D&D 5E Darksun Inspired Setting?

[Zardnaar]

If the clerics aren’t getting their powers from the Dragonkings, it might make more sense to use druids. Otherwise, you really have to wonder where the power is coming from. I was personally never very fond of the elemental cleric approach, but a druid could probably do it pretty well.

Instead (or in addition), you could have your clerical traditions be a type of shamanism with ancestor spirits, spirits of nature, or even small gods to draw power from. These patrons would be mostly limited in power and scope to whatever location they belong to.

In this case, the cleric would have to rededicate themselves to a new patron whenever they went somewhere new. Which could possibly mean selecting a new domain, as well.

(Also, what was the show? Worth checking out?)

Shows called Alien World's.

Druids just gonna follow the spirits of the land 2.0.

Gods dying is just the idea atm, desolation of the world could tie into that.

Dragon Kings basically fill the roll of archfiends. Probably refluff ancient gold and silver dragons and let them cast spells as a very high level caster.

Put up a tentative major race list in OP.

Human
Elf
Half Elf
Halfling
Dwarf
Tosculi (insectoid race Midgard).
Mutants (everything else).

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

For the cataclysm, I'd go with something like this:
- Ancient Empires use to rise lands into the skies to create floating cities/nations. After a time, the outer shell of the planet became so thin that it fissured and the burning fumes from the core transformed the surface into the desert it is now. The magic called gravity was lessened an most of the floating nations drifted away in the void of space. The planet is now orbited by a great numbers of space-floating necropolis. Some time, some of them fall back to the ground, causing huge destruction, but also a race to gather the remnant of the great empires of yore.

- What was once the leylines criscrossing the world, which every caster used to fuel their magic, are now ''ley-crevices'' emanating a huge amount of energy that can shape spell to create horrible effect, but also (secretly) drains slowly the core of the planet. Caster can tap into an ley-source, but its really taxing for the body and the mind. (You can use the ley-lines magic supplement from Kobold Press for that part). Tapping a ley-line weakens the body: the caster has disadvantage on all healing roll received for the next day and their HP max is reduced by the spell-level +1. In exchange, the spell DC or attack rolls increases by + 1/2 prof.

- High Dragons are magocrates that fused themselves directly with the core source, warping their former form into huge beast of destruction. Their existence itself drains the core. They greedily guards access to the largest ley-crevices and accessing the ley-lines without the permission of the Dragons or their agents in a punishable crime. Agents are gifted access to the dwindling resources of the world and even share some of the magic of the Dragons (you can use Kobold Press Dragon Magic for that part, and the last UA from WotC).

- Other spellcasters that dont have access to a ley-line or do not want to drain the core for moral reasons can fuel their spells using the Spell Emanations from other spellcasters: when a spell is cast, the consumed energy release 1) the spell effect and 2) a fume-like residue that can be used to cast spells with a lessened effect. (Aka No spell casting focus, everybody must use component pouches, and the only components are Emanations). Some time, Emanation can condense into a cloud, which will rains shard-like crystal of Emanation worth a lot more (aka the spell components that have a cost are replaced by an Emanation Shard worth X).

 

[Zardnaar]

Thinking if adding Midgard Lizardfolk as a race. They have some optional abilities to replace swim speed with burrowing in sand etc so they make great ambush predators.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

For the races:

• Camel-like Centaur, replace the Fey-thing with +X hours before dehydration.
• Antelope-like Satyr.
• Bugbears, living in the dried roots dangling from the few remaining floating lands.
• Ghouls (midgard as them, IIRC) clinging to the small spot of shade or deep caves to avoid the burning sun.
• Humans

 

[Zardnaar]

For the races:

• Camel-like Centaur, replace the Fey-thing with +X hours before dehydration.
• Antelope-like Satyr.
• Bugbears, living in the dried roots dangling from the few remaining floating lands.
• Ghouls (midgard as them, IIRC) clinging to the small spot of shade or deep caves to avoid the burning sun.
• Humans

They have to be established races mostly due to artwork if nothing else.

I could write my own but wouldn't have any art for them.