D&D General Dark Sun as a Hopepunk Setting

[Charlaquin]

By that definition, hopepunk doesn't actually have to have a world that's all that bad, just one that can be made better.

I guess. Though a hopepunk work would be much less compelling if the systemic issues the characters take on weren’t significant.

 

[Chaltab]

Ironically in my experience many Cyberpunk stories I've encountered seem to lean more towards the cynical take where hope is foolish, so look out for yourself.

 

[Charlaquin]

Ironically in my experience many Cyberpunk stories I've encountered seem to lean more towards the cynical take where hope is foolish, so look out for yourself.

What’s ironic about that? That’s a defining feature of cyberpunk, and the most significant thematic factor separating it from other near-future science fiction. All of the subgenres that developed out of cyberpunk were in dialogue with cyberpunk, responding to either its aesthetics or its themes (or both) in some way. Hopepunk is really more of a response to grimdark than to cyberpunk, but most cyberpunk works could be characterized as grimdark.

 

[Mistwell]

Your plan (in the OP) would fix pretty much all the issues I always had with the setting. I own the original 2e version boxed set and always found it so...depressing. Too much was intentionally morally grey in a world that didn't look morally grey to me it looked like a whole lot of evil that PCs really would want to fix.

 

[Chaltab]

What’s ironic about that? That’s a defining feature of cyberpunk, and the most significant thematic factor separating it from other near-future science fiction. All of the subgenres that developed out of cyberpunk were in dialogue with cyberpunk, responding to either its aesthetics or its themes (or both) in some way. Hopepunk is really more of a response to grimdark than to cyberpunk, but most cyberpunk works could be characterized as grimdark.

because take care of yourself, screw everyone else is also the ethos of the megacorps. It's not really counterculture at all.

 

[Zardnaar]

Your plan (in the OP) would fix pretty much all the issues I always had with the setting. I own the original 2e version boxed set and always found it so...depressing. Too much was intentionally morally grey in a world that didn't look morally grey to me it looked like a whole lot of evil that PCs really would want to fix.

Every other setting offered that. It was a subversion if anything.

Variety and all that. I like Sopranos for example. I don't expect you to.

Try and take away my Sopranos that's an issue. I don't mind if you have a different show that appeals to you though (FR, DL, GH etc).

 

[Belen]

I’d be up for it. My main style of game always has the PCs bringing light to a dark world and this is exactly how’d want a new Dark Sun setting.

I did the same with Midnight back in the day.

 

[bedir than]

Every other setting offered that. It was a subversion if anything.

Variety and all that. I like Sopranos for example. I don't expect you to.

Try and take away my Sopranos that's an issue. I don't mind if you have a different show that appeals to you though (FR, DL, GH etc).

No one has suggested taking anything away.
All things that already exist for Dark Sun will always exist. There's no magic button that removes them from your library or your memory.

 

[Mistwell]

Try and take away my Sopranos that's an issue. I don't mind if you have a different show that appeals to you though (FR, DL, GH etc).

What the heck are you going on about? I assure you, I do not plan to hire Santa's elves to steal your Dark Sun 2e materials away from you in New Zealand. Frankly it's just too far away from the north pole to bother.

 

[Zardnaar]

What the heck are you going on about? I assure you, I do not plan to hire Santa's elves to steal your Dark Sun 2e materials away from you in New Zealand. Frankly it's just too far away from the north pole to bother.

Not on the map think we're safe.