What is Spelljammer? We ask the award-winning game designer and fantasy writer George ‘Loki’ Williams that question and more as we prepare ourselves for the Dungeons & Dragons Spelljammer 5e expansion.

What is Spelljammer?

Spelljammer is a Dungeons & Dragons expansion that takes fantasy adventures into space. Spelljammer was originally designed by Jeff Grubb and published by TSR in 1989, and re-released for 5th edition in August 2022 by Wizards of the Coast.

Spelljammer has a devout cult following, and Wizards releasing a 5e version of Spelljammer sent many players and DMs over the moon.

But if you’ve never heard of Spelljammer and are curious about the setting, mechanics, and lore, you’re in the right place!

We recently interviewed RPG George “Loki” Williams, who, on top of being an award-winning game designer and writer, is also a Spelljammer veteran.

Check out the interview stream above and keep reading to learn more about the Spelljammer 5e setting.

What is a spelljammer & spelljamming?

Spelljamming is the act of using a spelljamming helm. A spelljammer is the person or creature operating it.

These vehicles, which can range from re-purposed galleons to hollowed-out asteroids, are powered by spelljamming helms that allow them to fly through space.

These helms also create an air bubble around the vessel for the crew to breathe and a gravity plane to keep them grounded. Truly, a wonderous artifact!

Any spellcaster can control a spelljamming vessel by sitting at the helm and attuning to it. Players can create spelljamming helms in-game or purchase them from the only known helm manufacturer - the Arcane.

How does space & travel work in Spelljammer?

The original Spelljammer expansion laid out rules and mechanics for fantasy space travel, but the 5e expansion changes and streamlines some existing mechanics, which is what we’ll be covering in this post.

Space travel takes place in the Astral Sea, where characters do not age, feel thirst and hunger, and can breathe normally.

Spelljamming vehicles travel on the Astral Sea much like a regular sea. However, creatures have full navigational awareness and can travel on thought alone to their destination - no vehicle or wind required!

Within the Astral Plane exist wildspace systems that contain specific realms. Forgotten Realms exists in Realmspace, Krynn in Krynnspace, etcetera.

You can easily connect your setting to others using the Astral Sea and wildspace, which opens up some exciting new adventuring opportunities!

Stay tuned for more Spelljammer content in upcoming posts!