Spelljammer has finally been confirmed for Modern Dungeons & Dragons, and three new D&D Star Trekking books that let players explore the space between worlds are set to arrive later this year.
Unveiled during the first D&D Direct stream, these Spelljammer books are collectively labeled “Spelljammer: Adventures in Space” and will join the best tabletop RPGs on shelves this August 16 (you can pre-order it for $69.99 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)). This mimics the original title of the 1989 setting.
Unlike most modern Dungeons & Dragons books, this new version of Spelljammer has been split into several volumes: an overview of the setting called the Astral Adventurer’s Guide, a tome of monsters (nicknamed “Boo’s Astral Menagerie”, in reference to the famous hamster giant miniature spaceship from the video game Baldur’s Gate) and Light of Xaryxis, a pre-written adventure with 12 episodes to play. These books are all 64 pages and come in a slipcase that arrives alongside a dungeon master screen and a double-sided poster card. As usual, alternate covers for Spelljammer: Adventures in Space will also be available.
Along with adding a sci-fi twist to the series, Spelljammer introduced the idea of ”crystal spheres” containing individual solar systems to D&D. Using galleon-like ships equipped with a “spell scrambler bar”, players can travel between these spheres and thus jump from one setting to another. This includes Dragonlance (which is also getting a revival this year), Forgotten Realms, and your own homebrew worlds.
No matter where you place your games, there are six new races to explore in Spelljammer: Adventures in Space. This includes astral space elves, auto gnomes (steampunk robots, basically), hadozee flying monkey, slime-like plasmoids, insectoid thri-kreen, and giff hippos. Some of them were in the original Spelljammer release, but all of them have been revised for the new D&D rules.
Ahead of the launch of Spelljammer: Adventures in Space on August 16, 2022, players can check out a free Monstrous Compendium with 10 Spelljammer monsters on the official D&D website. (opens in a new tab). It features the Asteroid Spider (a creature large enough to gobble up ships), an eldritch lich powered by the Old Ones from the dark reaches of space, and a Gadabout, a winged plant that allows players to fly through the void. . You’ll need a free D&D account to access this book, but it won’t cost you anything.
This should be followed by a free prequel adventure in July. Although we don’t know much about it just yet, its name – “Spelljammer Academy” – suggests that it will show us the ropes of this space world.
Of course, Spelljammer wasn’t the only D&D Direct announcement. Plus a new batch of linked WizKids models (you can watch the reveal trailer for them here (opens in a new tab)), Dungeons and Dragons: Onslaught was officially introduced. Likewise, the new D&D Starter Set has finally been unveiled after it was accidentally revealed in February.
If you want the models to accompany your adventures, you can check out the best WizKids Figures. As for other tabletop shenanigans, be sure to look into the best board games and these board games for adults.