Player's Handbook (Mandatory)

[Joseph Barros]

It's in word format, so you may need to download it first. This will be something that you will refer to during the game as I will be running this game very much in the style of "theater of the mind." Other than the chat box, dice rolls, macros, and the occasional screen image, there won't be a whole lot of action going on in the roll 20 battle map.

For now, the first couple pages are the only things you may find interesting to read. Forgive the format as I converted it from a pdf.

drive.google.com/file/d/0B_sw3lFcq0i4cm9MamJ0REtzQTg/view?usp=sharing

[Joseph Barros]

CLASSES

Psionics options for Character Creation

These are not tested, and could be totally borked in which case I reserve the right to pull them at any time. That said, they seem reasonable enough, so for those interested in a psionic based class you can use these.

For those that aren't interested, as an Athasian you still have some psionic ability albeit quite low level. you may choose one cantrip from the psionic cantrip list and use it a number of times per day equal to your proficiency bonus to reflect the fact that almost everybody has some level of psionic ability.


All classes in the PHB are allowed except Paladins.

[Joseph Barros]

Starting level will be level 3. Be sure to include in your character's story why they are alive and not currently a slave, starving, and/or dead.

[Joseph Barros]

Races section is complete. If anybody really wanted to play a Thri-Kreen, I apologize in advance for their omission.

[Joseph Barros]

WEAPON BREAKAGE RULES:

Because most weapons available to you are made of either bone, wood, or obsidian there is always the possibility of weapon breakage. Anytime someone rolls max damage (including crits) the DM will roll an unmodified d20. On a roll of 1 your weapon breaks.

Unless your character is extremely sheltered living in a palace in the clouds cave, they would all be aware of this possibility and prepare accordingly.

[Joseph Barros]

CURRENT AGE

I'm running our campaign beginning in the 190th King's Age. The year of Desert's Slumber has just ended. King Kalak still lives and rules the city-state of Tyr. Tyr is where the campaign will begin.

[Joseph Barros]

MONEY

Virtually all Athasian city states issue coins minted in tribute to their sorcerer-kings. Also, some in dependent dwarven communities and some wealthy merchant families mint their own coins when the precious metals are available to them. Though the currencies vary (a gold coin minted in Tyr might be a bit heavier than the square gold coins that bear the Ryharian family crest), they all fall under the standard exchange rates given in the Player’s Handbook.

On Athas, 100 cp (ceramic Monetary Systems pieces) = 10 sp = 2 ep = 1 gp = 1/5 pp.

Ceramic Pieces and Bits: The most commonly used coin throughout Athas is the ceramic piece(cp). Ceramic coins can be manufactured from the most common clay of Athas, then glazed in specific colors and kilned to discourage forgery. The molded shape of ceramic pieces allows them to be broken into 10 separate pie-shaped pieces. Each of these “bits” is worth 1/10 of a ceramic piece.

The equipment lists in the Player’s Handbook show not only how much each item costs, but what each item is worth in typical D&D game coinage. On Athas, the relative rarity of metal increases the value of metal items. Coins themselves are worth more, so fewer Athasian coins are needed to purchase things that aren'’t made of metal. However, metal items, because of the scarcity of metal coinage, cost relatively the same number of coins as in other worlds. When Dark Sun characters make purchases from the equipment lists in the Player’s Handbook, therefore, the following rules apply: All nonmetal items cost one percent of the price
listed. All metal items cost the price listed.

If an item is typically a mixture of metal and nonmetal components and the metal components could be replaced easily, the nonmetal price applies. For example, Athasian chariot makers have found ways to avoid using metal parts to make an equally sturdy chariot, so the nonmetal price of 5 gp applies.

Starting money is whatever the player's handbook says except instead of gold pieces you have ceramic pieces. For example, if your class starts with 100gp, instead you will start with 100cp.

[Joseph Barros]

EQUIPMENT

Alternate Materials: Many types of armor can be constructed without metal on Athas, using more Readily available materials.

Shields: Shields are mostly constructed with layers of leather stretched over a wooden or bone frame and hardened. Effective shields can also be constructed of chitinous materials scavenged from dead insectoids. Though made of alternate materials, shields on Athas come in the typical varieties: bucklers and small, medium, or body shields.

Leather Armor: Perhaps the most common type of armor used on Athas, leather armor is shaped to the individual wearing it, and then hardened.

Padded Armor: As described in the Player’s Handbook, this armor is made from heavy cloth and batting. Many Athasian warriors prefer padded armor woven from giants’ hair.

Hide Armor: Hide armor on Athas is usually constructed from mekillot or braxat hide.

Studded Leather, Ring Mail, Brigandine, and Scale Mail Armor: These varieties of armor are constructed using pieces of bone or chitin.

Chain, Splint, Banded, Bronze Plate, or Plate Mail: Field Plate and Full Plate Armor: These types of armor must be made with metal components, making them both expensive and potentially
deadly in the day’s heat.

[Joseph Barros]

PRIEST CLASSES

No mechanical changes, but significant flavor changes due to the fact that the gods abandoned Athas and its people many ages ago.

There are three types of priests on Athas—: Clerics, templars, and druids.

The cleric is a free-willed priest, tending the needs of the local people with his particular talents. On
Athas, clerics draw their magical energy directly from one of the four elemental planes: earth, air, fire, or water; not from any manner of deity. A cleric may be either a freeman or a slave.

The templar is a regimented priest devoted to a single sorcerer-king. Such disciples work within the hierarchy of that particular sorcerer-king’s clergy, advancing in power and position. A templar draws his magical energy through his sorcerer-king. A templar can be either a freeman or a noble. (This class is not available to players)

The druid is a priest tied to a particular feature or aspect of Athas. Unique geographic features are guarded by spirits when druids serve. For example, a pooled oasis has its own spirit and a single druid will reside there to protect it and preside over its use by humans, demihumans, and animals. Druids can be from any social class.

[Joseph Barros]

MAGIC

A wizard is able to capture and master magical energies. However, on Athas, magic and the ecosystem are irrevocably bound-no one, not even a wizard, can affect one without affecting the other.

All wizards must decide at the beginning of their careers whether they are trying to work with nature or without regard for it. In Dark Sun, this means a wizard must be either a defiler or a preserver.

The defiler is a wizard who activates tremendous magical energy without regard to its effect on the environment. With the casting of each spell, a defiler destroys a portion of the world’s ecosystem, rendering
it dead and sterile. The means by which a defiler learns and uses magic is comparatively easy to master, so he advances quickly. A defiler can be either a noble, freeman, or slave.

The preserver attempts to use magic in concert with the environment. Learning how to wield such magic on Athas is especially difficult, so the preserver'’s advancement is slow. A preserver can be either a freeman or slave.

Furthermore, there are some magics that have vanished from Athas. The following spells do not exist to your knowledge. A scroll or wand of any of these spells would quite literally be priceless; sorcerer-kings would wage war over the acquisition of such a powerful artifact.

BANNED SPELLS:

Plant Growth
Create Water
Create Food
Heroes Feast
Leomund's Tiny Hut
Goodberry
Sleet Storm
Tsunami
Storm of Vengeance
Ray of Frost
Ice Storm
Creation
Wall of Ice
There may be other spells I overlooked, but I think you see the theme here: nothing that can generate food or water. No loopholes here. Check with me beforehand if you are not sure if a spell is ok, because if it's not ok, it will not be allowed in game.