D&D General What Are Dragonlance's Weis & Hickman, and Actor Manganiello Cooking Up?

Actor and D&D superfan Joe Manganiello and Dragonlance co-author Tracy Hickman have both posted a cryptic image on their respective social medias showing themselves, along with Margaret Weis standing together in front of a large dragon statue at Wizards of the Coast's offices in Renton, Washington.

Hickman's image was accompanied by the words "Something is coming...", and in Manganiello's case "WE'RE BACK", to which Wizards of the Coast replied "Welcome back to the table!" A later photograph from Weis also included Laura Hickman and Dan Ayoub, who was named head of Dungeons & Dragons back in July of this year.

The posts have sparked speculation as to what they might mean, with guesses ranging from a revival of Manganiello's Dragonlance TV show project--which was no longer in development after he stated in February 2024 that "Dragonlance is not a property WotC are interested in developing further currently"--to a new Dragonlance-based D&D adventure.

Weis and Hickman co-wrote a new Dragonlance trilogy in recent years following a legal dust-up with Wizards of the Coast which was ultimately dismissed without prejudice, so it would seem that any bad blood from the dispute has been left in the past.

The question now remains--what are they all cooking up this time?

 

[mamba]

Well...it actually is, and it isn't a secret which ine, but let's just leave it at that.

eh, you can map much of it to a much more widespread one just as well, and it all is pretty generic to boot, nothing that screams ‘this can only all be religion X, no other’

 

[Parmandur]

eh, you can map much of it to a much more widespread one just as well, and it all is pretty generic to boot, nothing that screams ‘this can only all be religion X, no other’

It pretty closely matches the central stories that are hyper-specific of the religion of one of the authors of the book.

Like...really closely. Doubt that is a coincidence.

 

[Scribe]

That passage barely has a hint of Tolkien-esque ethereally beautiful elves. The “adjusts her clothing to cover her full bosom” and description of “childlike grace” on such a clearly sexualized character

Re-read it. Its Tika adjusting her clothing because she feels uncomfortable with herself in comparison. As to the rest, your opinion is noted. Elves remain elves, and thats what is being described.

 

[mamba]

It pretty closely matches the central stories that are hyper-specific of the religion of one of the authors of the book.

Like...really closely. Doubt that is a coincidence.

no, probably no coincidence, but it still is generic enough that it is basically just religious tropes that you can map onto many religions. The cataclysm being a stand-in for a flood is easy, and those exist in many religions and myths

 

[Scribe]

no, probably no coincidence, but it still is generic enough that it is basically just religious tropes that you can map onto many religions. The cataclysm being a stand-in for a flood is easy, and those exist in many religions and myths

I dont think we are allowed to discuss this, not that I even know who you are discussing it with, but as someone raised in the church, when one looks back on many of the story beats...its a bit too on the nose.

 

[gban007]

Re-read it. Its Tika adjusting her clothing because she feels uncomfortable with herself in comparison. As to the rest, your opinion is noted. Elves remain elves, and thats what is being described.

But this is after already meeting Lauranas brother, the speaker, many other elves that didnt trigger that response, only Laurana because she is more beautiful than the norm. So doesn't seem like elves being elves, just someone particularly beautiful impacting on others.
Also based on passage, you would be okay with an actress portraying Laurana being woodland brown?

 

[gban007]

It pretty closely matches the central stories that are hyper-specific of the religion of one of the authors of the book.

Like...really closely. Doubt that is a coincidence.

I think Mambas point was that Mamba would be happy with a trimmed down version, so no Disks etc, that would still tell core of story but without mirroring so precisely a certain religion.

 

[Scribe]

Also based on passage, you would be okay with an actress portraying Laurana being woodland brown?

Sure.

But this is after already meeting Lauranas brother, the speaker, many other elves that didnt trigger that response, only Laurana because she is more beautiful than the norm.

There was also the lady Sturm falls for name escapes me...Starfall?, and if we honestly dont nitpick this, Elves of the Tolkien/D&D lineage have been like this for decades on decades.

They have always been elitist, gorgeous, and better than everyone.

(Its why I play Dwarves!)

 

[Sacrosanct]

Sure.



There was also the lady Sturm falls for name escapes me...Starfall?, and if we honestly dont nitpick this, Elves of the Tolkien/D&D lineage have been like this for decades on decades.

They have always been elitist, gorgeous, and better than everyone.

(It’s why I play Dwarves!)

Alhana Starbreeze. But it’s not just elves. Dragonlance had a habit of making every important female important character the mostest beautiful ever. Goldmoon, Kitiara, and Chrysania as well. Even Tika, who is initially described as above, later is described with her own beauty features that surpass most. It’s a very common trope in early DL.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

Alhana Starbreeze. But it’s not just elves. Dragonlance had a habit of making every important female important character the mostest beautiful ever. Gold on and Chrysania as well. Even Tika, who is initially described as above, later is described with her own beauty features that surpass most. It’s a very common trope in early DL.

That wasn't Dragonlance, that was 80s fantasy.