Dragons of Glory
Encyclopedia
Dragons of Glory is a Dungeons & Dragons
source book that is part of the series of Dragonlance modules
. It is one of the 16 DL modules
published by TSR between 1984 and 1986. Its cover features a painting by Jeff Easley
of Tasslehoff Burrfoot
fighting a Draconian.
This module is "a complete and self-contained simulation game" centered on the War of the Lance
. While the other modules focused on the journeys of the characters such as Tanis Half-Elven, this module helps the DM recreate the larger battles. Characters can control the forces of the High Solamnic Knights vs. the Dragon Highlords. This module can be played with the Battlesystem
rules, but is designed to be run as a standalone wargame
. Advanced rules are available in Dragon Magazine
issue# 107.
and its surrounding islands, 400 die-cut counters with a re-sealable plastic bag in which to store them, an 8-page rulebook, and a 16-page campaign/scenario book.
as a boardgame.
Dragons of Glory is a simulation game, designed to allow players to produce their own historical timeline of the events in the world of Krynn
for an ongoing Dragonlance
campaign. By keeping a record of forces' positions over time, news can be related to the player character
s, who can encounter various armies, creatures, or leaders at appropriate points.
and Tracy Hickman
, awith a cover by Jeff Easley
, and illustrations by Diana Magnuson and Jeff Butler
, and was published by TSR in 1986 as a 16-page pamphlet, an 8-page pamphlet, two large color maps, a cardboard counter sheet, a small zip-locked bag, and a double-thick outer folder.
#78. Staplehurst thought that the game "isn't brilliant", calling the rulebook "rather unhelpful", and feeling that TSR (having purchased SPI) "could have put this together rather better". He felt the explanation for the counters was poor, with no key to identify which color represented which nation; he also noted that the game required multiple types of dice, making the game mechanics messy. He considered the rules "very simple and anyone who has played a simulation game before should find them easy in the extreme to pick up, though there are unclear points, which is again unnecessary in a game this simple". To back up his assertion, he cited the example rules of retreating before combat, and the "moving capital" rule: he noted that with the latter rule all a player has to do to win one of the offered scenarios is "disband" their capital, and he felt that while the retreating rule was a sensible option, it left the options for the attacker unclear. Staplehurst felt that the game "didn't appeal to me as a simulation gamer", and that compared with "excellent fantasy games" such as White Bear, Red Moon
and SPI's War of the Ring
, Dragons of Glory seemed "to have been rather hastily put together and the rules and charts could have been much better organized". Staplehurst also believed that while the option of using the simulation to provide a unique historical background and context for a Dragonlance campaign sounded fine, this would require a large amount of book-keeping and a very dedicated GM to manage; also, with ten modules already released in the series, he surmised that most players had started their campaigns already. Staplehurst concluded the review by stating, "Overall, I hesitate to recommend this game to anyone but the Dragonlance fanatic who has had some experience of simulation games. It's not a very good introduction for the novice ... and is not a particularly enjoyable [sic] to the shelves of a simulation wargamer."
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...
source book that is part of the series of Dragonlance modules
Adventure (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, an adventure or module is a pre-packaged book or box set that helps the Dungeon Master manage the plot or story of a game...
. It is one of the 16 DL modules
Dragonlance modules (DL series)
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 by TSR between 1984 and 1986. Its cover features a painting by Jeff Easley
Jeff Easley
Jeff Easley is an oil painter who creates fantasy artwork in the tradition of Frank Frazetta.-Early life:...
of 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...
fighting a Draconian.
This module is "a complete and self-contained simulation game" centered on the War of the Lance
War 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....
. While the other modules focused on the journeys of the characters such as Tanis Half-Elven, this module helps the DM recreate the larger battles. Characters can control the forces of the High Solamnic Knights vs. the Dragon Highlords. This module can be played with the Battlesystem
Battlesystem
Battlesystem is a tabletop miniature wargame designed as a supplement for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. It was first released in 1985, compatible with either Advanced Dungeons & Dragons or the Basic / Expert Dungeons & Dragons...
rules, but is designed to be run as a standalone wargame
Wargaming
A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
. Advanced rules are available in Dragon Magazine
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
issue# 107.
Contents
The Dragons of Glory pack consists of a stiff double cardboard cover with tables and text on the inside for use in the game, a large two-sectioned map covering the continent of AnsalonAnsalon
Ansalon is a continent on Krynn, the fictional world of the Dragonlance campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game....
and its surrounding islands, 400 die-cut counters with a re-sealable plastic bag in which to store them, an 8-page rulebook, and a 16-page campaign/scenario book.
Plot summary
Dragons of Glory is a sourcebook as well as a strategic-level board wargame which depicts the overall war between the draconians and the defenders of Krynn. The set describes the war and the opposing armies, using Battlesystem statistics for both sides. It includes a map, counters, and rules for playing 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....
as a boardgame.
Dragons of Glory is a simulation game, designed to allow players to produce their own historical timeline of the events in the world of Krynn
Krynn
Krynn is the fictional world of the Dragonlance novels, co-written by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis. It has also been used in many other books, set in the Dragonlance universe. It is also used as the main setting in the Dragonlance campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing...
for an ongoing 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...
campaign. By keeping a record of forces' positions over time, news can be related to the player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
s, who can encounter various armies, creatures, or leaders at appropriate points.
Publication history
DL11 Dragons of Glory was written by Douglas NilesDouglas 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...
and Tracy Hickman
Tracy 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...
, awith a cover by Jeff Easley
Jeff Easley
Jeff Easley is an oil painter who creates fantasy artwork in the tradition of Frank Frazetta.-Early life:...
, and illustrations by Diana Magnuson and Jeff Butler
Jeff Butler
Jeff Butler is an American illustrator and comic book artist. Butler worked with the art department of TSR, Inc...
, and was published by TSR in 1986 as a 16-page pamphlet, an 8-page pamphlet, two large color maps, a cardboard counter sheet, a small zip-locked bag, and a double-thick outer folder.
Reception
Graham Staplehurst reviewed Dragons of Glory for White DwarfWhite 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...
#78. Staplehurst thought that the game "isn't brilliant", calling the rulebook "rather unhelpful", and feeling that TSR (having purchased SPI) "could have put this together rather better". He felt the explanation for the counters was poor, with no key to identify which color represented which nation; he also noted that the game required multiple types of dice, making the game mechanics messy. He considered the rules "very simple and anyone who has played a simulation game before should find them easy in the extreme to pick up, though there are unclear points, which is again unnecessary in a game this simple". To back up his assertion, he cited the example rules of retreating before combat, and the "moving capital" rule: he noted that with the latter rule all a player has to do to win one of the offered scenarios is "disband" their capital, and he felt that while the retreating rule was a sensible option, it left the options for the attacker unclear. Staplehurst felt that the game "didn't appeal to me as a simulation gamer", and that compared with "excellent fantasy games" such as White Bear, Red Moon
White Bear and Red Moon
White Bear and Red Moon is a fantasy board wargame set in the world of Glorantha, created by Greg Stafford and published in 1975. Stafford set up the Chaosium game publishing company solely to produce and market the game....
and SPI's War of the Ring
War of the Ring (SPI game)
War of the Ring was a wargame based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, published by Simulations Publications, Inc. in the United States in 1977. It was the first wargame to cover the entire conflict depicted in the story , as opposed to a single battle from it...
, Dragons of Glory seemed "to have been rather hastily put together and the rules and charts could have been much better organized". Staplehurst also believed that while the option of using the simulation to provide a unique historical background and context for a Dragonlance campaign sounded fine, this would require a large amount of book-keeping and a very dedicated GM to manage; also, with ten modules already released in the series, he surmised that most players had started their campaigns already. Staplehurst concluded the review by stating, "Overall, I hesitate to recommend this game to anyone but the Dragonlance fanatic who has had some experience of simulation games. It's not a very good introduction for the novice ... and is not a particularly enjoyable [sic] to the shelves of a simulation wargamer."