Is Dark SUN Sword and Sorcery?

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

So, social commentary is political?

Yep - especially when political parties start getting brought into it. If you'd care to discuss this further, please send me a PM. There's no need to keep it going in here.

 

[hong]

I dare anyone reading this thread to give a PC or NPC the title "Princess of Helium". I double-dare you.

 

[Aaron L]

I dare anyone reading this thread to give a PC or NPC the title "Princess of Helium". I double-dare you.

Done.

 

[Geoffrey]

Well, we know that Barsoom was an influence in the early design phases of Dark Sun because the designers of the setting have said so - they've been very clear about this fact on a number of occasions. In its initial concept, DS was much closer to Barsoom, but TSR's marketing folks asked for a number of changes. Initially, all or most of the races were exotic and the PHB races did not feature (no dwarves, no elves, no halflings etc). The marketing guys decided that this would prevent customers from buying into the setting, so they asked for those races to be included. The designers agreed, but made them into the warped Athasian versions that feature in the published setting.

Very interesting. I wish that Dark Sun had stayed closer to its designers' initial concept. Where can I read more about the Dark Sun designers' concepts and influences?

 

[Mark Hope]

Very interesting. I wish that Dark Sun had stayed closer to its designers' initial concept. Where can I read more about the Dark Sun designers' concepts and influences?

Here are a few that we did at athas.org. There is other stuff in some of the old issues of Dragon as well - if you have the archive CD you can run a search and pull the pieces up quickly. I also recall reading some cool stuff in the 30 Years of D&D Book and am thinking that there might have been something in the 25th Anniversary Box, but mine is stored right now and I can't check. Anyhow, some links for you - I'm not sure that there's much on Barsoom here, but dig in anyway:

Interview #1 with Troy Denning
Interview #2 with Troy Denning
Interview with Tim Brown
Interview with Kevin Melka
Interview with Matt Forbeck

 

[megamania]

Is is S&S type? Yes.

However, most worlds Magic is the power. Not so in Darksun. Psionics is and fighting has a higher role also than most standard S&S type worlds.

 

[Sir Elton]

Bah, I was making a joke that nudism (or whatever the current term for politically and socially active naked people is currently) doesn't seem like it'd be a big hit in a very conservative part of the country. It was a mild joke without any particular references to political or religious entities.

When whimsy becomes illegal, only criminals will be whimsical!

[hijack]
Your right.

At least everyone knows why I find the following in the STL Guide very offensive:

"When depicting the human form—or creatures possessing humaniform features—gratuitous nudity, the depiction of genitalia, bare female nipples, and sexual or bathroom activity is not acceptable."

First of all, I find genitalia and bare female nipples wholly decent, as long as they aren't the focus or drawn with salacious intent. Like they are part of a whole human body. That's why I like this part of the STL guide: "While sensuality and sexuality may appear in a Covered Product, it must not be the focus nor can it be salacious in nature. " I believe this statue of Diana, Goddess of the Hunt, fulfills the criteria.


[/Hijack]

Hijack's over, now, back to DARK SUN. I think if anyone can bring DARK SUN back it would be Mongoose Publishing. They have the resources and the success and name recognition to bring DARK SUN back to press. The only other companies I can think of are Expeditious Press and probably EnPublishing.

 

[Klaus]

Is is S&S type? Yes.

However, most worlds Magic is the power. Not so in Darksun. Psionics is and fighting has a higher role also than most standard S&S type worlds.

Actually, Magic PLUS Psionics was the One True Power, giving us the Sorceror-Kings and the Dragon of Athas.

 

[S'mon]

In its initial concept, DS was much closer to Barsoom, but TSR's marketing folks asked for a number of changes. Initially, all or most of the races were exotic and the PHB races did not feature (no dwarves, no elves, no halflings etc). The marketing guys decided that this would prevent customers from buying into the setting, so they asked for those races to be included.

Hmm, if they'd stuck with their original vision I'd probably have bought it! I really hate the "every setting must have the same Tolkien-derived races" approach.

 

[Nightfall]

Actually, Magic PLUS Psionics was the One True Power, giving us the Sorceror-Kings and the Dragon of Athas.

Yep. One true power with spades!