Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space
Encyclopedia
Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space is a boxed set
accessory published in 1989 for the Spelljammer
campaign setting
for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
.
, Forgotten Realms
, and Dragonlance
campaign settings, which allows player character
s to travel between these settings. The set also includes guidelines for space campaigns, as well as some campaign setting material.
, with a cover by Jeff Easley
and interior covers and illustrations by Jim Holloway
, and was published by TSR in 1989 as a boxed set
was two 96-page books, four large color maps, 24 cardstock sheets, and plastic counter holders.
In his 1991 book Heroic Worlds, Lawrence Schick describes the Spelljammer
setting as seen in the boxed set: "forget about science, because this is fantasy space: there's a magical cosmology that creates strange planetary systems, bizarre spaceships that move by magical propulsion, and space zones where spells behave in strange ways".
Boxed set
A box set is a compilation of various musical recordings, films, television programs, or other collection of related items that are contained in a box.-Music box sets:...
accessory published in 1989 for the Spelljammer
Spelljammer
Spelljammer is a campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, which features a fantastical outer space environment....
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
.
Contents
The Spelljammer boxed set details rules for AD&D in outer space. The "Lorebook of the Void" describes space travel, commonly known ship types, spacefaring races, and monsters of space. The "Concordance of Arcane Space" booklet details fantasy combat in space, more rules for spaceships, celestial mechanics, travel, and variations on rules for space. The set includes cardstock sheets which provide both descriptions and deckplans for various ships, and also counters for combat involving ships. The set's large color maps depict two floating cities in space, a grid for space combat, and a map of the space between the planets for the GreyhawkGreyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
, Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
, and Dragonlance
Dragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
campaign settings, which allows player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
s to travel between these settings. The set also includes guidelines for space campaigns, as well as some campaign setting material.
Publication history
The Spelljammer set was written by Jeff GrubbJeff Grubb
Jeff Grubb is an author and game designer. He has worked on a number of computer and role-playing games and has written a number of successful novels, short stories and comics...
, with a cover by Jeff Easley
Jeff Easley
Jeff Easley is an oil painter who creates fantasy artwork in the tradition of Frank Frazetta.-Early life:...
and interior covers and illustrations by Jim Holloway
Jim Holloway (artist)
-Background:Jim Holloway was self taught in illustration, although he was able to study some oil paintings by his father.-Works:Jim Holloway has continued to produce interior illustrations for many Dungeons & Dragons books and Dragon magazine since 1981, as well as cover art for The Land Beyond the...
, and was published by TSR in 1989 as a boxed set
Boxed set
A box set is a compilation of various musical recordings, films, television programs, or other collection of related items that are contained in a box.-Music box sets:...
was two 96-page books, four large color maps, 24 cardstock sheets, and plastic counter holders.
Reception
The Spelljammer set was a Gamer's Choice award-winner.In his 1991 book Heroic Worlds, Lawrence Schick describes the Spelljammer
Spelljammer
Spelljammer is a campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, which features a fantastical outer space environment....
setting as seen in the boxed set: "forget about science, because this is fantasy space: there's a magical cosmology that creates strange planetary systems, bizarre spaceships that move by magical propulsion, and space zones where spells behave in strange ways".