WotC Dragonlance: Everything You Need For Shadow of the Dragon Queen

WotC has shared a video explaining the Dragonlance setting, and what to expect when it is released in December.

World at War: Introduces war as a genre of play to fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons.

Dragonlance: Introduces the Dragonlance setting with a focus on the War of the Lance and an overview of what players and DMs need to run adventures during this world spanning conflict.

Heroes of War: Provides character creation rules highlighting core elements of the Dragonlance setting, including the kender race and new backgrounds for the Knight of Solamnia and Mage of High Sorcery magic-users. Also introduces the Lunar Sorcery sorcerer subclass with new spells that bind your character to Krynn's three mystical moons and imbues you with lunar magic.

Villains: Pits heroes against the infamous death knight Lord Soth and his army of draconians.

Notes --

• 224 page hardcover adventure
• D&D's setting for war
• Set in eastern Solamnia
• War is represented by context -- it's not goblins attacking the village, but evil forces; refugees, rumours
• You can play anything from D&D - clerics included, although many classic D&D elements have been forgotten
• Introductory scenarios bring you up to speed on the world so no prior research needed

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I mean that was a quote from a producer about how they think adapting a creative work should be handled, but go on about gatekeeping.

The quote doesn't imply you can't make changes, they're simply saying you need to understand what was important about the source material before you go tinkering or you risk losing the reason a built-in audience might view your work.

it reminds me of the (some times justified) opinion some people have that comic book movies act like they are ashamed to be associated with 'comic books'

 

[GMforPowergamers]

So respecting the work you're adding to is gatekeeping?

it can be...

lets say me and you both sit down to write a screen play for a Dark Sun movie. You take one look at what I have as a first draft and say "This might as well be a mash up of the mad max movie that will be out the same year and the new dragon heart reboot due out the year before it"
you most likely would not be wrong... but it is what the DS setting is based on. Is it gate keeping to say "Look the source material isn't that good we need to punch it up"
For the record I don't think there is a generic 1 size fits all answer.

back to the witcher, I never played the games and only read some short stories out of context then heard my friends talk about the games... I always said the games didn't fit the stories... but once the show came out I did a deep dive into the combined lore and found the DID in fact work together well and the show did okay/passable at mixing the feel of them while updating to the screen adaptation... BUT as much as it was at best Okay for keeping the themes and story beats, it was excellent as a show.

 

[Velderan]

it reminds me of the (some times justified) opinion some people have that comic book movies act like they are ashamed to be associated with 'comic books'

I wonder how many times that is true versus how many times the writer/director just didn't feel like the concept would translate well from a comic book to a live action format. If the core story elements are there and the characters at least feel familiar, I'm fine with some tweaks. I have boxes of old comics if I ever feel the need to revisit the original stories.

 

[RuinousPowers]

care to elaborate?

You seem to be comparing real world religions and Dragonlance, which have fundamental differences. Even Tolkien's mythology is so different from Dragonlance that there is no comparison.

 

[Weiley31]

Why does it smell of vinegar?

Embalming fluid (Formaldehyde) - such as that possibly used to preserve Soth's undead body - has a vinegary smell.

Kitara: This is where you come in Soth: I need you to advance your for-

Lord Soth: I cannot.

Kitara: Sorry? What do you mean cannot?

Lord Soth: This month is my regimented care routine process I must go through. It is necessary for the sake of preserving my body and keeping my fine self immaculate.

Kitara: Are you seriously saying you're taking a bloody spa day for an ENTIRE Month?

Lord Soth: I had Tahkisis approve it after submitting the request several weeks in advance. Maybe if you attended the coporate meetings, instead of fighting the Knights of Solamnia all the time, you'd actually know the procedure around here in regard to vacations and PTO.

Kitara: BUT I HAVE A BLOODY WAR TO WIN!!

Lord Soth:

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I wonder how many times that is true versus how many times the writer/director just didn't feel like the concept would translate well from a comic book to a live action format.

as a comic book fan and a movie critic, i have to say I would be the WORST to answer that... Most likely more often then not it is in service of a better on screen adaption. Having said that I could do without the cute little jabs "Leather?" "Would you prefer blue and yellow spandex?"

If the core story elements are there and the characters at least feel familiar, I'm fine with some tweaks. I have boxes of old comics if I ever feel the need to revisit the original stories.

having said that 1 or 2 stinkers aside (catwoman) most comic book movies (not catwoman) are at least fun (except catwoman)

 

[AnotherGuy]

Yes, fandoms do tend to engage in a level of gatekeeping that discourages innovation.

Actually that is not what is being proposed here.

Also, I guess by that measure Henry Cavill could be considered a Gatekeeper

 

[AnotherGuy]

Baseless speculation it is then.

Baseless speculation highly unlikely if you've been following the story.

 

[Weiley31]

In my own version of 5Ed Ravenloft this is a sequel and not a reboot. Vecna wanted to take revenge against the Dark Powers, and if there is somebody in the D&D multiverse capable, that is Vecna (maybe Azalin was manipulated as pawn when this tried to escape). The original "core" hasn't disappeared but this is in a second layer within the demiplane of the dread. It was like before, but without the dark lords, because these were abducted and sent to the new dark domains.

View attachment 264491

* Other point is the events of "Chaos summer" in Krynn. Maybe this doesn't happen for the 5th Ed, or a new timeline is created, allowing to get the elements you like more.

The novel "Tanis the shadow years" showed a "demiplaned" created by the memory (I like the name "akasha realm"). Maybe the Krynnspace has got some "clone demiplane" working like a parallel universe, but allowing changes you wanted for your story.

Considering he was straight legit responsible for the Edition change from 2E to 3E/3.5, this is pretty much canon.

 

[Weiley31]

And Theros, Ravnica and Strixhaven, but they don't count because [furious handwaving].

And Nentir Vale/Nerath

And don't forget the various Plane Shift articles. They were pretty much the precursor to the MtG crossover books of 5E.