True_Blue wrote:
This is really more of a problem for the poor people at Sovereign Press. They are working very hard to try and create a cohesive, coherent setting in the modern world and respond to their fans desires, and the novel line managers and editors don't really interested in helping to do that.
This was indeed Tal's complaint about the novel line recently, and while I don't want this to degenerate into a flamewar, I must admit feeling a little disconcerted at how unstable everything is. This could be fine if there was no interest in trying to do a gaming line. A Krynn in the midst of war and strife with a bunch of new powerful factions coming to the fore? In and of itself, that's excellent.
In fact, any of these plotlines 10 years ago would have been welcome when the novel line was doing nothing but "Heroes of the Lance" prequels. Now however when they should be doing small character stories exploring the world, they are all doing big epic stories.
Even this wouldn't be a problem, if there was more willingness to cooperate with the gaming line to produce products which would work well with this war-torn era. It really doesn't make sense, because if you have gaming products that work well with the novels, you'd think that would only help the novels. Wizard's Conclave, to an outsider like myself, makes it seem like there is no communication or common campaign setting thematic goals. This is extremely odd, because Sovereign Press has to have everything approved before they publish it.
So where does it leave us interested in the gaming books? Well, I certainly don't want to play an Age of Mortals game if the novel writers and continuity editor aren't willing to read the same gaming products I am. That's a no-brainer I think. Perhaps the Key of Destiny, but no real desire to buy campaign-building sourcebooks.
Anyway, I think it would depend on what I do. If Sovereign Press for example decided to rebel against the topsy-turvy state of the modern campaign world, or not enforcing continuity with how organizations are supposed to function and stuck with the WotL era, I would understand.
If the novel line refuses to work to create a setting that is good for gaming in, and doesn't acknowledge Sovereign Press books as continuity or simply contradicts them due to apathy then I'll have to judge how useful the sourcebook will be to me or how good the story is in the novel.
As it stands now, I can't conceive of myself finding a Knight's sourcebook (set during the post WoS era), because the way the knights have been presented in the gaming books are very far removed from the way they are presented in the novels. We don't seem to have a High Justice, High Warrior, and High Clerist presided over by a Grand Master. Instead we seem to have a Lord of the Crown, Lord of the Rose, and Lord of the Sword who rule over Thelgaard, Caergoth and Solanthus respectively. The Knights of the Sword are not clerics or mystics. Everyone swears homage to the Lord Mayor of Palanthas for some reason. I'm just left completely confused about what exactly is going on.
I would however, buy a knight's sourcebook set in the WotL era. Since there is no novel line for that anymore, it would be much easier to stay consistent.
/shakes head
why do sourcebooks at all then, if the books are gonna run over them anyway? Why not go the path of FR and make a canon for novels and a canon for games and split the two for good?
Personally that scares the heck out of me to know that things like the Knighthood's leaders being called by different names, etc are happening. Also if there is nothing about Liam, thats weird as heck. Its almost like reading The Last Thane and the Dark Thane, and wondering what in the world happened in between the books since barely anything fit together. Its really disheartening. Before, when I only read the novels, I could let a lot of things go because I barely read over "regions" and such in the gamebooks. Also there really wasnt an "up-to-date" book that had everything that had been goin on in the novels. Now we have that books, well actually two(the DLCS and Age of Mortals) and everytime I read it I keep thinking to myself "Nope, nope, nope thats wrong, well thats never mentioned, etc" and I just sigh. Sourcebooks like the DLCS and Age of Mortals have turned into books that I use for pure gaming, as in just for the stats of things. If I need to know how to make up a Kapak, thats where to go, but not whos the political leader of a certain region. Thats sad. I could condense down everything I would need from the book, stat wise, and it would be like 1/4 the size of the original.
I dunno, I personally don't *want* to play in a different era. I usually feel like I can't change things the way I want, even though I know I can. Its more confining, I think. Also I like everything the Age of Mortals has now. Everything is coming together now, but now we are having even more changes that shake the world up.
Basically I'm having way more fun playing than reading the novels. I really enjoy my gaming group and we have a lot of fun. I've started to like the fact that I can portray the Knights of Solamnia, Knights of Neraka, the WoHS, etc how *I* think they should be. Too often when I read the novels, I just think to myself... "do these authors read any DL books?". I mean I dont want to just bash on them, but seriously..they need to research more. Its almost sick. They write really good stories.. but their details are very very lacking. And its highly annoying when you can point out little things like Dalamar having blond hair. I really dont expect the authors to go through every gaming book there is, trying to know everything. But seriously.. read a few DL books, you can get the "gist of it" pretty easily. And if you use a character, do a little "research" for god's sake.
As I said in that quote, I'm actually kind of worried to read the Knight book. I seriously think I would get mad. Which some people may laugh at, *shrug*, but its true. Lately there's been a few novels(Linsha trilogy) that while I'm reading them I just want to put them down and never look at it again. I practically have to force myself to read through them.
I collect every single novel, from every D&D world. Which is one of the reasons I continue to buy the novels. I also read for the knowledge of the world because a lot of times I would base my view of the DL world off of what I read. Now its becoming increasingly clear that the novel writers just dont have the grasp for Dragonlance like I, and others, do. And thats a devestating thought. The novels have lead the way for Dragonlance culture for so long... but now they are turning into more and more "kender tales", that while good stories, dont really reflect what we have been told goes on in those areas. I think this is a shame and does a disservice to the fans. And if you do go by what was told in the novels, than you invalidate whole passages and sections of the gaming books you have. I dont mind if they dispose a leader, and put into place a new one that they think is "cooler" or for whatever other reason, but I'd like to be told how/why that leader was disposed. Things like this I think would go a long way.
In the end, I've lost faith in the novels. I hate sounding so negative, but its seriously come down to where I dread when most of them come out. Especially ones that i know will change a lot. But even the other ones I dont look forward to because I'm sick of the glaring inconsistancies. Maybe thats why I liked the Eberron novel so much was because I didnt know enough of the world to really be able to be like "*sputter* but thats wrong!".
I try as much as possible to incorporate what happens in the novels to my world. Sometimes its a lot harder than what I'd think it'd be. My group has centered mainly on helping out the WoHS, and they have run into groups of Knights of Neraka. Luckily I havent had too much happen in the "novel world" to cause much of a problem. I do dread the eventuality, but I'm sure I can deal with it. Right now in my campaign, the KoN are going through a big change since they are under new management. The WoHS are on a huge recruiting spree and have precurred(sp?) my party's resources in order to hunt down Sable's lairs and return a lot of lost magical items so that they can start giving more out to the promising mages who they recruit.
Terry, you bring up a good point in there - the idea that some people would rather play in a different era than the current era since other eras are less likely to have continuity changes. I hadn't thought of that.
Well, it isn't the continuity changes in and of themselves which are bad, but creating relatively useful and stable gaming products.
For example, with the Knight's Sourcebook, one really doesn't know what the structure of the Knighthood is going to be when Doug Niles gets down with it. If there is going to be a complete top-down shakeup of its structure, then what do I want the Knight's sourcebook for? I'd want either a knight's sourcebook dealing with a WotL era knighthood, or the finished product after the shakeup, not some wierd hybrid. Especially if it doesn't adequately explain either.
I don't know the details of the license agreement, namely whether Sovereign Press has to do sourcebooks on the current era. Besides which I know a lot of the new elements are being folded in, and there are lot interesting things to be said about the new ideas, as problematic as they may be.
So what are we to do? Do sourcebooks that might be made irrelevant with the next novel (Atlas, Organization Sourcebooks, Regional Geographic books)... or do we write things like the Races Sourcebook, Age of "X" sourcebooks, and other things the novel writers can't simply invalidate even if they don't want to bother to read them.
Can the novel line be made to see reason about certain things? For example, can the gaming line have certain areas that they can explore without interference from the novels and vice versa? Would WotC not care if the gaming line became the WotL line, and the novels were 5th Age?
I really feel for Sovereign Press. With this tight spot you're in, I'll be sure to support you more in future.
For example, with the Knight's Sourcebook, one really doesn't know what the structure of the Knighthood is going to be when Doug Niles gets down with it. If there is going to be a complete top-down shakeup of its structure, then what do I want the Knight's sourcebook for? I'd want either a knight's sourcebook dealing with a WotL era knighthood, or the finished product after the shakeup, not some wierd hybrid. Especially if it doesn't adequately explain either.
I was hoping that the sourcebook on knights would be next year. Now I think it would be best to wait until the Rise of Solamnia trilogy is finished. So 2007, maybe.
Yikes.
If there is going to be a complete top-down shakeup of its structure, then what do I want the Knight's sourcebook for? I'd want either a knight's sourcebook dealing with a WotL era knighthood, or the finished product after the shakeup, not some wierd hybrid. Especially if it doesn't adequately explain either.
It might have some neat PrCs...
As I said in that quote, I'm actually kind of worried to read the Knight book. I seriously think I would get mad. Which some people may laugh at, *shrug*, but its true. Lately there's been a few novels(Linsha trilogy) that while I'm reading them I just want to put them down and never look at it again. I practically have to force myself to read through them.
I'd say to avoid Solamnia if you didn't like Wizards Conclave. Same style, same total disregard for what makes Dragonlance the world that it is.
Also the fact that the Lake of Death has been portrayed differently by every author who has used it, it's another example of "do some research" meantioned earlier.
Personally I use the Knights of Neraka as the honor-bound knights found in Summer Flame. Isn't honor-bound a prerequisite for the Prc? I know you don't have to have levels of the PrC to be in the Knighthood, but the leaders usually do and they would stop any kind of activity that isn't up to the standards passed down by Ariakan (sp?)
that's my couple of coppers
I mean, they're advancing far too fast IMO.
Doing a good campaign in any game setting involves frequently a time from about 1 to 5 years of in game time. 5th Age has the tendency to *steal* that time, that *free space*, from DMs.
Now, to put it simple, how can I do an interesting and imaginative 5th Age campaign called *The Search for Mina*, if my players are already reading A&A?
...And the end: Although I quite like the DL setting, I am still doing my campaigns in the 4th Age, and not even on Ansalon anymore...
Main message: Less novels, more game supplements. ;)
The things that upset me in the novels is that they jump so far ahead. The Solamnia tril is supposed to take place over 10 years or something like that...
There was some confusion on that matter, something that apparantly didn't fully get caught in editing. Read this thread for more information.
Also the fact that the Lake of Death has been portrayed differently by every author who has used it, it's another example of "do some research" meantioned earlier.
Margaret once said something about that on the DL.com boards. Basically, the lake is highly magical since Beryl is a creature of magic, being a dragon. It appears differently to all those who see it.
Personally I use the Knights of Neraka as the honor-bound knights found in Summer Flame. Isn't honor-bound a prerequisite for the Prc? I know you don't have to have levels of the PrC to be in the Knighthood, but the leaders usually do and they would stop any kind of activity that isn't up to the standards passed down by Ariakan (sp?)
Honor-bound is required only for the Lily Knights, not the Skull or Thorn. Personally, I prefer the way the knights were portrayed in Summer Flame better.
In my own games, honor-bound would be required for all three orders. Granted, I generally don't allow evil characters, so the point is sorta moot. ;)
With all deference to Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman, Douglas Niles et al, I think I'm a *much* better DM for my players then they are.
I pick and choose what I like and don't like. I don't see anything in a novel as being anything more "official" or "cannon" than my own game and suppositions about the world.
I have a lot more *fun* with the setting as a result and make it my own. While I prefer to integrate material with one another so as to make sense and flow as a whole - I am not terribly troubled when it does not. I deliberately choose to make it different at times as I believe player surprise is extremely important when running a large metaplot like the WotL.
I run WotL era, so all the events of a Chaos War thay may never happen and an even less likely War of Souls generations off is not even a glint in Takhisis' eye.
Others call this approach an "alternate history" game; as that term is used generally, I suppose it is. My trouble with this sort of branding and terminology is that it purports to confer legitimacy on the novels as THE History of Krynn.
That is an approach that I have never, ever, accepted for DragonLance and while I know that I am in a tiny minority on this point - I believe that it is very wrong and causes an unending amount of wrangling and worry to no great purpose.
I run WotL era, so all the events of a Chaos War thay may never happen and an even less likely War of Souls generations off is not even a glint in Takhisis' eye.
Others call this approach an "alternate history" game; as that term is used generally, I suppose it is. My trouble with this sort of branding and terminology is that it purports to confer legitimacy on the novels as THE History of Krynn.
That is an approach that I have never, ever, accepted for DragonLance and while I know that I am in a tiny minority on this point - I believe that it is very wrong and causes an unending amount of wrangling and worry to no great purpose.
I'm part of the minority that Steel_Wind is. My game is completely branching off from the novel line. While i still like the novels as books, i don't like them as a thing setting the standard of This Is Krynn.
Others call this approach an "alternate history" game; as that term is used generally, I suppose it is. My trouble with this sort of branding and terminology is that it purports to confer legitimacy on the novels as THE History of Krynn.
All Dragonlance campaigns are alternate history campaigns when compared to the novels. As soon as those of us who run them begin to play with these wonderful toys, it ceases to be a novel series and becomes a living and breathing setting. However, I never have a problem helping others understand or sort out the established benchmarks for the setting for their own use. The Dragonlance product identity has specific features and traits which evolve and change over time as different authors and writers contribute to it. It is dynamic. Therefore, what is "official" will change over time as well. This should never detract from your own campaigns, which cannot remain "official" if they are to be dynamic as the setting is. But, when discussions are entered into in places like these boards, that "official" state of the world will always be the common mainstream (and the place from which my thinking tends to operate).
Cheers,
Cam
I gamed in the setting off and on, and eventually ran my old Darklance games with the Knights of Takhisis. Yes, Dragons of Summer Flame caught up to me, but that was okay. My game existed first, at least from my perspective.
After that time, we played around primarily in my friend's old Cataclysm-era game. That was all history, so no big deal.
What's interesting now is that I'm far more interested in the current series of Dragonlance novels than I've ever been. I see those discreps that have popped up between novels and games. While I don't think they're earth-shattering, my mind does take mental notes.
Each one of us runs Dragonlance games differently. Some try to stick as close to the novels as possible. Others stay away from novels completely. Others are somewhere in the middle.
I think the one thing that each DM has to do is to take the world, and make it his/her own. All of us have different views on how DL should work anyway, so it only makes sense.
It's like we take a snapshot from Dragonlance history, and run with it. We develop the story, shape the world, and it may or may not come out like the novels.
In fact, the novels may be a bit of a crutch. If we're worried about what happens in the novels, then we would be scared to truly shape the world of Krynn.
I'm part of the minority that Steel_Wind is. My game is completely branching off from the novel line. While i still like the novels as books, i don't like them as a thing setting the standard of This Is Krynn.
I do so, too.And BTW, I think most DMs do. It's also simpy a matter of money to stay with all the actual material, not to speak of the older 2e stuff that IMO is still very interesting for gaming. Except Taladas, I'd favour the early 5th Age ark...
Honor-bound is required only for the Lily Knights, not the Skull or Thorn. Personally, I prefer the way the knights were portrayed in Summer Flame better.
In my own games, honor-bound would be required for all three orders. Granted, I generally don't allow evil characters, so the point is sorta moot. ;)
That's exactly what I'm talking about. I loved how they were portrayed in Summer Flame, and it's a shame that the canon has stepped away from that. Thugs are thugs and do not need an organization like the Dark Knights.
I agree also with honor-bound should be required for all 3 orders.
Novels provide an easy out largely for an evolving world. Sometimes, the players are always best surprised and there's no way to surprise them better than throwing something from left field thanks to the Novels.
Thus, I try to do my best to incorporate the information from the novels into my gameworld.
I'm not especially troubled right now by the Novels being a little...odd....but I am interested in seeing how Sovereign Press will tie all the stuff together. The role of RPG material is, in my mind, there to provide literary information for writers as well as to help causal readers into the setting.
If anyone is familiar with West End Games, they used to be used by Bantam books to educate their authors about the setting. Everytime the books were finished, WEG helped tie them together to create a more coherent setting.
I don't know how it works now but this was an 'ideal' setting for me.
Novels provide an easy out largely for an evolving world. Sometimes, the players are always best surprised and there's no way to surprise them better than throwing something from left field thanks to the Novels.
If your players are avid novel readers, though, this could very well take away the surprise.
If anyone is familiar with West End Games, they used to be used by Bantam books to educate their authors about the setting. Everytime the books were finished, WEG helped tie them together to create a more coherent setting.
I liked how WEG dealt with the Star Wars property. They seemed to tie in very well with the novels and comics.
If your players are avid novel readers, though, this could very well take away the surprise.
True, on the other hand, there's an upside too. If your player has read the third book of Legends then he knows that the Blue Lady Kitiara is going to attack Palanthas and it can be used to build up things to a climax they are know is going to happen when and where.
It might make a campaign to destroy her armies more enjoyable as you can build up clues to that moment from that point on.
The only trick is figuring out how to come up with a suitable way to tie in PCs so they don't feel either
1. You are contradicting the novels
2. You are being cheated of your part
I liked how WEG dealt with the Star Wars property. They seemed to tie in very well with the novels and comics.
Agreed.
That the impression I'm getting from some threads. I've noticed some anomalies and mistakes when reading Lord of the Rose myself, but I have some hope that they may be resolved in time.
When I create something related to DL, I take in the game materials and novels with equal consideration.
I hope this Novel/Game relationship issue doesn't develope into a crisis.
That the impression I'm getting from some threads. I've noticed some anomlies and mistakes when reading Lord of the Rose myself, but I have some hope that they may be resolved in time.
When I create something related to DL, I take in the game materials and novels with equal concideration.
I don't think this will be a crisis by any means.
Personally, I think it's an interesting examination into the world of Dragonlance. We each approach Dragonlance differently, between novel fans, game fans, and fans of both.
What interests me is how gaming fans contend with the novels in what is a very novel-driven world.
Overall, I think game fans will continue on as they always have. There may be times when the games might hit a bump in the road due to novels, but as Charles points out, they can enhance the games as well.
But, when discussions are entered into in places like these boards, that "official" state of the world will always be the common mainstream (and the place from which my thinking tends to operate).
See that's exactly it. The game at home requires very little interaction with the setting as a whole. The DM's word on what is happening in the world, what time it is set in, and the flow of the events in the game are largely his concern and his priority.
However, Dragonlance is more than a gaming world. It is much more than a novel world. This is essentially what makes me the most demanding fan type. To me, Dragonlance is a fictional reality to be participated in. It is essentially something that I can talk about for pleasure, and to share the experience of with other people, particularly online.
It seems that the novel writers (and more particularly the editors) aren't interested in building a coherent and consistent DL world for the fans to enjoy as much as they are with writing what they think is the best and most exciting stories possible. In a Dragonlance context, that seems like you need world-shaking epic stories of war. This is fine, but there is a game line being published right now which is trying to build a coherent and consistent DL world. As the type of fan that I am, I certainly would prefer the game content over the novel content.
What is really distressing though, is that WotC does not seem to be really organized in how it wants the game world to unfold. It is really shooting themselves in the foot by not letting the gaming side of things in on the action. If the gaming line is strong, it can only help novel sales.
Now this doesn't mean spoiling the novels themselves. However, it can mean being consistent with the novels so that the gaming material can foreshadow (or better yet) supplement the novels. This would lead me to be a much happier consumer.
For example, as you all know by now, I want good geographical information. It is essentially the means in which I can create a good cohesive Dragonlance setting. I was a very angry consumer when the DLCS came out because it had very little setting information, and the setting information that was there didn't deal with the politics and culture of the regions which is the most important thing for adventuring in society. I was a very angry consumer when after expressing some complaints about this lack, I was told that I was "too picky" or "was an uncreative DM", wounds which have not entirely healed. However, I was listened to and I'm very pleased with the WotL sourcebook.
Now I look back at the DLCS and AoM sourcebooks and I wonder what the result would have been if the WotC novel department had let it be known that the world was going to be war-torn and strife ridden for the next decade, and that writing an Atlas or Geography chapter would be rather counterproductive. If this was the way it was spun to me by consumer relations, I might have grumbled a bit, but I would have been satisfied with the explanation.
(As a side note, judging by how the Tower of Wayreth is in Tasselhoff's map pouch, I hope the Sovereign Press has learned its lesson about not responding to a complaint about something missing in a product with "You don't need it". A simple explanation of why it isn't there, which usually has been reasonable, will go over much better.)
If that was the case, obviously a FRCS style book would be rather disastrous. Instead of states, we should concentrate on societies and nations. For example, talk about the Tarmak culture, what office leads it, important figures, what their battle tactics are, what they eat, how they mourn their dead.
Tell us the same thing about the people of Solamnia, Nereka, Ergoth, Abanisinia and all the other cultures. Let us know how they are distinct racially, culturally, and politically. Then we will be emotionally connected to the people (and peoples) happening in the novels and can enjoy it.
However, it still isn't too late to pursue this track. The WotL sourcebook works reasonably well as a good baseline of the cities, towns and borders of the nations. A book "Cultures of Ansalon" would be good to get a sense of the world by describing the above (as long as the novel writers and editors adhere to it). Then when the new map of Ansalon is drawn, and the novel department decides that perhaps there has been a bit too much war and it is time to settle down, and Atlas (or revised DLCS) can be our reward.
I don't think this will be a crisis by any means.
Personally, I think it's an interesting examination into the world of Dragonlance. We each approach Dragonlance differently, between novel fans, game fans, and fans of both.
What interests me is how gaming fans contend with the novels in what is a very novel-driven world.
Overall, I think game fans will continue on as they always have. There may be times when the games might hit a bump in the road due to novels, but as Charles points out, they can enhance the games as well.
Good points, so I'll stay cautiously optimistic.
It's kind of like back in the 90s, when the gaming line was dropped the first time...
Everyone complained about *that War of Chaos crap* and *How could they let Tanis die so indignable*... and a seriously big group of players quit DL; I doubt that they have repented and resumed playing with 3e...
Now, seriously, the War of Souls was much to bear after having spend money on the 5A books/boxes. If they don't let it rest a bit, the same thing will happen... Not that one dropped the setting, but one would not buy the products any more....
And keep in mind that the current DL fan base is still a great bunch of 2e players! Because of its strong ties to now over a dozen of novels, DL has become a very newcomer-unfriendly setting, and the more novels they release, the more that situation will aggravate.
After all, just my opinion. I will always keep my Dl books as treasures. :D
Back in the day when Dragonlance was young, you could tell that at least some of the authors talked, or were familiar with the works of different authors and stayed somewhat consistant. Obviously things fell through the cracks, but it was things I could get over.
Nowadays, every author is a seperate entity who almost seems not to speak with any other authors or people who know about Dragonlance. Some of the stories can literally be picked up and placed in a different world without one problem. Others detail organizations or people and have them act contrary to everything we know about them.
Its almost come down to where these authors are so "established" that they feel they can literally do whatever they please, and the fanbase will get over it. I find this insulting and annoying.
As more and more novels come out, I question myself as to why i even buy the Dragonlance novels. I read the new Eberron novels(which are phenominal(sp?) btw) and still read my FR novels and rarely ever have a problem. Sometimes I think this may be because I see Dragonlance culture so much more defined, but I can let little things slide. Its the simple fact of the number of errors I see in the books nowadays is staggering. I've come to the belief that there is no "homework" done when someone sits down to write a Dragonlance novel. They make up a story, write it out, and fill in details later on(like cities names, etc). I find this just sad, and it really shows in their novels.
Thats why in my gaming world I just cannot follow the novels anymore. It just doesnt make sense to. Too many inconsistancies would eventually turn Dragonlance into... well... not Dragonlance. I've formed an extensive knowledge of the Dragonlance world and learn more everyday. In the end, it may sound egocentric, but I know more about the world than practically every author out there(with the exception of Weis and Hickman and *maybe* 1 or 2 others). Basically we should start having the SP people who write the sourcebooks to start writing the novels because at least things get done right, and if something "changes" there are hard reasons as to why that was done. Basically the authors dont have to "answer" to anything so they do as they fit. Personally I think some of the SP people should put in novel transcripts.
Nowadays, every author is a seperate entity who almost seems not to speak with any other authors or people who know about Dragonlance. Some of the stories can literally be picked up and placed in a different world without one problem. Others detail organizations or people and have them act contrary to everything we know about them.
You're absolutely incorrect, but I think it will be very difficult to convince you of why.
Cheers,
Cam
Now I could accept the fact that the Knights had "fallen"(ala The Chronicles), I can accept they maybe had a currupt leader, etc. These things I dont see as "wrong". Its the total lack of detail that went into the Knighthood as he described them. They had *none* of the customary features of what we would see in a Knight... in any of the Knights that were detailed. The orders were described as seperate private armies. All three dukes, and pretty much most other knights were seen as evil, cowardly, greedy, annoying, etc people. None of the titles we know of were even used. Knights like Liam werent even references, or Habakkuk and small noting of Kiri-Jolith, etc.
I dunno, as I said above, i'm sorry if you take offense, if it was you or someone else on the Dragonlance team. But the latest crop of novels have hit the point where they are either unimaginative, or they lack the Dragonlance feel and basically barely come close to resembling a story in the Dragonlance world.
Even if its difficult to explain, I'd still appreciate to hear it just so I can help myself to understand how something like this book could occur. And even if I'm too dense or stubburn to understand it, maybe others will get something out of it and at least they will have a little peice of mind. But then again, you arent required to explain yourself or the authors to us, I realize this. I just would like help to try to understand how the current trend has occurred in the novels. I'm a disatisfied consumer, and its not exactly a position I like being in. I really dont like grumping about something.. just seems to be what gets to me the most and makes me actually voice my opinions.