Dragonlance Hangout – January 28th, 2026

Welcome to today’s Dragonlance Hangout! This is a casual series where we discuss all things Dragonlance, from characters, to modules, to game editions in a relaxed conversation with the live audience. Today I am discussing What Makes an Epic Fantasy Campaign Setting? https://youtube.com/live/nuJaSlAyfL0 Show Notes Intro Welcome to another DragonLance Hangout! It is Kirinor, Newkolt the 28th, and my name is Adam. Today I am discussing What Makes an Epic Fantasy Campaign Setting?. I would like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga YouTube members, and Patreon patrons and invite you to consider becoming a member or patron. You can even pick up Dragonlance media or get $10 by signing up to StartPlaying.Games using my affiliate links in the description below. Discussion DLSaga Anthology https://dlsaga.com/contributors/4,000–7,500 words preferredNotifications sent by March 1, 2026 What Makes an Epic Fantasy Campaign Setting? Epic fantasy isn’t just about maps, gods, or ancient wars. It’s about a world that remembers itself. A setting becomes epic when: History leaves scarsBelief shapes realityCulture exists beyond stat blocks Tonight isn’t about “which setting is best.” It’s about why some worlds feel inevitable, and others feel disposable. And what DMs can learn from the masters — and from darker, more modern designs like my own DireLands Touchstones: Tolkien’s Middle-earthMartin’s WesterosWeis & Hickman’s Dragonlance And then: a comparison to DireLands, a dark fantasy setting built with many of the same tools — but different intentions Framed for: Dungeon MastersWorldbuildersAnyone who wants their setting to feel lived in, not just described PART I — YOUR CORE ELEMENTS OF EPIC FANTASY (Establish the Lens) 1. Deep, Recorded History Epic fantasy has epochs, not backstoriesHistory isn’t flavor text — it’s pressureWars, rises, collapses, consequences DM takeaway: If nothing important happened before the PCs were born, your world isn’t epic — it’s empty. 2. Cosmology That Touches the World Gods aren’t distant abstractionsBelief changes behavior, laws, taboosDivine or cosmic forces matter, even indirectly DM takeaway: Cosmology should create: ConflictsFactionsCultural divides 3. A World Scarred by War Epic fantasy worlds are post-traumaPeace is fragileVictory always costs something DM takeaway: If the last great war solved everything cleanly, you’ve written a fairy tale — not epic fantasy. 4. Mythic Creatures With Narrative Weight Dragons, elves, fey, giantsNot just monsters — symbolsEach race carries history, loss, and perspective DM takeaway: If elves are just “humans with pointy ears,” you’re wasting epic tools. 5. Culture Beyond Combat MusicRecipesPoetryStories told by the people of the world DM takeaway: Culture is how players emotionally anchor to a setting. PART II — HOW THE CLASSICS DO IT (DM-TABLE PRACTICAL) MIDDLE-EARTH — Mythic Epic What Works Unparalleled depth of historySongs, poems, languages baked into the worldClear cosmological orderEvil has a metaphysical weight Limitations (DM Practical) Mythic distance can reduce player agencyThe world feels preordainedHard to run long sandbox campaigns without fighting canon Lesson for DMs Myth gives weightBut too much destiny can suffocate choice WESTEROS — Historical Epic What Works History as cycles of violencePower structures feel realCulture varies sharply by regionConsequences are relentless Limitations Minimal cosmology engagementMyth exists, but is distant or unclearHope is often absent Lesson for DMs Political realism creates tensionBut without mythic meaning, darkness can feel nihilistic DRAGONLANCE — Heroic Epic What Works Clear epochs and agesGods directly shape eventsWar defines generationsBuilt for play, not just reading Limitations Archetypal characters can feel restrictiveMoral clarity can limit ambiguitySome depth sacrificed for accessibility Lesson for DMsEpic fantasy at the table thrives on clarity But nuance keeps it alive long-term PART III — DIRELANDS AS A DARK EPIC (Compare & Contrast) Where DireLands Aligns With Epic Fantasy Recorded History with Bias Epochs defined by conquest, ice, liberationHistory acknowledged as written by victors Cosmology That Warps Reality Cosmic entitiesTwo moons with mechanical and narrative impactGods tied to culture, language, and region A World After the “Victory” Witch-Queen defeated — but nothing healedThe Triumvirate mirrors the corruption they overthrew Mythic Races With Consequences Elves exiledDwarves driven undergroundHalflings isolated Cultural Texture LanguagesMusicPoetryReligious schisms Where DireLands Intentionally Diverges Epic fantasy usually asks: “How do we save the world?”DireLands asks: “What if saving the world wasn’t enough?” Key differences: Corruption replaces destinyVictory creates new injusticesMagic is feared, politicized, genderedHistory doesn’t inspire hope — it demands reckoning DM ...