The latest Dungeons & Dragons campaign sees a return to the beloved setting of Dragonlance with Shadow of the Dragon Queen. The campaign gives players the chance to play new races and try new backgrounds, all while attempting to win a war against the forces of the Dragon Army. However, as the campaign takes place in what will be, to some, an entirely unfamiliar setting, it can take a little getting used to.
Shadow of the Dragon Queen is a new setting for many, but there are many tips available for DMs struggling with the new Dragonlance campaign. For DMs who have run previous Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, Shadow of the Dragon Queen definitely has an adjustment period. The campaign does have a different feel to those previously released by Wizards of the Coast for fifth edition, usually set in the Forgotten Realms.
Dragonlance Has Fewer Playable D&D Races Than The Forgotten Realms
Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen has more of a high fantasy feel to it than previous Forgotten Realms campaigns, and that is due in no small part to the fewer number of races available in the world of Krynn. In the character creation section under peoples of Krynn, there are only five options available for players. Those are human, dwarf, elf, gnome, and the Dragonlance-specific race, kender.
This results in many playable DnD races that don’t appear in Dragonlance. Some players might feel extremely constrained by those choices, while others might embrace the new limitations of the setting. There are tricks that can be used, such as dimension gates, if players really want to use race other than the five in the campaign book.
Shadow Of The Dragon Queen Is More Focused Than Other 5e Campaigns
Another way Shadow of the Dragon Queen differs from other more recent campaigns, such as Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus or Tomb of Annihilation, is that this has a much more narrow focus to it. The campaign is less of a sandbox and more of a focused concept. Shadow of the Dragon Queen’s goal is simple: defeat the evil army. In this way, it feels more akin to Out of the Abyss with the higher stakes and clear enemy.
This Dragonlance campaign has much harder battles than other DnD adventures as well, truly driving home the message that war is hell. To further reinforce this, Shadow of the Dragon Queen uses lots of supporting characters to help get players invested in the war. There are six sidekicks who can level up alongside the party and aid them on their adventures. With the primary theme of the campaign being that of war and how it impacts not only the land but also the people, having NPCs who can relate that to the party is a great idea.
Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen acts very much as an introduction to Krynn for those unfamiliar with the setting. DMs might have to read through the campaign guide a few times or risk running a chaotic Dragonlance DnD campaign. It is meant to reintroduce the world to the new fifth edition rules, and it manages to do that by using clear goals with high stakes. Shadow of the Dragon Queen is a tougher Dungeons & Dragons campaign which might take some DMs and players a little time to get used to.
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