Recommended books to run a Dark Sun campaign? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Recommended books to run a Dark Sun campaign?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
May 04, 2004 4:12:18 Hi, everyone. I used to own the Dark Sun boxed set waay back in junior high and haven't played or used anything past the original boxed set. I just downloaded the content off the Athas website and am in the process of obtaining new and sealed copies of the Road to Urik, Arcane Shadows, and Asticlian Gambit modules. I noticed that they made an updated boxed set for 2nd edition as well. My question is, besides the core rulebooks and the exp. psionics rulebook, what material does anyone here recommend that I aquire to help DM a Dark Sun campaign? Both the campaign boxed sets or just the original? Any additional "flavor" books that are recommended? I plan on running the campaign in 3.5 rules. Any help is appreciated.
#2
Grummore
May 04, 2004 7:45:41 Veiled alliance - For statistic on each city-state
City-State of Tyr - For a detailed view of one city (Tyr)
Dune Trader - For traders are a big part of the Darksun setting. Many plots can be come through them. Cost of things as well.
Ivory Triangle - Good thing to have, detail a lot of things near Gulg and Nibenay. Very Good.

Maybe:
Elves of athas and Slave Tribes

Too:
The Monstruous comp. I and II for their nice pictures. But now, you know, we have this nice Dawnstealer that draw's all the athasian critters. Check is web site!
#3
dawnstealer
May 04, 2004 7:54:31 The Wanderer's Journal from the original boxed set. More of my ideas came from that one book than any other. Then, like Grummy said, Veiled Alliance is also a good source of info.
#4
zombiegleemax
May 04, 2004 10:36:49 If one of your players is a Cleric, then Earth, Air, Fire, Water is a must.
#5
zombiegleemax
May 04, 2004 16:48:49
Originally posted by Porkchops
If one of your players is a Cleric, then Earth, Air, Fire, Water is a must.

Really? I've been debating getting that one, but it runs a little steeper than some of the others. Could you tell me a little about it? I mean, not copyrighted info about it, but more of a brief summary of the contents and your thoughts about how applicable and enjoyable it would be to use for a cleric PC or a DM of one?
#6
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
May 04, 2004 17:08:37 detailed information about all the different types of clerics (Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Magma, Rain, Silt and Sun), including some interesting ideas for roleplaying the character becoming a Cleric (the process which effectively proves the cleric to his/her element and makes the cleric into a servant and champion of it). detailed information about the Cleric Elemental Advanced Being metamorphosis. Detailed information about Druids & the Druid Spirit of the Land metamorphosis. And I think some detailed info about Templars, if I'm remembering correctly. basically, if it's a Dark Sun divine spellcaster, there's stuff in EAFW for them.
#7
zombiegleemax
May 04, 2004 18:06:04 Thanks. You guys are all awesome. All of those books are on eBay for a relatively cheap price.
#8
zombiegleemax
May 04, 2004 18:12:49 Of course, you can also buy the books as .PDFs for less than $5 each here...
#9
zombiegleemax
May 04, 2004 18:53:48
Originally posted by Curious about Dark Sun
Really? I've been debating getting that one, but it runs a little steeper than some of the others. Could you tell me a little about it? I mean, not copyrighted info about it, but more of a brief summary of the contents and your thoughts about how applicable and enjoyable it would be to use for a cleric PC or a DM of one?

Well, all the stuff Xlorep stated above. Also, one thing that I really like is it opens up TONS of campaign ideas regarding the elementals and paraelements. The elements [Earth, Air, Fire, and Water] and paraelements [Sun, Magma, Silt, Rain] are at war with one another, with the exception of Rain, which sides with the elements.

It gives a lot of details and flavor text for the various elemental clerics. For example, Air clerics abhor slavery, and a bunch of other stuff for the other elements/paraelements. It also gives a listing of various granted powers, if you're running a 2E campaign.

Not only that, but it has a ton of very nifty spells for clerics of each element. If you're using 2E, use them as is, if you're running 3E, it isn't too hard to convert them.

It covers Druids in the same detail, offering campaign ideas, flavor text, all kinds of stuff.

It's one of my all-time favorite DS books, since I always really enjoyed the Dark Sun version of a Cleric.
#10
gilliard_derosan
May 04, 2004 23:48:35 Yes, the Dark Sun Clerics were always nice. Able to gate in bits of their element, similar spell selection to how they do domains now.

Also, depending on what type of character.. Gladiators handbook would be a good buy as well. Lots of arena's present, as well as all of the weapons and expanded uses that gladiators could put them to. I believe it even had expanded rules for piecemeal armor as well, which is really good if you are using it under 2nd edition.

OH, and if you can, get ahold of the revised 2nd edition Dark Sun boxed set, the one with the cloth map of the tablelands.. One of the best map inserts to date in any D&D product. I drool over mine every day - well, not literally, because then it would me a map of swampland instead of desert... Anyway.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax May 04, 2004 4:12:18	Hi, everyone. I used to own the Dark Sun boxed set waay back in junior high and haven't played or used anything past the original boxed set. I just downloaded the content off the Athas website and am in the process of obtaining new and sealed copies of the Road to Urik, Arcane Shadows, and Asticlian Gambit modules. I noticed that they made an updated boxed set for 2nd edition as well. My question is, besides the core rulebooks and the exp. psionics rulebook, what material does anyone here recommend that I aquire to help DM a Dark Sun campaign? Both the campaign boxed sets or just the original? Any additional "flavor" books that are recommended? I plan on running the campaign in 3.5 rules. Any help is appreciated.
#2 Grummore May 04, 2004 7:45:41	Veiled alliance - For statistic on each city-state City-State of Tyr - For a detailed view of one city (Tyr) Dune Trader - For traders are a big part of the Darksun setting. Many plots can be come through them. Cost of things as well. Ivory Triangle - Good thing to have, detail a lot of things near Gulg and Nibenay. Very Good. Maybe: Elves of athas and Slave Tribes Too: The Monstruous comp. I and II for their nice pictures. But now, you know, we have this nice Dawnstealer that draw's all the athasian critters. Check is web site!
#3 dawnstealer May 04, 2004 7:54:31	The Wanderer's Journal from the original boxed set. More of my ideas came from that one book than any other. Then, like Grummy said, Veiled Alliance is also a good source of info.
#4 zombiegleemax May 04, 2004 10:36:49	If one of your players is a Cleric, then Earth, Air, Fire, Water is a must.
#5 zombiegleemax May 04, 2004 16:48:49	Originally posted by Porkchops If one of your players is a Cleric, then Earth, Air, Fire, Water is a must. Really? I've been debating getting that one, but it runs a little steeper than some of the others. Could you tell me a little about it? I mean, not copyrighted info about it, but more of a brief summary of the contents and your thoughts about how applicable and enjoyable it would be to use for a cleric PC or a DM of one?
#6 xlorepdarkhelm_dup May 04, 2004 17:08:37	detailed information about all the different types of clerics (Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Magma, Rain, Silt and Sun), including some interesting ideas for roleplaying the character becoming a Cleric (the process which effectively proves the cleric to his/her element and makes the cleric into a servant and champion of it). detailed information about the Cleric Elemental Advanced Being metamorphosis. Detailed information about Druids & the Druid Spirit of the Land metamorphosis. And I think some detailed info about Templars, if I'm remembering correctly. basically, if it's a Dark Sun divine spellcaster, there's stuff in EAFW for them.
#7 zombiegleemax May 04, 2004 18:06:04	Thanks. You guys are all awesome. All of those books are on eBay for a relatively cheap price.
#8 zombiegleemax May 04, 2004 18:12:49	Of course, you can also buy the books as .PDFs for less than $5 each here...
#9 zombiegleemax May 04, 2004 18:53:48	Originally posted by Curious about Dark Sun Really? I've been debating getting that one, but it runs a little steeper than some of the others. Could you tell me a little about it? I mean, not copyrighted info about it, but more of a brief summary of the contents and your thoughts about how applicable and enjoyable it would be to use for a cleric PC or a DM of one? Well, all the stuff Xlorep stated above. Also, one thing that I really like is it opens up TONS of campaign ideas regarding the elementals and paraelements. The elements [Earth, Air, Fire, and Water] and paraelements [Sun, Magma, Silt, Rain] are at war with one another, with the exception of Rain, which sides with the elements. It gives a lot of details and flavor text for the various elemental clerics. For example, Air clerics abhor slavery, and a bunch of other stuff for the other elements/paraelements. It also gives a listing of various granted powers, if you're running a 2E campaign. Not only that, but it has a ton of very nifty spells for clerics of each element. If you're using 2E, use them as is, if you're running 3E, it isn't too hard to convert them. It covers Druids in the same detail, offering campaign ideas, flavor text, all kinds of stuff. It's one of my all-time favorite DS books, since I always really enjoyed the Dark Sun version of a Cleric.
#10 gilliard_derosan May 04, 2004 23:48:35	Yes, the Dark Sun Clerics were always nice. Able to gate in bits of their element, similar spell selection to how they do domains now. Also, depending on what type of character.. Gladiators handbook would be a good buy as well. Lots of arena's present, as well as all of the weapons and expanded uses that gladiators could put them to. I believe it even had expanded rules for piecemeal armor as well, which is really good if you are using it under 2nd edition. OH, and if you can, get ahold of the revised 2nd edition Dark Sun boxed set, the one with the cloth map of the tablelands.. One of the best map inserts to date in any D&D product. I drool over mine every day - well, not literally, because then it would me a map of swampland instead of desert... Anyway.