
Ragadolf |

Pretty much all character options are going to be out of the ordinary on Athas - 7ft tall elves, mantis men, cannibal halflings, monomaniacal dwarves, half-dwarf bald guys, and mutant humans.
Well, when you put it THAT way!
I'll probably come up with something Psycic-y. Since that's prevalent on Athas and I've never gotten to play one!
(Begins rubbing hands together and smiling maniacally in gleeful anticipation.)

mwbeeler |

I'll probably come up with something Psycic-y. Since that's prevalent on Athas and I've never gotten to play one!
(Begins rubbing hands together and smiling maniacally in gleeful anticipation.)
Good deal! Pretty much anyone of note on Athas has psionic potential (known as "The Will" - generally anyone noteworthy has Hidden Talent; everyone else has at least Wild Talent). Anyone who develops this potential (into a psionic class) channels "The Way."
OK, so. I can't choose, so you (mwbeeler) must choose for me. Select from: Bard, Rogue, Sorcerer, Barbarian.
Cmon, it's Dark Sun. Roll a D4!

Ragadolf |

Wizards? Gotta have a wizard otherwise who would get us into trouble with authorities? ;D
Wizard? Trouble?
Did somebody call me?!?
EDIT-Ooo!!! Fabes, (or anybody) Help me out here!
We have 5 levels right? How about a Wiz/Psi? There has to be some powers that are complementary to the two. Unfortunately all my Dragons and Hardbacks are in Deep Storage (I'm currently in a 2 bedroom apartment with a family of 4!) I have access to all the online stuff, and a few PDF's of some. Any suggestions for spells/Psipowers/Feats that will go with a psi/Wiz combo? SPecifically thinking 4-Psi/1-Wiz and the 'Practiced Caster' Feat popped into my head.
:P

FabesMinis |

Yeah, a flamboyant wizard is a dead wizard. Well we all start out with +1 LA (or more) races (even humans!) so we have at most 4 class levels. I'm not a 'build' expert, so I can't really help in that department - I tend to go for whats fun at the time. :D

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mwbeeler wrote:I'm at work, so I don't have a d4 on me.The Eldritch Mr. Shiny wrote:OK, so. I can't choose, so you (mwbeeler) must choose for me. Select from: Bard, Rogue, Sorcerer, Barbarian.Cmon, it's Dark Sun. Roll a D4!

mwbeeler |

I assure you, I’m attempting to be deliberately ambiguous about the beginning of the adventure. :)
I will however drop some background info on a few of the cities, current goings on, and general class feeling tonight after I get to work, so you can better build a background or two. It’s also acceptable for you to know each other, but preferably not more than a pair or two.

Ragadolf |

So, Mr. Beeler,
Am I reading these posts right?
We have 5 "levels', But our race is basically a +1 lvl, so we can build a character up to lvl 4 to start?
Is there a site that has all the Dragon/Dungeon Mags Dark Sun stuff posted? (Mine are in storage) Or do we just tell you what we're interested in, and you'll help fill in the blanks?
Re-reading the description of Athasian Elves, my first instinct is an Elf Psion. (Because I'm very little good at playing low-key mages!) :P
AND I enjoy the thought of a 7' tall, hyperactive, morally neutral elf that moves things with his mind while distracting you with his actions!

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Hey, Dungeon Master; do you have a MM III? I've decided I'd like to be a kenku rogue, crapped out of that tower; remember reading about it 10 years ago, kinda flaky on the deetz but then again so would my kenku rogue be. They're +0 level adjustment, but looking at all the stuff they get, +1 level adjustment might just be more in line with reality.

mwbeeler |

So, Mr. Beeler,
Mike is fine. ;)
We have 5 "levels', But our race is basically a +1 lvl, so we can build a character up to lvl 4 to start?
That's correct, anything totaling up to 5 with level adjustments (all of the DS races have at least +1, some have more).
Or do we just tell you what we're interested in, and you'll help fill in the blanks?
If you don't have the materials handy, I can get us up and running.
Re-reading the description of Athasian Elves, my first instinct is an Elf Psion.
The "Brown Elf" (as wandering elf wilders are known) is a favorite of mine.

mwbeeler |

Mr. Dungeon Master? ... Please? ...
Play what makes you happy, silly.
Hey, Dungeon Master; do you have a MM III?
I do indeed.
just wanna be a grubby birdguy.
What about Aarakocra or Pterran?
I've finished the background.
I like it (don't forget to choose what power you'd like the ability to manifest, btw). Oh, and I have bad news about the loin cloth...(cough)...

mwbeeler |

Just how many feats do we get at first level anyway?!?
Same as always, but the DS characters are significantly powered up compared to the SRD (plus they've got another feat tacked on for levels).
It seems crazy right up under the kitty you were petting splits in half and becomes a giant mouth, with a psionic compulsion to “just lean in a little,” assuming it doesn’t fire a flaming tongue ray that liquefies your brain instead. Plants and animals have had to adapt a little to survive in a harsh world…

MalaKi |

MalaKi is a human male who stands a healthy 6' 2" and weighs in at a solid 232 lbs.
Background
MalaKi was born a slave to a very minor noble. As he aged he began to steal small items and food to help himself and his family survive. With time he became quite good at it (Rogue). Unbeknownst to MalaKi, his owner was watching his skill progress. This minor noble, one Tavaskar the Sly, sensed an opportunity to make a little coin and get rid of a potential problem in one fell swoop. Tavaskar struck a deal with a Slave Catcher and before MalaKi knew what happened he was property of a dwarf named Rockwrath. Rockwrath taught MalaKi to track and many other skills (Ranger; leaning toward elves as favored enemy). MalaKi learned to love his job. He became quite good at it. About a year ago a new member joined Rockwrath's band. He was a little man who called himself Sidewinder. He fought with his bare hands and had uncanny abilities. MalaKi showed a great deal of interest in this fighting style and Sidewinder took him on as a pupil (Monk; would like to use a variant monk from "Dragon" magazine called a Sidewinder Monk...If you would rather me play it per PHB that is cool). Being a slave and a slave catcher is not that bad a life and things were going well for MalaKi; that is until just recently. It seems his life has taken somewhat odd turn...

FabesMinis |

Rags - all 1st level characters get 1 feat, as per usual. Humans get a bonus feat at 1st level. And you get a feat at 3rd level (although I may have mistakenly put 4th on Issiki's sheet)
Psychic warriors get a bonus feat at 1st and 2nd level, which is why Issiki seems to have quite a lot.

mwbeeler |

Will fill in the blank spots when I get home from work.
Interestingly, Wikipedia has a decent overview. Mind you, your characters won’t know all this goodness, but it will help you get a little of the flavor if you aren’t 100% familiar with the setting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Sun
Places the PC’s might call home:
Balic -
Draj -
Nibenay -
Raam – Following the death of it’s sorcerer queen, rival factions of elves, merchant houses, and templars tore Raam apart until the arival of Dregoth, an undead dragon of unrivaled power who quickly subjugated the city and transformed the upper echelon into undead. Rumors abound to the effect Raam is gearing up for war.
Tyr -
Urik –Life in the walled city is highly regimented, as all strive to obey the Code of Hamanu. The templars of the city are of an extremely lawful bent, but rarely are they fair. As of late the ruler of Urik has become increasingly distant and introspective, and is seen often in the presence of a former Templar turned Druid. Urik boasts several arenas, a state run psionic academy, and a massive army of both commissioned and conscripted soldiers.
Kurn
Ogo (Halflings) -
Kled (dwarves) -
North/South Ledopolis – (dwarves) -
Forts/Outposts/Oasis -
Elf Tribes – To call the elf tribes nomadic is an underestimation. Always on the move, elves eschew riding animals of any kind. Those who cannot keep up with the tribe are obviously unworthy of all the tribe offers.

mwbeeler |

James Keegan |

Boy did I ever find something cool for you guys (gals?).
Check this shizzle out:
Sweet, thanks. I made my character by hand, but I did it anyways and found that I (apparently)did my skills and things wrong. Handy. I guess I'll make my alias now, then. Would you want me to email you the sheet this site made or just make the character here?

mwbeeler |

Would you want me to email you the sheet this site made or just make the character here?
Just dropping it into an alias would be perfect. I keep trying to write up more city info but Drew is in an awesome mood today, and learned to say, "Daddy" last night, so we're dancing around the living room. ;)

mwbeeler |

Draj - Ruled by the newest Sorcerer-King, Atzetuk, residents of Draj worship their emperor as a God, a bloody God with an insatiable demand for human sacrifice. Several underground organizations thrive in Draj, including druids, psionisists from the ransacked House of the Mind, and the illicit drug trading arm of House Tsalaxa.
Ogo – A strange dichotomy exists among the Halflings of Ogo. On one hand, they are the enlightened keepers of Blue Age knowledge and Druidic lore which exists nowhere else in the world, and on the other, they are bloodthirsty devolved savages which exist only to hunt and eat non-Halfling, intelligent prey. Few who enter the deadly Forest Ridge depart as anything more than the bowel movement of Halfling hunters.
Nibenay - Named for its eponymous but reclusive Sorcerer King ruler, the templars of Nibenay are exclusively female. A former stronghold of the psionic organization known as “The Order,” a great many Elan reside within or near the city. The cities of Gulg and Nibenay are frequently at odds over nearby resources.
Kled – This dwarven stronghold suffered greatly under the merciless attacks of Boris of Ebe, both before and after he became a true dragon. Despite these trials, Kled has stubbornly managed to keep the great secrets of the Kemalok Kings in trust for untold generations. Recently, a small faction of dwarves from this city has made it their focus to restore the temple of an unidentified patron of duty beneath Tyr.

Ragadolf |

Cool, thanks for the link! It will probably help me a great deal.
Question, in teh online SRD I can't find where it lists what powers are forbidden to you when you choose your speciality. Can anyone link me to where it is listed? (I hate to ask anyone to type it up!)
And magic in Athas. Cast as normal and no defilers? When you gain a 'defilier point' by adding a meta magic feat to your casting, so you have to know the feat you add? Or is that why you gain the point? Because your drawing on more magic than you know? (In case I decide to go the Psi/Wiz combo route)

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I have a few "stupid" questions.
Does a human get bonus power points from his charisma if all he has is his Inborn Power?
If so, are the PP calculated using his character levels or effective character levels?
From Dragon 319
At 1st level, humans gain 3 pp and a 1st level power.
At 5th level, humans gain 3 additional points and a 2nd level power.
At 10th level, humans gain 5 additional points and a 3rd level power.
At 15th level, humans gain 7 additional points and a 4th level power.
Use character levels.
These power points and powers are in addition to those gained from the psion and psychic warrior classes.

James Keegan |

Okay, fixed his skills (they gave him WAY too many with the online character generator) but I think I may have still done him wrong. For your character level, do you add your level adjustment AND your monstrous humanoid HD and then add the remaining class levels? Dragon magazine gives him a +2 level adjustment, so I thought I would have three levels of ranger but the 'monsters and experience' section seems to say that I would have to be a first level ranger. I'm either a fifth level character or a seventh level as it stands and will adjust if it's incorrect.