Kai Lord
Hero
I think what would have really helped Dragonlance is if they had some of the "cataclysms" exist only in module form, then were later referenced by the novels. A lot of gamers who love the novels typically love the novel characters and the "canon" story line, and want to respect it as much as they can. Imagine if all the events from Dragons of Summer Flame on were depicted in super modules instead of novels. Then you could have future novels set far in the future that referenced the great wars that followed the years of peace after the War of the Lance and leave it at that.
Then everyone would still have their beloved first two trilogies but some would continue the story as PC's, shoulder to shoulder with the Heroes of Lance in an even bigger war, while others could feel better about creating their own continuing stories in different directions. Fans can dismiss a module or series of modules a whole lot easier than the next chapter in the novel series by the original authors, especially when all the game products yield to the events in those novels.
Think about it. Nobody every gave up on Dragonlance because of the story in the Wild Elves adventure. It didn't have to be that way with Dragons of Summer Flame. But the books are much more profitable than game products so its easy to see why TSR and now WOTC continues in the same manner. Margaret Weis is also a novelist first, game designer second, so you have that aspect as well. It makes for some interesting challenges. As it is you just know that if you start playing a post War of Souls campaign right now and want to do something major with Mina or Gilthas there's going to be a novel in the next year or two that will totally undermine your story. Some people don't care and are fine with their campaigns branching off dramatically from official canon. But many do care, and have been turned off by the system.
I hope the new War of the Lance modules really go for something radical and special. Pretend that there are no novels (remember that there weren't when the original adventures were written), take the basic metaplot (Takhisis tries to enter the world with the aid of draconians and dragons as Solamnic Knights and elves try to resist) and make the best dang adventures you can with those ingredients. Give Verminaard unusual new powers. Let one PC choose between marrying Laurana or joining the Blue Lady's forces. Give all the party mages the temptation to betray one another and become an all powerful wizard or sacrifice themselves to defeat Ariakis. Have rules for what happens if the dragonarmies defeat the forces defending the High Clerist's Tower. Prepare a chain of command so the Dark Queen can react if Kitiara or Verminaard are killed in the first chapter. Go crazy.
Oh yeah, and make these the best illustrated modules in gaming history. Pretend you don't have a single built-in fan and have to absolutely knock our socks off. And then do it.
Then everyone would still have their beloved first two trilogies but some would continue the story as PC's, shoulder to shoulder with the Heroes of Lance in an even bigger war, while others could feel better about creating their own continuing stories in different directions. Fans can dismiss a module or series of modules a whole lot easier than the next chapter in the novel series by the original authors, especially when all the game products yield to the events in those novels.
Think about it. Nobody every gave up on Dragonlance because of the story in the Wild Elves adventure. It didn't have to be that way with Dragons of Summer Flame. But the books are much more profitable than game products so its easy to see why TSR and now WOTC continues in the same manner. Margaret Weis is also a novelist first, game designer second, so you have that aspect as well. It makes for some interesting challenges. As it is you just know that if you start playing a post War of Souls campaign right now and want to do something major with Mina or Gilthas there's going to be a novel in the next year or two that will totally undermine your story. Some people don't care and are fine with their campaigns branching off dramatically from official canon. But many do care, and have been turned off by the system.
I hope the new War of the Lance modules really go for something radical and special. Pretend that there are no novels (remember that there weren't when the original adventures were written), take the basic metaplot (Takhisis tries to enter the world with the aid of draconians and dragons as Solamnic Knights and elves try to resist) and make the best dang adventures you can with those ingredients. Give Verminaard unusual new powers. Let one PC choose between marrying Laurana or joining the Blue Lady's forces. Give all the party mages the temptation to betray one another and become an all powerful wizard or sacrifice themselves to defeat Ariakis. Have rules for what happens if the dragonarmies defeat the forces defending the High Clerist's Tower. Prepare a chain of command so the Dark Queen can react if Kitiara or Verminaard are killed in the first chapter. Go crazy.
Oh yeah, and make these the best illustrated modules in gaming history. Pretend you don't have a single built-in fan and have to absolutely knock our socks off. And then do it.
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