Dragonlance

[doriakar]

RAISTLIN RULES

[Conner Destron]

Nice to hear from you, Doriakar, but I'd have to question what exactly Raistlin rules at this point, seems to me he was buried alive under an entire hurled mountain for his audacity in trying to personally challenge the very gods themselves. Perhaps he's now ruling the grubs...

[Evergreen Aldaron]

Guys, I am certainly no expert on Dragonlance, although I have read the novels and enjoed them. I wanted to post this for all the DL fans. It is a mini that will be appearing in the upcoming D&D mini set named Night Below:

[Conner Destron]

Awesome Mini, EA!

And apologies Doriakar, I was thinking of someone before Raistlin's time, but I still don't think Raistlin's all that either.. *shrug*

[silverstar]

I like the minie too! Very nice! Although the skin color looks yellow rather than golden to me. Oh well, does it have those cool eyes?

I would prefer to see a minie of Raistlin with the DARK robe though. That would be awesome! Is there such a minie?

[Evergreen Aldaron]

silverstar said:

I like the minie too! Very nice! Although the skin color looks yellow rather than golden to me. Oh well, does it have those cool eyes?

I would prefer to see a minie of Raistlin with the DARK robe though. That would be awesome! Is there such a minie?

There are rumors that there will be an D&D mini's Icon set released with a Raistlin in the black robes when the Dragonlance animated movie is released. Just a rumor though. I will try to follow up.


Conner, as I mentioned earlier, I am no Dragonlance expert but there seems to be a great love for Raistlin. Is he extremely powerful?

[Conner Destron]

Raistlin wore red robes of neutrality.

I don't know that I really qualify as a Dragon Lance expert either, but, yeah.. Raistlin's one of those folk who's not actually evil, but he's definitely not good either, and he's powerful enough to be a major player in Krynn.

[Evergreen Aldaron]

Well, in any case, he is extremely popular.
I have seen or heard many people clammering for a mini of him to be produced.
I think Dragonlance is about to make a modest comeback with the new movie coming out.
Makes me very nostalgic....

[silverstar]

Raistlin is loved not because he is powerful. He has a history, he has a character, he is not your 'super powerful arch-mage with no real character or background which makes sense' syndrome. (look at Elminster, Gandalf, etc)

I read his childhood-youngster day books, read the 'Soulforge' if you haven't, it shed much light to Raistlin's past and character.

MINOR SPOILERS BELOW

He was always under the shadow of his stronger brother Caramon. He never gave any signals of hate, good-natured Caramon always thought that Raistlin also loved him as Caramon always cared for his weaker sibling. In fact Raistlin was burning with passion for power, and he slowly started to hate his own brother:for his own weakness and his superiority in nearly all things, except one:magic. So magic was his only passion, only sole reason to live, he suffered and worked greatly for it and never ever hesitated...his determination and cold-blooded nature, which is in conflict with his pyschial weakness are his trademarks.

That mage test was also very traumatic, he attacked his own brother in a rage:it was all an illusion but still a proof that he was already secretly hating him.

Later, when he had to don black robes and became realy powerful, he helped his former friends once, to pay his depts. Then they even became enemies! Caramon sufered and was actually sad when Raistlin betrayed them all...later he developed emotionaly and evolved vastly as a character too, and had to guts and wits to stand against his brother! It is cool!

Also, in later books, Raistlins sadly realises that he has lost his ability to love. He challenges the gods for ascension, manages to win, but has to sacrifice himself in the final moment to save Krynn from eternal damnation. For he has no love in his heart, he can not create any new life in the world if he becomes the only god...How sad...

All in all he makes a solid character with much depth and coolness. You can not help but like him even when he does very evil acts, kills and destroys without mercy, in the later books! He is a very deep character indeed, with both good&great evil, weaknesses and strengths, dillemmas and strict decisions, in him.

[Evergreen Aldaron]

Thank you for the information Silverstar, it seems that Raistlin is a deep, complex character whom you are clearly very passionate about.
But...

silverstar said:

Raistlin is loved not because he is powerful. He has a history, he has a character, he is not your 'super powerful arch-mage with no real character or background which makes sense' syndrome. (look at Elminster, Gandalf, etc)

Let's not get crazy and call out two other characters.

First, Elminster has a very long, detailed history that spans ages. In fact, Elminster is a character that had been played with for years before going to print. Whether you like him or not, Elminster is a well documented, detailed, and historically backed figure. I myself, am not an Elminster fan at all, but I do respect his importance in the world of Faerun.

Second, Gandalf is an icon. He is the foundation for all the fictional archmages we all love in fantasy now. We all owe the Lord of the Rings the highest respect and Tolkien our thanks. There is plenty of history and depth to Gandalf, and would have been more had Tolkien been alive to keep writing.

I will admit, I do find the expanded information on Raistlin very interesting. I think I will explore the additional material I haven't read.

Not sure if you guys have seen it, but here is the link to the movie sight:
www.dragonlance-movie.com/

[silverstar]

I meant no disrespect to other mages in other settings ofcourse, I did not read much about Elminster. So I was wrong to say such things about him, but most players I know really don't like him very much, for some reason. Him being too munchkin, over-powerful, and so on? But Raistlin is also very powerful but IMHO he is loved by far more people. The fact is, Raistlin feels more human, with his weaknesses and conflicts and so on. Elminster is....just perfect, AFAIK. (I agree I know little about him, my bad. Gotta read makings of a mage first, I guess.)

As for Gandalf, well, my respect to Tolkien is unquestionable, I am sorry if I overstepped my bounds in my excitement. Sorry! I was just saying that Raistlin is one of the most intriguing and deepest character I have yet to seen in a book. That's it.

[merkader]

The dragonlance novels start out with raistlin and caremon being born so it is kind of like watching your children grow. I true hate raistlin more then I love him, but he is an intriguing figure non the less.

[silverstar]

^Raistlins is such a strange character. You sometimes hate him, sometimes pity him, sometimes you even sympathise and love him, and then there are times when he makes you scared...

[Evergreen Aldaron]

I must admit, as I said before, you folks have me intrigued. I am going to check it out. I have only read three Dragonlance novels, and I really enjoyed them. I will have to check out the rest.

BTW Silverstar, you are right IMHO, Elminster can be a self righteous a$$. I am sure I will draw fire for that one...
No apologies needed, I get all fired up sometimes.

[Conner Destron]

I have to agree, in part, with all of the above.

By the time Raistlin donned the black, he was indeed powerful, (though still no match for his own ego), but while he still wore red he was hardly all that.

Elminister has a very detailed background and every one of his powers is well documented and his acquisition of them thoroughly explained. He can be an ass at times, but his meddling is usually not really of his own choice either.

Gandolph is an icon, a literary figure, not really a fair comparison.