Table of Contents

Crystal Spheres

Crystal Spheres are exactly what their name entails; they are gigantic spheres made out of magic crystal. These spheres are also sometimes referred to as Crystal Shells. A Crystal Sphere contains all of the planets, moons and suns of each fantasy campaign world.

All wildspace is bounded by crystal shells or Crystal Spheres. Inside the Crystal Sphere is the vacuum of Wildspace, the planets, and stars. Outside the Crystal Sphere is the rainbow ocean of Phlogiston and other Crystal Spheres. The size of a Crystal Sphere is determined by the size of the planetary system inside. Because of their great size, the outside of a Crystal Sphere appears perfectly flat. The curvature is so gradual that it is completely undetectable to anyone who is close enough to see the Crystal Sphere through the obscuring Phlogiston.

Crystal Spheres consists of an unbreakable, dark, ceramic material of unknown origin. Some legends state (and various theologians agree) that the smooth-surfaced shells were created and positioned by the gods themselves to protect their worlds from the ravages of the phlogiston, which is held to be the prime matter of the universe. Less charitable philosophers maintain that such shells were placed by an even higher authority to keep gods and men in and confine their activities. Whatever their origin, the crystal shells are uniform throughout space. All appear as great, dark, featureless spheres of unidentifiable matter. The Crystal Spheres are definitely solid. They have no gravity along either their interior or exterior sides (an exception to the rule that all large objects have gravity).

No magic has been found that can damage or alter the surface of a shell, except for those spells which cause portals to open. Even this, however, is believed to be nothing more than an artificial triggering of a natural phenomenon, since portals also occur naturally and seemingly at random. They are apparently immune to the effects of wishes and even the wills of the outer planar powers (though this does not rule out the possibility that the outer planar powers created them perhaps they were wise enough to prevent even their own tampering).

Wildspace

Between all of the celestial bodies within each Crystal Sphere is a void known as Wildspace. Wildspace is the equivalent of space in the real world. There is no air or gravity within Wildspace.

The Phlogiston

The Phlogiston is an endless ocean filled with a multicolored flammable element that is neither air, earth, fire or water. Very little is known for certain about the Phlogiston, except that the Crystal Spheres float along within it. Currents also flow through the Phlogiston that act as express lanes for Spelljammer ships traveling between the Crystal Spheres. Like Wildspace there is no air or gravity within the Phlogiston.

Fire Damage Table

Casting any spell that creates magical fire while within the Phlogiston causes the spell to immediately trigger with the caster as the center of the area of effect. If the spell requires a target, the caster is considered to have targeted themselves.

Magic Items

Create Helm

6th-level enchantment

• Casting Time: 1 minute
• Range: Touch
• Components: S, M, V (A chair, stool, or other seat-like object)
• Duration: 24 hours
• Classes: Bard, Wizard

By casting this spell on a normal chair or other seat, this spell transforms that chair or seat into a Spelljammer Helm suitable for powering a Spelljamming ship. The Helm this spell creates is a Minor Helm. The chair reverts to a non-magical object once the spell ends.

You can create a permanent Helm by casting this spell on the same seat-like object every day for one year.
At Higher Levels When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 9th level, the Helm you create is a Major Helm instead.

Create or Destroy Air

1st-level transmutation

• Casting Time: 1 action
• Range: 60 feet
• Components: S, M, V (A small, stoppered flask)
• Duration: 10 minutes
• Classes: Cleric, Druid

You either create or destroy air.
Create Air You create, replenish, or refresh the air of one target creature’s personal air envelope within range for 10 minutes, including air poisoned/tainted by spells such as Cloudkill and Stinking Cloud. This does not create a larger in size envelope, but simply replenishes the air in the envelope that the creature drags with it. If the air is fouled, the air turns fresh again and the air timer resets to 10 minutes. If used within a spell or effect that causes a cloud (similar to the Fog Cloud, Cloudkill and Stinking Cloud spells) the creature is allowed an immediate save against the effects of the spell.
Destroy Air You immediately turn the personal air envelope of a target creature within range foul.
At Higher Levels When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, you may target one additional creature for each slot above 1st.

Portal Magic

2nd-level divination (Ritual)

• Casting Time: 10 minutes
• Range: Half a mile
• Components: S, M, V (A conch shell)
• Duration: 1 minute
• Classes: Bard, Wizard

Casting out to the very Crystal Shell itself, you can sense the direction and distance (either in miles or in travel time) of the nearest portal of egress through a Crystal Shell. In general, from any point on a Crystal Shell, naturally occurring portals for a ship are 2d10 days away. At DM’s discretion, there may be more, less, or no portals.This spell may only be cast within half a mile of the surface of a Crystal Shell.

Portals created by this spell are magical and temporary, so they can be dispelled. If the portal is dispelled or otherwise prematurely closed, roll 1d10, and determine the result the fate of the object(s) passing through the opening as it closes:

1 to 5 - Portal closes before ship reaches the shell. Ship must turn back or Crash into the shell.

6 to 10 - Portal closes after ship passes through.

At Higher Levels When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 5th level or higher, you may draw a circle in the air towards the Crystal Shell. A shimmering portal opens within the circle you drew and remains open for five minutes. The opening does not weaken the shell, and any objects resting physically on the shell are unaffected by the portal.

The Helm

The spelljammer helm is a large chair or throne which can be piloted by a spellcaster. The helm draws magic from the spellcaster and converts it into energy to move and maneuver a ship.

When placed aboard a vessel weighing between 1 and 100 tons, the helm generates an envelope of fresh air around the ship while it is in the void of space (but not underwater). This envelope extends out from the edges of the hull in all directions for a distance equal in length to the vessel's beam, so that creatures aboard and near the ship can breathe normally in space. The temperature within the air envelope is 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

It also generates an artificial gravity field while the ship is in the void of space, so that creatures can walk on the ship's decks as they normally would. Creatures and objects that fall overboard bob in a gravity plane that extends out from the main deck for a distance equal in length to the vessel's beam.

                                               Major Helm

Orbus

Medium abberation, neutral

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• Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 22 (4d8+4)
• Speed 0 ft., fly 20 ft. (hover)

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
7 (-2)	13 (+1)	12 (+1)	3 (-4)	13 (+1)	13 (+1)

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• Saving Throws Wisdom +3
• Skills Perception +3
• Condition Immunities Prone
• Senses Passive perception 13
• Languages -
• Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)

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Antimagic Cone. The orbus’ central eye creates an area of antimagic, as in the antimagic field spell, in a 150-foot cone. At the start of each of its turns, the orbus decides which way the cone faces and whether the cone is active.

Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, Reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6+1) piercing damage

Distance To Reach Wildspace

A Spelljammer ship in wildspace or the atmosphere of a celestial object can move direct up or down or backwards without changing the direction it is facing. The ship must be at a complete stop before it can ascend, descend or move in reverse, and the ship moves at half speed while moving in this way — moving 1 foot costs 2 feet of speed — so the ship can cover only half the normal distance in a minute, an hour, or a day.

Crash Damage Table

Cannoneer

A ship with weapons requires cannoneers for firing the siege weapons. Cannoneers have proficiency with Vehicles (Land).

Cannoneer Checks. The DM might call for a Cannoneer check when the ship tries to accomplish one of these tasks:

• Move heavy objects with crew members.
• Launch a creature with a catapult.

Captain

The Captain issues orders. They direct other senior crew. The best captains have high Charisma scores, as well as proficiency with Vehicles (Air), Intimidation and Persuasion skills.

Captain Checks. The DM might call for a Captain check when a ship tries to accomplish one of these tasks:

• Handle relations with other ships.

Cook

A ship's Cook works with the limited ingredients aboard a ship to make meals. A skilled cook keeps the crew's morale in top shape, while a poor one drags down the entire crew's performance. A talented cook has a high Constitution score, as well as proficiency with brewer's supplies and cook's utensils.

Cook Checks. The DM might call for a Cook check when the ship tries to accomplish one of these tasks:

• The crew has gone a long time with few rations.

Helmsman

The Helmsman is in charge of navigating the ship through spaces unknown. This station is appointed to, more often than not, the most able-bodied mage aboard a Spelljamming ship. This role is required to be filled for the ship to move throughout Wildspace and beyond. A reliable helmsman tends to have a high Spellcaster level.

Helmsman Check. The DM might call for a Helmsman check when the ship tries to accomplish one of these tasks:

• Piloting the ship in dangerous areas.

Sailor

A competent crew is needed to properly sail a ship. Sailors typically have proficiency with Vehicles (Air). A Commoner from the Monster Manual usually fills this role.

Sailor Checks. The DM might call for a Sailor check when the ship tries to accomplish one of these tasks:

• When you have too few crew to tend the ship.

Creature Capacity

These two numbers indicate the number of crew required to operate the ship and the total passenger occupancy of the ship.

Cargo Capacity

This indicates the maximum amount of cargo a ship can carry. A vessel can’t move if its cargo exceeds this capacity.

Attributes

Strength A ship’s Strength represents its size and weight. Its Constitution covers its durability and the quality of its construction. Its Dexterity represents a ship’s easy of handling.

Damage Threshold

A ship with a damage threshold has immunity to all damage unless it takes an amount of damage from a single Attack or effect equal to or greater than its damage threshold, in which case it takes damage as normal. Any damage that fails to meet or exceed the ship’s damage threshold is considered superficial and doesn’t reduce the ship’s Hit Points.

Size

The size of a ship is determined by its longest side.

Keel. This is the length of the ship from fore to aft (front to back).

Beam. This is the length of the widest part of the ship from port to starboard (left to right).

Components

A ship is composed of different components. A ship’s component might have special rules, as described in the stat block:

Hull. A ship’s hull is its basic frame, on which the other components are mounted.

Control. A control component is used to steer a ship.

Movement. A movement component is the element of the ship that enables it to move, such as a helm, a set of sails or oars.

Weapon. A ship capable of being used in combat has one or more weapon components, each of which is operated separately.

Sidewheeler

A Sidewheeler is the product of gnomish “ingenuity”. They are over-engineered and lacking any grace or beauty. These vessels are powered by Gnomish Helms. Space gnomes use their Sidewheelers to do all of the things that gnomes normally do.

Because of their unstable construction,
sidewheelers were usually ill-suited for
landing on the ground or staying afloat
on water. Since the chance of accident
was high, sidewheeler crews either never
landed or sometimes prepared to brace
the ship together with improvised material.

In other cases, they simply allowed the ship
to crash and then rebuilt another one from the wreckage.

Man-o-War

The Man-o-War is the most prominent ship in the navies of the space-faring elf nations. It is heavily armed and can withstand large amounts of damage before breaking apart.

Hammership

Like the Squid Ship the Hammership was built by spacefaring humans to serve in naval armadas. The Hammership is slightly more durable and more heavily armed than its sister ship. Like all the ships of known space Hammerships are often retrofitted for use by pirates.

Mindspider

The Mindspider is built and operated by the Neogi, a race of evil beings that terrorize all of known space. These vessels are powered by Lifejammer Helms. Mindspider ships are used by the Neogi to attack other space-faring vessels without provocation or mercy.

Renaissance Weapons

Rams

Rams are installed on Spelljammer ships to aid them during a Crash. The cost of installing a ram equals 5 x the ship's hit point maximum. For example, the cost of installing a ram on a ship with 120 hit points would be 600 gp.

Howitzer

Large object

• Armor Class: 20
• Hit Points: 250
• Damage Immunities: poison, psychic

A howitzer is a siege weapon that fires huge shells in a large arc that explode upon landing. These weapons are ideal for bombing fortifications, designed to have their rounds travel over high walls and cover. The firing apparatus is built on a metallic wheeled chassis that must be stationed before firing.

Before it can be fired, a howitzer must be loaded and aimed. It takes two actions to load it, two actions to aim it, and one action to fire it.

Howitzer Shell (130 gp). Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, ignores cover, range 1,200/4,800 ft. (can't hit targets within 60 feet of it), one target. Hit: 28 (8d6) bludgeoning damage, and all creatures within 20 feet of the target must succeed a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 28 (8d6) bludgeoning damage on a failed saving throw, or half as much damage on a successful save.

Mortar

Medium object

• Armor Class: 15
• Hit Points: 50
• Damage Immunities: poison, psychic

Mortars are weapons that are designed to fire explosive shells in a wide arc to hit targets behind cover.

Before it can be fired, it must be loaded and aimed. It takes an action to load the weapon, an action to aim it, and an action to fire it.

Mortar Shell (80 gp). Ranged Weapon Attack. +6 to hit, ignores cover, range 800/3,200 ft. (can't hit targets within 60 feet of it), one target. Hit: 17 (5d6) bludgeoning damage, and all creatures within 20 feet of the target must succeed a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 17 (5d6) bludgeoning damage on a failed saving throw, or half as much damage on a successful save.

Minigun

Medium object

• Armor Class: 16
• Hit Points: 55
• Damage Immunities: poison, psychic

Miniguns are mounted weapons that fire a constant stream of bullets. They tend to be anti-personnel weapons rather than being used to take down castle walls.

Before it can be fired, it must be loaded and aimed. It takes an action to load the weapon, an action to aim it, and an action to fire it.

A minigun can house 500 rounds, expending 10 rounds each time it is fired. Each round costs 1 gp.

Gunfire. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 600/2,400 ft., one target. Hit: 50 (10d6) piercing damage.

Jettison

Special object

• Armor Class: 15
• Hit Points: 150
• Damage Immunities: poison, psychic

A jettison consists of a container or open room filled with debris that is then dumped from the stern of the vessel. The debris then creates a navigational hazard and possible damage to the pursuing vessel. A jettison can only fire in the direction of the ship's exit point.

Before it can be fired, the jettison must be loaded. It takes one action to load the weapon and one action to fire it. Only creatures can suffer damage from the attack - ships are unaffected, treating damage as superficial.

Jettison Debris. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 240/960 ft., one point. Hit: 10 (3d6) bludgeoning to all creatures in a 15 foot radius.

Grappling Ram

Special object

• Armor Class: 20
• Hit Points: 100 (damage threshold 10)
• Damage Immunities: poison, psychic

The grappling ram is a weapon made up of a series of movable arms that can latch onto an enemy ship. When a ship with a grappling ram crashes into another ship or creature that one size larger than the ship or smaller, the target is grappled instead of taking damage. Until the grapple ends, the target's speed becomes 0. As an action, the attacking ship can end this effect, and the target can end it by taking an action and succeeding on a DC 16 Strength check.

The cost of installing a Grappling Ram is twice the normal cost.

Eye Ray Tentacle

Small object

• Armor Class: 14
• Hit Points: 50
• Damage Immunities: poison, psychic

Magical Attack: The eye ray tentacle shoots a magical eye ray at a target creature visible to the crew that is within 120 feet of it. An eye ray tentacle can only make one type of magical eye ray attack, which is determined during its construction. Several types of magical eye ray attacks are listed below:

Disintegration Ray. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take 18 (4d8) force damage. If this damage reduces the creature to 0 hit points, its body becomes a pile of fine gray dust. If the target is a Large or smaller nonmagical object or creation of magical force, it is disintegrated without a saving throw. If the target is a Huge or larger object or creation of magical force, this ray disintegrates a 10-foot cube of it.

Enervation Ray. The targeted creature must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Paralyzing Ray. The targeted creature must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed for l minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Weapon Upgrades

The following upgrades can apply to any weapon mounted aboard the ship. A component can gain the benefits of one upgrade, or two upgrades if one of the upgrades is Arcane Artillery.

Hull Upgrades

Any ship with a hull can gain one of the following upgrades. In some cases, an upgrade also provides a benefit to the ship's other components.

Miscellaneous Upgrades

The following upgrades don't apply to a specific element of the ship. A ship can use any number of them, but it can gain a specific upgrade only once.

The Imperial Elven Navy

Is elven superiority, look down on non-elves and even nonstarborn elves. They allow such beings into their fleet as mercs or foreign-legion style crew but don't treat them with a whole lot of respect overall. Any individual captain or commander/admiral might be less rude about it, but the fleet as a whole is arrogant.

The Green Concern

Is made of an alliance between orcs and goblinoids, out to defend themselves from genocide by the Elven fleets (so they say), but in practice it's a way for them to unite for larger raids on outlying Crystal Spheres or loose planets/planetoids. They allow non-goblinoids/orcs in,as long as they prove strong and willing to obey the orders of their commanders, no matter how treacherous or violent the order might be.

The Arcane Consortium

Is a trade alliance between various Arcane (blue giants with an affinity for magic, trade, and the construction of spelljamming components), they supply ships and re fittings to anyone with the money for it. They are always looking to make a deal, or open new trade networks. They defend what's theirs with as much devotion as they put towards trying to sell what's theirs to you.

The Fleshdealers

Are a large splinter group of Beholders, Illithid, and Neogi who, unlike much of their brethren, would rather buy slaves than take them violently. As such, they make a better impression on those they meet, and have actual diplomats and embassies in various territories, as well as markets for their goods and services. They prefer to trade for slaves, but gold will do in places where that is illegal!

The Treasure Fleet

Is a number of Kara-turan (and gaijin) ships and sailors traveling the spheres, making trade connections and gathering information to take back home. They hold no ports out of Realmspace, but their influence is felt in many ports despite that, with large Tura-town springing up from members of the fleet deciding they like anew port instead of home. To make up for shedding the occasional cluster of crew, a not insignificant portion of their fleet are made of those they've hired on along the way.

The Beholder Sovereignty

Are vicious slaving monsters, using their superior selves to power superior ships, which strike to capture as many slaves as possible before fleeing.

The Illithid Union

Are, while not quite as unreasonable as planet-bound Illithid, still not likely to see you as anything but food or a slave. They do, however, respect diplomatic alliances, and generally obey the common Wildspace law. That does not mean you should trust a Union ship met alone in Wildspace, merely that they might not attack first if you're flying a flag they have a treaty with.

The Githyanki

Hold a few territories, but make few friends for their utter unwillingness to negotiate with the Illithid at any point, and frequent slaving raids. They prefer the Astralplane, and as such generally just appear for such raids, or to butcher Illithid.

The Gith Pirates

Are made up of outcasts from both factions of Gith, feared by all for their extreme violence and rumors of cannibalism. They can be anywhere. Within a Sphere they can appear out of the Astral plane, or perhaps appear from an asteroid fortress. The only thing you can count on them doing is being extremely violent.