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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Manbearcat" data-source="post: 7317391" data-attributes="member: 6696971">On Dark Sun and Tiers:1)  Epic Tier is about cosmological significance/adventure.2)  The Dark Sun setting of Athas is cosmologically isolated.  There are no Gods.  3)  Inherently then, it would seem that Dark Sun Epic Tier play is incoherent.  However...there are dormant Primordials (I believe).   I think the question then becomes about the premise of the setting and the potential themes of an Epic Tier (and how they could bear cosmological significance).  We have Dying Earth as the backbone of the setting.  We have a sun that is reddened due to sorcery.  But what does that mean?  Is the sun in a Red Giant phase like our own, ever-swelling and soon to extinguish all life?   If so, maybe you have a modern sci-fi premise that could be worked into Dark Sun:We need to find a way off of our dying planet/away from the impending exogenic or extraterrestrial extinction event.So now the quest to undo the cosmological isolation and deliver the Athasian refugees from extinction commences!  My guess is the Primordials wouldn't be pleased with that!On desert-based (climate, topographical, fauna) threats:a)  lack of freshwaterb)  intense heat during the day and intense cold at nightc)  flash-floodingd)  sandstormse)  dangerous fauna and territorial predators (this shouldn't be a problem for D&D!)f)  sparse vegetation and lack of game (food)g)  miragesh)  high mineral content (damages goods and drinking water with significantly high mineral content is a health hazard)i)  the fatigue-burden of traversing on foot through sandj)  lack of navigational landmarksThen there should be plenty of fantasy-based dangers.  I suspect there could be the equivalent of a desert crevasse covered by thick sand that shifts and pulls people underneath into the deep dark.  Lightning sand.  Etc.All Skill Challenges need the context of a game to discuss in granular detail, but I think all of these threats can be amped up for Tier-relevance.  Further, (a) and (f) need to systemitized in Dark Sun I'd think.  The Disease/Condition Track is something that should probably be regularly attacking PCs (one for Exposure, and one for Thirst/Starvation).  Surge-loss should be significant.  Extended Rests should be impacted.That is enough to start discussion.</blockquote>

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