Since we are in the rules forum might as well discuss the possible rules of the setting.
In 2e Dark Sun had characters start at third level to give them a better chance to survive. I think in 4e with the bonus hit points, healing surges, and more difficult dying mechanci that it covers this change nicely.
Dark Sun uses psionics heavily. We know that the PHB3 will introduce psionic classes and that comes out a few months ahead of Dark Sun 4e so we should be good there. It reamins to be seen if there is a way for all character to have minor psionic powers like in Dark Sun and if those abilities could be made random. I highly doubt we would see the random part, but a feat to allow someone minor psionic power does not seem out of line.
I'll be interested to see if they actually have the weapons and armor be inferior to the metal ones in the base game. I hope they just don't keept he same stats for everything and just call it something different. I'd also like to see the weapon breakage rules. But that seems like a long shot.
Defilers and peservers I think gets a little more dicey. Defilers defiantly had an advantage in power. That was dealt with in 3e in the Dragon article I think so that might be a good place to look on how 4e might try to handle in.
While the setting has no goods it does have sorcerer kings and a strong elemental basis. I think that can easily be worked into the existing devine classes.
Attributes were higher but I don't see that as needed anymore.
It will matter on the ways the design team tackles these problems. Some of them they could just not put in this version of the game and others have multiple ways to be handled. I'm sure whatever they do it will greatly bother some people and others will love!
