Introducing......DRAGONLANCE!? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Introducing......DRAGONLANCE!?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ebrightblade
May 09, 2006 23:49:01 So, being an avid reader of the DL stuff I've really wanted to DM in it. Well, begining KoD this weekend but one small problem...NONE of my players know anything about DL. They've all either just never read them or are FR freaks. So, my questions are:
How do I go about a short explanation of what the world is? I mean since the time span of the War of the Lance, Chaos, and the Age of Mortals really isn't that long it seems many people would have a brief idea of what happened, an idea of how Dragons & the deities effect the world, the basic factions, and current happenings. Any ideas on how to go about it this or of where a good, but brief, write up would be to catch them up to speed a bit? Its been a two week fiasco just getting them to totally get the different races and how they interact (ie. Kender, Tinkerer Gnomes, Minotaurs, etc.)
Secondly, I didn't get to play 2nd Edition much, and what I did I forget much of, however, I seem to remember a rule stating something that the gods of Krynn deported people higher than 18th level in an attempt to keep the world balanced? Or that 18th was the max in DL? Not sure on that one.
Next, anyone know of any good random tables to roll up kender pouches with? Again, I seem to remember one in the 2nd ED. stuff, but have no idea where to find it plus no longer live near the people that had it.
Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thats all I have for now, but I'm sure I'll be helpless again soon enough. :D
#2
ebrightblade
May 09, 2006 23:52:50 Also... :D ...any suggestion on book limitations? I mean I like the idea of using the feats and such from the "Complete Series", but, for example, can't really picture a Ninja running around in DL ? :rolleye2:
And, more of an idea/reassurance thingy-ma-jig....all of the dragon overlords are dead right?....assuming we begin after the fall of dark queen
#3
zombiegleemax
May 10, 2006 14:43:17 Gosh... I understand you. My current gaming group is made of newbies and a friend who only played 2e (but at least knows the setting). I found very difficult to introduce the setting (only two out of six have read DL novels), so I kept the game "generic" and let them know the main characters and locations gradually. But being newbies they found weird the role play and quite often they role in 3rd person... which is frustrating ¬¬

The level limit was a dumb rule (IMO) from 1e, in fact there a are 18th - epic characters, like Raistlin (27th) and the Heads of the three Orders (19th), Ariakas (23rd), Ariakan (20th), King Lorac (18th), Sir Liam Earling (21st/Solmanic grandmaster after Gunther's dead) and a few others. So FR fans won't miss super NPC's hehehe.

I'd recomend you to stick to core 3e and SV books, "core classes" from the complete are either too ridiculous or totally unbalanced (with a few exceptions). There was a thread about PrC from the complete series and how compatible they are with DL, look for it u'll find it useful, and always remember that you have the final word.

I like to play the Blue Lady's War to introduce DL to new players, that way there are a few dragonlords alive (Kitiara, Kharalas, Lucien and the guy that killed Salah Khan).
#4
clarkvalentine
May 10, 2006 18:10:20
Also... :D ...any suggestion on book limitations? I mean I like the idea of using the feats and such from the "Complete Series", but, for example, can't really picture a Ninja running around in DL ? :rolleye2:

Re-name it a "combat rogue", and it works fine.

And, more of an idea/reassurance thingy-ma-jig....all of the dragon overlords are dead right?....assuming we begin after the fall of dark queen

At the time of Key of Destiny, Sable and Frost are still around. Sable buys the farm between the events of Spectre of Sorrows and Price of Courage.
#5
cam_banks
May 10, 2006 20:54:49
At the time of Key of Destiny, Sable and Frost are still around. Sable buys the farm between the events of Spectre of Sorrows and Price of Courage.

We're not sure which farm it is, but it's a nice little swampy farm on the edge of the world, where she can continue her pleasant experiments in peace, away from all of the nasty adventurers. She bought it for a song, too.

Cheers,
Cam
#6
darthsylver
May 12, 2006 7:40:56 Personally I would call the ninja an assassin and call the Assassin PrC, Hit man.

As far as for the kender pouches if you check the Kendercylopedia I am sure kipper has something over there.
#7
Mortepierre
May 12, 2006 8:03:00 We had a thread here not too long ago where someone attempted to list all the PrC from the Complete series which had their place in the DL universe. Of course, it's gone now

Here is a random generator for pouch:
http://www.kencyclopedia.com/kender/pouches/random.cfm

Lastly, I find funny that nowadays DM complain about too few of their players knowing the DL universe. At the time the first modules came out (back when TSR was in charge), DM used to complain that with so many people having read the Chronicles, there was no way to surprise them with the plot!
#8
doctorromulus
May 19, 2006 8:21:22 I think your players not knowing the DL universe is a good thing. This way you can just give them the basics of their immediate area and also not have someone second guessing you.

So, being an avid reader of the DL stuff I've really wanted to DM in it. Well, begining KoD this weekend but one small problem...NONE of my players know anything about DL. They've all either just never read them or are FR freaks. So, my questions are:
How do I go about a short explanation of what the world is? I mean since the time span of the War of the Lance, Chaos, and the Age of Mortals really isn't that long it seems many people would have a brief idea of what happened, an idea of how Dragons & the deities effect the world, the basic factions, and current happenings. Any ideas on how to go about it this or of where a good, but brief, write up would be to catch them up to speed a bit? Its been a two week fiasco just getting them to totally get the different races and how they interact (ie. Kender, Tinkerer Gnomes, Minotaurs, etc.)
Secondly, I didn't get to play 2nd Edition much, and what I did I forget much of, however, I seem to remember a rule stating something that the gods of Krynn deported people higher than 18th level in an attempt to keep the world balanced? Or that 18th was the max in DL? Not sure on that one.
Next, anyone know of any good random tables to roll up kender pouches with? Again, I seem to remember one in the 2nd ED. stuff, but have no idea where to find it plus no longer live near the people that had it.
Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thats all I have for now, but I'm sure I'll be helpless again soon enough. :D

#9
lachlanfin
May 22, 2006 15:15:10 Having players not knowing the DL universe can be alot of fun also. I just concluded a campaign that took place between the WotL and ended with the events in the Twins Trilogy. Of the 4 players only 1 had read the novels, 1 had RPed in DL before so he had a vague idea of events, races, etc..., one began reading the Cronicles to try to catch up and the other had never heard of DL prior to the adventure. Many characters will have not encountered the races of Krynn before they start adventuring so it makes for a good role-playing element and makes knowledge skills more valuable to characters who might have an idea what kender or tinker gnomes are like. Being able to have powerful NPC's interact with the party without them knowing how powerful they are can also make the DM job fun.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ebrightblade May 09, 2006 23:49:01	So, being an avid reader of the DL stuff I've really wanted to DM in it. Well, begining KoD this weekend but one small problem...NONE of my players know anything about DL. They've all either just never read them or are FR freaks. So, my questions are: How do I go about a short explanation of what the world is? I mean since the time span of the War of the Lance, Chaos, and the Age of Mortals really isn't that long it seems many people would have a brief idea of what happened, an idea of how Dragons & the deities effect the world, the basic factions, and current happenings. Any ideas on how to go about it this or of where a good, but brief, write up would be to catch them up to speed a bit? Its been a two week fiasco just getting them to totally get the different races and how they interact (ie. Kender, Tinkerer Gnomes, Minotaurs, etc.) Secondly, I didn't get to play 2nd Edition much, and what I did I forget much of, however, I seem to remember a rule stating something that the gods of Krynn deported people higher than 18th level in an attempt to keep the world balanced? Or that 18th was the max in DL? Not sure on that one. Next, anyone know of any good random tables to roll up kender pouches with? Again, I seem to remember one in the 2nd ED. stuff, but have no idea where to find it plus no longer live near the people that had it. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thats all I have for now, but I'm sure I'll be helpless again soon enough. :D
#2 ebrightblade May 09, 2006 23:52:50	Also... :D ...any suggestion on book limitations? I mean I like the idea of using the feats and such from the "Complete Series", but, for example, can't really picture a Ninja running around in DL ? :rolleye2: And, more of an idea/reassurance thingy-ma-jig....all of the dragon overlords are dead right?....assuming we begin after the fall of dark queen
#3 zombiegleemax May 10, 2006 14:43:17	Gosh... I understand you. My current gaming group is made of newbies and a friend who only played 2e (but at least knows the setting). I found very difficult to introduce the setting (only two out of six have read DL novels), so I kept the game "generic" and let them know the main characters and locations gradually. But being newbies they found weird the role play and quite often they role in 3rd person... which is frustrating ¬¬ The level limit was a dumb rule (IMO) from 1e, in fact there a are 18th - epic characters, like Raistlin (27th) and the Heads of the three Orders (19th), Ariakas (23rd), Ariakan (20th), King Lorac (18th), Sir Liam Earling (21st/Solmanic grandmaster after Gunther's dead) and a few others. So FR fans won't miss super NPC's hehehe. I'd recomend you to stick to core 3e and SV books, "core classes" from the complete are either too ridiculous or totally unbalanced (with a few exceptions). There was a thread about PrC from the complete series and how compatible they are with DL, look for it u'll find it useful, and always remember that you have the final word. I like to play the Blue Lady's War to introduce DL to new players, that way there are a few dragonlords alive (Kitiara, Kharalas, Lucien and the guy that killed Salah Khan).
#4 clarkvalentine May 10, 2006 18:10:20	Also... :D ...any suggestion on book limitations? I mean I like the idea of using the feats and such from the "Complete Series", but, for example, can't really picture a Ninja running around in DL ? :rolleye2: Re-name it a "combat rogue", and it works fine. And, more of an idea/reassurance thingy-ma-jig....all of the dragon overlords are dead right?....assuming we begin after the fall of dark queen At the time of Key of Destiny, Sable and Frost are still around. Sable buys the farm between the events of Spectre of Sorrows and Price of Courage.
#5 cam_banks May 10, 2006 20:54:49	At the time of Key of Destiny, Sable and Frost are still around. Sable buys the farm between the events of Spectre of Sorrows and Price of Courage. We're not sure which farm it is, but it's a nice little swampy farm on the edge of the world, where she can continue her pleasant experiments in peace, away from all of the nasty adventurers. She bought it for a song, too. Cheers, Cam
#6 darthsylver May 12, 2006 7:40:56	Personally I would call the ninja an assassin and call the Assassin PrC, Hit man. As far as for the kender pouches if you check the Kendercylopedia I am sure kipper has something over there.
#7 Mortepierre May 12, 2006 8:03:00	We had a thread here not too long ago where someone attempted to list all the PrC from the Complete series which had their place in the DL universe. Of course, it's gone now Here is a random generator for pouch: http://www.kencyclopedia.com/kender/pouches/random.cfm Lastly, I find funny that nowadays DM complain about too few of their players knowing the DL universe. At the time the first modules came out (back when TSR was in charge), DM used to complain that with so many people having read the Chronicles, there was no way to surprise them with the plot!
#8 doctorromulus May 19, 2006 8:21:22	I think your players not knowing the DL universe is a good thing. This way you can just give them the basics of their immediate area and also not have someone second guessing you. So, being an avid reader of the DL stuff I've really wanted to DM in it. Well, begining KoD this weekend but one small problem...NONE of my players know anything about DL. They've all either just never read them or are FR freaks. So, my questions are: How do I go about a short explanation of what the world is? I mean since the time span of the War of the Lance, Chaos, and the Age of Mortals really isn't that long it seems many people would have a brief idea of what happened, an idea of how Dragons & the deities effect the world, the basic factions, and current happenings. Any ideas on how to go about it this or of where a good, but brief, write up would be to catch them up to speed a bit? Its been a two week fiasco just getting them to totally get the different races and how they interact (ie. Kender, Tinkerer Gnomes, Minotaurs, etc.) Secondly, I didn't get to play 2nd Edition much, and what I did I forget much of, however, I seem to remember a rule stating something that the gods of Krynn deported people higher than 18th level in an attempt to keep the world balanced? Or that 18th was the max in DL? Not sure on that one. Next, anyone know of any good random tables to roll up kender pouches with? Again, I seem to remember one in the 2nd ED. stuff, but have no idea where to find it plus no longer live near the people that had it. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thats all I have for now, but I'm sure I'll be helpless again soon enough. :D
#9 lachlanfin May 22, 2006 15:15:10	Having players not knowing the DL universe can be alot of fun also. I just concluded a campaign that took place between the WotL and ended with the events in the Twins Trilogy. Of the 4 players only 1 had read the novels, 1 had RPed in DL before so he had a vague idea of events, races, etc..., one began reading the Cronicles to try to catch up and the other had never heard of DL prior to the adventure. Many characters will have not encountered the races of Krynn before they start adventuring so it makes for a good role-playing element and makes knowledge skills more valuable to characters who might have an idea what kender or tinker gnomes are like. Being able to have powerful NPC's interact with the party without them knowing how powerful they are can also make the DM job fun.