Magic and wonder are staples in tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons, with high fantasy drawing players in who enjoy taking on an adventure in a dark dungeon or a magical forest. However, D&D has had a history of including elements more aligned with Star Trek than Lord of The Rings, and these space adventures happened earlier in the game's history than players might know. In fact, D&D branched out into the possibilities of space travel during 2nd edition, putting a fantasy spin on spaceships and planet exploration.

The first foray into science fiction for the campaigns of Dungeons & Dragons, appeared in November of 1989, with the release of a setting designed for advanced 2nd edition players. Spelljammer introduced concepts to D&D that players had never had a chance to explore previously in the standard fantasy setting. With the difficulty level set to challenge players of the game, Spelljammer took the party out past the dungeons and caves of a fantasy world and into the wild expanse of space itself.

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The premise of the story for Spelljammer consisted of ships that could travel between Crystal Spheres carrying a crew of classic D&D classes. These Spheres acted as shells that held whole planetary systems. The ships could enter different Spheres, and were modeled off of birds, fish or other animals. The actual ship, The Spelljammer, was a legendary vessel shaped like a Manta Ray. By traveling between the Crystal Spheres, a party could explore moons, planets, or other extraterrestrial bodies they landed on. The craft is piloted by a spellcaster who sits on the Spelljamming Helm inside the ship, which brings the magic of fantasy to space.

Dungeons & Dragons Brought Magic to Space In Spelljammer

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Besides bringing Bards and Wizards to the stars, Spelljammer also gave players the chance to encounter alien races that may or may not have been friendly, as well as the opportunity to explore whole worlds provided by the canon or expanded on by the Dungeon Master. While the campaign wasn't geared for beginners, it was perfect for veteran players looking for a challenge. The campaign also introduced a version of fantasy astrophysics that explained how the spaceships possessed both gravity and artificial atmosphere. While all of these functions were created by magic, it made it so the ships could take to the sky without being destroyed by the basic hazards of space.

The impact that the Spelljammer campaign had on D&D has lasted through the editions. While the story content itself hasn't been re-released for modern versions of the game, elements can be found throughout the various editions. The most recent being in 5th edition's Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, where a spelljammer crew is found stranded in a side quest. Dungeons & Dragons may primarily feel like a fantasy tale, but elements of science fiction have helped make some of the most memorable content. For fans who enjoy science fiction, the possibility of further space adventures in 5th edition could be seen in the future.

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