Dragons of Despair - your experiences?

[Nathan P. Mahney]

If you're thinking about running the DL series, but you want a bit more flexibility in terms of the storyline, it mightn't be a bad idea to check out the Dragonlance Classics book that was released for TSR's 25th Anniversary. It's a sort of abridged version of DL 1-15, with 2e and Saga rules. I wouldn't recommend running it by itself - the maps are dreadful. But it does do a good job of linking the modules together via different plot threads and hooks, with the possibility of running them out of order. It also doesn't railroad the PCs into splitting up in Tarsis, which is a bonus. Might be worth a look. It even has suggestions for what to do if the PCs don't go to Xak Tsaroth, even if it is pretty much just being captured and taken to Pax Tharkas.

 

[DaveStebbins]

The DL series of modules was the first and only series that my gaming group and I abondoned without finishing. It had some cool ideas and concepts, but we finally had to jump from the train because we couldn't stand the railroad. I don't remember how far we got, but the plot immunities and railroads eventually ran us off.

 

[Dr Simon]

It does depend on the GM running it though. Module DL5 (Dragons of Mystery) is really a mini-sourcebook and it is here that you find the "Obscure death" rule that basically gives plot immunity to major NPCs and PCs.

Your GM might (like me) say "nuts to that" and let the dice fall where they may. Less experienced GMs might feel that they have to do this.

On playing experience, one of the best endgame battles that I've ever played was with the heroes vs. Verminaard at the end of DL4 (Dragons of Desolation). Everyone down to their last few spells, HPs etc. Great stuff!