Welcome to today’s Dragonlance Hangout! This is a casual series where we discuss all things Dragonlance, from characters, to modules, to game editions in a relaxed conversation with the live audience. Today I am discussing What Makes an Epic Fantasy Campaign Setting?

Welcome to another DragonLance Hangout! It is Kirinor, Newkolt the 28th, and my name is Adam. Today I am discussing What Makes an Epic Fantasy Campaign Setting?.

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Epic fantasy isn’t just about maps, gods, or ancient wars. It’s about a world that remembers itself. A setting becomes epic when:

Tonight isn’t about “which setting is best.” It’s about why some worlds feel inevitable, and others feel disposable. And what DMs can learn from the masters — and from darker, more modern designs like my own DireLands

Touchstones:

And then: a comparison to DireLands, a dark fantasy setting built with many of the same tools — but different intentions

Framed for:

DM takeaway:  If nothing important happened before the PCs were born, your world isn’t epic — it’s empty.

DM takeaway:  Cosmology should create:

DM takeaway: If the last great war solved everything cleanly, you’ve written a fairy tale — not epic fantasy.

DM takeaway: If elves are just “humans with pointy ears,” you’re wasting epic tools.

DM takeaway: Culture is how players emotionally anchor to a setting.

What Works

Limitations (DM Practical)

Lesson for DMs

What Works

Limitations

Lesson for DMs

What Works

Limitations

Lesson for DMsEpic fantasy at the table thrives on clarity

Key differences:

DM Practical Insight

Bullet-point, actionable advice:

Epic fantasy isn’t a checklist, It’s an agreement between the world and the players.

As DMs, the real question isn’t: “Is my world epic?” It’s: “Does my world remember what it’s been through?” That is going to do it for another Dragonlance hangout episode.Let me know what you think makes an epic campaign setting and which is your favorite. Have you ever created your own campaign setting? Feel free to email me at [email protected] or comment below. 

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This channel is all about celebrating the wonderful world of the Dragonlance Saga, and I hope you will join me in the celebration. Thank you for watching, this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga and until next time Slàinte mhath (slan-ge-var).