Review of Desert of Athas dungeon tile set - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Review of Desert of Athas dungeon tile set

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Raddu76
Jun 13, 2010 20:14:07
I wrote a small review of the Desert of Athas dungeon tile set in a blog post.
#2
greyorm
Jun 13, 2010 20:26:30 Rather the same feelings now that I've seen the set: it's a desert tileset, with the Dark Sun logo on it.
#3
fun_elemental
Jun 13, 2010 20:57:42 The set having water seems to draw out a lot of complaints. I don't really think they are valid though. Water is important in Athas, and a significant number of Darksun fights happen at oasis. The back sides of the water tiles are not water too.

#4
Raddu76
Jun 13, 2010 21:16:52
The set having water seems to draw out a lot of complaints. I don't really think they are valid though. Water is important in Athas, and a significant number of Darksun fights happen at oasis. The back sides of the water tiles are not water too.

Yeah, the water is ok...I could just do without the boat and so many water tiles. If it were truly a Dark Sun set there could have been other things...as I noted in my blog.
#5
wraith_form
Jun 14, 2010 2:14:27
The set having water seems to draw out a lot of complaints. I don't really think they are valid though. Water is important in Athas, and a significant number of Darksun fights happen at oasis. The back sides of the water tiles are not water too.

It's been said that the blue "water-like" section of the tiles are meant (in the case of Athas) to indicate silt, not water (but in non-Dark Sun campaigns it could be used as water if desired). The boat-like vessel is supposed to be a silt-skimmer, unless you're not on Athas in which case it's....a boat.

* shrugs *
#6
m4kitsu
Jun 14, 2010 4:49:41 I'm actually rather pleased with the amount of water tiles the set contains, but mostly because it's water tiles that aren't subterranean and can be combined with the more open areas of the forest set in order to create a passable beach or riverside setting.

Whatever it's "supposed" to be... I don't really care, but my enthusiasm for Athas is dimming quickly.
#7
el_ahrairah
Jun 17, 2010 23:10:12 Nice review!
I was stoked to see it early as well and picked up a set, you touched on many key points that struck me as well.

I was put off by the water initially, but even if you're running a Dark Sun or desert campaign, they'd come in handy at times. A smaller amount of water would seem more fitting, but as pointed out, a good deal of confrontation occurs over who gets to stop the thirsty on any given day.

I'd like to see more dunes, but representing elevation with tiles is tough, unless you're using books or foam board underneath to show it in tiers. Honestly, if I wanted to show a series of varying elevation dunes, I'd do that or just use my big chessex mat and draw them in.

My favorite bits were the wagon and the building... the building alone may warrant my picking up of a few sets.

Tagging it as a Dark Sun set was just marketing tie-in on their part, I can't hold that against them. ;)
#8
firesnakearies
Jun 18, 2010 0:02:09 I got mine. I like them, although you're right that they're not really super Athas-specific. Still, they're nice, and I'll get a lot of use out of them.

In other news, I got my copy of Bloodsand Arena today, the Free RPG Day Dark Sun adventure. The maps in that are AWESOME, and they ARE super Athas-specific. The floor of the arena has what are very obviously Athasian weapons littered about on it, such as carrikals and trikals.

Some nice pieces of art in there too, such as what I believe to be a picture of an Athasian eladrin. Looks very cool!
#9
Galen44
Jun 20, 2010 1:21:01 Did anyone else have a coloring issue with the forest/grasslands transition tiles? The sand on mine is way lighter than the rest of the tiles...
#10
commissar
Jun 20, 2010 11:55:13 This set was a complete ripoff. I don't think I've ever been more dissatisfied with a WOTC product. For one thing, there's only one style of desert represented. On Athas there are many different types of desert terrain: dunes, rock fields, salt flats, alkali lake beds, volcanic floes, etc.

The main issue is that the set is about half water. Which is completely useless. OK, maybe there will be an oasis sometimes, but most of the action is not going to be at oases. This set makes Athas look like Water World.

This is not a new frustration, sadly. The Paizo flip map of 'desert' terrain is also a ripoff, having an oasis featured on both sides. This sort of stupidity is infuriating.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Raddu76 Jun 13, 2010 20:14:07	I wrote a small review of the Desert of Athas dungeon tile set in a blog post.
#2 greyorm Jun 13, 2010 20:26:30	Rather the same feelings now that I've seen the set: it's a desert tileset, with the Dark Sun logo on it.
#3 fun_elemental Jun 13, 2010 20:57:42	The set having water seems to draw out a lot of complaints. I don't really think they are valid though. Water is important in Athas, and a significant number of Darksun fights happen at oasis. The back sides of the water tiles are not water too.
#4 Raddu76 Jun 13, 2010 21:16:52	The set having water seems to draw out a lot of complaints. I don't really think they are valid though. Water is important in Athas, and a significant number of Darksun fights happen at oasis. The back sides of the water tiles are not water too. Yeah, the water is ok...I could just do without the boat and so many water tiles. If it were truly a Dark Sun set there could have been other things...as I noted in my blog.
#5 wraith_form Jun 14, 2010 2:14:27	The set having water seems to draw out a lot of complaints. I don't really think they are valid though. Water is important in Athas, and a significant number of Darksun fights happen at oasis. The back sides of the water tiles are not water too. It's been said that the blue "water-like" section of the tiles are meant (in the case of Athas) to indicate silt, not water (but in non-Dark Sun campaigns it could be used as water if desired). The boat-like vessel is supposed to be a silt-skimmer, unless you're not on Athas in which case it's....a boat. * shrugs *
#6 m4kitsu Jun 14, 2010 4:49:41	I'm actually rather pleased with the amount of water tiles the set contains, but mostly because it's water tiles that aren't subterranean and can be combined with the more open areas of the forest set in order to create a passable beach or riverside setting. Whatever it's "supposed" to be... I don't really care, but my enthusiasm for Athas is dimming quickly.
#7 el_ahrairah Jun 17, 2010 23:10:12	Nice review! I was stoked to see it early as well and picked up a set, you touched on many key points that struck me as well. I was put off by the water initially, but even if you're running a Dark Sun or desert campaign, they'd come in handy at times. A smaller amount of water would seem more fitting, but as pointed out, a good deal of confrontation occurs over who gets to stop the thirsty on any given day. I'd like to see more dunes, but representing elevation with tiles is tough, unless you're using books or foam board underneath to show it in tiers. Honestly, if I wanted to show a series of varying elevation dunes, I'd do that or just use my big chessex mat and draw them in. My favorite bits were the wagon and the building... the building alone may warrant my picking up of a few sets. Tagging it as a Dark Sun set was just marketing tie-in on their part, I can't hold that against them. ;)
#8 firesnakearies Jun 18, 2010 0:02:09	I got mine. I like them, although you're right that they're not really super Athas-specific. Still, they're nice, and I'll get a lot of use out of them. In other news, I got my copy of Bloodsand Arena today, the Free RPG Day Dark Sun adventure. The maps in that are AWESOME, and they ARE super Athas-specific. The floor of the arena has what are very obviously Athasian weapons littered about on it, such as carrikals and trikals. Some nice pieces of art in there too, such as what I believe to be a picture of an Athasian eladrin. Looks very cool!
#9 Galen44 Jun 20, 2010 1:21:01	Did anyone else have a coloring issue with the forest/grasslands transition tiles? The sand on mine is way lighter than the rest of the tiles...
#10 commissar Jun 20, 2010 11:55:13	This set was a complete ripoff. I don't think I've ever been more dissatisfied with a WOTC product. For one thing, there's only one style of desert represented. On Athas there are many different types of desert terrain: dunes, rock fields, salt flats, alkali lake beds, volcanic floes, etc. The main issue is that the set is about half water. Which is completely useless. OK, maybe there will be an oasis sometimes, but most of the action is not going to be at oases. This set makes Athas look like Water World. This is not a new frustration, sadly. The Paizo flip map of 'desert' terrain is also a ripoff, having an oasis featured on both sides. This sort of stupidity is infuriating.