And Novels

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  Sixteen comics set in the universe were published by DC Comics between September 1990 and November 1991. Writer Barbara Kesel led the creative team alongside Michael Collins and Dan Panosian. The first appearance occurred in TSR Worlds Annual #1 where Jammers were introduced in a third of the book. Two weeks later their own title went on sale with both comics having a shelf date of September 1990. Jasmine a winged human character from Forgotten Realms served as a lead character. Six novels formed The Cloakmaster Cycle before TSR was incorporated into Wizards of the Coast. These interconnected stories told the tale of Teldin Moore a groundling farmer on Krynn. He received a powerful cursed cloak that took him first into wildspace then to distant crystal spheres. The series showcased wonders and perils of the setting before going out of print. Memory's Wake by Django Wexler appeared in June 2024 through Random House. A soundtrack titled Spelljams released digitally on the 16th of August 2022 for the new boxed set. Each song corresponds with one chapter in the adventure module Light of Xaryxis.

• 6. Modern Revival And Reception

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  James Wallis reviewed the initial release in January 1990 edition of Games International issue 12. He found inconsistencies making space combat unplayable despite admiring production values. He gave the game a poor rating of only two out of five stars. Alexander Sowa wrote for CBR in October 2021 suggesting it should be brought back for fifth Edition. Players had been asking for introduction since the first sourcebook release. Wizards tossed them a bone with Dream of The Blue Veil spell added in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. It is not just a way to travel between settings but fulfills sci-fi and fantasy dreams simultaneously. Spelljammer ranked number three on The Gamer's 2022 list of eight best Dungeons & Dragons settings ever. Paul DiSalvo noted the setting faded into obscurity during third fourth and fifth editions. RPG historian Stu Horvath called the game gloriously bewildering in his 2023 book Monsters Aliens and Holes in the Ground. He commented that the original version would seem too weird to come out today. The new version appears different being a little less odd and more formulaic. A prequel adventure module titled Spelljammer Academy released for free in July 2022.