Death Knights of Krynn

Death Knights of Krynn - the 1991 fantasy role-playing game for
Commodore 64 from Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI).

Lead a seasoned party of adventurers against Lord Soth’s undead army in
the Dragonlance world, defending the lands of Ansalon from corruption
and terror.

Core loop
- create or import characters from “Champions of Krynn”
- explore towns, dungeons, and battlefields in first-person view
- engage in tactical, turn-based combat on grid maps
- complete quests to uncover and defeat the Death Knights

Systems and items
- AD&D 2nd Edition rules - classes, levels, spells, and alignments
- clerical turning - essential against undead enemies
- magical gear - upgrade weapons with dragonlances and holy relics
- journal entries - story text expands major plot moments

Level design and feel
Alternates between 3D maze exploration and top-down tactical battles.
Combat depth and enemy variety keep every dungeon crawl challenging, and
the dark tone enhances the sense of heroic struggle.

Why it is notable
- second entry in SSI’s Dragonlance “Gold Box” trilogy
- introduces higher-level play and undead-heavy campaigns
- known for excellent C64 optimization despite complex systems

Tips
- keep at least two clerics to handle undead and healing
- use “Protection from Evil” before major fights with Death Knights
- read journal entries carefully—many contain hidden map clues

At a glance
Year - 1991
Developer - Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI)
Design and programming - David Shelley - Victor Penman
Graphics - SSI art team
Music - Seiji Toda (C64 adaptation)
Publisher - SSI
Genre - Tactical RPG
Players - 1
Controls - Keyboard - joystick optional for menu navigation