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?

 

[gban007]

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 DwarDwarves

I think definite parallels with Laurana and Alhana against Luthien, Arwen and Galadriel, though I prefer Tolkiens descriptive language, and I don't think Tolkiens elves were as elitist as the Dragonlance ones, which are particularly so (but true of all the races, each race seems quite xenophobic).

 

[Sacrosanct]

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

Oh sure, to a point. But Elmore and especially Caldwell turned that trope up to 11 in the art. And DL seemed to do it more than others. WoT didn’t seem to do it nearly as much. Neither did Salvatore

 

[Scribe]

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.

 

[gban007]

Oh sure, to a point. But Elmore and especially Caldwell turned that trope up to 11 in the art. And DL seemed to do it more than others. WoT didn’t seem to do it nearly as much. Neither did Salvatore

To be fair, WoT was first published 1990. Crystal shard was late 80s, so could be part of a stylistic change.

 

[Scribe]

I think definite parallels with Laurana and Alhana against Luthien, Arwen and Galadriel, though I prefer Tolkiens descriptive language, and I don't think Tolkiens elves were as elitist as the Dragonlance ones, which are particularly so (but true of all the races, each race seems quite xenophobic).

Fair enough. I have always had the impression, as far back as I recall, that Elves were Good, in that Alignment cosmic sense, but also not great to other people's, and there was story in that distinction. /shrug

 

[gban007]

Fair enough. I have always had the impression, as far back as I recall, that Elves were Good, in that Alignment cosmic sense, but also not great to other people's, and there was story in that distinction. /shrug

My understanding of Tolkeins world is that the elves probably tend to good more so than other races, but some notable evil acts were still done by them, like the Kinslayings, Feanor at times, Feanors sons thanks to their oath, Eol and others. They were definitely prideful, but that wasnt shown as a good thing.
Compare that to Dragonlance, where the elves are considered good in Alignment cosmic sense, but could do pretty nasty things and still be considered 'good', outside of Dark Elves. And dont get me started on the Gods of Good i do enjoy dragonlance, and rereading/ listening to it now, but I definitely disagree with the general view of good vs evil portrayed.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

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.

Apologies, you’re right. I did get the passages mixed up.

The focus on oversexualizing female characters and fanservice is definitely a thing in Dragonlance though. I remember a particular scene where a male character watches an elf/dragon woman bathe in a waterfall.

 

[Scribe]

And dont get me started on the Gods of Good i do enjoy dragonlance, and rereading/ listening to it now, but I definitely disagree with the general view of good vs evil portrayed.

I'll have to dig my trilogies out. I know this stuff was or is contentious but as someone raised in that background it didn't strike me as odd at the time.

 

[Sacrosanct]

In Hickmans defense, the most recent trilogy doesn’t have most of these issues. Which shouldn’t be surprising since people grow and times change in 40 years…

 

[QuentinGeorge]

Apologies, you’re right. I did get the passages mixed up.

The focus on oversexualizing female characters and fanservice is definitely a thing in Dragonlance though. I remember a particular scene where a male character watches an elf/dragon woman bathe in a waterfall.

That's Gilthanas and Silvara. But the subtext is that Silvara is aware she's being looked at (she's a silver dragon after all)