Any Dark Sun info from DDXP yet?

[Dragonhelm]

What I like:

• Weapon Breakage Rules
• Sorcerer Kings are all going to be statted up (possible exception: Kalak)
• Thri-Kreen looks somewhat playable while still being "classic"
• Defiling looks like it'll be a decent mechanic, and will tempt the PCs (always a plus).

From what little I've seen of the weapon breakage rules, it sounds like it'll be easy to deal with. I like that.

There was a non-weapon proficiency in DS called weapon improvisation that I hope they work in somehow too.

I like what I've heard of the thri-kreen thus far. As long as they maintain the original flavor, that's the key thing.

What I don't like (so far):

• Crystal weapons. Not in the original set, and why are they here? "Crystal" as a weapon material has always bugged me. Bugged me in Earthdawn, and it bugs me here, too.
• The themes seem to be ability-based, and there aren't enough of them. As I've mentioned earlier, I would have preferred to see smaller themes that replaced magic item dailies. Ah, well.
• Muls don't have much information as of yet that make them interesting or particularly viable as a PC choice (compared to, say, a dwarf).
• Wild Talent as a theme, as opposed to a feat. Fewer wild talent PCs is kind of a let down, but then, there was no way in hell we'd see random wild talents in 4e, so this was probably the best way to go, lest Dark Sun was overcome by layer upon layer of psionics cheese.

I like the idea of crystal weapons, personally. One of the best things that 3rd edition did for psionics was make the crystal association, which added a ton of flavor. So seeing them in Dark Sun seems like a winner to me.

I was surprised that wild talents are a theme. I thought that would be a multiclass feat. I have high hopes for it, though.

 

[Tzarevitch]

Personally, there are some things I've seen in this release that I like, and things that I dislike.

What I like:

• Weapon Breakage Rules
• Sorcerer Kings are all going to be statted up (possible exception: Kalak)
• Thri-Kreen looks somewhat playable while still being "classic"
• Defiling looks like it'll be a decent mechanic, and will tempt the PCs (always a plus).

What I don't like (so far):

• Crystal weapons. Not in the original set, and why are they here? "Crystal" as a weapon material has always bugged me. Bugged me in Earthdawn, and it bugs me here, too.
• The themes seem to be ability-based, and there aren't enough of them. As I've mentioned earlier, I would have preferred to see smaller themes that replaced magic item dailies. Ah, well.
• Muls don't have much information as of yet that make them interesting or particularly viable as a PC choice (compared to, say, a dwarf).
• Wild Talent as a theme, as opposed to a feat. Fewer wild talent PCs is kind of a let down, but then, there was no way in hell we'd see random wild talents in 4e, so this was probably the best way to go, lest Dark Sun was overcome by layer upon layer of psionics cheese.

Crystal weapons bug you more than swords made of solid obsidian?

 

[DarthMouth]

Themes seem like a 4e version of Fantasy Craft's Specialties. I'd think we could have a Theme that could let any class function like the 2e DS bard, a Poisonmaster/Alchemist. I could see an Aristocrat Theme. Warmaking was a major part of the original Dark Sun presentation, Battlesystem was used a lot, so how about a Soldier theme. Could Slave be a theme? A Scholar theme?

Also.. how about a specific kind of Templars?

like.. Templar of Lalai, Templar of Hamanu.. etc etc..

I know its impossible all those be on the book, but the ideia sounds good to me... flavorfull mechanics for yours templars..

 

[Wik]

Crystal weapons bug you more than swords made of solid obsidian?

Yyup! Because, hey, the aztecs had obsidian swords. They broke, sure, but at least they actually existed.

Of course, the thri-kreen crystal completely slipped my mind. But I'm still not a fan.

To quote Mr. Horse: "No sir... I don't like it."

 

[Dire Bare]

Yyup! Because, hey, the aztecs had obsidian swords. They broke, sure, but at least they actually existed.

Of course, the thri-kreen crystal completely slipped my mind. But I'm still not a fan.

To quote Mr. Horse: "No sir... I don't like it."

Um, no, the Aztecs did not have solid obsidian swords. They had "macuahuitl" which were wooden swords with obsidian blades set into the edges. A solid obsidian sword is impossible in the real world, although I'd have no problem with it in a D&D setting.

 

[Wik]

Um, no, the Aztecs did not have solid obsidian swords. They had "macuahuitl" which were wooden swords with obsidian blades set into the edges. A solid obsidian sword is impossible in the real world, although I'd have no problem with it in a D&D setting.

Ha. I was waiting for this post the second I posted mine. I should have been more precise - I'm aware there are no "solid obsidian swords".

However, who says "obsidian" weapons in DARK SUN are solid obsidian? Are "Metal" swords solid metal? Rarely, once you count the hilt (and, in DARK SUN, probably the crossbar).

It really is just an image thing for me... Crystal Weapons take me out of the mood of Dark Sun, and into the world of japanese video games.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

However, who says "obsidian" weapons in DARK SUN are solid obsidian? Are "Metal" swords solid metal?

Just like, "are stone axes solid stone?" No, usually, the head is stone while the haft is wood or maybe bone.

I always considered the material the weapon is "made of" to be the "business" part, the part that does the damage; while the rest of the weapon is made of the cheapest effective material necessary to keep it all held together.

 

[Mouseferatu]

However, who says "obsidian" weapons in DARK SUN are solid obsidian? Are "Metal" swords solid metal? Rarely, once you count the hilt (and, in DARK SUN, probably the crossbar).

So then why the assumption that crystal weapons are solid? Couldn't they just as easily be wood or bone with crystalline blades/teeth?

 

[Wik]

So then why the assumption that crystal weapons are solid? Couldn't they just as easily be wood or bone with crystalline blades/teeth?

Quiet you. This is no place for logical arguments.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Quiet you. This is no place for logical arguments.

Oh, drat. I'm Internetting wrong again, aren't I?