| Post/Author/DateTime | Post |
|---|---|
| #1brainstemAug 19, 2010 23:09:28 | Okay, I really want to get a Dark Sun game going with some of my friends, but I don't know that I can afford to buy the Guide or the CC just yet. What do I absolutely need to know about the setting so that I can run it without the guide until I'm able to afford the purchases? If it helps, I have absolutely no knowledge of the Dark Sun setting beyond skimming the Wikipedia article. |
| #2Bly2729Aug 19, 2010 23:24:36 | The most important thing you need to know about the setting is that the desert world of Athas is a harsh and brutal place. The world and the environment is the deadliest and most persistent enemy. The books will give you some crunch and fluff on that, but in reality it's up to you to convey this threat. Travel isn't glossed over, and most settlements aren't happy to see the PCs. Maybe its just a trend on the forums, but I've noticed reports of higher than average numbers of TPKs in people playing Dark Sun. If you listen to the most recent podcast, this is partly intentional. Its like, 4E D&D is supposed to have a specific formula where: Expected monster damage and defenses = Specific PC power level. Tweaking this formula makes things harder. For Dark Sun, the formula seems to be in permanent hard mode. Just food for thought, WoTC wants you to really beat the surges out of your PCs to convey that Dark Sun is the BMF setting. |
| #3Duke5150Aug 19, 2010 23:33:03 | IMO, you should buy the guide, and worry about the creature catalog later. You can download bloodsand arena and play that to get started after building ds characters using the setting guide. Or before if you use the pregens. The setting guide also has a small adventure in it. So you can play BSA and then run sand raiders. |