Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 masterfat78 Sep 14, 2009 16:43:25	In an interview, Wyatt says there will be no new classes but a new system for the current classes.
#2 branotheblades Sep 14, 2009 16:52:28	First:  Do you have a link to that interview?  I'd like to read it. Second:  This sounds fine to me. (Although I'd still like to see an elemental power source class show up in Dark Sun!)  All the existing classes can be modified with little effort to fit Athas.  Divine power source - is powered by elementals or primordials or sorceror kings.  All divine classes should be available but have an elemental patron.  Templar is more a job description than a class so all divine classes should be available but have a sorceror king for a patron. Arcane power source - sucks power from the land.  All arcane classes should be available.  Characters must choose whether to preserve or defile Athas. Primal power source - is powered by the spirits of the land.  All primal classes should be available.  Martial power source - is powered by skill and training.  All martial classes should be available. I think mechanically all classes will work okay on Athas.  The fluff is what needs to be tweaked to make it fit and this can be done with a paragraph or three describing each class on Athas.
#3 celticmutt Sep 14, 2009 16:55:39	newbiedm.com/2009/09/14/1d12-questions-w...
#4 branotheblades Sep 14, 2009 17:12:54	Thanks!!! So no new classes, but a new mechanic.  Hmmm...sounds like defiling to me.  But I could be wrong.
#5 masterfat78 Sep 14, 2009 17:30:52	It might also include mechanics for templers.
#6 Pennarin Sep 14, 2009 17:39:41	Doesn't sound like they're talking about defiling, which is already expected, but perhaps somehting else.
#7 sinless Sep 14, 2009 19:21:53	I would assume that the power source for classes like bards would change. But I can see the whole Divine powersource being directed at the Sorcerer-Kings and The elemental clerics being turned into shamans.  Defiling seems like the added mechanic.  I need to assume that Gladiators are going to be Fighter paragon class since Warlord kinda takes the place of what Fighters were in 2e DS .
#8 Akriel Sep 14, 2009 22:14:04	In the D&D Extravanganza interview just after GenCon, they have tell the question to Wyatt: How will, say, a Dark Sun fighter stand apart from a Forgotten Realms or Eberron fighter? James Wyatt answered with: a Dark Sun fighter has a whole set of options available to him that aren’t (yet) available to other D&D characters. These options will add a whole new dimension to Dark Sun player characters, both in terms of what they can do within the rules of the game and in terms of fleshing them out as people in the world. Now we know, that these options will be available for every class, not only Arcane with the defiling.
#9 Alphastream Sep 15, 2009 0:45:33	If they can do it right, it would be a brilliant answer to the problem of how to keep Athas as Athas. Imagine some range of options for any DS race/class to make it Athasian. Choose 1-3 things to drop, gain 1-3 things from this table. It could work. Or, maybe it is some generic application. I don't know, but I bet it could be done. It makes me think of the comments Silverblade and Akriel were making about mutations. Just a mutation rule might handle the issue. I hope.
#10 Alphastream Sep 15, 2009 10:15:12	James Wyatt wrote about a DS game he ran. He used non-new rules, but it is interesting to read what he considered important (he did make on-the-fly alterations to each class, used many substitutions posters here have guessed at, such as Goliath for half-giant). I found particularly interesting this comment: "One thing I really liked is that, even with no one from the divine power source, the party never felt disadvantaged once. I know some people don't like the roles system, but it 100% directly leads to the fact that you can ignore entire power sources if you wish when designing your campaign world. No divine magic? No problem." Interesting.
#11 ViolenceJack Sep 15, 2009 10:51:32	... I found particularly interesting this comment: "One thing I really liked is that, even with no one from the divine power source, the party never felt disadvantaged once. I know some people don't like the roles system, but it 100% directly leads to the fact that you can ignore entire power sources if you wish when designing your campaign world. No divine magic? No problem." Interesting. In our current game (not Dark Sun) we happen to have no characters with the Di*... nevermind, we have a Paladin. But no Cleric. I love the fact that we don't need a Cleric when we have a Warlord. Dividing it up based on role is a good thing for this reason, and it's a good point to make. You can just cut an entire power source, and it's still a very playable game. You could cut Arcane and there's still a Divine controller; you could cut Martial and there are still Arcane and Divine Strikers and Defenders. All good stuff. Makes "theme games" a lot easier.
#12 Alphastream Sep 15, 2009 12:33:17	Yeah, I wasn't sure if that was his point (the roles work fine, irregardless of source), or if he was making the specific point that "you can ignore entire power sources if you wish when designing your campaign world. No divine magic? No problem." as a direct tip towards a change that might be coming to the DS world.
#13 ViolenceJack Sep 15, 2009 13:45:57	I can't see them just cutting divine entirely. Too easy to just source the divinity differently. That is, I see no problem with Divine characters getting their power from Sorceror Kings. Heck, the campaign setting I'm working on with a friend has no gods at all, not even dead ones. But there are powerful beings around, and I'll be looking closely at Dark Sun to see what they do, and whether or not they have some good ideas for my own setting.
#14 masterfat78 Sep 17, 2009 1:34:15	I think some of the machanics will be for fighters that dont wear armor.
#15 williamhm75 Sep 17, 2009 9:30:12	I think some of the machanics will be for fighters that dont wear armor. yeah since armour is rare in athas.  I can't wait to see what they come up with.  The psionics of phb3 look interesting so whatever new mechanics they come up with for athas will be interesting to see.