Falconer wrote:
> I was hoping the recent LEGENDS OF THE TWINS hardcover would expand on
> the intriguing pp. 102-106 of DLA, thus continuing the great
> gazetteer-like quality of WAR OF THE LANCE. So far I have the latter but
> not the former. Does LotT only really focus on other time periods and
> alternate timelines?
I bought and really liked War of the Lance. Just wished it expanded a
bit more on the post-WotL period. I leafed through LotT recently, to
see if it was any use for a post-WotL campaign, but decided not to buy
it. Standing in the store looking at the book, a thought occured to me:
When a game product for a setting focuses so much on alternate
timelines, is that a symptom of disagreement among the fans on what the
core elements of the setting are?
>
> > Post-WotL is perfect because:
> > 1. The gods are back
> > 2. It's post-Cataclysm, which means a lot of ruins and old history.
But
> > still, Ansalon is not as obliterated by the Chaos War and Dragon Purge
> > as post-WoS Krynn is.
> >
> > All other periods, except for post-WoS, lack one of the two criteria
> > which make for what I think are enjoyable DL campaigns.
>
> I agree it's a great period, but it's in danger of one particular major
> pitfall, I think. Even in Legends this time period is shown as being one
> of international prosperity and commerce, which is odd. Krynn should NOT
> be happy-generic-fantasy-land. In the original products there is a VERY
> gritty feel as the aftereffects of the Cataclysm loom large.
Very true, and a very good point. Actually, I would like to draw
parallells between the real world and Krynn when it comes to this.
Europa and even the US were in a pretty bad state between the two world
wars. But following the second world war there was rebuilding and
prosperity. Times were also more peaceful and prosperous, despite the
fears of Cold War, there was little real violence. However, this was
for Europe and America, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America
of course had wars and poverty, where the nations who themselves lived
in peace often meddled.
Solamnia and the elven kingdoms see prosperity in Legends, and it is
true that the War reestablished stronger and more effective government
in Solamnia. But I do think it is possible (and as you say, necessary)
to point out the negative impact of the Cataclysm and the War of the
Lance in any eventual post-WotL sourcebook.
Morten
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