More Dark SUn tidbits by Rich Baker

[AdmundfortGeographer]

I was hoping for more - some new novels, a Player's Guide, a 4e Dragon Kings. I really loved Dark Sun.

We are getting more novels. This was in the 4e DS announcement as I recall. They just haven't announced what they are or when they will be called.

 

[Nebulous]

I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere yet, maybe someone can enlightmen me. Is WotC going to release a 40 monster Dark Sun DDM? Are they going to release class specific packages? I imagine Yes to both questions, but i've not heard it confirmed.

 

[avin]

I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere yet, maybe someone can enlightmen me. Is WotC going to release a 40 monster Dark Sun DDM? Are they going to release class specific packages? I imagine Yes to both questions, but i've not heard it confirmed.

Next two sets are going to be Streets of Shadow and Lords of Madness, that doesn't ring Dark Sun for me.

No class specific set has been mentioned or speculated on DDMSpoilers.

DDM Spoilers by Greyhaze

 

[Nebulous]

Hmm. it's been a long time since i looked at Dark Sun monsters, but in general i remember them not really borrowing from the pool of "default" D&D. Am i right or wrong? I remember lots of abberation-like thingamajigs. Or the Sarlaac waiting to swallow you.

 

[Mark Hope]

Hmm. it's been a long time since i looked at Dark Sun monsters, but in general i remember them not really borrowing from the pool of "default" D&D. Am i right or wrong? I remember lots of abberation-like thingamajigs. Or the Sarlaac waiting to swallow you.

Yeah, that's right. We tracked and converted over 200 monsters from 2e to 3e when doing the athas.org Terrors of Athas monster manual, with another 60+ in the Terrors of the Dead Lands undead and vermin supplement. A handful of these (half a dozen or thereabouts) were invented out of whole-cloth or derived from passing descriptions in the novels. But all the rest came from 2e Dark Sun stats. You didn't really need monsters from any other sources, although lists were provided in 2e for "Athas-compatible" monsters from the core MMs (and we continued this practice in 3e). I'd expect to see a similar approach for 4e, possibly with a smaller set of DS-specific monsters and a larger list of modded core creatures.

 

[Shroomy]

I kind of wonder what DS monsters will be added to the core game instead of the DSCC and appearing in the MMIII or DDI. I'm thinking that the nightmare beast and thri-kreen are shoo-ins.

 

[Wik]

I kind of wonder what DS monsters will be added to the core game instead of the DSCC and appearing in the MMIII or DDI. I'm thinking that the nightmare beast and thri-kreen are shoo-ins.

I'd add to that the Kirre, some of the undead, and some of the elemental beasts. I'd love to see Silk Wyrms become "core", too, but I doubt it (they were such a great monster! Especially once the PCs discovered where the silk CAME from!)

 

[Phaezen]

Some more from Rich baker

The first big reveal seems to be set for DD Xp in January next year, including amongst other things templars, defiling and new races. There is also a hint that Dark Sun characters will be "better" than Core characters but not in stats, attack bonuses or defences.

 

[Henrix]

There is also a hint that Dark Sun characters will be "better" than Core characters but not in stats, attack bonuses or defences.

Enough to mange without standard magic items, perchance?

 

[avin]

Whatever it is, Character Builder should prevent/advice/alert DMs about using a "stronger" DS feature for players of another worlds/homebrews.

It wouldn't be bad add some kinda of setting filter to CB, optional, for DMs who want to prevent a FR player using Dragonmarks on his campaign, for example.