Pirates in space? Count me in!

Captain N’ghathrod’s Tall Tales of Distant Stars is a supplement crafted for Spelljammer, a fantasy setting around space travelling, that features ships called spelljammers sailing across the Astral Sea and Wildspace.

Disclaimer: We were provided with a free digital copy of this product.

What’s inside

At the start, you will find 8 spelljammer ships, including 2 solo ones, modelled after aquatic life. Each one has its own purpose and tactics, varying from speed or defences, to high cargo capacity. One of my favourites is the Mobula ship, a carrier inspired by a manta ray, which is able to store almost every spelljammer, acting as a mobile dock. A gentle giant adding extra levels of cuteness to your everyday delivery and repair station.

Beyond the ships, the supplement also includes unique worldbuilding. 15 wildspace systems professionally presented, consisting of plot hooks, NPCs and monsters full of flavour to spice up every campaign and inspire your storytelling.

In Chaispace, tea is not just part of the culture, it’s magic, and Dragonleaf Tea is at the heart of the system. The secrets behind the cultivation and preparation of this addictive brew are known by tasseomancer wizards, who use it to enhance their focus and power. (De)Caffeinated is the state(s) a Tasseomancer enters when they have either drunk plenty of tea or not enough (god help us), and that affects their initiative rolls.

When rolling initiative for a tasseomancer, roll an additional 1d4. On a roll of 3 or 4, the tasseomancer gets a +4 bonus to initiative. On a 1, the tasseomancer suffers a -4 penalty to initiative.

See what happens when you don’t buy that coffee? Now your wizard is fighting even the teapot.

Lepidospace is another place worth mentioning, where astral butterflies come to play, and everything looks like a dream. But do not let their beautiful appearance fool you – these cuties feed on oxygen, and during migration season, they travel in massive groups. Seeing them gathering is definately a breathtaking experience, and I mean that literaly, because it can suffocate you. Stunning? Yes, but not in the slightest safe. And what about charming NPCs? Cheery is a small autognome that cannot speak and instead communicates using emoticons, clicks and whirrs. She is Dr. Heinrich Heffer’s loyal companion, the reclusive gnome architect of the Solar Sphere in Ashakspace. I could keep going, but I really don’t want to spoil the fun. There are many things I left for you to discover in this mysterious galaxy.

Layout & Art

The supplement has a polished, blue-toned layout that is pleasing to the eyes and keeps things visually calm without any sacrifices. The contents menu is hyperlinked for easier navigation through the document, as it puts every system, ship or chapter a click away. Moreover, each wildspace system is presented in a structured format, and feels alive with its own characters, monsters and a map overview. This sense of rhythm and order makes planning quite easy, as you can easily drop a system into an ongoing game.
As for the art, it’s one of the supplement’s strongest feats. Every system includes its own hand-drawn art with vividly colored illustrations of NPCs and creatures. They match the vibe of each setting nicely, without distracting the page from the content. You can tell that it is a work of great care and attention to detail.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Captain Nghathrods Tall Tales of Distant Stars definitely gets the #NicoleRecommends tag, as you have probably guessed. If you are in need of new systems, cosmic content or want to show your players a weirder side of the galaxy, then this supplement is perfect for you.

Stay crafty and jam that spell,
Your new favourite author.

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