Dragonlance comes to D&D 5th edition with the new release of Dragonlance Shadow of the Dragon Queen. The book gives some background into Dragonlance with a little bit of history, some character options, and a level 1 to 11 adventure. The book comes in three different covers that you can purchase. And a first, if you purchase the book online through Wizards of the Coast, then you can also get the digital version of the book on D&D Beyond. There is also an accompanying board game that you can purchase that ties directly to the D&D Campaign. Overall I like this book, there is a lot of nostalgia for me from the 1980s as I read many of the books back in the day. Let’s look inside the book…
Here’s a quick rundown of each chapter:
War Comes to Krynn – This chapter runs about 19 pages and gives a little background on Krynn and how the gods scorched the planet after some kingpriests aspired to become Gods… The Gods gave them a lot of chances but then just killed a lot of people with a great world-crushing cataclysm. kinda terrible – Gods really suck.
So history is centralized around the cataclysm. The Gods went away, and they left Krynn to the whims of the long-ago banished Takhisis (Tiamat) the Dragon Queen to slowly grow an army of Draconians and cause chaos and death.
Chapter 1: Character Creations – There are some new backgrounds, organizations, new feats, and a new sorcerer subclass. Most of what you’ve seen in the playtest. And there is one new race; Kender.
Small Humanoid that has a walking speed of 30 feet. They have the following Traits:
Fearless – a little bit changed from the playest – advantage on saving throws to avoid or end the frightened condition.
Kender Aptitude – Gives additional skills. Replaced the Kender Ace
Taunt – same as the playtest – ability to fluster other creatures. Causes a disadvantage on targets other than you for 1 turn.
Chapter 2: Prelude to War – The adventure runs from Chapter 2 to Chapter 7 (149 pages) The first chapter of the new adventure. for 1st level characters. The characters are headed to Vogler, but…
Chapter 3: When Home Burns – Levels 2 & 3 – After arriving a Vogler – Invasion!
Chapter 4: Shadow of War – Levels 4 & 5 – Battle the Dragon Army
Chapter 5: The Northern Wastes – Levels 6 & 7 – Go into the wasteland
Chapter 6: City of Lost Mines – Levels 8 & 9 – Prevent the Dragon Army from reawaking the City of Lost Names, a flying citadel
Chapter 7: Siege of Kalaman – Level 10 and up – Welp… The Dragon Army besieges Kalaman with their new flying citadel.
Then there are the appendices:
Appendix A: Gear and Magic Items
Adventuring Gear
Fargab – two-way communication device using radio waves
Hoopak- Martial Weapon that has a sling on one end and pointed tip on the other
Narycrash – backpack device with parachute balloons
Gnome Siege Weapons
Boiler Drak – AC 15, HP 100; expels flames causing 5d10 fire damage. Can explode!
Gnomeflinger – AC 15, HP 100; catapult for creatures to distances of 60 feet, 150 feet or 300 feet and a high arc of 60 feet.
Magic Items
Each requires attunement – Dragonlance (Legendary – Lance/Pike), Flying Citadel Helm (Very Rare – Wondrous Item), Kagonesti Forest Shroud (Rare – Wondrous Item), and Mirror of Reflected Pasts (Very Rare – Wondrous Item)
Appendix B: Friends & Foes – Random Encounters, Anhkolox (CR 9), Caradoc (CR 8), Greater Death Dragon (CR 14), Lesser Death Dragon (CR 10), Draconians: Aurak (CR 6), Baaz (CR 1/2), Bozak (CR 2), Kapak (CR 3), Sivak (CR 4), Dragon Army Officer (CR 3), Dragon Army Soldier (CR 1), Dragon Army Dragonnel (CR 3), Wasteland Dragonnel (CR 3), Istarian Drone (CR 6), Kalaman Soldier (CR 1/2), Kansaldi Fire-eyes (CR11), Kender Skirmisher (CR 1/4), Lohezet (CR 12), Lord Soth (CR 19), Red Ruin (CR 10), Skeletal Knight (CR 7), Wersten Kern (CR 14)
Appendix C: Sidekicks – These sidekicks start at level 1 and go up to level 11:
Andir Valmakos – Human Spellcaster (Mage) – Chaotic Good
Ayik Ur – Human Warrior (Attacker) – Neutral Good
Hrigg Roundrook – Dwarf Spellcaster (Healer) – Lawful Good
Iriad – Elf Expert – Chaotic good
Levna Drakehorn – Human Warrior (Defender) – Lawful Good
Tem Temble – Kender Spellcaster (Healter) – Chaotic Good
Appendix D: Story Concept Art – a couple of filler pages with the artwork.
Appendix E: Maps – two pages of maps – Kalaman Region and Northern Wasters, The Continent of Ansalon, and a large poster map of the Continent of Ansalon.
Overall I really liked the layout of the book, the art, and the design of the adventure. I recommend this book for any Dungeon Master out there that wants to get a little Dragonlance flavor as an addition to their campaign world or to run this as a new campaign for new players or fans of Dragonlance. Players will get a little bit out of this book with a new race option but the other options are really geared toward running a character on Krynn. Tell me what you think, and always have fun!
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