SPELLJAMMER SETTING

Spelljammer is an intriguing setting that explains how it is possible for characters on one D&D world like Krynn to travel to another D&D world like Greyhawk.  It is possible for the characters to travel through outer space- spelljamming!  The original Spelljammer boxed set was written by Jeff Grubb and published in 1989.

The rules for how D&D space travel works are relatively simple.  Ships for making the journey can be specially equipped ocean-going vessels or more exotic space-ship looking ones.  Each of the worlds- Krynn, Greyhawk, and the Forgotten Realms are given a couple of cities that can serve as spaceports.

Various supplements expand on other places that can be visited while traveling in space, including Rock of Bral, (by Richard Baker) a large asteroid that has a city on it.  Bral is like a classic cosmopolitan D&D city with some unique features befitting a city that is a spaceport on an asteroid.  Another place is the legendary ship “Spelljammer” this unique ship travels through space and can also be part of a Spelljammer campaign.

The two Spelljammer monstrous compendium products (MC7 and MC9) provide lots of interesting alien-type monsters to throw at players who are traveling through space.  Players of the Baldur’s Gate computer game series will be familiar with Minsc and Boo.  Minsc is a ranger from Rashemen and his companion Boo is a miniature giant space hamster from Spelljammer Monstrous Compendium MC7.  The space hamster entry was written by long-time Dragon Magazine editor Roger E. Moore.  MC7 is worth getting just to read the space hamster entry.  It is very funny!

Recommendation:  If you like the classic D&D rules and don’t mind mixing sci-fi and fantasy and D&D together, you will really like the Spelljammer setting.  I would give the Spelljammer setting 4 out of 5 stars.