Spelljammer Ship COMBAT | D&D Lore 

Correction: at the time Spelljammer came out a round was not 6 seconds long, it was 1 minute long. Thus a turn (which was 10 minutes long, as you say) was 10 rounds. It wasn't until the Player's Option and DM's Option books came out that a round was shortened from 1 minute (although even then it wasn't reduced to 6 seconds yet, but was rather described as "about 10 to 15 seconds"), and by that time Spelljammer had been discontinued for some time.

I want to clarify that the operators of spelljamming helms are also sometimes referred to as spelljammers. So, spelljammers spelljam their spelljammers to the Spelljammer in Spelljammer.

My Lich captain had a fouled atmosphere at all times. Undead crew do not need it. Share the same hex = share the same atmosphere. Toxic hello. Negatives to all our prey.

I just want to say, you explained both Spelljammer combat specifically and that THAC0 system specifically better than any AD&D book. Thank you.

Since we're running a weekly 5e Spelljammer campaign, I've read the manuals that explain this so many times. And this is BY FAR the best explanation I've how it all works, that I've come across. I learned a bunch from this!

I see a new adventure coming called "Space Jam" *Laughs in Monstar*

I Loved hearing you explain the old THACO vs AC scores like a grade school teacher to a class. As I was in grade school when I learned it and wish someone had explained it like that to me at the time.

Spelljammer was one of the first published campaign settings I played in when I started playing AD&D 2E back in 1991. I am currently playing in a 5E campaign that uses Spelljammer ships and Wildspace frequently. I am really enjoying these videos Jorphdan!

Coming back to this as this years 5e supplement had surprisingly NO RULES for Ship Combat!

The Enemy's gate is Down

Loving these Spelljammer videos. Thanks!

When Spelljammer came out when I was like in the 8-9th grade I fell in love. It is such a great setting!

Well now you got me making a Spell Jammer campaign haha. Space pirates, mindflayers, and hippo men oh my!

Just FYI Dungeon Magazine Issue #92 did a update from 2nd edition to 3rd edition for spelljammer, which may be easier to update to a 5th edition rules. The issue has updated rules for spelljammer combat, ship stats, planets, feats, skills, and prestige classes. I really like the elven Arrowing class spelljammer ship.

When you wake up in a dark cage with a dark elf guard unlocking the door to drag you out ....I can understand why you as a player think ok Underdark ... Menzoberanzan or something..... But the guard grabs you and drags you out of the dark cage and up the stairs to the door. Kicking it open he tosses you out onto the deck of this Dark Elf Man O War. The light from the stars dazzles your eyes as a large black skinned Orc walks up to you. Asking in perfect High Elven with accent " Will you serve as crew or be tossed into the void?" As he gestures over his shoulder at 2 more of the biggest nasties black skinned orcs Bigger than any orcs you have ever seen toss your Legion Commander screaming over the rail.

I love the idea of going full Wrath of Kahn and pulling out some dragonchess maneuvers on a foe

Last time I checked I still had an Oger Mammoth in dry dock Repair/rebuild at 81 hull points of the 90 max. Mostly original gear with 3 +2 heavy ballista. Helm not included.

there are actually 3d combat rules in the war captain's companion.

I can't wait for Spell Jammer come to 5e! So overdue! And I'm pretty sure its pronounced thay ko. Thats how we said it for a 20 years anyway. Thacko sounds so harsh lol

Just hearing someone say THAC0. Find memories. I was playing ADD when it was brand new! We tried SpellJammer. The truth is just about the same time, the godfall. Time of Troubles, we couldn't spare a single night sailing the stars with the actual gods running about in the land! The time of troubles was all encompassing. Our characters were following in the footsteps of mortals about to become gods. This would have gone a lot better if they would have adjusted their timing. Thank you for the smile you have given me

I wonder what others think of the war machine/siege machine rules from basic. They have pretty good large scale combat rules for ships, including those that can fly. I used a modified version to fight the 2nd Unhuman war and the players loved it!

5:00 always good to see some ender love

I guess this is what we’ll have to use since the box set that was recently released doesn’t have any actual rules for it

I still DM a 2E game. You got the Thac0 right. Thac0 - AC = Die roll needed to hit. But for initiative, you roll a d10, and the lower number goes first.

Ahh, the memories of running Spelljammer combat scenarios late into the night with my friends. My personal favorite trick was the clipper bombard broadside. If you didn't have that kind of broadside, your best option was typically ramming. Re: three-dimensional space -- if there's only two ships they'll always share a common plane, so combat between the two will always effectively be in a two-dimensional space. (And if they both have 360-degree firing arc, the relationship between the two of them can be abstracted down to a single dimension.)

Loving this series and I can't wait to see your Spelljammer rules. Will they be patreon, dm's guild, or something else?

Spelljammer 5E just got more likely now that it looks like Dragonlance is in legal limbo.

Spelljammer would be quite destabilizing in the Golarion setting of Pathfinder. One definite example is that there's a rift to the Abyss on the moon, which has led to a colony of succubi. Currently, it takes them two years to fly from there to Golarion, keeping the planet somewhat safe. That would be cut to a few minutes plus gravity well time (don't have the exact figures, but roughly an hour total). Still, they're both settings I like, so I'd like there to be some way to mash them together. Thanks for another outstanding video. Except, of course that it lacked GIANT 👏 SPACE 👏 HAMSTERS 👏

I love ya as the dm for rod of the seven parts over on nerd immersion hope you start dm more for us

So need this series right now for the homebrew! Thanks!!!

This was good refresher. I am looking for ways to expand the new 5e Spelljammer combat experience. I forgot how much the 2e base rules influenced combat in ship to ship, like the the inclusion of flight maneuvering in 2e Spelljammer. Probably the #1 reason there is less rules presented in the 5e reintroduction... there is simply less rules in 5e to be addressed to bring spelljammer as a setting into the system minimally** and as I recall the War Captains Companion with its ~30+ page ship combat focused 'Book 3' came out two and half years later. Adding much more combat crunch to the crunch hungry grognards delight. Including the originally omitted advise on managing the third dimension in combat! and gave us naval-battle-sim-neck-beards that were not happy with what spelljammer brought to the space naval battle scene in 1989... something more to chew on 1992 (Hint: half of us still weren't happy either, cause that's our schtick, sides were drawn...) We had the same grievances then as we do now to a degree. This is all very adaptable stuff with a little blood, sweat, and tears... of the players... It always has been. I think folks are just grump the new stuff is not 100% fulfilling their endless spells in space adventure dreams with a small three set book set... But I digress. Thank you for the refresher on the 2e ways... **Assuming we agree that 5e is intentionally meant to be rules minimal by design and in approach... I've always thought it more of a throw back to the earliest days with an addition large publish polish. Those rules light spaces are akin to the "gaps" we often saw attributed to "missing" gaps in the rules in the likes of Chainmail... (ok that was missing entire sets of stats and other pieces...) and with that great gaming tables were born in the spaces between rules with the freedom to create whatever we wanted/needed... and the need was strong at times... One thing 5e shoots for is is the middle, so no one is happy when its all compromise :D... How does that saying go... "A rule set whose core is 100% compromise is at its core compromised." A design tradeoff gone too far at times... I don't think it goes that far, because it has space to have mutually exclusive ideas and options be used instead. So we can fix a compromise we don't like! ;) I think there is room for some glory to be had in this new space... and if it sucks... There is always the old ways to learn from if we are 'open' and 'want' to. :) and if they don't work... we bury them with new ways and ideas, just because they did not please us...

As someone who played during that era.....you got Thac0 right. Simplicity is AC0= AC20. 2=5

Thac0, he speaks in the old tongue! 2nd is my system. Doing a little subtraction is easy. Its like people only want to add these days.

Just hearing someone say THAC0...... Fd memories. I was playing ADD 2nd when spell Jammers came out. Right around this time was the godfall.The Time of Troubles was all encompassing! We could not spare a single gaming night sailing the Stars. With the actual gods roaming the countryside. Our characters were following in the footsteps of mortals about to become gods. TSR would have done more successful with this if they would have changed the timing on release. Thank you for the smile on my

Spelljammers versus Spelljammers. Does a Spelljammer have the ability to spelljam? Or can a Spelljammer spelljam another Spelljammer's spelljammer?

How do you recommend making spell jammer combat interactive for all the players? As explained it seems like there isn't much for the players to do (besides whosever controlling the ship).

Really loving the dive into SpellJammer! I've wanted to play in this setting since it was released, when I was a kid. Your videos have inspired me to brew a campaign in the SpellJammer setting and hopefully I can get my group onboard!

Do you think Starfinder starship combat rules can be used to supplement spelljammer combat rules? They have a phases per turn system and crew mate positions perfect for each stat so everyone can be useful for something.

Watching this after seeing the new Spelljammer ship combat "rules" makes me sad.

That was super informative!

Enemy gate is down is from enders game the novel, that's interesting to know they used that in homeworld

my new band: 36 days to plutor

I just watched your DCC stream. Would love to see some DCC videos!!!

I'd like to point out that the War Captain's Companion had rules for 3-D combat.

about a week late but please discuss Large Luigi, the best character ever created for dnd

Thumbs up for Ender.

@Jorhpdan That's right Ender, the enemies gate is down.

Hammer driver here. Love my Scro Battle Mage. " Toss a fresh Elf Lord into the death helm and prepare for ramming speed."

Yikes. 2e was unnecessarily complicated. I knew that before, but this kind of made my whole brain glaze over.

Supposedly WOTC is working on a new Spell jammers book for 5e. It’d be cool to see the mechanics for 5e

THACO.It is not easy, but it makes sense. I do prefer today's 5e ac as THACO feels like needless complication and gate keepy.

Ships sharing same air in space.... call it a Giff Fart.

Thanks Jorphdan! I think you explain it well :) sounds fun. Makes me want to surprise my players with a space session!!

Thank you for the combat rundown! Can't wait for planets!

Space Fantasy, Here We Come!!!

Excellent video Jorphdan keep it up! Oh also are you going to do a spelljammer races video?

SpellJammer 5e , cmmon WotC

Thaco was a good system, dag nabbit.

How would damage that players do translate when they try to damage a ship? eg greataxe/fireball

Also you dont need Spelljammer rules for Pathfinder since you have Starfinder that is the Pathfinder universe in the future.

Ship crews .... when the deck boy is a level 4 warrior you stowed away on the wrong tug son.

I learnt THAC0 from stars without number and it's sooo stupid.

This is the first time I've been able to understand THAC0 and yeah, it seems really stupid. Alas, that is the drawback of things being in the past.

So, is all forward movement arrested if not being constantly contributed to? I feel like, besides devising a way to demonstrate and track 3-D combat, I may want to try to think of a way to re-write the rules to reflect the lack of friction in space.

Looking forward for the combat rules

I play Spelljammer for years and I understand all the rules . One thing that always got me was the tonnage and helms I rules I understand but if you take sea going vessels like a Spanish gallon a typical Spanish gallon was 500 tons the biggest was 1500 tons the spell jamming helms even a major helm could not move them in to space . What do you think the fix could be if you wanted a large ship like that

I don't understand how spelljammer works with the planes? Is the universe, including the wildspace and crystal spheres and flogistum, all on the prime material plane? Or do the planes have there own crystal spheres?

Um, Actually(TM) The squid ship wouldn't actually take up two hexes

that intro though

this is awsome

When it comes to the space travel aspect, how do the sails on a Spelljammer work

Oh THAC0, I still don't miss you

thanks for the video!

#BringSpelljammerTo5e

Ah! A fellow Battle School alumni I see....#DragonArmy4Life

I thought AD&D rounds were 1 minute. 10 rounds per turn.

Ah, THAC0, what were they thinking when they came with that crap

THACO

Why would I use 5E?

5:24 just wanna say the original box set 'space combat' map was awful; in the War Captain's Companian they ha much better ships that made combat a lot easier to visualise.

I am so glad we ditched THACO. It seems so complicated and annoying to deal with.

THAC0 breaks my brain

THACO is wacko

Fricken Hated THACO