Birthright of the DarkSun - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Birthright of the DarkSun

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
greyorm
Jun 04, 2008 16:49:20 I've been thinking for some time about running a DarkSun campaign using the Birthright rules. Has anyone done or tried to do anything like this they could point me to and save me a bit of work?

If not, would anyone be interested in helping out on such a project? Right now my goal would be to create a map of the Athasian provinces (to be followed by making DS-specific domain rules). If anyone has any advice about how to divide the land up into provinces that would be of benefit.
#2
Kynesis
Jun 04, 2008 23:44:31 Depending on how you see the DarkSun setting there's potential for alot of the best features of Birthright's domain system. Dragon Kings leaned toward mass-combat with miniatures in a way that I found very appealing (we found miniatures mass-combat itself pretty monotonous though).

You'd likely be looking at more of a map of provinces (often with lots of unclaimed borderland) than simply dividing the available lands into roughly equal chunks about the city-states.

I've considered it too from time to time, but its a huge project - you'd want to be sure your groups going to play it more than once.
#3
Brom_Blackforge
Jun 05, 2008 13:31:26 The rules for blooded characters and domain-level actions would seem to be pretty portable. As Kynesis indicated, though, the real work would come with the map, and assigning scores to each province (for how many law/temple/guild and source holdings can exist in it). It wouldn't have to be a huge undertaking, though, if you just concentrated on a smaller starting region to begin with. Most likely, your players wouldn't start out with enough influence to make big waves beyond a given region anyway. You can work your way outward as it becomes significant for the campaign.
#4
greyorm
Jun 07, 2008 14:11:16
You'd likely be looking at more of a map of provinces (often with lots of unclaimed borderland) than simply dividing the available lands into roughly equal chunks about the city-states.

Any suggestions on how to go about doing that? I've put a crude map together in Photoshop, but I'm not entirely happy with the way the provinces are actually divided in some areas. (I'll find the time to put it up after work.)

I've considered it too from time to time, but its a huge project - you'd want to be sure your groups going to play it more than once.

I don't even have a group right now. I'm just doing this for fun and for anyone else who wants to use it.

...assigning scores to each province (for how many law/temple/guild and source holdings can exist in it). It wouldn't have to be a huge undertaking, though, if you just concentrated on a smaller starting region to begin with.

I'm only planning to detail the area covered by the original boxed set to start with, and perhaps expand from there if there is enough interest.

Some starting thoughts:

- Magic level for each province should likely be based on terrain instead of population, owing to the unique nature of magic on Athas. I don't know if ley lines will exist...perhaps only available to Druids.

- Athas is dangerous and unpredictable. Events like bandits and monsters should afflict provinces regularly, cutting off resources unless resources are spent to deal with such.

- Some provinces should contain things like ancient ruins, oases, ore deposits, undead infestations, etc. that affect (or can affect) domain management and resources.

- It shouldn't be easy to gain and retain control of territory, even "unoccupied" territory, again, owing to the nature of Athas.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 greyorm Jun 04, 2008 16:49:20	I've been thinking for some time about running a DarkSun campaign using the Birthright rules. Has anyone done or tried to do anything like this they could point me to and save me a bit of work? If not, would anyone be interested in helping out on such a project? Right now my goal would be to create a map of the Athasian provinces (to be followed by making DS-specific domain rules). If anyone has any advice about how to divide the land up into provinces that would be of benefit.
#2 Kynesis Jun 04, 2008 23:44:31	Depending on how you see the DarkSun setting there's potential for alot of the best features of Birthright's domain system. Dragon Kings leaned toward mass-combat with miniatures in a way that I found very appealing (we found miniatures mass-combat itself pretty monotonous though). You'd likely be looking at more of a map of provinces (often with lots of unclaimed borderland) than simply dividing the available lands into roughly equal chunks about the city-states. I've considered it too from time to time, but its a huge project - you'd want to be sure your groups going to play it more than once.
#3 Brom_Blackforge Jun 05, 2008 13:31:26	The rules for blooded characters and domain-level actions would seem to be pretty portable. As Kynesis indicated, though, the real work would come with the map, and assigning scores to each province (for how many law/temple/guild and source holdings can exist in it). It wouldn't have to be a huge undertaking, though, if you just concentrated on a smaller starting region to begin with. Most likely, your players wouldn't start out with enough influence to make big waves beyond a given region anyway. You can work your way outward as it becomes significant for the campaign.
#4 greyorm Jun 07, 2008 14:11:16	You'd likely be looking at more of a map of provinces (often with lots of unclaimed borderland) than simply dividing the available lands into roughly equal chunks about the city-states. Any suggestions on how to go about doing that? I've put a crude map together in Photoshop, but I'm not entirely happy with the way the provinces are actually divided in some areas. (I'll find the time to put it up after work.) I've considered it too from time to time, but its a huge project - you'd want to be sure your groups going to play it more than once. I don't even have a group right now. I'm just doing this for fun and for anyone else who wants to use it. ...assigning scores to each province (for how many law/temple/guild and source holdings can exist in it). It wouldn't have to be a huge undertaking, though, if you just concentrated on a smaller starting region to begin with. I'm only planning to detail the area covered by the original boxed set to start with, and perhaps expand from there if there is enough interest. Some starting thoughts: - Magic level for each province should likely be based on terrain instead of population, owing to the unique nature of magic on Athas. I don't know if ley lines will exist...perhaps only available to Druids. - Athas is dangerous and unpredictable. Events like bandits and monsters should afflict provinces regularly, cutting off resources unless resources are spent to deal with such. - Some provinces should contain things like ancient ruins, oases, ore deposits, undead infestations, etc. that affect (or can affect) domain management and resources. - It shouldn't be easy to gain and retain control of territory, even "unoccupied" territory, again, owing to the nature of Athas.