| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| HarrisonGavin |
Posted - 12 Jan 2020 : 11:18:23
The idea that every stellar system is surrounded by a crystal shell is bad... It makes D&D incompatible with other forms of space travel, because if you try to leave your star system, you'll eventually vaporize your vessel when you hit the shell. It also invalidates the whole scientific fields of astrophysics and astronomy. Basic example, if a crystal shell is twice the size of the stellar system, what happens when its star goes supernova? Well, we know it ejects mass and energy many, many orders of magnitude farther than it's system. Are all the stars illusions painted on the crystal shell that trick us into believing they are in fact other suns, some of them with all signs indicating other worlds around them. Is it just a trick by Lord Ao's boss?
Now, I've made my position clear about what I think of traditional spelljamming, but can we reconcile it with observable science? What if each material plane is a universe on its own? Toril's just happen to be a tiny one (and all it's stars are fake), but ours here on Earth is actually much bigger. What if the expansion of our crystal shell is what stretches space and makes the universe grow bigger in an accelerating rate. Space is glued to the crystal shell, and as it grows, so does space. Our crystal shell is the elusive dark energy. Probably tiny crystal shells like Toril's are an exception (I hope for the sake of making the cosmology less dumb)
So far, so good.
Mod edit: Removed hyperlinks  |
| 9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Dalor Darden |
Posted - 14 Jan 2020 : 04:44:45
One way to handle it is this:
Crystal Spheres exist only as transparent spheres of energy. Once a Spelljammer reaches it the ship can go into the Phlogiston.
That would make it possible to have stars too and allow for space ships if you want them.
EDIT: after all, we know there are non-Spelljammer spaceships in the universe |
| Gyor |
Posted - 14 Jan 2020 : 02:54:10
quote:
Originally posted by HarrisonGavin
The idea that every stellar system is surrounded by a crystal shell is bad... It makes D&D incompatible with other forms of space travel, because if you try to leave your star system, you'll eventually vaporize your vessel when you hit the shell. It also invalidates the whole scientific fields of astrophysics and astronomy. Basic example, if a crystal shell is twice the size of the stellar system, what happens when its star goes supernova? Well, we know it ejects mass and energy many, many orders of magnitude farther than it's system. Are all the stars illusions painted on the crystal shell that trick us into believing they are in fact other suns, some of them with all signs indicating other worlds around them. Is it just a trick by Lord Ao's boss?
Now, I've made my position clear about what I think of traditional spelljamming, but can we reconcile it with observable science? What if each material plane is a universe on its own? Toril's just happen to be a tiny one (and all it's stars are fake), but ours here on Earth is actually much bigger. What if the expansion of our crystal shell is what stretches space and makes the universe grow bigger in an accelerating rate. Space is glued to the crystal shell, and as it grows, so does space. Our crystal shell is the elusive dark energy. Probably tiny crystal shells like Toril's are an exception (I hope for the sake of making the cosmology less dumb)
So far, so good.
Mod edit: Removed hyperlinks
In Greyhawks Crystal Sphere the sun literally revovles around Oerth, not the other way around like in Realmspace.
Plus FRs first sun got eatten by Dendar, which is destined to happen to the second sun eventually.
So I don't think they are worried about suns going supernova or astrophysics, this is the D&D multiverse, not Star Trek, or the upcoming D&D 5e version of Stargate that us going this year. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 13 Jan 2020 : 04:35:59
quote:
Originally posted by HarrisonGavin
The idea that every stellar system is surrounded by a crystal shell is bad... It makes D&D incompatible with other forms of space travel, because if you try to leave your star system, you'll eventually vaporize your vessel when you hit the shell. It also invalidates the whole scientific fields of astrophysics and astronomy. Basic example, if a crystal shell is twice the size of the stellar system, what happens when its star goes supernova? Well, we know it ejects mass and energy many, many orders of magnitude farther than it's system. Are all the stars illusions painted on the crystal shell that trick us into believing they are in fact other suns, some of them with all signs indicating other worlds around them. Is it just a trick by Lord Ao's boss?
Now, I've made my position clear about what I think of traditional spelljamming, but can we reconcile it with observable science? What if each material plane is a universe on its own? Toril's just happen to be a tiny one (and all it's stars are fake), but ours here on Earth is actually much bigger. What if the expansion of our crystal shell is what stretches space and makes the universe grow bigger in an accelerating rate. Space is glued to the crystal shell, and as it grows, so does space. Our crystal shell is the elusive dark energy. Probably tiny crystal shells like Toril's are an exception (I hope for the sake of making the cosmology less dumb)
So far, so good.
Mod edit: Removed hyperlinks
I've gone back and removed those odd hyperlinks that were added after the fact. Given those hyperlinks, it looks like either your account was hacked or you're a spammer.
Post those links again and I'm going to assume you're just here to spam us. |
| TBeholder |
Posted - 13 Jan 2020 : 01:56:19
quote:
Originally posted by HarrisonGavin
The idea that every stellar system is surrounded by a crystal shell is bad... It makes D&D incompatible with other forms of space travel, because if you try to leave your star system, you'll eventually vaporize your vessel when you hit the shell.
There's just enough of space travel.
quote:
It also invalidates the whole scientific fields of astrophysics and astronomy.
Realms don't have astrophysics, obviously. As to astronomy, it's thriving due to being quite useful. For timing and navigation. Occasionally for magical purpose.
quote:
Are all the stars illusions painted on the crystal shell that trick us into believing they are in fact other suns, some of them with all signs indicating other worlds around them.
Of course not. Read some sages specializing on this matter.
Depending on the sphere, stars can be things like giant shining crystals, small portals to the plane of Radiance, windows to the outside (conical to collect light, maybe? The Flow isn't very bright), statues with torches, or giant glowing beetles crawling on the sphere surface.
quote:
Now, I've made my position clear about what I think of traditional spelljamming, but can we reconcile it with observable science?
Of course it's all observable and repeatable. Spelljammers use star maps for navigation, after all.  |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 12 Jan 2020 : 18:48:34
Some people like open yards, perhaps covered in pavement, perhaps landscaped and gardened, perhaps just left to wild nature.
And some people like to fully enclose their property within privacy barriers. They can paint stars (or whatever) on their fence surfaces in any pattern they like. |
| Dalor Darden |
Posted - 12 Jan 2020 : 17:28:04
You can ignore Spelljammer if you like. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 12 Jan 2020 : 14:39:49
There are portals through the crystal spheres. So you'd only vaporize your ship if you deliberately tried to.
The idea of physically isolating each solar system was necessary, since there are issues like Krynn's disappearing constellations.
Besides, when we have giant flying lizards that spit fire, and when it's possible to throw lighting or move yourself and your companions to another point, instantaneously, all by wiggling your fingers and mumbling some words, are we really going to sweat space travel being different?
If you don't like Spelljammer, then just keep your PCs on the ground. |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 12 Jan 2020 : 14:00:41
The stars are on the crystal sphere. They are portals to the plane of radiance. Its noted in realmspace. The idea that the star would ever need to go supernova is an entirely science driven concept. The general idea is that the sun isn't what our stars are. Its an object with links to the elemental plane of fire.
Crystals sphere grow over time, so older ones are bigger. |
| Gary Dallison |
Posted - 12 Jan 2020 : 11:30:55
Well I took my concept from hints in various sourcebooks that there was a previous universe before the multi verse, and merging it somewhat with the tear fall idea that twinned abeir toril to produce abeir and toril.
So the universe (as found in the basic, companion, expert, master, and immortal boxed sets) was destroyed by chaos.
In its wake the universe was split into the multiverse, which contained at least two smaller self contained and limited universes that they began to diverge.
As each "sphere" suffered a cataclysm, then that sphere was twinned and the multi verse became filled with similar and dissimilar spheres which are each miniature and imperfect copies of the original.
So a sphere is filled with space as it is in our universe, but beyond the borders of the sphere is nothingness, a gap between universes. This gap corresponds to the gap between planes and is actually the ethereal plane (call it the border ethereal for this extreme of that plane).
That's my take anyway. It allows me to create multiple copies of the same planets but make them subtly different and link them all together using the physics of d&d and our own real world (we havent reached the edge of our own sphere - which is huge - so cannot guess what lies beyond it). |
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