Dark Sun setting question

[Zaphling]

Where do you find in the rulebooks about the part where you can make up to a number of PCs as backup character since dying in dark sun is more often than any other setting?

 

[ourchair]

Where do you find in the rulebooks about the part where you can make up to a number of PCs as backup character since dying in dark sun is more often than any other setting?

There are no rules for it, because you don't need rules for it.

It's just a precaution that you, your fellow players and your DM might want to take.

 

[Peraion Graufalke]

Character trees were in the original Dark Sun box, but AFAIK they haven't been carried over to 4e - I couldn't find any reference to them in the DSCS.

 

[Raunalyn]

In 2e Dark Sun, it was assumed that characters would need to make several characters (a character tree), all at least 3rd level, due to the fact that Athas was so deadly.

They have removed that ruleset in 4e due to the fact that:

a) 4e PCs are generally tougher.

b) Themes give characters an extra encounter power, so it makes them roughly equivalent to a 3rd level character (other than the to-hit bonuses and hitpoints)

and c) While, thematically, 4eDS is very similar to 2eDS, the newer version focuses more on the fun factor as opposed to the "We'sa alls gonna die'sa" factor. It is still a very deadly world, but much more manageable now.

 

[Riastlin]

There are no rules for it, because you don't need rules for it.

It's just a precaution that you, your fellow players and your DM might want to take.

This. You can just make additional character(s) when you roll up your character. If the DM is cool about it you can then even drop the replacements in quickly after somebody dies.

I've actually done this in regular campaigns too, allowing the players to have a couple of back up characters that could be inserted should somebody miss a session and suddenly there's no healer, mage, etc. Sort of runs like an RPGA event that way but it works.

 

[DracoSuave]

Ill sum it up. You make 4 characters at 3rd lvl. When one levels up, you can level another of lower level. When one dies they are replaced by a new 3rd lvl character. All on the tree share the same good/neutral/evil half of their alignment.

In 4th, unlike 2nd, new characters are at the same lvl as the party they join. So the character tree isnt practical no matter how deadly the campaign gets.