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Starting a new DS campaign

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Oct 20, 2005 9:15:38 Hello, I'm Roger from Spain...

I'm going to start a Dark Sun campaign with some friends.

I have the idea to begin with the Freedom adventure and then continue from there. My idea is that the PCs will live the Pentad Prism days, maybe not taking part into the main action but maybe doing some missions related to that events...

Now i have the following material:
Original Dark Sun campaign Box.
Revised Dark Sun capaign Box in PDF bought at RPGnow.
Freedom adventure.
The book Dragon Kings (I like this book).

Should I buy something else? Thinking of buying beyond the Pentad Prism but I'm not sure if it's worth...

I found that the published adventures can be played one after the other... do you think it's a good idea to play them that way?

Of course we'll see what happens after Freedom. I'm the kind of DM that like to hear what PC's say and adapt the action to what they want to do. I don't like to force the PC go to a place, because things then are like:

DM: Well, you are at X
PC: Why we are here if we wanted to stay at Tyr?
DM: Because... (having trouble )

So, hello to all and thanks for the ideas!
#2
ruhl-than_sage
Oct 20, 2005 9:35:31 I wouldn't recommend beyond the prism pentad myself. It was a superflous book, that was intended as a preview of the revised setting and summation of plot from the recent timeline. Abou the only original thing that was in that book, was the Stats for Hammanu, The Oba, and Nibeney. Besides, if your going to run a game covering the same period of time you don't need a book about running games after that time.

I would recommend:
The Elves of Athas
The Thri-kreen of Athas
Earth, Air, Fire, Water
and
Dune Trader

Those are in my opinion the best supplements made for the setting.
#3
kalthandrix
Oct 20, 2005 10:03:35 Slave Tribes is also a good one to have too and if you are looking to bring your PC's along up to the current time (FY12) then City by the Silt Sea is a must for all of the background it has.
#4
zombiegleemax
Oct 21, 2005 0:10:25 The danger with the adventures like freedom is that you (and especially the pcs) tend to stick in Tyr and other cities remain largely unexplored. so I would read the information on the other city states and kinda mix the adventures you have with different (or at least one other) citystates.
#5
ruhl-than_sage
Oct 21, 2005 0:49:15 Not all of the adventures are based around Tyr. Actually even some of those that are based around Tyr don't spend very much time there.

Asticlian Gambit is based around Nibenay and Gulg.

Black Flames is based around the ruins of Yaramuke, which is on the road between Urik and Raam.

City by the Sea of Silt is based around the ruins of Guistinel (spelling), which is located most closely to Raam.

Dragon's Crown (my favorite by the way), starts in Tyr but take the PCs all over the region from Tyr to Silver Springs and the Balck Sand Raiders camp to Hammanu's palace to Lake Island on the sea of silt and the road of fire to the Forest Ridge and you guessed it even the dragons crown mountains.

Forest Maker starts in Tyr, but then goes to Altaruk and into the desert.

The Marauders of Nibenay is obviously set in Nibenay

The Merchant House of Amketch is set an adventure that can be set just about anywhere, though its technically written to be set in Balic and the ruins of Kalidnay.
#6
zombiegleemax
Oct 21, 2005 2:35:08 Thanks a lot for the advice

Anyway I was thinking to buy Beyond the Pentad Prism because I don't have the novels and don't have the oportunity to read them because here in Spain they are out of print (sadly), so I thought that BtPP could be a way to know a little more what we happened, because now the only source I have is the Dark Sun Timeline I found in this forum... I'd like to know if this supplement it's good te know what happeed or if there's another way to know that...

Thanks!
#7
Grummore
Oct 21, 2005 7:11:21 Dont forget about one of the most important darksun piece of work :

Get VEILED ALLIANCE.

A LOT of informations about the cities and everything.
#8
Kamelion
Oct 21, 2005 8:04:29
Anyway I was thinking to buy Beyond the Pentad Prism because I don't have the novels and don't have the oportunity to read them because here in Spain they are out of print (sadly), so I thought that BtPP could be a way to know a little more what we happened, because now the only source I have is the Dark Sun Timeline I found in this forum... I'd like to know if this supplement it's good te know what happeed or if there's another way to know that...

Thanks!

As Ruhl-Than Sage correctly advises, Beyond the Prism Pentad is not worth getting at all. He is being too kind when he calls it "superfluous". A more accurate description might be "truly dire waste of time and paper". All of the Prism Pentad are currently available through amazon.com for ridiculously low prices - you can probably get them all for cheaper than the Beyond the Prism Pentad itself. The supplement does summarise the events of the novels, but (imho) the true benefit of reading the novels is not their plot - it is the rich colour and enthusiasm with which they depict the Dark Sun setting. No other DS product, game-release or novel, manages to do this quite as well as the Prism Pentad. I recommend getting the series and leaving the supplement well alone. Have a look at these links:
The Verdant Passage
The Crimson Legion
The Amber Enchantress
The Obsidian Oracle
The Cerulean Storm

Beyond that, I agree with all of the recommendations for other products that have been listed in this thread already. I would also add City-State of Tyr and The Ivory Triangle for in-depths looks at Tyr, Nibenay and Gulg.
#9
kalthandrix
Oct 22, 2005 8:46:22 I just purchased the whole PP series of books for under $20 (most of which was shipping charges) from www.half.com, I already own great copies of the books but did not want to ruin them when I begin rereading the series and I also got them so I can pass them around to my players to let them get some a better fel for the world and so they know the recent history of the setting.
#10
zombiegleemax
Oct 26, 2005 7:45:16 Hey now!! --
The only thing I ruin is your campagin story lines.

Bring those flammable temples on!!
:>
#11
kalthandrix
Oct 26, 2005 7:49:37
Hey now!! --
The only thing I ruin is your campagin story lines.

Bring those flammable temples on!!
:>

I still have the circle of protection on.

I know I will regret giving you this link- now I cannot gloat about the ways that I will kill you guys this Friday.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Oct 20, 2005 9:15:38	Hello, I'm Roger from Spain... I'm going to start a Dark Sun campaign with some friends. I have the idea to begin with the Freedom adventure and then continue from there. My idea is that the PCs will live the Pentad Prism days, maybe not taking part into the main action but maybe doing some missions related to that events... Now i have the following material: Original Dark Sun campaign Box. Revised Dark Sun capaign Box in PDF bought at RPGnow. Freedom adventure. The book Dragon Kings (I like this book). Should I buy something else? Thinking of buying beyond the Pentad Prism but I'm not sure if it's worth... I found that the published adventures can be played one after the other... do you think it's a good idea to play them that way? Of course we'll see what happens after Freedom. I'm the kind of DM that like to hear what PC's say and adapt the action to what they want to do. I don't like to force the PC go to a place, because things then are like: DM: Well, you are at X PC: Why we are here if we wanted to stay at Tyr? DM: Because... (having trouble ) So, hello to all and thanks for the ideas!
#2 ruhl-than_sage Oct 20, 2005 9:35:31	I wouldn't recommend beyond the prism pentad myself. It was a superflous book, that was intended as a preview of the revised setting and summation of plot from the recent timeline. Abou the only original thing that was in that book, was the Stats for Hammanu, The Oba, and Nibeney. Besides, if your going to run a game covering the same period of time you don't need a book about running games after that time. I would recommend: The Elves of Athas The Thri-kreen of Athas Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Dune Trader Those are in my opinion the best supplements made for the setting.
#3 kalthandrix Oct 20, 2005 10:03:35	Slave Tribes is also a good one to have too and if you are looking to bring your PC's along up to the current time (FY12) then City by the Silt Sea is a must for all of the background it has.
#4 zombiegleemax Oct 21, 2005 0:10:25	The danger with the adventures like freedom is that you (and especially the pcs) tend to stick in Tyr and other cities remain largely unexplored. so I would read the information on the other city states and kinda mix the adventures you have with different (or at least one other) citystates.
#5 ruhl-than_sage Oct 21, 2005 0:49:15	Not all of the adventures are based around Tyr. Actually even some of those that are based around Tyr don't spend very much time there. Asticlian Gambit is based around Nibenay and Gulg. Black Flames is based around the ruins of Yaramuke, which is on the road between Urik and Raam. City by the Sea of Silt is based around the ruins of Guistinel (spelling), which is located most closely to Raam. Dragon's Crown (my favorite by the way), starts in Tyr but take the PCs all over the region from Tyr to Silver Springs and the Balck Sand Raiders camp to Hammanu's palace to Lake Island on the sea of silt and the road of fire to the Forest Ridge and you guessed it even the dragons crown mountains. Forest Maker starts in Tyr, but then goes to Altaruk and into the desert. The Marauders of Nibenay is obviously set in Nibenay The Merchant House of Amketch is set an adventure that can be set just about anywhere, though its technically written to be set in Balic and the ruins of Kalidnay.
#6 zombiegleemax Oct 21, 2005 2:35:08	Thanks a lot for the advice Anyway I was thinking to buy Beyond the Pentad Prism because I don't have the novels and don't have the oportunity to read them because here in Spain they are out of print (sadly), so I thought that BtPP could be a way to know a little more what we happened, because now the only source I have is the Dark Sun Timeline I found in this forum... I'd like to know if this supplement it's good te know what happeed or if there's another way to know that... Thanks!
#7 Grummore Oct 21, 2005 7:11:21	Dont forget about one of the most important darksun piece of work : Get VEILED ALLIANCE. A LOT of informations about the cities and everything.
#8 Kamelion Oct 21, 2005 8:04:29	Anyway I was thinking to buy Beyond the Pentad Prism because I don't have the novels and don't have the oportunity to read them because here in Spain they are out of print (sadly), so I thought that BtPP could be a way to know a little more what we happened, because now the only source I have is the Dark Sun Timeline I found in this forum... I'd like to know if this supplement it's good te know what happeed or if there's another way to know that... Thanks! As Ruhl-Than Sage correctly advises, Beyond the Prism Pentad is not worth getting at all. He is being too kind when he calls it "superfluous". A more accurate description might be "truly dire waste of time and paper". All of the Prism Pentad are currently available through amazon.com for ridiculously low prices - you can probably get them all for cheaper than the Beyond the Prism Pentad itself. The supplement does summarise the events of the novels, but (imho) the true benefit of reading the novels is not their plot - it is the rich colour and enthusiasm with which they depict the Dark Sun setting. No other DS product, game-release or novel, manages to do this quite as well as the Prism Pentad. I recommend getting the series and leaving the supplement well alone. Have a look at these links: The Verdant Passage The Crimson Legion The Amber Enchantress The Obsidian Oracle The Cerulean Storm Beyond that, I agree with all of the recommendations for other products that have been listed in this thread already. I would also add City-State of Tyr and The Ivory Triangle for in-depths looks at Tyr, Nibenay and Gulg.
#9 kalthandrix Oct 22, 2005 8:46:22	I just purchased the whole PP series of books for under $20 (most of which was shipping charges) from www.half.com, I already own great copies of the books but did not want to ruin them when I begin rereading the series and I also got them so I can pass them around to my players to let them get some a better fel for the world and so they know the recent history of the setting.
#10 zombiegleemax Oct 26, 2005 7:45:16	Hey now!! -- The only thing I ruin is your campagin story lines. Bring those flammable temples on!! :>
#11 kalthandrix Oct 26, 2005 7:49:37	Hey now!! -- The only thing I ruin is your campagin story lines. Bring those flammable temples on!! :> I still have the circle of protection on. I know I will regret giving you this link- now I cannot gloat about the ways that I will kill you guys this Friday.