Spelljammer

[DM=DisputeMediator]

Aren't they so damn useful, though? ;D

[matanthunder]

;D

Here is a question for fellow jammer DM's out there. Would you get explosions in the Phlogiston if you had no oxygen for the fire to trigger it??? Is Phlogiston a hydrocarbon based element? Can you contain and control it with magic in the flow for use as a weapon??? Any answers out there?? Anyone got any ideas??

Later

;D

[theyeti1775]

matanthunder said:

;D

Here is a question for fellow jammer DM's out there. Would you get explosions in the Phlogiston if you had no oxygen for the fire to trigger it??? Is Phlogiston a hydrocarbon based element? Can you contain and control it with magic in the flow for use as a weapon??? Any answers out there?? Anyone got any ideas??

Later

;D

Nope it is explained in one of the books that it can't be contained in any know substance or magic.

Yeti

[DM=DisputeMediator]

Not quite like smokepowder, is it?

[matanthunder]

Yep not smokepowder, but like smokepowder the research into using it can be the bane of the researchers existance!!

[matanthunder]

;D

The relationship of real space vs spelljammer space!!!!

The answer to the question of Spelljammer Space vs Real Space….is the Thinning of the Phlogiston.

In a number of adventures that are featured in the world of Greyhawk and in Gamma World, etc… there are a number of world that don’t have a Phlogiston laden space. As a DM I have come up with a way to deal with the two different natures of space.

This is fantasy after all, but I have always tried to come up with a realistic way to handle it. My method is simple really, considering the vastness of space in general. The entire idea is based on the fact that the Phlogiston thins in certain areas of the vastness of space. In these regions the vast nebula that is the Phlogiston field would be absent.

This would also serve as a handy explanation for the fact that magic is easy to use in the area of the Phlogiston Nebula, while it is unheard of in the galaxy outside the nebula. It opens up the campaigns of Gamma World, Star Wars, Star Trek, Babylon 5, Farscape, Dune, the list goes on and on.

Other affects of the Phlogiston is to form the connections to the gods, which are otherwise just precepts and codes of conduct related to religion as a whole outside the nebula. Also the nebula would form its own barrier to either side being able to travel to the other zone (inside/outside the nebula)

Regular space ships would blow up as the Phlogiston nebula explodes on contact with any space engine that generates heat…..and if a spelljammer manages to drift into real space they suffocate, as the nature of the spelljammer world keeps an air envelope present, but since magic fails on leaving the nebula then the atmosphere envelope is gone, as well as all galactic elements such as extreme cold, heat, radiation, etc….

Now the interesting part may happen on the fringes of the zone where the barrier can support some minimal spelljamming and enough retention of magic to keep the atmosphere of the spelljammer ship……and where the density of the Phlogistion nebula isn’t capable of forming an explosion due to its density not being able to combust without an oxygen base. (The nebula density does reach a saturation point that does allow explosion without oxygen).

In this zone some type of trade or exchange of material or information could come into play. Yes the techno real world ships are better off (Although the Ultimate Helms may have a way to operate outside the nebula as an exception to the rule), but you could play it like a magic rich world where technology is dampened in this zone. Like gunpowder doesn’t work, or the lasers are at 10% power, shields down …..KHAAAAANNNNNNNN!!!..... you get the idea. As a DM it is all good for my games when they are running.. Maybe the PC’s can figure out the big eared idiot talking about “gold pressed latinum” is a Ferenge, but their PC’s won’t no what it is, and will act accordingly……could be some on the Fly Randomization on those issues. (Oh that is another thread.) The border can even take into play those world with magic and technology as they would be in this border region.

So how do you feel about Ewoks and Kender getting together, or maybe the Sith coming into league with the Lich Lords or Psionics of the fantasy worlds. Why the possibilities are endless. Borg………well they better bring batteries (very long lived batteries may I add)……..lets see how about Bene Gesserit…priestesses with full psionic or mage powers…..could it get worse….probably.

Is it any wonder that I don’t have as much problem with power levels in gaming when you can just change the name of a planetary race and make it into a fantasy realm.

Now if we turn that around some races may make the transition but classes that don’t have a means to power themselves magically with their powers will lose them upon exiting the Phlogiston nebula. Mages and clerics (and associated classes) will all have to find a means of powering themselves outside the Phlo. I have a spell that is called Matan’s Magic Self that would handle it for a limited period of time.

So what do you think…….is there room for a Wookie Jedi Psionicist…..in the fantasy world.

Later



Now would I sell Haga to a slayer like you??

To Crush Your Enemies, See Them Driven Before You, and To Hear the Lamentations of the Women!

Will you stand alone before the fury of his armies??

[Niemz]

I kinda liked playing Gamma World, at least for a little while.

[Conner Destron]

Ooo, I haven't played Gamma World in years!

I used to really enjoy Star Frontiers too.

[merkader]

I have only played spelljammer for one very short campaign, but I have to say I thoughly enjoyed it.

[matanthunder]

I have only played spelljammer for one very short campaign, but I have to say I thoughly enjoyed it.

That is a pitty really. I have read all the books in the 6 book series for the Ultimate Helm. Quite a magic item......Created by that great manta-like ship Spelljammer.

Epic.

It is one of the reasons that I really liked this campaign. As you can see it can very effectively connect any number of worlds or campaign types. Mundane or Magic Fantasy the world can now all be drawn togther. The starship Enterprise or the Death Star in magic space. or ol' Spelljammer moving through real space. All lend themselves to great adventures.

I like the innate powers of Gamma World too. I am lucky enough to own a few key books, and some modules. Some of the mutations are psionic in nature, but others are simply the warping of DNA.

Later

;D

[Taican]

I like spelljamming. I've bought all the box sets I've seen for it, and as many of the supplements as I could afford. I used it as a player in my very first campaign, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The idea of being able to travel from Krynn to Toril to Oerth to who-knows-where is intoxicating to me. I dislike some aspects of it, like the Helms draining the spellcasting abilities of whoever is 'driving', but the possibilities make this bearable. And there are Helms, or alternatives, that don't do this...orbies for one. (In case you don't know, orbies are beholder-kin. They're not really sentient, having been bred just to power the Beholder-jammers. The more of them there are to the weight of the ship, the higher the 'helm' rating.) Then there are all the new races, new spells, and more. I sometimes entice my players into going Jamming, but some really dislike it, and resist my efforts. But most of them enjoy it when we do get out in space...

[TheGratefulNed]

I'm familiar with the Spelljammer setting(though not overly so). But never found anyone running it.

[Taican]

I don't really run a Jammer campaign, more like use elements of it in my regular campaign...flying ships are useful! ;D I do once in a while, take a party out into the phlo between crystal spheres, but not too often. But it can be fun, to experience the phlo in all its glory. I've wanted to run a campaign based on the Spelljammer, or the Rock of Bral, but just can't seem to interest my players in it.

Out of curiousity, did WotC release anything on Spelljamming for 3.x? I didn't see anything, but I don't pay much attention to 3.x anything...

[merkader]

Not sure. Hackmaster, has hackspace. It is the same as spell jammer. Currently my half ogre who is trying to build a kingdom, is getting himself imbeded in hackspace.

[Taican]

Hmm, sounds interesting. hackspace, you say...I'll have to see what I can find out about it elsewhere...