I have to say that I am really happy to hear everything he states regarding this new map. I'll name but a few here.
1.) Black Sand regions, villages and landmarks not orginally shown on the 1991 map but written in text.
2.) Defined areas of deep silt and shallow silt to show where travel can be possible through the Silt Sea.
3.) The original scale has been increased.
4.) Dozens of new sites.
I especially like the last two. I did always think the Tyr Region as defined was a tad to small, and I'm always interested in learning of new places. Seriously, I can't wait for August.
Nothing more than a teaser...
You are absolutely right. ...but any news, even teasers are better then no news.
But I'm sure they'll do to Dark Sun what they did to Forgotten Realms and Ebberon. "Here's your Campaign Book, Monsters and one token adventure. Now create everything yourself and download mini adventures from our site. AND THE 2011 CAMPAIGN SETTING IS!!!" Ugh...please don't do that to Dark Sun Wizards. Please don't do it.
I know there's support on DDI but as I said on another post somewhere, I hate downlaoding info. I want printed material that does not come from my home printer. No, going to Kinko's to print it out doesn't count either. I'm just old school I guess.
The iPad was made for this stuff...
Web-accessible rules compendiums, on-site monster and character builders, searchable pdfs, pictures, rules, erratas, all the books...
...all in a device the size of maxi-pad.
I'm old school too, but I cannot but help getting jeolous when somebody announces they have access to all 4e pdfs (and a dice-roller) on their iPhone.
This adds a whole different level of roleplay and possible adventures, such as characters needing to steal the secret route to an island where characters seek to go.
When I first bought the original box set (in the store), I soon became a little disappointed that the Tablelands region was never fully fleshed out the years following its release. Especially, since Troy Denning had some great teasers in the Wanderer's Journal. While a few published adventures expanded some of those unknowns, there was plenty left unexplained.
In short, I eventually made those unknowns my own giving them meaning and put a part of myself into the campaign setting. We are, afterall, Game Masters!
Anyway, I am looking forward to the new release - being a fan since 91-92'.
Since I have all the 2e ds loot, it doesn't bother me much if they leave out the jagged cliffs, last sea or the dead lands, since I can just add them on my own. I also think it's pretty cool that they're adding in more stuff to the tyr region.
I can't wait. Now I just need to find a DM to run darksun for me. Which is a pain since most of the people I game with hate darksun, because they're lame. My old ds dm needs to come back to cali.
Duke, what part of Cali are you in?
I'm living in lakeside, but I'v spent most of my life in san diego. Why? You gonna come down and DM some darksun for me and my lamo pals?
I actually ran some dark sun in san diego before moving to korea. And now I'm back in the states I'm in Austin. Too bad, back in the day we were having trouble finding people to play with us.
I hear that. I'm in Houston and it looks like the only groups that're looking are 3.x only. I know of a couple of 4e groups, but they're all full.
You know, there's nothing stopping any of you from making a new Tyr Regional map. With all the graphics software out there, I bet any one of you can produce a map just as good as the 2e '91 map with all that you desire.
I was able to create a realativly good map when I made the Sundra Peninsula with just using Adobe 1.
I'm in the OC.
You know, there's nothing stopping any of you from making a new Tyr Regional map. With all the graphics software out there, I bet any one of you can produce a map just as good as the 2e '91 map with all that you desire.
I was able to create a realativly good map when I made the Sundra Peninsula with just using Adobe 1.
The only thing stopping me from creating a completely awesome tyr map is the fact that I'm incapable of creating a completely awesome tyr map. I cannot draw in any capacity at all, what so ever. Beyond the abominations I call a sketch, I am even worse at coloring and shading.
Plus, I'm very happy with the current tyr map and jagged cliffs map. Plus I have a ton of the old maps in very worn condition. Although my Ur draxa map is gone and I have no idea where it went.
When I make a map, I just draw out a basic outline; then I add the proper color and texture. When I am done, I use map symbols. Very little drawing.
I could probably modify a Dark Sun map to include all those things mentioned in the OP, but alas, I don't read the books so I have no idea where or what things are.
Personally, I tend to draw maps inspired by the ones in mom's old copies of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, or the Skaven World Map in GW's Skaven army book for WFB. Monochrome, drawn with a fountain pen, sometimes not even in black. Sometimes with names of inhabitants scratched in, like "Man things. Dead things. Lizard things. Things..."
Wow. That's awesome. So very 1st edition... I like.
I don't remember pretty "hand-drawn"- looking maps until the Forgotten Realms 1e-2e transition modules.
Yeah, now that you mention it, I do tend to do things oD&D and 1e-style, don't I? Not letting people stack bags of holding or other nonspaces inside each other, making Lawful Good the alignment of self-righteous jerks... yeah.
I can take other people's graphics and make them into a map; for instance, Civilization 3 and Age of Wonders.
I also use video game editors to create my maps, then print screen on the areas I would like to use in a game.
Combined with a map making program like Fractal Mapper and Every Change Book of Names, I can literally create a fantasy map very rapidly.