“Athas is an endless wasteland, yet it has a majestic and stark beauty. When first light casts its emerald hues over the Sea of Silt, or when sunset spreads its orange flame over the Mekillot Mountains, the world’s feral beauty stirs the untamed heart in each of us. It is a call to take up spear and dagger, to flee the cities, to go and see what lurks out in the barrenness.” —The Wanderer’s Journal
Dark Sun® it’s not your typical heroic fantasy setting inspired by Lord of the Rings, this is a unique setting where nothing is what you’re used to. So, to begin with your adventure, here are some things you need to know:
1. THEWORLD IS A DESERT Athas is a hot, arid planet covered with endless seas of dunes, lifeless salt flats, stony wastes, rocky bad lands, thorny scrublands, and worse. From the first moments of dawn, the crimson sun beats down from an olive tinged sky. Temperatures routinely exceed 100 degrees F. by midmorning and can reach 130 degrees or more by late afternoon. The wind is like the blast of a furnace, offering no relief from the oppressive heat. Dust and sand borne on the breeze coat everything with yellow-orange silt.
2. THEWORLD IS SAVAGE Life on Athas is brutal and short. Bloodthirsty raiders, greedy slavers, and hordes of inhuman savages over run the deserts and wastelands. The cities are little better; each chokes in the grip of an ageless tyrant. The institution of slavery is widespread on Athas, and many unfortunates spend their lives in chains, toiling for brutal taskmasters.
3. METAL IS SCARCE Most arms and armor are made of bone, stone, wood, and other such materials. Mail or plate armor exists only in the treasuries of the sorcerer-kings. Steel blades are almost priceless, weapons that many heroes never see during their lifetimes.
4. ARCANEMAGICDEFILESTHEWORLD The reckless use of arcane magic during ancient wars reduced Athas to a wasteland. To cast an arcane spell, one must gather power from the living world nearby. Plants wither to black ash, crippling pain wracks animals and people, and the soil is sterilized; nothing can grow in that spot again. It is possible to cast spells with care, preserving the world and avoiding any more damage to it, but defiling offers more power than preserving.
5. SORCERER-KINGSRULETHECITY-STATES Terrible defilers of immense power rule all but one of the city-states. These mighty spellcasters have held their thrones for centuries; no one alive remembers a time before the sorcerer-kings. Some claim to be gods, and some claim to serve gods. Some are brutal oppressors, where others are more subtle in their tyranny.
6. GODSARESILENT Long ago, when the planet was green, the brutal might of the primordials overcame the gods. Today, Athas is a world without deities. There are no clerics, no paladins, and no prophets or religious orders. In the absence of divine influence, other powers have come to prominence in the world. Psionic power is well known and widely practiced on Athas; even unintelligent desert monsters can have deadly psionic abilities. Shamans and druids call upon the primal powers of the world, which are often sculpted by the influence of elemental power.
7. FIERCEMONSTERSROAMTHEWORLD The desert planet has its own deadly ecology. Athas has no cattle, swine, or horses; instead, people tend flocks of erdlus, ride on kanks or crodlus, and draw wagons with inixes and mekillots. Wild creatures such as lions, bears, and wolves are nonexistent. In their place are terrors such as the id fiend, the baazrag, and the tembo.
8. FAMILIARRACES AREN’T WHATYOUEXPECT Typical fantasy stereotypes don’t apply to Athasian heroes. In many D&D® settings, elves are wise, benevolent forest dwellers who guard their homelands from intrusions of evil. On Athas, elves are a nomadic race of herders, raiders, peddlers, and thieves. Halflings aren’t amiable riverfolk; they’re xenophobic headhunters and cannibals who hunt and kill trespassers in their mountain forests. Goliaths or half-giants, as they are commonly known are brutal mercenaries who serve as elite guards and enforcers for the sorcerer kings and their templars in many city-states.
So who would like to play in that setting ?
I have been playing and DMing for a while now and that is probably my favorite setting but it is also one of the hardest to play in as character. It changes a lot from the usual DnD setting.
I'll be very proactive in creating the characters and doing a very wide screening so PM me with ideas but please first read up on the world.
I'm going to follow the Ash of Athas game where player start in a renegade (anti-system) cell dedicated to bringing life back to the world.
Athas is not a "Good vs Evil" setting so I won't take alignment into account, even for spells.
How do you wish to handle ability scores and starting equipment? What are the race restrictions if any exist beyond what is explicitly found in the reading materials?
Also any recommendations on where to start looking up the setting?
How do you wish to handle ability scores and starting equipment? What are the race restrictions if any exist beyond what is explicitly found in the reading materials?
Also any recommendations on where to start looking up the setting?
Probably start at level 3. Roll abilities 4d6 drop lowest.
For race there are no Tieflings or Asimars. No goblinoid of any kind and thus no half orcs. there are a few others that have restrictions but only because they are very few.
Wow I would love to play this again. Back in 1989 this was my 1st D&D experience. We played 2nd edition. I died alot but it was fun. I'm just starting to play online & 5th so i would need lots of babying, but I've never stopped playing & DMing tabletop games since.
yes I would love to play.
Please message me whenever you want to play.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I've been table top gaming for 20 year now i'm finally trying online RP.
I’ll give this a try. Skimmed the rule bit on my lunch break and I got a character in mind.
Would like to make a Goliath barb (never played a barb before) with a gladiator background
Ability scores: 1011991517
Bard in Athas ( Dark Sun ) are not magic oriented but more poison masters.
Half Giant, (Goliath if you will ) are a magical breed that serve masters, not really free of will like a bard would be. You will have to work on a good background.
The World of Athas
“Athas is an endless wasteland, yet it has a majestic and stark beauty. When first light casts its emerald hues over the Sea of Silt, or when sunset spreads its orange flame over the Mekillot Mountains, the world’s feral beauty stirs the untamed heart in each of us. It is a call to take up spear and dagger, to flee the cities, to go and see what lurks out in the barrenness.”
—The Wanderer’s Journal
Dark Sun® it’s not your typical heroic fantasy setting inspired by Lord of the Rings, this is a unique setting where nothing is what you’re used to. So, to begin with your adventure, here are some things you need to know:
1. THE WORLD IS A DESERT
Athas is a hot, arid planet covered with endless seas of dunes, lifeless salt flats, stony wastes, rocky bad lands, thorny scrublands, and worse. From the first moments of dawn, the crimson sun beats down from an olive tinged sky. Temperatures routinely exceed 100 degrees F. by midmorning and can reach 130 degrees or more by late afternoon. The wind is like the blast of a furnace, offering no relief from the oppressive heat. Dust and sand borne on the breeze coat everything with yellow-orange silt.
2. THE WORLD IS SAVAGE
Life on Athas is brutal and short. Bloodthirsty raiders, greedy slavers, and hordes of inhuman savages over run the deserts and wastelands. The cities are little better; each chokes in the grip of an ageless tyrant. The institution of slavery is widespread on Athas, and many unfortunates spend their lives in chains, toiling for brutal taskmasters.
3. METAL IS SCARCE
Most arms and armor are made of bone, stone, wood, and other such materials. Mail or plate armor exists only in the treasuries of the sorcerer-kings. Steel blades are almost priceless, weapons that many heroes never see during their lifetimes.
4. ARCANE MAGIC DEFILES THE WORLD
The reckless use of arcane magic during ancient wars reduced Athas to a wasteland. To cast an arcane spell, one must gather power from the living world nearby. Plants wither to black ash, crippling pain wracks animals and people, and the soil is sterilized; nothing can grow in that spot again. It is possible to cast spells with care, preserving the world and avoiding any more damage to it, but defiling offers more power than preserving.
5. SORCERER-KINGS RULE THE CITY-STATES
Terrible defilers of immense power rule all but one of the city-states. These mighty spellcasters have held their thrones for centuries; no one alive remembers a time before the sorcerer-kings. Some claim to be gods, and some claim to serve gods. Some are brutal oppressors, where others are more subtle in their tyranny.
6. GODS ARE SILENT
Long ago, when the planet was green, the brutal might of the primordials overcame the gods. Today, Athas is a world without deities. There are no clerics, no paladins, and no prophets or religious orders.
In the absence of divine influence, other powers have come to prominence in the world. Psionic power is well known and widely practiced on Athas; even unintelligent desert monsters can have deadly psionic abilities. Shamans and druids call upon the primal powers of the world, which are often sculpted by the influence of elemental power.
7. FIERCE MONSTERS ROAM THE WORLD
The desert planet has its own deadly ecology. Athas has no cattle, swine, or horses; instead, people tend flocks of erdlus, ride on kanks or crodlus, and draw wagons with inixes and mekillots. Wild creatures such as lions, bears, and wolves are nonexistent. In their place are terrors such as the id fiend, the baazrag, and the tembo.
8. FAMILIAR RACES AREN’T WHAT YOU EXPECT
Typical fantasy stereotypes don’t apply to Athasian heroes. In many D&D® settings, elves are wise, benevolent forest dwellers who guard their homelands from intrusions of evil. On Athas, elves are a nomadic race of herders, raiders, peddlers, and thieves. Halflings aren’t amiable riverfolk; they’re xenophobic headhunters and cannibals who hunt and kill trespassers in their mountain forests. Goliaths or half-giants, as they are commonly known are brutal mercenaries who serve as elite guards and enforcers for the sorcerer kings and their templars in many city-states.
So who would like to play in that setting ?
I have been playing and DMing for a while now and that is probably my favorite setting but it is also one of the hardest to play in as character. It changes a lot from the usual DnD setting.
I'll be very proactive in creating the characters and doing a very wide screening so PM me with ideas but please first read up on the world.
I'm going to follow the Ash of Athas game where player start in a renegade (anti-system) cell dedicated to bringing life back to the world.
Athas is not a "Good vs Evil" setting so I won't take alignment into account, even for spells.
There is no rush.
Are there genasi in this world?
How do you wish to handle ability scores and starting equipment? What are the race restrictions if any exist beyond what is explicitly found in the reading materials?
Also any recommendations on where to start looking up the setting?
Few but yes there are. With a good background I would take it.
Here are a few links.
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/31y843/dark_sun_5th_edition_players_handbook_v20/
And this one for the lore
http://athas.org/
Probably start at level 3. Roll abilities 4d6 drop lowest.
For race there are no Tieflings or Asimars. No goblinoid of any kind and thus no half orcs. there are a few others that have restrictions but only because they are very few.
Ability scores: 11 11 12 7 13 7
Will start working on something as I read up on the material, thinking main line fighter of some kind.
Wow....this site hates me apparently >.<
Wow I would love to play this again. Back in 1989 this was my 1st D&D experience. We played 2nd edition. I died alot but it was fun. I'm just starting to play online & 5th so i would need lots of babying, but I've never stopped playing & DMing tabletop games since.
yes I would love to play.
Please message me whenever you want to play.
I've been table top gaming for 20 year now i'm finally trying online RP.
Ability scores: 12 14 18 14 13 15
Great Old One Warlock of the Tome
"The most important step a person can take is always the next one." - Dalinar Kholin; Oathbringer
I know aarakocra are in this setting, but are you allowing them for PCs? I'd love to play an aarakocra rogue in this setting.
Ability scores: 16 15 17 13 10 15
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
Are Tabaxi an option? I've been itching to play my ranger, and I have a fondness for 'desert-scapes.' If so, I'd love to join.
Occassional Dungeon Master.
I'd definitely be interested! I've seen Athas and Dark Sun around for a while, but I've never engaged with it.
No Tabaxi.
Lore on the two websites are a must read.
Araakocra are OK.
I would love to play! I've heard that it's somewhat of a resource management heavy, which is rare and exactly the style I love.
Will read through the linked materials, but count me in already :)
I’ll give this a try. Skimmed the rule bit on my lunch break and I got a character in mind.
Would like to make a Goliath barb (never played a barb before) with a gladiator background
Ability scores: 12 8 13 13 9 15
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
What edition were you thinking of running this in?
Bard in Athas ( Dark Sun ) are not magic oriented but more poison masters.
Half Giant, (Goliath if you will ) are a magical breed that serve masters, not really free of will like a bard would be. You will have to work on a good background.
PM me and we can work on that.
I ll make it a 5th Homebrew. Working on several homebrew races and backgrounds. Also Classes.
I ll do the race and classes that are selected.
Interested! Read some Dark Sun fiction in the past but never got to play.
Ability scores: 13 11 8 15 14 9
Stout Halfling Dex Fighter. - Battlemaster.
The potential to RP a tiny xenophobic lunatic sounds very appealing to me.