Spelljammer Inspiration: Doctor Who: Enlightment (1983)

Here are some classic visuals from Doctor Who. Spelljammer inspiration from the Peter Davison Era episode "Enlightment" (1983)

 

 

 

 

And the classic reveal scene from the end of Episode 1 of Enlightment. An interesting way to start a Spelljammer campaign, eh?

 

 



Doctor Who Summed Up In One Sentence

When the Doctor arrived you know some real weird shit is going down.

There is a lot of truth in that one statement!


The Shadow World blog has a very opinionated set of Doctor Who roleplaying notes using the Xpress System by Postmortem Studios. Shadow World is a series of games that parody the "World O' Darkness" genre written by Ian Warner. There are no sacred cows in this Doctor Who adaptation, and you may see a favorite Doctor or companion skewered, but it's still fun.

Farewell Sarah Jane Smith

RIP Elisabeth Sladen, best known to me as the irrepressible Sarah Jane Smith. Good voyage, old friend.

RIP Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart

Nicholas Courtney, the portrayer of Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart on Doctor Who, died yesterday. I've seen Nick in other movies and TV program, but the show I'll always remember him on is Doctor Who.

I always liked the Brigadier, who I was introduced to in the Tom Baker and Jon Pertwee stories I watched growing up in 1980s Wisconsin. With his no-nonsense demeanor and dry sense of humor, the Brigadier battled Daleks, Cybermen, Autons, and a vast array of foes. He could be seen fearlessly firing a vast array of guns at aliens, and was not afraid to breakout the backhand when he had to.

Here's a little Brigadier to enjoy. RIP Nick.

Random Spelljammer Ideas

I love the Spelljammer fantasy space setting by TSR. Every once in a while I have ideas that pop in my weary mind when I really should be working...

Battle Against The Horde

A great idea for a high powered Spelljamming campaign could involve the Evil Horde from She-Ra Princess of Power. The PCs are each from a different crystal sphere. On route to a Horde prison world, a fellow prison tells of a rebellion that started on the world of Etheria. The first adventure begins as the PCs take over the prison ship. During the campaign the players travel to different worlds to either escape the long arm of the Horde or too spread the message of the Great Rebellion to other worlds.

Blackstar Opening Could Be Spelljammer

I imagine a Spelljamming flying into a crystal sphere may look like this:

Key To A Crystal Sphere

Season 16 of Doctor Who, which involved the Key to Time, would make a great source for a crystal sphere. Each episode has a planet/idea or two that can be used as a planet in the sphere.

• The Ribos Operation: Ice planet with inhabitants underground, home of barbarians, scoundrels and exiles.
• The Pirate Planet: An artificial planetoid that devours small planets for energy.
• The Stones of Blood: Prison ships/asteroids that drift in space.
• The Androids of Tara: A renaissance-era world that specializes in android (read golem) construction.
• The Power of Kroll: Swamp world with colonies from the other planets in the sphere. The native people fight against the invaders.
• The Armageddon Factor: A war between neighboring planet with an evil shadow planet sowing discord throughout the sphere.

Wargolems in Spaaaaacee!

Since Spelljammer came on the market, several games have presented variants on the fantasy mecha/golem concept. Add that to Spelljammer and you add new possibilities for adventure. Imagine a magic item or helm variant that channels whatever force you wish into move a gargantuan golem body. An alternate idea is the wizard who can control a variety of golems (call jacks, constructs, etc.) ala Warmachine. Spelljammer explored this idea with the Sentinel construct from the Wildspace adventure (SJA1). . I'm seeing Iron Kingdom Warcasters in steampunk ships battling against the Bralian Golem Defense Force in the flows of the phlogiston. That could be interesting.

Happy Birthday Doctor Who!

On this day back in 1963 one of my favorite TV shows ever premiered across the pond in Merrie Olde England. That show was an educational program called Doctor Who. Happy 47th birthday to a show that gave me show much fun on winter Saturday afternoons on PBS when I was a child.

The Eleven Doctors:

Top row: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker

Middle Row: Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann
Bottom Row: Christopher, David Tennant, Matt Smith

The Fourth, Third and Tenth Doctors are my favorites.

Check out the official Doctor Who page at http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw .