Ok... someone needs to whip Jon and get him moving on it again :P Or at least to get him motivated to get the person responsible for the FAQ to do it already.
This is the list of questions as of the last time this thread occured.My own additions are marked with a '/'.
Basics questions
- What is Dark Sun? (with an short answer on the campaign setting, and another one on the RPG setting's history)
- I've heard about Dark Sun - is there going to be a 3e version of the setting released any time soon?
- Where is the official timeline of Athas at?
- Where can I find detailed history on Athas?
- How can I help Athas.org out?
- How do I join the Dark Sun mailing list?
- Where can i find a map of the known parts of athas?
- Where can i find a map of the areas outside the known parts of athas?
- Why aren't there Paladins/Sorcerors/TheLatestCoolPrestigeClass in Dark Sun?
- Where can I find a list of adventures/adventure ideas for Dark Sun?
- "Are there any reviews for older Dark Sun supplements anywhere?"--preferably by the dark sun community
Policy and officiality questions
- Why is there not going to be a printed version of DS3 released at bookstores/gaming stores?
- If the athas.org conversion isn't printed, how can it be official?
- Have you read the conversion rules for Dark Sun found in the Dungeon/Dragon magazines?
- Why aren't those conversions used by athas.org?
- What is deemed official, and what isn't? Does everything anyone with an athas.org email or helping Athas.org in other ways creates automatically become official?
- What is the official stance of athas.org on all the various contradictions in the published material? Will an official "statement of canon" ever be forthcoming?
Setting questions
- How many champions were there officially and what was the target race of each one?
/- What is the difference between a sorceror king and a regular dragon?
/- How did Atzetuk get the ability to give his templars spells?
/- How many avangions are there and who are they?
- What is canon and what is not? Are the Prism Pentad canon? What about the other novels? RaFoaDK?
- Is there an athasian underdark?
Unsolved mystery questions
- How do I get a copy of Secrets of the Deadlands?
- How do I get a copy of Dregoth Ascending?
- Is crossing from one world (athas) to another world (toril / oerth etc) possible via the planes ?
- How does the grey / black interfere with said process ?
- The elemental planes are said to be different in nature with rergard to Athas; how so ? (game effects etc )
- If crossover is posible, what would preservers and defilers be treated as in other worlds? And the other way around with mages entering athas?
- All all the SK's emerging aspects of Takhisis, who will be Dark Sun first (Dragon) Goddess?
- Will athas.org be advancing the timeline of Dark Sun?
- Was Kalak really a champion?
- Is spelljamming in DS possible?
- Can I bring loads of iron from [insert world] to Athas and become the richest person in the world and buy the dragon?
- Is there a spelljammer/Dark Sun crossover adventure?
/- What'is this stuff about 'space halflings?'
Ok... someone needs to whip Jon and get him moving on it again Or at least to get him motivated to get the person responsible for the FAQ to do it already.
I've been responsible for the DS3 *Design* FAQ. This general FAQ is something I've been nagging Flip about for some time. Though I suppose the best way to get something done is to do it yourself. I'll get cranking on this.
Q: I have heard about an official Dark Sun 3rd edition conversion produced by athas.org. Is this true, and if so, when will it be released?
A: Yes, it’s true. Even better, it has already been released. You can find it in the Releases section on the athas.org website available as a FREE download, along with a number of other official Dark Sun products produced by athas.org.
Q: I thought there were official Dark Sun 3rd edition rules in Dungeon/ Dragon magazines. Which conversion is “more” official – the athas.org one or the Dragon/Dungeon one?
A: Both are equally official. Athas.org has a mandate from Wizards of the Coast to produce new Dark Sun material, including a Dark Sun 3rd edition conversion. Seeing content in Dungeon and Dragon magazines are considered official, we have two official conversions. In other words, the fans have more options and can pick and mix elements from the two conversions if they please.
Q: Why doesn’t athas.org use the Dark Sun 3rd edition conversion from Dungeon/Dragon?
A: There are several reasons. The athas.org conversion is a fan-based conversion. It has the general support of the fan community and we have received feedback that it is more true to the setting flavor and previous material than the Dragon/Dungeon articles. Furthermore, the magazine issues with the Dragon/Dungeon conversions exist in limited print, and over the years fewer people are likely to have access to them than our conversion, which will remain free and available on the internet. Lastly, we see no reason to discard all the years of hard work put into our conversion.
Q: Why isn’t there going to be a printed version of Dark Sun 3rd edition released at bookstores/gaming stores?
A: Athas.org is a volunteer organization. We don’t have the funds to get our material printed and out into stores. Even if we had, we could not do so without the approval of Wizards of the Coast due to shared intellectual property rights. This works both ways, Wizards of the Coast cannot print and sell our products without our approval either, though we would most likely say “yes” if they asked us if they could.
Q: What is deemed official, and what isn't? Does everything anyone with an athas.org email or helping Athas.org in other ways creates automatically become official?
A: Athas.org has many willing helpers in addition to its regular staff, but nothing anyone writes becomes official without an approval process. For a product to become official, it requires the approval of the athas.org senate, and the setting flavor council known as The Paper Nest.
Q: What is the official stance of athas.org on all the various contradictions in the published material? Will an official "statement of canon" ever be forthcoming?
A: The current official stance at athas.org is that the various contradictions in the previously published Dark Sun material add to the setting flavor. Little is known about the history of the world, and most of the records we have about Athas are made by individuals that could be biased and have reasons for their portrayal of what is then conceived as inconsistencies. So an official statement of what is canon and what’s not will not be forthcoming, asides from putting statements made by authors over that of characters in the case of contradictions.
Basics questions
- What is Dark Sun? (with an short answer on the campaign setting, and another one on the RPG setting's history)
See az_zel link.
- I've heard about Dark Sun - is there going to be a 3e version of the setting released any time soon?
See Jon message.
- Where is the official timeline of Athas at?
I have it on my web site, but if you follow az_zel link, you will find the link to the .rtf on the wizards site.
- Where can I find detailed history on Athas?
You need to buy (from svgames.com or rpgnow.com) an electronic copy of the first or second (revised) boxed darksun settings. You can find physical copy on ebay.
- How can I help Athas.org out?
In multiple way. Give your opinion on all their current preview material and find flaw or errors in these. If you manage to be extremely patient and useful (which I am not really
), you might join a bureau.- How do I join the Dark Sun mailing list?
Go to athas.org, under community and you will find the way to.
- Where can i find a map of the known parts of athas?
Go to www.darksunrising.info and you will find more than you can imagine
- Where can i find a map of the areas outside the known parts of athas?
Go to darksunrising.info, you will see what he as.
- Why aren't there Paladins/Sorcerors/TheLatestCoolPrestigeClass in Dark Sun?
Paladins? Where do you see justice on Athas? Sorcerers? There is no dragon blood on athas, at least not as we concieve it in FR. Magic is learn, not owned. IMO.
- Where can I find a list of adventures/adventure ideas for Dark Sun?
Venture in all the Darksun web sites. Of course, I come to put my web site here! :D I have the HUGIEST... hum yeah! HUGIEST links page of all DS community.
The Silt Skimmer Page
- "Are there any reviews for older Dark Sun supplements anywhere?"--preferably by the dark sun community
Dont have any answers here.
Policy and officiality questions
- Why is there not going to be a printed version of DS3 released at bookstores/gaming stores?
See Jon Message.
- If the athas.org conversion isn't printed, how can it be official?
See Jon Message.
- Have you read the conversion rules for Dark Sun found in the Dungeon/Dragon magazines?
See Jon message and I may add IMO that they suck. No thanks for me for the majority of the material modified by Paizo from Noonan.
- Why aren't those conversions used by athas.org?
Because IMO they are flavorless and mostly not any near the real Darksun.
- What is deemed official, and what isn't? Does everything anyone with an athas.org email or helping Athas.org in other ways creates automatically become official?
See Jon message.
- What is the official stance of athas.org on all the various contradictions in the published material? Will an official "statement of canon" ever be forthcoming?
See Jon message. But I know (if the board didnt flushed them) that there was several thread made by Dawnstealer dealing with about 13 or 15 inconcistencies, about 5 months ago.
Setting questions
- How many champions were there officially and what was the target race of each one?
If you go on my web site, I made a pdf with many informations about all the officials SK. Download it!
/- What is the difference between a sorceror king and a regular dragon?
SK are powerful magical and psionic beeing. They are linked to a vortice that help them grant elemental clerical abilities to their followers (templars).
/- How did Atzetuk get the ability to give his templars spells?
He give's none. The peoples have the illusions that templars still have their powers. It's the House of Mind of the city that rule behind. He is only a puppet.
/- How many avangions are there and who are they?
To my knowledge, there as 3 : Kornugarn, Nerad and Oronis (Keltis SK)
- What is canon and what is not? Are the Prism Pentad canon? What about the other novels? RaFoaDK?
I have no answer here.
- Is there an athasian underdark?
Officially there is no mention of it. Although, there could. Some of us here are building unofficial material, you should search for Illithid, Pterran, Tari and more.
Unsolved mystery questions
- How do I get a copy of Secrets of the Deadlands?
Hum... You are alone in the dark. Go to athas.org front page to see what'S going on with it.
- How do I get a copy of Dregoth Ascending?
Same as above.
- Is crossing from one world (athas) to another world (toril / oerth etc) possible via the planes ?
It's been said, year ago that athas was a isolated world.
- How does the grey / black interfere with said process ?
I dont remember but officially it's not been said (IMO).
- The elemental planes are said to be different in nature with rergard to Athas; how so ? (game effects etc )
It's on this planes that the differents clerics draw their power from.
- If crossover is posible, what would preservers and defilers be treated as in other worlds? And the other way around with mages entering athas?
No answer.
- All all the SK's emerging aspects of Takhisis, who will be Dark Sun first (Dragon) Goddess?
See the thread on Rajaat and the Dragons that currently run here. You will have many answer. Although, Rajaat is the creator of magic on athas.
- Will athas.org be advancing the timeline of Dark Sun?
If I remember well, no, they wont.
- Was Kalak really a champion?
Still under debate, but will stick as an inconcistency.
- Is spelljamming in DS possible?
IMO Noooo! An army of platemail peoples in darksun? They all die in a matter of hours because of the heat! And it would make too much metal to gather. Disbalancing athas!
- Can I bring loads of iron from [insert world] to Athas and become the richest person in the world and buy the dragon?
IMO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
- Is there a spelljammer/Dark Sun crossover adventure?
None that I am aware of.
/- What'is this stuff about 'space halflings?'
It's been said that originally, darksun would become a new setting type with technology with the return of technologically advanced halflings (rhul-tauns or rhulisti). *CRINGE*
I hope it helped.
See siltskimmer.net for more darksun web site and informations.
Q: What is athas.org?
A: Athas.org is a fan-based volunteer organization devoted to keeping the Dark Sun RPG campaign setting alive. We produce and market official Dark Sun products that anyone can download for FREE from our website, www.athas.org.
Q: How did athas.org get a mandate to produce official Dark Sun material?
A: In late 1999, in order to help promote the coming revision of D&D, Jim Butler, then a Brand Manager at Wizards of the Coast, surveyed various fan sites for the so-called "dead settings": Dark Sun, Spelljammer, Dragonlance, Mystara, Birthright and Planescape. His goal was to find one site for each setting to become the official website for that setting. These sites would be charged / privileged with creating new content for their respective game worlds; content which would be recognized by Wizards of the Coast as official material. In January, 2000, Robert Adducci’s website, The Burnt World of Athas, was selected to become the official Dark Sun website. Upon selection as the official website, Robert recruited some long-time contributors to the Dark Sun community to serve as staff for the site, and thus athas.org was founded.
Q: Athas.org sounds cool. Who are these people, and how do I join the overcouncil, senate and templarate? Where’s the application form?
A: The core of Athas.org consists mostly of Dark Sun veterans who have been valuable contributors to the Dark Sun fan community since the early days of the Dark Sun mailing list. They were selected by Robert Adducci when Wizards of the Coast made his website official and with it the mandate to produce new Dark Sun material. Some have been around for more than 10 years, but members are replaced as time goes by. You don’t simply join the senate or overcouncil – you are invited. The road to such a position is quality work over time. In order to be considered for the templarate, you need to prove you have fingerspitzgefühl for both 3.5 game mechanics and Dark Sun setting information. Your best application would be to be an active contributor on the Dark Sun discussion forums at wizards.com, providing feedback on our products, and/or submitting a sample of your work. If you possess a talent or background of use to athas.org, such as proofreading and editing, artwork, desktop publishing, or something else you think would be of value to us, send an e-mail to [email]jon@athas.org[/email].
Q: How can I help athas.org?
A: There are many things you can do to help. Playtest athas.org products and provide constructive feedback either through the Dark Sun forums or e-mail. Spread the word of athas.org’s work. Introduce new players and GMs to the Dark Sun setting and our work. Send us greetings and appreciations if you feel they are warranted. If you know someone who you think would like to help us, for example an artist who can contribute free illustrations in return for exponation in our products, put us in touch with them.
Q: Will athas.org advance the timeline of Athas?
A: We currently have no plans of advancing the timeline. Athas.org’s work is set in Free Year 11 unless stated otherwise in the individual products.
Officiality FAQ:
Q: I have heard about an official Dark Sun 3rd edition conversion produced by athas.org. Is this true, and if so, when will it be released?
A: Yes, it’s true. Even better, it has already been released. You can find it in the Releases section on the athas.org website available as a FREE download, along with a number of other official Dark Sun products produced by athas.org.
Q: I thought there were official Dark Sun 3rd edition rules in Dungeon/ Dragon magazines. Which conversion is “more” official – the athas.org one or the Dragon/Dungeon one?
A: Both are equally official. Athas.org has a mandate from Wizards of the Coast to produce new Dark Sun material, including a Dark Sun 3rd edition conversion. Seeing content in Dungeon and Dragon magazines are considered official, we have two official conversions. In other words, the fans have more options and can pick and mix elements from the two conversions if they please.
Q: Why doesn’t athas.org use the Dark Sun 3rd edition conversion from Dungeon/Dragon?
A: There are several reasons. The athas.org conversion is a fan-based conversion. It has the general support of the fan community and we have received feedback that it is more true to the setting flavor and previous material than the Dragon/Dungeon articles. Furthermore, the magazine issues with the Dragon/Dungeon conversions exist in limited print, and over the years fewer people are likely to have access to them than our conversion, which will remain free and available on the internet. Lastly, we see no reason to discard all the years of hard work put into our conversion.
Q: Why isn’t there going to be a printed version of Dark Sun 3rd edition released at bookstores/gaming stores?
A: Athas.org is a volunteer organization. We don’t have the funds to get our material printed and out into stores. Even if we had, we could not do so without the approval of Wizards of the Coast due to shared intellectual property rights. This works both ways, Wizards of the Coast cannot print and sell our products without our approval either, though we would most likely say “yes” if they asked us if they could.
Q: What is deemed official, and what isn't? Does everything anyone with an athas.org email or helping Athas.org in other ways creates automatically become official?
A: Athas.org has many willing helpers in addition to its regular staff, but nothing anyone writes becomes official without an approval process. For a product to become official, it requires the approval of the athas.org senate, and the setting flavor council known as The Paper Nest.
Q: What is the official stance of athas.org on all the various contradictions in the published material? Will an official "statement of canon" ever be forthcoming?
A: The current official stance at athas.org is that the various contradictions in the previously published Dark Sun material add to the setting flavor. Little is known about the history of the world, and most of the records we have about Athas are made by individuals that could be biased and have reasons for their portrayal of what is then conceived as inconsistencies. So an official statement of what is canon and what’s not will not be forthcoming, asides from putting statements made by authors over that of characters in the case of contradictions.
I hope you do not mind, but I would like to add these questions/answers to the FAQ on the link that I posted earlier. Would you guys have any objection to that?
I hope you do not mind, but I would like to add these questions/answers to the FAQ on the link that I posted earlier. Would you guys have any objection to that?
Funny that you add them to your FAQ first and ask if it's ok afterwards. ;)
I suppose it is ok, as long as you put a link to where the latest version of the FAQ can be found on the athas.org website, seeing the FAQ is bound to be updated now and then. (Though, to avoid inconsistencies with outdated versions of parts of the FAQ on your site, to me the optimal solution is that you simply provide the link to the latest version of the FAQ on athas.org rather than quoting parts of the current FAQ per today that could be outdated tomorrow. However, I'm not going to stop you if you insist on quoting parts of the FAQ).
In any case, many thanks for the quick response. I'll go ahead and post the link up, since I do not wish to be editing that thing over and over again. Where might I find said link though? Or should I just link to this post?
The FAQ isn't up yet, but the URL will be http://www.athas.org/faq
Note that I edited the link.
Noted and updated.
I've been responsible for the DS3 *Design* FAQ. This general FAQ is something I've been nagging Flip about for some time. Though I suppose the best way to get something done is to do it yourself. I'll get cranking on this.
That's right. I remember now. Flip needs to get back to work and stuff, and get us a stickied FAQ! :P
I've got the FAQ done now. Flip should post it today or tomorrow on athas.org. I'll talk to him about having a sticky thread with a link to the FAQ.
Well, not totally ... remember, that I've got an enormous archvie of the old, historical faq stuff floating around in my head.
Really, this has been one of those "perfectionist" situations where I wanted to managed to get the thing into a decent framework, so I don't have to retype or screen-scrape everything later to get them into something that works ...
Why don't you post what I've done, and then we can amend it later. It deals with many of the central issues and kanks. Fastest solution as I see it is just to make a .pdf and post it in the Articles section, though you might have another idea?Then we'd get data redundancy issues with having to edit multiple sources when updating the FAQ. I'm all in favor of a sticky thread pointing to the URL where the FAQ can be downloaded though.
Huh? Having to edit multiple sources? If the FAQ is the first post in the thread, and you just edit that post with the questions in it, that is a single location for all the questions, not multiple. It's done, rather well, on thousands of other forum sites. Just surprised that instead, you'd prefer people need to use another program entirely in order to view the FAQ for, well, this forum. sorry, but that seems a little backwards to me.
The FAQ isn't for the boards exclusively. We receive a fair amount of inquiries through e-mail from people who have visited the athas.org website. Hence, I want a copy on athas.org. If the boards were more stable, I'd link directly to a thread, but they aren't (Sorry, Wiz-O's). There are also those who want a downloadable document rather than a saved thread.