Mercurius
Legend
When Spelljammer came out way back in 1989, it was early high school for me and my interest in D&D had been growing since some of my brother's friends gave me their AD&D books in the early 80s, as they moved onto video games (their loss, my gain). At that point I was an established setting junkie: I owned the old Greyhawk box set (the 1983 version) as well as the Forgotten Realms gray box (1987); I was also discovering settings beyond D&D, such as Talislanta, Tekumel, Harn, Shadow World, Jorune and Glorantha. But there had never quite been a setting like Spelljammer: a truly unique hybrid of fantasy, space adventure, cosmic mystery and, of course, pirates.
I incorporated Spelljammer into the group of my high school years; we enjoyed exploring the crystal spheres on the sea of phlogiston and had a blast with space battles.
Spelljammer also inaugurated the "Golden Age" of D&D campaign settings (although perhaps the 1987 FR gray box truly started it, but SJ was the first exploratory offering). You had Spelljammer in 1989, Dark Sun in 1991, Al-Qadim and Thunder Rift in 1992, Birthright, Council of Wyrms and Planescape in 1994; and then a bit later in 1997, Jakandor, with perhaps one or two others in-between. You also had a deluge of Forgotten Realms products, major releases for Greyhawk, and ongoing support for Mystara.
Campaign settings are often viewed on a spectrum, from "vanilla fantasy" to more exotic and unique offerings. Spelljammer is one of the most exotic settings TSR or WotC has ever produced - arguably the most unique and exotic. Now the problem with exotic settings is that they tend to have shorter shelf lives, because play is more tightly thematic. Even those who don't like the Forgotten Realms probably understand why it has stood the test of time, remaining popular and well-travelled since 1987; that's 31 years as the primary D&D setting. All other settings have risen and fallen, or at least oscillated in popularity, but the Realms abide - both because it is relatively vanilla, but also because it is kitchen sink.
Unlike some of the other 2nd edition settings, Spelljammer died off relatively quickly. According to Echohawk's list, the original box set was published in September of 1989 and the last game product, the box set The Astromundi Cluster, was published in July of 1993. There were later articles and mentions in various products, but as a "living setting" Spelljammer has been in hibernation for 25 years. 1993 was the year Bill Clinton became president and of the Waco cult siege; it was the year Jurassic Park and Schindler's List came out; the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series for the second year in a row; and UB40 couldn't help falling in love with you.
Unlike its more popular cousins, Dark Sun and Planescape, Spelljammer didn't really have a cult following, as far as I know, or at least a very small one. It was enjoyed for a few years, and then let go of as a relic of its time - more The Black Hole than Star Wars. And Dark Sun, of course, was revived in 4th edition. But it has always been loved, remembered almost wistfully, at least by gamers of older generations.
For some reason Ethiopian food comes to mind. I love Ethiopian food. After Indian, Thai and Italian, it is probably my favorite ethnic cuisine. But whereas I might have Indian and Thai once a month or so, and Italian even more frequently (by virtue of pizza), I probably have Ethiopian food once or twice a year. But when I do, I really enjoy it. I would even say that I like it as much as my other favorites, but for some reason it is just in a different category - perhaps because there are fewer Ethiopian restaurants around, but also because something has to be special and rare.
Maybe Spelljammer is kind of like Ethiopian food: it is as good as anything else, but a special occasion flavor.
Anyhow, Spelljammer makes perfect sense for "Mearls D&D." It is the type of setting that can be visited in a story arc, with guidelines (perhaps in the form of a PDF) for further adventures, and then moved on from. It is the perfect fit for the 5E model and for the DM's Guild. I think also the fact that it has largely been left untouched for two and a half decades works for both old-time grognards and the newer generation of players. For the newbies, it is truly exotic and new; for the 'nards, it is blast from the past, a welcome revival of a bygone, Golden Age.
And now I'm craving Ethiopian food...
I incorporated Spelljammer into the group of my high school years; we enjoyed exploring the crystal spheres on the sea of phlogiston and had a blast with space battles.
Spelljammer also inaugurated the "Golden Age" of D&D campaign settings (although perhaps the 1987 FR gray box truly started it, but SJ was the first exploratory offering). You had Spelljammer in 1989, Dark Sun in 1991, Al-Qadim and Thunder Rift in 1992, Birthright, Council of Wyrms and Planescape in 1994; and then a bit later in 1997, Jakandor, with perhaps one or two others in-between. You also had a deluge of Forgotten Realms products, major releases for Greyhawk, and ongoing support for Mystara.
Campaign settings are often viewed on a spectrum, from "vanilla fantasy" to more exotic and unique offerings. Spelljammer is one of the most exotic settings TSR or WotC has ever produced - arguably the most unique and exotic. Now the problem with exotic settings is that they tend to have shorter shelf lives, because play is more tightly thematic. Even those who don't like the Forgotten Realms probably understand why it has stood the test of time, remaining popular and well-travelled since 1987; that's 31 years as the primary D&D setting. All other settings have risen and fallen, or at least oscillated in popularity, but the Realms abide - both because it is relatively vanilla, but also because it is kitchen sink.
Unlike some of the other 2nd edition settings, Spelljammer died off relatively quickly. According to Echohawk's list, the original box set was published in September of 1989 and the last game product, the box set The Astromundi Cluster, was published in July of 1993. There were later articles and mentions in various products, but as a "living setting" Spelljammer has been in hibernation for 25 years. 1993 was the year Bill Clinton became president and of the Waco cult siege; it was the year Jurassic Park and Schindler's List came out; the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series for the second year in a row; and UB40 couldn't help falling in love with you.
Unlike its more popular cousins, Dark Sun and Planescape, Spelljammer didn't really have a cult following, as far as I know, or at least a very small one. It was enjoyed for a few years, and then let go of as a relic of its time - more The Black Hole than Star Wars. And Dark Sun, of course, was revived in 4th edition. But it has always been loved, remembered almost wistfully, at least by gamers of older generations.
For some reason Ethiopian food comes to mind. I love Ethiopian food. After Indian, Thai and Italian, it is probably my favorite ethnic cuisine. But whereas I might have Indian and Thai once a month or so, and Italian even more frequently (by virtue of pizza), I probably have Ethiopian food once or twice a year. But when I do, I really enjoy it. I would even say that I like it as much as my other favorites, but for some reason it is just in a different category - perhaps because there are fewer Ethiopian restaurants around, but also because something has to be special and rare.
Maybe Spelljammer is kind of like Ethiopian food: it is as good as anything else, but a special occasion flavor.
Anyhow, Spelljammer makes perfect sense for "Mearls D&D." It is the type of setting that can be visited in a story arc, with guidelines (perhaps in the form of a PDF) for further adventures, and then moved on from. It is the perfect fit for the 5E model and for the DM's Guild. I think also the fact that it has largely been left untouched for two and a half decades works for both old-time grognards and the newer generation of players. For the newbies, it is truly exotic and new; for the 'nards, it is blast from the past, a welcome revival of a bygone, Golden Age.
And now I'm craving Ethiopian food...
