Dungeons & Dragons' Second Edition setting Spelljammer took the game into the realm of sci-fantasy, and it should definitely make a comeback for 5e.

In 1989, Jeff Grubb created the Spelljammer setting for Dungeons & Dragons Second Edition. Since then, gamers have moved on through several more editions and iterations, landing today in Fifth Edition. With a rules expansion coming in 2024 and more sourcebooks promised in the meantimes, many fans are clamoring for an updated Spelljammer setting for 5e. This campaign setting offers intriguing source material to take this high-fantasy game and give it a science fiction spin.

Spelljammer isn't just another Star Wars wannabe. The unique setting is much more D&D flavored, weaving the worlds of sci-fi and high fantasy together, allowing it to work with the tabletop-RPG's rules just as well as the Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk and Krynn. As players travel through space in Spelljammer, each environment and vessel is encased in a magical bubble of air, and spellcasters must use their spells to power and steer the ship. In the Phlogiston, nearly anything is possible, which is why fans want this world to come back.

RELATED: Dungeons & Dragons: How DMs Can Blend Combat And Storytelling

In Spelljammer, when players wish to travel from planet to planet, moon to asteroid, and back, they must travel through the Wildspace. This represents the vacuum of space where you can see planets surrounded by their crystal spheres. When characters go beyond the crystal spheres, players enter the Phlogiston, a sea-like area of flammable gas that players can sail on their flying ships.

Gravity, air and mass all gets wishy-washy in Spelljammer, which puts a unique twist on the sci-fi genre and leans more heavily on the fantasy side of things. The setting is wonderfully unique and would introduce another genre to the world of D&D 5e, much like how Curse of Strahd and Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft incorporated more horror elements.

Another reason players want it to come back is the Illithids. Mind Flayers are a classic D&D villain that offer Dungeon Masters a truly terrifying way to attack the characters. They are strange-looking, evoking a Chthulu feel, and deal rarely-resisted psychic damage. Illithids also have fascinating lore, and a large portion of that takes place in the Spelljammer setting. Their horrid treatment of the Gith races, which led to a rebellion, provides an incredible opportunity for developing an interesting backstory if players choose to play a Githyanki or Githzerai.

RELATED: Why Dungeons & Dragons' Most Unusual Monster Deserves a Spot in Your Campaign

Plus, with an Illithid dragon being introduced in Fizban's Treasury of Dragons, the groundwork for introducing Spelljammer as the setting responsible for these monstrosities is there. It is practically canon anyway, with Mind Flayers a common monster in the Underdark and even in the Waterdeep adventures. Incorporating them into an official Fifth Edition campaign setting wouldn't be difficult or out of left field.

While other TTRPGs like Starfinder exist for those who want a sci-fi-centric experience, D&D doesn't need to be limited to high fantasy. There is enough demand for Spelljammer that some fans have already adapted their own homebrew versions of the setting, proving that an official 5e iteration of Spelljammer would fill an existing void.

Luckily for fans, Spelljammer's return is looking more and more possible. Wizards of the Coast has said D&D 5e will revisit more classic locations in 2022, and races from Spelljammer have appeared in Unearthed Arcana. While UA material isn't always published, it is the testing ground Wizards uses for things they are considering incorporating. "Travelers of the Multiverse" featured the Giff, humanoid hippos, the Hadozee, humanoid flying squirrel-type apes and the Autognomes, robotic gnomes created by Krynn's tinkering gnomes. These races seem to be pointing toward a Spelljammer revival, which would be a much-welcomed addition for those who want more sci-fi in their fantasy.

KEEP READING: How to Build Wolverine in Dungeons & Dragons

Rachel is a writer for CBR.com and has wanted to be a superhero her entire life. She grew up reading fantasy and comics like X-Men, Lady Death, and Catwoman. They fill their day with the MCU, magical girls, Skyrim, and as many hours of Dungeons & Dragons as possible, including watching the latest episodes of Critical Role (Laudna be praised). You can find them on Twitter as @rejohnsonauthor.

Subscribe to the CBR newsletter for exclusive comics, TV & movie news, reviews, interviews & much more!