Dragonlance D&D Game Blog

You probably already know, but to the few who don't, the latest Reaper Miniatures Kickstarter launched a few days ago, and is already off a great start. For more information, check out the link for Reaper Miniatures Bones 5 on Kickstarter. Previously, I passed on their Kickstarters for one reason only (2 actually): my painting skills are so poor and I don't think I would ever paint everything that comes in the core set in my lifetime. I occasionally picked up a few of the add-on sets in the past if it was something specific and unique that I wanted. On the other hand, this Kickstarter, like everyone of their previous ones offers a great value. With many (but not all) of the various stretch goals adding more value to the basic core pledge, you end up seeing your price per mini going down significantly by the end of the campaign. And on top of that, the add-ons give you some unique options for an additional extra cost, nice if you want larger quantities of something in the...

So, after the finale of the Dragon Island saga, our gaming group had some changes in real life. One of the players was moving out of town, one seemed to be more interested in running a Mage campaign, and so on. That put me back to the unenviable position of having to rebuild the group. Luckily, I did have one player still around (Mike), and after a couple of months of searching I had one more. I was hoping to get at least three to restart the game, but rather than keep the two I did have waiting around (and potentially dropping out before I even got started), I decided to start with just two PCs (along with an NPC character I would run as needed). Even though Mike already had a character in the game (Hunter, a 7th level ranger), I didn't want to start this game at such a high level, so I asked Mike if he would bring in a new 1st level character for the time being. The idea was that when this new party (along with any new players) reached a high enough level, we could have th...

If you've been following along with the various game sessions and specifically the last Dragon Island session ( here ), then the start of this entry may seem a little jarring. Here's the real world story. In real life, one of the players, Eric (who played the kender thief Theo) was leaving town. He was starting law school out of state and would be leaving on a fixed date. I had planned for this adventure to be the capstone for the first campaign arc, and I was eager to wrap the adventure and the arc in the available time left. It seemed right that Eric, who had been a long time player (second only to Mike in seniority) should see the end of all the hard work they and their characters had put in to the game. Unfortunately, more real world events got in the way and I ended up not having the number of sessions that I thought I would. Still wanting to make this finale take place before Eric left for law school, I borrow the trope of the black-out time jump that would take the P...

It's been way too long since my last comic post (or any post for that matter). Luckily, this is a standalone issue so no previous storylines are referenced here. This issue contains two stories, one featuring a minotaur of the Imperial League, the other featuring a lowly hobgoblin questing to be the leader of his tribe. Sadly, while Myrella (the female wizard last seen in issue 16 ) appears on the cover, she does not actually appear in either story--already this issue is off to a bad start! The Path to Power The first story starts off with an arena combat where a minotaur, Cantavian, defeats another minotaur, Platius. Afterward, the Emperor talks with Cantavian and the leader of the Black Cloaks minotaur legion. Due to his win in the arena, Cantavian is grudgingly given support for creating a new unit similar to the Black Cloaks. Apparently this plan was originally the idea of Cantavian's cousin, who it turns out to be was General Axantheas (last seen in issue #25 ). W...

Ring of Evil This issue starts out with General Axantheas holding a meeting. Around the table are humanoids of different races and genders (including a traag draconian and a hobgoblin). Behind the general is a statue of Erestem (aka Takhisis). The mintour proclaims this small group to be the greatest champions of evil on Taladas, each representing one of the Erestem's five heads. There is infighting within the group, and Axantheas even kills one of the other "heads", believing him to be a spy for the rival nation of Thenol. Elsewhere, Riva starts the morning in prayer to Paladine. Afterward the rest of the party convince her that the best way to stop the general and Esterem, is to reveal their plot to the emperor of the League of Minotaurs. Later they unleash an attack on the emperor's entourage in an attempt to get a private audience with the leader. After fighting the emperor's minions, he steps out of his carriage in full battle gear. As he listens to the party...

Pictures of the miniatures in the next D&D set, Legendary Evils , confirm that two creatures exclusively from the Dragonlance setting will be included. This new set will feature minis for both the Aurak and Sivak types of draconians. Previously, the Dragoneye set included minis for the Baaz and Kapak draconians. Now all I need is for them to create a Bozak figure to round out the set. Interestingly the Baaz and Kapak are the two weakest and the Aurak and Sivak are the two strongest, leaving the Bozak to suffer middle-child syndrome. Another exciting bit of news about draconians is that one of the new source books will include 4e stats for these creatures. I haven't heard yet if the book will also include rules to play Baaz and Kapak, like the 3.5 edition of Dragonlance did. All of these little bits are leading some to think that Dragonlance will be the new 4e setting for 2010 (last year was Forgotten Realms, this year is Eberron). While I hope it is Dragonlance, I wouldn't...

Having finally recovered the Gem of Amara , the party returned to Dun Eamon for supplies and a chance to plan their next move... Inside the Grey Citadel, Hunter, Theo, Jes, and Adow were contacted by Caledon, a local druid and friend of Greybear. He reported that the local druids were watching the area around Brightstone Keep and there had been an increase in activity around the mine. The druids currently believed that the followers of the Black Scourge had retrieved as many as eight or nine of the ten bones needed to allow the Scourge to return to the prime material plane. Everyone then packed up with fresh supplies for the journey back to the keep. En route, the party met up with the druids actually monitoring the area. They were reunited with Greybear , who informed them of recent events. Many of the local hobgoblin and gnoll tribes had aligned themselves with this cult, and the main entrance to the mine was well guarded by these minions. Something they recently discovered, was that...

Mission of Mercy This issue opens up with Darial and Shaya riding a cart into town when they are stopped by a group of draconian guards. The guards are wondering why they are arriving into town so late at night. Darial makes up a story that Shaya is sick and needs a healer. The draconains, finished tormenting the travelers, sends them on their way. A little while later, in the house of the town healer, Riva receives a foul smelling potion. In moments, the poison is purged from her body and the knight is up and about. The healer warns that Riva still needs time to heal and takes the three of them through a secret passage into a room, hidden from draconian guards. While sharing a feast, Darial asks how Riva became a night. There's a one page montage of moments from the first arc of the comic: Lord Soth, Riva fighting Takhisis, fighting with Kitiara, Riva in an embrace with Vandar, and kneeing in front of Vandar's body. Rather than tell her story, she continues talking about Winst...

Dragonkill This issue starts with Riva Silvercrown (about 30+ years older than her last appearance in issue 12 ) being chased by a number of draconians. She defeats many of them while her dragon mount, Ktarrh, finishes off the rest. Just after the battle her dragon dies from massive wounds. Near death herself from the draconians wounds, Riva sets off on foot, away from the battlefield... Elsewhere a young brother and sister (Darial and Shaya) sit outside their parent's farm. Shaya notices something in the distance and thinks maybe the draconians are returning to their farm, but Darial sees that it's a lone figure. As they go to investigate, they find Riva collapsed on the ground. The kids help the knight back to their farm, where Riva finds their murdered parents in the farm house. Darial asks Riva how he can become a knight. While Riva rests, she begins to tell the story Wistan Dawnbringer, forefather to Gunthar Uth Wistan, the current head of the knighthood... During the Seco...

Through the Eyes of Time This issue starts off with Myrella, Riverwind and Goldmoon on horseback discussing Raistlin. While Myrella sees the archmage as the personification of evil, while Goldmoon attempts to show the tragic side of Raistlin. Through her recounting of Raistlin's life, Goldmoon even draws parallels between the black robe mage and Myrella. Meanwhile, on some other plane of existence, Par-Salian is in restraints while being confronted by the spirit of a dead mage, bound to a lost tower of high sorcery. Back on Krynn, the three continue their discussion until they hear what seems to be the sound of a person crying out for help. Myrella recklessly rushes toward the sound only to be attacked by a pack of keches, which are handily defeat by the three travelers. Afterward, Goldmoon chides Myrella for her recklessness and warns that magic abilities only amplify flaws if the mage doesn't confront them. Once again, she compares Myrella to Raistlin, and they own quests for...

City of Death This issue opens with a beautiful splash page of Takhisis talking with Raistlin. She mentions that she would know at once if he was plotting to betray her. As he reaffirms his loyality to the goddess, we see Kalathan in the middle of another one of his "posessions" and fighting with the gnome and Myrella until he regains his senses. The three are just outside of Neraka and can see the twisted temple and two flying citadels in the center of town. As they make their way closer, the run across and fight a patrol of baaz draconians. Myrella realizes that Kalathan is being drawn to this city and uses a detect magic spell to reveal that the dark elf is under some enchantment. Using a tunnel to sneak into the city, the party fights a purple worm before exiting just outside the temple. As they sneak inside, they come to the main audience chamber and see Raistlin. In the center of the huge room, a half-elf and another warrior fighting over a crown. Just then, the trumpe...

My Honor Is My Life The story picks up shortly after the events of issue 3 . Kitiara, top her dragon Skie, is leading her army, along with an unmounted red dragon, toward Castle Silvercrown. Inside, Riva and Vandar are talking with Fizban, without getting much information out of the old wizard. Riva leaves, with the dragonlance that was recovered from the monestary of Majere in issue 1 , to join up with the castle knights. She tries to bolster their spirits before the attack, but is quickly dismissed since she's a woman. Meanwhile as Vandar and Fizban talk, the young boy, Tip, appears, happy the old wizard is still alive. As Vandar leaves to meditate on his own, Fizban questions weither or not Angriff really died the way Vandar remembered it (as seen in issue 3). Outside, as the battle rages, Riva single-handedly kills the red dragon. This event turns the tied of the battle and instills the knights with renewed vigor. Just then, Kit arrives and launchs her attack on Riva. Back insi...

Continuing my review of DC's Dragonlance comics series. Nightwatch The issue starts at night in Riva's bedroom at Castle Silvercrown. As Riva and Vandar kiss, Vandar is revealed to be a draconian. Riva quickly kills the creature before setting off to find the real Vandar in the castle. She encounters her father and brother (who was revealed last issue to have been killed several months earlier by a Sivak draconian) tethered to strings like puppets trying to stop her. After Riva cuts the strings that control them, the two crumple to the floor. Elsewhere in the castle, she finds Vandar chained and tortured by a hobgoblin. She quickly kills the creature and frees the monk. As they talk, it appears Vandar is trapped in the same dream as Riva. While taking a break to rest, Riva hears Vandar talking, but then sees that he's talking to his brother Angriff (Sturm's father). As the scene plays out, Riva sees the two argue about how to deal with the angry mob outside the castl...

Continuing my review of DC's Dragonlance comics series. Rites of Passage The issue starts with Riva and Vandar looking at the dragonlance they recovered in the first issue . Riva claims Vandar should carry it, or at least one of the other weapons they have, but Vandar's pacifist beliefs don't allow it. That night he notices that the constellations of the Queen of Darkness (Takhisis) and the Valiant Warrior (Paladine) do not appear in the sky. He believes that the two gods are on Krynn and no one will survive their battle. As Riva tries to comfort him, we see her attraction to Vandar while he seems to brood on a past betrayal. Note: The sight of the missing constellations ties in to a similar scene in Dragons of Autumn Twilight. In the middle of the night, Riva is alone in a dense, thorny forest, where she confronts Lord Soth. As she tries to use her dragonlance against him, he easily disarms her with magic. Just then, Riva wakes up from her dream to find herself being atta...

After freeing the last of the slave/miners from the Brightstone Keep (see part 3 ), the party went to explore the mines for more information on the mysterious things going on here, and maybe find more clues regarding Bergan's missing friend, Catriona. The entrance to the mine was sealed, but the lock was picked with only a little bit of effort. Slowly everyone entered... * Theo - the kender, handy at unlocking locked locks * Hunter - the half-elven ranger who's precision with the bow is often fatal to his opponents * Greybear - the druid, able to access the divine power of nature itself * Arti - a mage wielding powerful arcane forces * Jessriel - a former prisoner with hand to hand combat skills as effective as any blade or club. * Bergin - a minotaur and cleric of Kiri-Jolith As they entered, the party found a crudely carved path way leading to forked intersection. Opting to head left, they encounter a pair of zombies milling about. Bergan is able to call upon the power of Kir...

After defeating the hobgoblins and draconian and securing their location (see part 2 for more details), the party took time to rest and heal from their wounds. With guards stationed on the roof, the night passed without incident. The early morning, however, was not as quiet. From the roof, the lookout could see several hobgoblins coming over to their tower, while a few others left the keep by way of the breach in the back wall. With the hobgoblins making their way over, inside the party made their preparations: * Hunter (the half-elven ranger) and Arterion (the elven mage) took secure positions on the roof with bow and arrow. * Meanwhile, Theodonis (the kender), Greybear (the druid), and Bergin (the minotaur cleric) took positions on the first floor, ready to strike should the tower door fall. From the roof, Hunter was able to kill one of the hobgoblins before they entered the tower. Once inside Theo, Bergin, and Greybear engaged the hobgoblins in melee combat. After a few minutes of ...

After the events earlier that night , Theodonis took a few moments to rest at the top of the tower before continuing on. In addition to the kender ("Theo"), waiting down below were: * Hunter, the half-elf ranger. * Arterion ("Arti"), the elven mage * Greybear, the druid * and Bergin, a minotaur cleric Thinking that the tower was empty, Theo continued down to the sleeping area, only to find himself under attack by a pair of hobgoblin spear-men. These warriors were much better trained than the guards Theo had previously fought and he soon found himself seriously wounded and overwhelmed by the attack. With few options, he fled down a second set of stairs to the ground floor, and hopefully a quick exit from this tower. But the tower defenses were prepared for such an assault. They had overturned their feast table for cover and trained their bows on anyone coming down. One arrow and one crossbow bolt later and Theo was unconscious and bleeding at the foot of the stairs.....