Dragonlance Dragonlance Creators Reveal Why There Are No Orcs On Krynn

Talking to the Dragonlance Nexus, Dragonlance creators Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman revealed why the world of Krynn features no orcs -- in short, because they didn't want to copy Tolkien, and orcs were very much a 'Middle Earth' thing.

Weis told Trampas Whiteman that "Orcs were also viewed as very Middle Earth. We wanted something different." Hickman added that it was draconians which made Krynn stand out. Read more at the link below!

Why are there no Orcs in Krynn? Weis and Hickman give us the answer! - Dragonlance Nexus

Dragonhelm gets the scoop from Weis and Hickman on why there are no orcs in Krynn. Read More

dragonlancenexus.com

 

[Morrus]

Ok, that's the real-life reason.

What's the in-game reason? Pretty sure that's what people were really asking.

The question doesn’t make sense. What’s the in-game reason why there aren’t any tinker gnomes or minotaurs in Middle Earth? There just aren’t.

 

[Velderan]

She did like the script and approved it.

Weis Approves of Dragonlance Movie Script

SciFi.com, quickly becoming the best alternative source for news on the Dragonlance movies, has posted a few comments from Margaret Weis . ...

trollsmyth.blogspot.com

This interview below though seems like a lot of not saying much about the movie itself.
Though I think this bit from Tracy Hickman is very important.

What writers should be concerned about is if the structural and emotional core of their story is being portrayed. This has nothing to do with how accurate a reproduction of the book is found in the screenplay. George Strayton captured the spirit of our original story and told it in a new way. That’s George’s genius and I’m grateful both to him for it and to the producers who had the wisdom to bring both Margaret and me into the process.

As well as this bit from Margaret.

I want to thank Will and Karl and George and the producers for the dedication and caring they put into this film. It wasn’t a job to any of them. Just like the books were for Tracy and for me, this was a labor of love. I really hope that this does well, so that we can do the next books in the series!

Dragonlance Movie Interview with Weis, Hickman and Others - The Escapist

www.escapistmagazine.com

It was a tweet from a few months ago that I was referencing.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Ok, that's the real-life reason.

What's the in-game reason? Pretty sure that's what people were really asking.

People were using 'orc' as a stand-in for playing a non-cannon species. It's turned into using 'orc' as a catspaw to rally around. What people are really asking never mattered.

 

[darjr]

It was a tweet from a few months ago that I was referencing.

Gotcha. I was just adding to the thread.

 

[Velderan]

Gotcha. I was just adding to the thread.

I just find comparing the tones kinda... sad? She was all full of optimism that it could lead to something bigger where more of the stories get made into movies and 14 years later a simple "I liked the music" when asked about it and the possibility of more.

 

[darjr]

I just find comparing the tones kinda... sad? She was all full of optimism that it could lead to something bigger where more of the stories get made into movies and 14 years later a simple "I liked the music" when asked about it and the possibility of more.

Yea. It sucks. Though if the new D&D movie does well there is a better chance at a DL movie, I’d think.

Joe making the documentary with Wizards is a good sign as well.

The novel doing well is too.

Same with the impending book/game.

We’ll see.

 

[Cadence]

but like I said in the other thread it is good reason that doesn't stand up in 2022. They felt Orc/Halforc was 1 note just evil foot soldier... they are not any more. They didn't want to repeat Tolken, and the Orc of today is not a 1:1 tolken (although I would argue that was true from at least 3e).
SO if those are the reasons, there is no reason (other then tradition) to not include them today.

"World creation isn’t like a blender. You can’t just toss in tropes, hit pulse a few times, pour out something and claim ‘it’s unique’. Worlds have to be organic, as my wife likes to say. All the parts make up a living, breathing whole." feels like a reason to me. That is, they thought about it, made a world, and tried to have places or reasons for things.

On the other hand "It's in a D&D book so it should be in every game " doesn't seem like a reason to me. Especially when its supplemented with an unspoken "and I want it now mostly because I know you said they aren't there." (I wonder how often that's the case or not).

 

[Velderan]

Yea. It sucks. Though if the new D&D movie does well there is a better chance at a DL movie, I’d think.

Joe making the documentary with Wizards is a good sign as well.

The novel doing well is too.

Same with the impending book/game.

We’ll see.

Joe Manganiello has said he has a Dragons of Autumn Twilight script he's been trying to get made for a few years now. He was hopeful there might be interest with the success of GoT and the Peter Jackson LotR movies, so yeah, hopefully he has some luck if the new D&D movie does well.

 

[Remathilis]

I recall the reason orcs (and halflings) weren't included was they were "too Tolkien". I glad to see I was right.

Still, with orcs being as ubiquitous as they are now, I don't think they would be out of the place any longer. More people think of Warcraft than Tolkien these days.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

The question doesn’t make sense. What’s the in-game reason why there aren’t any tinker gnomes or minotaurs in Middle Earth? There just aren’t.

yeah out of story having an idea like "theme" or even "estetic" is a perfect answer. Even just "I don't like them" makes some sense... but I still feel 35ish years later the answer doesn't feel the same when orc isn't what orc was in 83