D&D General Dark Sun as a Hopepunk Setting

[TwoSix]

Mostly why I recommend a full new compatible game rather than just a setting book though is:

(a) As mentioned, third party setting books aren't exactly top sellers
(b) I feel like a setting book, especially in 5e these days, is expected to find a place for all 5e PHB player options
(c) A major selling point to Dark Sun (or a Dark Sun-alike) is that the general species are very different from what you'd expect
(d) I also think it would be a struggle to find a place for Aasimar, Dragonborn, or Tieflings, to say nothing of other options such as a classes, archetypes, or spells that don't really fit in

You would have a better standing to adopt from the OGL what you can fit in and leave things out without having to make a list of things from the PHB that are VERBOTTEN

Dark Sun is definitely a setting that could use specific, bespoke classes, rather than trying to shoehorn in everything from 5e.

I'm aware that Dark Sun was built from an AD&D template, but I think even the 2e version of the setting was straining against the boundaries of the existing class system.

 

[Charlaquin]

Listen i've been gaming with some of these people for 15+ years, it's not that they're all new. Even the newest has been playing since '16

We used to play 4E! it just seems adult responsibility takes up too much brain space these days.

4e also just did information management better than 5e does. There’s more information to manage, but it’s organized and presented in a much more user-friendly manner. For all the complaints that it felt too “videogamey” or jargony or whatever, the fact of the matter is that 4e made it easy to know exactly where to look to find what you wanted to know, and expressed that information very clearly and concisely. 5e is so concerned with wanting to sound “natural” that you have to wade through paragraphs of mostly empty fluff text even when all you wanted was to remind yourself if the target makes the save at the beginning or end of their turn (or whatever).

 

[Mort]

Dark Sun is definitely a setting that could use specific, bespoke classes, rather than trying to shoehorn in everything from 5e.

I'm aware that Dark Sun was built from an AD&D template, but I think even the 2e version of the setting was straining against the boundaries of the existing class system.

While I think there would definitely have to be some curation, I think there is much potential that wasn't present in 2e.

2 examples:

The 2e Paladin was a terrible fit for Darksun, and recognized as such. the 5e paladin would be a great fit for Darksun.

Warlocks would likely fit right into Darksun with just a tiny bit of ochange as to patrons.

 

[Zardnaar]

I loved that film. My dog is named after Furiosa.

I think the sequel was OK too, but I certainly get why it wasn't as big of a success. The pacing was quite different.

But yeah, I think Fury Road is a good example of a story with hope in a dystopian world.

Original DS had hope. People just push the dystopia angle more. You foukd change things more i suppose but it kind of defeats the point of the setting.

 

[Zardnaar]

While I think there would definitely have to be some curation, I think there is much potential that wasn't present in 2e.

2 examples:

The 2e Paladin was a terrible fit for Darksun, and recognized as such. the 5e paladin would be a great fit for Darksun.

Warlocks would likely fit right into Darksun with just a tiny bit of ochange as to patrons.

Warlocks don't fit though. Less arcane magic is a major point.

There's a reason SKs used Templars as they don't defile. They're priests (primal power source).

4E screwed up.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Whose fault is the whole' arcane/divine' split in D&D?

 

[Mort]

Warlocks don't fit though. Less arcane magic is a major point.

There's a reason SKs used Templars as they don't defile. They're priests (primal power source).

4E screwed up.

Warlocks get their power from a patron - the arcane nature of it is just an easy classification.

In Darksun, it would be reclassified - easy.

 

[Zardnaar]

Warlocks get their power from a patron - the arcane nature of it is just an easy classification.

In Darksun, it would be reclassified - easy.

Still shoe horned in.

 

[Mort]

Whose fault is the whole' arcane/divine' split in D&D?

Just propaganda from BigDivinty to further oppress those poor folks seeking some path other than their clearly benign handouts.

 

[Chaltab]

Still shoe horned in.

I think Warlock pacts make even more sense in a world where studying magic is illegal and bards are expected to be spies and assassins for corrupt nobles. Not to mention Athas is harsh; desperation & unwise bargains go together like chocolate & PB.