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Dragonlance modules (DL series)
Encyclopedia
The DL Dragonlance modules are a series of adventures and some supplementary material for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
role playing game. These modules along with the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy of novels, which follow one possible adventure series through the modules, were the first published items that established the Dragonlance
fictional universe
. The original DL series was released from 1984 to 1986, with the final two modules added to it in 1988. In the 1990s these roleplaying adventures from the original series were collected and revised for 2nd Edition AD&D as the three DLC Dragonlance Classics
modules. There were also versions of the module series released in 1999, 2000 and 2006.
. Second, players didn't use their own characters, as in other modules, they played preexisting characters such as Tasslehoff Burrfoot
. This allowed for shorter character arcs within the larger story.
of a world dominated by dragon
s. As they drove from Utah to Wisconsin so Tracey could take up a job with TSR in 1981 they discussed this idea. In 1982 Tracey proposed at TSR a series of three modules featuring evil dragons. When this plan reached then head of TSR Gary Gygax
it fit well with an idea he had considered of doing a series of 12 modules each based on one of the official Monster Manual
dragons. The project was then developed, under the code name "Project Overlord" to plan the series. The original group included Tracey Hickman, Harold Johnson
, Larry Elmore
, Carl Smith and Jeff Grubb
. The Dragonlance Series Design Team was later expanded to also include Margaret Weis
, Douglas Niles
, Bruce Nesmith, Mike Breanlt, Roger Moore
, Laura Hickman, Linda Bakk, Michael Dobson
and Garry Spiegle.
The module series is built around the structure of three "books" that are split up in a similar, but not the same, as the Dragonlance Chronicles novel trilogy. Each "book" runs through four modules and contains sections of the adventure called chapters which have a continuing numbering system through that individual "book".
The first book "Tales of the Autumn Twilight" is in DL1-4. The first four modules "form the first stage in a massive quest-adventure using the same set of characters".
DL5 is a sourcebook providing background on the setting useful for running all the adventures.
The second book "Tales of the Winter Night" runs through DL6-9.
The third book, which is never named, runs through DL10 and DL12-14.
DL11 is a wargame that can be played by itself or as a campaign tool to create a backdrop for the individual adventures.
DL15 and DL16 are anthologies of adventures and also in the case of DL15 source book material. These two were not originally part of the DL series but were added two years after the series completed. The adventures included do not feature the main characters from the rest of the DL series, but are adventures that occur in and around the War of the Lance that the initial series details.
, an editor in TSR's book department who had become involved with the project, ought to write the books. They wrote the five chapters over a weekend and were given the job to write the accompanying novels based on that.
The first Dragonlance novel Dragons of Autumn Twilight
was written after modules DL1-4 were completed. However as Hickman and Weis felt this was too constraining and made the novel feel too episodic, they reversed the process for Dragons of Winter Night
and Dragons of Spring Dawning
and completed the books before the related modules. Aside from the novels, the modules were designed to link up with action figures and other marketing devices all designed around the concept.
Dragons of Autumn Twilight parallels the events in DL1 Dragons of Despair and DL2 Dragons of Flame. The events of DL3 and DL4 are not detailed in the novels but are consistent with leading up to the start of Dragons of Winter Night, which covers the events of DL6-10 and parts of DL12.
The authors were very careful to make sure that while the locations and settings of the novels coincided with the modules, and they equally made sure not too much was given away about the modules by deliberately changing some details about the modules. One of the purposes of the novel was to give Dungeon Master
s a "truer feeling for the game world... This is hard to get across in the often dry, reference format of a game adventure module." People who play the games can recall how something similar happened to their group as they read the book. Or alternately someone who has already read the book now playing the game can say lets see what happens if I take a different choice to what was done in the novel.
The success of the original Dragonlance modules eventually led to several series of Dragonlance modules with the module codes DLA, DLE, DLQ, DLS and DLT.
Graham Staplehurst of White Dwarf
magazine felt that after the first four modules had been released, the series had "developed into something potentially larger than any other linked venture ever produced by TSR", and that it "presumably will outstrip even the famous Giant-Drow series produced by Gary Gygax".
Dragons of Despair was positively received as a game module. It was number 25 on a 2004 list of the "The 30 Greatest D&D adventures of All Time", the only Dragonlance module to make the list. It was seen as well written and presented with a unique feel to the world it is set in.
In 1999 Wizards of the Coast published a new revision of the original Dragonlance story as part of their TSR's Silver Anniversary line. Dragonlance Classics: 15th Anniversary Edition is a 256 page book which included information to run the game using AD&D or the SAGA System
which had been used for other Dragonlance game material in the late 1990s. This book was deliberately written with a different flavor to earlier versions of the modules.
In 2000 the entire DL module series was reprinted exactly as the originals but in a smaller size. This printing was available as two slip case sets Dragonlance Volume 1: DL1 - DL8 and Dragonlance Volume 2: DL9 - DL16.
In August 2004 The War of the Lance Campaign Book was released as a companion volume to the Dragonlance Campaign Setting. While this book detailed the times, locations and characters of the original series it was not designed to recreate the original adventures, but to allow new adventures to be played out that run in the same time and settings.
In August 2006 the first of an intended trilogy of adventures was released based on the original modules and the 1999 update, updating the story to Dungeons & Dragons v.3.5. Dragons of Autumn, subtitled "Dragonlance War of the Lance Campaign, Volume One", requires the use of the Dragonlance Campaign Setting and the War of the Lance Sourcebook. It is a 176 page softcover book by Clark Valentine and Sean Macdonald based on the original modules. The four chapters Despair, Flame, Hope and Desolation each correspond to the relevant DL1-4 Dragons of ... module. The maps have been redrawn and though the plot follows closely to the originals some changes have been made to keep old players on their toes.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role playing game. These modules along with the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy of novels, which follow one possible adventure series through the modules, were the first published items that established the Dragonlance
Dragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
fictional universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
. The original DL series was released from 1984 to 1986, with the final two modules added to it in 1988. In the 1990s these roleplaying adventures from the original series were collected and revised for 2nd Edition AD&D as the three DLC Dragonlance Classics
Dragonlance Classics
Dragonlance Classics is a series of adventure modules for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Plot summary:Dragonlance Saga Classics, Volume 1 is a compilation of modules D1 through D4, revised for the 2nd edition rules....
modules. There were also versions of the module series released in 1999, 2000 and 2006.
About the DL module series
The DL series of modules were different from previously published D&D modules in two ways. First, instead of being stand alone adventures, or a short series of adventures, they combined into a single large plot arc. This arc covered the War of the LanceWar of the Lance
The War of the Lance is a fictional war in the Dragonlance setting, created by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.-Publication history:The War of the Lance is the prime conflict in the Dragonlance saga....
. Second, players didn't use their own characters, as in other modules, they played preexisting characters such as Tasslehoff Burrfoot
Tasslehoff Burrfoot
Tasslehoff Burrfoot is a fictional character of the kender race from the Dragonlance series of novels, written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. He was born in Kendermore. His parents are unknown and he has few known relatives. He has a sister, and also claims to have an Uncle Trapspringer...
. This allowed for shorter character arcs within the larger story.
Early history
The Dragonlance game project began with an idea by Tracy and Laura HickmanTracy Hickman
Tracy Raye Hickman is a best-selling fantasy author, best known for his work on Dragonlance as a game designer and co-author with Margaret Weis, while he worked for TSR...
of a world dominated by dragon
Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game , dragons are an iconic type of monstrous creature used as adversaries or, less commonly, allies of player characters...
s. As they drove from Utah to Wisconsin so Tracey could take up a job with TSR in 1981 they discussed this idea. In 1982 Tracey proposed at TSR a series of three modules featuring evil dragons. When this plan reached then head of TSR Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
it fit well with an idea he had considered of doing a series of 12 modules each based on one of the official Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
dragons. The project was then developed, under the code name "Project Overlord" to plan the series. The original group included Tracey Hickman, Harold Johnson
Harold Johnson (game designer)
Harold Johnson is a game designer and editor, and an author of several products and articles for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game from TSR.-Early life and education:...
, Larry Elmore
Larry Elmore
Larry Elmore is an American fantasy artist whose work includes creating illustrations for video games, comics, magazines and fantasy books. His list of work includes illustrations for Dungeons & Dragons, Dragonlance, and the comic strip series SnarfQuest...
, Carl Smith and Jeff Grubb
Jeff Grubb
Jeff Grubb is an author and game designer. He has worked on a number of computer and role-playing games and has written a number of successful novels, short stories and comics...
. The Dragonlance Series Design Team was later expanded to also include Margaret Weis
Margaret Weis
Margaret Edith Weis is a fantasy novelist who, along with Tracy Hickman, is one of the original creators of the Dragonlance game world and has written numerous novels and short stories set in fantastic worlds.-Early life:Margaret Weis was born in 1948 in Independence, Missouri, and later attended...
, Douglas Niles
Douglas Niles
Douglas Niles is a fantasy author and game designer. Niles was one of the creators of the Dragonlance world and the author of the first three Forgotten Realms novels, and the Top Secret S/I espionage role-playing game.-Early life:Niles was born in Brookfield, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, and...
, Bruce Nesmith, Mike Breanlt, Roger Moore
Roger E. Moore
Roger E. Moore is a designer of role-playing games. He is best known for his long-running tenure as editor of Dragon magazine, and was the founding editor of Dungeon magazine.-Early life:...
, Laura Hickman, Linda Bakk, Michael Dobson
Michael Dobson (author)
Michael S. Dobson is an American author in the fields of Business , Alternate History novels and Role-playing game adventures .-Early life:At a young age, Dobson's family moved from North Carolina to Germany; his father...
and Garry Spiegle.
Structure of the series
Dragonlance is a story. In contrast to many other Dungeons & Dragons adventures, particularly those that came before it, which are location or event based.The module series is built around the structure of three "books" that are split up in a similar, but not the same, as the Dragonlance Chronicles novel trilogy. Each "book" runs through four modules and contains sections of the adventure called chapters which have a continuing numbering system through that individual "book".
The first book "Tales of the Autumn Twilight" is in DL1-4. The first four modules "form the first stage in a massive quest-adventure using the same set of characters".
DL5 is a sourcebook providing background on the setting useful for running all the adventures.
The second book "Tales of the Winter Night" runs through DL6-9.
The third book, which is never named, runs through DL10 and DL12-14.
DL11 is a wargame that can be played by itself or as a campaign tool to create a backdrop for the individual adventures.
DL15 and DL16 are anthologies of adventures and also in the case of DL15 source book material. These two were not originally part of the DL series but were added two years after the series completed. The adventures included do not feature the main characters from the rest of the DL series, but are adventures that occur in and around the War of the Lance that the initial series details.
Relationship to the novels
Later in the development process it was decided that a trilogy of fantasy novels would be released with the modules. Originally an external writer was hired, but the design group found themselves more and more disillusioned with his work. At this point it was suggested that Hickman and Margaret WeisMargaret Weis
Margaret Edith Weis is a fantasy novelist who, along with Tracy Hickman, is one of the original creators of the Dragonlance game world and has written numerous novels and short stories set in fantastic worlds.-Early life:Margaret Weis was born in 1948 in Independence, Missouri, and later attended...
, an editor in TSR's book department who had become involved with the project, ought to write the books. They wrote the five chapters over a weekend and were given the job to write the accompanying novels based on that.
The first Dragonlance novel Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Dragons of Autumn Twilight is a fantasy novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, based on a series of Dungeons & Dragons game modules...
was written after modules DL1-4 were completed. However as Hickman and Weis felt this was too constraining and made the novel feel too episodic, they reversed the process for Dragons of Winter Night
Dragons of Winter Night
Dragons of Winter Night is a fantasy novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, based on the Dungeons & Dragons gaming modules. It is the second book in the Chronicles Trilogy, preceded by Dragons of Autumn Twilight and followed by Dragons of Spring Dawning. It was the second Dragonlance novel,...
and Dragons of Spring Dawning
Dragons of Spring Dawning
Dragons of Spring Dawning is the third book in the Dragonlance Chronicles series, written by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis. It continues events from Dragons of Winter Night and sets up the premise of the Dragonlance Legends trilogy, also written by Weis and Hickman-Publication history:Originally...
and completed the books before the related modules. Aside from the novels, the modules were designed to link up with action figures and other marketing devices all designed around the concept.
Dragons of Autumn Twilight parallels the events in DL1 Dragons of Despair and DL2 Dragons of Flame. The events of DL3 and DL4 are not detailed in the novels but are consistent with leading up to the start of Dragons of Winter Night, which covers the events of DL6-10 and parts of DL12.
The authors were very careful to make sure that while the locations and settings of the novels coincided with the modules, and they equally made sure not too much was given away about the modules by deliberately changing some details about the modules. One of the purposes of the novel was to give Dungeon Master
Dungeon Master
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Dungeon Master is the game organizer and participant in charge of creating the details and challenges of a given adventure, while maintaining a realistic continuity of events...
s a "truer feeling for the game world... This is hard to get across in the often dry, reference format of a game adventure module." People who play the games can recall how something similar happened to their group as they read the book. Or alternately someone who has already read the book now playing the game can say lets see what happens if I take a different choice to what was done in the novel.
Impact of the DL Modules
The first Dragonlance item published after the original module/novels series was a hardcover Dungeons & Dragons manual called Dragonlance Adventures. This book, released in 1987, provided resources to allow Dungeon Masters to continue campaigning in the Dragonlance world. Two additional modules featuring anthologies of adventures, not planned as part of the original series, were added to the DL series in 1988, DL15 Mists of Krynn and DL16 World of Krynn.The success of the original Dragonlance modules eventually led to several series of Dragonlance modules with the module codes DLA, DLE, DLQ, DLS and DLT.
Graham Staplehurst of White Dwarf
White Dwarf (magazine)
White Dwarf is a magazine published by British games manufacturer Games Workshop. Initially covering a wide variety of fantasy and science-fiction role-playing and board games, particularly the role playing games Dungeons & Dragons, RuneQuest and Traveller...
magazine felt that after the first four modules had been released, the series had "developed into something potentially larger than any other linked venture ever produced by TSR", and that it "presumably will outstrip even the famous Giant-Drow series produced by Gary Gygax".
DL1 Dragons of Despair
- Author: Tracy Hickman
- First published: March 1984
- Description: Dragons of Despair is the first Dragonlance product ever released, the start of the first major story arc in the Dragonlance. This events in this module corresponds to the first half of the novel Dragons of Autumn TwilightDragons of Autumn TwilightDragons of Autumn Twilight is a fantasy novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, based on a series of Dungeons & Dragons game modules...
. The characters start on a road east of Solace after five years of looking for "lost clerical magic." An invading army has forced refugees out of the North, and Dragons have returned to the world after a long absence. They must follow the clues to restore the power of the old gods to the world of Krynn. - Playable Characters: Tanis Half-Elven, Sturm Brightblade, Caramon MajereCaramon MajereCaramon Majere is a fictional character from the Dragonlance books. He is depicted as a fighter and is one of the main characters in Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's first Dragonlance trilogy, The Chronicles...
, Raistlin MajereRaistlin MajereRaistlin Majere is a fictional character from the Dragonlance series of books created by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Raistlin played an extensive role in the two main series of books, particularly in Dragonlance: Legends in which he was both primary protagonist and antagonist...
, Flint Fireforge, Tasslehoff BurrfootTasslehoff BurrfootTasslehoff Burrfoot is a fictional character of the kender race from the Dragonlance series of novels, written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. He was born in Kendermore. His parents are unknown and he has few known relatives. He has a sister, and also claims to have an Uncle Trapspringer...
and GoldmoonGoldmoonGoldmoon is a fictional character from the Dragonlance fantasy series of novels and role playing games, originally published by TSR, Inc...
. - Notable first appearances
- Characters: All PCs listed above, Riverwind (NPCNon-player characterA non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
henchman to Goldmoon), Tika Waylan, Fewmaster Toede and Khisanth. - Races: Draconians (Baaz and Bozak varieties) and Aghar (Gully Dwarves).
- Places: Xak Tsaroth, Solace and Haven.
- Characters: All PCs listed above, Riverwind (NPC
Dragons of Despair was positively received as a game module. It was number 25 on a 2004 list of the "The 30 Greatest D&D adventures of All Time", the only Dragonlance module to make the list. It was seen as well written and presented with a unique feel to the world it is set in.
Reprints and New Versions
The original series was updated to second edition and repackaged as the three Dragonlance Classics modules. These modules formed the DLC series, though by the time Dragonlance Classics Volume 3 was released TSR had stop using the module code system. DLC1 Dragonlance Classics Volume 1 reprinted DL1, DL2, DL3 and DL4. DLC2 Dragonlance Classics Volume 2 reprinted DL6, DL7, DL8 and DL9. Dragonlance Classics Volume 3 reprinted DL10, DL12, DL13 and DL14. The modules that did not comprise traditional adventures, DL5 and DL11, were not available in this series.In 1999 Wizards of the Coast published a new revision of the original Dragonlance story as part of their TSR's Silver Anniversary line. Dragonlance Classics: 15th Anniversary Edition is a 256 page book which included information to run the game using AD&D or the SAGA System
SAGA System
The SAGA System is a role-playing game system that uses "fate cards" to determine the effects of actions. The cards have numbers, suits, positive and negative states, and role-playing cues that guide the gamemaster in telling the story and administering the game...
which had been used for other Dragonlance game material in the late 1990s. This book was deliberately written with a different flavor to earlier versions of the modules.
In 2000 the entire DL module series was reprinted exactly as the originals but in a smaller size. This printing was available as two slip case sets Dragonlance Volume 1: DL1 - DL8 and Dragonlance Volume 2: DL9 - DL16.
In August 2004 The War of the Lance Campaign Book was released as a companion volume to the Dragonlance Campaign Setting. While this book detailed the times, locations and characters of the original series it was not designed to recreate the original adventures, but to allow new adventures to be played out that run in the same time and settings.
In August 2006 the first of an intended trilogy of adventures was released based on the original modules and the 1999 update, updating the story to Dungeons & Dragons v.3.5. Dragons of Autumn, subtitled "Dragonlance War of the Lance Campaign, Volume One", requires the use of the Dragonlance Campaign Setting and the War of the Lance Sourcebook. It is a 176 page softcover book by Clark Valentine and Sean Macdonald based on the original modules. The four chapters Despair, Flame, Hope and Desolation each correspond to the relevant DL1-4 Dragons of ... module. The maps have been redrawn and though the plot follows closely to the originals some changes have been made to keep old players on their toes.
External links
- DragonLance at the TSR archive, has links to pages on all products mentioned in this article.
- The Acaeum: