Dragonlance 4e in 2010?

[The Little Raven]

FR and DL were originally both stated as being in the pipeline for a 3E treatment from Wizards, then they announced that they'd changed their mind about DL (announced might be extravagant... I believe Jim Butler posted a message somewhere... it was a long time ago, memory... hazy...).

I can't find any evidence that Wizards said that Dragonlance would be handled in 3e. However, I can find evidence that Dragonlance was explicitly stated to not receive support 4 months after 3e's launch (December 2000, Jim Butler), and it was another year or two before SP picked up the license.

 

[Dausuul]

This is categorically false. They map fine. The simplest way to do it is cap level advancement at Level X (whether X=10, 15, 20, etc. depends on what you're aiming for).

You don't even need to do that. 4E supports low-powered campaigns quite well; you start out stronger than in previous editions, but the power gain from levelling up is fairly small. A 30th-level character in 4E is much less powerful than a 20th-level character in 2E.

 

[I'm A Banana]

DL?

Okay.

BORED NOW, WANT NEW THING

Or at least "different old thing."

 

[Derren]

The Drizzt books were never intended to track a written adventure. The DL books tracked the DL adventures, including starting at low level and leveling up. The DL books did a pretty good job of describing what it's like to be a low level Hero.

Okey, then what FR lore would you propose to use as comparisation?

Also: Raistlin (Wiz 20, Master of Past and Present), Ariakas (Ftr/Wiz 20, Dragon Highlord), Ariakan (Half-God Ftr 20 Dragon Highlord), Astinus (God's Aspect, Immortal), Fistandantilus, Kingpriest of Istar, Par Salian ...

Except that there are less high powered individuals in the entire history of Krynn than what most organizations have in the FR.

Are these people PCs? Does it matter? If Elminster and the Simbul make FR "high powered" than you have to count Par Salian, Raistlin, etc. too. Fair's fair.

Ok, so over the entire history of DL you have about 10 high powered individuals. Compare that with FR. Seven sisters + Khelben + Elminster + dozens of others.

I would also like to point out that any setting where there are standing armies that ride Elder Wyrm Red, Gold, Blue, etc. dragons can not, in any sense of the word, be "low powered." Regardless of what level their riders are.

DL dragons were always portrayed rather weak. Also what does it matter if teh dragons serve in an army or sit around the countryside? Do you think that the FR has fewer, less powerful dragons (Nexus, Klauth, Balagos, Daurgothoth, Tchezzar, Inferno,...)

You don't consider Solace a point of light? What about Tarsis?

Do we mean the same Solace? The well travelled village sitting right on a big, important trade route?
And Tarsis also was a trade hub, although nothing compared to the pre-cataclysm Tarsis.
Both cities are not really points of light where no one dares to leave in fear of monsters. On whole Ansalon trade flourishes and there is no real "Don't go outside because the monsters might get you" feeling. When something threatened the people of Ansalon then it is open warfare and not wild monsters.

Takhisis was Lawful Evil? Who knew! </sarcasm>

Red Dragons, goblins, draconians - plenty of chaotic evil to go around.

All organized in a highly structured army. Later Thakisis had even very lawful knightly orders. And draconians have a rigid military society. No chaos at all.
There weren't many "wandering monsters" in DL unless it was a time of war and the wandering monsters were enemy soldiers.

Of course. The comfortable resting spot outside Solace, the road to Haven, Darken Wood, the plains of Que Shu and Xak Tsaroth weren't at all like that. Very civilized. No monsters at all.

All not so dangerous as to make it a PoL setting. Rather those are points of darkness in a sea of grey.

This is true. No one ever was attacked by monsters while traveling the roads of Krynn. Not in any of the novels I read.

Wait, no, the opposite.

Yeah, because it was war and those "monsters" were working for the other side.

Yeah, cities full of goblins and ogres.

Actually, check that. What cities are you talking about? The closest thing to a city I can think of was Neraka (which was a ruin from a previous Age) and the army camps set up by Draconians (not ogres or goblins). Ogres and goblins attacked, sacked, and occupied cities (like Vikings on PCP), but I don't recall them building any.

Except for the nation of Blöten consisting out of several cities and villages, all ruled by Ogres. And no, they weren't just big dungeons. Those Ogres for example traded with dwarves for example.
And then there is Sikk'et Hul, a peaceful goblin nation.

Are you sure you're talking about Dragonlance? Maybe you were thinking of something else ...

I think that is rather your problem.

 

[Vocenoctum]

At various points in it's publication, Dragonlance would make a great PoL setting. The problem is, DL isn't like FR, where the realms get shattered but you can still recognize things. DL just massively chances it's entire feel/focus 5-6 times.

They consolidated Age of Mortals into a coherent setting, then threw some novels in the mix that totally muddied up everything. I left Krynn behind, and don't know where it's at now. If they could consolidate again, perhaps it could work, but I think it'd just make the world unplayable again anyway.

 

[Ares]

The latest episode of the Dragonlance Canticle goes into some good detail.

Phil Athans said that Dragonlance is a D&D brand and would be alive and well at WotC for the next 25 years (passing the 25-year milestone already). When asked whether there would be a DL for 4e, Phil would not specifically say (due to audio recording), but he nodded his head emphatically signifying that yes, there would be a DL in 4th edition.

As of this time, there are no further details. You can check out this thread for full details.

And I would like to point out to the viewing "audience" what I said on that thread, my dear Dragonhelm, is that this only amounts to an "official rumor" which is an oxymoron.
You're a great boon to the DL community, but I think you jumped the gun on this one. This could go south *so* easily. I'd wait until there was some sort of confirmation from WotC, not necessarily of releasing the setting, but at to least acknowledge that there are talks being finalized. As for Athans' comment, that could very have well been referring to the recent snaffu WotC has had with Weis and Hickman over the novels, right? Right now I'm really getting the impression that WotC is wrestling Weis and Hickman over their level of influence upon WotC's property.
When I asked Weis about the novel stuff at GenCon, she said everything was alright but said with the most weary expression. The whole encounter left we with the impression that things are probably going to get kind of south with Dragonlance and WotC in the next few years.

 

[Son_of_Thunder]

Hmmm.

Can we only post in this thread if we are for DL 4e? If so I guess I won't post.

 

[Obryn]

Whether or not I will care about DL 4e will depend on 3 main questions.

(1) Will there be Kender?
(2) Will there be Tinker Gnomes?
(3) Will there be Gully Dwarves?

An affirmative answer to any of the above would basically negate any interest I'd have in the setting.

-O

 

[ferratus]

On the issue of whether Dragonlance is a high magic or a low magic world, the consensus among the fanbase is that Dragonlance has the ordinary level of D&D magic in it, if not more.

However, the magical item trade and magical practice is private instead of public. There are mageware shops that sell some minor magical items, but the stores are usually only in major cities like Palanthas or Sanction, and are run by the Wizards of High Sorcery. In fact, most of the trade in magic is done between members of that secretive order.

Magical item weapons of war are usually made through the churches, particularly those of good and evil.

On the issue of Dragonlance and 4e, the new edition seems to be relatively well received among the fanbase, and makes it easier to do a lot of dragonlance tropes. Dragonlance is known for its artifacts for example, so the new way of doing artifacts (at every tier, and move along after awhile) allows for them to be more accessible during campaigns.

Monsters can cause damage when brought to zero hp in 4e like draconians, halflings are kender, dragonborn make dragon-men as a PC race more viable, and warlocks make excellent renegades.

 

[Scribble]

Whether or not I will care about DL 4e will depend on 3 main questions.

(1) Will there be Kender?
(2) Will there be Tinker Gnomes?
(3) Will there be Gully Dwarves?

An affirmative answer to any of the above would basically negate any interest I'd have in the setting.

-O

I'd say the answer is probably yes... but only two- no more then two. [/nosepick]