Wow... lotsa dislike for the old Dragonlance, which, believe it or not, I can understand. The Dragonlance novels were how I got introduced to gaming, Dragonlance Adventures was my very first RPG book, purchased before I even knew I needed the Dungeon Master's Guide & Player's Handbook. It was my first love, and will always be... even if I didn't actively every run any Dragonlance campaigns growing up. Read everything? Yes. Play in Dragonlance? Yes. Tinker Gnomes, Kender, Gully Dwarves never really bothered me... they always reminded me of the more whimsical creatures of old fairy tales. And they provided a good counterpoint for the utter evil and depredations that existed in the Dragonarmies and the Dark Queen.
For some, the SAGA system revolutionized Dragonlance, while for others it cemented their ultimate dislike... particularly since Dragonlance didn't feel like D&D anymore. Where were the dice? I mean, come on...what gamer do you know wants to show up at a table without their bag/jar/bucket of dice... particularly the cool new set that they just bought and if you touch it you will find yourself missing a hand?
Like all the campaign settings (well, the vast majority out there... there are a few that I don't think even a mother could love, but I won't name names here), I think that the fact that Dragonlance inspires either great love or great hatred is incredible. It's left a mark, whether for good or bad. Whether it inspired someone to go out and create "something kind of like that, but better... and without the Troublesome Trio," or whether it made someone else go, "Okay, remind me to never, ever do that in my campaign...," or even if it inspired someone to think, "Wow... that's awesome!" It's all good. I've loved the Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft (which is how I first really got into game designing, but that's an entirely different thread...), Dark Sun, and hundreds of other worlds. Each campaign setting that I have read has given me inspiration in one way or another... after all, each of them was a labor of love (for someone involved, anyways), and in certain areas, each one shines!
Besides, I want everyone to like the new Dragonlance Campaign Setting... and not just because my name's on the freakin' cover! (I mean, how cool is that? To be able to now work on the very project that first got me into roleplaying games?!?! Truly a dream come true!) Even if you just look at the cover and go, "Ooo, pretty cover...gotta love Matt Stawicki's art..."
- Christopher
PS - I do have to admit to being somewhat relieved to not see Sovereign Stone on anyone's "hate" list yet (*knocks on forehead*)
I love seeing that people have used it to mine for ideas, even if they aren't playing in the setting!
). Greyhawk also doesn't fit my tastes at all.
