The vast expanses of the multiverse are ripe for exploration, especially when you combine the wonder of space fantasy with the thrilling danger of nautical space themes in Dungeons & Dragons 5E. Whether your players are boarding magical starships, encountering bizarre alien creatures, or uncovering ancient cosmic mysteries, this blend of genres offers endless opportunities for creativity and excitement.

Setting the Scene: Space Fantasy Meets Nautical Space

Imagine a universe where the boundaries between the seas and the stars are blurred—a place where colossal ships sail across the void, propelled by arcane energies, and where adventurers chart their course by navigating the magical currents of the Astral Sea. This is the world of space fantasy and nautical space in D&D 5E, a setting where the traditional elements of high fantasy are infused with the limitless possibilities of space travel.

In this setting, your players might find themselves:

• Aboard a living ship crafted from the bones of a dead god, sailing through the void as they search for lost relics of unimaginable power.

• Battling space pirates who use celestial maps to ambush trade routes between distant worlds.

• Exploring forgotten asteroids that hold the remains of ancient civilizations, guarded by constructs left behind to protect their secrets.

To help you get started on your next campaign, here are 20 adventure hooks and magical items designed to fit perfectly into a space fantasy and nautical space-themed campaign.

20 Adventure Hooks

1. The Astral Beacon: A mysterious signal has begun emanating from a long-abandoned space station on the edge of the system. What secrets does it hold, and why has it activated now?

2. Lost in the Astral Drift: A powerful artifact was lost in the Astral Drift, a region where the fabric of space-time is thin. The party must retrieve it before a rival group of spacefaring mercenaries does.

3. The Kraken of the Void: A massive, tentacled creature roams the dark between worlds, attacking ships indiscriminately. Can the adventurers defeat it, or will they become its next meal?

4. The Celestial Leviathan: A legendary beast is said to grant one wish to whoever can ride it through the stars. Many have tried and failed—will your party succeed?

5. Raiders of the Astral Seas: A fleet of marauding space pirates has been terrorizing the trade routes. The party is hired to bring them to justice or join them in their plundering.

6. The Forgotten Armada: An ancient fleet of ghostly ships has reappeared, lost for centuries in the void. What caused them to return, and what treasures—or curses—do they carry?

7. The Planetary Siege: A small colony world is under attack by an unknown enemy. The party must defend it or uncover the invaders’ true motives.

8. The Starfall: A meteorite crash-lands on a remote moon, but it’s not just any rock—it’s a vessel carrying an ancient being from a forgotten era.

9. The Void Lighthouse: An ancient lighthouse once guided ships safely through a treacherous sector of space. Now dark, the party must reignite it to prevent a cosmic disaster.

10. The Infinite Maze: A massive, labyrinthine ship drifts through space, its crew long dead. The party must navigate its corridors, but beware—the ship is alive and has its own plans.

11. The Celestial Rift: A tear in the fabric of space has appeared, leading to another dimension. The party must explore this new realm and deal with the creatures spilling into their universe.

12. The Singing Comet: A comet passes through the system every hundred years, its song driving those who hear it mad. The party must uncover the source of the song before it’s too late.

13. The Astral Whispers: The party receives a distress call from a ship lost in the Astral Sea. But when they arrive, they find no crew—only strange voices calling to them.

14. The Stellar Requiem: A dying star begins to sing a haunting melody heard across the galaxy. The party is tasked with discovering its meaning before the star collapses.

15. The Phantom Ship: A ship presumed lost centuries ago reappears, crewed by spectral sailors. The party must board it and solve the mystery of its return.

16. The Cosmic Forge: Deep within an asteroid belt, the party discovers a forge that can craft weapons infused with the power of stars. But they’re not the only ones seeking its power.

17. The Nebula Knights: A group of paladins sworn to protect the galaxy has gone rogue, enforcing their will on the innocent. The party must either join them or stop them.

18. The Planet-Eater: A massive creature capable of consuming entire planets has awakened. The party must find a way to stop it before it devours their home.

19. The Black Hole: A black hole is expanding at an alarming rate, threatening to consume the entire system. The party must journey to its heart to discover the cause.

20. The Shattered World: A planet has been torn apart, its pieces floating in space. The party must navigate this dangerous terrain to uncover the truth behind its destruction.

10 Magical Items

1. Stardust Cloak (Rare): This shimmering cloak allows the wearer to become invisible in starlight. Once per long rest, the wearer can teleport up to 60 feet to a location within sight.

2. Void Blade (Very Rare): A longsword that can cut through the very fabric of space. On a critical hit, the target must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or be banished to a random location on the Astral Plane.

3. Astral Compass (Uncommon): This magical compass always points toward the nearest portal to the Astral Plane. It also grants advantage on survival checks made to navigate in space.

4. Starship’s Wheel (Rare): This enchanted wheel can be installed on any ship, granting it the ability to sail through space. The ship gains a +2 bonus to AC and advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

5. Celestial Harpoon (uncommon ): This enchanted harpoon can be thrown at a target up to 300 feet away. On a hit, the target is pulled 30 feet closer to the wielder.

6. Nebula Gem (Very Rare): This gem contains the power of a nebula. When crushed, it releases a cloud of stardust that grants those within it a +2 bonus to AC and resistance to radiant damage for 1 minute.

7. Planar Sextant (Rare): This device can chart the course between different planes of existence. It allows the user to cast Plane Shift once per long rest.

8. Void Anchor (Very Rare): When activated, this anchor latches onto the nearest celestial body, preventing the ship from being moved by any force, magical or otherwise, for up to 24 hours.

9. Ethereal Lantern (Uncommon): This lantern burns with an ethereal flame that illuminates invisible creatures and objects within a 60-foot radius. It can also reveal hidden portals to other dimensions.

10. Comet’s Heart (Legendary): A powerful relic from the core of a fallen star. It grants the user the ability to cast Meteor Swarm once per long rest and resistance to fire and radiant damage.

With these adventure hooks and magical items, your Dungeons & Dragons 5E campaign can take flight into the stars, where the mysteries of space and the thrill of the unknown await. Whether your players are seasoned spacefarers or new to the idea of cosmic adventures, the combination of space fantasy and nautical space themes offers endless possibilities for epic storytelling. So set sail, chart your course, and see where the Astral Seas take you!