It has come up on Twitter and I'm not sure the answer.  Does anyone know for sure if the first series of Dragonlance modules were released before or after the first set of novels?  Thanks!

I always thought DL sprang from an actual campaign, and that campaign became the basis for the novels.  And then came the mods.  

As big a DL fan as I am, you'd think I'd know the history.

But no.  

If my recollection is correct, DL was originally intended for release in multiple media comparatively simultaneously.  At the time, TSR was looking to be able to capitalize on its IP in as many ways as possible.  So the intent was to release both modules and books from the get-go.  I don't think it was an existing campaign world, however.  (Though Tracy's module Eye of the Dragon has antecedent concepts that ultimately made it into DL.)

Thanks for the input!

Excerpt from Wikipedia:

"Hickman developed his world creation technique by writing and self-publishing with his wife Laura the adventure modules Rahasia (1979) and Pharaoh (1980), and writing TSR's Ravenloft module (1983). He was unemployed in 1982, and TSR offered him a job based on his submission of several modules.[1] 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.[7]

Their ideas were well received by TSR, whose marketing department felt they had enough dungeons, but not enough dragons. Hickman suggested a series of twelve modules, each featuring a different dragon. TSR employee 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 Moore, Doug Niles, 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.[7] Hickman became the design coordinator for Project Overlord, the cover name for what would later be known as the Dragonlance saga.[10]"

[1] Hunt, Stephen (January 2002). "Dragon' On". SFCrowsnest.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-20
[7] Archer, Peter (2004). "Dragonlance". 30 Years of Adventure: A Celebration of Dungeons & Dragons. Wizards of the Coast. pp. 64--75. ISBN 0-7869-3498-0
[10] Hickman, Tracy (April 1987). "TSR Profiles". Dragon (Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: TSR, Inc.) (#120): 90

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So it looks like it started out as an idea specifically realized for TSR modules and novels.

Hi everyone,

Can anyone help me figure which module this map belongs with?   

17"x22".  Not sure how that white stripe got there, just the size of four pages when opened up.  No piece code.

Cheers and thank you!

Mystery of Dragons solved!  Thank you

stylean wrote in Dragonlance:Wow, I woulda totally called it in the other direction.  I was well into all of the books before I realized there were modules.  Ironically I disdained them at the time because I thought they were after the fact money grabs.  Funny how things work.

I liked the modules because of the cover art and they were a decent read.  However, they are way too long as a series, difficult to run for players in my opinion.  I image some players have played in some of the adventurers, but I've never heard of anyone or any group running through the entire DL series.  

Dave,

I think it is part of the card stock cover from DL1 - Dragons of Despair.  What is on the other side of your map?  My copy shows a blue/green/white hex map of the Lost City of the Ancients, keyed 44a-k.

Hope this helps.