Dragons of Despair

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Dragons of Despair
Code DL1
Rules Required AD&D (1st Edition)
Character Levels 4 - 6
Campaign Setting Dragonlance
Authors Tracy Hickman
First Published 1984
Linked Modules
DL1 DL2 DL3 DL4 (DL5) - DL6 DL7 DL8 DL9 - DL10 (DL11) DL12 DL13 DL14

Dragons of Despair is the start of the first major story arc in the Dungeons & Dragons Dragonlance series of game modules. It is the first of 14 Dragonlance adventures published by TSR between 1984 and 1986 that make up the game version of the original Dragonlance storyline also told in the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy of novels. This module corresponds to the events told in the first half of Dragons of Autumn Twilight.[1][2]

Contents

[edit] Original Publication

First published in March 1984 this module is the first Dragonlance product ever released, seven months before the first Dragonlance novel. In January and February there had been small teaser advertisements in Dragon, smaller than a quarter page simply showing the Dragonlance logo and the text "coming soon".[3][4] In the same month as the module was released the issue of Dragon has a short story "The test of the twins" by Margaret Weis with a sidebar explaining about Dragonlance being "an epic adventure usable with the AD&D game system, and will be detailed through a series of TSR products - books, games, modules, and even miniature figures."[5] Latter in the same issue a full page teaser advertisement showing a black & white version of the painting from the cover of DL1 with the text "Play the epic series... Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dragonlance"[6]

The cover of Dragons of Despair features a painting by Clyde Caldwell depicting the black dragon Khisanth fighting Goldmoon, Tanis Half-Elven, and Caramon Majere. The module features the first appearances of the creatures Draconians (Baaz and Bozak varieties) and Aghar (Gully Dwarves) and locations including Xak Tsaroth, Solace and Haven. It is the first appearance of the pregenerated player character's (PC's) that form the core Heroes of the Lance - Tanis Half-Elven, Sturm Brightblade, Caramon Majere, Raistlin Majere, Flint Fireforge, Tasslehoff Burrfoot and Goldmoon, along with Riverwind who is played as an NPC (Non-Player Character) henchman to Goldmoon. Tika Waylan makes her first appearance as an NPC, she is available for use as a PC and joins up with the Heroes of the Lance in Chapter 7 of DL2 Dragons of Flame. The villanous hobgoblin lord Fewmaster Toede also makes his first appearance.

The game module was positively received. 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.[7] It was seen as well written and presented with a unique feel to the world it is set in, even if it was felt the plot of taking a powerful magic item to the heart of the enemies defences was lifted straight out of Lord of The Rings.[8] The module focuses on story and character without losing sight of what makes a D&D adventure truly great.[7]

[edit] Credits

  • Original concept: Tracy Hickman
  • Editor: Michael Williams
  • Design staff: Tracy Hickman, Harold Johnson, Douglas Niles, Carl Smith and Michael Williams
  • Product design: Bruce Lewis, Elizabeth Riedel
  • Cover art: Clyde Caldwell
  • Interior art: Jeff Easley
  • Cartographer: “Diesel”
  • Canticle by: Tracy Hickman and Michael Williams
  • Song by: Tracy Hickman, Carl Smith, and Michael Williams

[edit] Reprints and Revisions

The original series was updated to second edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and repackaged as the three Dragonlance Classics modules, using module code DLC. DLC1 Dragonlance Classics Volume 1 reprinted DL1 along with DL2, DL3 and DL4 in 1990.

In 1999 Wizards of the Coast published a new revision of the original Dragonlance story, including Dragons of Despair, 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.[9]

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, with Dragons of Despair included in Dragonlance Volume 1: DL1 - DL8.[10]

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". The four chapters of this book Despair corresponds to the material in DL1 Dragons of Despair.

Heroes of the Lance is a video game based on Dragons of Despair released in 1988. It is a horizontally-scrolling fighting game that faithfully represents the events of the module.

Dragons of Despair has been converted into Neverwinter Nights computer game format. The adaptation requires both the Shadows of Undrentide and Hordes of the Underdark expansion packs as well as the original game.[11]

[edit] Synopsis

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.

Chapter 1: The Road Travels East
The story begins with the player characters (PC's) meeting up as agreed in Solace after five years of unsuccessful individual quests to find any sign of true clerics. A mixture of time based and zone location wilderness encounters are used to direct the PC's to find a magic crystal staff and take it to the ruined city of Xak Tsaroth.

Chapter 2: Lost City of the Ancients
In the ancient jungle covered ruins of Xak Tsaroth the PC's encounter more Draconians. They also may find baby dragons and for the first time they will encounter Khisanth, an ancient, huge black dragon.

Chapter 3: Descent into Darkness
Following the fleeing dragon down a well the PC's must negotiate the first level of a more traditional style dungeon filled with Draconians, Gully Dwarf slaves and other monsters.

Chapter 4: Lair of the Dragon
On the second level of the dungeon the PC's must finally confront and defeat Khisanth. This is an extremely challenging task for party and they will likely be aided by the goddess Mishakal through her Blue Crystal Staff. The adventure ends with the PC's recovering the Disks of Mishakal allowing for the return of true clerics to Krynn for the first time in over 300 years.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ (Dobson 1985:5)
  2. ^ Schick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. Buffalo, New York: Prometheus Books. ISBN 0-87975-653-5. 
  3. ^ "Dragonlance Teaser Advert: Coming soon" (January 1984). Dragon #81 Vol. VIII (No. 7): 58. TSR. ISSN 0279-6848. 
  4. ^ "Dragonlance Teaser Advert: Coming soon" (February 1984). Dragon #82 Vol. VIII (No. 8): 56. TSR. ISSN 0279-6848. 
  5. ^ Weis, Margret (March 1984). "The test of the twins". Dragon #83 Vol. VIII (No. 9): 26–30. TSR. ISSN 0279-6848. 
  6. ^ "Dragonlance Teaser Advert: Play the epic series..." (March 1984). Dragon #83 Vol. VIII (No. 9): 68. TSR. ISSN 0279-6848. 
  7. ^ a b {Mona et al. 2004:71)
  8. ^ (Staplehurst 1984)
  9. ^ Miller, Steve (2000-03-21). Re:DL. RPGnet. Retrieved on 2007-03-23.
  10. ^ Dragonlance Volume 1: DL1-DL8 (2000 Wizards of the Coast edition). RPGnet. Retrieved on 2007-04-12.
  11. ^ NWN Modules: DL1 - Dragons of Despair. ign.com (2004-05-11). Retrieved on 2007-03-25.

[edit] References