| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3287 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Aug 2009 : 09:30:46
|
Wizards will be releasing Dark Sun for 2010. I am kinda excited about it. It looks like the setting will be re-set to the Original Box set. With the 4E Goodness added to it
The Announcement
Product Spotlight
What are your thoughts about this fellow scribes?
And please no bashing.
This maybe my 4E Setting of Choice.
|
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
Edited by - Brimstone on 17 Aug 2009 00:11:57
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36798 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2009 : 15:49:14
|
As I said elsewhere, I enjoyed the Prism Pentad, and I'd like to see it's aftermath. However, this announcement says that the novels "could be one possible way things turn out" which indicates to me they're non-canon, now. So it appears this setting is getting a reboot.
I'd be more interested if it wasn't for that factor. I doubt I'll pick up this book. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
 |
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31726 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2009 : 15:58:22
|
I'm definitely interested.
And I'm also curious to see what, if anything, the designers responsible for this 4e update might have included from the athas.org "as-close-to-official" 3e update for the setting. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
|
|
|
scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2009 : 16:51:22
|
| It will be interesting. I was really hoping Dragonlance would get some new attention as the next setting this time around. I wonder if character trees( I think that is what they were called) will continue with the 4E format. |
Edited by - scererar on 16 Aug 2009 16:52:14 |
|
|
|
Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2009 : 16:54:10
|
Sage: Thank you for mentioning athas.org; I'd never heard of it before now (I've been too busy in the Realms, for the most part).
From the way the announcement was made, I'd say Wooly's right about the reboot; that being the case, I'd suspect that there's very little, if anything (possibly just equipment, feats/spells/powers, and maybe prestige classes re-done as paragon paths) that will be included from the athas.org 3e update. That being the case, I'm on board with Wooly here. There are two three settings I'd like to see chronological reboots for, and Dark Sun isn't one of them. (Heh... just had a Monty Python "Spanish Inquisition" moment there... resisted the temptation to run farther with it.) Anyway, thanks again for introducing me to athas.org; I'm much more likely to be playing or DMing a Dark Sun campaign now. |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
|
|
|
Chosen of Moradin
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1120 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2009 : 21:08:33
|
I´m very happy with the new. When I started do play and DM D&D, my old school friends suggest me Dark Sun or the Realms. I stay with the Realms, but I like too much of both settings.
I´m a little concerned with the point about the Prism Pentad too, but I prefer to focus in the fact that they said that "could be one possible way that things turns out". This sounds to me that the novels are not exactly discarded....
|
Dwarf, DM, husband, and proud of this! :P
twitter: @yuripeixoto
Facebook: yuri.peixoto |
|
|
|
George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6662 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2009 : 00:18:15
|
The choice of Darksun is obvious when you look at the core material to be released in 2010 which deals with the 4E take on psionics.
-- George Krashos
|
"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
|
|
|
Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2009 : 00:28:07
|
You know, now that capnvan mentions it, I concur... that kind of stance does seem... odd. And I haven't had any alcohol (I don't drink at all), so it's (probably) not the wine talking... 
I've asked before, and apparently nobody has any idea of actual sales numbers for 4E, in particular 4E Realms. All we know is that the first printing went fast... but are preorders accounting for most of that? Who knows... the publishing industry (both books and music) isn't interested in telling the public how they're doing, except when it's a New York Times bestseller or a Billboard Top 40... and even then, that's all you hear. No hard numbers. Which is ironic, given 4E's emphasis on crunch... I'm with capnvan here; not trying to start any edition wars, just wondering where the numbers are...  |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
Edited by - Jakk on 17 Aug 2009 00:28:24 |
|
|
|
Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3287 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2009 : 01:05:53
|
It looks as if Athas.org is down.
I think Wizards just has a way of hyping their own products. This is going to rock, that will be awesome. It is what it is.
I never really got into Dark Sun to begin with so if they do reset the setting, it no big deal to me.
Now I understand that it might be a problem to someone who has played in the setting from the beginning.
I am looking forward to this release. 
#800 |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
Edited by - Brimstone on 17 Aug 2009 01:07:36 |
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31726 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2009 : 01:30:21
|
quote:
Originally posted by Brimstone
It looks as if Athas.org is down.
Aye. If you search through the Internet's Way Back machine though, you'll likely find most of their old 3e DS downloads.
|
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 17 Aug 2009 01:31:26 |
|
|
|
coach
Senior Scribe
USA
479 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2009 : 02:41:49
|
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
I'm definitely interested.
And I'm also curious to see what, if anything, the designers responsible for this 4e update might have included from the athas.org "as-close-to-official" 3e update for the setting.
the url you posted interested me so i tried to go see it but got this message:
"athas.org expired on 08/10/2009 and is pending renewal or deletion" |
Bloodstone Lands Sage |
|
|
|
Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2009 : 02:41:56
|
| Given WotC's direction, Dark Sun seemed the most likely setting after Eberron. It maximizes differences from the previous annual setting. I am intrigued by their approach to start from the beginning and leaving the revision version of the setting as an option. |
|
|
|
coach
Senior Scribe
USA
479 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2009 : 02:49:13
|
| oops sorry just read the two other posts noting that athas.org is down |
Bloodstone Lands Sage |
|
|
|
Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2009 : 06:06:23
|
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Brimstone
It looks as if Athas.org is down.
Aye. If you search through the Internet's Way Back machine though, you'll likely find most of their old 3e DS downloads.
Hrm... it appears to be back up now; I guess the domain name license was renewed. At least, it's working for me, and I've cleared my cache and temporary files and refreshed the page to triple-check. Can anyone else confirm? |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36798 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2009 : 07:03:03
|
quote:
Originally posted by Jakk
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Brimstone
It looks as if Athas.org is down.
Aye. If you search through the Internet's Way Back machine though, you'll likely find most of their old 3e DS downloads.
Hrm... it appears to be back up now; I guess the domain name license was renewed. At least, it's working for me, and I've cleared my cache and temporary files and refreshed the page to triple-check. Can anyone else confirm?
I got the domain name expired message. Of course, if they just re-upped it today, it might take a little time to propagate the new site info to all the appropriate servers. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 17 Aug 2009 07:04:47 |
|
|
|
Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3287 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2009 : 07:11:19
|
Speculation: It might also be why Wizards released the Fan Site Policy when they did.
I know I am looking forward to this release. |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31726 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2009 : 07:46:13
|
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Jakk
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Brimstone
It looks as if Athas.org is down.
Aye. If you search through the Internet's Way Back machine though, you'll likely find most of their old 3e DS downloads.
Hrm... it appears to be back up now; I guess the domain name license was renewed. At least, it's working for me, and I've cleared my cache and temporary files and refreshed the page to triple-check. Can anyone else confirm?
I got the domain name expired message. Of course, if they just re-upped it today, it might take a little time to propagate the new site info to all the appropriate servers.
That'd be my guess too.
Anyways, 'tis working for me as well.
|
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
|
|
|
Tyr
Learned Scribe
225 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2009 : 07:59:09
|
| Based on the interview talk about Dark Sun, have they always been trying to pass 4e off as the darker and edgier version of D&D or is this a new thing? |
|
|
|
Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3287 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2009 : 08:55:49
|
Its always been grittier and darker than D&D. That has been my understanding of it. From what I have seen people post on the WoTc Forums, I think I am right. I will know in the near future when I start ordering old Dark Sun Products. |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
Edited by - Brimstone on 19 Aug 2009 12:38:03 |
|
|
|
Tyr
Learned Scribe
225 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2009 : 22:55:55
|
| lol, wait until you hear they're planning an anti-cataclysm for Athas, so its now a verdant paradise, full of fluffy bunnies, gnomes and paladins! |
|
|
|
Mr_Miscellany
Senior Scribe
545 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2009 : 13:39:31
|
Last night I asked the players in our Monday Realms game about the re-release.
One didn't know what DS was, two were middle-road on it and one was totally excited and couldn't wait. I think I'll sit back and hope that last guy buys it, so I can try playing in 4E for a change instead of DMing it. |
|
|
|
Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3287 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2009 : 18:19:53
|
| Well, the next time you play just keep talking about Athas with the player that is excited. Excitement is contagious, so... |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
Edited by - Brimstone on 19 Aug 2009 12:37:34 |
|
|
|
Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2009 : 10:09:13
|
Not surprising. Non-tolkienesque, darker fantasy is really popular these days.
Wotc had much better settings available, first of all Al-Qadim or a combination of Planescape and Spelljammer. They did a good job with ECG, it will probably turn out without catastrophic failures. I'd rather play in the Dying Earth, or FR with some of its elements. |
|
|
|
Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3287 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2009 : 13:12:19
|
| Athas.org is up again. |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
|
|
|
Chosen of Moradin
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1120 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2009 : 13:24:31
|
Nah! Dark Sun is popular from the very beggining of the Setting. 
And you´re right, Quale. WotC have a real ammunition of good Campaign Settings to launch upon us! Dark Sun, Al Qadim, Birthright, and all the others....
Moradin´s beard! I´m already dreaming of 2011 Campaign Setting. ^^ |
Dwarf, DM, husband, and proud of this! :P
twitter: @yuripeixoto
Facebook: yuri.peixoto |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36798 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2009 : 15:22:49
|
quote:
Originally posted by Quale
Not surprising. Non-tolkienesque, darker fantasy is really popular these days.
Wotc had much better settings available, first of all Al-Qadim or a combination of Planescape and Spelljammer. They did a good job with ECG, it will probably turn out without catastrophic failures. I'd rather play in the Dying Earth, or FR with some of its elements.
Spelljammer is my first love when it comes to D&D settings, but I don't think it will ever be updated. The idea of space travel in D&D was too much for a lot of people, and the mechanics of how it was done threw a lot more people. It didn't help that they got a little silly with some stuff (like Giant Space Hamsters) or lifted stuff directed from Japanese movies (like the bionoid or the gamarroid). They did a partial rules update of the setting for a 3E module, but the update didn't extend past the boundaries of the adventure, and in my opinion, what little there was of it really reshaped things and took some of the magic from the setting. Additionally, the way the cosmologies all just juggled around means that now it may or may not be possible to travel thru space from one campaign setting to another, despite the fact that it was previously possible. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
|
|
|
Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2009 : 15:35:45
|
Someone asked in Rich's thread and he said that they don't have any plans for Spelljammer/Planescape in the next few years.
I only recently became familiar with Spelljammer. It is full of unique and interesting ideas. Don't consider the hamsters silly at all. I'd like to use the setting primarily for sailing through the planes, not through space, so it would add a lot of depth to the Planescape campaign material.
To be on topic, imo Dark Sun belongs with settings like Birthright, Council of Wyrms and Maztica. I don't see what's so great about it, space hamsters are more believable than some of the weird stuff in Athas, particularly don't like the extinction wars. |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36798 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2009 : 19:33:10
|
quote:
Originally posted by Quale
Someone asked in Rich's thread and he said that they don't have any plans for Spelljammer/Planescape in the next few years.
I only recently became familiar with Spelljammer. It is full of unique and interesting ideas. Don't consider the hamsters silly at all. I'd like to use the setting primarily for sailing through the planes, not through space, so it would add a lot of depth to the Planescape campaign material.
To be on topic, imo Dark Sun belongs with settings like Birthright, Council of Wyrms and Maztica. I don't see what's so great about it, space hamsters are more believable than some of the weird stuff in Athas, particularly don't like the extinction wars.
Well, I've always considered the Giant Space Hamsters to be one of the sillier aspects of the setting... I mean, giant hamsters? I can't take something like that seriously -- which was part of why I chose this username!
Adapting Spelljammer to have more planar aspects works readily for me, though. I've thought of it myself... And I've also considered an alternate look at spelljamming helms; with a minor tweak, it would work well for propelling ships thru the Astral, in particular -- and there's already a Dragon article that detailed Astral ships ("Voidjammers", Dragon 159, the same one that was chock full of Spelljammer goodness).
Dark Sun was an interesting setting to me, but a little too heavy on the whole environmental issue -- I'm quite sensitive to being preached to, and the whole desolate landscape and preserver/defiler thing was about as close as you can get to preaching without being overt about it.
I liked Ravenloft, too, but I wasn't a huge fan. In that one, it was the inescapable aspect that bothered me. I realize that that's a huge part of horror, but in an RPG, I want more of a victory than having a character survive and retain his sanity.
I didn't really know too much about the other settings, but I was always interested in Mystara. I'd love to see that one get some love. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
|
|
|
Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2009 : 19:46:28
|
quote:
Originally posted by Quale
<snip>To be on topic, imo Dark Sun belongs with settings like Birthright, Council of Wyrms and Maztica. I don't see what's so great about it, space hamsters are more believable than some of the weird stuff in Athas, particularly don't like the extinction wars.
 Hey! Birthright was the best thing TSR produced setting-wise for late 2E... I realise that's not saying much, but it was different and the world was perfect for political/military-style gaming, which gave D&D its best edge ever against traditional wargames since it was a wargame (the original Chainmail)... the less said about the early 3E-era Chainmail revival, the better... 
I agree with your assessment of CoW and Maztica... but I still think that nuking the landmass was not the way to get rid of the latter.  |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
|
|
|
Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2009 : 19:51:14
|
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
<snip>Spelljammer is my first love when it comes to D&D settings, but I don't think it will ever be updated. <chop> Additionally, the way the cosmologies all just juggled around means that now it may or may not be possible to travel thru space from one campaign setting to another, despite the fact that it was previously possible.
a) Really? Never would have guessed!
b) Sadly, I agree with you regarding its fate as a setting.
c) I plan on my own planar juggling, one that does not involve the ending of the Blood War or the elimination of a common medium for all worlds. More info as it becomes available... |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31726 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2009 : 01:01:01
|
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Well, I've always considered the Giant Space Hamsters to be one of the sillier aspects of the setting... I mean, giant hamsters? I can't take something like that seriously -- which was part of why I chose this username!
I've always wanted to use the giant space hamsters in my SJ campaigns. But I've just never found the right type of introduction for them. Considering their "silly status," they're not a particularly easy critter to write for.
quote:
Adapting Spelljammer to have more planar aspects works readily for me, though. I've thought of it myself... And I've also considered an alternate look at spelljamming helms; with a minor tweak, it would work well for propelling ships thru the Astral, in particular -- and there's already a Dragon article that detailed Astral ships ("Voidjammers", Dragon 159, the same one that was chock full of Spelljammer goodness).
I've pretty much attempted all that already. I've greatly expanded on the amount of crystal spheres and the planar structure for the campaign setting. Even borrowing ideas from the multiverses of both Marvel and DC, as well as other fantasy/sci-fi worlds.
Tweaking the spelljammer helms often leads to unexpected but fascinating results. And I'll note that the spelljammer.org site offers some intriguing possibilities also.
It's been fun.
quote:
Dark Sun was an interesting setting to me, but a little too heavy on the whole environmental issue -- I'm quite sensitive to being preached to, and the whole desolate landscape and preserver/defiler thing was about as close as you can get to preaching without being overt about it.
I've always been intrigued by the world. I purchased all of the supplements as they were released, and read all the novels. But I've never had the opportunity to run campaigns in DARK SUN.
quote:
I liked Ravenloft, too, but I wasn't a huge fan. In that one, it was the inescapable aspect that bothered me. I realize that that's a huge part of horror, but in an RPG, I want more of a victory than having a character survive and retain his sanity.
RAVENLOFT, along with DRAGONLANCE, was my original TSR RPG love. Then, with the publication of the Realms, and eventually PLANESCAPE, I suddenly had other favourites too.
It's been a wild ride!
quote:
I didn't really know too much about the other settings, but I was always interested in Mystara. I'd love to see that one get some love.
MYSTARA's fun, but I found BIRTHRIGHT to be more appealing in the short-term. MYSTARA has plenty of setting depth, though, but it takes a long time to work through some of the stuff.
|
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Dark Sun 2010
