Spelljammer Takes Dungeons & Dragons Into The Final Frontier

Games Spelljammer Takes Dungeons & Dragons Into The Final Frontier Rob Wieland Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I am an author and game designer writing about tabletop RPGs. New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

Got it! Aug 15, 2022, 05:51pm EDT | New! Click on the conversation bubble to join the conversation Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Just another day in the Astral Sea of Spelljammer, where beholders and mind flayers face off over . . .

[+] over an unsuspecting prize. Wizards of the Coast Wildspace. .

. The final frontier. .

. These are the voyages of the magical ships called Spelljammers. .

. Their 20 level campaign. .

. To see out new hippo people and new murder comets. .

. To boldly go where no D&D group has gone since 1989! If the newest release for Dungeons & Dragons had an opening speech in the style of classic Star Trek , it might sounds a little something like this. Spelljammer: Adventures In Space releases this week after years of teases, taunts and confirmation after confirmation.

We have an advance copy courtesy of Wizards of the Coast that highlights a different format for this release: three hardcover books in a slipcase with a Dungeon Master Screen featuring information dedicated to the setting. The setting is more akin to Star Wars in its scientific fidelity. Players cruise through an aether sea using magical ships called spelljammers piloted by magically active creatures.

Wildspace feels more like something out of Thor: Ragnarok with all sort of idiosyncratic elements mixed together in a strange new D&D world. MORE FOR YOU ‘Demon Slayer’ Season 2 Finally Has An Actual 2021 Release Date Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Not A Sure Thing, Says Director ‘Genshin Impact’ Still Refuses To Increase Anniversary Rewards, Despite Fan Outcry Astral Adventurer’s Guide This book contains the setting basics such as new player options, spells and magic items. There are six new races for Fifth Edition: The astral elves , who have wandered the Astral Sea for centuries Autognomes built as robot-like servants and assistants The hippo-like giff who have a psychic connection with the Astral Sea The hadozee who use their wing-like flaps to glide over trouble Squishy plasmoids that can take humanoid form Telepathic thri-kreen who verbally communicate through their insectoid mandibles.

The book also includes several examples of spelljammers ranging from massive space galleons to sleek hammerhead ships. The rules invoke a fantasy version of the Age of Sail with boarding actions, swinging from masts and so on. Plus a little Flash Gordon with space still allowing for duels on the decks of ships in the void.

Boo’s Astral Menagerie Much of a Dungeons & Dragons setting lives in the monsters. There are dragons, of course, but there are also things like neogi, which combine the worst parts of a spider and an eel into a nasty pirate that looks to plunder everything. Creatures big and small are included here for personal challenges as well as things that could smash a mighty spelljammer to pieces.

The setting also has an odd sense of humor. Take, for example, the space clowns, which seem to be inspired by the classic B-movie Killer Klowns From Outer Space. It ’s fun to see Dungeons & Dragons embrace weird fantasy this far into Fifth Edition.

Light Of Xaryxis The third book in the set is an adventure built to run characters from fifth through eigth levels. Fans looking to get their characters into space earlier should check out Spelljammer Academy available as a free download from D&D Beyond. It introduces characters to the setting and gets them to the proper level to enjoy this adventure.

Players are tasked with helping an exiled princess stand up against her royal sibling and protect the Astral Sea from his ambitious super weapon. There are shifting alliances, strange locations and epic battles to be had. The adventure also introduces players to the Rock of Bral, the central adventure hub that’s part space station and part pirate port.

Spelljammer: Adventures in Space releases on August 16th, 2022. A limited edition cover is available from local game stores. Rob Wieland Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.