I’m kicking off a space-fantasy campaign and I’m struggling with how to effectively convey the vastness of space to my players. I want them to feel that wow factor as they explore the galaxy, but I’m also wary of the potential emptiness that can come with a wide-open universe, where planets might feel like mere small cities. I’m considering scaling it down to a star system or cluster, but that might diminish the grand scale I’m aiming for. Any suggestions on how to balance these aspects?
6 Answers
From my travels, I’ve noticed that even in a single country, visiting one or two main cities is usually the norm. In your campaign, it’s realistic for players to stick to a couple of key cities on each planet instead of trying to cover the entire place. This way, you still keep the breadth of your universe without overwhelming them.
I had a similar challenge when I started my campaign. I set up what I call ‘The Quadrant’ with four main star systems for most of the action and six undefined dwarf stars just there for flavor. By hinting at a whole galaxy beyond those systems in the opening description, it keeps things feeling expansive without losing the focus. It’s been a great way to keep things transversable yet still vast!
Consider limiting faster-than-light travel. If communication between planets takes significant time, a single star system might start to feel more expansive. You could create a world where even nearby planets feel distant and disconnected, giving your players that vast space feel!
You don’t need a ton of planets to make a galaxy feel massive. Look at Star Wars; in the original trilogy, only about six planets are primarily visited, but they do a great job hinting at a larger universe. Subtle mentions of places like Alderaan and broader lore make it feel alive. You can achieve that vibe in your campaign even with fewer locations!
The trick with space scale is remembering that our brains can’t really grasp it. Make getting between star systems tough, dangerous, or costly. That way, hopping across systems will feel more significant, just like making a journey across a sprawling galaxy.
I think focusing on a solar system can work really well. My group played in a solar system for a while, and we still haven’t explored everything thoroughly. Maybe consider having the moons of a gas giant as your setting? There’s a lot of room for adventure there!
That’s a cool idea! I really like the notion of having the unseen galaxy as a backdrop. It keeps the focus while still hinting at the larger universe.