All that 2e Dark Sun flavor....with the 3e crunchiness...is it possible? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

All that 2e Dark Sun flavor....with the 3e crunchiness...is it possible?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Jun 28, 2004 23:47:56 I used to play DS alot. In fact I played it exclusively in the mid 90s for about 3 years. I recently got my hands on Dragon issue #319. So now the rioting begins. :D

I've been reading through my Dark Sun 2nd ed boxed set and comparing it to the new material is Dragon 319. I have to blurt out a big ol "WTF?"

What did they do?

I'm preparing to start up a big DS campaign in December and I'm sitting here reading the boxed set and then reading the magazine. How the heck am I supposed to integrate all the 2e rules that made DS feel so special into the new 3e rules that they put out in Dragon?

An example if you will:

The PC races. ALL of the 2e races besides humans have a negative ability modifier to go along with their positive ability modifiers.

In the new 3e rules...there are only positive modifiers. Are they trying to "sugar coat" the setting so newbies won't get slaughtered hand over fist? Athas is harsh harsh and unforgiving, why would they give muls a theorhetical constitution of 22 and a str of 20 with no drawbacks?
Oh and forget them talking about different dehydration rules for different races. Thri-keen natural weapons? Nope.

Jesus Criminy!

Also about the classes. Nothing is said about it in Dragon. It's just a bunch of fluff, decent fluff, but fluff none the less. No addressing the fact that 2e DS allows rogues to use any weapon?

I'm really wanting to preserve the DS that we know and love in my new campaign. Has anyone been able to run a 3e DS campaign using the flavor-granting rules that we cherish from 2e? I only see a mind-numbing amount of work ahead of me if I wish to do so.

Any thoughts?
#2
nytcrawlr
Jun 28, 2004 23:54:04 For starters, check out athas.org's version.

http://athas.org/releases/ds3/

:D
#3
zombiegleemax
Jun 28, 2004 23:59:46 Try The Burnt World of Athas (i.e. Athas.org), and see if their rules conversion is to your liking. If not, then track down a board poster by the name of Strutinan (or was is Strutinian?) and email him for his conversion. If that doesn't suit you, check out fellow DS fanboy Shei-Nad's conversion on his website World of Athas.

And if that still doesn't do it for you, then your on your own ;)

As for preserving the flavor of 2e using 3e rules, I think its impossible to do a 100% flavor friendly conversion. Simple as that. Some conversions come alot closer than others, but its simply not feasible to keep things 100% like they were in 2e . . . if you did, you would still just be running 2e anyhow.
#4
nytcrawlr
Jun 29, 2004 0:04:48 I'm doing a D20 version too, but I probably won't post it anytime soon.
#5
zombiegleemax
Jun 30, 2004 8:14:15 I dont play third ed but it seems like the basics wouldnt be too difficult.

1.) Double the standard modifiers, (Half elf is simple +1/dex/ -1 con) Make it +2 D/-2 C.
2.) Just give them the same racial characteristics, of 2nd ed
Half Giants 2x HP
Thrikreen.... Less water/sleep Leap etc
3.) Take what you can out of 3.5 PH (most halfling bonuses would be the same... Like +2 hide)
4.) weapon conversion would be simple. Keep it the same
5.)Classes.... Um well I dont like the class system (dwarven mages)

I was going to buy any new DS stuff to come out, and use it for "theatrics" keep 2nd ed Mechanics But it just looked too gay.
#6
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
Jun 30, 2004 12:21:45 I have my own system up and am currently in the middle of an extended character development process for my group (it's a P.B.E.M. campaign currently) but basically, I use the Athas.org version, with the 3.5e Revised System Reference Document (otherwise known as the Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, Monster Manual, Epic Level Handbook, Extended Psionics Handbook and Deities & Demigods - the books that are currently in the RSRD), and then some rules changes/variations courtesy primarily from the book Unearthed Arcana (too many variants for me to list here), One variant from the Complete Warrior (non-spellcasting Paladins & Rangers), and a couple things from Nytcrawlr's site (the Psi-Monk and his modified Half-Giant), along with a few other things.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Jun 28, 2004 23:47:56	I used to play DS alot. In fact I played it exclusively in the mid 90s for about 3 years. I recently got my hands on Dragon issue #319. So now the rioting begins. :D I've been reading through my Dark Sun 2nd ed boxed set and comparing it to the new material is Dragon 319. I have to blurt out a big ol "WTF?" What did they do? I'm preparing to start up a big DS campaign in December and I'm sitting here reading the boxed set and then reading the magazine. How the heck am I supposed to integrate all the 2e rules that made DS feel so special into the new 3e rules that they put out in Dragon? An example if you will: The PC races. ALL of the 2e races besides humans have a negative ability modifier to go along with their positive ability modifiers. In the new 3e rules...there are only positive modifiers. Are they trying to "sugar coat" the setting so newbies won't get slaughtered hand over fist? Athas is harsh harsh and unforgiving, why would they give muls a theorhetical constitution of 22 and a str of 20 with no drawbacks? Oh and forget them talking about different dehydration rules for different races. Thri-keen natural weapons? Nope. Jesus Criminy! Also about the classes. Nothing is said about it in Dragon. It's just a bunch of fluff, decent fluff, but fluff none the less. No addressing the fact that 2e DS allows rogues to use any weapon? I'm really wanting to preserve the DS that we know and love in my new campaign. Has anyone been able to run a 3e DS campaign using the flavor-granting rules that we cherish from 2e? I only see a mind-numbing amount of work ahead of me if I wish to do so. Any thoughts?
#2 nytcrawlr Jun 28, 2004 23:54:04	For starters, check out athas.org's version. http://athas.org/releases/ds3/ :D
#3 zombiegleemax Jun 28, 2004 23:59:46	Try The Burnt World of Athas (i.e. Athas.org), and see if their rules conversion is to your liking. If not, then track down a board poster by the name of Strutinan (or was is Strutinian?) and email him for his conversion. If that doesn't suit you, check out fellow DS fanboy Shei-Nad's conversion on his website World of Athas. And if that still doesn't do it for you, then your on your own ;) As for preserving the flavor of 2e using 3e rules, I think its impossible to do a 100% flavor friendly conversion. Simple as that. Some conversions come alot closer than others, but its simply not feasible to keep things 100% like they were in 2e . . . if you did, you would still just be running 2e anyhow.
#4 nytcrawlr Jun 29, 2004 0:04:48	I'm doing a D20 version too, but I probably won't post it anytime soon.
#5 zombiegleemax Jun 30, 2004 8:14:15	I dont play third ed but it seems like the basics wouldnt be too difficult. 1.) Double the standard modifiers, (Half elf is simple +1/dex/ -1 con) Make it +2 D/-2 C. 2.) Just give them the same racial characteristics, of 2nd ed Half Giants 2x HP Thrikreen.... Less water/sleep Leap etc 3.) Take what you can out of 3.5 PH (most halfling bonuses would be the same... Like +2 hide) 4.) weapon conversion would be simple. Keep it the same 5.)Classes.... Um well I dont like the class system (dwarven mages) I was going to buy any new DS stuff to come out, and use it for "theatrics" keep 2nd ed Mechanics But it just looked too gay.
#6 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Jun 30, 2004 12:21:45	I have my own system up and am currently in the middle of an extended character development process for my group (it's a P.B.E.M. campaign currently) but basically, I use the Athas.org version, with the 3.5e Revised System Reference Document (otherwise known as the Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, Monster Manual, Epic Level Handbook, Extended Psionics Handbook and Deities & Demigods - the books that are currently in the RSRD), and then some rules changes/variations courtesy primarily from the book Unearthed Arcana (too many variants for me to list here), One variant from the Complete Warrior (non-spellcasting Paladins & Rangers), and a couple things from Nytcrawlr's site (the Psi-Monk and his modified Half-Giant), along with a few other things.