Dark Sun meets The Last Airbender - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Dark Sun meets The Last Airbender

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Arithezoo
Jul 14, 2010 23:16:39 This is my first thread, so be gentle.

I have always loved Dark Sun; pretty much everything about the setting makes me as happy as a Thri-kreen riding a Kank. However, I always alter premade settings to make them unique and more my own.

To make a short story still short, I want to meld Dark Sun with the world of The Last Airbender. And no, I have not seen the movie. And yes, I loved the TV show.

Here is what I am thinking: my Dark Sun was once the world of the Last Airbender. But then the Avatar was killed, and for whatever reason did not reincarnate. As the Avatar kept things in balance the natural world quickly fell apart, leading to the wastelands of Dark Sun. In addition, the Avatar is the bridge between the natural world and the spirit world, so I was thinking it would be cool to have my Dark Sun full of angry vengeful spirits (not undead, more like primal spirits). I seem to recall a primal spirit like monster from way back when being a part of Dark Sun, or at least jammed into one of the monster books...or did I dream that?

What I would like are any ideas people have as far as implementing aspects of the Last Airbender world into Dark Sun to make it stand out. Thanks in advance!
#2
jetshield
Jul 15, 2010 1:29:01 Dark Sun meets SomeShowI'veNeverSeen meets Jade Empire (that whole spirits showing up everywhere because they can't cross over thing)

While I can't really help you because of my total ignorance about Airbenders (whatever that is) I can say that the Dark Sun/Jade Empire thing sounds like it could be interesting.

I'm sure someone around here can actually be helpful.

Happy worldbuilding.
#3
tenor2ba
Jul 17, 2010 9:06:03 With the Avatar dead, I would think it would cause more of a rift in the connection between the two worlds. Maybe an aspect of that rift is the spirits can cross over to the mortal world, but can't cross back. It would also leave it an open playground for spirits like the facestealer......

Maybe the overall journey for the PCs could be to find out why the avatar didn't reincarnate. Maybe the rift was in place already and disruppted the avatar line. Maybe since there were no more airbenders, the elemental balace was thrown off kilter, causing the rift, the lack of avatar reincarnation, or both.

It's possible that with the elements out of whack with no airbender/avatar and/or the spirit rift or spirits disrupting the elements, storms of various kinds would happen. maybe firestorms on the seas or the poles, lightning charged ice storms over the fire nations remains, etc.

could it be a plot hook that one of the PCs starts showing signs of being an airbender (via homebrew prestige class) destined to set things right elementally, thus causing the avatar sequence to continue ( how yet to be determined)?

Also, how will magic work? Will you make homebrew classes or modify classes to make them benders? or just cut magic out of the equation? or had you thought of that yet?

Just some thoughts and ideas.
I hope they spark others and this comes to fruition.

P.S. I know nothing about the DarkSun setting. From the little I've gleaned, its come out since 4th, and im a hardcore 3.5 player. never played fourth, really.
#4
Krika
Jul 17, 2010 10:47:28

P.S. I know nothing about the DarkSun setting. From the little I've gleaned, its come out since 4th, and im a hardcore 3.5 player. never played fourth, really.

Dark Sun is a post apocolyptic setting that debuted in 2e. Here is a beginner's into to it, if you are so inclined.
#5
mellored
Jul 18, 2010 0:16:38
And no, I have not seen the movie. And yes, I loved the TV show.

It was too short and missed out on to much of the story. The special effects where pretty cool however.

Still show >>> movie.

As for mixing it with darksun. Might be hard without alot of elemental classes. Though the plot could be simply that there is no airbenders, thus air (ang)->water->earth->fire worked fine, but then going back to air fails since there is no one to be reborn to. The main mission then, would somehow start a new air-bending society.
#6
tenor2ba
Jul 18, 2010 9:16:48 Thanks for the Dark Sun Primer. I don't like how they've turned Goliaths aand Half-Giants to the same race, though. Or at least thats what it sounds like. But I digress.

Unless Aang managed to find and train at least one airbender, the avatar line would die with him, as the next avatar wouldn't be able to learn airbending at all, much less master it. I don't recall what first taught humans to airbend, but maybe they could teach them again, just like the giant badger-moles taught Toff earthbending.
#7
Arithezoo
Jul 19, 2010 8:54:15 Thanks for all the ideas!

@Jetshield: I've never heard of Jade Empire, but it sounds interesting; I shall have to look it up.

@Tenor2ba: I love the idea of having elemental storms. It fits with Dark Sun (environment gone mad) and enhances the elemental aspect I want to bring in. I am also definitely planning to use many spirits (the Facestealer will make a great epic threat), but I don't know if I want them to be unable to cross back to the spirit world. I was seeing it more as a total breakdown of relations between humans and spirits, as the Avatar was the bridge. He kept things civil and in order; without the Avatar, the spirits can do what they want.
If one of the players is on board, I'd love to have them work toward an epic destiny of Avatar. I wouldn't need to make them an airbender (or any other type of bender), as I don't know how much of that I will incorporate. Definitely no custom classes; reflavoring existing ones is plenty to get the flavor. But I do want the main goal of the campaign to be finding out what happened to the last Avatar and attempting to return order to the world.
Oh, and the Air Bison taught the first airbenders.

@Mellored: in terms of mixing, I'm thinking more about the flavor of the Avatar world rather than just the magic of bending. Depending on how Themes work (a new concept that will be part of 4E Dark Sun), I might be able to modify them to encourage players to make characters that are effectively benders. For example, a swordmage usually wouldn't take only fire powers, but if I make a nice Firebender Theme, they might consider it (especially if I tell them that they won't be punished by having to fight tons of fire resistant monsters).

#8
tarindorskildale
Jul 19, 2010 12:51:48
Thanks for all the ideas!

@Tenor2ba: I love the idea of having elemental storms. It fits with Dark Sun (environment gone mad) and enhances the elemental aspect I want to bring in. I am also definitely planning to use many spirits (the Facestealer will make a great epic threat), but I don't know if I want them to be unable to cross back to the spirit world. I was seeing it more as a total breakdown of relations between humans and spirits, as the Avatar was the bridge. He kept things civil and in order; without the Avatar, the spirits can do what they want.
If one of the players is on board, I'd love to have them work toward an epic destiny of Avatar. I wouldn't need to make them an airbender (or any other type of bender), as I don't know how much of that I will incorporate. Definitely no custom classes; reflavoring existing ones is plenty to get the flavor. But I do want the main goal of the campaign to be finding out what happened to the last Avatar and attempting to return order to the world.
Oh, and the Air Bison taught the first airbenders.

Well it is implied that Iroh has been to the spirit world, so it isn't unfeasable.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Arithezoo Jul 14, 2010 23:16:39	This is my first thread, so be gentle. I have always loved Dark Sun; pretty much everything about the setting makes me as happy as a Thri-kreen riding a Kank. However, I always alter premade settings to make them unique and more my own. To make a short story still short, I want to meld Dark Sun with the world of The Last Airbender. And no, I have not seen the movie. And yes, I loved the TV show. Here is what I am thinking: my Dark Sun was once the world of the Last Airbender. But then the Avatar was killed, and for whatever reason did not reincarnate. As the Avatar kept things in balance the natural world quickly fell apart, leading to the wastelands of Dark Sun. In addition, the Avatar is the bridge between the natural world and the spirit world, so I was thinking it would be cool to have my Dark Sun full of angry vengeful spirits (not undead, more like primal spirits). I seem to recall a primal spirit like monster from way back when being a part of Dark Sun, or at least jammed into one of the monster books...or did I dream that? What I would like are any ideas people have as far as implementing aspects of the Last Airbender world into Dark Sun to make it stand out. Thanks in advance!
#2 jetshield Jul 15, 2010 1:29:01	Dark Sun meets SomeShowI'veNeverSeen meets Jade Empire (that whole spirits showing up everywhere because they can't cross over thing) While I can't really help you because of my total ignorance about Airbenders (whatever that is) I can say that the Dark Sun/Jade Empire thing sounds like it could be interesting. I'm sure someone around here can actually be helpful. Happy worldbuilding.
#3 tenor2ba Jul 17, 2010 9:06:03	With the Avatar dead, I would think it would cause more of a rift in the connection between the two worlds. Maybe an aspect of that rift is the spirits can cross over to the mortal world, but can't cross back. It would also leave it an open playground for spirits like the facestealer...... Maybe the overall journey for the PCs could be to find out why the avatar didn't reincarnate. Maybe the rift was in place already and disruppted the avatar line. Maybe since there were no more airbenders, the elemental balace was thrown off kilter, causing the rift, the lack of avatar reincarnation, or both. It's possible that with the elements out of whack with no airbender/avatar and/or the spirit rift or spirits disrupting the elements, storms of various kinds would happen. maybe firestorms on the seas or the poles, lightning charged ice storms over the fire nations remains, etc. could it be a plot hook that one of the PCs starts showing signs of being an airbender (via homebrew prestige class) destined to set things right elementally, thus causing the avatar sequence to continue ( how yet to be determined)? Also, how will magic work? Will you make homebrew classes or modify classes to make them benders? or just cut magic out of the equation? or had you thought of that yet? Just some thoughts and ideas. I hope they spark others and this comes to fruition. P.S. I know nothing about the DarkSun setting. From the little I've gleaned, its come out since 4th, and im a hardcore 3.5 player. never played fourth, really.
#4 Krika Jul 17, 2010 10:47:28	P.S. I know nothing about the DarkSun setting. From the little I've gleaned, its come out since 4th, and im a hardcore 3.5 player. never played fourth, really. Dark Sun is a post apocolyptic setting that debuted in 2e. Here is a beginner's into to it, if you are so inclined.
#5 mellored Jul 18, 2010 0:16:38	And no, I have not seen the movie. And yes, I loved the TV show. It was too short and missed out on to much of the story. The special effects where pretty cool however. Still show >>> movie. As for mixing it with darksun. Might be hard without alot of elemental classes. Though the plot could be simply that there is no airbenders, thus air (ang)->water->earth->fire worked fine, but then going back to air fails since there is no one to be reborn to. The main mission then, would somehow start a new air-bending society.
#6 tenor2ba Jul 18, 2010 9:16:48	Thanks for the Dark Sun Primer. I don't like how they've turned Goliaths aand Half-Giants to the same race, though. Or at least thats what it sounds like. But I digress. Unless Aang managed to find and train at least one airbender, the avatar line would die with him, as the next avatar wouldn't be able to learn airbending at all, much less master it. I don't recall what first taught humans to airbend, but maybe they could teach them again, just like the giant badger-moles taught Toff earthbending.
#7 Arithezoo Jul 19, 2010 8:54:15	Thanks for all the ideas! @Jetshield: I've never heard of Jade Empire, but it sounds interesting; I shall have to look it up. @Tenor2ba: I love the idea of having elemental storms. It fits with Dark Sun (environment gone mad) and enhances the elemental aspect I want to bring in. I am also definitely planning to use many spirits (the Facestealer will make a great epic threat), but I don't know if I want them to be unable to cross back to the spirit world. I was seeing it more as a total breakdown of relations between humans and spirits, as the Avatar was the bridge. He kept things civil and in order; without the Avatar, the spirits can do what they want. If one of the players is on board, I'd love to have them work toward an epic destiny of Avatar. I wouldn't need to make them an airbender (or any other type of bender), as I don't know how much of that I will incorporate. Definitely no custom classes; reflavoring existing ones is plenty to get the flavor. But I do want the main goal of the campaign to be finding out what happened to the last Avatar and attempting to return order to the world. Oh, and the Air Bison taught the first airbenders. @Mellored: in terms of mixing, I'm thinking more about the flavor of the Avatar world rather than just the magic of bending. Depending on how Themes work (a new concept that will be part of 4E Dark Sun), I might be able to modify them to encourage players to make characters that are effectively benders. For example, a swordmage usually wouldn't take only fire powers, but if I make a nice Firebender Theme, they might consider it (especially if I tell them that they won't be punished by having to fight tons of fire resistant monsters).
#8 tarindorskildale Jul 19, 2010 12:51:48	Thanks for all the ideas! @Tenor2ba: I love the idea of having elemental storms. It fits with Dark Sun (environment gone mad) and enhances the elemental aspect I want to bring in. I am also definitely planning to use many spirits (the Facestealer will make a great epic threat), but I don't know if I want them to be unable to cross back to the spirit world. I was seeing it more as a total breakdown of relations between humans and spirits, as the Avatar was the bridge. He kept things civil and in order; without the Avatar, the spirits can do what they want. If one of the players is on board, I'd love to have them work toward an epic destiny of Avatar. I wouldn't need to make them an airbender (or any other type of bender), as I don't know how much of that I will incorporate. Definitely no custom classes; reflavoring existing ones is plenty to get the flavor. But I do want the main goal of the campaign to be finding out what happened to the last Avatar and attempting to return order to the world. Oh, and the Air Bison taught the first airbenders. Well it is implied that Iroh has been to the spirit world, so it isn't unfeasable.