What's the deal with Dragonlance?

[Son_of_Thunder]

A Rebirth

What's the deal with Dragonlance?

Well, Dragonlance is an awesome campaign setting. I know alot of people complain that there aren't drow or orcs. Believe you me, there are plenty of bad guys in dragonlance to smite. Krynn doesn't have an overdeveloped underdark like some worlds do. Krynn has ancient ruins galore to explore. Kender, Gully Dwarves and Gnomes aren't irritating if someone can really role-play. The best gully dwarf i've seen played was by a friend of mine. The best kender, my brother. Ever heard of kender barbarians? They're in Krynn.

Just how did the adventures railroad the players? I've played through them and my players love a good story, they loved the modules. I just don't see it.

I could go on and on but what I do know is that Dragonlance is my favorite campaign setting ever. A setting that is a ton of fun.

Son of Thunder

 

[Ranger REG]

Retaining the services of Matt Stawicki will only ensure a greater level of presentation; beautiful, compelling, and totally consistent with the quality of the novels.

Sorry, younglings, but I'm a fan of Elmore Art. If you continue to use Larry Elmore's artwork in the new DL product line, you'll bring back the old fans since it debuted back in 1980's, those who bitterly left since TSR converted Dragonlance to card-based SAGA System in the 1990's.

 

[Stormprince]

Sorry, younglings, but I'm a fan of Elmore Art. If you continue to use Larry Elmore's artwork in the new DL product line, you'll bring back the old fans since it debuted back in 1980's, those who bitterly left since TSR converted Dragonlance to card-based SAGA System in the 1990's.

We're fans of both Larry and Matt's artwork...heck, you can see that just by the fact that the two final covers we already have are an Elmore and a Stawicki. Both of them have distinct, individual styles which highlight completely different aspects of the Dragonlance setting, as does Elmore and a number of other artists. We're trying to use all those artists of old that we can, as well as introduce new artists to the world, which will hopefully show not only our deepest respect and adoration for the Dragonlance of yesteryear, but our dedication to ensuring that the Dragonlance of tomorrow will have as rich a tapestry to draw upon!

Christopher Coyle

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Elmore + Parkinson + Easley =

 

[buzz]

We're trying to use all those artists of old that we can, as well as introduce new artists to the world, which will hopefully show not only our deepest respect and adoration for the Dragonlance of yesteryear, but our dedication to ensuring that the Dragonlance of tomorrow will have as rich a tapestry to draw upon!

As I'm the one who started this thread (ergo, I'm not a DL fan), my opinion on this probably doesn't matter much. That said, I'd be more willing to buy into DL if it were distanced from the old look. E.g., I find the fan-created, anime-stylized drawings on the dragonlance.com site a lot more inspiring than the DL art of old.

But, like I said, I'm probably not your target market, and I have an admitted dislike for Elmore's work in general. Regardless, I look forward to checking out the new setting book.

 

[Azzy]

Elmore + Parkinson + Easley =

What did Parkinson do? I don't rember him. Personally, I never cared for Easley's work. No offence to him intended, just a matter of personal taste. I

literally grew up as a gamer with Elmore's work (and had a chance recently to get my old D&D Expert rulebook signed by him). While I dig a lot of the new 3e art and its direction, there's a special place in my heart for Elmore's work (especially his line work).

Oh, and meeting him at a con...he's pretty cool. I hope I didn't come off too fanboyish when I met him, but it's not every day you meet someone who's had a profound impact on your imagination. Too bad I never had the chance to meet Tolkien... Well, at least there's a chance left to meet Hayao Miyazaki.

 

[Oni]

All I know is that Keith Parkinson is one of the best DnD artist to have ever picked up a paint brush (at least in my humble opinion) and seeing more work by him always makes me a happy individual.

 

[Stormprince]

As I'm the one who started this thread (ergo, I'm not a DL fan), my opinion on this probably doesn't matter much. That said, I'd be more willing to buy into DL if it were distanced from the old look. E.g., I find the fan-created, anime-stylized drawings on the dragonlance.com site a lot more inspiring than the DL art of old.

But, like I said, I'm probably not your target market, and I have an admitted dislike for Elmore's work in general. Regardless, I look forward to checking out the new setting book.

To create a "new" look for Dragonlance, without paying homage to some of the very same artists who were instrumental in deciding the original look and feeling of Dragonlance (Elmore, Easley, Caldwell, Parkinson, and many others) would be flying in the face of what we are trying to do. We are trying to create a Dragonlance setting that feels familiar to those who have loved Dragonlance for almost 20 years, as well as creating a setting that's welcoming to those who have never picked up a Dragonlance book.

Personally, I love anime and manga, however, it's not the look that I, or really many other people, have of Dragonlance, so it's not a look that will appear in our Dragonlance products. We're trying for a more "realistic" fantasy look, which I think draws readers and players more into the genre. 'course, that's my take on the subject

Christopher Coyle

 

[Tsyr]

To create a "new" look for Dragonlance, without paying homage to some of the very same artists who were instrumental in deciding the original look and feeling of Dragonlance (Elmore, Easley, Caldwell, Parkinson, and many others) would be flying in the face of what we are trying to do. We are trying to create a Dragonlance setting that feels familiar to those who have loved Dragonlance for almost 20 years, as well as creating a setting that's welcoming to those who have never picked up a Dragonlance book.

Personally, I love anime and manga, however, it's not the look that I, or really many other people, have of Dragonlance, so it's not a look that will appear in our Dragonlance products. We're trying for a more "realistic" fantasy look, which I think draws readers and players more into the genre. 'course, that's my take on the subject

Christopher Coyle

Can I take this to mean less of the "Spike-O-Ramma", "Belts-n-Buckles Galore" and "Mismatched Leather/Plate Monstrosity" look that default 3E sports, and more of the semi-historic, overly ceremonial (But that's a good thing!) look that Dragonlance is famous for? Like the stuff on the novel covers?

 

[Stormprince]

Can I take this to mean less of the "Spike-O-Ramma", "Belts-n-Buckles Galore" and "Mismatched Leather/Plate Monstrosity" look that default 3E sports, and more of the semi-historic, overly ceremonial (But that's a good thing!) look that Dragonlance is famous for? Like the stuff on the novel covers?

That's definitely what we're shooting for ;-)

Less Mad Max Meets Merlin and more High Fantasy Meets...well...High Fantasy

Christopher Coyle