Like many before us, my friends and I feel that the 4e rules sucked and have made the switch to Pathfinder. I had planned to just do a straightforward dungeon crawl to let them get the hang of the 3.5 rules again, collect some loot, level up a few times, and then see where we were at that point. But the players are dead set on doing something set in Dark Sun.
Now, I have the conversions from athas.org but seeing as I am new to Pathfinder, has anyone found anything that works particularly good/bad with these?
Secondly, I'm completely new to Dark Sun. The only thing I really know about it is that the world is a desert ruled by sorcerer kings, and the whole arcane defiling thing. Any recommendations on a good starting point or maybe even a campaign focus?
Third, the PC's don't want to begin as a party. They want to each have their own identity's and somehow become intertwined as the story progresses. I've done a few campaigns where the PCs have been living in the same city and meet before any adventure takes place, but it feels forced and I really don't like to do it. Any tips on this?
Thanks in advance, I know this is a lot at once.
Each could have a solo task mission given individually by some figure in your future game. The tasks could be from competing factions, the same side, different sides, or same person. They then could be instructed go to a meet somewhere to exchange info,group up to pursue a common goal, or eliminate the others, only to be forced into a common goal starting off your game. This might involve a couple one off sessions, so perhaps it is more work then you want. Or you could hand wave the task as part of the character back ground and start at the meet up.
My 2cp.
Edit: Don't know much more about Dark Sun then you do. However, I would suggest looking at the 3.5 Sandstorm book.
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Start as a caravan group that gets ambushed by elves or canabalistic halflings out in the desert. There's nothing like a good ambush and race for survival to meld disparate people into a team.
That plants a seed for future games. They have to get the caravan back to a safe city or outpost, so there's a few sessions.
Now they need to find out what riled the natives up in the first place? Was it something in the caravan? A group from the city despoiling sacred sites? Some outside influence trying to destabilise the area for hostile intentions? Resources running out mysteriously causing the tribes to expand or move their territories?
Any one of those gives you numerous sessions to run, and gives you leeway to think up further plots.
Intersperse the main plot with side adventures in the city itself, preferably linked to PC backgrounds. As such, encourage your players to create a background that has an unresolved plot line that you can use for inspiration.
Hope that's given you some inspiration at least.
Cheers
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Also, you could just run the Legacy of Fire AP that Paizo published. It's a desert campaign with planar travel involved. It would be very easy to reflavour to Athas, mostly by just adjusting the names of things and descriptions of equipment (there's no metal in Athas, so most stuff is made from hide, bone or stone).
This also gives you an entire campaign from level 1 through to about level 17. The majority of the work is done for you, but you'll need to do some reflavouring of the middle adventure since the main trade town is on the coast line of a desert, and Athas has no oceans left. Easy enough to change around really.
Also, if you can track it down, there is a Dungeon mag and a Dragon mag that has a whole section on Athas for 3.5. This includes a bestiary and short guide to the world. When i get home today I'll track my copy down and let you know which issues they were. You may be able to get them on back order or find someone who can lend them to you. I'd be happy to share the resource but it would involve all sorts of copy right issues which im not willing to break sorry.
Best of luck mate.
Cheers
Thanks a lot for the input! I'll try to get my hands on that Sandstorm book and should be able to find those old Dungeon and Dragon mags if you do find the issues they were in. Much appreciated
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Thanks a lot for the input! I'll try to get my hands on that Sandstorm book and should be able to find those old Dungeon and Dragon mags if you do find the issues they were in. Much appreciated
Sorry this took so long, but i finally found the Dungeon mag i was after.
It's issue no. 110. It has an introductory adventure for Athas (level 4) and a large section for the DM on running adventures in Athas. I'm sure there was a supporting Dragon mag as well but I can't seem to find it Im sorry.
Drgaon issue 351 has a section on Athas for players, though its not alrge and may actually be not that useful since it has feats built for 3.5 power rather than pathfinder.
If you can track those down you should have more than enough to get you sarted though. Also, the legacy of fire campaign is well worht checking out for ideas if nothing else.
Cheers