Themes

What sets Dragonlance apart from many other fantasy settings in the hearts and minds of its fans are the various themes associated with it. While these themes offer no real mechanical benefit, they are important if, as the GM, setting the right tone is important to you and your players.

Family

In this context, family doesn't necessarily need to mean that the PCs are related, although it could. Rather, it means that there should be some reason that they have come together. Initially, that could be a common threat. But once that threat is resolved, something in the relationship between them should be there that compels them to stay together.

Humble Beginnings

The rise to fame and glory is more impressive the greater the distance traveled. It's often the small-town farm boy who rises to save the kingdom from external or internal enemies.

Recovery of Things Lost

Ancient relics, lost artifacts, and forgotten civilizations are part and parcel of any great fantasy story. The players should be discovering wondrous and terrifying things that will either save the world or see it destroyed. The lost city of Istar, the dragon orbs, the gods, and the dragonlances themselves are all examples of this.

Redemption

Raistlin, Damon Grimwulf, and Berem Everman are all examples of characters who head down a dark path but eventually find redemption through the support of their friends and family. Rather than setting the PCs up to fight and kill the big bad at the end of the story arc, why not make the bad guy the one our heroes are out to save?