I was thinking of a similar handbook for Dark Sun designed by the forum users here since not all of us are members of Athas.org. They also have their own pet projects in the works and are busy. We also don't have to come up with around 190 odd pages of material either. Such a book could also incorporate material supporting the Players Handbook 2, DMG 2 and the complete series. Example the DMG2 has the Favoured in Guild feat which could be applied to the merchant houses and the PHB2 has affiliations. If its good enough it can get done up in PDF form by some sort of editor or computer genius smarter than me. Alot of the work has already been done and just need input from other board members.
Several things. Would Athas.org care if some of us worked on it. And 2 any volunteers? If you've got a single spell or feat I would like to hear from you. I could start a new thread called "The Players Guide to Athas" thread and see how it grows from there and I couils have each "chapter" as a reply that can easily be edited. I've got some initiate feats and new spells I could add to the thread and I wouldn't mind doing parts of Chapter 1,2, and 6 at 1st although I have aideas for all of them.
Chapter 1.
Feats. Includes racial, regional and initiate feats. Could also have affiliations and guild benefits here as well. 4-6 regional feats for each city etc.
Chapter 2. Domains and Spells. Overhaul the domain systems in Athas.org rules and include intiate spells/feats. INclude new spells with the focus on Magma/Silt/Rain/Sun and have a list of suitable spells usable form the Spell Compendium.
Chapter 3 Psionics. New powers and Athasian rules for Psionics similar to chapter 2.
Chapter 4 Magic/Psionc Items. Some fan made items could make it here alog with suggestions on what items shouldn't be on Athas like Decanter of Endless Water.
Chapter 5. Epic Material. Perhaps a handful epic feats with maybe a new epic seed or 2 preferably something that lets you create epic wards a'la Ur Draxa and Saragar.
Chapter 6. Cosmology of Athas. Updated rules on the Athasian planes including planar traits, elemental planes and para elemental planes.
Chapter 7. Campaign Journal. Advance the metaplot to either the end of Dregoth Ascending or up to the events depicted in Rise and Fall of A Dragon King. What really happened to Hamanu?
Appendix. Leftover bits and pieces. Suggested houserules etc.
Actually, something I've been thinking about is borrowing d20 Modern's Organization writeup system and apply it to the various athasian Merchant Houses, and other assorted power groups.
As I understand it you can't reprint rules from WoTC sourcebooks. As far as I know you can write your own rules to be used with an existing product.
Ie you gain the following benefts with the Favoured in Guild feat and you're a member of house XYZ. You can't reprint the actual Favoured in Guild feat. You can houserule d20 Moderns system and use it but reprint ot on the net.
/personal opinion, not official athas.org blahblahblah
I am just reading the Player's Guide to Faerun. I love this book, it is incredibly useful for players. So, if you want to do anything along those lines - go ahead!
/personal opinion, not official athas.org blahblahblah
Something similar would be nice. need volunteers though hint hint
Chapter 4 Magic/Psionc Items. Some fan made items could make it here alog with suggestions on what items shouldn't be on Athas like Decanter of Endless Water.
That project is a great idea Zardnaar.
I just wanted to tell you not to put too much time on the specific part of Chapter 4 that deal with items unsuitable for Athas since this will be covered in the Athasian Arms & Equipment Guide.
One of my future future projects is a Player's Guide to Athas. The other one would be a Races of Athas book. Could you guys wait a little until the most part part of our releases is done, probably 2-3 months? I would love to help.
If we start now we could get a head start. Then you could just incorporate it into your own and make it an official release. Could save yourself alot of time or you can be an editor and throw away the bits you don't like.
Would a chapter on classes be in order? The complete series has new classes and so does the PHB2. Could also include Athasian varient options including prestige classes. The Athasian assasin for example dcould lose their spel list but have their skill points increased to 8/level instead of 4.
Hey Zardnaar, check you e-mail :D
Done that. Sending you a reply now.