Essential Dark Sun 2e - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Essential Dark Sun 2e

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
cmrscorpio
May 20, 2004 17:29:06 Hey all,

The recent issues of dungeon and dragon that highlighted DS piqued my interest in the campaign setting, then my wanderings on this forum and athas.org made me want to try to capture the true feeling of the original setting.

Unfortunately I do not own any DS material, nor do I know which books be of the best value for my money. I'm going to be trying to find and buy the materials off ebay in the next few months before my next campaign starts up. I have no clue what I should buy. I'm not really interested in game rules, because I think that if I get the flavor down, the 3.5 game rules should flow pretty easily. What resources give the best taste of DS flavor?

For instance: should I get the Expanded and Revised Campaign setting or the original?

What suppliments would be best for world flavor?
#2
zombiegleemax
May 20, 2004 17:31:32 The revised Setting definately has better flavour and atmosphere. unfortunately, they ruined the setting by using the prism pentad storyline.
#3
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
May 20, 2004 17:34:41 I say - use them all. weigh them yourself, and gather what you can from each. But that's just me.
#4
nytcrawlr
May 20, 2004 17:40:03
Originally posted by xlorepdarkhelm
I say - use them all. weigh them yourself, and gather what you can from each. But that's just me.

Ahmen.

They are all equally good IMO, even the dreaded ToO novels. :D
#5
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
May 20, 2004 17:43:11
Originally posted by NytCrawlr
Ahmen.

They are all equally good IMO, even the dreaded ToO novels. :D

as I said - I use partsof the ToO novels. Other parts, I discard becaus they don't fit the coninuity.
#6
cmrscorpio
May 21, 2004 7:15:15 Thank's for the advise on whether or not to get Expanded & Revised or the original boxed set.

Perhaps I should rephrase the other part of my request.

I have very limited means and cannot afford to purchase everything DS that was published. What do you reccomend as being suppliments that got right to the core of what DS is?
#7
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
May 21, 2004 11:35:15 Ok.... hmm..... SVGames has them for PDF download for cheap, like $5 per item, but let's see if I can help here.

Preservers & Defilers is very useful for getting a LOT of flavor for spellcasting, personally I'm not on the "path dexter/path sinister" bandwagon that it spawned, but it also has ideas for arcane magic all together.

Thri-Kreen of Athas is an awesome supplement if you are going to have Thri-Kreen, or want to include the Tohr-Kreen empire from the Crimson Savanah.

Elves of Athas is great for getting a feel of the Elven Tribes that roam across Athas. Useful for players who wish to play an Elf, and get a deeper understanding beind the motivations & culture of the nomadic tribes.

Beyond the Prism Pentad helps give you a synopsis/summary of events that transpired in the Prism Pentad series of books, as well as the main characters from it themselves. Handy for catching up with the timeline, however the Expanded/Revised Box Set pretty much makes this useless, sort of.

The Ivory Triangle is a great supplement that details the city-states of Gulg and Nibenay (I'll have to check and see what else, other than those two and the area around them)

Earth Air Fire Water is for Clerics & a little bit with Druids, what Preservers & Defilers is to wizards.

The Will and the Way is the same type of book, but for psionic characters. Once again, as the gamesystem mechanics are out the window with 3e/3.5e, they still are great for flavor.

The City-State of Draj is available from athas.org for download, and details that City-State in great detail, and is well worth looking at, especially since it is free.
#8
korvar
May 21, 2004 15:10:42 I'd also recommend The Veiled Alliance, if for no other reason that it gives an overview of each of the cities.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 cmrscorpio May 20, 2004 17:29:06	Hey all, The recent issues of dungeon and dragon that highlighted DS piqued my interest in the campaign setting, then my wanderings on this forum and athas.org made me want to try to capture the true feeling of the original setting. Unfortunately I do not own any DS material, nor do I know which books be of the best value for my money. I'm going to be trying to find and buy the materials off ebay in the next few months before my next campaign starts up. I have no clue what I should buy. I'm not really interested in game rules, because I think that if I get the flavor down, the 3.5 game rules should flow pretty easily. What resources give the best taste of DS flavor? For instance: should I get the Expanded and Revised Campaign setting or the original? What suppliments would be best for world flavor?
#2 zombiegleemax May 20, 2004 17:31:32	The revised Setting definately has better flavour and atmosphere. unfortunately, they ruined the setting by using the prism pentad storyline.
#3 xlorepdarkhelm_dup May 20, 2004 17:34:41	I say - use them all. weigh them yourself, and gather what you can from each. But that's just me.
#4 nytcrawlr May 20, 2004 17:40:03	Originally posted by xlorepdarkhelm I say - use them all. weigh them yourself, and gather what you can from each. But that's just me. Ahmen. They are all equally good IMO, even the dreaded ToO novels. :D
#5 xlorepdarkhelm_dup May 20, 2004 17:43:11	Originally posted by NytCrawlr Ahmen. They are all equally good IMO, even the dreaded ToO novels. :D as I said - I use partsof the ToO novels. Other parts, I discard becaus they don't fit the coninuity.
#6 cmrscorpio May 21, 2004 7:15:15	Thank's for the advise on whether or not to get Expanded & Revised or the original boxed set. Perhaps I should rephrase the other part of my request. I have very limited means and cannot afford to purchase everything DS that was published. What do you reccomend as being suppliments that got right to the core of what DS is?
#7 xlorepdarkhelm_dup May 21, 2004 11:35:15	Ok.... hmm..... SVGames has them for PDF download for cheap, like $5 per item, but let's see if I can help here. Preservers & Defilers is very useful for getting a LOT of flavor for spellcasting, personally I'm not on the "path dexter/path sinister" bandwagon that it spawned, but it also has ideas for arcane magic all together. Thri-Kreen of Athas is an awesome supplement if you are going to have Thri-Kreen, or want to include the Tohr-Kreen empire from the Crimson Savanah. Elves of Athas is great for getting a feel of the Elven Tribes that roam across Athas. Useful for players who wish to play an Elf, and get a deeper understanding beind the motivations & culture of the nomadic tribes. Beyond the Prism Pentad helps give you a synopsis/summary of events that transpired in the Prism Pentad series of books, as well as the main characters from it themselves. Handy for catching up with the timeline, however the Expanded/Revised Box Set pretty much makes this useless, sort of. The Ivory Triangle is a great supplement that details the city-states of Gulg and Nibenay (I'll have to check and see what else, other than those two and the area around them) Earth Air Fire Water is for Clerics & a little bit with Druids, what Preservers & Defilers is to wizards. The Will and the Way is the same type of book, but for psionic characters. Once again, as the gamesystem mechanics are out the window with 3e/3.5e, they still are great for flavor. The City-State of Draj is available from athas.org for download, and details that City-State in great detail, and is well worth looking at, especially since it is free.
#8 korvar May 21, 2004 15:10:42	I'd also recommend The Veiled Alliance, if for no other reason that it gives an overview of each of the cities.