D&D 5E WotC: Why Dark Sun Hasn't Been Revived

In an interview with YouTuber 'Bob the Worldbuilder', WotC's Kyle Brink explained why the classic Dark Sun setting has not yet seen light of day in the D&D 5E era.

I’ll be frank here, the Dark Sun setting is problematic in a lot of ways. And that’s the main reason we haven’t come back to it. We know it’s got a huge fan following and we have standards today that make it extraordinarily hard to be true to the source material and also meet our ethical and inclusion standards... We know there’s love out there for it and god we would love to make those people happy, and also we gotta be responsible.

You can listen to the clip here.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Yup.

An atmosphere where facile treatments of serious issues drives people out of the hobby and slams the gate shut is what we had for decades. An atmosphere where any criticism was swept under the rug or ignored is what we had for decades.

So a change of atmosphere? Yes please.

What a wonderful world you live in. I don't suppose there's some sort of middle ground you would accept?

 

[Hussar]

What a wonderful world you live in. I don't suppose there's some sort of middle ground you would accept?

That’s the point. This IS the middle ground. Giving space for everyone shouldn’t be seen as the exception or the extreme. Not gatekeeping and forcing majority preferences on everyone isn’t extreme. It’s the bare minimum.

 

[MGibster]

I don't see why they can get POC lead and a bunch of POC contributors to reimagine the setting while staying true to the story and the vibe. I don't think there need to be "world-shaking events" and tons of ret-cons, just don't mention slavery and focus on allowing the POC creators to put their lived experience into reinvigorating in the world for a modern audience.

I can scarcely believe what you wrote. What you're suggesting WotC do is engage in racial discrimination when it comes to hiring employees or contractors to reimagine Dark Sun. This would be far more problematic than anything published for Dark Sun in the 1990s. Here in the United States, it's fairly rare for race to be a bona fide occupational qualification for a job. WotC would just be opening themselves up to bad press and possibly litigation.

 

[Zardnaar]

That’s the point. This IS the middle ground. Giving space for everyone shouldn’t be seen as the exception or the extreme. Not gatekeeping and forcing majority preferences on everyone isn’t extreme. It’s the bare minimum.

I'm in New Zealand. Think we do better than most.

Here the standards are what would offend reasonable people. Always gonna offend someone.

More for broadcasting but things like like viewer discretion plus what time something screens is the nuance part.

See the David thing as recent example. Simpsons called it.

In art what's offensive or not very subjective the problem is when you draw absolutes. There's elso precedent to consider. Yay you get something blocked dont complain when it happens to you.

There's stuff I don't like for example. I just don't buy it (animie, some abstract art).

He'll half the point of art is to offend someone. Alot of stuff we have now was offensive back in day. Women could be banned from viewing it or the plebs.

 

[Scribe]

See the David thing as recent example. Simpsons called it.

And then consider what is broadcast on tv, or god help you if you go on Twitter.

What an absolute clown show we live in.

 

[Zardnaar]

And then consider what is broadcast on tv, or god help you if you go on Twitter.

What an absolute clown show we live in.

Yup TV and movies have age ratings. Probably the way to do it.

Another point they "cleaned up" 2E. They backtracked with 3E.

They'll go where the money is.

 

[Micah Sweet]

That’s the point. This IS the middle ground. Giving space for everyone shouldn’t be seen as the exception or the extreme. Not gatekeeping and forcing majority preferences on everyone isn’t extreme. It’s the bare minimum.

So removing content from new product some people find value in, from everyone, because some other people find it offensive or uncomfortable, is the middle ground? Do I have that right?

 

[Hussar]

So removing content from new product some people find value in, from everyone, because some other people find it offensive or uncomfortable, is the middle ground? Do I have that right?

If that’s the way you want to spin it.

I see it as actually being accountable and inclusive instead of just paying lip service to the idea that everyone is welcome in the hobby.

 

[Voadam]

Dark Sun isn't "about" eugenics. Eugenics is just the excuse for having higher powered characters - and note, since we're talking AD&D stats, having a 20 stat is godlike in nature.

All 2e Dark Sun characters have super stats with higher racial maximums and minimums. Eugenics is not the excuse for the Dark Sun human, elf, dwarf, halfling, half-elf, half-giant, etc. characters having higher powered characters with better stats, starting at 3rd level instead of 1st, and automatically having at least wild talent psionics.

Muls are the sterile human dwarf hybrid ones with the write up about because of their suitability as gladiators sometimes being specifically bred for.

 

[Micah Sweet]

If that’s the way you want to spin it.

I see it as actually being accountable and inclusive instead of just paying lip service to the idea that everyone is welcome in the hobby.

Well, to be honest your spin is at least as spinny as mine. The tact you've taken is definitely designed to make your rhetorical opponents seem like awful people for disagreeing with you.