D&D General Dark Sun as a Hopepunk Setting

[Mind of tempest]

The big question is whether or not we'd want to stick with Environmentalism as the core theme or move to a more Anticapitalist allegory in the modern day. One of those two things sells a lot better, lately, after all!

lots of over-lapping but compatible themes could work, bigger scale setting with more horrible tyrant types to fall.
would need some big good to help balance things out

 

[Steampunkette]

becoming more than mortal is cheap concept wise cut out dragons and make your own showpiece monster?

Maybe?

Or just have them trying to literally undergo Apotheosis to become actual gods. Sending Templars on quests to find relics from earlier ages said to have belonged to the gods, long before they were slain, in the vain hope of achieving godhood for oneself seems like a solid enough draw.

 

[Charlaquin]

Though I'd also just write a whole new history, myself, and ditch the whole "Secret Tyrant Borys" angle for something different while maintaining the vibes.

The big question is whether or not we'd want to stick with Environmentalism as the core theme or move to a more Anticapitalist allegory in the modern day. One of those two things sells a lot better, lately, after all!

On this subject, I’m very much in favor of characterizing the mage-tyrants as incredibly petty. They wielded a power they knew was destroying the world so they could rule over its desiccated husk, and did so with abandon if not outright glee. The environmentalist messaging is still there but it’s a secondary element to a story that is fundamentally about power.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

The big question is whether or not we'd want to stick with Environmentalism as the core theme or move to a more Anticapitalist allegory in the modern day. One of those two things sells a lot better, lately, after all!

Combine them. The Big Bads are responsible for the current conditions due to their greed, and they continue to profit from the degradation of the environment. Maybe they even actively promote lies to the suffering people to ensure that they can continue.

Kind of like ... um ... nevermind.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Maybe?

Or just have them trying to literally undergo Apotheosis to become actual gods. Sending Templars on quests to find relics from earlier ages said to have belonged to the gods, long before they were slain, in the vain hope of achieving godhood for oneself seems like a solid enough draw.

gods are complex and tend to have ideas of being impossible to kill in the West, gods as some of them end goals seem likely.

pre-end would likely determine what the present batch of immortal undying lunatics goals are like

 

[Gradine]

But the vibe, the idea of defiling, things like that? We could do with different names.

Though I'd also just write a whole new history, myself, and ditch the whole "Secret Tyrant Borys" angle for something different while maintaining the vibes.

I honestly think such an undertaking would be absolutely worthwhile

The big question is whether or not we'd want to stick with Environmentalism as the core theme or move to a more Anticapitalist allegory in the modern day. One of those two things sells a lot better, lately, after all!

I'll avoid the stock gif response for once and just ask, why not both? Honestly they go hand-in-hand these days, and aren't all that difficult to intertwine all told (see: Final Fantasy 7, for a start)

 

[Ringtail]

I love Hopepunk and I love this idea.

Its basically my standard format of gaming at this point. Real life can already be enough of a bummer. I'm not looking to reconstruct those systematic prejudices, unless of course we get to tear them down and punch bigots in the face along the way.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Combine them. The Big Bads are responsible for the current conditions due to their greed, and they continue to profit from the degradation of the environment. Maybe they even actively promote lies to the suffering people to ensure that they can continue.

Kind of like ... um ... nevermind.

add in some genocidal madmen and some of the worst bits of religions and you can make a diverse rogues gallery of major foes

 

[Chaltab]

The idea of picking an anticapitalist theme because it sells better is kind of hilarious.

 

[Gradine]

The idea of picking an anticapitalist theme because it sells better is kind of hilarious.

The irony is delicious, of course, but there's also: