Dark Sun Campaign Guide – D&D Roleplaying Game Supplement
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The next 4e campaign setting was officially announced at Gen Con Indy. The Dark Sun Campaign Guide is due out in 2010. I think this is an awesome choice as it deviates away from the more traditional fantasy settings for Dungeons & Dragons, like Forgotten Realms. Considering the host of other campaign settings, such as Al-Qadim, Birthright, Dragonlance, Eberron, Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, Mystara, Planescape, Spelljammer, and many others, I think that Dark Sun was a unique and fan-pleasing choice.
What Is The Dark Sun Campaign Guide?
The Dark Sun campaign setting strays from the more traditional fantasy settings like Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, and Dragonlance. The world is based in the harsh desert world of Athas. The land has been stripped of its fertility by uncontrolled use of magic. The world is now dominated by psionic powers rather than magic, so in that sense it is very different from other D&D settings. The setting could be described as a post-apocalyptic fantasy setting, or a ‘Dying Earth’ setting. It is a harsh and exotic world where survival against slavery, poverty, the elements, ecological disaster, and the unique politics of the world play a huge role.
It will be interesting to see which races and classes make the final cut. Dark Sun has the traditional fantasy races, such as Human, Elf, Dwarf, Half-Elf, and Halfling. But, it also has other races that are known to other fantasy settings or completely unique to Dark Sun, such as the Half-Giant, Mul (Dwarven-Human half-breed), Thri-Kreen (Mantis men), and others.
As for classes, there were some variations between the different D&D editions but for the most part Paladins, Monks, and Sorcerers had no real equivalent in the world of Athas. Psionic abilities were much more commonplace and magic had a more unusual nature. Priests didn’t worship deities in the traditional fantasy sense. They derived their powers from certain sources depending on the type of character they were. As for spellcasters, there were generally two different types, Defilers and Preservers. Just from the names of the different types, I’m sure you could make general assumptions about both.
Dark Sun and Psionics
The Dark Sun Campaign Guide is due out in 2010 a few months after the Player’s Handbook 3 comes out. This is great timing since the PH3 introduces the psionic power source which is so prevalent in the Dark Sun setting. As stated earlier, psionics plays a much larger role in this setting than arcane magic. In general, psionics are common enough where they are accepted as a normal part of life in Athas, as compared to arcane magic.
Dark Sun Novels
Prism Pentad
1. The Verdant Passage (1991) by Troy Denning.
2. The Crimson Legion (1992) by Troy Denning.
3. The Amber Enchantress (1992) by Troy Denning.
4. The Obsidian Oracle (1993) by Troy Denning.
5. The Cerulean Storm (1993) by Troy Denning.Tribe of One
1. The Outcast (1993) by Simon Hawke.
2. The Seeker (1994) by Simon Hawke.
3. The Nomad (1994) by Simon Hawke.Chronicles of Athas
1. The Brazen Gambit (1994) by Lynn Abbey.
2. The Darkness Before the Dawn (1995) by Ryan Hughes.
3. The Broken Blade (1995) by Simon Hawke.
4. Cinnabar Shadows (1995) by Lynn Abbey.
5. The Rise & Fall of a Dragon King (1996) by Lynn Abbey.Dark Sun Resources
Next Campaign Setting Announcement from Wizards of the Coast
Official Dark Sun Discussion Forum
Dark Sun Atlas: Interactive Atlas for the World of Athas
Official D&D 3.5e releases of Dark Sun
Thoughts on the Choice of the Dark Sun Campaign Setting
Overall, I’m very happy that Wizards of the Coast has chosen Dark Sun as their next published campaign setting. I think a lot of other gamers are satisfied as well. I think it is one of the more fan-pleasing decisions the company has made in quite a while. On top of that, I believe the choice makes a lot of sense. The Dark Sun setting has a pretty strong following behind it. It is unique enough that it isn’t a carbon copy of other settings that they have available. And it really will give fans another dramatically different way to play Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition. I can honestly say I’m looking forward to the Dark Sun Campaign Guide being released and I think many others are as well.
Leave a Comment
August 18, 2009 at 7:28 am
I just read that a new printing of the Prism Pentad is going to be re-released later this year.
August 18, 2009 at 8:58 am
I love how WAR has managed to capture some of the essence of the classic Brom feel of the setting while remaining firmly within his own style in that cover pic.
I don’t even own the 4e core books, but I want to own this.
August 19, 2009 at 7:24 am
Dark Sun was the only D&D setting that really captured my imagination back in the 2nd Edition Days. I’m very excited to see this return. I like Eberron but this is the setting I call home.
DS does have the traditional fantasy races but it twisted them away from the more obvious Lord of the Rings influences that more generic settings, such as Forgotten Realms, take. Elves were similar to African bushmen and halflings were cannibals. CANNIBAL HALFLINGS! Rar!
Prevalent psionics were one unique aspect of the world but others were the lack of metal (most weapons and armor were forged from bone or giant bug carapaces) and a heavy emphasis on desert survival. I seem to remember a chapter listing what a character could drink that would substitute for water (juice) and what would not (blood).
It was very grim, dirty and creepy but it was also very beautiful in a non-traditional way. Brom really gave this setting its “look” and I’m pleased to see that carried on.
May 16, 2010 at 7:32 pm
I love Dark Sun. I was especially happy to have the different takes on the traditional races. There was real meat for an unusual approach for those who had been playing for some time (I started in 76) and it gave me a whole new boost into the FRPG experience. I have been hoping to see a Dark Sun resurgence. I welcome it with open arms. Hurray for halflings and half giants!