I haven't checked it out, mainly because while I really like a lot of what they did with 4th Edition I ultimately found that I hated running it, and unlike 3.5 I find the prospect of reshaping 4E into something I'd enjoy running to be tedious to the point of nigh-impossibility given that it would mean going over every single class ability individually and reworking the overabundance of tactical placement/movement out of them.
Goodbye may seem forever
Farewell is like the end
But in my heart's the memory
And there you'll always be
-- The Fox and the Hound
I just have to link to the Penny Arcade Podcasts - their fourth session was in the Dark Sun setting and it was rather funny.
Quote:
Hehe didn't even know they did this and yes was very amused by it...damn now I'm going to have to listen to them all.
|
Originally Posted by _Echoo_
I just have to link to the Penny Arcade Podcasts - their fourth session was in the Dark Sun setting and it was rather funny.
|
A friend of mine loves dark Sun, but thinks they made too many changes to shoehorn Dark Sun into 4E instead of adapting 4E into Dark Sun.
Quote:
Oh you simply must listen to them all, if only to marvel at the saga of the wizard that is Jim Darkmagic! |
Originally Posted by Dr_Mechano
Hehe didn't even know they did this and yes was very amused by it...damn now I'm going to have to listen to them all.
|
Quote:
Of the New Hampshire Darkmagics!
|
Originally Posted by _Echoo_
Oh you simply must listen to them all, if only to marvel at the saga of the wizard that is Jim Darkmagic!
|
I miss Dark Sun, the way it was at release. It was the most unique and ambitious thing TSR had done, incredibly different and enthralling. Psionics integrated into the setting from the beginning, a new take on magic, even the most basic weapons and armor felt fresh and new. How many other times could you ever play AD&D and actually get excited because you found a rusty piece of metal?
Talk to me about psionics in 4E.
Will Wheaton!
I may not have liked Wesely but I do enjoy the man himself, he seems to revel in being geeky and enjoys it to the max.
I do love how he tries to create a proper serious DnD character...and the rest are...as mentioned above, not taking it too seriously.
So, I dunno if this was discussed when the book was released, but Dark Sun is now a campaign setting for 4th edition D&D.
Overall, I like the update. They've been very dedicated to sticking to established canon (the parts the fans like, anyway). The timeline has been reversed to just after the fall of Kalak, which makes for an excellent campaign starting point.
Muls and Thri-Kreen get their 4E updates, and they work pretty well. Muls make for excellent fighters and barbarians, and Thri-Kreen are first rate rangers, monks and druids. Half-Giants are simply renamed Goliaths from the PHB2, but that's cool. It's an excellent fit.
No new classes, but existing classes get some new stuff to help them fit into Athas. Fighters can take a new class feature to be gladiators, Warlocks can take a "sorcerer-king pact" to be templars, and shamans can take elemental spirits for their companions to be elemental priests. There's no divine power source in Dark Sun, so the cleric, paladin, avenger, invoker and runepriest classes are absent.
Defiling magic is handled simply. If you have at least one arcane daily attack power, you get the "Arcane Defiling" at-will power, which as a free action lets you cause some necrotic damage to those around you to reroll an attack or damage roll for an arcane daily attack power.
"Wild talents" are also handled simply. A character of in class can, with DM permission, select one at-will psionic power from a page full of selections.
Dark Sun also introduces the mechanic of Character Themes, which provide a selection of powers to help your PC better fit into the flavor of the setting. Each theme grants a power for free, and then lists several more than can be taken in place of standard class powers as you progress in level. Examples include Dune Trader, Gladiator, Noble Adept, Templar and Veiled Alliance. I like this idea, and wish there were themes for Eberron.
Then of course there's the requisite new feats, epic destines (Dragon King!), and equipment. The non-metal issue is simple. All weapons and armor have the same stats as their metal counterparts, but with an optional rule for breakage. All the old favorites are back, like carrikals and tortoise blades. Mounts like crodlus, kanks and more are there, too.
Then we get a long exploration of Athas, including several of the city-states (tyr gets the most coverage), and other inportant sites like the Forest Ridge and the Sea of Silt.
Finally there's a section on running Dark Sun campaigns, including a very brief 1st-level adventure.
I don't have the Creature Catalog yet, but that's my next purchase. I'm very pleased with the Campaign Setting book. The nostalgia is great, as DS has always been an awesome setting.