Dragons of Despair
DL16 |
Dragons of Despair is the first in a series of
Plot summary
As with most D&D adventures, the exact storyline varies based on the actions that the game's players choose for their
In the jungle-covered subterranean ruins of Xak Tsaroth the player characters search for knowledge of the ancient gods of good, and first encounter the invading
On the second level of the dungeon, the PCs must confront and defeat Khisanth. This is an extremely challenging task for the party, but if they have her Blue Crystal Staff, they will be aided by the goddess Mishakal. The adventure ends with the PCs recovering the Disks of Mishakal, allowing for the return of true clerics to
Publication history
This module was first published in March 1984, seven months before the first Dragonlance novel, and is the first Dragonlance product released. In January and February, there were small teaser advertisements—each less than a quarter page—in Dragon magazine, simply showing the Dragonlance logo and the text "coming soon".[3][4] A full-page ad was featured in Dragon in April 1984.[5]
The scenario is the first adventure in an epic series which takes place on the world of
The module consisted of a 32-page book with an outer folder.
The original concept of the module was done by Tracy Hickman, who "designed a world and an heroic adventure to go with it".[8] The module was edited by Michael Williams. The module's design staff included Tracy Hickman, Harold Johnson, Douglas Niles, Carl Smith, and Michael Williams. The module features cover art by Clyde Caldwell and interior artwork by Jeff Easley.
Reprints and revisions
The original series was updated to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons second edition and repackaged as the three Dragonlance Classics modules, using module code DLC. DLC1 Dragonlance Classics Volume 1 reprinted Dragons of Despair, along with Dragons of Flame, Dragons of Hope, and Dragons of Desolation, in 1990.[9]
In 1999, Wizards of the Coast published a new revision of the original Dragonlance story, including Dragons of Despair, in Dragonlance Classics: 15th Anniversary Edition as part of their TSR's Silver Anniversary line.[10] 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.[11] The four chapters of Dragons of Autumn, an updated version of some Dragonlance modules converting them to Dungeons & Dragons version 3.5, corresponds to the material in Dragons of Despair.
Reception
Steve Hampshire reviewed the scenario for
A review by Graham Staplehurst in White Dwarf magazine, issue #60, gave the module an 8 out of 10 overall, and noted that the lack of things such as gold and clerics in the adventure world "don't destroy the feel of the scenario, whilst creating a very novel atmosphere".[8] Staplehurst felt that the adventure was "...very much taken off from Lord of the Rings with a powerful magic item to be taken at all costs to the aggressor's innermost defences and through them. The characters will have to get past a nice new race of humanoids as well as a couple of other monster-concepts. The artwork (aside from the cover) is good and usable in the adventure. Another good product."[8]
In his 1991 book Heroic Worlds, Lawrence Schick described the scenarios as "heavy-handed in channelling the players to follow the plot".[2] It placed 25th on a 2004 list of "The 30 Greatest D&D adventures of All Time", the only Dragonlance module to make the list.[14]
References
- ISBN 0-88038-090-X.
- ^ ISBN 0-87975-653-5.
- ISSN 0279-6848.
- ISSN 0279-6848.
- ISSN 0279-6848.
- ISSN 0279-6848.
- ISSN 0279-6848.
- ^ ISSN 0265-8712.
- ^ "Dragonlance Classics Series". The Acaeum. Archived from the original on 2009-02-13. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
- ISBN 0-7869-1350-9.
- ^ "Dragonlance Volume 1: DL1-DL8 (2000 Wizards of the Coast edition)". RPGnet. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
- ^ "NWN Modules: DL1 – Dragons of Despair". ign.com. 2004-05-11. Archived from the original on 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2007-03-25.
- ^ Imagine(review) (19). TSR Hobbies (UK), Ltd.: 21.
- ISSN 0890-7102.
Further reading
- Archer, Peter; et al. (2004). "Dragonlance". ISBN 0-7869-3498-0.
- Bunnell, John C. (June 1985). "It's a neat idea, but...". Dragon #98. X (1). ISSN 0279-6848.
- ISBN 1-931567-14-X. Archived from the originalon 2007-02-24. Retrieved 2007-03-25.
- ISBN 0-88038-447-6.
- Taylor, Giordon (February 1987). "Open Box X-tra: Dragonlance". ISSN 0265-8712.
- Valentine, Clark; Sean Macdonald (2006). Dragons of Autumn. Lake Geneva, WI: ISBN 1-931567-33-6.
- "Chronicles: a novel idea". Dragon #91. IX (6). ISSN 0279-6848.