Is it possible to play Dark Sun with Essentials? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Is it possible to play Dark Sun with Essentials?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
uhf
Aug 24, 2010 17:08:27 Title says it all..

Can I do with just essentials rules compendium and the Dark Sun Campaign books?

Or do I need PHB1,2, and 3 to play Dark Sun?

Near as I can tell Dark Sun requires psionic characters, and I have no idea about what is in the Essentials Rule Compendium, and I can see no information about Psionic characters in any of the Essentials character books.
#2
tallric_kruush
Aug 24, 2010 17:15:36
You're correct that Psionics will not be featured in the Essentials line, and that Psionics are a bigger part of Dark Sun than of any other DnD world.

That said, you don't have to have the Psionic rules of PH3 and Psionic Power. You only need these rules if you are playing Psionic PCs. Arcane, Primal and Martial characters abound in Dark Sun, as well.

So, yes, you could play Dark Sun with just the Essentials products. I suspect, though, that you'll eventually want to broaden your options and pick up additional products, or sign up for D&D Insider. All of the products, plus all of the D&DI exclusive stuff, are accessible via the Character Builder and Compendium.
#3
awaken_D_M_golem
Aug 24, 2010 17:16:44 You're in the same boat as the rest of us, about Essentials
... unless you have a "secret" copy ?!

"core" as in PHB, DMG, and MM with the Dark Sun book only
can be done, but lots of reflavoring is necessary.
For material, you'd have to call Divine power'd stuff, something else.
Add in PHB3 for the Psi classes to make it all more reasonable.

It's most likely the case that "old" core can be switched for Essentials "Core";
and rather seemlessly at that.
We've all been told this one ... but ymmv (assumed).

In every previous edition of Psionics,
there were powers or abilities, that were direct hacks
of preexisting non-psi powers or abilities.

EDIT - ninja'd

#4
uhf
Aug 24, 2010 17:24:32 I figure PHB2 would be better since its got all the primal character classes.
#5
Bly2729
Aug 24, 2010 17:43:42 The Dark Sun CS itself has a lot of options for adding a dash of psionics to your campaign without needing PHB3.

You can play Essentials characters in Dark Sun no differently than you would the illusionist wizard from Arcane Power or the Battlerager Fighter.
#6
Nyarlathotep
Aug 24, 2010 19:05:58 With just the Essentials book plus the Dark Sun books? Not really. I mean you could but you'd be missing on a lot of what makes Dark Sun what it is (psionics being the biggest). However, the same could be said for trying to run it with just the PHB1 too.

If what they say about Essentials is true, though, that it is just an 'alternate entry point into the game', then it should be no trouble playing it with Essentials, the PHB3 and the Dark sun books. I guess time will tell.
#7
smeej
Aug 24, 2010 19:08:27
You'll have the rules and flavor. That's all you need. As mentioned, you may want to get PHB3 as well to add the psionic flavor, but you could do a game with renegade arcanists and psionic-less martial gladiators easily.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 uhf Aug 24, 2010 17:08:27	Title says it all.. Can I do with just essentials rules compendium and the Dark Sun Campaign books? Or do I need PHB1,2, and 3 to play Dark Sun? Near as I can tell Dark Sun requires psionic characters, and I have no idea about what is in the Essentials Rule Compendium, and I can see no information about Psionic characters in any of the Essentials character books.
#2 tallric_kruush Aug 24, 2010 17:15:36	You're correct that Psionics will not be featured in the Essentials line, and that Psionics are a bigger part of Dark Sun than of any other DnD world. That said, you don't have to have the Psionic rules of PH3 and Psionic Power. You only need these rules if you are playing Psionic PCs. Arcane, Primal and Martial characters abound in Dark Sun, as well. So, yes, you could play Dark Sun with just the Essentials products. I suspect, though, that you'll eventually want to broaden your options and pick up additional products, or sign up for D&D Insider. All of the products, plus all of the D&DI exclusive stuff, are accessible via the Character Builder and Compendium.
#3 awaken_D_M_golem Aug 24, 2010 17:16:44	You're in the same boat as the rest of us, about Essentials ... unless you have a "secret" copy ?! "core" as in PHB, DMG, and MM with the Dark Sun book only can be done, but lots of reflavoring is necessary. For material, you'd have to call Divine power'd stuff, something else. Add in PHB3 for the Psi classes to make it all more reasonable. It's most likely the case that "old" core can be switched for Essentials "Core"; and rather seemlessly at that. We've all been told this one ... but ymmv (assumed). In every previous edition of Psionics, there were powers or abilities, that were direct hacks of preexisting non-psi powers or abilities. EDIT - ninja'd
#4 uhf Aug 24, 2010 17:24:32	I figure PHB2 would be better since its got all the primal character classes.
#5 Bly2729 Aug 24, 2010 17:43:42	The Dark Sun CS itself has a lot of options for adding a dash of psionics to your campaign without needing PHB3. You can play Essentials characters in Dark Sun no differently than you would the illusionist wizard from Arcane Power or the Battlerager Fighter.
#6 Nyarlathotep Aug 24, 2010 19:05:58	With just the Essentials book plus the Dark Sun books? Not really. I mean you could but you'd be missing on a lot of what makes Dark Sun what it is (psionics being the biggest). However, the same could be said for trying to run it with just the PHB1 too. If what they say about Essentials is true, though, that it is just an 'alternate entry point into the game', then it should be no trouble playing it with Essentials, the PHB3 and the Dark sun books. I guess time will tell.
#7 smeej Aug 24, 2010 19:08:27	You'll have the rules and flavor. That's all you need. As mentioned, you may want to get PHB3 as well to add the psionic flavor, but you could do a game with renegade arcanists and psionic-less martial gladiators easily.