Dragonlance
In 1982, Tracy Hickman drove from Utah to Wisconsin for a job interview with TSR. His wife Laura sat beside him in the car as they discussed two ideas that had been brewing for years. They imagined an entire world built to support a storyline and another dominated by dragons. These concepts became the foundation of what would become Dragonlance. The couple presented their vision to TSR, whose marketing department felt they already had enough dungeons but lacked dragon-focused settings. Harold Johnson, a TSR employee, encouraged Tracy to gather more staff members to help develop the project. Over several months, Tracy secured support from Jeff Grubb, Larry Elmore, Roger Moore, Doug Niles, Michael Williams, and others. Meanwhile, Margaret Weis was editing Endless Quest books for TSR. The group decided novels should accompany the game modules, though TSR initially resisted. Tracy became design coordinator for Project Overlord, the cover name for the future Dragonlance saga. TSR eventually agreed to create a franchise including modules, board games, lead figures, and novels. Margaret and Tracy wrote the prologue for Dragons of Autumn Twilight over a weekend based on the module Dragons of Despair. TSR approved their work and fired the originally hired author. Two years after development began, TSR released both the module and novel in March and November 1984 respectively. The company ordered fifty thousand copies despite doubts about sales potential. When demand exceeded expectations, TSR published additional print runs.
The world of Krynn unfolds across five distinct ages, each marked by cataclysmic events and shifting powers. In the Age of Dreams, civilizations rose rapidly while new races emerged alongside three great wars between dragons and their minions. Following the Third Dragon War, the Cataclysm struck during the Age of Might, obliterating the empire of Istar and reshaping nearly the entire surface of Krynn. A three-hundred-year depression followed this disaster, ushering in the Age of Despair where most stories take place. During this era, armies of draconians fought as troops created from corrupted dragon eggs. Good chromatic dragons were rare while evil ones multiplied under the rule of dark kings. The Heroes of the Lance appeared during these desperate times to challenge the Dragonarmies of Ansalon. Their journey began when they met at the Inn of the Last Home in Solace. Tanis Half-Elven stood among them as a half-elf, while Tasslehoff Burrfoot served as a kender scout. Flint Fireforge brought dwarf strength to the group, and Sturm Brightblade offered Solamnic knightly honor. Goldmoon and Riverwind represented barbarian traditions, while Laurana Kanan embodied elven grace. Caramon Majere and his brother Raistlin formed twin bonds that would define much of the saga. Tika Waylan provided human resilience throughout their quest. These companions faced Chaos itself, an entity seeking to destroy Krynn entirely. Their victory ended the War of the Lance but left gods withdrawn from mortal affairs.
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman wrote the main storyline of the original Dragonlance series before moving on to other trilogies. The Chronicles trilogy covered events from the Companions' meeting through the defeat of the Dragonarmies. Lost Chronicles followed as companion books telling stories hinted at in the original trilogy but previously untold. Legends trilogy explored the Blue Lady's War and Raistlin's attempt to achieve godhood alongside his brother Caramon. Raistlin Chronicles focused on the early life of Raistlin Majere with his twin brother and half-sister Kitiara uth Matar. Second Generation compiled five novellas about children of the original Companions who later appeared in War of Souls. Dragons of Summer Flame described the Chaos War where gods and mortals joined forces against Chaos himself. Kang's Regiment told stories of draconians searching for identity after the War of the Lance. Destinies trilogy followed Destina Rosethorn on a time-traveling quest disrupting world balance. War of Souls trilogy began when a strange storm coursed through Krynn heralding divine conflict ending with Takhisis's death and Paladine's departure. Dark Disciple trilogy continued after lesser gods struggled to maintain dominance following those events. By 1998, the original trilogy had sold well over three million copies worldwide spawning dozens of sequels. Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman returned to write Dragons of Summer Flame in 1995 thinking it would be their final novel before leaving TSR. They went to Bantam Books when TSR turned down their Darksword series but eventually came back. In October 2020, they filed suit against Wizards of the Coast over a breached licensing deal for new novels. The lawsuit claimed agreement was made in 2017 to produce final books before being pulled in August 2020. A new trilogy began publication in August 2022 with the first volume released that month.
TSR created Dragonlance as a campaign setting for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in 1982 publishing Dragons of Despair module in March 1984. The company released its first world-spanning sourcebook called Dragonlance Adventures in 1987. When AD&D updated to second edition in 1989, Dragonlance received corresponding updates. In 1996, the setting converted to use the SAGA System which employed cards to determine action effects through Dragonlance: Fifth Age roleplaying game. Third Edition Dungeons & Dragons arrived in 2000 without immediate Dragonlance adaptation. Margaret Weis's company Sovereign Press acquired the license to publish third edition material starting in 2002. Official update Dragonlance Campaign Setting appeared in 2003 for 3.5 Edition rules. Wizards of the Coast transferred all responsibility for maintaining the setting to Sovereign Press until 2007. No support existed during fourth edition era spanning from 2008 to 2013. Wizards released PDF Heroes of Krynn in March 2022 as part of Unearthed Arcana public playtest series confirming return of the setting. December 6 saw release of adventure book Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen for fifth edition. Integrated board game Dragonlance: Warriors of Krynn launched in 2023 designed by Stephen Baker and Rob Daviau focusing on military battles during War of the Lance. Both games function independently though adventure module includes rules using board game mechanics to resolve narrative battles.
Raistlin Majere emerged from an initial gaming session at Tracy Hickman's apartment where player Terry Phillips portrayed him with rasping voice masking arrogance and power. Margaret Weis later swore that Terry wore black robes to a party that night. Tanis Half-Elven posed early challenges for Margaret until Tracy explained he was James T. Kirk of Starship Enterprise. Lord Soth stood out as most unpredictable character trying to run off with stories whenever appearing in books. Kitiara Uth Matar served as Raistlin and Caramon's half-sister leading one Dragonarmy of Ansalon. The world contains numerous gods including good Paladine, neutral Gilean, and evil Takhisis opposing Chaos who seeks destruction of Krynn. Clerics derive magic from their deities while wizards draw power from three moon gods Solinari, Lunitari, and Nuitari. Humans dominate Krynn alongside elves dwarves kender gnomes and minotaurs. Draconians formed from corrupted dragon eggs became reptilian humanoid troops used by evil kings seeking more evil dragons. Lesser dragonlances measure eight feet long functioning as polearms while greater versions reach sixteen feet commonly mounted on dragons. Locations include Plains of Dust Solamnia with metropolis Palanthas Blood Sea Isles Empire of Ergoth Istar Sancrist elven kingdom Silvanesti and dwarven realm Thorbardin. Cities like Solace housed Inn of Last Home and Sad Town while High Clerist Tower and Towers of High Sorcery stood as magical centers.
Eight video games set in the Dragonlance world emerged across six genres between 1988 and 1992. Heroes of the Lance adapted events from first novel Dragons of Autumn Twilight using Silver Box game engine platform mechanics. Dragons of Flame followed similarly adapting second novel events into another platform title. Shadow Sorcerer released in 1991 served as early real-time strategy sequel to first two games and prequel to War of the Lance. War of the Lance functioned as turn-based strategy adaptation corresponding to third novel background. DragonStrike combat flight simulation began halfway through previous game plot before receiving 1992 NES remake scrolling shooter featuring different ending fixing bad conclusion from Dragons of Triumph. Gold Box trilogy comprising Champions of Krynn Death Knights of Krynn and Dark Queen of Krynn remained only role-playing titles based directly on Dragonlance telling original stories shortly after fourteen tabletop modules. MUSH game DragonLance operated during final stage of War of the Lance. Music references included Wishmaster by Nightwish inspired by Raistlin and Dalamar relationship. Lake of Tears recorded Raistlin and the Rose on 1997 album Crimson Cosmos while Blind Guardian wrote Soulforged appearing on 2002 A Night at the Opera. Pyramaze contributed Caramon's Poem to 2008 Immortal album alongside Russian concept album The Last Trial premiering musical version in 2014. Animated film Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight arrived direct-to-video in 2008 produced by Toonz Animation with voices from Lucy Lawless Kiefer Sutherland Michael Rosenbaum and Michelle Trachtenberg. German audio adaption started late 2011 releasing Chronicles Trilogy parts sequentially. DC Comics published 1988 series while Devil's Due Publishing and Wizards of the Coast later created Legend of Huma 2003 Chronicles 2005 and Legends 2008 comic books.
Dragonlance became one of most popular shared worlds where writers beyond creators place adventures. First trilogy launched Dungeons & Dragons line of novels spinning characters into other stories making it TSR's most successful novel series alongside Forgotten Realms. What may once have been considered disposable escapist literature found unprecedented popularity throughout 1990s according to Marc Oxoby's The 1990s. All Dragonlance novels remained in print during decade turning Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman into literary stars boosting non-Dragonlance sales. Initial paperback success led to hardcover printings including impressive first run of two hundred thousand copies for Dragons of Summer Flame. Every novel by the pair since 1995 appeared in hardcover format with some previous titles receiving collector edition reprints. By 2008 franchise contained more than one hundred ninety novels selling over twenty-two million copies worldwide. Twenty bestseller lists featured their work translated into German Japanese Danish Dutch Finnish Spanish French Italian Hebrew Portuguese Greek and Turkish languages. Sales performed well across United States Britain and Australia though not all critics praised the series. Wendy Bradley of Interzone magazine expressed low regard while Stephen Hunt noted unusual loathing among fantasy literary mafia behind every scorn laden insult. Visions of Wonder edited by David G. Hartwell and Milton T. Wolf argued Dragonlance published under omnivore theory allowing subpar novels reaching small yet profitable teenage audiences replacing themselves every three to five years.
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Common questions
When was Dragonlance created and who developed it?
TSR created Dragonlance as a campaign setting for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in 1982. Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis developed the project after Hickman drove from Utah to Wisconsin for a job interview with TSR.
What are the five distinct ages of Krynn in Dragonlance?
The world of Krynn unfolds across five distinct ages including the Age of Dreams, Age of Might, Age of Despair, Age of Chaos, and Age of Mortals. The Age of Despair is where most stories take place following the Cataclysm that obliterated the empire of Istar.
Who wrote the main storyline of the original Dragonlance series?
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman wrote the main storyline of the original Dragonlance series before moving on to other trilogies. They returned to write Dragons of Summer Flame in 1995 thinking it would be their final novel before leaving TSR.
Which video games were set in the Dragonlance world between 1988 and 1992?
Eight video games emerged across six genres between 1988 and 1992 including Heroes of the Lance, Dragons of Flame, Shadow Sorcerer, War of the Lance, and DragonStrike. Gold Box trilogy comprising Champions of Krynn, Death Knights of Krynn, and Dark Queen of Krynn remained only role-playing titles based directly on Dragonlance.
How many copies did Dragonlance novels sell by 2008?
By 2008 the franchise contained more than one hundred ninety novels selling over twenty-two million copies worldwide. Twenty bestseller lists featured their work translated into German Japanese Danish Dutch Finnish Spanish French Italian Hebrew Portuguese Greek and Turkish languages.