Editing Dragonlance (section)

== Publication history ==
=== Creation ===
[[File:Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis - GenCon 2008.jpg|thumb|right|Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis at Gen Con 2008.]]
Hickman developed his world creation technique by writing and self-publishing with his wife Laura the [[List of Dungeons & Dragons modules|adventure modules]] ''[[Rahasia]]'' (1979) and ''[[Desert of Desolation#Pharaoh|Pharaoh]]'' (1980), and writing TSR's [[Ravenloft (module)|''Ravenloft'' module]] (1983). He was unemployed in 1982, and TSR offered him a job based on his submission of several modules.<ref name="Hunt"/> That year, while driving from Utah to Wisconsin to start a job with TSR, Hickman and his wife created the ''Dragonlance'' universe concept. During the trip, Hickman and his wife discussed two ideas they had had for several years: an entire world used to support a storyline, and a world dominated by dragons.<ref name="Archer"/>

Their ideas were well received by TSR, whose marketing department felt they had enough dungeons, but not enough [[Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons)|dragons]]. Hickman suggested a series of twelve modules, each featuring a different dragon. TSR employee [[Harold Johnson (game designer)|Harold Johnson]] suggested that Hickman should try to get additional support from other TSR staff members and, after a period of months, Hickman had the support of [[Jeff Grubb]], [[Larry Elmore]], [[Roger E. Moore|Roger Moore]], [[Douglas Niles|Doug Niles]], [[Michael Williams (author)|Michael Williams]], and others with whom they discussed ideas for the project. Meanwhile, Weis was editing and writing various ''[[Endless Quest]]'' books for TSR. The ''Dragonlance'' group decided that novels should accompany the game modules; TSR reluctantly agreed and hired a writer.<ref name="Archer">{{Cite book | last=Archer | first=Peter | year= 2004 | chapter=Dragonlance | title=[[30 Years of Adventure: A Celebration of Dungeons & Dragons]] | publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]] | pages=64–75 | isbn =0-7869-3498-0}}</ref> Hickman became the design coordinator for ''Project Overlord'', the cover name for what would later be known as the Dragonlance saga.<ref name="Dragon #120">{{cite journal
  | last = Hickman
  | first = Tracy
  | author-link = Tracy Hickman
  | title = TSR Profiles
  | journal = [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]
  | issue = #120
  | pages = 90
  | publisher = TSR, Inc.
  | location = [[Lake Geneva, Wisconsin]]
  | date = April 1987}}</ref>

TSR decided to create a franchise, including modules, board games, lead figures, and - for the first time - novels. Weis had been hired as an editor; with Hickman, she began working with the author hired to write the novels. They weren't satisfied with the author, and decided they should be the ones to write the books.<ref name="Hunt"/> They collaborated over a weekend, writing the prologue for the first five chapters of the first novel,<ref name="Hunt"/> ''[[Dragons of Autumn Twilight]]'', based on the module ''[[Dragons of Despair]]''.<ref name="courier"/> TSR liked their treatment and gave them the assignment, firing the author. After two years of development, TSR released the module ''Dragons of Despair'' and the novel ''Dragons of Autumn Twilight'' in March and November 1984, respectively.<ref>{{cite journal |date=November 1984 |title=Chronicles: a novel idea |journal=Dragon #91 |publisher=[[TSR, Inc.|TSR]] |volume=IX |issue=6 |pages=44–45 |issn=0279-6848}}</ref><ref name="history">{{cite web | url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_History.asp | title=The History of TSR | publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]] | access-date=August 20, 2005 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924195557/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_History.asp | archive-date=September 24, 2008}}</ref> TSR had doubts about the finished novel's sales potential, and attempted to order thirty thousand copies, ultimately ordering the minimum print run of fifty thousand. The success of the novel prompted TSR to publish more copies to meet demand.<ref name="Hunt"/> The novel was written after the completion of the first [[Dragonlance modules (DL series)|''Dragonlance'' game modules]]. Weis and Hickman felt this was constraining and made the novel feel too episodic, so they reversed the process for the next books and completed the novels before the related modules were written.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 22, 2007 |title=Interview: Screenwriter, George Strayton |url=http://www.dragonlance-movie.com/news/show_news.asp?id=12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814060903/http://www.dragonlance-movie.com/news/show_news.asp?id=12 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 14, 2007 |access-date=March 24, 2007 |publisher=Dragonlance movie site }}</ref> ''Dragonlance'' received support products such as novels, calendars, computer games, and books of artwork.<ref name="D&Dfaq">{{cite web | url = http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_FAQ.asp | title = ''Dungeons & Dragons'' FAQ | access-date = October 3, 2008 | publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081002132129/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_FAQ.asp | url-status = dead | archive-date = October 2, 2008}}</ref>

=== Further development ===
[[File:Dragonlance-Logo.jpg|right|thumb|The second ''Dragonlance'' logo, used on most of the books and supplements since 1995 with the ''5th Age''.]]
In the mid to late 1980s, a rift developed between TSR and the authors. Weis and Hickman were feeling under-appreciated and, when TSR turned down their ''[[Darksword]]'' series of novels, they went to [[Bantam Books]]. Bantam made them an offer, which they accepted, and they stopped writing ''Dragonlance'' novels for TSR.<ref name="Hunt"/> They returned to write ''[[Dragons of Summer Flame]]'' for TSR in 1995, thinking it would be their final ''Dragonlance'' novel. At the time, ''Dragonlance'' gaming had been converted to the [[SAGA System]], with limited success, and that, combined with TSR's general financial troubles, put the setting's future in doubt. Wizards of the Coast bought the troubled TSR in 1997, and Weis and Hickman then proposed the ''[[List of Dragonlance novels#The War of Souls|War of Souls]]'' trilogy, which was published in 2000-2002. All three novels made the [[New York Times bestseller list|''New York Times'' bestseller list]], and the setting was commercially revitalized.<ref name="Archer"/> By 1998, the original ''Dragonlance'' trilogy had sold well over three million copies worldwide and spawned dozens of sequels.<ref name="Dragon #243">{{cite journal | last = Varney | first = Allen | author-link = Allen Varney | title = ProFiles: Margaret Weis | journal = [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]] | issue = #243 | page = 120 | publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]] | location = [[Renton, Washington]] | date=January 1998}}</ref> The central books of the ''Dragonlance'' series were written by the authoring team of Weis and Hickman, but many other writers have made contributions, including [[Richard A. Knaak]], [[Douglas Niles]], [[Roger E. Moore]], [[Don Perrin]], [[Jean Rabe]], [[Paul B. Thompson (novelist)|Paul B. Thompson]], [[Tonya C. Cook]], [[Michael Williams (author)|Michael Williams]], [[Nancy Varian Berberick]], and [[Chris Pierson]].

In 2001, Wizards of the Coast licensed [[Sovereign Press (role-playing game publisher)|Sovereign Press]] to publish further ''Dragonlance'' game materials. This began with the newly revised ''[[Dragonlance Campaign Setting]]'' in 2003, which used the new [[Editions of Dungeons & Dragons#Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition|''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3rd Edition]] rules.<ref name="Archer"/> In April 2007, Wizards of the Coast had not renewed Sovereign's license, and ''Dragonlance'' RPG game supplements and accessories were only released through the end of the year.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dragonlance.com/features/articles/10040.aspx|title=Articles: Dragonlance License|author=Margaret Weis|date=April 23, 2007|access-date=June 26, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070526103906/http://www.dragonlance.com/features/articles/10040.aspx|archive-date=May 26, 2007}}</ref>

In October 2020, Weis and Hickman filed suit against Wizards of the Coast for breaching a licensing deal with Weis and Hickman for a new ''Dragonlance'' novel trilogy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hoffer|first=Christian|date=October 19, 2020|title=Dungeons & Dragons Publisher Sued by Dragonlance Co-Writers Over Scrapped Book Trilogy|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-dragonlance-margaret-weis-lawsuit/|access-date=October 19, 2020|website=ComicBook.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Charlie|date=October 19, 2020|title=Dragonlance authors sue Dungeons & Dragons publisher Wizards of The Coast|url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/10/19/21523673/dragonlance-authors-weis-hickman-sue-wizards-of-the-coast-dungeons-and-dragons|access-date=October 19, 2020|website=Polygon|language=en}}</ref> ''[[Boing Boing]]'' reported that "according to the lawsuit, Weis and Hickman agreed with Wizards of the Coast to produce the new novels in 2017, capping off the series and giving fans a final sendoff, but the company pulled the plug in August 2020".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Beschizza|first=Rob|date=October 19, 2020|title=Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman sue Wizards of the Coast after it abandons new Dragonlance trilogy|url=https://boingboing.net/2020/10/19/margaret-weis-and-tracy-hickman-sue-wizards-of-the-coast-after-it-abandons-new-dragonlance-trilogy.html|access-date=October 19, 2020|website=Boing Boing|language=en-US}}</ref> In December, Weis and Hickman filed to voluntarily [[Prejudice (legal term)#Dismissal|dismiss without prejudice]] their lawsuit,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Charlie|date=January 11, 2021|title=Dragonlance authors drop $10M lawsuit against Wizards of the Coast|url=https://www.polygon.com/2021/1/11/22224856/dragonlance-authors-weis-hickman-lawsuit-dismissed-dragonlance-dungeons-dragons-wotc|access-date=January 11, 2021|website=Polygon|language=en}}</ref> and "the filing noted that Wizards of the Coast had not formally answered their lawsuit, nor had they filed for a summary judgement".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hoffer|first=Christian|date=December 20, 2020|title=Dragonlance Writers End Lawsuit Against Dungeons & Dragons Maker|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-dragonlance-lawsuit-dismissed/|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=ComicBook.com|language=en}}</ref> Weis and Hickman's publishing agent affirmed a few weeks following this that a new trilogy of ''Dragonlance'' novels was in the works;<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/2021/1/25/22249105/new-dragonlance-chronicles-trilogy-weis-hickman-wizards-coast-lawsuit | title = New Dragonlance novel trilogy is back on after authors dismiss lawsuit | first = Ryan | last= Gilliam | date = January 25, 2021 | access-date = January 25, 2021 | work = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref> the first of the new trilogy was released in August 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Charlie|date=December 17, 2021|title=A new Dragonlance trilogy begins in 2022|url=https://www.polygon.com/22841205/dragonlance-books-dragons-of-deceit-release-date-price-weis-hickman|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=Polygon|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=December 20, 2021|title=Dungeons & Dragons: New Dragonlance Novel Gets 2022 Release Date|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-dragonlance-dragons-deceit-release/|access-date=February 5, 2022|website=ComicBook.com|language=en}}</ref>

In December 2022, the first Dragonlance adventure module, titled ''[[Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen]]'', for [[Editions of Dungeons & Dragons#Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition|5th Edition]] was released. The module is set during the War of the Lance; Wizards of the Coast has stated that the module does not require prior knowledge of the setting or the novels to play the module.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Sheehan |first=Gavin |date=April 21, 2022 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Announces New Dragonlance Campaign |url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/dungeons-dragons-announces-new-dragonlance-campaign/ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=April 21, 2022 |title=Wizards of the Coast Teases 'D&D Dragonlance's' Return |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/50988/wizards-coast-teases-d-d-dragonlances-return |access-date=April 22, 2022 |website=[[ICv2]] |language=en}}</ref> An integrated board game, titled ''Dragonlance: Warriors of Krynn'', was released in 2023, designed by Stephen Baker and [[Rob Daviau]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=April 21, 2022 |title=New Dragonlance board game was designed by Rob Daviau and Stephen Baker |url=https://www.polygon.com/23036116/dnd-dragonlance-board-game-designed-by-rob-daviau-stephen-baker-details-battle-masters |access-date=April 22, 2022 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Dragonlance: Warriors of Krynn'' is a [[wargame]] that focuses on military battles during the War of the Lance. Both games can be played independently, but the adventure module includes rules for using the board game to resolve the military battles that occur in the narrative.<ref name=":1" />