What books do I need to play Dark Sun? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What books do I need to play Dark Sun?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Mand12
Aug 16, 2010 10:57:55 The 4E Dark Sun campaign setting is a given, but is the creature catalog also critical? Are there any other books that I should look at that I may not know of?
#2
Phobos
Aug 16, 2010 11:02:21 I didn't pick it up when I got the CS, but then was seeing all sorts of references to creatures I was not familiar with. Bearing in mind, DDi subscribers will get the crunch, if you want the fluff the book may be a viable option.

The CS is both the DM and player guide (unlike FR and E worlds)

I also plan to grab the adventure as my next stop.
#3
Mand12
Aug 16, 2010 13:06:16 In my opinion the fluff is the whole point of using a campaign setting, so yeah I'm interested in them. You'd recommend all three then, including the adventure to get the ball rolling?
#4
gwydion9
Aug 16, 2010 13:45:24
The 4E Dark Sun campaign setting is a given, but is the creature catalog also critical? Are there any other books that I should look at that I may not know of?

Well, define "need." Lots of the creatures in the creature catalog are not only enemies, but are used as mounts and transportation, so PCs will probably have a lot of interaction with them. A big part of DS is the distinctive flavor of the enemies you face, including mobile, carnivorous cacti and psionic reptiles. You could probably stat your own, but the catalog will save you a lot of work. I think putting together encounters in DS is certainly going to be harder without the creature catalog, at best.

#5
Cyber-Dave
Aug 16, 2010 14:33:53 PHB 1 for most of the player races, the martial classes, and the wizard. PHB 2 for the primal classes and the goliath. PHB 3 for the psionic classes. The DS campaign guide. The CC for athasian monsters. The CG for the settings fluff. Both the 2 DMGs (because they are some of the best DM aids ever released for D&D). That should about do you.
#6
Phobos
Aug 17, 2010 11:45:16
In my opinion the fluff is the whole point of using a campaign setting, so yeah I'm interested in them. You'd recommend all three then, including the adventure to get the ball rolling?

Yes, 100%
#7
phoffman
Aug 17, 2010 19:50:17 There is also a free adventure for Dark Sun, the same one as Free RPG day

They included it in with the character download.

www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4...

#8
gwyddion23
Aug 18, 2010 0:53:22
There is also a free adventure for Dark Sun, the same one as Free RPG day

They included it in with the character download.

www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4...

Win. Thanks.
#9
tiamatdragonwing
Aug 18, 2010 8:56:05
In my opinion the fluff is the whole point of using a campaign setting, so yeah I'm interested in them. You'd recommend all three then, including the adventure to get the ball rolling?

Yes, 100%

Agree also, this is the first book I've bought since buying the FRPG when 4E was still new
#10
Elendur
Aug 18, 2010 12:14:23 I definitely recommend the Creature Catalog, it has a lot more setting information than is usual for a monster book. The environmental hazards and special terrain is in there. Important personages including all the Sorcerer Kings. Also, I found the monster entries of the PC races really helpful in defining the differences of the races, which not a lot of time is spent on in the campaign setting.
#11
googao
Aug 18, 2010 13:10:35 Yeah I suggest getting all 3. i didnt get the creature catalog but i am going to get it asap and i used the adventure to get an idea of what a dark sun adventure was like cause i didnt play 2nd edition. the dungeon tiles are really nice. they didnt have many useful 3D pieces but the cart is nice.
#12
awaken_D_M_golem
Aug 19, 2010 14:12:39 The Dark Sun book itself, claims you need the "core" three, and that's it.
There's a very small little box and commentary about the divine (egad) stuff sneaking in the back door.
You can reflavor anything to fit.
It's not "divine" ; it's weird psionics.
If you really want to use the psionics stuff, PHB3 is mandatory, but Psi Power isn't.

That said ... if you don't want to spend hours reflavoring,
you can spend money on the fluff / flavor.
Time is/or money.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Mand12 Aug 16, 2010 10:57:55	The 4E Dark Sun campaign setting is a given, but is the creature catalog also critical? Are there any other books that I should look at that I may not know of?
#2 Phobos Aug 16, 2010 11:02:21	I didn't pick it up when I got the CS, but then was seeing all sorts of references to creatures I was not familiar with. Bearing in mind, DDi subscribers will get the crunch, if you want the fluff the book may be a viable option. The CS is both the DM and player guide (unlike FR and E worlds) I also plan to grab the adventure as my next stop.
#3 Mand12 Aug 16, 2010 13:06:16	In my opinion the fluff is the whole point of using a campaign setting, so yeah I'm interested in them. You'd recommend all three then, including the adventure to get the ball rolling?
#4 gwydion9 Aug 16, 2010 13:45:24	The 4E Dark Sun campaign setting is a given, but is the creature catalog also critical? Are there any other books that I should look at that I may not know of? Well, define "need." Lots of the creatures in the creature catalog are not only enemies, but are used as mounts and transportation, so PCs will probably have a lot of interaction with them. A big part of DS is the distinctive flavor of the enemies you face, including mobile, carnivorous cacti and psionic reptiles. You could probably stat your own, but the catalog will save you a lot of work. I think putting together encounters in DS is certainly going to be harder without the creature catalog, at best.
#5 Cyber-Dave Aug 16, 2010 14:33:53	PHB 1 for most of the player races, the martial classes, and the wizard. PHB 2 for the primal classes and the goliath. PHB 3 for the psionic classes. The DS campaign guide. The CC for athasian monsters. The CG for the settings fluff. Both the 2 DMGs (because they are some of the best DM aids ever released for D&D). That should about do you.
#6 Phobos Aug 17, 2010 11:45:16	In my opinion the fluff is the whole point of using a campaign setting, so yeah I'm interested in them. You'd recommend all three then, including the adventure to get the ball rolling? Yes, 100%
#7 phoffman Aug 17, 2010 19:50:17	There is also a free adventure for Dark Sun, the same one as Free RPG day They included it in with the character download. www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4...
#8 gwyddion23 Aug 18, 2010 0:53:22	There is also a free adventure for Dark Sun, the same one as Free RPG day They included it in with the character download. www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4... Win. Thanks.
#9 tiamatdragonwing Aug 18, 2010 8:56:05	In my opinion the fluff is the whole point of using a campaign setting, so yeah I'm interested in them. You'd recommend all three then, including the adventure to get the ball rolling? Yes, 100% Agree also, this is the first book I've bought since buying the FRPG when 4E was still new
#10 Elendur Aug 18, 2010 12:14:23	I definitely recommend the Creature Catalog, it has a lot more setting information than is usual for a monster book. The environmental hazards and special terrain is in there. Important personages including all the Sorcerer Kings. Also, I found the monster entries of the PC races really helpful in defining the differences of the races, which not a lot of time is spent on in the campaign setting.
#11 googao Aug 18, 2010 13:10:35	Yeah I suggest getting all 3. i didnt get the creature catalog but i am going to get it asap and i used the adventure to get an idea of what a dark sun adventure was like cause i didnt play 2nd edition. the dungeon tiles are really nice. they didnt have many useful 3D pieces but the cart is nice.
#12 awaken_D_M_golem Aug 19, 2010 14:12:39	The Dark Sun book itself, claims you need the "core" three, and that's it. There's a very small little box and commentary about the divine (egad) stuff sneaking in the back door. You can reflavor anything to fit. It's not "divine" ; it's weird psionics. If you really want to use the psionics stuff, PHB3 is mandatory, but Psi Power isn't. That said ... if you don't want to spend hours reflavoring, you can spend money on the fluff / flavor. Time is/or money.