Why Dragonlance Should Have Been Chosen As The Next D&D Campaign Setting

So, it seems that today at GenCon Wizards of the Coast announced that Dark Sun would become the next setting developed for Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition. I'm sure this is very exciting for a lot of people, but its not very appealing to me. Don't get me wrong, it sounds like an interesting setting; just not really my thing. And, I like the idea of playing in a setting that is sort of post-apocalyptic. I just always imagine more science fiction in my apocalypse.

So for the record, I'm not saying anything bad about Dark Sun. I'm sure it's a lovely setting. At least as far as desolate wastelands can be lovely. I just would have liked to have seen some love for Krynn.

Firstly, GenCon would have been a great place to announce the return of D&D to Dragonlance considering this year is the 25th anniversary of Dragonlance, and GenCon has celebrations for this. There was even a contest where potential winners submitted stories of how Dragonlance affected their lives. The prize? A trip to GenCon for the anniversary. In other words, the timing for such an announcement couldn't have been better.

Also, it seems like a pretty good time for the setting. In the boiling turmoil that constantly spills across Ansalon, specifically since the building of the armies that lead up to the War of the Lance and all the way through the War of Souls, peace in the world is in short supply. But since the end of the Dark Disciple trilogy, the deities have calmed ever so slightly and a greatly changed Krynn is starting to settle into something it could call familiar, if not normal. Without huge continent-spanning wars raging currently, the setting seems ripe for picking endless supplies of open-ended stories. It's a virtual playground for the creative DM or game developer.

And lastly, dont we all want to revisit our favorite elements that are unique to Dragonlance. With a couple draconians introduced in Dragon recently, I really hoped to see more of the unique stuff fleshed out. Knights of Solomnia paragon paths? Knights of Neraka? Or most special to my heart, and hopefully yours, Kender? I continue to hope.

Ruff D&D