How have y'all explained Dark Sun to friends? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

How have y'all explained Dark Sun to friends?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ian.thomson
Feb 05, 2010 20:21:05 Some of my friends haven't heard of Dark Sun, and they weren't quite sure that the setting could be as badass as it really is. So, I told them a story:

You have a paladin from Forgetten Realms or Eberron or whatever, and he's dropped on Athas. He's got a Holy Avenger and some full plate that was given to him by a god. He hears something beating in the distance. He looks over to the horizon, sees that it's an elf running toward him. The paladin feels safer, knowing that the beating noise is just the (probably good aligned) elf bolting over to him. By the time the paladin realizes this, he is wrong about the source of the beating noise, but is correct that the elf just happens to be good aligned, which is why he's trying to beat the paladin senseless with a big stick, so he can sell his now completely normal metal armor and sword and buy water for his dying village. (At this point, a "wha?" is common). The paladin tries to back away and explain he is a friend, but passes out from a heat stroke. He wakes up seeing a bunch of halfling faces looking over him. "Oh, I'm safe," thinks the paladin, "Halflings are good people." He tries to stand, but finds that he cannot. "Silly halflings, they're playing Gulliver's Travels with me." He tries to kick off the ropes, but finds that there are no ropes to kick off. The paladin leans his head forward, and sees a halfling munching on a large shin bone. The halfing looks at the paladin and says "You're pretty tasty." (At this point, eyes bulge and jaws drop). But the paladin some how manages to get away and crawls to a town, where he asks if anyone has seen an elf who might have stolen his armor. He wants his armor back because it was specially made by a gnome. "What's a gnome?" people ask. (Eyebrows raise). "Oh, you know, this tall-" *hold hand to around four feet* "You mean halflings, I see you met some already." "-No, these guys are good with magic." "Defiler!" And then they burn the paladin at the stake. (Jaws drop and eyes bulge again).

After a conversation about defiling, the absence of gods, and so on, then I tell them about the "Valley of Dust and Fire" module from 2e. We're not necessarily into Nintendo Hard, but there are just some things you have to admire as art.
#2
murph201
Feb 05, 2010 21:09:09 Ha. Good story.

And Valley of Dust and Fire is a great book.
#3
xlorep_darkhelm
Feb 05, 2010 22:53:18 Explaining? Since when do we tell our players anything?

I tend to like to have them make their characters, and thrust them into the setting without much warning. Far more of an impact then.
#4
DoctorBadWolf
Feb 06, 2010 3:16:08 DnD: Conan. but even more messed up.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ian.thomson Feb 05, 2010 20:21:05	Some of my friends haven't heard of Dark Sun, and they weren't quite sure that the setting could be as badass as it really is. So, I told them a story: You have a paladin from Forgetten Realms or Eberron or whatever, and he's dropped on Athas. He's got a Holy Avenger and some full plate that was given to him by a god. He hears something beating in the distance. He looks over to the horizon, sees that it's an elf running toward him. The paladin feels safer, knowing that the beating noise is just the (probably good aligned) elf bolting over to him. By the time the paladin realizes this, he is wrong about the source of the beating noise, but is correct that the elf just happens to be good aligned, which is why he's trying to beat the paladin senseless with a big stick, so he can sell his now completely normal metal armor and sword and buy water for his dying village. (At this point, a "wha?" is common). The paladin tries to back away and explain he is a friend, but passes out from a heat stroke. He wakes up seeing a bunch of halfling faces looking over him. "Oh, I'm safe," thinks the paladin, "Halflings are good people." He tries to stand, but finds that he cannot. "Silly halflings, they're playing Gulliver's Travels with me." He tries to kick off the ropes, but finds that there are no ropes to kick off. The paladin leans his head forward, and sees a halfling munching on a large shin bone. The halfing looks at the paladin and says "You're pretty tasty." (At this point, eyes bulge and jaws drop). But the paladin some how manages to get away and crawls to a town, where he asks if anyone has seen an elf who might have stolen his armor. He wants his armor back because it was specially made by a gnome. "What's a gnome?" people ask. (Eyebrows raise). "Oh, you know, this tall-" hold hand to around four feet "You mean halflings, I see you met some already." "-No, these guys are good with magic." "Defiler!" And then they burn the paladin at the stake. (Jaws drop and eyes bulge again). After a conversation about defiling, the absence of gods, and so on, then I tell them about the "Valley of Dust and Fire" module from 2e. We're not necessarily into Nintendo Hard, but there are just some things you have to admire as art.
#2 murph201 Feb 05, 2010 21:09:09	Ha. Good story. And Valley of Dust and Fire is a great book.
#3 xlorep_darkhelm Feb 05, 2010 22:53:18	Explaining? Since when do we tell our players anything? I tend to like to have them make their characters, and thrust them into the setting without much warning. Far more of an impact then.
#4 DoctorBadWolf Feb 06, 2010 3:16:08	DnD: Conan. but even more messed up.