Dark Sun: Athas, Its Moons and You

[TrainedMunkee]

My Preferances

- I ran the Dark Sun 2e until my dice bled

-I have read most of the books

-Haven't run Dark Sun since 2e, it's been awhile

-Dark Sun campaign is the first 4e book to impress me, sorry 4e fanboys

-I will be running Dark Sun, my first 4e DM attempt

Questions

1. What material is out there on Athas's moons? I'm refering to the refernce of the moons being a garden paradise and a John Carter Mars type of enviorenment, if you don't know who John Carter is look up Edgar Rice Burroughs, Google knows all. Is this a new idea? It mentions the posibility of gates to the moons. If this is a new idea, bravo to which ever author came up with the idea.

2.What kind of creative ideas does the community have regarding these two possible settings? I am going to make it a high level setting and come up with a mechanic preventing the PC's from bring back water and metal, in order to keep a balance on Athas.

The creativity of the Dark Sun Campaign book has really started my own creative juices flowing. I am actually looking forward to a 4e session. I am interested in what the community can come up with.

Space

 

[Insight]

1. What material is out there on Athas's moons? I'm refering to the refernce of the moons being a garden paradise and a John Carter Mars type of enviorenment, if you don't know who John Carter is look up Edgar Rice Burroughs, Google knows all. Is this a new idea? It mentions the posibility of gates to the moons. If this is a new idea, bravo to which ever author came up with the idea.

What we've got right now is all we have and all we're likely to get, outside of a Dragon Magazine article or two (or Dungeon Magazine, I suppose). The DSCS doesn't say a whole lot, but there are some interesting tidbits in there. Moongates, anyone?

2.What kind of creative ideas does the community have regarding these two possible settings? I am going to make it a high level setting and come up with a mechanic preventing the PC's from bring back water and metal, in order to keep a balance on Athas.

Not sure about "the community", but I have some ideas regarding these moons. Not ready to release them just yet.

The creativity of the Dark Sun Campaign book has really started my own creative juices flowing. I am actually looking forward to a 4e session. I am interested in what the community can come up with.

Space

Dark Sun is the first 4th ed setting to really get my attention in any meaningful way. I like the chances it takes with turning certain "sacred cows" on their ears and changing perceptions in terms of what is possible with the game.

I wish you good luck in running your game!

 

[Crothian]

Depending on what you like from 4e you could have some fun wuith the moons. What if one of them is a refugee for some of the dead races? THey might be extinct on Athas but somehow they got to the moon and are living. You could set up some really wierd ploitics of communities that are stronger becasue there is so much diversity.

Another option would be a halfling only moom. Athas, according to some information, was orginal a halfing world so you could have a settlement of not just halfings but halfings that have never meet a non halfling.

 

[darjr]

Try the http://www.athas.org/ for more info. Rich Baker in their Dark Sun seminar personally thanked Athas.org for keeping the flame alive and as a source of Dark Sun info.

 

[TrainedMunkee]

Dark Sun is the first 4th ed setting to really get my attention in any meaningful way. I like the chances it takes with turning certain "sacred cows" on their ears and changing perceptions in terms of what is possible with the game.

I agree, I have found some of the "sacred cows" to be a little stale in 4e. Perhaps, it's do to the fact that I have been playing D&D for so long, or the boardgame feel that 4e has. I am not trying to start any flame wars, please don't derail this thread. Just my personal opinion. I have enjoyed roleplaying games for over thirty years now and I have found that a game is not made by it's rules, but by it's setting instead.

What if one of them is a refugee for some of the dead races? THey might be extinct on Athas but somehow they got to the moon and are living. You could set up some really wierd ploitics of communities that are stronger becasue there is so much diversity.

Another option would be a halfling only moom. Athas, according to some information, was orginal a halfing world so you could have a settlement of not just halfings but halfings that have never meet a non halfling.

All excellent ideas Crothian. Perhaps if you wanted the setting to be lower level you could go with non-savage Halflings and an exotic extinct civilization at higher levels. The Halfings made a mass exodus due to "the disaster" i.e. the change from green to desert Athas or they left before the disaster, due to the fact that it was foretold in prophecy that the younger races would destroy the planet. They then recreated the green moon in image of Green Athas. But, alas it is not the same and have desire for their mother planet. This sickness eats away at their souls. The prophecy has foretold the coming of a group of adventurer saviors that will save Athas and restore the planet to it's former glory.

 

[Crothian]

The prophecy has foretold the coming of a group of adventurer saviors that will save Athas and restore the planet to it's former glory.

Forget that. The prophecy tells of travels from Athas bringing blight and destruction to the green moon. Don't make it easy on the PCs, have them be seen as the bad guys. How do you fight a prophecy that everyone believes that says you are evil?

 

[TrainedMunkee]

Try the http://www.athas.org/ for more info. Rich Baker in their Dark Sun seminar personally thanked Athas.org for keeping the flame alive and as a source of Dark Sun info.

Thanx for the link Darjr. I am a little famaliar with the site. I am a far from a regular there though and find the site hard to navigate. I went there first for the moon references and couldn't find them. I had thought that the site had a Dark Sun encyclopedia at one point, but I couldn't find it.

Forget that. The prophecy tells of travels from Athas bringing blight and destruction to the green moon. Don't make it easy on the PCs, have them be seen as the bad guys. How do you fight a prophecy that everyone believes that says you are evil?

Excellent idea! The inhabitants of the moon only have past dealings with Tyrians to base their opinions on. I mean they did kill the planet.

 

[TrainedMunkee]

By the way, I have posted the same thread at WotC's forum:

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[Jhaelen]

Another option would be a halfling only moom. Athas, according to some information, was orginal a halfing world so you could have a settlement of not just halfings but halfings that have never meet a non halfling.

For some reason, reading this, immediately conjured up the image of a race of 'quaddies' (see: Lois McMaster Bujold's novel), halflings adapted to life in a zero-g environment with another pair of arms in place of legs...

 

[TrainedMunkee]

For some reason, reading this, immediately conjured up the image of a race of 'quaddies' (see: Lois McMaster Bujold's novel), halflings adapted to life in a zero-g environment with another pair of arms in place of legs...

Haven't read any Bujold novels, have been meaning to start one of her series. I have a huge stack of fantasy novels to get through, if ever get any free time. Dwarves is at the top right now. I spent a week in New Hampshire on vacation and didn't read a single page of it. If you enjoy old style adventure, give the John Carter series a try. It starts with Princess of Mars.