The Future of Spelljammer

I have been kind of playing around with the concept of what Spelljammer
would be like several centuries
in the future, I have some basic ideas but would like to hear what some of
you think.
Here are some of my current ideas:
The Last Unhuman War shattered the Elven Empire and left it broken, never to be
quite the same.  Many humanoids died, but the scro empire survived (albeit
barely).

The dwarves, who have never been good at magic (wizard magic), began to follow
the path of technology (with some magic -- they *can* make excellent magic
items).  The dwarves discovered a rare, magical element that was the secret
behind
the helms.  The dwarves began to mine asteroids and
soon became *very* wealthy, selling this refined metal to others for
spelljamming propulsion.  The Arcane, who once owned all ability to make helms,
lost much power and influence as a result, and *hate* the dwarves.

Weapon technology has seen the evolution of crys-weapons -- weapons powered
by a
fairly rare magical crystal that holds a "charge" of inert energy.  When
stimulated (like by a "battery" of sorts), the crystal emits a pulse of
energy.
Weapons built with such crystal are potent but eventually become decharged.
There are crys-pistols (hand-held guns), crys-rifles, and now ship-mounted crys-
revolvers -- magical gatling guns with multiple crystalline cylinders.  These
large (75 lbs.) weapons are mounted on ships and can generate anywhere from
2-12
blasts per round, each doing 2d12 damage...

The dwarves, meanwhile, have been perfecting gunpower technology to the point
where muskets and even rifled barrels are possible.  They have built grenades
and torpedoes, of sorts.  They have perfected the art of artillery -- bombards
and ship cannonades.

Tinker gnomes?  What are/were they?  Weren't they just a stupid legend?  Yes,
Virginia, they never existed at all!

The bionoids completely broke away from their elvish masters to become a race
unto themselves -- a race programmed for war.  They continue to cause problems
for elves and others, a warlike race of organic machines.

The neogi have taken to creating armies of slave-mercenaries;  controlled by
special drugs or biologic implants, then hiring out these mercenaries for
profit.

The lizard men have managed to breed a more intelligent, more dangerous strain
of their race, and are slowly becoming a force to be reckoned with.

The scro are rebuilding their empire, but are still fractured and feuding.
If a
powerful leader could unit the scro houses, the worlds would quake in fear...

Ship technology has improved, too.  Larger, meaner ships have been built.
Battleships, of sorts.  More magical weaponry has been created for space
combat.

The Spelljammer has become a "neutral ground" city -- a place for diplomacy
that
is strong enough that no one power could take it over.  It has become the
"Switzerland" of space...

Meanwhile, a jumbled asteroid city known simply as "The Belt" serves as a
different kind of neutral ground.  It consists of a series of asteroids, mined
out by dwarves, now connected by buildings, flying bridges, decks, ladders,
etc.
It is a lawless, dangerous place, a port of call -- a place for diplomats,
hustlers, entrepreneurs...(.hey, that sounds awfully familiar...B5)  Anyhow,
it is a
rough and tumble place where all kinds of things can be bought or sold.  It is *
much* different from the Rock of Bral, as there is no single ruling government
or entity.

These are my ideas, comments and constructive crit is always welcome.
Douglas Russell
P.S Thanks to Paul for some of his great ideas recently.


"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.
 Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.
 The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere,
 The ceremony of innocence is drowned.
 And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
 Slouches toward Bethlehem to be born?"
	-- G'Kar (B5)
		Douglas J Russell