Want to start a new Dark Sun campaign now--some questions? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Want to start a new Dark Sun campaign now--some questions?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ancalimohtar
Jun 08, 2010 12:18:27 New to DS, leading a group of new-to-D&D players.

Should we honestly just wait until August, and run something else in the meantime?

If not, I'd like the campaign to be able to adopt the official 4E material pretty easily--so I don't want to set it in the past or the future, etc. Has there been any info on what "year" 4E will be set in? The year the Boxed Set was set in, or ten years later, the setting of the Revised book?

Any other tips or suggestions on how to get a good picture of the setting? Thanks.
#2
big_goon
Jun 08, 2010 13:13:07
New to DS, leading a group of new-to-D&D players.

Should we honestly just wait until August, and run something else in the meantime?

If not, I'd like the campaign to be able to adopt the official 4E material pretty easily--so I don't want to set it in the past or the future, etc. Has there been any info on what "year" 4E will be set in? The year the Boxed Set was set in, or ten years later, the setting of the Revised book?

Any other tips or suggestions on how to get a good picture of the setting? Thanks.

I'd suggest waiting - although I don't know what to expect. Otherwise, sign up for the D&D Experience Dark Sun at your local gaming store. The adventures should be introductory and fun. They start tomorrow!

If you're new to DS, I don't suggest having a run at it without reading up, which will take you a good while anyways. It's only 2 + a bit months now, how many sessions would you be able to run after prep during that time anyways?
#3
kingdrew
Jun 08, 2010 13:18:48 Since your players are new, I would suggest doing something before the DS system came out.

Have a game night where they all make characters. Then make up some home brew short adventure to run them through. This will get you and them acclimated to the 4e rules and what not. All the while, catching up on some of your reading about Dark Sun and Athas.

And as Big_Goon suggested, head to your local store and sign up to play in the Encounters event. This way they learn the rules, you learn some of the basics about Dark Sun, and you all have a good time.
#4
MalakLightfoot
Jun 08, 2010 13:22:33
New to DS, leading a group of new-to-D&D players.

Should we honestly just wait until August, and run something else in the meantime?

If not, I'd like the campaign to be able to adopt the official 4E material pretty easily--so I don't want to set it in the past or the future, etc. Has there been any info on what "year" 4E will be set in? The year the Boxed Set was set in, or ten years later, the setting of the Revised book?

Any other tips or suggestions on how to get a good picture of the setting? Thanks.

It has been confirmed that the Dark Sun campaign will assume the action starts a short time after Sorcerer King Kalak of Tyr is killed by the Gladiator Rikus. My guess is that it is one or two months after, giving the Free Council time to establish themselves and some of the chaos of the transition to die down.

It looks like some of the races have been reflavored (Dragonborn are Dray, Goliaths are Half Giants, Eladrin exist, but are considered by most to be mythical, etc), so try to find ways to make the player races work instead of excluding them just because they did not exist in the older versions of the setting. Most of the old fluff should still be workable (the politics of the City of Balic shouldn't be too different than they were before).

Dark Sun 4E will include some new builds and mechanics, so be sure to let your players know that they can retcon into those builds when they become available, if they so desire. We have the general idea of the racial abilities of the Mul and Thri Kreen. We know the Arcane Defiling power and how it works. We know how non-metal weapons work. You should be able to get started now if you want.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ancalimohtar Jun 08, 2010 12:18:27	New to DS, leading a group of new-to-D&D players. Should we honestly just wait until August, and run something else in the meantime? If not, I'd like the campaign to be able to adopt the official 4E material pretty easily--so I don't want to set it in the past or the future, etc. Has there been any info on what "year" 4E will be set in? The year the Boxed Set was set in, or ten years later, the setting of the Revised book? Any other tips or suggestions on how to get a good picture of the setting? Thanks.
#2 big_goon Jun 08, 2010 13:13:07	New to DS, leading a group of new-to-D&D players. Should we honestly just wait until August, and run something else in the meantime? If not, I'd like the campaign to be able to adopt the official 4E material pretty easily--so I don't want to set it in the past or the future, etc. Has there been any info on what "year" 4E will be set in? The year the Boxed Set was set in, or ten years later, the setting of the Revised book? Any other tips or suggestions on how to get a good picture of the setting? Thanks. I'd suggest waiting - although I don't know what to expect. Otherwise, sign up for the D&D Experience Dark Sun at your local gaming store. The adventures should be introductory and fun. They start tomorrow! If you're new to DS, I don't suggest having a run at it without reading up, which will take you a good while anyways. It's only 2 + a bit months now, how many sessions would you be able to run after prep during that time anyways?
#3 kingdrew Jun 08, 2010 13:18:48	Since your players are new, I would suggest doing something before the DS system came out. Have a game night where they all make characters. Then make up some home brew short adventure to run them through. This will get you and them acclimated to the 4e rules and what not. All the while, catching up on some of your reading about Dark Sun and Athas. And as Big_Goon suggested, head to your local store and sign up to play in the Encounters event. This way they learn the rules, you learn some of the basics about Dark Sun, and you all have a good time.
#4 MalakLightfoot Jun 08, 2010 13:22:33	New to DS, leading a group of new-to-D&D players. Should we honestly just wait until August, and run something else in the meantime? If not, I'd like the campaign to be able to adopt the official 4E material pretty easily--so I don't want to set it in the past or the future, etc. Has there been any info on what "year" 4E will be set in? The year the Boxed Set was set in, or ten years later, the setting of the Revised book? Any other tips or suggestions on how to get a good picture of the setting? Thanks. It has been confirmed that the Dark Sun campaign will assume the action starts a short time after Sorcerer King Kalak of Tyr is killed by the Gladiator Rikus. My guess is that it is one or two months after, giving the Free Council time to establish themselves and some of the chaos of the transition to die down. It looks like some of the races have been reflavored (Dragonborn are Dray, Goliaths are Half Giants, Eladrin exist, but are considered by most to be mythical, etc), so try to find ways to make the player races work instead of excluding them just because they did not exist in the older versions of the setting. Most of the old fluff should still be workable (the politics of the City of Balic shouldn't be too different than they were before). Dark Sun 4E will include some new builds and mechanics, so be sure to let your players know that they can retcon into those builds when they become available, if they so desire. We have the general idea of the racial abilities of the Mul and Thri Kreen. We know the Arcane Defiling power and how it works. We know how non-metal weapons work. You should be able to get started now if you want.