Re: Spelljammer 3E Thoughts

In a message dated 2/6/2003 12:25:44 PM, enochscion@???????.com writes:

<<
1. Consistency with Original Material This is simply an essential component,
and any deviation must be seriously considered, as it can cause severe
dissatisfaction in fans of the setting.>>
    Very difficult, as the original material is not consistent with itself.
Furthermore, for all practical purposes each DM's version (s) of the
Spelljammer universe has wandered far from the original source books.


<<2. Consistency with D&D 3E>>
    I expect Leroy, Static, and the other old hands are going to expect this:
 Irrelevant.  SJ was written for 2nd edition.  Altering the rules for a
setting is going to change the setting.  Change the rules as little as
possible to prevent disruption.


<<4. Artistic Appeal:  No, I'm not talking illustrations or musical scores,
what I'm talking about is the general mental image evoked by the setting, and
the 3E rules and presentation.>>
    Good luck.  Artistic appeal is going to vary extremely widely


<<1. Use the Great Wheel Cosmology as defined and explained in the Manual of
the Planes.>>  Contrary to Static's view, IMO for the most part the
Planescape and Spelljammer settings are compatible.


Specific Suggestions:

With all of that basis laid down, I'll get into some specific suggestions I
have about how to include some of those aspects, especially in areas where I
think it can be difficult to balance the needs of multiple premises.

<<1. Coordinate with other authorized D&D 3E materials.>> ROFLOL.  In
ditching the historical cosmology, they broke all concepts of continuity.
Don't bother.

<<2. We need to preserve the concept that Spelljammer primarily is set in the
Material Plane.>>
    From here on, you're ignoring your previously stated principles.  SJ
could be considered its own alternate prime with parallel worlds (Krynn,
Oerth, Toril)--that actually works pretty well with the published material,
since the SJ sphere books seemed a rather poor fit to the published settings.

All this is offered for thought.  I've played "3e" exactly twice--to help a
friend prepare for DunDraCon.  I was not impressed with the system.