Spelljammer: Exploring the Cosmos with Dungeons & Dragons

Are you a Dungeons & Dragons fan but wish it had lasers, aliens and intersteller travel? Perhaps, like me you're old enough to remember Treasure Planet being released in cinemas, and wanted to play a game of D&D that would let you unleash your inner 'Robot Louis Stevenson' If so, Spelljammer: Adventures in Space is tailor-made for you.

This expansion from Wizards of the Coast reintroduces the beloved Spelljammer setting, offering a fresh and exhilarating twist on traditional D&D gameplay. Let's embark on a detailed journey through the cosmos to uncover why this product is a must-have for your collection and why you should grab it from Zatu Games.

What is Spelljammer in D&D?

Spelljammer in Dungeons & Dragons is a unique campaign setting that combines fantasy with space exploration. Introduced in the late 1980s, it features magical ships known as spelljammers that traverse the cosmos, allowing adventurers to travel between different worlds and encounter diverse species and challenges. This setting adds a layer of interstellar adventure to the traditional D&D gameplay, blending nautical exploration with the vastness of space

How to play Spelljammer D&D 5e?

To play Spelljammer in D&D 5th Edition, start with the core rulebooks: the Astral Adventurer’s Guide, Boo’s Astral Menagerie, and Light of Xaryxis. These provide the rules, creatures, and adventure necessary for spacefaring campaigns. Players can create characters suited to this setting, including new races and backgrounds, and use spelljammers to navigate Wildspace and the Astral Sea, facing unique challenges and enemies along the way​ 

New Spelljammer books 2024

The latest Spelljammer books, released in 2024, include Dungeons & Dragons: Spelljammer: Memory’s Wake. This novel dives into the rich lore of Spelljammer, offering new stories and expanding the universe with thrilling adventures. It's part of the ongoing effort to revitalise classic D&D settings for a new generation of players, bringing fresh content and renewed interest in spacefaring campaigns​

Spelljammer ship rules

In Spelljammer, ship rules are essential for navigating the cosmos. Ships are powered by magical helms and can traverse Wildspace and the Astral Sea. The Astral Adventurer’s Guide outlines ship-to-ship combat, crew roles, and navigation. Each ship type has specific attributes, including speed, manoeuvrability, and armament, making strategic planning crucial for successful space adventures

Spelljammer campaign setting

The Spelljammer campaign setting in D&D is a blend of high fantasy and space opera. It features a universe where magical ships sail the void between stars, encountering alien creatures and ancient mysteries. The setting's core books provide everything needed to create and run campaigns, including new races, spacefaring rules, and detailed lore about the planets and realms within Wildspace and the Astral Sea

The Spelljammer Slipcase Set

Spelljammer is an expansive three-book slipcase set that provides everything needed to launch your campaigns into the stars:

1. The Astral Adventurer’s Guide: This is your comprehensive manual for navigating the Spelljammer universe. It introduces new spacefaring mechanics, six unique player races, and intriguing backgrounds, all designed to immerse players in the vastness of wildspace and the Astral Sea.

2. Boo’s Astral Menagerie: Acting as a specialised Monster Manual, this book brims with astral creatures, from the whimsical to the terrifying. Expect to encounter Lovecraftian horrors, lunar and solar dragons, and the delight vampirates.

3. Light of Xaryxis: This adventure module spans 10-12 sessions, taking players from levels 5-8. The narrative kicks off with an assault on the players’ homeworld by Astral Elves, leading to a grandiose quest through space, filled with thrilling battles and cosmic intrigue.

The set even includes a Dungeon Master’s screen, ooooo, I know right!

A Universe of Possibilities

The Astral Adventurer’s Guide introduces six new races that bring a unique flavour to your character creation:

• Astral Elves: These celestial beings have honed their abilities in the Astral Plane, offering features like starlight step and astral trance.

• Autognomes: Sentient constructs built by gnomes, providing unique resistances and functionalities.

• Giff: Muscular, hippo-like humanoids with a love for firearms and a military ethos.

• Hadozee: Simian-like creatures capable of gliding and using their feet as hands.

• Plasmoids: Amorphous beings with the ability to reshape their bodies and survive in extreme conditions.

• Thri-Kreen: Insectoid warriors with telepathic communication and natural camouflage.
  

Gameplay Mechanics and Adventures

Light of Xaryxis is the highlight of the set, offering a structured yet flexible adventure that propels players into epic spacefaring quests. The storyline begins on a conventional D&D planet and swiftly transitions into the stars, pitting players against formidable Astral Elves and introducing them to asteroid cities and spacefaring vessels.

The Astral Adventurer’s Guide provides essential rules for space travel and combat, emphasising a swashbuckling, action-packed style.

While some may find the mechanics a bit simplified, this approach keeps the gameplay fast-paced and thrilling. However, the lore provided is broad rather than deep, offering a framework that encourages DMs to fill in the gaps with their own creativity​.

Art and Presentation

The visual presentation of Spelljammer is nothing short of stunning. The artwork captures the vibrant, chaotic energy of wildspace, with cosmic vistas and fantastical creatures that leap off the page.

The included DM screen is pretty spicy and has all the useful stats you need for functional aspects of the game, providing quick access to crucial information and the artwork on it is both beautiful and sets the right scene for a space pirates adventure.

Criticisms and Considerations

The three books are relatively short, each around 64 pages, which might leave some players wanting more detailed lore and mechanics. The simplified rules for space travel and ship maintenance might not satisfy those seeking a more granular and realistic system. However, for many, the streamlined approach enhances the overall fun and accessibility of the game​.

To be honest I love the ship mechanics, so much so that after 3 attempts to find the right mechanics for ships in Roll Britannia, I have settled on these official rules to be the best set to use (ignoring the space travel part our pirate adventure).

Spelljammer is a pretty exciting addition to the D&D universe, offering a perfect blend of fantasy and sci-fi.Its vibrant races, imaginative creatures, and engaging adventure make it a standout product for any D&D collection. If you're ready to take your campaign to the stars, consider purchasing this set from Zatu Games, known for their excellent prices and top-notch service.

So why not embrace the chaos of wildspace, battle vampirates, and explore the endless possibilities of the Astral Sea with Spelljammer: Adventures in Space. It’s time to set sail for the stars and embark on an adventure like no other!