If you're a fan of Neverwinter, the free-to-play MMORPG based on Dungeons & Dragons, then get ready to head to space—the latest module Spelljammer takes the game to the stars.

The Spelljammer setting isn’t new to the D&D universe. It was first introduced to the tabletop game over 30 years ago, bringing outer space to a game traditionally centered around Western fantasy. Its long and unique legacy has created plenty of fans, and we sat down with the team at Cryptic Studios to discuss just how they brought the otherworldly setting to life in Neverwinter, from Wildspace to giant space hamsters to xenophobic Elves.
 

Traveling through Wildspace

While Spelljammer is known for being the set that introduced space themes to D&D, Wildspace is going to look a bit different in Neverwinter. That doesn’t mean that players won’t see the stars. It just won’t be the main event.

The theme of the Spelljammer module isn’t space, exactly. It’s everything that intergalactic travel can be—and it turns out, that can be almost anything, which left the team at Cryptic Studios with quite a lot of decisions to make while adapting Spelljammer for Neverwinter.

It wasn’t easy. “Capturing just a portion of the massive Spelljammer universe was a big challenge, and the team spent quite a lot of time determining what sections [to bring to Neverwinter],” said Brett Norton, Executive Producer.

Part of the fun with Spelljammer is that it’s so different and that there are so many unique environments hidden within the spheres of Wildspace. The team ultimately settled on creating different spheres of space for players to explore over the course of Spelljammer’s story. These smaller, disconnected areas have their own distinct feel and themes, and Wildspace is how you travel between them.

While players won’t be touring the stars necessarily, they will be visiting planets with unique ecosystems, including a jungle planet and an ocean planet. The regions you’ll explore (called Landing Sites in the game) are diverse, from the environments to the people and stories within them, as you’d expect from the Spelljammer setting.

Beyond just settling for iconic Landing Sites, the team at Cryptic Studios had to balance the more humorous parts of the Spelljammer setting. The team didn’t want to “undercut the heroic actions of the players with too much slapstick” according to Norton—or drain all the comedy from the sillier parts of the expansion.
 

Spelljammer highlights

While Spelljammer was challenging for the team to create, it wasn’t without highlights. The team had a lot to share when it came to their favorite parts of the expansion.

For example, giant space hamsters are finally in Neverwinter! There was already a miniature giant space hamster, but players will now be able to experience the true size of these adorable creatures. There are also a ton of interesting characters, including Flapjack, a “sort-of floating jellyfish” that captures the true spirit of Spelljammer and its wilder side.

And while otherworldly physics proved difficult to balance, they are still a fun addition to Neverwinter. Certain areas feature permanent low gravity, for instance. According to Norton, these new physics systems interact well with abilities like knockback and repelling powers, and it’s an aspect of Spelljammer that really highlights the nature of the expansion.

Sympathetic Orcs and xenophobic Elves

It’s no secret that Orcs are generally viewed as the “bad guys” and Elves as “good guys” in traditional D&D lore—that’s a major fantasy trope in general. However, one of the planets in the Spelljammer module adds a new twist to the tale of the struggle between these two races: The Elves are pushing the Orcs off of every planet they encounter.

Norton said these Astral Elves are “xenophobic, powerful, and belligerent…they’re not the calm and nice Elves players might expect.” That’s not to imply that the new Elves are necessarily the bad guys, either. The story thrives in the gray areas and the complexities of evil empires, and creating a story where Orcs are on the receiving end of sympathy and pity from the player is another new one for Neverwinter.
 

Spelljammer and the future

The Spelljammer module includes more than just the various planets, or Landing Sites. While there are three new places for you to explore, there are also asteroids that bring additional problems for players to solve.

There’s also a new Trial being added, Defense of the Moondancer, where players must fight their way through a ship and repel invaders. It will have three difficulty tiers and new rewards, and players can join a random queue to help with the harder difficulty levels.

A few quality-of-life improvements are also coming with Spelljammer, including updates and fixes to the Paladin class and Barbarian Sentinels. There’s also a new UI for Trials and a reworked Boon system that includes new customization options.

And there could be even more Spelljammer in the future. While there are no announcements or plans quite yet, opening up Wildspace means that new planets are never fully out of the question for future modules. Who knows what’s even beyond Wildspace?

Whether you’re looking to make friends with giant space hamsters (and who isn’t?), help the Githyanki fight the Illithid, or help the people across Wildspace fight for their rights, there’s something in Spelljammer for everyone to look forward to—and that pushes the boundaries of Neverwinter further than ever.

The Spelljammer content update is out as of today. You can hop into Neverwinter for free on the Epic Games Store.