D&D 5E How would you wish WOTC to do Dark Sun

[R_J_K75]

Yes, you missed Defilers and Preservers, which adds a lot of detail about the Grey and the Athasian cosmology.

Here's a summary. The Grey is virtually impenetrable. The Grey exists (1) to explain why the Gods aren't there and elements are worshiped instead, and (2) as a narrative to give DMs an excuse to bar Athasian characters from their non-Athasian campaigns.

Yes, you can spelljam, but (1) Athas doesn't know how to do that and can't easily learn or construct a spelljammer, (2) the Gith on Athas are there because they tried using "astral ships" (which might mean spelljammers) to pierce the Grey but they crashed and were stranded on Athas and mutated, and (3) anyone who owns a spelljammer does not want to take it to Athas anyways. It's a dead wasteland of a world, with a bloated, dying sun, literally toxic magic, deadly psionic enemies, etc. Oh, and if you happen to die on Athas, you don't go to the afterlife. You go to the Grey where your soul is slowly aborbed into the Grey in an eternal purgatory with every other soul from Athas. It's like going to Gary, Indiana. Nobody goes there, and everybody else is only there because they can't escape.

I was wrong re: Spelljamming. Defilers and Preservers says that the crystal sphere surrounding Athas is impenetrable. That book also gives a table giving the percentage chance of successfully getting to and from Athas from the Outer or Astral Plane and the Inner or Ethereal Plane. I knew the issue was addressed somewhere just couldn't remember where. I think your 3rd paragraph is pretty spot on. Gary, Indiana sounds like a fate worse than death, but if I ever find myself knowing Im going there I'll be sure to smash up my bathroom sink and toilet before I do, I'll be a millionaire when I get there.

 

[Haldrik]

I hope D&D figures out a way to make Large player characters, balanced and normal. It is an important archetype.

A half-giant should be able to be Large. Playing a troll or ogre, or so on, should be no problem in a fantasy game.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Planescape does reference Athas and does have a few things from Athas that got out. But it's certainly implied that planar travel even with portals which "break the rules" is far less common than planar travel from Oerth or Toril.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Well, if they are going to do Dark Sun, they are going to need to incorporate all of the 5e races and classes, because otherwise it's not "standard" D&D.

Then they should probably make the sorcerer-kings a LOT more sympathetic; we should really try and learn things from their perspective.

Cannibal halflings are right out; halflings should be vegan, and will dine on the lush vegetation of Athas that the benevolent Sorcerer-Kings have bestowed on the population. Also? No muls. Mixed-ancestry races are deeply problematic.

Finally, we need to nix the psionic, given that this is a divisive issue for much of the player base. Replace "psionic" with "happy bards playing lutes."

 

[toucanbuzz]

I did a conversion in 50 pages with a monster manual and invested in 75 pages of a unique psionic class from DMsGuild, which we're currently playing. Add in another 60 or so pages like 4E's guide to the the hotspots and cities of the known world, and we've got plenty of space to work with. I want them to do what I (and others) have done but with better art and editing. And yes, it's doable:

• Psionics can be a separate class. Subclassing (aka half-assing it) will be an insult.
• The classes and races need to be shaken up. Otherwise, just play the Realms in a desert setting.
• Large creatures work. It's okay to give players something special. I know this'll mess with minis sales, but you'll figure it out.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

The problem with large creatures since 3.5e is that all large creatures take up 4 spaces. That's even worse of a problem with balance then increasing the weapon die of all attacks. Large since 3.5e means something different than what it has before.

 

[Haldrik]

Preservers versus Defilers ... in 5e ... what if ...

To use the highest spell level available causes the defilement of plant life.

For example, for a level 5 Wizard, the highest slot level 3 spell, like Fireball, causes defilement. But casting cantrip to slot level 2 is sustainable and preserves plant life.

This models the old-school idea that preservers take longer to advance in levels.

The rationale is, the highest spell level is the maximum magic that a Wizard is able to control, and even that is somewhat out of control and endangers surrounding plant life. But as the Wizard advances, levels that were once difficult to master become more routine and safer.

There will always be the temptation to use the highest level spell possible. But a more cautious Wizard will split the highest spell slot into several lower level spell slots.

 

[cbwjm]

I'd like to see a dark sun, I'd like it to remain somewhat beholden to its past in that they don't try to shoehorn in each race/subrace in the PHB, though if they did, I'd likely edit them out. I like the idea of not every setting having every race or even every class. Even 4e, one of the most inclusive kitchen sink editions said that no divine classes were in the Dark Sun setting.

Clearly I'd like to see some of the unique races. Muls, Thri-kreen, half-giants (I'm actually fine with subbing in goliath for them)

Everyone is psionic, I could see this being done in a way similar to supernatural gifts from Theros. Ideally there would also be a psionic class to go along with it but if not, perhaps psionic feats like they've had in past UA articles. Considering how many tries they've had with psionics, I'm not sure if a class is on the horizon or not (JC has said in an interview that a class is still possible, but that the mystic is dead). I'm fine with some psionic subclasses as well, though I'd prefer there to also be a psionic class.

Rules for defiling and having a clear delineation of arcane and divine (really elemental powered) magic. Not sure what this would be, I have in the past come up with a system that allowed a wizard to defile and draw upon the spell levels of their arcane recovery ability instantly but perhaps something simpler like advantage on an attack roll/disadvantage on a save would be better.

Not sure what else I'd like to see at the moment.

 

[Redwizard007]

I'd love to see something set much earlier in Athas's history. A Dark Sun prequel, if you will. A few of the sorcerer kings have begun their transformations and the dragon hasn'tachieved final form yet, but he's close... it would be a good way to allow most of the 5e staples without unending the lore. While I don't expect this, it would be really cool if multiple eras are available like in the old Dragon Lance setting.

While I'm posting, why no paladins? Sure, they didn't make sense in the original, but Paladins have evolved quite a bit since then. A vengeance or conquest paladin would fit easily.

 

[Eltab]

The best entry to Dark Sun, in my experience, is the 4e two-book set:
Dark Sun Campaign Setting and Dark Sun Creature Catalogue .