Complete newb to DS. - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Complete newb to DS.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
shas-o_02_dup
Jun 28, 2004 20:43:26 Hello, I have known about Dark sun for a while, I got Dragon 319, read that, read these boards, read that that wasn't to terribly liked, and would like to know more about Dark sun

Here are a few things i am most interested about

The history of Athas, and why it became the way it was
Info on the Dragon kings, and why Tyr is a free city state
Why magic defile the land
Why psionics are so common
What was the games metaplot? if any.
I heard something about a figure called 'the dragon' what is it/him?

Thank you all for your time.
#2
Pennarin
Jun 28, 2004 23:07:47 This is the kind of wasteland of the mind that Paizo's articles bring about.

Shas'O: Welcome to the Boards! , where hopefuly you'll get the real picture about Athas, not the 'lite' version.

I strongly suggest bying the material, and especially reading the novels, before pilfering the Boards on myriads of subjects, as everything here is full of spoilers of all kinds. The novels and the revelations they bring will be ruined for you if you do. Just a warning...
Originally posted by Shas'O
The history of Athas, and why it became the way it was

You can find further info on the subject in reading the Official Timeline of Athas, or making a search of this Board for "history", "ancient", "green age", "blue age" or "cleansing wars".
The best way to get the info is to go direct to the source by buying the PDFs of the Dark Sun material that was published, at a ridiculous price, something like 2,50$/download, at www.svgames.com
Info on the Dragon kings, and why Tyr is a free city state

The main books for that are Dragon Kings and Preservers & Defilers. Another search for "dragon kings", "sorcerer kings", "sorcerer monarchs" or "champions" will tell you more. The events that made the city of Tyr free were told in the first DS novel, The Verdant Passage, which you can easily get on www.amazon.com
Why magic defile the land

There is no Weave, as in Faerûn, on Athas. Instead wizards have the ability to make living plants spontaneously give up a mystical life-energy, dying in the process and turning to ash. The wizard's talent resides in shaping that energy into effects, which are the standard D&D spells. Other exotic forms of arcane magic exist on Athas, but the original process was developped thousands of years ago.
Why psionics are so common

Its a side-effect of one of the greatest event to befall the world of Athas: the Rebirth. Its when the precursor race to all those that exist today transformed themselves into the miriad of races that can be found in the Campaign Setting (dwarves, elves, humans, etc), and many more others that are now extinct due to long forgotten genocidal wars.
What was the games metaplot? if any.

Don't know what you mean exactly, but I can at least say that the axis of the game is not good/evil or chaos/law, but preserving/abuse and survival (mot an axis I agree, but one of the main facts of athasian life).
I heard something about a figure called 'the dragon' what is it/him?

There is such a creature. Or was. For thousands of years, the Dragon had terrorized the Tablelands, requiring a levy of a thousand people from each city-state to be delivered for collecting. What the levy was for, no citizens or sages could fathom. But the Sorcere-Kings and Queens with all their power willingly paid the levy, year after year. The Dragon has been killed in extraordinary circumstances the year before the beggining of the official campaign, which was Free Year 10 (FY10), or 10 years after the liberation of Tyr.

To know more about the current campaign beggining with FY11, download the official www.athas.org documents (including adventures) on their site.

And welcome again to the Dark Sun Boards !!
#3
elonarc
Jun 29, 2004 0:41:18 Welcome aboard Shas'O!
#4
jon_oracle_of_athas
Jun 29, 2004 3:41:37 Where we put the 'mental' back into detrimental and 'laughter' back into slaughter.
#5
zombiegleemax
Jun 29, 2004 7:30:34 put the laughter back in slaughter... I like that. So am I to assume that you (the plural) thought that the DS dragon mag was gay too. And you 3rd eds, will you place your game 300 years in the future, as I understand it to be published, or continue were you left off.
#6
zombiegleemax
Jun 29, 2004 8:15:47
And you 3rd eds, will you place your game 300 years in the future, as I understand it to be published, or continue were you left off.

First, you should understand that most of the long time 3E wingnuts on the boards here have been playing DS using 3E rules for oh . . . 3 years now or longer, long before the Dragon/Dungeon articles came out. The majority of the board posters here are also very much using the Athas.org rules rather than the D/D articles, but the flame fests about the articles seems to be dying out a bit (from shouting to merely grumbles and sighs), so its become a little safer to actually discuss the articles finally if your in support of them. Of course, that does leave quite a few people out, like those using 2E still (or the even smaller minority who may be using 2E with the flavor/events of the D/D articles).

Of course, this is simply the consensus of one lunatic out on a long since expired weekend pass, so take it as you will.
#7
dawnstealer
Jun 29, 2004 15:14:06 Best book to start out with, far and away, is the original Wanderer's Journal. It's from the original boxed set, but if you can find it alone, it's just as good. It keeps just enough of the mystery to keep things interesting if you're a player. If you're a GM, it has enough plot hooks to build years of campaigns out of.
#8
zombiegleemax
Jun 29, 2004 18:56:15 I agree with Dawnstealer, the original boxed set is your best bet to learn everything about Athas. If necessary you can download it at www.svgames.com for $4.74 as a PDF file. Then if you like it and play 3 or 3.5, go to www.athas.org and grab their stuff, it's worth it. :D
#9
dawnstealer
Jun 29, 2004 23:39:16 Athas.org is an incredible resource if you know the world already or have even a little background. If you're completely new to the world, however, the Wanderer's Journal is the way to go. Once you get the feel (should happen around page 5), go download the Athas.org 3.5 pdf and you'll be in business.
#10
Grummore
Jun 30, 2004 8:36:33 Dont forgot about the incredible web site of this nice man known as Grummore. Hum... damn, it's me! :D

Yeah, I have the hugiest... oh YEAH ! THE HUGIEST darksun links page of all time. Again. I am the greatest. Thanks.

Link to my site in my signature.

:bounce:
#11
dawnstealer
Jun 30, 2004 14:28:17 Grummore's insane. We don't like to talk about him.

Shhh. Shhhh! Here he comes!
#12
darkbard3
Jul 06, 2004 16:02:35
Originally posted by Tha Nomad
And you 3rd eds, will you place your game 300 years in the future, as I understand it to be published, or continue were you left off.

While I didn't care for the conversion material in Dragon/Dungeon, the setting they provide for 300yrs out is a target for my campaign. Granted, it could (and probably will) change based on what the characters do, but it gives me a rough sketch of a target for world dynamics. I'd just like to know who retrieved the Dark Lens to make all these new SKs...
#13
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
Jul 06, 2004 16:23:18
Originally posted by Tha Nomad
put the laughter back in slaughter... I like that. So am I to assume that you (the plural) thought that the DS dragon mag was gay too. And you 3rd eds, will you place your game 300 years in the future, as I understand it to be published, or continue were you left off.

I'm not using the 300 years in the future idea. The Articles disgust me, and while it was a curious idea, in the end, it left me disinterested.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 shas-o_02_dup Jun 28, 2004 20:43:26	Hello, I have known about Dark sun for a while, I got Dragon 319, read that, read these boards, read that that wasn't to terribly liked, and would like to know more about Dark sun Here are a few things i am most interested about The history of Athas, and why it became the way it was Info on the Dragon kings, and why Tyr is a free city state Why magic defile the land Why psionics are so common What was the games metaplot? if any. I heard something about a figure called 'the dragon' what is it/him? Thank you all for your time.
#2 Pennarin Jun 28, 2004 23:07:47	This is the kind of wasteland of the mind that Paizo's articles bring about. Shas'O: Welcome to the Boards! , where hopefuly you'll get the real picture about Athas, not the 'lite' version. I strongly suggest bying the material, and especially reading the novels, before pilfering the Boards on myriads of subjects, as everything here is full of spoilers of all kinds. The novels and the revelations they bring will be ruined for you if you do. Just a warning... Originally posted by Shas'O The history of Athas, and why it became the way it was You can find further info on the subject in reading the Official Timeline of Athas, or making a search of this Board for "history", "ancient", "green age", "blue age" or "cleansing wars". The best way to get the info is to go direct to the source by buying the PDFs of the Dark Sun material that was published, at a ridiculous price, something like 2,50$/download, at www.svgames.com Info on the Dragon kings, and why Tyr is a free city state The main books for that are Dragon Kings and Preservers & Defilers. Another search for "dragon kings", "sorcerer kings", "sorcerer monarchs" or "champions" will tell you more. The events that made the city of Tyr free were told in the first DS novel, The Verdant Passage, which you can easily get on www.amazon.com Why magic defile the land There is no Weave, as in Faerûn, on Athas. Instead wizards have the ability to make living plants spontaneously give up a mystical life-energy, dying in the process and turning to ash. The wizard's talent resides in shaping that energy into effects, which are the standard D&D spells. Other exotic forms of arcane magic exist on Athas, but the original process was developped thousands of years ago. Why psionics are so common Its a side-effect of one of the greatest event to befall the world of Athas: the Rebirth. Its when the precursor race to all those that exist today transformed themselves into the miriad of races that can be found in the Campaign Setting (dwarves, elves, humans, etc), and many more others that are now extinct due to long forgotten genocidal wars. What was the games metaplot? if any. Don't know what you mean exactly, but I can at least say that the axis of the game is not good/evil or chaos/law, but preserving/abuse and survival (mot an axis I agree, but one of the main facts of athasian life). I heard something about a figure called 'the dragon' what is it/him? There is such a creature. Or was. For thousands of years, the Dragon had terrorized the Tablelands, requiring a levy of a thousand people from each city-state to be delivered for collecting. What the levy was for, no citizens or sages could fathom. But the Sorcere-Kings and Queens with all their power willingly paid the levy, year after year. The Dragon has been killed in extraordinary circumstances the year before the beggining of the official campaign, which was Free Year 10 (FY10), or 10 years after the liberation of Tyr. To know more about the current campaign beggining with FY11, download the official www.athas.org documents (including adventures) on their site. And welcome again to the Dark Sun Boards !!
#3 elonarc Jun 29, 2004 0:41:18	Welcome aboard Shas'O!
#4 jon_oracle_of_athas Jun 29, 2004 3:41:37	Where we put the 'mental' back into detrimental and 'laughter' back into slaughter.
#5 zombiegleemax Jun 29, 2004 7:30:34	put the laughter back in slaughter... I like that. So am I to assume that you (the plural) thought that the DS dragon mag was gay too. And you 3rd eds, will you place your game 300 years in the future, as I understand it to be published, or continue were you left off.
#6 zombiegleemax Jun 29, 2004 8:15:47	And you 3rd eds, will you place your game 300 years in the future, as I understand it to be published, or continue were you left off. First, you should understand that most of the long time 3E wingnuts on the boards here have been playing DS using 3E rules for oh . . . 3 years now or longer, long before the Dragon/Dungeon articles came out. The majority of the board posters here are also very much using the Athas.org rules rather than the D/D articles, but the flame fests about the articles seems to be dying out a bit (from shouting to merely grumbles and sighs), so its become a little safer to actually discuss the articles finally if your in support of them. Of course, that does leave quite a few people out, like those using 2E still (or the even smaller minority who may be using 2E with the flavor/events of the D/D articles). Of course, this is simply the consensus of one lunatic out on a long since expired weekend pass, so take it as you will.
#7 dawnstealer Jun 29, 2004 15:14:06	Best book to start out with, far and away, is the original Wanderer's Journal. It's from the original boxed set, but if you can find it alone, it's just as good. It keeps just enough of the mystery to keep things interesting if you're a player. If you're a GM, it has enough plot hooks to build years of campaigns out of.
#8 zombiegleemax Jun 29, 2004 18:56:15	I agree with Dawnstealer, the original boxed set is your best bet to learn everything about Athas. If necessary you can download it at www.svgames.com for $4.74 as a PDF file. Then if you like it and play 3 or 3.5, go to www.athas.org and grab their stuff, it's worth it. :D
#9 dawnstealer Jun 29, 2004 23:39:16	Athas.org is an incredible resource if you know the world already or have even a little background. If you're completely new to the world, however, the Wanderer's Journal is the way to go. Once you get the feel (should happen around page 5), go download the Athas.org 3.5 pdf and you'll be in business.
#10 Grummore Jun 30, 2004 8:36:33	Dont forgot about the incredible web site of this nice man known as Grummore. Hum... damn, it's me! :D Yeah, I have the hugiest... oh YEAH ! THE HUGIEST darksun links page of all time. Again. I am the greatest. Thanks. Link to my site in my signature. :bounce:
#11 dawnstealer Jun 30, 2004 14:28:17	Grummore's insane. We don't like to talk about him. Shhh. Shhhh! Here he comes!
#12 darkbard3 Jul 06, 2004 16:02:35	Originally posted by Tha Nomad And you 3rd eds, will you place your game 300 years in the future, as I understand it to be published, or continue were you left off. While I didn't care for the conversion material in Dragon/Dungeon, the setting they provide for 300yrs out is a target for my campaign. Granted, it could (and probably will) change based on what the characters do, but it gives me a rough sketch of a target for world dynamics. I'd just like to know who retrieved the Dark Lens to make all these new SKs...
#13 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Jul 06, 2004 16:23:18	Originally posted by Tha Nomad put the laughter back in slaughter... I like that. So am I to assume that you (the plural) thought that the DS dragon mag was gay too. And you 3rd eds, will you place your game 300 years in the future, as I understand it to be published, or continue were you left off. I'm not using the 300 years in the future idea. The Articles disgust me, and while it was a curious idea, in the end, it left me disinterested.