Dragonlance got a significant number of votes for the least favorite setting in the thread of that name, and a comment was made that people don't like DL because of the silly races (Gully Dwarves, Kender, and Gnomes) but because they feel straightjacked by the books. Is that the case?
Why is Dragonlance Your Least Favorite Setting?
- Thread starter Sigma
- Start date
Dragonlance for D&D3e/d20
Greetings everyone!
Naturally I am interested in what the gaming audience has to say about perceived problems in Dragonlance in the past. I see that the "straight-jacketed by books and modules" seems to be a big issue with a lot of people. It is very true that the original modules were very tightly linked to the novels, and even with some variables thrown in, the plot was linear and rather forced.
What I can tell you is that the Sovereign Press plans for the new Dragonlance products do not include:
Kenders, gully dwarves, and gnomes are certainly included--they are an important part of Dragonlance! But some effort has been put to make all races balanced, playable, and useful, not just throwaway races for comic relief. The important elements that will remain are the rich setting and the romance of the ongoing Dragonlance storyline. I hope you guys will give it a chance!
Jamie Chambers
Sovereign Press, Inc.
Greetings everyone!
Naturally I am interested in what the gaming audience has to say about perceived problems in Dragonlance in the past. I see that the "straight-jacketed by books and modules" seems to be a big issue with a lot of people. It is very true that the original modules were very tightly linked to the novels, and even with some variables thrown in, the plot was linear and rather forced.
What I can tell you is that the Sovereign Press plans for the new Dragonlance products do not include:
- Pre-generated player characters. (Your group should use their own heroes!)
- Plots that mirror the novels. (Some of the adventures may "dove-tail" with the novels and let characters meet characters or explore locations seen in books, but these adventures will be YOUR group's story.)
- Continued obsession with the original heroes. (Some of our game products--those in the War of the Lance--will deal with them appropriately, but once again, our new game line is there for you group to become the focus of new stories.)
Kenders, gully dwarves, and gnomes are certainly included--they are an important part of Dragonlance! But some effort has been put to make all races balanced, playable, and useful, not just throwaway races for comic relief. The important elements that will remain are the rich setting and the romance of the ongoing Dragonlance storyline. I hope you guys will give it a chance!
Jamie Chambers
Sovereign Press, Inc.
JoeGKushner
Adventurer
It's always way too busy. I mean it's almost on the same level as Magic the Gathering as a setting. Build up here, standard stuff there, BAM! Start all over again. Gets tedious when your players aren't the heroes, just the bystandards. I know as a GM you can change it, but that shouldn't be the default stage. The Forgotten Realms gets away with this stuff because it's a huge setting with lots to do and see. DL doesn't have that massive draw.
CRG
First Post
If the story line continued BEYOND the point where the last books left off, that would be a bonus. Some sort of line in the sand beyond which you can say.
"Ok, all this crap happened. Its over now. History has rachetted forward and this is the 'now'. Your characters may or may not have a part to play - it is up to the players to determine."
This would be the biggest benefit and give me reason to consider playing DL.
Secondary to that, the inevitable "Dragons need food" campaign in which all pesky little critters are fed to the great beasts would be nice. Just kidding (sort of)...I do understand the place of the kender/gully/etc. and hope you're treatment of them encourages them to come beyond the annoying "try to be funny" role.
Its only comic relief if you laugh. They usually make me cry. [EDIT]
"Ok, all this crap happened. Its over now. History has rachetted forward and this is the 'now'. Your characters may or may not have a part to play - it is up to the players to determine."
This would be the biggest benefit and give me reason to consider playing DL.
Secondary to that, the inevitable "Dragons need food" campaign in which all pesky little critters are fed to the great beasts would be nice. Just kidding (sort of)...I do understand the place of the kender/gully/etc. and hope you're treatment of them encourages them to come beyond the annoying "try to be funny" role.
Its only comic relief if you laugh. They usually make me cry. [EDIT]
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Oil is a precious commodity in our society, and you don't see us using it as currency. 
Line in the Sand
Reply below...
The War of Souls trilogy sets up the campaign world moving forward. Sovereign Press will publish a setting book just after this storyline, that when used in conjunction with the core book from Wizards of the Coast, will provide a "default" campaign setting. Margaret Weis is working closely with the book department to make sure that the games and books mesh without stepping on each other's toes, and while there are important stories, we don't anticipate any more world-shaking plots like War of Souls to happen again in the foreseeable future.
Jamie Chambers
Sovereign Press, Inc.
Reply below...
CRG said:
The War of Souls trilogy sets up the campaign world moving forward. Sovereign Press will publish a setting book just after this storyline, that when used in conjunction with the core book from Wizards of the Coast, will provide a "default" campaign setting. Margaret Weis is working closely with the book department to make sure that the games and books mesh without stepping on each other's toes, and while there are important stories, we don't anticipate any more world-shaking plots like War of Souls to happen again in the foreseeable future.
Jamie Chambers
Sovereign Press, Inc.
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Gargoyle273
First Post
Problems with lance
In any fantasy series, every author/game master/player wants their characters to be the heroes. Heroes change things. The problem with DL is that there are about 12 heroes total, almost all the books have something to do with them, and there is no other room for any other heroes to change the world. Its already blown up from the passing of the last ones.
The DL Chronicles was a great series of books, had a great plot and occured in an ok world. But with a single campaign like that which dominates the entire world (and the same characters in sooo many books), a standard PC group will always be overshadowed by the actions of those heroes. A gamer's piddly little adventuring party will never be as cool as the people who put together the lance and saved the world. If they are as cool, we would be talking about having near catyclismic events in just about every campaign.
Realms is similar, but not as bad because there is still a lot to do. While a party is likely to get overshadowed by Cyric and Kelemvor, those gods are only 2 of a HUGE list, and the books they came from can be seen as just "the way those people became gods" as opposed to the DL problem of "This is the greatest threat to hit the world since the catyclism, this is how it was defeated, and now everything you little adventurers will do afterwords will suck so bad that you might as well not even play."
This became more of a rant than I was expecting but I hope it explains my primary problem of the world. The books were great, but too earth shattering. Maybe a game that occured 10,000 years before or after the events of most DL products would be more fun because it would be an open door to make any adventuring party save the world for themselves.
ps: this is also why I hate Elminster, but dont get me started.
In any fantasy series, every author/game master/player wants their characters to be the heroes. Heroes change things. The problem with DL is that there are about 12 heroes total, almost all the books have something to do with them, and there is no other room for any other heroes to change the world. Its already blown up from the passing of the last ones.
The DL Chronicles was a great series of books, had a great plot and occured in an ok world. But with a single campaign like that which dominates the entire world (and the same characters in sooo many books), a standard PC group will always be overshadowed by the actions of those heroes. A gamer's piddly little adventuring party will never be as cool as the people who put together the lance and saved the world. If they are as cool, we would be talking about having near catyclismic events in just about every campaign.
Realms is similar, but not as bad because there is still a lot to do. While a party is likely to get overshadowed by Cyric and Kelemvor, those gods are only 2 of a HUGE list, and the books they came from can be seen as just "the way those people became gods" as opposed to the DL problem of "This is the greatest threat to hit the world since the catyclism, this is how it was defeated, and now everything you little adventurers will do afterwords will suck so bad that you might as well not even play."
This became more of a rant than I was expecting but I hope it explains my primary problem of the world. The books were great, but too earth shattering. Maybe a game that occured 10,000 years before or after the events of most DL products would be more fun because it would be an open door to make any adventuring party save the world for themselves.
ps: this is also why I hate Elminster, but dont get me started.
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