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Dragonlance authors drop $10M lawsuit against Wizards of the Coast

Weis and Hickman voluntarily dismiss their case against the publisher of D&D

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Three books on a bed of fallen leaves. Titled Dragons of Autumn Twilight, of Winter Night, and of Spring Dawning. Photo: Charlie Hall/Polygon
Charlie Hall is Polygon’s tabletop editor. In 10-plus years as a journalist & photographer, he has covered simulation, strategy, and spacefaring games, as well as public policy.

Dragonlance co-creators Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis have voluntarily dismissed their $10 million lawsuit against Dungeons & Dragons publisher Wizards of the Coast. In 2020 the pair alleged breach of contract related to a new series of novels set in their famous role-playing universe. How exactly the disagreement has been resolved is unknown.

Polygon has reached out to all parties for more information.

The Dragonlance Chronicles originated at TSR in the 1980s with Dragons of Autumn Twilight, spawning additional books and RPG supplements set in the high-fantasy world of Krynn. The novels star iconic characters such as Tanis Half-Elven, Raistlin, Flint Fireforge, and Goldmoon — all of which have been largely absent from the reinvigorated 5th edition of D&D.

Court documents had claimed that Hickman and Weis were approached in 2017 by Wizards to write a new series of novels. Negotiations included a new licensing agreement between the authors and the publisher, plus an additional agreement with Del Rey Books. Novels titled Dragons of Deceit and Dragons of Fate had already been completed, with a third manuscript reportedly on the way.

The dismissal of the case may be a sign that whatever impediments to the publication of these books is now cleared away. On Dec. 22 — just four days after the case was dismissed — Hickman posted a picture of himself with a puckish look, his chin resting on top of a stack of three large binders and a set of polyhedral dice at his elbow.

“Contemplating the coming of the happiest of New Years,” he wrote.

Update (2:40 pm EST): Wizards of the Coast declined to comment for this story. Representatives of Hickman and Weis — from the Los Angeles-based firm Weintraub Tobin — also declined to comment.

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