Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Terrainosaur Oct 22, 2010 13:02:45	What are some post-apocalyptic themes, cliches, or tropes? I have my own list but I'd like to see if anybody has some ideas I missed.
#2 syrric Oct 22, 2010 16:07:01	are you looking for cliches that happen to exist in darksun or just cliches in general? one thing my dm took from the movie dune was that spitting on/at someone was a sign of respect as water is so precious, its seen as a gift.. a funny cliche/situation you could put your players in would be having them find water and having thier animals not drink from it in a timely manner.. making them wait til thier kank/erdlu was ready to drink..ie lead a horse to water but cant make them drink.
#3 Terrainosaur Oct 22, 2010 16:17:38	Post-apocalyptic, not necessarily Dark Sun. For example cannibals.  Whether it's a viral outbreak or a nuclear war, you'd roll your eyes at the protagonist running into cannibals.  It's been done.
#4 syrric Oct 22, 2010 16:54:07	well athas does hit most of the cliches.. loss of knowledge.. cannibal halflings.. tough travel.. starvation.. mutants.. vicious warlords.. walking dead.. non specific stuff.. tribe of children who havent been guided by adults like in the third mad max movie.. getting lost like moses for 40 years.. search for realitvies/lovers that were lost rediscovering old tech/magic releasing a great evil due to ignorance.. search for a fabled paradise society that survived the apocalypse
#5 aeskalis Oct 22, 2010 17:09:16	Everyone is distanced from their fellow man; people rarely see a new face. Characters wander the wasteland dressed in black leather. Old Knowledge is kept alive by some sort of group that venerates knowledge. A lone hero rides arould the new wasteland, trying to protect the helpless and bring aid to the needy.
#6 Terrainosaur Oct 25, 2010 14:31:57	Thanks. Here's my list so far. Barbarism Cannibalism Confusion, chaos, mystery, loose threads, unexplained phenomena Superstition; failure of past systems/technology; fear, disrepect, misunderstanding of the past False utopias Hermits Mutation Outlandish gangs Pockets of fanaticism Power is dangerous: the only ones with armies and vehicles are crazy Ruins Self-styled warlord Slavery Stagnation, lingering decay Survivalism, scavenging, scarce resources, bad weather Threatening landscape (radiation, plague) Travel Undead
#7 angelus_obscura Oct 25, 2010 15:24:55	Old Knowledge is kept alive by some sort of group that venerates knowledge. Old knowledge can also be used by the ambitious and power-hungry to oppress the ignorant. Also, the written word have power, especially the power to inspire hope in a hopeless world. ie. The Book of Eli is a very good example of this. (movie starring Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman) great stuff.
#8 fromost_the_grimm_02 Oct 25, 2010 19:21:57	Mohawks. It simply ain't a proper apocalypse unless a bunch of people then run about sporting mohawaks.
#9 Terrainosaur Oct 25, 2010 20:35:49	Oh yeah, nice.  In sci-fi the other thing is one guy is wearing a gas mask.
#10 mootkilla Oct 27, 2010 12:30:20	+ The Desert Nomad tribe who saves the characters in a time of need + Hearing skittering noises while walking through canyons (encounter or radom scary is up to the GM) + Passing out from dehydration/heat stroke only to wake in a stange/mystical/wonderful place + Hobbled together weapons that still look badass + A general fear/hatred/loathing of anyone from outside a cities walls + The 'Desert Rose" cliche for a romance option for a male character + Savage rights of passage into adulthood + The Mysterious nomad + Crazy wanderer's you might happen to meet + A rich person absuing power/water/words etc in order to set up a "utopia" for himself. + Beautiful painted sunsets + Sunglasses or equivilant + Sandstorms I have more but I have to head to class now.