Most games in Dungeons & Dragons feature an adventurous band of adventurers who attempt to solve problems on their own or with the help of some prominent friends. Changing that realm with the release of Wizards of the Coast Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queenwhich is taking inspiration from war movies like saving Private Ryan And 1917,
The 244-page hardcover campaign chronicles the early days of the Battle of the Lance from a 1980s Dragonlance setting, where the forces of Dragon Queen Takhisis, also known as Tiamat, are marching against the Knights of Solamnia. .
“Dragonlance is really D&D’s setting for war, for large-scale conflicts, for these world-wide, world-changing battles,” D&D senior game designer Wes Schneider said during Tuesday’s press conference. ” “Players will find themselves at the forefront of this fight in defense of Solmania against this evil wave of tyranny. It’s not just the fate of a city, it’s not just the fate of your pocket book. The fate of the whole world is really at stake in this.”
Image: Darken/Wizards of the Coast
Kate Irwin, D&D’s principal art director, said she tried to bring that epic scale to life through adventure art. Chapters open with double-page fragments often inspired by photographs from World War I and World War II. For example, an image of an adventure party gathered around a captive Red Dragon is meant to be reminiscent of soldiers with a captured tank. Another depicts the Knights of Solmaniya marching towards battle.
“This is the beginning of the struggle,” Irwin said. “They are leaving their home, headed for an uncertain future, but knowing they have to do what they have to do.”
the book will be sold together Dragonlance: Warriors of KrinA cooperative board game from veteran Wargame designers Rob Daviau (risk inheritance) and Stephen Baker (HeroQuest, Battle Masters) While the two can be played separately, they are meant to work in concert, with players turning to board games to simulate massive battles. The decisions made in those fights and their outcome will affect both future tours. Crino’s Warriors and what happens in the story of shadow of the dragon queen,
The board game comes with a set of miniatures to represent the characters that can also be used on a standard D&D grid, including a giant Knight of Solamnia modeled after Brian of Tarth. Instead of a traditional battle focused on moving units around the map, Crino’s Warriors D&D will maintain the focus with players with different abilities depending on their character class.
“You’re still playing your characters,” Schneider said. “You’re doing your adventures in the field or around the edges of battle, doing the things that really matter to turn the tide of the battle.”
Main foes include Takhisis Kansaldi, the Fire-Eyed Priest, who leads his army from behind a red dragon, and the iconic Death Knight Lord Soth, who rides a new type of undead dragon. The game also brings back the Draconians, humanoids, born from the stolen eggs of the (traditionally considered good man) metal dragons who have been corrupted by Takhshi (traditionally considered the bad guy) chromatic dragons. has gone.
“It makes the Metal Dragons stand out because the Chromatics have kidnapped their children, but it also means that the Chromatics have this great army that they’re building and no one is going to stop them, At least no one who is equal in power,” Irwin said.
Image: Kieran Yanar / Wizards of the Coast
Because the adventure focuses on Solamnia, shadow of the dragon queen It will not contain a comprehensive gazette of the world of Krin, but will include a poster map of the continent of Ansalon. shadow of the dragon queen The player will also provide details on the various groups, organizations, and races found in Dragonlance to provide inspiration for the characters.
While you may encounter some familiar faces, the focus will be on player characters rather than heroes from the novels by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weiss, who are currently working on a new Dragonlance trilogy.
“It’s a new story,” Schneider said. “We’re not watching the original Dragonlance adventures. We’re not watching the novels. We all know and love the heroes, they’re doing their job, but it’s a big world and there’s a huge worldwide war going on. Let’s tell these other tales. Let’s really put you and your characters at the center of these stories and see what their role is in turning the tide of this big conflict.”
Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen Physically will be released on December 6th, though on November 22nd you can unlock two weeks of early access through D&D Beyond by purchasing both the digital and physical versions together. The book and its digital companion cost $59.94 when purchased together. Book, its digital companion and board game — Dragonlance: Warriors of Krin – Available for $154.98 and will include a special Dungeon Master screen.
