What's so great about Spelljammer?? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What's so great about Spelljammer??

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
May 17, 2004 23:37:13 I come to you to seek the highlights of your favorite world. I have a campeign currently running in the world of Athas. I plan of having the PCs run across a wizard (possibly Elminster.) He will tell them that he will help them out if they come with him to an undecided world to solve some undecided conflict. I plan on using a spelljammer-like setting for their interplanetary travel. Of course, Athas and the desired world are far apart, so the party will need to land on several other planets for supplies and R&R.

Unfortunately I know nothing of Spelljammer and would like to know anything that you will tell me about it.
#2
nightdruid
May 18, 2004 6:46:09 Some links that might help:

http://www.spelljammer.org/misc/whatissj.html

http://www.spelljammer.org/rules/fastplay2e.html

and

http://www.crimsonsun.org/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=197
#3
zombiegleemax
May 18, 2004 8:01:01 Are you sure about this, as opening it up to the outside world drastically alters Athas, which is fine if your starting in SJ or PS since the game isn't centered around it, but if you plan on this being a side-project I'd be wary as you can totally ruin the flavour of a DS campaign. Still as long as your players are cool with it. Also, am I being stupid or would Elminster not be on Athas.
#4
zombiegleemax
May 18, 2004 13:51:32 Elminster, I believe, is from the Forgotten Realms setting. Arcane magic is a shunned thing on Athas and I don't think a wizard could get that high of level without being destroyed. Except, of course, for the dragon kings.

And about opening Athas to other worlds..
Once the PCs get back from lush and happy worlds, the main differences between these worlds and Athas will make DS mood all the more profound. Athas will not change one bit, but the characters minds will.
#5
nightdruid
May 18, 2004 19:21:16
Originally posted by leopardmessiah
Are you sure about this, as opening it up to the outside world drastically alters Athas, which is fine if your starting in SJ or PS since the game isn't centered around it, but if you plan on this being a side-project I'd be wary as you can totally ruin the flavour of a DS campaign. Still as long as your players are cool with it. Also, am I being stupid or would Elminster not be on Athas.

Well, that's why I posted the link to the Crimson Sphere. That was my attempt to link SJ and DS together without ruining the flavor of DS Given the positive reaction from the DS guys, I think it went over well
#6
zombiegleemax
May 24, 2004 18:18:47 The thing that makes Spelljammer great is the wonder of space travel the way that Middle Ages thinkers imagined it might be like(more or less),and the beauty,majesty and sometimes horror that can be found in the spaces between worlds. There are the wonderful new races such as The Giff and the Neogi,as well as the D+D races that finally make sense---Mind Flayers are in their element, as are Beholders.
There is also the excitement of ship-to-ship combat in the vastness of space---if you wanted to replicate stuff like 'Babylon 5's' Shadow War or the space-duels depicted in 'The Wrath of Khan',this is a good excuse to emulate those.
And how about The Rock of Bral,a fascinating place that's as interesting as Greyhawk or Waterdeep,but as seedy and sordid as Skullport or Mos Eisley? There's a lot going for it,if properly handled. If you merely treat the vacuum of space as a giant wilderness adventure,you might find it'll get real dull real fast. If you give your PCs motivation to go out among the stars and explore new worlds(to quote SF TV writer Terry Nation, 'If the rocks talk,that's fine,because it's MY planet!'),and make the prospect of spacetravel/spelljamming as a wonderful thing(interspersed by some butt-kicking,of course!),then you'll have fun with it,and so will your players.
Looking for inspiration? Watch 'Treasure Planet',and I think you'll be champing at the bit to run Spelljammer. Barring that,try to find a copy of a 'Doctor Who' episode called 'Enlightenment',in which the Doctor gets caught up in an intergalactic boat-race.
In either case,I hope you'll have fun with it!
A bit of advice: give your players a Viper for their first spelljamming vessel,as it only requires one person to man it,and it turns on a dime. This will eliminate the need for your players to hire 'red-shirts' who are really only there to die whenever there's a space battle;the players will care a LOT more if it's their butts on the line during these endeavors....
#7
zombiegleemax
May 26, 2004 16:04:47
Originally posted by IL DA BO
And about opening Athas to other worlds..
Once the PCs get back from lush and happy worlds, the main differences between these worlds and Athas will make DS mood all the more profound. Athas will not change one bit, but the characters minds will.

Clever, sounds like a damn good idea.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax May 17, 2004 23:37:13	I come to you to seek the highlights of your favorite world. I have a campeign currently running in the world of Athas. I plan of having the PCs run across a wizard (possibly Elminster.) He will tell them that he will help them out if they come with him to an undecided world to solve some undecided conflict. I plan on using a spelljammer-like setting for their interplanetary travel. Of course, Athas and the desired world are far apart, so the party will need to land on several other planets for supplies and R&R. Unfortunately I know nothing of Spelljammer and would like to know anything that you will tell me about it.
#2 nightdruid May 18, 2004 6:46:09	Some links that might help: http://www.spelljammer.org/misc/whatissj.html http://www.spelljammer.org/rules/fastplay2e.html and http://www.crimsonsun.org/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=197
#3 zombiegleemax May 18, 2004 8:01:01	Are you sure about this, as opening it up to the outside world drastically alters Athas, which is fine if your starting in SJ or PS since the game isn't centered around it, but if you plan on this being a side-project I'd be wary as you can totally ruin the flavour of a DS campaign. Still as long as your players are cool with it. Also, am I being stupid or would Elminster not be on Athas.
#4 zombiegleemax May 18, 2004 13:51:32	Elminster, I believe, is from the Forgotten Realms setting. Arcane magic is a shunned thing on Athas and I don't think a wizard could get that high of level without being destroyed. Except, of course, for the dragon kings. And about opening Athas to other worlds.. Once the PCs get back from lush and happy worlds, the main differences between these worlds and Athas will make DS mood all the more profound. Athas will not change one bit, but the characters minds will.
#5 nightdruid May 18, 2004 19:21:16	Originally posted by leopardmessiah Are you sure about this, as opening it up to the outside world drastically alters Athas, which is fine if your starting in SJ or PS since the game isn't centered around it, but if you plan on this being a side-project I'd be wary as you can totally ruin the flavour of a DS campaign. Still as long as your players are cool with it. Also, am I being stupid or would Elminster not be on Athas. Well, that's why I posted the link to the Crimson Sphere. That was my attempt to link SJ and DS together without ruining the flavor of DS Given the positive reaction from the DS guys, I think it went over well
#6 zombiegleemax May 24, 2004 18:18:47	The thing that makes Spelljammer great is the wonder of space travel the way that Middle Ages thinkers imagined it might be like(more or less),and the beauty,majesty and sometimes horror that can be found in the spaces between worlds. There are the wonderful new races such as The Giff and the Neogi,as well as the D+D races that finally make sense---Mind Flayers are in their element, as are Beholders. There is also the excitement of ship-to-ship combat in the vastness of space---if you wanted to replicate stuff like 'Babylon 5's' Shadow War or the space-duels depicted in 'The Wrath of Khan',this is a good excuse to emulate those. And how about The Rock of Bral,a fascinating place that's as interesting as Greyhawk or Waterdeep,but as seedy and sordid as Skullport or Mos Eisley? There's a lot going for it,if properly handled. If you merely treat the vacuum of space as a giant wilderness adventure,you might find it'll get real dull real fast. If you give your PCs motivation to go out among the stars and explore new worlds(to quote SF TV writer Terry Nation, 'If the rocks talk,that's fine,because it's MY planet!'),and make the prospect of spacetravel/spelljamming as a wonderful thing(interspersed by some butt-kicking,of course!),then you'll have fun with it,and so will your players. Looking for inspiration? Watch 'Treasure Planet',and I think you'll be champing at the bit to run Spelljammer. Barring that,try to find a copy of a 'Doctor Who' episode called 'Enlightenment',in which the Doctor gets caught up in an intergalactic boat-race. In either case,I hope you'll have fun with it! A bit of advice: give your players a Viper for their first spelljamming vessel,as it only requires one person to man it,and it turns on a dime. This will eliminate the need for your players to hire 'red-shirts' who are really only there to die whenever there's a space battle;the players will care a LOT more if it's their butts on the line during these endeavors....
#7 zombiegleemax May 26, 2004 16:04:47	Originally posted by IL DA BO And about opening Athas to other worlds.. Once the PCs get back from lush and happy worlds, the main differences between these worlds and Athas will make DS mood all the more profound. Athas will not change one bit, but the characters minds will. Clever, sounds like a damn good idea.