Join us as we continue our Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition actual play of DLS1 New Beginnings with this session two! You can buy DLS1 New Beginnings here: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/product/17372/dls1-new-beginnings-2e?affiliate_id=50797 

Last time on New Beginnings: The heroes entered the town of Boremium at night, and headed straight for the tavern. They overheard a number of rumors about a fading economy based on the Minotaur Legion’s forces being directed south to the Thenol Border. This has opened up an opportunity for brigands and ne’er-do-wells to enter High Vale and that is exactly what has happened. As they were seated and began their meal, a fanatic bust opened the door ready to throw a flask of oil but Tobin snatched it out of his hands, and Gunsh shoved him out the door. This revealed an invasion of the town by Priests and Fanatics of Usa the Mighty, the name Hiddukel has in the Nation of Armach. The heroes stand against the forces and are quickly shown they are not meant to face these invaders alone. They do their best to drive them off, and end up reentering the tavern to aid the citizens against the undead and a cleric of Usa. This is where we pick up with our heroes, in the heat of battle!

It is a continent of raw beauty and wondrous magics—of marauding hordes and avenging champions—it is Taladas, the forgotten continent of Krynn first revealed in the best-selling Dragonlance supplement Time of the Dragon.

Now, this incredible setting is brought to life and made ready for adventuring with New Beginnings. This essential adventure provides all the information necessary for new players to begin adventuring in the Taladas campaign setting.

New Beginnings includes a simple, step-by-step character creation outline which new players can use without the help of a Dungeon Master. Also, it presents essential tips on equipping and playing your new character in the Taladas setting, and sample encounters which allow your to test your characters skills without risking them in actual play. Finally, a complete mini-adventure helps to begin your Taladas campaign by thrusting the player characters right into the action.

Welcome to part one of my Gaming AD&D: Monster Manual Reading series where I rediscover Advanced Dungeons & Dragons with a live audience by reading the core rules. In this episode I will continue reading aloud the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual by Gary Gygax, released in August 1977. Buy the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual now: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/product/17002/monster-manual-1e?affiliate_id=50797  

All your favorite monsters are back!

Now you can download the 1st Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual. An encyclopedic collection of information certain to be of invaluable use to players and Dungeon Masters alike, the Monster Manual comes complete with game specifications, background details and, in many cases, an illustration in addition!

Note about the Print edition: While this book is black & white, it was printed using the Standard Heavyweight “color” option for better quality paper.

Let’s learn about the history of Krynn’s second continent. Taladas is either wholly unknown or misunderstood. But their history is not entirely dissimilar to Ansalon’s. Buy Time of the Dragon: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/product/16960/time-of-the-dragon-2e?affiliate_id=50797 

In Taladas, history is not written in ink. It is carved in lava. Whispered through plague. Carried in the smoke of a shattered sky. While Ansalon remembers with parchment… Taladas remembers with scars. Tonight, we cross the sea to the forgotten continent of Krynn — and uncover the history of Taladas.

Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam, and today we’re taking a look at the history of the continent of Taladas. I’d like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga members and Patreon patrons, and invite you to consider becoming a member or patron–you can even pick up Dragonlance media or get $10 by signing up to StartPlaying.Games using my affiliate links. I’m referencing the Time of the Dragon boxed set for this information. If I leave anything out or misspeak, please leave a comment below.

Today we journey beyond Ansalon… beyond Palanthas and the War of the Lance… to the second great continent of Krynn: Taladas. This is the History of Taladas. In Ansalon, history is carefully chronicled by Astinus in the great tome known as the Iconochronos. Taladas has no such luxury. Most cultures on Taladas rely on oral tradition. Written histories exist primarily among three groups: The gnomes of Hitehkel, The Lost Silvanesti, and The cities of the League.

Even their dating systems are borrowed from Ansalon — using Pri-Cataclysm and Post-Cataclysm conventions brought by the minotaurs and elves who crossed the seas. The gnomes, however, divide history differently: The Birthing Age — from Reorx’s creation of them to the release of the Greygem. The Cursed Age — from the Greygem’s release to the Cataclysm. Reorx’s Gift — the current era. But for clarity, we’ll follow the familiar divisions recorded by Astinus: the Age of Dreams, Light, Might, Darkness, and Dragons.

The Age of Dreams. This is the most mystical era — the age of gods. The gods awaken from the Beyond. The Highfather remains apart but commands his children to create. They establish the Balance — dividing into Good, Evil, and Neutrality to slow Chaos into Order. According to Taladan gnomish tradition, it is here that Reorx begins forging mortal forms. Sparks from his hammer become the stars. Impurities from the forge become the world. This differs from Ansalon’s telling, where Reorx forges Krynn itself.

Before the mortal races can inhabit the world, divine conflict erupts — the All-Saints War. The gods of good argue that spirits must have dominion over the world. Reorx resists, claiming he did not create it for conquest. The evil gods exploit the disagreement, plunging the infant universe into war. It ends only when Blindel — known elsewhere as Habbakuk — convinces Graylord, or Gilean, to reveal secret knowledge to Reorx. Reorx joins the forces of good, and together they drive back evil. The Highfather intervenes to preserve the Balance. The spirits enter their mortal forms. Who came first? The minotaurs claim ogres. The elves claim themselves. Humans say all at once. The gnomes and dwarves insist they were last — the final children of Reorx. Already, we see Taladas’ defining trait: History depends on who is telling it.

The Age of Light. Around 4000 PC, Reorx attempts to teach humans the arts of forge and machine — after already teaching the gnomoi. They disappoint him. In frustration, he curses them, transforming them into the minoi. In Ansalon, these minoi are the gnomes of Mount Nevermind. In Taladas, they are something different — a separate branch of Reorx’s flawed experiment. Then comes the forging of the Grathanich. Atop Mount Garath, Reorx creates a gem of immense magical power, drawing upon Lunias. Udras the Alchemist infuses it with arcane energy. It is gifted to the gnomoi king Aldinanachru. In Ansalon, this gem is known as the Greygem of Gargath. In Taladas, it is the Grathanich. And like in Ansalon, its release changes everything. Tricked by Hiddukel — known here as Hiteh — a minoi releases the gem. It drifts west, warping life wherever it travels. As punishment, Reorx banishes the Kadwar clan to pursue it across Ansalon. When they reach Ansalon, they abandon the minoi name and become the gnomes of Mount Nevermind. Taladas loses them. Ansalon gains them. The continents begin to diverge.

The Age of Darkness — The Cataclysm. Year 0. While Ansalon suffers multiple meteor strikes… Taladas suffers one. A single catastrophic impact tears apart the central plains. The land splits. A molten sea forms at its heart. This begins Hiteh’s Night. For twenty years, ash blocks the sky. Volcanoes erupt. Mountains rise overnight. Seas form where deserts once stood. And then the plagues come. Cholera. Black death. Influenza. Unlike Ansalon, Taladas had never developed strong immunities. Entire populations collapse. Worse still — the priests lose their spells. As in Ansalon, the gods withdraw. But here is where Taladas’ story diverges. In year 21, Mislaxa — known in Ansalon as Mishakal — cannot bear the suffering. She secretly restores power to her faithful priests. But she does so in defiance of the other gods. Her followers must go underground. Thus begins the Mystery Cult of Mislaxa — secret healers operating in shadows while the world burns. Taladas becomes a land where faith survives… but in secrecy.

The Return of Dragons. In 210, Takhisis — called Erestem in Taladas — travels from Ansalon and releases the evil dragons imprisoned beneath the Burning Sea. Unlike in Ansalon, dragons awaken first here — but quietly. Then Hiteh appears, seeking to use the chaos and the fire-filled heart of Taladas to build power. This leads to the Gnomoi War. From 243 to 252, dragons and fire-minions assault the Citadel of Aldinanachru. The gnomoi respond with invention. They design ships capable of sailing lava. The firefleet is born. In 255, they launch an assault on the Tower of Flame at the center of the Burning Sea. They fail to take it — but they terrify their enemies enough to halt major offensives. Taladas survives not through divine intervention. But through ingenuity.

The Oath and the Usurpation. In 296, the evil dragons summon a council and demand neutrality from the good dragons. The Oath is sworn. Meanwhile, Takhisis grows wary of Hiteh’s ambitions. By 315, she usurps his position, absorbing his fire-minions into her own forces. Hiteh retreats to the Void — outmaneuvered by the Queen of Darkness. Taladas becomes a staging ground. A shadow continent preparing for a war that will erupt elsewhere. The Age of Dragons. In 330, dragons depart Taladas en masse to prepare for the War of the Lance in Ansalon. But not all go. Some refuse. These dragons become known as the othlorx — the Uninvolved. They are cursed by Takhisis. When good dragons arrive in 345 searching for their stolen eggs, they are bound by the Oath from interfering in Ansalon’s war. They scour Taladas instead.

In 352, news of the draconian secret frees them from the Oath. Most depart westward. But again — some refuse. These good dragons, unwilling to join the war, are shunned by their kin. They join the othlorx in uneasy neutrality. Taladas becomes the birthplace of something rare in Dragonlance lore: True draconic neutrality. Neither good nor evil. Merely… independent.

What Makes Taladas Different? Taladas is not simply “Ansalon 2.0” It is: A continent shaped by one devastating impact instead of many. A land where plagues nearly erased civilization. A world where faith went underground instead of disappearing entirely. A crucible for dragon neutrality. A battleground fought with lava-ships and secrecy instead of dragonlances and knights. It is harsher. Stranger. More fragmented. And because it lacks an Astinus… Its history remains debated. Contradictory. And Alive.

Taladas is one of the most fascinating yet underexplored corners of Krynn. While Ansalon tells the story of knights, dragonarmies, and the DragonLance…Taladas tells the story of survival. Of secret faith. Of molten seas. And of dragons who chose not to choose.

But that is all the time I have to talk about the history of Taladas. What do you think of this second continent of Krynn? Have you ever explored Taladas in your home games? And finally would you like to learn more about the people and cultures of Taladas? Leave a comment below.

I would like to invite you to subscribe to this YouTube channel, ring the bell to get notified about upcoming videos, and click the like button. It all helps other Dragonlance fans learn about this channel and its content. Thank you for watching — this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga, and until next time, remember:

Cold, hard steel. That’s what I want. No wizard stuff. Bat’s eyes. We’ve got a vault full of them.

Join us as we begin our Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition actual play of DLS1 New Beginnings with this session one! You can buy DLS1 New Beginnings here: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/product/17372/dls1-new-beginnings-2e?affiliate_id=50797 

Last time on New Beginnings: Welcome to the continent of Taladas, where its common thread with Ansalon ended in the Age of Dreams. It suffered just as much as Ansalon when the Cataclysm struck, sundering the continent, sipping it into pieces and at its heart a vast burning sea. But it did not end life on the continent–instead it emboldened the people of Taladas to survive and thrive! Empires are not built by crowns or councils. They are built by those who stand when no one else will. Beyond the marble halls of Kristophan and the sun-drenched villas of Thera, the frontier of the League of Minotaurs stretches wide and vulnerable. The legions have marched away, drawn to distant borders and greater wars, leaving the province of High Vale exposed to old dangers long thought buried. Now the mountains stir. Goblins raid the roads. Ogres descend from the High Vale Range. Miners vanish. Caravans turn back—or never arrive at all. And at the heart of it stands Boremium, a once-prosperous village at the crossing of the Lenika River and the road from Jalum in the north to the Pathar Frontier to the east, holding fast with little more than stubborn hope. Yet hope has a way of calling to those who listen. Warriors hear of battles waiting to be fought. Wizards whisper of lost magic and forgotten ruins. Thieves smell opportunity where law has thinned. Priests feel the pull of suffering—and the chance to push back the dark. As dusk settles over High Vale, the Empire may be absent… —but heroes are not. And this is where their story begins. You find yourself in a crowded Inn in Boremium, it is dusk in early summer and the warmth of the day is slowly fading with the coming night….

It is a continent of raw beauty and wondrous magics—of marauding hordes and avenging champions—it is Taladas, the forgotten continent of Krynn first revealed in the best-selling Dragonlance supplement Time of the Dragon.

Now, this incredible setting is brought to life and made ready for adventuring with New Beginnings. This essential adventure provides all the information necessary for new players to begin adventuring in the Taladas campaign setting.

New Beginnings includes a simple, step-by-step character creation outline which new players can use without the help of a Dungeon Master. Also, it presents essential tips on equipping and playing your new character in the Taladas setting, and sample encounters which allow your to test your characters skills without risking them in actual play. Finally, a complete mini-adventure helps to begin your Taladas campaign by thrusting the player characters right into the action.

Welcome to part twenty of my Gaming AD&D: Dungeon Masters Guide Reading series where I rediscover Advanced Dungeons & Dragons with a live audience by reading the core rules. In this episode I will continue reading aloud the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide by Gary Gygax, released in August 1979. Buy the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide now: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/product/17004/dungeon-master-s-guide-1e?affiliate_id=50797 

The 1st Edition Dungeon Master’s Guide is Back! Dungeon Masters everywhere, rejoice! Too long have you had to suffer along with crucial charts and tables spread through many works. Too long have you had to use makeshift references trying to solve the problem. You now have a complete compilation of the most valuable material for your refereeing, the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Herein you will find:

This excellent tome is a must for every Dungeon Master!

Welcome to Dungeon Mastering 101, my Dungeon Mastering course based on over 30 years of experience. In this series I will share my failures and successes and the lessons learned along the way. In this episode, I will cover Running the Game: How to Open a Campaign.

Welcome to another DragonLance Saga, Dungeon Mastering 101 episode! It is Palast, Deepkolt the 9th. My name is Adam, and today I am continuing my Dragonlance Gaming series all about Dungeon Mastering. Why do Campaigns Fail Early? Well, most campaigns don’t end — they fade out. Early misalignment is the silent killer for campaigns. The first session sets expectations players will carry for months. This episode is about opening strong before dice ever hit the table.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe to this channel, ring the bell, and you can support this channel by becoming a Patron on Patreon, a Member of this YouTube channel, and you can pick up Dragonlance media and get $10 by signing up to StartPlaying.Games, using my affiliate links. All links are in the description below.

And that’s it for this episode of Dungeon Mastering 101, Running the Game: How to Open a Campaign. Do you have any tips or tricks based on your experience as a player or Dungeon Master? Was I off base on any of my suggestions? Feel free to email me at [email protected] or leave a comment below. 

Thank you for tuning in. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to this channel, ring the bell, and you can support this channel by becoming a Patron on Patreon, a Member of this YouTube channel, and you can pick up Dragonlance Gaming materials, using my affiliate link. All links are in the description below. Thank you Creator Patron Aaron Hardy, Developer Patrons Chris Androu & Sam Ruiz, and all of the YouTube Members!

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).

Let’s examine the Cha’asii and their ancient, nearly forgotten form of magic on Taladas, Cha’asi magic–It is built on an intuitive understanding of nature. Buy Time of the Dragon: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/product/16960/time-of-the-dragon-2e?affiliate_id=50797 

Deep in the jungles of Taladas, there are elves who do not build towers, do not write spellbooks, and do not believe magic is something you create. They believe magic already exists—hidden in stone, leaf, bone, and living wood… waiting to be revealed. And if you go looking for the ancient halls they protect, the jungle itself may rise against you.

Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam, and today we’re taking a look at one of the incredible cultures and forms of magic on the continent of Taladas, the Cha’asi Mages. I’d like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga members and Patreon patrons, and invite you to consider becoming a member or patron–you can even pick up Dragonlance media or get $10 by signing up to StartPlaying.Games using my affiliate links. I’m referencing the Time of the Dragon boxed set for this information. If I leave anything out or misspeak, please leave a comment below.

Today, we cross the sea to the distant continent of Taladas, as described in the Time of the Dragon boxed set, and journey into the steaming jungles of Neron.

This is the story of the Cha’asii—the Wild Elves of Taladas—and their strange, beautiful, and nearly forgotten tradition of nature magic.

Of all the peoples of Taladas, none are more secluded—or more misunderstood—than the Cha’asii, the Wild Elves of Neron. Though they share a name with the Kagonesti of Ansalon, the comparison ends quickly. Where the Kagonesti are seen as rough and untamed, the Cha’asii make them seem almost civilized by contrast. The Cha’asii are a small, slender people, rarely reaching five feet in height. Their skin reflects the jungle itself, ranging from deep wood-browns to yellow-green hues, while their hair runs from dark brown to green-black. Their eyes are a deep forest green, giving them an uncanny ability to blend into the foliage around them. 

They wear little clothing—woven leaves, grasses, palm fronds—shaped by necessity rather than modesty. Decorations, however, are another matter. Feathers, shells, carved bone, bright ribbons, and trinkets are worn proudly. Metal items, especially steel tools, are treasured—not as symbols of wealth, but as useful objects in a land where workable ore is rare. To outsiders, the Cha’asii appear primitive. To survive among them is to quickly learn that this judgment could be fatal.

The jungles of Neron shape every aspect of Cha’asii life, especially warfare. Long swords and heavy bows are impractical in thick undergrowth. Instead, the Cha’asii favor throwing spears, thrusting weapons, javelins, and blowguns, many crafted from the dense wood of the irontree. Blowgun darts are carved from the barbed thorns of the inya vine. Bombs made from fermented fruit gas are used to overwhelm enemies with unbearable stench. Hornets’ nests are collected at night and unleashed to scatter foes. Vines are woven into traps and concealed caltrops. Though the Cha’asii reject poisons as taboo, they have no issue using sleeping juices, sickness smoke, and herbal compounds to disable enemies. Survival—not cruelty—is the goal.

The Cha’asii possess a deep mastery of jungle herbalism. They prepare salves that speed healing, poultices that draw out poisons, powders that ease pain, potions that bring sleep or forgetfulness. These arts are not seen as separate from magic—they are simply another expression of nature’s power. This knowledge is common among the people, but among the Cha’asii, it is the mages who take this philosophy to its greatest height.

Cha’asii mages practice a form of magic that, according to every known magical theory, should not work. They do not divide magic into schools like abjuration, evocation, or illusion. Instead, they see all magic as coming from one of two sources: natural or unnatural. To them, the difference between spells is not theory—it is intent and origin. Anything tied to nature, growth, weather, animals, stone, or elemental forces is natural. Magic that creates mechanical, artificial, or imposed effects is unnatural—and often associated with the hated yaggol.

Because of this worldview, Cha’asii mages specialize almost entirely in spells that shape the natural world: fog, wind, fire, growth, transformation, and elemental change. Their spell lists are broad in power but narrow in philosophy. Entire categories of traditional wizard spells are forbidden to them—not because they cannot be learned, but because they should not be. The Cha’asii do not care that their magic defies accepted arcane theory. They never studied the theory in the first place.

To the Cha’asii, everything contains magic. A stone does not become magical when power is placed into it. It becomes magical when its hidden nature is revealed. Magical item creation among the Cha’asii is an art of discovery, not invention. Wizards seek objects in their most natural state: unshaped stones, lightning-struck branches, naturally curved shells, beautifully veined pebbles. The more aesthetically perfect an item is in its natural form, the more powerful the magic it may contain.

A wizard does not decide what power an item will have. He can only draw out what was already there. Sometimes the result is useful. Sometimes it is strange. Sometimes it is dangerous. Around Cha’asii villages, the forest itself is alive with enchantment—vines, stones, trees, and flowers quietly humming with awakened power. Among their people, it is said that great wizards are not born knowing spells—but born able to see magic with their eyes.

The Cha’asii live in small, scattered family groups deep within the jungle valleys. They hunt, tend small gardens, carve wood, and spend long hours resting in the heat. Their homes are simple huts built on the ground or in the branches of trees near rivers and streams. Life is communal. Males and females are equals, and women are just as likely to be warriors or hunters—often fiercer than their male counterparts. They ask little from life. But what they protect, they guard absolutely.

Hidden beneath the jungle canopy are ancient ruins—massive halls of strange, stone-like wood that has survived time, rot, and even the Cataclysm itself. The Cha’asii claim ignorance of these places. Their eyes say otherwise. Their secret songs tell a different story: of an ancient elven empire, older than any known civilization, older even than recorded history. These halls once belonged to the ancestors of the Cha’asii, who either abandoned them—or were charged with guarding them until their return. Whether duty or self-imposed reverence, the Cha’asii accept this role completely. Those who seek treasure in these ruins often find it. Most never return.

The greatest threat to the Cha’asii are the yaggol—a savage, degenerate race of mind flayers that dwell underground and in the darkest reaches of the jungle. The yaggol do not simply hunt. They terrorize. Bodies are staked to trees. Victims are tortured for days. Screams are allowed to carry back to villages as deliberate cruelty. Their war against the Cha’asii has lasted centuries.

Because of this, the Cha’asii are a hostile people. Strangers are watched for years before being approached—if ever. Trust is earned slowly, if at all. Those who force themselves into Cha’asii lands are met with swift death. Yet there are exceptions. Those who save a Cha’asii life—or fight against the yaggol—earn something rare: respect.

The Cha’asii of Neron are not primitive relics of a fallen age. They are a people who chose harmony over empire, intuition over theory, and guardianship over conquest. In the jungles of Taladas, magic is not written, studied, or controlled—it is listened to, revealed, and respected. 

But that is all the time I have to talk about the Cha’asii and Cha’asi Magic of Taladas. What do you think of this view and practice of magic? Have you ever explored the various cultures on Taladas? And finally should we have more Taladas content developed? Leave a comment below.

I would like to invite you to subscribe to this YouTube channel, ring the bell to get notified about upcoming videos, and click the like button. It all helps other Dragonlance fans learn about this channel and its content. Thank you for watching — this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga, and until next time, remember:

It will be a party such as the world of Krynn has not seen since before the Cataclysm!

Join us as we continue our @Dungeons & Dragons actual play of a heavily customized Tyranny of Dragons with this session twenty-one! You can buy Tyranny of Dragons here: https://amzn.to/3XJvuND 

Last time on Tyranny of Dragons: The heroes turned the tide on the crocodiles and then a shadow fell over the entire river. A massive dragon flew overhead, blocking out the sun momentarily and its sheer presence struck fear into the hearts of nearly everyone present, forcing them to panic and flee. After a bit of time, the heroes came back to their senses, but something changed in the Bakali. They began arguing with Snapjaw, and when they arrived at a river checkpoint, Snapjaw was taken by the Bakali guards. K’thriss and Elemier confronted the guards and tried to convince them to help. Bakali agreed but no one saw Snapjaw again. THey arrived at the Citadel of Karoc-Tor to find a massive encampment outside its walls. On one side the Bullywugs and on the other Bakali. The cult seems to be running things but the grunt work is completed by these two groups. With the appearance of a dragon, it has set everyone on edge. They send word back to Leosin Erlanthar, their Legion of Steele Akroatis or scout captain, then head toward the long houses. As Elemier tries to understand who is in charge of the Citadel when Rezmir is absent, the Bakali seem to ignore the question. There seems to be something off. They are led into the Citadel by Jamna and Garrith appearing as Bakali and are met inside by guards who show them to a room for recruits. After clearing it out they awoke cultists who were killed. In the morning the party began exploring the south western tower they were in, but Jamna went missing…

An epic draconic adventure for levels 1-15

The forces of Tiamat, Queen of Evil Dragons, bring war to the Forgotten Realms. Led by the sinister Cult of the Dragon, an army of dragons and foul villains wage a merciless campaign to unleash their draconic god upon the world. Opposing them is a desperate alliance including the heroic Harpers and treacherous Zhentarim. This fragile coalition needs heroes to unite them and find ways to resist the draconic threat. Do you have the courage to stand against the Cult of the Dragon and the threat of Tiamat’s immortal tyranny?

Purchasing a digital copy of this book unlocks it for use in the D&D BEYOND compendium and toolset. D&D BEYOND is the official digital toolset for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS. Create characters in minutes, play directly on your character sheets with digital dice, and prep less and play more with Dungeon Master tools like the Encounter Builder and Combat Tracker. Unlock Maps, D&D BEYOND’s virtual tabletop, with a Master Tier subscription. Host game sessions on dozens of official maps, or make your own and use our player and monster tokens to take your gaming to the next level!

Welcome to part nineteen of my Gaming AD&D: Dungeon Masters Guide Reading series where I rediscover Advanced Dungeons & Dragons with a live audience by reading the core rules. In this episode I will continue reading aloud the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide by Gary Gygax, released in August 1979. Buy the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide now: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/product/17004/dungeon-master-s-guide-1e?affiliate_id=50797 

The 1st Edition Dungeon Master’s Guide is Back! Dungeon Masters everywhere, rejoice! Too long have you had to suffer along with crucial charts and tables spread through many works. Too long have you had to use makeshift references trying to solve the problem. You now have a complete compilation of the most valuable material for your refereeing, the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Herein you will find:

This excellent tome is a must for every Dungeon Master!

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 Nostalgia vs. Reinvention in Dragonlance.

Welcome to another DragonLance Hangout! It is Kirinor, Deepkolt the 4th, and my name is Adam. Today I am discussing Nostalgia vs. Reinvention in Dragonlance.

I would like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga YouTube members, and Patreon patrons and invite you to consider becoming a member or patron. You can even pick up Dragonlance media or get $10 by signing up to StartPlaying.Games using my affiliate links in the description below.

“What makes Dragonlance Dragonlance?  Is it the stories we remember… or the ones we haven’t told yet?”

“Tonight, we’re talking nostalgia versus reinvention—and whether Krynn can survive without one or the other.”

Nostalgia isn’t just sentiment—it’s structure.

Talking points:

Discussion questions:

Too much reverence can freeze a setting in amber.

Talking points:

“Have you ever felt like Dragonlance was afraid to move past its own shadow?”

“A world that only looks backward eventually stops moving.”

Reinvention keeps the setting playable, not just readable.

Talking points:

Discussion questions:

Change without respect breaks trust.

Talking points:

Strong framing:

“Reinvention isn’t bad—but forgetting why people cared in the first place is.”

“What’s more dangerous: changing too much, or changing too little?”

Dragonlance works best when nostalgia provides roots and reinvention grows branches.

Key synthesis:

Example talking beats:

“If you were handed Dragonlance tomorrow… What is the one thing you would never change—and the one thing you absolutely would?”

“Did you stay Nostalgia… or switch to Reinvention?”
“Because Dragonlance isn’t just about remembering the past… It’s about deciding what the future of Krynn should look like.”

Thank you for tuning into today’s Dragonlance Hangout. What do you think of reinventing Dragonlance? Does maintaining the setting for nostalgia sake doom it to forgetfulness? Feel free to email me at [email protected] or comment below. 

I would like to take a moment and remind you to subscribe to this YouTube channel, ring the bell to get notified about upcoming videos and click the like button. This all goes to help other Dragonlance fans learn about this channel and its content. Thank you Creator Patron Aaron Hardy, Developer Patrons Chris Androu & Sam Ruiz, and all of the YouTube Members!

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).