I'm debating on if I should get spelljammer (the cost is too high for me to justify at the moment, especially with everyone saying it's terrible.)
Does it include a gold cost to purchase spelljammers? How about outifitting, maintaining, and provisioning them? I know it's dumb, but that's what I want right now.
I do like the books, some of the best art to date. But it’s not a lot of content for the price. If you’re not in a good place financially right now, I’d wait or find a better supplement. There might be more detailed info in a DMs Guild product.
I'm debating on if I should get spelljammer (the cost is too high for me to justify at the moment, especially with everyone saying it's terrible.)
In my opinion, the stuff that is written is fine, it is the stuff that is not written that is the issue, because the books are extremely thin on content. Personally, I prefer they put more effort into the spelljammers, monsters, and magic items rather than the adventure. There are literally only two magic items, but one of them is recycled (spelljammer helm), so the books only introduced one new magic item, the fish suit (basically an astronaut suit).
To me, it is more about the lack of content rather than the quality that bugs me.
I'm debating on if I should get spelljammer (the cost is too high for me to justify at the moment, especially with everyone saying it's terrible.)
Does it include a gold cost to purchase spelljammers? How about outifitting, maintaining, and provisioning them? I know it's dumb, but that's what I want right now.
It includes the cost to purchase spelljammers. I do not remember reading anything about maintaining the ship itself though, other than using Mending to repair any damage the ship takes for free (you can repair it manually, but you need to take it back to port and spend money, so you might as well just have the spelljammer caster double as the repairer). The most notable bookkeeping that I can think of is just tracking of air quality, and if you hate that too, one of the spelljammers have a treant on board and it essentially eliminates air quality issues.
GOS got ship upgrades and AI got some headquarter options if you want some more ideas to customize your spelljammer.
For $70 you get a smaller than normal module with an attached bestiary. The real problem is the world building and ship combat rules, they are lacking. It's worth $30 as a module at best.
My two cents, do a google search for Wildjammer and download it, its free and a very good conversion of Spelljammer to 5E. Next, for world lore, setting and planet creation, download the 2E Spelljammer Adventures in Space. If you think 5E SJ has some use, I'd wait a bit and buy it second hand, at least then you are helping someone who paid full price.
When you go through the older 2E content, its got a large amount for the setting, lore and world building, its amazing and you can have some fun with it. The Scro are really a good villain, who wouldn't want a LE advanced orcish race that speaks perfect Elvish so they can tell the Elves in detail what they are going to do to them for revenge of being blown out of the skies by the Elves. A lot of the supplements are good as well take the SJA3 Crystal Spheres takes you to various planets with decent setting you can steal from. Or SJR4 Practical Planetology is a list of potential worlds based on the various types with background lore and adventure hooks.
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As others have mentioned it’s what iit is lacking in that hurts the set. Short of being a completionist I could recommend the hard purchase. Digital yes you’ll get what’s there mechanically.
From your question I’m assuming you want world building and ship building info. All the below can be found second hand market for $$$$ or pdf on Drive Thru/DMs Guild. World / Sphere building - Planetology this 2E Spelljammer book describes how to build a full solar system with if I remember right 8 sample ones. The three main box sets, Adventures in Space / War Captains Companion / Legend of the Spelljammer The maintenance is in AiS and day to day stuff. WCC is your ship builds. LoS is low on list of need. The Complete Spacefarers Handbook is a good compliment but isn’t needed.
Those are better at being references you sound like you are asking for. The good news is the chunk that is in 5e’s set translates well back and forth from 2E to 5E if you are good at following patterns.
I'm debating on if I should get spelljammer (the cost is too high for me to justify at the moment, especially with everyone saying it's terrible.)
Does it include a gold cost to purchase spelljammers? How about outifitting, maintaining, and provisioning them? I know it's dumb, but that's what I want right now.
Cost of the ships and the helm itself? Yes.
Everything else you mentioned? Not so much.
I do like the books, some of the best art to date. But it’s not a lot of content for the price. If you’re not in a good place financially right now, I’d wait or find a better supplement. There might be more detailed info in a DMs Guild product.
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In my opinion, the stuff that is written is fine, it is the stuff that is not written that is the issue, because the books are extremely thin on content. Personally, I prefer they put more effort into the spelljammers, monsters, and magic items rather than the adventure. There are literally only two magic items, but one of them is recycled (spelljammer helm), so the books only introduced one new magic item, the fish suit (basically an astronaut suit).
To me, it is more about the lack of content rather than the quality that bugs me.
It includes the cost to purchase spelljammers. I do not remember reading anything about maintaining the ship itself though, other than using Mending to repair any damage the ship takes for free (you can repair it manually, but you need to take it back to port and spend money, so you might as well just have the spelljammer caster double as the repairer). The most notable bookkeeping that I can think of is just tracking of air quality, and if you hate that too, one of the spelljammers have a treant on board and it essentially eliminates air quality issues.
GOS got ship upgrades and AI got some headquarter options if you want some more ideas to customize your spelljammer.
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For $70 you get a smaller than normal module with an attached bestiary. The real problem is the world building and ship combat rules, they are lacking. It's worth $30 as a module at best.
My two cents, do a google search for Wildjammer and download it, its free and a very good conversion of Spelljammer to 5E. Next, for world lore, setting and planet creation, download the 2E Spelljammer Adventures in Space. If you think 5E SJ has some use, I'd wait a bit and buy it second hand, at least then you are helping someone who paid full price.
When you go through the older 2E content, its got a large amount for the setting, lore and world building, its amazing and you can have some fun with it. The Scro are really a good villain, who wouldn't want a LE advanced orcish race that speaks perfect Elvish so they can tell the Elves in detail what they are going to do to them for revenge of being blown out of the skies by the Elves. A lot of the supplements are good as well take the SJA3 Crystal Spheres takes you to various planets with decent setting you can steal from. Or SJR4 Practical Planetology is a list of potential worlds based on the various types with background lore and adventure hooks.
$50, not $70.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
As others have mentioned it’s what iit is lacking in that hurts the set.
Short of being a completionist I could recommend the hard purchase. Digital yes you’ll get what’s there mechanically.
From your question I’m assuming you want world building and ship building info. All the below can be found second hand market for $$$$ or pdf on Drive Thru/DMs Guild.
World / Sphere building - Planetology this 2E Spelljammer book describes how to build a full solar system with if I remember right 8 sample ones.
The three main box sets, Adventures in Space / War Captains Companion / Legend of the Spelljammer The maintenance is in AiS and day to day stuff.
WCC is your ship builds. LoS is low on list of need.
The Complete Spacefarers Handbook is a good compliment but isn’t needed.
Those are better at being references you sound like you are asking for. The good news is the chunk that is in 5e’s set translates well back and forth from 2E to 5E if you are good at following patterns.
I JUST GOT THE WAR CAPTAINS COMPANION TODAY!
I've only gotten to skim it, but I think Book 2 has what I want. Thank you!