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(+) What would you want for 5e Dark Sun?
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<blockquote data-quote="(Psi)SeveredHead" data-source="post: 8312919" data-attributes="member: 1165"><p>I am going to have to partially disagree with the second point here. I don't think we should be changing traits of existing characters. The setting definitely has room for more sorcerer-queens (indeed, the older books mentioned that Athas is large and there could be more sorcerer-kings).</p><p></p><p>Each of the cities were supposed to be based on a real life ethnic group (which is thorny) and covered wide areas of the real Earth. Unfortunately (in terms of artwork) this hasn't always carried through. Gulg, for instance, is based on areas of Africa, and the 4th Edition Lalali-puy is black. (Unfortunately, my recollection of NPCs portrayed in adventures set in Gulg in 2e frequently depicted them as white.) IIRC Hamanu has always been portrayed as fairly dark-skinned.</p><p></p><p>Urik was based on, um, Ur, Gulg various parts of Africa, Raam on Egypt, Draj on Mesoamerica (so yes, King Tek should <em>not</em> have pale skin!), Nibenay on China, and Balic on Ancient Grome (not a typo, it's a combination of Greece and Rome). I'm not sure where Ur-Draxa and Tyr are based on but Tyr is very cosmopolitan. Comparing any of the city-states on real life cultures can result in negative comparisons (every sorcerer-king is evil, for instance!) but you should be seeing people covering various skin tones and facial features.</p><p></p><p>Pale skin should be rare in the setting, yes, even in Balic.</p><p></p><p></p><p>I agree with pretty much all of this, although I've never seen KibblesTasty's psionics class.</p><p></p><p>D&D 5e has no magic item budget so magic items aren't really part of "balance". I don't think we need to "replace" magic items. Just part of the theme of the setting is magic items are rare. "Clerics" have weak magic, templars are jealous, and most wizards are defilers (and all have to rely on the plant life) so churning out magic items simply isn't happening.</p><p></p><p>Wild talents were common in 2e (IIRC the typical thri-kreen had a 50% chance of having one, and similar high rates for most other races in the Monstrous Compendiums) but PCs <em>always</em> had a wild talent. This is much like a 4e-style theme. You get a wild talent at character start, now pick one. Since everyone has one, it shouldn't interfere with intercharacter balance.</p><p></p><p>IME players hate penalties. Weapon breaking is cool, but I don't want to take penalties because I'm using a wooden weapon (even though that is logical). I would rather see a bonus for using a metal weapon instead. Getting your hands on a metal weapon is a bit like getting your hands on a magic (wood or bone) weapon. Of course, Athas is metal-poor, so nobody is churning out all those metal weapons either <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>In terms of "weaker wizards", they face a social disadvantage ("burn the defiler!"), they have to hide their literacy (really the typical Dark Sun PC should be illiterate by default as the sorcerer-kings <em>banned</em> literacy for most people) and PC wizards need to occasionally visit the Elven Market Fraud Zone for magical supplies. Every wizard needs the Insight skill <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="(Psi)SeveredHead, post: 8312919, member: 1165"] I am going to have to partially disagree with the second point here. I don't think we should be changing traits of existing characters. The setting definitely has room for more sorcerer-queens (indeed, the older books mentioned that Athas is large and there could be more sorcerer-kings). Each of the cities were supposed to be based on a real life ethnic group (which is thorny) and covered wide areas of the real Earth. Unfortunately (in terms of artwork) this hasn't always carried through. Gulg, for instance, is based on areas of Africa, and the 4th Edition Lalali-puy is black. (Unfortunately, my recollection of NPCs portrayed in adventures set in Gulg in 2e frequently depicted them as white.) IIRC Hamanu has always been portrayed as fairly dark-skinned. Urik was based on, um, Ur, Gulg various parts of Africa, Raam on Egypt, Draj on Mesoamerica (so yes, King Tek should [i]not[/i] have pale skin!), Nibenay on China, and Balic on Ancient Grome (not a typo, it's a combination of Greece and Rome). I'm not sure where Ur-Draxa and Tyr are based on but Tyr is very cosmopolitan. Comparing any of the city-states on real life cultures can result in negative comparisons (every sorcerer-king is evil, for instance!) but you should be seeing people covering various skin tones and facial features. Pale skin should be rare in the setting, yes, even in Balic. I agree with pretty much all of this, although I've never seen KibblesTasty's psionics class. D&D 5e has no magic item budget so magic items aren't really part of "balance". I don't think we need to "replace" magic items. Just part of the theme of the setting is magic items are rare. "Clerics" have weak magic, templars are jealous, and most wizards are defilers (and all have to rely on the plant life) so churning out magic items simply isn't happening. Wild talents were common in 2e (IIRC the typical thri-kreen had a 50% chance of having one, and similar high rates for most other races in the Monstrous Compendiums) but PCs [i]always[/i] had a wild talent. This is much like a 4e-style theme. You get a wild talent at character start, now pick one. Since everyone has one, it shouldn't interfere with intercharacter balance. IME players hate penalties. Weapon breaking is cool, but I don't want to take penalties because I'm using a wooden weapon (even though that is logical). I would rather see a bonus for using a metal weapon instead. Getting your hands on a metal weapon is a bit like getting your hands on a magic (wood or bone) weapon. Of course, Athas is metal-poor, so nobody is churning out all those metal weapons either :) In terms of "weaker wizards", they face a social disadvantage ("burn the defiler!"), they have to hide their literacy (really the typical Dark Sun PC should be illiterate by default as the sorcerer-kings [i]banned[/i] literacy for most people) and PC wizards need to occasionally visit the Elven Market Fraud Zone for magical supplies. Every wizard needs the Insight skill ;) [/QUOTE]
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