So now that preorders are up and we're just waiting for the release, what can I read to tide me over and inspire me for character creation and setting? I'm not aware of any Spelljammer novels (edit: i have just found that there was a six-book series but I have no idea how to acquire them or whether they are worth the effort), although some of the Eberron novels played enough with skyships to be pretty close. Has anyone read any swashbuckling fantasy that maybe hewed into the Spelljammer quasi-scifi motif?
Advice if you're trying to anticipate tone: don't think of Spelljammer as science fiction. Maybe space opera, but Flash Gordon, not Star Wars. Maybe some of the classic Marvel "cosmic" but not so much Disney Guardians (Though Knowwhere seems like a very Spelljammer place) , more the cosmic Marvel of the 70s. So "space" sure but not the sort of "realistic space" folks associate with contemporary science fiction.
You can a get the original 2e Spelljammer in DMsGuild for $10.00 U.S. at DMsGuild if you really want to get a sense of the world. Spelljammer isn't some obscure secret to D&D, it just hasn't had a presence in 5e. YouTube lore vids are probably your friend here more than trying to find adjacent novels.
Anyway, if you want to go way off the deep end, I'm pretty sure sometime in late 1987 or early 1988, Jeff Grubb was heading to a pitch meeting at TSR and had nothing, and would take inspiration from anything to nail a proposal. Then the classic rock, or however you classified late 70s prog rock on the radio in the 1980s, station played the following as he pulled Into the parking lot:
After listening to the guitar fade out in his parking space, he got out of his car, entered the conference room and just went for broke and rolled with it.
... creativity arguably had different mechanics back then, much like the difference between AD&D and 5e. The 80s was a time of cluttered minds.
Watch some semi-goofy space based anime. Outlaw Star is a good one with a mix of seriousness, silliness, and just plain weird situations while keeping up a good amount of swashbuckling/gunslinging action. Cowboy Bebop comes off as a good bit more serious and also even more "space western" but does still frequently include things that are just strange from the "normal" perspective one might expect. Gurren Lagann is definitely more surreal and silly but there is a well developed, internally consistent, lore-rich setting behind the over the top whiz-bang action that's colorful, whimsical, and entirely geared towards inspiring wild adventures. Going a bit older and with a generally more serious but still whimsical, adventurous, and "exotic" feel is Vision of Escaflowne (the protagonist is transported to a mystical world where the Earth is one of their moons and everybody treats her like she's the weird magical alien); also there are airships and magical mechas, the titular one which transforms into a mecha-dragon. I'm sure there are more good ones but I'm very tired and about to pass out right now.
Edit: There are also live action scifi shows that are good for the mood and feel. Firefly and Farscape come immediately to mind.
So now that preorders are up and we're just waiting for the release, what can I read to tide me over and inspire me for character creation and setting? I'm not aware of any Spelljammer novels (edit: i have just found that there was a six-book series but I have no idea how to acquire them or whether they are worth the effort), although some of the Eberron novels played enough with skyships to be pretty close. Has anyone read any swashbuckling fantasy that maybe hewed into the Spelljammer quasi-scifi motif?
You are working on the assumption that your DM will allow any and all of this new material into the game. You better check with your DM on what will be allowed.
You are operating under the assumption I am not the DM...
You might consider shows and movies about the Age of Sail. Horatio Hornblower might not exactly fit our expectations of a D&D campaign, but if you plan on having a military campaign, it could be good inspiration for a life at sea.
Once place to start, the comics for Spelljammer are available on Amazon. Just type: spelljammer comics. There weren’t many, but they have them.
I have the paperback books, they only way I got them was to search places like; Half Price books and other small book stores. Happy hunting.
Another way to gather, at least some basics information is to simply search the wiki’s for things like Spelljammer, or The Rock of Bral, etc. This will give you some better basic understanding.
I own all of the Spelljammer modules, got them when they came out (yeah, I’m old), but I find they are available either as pdf or copy on several RPG sites as well as Amazon.
Here is an old site, still up though, with TONS of information, deckplans, characters etc.: http://www.spelljammer.org
So now that preorders are up and we're just waiting for the release, what can I read to tide me over and inspire me for character creation and setting? I'm not aware of any Spelljammer novels (edit: i have just found that there was a six-book series but I have no idea how to acquire them or whether they are worth the effort), although some of the Eberron novels played enough with skyships to be pretty close. Has anyone read any swashbuckling fantasy that maybe hewed into the Spelljammer quasi-scifi motif?
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
Advice if you're trying to anticipate tone: don't think of Spelljammer as science fiction. Maybe space opera, but Flash Gordon, not Star Wars. Maybe some of the classic Marvel "cosmic" but not so much Disney Guardians (Though Knowwhere seems like a very Spelljammer place) , more the cosmic Marvel of the 70s. So "space" sure but not the sort of "realistic space" folks associate with contemporary science fiction.
You can a get the original 2e Spelljammer in DMsGuild for $10.00 U.S. at DMsGuild if you really want to get a sense of the world. Spelljammer isn't some obscure secret to D&D, it just hasn't had a presence in 5e. YouTube lore vids are probably your friend here more than trying to find adjacent novels.
Anyway, if you want to go way off the deep end, I'm pretty sure sometime in late 1987 or early 1988, Jeff Grubb was heading to a pitch meeting at TSR and had nothing, and would take inspiration from anything to nail a proposal. Then the classic rock, or however you classified late 70s prog rock on the radio in the 1980s, station played the following as he pulled Into the parking lot:
After listening to the guitar fade out in his parking space, he got out of his car, entered the conference room and just went for broke and rolled with it.
... creativity arguably had different mechanics back then, much like the difference between AD&D and 5e. The 80s was a time of cluttered minds.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Watch some semi-goofy space based anime. Outlaw Star is a good one with a mix of seriousness, silliness, and just plain weird situations while keeping up a good amount of swashbuckling/gunslinging action. Cowboy Bebop comes off as a good bit more serious and also even more "space western" but does still frequently include things that are just strange from the "normal" perspective one might expect. Gurren Lagann is definitely more surreal and silly but there is a well developed, internally consistent, lore-rich setting behind the over the top whiz-bang action that's colorful, whimsical, and entirely geared towards inspiring wild adventures. Going a bit older and with a generally more serious but still whimsical, adventurous, and "exotic" feel is Vision of Escaflowne (the protagonist is transported to a mystical world where the Earth is one of their moons and everybody treats her like she's the weird magical alien); also there are airships and magical mechas, the titular one which transforms into a mecha-dragon. I'm sure there are more good ones but I'm very tired and about to pass out right now.
Edit: There are also live action scifi shows that are good for the mood and feel. Firefly and Farscape come immediately to mind.
It is a bad bad movie, but a fitting example of the campy Spelljammer adventures our group had "Back in the Day"
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Whoa, action-packed action. I gotta see this!
It is a really bad movie. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
My favorite sci-fi franchises.
But it's a gloriously bad movie.
It is not I who am Mad, it is I who am Krazy!
I agree
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
It is a gloriously knowingly bad movie. I mean the sauna scene....
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
You are operating under the assumption I am not the DM...
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
That sounds horrible. Where can I find it?
You can rent it on Amazon for $2.99
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
You might consider shows and movies about the Age of Sail. Horatio Hornblower might not exactly fit our expectations of a D&D campaign, but if you plan on having a military campaign, it could be good inspiration for a life at sea.
Salutations;
Once place to start, the comics for Spelljammer are available on Amazon. Just type: spelljammer comics. There weren’t many, but they have them.
I have the paperback books, they only way I got them was to search places like; Half Price books and other small book stores. Happy hunting.
Another way to gather, at least some basics information is to simply search the wiki’s for things like Spelljammer, or The Rock of Bral, etc. This will give you some better basic understanding.
I own all of the Spelljammer modules, got them when they came out (yeah, I’m old), but I find they are available either as pdf or copy on several RPG sites as well as Amazon.
Here is an old site, still up though, with TONS of information, deckplans, characters etc.: http://www.spelljammer.org
You can buy them here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/17245/SJA1-Wildspace-2e
Good luck, and welcome to the Stars.
Known in other realms as Ranxaeroth.
“Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and good with bar-b-que sauce.” ~Cheshire Dragon
”You can fool most of the people most of the time, but a Sphinx….never.” ~Torwyn Vantalion.
“When the DM smiles, its already to late.” ~many a player.