Dragonlance Nexus 1.0
“We do not mourn the loss of those who die fulfilling their destinies.”
-The Forestmaster, Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Dear friends,
It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to the original Dragonlance Nexus website. The site was crafted way back in 2001 by my good friend Matt Haag, known in the Dragonlance community as “Paladin.” We were both part of the Dragonlance-L mailing list during a time when Dragonlance fans were wanting to see Dragonlance in the newly released Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition game.
I have told the story elsewhere, but the short version is
that Matt and I teamed up, formed the Whitestone Council, and created the Dragonlance
Nexus. Tracy Hickman advised us and lent his support to the project.
Eventually, a year later, I got a call from Margaret Weis that Sovereign Press
had gained the license to the Dragonlance RPG – and she wanted the Whitestone
Council to help.
The rest is history.
It was a site that we were told would never make it. It lasted for 18 years. Matt and I had a great partnership. I was often referred to as the “heart of the Nexus.” If that is the case, then Matt was surely the mind. He is a good friend and I am better for knowing him.
Eventually, Matt moved on with his life, starting a family and having a successful career. He entrusted the Nexus to me, and I promised him, myself, and all of you that I would keep it alive.
Unfortunately, technical difficulties beyond our control has made that option challenging.
Dragonlance Nexus 2.0
“Let the past die. Kill it if you have to. That’s the only way to become what you were meant to be. “
-Kylo Ren, Star Wars: The Last Jedi
The secret to the longevity of the Dragonlance Nexus is that we adapt and change with the times. Like the ironwood tree, we have a solid base, but our branches sway in the wind.
The Nexus has been a life-changing force in my life. It has been the catalyst for a major career change for me, leading me to go back to school and get a degree in web design and development.
For years now, I have worked on porting over the material from the original Nexus site to a newer site built upon a modern-day content management system (CMS). It’s been a slow process, but one that has taught me a lot.
What I had to realize along the way is that while the original Nexus site was Matt’s design, this new version is mine. In fact, I refer to it as my life quest.
The new Dragonlance Nexus is going to be more of a “best of” Dragonlance and its fandom. Not everything is going to be ported over, but by golly, we’re going to have the best. We’re going to do a few things differently, but we’re going to have fun along the way.
No worries, though, for all of you who liked elements from the classic site. We’re going to have the best of those too. On the top of my to do list is to re-establish the reading order list. Heck, we might even spiff it up a bit.
What the Future Holds
The task of moving the Nexus from one site to another has been a daunting one. Often I have felt like a deer caught in the headlights, and a weight has been on my shoulders.
As of tonight, all of that has changed. The weight has been lifted, and the direction we travel is forward. I want to have some fun and I want for all of you to join me on this journey.
So grab your hoopaks my friends, and step with me through this new Nexus. The portal to adventure awaits!
And Matt, old buddy…this one’s for you.
Trampas Whiteman
“Dragonhelm”
Whitestone Council
Lately I have been working on an interactive indepth mapp of Anasalon and I have been looking for more info on villages, cities, and other locations. The new site does not have all the info the old site did so hopefully that will get filled out in time. I appreciate all the work done over the years to keep the site running and the work on the new site. Thank yoU!
I have always loved the Nexus and has helped me through many a campaign. Thanks for the inspiration and I look forward to always coming back to talk and read what friends I never knew I had would post.
Est Sularus oth Mithas
Glad DL Nexus lives on! It’s been an invaluable resource over the years, and even moreso now that I’m finally getting a long-awaited Dragonlance campaign off the ground I’m writing about it on my blog:
http://unto-the-breach.blogspot.com/2019/12/dragonlance-after-dawning-introduction.html
When is 2.0 launching?
You’re looking at it now.
Will we get the name generator back? Fingers crossed!
http://dlnexus.com/features/utilities/names.aspx
Yes, though I think it’s time to update it a bit. Keep watching!
So what does the order look like in 5th edition?
Could you please at least bring back both the novels timeline and reading order. I always use this site to keep track on my Dragonlance reading. I dont think that there is any other site with such a comprehensive reading list. Thanks.
Here’s an archived version of the reading order and of the complete products list.
OMG the reading order list has been my grounding…I am now lost..i don’t know what to do!! I was following the reading order and i am lost without the knowledge in that list!! sigh..can’t you even put a simple copy of the page here so I can reference where i am?
Here’s a tide-me-over from the Web Archive.
http://web.archive.org/web/20190710182721/http://www.dlnexus.com/products/reading.aspx
you are a lifesaver, thanks so much!
Could you please bring back the novels time line and reading order? I find this very handy when reading the books.
Sorry. The link above worked. But it would be good too see this on the new site. Thanks.
Hi Trampas,
I started RPGing back in the 90s with Dragonlance, before I even knew, where my DM got his setting from. Now, 25+ years later, I returned to DL, playing another campaign (with D&D 5e) and updated myself with the informaation I found here. Without this site, the DL setting would be just as dead as other D&D settings. I was even asked to DM a DL campaign. Your site is an absolute masterpiece of organising the different information sources. It lets me know what to find where and that is invaluable for someone who grows into a complex setting like Dragonlance. The dedication and the amount of work that went into this site is beyond anything I know from sites dedicated to other Settings. I panicked a bit, when there was some downtime, but now, the Nexus is back, and nicer then before (webdesign usually doesn´t age well, so I am with you in the update). Thank you very much for the insight into the site´s history and your position here. I hope my sincere appreciation helps a little bit in motivating you to maintain this awesome place! Thanks a lot and best regards from Germany.
Thank you so much for the kind words, Thomas! Your comments do provide me with some extra motivation!
I just wanted to drop a line and say that I appreciate the update. As always the nexus is my favorite online resource that helps with my planning for the stories my players love. It has been a number of years since I last ran a game, and now that I am taking the step into 5e as a DM, I’m glad the nexus still lives.