Dark Sun Player's Guide 5th Edition D&D - GM Binder

Dark Sun Camp
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 3
CHARACTER CREATION 5
RACES
Dwarf .................................................................................................. 6
Elf .........................................................................................................8
Half-elf .............................................................................................. 10
Half-giant ......................................................................................... 12
Halfling .............................................................................................14
Human ..............................................................................................16
Mul .................................................................................................... 17
Thri-kreen ........................................................................................19
CHARACTER CLASSES
Barbarian .........................................................................................21
Bard .................................................................................................. 22
Cleric ................................................................................................ 23
Druid .................................................................................................26
Fighter ..............................................................................................28
Monk .................................................................................................28
Psion/Empath .................................................................................29
Ranger ..............................................................................................30
Rogue ................................................................................................30
Warlock ............................................................................................ 30
Wizard ..............................................................................................31
Defiling rules ...................................................................................32
Druid anti-defiling spells .............................................................. 34
WILD TALENTS 35
PERSONALITY AND BACKGROUND 36
EQUIPMENT 37
Currency .......................................................................................... 37
Weapon materials .......................................................................... 37
Breaking weapons ......................................................................... 37
Weapons and Armor ......................................................................38
Athas new weapons .......................................................................39
Athas armors ...................................................................................41
Adventuring gear ............................................................................43
Athas poisons ..................................................................................45
MAGIC 46
SURVIVAL 47
OPTIONAL RULES 48
Weapon options ..............................................................................49
Critical hits ......................................................................................49
Tougher Resurrection ................................................................... 49
Vitality points ..................................................................................50
Dynamic initiative .......................................................................... 51
2
INTRODUCTION
3. M
ATHAS Most
“I live in a world of fire and sand. The crimson sun simila
scorches the life from anything that crawls or flies, treas
and storms of sand scour the foliage from the price
barren ground. This is a land of blood and dust, lifetim
where tribes of feral elves sweep out of the salt
plains to plunder lonely caravans, mysterious 4. AR
singing winds call travelers to slow suffocation in Reck
the Sea of Silt, and selfish kings squander their Athas
subjects’ lives building gaudy palaces and garish sipho
tombs. This bleak wasteland is Athas, and it is my ash, c
home.” —The Wanderer’s Journal perm
avoid
and f
Beneath a crimson sun lie wastelands of majestic desolation and
and cities of cruel splendor, where sandal clad heroes battle perse
ancient sorcery and terrible monsters. This is Athas, the or de
world of the DARK SUN campaign setting, a dying planet of arcan
savagery and desolation. Life hangs by a thread in this barren
land, it is unforgiving to the weak, and now it is up to you to 5. SO
write your own story in blood and glory. Terrib
Thes
Eight Characteristics of centu
kings
Athas gods.
their
1. THE WORLD IS A DESERT or bu
From the first moments of dawn until the last twinkling of their
dusk, the crimson sun shimmers in the olive-tinged sky like a
fiery puddle of blood. It climbs toward its zenith and the 6. TH
temperature rises relentlessly: 100 degrees by midmorning, Athas
110 at noon, 130 - sometimes even 150 - by late afternoon. A no p
man cannot drink fast enough to replenish the fluids he loses. sorce
As the days drag on, he feels sick and feeble. If he does not crum
have enough water, he grows too weak to move. His mouth when
becomes dry and bitter, his lips, tongue, and throat grow who l
swollen. Before long, his blood is thick and gummy. His heart eleme
must work hard to circulate it. Finally his system overheats, water
leaving him dead and alone in the sands.
There are no rivers or lakes and pockets of civilization are 7. FI
concentrated in isolated oases where water is more precious The d
than life. But, this is not all a wasteland. Under the sands lie that a
ancient ruins, testament to a time before the desert, and the out o
city-states are a wonder in and of themselves. or ho
or cro
2. THE WORLD IS SAVAGE creat
Life on Athas is brutal and short. Bloodthirsty raiders, greedy nonex
slavers, and hordes of merciless savages overrun the deserts baazr
and wastelands. The cities are not much safer; each choke in Athas
the grip of an immortal tyrant. Slavery is widespread on it, or
Athas, and many unfortunates spend their lives in chains, wells
toiling for brutal taskmasters. Every year, hundreds of dying
slaves, perhaps thousands, are sent to their deaths in bloody fool o
arena spectacles. Charity, compassion, kindness—these
qualities exist, but they are rare and precious blooms. Only a
fool hopes for such riches.
3
8. FAMILIAR RACES AND CLASSES AREN'T
WHAT YOU EXPECT
Typical fantasy stereotypes don't apply to Athasian heroes. In
many fantasy settings, elves are wise, benevolent forest-
dwellers who guard their homelands from intrusions of evil.
On Athas, elves are nomadic herders, raiders, peddlers, and
thieves. Halflings aren't amiable river-folk; they're xenophobic
headhunters and cannibals who hunt and kill trespassers in
their mountain forests. New races thrive here: the monstrous
half-giant, the insectoid thri-kreen, the half-breed mul. There
are no paladins, bards serve as assassins, and the mental
force of psions can be found even amongst the lowliest
beggar and slave.
THE CALL
“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
PLAYER TIP
The DARK SUN setting isn't a place for your typical bearded
dwarf with a love of beer and gems, cherubic halfling, or
charging knights and gnome wizards. In this setting, some
races don't exist, and the dwarf might instead be a hairless
devotee to the sun, the halfling a stealthy cannibalistic hunter,
and any wizard likely hides her spellcasting lest a mob hang
her for defiling what precious life clings to the earth. Half-
giants and thri-kreen are part of the dominant races, and the
scarcity of metal leads crafters to creative uses of alternative
materials and an entirely different economy. This book
expands your usual options and will help you and your friends
create characters uniquely invested in this world.
Athas waits to challenge you. Whether you are a mul

gladiator, competing for the cheers of thousands, or the elven
trickster selling contraband goods as part of your cover for the
Veiled Alliance, or a thri-kreen hunter enthralled by the
irregular behaviors of humanoids, you will face the same basic
question: are you here simply to survive, or do you dare to do
more?
4
PART 1
CHARACTER CREATION
1. CHOOSE A RACE 6. AS
This guide provides the racial traits and roleplay aspects of the Psio
eight available classes: dwarf, elf, half-elf, half-giant, halfling, mas
human, mul, and thri-kreen. have
spec
does
2. CHOOSE A CLASS Tem
The traditional classes and archetypes may have been elem
modified or do not exist. This Guide lists any changes to each som
class. The classes of Athas are: barbarian, bard, cleric, druid, Tale
empath (new) fighter, monk, psion (new), ranger, rogue,
warlock, and wizard. The Paladin and Sorcerer do not exist.
7. CO
Mos
3. DETERMINE ABILITY SCORES The
Standard array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8), or point-cost variant play
(PHB 13) if permitted. utili
grou
curr
deve
4. DESCRIBE YOUR CHARACTER
scor
Determine if your DM allows evil alignments.
Literacy is banned in cities, so consult the DM when
choosing a background as to whether your social class
enables your character to read and write.
8. OP
Be descriptive! A character is more than numbers. Come
The
up with personality traits and use the Ideals, Bonds, and
will
Flaws to assist with creating a unique character that will
evolve and grow as the campaign grows. this
Consider finding Dark Sun-themed art for your character. rules
The art of the original setting provided enhancement to the wor
setting.
5. CHOOSE EQUIPMENT
Consult this Guide's Equipment section in Part 6 for
purchases, currency, and changes in material. Because of the
rarity of metal and water, the economy and gear of Athas has
developed quite differently from other settings. For example,
the primary currency is a "ceramic piece (cp)," not a gold
piece, which is far more valuable on Athas.
5
PART 2RACES OF ATHAS
DWARF
, On Athas, dwarves are not subterranean miners but rather, a SHO
long-lived, slowly dying race known for their relentless focus Shor
on a task to the single exclusion of all others. A dwarf’s chief tall. T
love is toil, and one is never happier when tasked with a the vi
cause he can approach with a stoic, single-mindedness for them
weeks, months, years, or even decades. Once his mind is find t
committed to a task, it is near impossible to sway him away
from it as he will fail to listen to reason. Dwarves live for their THE
focus, for those who die unable to complete a focus return A dw
from the dead to haunt their unfinished work. A dwarf rarely help
divulges his focus to anyone. hinde
little
F
F
s
c
c
s
w
For e
retrie
week
from
“The worst thing you can say to a dwarf is ‘It can’t be done.’ If way
he’s already decided to do it, he may never speak to you again. anyth
If he hasn’t decided to take up the task, he may commit the b
himself to it simply out of spite. ‘Impossible’ is not a concept braw
most dwarves understand. Anything can be done, with active
enough determination.” - Sha’len, Nibenese trader
6
DWARF NAMES
Names are granted by the clan leader, the uhrnius, after ROLEPLAYING A DWARF
completing one's first focus. Dwarves do not have a surname Remember the intensity of your focus. Breaking it
and like many on Athas prefer just one name, using a town has social, philosophical, and spiritual
(Drog of Kled) if distinction is needed. repercussions. If you die before completion, your
Male Names: Baranus, Biirgaz, Bontar, Brul, Caelum, spirit will return as a banshee and you will have
Caro, Daled, Drog, Fyra, Ghedran, Gralth, Gram, Jurgan, shamed your clan for generations to come. For
Lyanius, Murd, Nati, Portek, Rkard, Sa’ram, Sult, Veso. someone to intentionally stand in the way of your
focus is an assault on you. Your greatest
Female Names: Ardin, Erda, Ghava, Greshin, Gudak, satisfaction is completing the focus. Keep a serious
Lazra, N’kadir, Palashi, Vashara. attitude always. The only time you show your
DWARF TRAITS festive side (you have one) is when you have
recently fulfilled a focus or between setting a new
Dwarves are nonmagical by nature and abhor arcane casters. one. At this time, your full joy and humor show, but
They cannot take an arcane casting class. Their priests lean you are vulnerable in some ways because you are
towards steady earth and avoid chaotic air, and they take to lost in purpose.
psionics with a vengeance. Dwarves leave villages at times to
further a focus and to search for ancient dwarven ruins. They
are highly prized as mercenaries because once contracted,
their loyalty will never change.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases
by 2, and you choose to increase your Strength or Wisdom by
1.
Age. Dwarves mature around age 35 and live up to 250
years, though the dangers of Athas often claim them well
before this time.
Alignment. Dwarves tend lawful and good to neutral. Their
devotion to an established hierarchy in villages means they
tend to follow rules even to the point of ridicule.
Size. A typical dwarf stands about 4 ½ to 5 feet tall and
weighs 200 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet. You are not
slowed by wearing heavy armor.
Darkvision. Despite living aboveground, your heritage
allows you to see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if in
bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't
discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Dwarven Focus. When making an ability check or saving
throw directly related to your Focus, you are considered
proficient.
Dwarven Resilience. You have Advantage on poison saves
and resistance to poison damage.
Tool Proficiency. You gain proficiency with the artisan's
tool of your choice: smith's tools, brewer's supplies, or
mason's tools.
Dwarven Toughness. Your hit point maximum increases
by 1 and it increases by 1 every time you gain a level.
Languages. You can speak Common and Dwarvish. With
DM permission, your character might be able to read
Dwarvish with an appropriate background. Dwarves keep a
long and proud oral history, and they have an old written
language mostly used for writing history that they will never
share to outsiders. Their native language is deep and throaty,
full of guttural sounds and harsh exclamations that cause
most non-dwarves to get raw throats if spoken for long.
7
ELF
LONG AND LEAN Un
Elves are long-limbed sprinters who stand between 6 ½ and 7 magi
½ feet tall with slender yet muscular builds, averaging 175
pounds. They have deeply etched features with rugged skin
as varied as the other races of Athas. They grow no facial hair
but the locks atop their heads comes in from lightest blond to
darkest black. They dress in garb designed to protect them
from the elements.
TRUST IS FOR FOOLS
Elves keep to their own tribe – there is no racial unity - and
the rare friend, unless there’s an angle to be gained. Strangers
are potential enemies waiting to take advantage of an elf, so
they look to get the advantage first. If a companion shows
promise, the elf devises a series of “tests” of trust that allows
them to prove their friendship is “stronger than the bonds of
"Honor? The word does not exist in the elven language.” – death,” as elves say. Once gained, one is forever a friend, but if
Tharak, human guard that trust is betrayed, it is gone forever. In the tribe, elves are
“Better to die with a spear in your hands than to live with all equals, except the Chief. The Chief is elected and rules for
shackles around your wrist.” – Elven adage life, making all major decisions for the tribe, and elves are
expected to tithe a choice piece of loot. Holding out suggests
a lack of loyalty to the tribe. Your natural enemy are the thri-
Athas’ wilderness is home to the long-limbed elves, a race of kreen who view your people as a delicacy.
traders, herders, and fast moving raiders. Running is the key
to acceptance and respect amongst them. Elves who are THE RUN
injured and cannot run are often left behind to die. Most Those who cannot keep up die, and freedom in all
rarely stay in one place for long, both physically and matters is life. Most elves don't lie, cheat, or steal
emotionally, and this is seen as a sign of strength in their out of malice. They see an opportunity and the
people - an absolute freedom. gullible can't keep up. In their culture, an elf is
Elf culture, while savage, is also rich and diverse. They rewarded for being faster, both in wit and running.
have turned celebrating into an art form, and elf song and If you stop running, if you settle down, you wither.
dance is captivating and seductive to non-elves. Elven war
parties are greatly feared in the deserts, for they are a deadly
force of endurance and maneuverability. HOME IS WHERE YOU RUN
Others see elves as dishonest and lazy; generally, a fair Elves are nomads by nature, though they maintain semi-
assessment. Elves idle for days until compelled to exert permanent settlements in the wilderness. Their ability to
themselves, but they can run for days without complaint. No cover vast distances makes them master raiders, and they
self-respecting elf will ride an animal, and it is a severe consider anywhere their legs can take them as their territory
dishonor to do so. Custom dictates those who cannot keep up to take from as they see fit.
are left behind, and this includes the pregnant and the elderly. Elves may flippantly adventure for wanderlust, but those
Elves prefer to live short, happy lives rather than long, boring who persist often do so for a desire for profit, glory, revenge,
ones. Unlike traditional settings, Athasian elves rarely live or loyalty. They like to boast about their accomplishments,
past 140 years. Seeing the future as a dark, deadly place, they weaving these into song. Elves often take keepsakes from
prefer to live in the “here and now.” They thrive in open memorable raids and sew these into their cloaks. Elves are
spaces and tend to wither in captivity, making them poor pleased by flaunting a stolen item before an owner. Elven
choices on the slave block. custom dictates the victim congratulate the thief on his
possession of such an attractive item (those who don’t are
poor sports).
8
ELF NAMES Elf Run. You add your Constitution score to the number of
Naming of young runners is a sacred responsibility, given miles you can travel in a day. You have advantage on forced
after the first interesting thing the child does while learning march saves.
to run. With the right name, an elf child can grow to Languages. You can speak Common and Elvish. Each
greatness, but the wrong name may cause one to vanish in tribe has a distinct dialect. The language is filled with short,
the wastes. A child’s name can be changed because of an clipped words, run with a rapid staccato pace difficult for
extraordinary deed performed during the rite of passage. others to pick up. They disdain the slow, tedious languages of
Elves take the surname of their tribe. others but condescend to learn Common. Elves that learn
Male Names: Botuu (Water Runner), Coraanu (First Elf, other tongues hide it to gain advantage.
the Warrior Thief), Dukkoti (Wind Fighter), Haaku (Two
Daggers), Lobuu (First Runner), Mutami (Laughs at Sun), ROLEPLAYING AN ELF
Nuuko (Sky Hunter), Traako (Metal Stealer). Rely on guerilla combat skills – distance,
Female Names: Alaa (Bird Chaser), Ekee (Wild Dancer), maneuverability and speed. The elven philosophy is
Guuta (Singing Sword), Hukaa (Fire Leaper), Ittee (Dancing never to stand up in a fair fight, and running is
Bow), Nuuta (Quiet Hunter), Utaa (Laughing Moon) prized, whether it be from an equal combat, an
Tribe (Clan) Names: Clearwater Tribe (Fireshaper, awkward situation, or a pregnant lover. When
Graffyon, Graystar, Lightning, Onyx, Sandrunner, Seafoam, someone professes to be your friend, dismiss them
Silverleaf, Songweaver, Steeljaw, Wavedivers, Windriders at first then offer them a test of trust (don’t tell
clans); Night Runner Tribe (Dark Moons, Full Moons, Half them). Ask them to give you a prized possession or
see if they take one of yours left out in a
Moons, Lone Moons, New Moons, Quarter Moons clans); conspicuous place. Pretend to sleep and listen to
Shadow Tribe; Silt Stalker Tribe (Fire Bow, Fire Dagger, Fire what they say about you. Maybe allow yourself to
Sword clans); Silver Hand Tribe; Sky Singer Tribe be captured and see if this presumed friend will
(Dawnchaser, Dayjumper, Twilightcatcher clans); Swiftwing rescue you!
Tribe; Water Hunter Tribe (Raindancer, Poolrunner,
Lakesinger clans); Wind Dancer Tribe (Airhunter,
Breezechaser clans)
ELF TRAITS
Elves tend to any profession and trade that let's them act
freely. This makes them poor students of the rigorous study
of psionics, and rarely does anything but Air draw them to
clerical study.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by
2, and you choose to increase your Intelligence or Charisma
by 1.
Age. Elves reach physical maturity at the same rate as
humans but must pass the tribe’s rites of initiation before
being recognized as adults, typically around 20. Elves can live
to 140 years.
Alignment. Elves tend chaotic because of their love of
freedom, variety and self-expression. They tend neutrality,
though they tend good (self-sacrifice) when the tribe is
concerned. Although they will steal everything in sight, they
are not murderous and avoid unnecessary violence.
Size. A typical elf stands about 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 feet tall and
around 175 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 35 feet.
Burst of Speed. Your heritage allows you to move in
sprints. When you move on your turn in combat, you can
double your speed until the end of the turn. Once you use this
trait, you can’t use it again until you move 0 feet on one of
your turns.
Elven Resilience. You are conditioned to the extreme
weather of the wastelands and have advantage on all saves
against extreme heat and cold.
Mask of the Wild. You can attempt to hide even when you
are only lightly obscured by terrain, weather, or other natural
phenomena.
9
HALF-ELF
Unlike the parents of mules, elves and humans are often HAL
attracted to each other, but just as often, they are the Half-e
unwanted product of a casual encounter. Born from two feet t
worlds but not welcome in either, they find an attraction to more
the solitary wastes. In conjunction with a lack of unifying and t
culture, most turn into lonesome, self-sufficient folk. Elves enjoy
have no tolerance for them (the mother is expected to get rid task,
of the child or be cast out) and most, though not all, humans kreen
believe their ears make them just another lazy thief and friend
trickster. When everyone sees you as the worst quality of your going
parent race, the half-elf turns away and has found a kinship in is nec
the animal world unmatched by either of their parent races.
NO C
Half-e
and t
never
elven
Their
hand
wher
welco
becau
HAL
Most
given
elvish
elves
they
distin
Ma
Laba
Regg
Fem
Kryst
HAL
"People are no good. You can only trust animals and the Half-e
bottle.” – Delmao, half-elf thief. accep
Ab
2, and
Ag
aroun
Ali
accep
up, re
Siz
weigh
Sp
10
Speak with Animals. You can communicate simple ideas
with medium size or smaller beasts using sounds and
gestures. This does not make the animal friendly to you or
able to respond in kind.
Animal Affinity. At 3rd level, you can you can use an Action
to attempt to charm a medium size or smaller beast with
Intelligence 3 or lower. You must be able to touch and talk to
the beast. If your or your companions are fighting the beast, it
cannot be charmed. It must pass a Wisdom save or be
charmed for 24 hours. The saving throw is 8 + your
proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier. If you or your
companions do anything harmful to the beast, the charm
ends. You cannot use this trait again until you complete a
long rest.
Languages. You can speak Common and Elvish, and if a
city dweller, likely you adopt the distinct dialect of your home.
ROLEPLAYING A HALF-ELF
You don’t consider yourself a separate race. You
pride yourself on your self-reliance and refuse
patronizing offers to help you. You'll do fine on
your own, thank you very much. Take any chance to
show humans you're just as talented as them or
elves you're just as clever. If others view your
attempts as irrational, well, they get to be wrapped
in the blankets of racial acceptance. You're left out
in the cold. Praise should be viewed with suspicion
because no one hands that out without an angle in
mind. Other half-elves don't interest you by default.
Just because they have the same ears doesn't mean
you suddenly have anything in common. In an
adventuring group, you don't need charity and
don't need someone else to cook your food or take
your watch.
This does not mean you'll never form a lasting
friendship. But it's hard to get over a lifetime of
being on the outside and being constantly
reminded of that. This is why you feel affinity with
the beast. They're simple. They don't judge, and
they don't act with malice.
11
HALF-GIANT
BIG AND STRONG
Half-giants are enormous individuals, generally 10 to 12 feet
high and weighing in upwards of 1600 pounds. Though they
have human features, these tend to be exaggerated in some
ways. Skin tones range from light brown to deep tan, like
sand. They vary in hair color and tend to wear whatever hair
style or fashion they currently are emulating. Absent that,
their giant heritage makes for thick hair amenable to braids.
There is no economy for half-giant stature, so their clothing
would likely consist of several human-sized articles of
clothing stitched together. A tavern would charge extra for
filling enough plates for a half-giant sized appetite, and any
armor would have to be specially crafted. Most nobles,
templars, and merchant houses feel the investment is worth
the return when they have 1500 pounds of enforcement at
their command.
IMPRESSIONABLE
The most powerful warriors on Athas, half‐giants seem
content to dwell in humanity’s shadow and drift towards
charismatic leaders of all races. For example, if a half-giant
village is near elven raiders, they are likely to emulate the
guerilla tactics of the elves. However, this innate need to fit in
is more than a whim. It is inherent to the half-giant's creation.
A half-giant farmer's village might be raided, and he may soon
adopt the morals of the invaders because they seem to know
what they're doing, and the half-giant finds he's pretty good at
“Mind of a child, strength of three grown men. I’ve seen a smashing heads too.
half-giant tear the walls out of a building because he wanted a
better look at the tattoos on a mul inside.” – Daro, human
trader ALIGNMENT ON A WHIM
One axis of your alignment will be fixed and the
other subject to change, even daily, based on
Legend holds in ages past a sorcerer king or queen used influential events or persons around you that you
wizardry to beget a union of giant and human to make a race find a reason to emulate or admire. You will try out
of powerful slaves. Whatever the truth, the half-giant race has their morals or philosophies and perhaps stick with
thrived, able to reproduce with one another, and are sought it for a time if you're good at it. This does not mean
out as gladiators, soldiers, guards and mercenaries across half-giants are unreliable - the influence must be
strong for them to change, and they have a core
the tablelands. philosophy that is fairly unchanging. A half-giant
Because of their artificial origins, there is no half-giant soldier might see a dwarven cleric of the sun and
culture, tradition, or homeland. They readily imitate customs be impressed by her unflappable devotions. He
and cultures of those they admire or associate with. They are may try shaving himself and praying to the sun
very imitative, eager to fit into a world that is not built for until he finds he cannot stare at the sun without
their size. One observing a dwarf quarry might watch for a hurting his eyes and cannot make fire appear.
time then try his hand at it, moving on if he does not excel at
it. Many find they excel at breaking bones and imitate those This can make role-playing a half-giant a challenge.
who are also skilled at this practice.
HALF-GIANT NAMES
Slaves are given human names while free half-giants will take
names based off the adopted culture. See other races for
name suggestions.
12
HALF-GIANT TRAITS
Half-giants inherit a solid balance of their bestial and human ROLEPLAYING A HALF-GIANT
parents. Always remember how much bigger and heavier
Ability Score Increase. You have 4 points to split between you are than everyone else. Take advantage of your
your Strength and Constitution scores. Your Strength score height in combat, but remember the
may reach a maximum of 22 instead of 20. Your Intelligence disadvantages. Between your size and your lesser
and Wisdom scores are decreased by 2 each. wits (even if you are a relatively intelligent half‐
Age. Half-giants mature around 24 years of age and can giant people will assume you to be dull), you find
yourself an object of comic relief. You are used to
live up to 220 years. being teased and will endure more witty remarks
Alignment. Your alignment may fluctuate as described in than most people, but when you have been pushed
Alignment on a Whim. You begin with one fixed alignment too far your personality can suddenly shift, and you
axis (good-neutral-evil or lawful-neutral-chaotic) that will can unleash astonishing violence on your
never change. The other axis may change depending on who tormentors and any who stand in your way. Less
you are emulating. Subject to DM approval, when imitating a frequently, these shifts can happen to you without
charismatic leader, select an appropriate Ideal or Flaw and provocation ― you just wake up with a different
replace your current one. If the new Ideal is tied to a non- ethos and altered disposition.
fixed axis of your alignment, change that aspect of your Remember you are influenced by powerful
alignment. personalities, and can shift your personality and
Size. A typical half-giant stands 10 to 12 feet tall and ethics. You tend to imitate the tactics, clothes and
weighs 1,600 pounds. You occupy a 10-foot by 10-foot space demeanor of your “little master.”
and have a 5 foot reach. Your size is Large.
Giant Body. You cannot wear ordinary gear sized for
smaller creatures such as boots, gloves, and backpacks. All SIZE AND MAGIC ITEMS
clothing, armor, meals, and lodging cost double for you. Magical gear adjusts for the size of the wearer from
Small to Large. A half-giant or halfling can wear the
Large Hands. You may wield versatile and two-handed same pair of boots if magical, but ordinary kank
melee weapons with one hand. leather boots sized for a human simply won't fit.
Colossal Endurance. Your immense body mass allows For creatures with an alien physique, such as a thri-
you to occasionally shrug off injury. When you take damage, kreen, certain items like boots will never work,
you can use your reaction to reduce that damage by your magical or not.
Constitution score. After using this trait, you cannot use it
again until you finish a short or long rest.
Giant’s Toughness. Your hit point maximum increases by
2 and it increases by 2 every time you gain a level. RESIZING ITEMS
Languages. You can speak Common. Your voice is always Consult if your DM permits resizing of armor by a
low, making it difficult for most to hear and understand more trained crafter (PHB 144). If so, the half-giant
than a rumble. would still pay double the size of resizing the
armor, which begins at 10 to 40% of the armor
price, reflecting the extra materials needed.
FOOD AND WATER NEEDS
Large creatures require four times the daily amount
of water and food needed for a small creature
(DMG p111).
13
HALFLING
SMALL AND SAVAGE Ma
Halflings are small creatures, standing only about 3 1/2 feet Kakz
tall and weighing 50 to 60 pounds. Rarely affected by age, Fema
halfling faces are often mistaken for the faces of human Jikx, J
children, even the elderly among them. They dress in
loincloths, sometimes with a shirt or vest, and paint their
skins with bright reds and greens. Forest halflings rarely tend
to their hair, and some let it grow to great lengths, though it
can be unkempt and dirty.
ANCIENT CULTURE
Halfling culture dominates their relations with others and
predates human civilization. Rarely will they ever draw the
blood of another halfling. Halflings of different tribes share a
tradition of song, art and poetry, which serves as a basis of
communication. Creatures that do not know these cultural
expressions are often at a loss to understand a halfling’s
expressions, analogies and allusions to well–known tales.
Halflings can easily become frustrated with such
“uncultured” creatures lose patience with outsider
intolerance of their ways, such as eating other humanoids.
They abhor slavery and most halflings will starve themselves
rather than accept slavery.
“Be wary of the forest ridge. The halflings who live there FEAR OF OUTSIDERS
would as soon eat you alive as look at you. Chances are you Halflings have no desire to see their home become like the
won’t even notice them until you’ve become the main course.” rest of Athas. They are fierce and merciless in its defense,
―Mo’rune, half‐Elven ranger uncaring about the struggles and excuses of other races.
Halflings’ bond with nature extends into most aspects of their
culture. A shaman or witch doctor, who also acts as a
Halflings are masters of the jungles of the Ringing spiritual leader, often rules their clans. This leader is obeyed
Mountains. They are small, quick and agile creatures steeped without question. Halfling fighters willingly sacrifice
in an ancient and rich culture that goes back far into Athas’ themselves to obey their leader, leaving outsiders to perceive
past. Although they are not common in the Tablelands, some them as fanatics when halflings dearly love and enjoy life.
halflings leave their homes in the forests to adventure under Exploring the Tablelands gives curious halflings the
the dark sun. While omnivores, halflings prefer raw flesh and opportunity to learn other customs. Although they may at first
let no meat go to waste, including that of enemies, humans, have difficulty in understanding the numerous practices of
and other sentient creatures. the races of the Tablelands, their natural curiosity enables
Halflings have difficulty understanding others’ customs or them to learn and interact with others. Other halflings may
points of view, but curiosity helps some halflings overcome be criminals, renegades or other tribal outcasts, venturing
their xenophobia. Little concerned with material wealth, into the Tablelands to escape persecution by their kin. Most
halflings are more concerned with how their actions will tribes reject arcane magic, but a few have preserver
affect other halflings. chieftains who would sacrifice an entire tribe to keep one
defiler out.
HALFLING NAMES
Halflings have only one name assigned at birth.
14
HALFLING TRAITS
Halfling traits reflect their savage nature. ROLEPLAYING A HALFLING
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by Remember to consistently take your height into
2 and your Wisdom score by 1. account. Role–play the halfling culture described
Age. Halflings reach adulthood at the same rate as humans above: eating opponents, treating fellow halflings
and live to be about 120 years old. with trust and kindness, suspicion of big people,
Alignment. Halflings tend towards law and evil. and general lack of interest in money. Conquest
Uncomfortable with change, halflings tend to rely on and plundering have no place in your society;
rather the most important value is the ability of the
intangible constants, such as racial identity, family, clan ties inner self as it harmonizes with the environment.
and personal honor. Halflings generally have little respect for You should be sickened by the landscape of the
the laws of the big people. Tablelands and desperately want to avoid any risk
Size. Halflings average around 3 ½ feet tall and 50 to 60 that devastation ever spreading to your homelands
pounds. Your size is Small. in the Forest Ridge. You will learn about other
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet. cultures, but you should firmly believe halfling
Halfling Nimbleness. You can move through the space of culture to be innately superior to all others.
any creature that is of larger size than yours. However, you don’t try to change other’s cultures,
Savage Attacks. When you score a critical hit with a melee no more than you would try to convince a tembo
attack, you can roll one of the weapon's damage dice one to change its diet.
additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical While omnivorous, you vastly prefer meat, and
hit. everything is a source of food. You should presume
most other races will eat anything, including
Fury of the Small. When you damage a creature at least halflings, if they are hungry enough, and this makes
one size larger than you with an attack or spell, you can cause it hard to trust them.
the attack to add extra damage equal to your level. Once you
use this trait, you cannot use it again until you finish a short
or long rest.
Languages. You can speak Halfling and Common. Your
culture uses drawings and tales rather than a written
language. Halflings rarely teach others their language, but
some individuals of the Tablelands have learned the wild
speech. Halflings found in the Tablelands learn Common to
survive, but it is generally unknown past the Ringing
Mountains.
15
HUMAN
A BROAD SPECTRUM
Men average 6 feet tall and 200 pounds while women range H
In
around 5 ½ feet tall and 140 pounds. They tend to dark-skin in
and bronzed tones with darker hair, though all colors exist p
with nobility tending to the greatest variety. Humans are
prone to mutations, and it is not uncommon to find
exaggerated features, webbed feet, or even extra digits on
hands and feet.
MUTATIONS
Centuries of abusive magic have taken their toll on the
human body. Some humans have marked alterations to their
appearance, such as a bizarre symmetry, exaggerated facial
feature, pointed ears, no facial hair, unusual skin coloration
like copper or grey, etc. Humans are familiar and generally
unsurprised by such differences. Ultimately, these give no
benefits or hindrances in gameplay and are for flavor.
HUMAN NAMES
Human names vary by region. For most a single name
suffices. A noble will have a family surname but often revert
to use of one name. Freemen occasionally refer to their
occupations to avoid being taken for laborers or slaves, such
as “Barek the Weaver.”
Tyr/Urik Male Names: Agis, Amilanu, Baal, Banoc, Duzi,
“Humans are fools and hopelessly naïve as well. They Ea, Gulkishar, Igigi, Markduk, Rim-Sin, Sargon, Silani,
outnumber us; they are everywhere, and yet they have no Tithian, Utuaa, Zu
more sense of their strength than a rat. Let us hope that the Tyr/Urik Female Names: Amata, Bau, Belili, Damkina,
Datto stay that way.” ―Dukkoti Nightrunner, elven warrior Gula, Ishtar, Kishar, Mummu, Mylitta, Neeva, Ninsunu,
Rubati, Shala, Zakiti.
Humans are the dominant culture in the explored parts of HUMAN TRAITS
Athas, known for their versatility and adaptability. Most tend Humans are hard to generalize.
to be ambitious and individualistic; even the tyranny of Ability Score Increase. Your ability scores all increase by
sorcerer kings hasn’t stamped out this diversity. Other races 1.
often don’t know what to expect when meeting a human for Age. Humans tend to reach adulthood in their late teens
the first time because predicting their behavior based on and can live to around 80 years.
cultural norms is difficult. “It’s human nature” is a common Alignment. Humans tend to no particular alignment. The
saying when humans appear to take action for no apparent best and worst are found among them.
reason. Size. Men average 6 feet tall and 200 pounds while women
Humans tend to get along well with races they comingle range around 5 ½ feet tall and 140 pounds. Your size is
with (most often dwarves and muls). Half-giants and thri- Medium.
kreen are seen as dangerous monsters. Elves and half-elves Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
are considered flighty and untrustworthy. Halflings are Languages. Common and one other language of your
exotics. Humans often serve as a go-between when one race choice.
deals with another.
16
MUL
Born from the unlikely parentage of dwarves and humans, a LIFE
mul (pronounced “mull”, from the dwarven word All gl
“mulzhennedar” which means “strength”; “mule” is used as a degre
derogatory pronunciation) combines the height and pamp
adaptable nature of humans with the musculature and see s
resilience of dwarves. Muls enjoy traits that are uniquely their good
own, such as their robust metabolism and almost Ho
inexhaustible capacity for work. The hybrid has it. St
disadvantages in a few areas as well: sterility, and the social the la
repercussions of being created for a life of slavery. Humans repea
and dwarves are not typically attracted to each other. The escap
only reason that muls are so common in the Tablelands is dama
because of their value as laborers and gladiators: slave-sellers freed
force-breed humans and dwarves for profit. muls
While mul-breeding practices are exorbitantly lucrative, owne
they are often lethal to both the mother and the baby. Even
Conception is difficult and impractical, often taking months to slave
achieve. Even once conceived, the mul takes a full twelve can c
months to carry to term; fatalities during this period are high. breed
As likely as not, anxious overseers cut muls from the dying
bodies of their mothers.
STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE
Second only to the half‐giant, the mul is the strongest of the
common humanoid races of the tablelands. Muls grow as
high as seven feet, weighing upwards of 250 pounds, but
carry almost no fat at all on their broad muscular frames.
Universal mul characteristics include angular, almost
protrusive eye ridges, and ears that point sharply backwards
against the temples. Most muls have dark copper–colored
“See, the trick is to break their will. Not too much, mind skin and hairless bodies. They are always sterile.
you. Nobody wants to watch a docile gladiator, and muls are
too expensive to waste as labor slaves. But, you don’t want BRED TO SLAVERY
them trying to escape every other day. Would you like to tell Muls are bred to fight or labor. Most mul laborers master the
the arena crowd that their favorite champion will not be conventions of slave life, figuring out through painful
appearing in today’s match because he died trying to escape experience who can be trusted and who cannot. Muls learn
your pens?" ―Gaal, Urikite arena trainer from their mistakes in the slave pits to a greater extent than
other races not because they are cleverer, but because unlike
slaves of other races they tend to survive their mistakes,
while other slave races are less expensive and therefore
disposable. Only the most foolish and disobedient mul would
be killed. Most masters will sell a problem mul slave rather
than kill him. Their mastery of the rules of slave life and their
boundless capacity for hard work allows them to gain favor
with their masters and reputation among their fellow slaves.
17
MUL NAMES
Muls are given names, and for gladiators, Draji names with ROLEPLAYING A MUL
harsh tones are favored to strike fear. Lacking families, a mul Born to the slave pens, you never knew love or
might use a place for a surname, such as “Mersten of affection; the taskmaster’s whip took the place of
Nibenay.” loving parents. As far as you have seen, all of life’s
Male Names: Aram, Athalak, Borthomar, Bost, Darok, problems that can be solved are solved by sheer
Darus, Durn, Eben, Erekard, Gard, Harask, Marok, Morg, brute force. You know to bow to force when you
Rikard, Sanozar, Tomak, Uskan, Zedath, Zorus. see it, especially the veiled force of wealth, power
and privilege. The noble and templar may not look
Female Names: Aisa, Aivel, Brithis, Callia, Demosis, Elina, strong, but they can kill a man with a word. You
Faivel, Himithis, Laivi, Mersten, Narisel, Raina, Reshel, tend towards gruffness. In the slave pits, you knew
Saditha, Tirshel, Uisel, Zerima. some muls that never sought friends or
companionship, but lived in bitter, isolated
MUL TRAITS
servitude. You knew other muls who found
The mul is bred for physical attributes but can inherit a friendship in an arena partner or co– worker. You
parent's quick mind. A mul cannot be an arcane caster, having are capable of affection, trust and friendship, but
inherited their dwarven heritage. camaraderie is easier for you to understand and
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by express – warriors slap each other on the shoulder
2 and your Constitution and Wisdom by 1. after a victory, or give their lives for each other in
Age. A mul ages like humans, tending to reach adulthood a battle. You don’t think of that sort of event as
year or two year earlier and given their lot in life rarely reach “friendship” – it just happens.
the age of 85. Muls dislike what they fear, and they fear wizards.
Alignment. Muls tend towards neutrality with respect to They resent that a wizard’s power comes from
good and evil, but run the gamut with respect to law or chaos. without, with no seeming effort on the wizard’s
part, while the mul’s power is born of pain and
Many lawful muls adapt well to the indignities of slavery, labor. You may never have been exposed to psionic
playing the game for the comforts that they can win as valued study or clerical ways, but there is nothing
slaves. A few ambitious lawful muls use the respect won from preventing you from learning.
their fellow slaves to organize rebellions and strike out for
freedom. Chaotic muls, on the other hand, push their luck
and their value as slaves to the breaking point, defying
authority, holding little fear for the lash.
Size. A typical mul is 7 feet tall and weighs over 250
pounds. Your size is Medium.
Relentless Endurance. When you are reduced to 0 hit
points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point
instead. Once you use that trait, you can't use it again until
you finish a long rest.
Inexhaustible. You have advantage on Forced March saves
and all saves to resist non-magical exhaustion. If you spend 1
minute focusing yourself, you can remove one level of non-
magical exhaustion. Once you use this trait, you can't use it
again until you finish a long rest.
Languages. You can speak Common plus a language of
your choice.
18
THRI-KREEN
Many wear leg or armbands, or bracelets. Some attach
rings on different places on their chitin, though this requires
careful work by a skilled artisan. While most thri-kreen
appear identical to non-kreen, their nuances of exoskeleton
development render them quite unique in their view.
Pheromones release modifies their eye coloration: light for
pleasant feelings and dark for distress. They are carnivores
and become sick if eating plants, the only exception being a
handful of common spices and fruit-based potions.
NO SLEEP REQUIRED
Since Thri‐kreen do not require sleep, they have difficulty
understanding this state of “laziness” in others. Other
behaviors of humanoids seem unnecessarily complex. A
keen’s life is simple: hunt prey. Kreen live for the hunt, and
own only what they can carry. Their knowledge is largely
passed by an instinctual racial memory shared with the
clutch. At birth, they already know what animals make the
best prey and ways to catch them.
A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
The pack mentality dominates a keen’s relation with others.
Kreen hunt in small groups and will move to other areas
“This one does not speak with the quivering soft shells that rather than depopulate an area of prey. A kreen that joins a
lay about all night. This one might eat you, but never speak.” group of humanoids will often try to establish dominance in
―Tu’tochuk the group. This can be disconcerting to those unaware of the
keen’s behavior, since establishing dominance usually means
making threatening gestures. Once the matter is settled, they
Thri‐kreen ("kreen" for short) are the strangest of the will abide by the outcome. Thri‐kreen view humanoids as
intelligent races of the Tablelands. These insectoid beings possible sources of food but rarely hunt them as humanoids
born from eggs possess a mindset very different from any are not simple prey. Many kreen have a particularly fond taste
humanoid being encountered. They roam the wastes in for elves; as such, meetings between these two races are
packs, hunting for food day and night, since they require no often tense. However, once part of a clutch, Thri‐kreen will
sleep. Thri‐kreen are quick and agile and make fearsome never turn on their humanoid friends, even in the worst of
fighters, feared throughout the wastes. They refer to thri- situations.
kreen who have become city dwellers as “tohr-kreen,” Kreen have a severe fear of any water smaller than a
meaning “settled person,” whereas thri-kreen means puddle as they cannot swim or float. They have no idea how
“wanderer-person.” to ride another creature and find the concept alien and non-
sensical.
INSECT BODY
Mature Thri‐kreen stand about 7 feet tall, with a rough body RACIAL MEMORY
length of 11 feet. Their four arms end in claws; their two legs Contrary to the variety of humans, thri-kreen are largely
are extremely powerful, capable of incredible leaps. However, predisposed to tasks due to their racial memory. They have
kreen are unable to jump backwards. Their body is covered no wizards; their lack of natural sleep and need to hunt
with a sandy– yellow chitin, a tough exoskeleton that grants makes it impractical, but kreen take to psionics as a way of
the Thri‐kreen protection from blows. Their head is topped life and the hunt. They revere the elements and ancestral
with two antennae, and their two eyes are compound and memory causes them to revere the Great One, a legendary
multifaceted. The kreen mouth consists of small pincers. leader from many clutches past.
Male and female Thri‐kreen are physically indistinguishable.
Thri‐kreen usually do not wear clothing, but wear some sort
of harness to carry weapons and food.
19
THRI-KREEN NAMES Leap. At 3rd level, your legs have grown powerful enough
The Kreen language is very different from those of the other to jump 50 feet forward or 20 straight up, without a running
intelligent races. They have no lips or tongues, and so cannot start. You cannot jump backwards.
make the same sounds humanoids make. Kreen language is Naturally Psionic. Your Psi Point maximum increases by
made up of clicks, pops, or grinding noises. They do not 2 and by another 2 at 5th level.
distinguish male and female names. Languages. You can speak Thri-Kreen and Common. Thri-
Names: Cha'ka, Chuka-tet, Drasna, Drik-chkit, Hakka, Kreen is a language composed of clicks and whirring,
Ka'cha, Ka'tho, Klik-chaka'da, Lakta-cho, Qhak'cha, Qhik-ik- antennae movements, and pheromone emissions that non-
cha, Sa'Relka, T'Chai, Tak-tha. kreen find too difficult to interpret and impossible to
duplicate. When you speak other languages, you use a high-
THRI-KREEN TRAITS pitched voice.
Kreen physiology gives it several natural advantages that
compensate for not being able to utilize items commonly ROLEPLAYING A THRI-KREEN
worn by other races. You tend to rely on your natural attacks and special
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by kreen weapons. Everything you kill is a potential
2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1. dinner. You have a strong need for a party leader –
Age. A thri-kreen is born from an egg and becomes fully obedience to this leader in the party is important
mature at 6 years. They demonstrate no effect of aging until to you. If you seem to be the most powerful and
they reach the end of their life cycle around 30 years. Sensing capable, then you will assume leadership; if
their death, such thri-kreen go on a final hunt. someone challenges your authority then you will
Alignment. Most Thri‐kreen are chaotic, acting in wish to test whether they are in fact stronger than
whatever fashion benefits the pack mentality, and this rarely you. It is not a question of vanity; you won’t want
leads them to philosophies of good and evil. to fight to the death, but merely to ascertain who is
worthy to lead the party. You do not have the focus
Size. A typical thri-kreen is 7 feet tall, 11 feet long, and of a dwarf to complete a project, but you would
weighs 450 pounds. Unlike other races, variation in height give your life to protect your companions. If you
and weight is nominal and a few inches or pounds at most. did not trust and honor them as your own family,
You occupy a 10 foot by 10 foot space and have 5 foot reach. then you would not travel with them and work
Your size is Large. together with them. You do not understand the
Speed. Your base walking speed is 40 feet. concept of sleep. It disturbs you that your dra
Carapace. Your chitinous plates provide a natural armor (sentient meat creatures like humans) companions
class of 13 + Dexterity modifier. You cannot wear armor but lie unconscious for a third of their lifetimes. Spend
you may carry a shield. your rest periods watching them in this state. You
Thri-kreen Physiology. You only require 1 gallon of water own only what you can carry, caring little for money
per week. You cannot swim. You cannot wear items fitted for or other items that other races consider as
humanoids, including but not limited to armor, bracers, treasure. Your philosophy of ownership sometimes
leads you into conflict with presumptuous dra who
cloaks, and rings. think they can own buildings, land, and even whole
Sleepless. You require no sleep and are immune to sleep herds of carru!
effects. You need only 4 hours of light activity to gain the
benefits of a long rest. You are not required to make saves for
a Forced March.
Thri-kreen Weapon Training. You are proficient with the
gythka, chatkcha, and your claws and bite.
Claws. Your claws can be used to make a single natural
attack for 1d4 + Strength modifier slashing damage. At 5th
level, this increases to 2d4.
Bite. Your bite can be used to make a natural attack for
1d4 + Strength modifier piercing damage. At 5th level, you
add thri-kreen venom to your bite. A target must make a
Constitution save or be poisoned for 1 minute; if failed by 5
or more, the target is paralyzed for the duration. The target
repeats the save at the beginning of its turn to end the effect.
The DC is 8 + proficiency bonus + Constitution modifier.
Additional Arms. You have two ancillary arms below your
main ones. Each of these weaker arms can hold items but not
effectively wield weapons or shields. You may use your extra
arms to stow or retrieve one item each turn without using an
action and may freely swap items between your arms without
using an action.
20
PART 3
CHARACTER CLASSES
BARBARIAN
T
he main sources of barbarians are slave tribes
and hunter-gatherer cultures from beyond the PATH
Tablelands. Life among slave tribes is often At

brutal and short. A barbarian might be a sole ne
survivor of a raid or monster attack. She might Th
be an exile or returned to her tribe to find it al
gone. Barbarian halfling tribes that draw sh
power from the spirits can be found in the forest ridge, and th
no matter their location, all share a common manifestation of ch
fury. For some, it comes from within, amplified by horrific life
events, and for others, it may come from unity with ancient
spirits, contacted through rituals whose ways are PRO
documented only in oral tradition, to be lost if the tribe is ever The
lost. Sun.
Use the default rules for barbarians unless a change is this
indicated below. subt
for d
CHANGES
PATH OF THE TOTEM.
Replace Bear with Klar, a massive Kodiak bear with

chitinous plate on the back, a stub tail that helps it balance
when standing, and covered in thick sandy fur. It is one of
the most feared predators in the land.
Replace Eagle with Kes-trekel, a deadly carrion bird with
black plumage and crimson red head whose croak is
considered a harbinger of death.
Replace Wolf with Dagorran, a fearsome frog-like reptilian
pack hunter able to track prey psionically for days or week
without relenting.
PATH OF THE STORM HERALD (XANATHAR)
No changes to Desert.
Replace "Sea" with "Air." At 6th, replace breathe
underwater and swim features with “you take half damage
from falling.” At 14th, replace “struck with wave” with
“struck by a powerful gust of wind.”
Replace "Tundra" with “Mountains.” At 3rd level, change
“icy spirits” to “earthen spirits.” At 6th, replace resistance
to cold with force. Replace immunity to extreme cold with
“gain advantage against effects that would knock you
prone.” Replace make ice with “as an action, you can
touch sand or silt and turn a 5 foot square of it into a solid,
non-difficult terrain that can support any amount of weight
for 1 minute. At 14th, replace “magical frost” with
“magical stone.”
21
BARD
T
he minstrels of Athas are entertainers to the CLASS CHANGES
wealthy and powerful elite of the city-states.
Singers, acrobats, poets, dancers, and Instruments of Athas: Common instruments and their
storytellers, minstrels tour the cities of Athas prices if not listed in the PHB are: lap harp (30cp, 6lbs.), lyre,
in troupes or individually, making a living with lute, reed pipe (2cp, 1 lb.), horn trumpet (3cp, 2 lbs.), and
their wits and talents. Among them, hiding in drum. Unless one has access to extravagant resources, these
plain sight, are an offshoot mutation of wizards have no metal components.
who have, over time, come to utilize magic without
spellbooks, augmented by music. To survive and avoid the
fate of most wizards, they take their natural affinity to music Music of Athas. Slower, haunting voices punctuated with the
and have mixed with the minstrel culture. pluck of stringed instruments are the most popular kind.
By tradition all but the poorest or most suspicious of hosts
are proud to open their doors to traveling performers.
Hosting a minstrel or sponsoring a troupe’s performance Defiling. Bards are subject to the rules of defiling contained
reflects well on the host, and most Athasians are eager to in the wizard section.
forget their troubles with a few hours of song and dance.
Nobles often send troupes of minstrels to one another as
gifts; it is seen as a great insult to refuse such a gift, even College of Glamour (Xanathar). Does not exist.
when all involved know that minstrels are often spies or
assassins.
Fortunate minstrels are highly paid companions to nobility,
trusted advisors or agents who enjoy the most intimate BARD AND "BARD"
confidences of their patrons. Minstrels are often retained by The people of Athas widely accept that even the
noble houses to tutor young nobles or teach them about the most shabbily dressed troubadour might be an
world. They might serve as bodyguards and fighting undercover spy or assassin. The term "bard" is
instructors at the same time. Minstrels who belong to a used interchangeably for any performer, whether
troupe lack the comfort and trust bestowed on a kept they have arcane talent or not, and could include a
minstrel, but they enjoy the freedom to travel and the aid of a charming rogue assassin who can play the lyre.
network of informants and allies. The poorest and most Most civilized creatures would, however, kill a bard
humble minstrels are simple wandering storytellers or on sight if they learned the bard had arcane talent.
jugglers who perform for their supper from night to night. Those with it take great measure to hide their
Many minstrels have a dark side they conceal beneath their powers. If a sorcerer king learns of the existence of
charm and talent. Those with ambition and ruthlessness find a caster-bard in his city, he will take great steps to
opportunities in the employ of the elite classes. Minstrels ensure the bard is destroyed.
often lead double lives as blackmailers, thieves, spies, or
assassins; a minstrel’s visit or a troupe’s performance might
conceal a mission of espionage or murder. They are
renowned as masters of poison, concealed weapons, and
subtle trickery. Even the humblest wandering minstrel with
threadbare cloak and battered lyre might be more than he or
she seems there’s no better spy than someone who seems
harmless and is welcome wherever he or she goes.
The most dangerous of these - spellcasting bards - are
employed in stables by sorcerer kings and employed
ruthlessly against their most dangerous and well-protected
foes.
Use the default rules for bards unless a change is indicated
below.
22
CLERIC
T
he clerics who inhabit the wastes of Athas are Bonus Language. You can speak the Primordial language of
very different from those of a standard D&D your element at 1st level.
campaign. They do not pray to patron deities, Spell changes: Create or Destroy Water affects and
for they have no deities. Clerics beneath the produces only 1 gallon per casting and at each higher spell
dark sun pledge themselves to the very powers slot. Only Water clerics can learn this spell. The spell Create
that dwell on the elemental planes. Like the Food and Water does not exist.
Athasian deserts, the elemental powers are
neither benevolent nor malevolent, caring only that their AIR CLERICS
natural forms are preserved in the material world. To Clerics who make pacts with the Plane of Air are perhaps the
preserve what they can in a dying world, the elements forge most misunderstood of all the elemental clerics. They are
pacts with a select few beings and through them hope to wanderers, diviners, travelers, and mystics. Like the winds,
replenish a decaying planet to the ancient, carefree days of their minds are constantly wandering, and they rarely seem
power. focused on a current problem or situation.
The clerics who do the elementals' bidding are a strange Air clerics prize freedom over all. They loathe restriction in
and varied lot. Some teach crop rotation in order to protect movement, personalities, beliefs, practices, clothing, and any
and restore the earth of the harsh planet. Others command attempt to impose limitations. This makes them enemies of
the power of flame for little more than vengeance’s sake. bondage and slavery. The growing power of the sun has made
Whatever their motivations, each cleric is bound and sworn the air angry, dry and lifeless, unable to power hurricanes and
to preserve her patron element in the physical world. Few typhoons. Air clerics are obligated to protect earth and water
ever renounce the solemn agreement: to forsake the Pact is in the hopes mighty forests might sway again and raging
to incur the wrath of beings who possess the raw power of oceans fill the silt basins, bringing back unbridled freedom.
the elements.
AIR INITIATION
ELEMENTAL PACT The test of the air cleric is perhaps the most
The pacts forged by the elemental beings with the terrifying of the elemental initiations. A cleric and
mortals who serve them are strange and terrible her mentor meditate for up to two weeks atop the
contracts. The elementals demand nothing less highest mountain they can find. When the initiate
than the entire lives of the clerics, spent in total feels ready, she walks to an overhand and leaps
service and obedience to their element. In from the precipice, throwing off the shackles of
exchange, the elements bestow what powers they the earth and giving herself completely to the wind.
have to give upon their clerics. Some are great, As she falls, the air spirits may speak with her and
some weak, but all of them demand the cleric's forge a pact of air, lowering her softly to the
total commitment. The pact is signed during the ground. If not, she likely dies.
cleric’s initiation, if she succeeds; failure means
insanity, death, and occasionally even worse fates.
Violations of the various pacts are dealt with Air can be destructive and powerful, but it also can distract
quickly and without pity. and obscure. Choose either the Tempest or Trickery domain
from the PHB, adjusted as follows:
Use the default rules for clerics unless a change is indicated
below. Air Weapon Proficiencies: At 1st level you gain proficiency
with all ammunition weapons. This replaces the Tempest
CLASS CHANGES bonus proficiency and is added to the Trickster domain.
New Domains. The traditional domains are replaced with
Air (also known as storm), Earth (sand), Fire (sun) and TEMPEST (FURY OF THE STORM) DOMAIN SPELLS
Water (rain). Cleric
Holy Symbol. Traditional symbols are replaced with a Level Spells
physical embodiment of your element. Earth clerics 1st feather fall, thunderwave
commonly use small chunks of granite, quartz, or precious
metal, and those with resources may mount it in a staff or 3rd gust of wind, shatter
medallion. A water cleric likely has a vial of pure water worn 5th call lightning, fly
around the neck, though a waterskin of untainted water could
suffice. Fire clerics prefer obsidian stone, often carved into 7th
conjure minor elementals (air), freedom of
the shape of flames. Air clerics are the most fortunate, not movement
tied by material possessions, and may use a gentle puff of 9th conjure elemental (air), destructive wave
their own breath as a holy symbol.
23
Channel Divinity: Replace Guided Strike with "Rock Solid."
TRICKSTER (THE ELUSIVE WIND) DOMAIN SPELLS
You can use your reaction when being hit to gain resistance F
Cleric to all damage from that hit except psychic damage, and you W
Level Spells are immune to effects from that hit that would knock you ta
1st disguise self, unseen servant
prone or shove you. At 6th level, rename War God's Blessing b
to "Earth Fury." in
3rd mirror image, silence in
tu
5th blink, dispel magic “
conjure minor elementals (air), dimension
NATURE (THE CYCLE OF CREATION) DOMAIN SPELLS v
7th fa
door Cleric
9th conjure elemental (air), mislead Level Spells
1st animal friendship, speak with animals
Trickster Divine Strike: replace poison damage with 3rd barkskin, spike growth
lightning damage.
5th plant growth, meld into stone
conjure minor elementals (earth), grasping
EARTH CLERICS 7th
vine
Closely tied to nature, earth priests understand the true 9th conjure elemental (earth), insect plague
nature of the cycle of life. When something dies, its organic
material is returned to the soil to provide life for another, and Replace Master of Nature with "Avatar of Earth." At 17th
in another form. Therefore, the earth clerics. outlook on life level, you gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and
is a utilitarian one. The death of a comrade, though tragic, is slashing damage from non-magical sources.
simply one stage in nature’s endless chain of creation and
annihilation. GRAVE (THE CYCLE OF ANNIHILATION) DOMAIN SPELLS
Because air, fire, and water all depend on growing things
for their enrichment, and because earth alone must sustain Cleric Level Spells
itself, it is the earth clerics who must carry on the burden of 1st bane, false life
preventing the environmental holocaust looming over Athas, 3rd gentle repose, ray of enfeeblement
such as teaching proper agricultural techniques and slaying
defilers who would turn usable elements to ash. For, if they 5th revivify, vampiric touch
do not preserve the land, will not the death of Athas weigh 7th conjure minor elementals (earth), death ward
upon their shoulders?
9th antilife shell, conjure elemental (earth)
EARTH INITIATION
When a mentor believes that a disciple is ready,
after meditation, the initiate is buried alive in a FIRE CLERICS
fertile land at dawn and must commune with the Fire is the feared domain of destructive power, rarely seen as
spirits of the earth to sustain her. When the sun nurturing and life-giving. Most fire clerics are impulsive and
goes down, the novice either emerges, unscathed destructive like their element, and seen as madmen who
and empowered, or likely she dies and feeds the randomly destroy precious organic material. Yet, fire wipes
earth. away the old so the land can grow back stronger. They
sometimes jest “to destroy the world is to destroy the
defilers,” and no one is quite sure if they are truly joking.
All things return to the earth and all elements are dependent Fire clerics are expected to preserve Athas so it can be
on the earth. This gives Earth clerics diversity in their destroyed again and grow back stronger. They encourage the
selection of powers. Choose from the War, Nature, or Grave growth of forests, cities, and fields. This pact leads them to
(Xanathar) domains, adjusted as follows: directly oppose all defilers and sorcerer kings, but their ways
WAR (THE SLOW ANGER) DOMAIN SPELLS are too eccentric to form lasting alliances with druids, who
share the same goal.
Cleric Level Spells
1st shield of faith, thunderous smite
3rd magic weapon, spiritual weapon
5th elemental weapon (acid), spirit guardians
7th conjure minor elementals (earth), stoneskin
9th conjure elemental (earth), wall of stone
24
Fire is a destroyer and creator. Choose from the Light (sun) Wate
or Forge (Xanathar) domains, adjusted as follows: WATER INITIATION Life o
When a mentor feels a student is ready, they begin
LIGHT (THE SEARING FORCE) DOMAIN SPELLS the long journey to a rare body of water such as
Cleric Level Spells Lake Island or the Lake of the Golden Dreams. For a Quen
day they meditate on the lake’s edge, and at dusk, anyth
1st burning hands, hellish rebuke the student enters the water and surrenders to the
depths. If accepted, the initiate spends the night in LIFE
3rd flaming sphere, scorching ray
the dark water forging a pact with babbling spirits.
Cl
5th daylight, fireball If not, the student likely drowns. Le
7th conjure minor elementals (fire), wall of fire
1
9th conjure elemental (fire), flame strike
3
Bonus Cantrip. Replace light with produce flame.
5
7
FORGE (THE FIRE THAT CREATES) DOMAIN SPELLS 9
Cleric
Level Spells Div
1st continual flame, searing smite
3rd heat metal, magic weapon KNOW
elemental weapon (fire), protection from Cleri
5th
enegy
1
7th conjure minor elementals (fire), wall of fire
3
9th conjure elemental (fire), creation
5
Channel Divinity. Replace Artisan's Blessing with "Fiery 7
Defense." At 2nd level, as an action, you channel fiery energy
into an ally that you can see within 30 feet of you. The first 9
time that ally is hit by an attack within the next minute, the
attacker takes fire damage equal to 2d10 + your cleric level. Ch
also g
Vis
WATER CLERICS as an
Water is the rarest of domains, life-giving and life-taking, with
a severe and unforgiving animosity to any who would defile a
well or plants. Clerics of water instinctively sense a duty to
perform an age-old function of being healer and bringer of life
regardless of the morals of the target, and they bear a
sadness to the moisture that has been lost by defilement.
Some eventually go insane, consumed by the thirst of this
land and an inability to quench it. They worship by finding the
dew of the morning and encouraging it, or keeping the
lifeblood from needlessly spilling onto barren land (if it falls
on fertile land, that is another matter). Because water can be
found in all living things, they have access to powers that can
restore, or manipulate, beings.
25
DRUID
U
nlike Athasian clerics, druids are solitary ARCHETYPE CHANGES Circl
creatures. They live off the land, within the Circle of Land. The terrain of Athas is much different than beast
land, and they have sacrificed their entire lives that of most D&D worlds. Remove Arctic, Coast is renamed
for the land. But, unlike clerics, druids Oasis, Forest includes jungles, Grassland includes savannah,
concentrate their considerable abilities in a scrublands, and verdant belts, Swamp includes mud flats and Circl
single area: their guarded lands. A barren salt marshes, Underdark is renamed Cave.
stretch of desert, a sparse section of scrub
land, or perhaps a sparkling oasis, that is the home of the Circl
druid, and his source of power. One small preserve, protected to Fe
from the dark magic of the defilers. unde
They are the bane of sorcerer kings, eternally at war with Klar
them, but hunted to small enough numbers to no longer be Unico
considered a viable threat. The few druids bide their time, enigm
training and rebuilding their ranks. It is said one day the few d
druids will rise from the earth with their fallen brothers and ancie
erase the sorcerer kings from Athas. BEA
CR
DRUID PACT
0
Unlike clerics, druids are not bound by the desires
of the elements but are tasked with defending the 0
raw elements of the world. They do not undergo
0
rites of initiation but instead apprentice under
other druids. Months may pass before a mentor 0
believes the initiate is ready to speak with the
elements. At that time, the student is allowed to 0
commune in a deep trance with the spirits. There 0
are very few rejections as druids tend to carefully
weed and groom candidates before ever allowing 0
them to commune. In such events, the student is 1/8
generally killed and returned to the earth.
1/8
1/8
Use the default rules for druids unless a change is indicated 1/8
below.
1/4
GUARDED LAND 1/4
Choose one specific geographic feature to be your Guarded 1/4
Land. This may be a particular stretch of desert, an oasis, a
1/4
cave, a belt of scrub grass, and so on. While you are within the
boundaries of your Guarded Land, you are under a constant
1/4
pass without trace effect and can speak with animals at will. 1/4
1/4
CLASS CHANGES 1/4

See the Beast Shapes section for Wild Shape options. 1/4
Replace Religion skill option with Stealth. 1/4
The spell goodberry does not exist. Create or destroy
water only affects 1 gallon per casting, and another gallon 1/2
per slot above 1st. 1/2
1/2
1/2
1/2
1/2
26
BEAST SHAPES, CONTINUED
CR Beast
1 Crodlu
1 Dagorran
1 Erdland
1 Giant ant lion
1 Giant spider
2 Baazrag, boneclaw
2 Cha'thrang
2 Giant constrictor snake (swim)
2 Lirr
2 Razorwing (fly)
2 Tagster/Tigone
3 Cilops
3 Crodlu, heavy
3 Dune reaper, drone
3 Fordorran
3 Giant scorpion
3 Inix
3 Kirre
3 Pterrax (fly)
6 Klar
WILD SHAPE AND PSIONICS

The challenge rating of beasts include their innate
psionic abilities, which are assumed when the
druid takes that form.
27
FIGHTER
T
he fighter is universal no matter what world Fighters function as in the PHB with changes as below:
she may be found. Most serve as gladiators,
soldiers, merchant guards, or mercenaries. ARCHETYPE CHANGES
Most gladiators are slaves, but some can make
a lucrative living as freemen, training a stable Eldritch Fighter, Arcane Archer, and Cavalier (Xanathar).
or earning prizes. The city-states rely on slave Do not exist.
conscripts for the bulk of their forces, but all
maintain a core of elite, trained soldiers such as the all-
female Shadow Consorts of Nibenay or Urik’s Obsidian
Guard. The merchant houses employ their own armies to Samurai (Xanathar). Rename Gladiator. While any fighter
protect trade, including well-trained cavalry and foot soldiers. can take a weapon and enter the arena, there are a select few
Nobles keep their own bodyguards and small forces, who have been trained to dominate and please the crowd.
considered a fairly easy job since most nobles are content to Outside the arena, this self-control translates well to
avoid conflict. Soldiers of fortune can be found in all settings, command of soldiers.
and a few have united to form small units operating from
fortified bases, such as the Black Reavers outside of Urik.
Adamant (Psion's Primer). Available as a psionic subtype.
MONK
T
here are no monasteries on Athas. Rather, a ARCHETYPE CHANGES
style of fighting emerged from the gladiator
pits in response to a demand for unarmed Way of the Shadow. Does not exist.
combat, and from those combatants, nobles
and templars bred in psionic abilities to create
masters of the body. Due to their popular Way of the Elements. Like a cleric, the monk gives herself to
crowd appeal, enough have been granted a particular element (see Cleric, above) and is subject to the
freedom that they have spread out and trained others, or same loss of all class powers if violating tents of that element.
sought greater fame and fortune in the sands. A master monk
is as rare as steel and just as dangerous.
Psionic monk gladiators are considered by their owners to Way of the Sun Soul. A version of the sun cleric, subject to
be less trouble than a true psion because their powers tend to the same loss of all class powers if violating tenets of that
stay restricted to the physical form. A monk who displays a element.
greater array of powers might be put down instead.
Soulknife (Psion's Primer). Available as a psionic subtype.
Monks function as in the PHB with changes as below:
28
PSION & EMPATH
P
sionics are a daily part of life in Athas and all
living creatures will have exposure to it. It is not Path of the Mindbender
unexpected that the local smith might have When people learn to use psionics, they're taught to create a
some latent talent to bend leather in a nexus - a point in the center of their beings where physical,
particular way that improves the product. Even mental, and spiritual energy can be harnessed. It is the union
the beasts of the desert likely have some ability of these powers that allows mindbenders to perform the
that improves their survivability. Every sorcerer remarkable feats they're capable of.
king and most merchant houses keep a stable of powerful
psionic users on staff, and in cities those who display a While many beings can discover the strength of the Will
greater degree of power are carefully watched for signs of within themselves, most who go on to study the Way require
disloyalty. guidance from a teacher. There are schools of the Way in
every city of Athas, and merchant houses and noble families
often pay dearly to have their scions educated by the best.
THE WILL AND THE WAY Rarely, the academies waive tuition for a promising student of
The "Will" is one's innate psionic ability, and the the free classes. Slaves are never formally instructed in the
"Way" is the art of studying psionics. Each psion or Way.
empath refers to herself through her focus of In addition to the formal schools, there are wandering
study, and to the common folk, all are commonly teachers or tribal elders who take it upon themselves to
called "mindbenders." instruct those who show promise. Even field slaves may be
instructed by an older, wiser slave in secret sessions. Most of
these tutors can't provide the quality of training that a formal
Every city has psionic trainers and schools of study, and it is curriculum can, but some wandering masters are very
said there is an Order of mindbenders powerful enough to capable and can provide an unrivaled education in the
challenge a sorcerer-king, though if such an Order exists, its psionic arts.
agenda has yet to be known. All races accept and have affinity
for psionics. Even so, laws of the cities take into account
psionic powers. Crimes committed by a compelled person A Rare Path
are punished as if the psionic user committed them, and Although thousands of Athasians command a unique talent,
mind-reading against non-slaves is forbidden. true masters of the Way are still rare. It takes exceptional
The Empath follows a philosophy of study that belief ability and dedication to take up the study of the Way, and
equals reality. They have learned to translate their emotions many do not progress far. Less than one person in one
into raw power, affecting the emotions of others and hundred who formally study the Way can be considered a
eventually bending reality. true mindbender.
Psions are scholars of the mind, controlling the physical Because trained psionicists are scarce, they are highly
world around them through intense study of particular valued by many elements of Athasian society. Unlike wizards,
disciplines. psionicists are free of the taint of magic and need not
The Rules for both classes, as well as 3 subtypes, are disguise their calling. They owe no loyalty to the sorcerer-
contained in the DMs Guild product "Psion's Primer," found kings, unlike the templars. Even clerics and druids have
at: elemental powers and guarded lands that they must place
first.
Any psionicist willing to sell her services will find there is
www.dmsguild.com/product/299141/The-Korranberg- great demand for someone skilled in the mental arts.
Chronicle-Psions-Primer--A-Complete-Psionics-System Merchant houses, psionic schools, nobles, and templars
routinely employ mindbenders to help them against their
enemies. In fact, it is unusual to encounter a mindbender
Alternately, if this product is unavailable to you, the UA who has no patron or employer. They are often seen as
version of the "mystic" can adequately serve as a Psion, if troublemakers.
reflavored for the setting. Its free online rules are found here:
media.wizards.com/2017/dnd/downloads/UAMystic3.pdf
29
RANGER
T
he wilds of Athas are a treacherous place, and Natural Explorer. Replace terrain with Sandy Wastes,
the skills of a ranger are most often learned as Stony Barrens, Rocky Badlands, Salt Flats, Scrub Plains, and
a guide, hunter, or scout for a military Silt. Forest may be added at DM discretion but is virtually
operation. Rangers are found in every race, unknown to any but halflings.
most prominently among halflings. To the Difficult terrain does not slow the ranger's travel but still
ranger, the seared lands are not an enemy but affects their companions. The ranger gains advantage on
a well respected adversary. Rangers generally navigation checks, not automatic success.
are on good terms with druids, and it is from a druid mentor
that a ranger likely has experienced contact with a Spirit of
the Land that can bestow upon her certain powers. Spell changes. The spell goodberry does not exist.
Rangers function as in the PHB with changes as below:
ARCHETYPE CHANGES
Favored enemies. Remove celestials, dragons, and fey. Horizon Walker (Xanathar). Does not exist.
ROGUE
D
ark Sun rogues come from all walks of life: ARCHETYPE CHANGES
slave, freeman, merchant and noble. Rogues are Arcane Trickster. Does not exist.
common amongst merchant houses as astute
guides, shrewd bargainers, and smugglers.
Every city-state has a thieves' guild, and they Lurk (Psion's Primer). Available as a subtype.
often deal with wizards (no questions asked),
who pay fees not only for illegal components but
for protection and anonymity. Skilled rogue performers are
referred to as "bards," with the presumption they might also
be serving as a covert agent or assassin. Poison has no
stigma on Athas and likely to be used by any rogue. Rogues
function as in the PHB with changes as below:
WARLOCK
W
arlocks are extremely rare on Athas because
they must derive their power from a patron,
and to all but the most learned of sages, there
are only two sources for that power: sorcerer PATRONS
kings and the elemental powers. Nearly all Players may choose between the Great Old One (patron
warlocks that are encountered are "Templars," from the Black), Celestial (fire/sun elemental patron),
men and women of all races imbued with the Fiend, and Hexblade (Xanathar)(patron from the Gray).
essence of their god-kings and queens and empowered with Other patrons either do not exist or are within the sole
the authority over life and death of the commoner. province of the sorcerer kings. The DM will replace the lore
But, for a very select few, power comes from another contained in the default books with appropriate Dark Sun
source. The total number of mortals who wield these powers literature.
and make a pact with the unknown can likely be counted on
one hand. Their agendas may be alien to the general interests FIENDS ON ATHAS
of most: survive and prosper. While Athas is not directly linked to the Outer
Planes, fiends, but not other outerplanar beings,
have, for reasons unknown, the ability to traverse
Warlocks function as in the PHB with changes as below: the planes to Athas, but again for reasons
unknown, rarely do so unless summoned by
sorcerer kings or a Dragon.
Defiling. Warlocks are subject to the rules of defiling
contained in the wizard section.
30
WIZARD
A
rcane magic is outlawed in every city-state. In Z'tal (chirping feathered lizard often used as food, gets
secret, wizards still study the arcane arts, alarmed when party members stray and often bumps into PRE
drawn to it even at the risk of their lives, from your leg) Atha
small cabals to isolated ancient text study. mat
Wizards are universally distrusted, for while king
one may profess to not defile, the temptation
will always be there, to gain greater power "just dry.
this once" and "for the greater good." To the druid or they
elemental cleric, there is no greater affront than seeing the defi
precious life of Athas turn to ash, justified for a brief need. perm
PC wizards are likely revolutionaries, naturally in in t
opposition to sorcerer kings. They must take extreme steps even
to hide their nature, including from their own companions. If thos
you play a wizard, think about a "cover story." Many wizards
pretend to be mindbenders or clerics. wiza
them
sour
HIDING A SPELLBOOK
lives
Wizards learn quickly and share secrets with
friends and family on hiding spellbooks, keeping alwa
one step ahead if possible from templar searches. ther
Hollowed out walking sticks and weapons with bett
scroll spellbooks are common, along with pages in th
sewn between two pieces of cloth on items such
as cloaks, and some carve the symbols onto items
such as wooden and bone implements. Some have
even risked inscribing their spells into leather
garments, to be turned inside out when needed. It
has been said a few desperate souls have even
tattooed books onto their own skin. For most, it is
best to find a careful hiding spot in each
civilization.
Wizards function as in the PHB with changes as below:

Add Sleight of Hand to list of skills from which to choose.
The find familiar spell summons creatures native to Dark
Sun but only with the fiendish type. All creatures have AC12,
4 hit points, and 20' movement. The list can include but is
not limited to:
Critic lizard (a tiny, colorful reptile that senses danger,
expects food after fights, is jumpy and paranoid)
Hurrum (flightless beetle that constantly produces a
pleasing humming noise while cooling itself, dies in direct
sunlight and likes to hum songs you are thinking about)
Jank (gold furred ferret-like mammal with poisonous
spurs, likes to stuff its mouth pouches and play with
objects in your packs)
Kivit (gray-furred feline that secretes venomous musk to
ward off predators, hates being inside and musk spell
intensifies when upset)
Wrab (black-scaled winged serpent that senses emotional
states, often trained for diplomatic encounters, likes to
lick blood from your wounds and wrap around your arm
when you attempt to persuade others, fly)
31
DEFILERS OF ATHAS
W
hen an arcane caster invokes a spell, she Defiler Points CARE
draws upon the life energy of Athas. Most Defiler Effect Earned When
casters are trained to take only what is needed Careful spell 1
numb
because any more kills plant life and renders (mini
the area barren for centuries. Every Distant spell 1
DISTA
spellcaster is aware she is limiting herself by Subtle spell 1 Doub
voluntarily limiting her casting in this way. make
With any spell, she can cost off her self-imposed restrictions Empowered spell 2
in exchange for a rush of power. In doing so, she marks Extended spell 2 SUBT
herself as a defiler - an enemy of the land. Doing so is an evil Cast
act, but many a good-hearted caster has found herself facing Heightened spell 3
EMPO
impending doom and reconsidered this stance. Quickened spell 4 Rerol
Twinned spell 2 per spell level
modi
GAME TERMS EXTE
Recover spell slot as action 2 per spell level
Those who defile can apply a metamagic effect to Doub
their non-cantrip spells. Once the spell is cast, the Cast spell without material
1 per 100cp value minu
land around them turns to barren ash, and the component
caster gains one or more defiler points. A caster HEIG
who defiles even once will track two new scores: When
her current defiler points score, and if applicable, disad
her permanent defiler aura. The DM determines the QUIC
terrain, which determines the amount of Chan
vegetation from which defiling power can be taken. 1 acti
TWIN
DEFILER POINTS When
Whenever you defile, you gain defiler points based on the doesn
effect applied according to the Defiling Benefits and Cost in ran
Table. These points have an immediate and cumulative targe
negative effect, applied immediately from the Accumulated RECO
Defiler Points Table. All points can be shed in one of two As an
ways: assuming the taint or meditation with the land. draw
The number of points you can spend on an effect is limited regai
to half your caster level (round down). CAST
You cannot defile if the area has been been drained of Cast
vegetative life.
Accu
Defiling Benefits and Cost Table
Defi
Poin
1+
11
21
31
41
32
PURGING DEFILER POINTS
A defiler has two options to purge points and remove the DEFILING EFFECT
negative effects of defiling. In most preserver circles, it is Every bit of nonsentient plant life in the immediate vicinity is
considered better to die than defile, and even if one can turned to ash, and the land is rendered sterile, unable to
remove the taint of defiling, that person will be seen as a sustain life for possibly decades or centuries after. For one
defiler ("once a defiler always a defiler.") year, no matter what is done, the defiled area can never be
viable. Even afterwards, all the lifegiving nutrients have been
ASSUME THE TAINT leeched from the soil, requiring skilled intervention before
At the end of a long rest, you may purge away all your defiler even one blade of grass can grow and taking up to centuries
points and their negative effects, including any exhaustion to naturally restore.
caused by defiling. Add half of your defiler points to your When attempting to defile or entering combat, the DM
permanent defiler aura. Reset your defiler points to zero. determines the terrain zone, which sets the number of defiler
DEFILER AURA points that can be assumed in that area until is completely
If you defile even once and assume the taint, you permanently devoid of life.
gain an aura that, while having no apparent consequences,
marks you for those who can detect such auras, such as a DEFILING BY TERRAIN (OPTIONAL)
druid. Certain creatures and casters have effects that Determining and tracking the exact radius of
specifically target defilers, and your aura functions as a defiling, and tracking that radius again if a caster
penalty on your saving throws against those anti-defiler were to move, is bulky and would slow down
effects. There is no limit to how high your defiler aura score gameplay. In many events, the exact radius defiled
may be. will have no impact if not tracked. Tables for both
are presented.
EXAMPLE OF DEFILING
Carroz, a 4th level wizard, is being chased by
templars. Although taught by his mentor to never Optional: The area affected depends on the number of
defile, he has nearly exhausted his spells. He knows defiler points spent and the available vegetation in the area. If
the king's gardens are nearby and figures, just this there is no vegetation within range or the area is despoiled
once, to save his life, he must draw more energy completely, the caster cannot defile.
than the plants can handle. He is surprised at the
volume of energy that comes at his behest, and Defiling Points
nearby a century-old tree begins to wither. Carroz Terrain Available
restores a 1st level slot by taking on 2 defiler Lush (forest, garden) 100
points. He is limited to half his level in points he
can assume per casting, in this case 2. He feels Abundant (farm, grassland, mud flat) 20
slightly ill then points his finger at the lead templar Fertile (oasis, inactive farm, scrub
and draws even more energy, destroying the 10
plain)
ancient yew tree and twinning a 1st level witch bolt
(2 more points) at the first two enemies he sees. Infertile (rocky badlands, mountains) 5
Carroz now has a total of 4 defiler points, which Barren (boulder field, sandy wastes,
give him a -2 to Charisma and Wisdom checks. He 3
salt flat)
escapes and finds a safe house but doesn't have
time to meditate so he assumes the taint. All of his
defiler points are reduced to 0, the negative effects Optional (radius): Each effect applied within 1 minute of
go away, and he now has a permanent defiler score the last increases the radius by 50% instead of 100%
of 2. His fellow preservers need never know, he distance.
thinks.
Terrain Radius Defiled
1 ft. per defiler
Lush (forest, garden)
MEDITATING point
Meditating in an undefiled area of Athas is the only way to 5 ft. per defiler
eliminate defiler points and not accumulate a permanent Abundant (farm, grassland, mud flat)
point
defiler aura. The caster is giving a small portion of her life
energy back to the land as atonement for what she has done. Fertile (oasis, inactive farm, scrub 10 ft. per defiler
This takes 1 day of uninterrupted contact with the earth or plain) point
plants of the region per point to be purged, in at least 8 hour 20 ft. per defiler
increments in which the caster can do nothing else but light Infertile (rocky badlands, mountains)
point
activity like eating and drinking.
Barren (boulder field, sandy wastes, 30 ft. per defiler
salt flat) point
33
Combating Defilers: New
Druid spells
BACKLASH
1st level abjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet (40' radius)
Components: V, S, M (a thorn)
Duration: 24 hours or until discharged
Also known as the preserver’s scourge, this spell makes the
ground dangerous to defilers. This spell only affects a
creature with at least one point in defiler aura. Should a
defiler try to tap into land that is protected by a backlash, she
automatically takes 1d6 force damage. The defiler must
make a Constitution save or the spell they were casting is
lost. Defilers have penalty to the saving throw equal to their
defiler aura points. Once it has inflicted damage, the spell is
discharged and the ground returns to normal. Only one
backlash can be cast on any given plot of ground.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell
slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage dealt increases by 1d6
for each spell slot above 1st.
DETECT DEFILER
1st level divination (ritual)
Range: Self
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes
For the duration, you sense the presence of defilers and
where the defiler is located. A defiler must have at least 1
point in her defiler aura to be detected. You learn the number
of permanent defiler aura points each defiler has, and you
learn whether the defiler has less, more, or the same number
of Hit Dice as you.
This spell can penetrate most barriers, but it is blocked by
1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead,
or 3 feet of wood or dirt.
REVENGE OF THE LAND
5th level evocation
Range: Self (30-foot radius)
Components: V, S, M (a live seed pushed into the ground at
your feet)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
The life energy of the earth is channeled in translucent arcs
of energy that radiate from the seed in the ground at your feet
and unerringly seek out defilers before returning to the
ground. This spell only affects a creature with at least one
point in defiler aura. A defiler that starts its turn within or
moves into the spell's radius must make a Constitution save.
On a failed save, the defiler takes 4d8 force damage. Defilers
have a penalty to the saving throw equal to their defiler aura
points.
34
PART 4 WILD TALENTS
9. Animal Affinity: As an action, gain either keen senses
(advantage on Tracking checks based on smell) or empathy
(advantage on Wisdom (animal handling) checks) for up to 1
round per level.
19.
impro
speed
turn,
your
20.
from
addit
light
WILD TALENTS
Many of the creatures of Athas have innate psionic ability,
even if they can never approach a mindbender in skill nor
learn any additional skills.
Non-psionic player characters may begin play with a 10. Trail of Destruction: As an action, you can determine
random d20 wild talent. If a player has a 16 in either if defiling has occurred within 100 feet of you within the last
Wisdom, Constitution, or Intelligence, they may modify their 24 hours. Your sight gives you an accurate picture of the level
roll by 1; a 17 by 2; and an 18 or greater by 3. of the most recent spell cast and if applicable the defiler aura
Once used, a wild talent cannot be used again until after a points of that caster, though not their identity.
long rest. Duration effects require no Concentration and can 11. Animate Shadow: As an action, make a target
be ended as an action. creature's shadow move and animate as you desire in an area
you can see up to 120' away. It cannot actually affect anything
DETERMINING WILD TALENTS in a material way and must remain on a surface large enough
Roll 1d20 for your power. to display the shadow. You may maintain this for 1 round per
1. Spirit Sense: As a bonus action, read the aura of a level and must use a bonus action to make it move and
humanoid or undead that you can see within 30' to learn if animate.
they have less Hit Dice than your level. 12. Wild Leap: As a bonus action, until the end of your
2. Biofeedback: As a reaction, redirect blood flow to turn you may immediately make a second jump after making
mitigate harm from a single source of bludgeoning, piercing, a first jump. Your second jump can be up to a 15' long jump
or slashing damage that you can see. Reduce the damage by or a 5' high jump, allowing you to combine jump heights.
your proficiency bonus. 13. Body Equilibrium. As a bonus action, adjust your
3. Levitate: As an action, vertically move your body plus up body's weight so that you can move across semi-solid
to 10 pounds per level up to 10'. At the end of your next turn, surfaces such as silt and sand without sinking. This effect
you gently float to the ground. Movement while aloft is the ceases at the end of your turn.
same as the levitate spell. 14. Far Hearing. As a bonus action, focus on a square
4. Control Flame: As an action, animate an unattended within 60 feet of you. Until the end of your next turn, you can
flame source no larger than a 5' cube and move it to an hear as if you occupied that square.
unoccupied space you can see within 30'. The flame cannot 15. Psionic Sense. As an action, sense whether any
move through an occupied square, and cannot ignite or creature within 120' of you is maintaining a psionic power. At
damage objects while moving. 5th level, you also determine all their general directions but
5. Deflect Strike: As a reaction, psychokinetically redirect not exact location or numbers.
an attack on you from a single source you can see. Gain +1 16. Thought Projection. As a bonus action, send a mental
AC possibly causing it to miss you. message of 1 word in a language in which your are proficient
6. Absorb Sickness: As an action, touch a creature to to a target you can see, up to 120'. Spells cannot be delivered
transfer either a disease or the poisoned condition from it to in this way.
you, immediately gaining all effects on the target. 17. Martial Trance. As an action, you focus your mind
7. Control Sound: As an action, create a 5 foot aura of against mental attacks. You gain +1 on saving throws against
sound dampening around you that lasts for 1 round per level mind-affecting abilities for up to 1 round per level but are
and moves with you. Any speech into or out of this aura is reduced to 0 movement during this time.
muffled enough to be incomprehensible, and creatures within 18. Graft Weapon. As a bonus action, a one-handed melee
gain advantage on hearing-based Stealth checks. weapon you hold becomes one with your hand for up to 1
8. Photosynthesis: Transform light into healing energy for round per level. You cannot let go of the weapon or be
you. If you engage in light activity only while exposed to disarmed. Your first successful hit does extra damage equal
sunlight for at least 1 hour, you are healed for 1 hit point per to your proficiency bonus and ends the wild talent.
level.
35
PART 5
PERSONALITY AND
LITERACY IS OUTLAWED
Sorcerer-kings in all cities outlaw literacy except
among the ruling class. Slaves can be executed if
they are caught reading. By default, player
BACKGROUND
characters are illiterate unless justified.
LANGUAGES ALT
Standard Languages Th
Th
Language Typical Speakers we
Common All but halfling and thri-kreen Th
W
Dwarvish Dwarves, some muls th
Elvish Elves, some half-elves Th
Giant Beast-head giants, braxat, tareks
to
m
Gith Gith ch
Halfling Halflings, Forest Ridge residents
so
Pterran Pterran, nikaals, ssurrans SKIL
Sign language Humans, elves, half-elves
Athle
conce
Thri-kreen Thri-kreen and m
Ins
Exotic Languages listen
deter
Language Typical Speakers try to
Aarakocra Aarakocra Re
Ancient halfling (dead Historical texts, psionic Sle
language) lore verba
Perce
Draxa (dead language) Historical texts
Primordial Clerics, elementals, drakes N
Psurlonese Psurlons If
E
Yuan-ti Yuan-ti n
w
DARK SUN BACKGROUNDS re
Acolyte and Sailor are not available. Change Folk Hero to e
Slave Hero. Outlander feature grants advantage to foraging B
checks, not automatic success. D
Next, select a Social Standing commensurate to your G
N
background: templar or city official (aristocratic), noble R
(wealthy), merchant (comfortable), freeman/woman (modest), T
slave / tribesman / hermit (wretched to poor. These are U
suggested levels for lifestyle expenses (PHB 157). Only city *
officials, nobles, and merchants are allowed under law to
read and write.
36
PART 6 EQUIPMENT
COMMERCE AND CURRENCY WEAPONS

To understand commerce and equipment in Dark Sun, one Metal weapons are extremely rare and highly coveted, a sign
must understand Athas is a metal-poor world with only of wealth and power. Most weapons are made from an
handful of iron mines. Many items that would be crafted from amalgamation of obsidian, bone, or wood. It is not
metal are instead made from bone, stone, or ceramics. uncommon to find a wooden club with a bone spike in the
Virtually all city-states issue coins minted in tribute to their end and obsidian shards embedded into it. When listing a
sorcerer kings. The most common coin is the ceramic piece weapon on your gear, it should be referred to by its material.
(cp). Gold is too scarce to make good currency and silver is Some weapons cannot be manufactured from certain
only slightly more common. For millennia, templar-controlled materials. There is no such thing as an obsidian bow, and the
kilns have manufactured ceramic coins from clay, glazed in rule of common sense applies in such matters.
specific colors to discourage forgery. Notches on the “tails”
side radiate from a center point so you can break the ceramic WEAPON MATERIALS TABLE
piece into 10 pie shaped “bits.” A bit can generally buy a GP cost from
cheap night’s rest on an inn floor, a loaf of bread, or entry into Material PHB Weight
a city state. An unskilled laborer might earn 1 bit a week. The Metal 100% 100%
merchant houses do mint metal coins, but it is rare to see
them in general circulation. Most are reserved for large Non-metal (bone, obsidian, stone,
1% 50%
transactions and when dealing with government. wood)
EXCHANGE RATE
Coin Bit CP SP GP BREAKING WEAPONS
Bit 1 1/10th 1/100th 1/1000th Nonmetal weapons are prone to breaking. Once
per turn, when you do maximum damage on the
Ceramic piece (cp) 10 1 1/10th 1/100th weapon die (e.g. 8 on a 1d8), the weapon has a 1
Silver piece (sp) 100 10 1 1/10th in 20 chance to break, called a Breakage Check. This
does not apply to weapons that fire ammunition
Gold piece (gp) 1000 100 10 1 such as bows. However, non-metal ammunition is
not recoverable.
Once per turn means that no matter how many
BUYING FROM THE PHB attacks you take on your turn, only one breakage
When making non-metal purchases from the PHB, check is made. However, if you make an attack of
simply change the gold piece price to ceramic opportunity as a reaction, it occurs on a different
pieces (cp). Change silver piece prices to bits. turn and breakage checks would apply.
Anything of copper piece value might only be sold Against metal armors, non-metal weapons
in bulk and is treated as 1/10th of a bit, subject to automatically fail a breakage check.
DM approval.
METAL ITEMS FROM THE PHB

All metal items cost the listed gold piece (gp)
price. Items with mixed parts like a chariot almost
always have substitute materials and cost the
ceramic pieces price. So, a metal long sword (15gp
in the PHB) costs 15gp on Athas, or 1500 ceramic
pieces. A long sword made of other materials, such
as obsidian, cost 1% of the PHB cost, or 15cp.
37
WEAPONS AND ARMOR
38
NEW WEAPONS
Weapons are priced as made of non-metal. If a metal weapon is sought or commissioned, it would cost 100x the
listed cost.
Name Cost in cp Damage Weight Properties
Simple Melee Weapons
Datchi club 2 1d8 bludgeon 10 Two-handed, heavy
Talid 18 1d6 pierce 2 Light, immune disarm
Wrist razor 15 1d6 slash 2 Light, finesse, immune disarm
Simple Ranged Weapons
Dejada 10 1d6 bludgeon 2 Ammunition (range 20/60)
Martial Melee Weapons
Alhulak 14 1d6 bludgeon 2 Reach
Cahulak 12 1d6 bludgeon 12 Reach, two-handed, thrown (range 15/40), special
Carrikal 15 1d10 slashing 6 Versatile (1d12)
Dragon paw 15 1d6 pierce 9 Two-handed, finesse, heavy, special
Gouge 16 1d12 pierce 14 Two-handed, reach, heavy, special
Gythka 15 1d6 pierce 12 Two-handed, finesse, heavy, special
Impaler 4 1d8 pierce 5 Versatile (1d10)
Lotulis 10 1d8 slash 4 Two-handed, heavy
Quabone 20 1d8 bludgeon 2 Finesse
Singing sticks 24 1d6 bludgeon 1 Light, finesse
Trikal 11 1d8 slash 5 Two-handed, reach, heavy, polearm
Tortoise blade 30 1d4 slash 8 AC bonus, immune disarm, special
Martial Ranged Weapons
Chatkcha 10 1d6 slash 1/2 Light, finesse, thrown (range 30/90), special
Alternate damage. Add bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing

quality to a weapon.
Deadly. Reroll (once) all 1s on a damage roll. This cannot
SPECIAL WEAPON MATERIALS
be used if another feature allowed a reroll.
There are no silvered or adamantine weapons
available for sale on Athas. Such relics, if they ever
Defensive. As reaction to a melee attack, add +1 to AC. If
existed, would be in the vault of the richest
dual-wielding, add +2. Does not function with a shield.
merchant house or a sorcerer king, or lost beneath Disarming. Gain +1 to disarm attacks, +2 if using weapon
the ruins of a civilization gone eons ago. 2-handed (DMG 271).
Fine. Double weapon's hardness (if any), hit points, and
reduce break chance (if any) by 5% (by 1 on d20).
MASTERWORK WEAPONS (OPTIONAL) High Critical. Any 1s rolled for critical damage are treated
Drawn from Wraith Wright's Comprehensive Equipment as 2s.
Manual, DMGuild Tripping. Gain +1 to shove, +2 if using weapon 2-handed
For 150cp, a weapon can be improved with one unique (PHB 195).
masterwork feature. Weapons cannot be improved more than
once.
Accurate. Reduces AC granted by cover by 1 to
ammunition weapons.
Aerodynamic. Ammunition weapon range increased by
+10/40 and thrown by +5/15.
39
New Weapon Description Trikal. Three blades radially project from the business end of
Alhulak. A blunt grappling hook attached to 5-7 feet of rope a 6 foot shaft. A series of sharp, serrated edges line the shaft
with a 2 foot-long handle. The bladed head is commonly below the blades while the far end of the weapon is weighted
carved from mekillot bone while the handle is wood or bone. to balance it.
Cahulak. A pair of alhulak heads tied to either end of a 10- Tortoise Blade. A short, sharp blade attached to the shell
12-foot rope. As a melee weapon, the wielder holds one blade of a desert tortoise. It straps to the forearm and provides
cluster in each hand and swings them in unison or protection like a buckler with +1 to armor class. It cannot be
succession at the foe. Used this way, the wielder can strike combined with a shield (the better bonus applies), but if a pair
with the off-hand as a bonus action and the weapon has are worn, their effects stack to a maximum of +2.
reach. As a thrown weapon, it tangles around the target like a Wrist Razor. Several blades fastened to a strip of leather
Net (no effect on Huge or larger, DC10 Strength check to free and lashed onto the forearm.
self or another) and causes 1d6 damage when the blades
strike.
Carrikal. The sharpened jawbone of a large creature
lashed to a haft, forming a sharp club with two forward facing
heads.
Chatkcha. This small 3-bladed crystalline throwing wedge
is made exclusively by thri-kreen in a secret process carefully
guarded by them. In their language, it means “rememberer-
who-ends-knowledge,” reflecting it ends awareness by killing
and remembers to return to its thrower. Due to its spin it will
return to a proficient thrower if it misses.
Datchi club. A 4-foot-long head made of dried insect hide
or roots is attached to a 3-foot-long handle, with teeth or
claws embedded in the head, enabling it to create horrible
wounds. It is a crude, common weapon used in the arena.
Dejada. A long, scooped basket is worn on the arm and
used to propel 2-inch ceramic or stone projectiles called
“pelota” at high rates of speed.
Dragon Paw. Popular in arenas, this is a 6-foot-long pole
with a blade on either end. Proficiency allows the wielder to
strike with the off-hand as a bonus action.
Gouge. Worn in an over-the-shoulder harness, this is
commonly found in the Nibenese infantry. A wide blade is
mounted to a 3-foot-long wooden shaft that requires two
hands to wield. One hand goes on a small bar and another on
a grip at the rear of the shaft to increase thrust. The weapon
is wielded much like a shovel.
Gythka. A thri-kreen polearm with wicked crystalline
blades at each end, wielded like a quarterstaff with the ability
to strike with the off-hand as a bonus action. Like the
chatkcha, its manufacture is a closely guarded racial secret.
Impaler. Developed for the arenas, this is a T-shaped
weapon with two blades mounted parallel atop the end of a 4-
foot shaft. It is swung like a pick.
Lotulis. Crescent blades with barbed spikes near the
points and mounted at either end of a long shaft make this a
nasty melee weapon.
Quabone. Common arena weapon made from 4 identical
shanks lashed together to form a symmetrical, sword-length
rod.
Singing Sticks. A carefully crafted and polished thin club,
often used in pairs, drawing their name from characteristic
whistling noises when used.
Talid. Also known as the “gladiator’s gauntlet,” this is made
of stiff leather with metal, chitin, or bone plating on the hand
cover and along the forearm. Spikes protrude from the
knuckles and along the back of the hand. A sharp blade runs
along the thumb and there is a 6 inch spike on the elbow.
40
NEW ARMORS
The listed armors are not made of metal as crafters have learned ingenious methods of making armor of animal hides
and other material. Metal armors, while ill-advised during daylight hours, cost the listed PHB price. A suit of metal
plate mail would cost 150,000 cp, enough to fund construction of a small fortress, or to display one's wealth and
power.
Name Cost in cp Armor Class (AC) Weight Properties
Light Armor
Padded 5 11 + Dex modifier 8 Stealth disadvantage
Leather 10 11 + Dex modifier 10 --
Studded leather 45 12 + Dex modifier 13 --
Medium Armor
Hide 10 12 + Dex modifier (max 2) 12 --
Bonemail 50 13 + Dex modifier (max 2) 20 --
Scale 50 14 + Dex modifier (max 2) 45 Stealth disadvantage
Shell 400 14 + Dex modifier (max 2) 20 --
Chitin 750 15 + Dex modifier (max 2) 40 Stealth disadvantage
Heavy Armor
Baazrag Bone 30 14 40 Stealth disadvantage
So-ut mail 75 16 55 Str 13, stealth disadvantage
Mastyrial 200 17 60 Str 15, stealth disadvantage
Braxat plate 1500 18 65 Str 15, stealth disadvantage
Shields
Buckler 15 +1 2 Special
Shield 10 +2 6 --
Pavise (archer shield) 20 +2 9 Special
Tower shield 45 +2 30 Str 15, stealth disadvantage, special
LIG
WHY WEAR METAL ARMOR
Non-metal weapons break automatically on a
The
ARMOR AND EXTREME HEAT breakage check against metal armor, making it a
desig
Extreme heat rules will almost always apply every fearsome option for those who can afford to wear Pa
day in Athas (DMG 110). Characters exposed to it. betwe
the heat and without access to water must make a kes'tr
Constitution saving throw at the end of each hour Le
of exposure (DC 5 + 1 per hour after first) or gain a for a
level of exhaustion. Stu
Those wearing Medium or Heavy armors have spike
disadvantage on this save.
Anyone foolish enough to wear metal armor in
extreme heat also requires double their normal
allotment of water.
41
MEDIUM ARMOR MASTERWORK ARMOR (OPTIONAL)
More protection with less flexibility, more often used in cities Drawn from Wraith Wright's Comprehensive Equipment
than in the direct sun but also built with ventilation in mind Manual, DMGuild
allowing some to avoid overheating during exertion. For 150cp, light or medium armor can be improved with
Hide. Crude but flexible enough for use in the sun, favored one unique masterwork feature. Heavy armor costs 300cp.
by many warriors. Types: tembo, kank, kirre, mekillot. Armor cannot be improved more than once. Shields can only
Bonemail. Stiff leather jackets adorned with small disks or apply the "lightweight" property.
squares of horn, bone, or wood. The kank and the cilops have Absorbent. Resistance to poison damage against weapons
hard body parts ideal for such coats. with injury poison.
Scale. A heavy coat with carru leather leggings and Efficient. Requires half the time to don or doff.
overlapping scales of a beast. Types: Scorpion, mekillot. Enclosed. Resistance to damage from splashed materials
Shell. Fitted inix or mekillot shell pieces worn over supple and contact poisons.
leather. Legs and arms are left vulnerable but the vital organs Lightweight. Reduces weight by 4 pounds for light or
are protected and movement unhampered. medium armor. For medium armor, removes (if any), stealth
Chitin. Shaped chitin plates covering most of the body disadvantage. Heavy armor has weight reduced by 10 and
except the leg, which is protected by simple graves held by removes Strength requirement. Shields have weight reduced
leather straps. by half and remove Strength requirement (if any).
Quick-escape. Removing this armor only requires an
HEAVY ARMOR action. Donning it is unaffected.
Years of experimentation and clever crafting methods have Reinforced. Immune to deadly or high critical hit
led armorers to develop ingenious air ventilation and properties from the optional weapon rules.
circulation methods allowing alternative armors to be worn
in the heat of Athas, albeit with some drawback. RESIZING ARMOR (OPTIONAL)
Baazrag Bone. Hardened leather with thick baazrag For realism, the DM may require that, in order for
bones, the few bones aside from drakes that can withstand armor to fit a creature it was not intended for, an
the process, sewn in it. While appearing massive and expert in crafting apply her craft to resize armor up
imposing, it is the least practical of the heavy armors. to one size category larger or smaller, at a cost of
So-ut mail. The scales of a so-ut are attached to a layer of 1d4 x 10 (or 10% to 40%) of the market price of
quilted fabric worn underneath to prevent chafing and the item.
cushion blows. The hard scales provide superior protection
to traditional scale armor.
Mastyrial. The chitinous shell of the mastyrial is valued for
its protective qualities. When supplemented with a backing of
leather over cloth padding, it serves as a superior armor.
Braxat plate. Braxat shell makes excellent armor plates
that can be shaped to fit the body and interlocked. Thick
padding underneath cushions attacks, and buckles and straps
evenly distribute the weight.
SHIELDS
Shields are made from a variety of materials, ranging from
thick beetle shells to mekillot plates to reinforced bark.
Buckler. Small shield strapped to forearm. As an action or
bonus action, you can don or doff the buckler by flipping it
around, allowing you to quickly switch between fighting styles
or to free up a hand for casting. A shield normally takes 1
action to doff or don.
Shield. Standard one-handed device varying in material
and shape.
Pavise. This convex shield is designed to stand alone on
the ground. It takes an action to place or pick up a pavise.
When placed, you lose the AC bonus but gain 1/2 cover if
standing or 3/4 cover if prone behind it. A placed pavise
provides no protection against melee attacks.
Tower shield. Standing nearly as tall as a person, this
shield grants the wielder a +2 bonus to Dexterity saves that
does not stack with cover. You can also use this shield in
conjunction with the Dodge action to keep your dodge
benefits even if stunned or movement is reduced to 0.
42
ADVENTURING GEAR High Templar’s Outfit: This set of clothing is made of the
Adventuring gear is presumed to be made of non-metal best material produced by a city‐state’s artisans and
components unless impossible (e.g. a lock), in which case the exemplifies that city’s templarate. Subject to DM discretion,
item costs the listed full listed GP price as normal. simply wearing it may give advantage on Charisma checks in
that city against the populace.
NEW EQUIPMENT Royal Defiler’s Outfit: Royal defilers, who practice sorcery
Item Cost Weight with the full legal backing of a sorcerer‐king, must clearly
Clothing indicate their protected status if they are to be spared the
mob’s wrath. This set of clothing is made from the best
Elven 30cp 5 materials available to a city‐state’s artisans, and is second in
High Templar 100cp 5 quality only to a templar’s outfit. Subject to DM discretion,
wearing it may give advantage to Charisma (intimidation)
Royal defiler 80cp 5 checks in that city.
Slave 2 bits 1 Slave’s Outfit: This simple set of clothes consists of a
Wastelander 20cp 6
loincloth, or a short skirt and sleeveless tunic, all made of
rough‐hewn materials.
Food and Lodging Wasterlander's Outfit. Like elven clothing, this is
2cp gallon, 4 bits designed for desert survival but considered far less
Broy
mug
8 fashionable. Its layers trap in moisture and the thick padding
helps when navigating through brambled areas.
Inn stay (per day)
FOOD AND LODGING
Good 20cp Broy: Broy is made from fermented kank nectar. When
Poor 2cp served plain, it is potent and foul tasting. However, broy can
Meals (per day)
be served warm and spiced with a pungent herb that
disguises its sourness, as well as enhancing its enrapturing
Good 5 bits powers.
Common 3 bits Tun of Water (250 gallons). In most cities, water is drawn
from a collective cistern maintained by templars and then
Poor 1 bit distributed or sold. The prices are subject to change during
Water dry periods or when templars want to extort more money.
Gallon 2 bits 8 MOUNTS
Crodlu: A large bipedal lizard mount, resembling a scaled
Mug 1 bit 1 ostrich. A crodlu is appropriate as a mount for a Medium
Tun (250 gallons) 40 cp 2000 humanoid creature. Crodlu are hard to control in battle while
Mounts
war crodlu can be ridden into battle easily. Crodlu benefit
from stabling, can wear barding, and require feed like normal
Crodlu, riding 200cp mounts.
Crodlu, war 400cp Erdlu: Flightless birds mostly used as herd beasts. They
stand 7 feet tall and weigh around 200 lbs. An erdlu is
Erdlu 10cp appropriate as a mount for a Medium humanoid creature.
Inix 100cp Erdlus are hard to control in battle unless trained. Erdlus
benefit from stabling, can wear barding, and require feed like
Kank, riding 125cp normal mounts.
Kank, war 250cp Inix: A large, 16‐foot long reptile commonly used for riding
and as a beast of burden. An inix is appropriate as a mount
Mekillot 200cp for a Medium or Large humanoid creature. Inixes can be
Other ridden into battle easily. Inixes benefit from stabling, can
Giant hair rope (50 ft.) 50cp 10
wear custom barding, and require feed like normal mounts.
Kank: A large, 8‐foot long insect, commonly used as a
Sorcerer king levy (to enter
2cp personal mount. These insects cannot be used as food, for
city) their meat smells atrocious, but they produce highly
nutritious globules of honey. A kank is appropriate as a
DESCRIPTION mount for a Medium humanoid creature. Kanks are hard to
CLOTHING control in battle. Kanks benefit from stabling, cannot wear
Elven Outfit: Elven clothing is based around two concepts: barding, and do not require feeding.
functionality and flattery. This set includes a hooded cloak or
stylized robes patterned to match a landscape as well as a
scarf to assist with wind and sandstorms. While normally
only made and fitted for elves, the design has caught on and
is in demand in many city-states.
43
Mekillot: A mekillot is a huge, 6,000‐lb. lizard, used for Wagon. A wagon is the simplest form of transportation.
hauling large cargo or serving as transportation for troops. Crodlus or kanks can be used as beasts of burden for the
These beasts are hard to control in combat and usually normal versions. An open wagon is a little more than a
require a psionic handler. Mekillots benefit from stabling, can wooden box on four wooden wheels while an enclosed
wear barding, and require feed eight times more than a ensures its riders are unaffected by weather. An armored
normal mount. caravan wagon requires two mekillots to pull, has multiple
rooms on multiple levels, and can carry a cargo of 15,000
OTHER
Giant Hair Rope. Made from the near-unbreakable hair of pounds of goods, up to 50 fully armed warriors, 25 slaves in
giants, this rope has Hardness 5 and 2 damage to cut. transit, and a handful of merchants, nobles, or other
travelers. The defense balconies in an armored caravan
TACK, HARNESS, AND VEHICLES wagon provide half cover against any attacks from outside.
Item Cost Weight Anyone riding an enclosed or armored caravan wagon is
Barding (+2 AC)
considered to be at rest and shaded.
Crodlu 250cp 80 POISONS OF ATHAS
Poison Type Price (cp) per dose
Inix 500cp 100
Assassin's blood (DMG) Ingested 75
Kank 250cp 80
Assassin bug Injury 90
Mekillot 1,000 200
Bleached inix slumber Ingested 650
Bit and bridle 2cp 1
Blight Injury 90
Transport
Burnt othur fumes Inhaled 250
Chariot 250cp 100
Cactus venom Injury 200
Howdah
Essence of ether (DMG) Inhaled 300
Inix, normal 10cp 50
Gaj poison gas Inhaled 1200
Inix, war 100cp 150
Gold scorpion Injury 120
Mekillot, normal 50cp 250
Hypnotic brew Inhaled 30
Mekillot, war 500cp 1,000
Id fiend essence Contact 375
Wagons
Kivit musk Ingested 90
Armored 1,000cp 5,000
Malice (DMG) Inhaled 250
Enclosed 50cp 500
Mastyrial poison Injury 1200
Open 25cp 400
Midnight tears (DMG) Ingested 1500
DESCRIPTION Mulworm Contact 120
Barding. A mount's defense can be reinforced by covering it
with barding. Made of leather pads with bone, chitin, or wood Oil of taggit (DMG) Contact 400
plates, barding increases a mount's Armor Class by 2. Pale tincture (DMG) Ingested 250
Chariot. A chariot is a lightly armored vehicle constructed Purple grass extract Ingested 500
of wood, chitin and hardened leather, designed for riding and
combat. Two people can ride a chariot. A creature riding a Serpent venom (DMG) Injury 100
chariot has half cover against attacks from the front or the T'chowb ichor Contact 250
sides. Crodlu and kanks can be used to pull a chariot.
Howdah. A howdah is a frame with seats designed to be Torpor (DMG) Ingested 600
mounted on the back of an inix or mekillot. A normal howdah Truth serum Ingested 150
is made of a light wooden frame while a war howdah is
constructed of much sturdier materials and offering half
cover against any attacks from outside. An inix howdah can
hold up to four people. A mekillot howdah can be constructed
in a more elaborate affair; it often contains two levels and can
accommodate up to sixteen people. Anyone riding in a
howdah is considered to be at rest and shaded.
44
POISON DESCRIPTION Id fiend essence (contact). A combination of an id fiend's
These are commonly encountered market poisons and are blood and cranial fluid can be reduced through a slow boil
not considered a full list of all available poisons in Athas. into a pinkish fluid that, when absorbed by a targets' skin,
Those with skill in gathering components may harvest and causes frightful visual hallucinations. If left unchecked, these
develop less-commonly seen poisons. hallucinations can send the victim into blind panic, fleeing
Assassin bug (injury). The poison of the male assassin from the unseen assailants that harass and threaten him. A
bug causes a flesh-numbing sensation that ends with a creature subject to this poison must succeed on a DC 14
stiffness of the victim's limbs. The target must make a DC 10 Constitution save or be frightened for 1 minute. The creature
Constitution saving throw or have disadvantage to all can attempt a save at the end of each of its turns to end the
Dexterity-based saving throws and checks for 1 minute. effect.
Bleached inix slumber (ingested). Made from mixing sun Kivit musk (ingested). When ingested, the refined extract
bleached inix bone and epserweed sap, this poison is from a kivit's musk gland causes constant stomach pain
typically mixed with spiced wine. This poison is typically used accompanied by sporadic vomiting and diarrhea, the effects
by bards and templars as a preliminary attack before sometimes lasting for hours on end. The target must make a
ambushing rival noble houses, templar officials, or Veiled DC10 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 8 hours.
Alliance cells. The target must make a DC 16 Constitution Mastyrial poison (injury). The poison from a desert
saving throw or be poisoned and unable to use psionics or mastyrial causes internal hemorrhaging, resulting in painful
cast arcane spells for 1 minute. Those who fail the saving splotchy bruises appearing all over the victim's skin, body
throw by 5 or more are also unconscious and may be chills, and possible bleeding from bodily orifices. A target
awakened by taking damage or if another creature uses an must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or take 24
action to shake them awake. At the end of each of its turns, (7d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much
the target repeats the saving throw to be able to use psionics damage on a successful one.
and cast arcane spells again. Mulworm Poison (contact). Those who simply come into
Blight (injury). This poison made from undead extract contact with mulworm poison suffer a severe rash; a far
disrupts the central nervous system's ability to communicate worse fate awaits those injured by the poison, which attacks
between the brain and the muscles, thereby causing the body's immune system, causing a debilitating inability to
paralysis. A target must make a DC 10 Constitution saving defend itself from other infections. A creature subject to this
throw or become paralyzed for 1 minute. The poisoned poison must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw
creature can attempt a saving throw at the end of each of its or take (3) 1d6 poison damage and have disadvantage on
turns to end the effect. saves against poison and disease. The poisoned creature
Cactus venom (injury). When correctly harvested and must repeat the saving throw every 24 hours, taking (3) 1d6
refined, the venom contained in the tiny sac at the base of a poison damage on a failed save. Until this poison ends, the
hunting cactus' spine can be made into a fast-acting paralytic damage caused by the poison cannot be healed by any
agent, distrupting the victim's central nervous system. The means. After one successful save, the effect ends.
target must make a DC 14 Constitution save or be poisoned Purple grass extract (ingested). Made from the purple
for 1 minute. The poisoned creature is also paralyzed. The grass that grows outside of Urik, this poison both damages
target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its the victim, and inebriates them. This poison is not commonly
turns to end the effect. used, but herders and gatherers know to avoid it in the areas
Gaj poison gas (inhaled). This noxious gas clogs the around Urik. Bards have recently been attempting to find
victims breathing conduits, making it difficult to breathe as uses for this poison, given the long period of intoxication that
well as causing nausea and blurred vision. Additionally, a follows. Anyone ingesting the plant, which tastes like a
painful tingling of the skin occurs where the gas touches delicious dry wine, has their teeth and lips stained purple for
exposed flesh. A creature must make a DC 16 Constitution 1d8 days. A target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution
saving throw or take 14 (4d6) poison damage and have saving throw or take 22 (4d10) poison damage and be
disadvantage on all attacks, saving throws, and abilty checks poisoned for 24 hours in an intoxicated condition. A target
for 1 minute on a failed save, or half as much damage on a that makes the save takes (2) 1d4 points of poison damage.
successful one. T'chowb ichor (contact). The lymph nodes and enlarged
Gold scorpion (injury). The poison of the gold scorpion is sweat glands found in the hands of the t'chowb can be used to
extremely potent for its tiny size, causing muscle spasms and create a viscous contact poison that, like the touch of the
loss of strength more commonly associated with much larger creature itself, drains the victim of his wits. A creature
poisonous creatures. The target must make a DC 12 subject to this poison must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution
Constitution saving throw or take 13 (2d12) poison damage, saving throw or have his Intelligence reduced by (2) 1d4
or half as much damage on a successful one. points. The poisoned creature must repeat the saving throw
Hypnotic brew (inhaled). This is a tasteless, odorless every 24 hours and have his Intelligence reduced by (2) 1d4
mixture of herbs commonly peddled in Bard’s Quarters. It is points on a failed save. Until this poison ends, the reduction
typically used by bards and mindbender to “soften up” a cannot be healed by any means. A creature whose
target before attempting to manipulate or manifest a power. Intelligence reaches 0 dies. After one successful save, the
The target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or effect ends and the points are fully restored after a long rest.
suffer a 1d4 penalty modifier to saving throws against psionic
effects for 1 minute.
45
EQUIPMENT PACKS
Most people avoid cumbersome equipment packs
in the heat of the desert. Still, some items are vital
for one's travels to such inhospitable lands. The
packs available to characters include:
Bard's Kit (40cp). Includes a backpack, bedroll, 2
costumes, 5 candles, 5 days of rations, a waterskin,
and a disguise kit.
Burglar's pack (8 cp). Includes a backpack, 10
feet of string, a bell, 5 candles, a bag of bone
caltrops, a fire kit, a bone grappling hook, 2 flasks
of oil, and a waterskin. The pack also has 50 feet of
hempen rope strapped to the side of it.
Dune Trader's pack (8 cp). Includes a backpack,
an abacus, a blanket, a lamp, a flask of oil, a pouch,
a sack, a merchant's tunic, 2 ceramic vials, and two
waterskins.
Noble's pack (37 cp). Includes a chest, 2 cases
for maps and scrolls, a set of fine clothes, a vial of
ink, an ink pen, a lamp, 2 flasks of oil, 5 sheets of
parchment, a vial of perfume, sealing wax, and
soap.
Nomad's pack (4 cp). Includes a blanket, a set of
desert clothes, a fire kit, a small knife, a signal
whistle, a two-person tent, and two waterskins.
Traveler's pack (10 cp). Includes a backpack, a
bedroll, a set of desert clothes, a fire kit, 5 days of
ration, 5 torches, and four waterskins.
46
PART 7 MAGIC
Removed Spells Magic and Psionics

The following PHB spells either do not exist or are restricted Any spell that detects or cancels magic also affects psionics,
to a particular class. Spells from other sources, such as including but not limited to: dispel magic, counterspell, and
Xanathar's Guide to Everything, must be approved by the anti-magic shell. Features such as Magic Resistance still only
DM. affect magic. If a creature is resistant to psionics, for
example, it will be listed as Psionic Resistance.
Spell Level
RENAMED SPELLS (OPTIONAL)
Create or Destroy Water 1st Athas spells do not reference the names of wizards from
Continual Flame 2nd other realms but do exist. Unless listed below, remove the
name of the caster (e.g. melf's acid arrow is simply acid
Create Food and Water 3rd arrow.)
Water Walk* 3rd
Spell Athasian name
Control Water* 4th
Armor of Agathys Armor of Sielba
Conjure Woodland Beings 4th
Arms of Hadar Arms of Kalid-Ma
Conjure Fey 6th
Faerie Fire Spirit fire
Conjure Celestial** 7th
Tasha's Hideous Laughter Belgoi's Laugh
Tsunami*** 8th
Hunger of Hadar Hunger of Kalid-Ma
All planar travel spells
Leomund's Tiny Hut Nomad's Tiny Hut
*These spells control Silt instead. Evard's Black Tentacles
Silt Horror's
**While fiends may traverse Athas, all other outerplanar Tentacles
types cannot. Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound Faithful Dagorran
***This is renamed "Sand Storm" and uses sand, not water.
Bigby's Hand Hand of the Giant
Mordenkainen's Magnificent
SPELL COMPONENTS King's Abode
Mansion
Spell components with a gold piece (gp) cost are
converted to ceramic pieces (cp). The ecosystem Mordenkainen's Sword King's Blade
of Athas has led casters to find substitutes. When
appropriate, for flavor the DM or players may
describe the substitute material.
ALTERED SPELLS
For flavor only, any spell that purports to have a
metallic effect (e.g. blade barrier) thematically can
have it replaced with obsidian, bone, etc. Similarly,
spells that require a watery component (e.g.
Simulacrum snow) are replaced with an Athas
equivalent (e.g. sand or silt).
47
PART 8 SURVIVAL
FOOD (NEW)
Athas Survival Rules Each day without food is tracked by the DM or player as
"days without food." Eating half the daily food requirement
The wilderness of Athas, beyond its apex predators, is counts as half a day without food (round down so that every
unforgiving to the unprepared. Sandstorms, sinkholes, two days on half-rations counts as one full day.)
shifting dunes, and the scorching heat all are dangers just as A character can go 3 + her Constitution modifier in days
real as the claws of a kirre. The rules of Athas concerning without enough food before she begins to starve. At the end
healing, starvation, and dehydration vary from those in the of each day beyond that limit, she suffers 1 level of
PHB. exhaustion.
HEALING (NEW) Each day a starving character eats her full daily
When in the wilderness without shelter that shields one from requirement for food, she reduces her days without food
the heat and sun, it is more difficult to rest. Characters count by two. Until her days without food count is back to
without shelter use the DMG's slow natural healing (p267) zero, she will have at least one level of exhaustion that cannot
rule. Such characters do not regain all hit points at the end of be removed by any means except eating.
a long rest and instead must spend Hit Dice to heal. In a
setting in which shelter is available, use the rules as normal. PHB RULE (ORIGINAL)
Under the PHB rules as-written, a character with an
FOOD AND WATER 18 Constitution could eat once every 6 days, or 5
At the end of the day (night), determine how much food and times a month, because one normal day of eating
water was consumed, utilizing the DMG's foraging rules reset the days without food counter to zero. This
(p111). Characters moving at a normal or slow pace may certainly could not have been intended. Further, for
attempt to forage by making a Wisdom (survival) check: DC realism, normal human beings cannot survive off
10 for abundant food and water sources, DC 15 for limited, one pound of food per day, so the requirement was
and DC 20 for very little. Those who succeed find 1d6 + increased to two.
Wisdom modifier pounds of food and repeat the roll for
water. Many areas of Athas have no resources to be found
and at times no check will be possible. WATER
At the end of the day, a character who did not consume the
FOOD AND WATER NEEDS (ACTIVE) daily requirement of water gains one level of exhaustion, or
Character Size Food per Day Water per Day two levels if the character has one or more levels of
Tiny 1/4 pound 1/4 gallon exhaustion from any source already.
A character who drinks only half the water amount can
Small 1 pound 1 gallon make a DC 15 Constitution save to avoid exhaustion.
Medium 2 pounds 1 gallon
Large 4 pounds 4 gallons REMOVING EXHAUSTION
Remember, a long rest can remove one level of
Water needs are doubled if the weather is hot for at least 1 exhaustion, but the character must consume at
hour of the travel day (100+ degrees Fahrenheit.) least half rations and half water for this to occur
(described in the PHB as "some").
TRACKING FOOD AND WATER TIP

Consider keeping a jar with colored beads to
represent each pound and gallon of food carried by
the party (e.g. blue beads for water) rather than
having players individually track supplies. Container
capacity (PHB 153) becomes important. A
waterskin, for example, holds 1/2 a gallon.
48
PART 9OPTIONAL RULES
Bows Are Hard to Pull: It takes strength to pull back a

These are purely homebrew additions that may enhance your bow. If you have a Strength penalty, you must apply it to
game but are not required to enjoy Dark Sun. damage rolls. Alternately, Short Bows have a 13 Strength
WEAPON OPTIONS
minimum and Long Bows a 15 Strength minimum to avoid
having disadvantage on the attack. Alternately, you can make
Reach weapons. Creatures with at least 10' reach may make Bows a Strength-based weapon.
an Attack of Opportunity if a creature without at least 10'
reach voluntarily enters its threatened zone. This reflects the BETTER CRITICAL HITS
initial advantage a longer weapon has in keeping enemies at The first weapon dice roll is always maximum. For example,
bay. Polearm Master feat modified: the first attack of a 4d8 monster bite will crit at 32 + extra dice + modifiers. No
opportunity taken in a round using this feat does not other variables, such as sneak attack, are maximized in this
consume your reaction. way.
TOUGHER RESURRECTION
More realistic crossbows. Keep the PHB versions as Credit Critical Role homebrew.
"crude" types with no changes. For Raise Dead, Reincarnate, and Resurrection, a
Crossbow Cost Piercing Wt. Resurrection check must be made or the soul is lost forever.
type (cp) Damage (lbs) Properties The DC of the check is 10 + 1 per time previously restored
from the dead (representing erosion of the soul to this plane).
Light, 1d10
Ammunition (range Up to 3 companions (those who know the deceased well) may
stirrup
35
piercing
6 90/360), moderate attempt to assist during the resurrection attempt by making a
loading, two-handed Contribution Check to help the spirit return. The DC and skill
Light, 2d8
Ammunition (range varies by what the player attempts, and you cannot duplicate
windlass
50
piercing
7 100/400), long loading, another’s efforts.
two-handed For example, a character skilled in Religion may beseech
Ammunition (range the spirits to release the soul (an easy to medium check), and
Heavy, 2d6 125/500), heavy, another may attempt to Intimidate the aether (perhaps a
stirrup
60
piercing
20
moderate loading, two- difficult to near-impossible task). Each success reduces the
handed Resurrection check by 3, but each failure raises it by 1.
A True Resurrection or Wish bypasses this check and can
Heavy,
100
2d10
21
Ammunition (range
150/600), heavy, long
restore lost souls.
windlass piercing
loading, two-handed
The Revivify spell requires a Resurrection check by the
caster who rolls a d20 and adds his casting modifier. No
Moderate Loading: Must use an Action or forfeit all others can assist (since the casting time is only 1 action). On
movement for the round. Cannot reload if mounted, grappled, a failure, the spell fails, but the soul is not lost. Future
if at movement 0, or otherwise being jostled. Cannot fire Resurrection checks are increased by 1.
more than 1x per round, unless hasted, which permits the
reload to be done as a bonus action. If the character uses his
movement at all, he cannot reload this weapon unless
utilizing an Action.
Long Loading: Must use all actions and forfeit movement
to reload, including reactions and bonus actions. Follows
same rules as moderate except haste has no effect on reload.
Damage advantage. Crossbows at 30' or less range gain
damage advantage (reroll the damage die or dice twice, take
the higher result.)
49
VITALITY
This rule replaces Death Saves with Vitality, which represent TAKING A 3RD DEATH POINT
If a player chooses to take a 3rd death point, IN
the actual physical damage a character can sustain before resulting in death, that player may, subject to DM A
dying. Otherwise, the rules on hit points are unchanged. approval, declare a final heroic action that can give y
Once Hit Points are gone, all damage goes to Vitality, and advantage or disadvantage to the next roll an ally or D
once these are gone, the character is dead. Unlike hit points, foe makes. (m
Vitality is fixed at 1st level. d
ru
li
WHAT HIT POINTS REPRESENT p
Hit Points don't, and never have, represented the c
actual damage the body can sustain. A dagger to
the heart will kill a 10th level character just as well
as an elderly librarian, and one hit from a giant's UNCO
club will end any character. Over time, however, Take
the 10th level character has learned a bevy of tricks to st
to deflect killing blows, to avoid death, along with vitalit
sheer luck, and that's what hit points represent. He stabil
has not learned how to get stabbed with a short 1d4 i
sword 11 times and survive.
In default rules, a 0 hit point character can never
Sp
die from having their throat cut (maximum 2 death
vitalit
saves), which makes little sense. What we are REGA
doing is substituting a more thrilling mechanic for No ch
when a character actually takes real damage that
cannot be mitigated, deflected, absorbed, or by REGA
sheer luck avoided. We are also giving players more At the
control over the narrative when they are on death's Vitali
door. MAGI
Magi
full.
Starting Vitality. You have Vitality equal to your 1st level hit On
points. This number never changes unless your Constitution calcu
modifier changes. effect
Death. If you ever have 0 vitality points or 3 death points,
you are dead.
Reaching 0 hit points. The player chooses to either (1) A
gain 1 death point and the condition staggered, or (2) gain the 1
condition unconscious. If an enemy opts to knock you h
unconscious, you cannot choose to become staggered. All m
future damage goes against your Vitality. n
STAGGERED
You have 0 hit points. You gain 1 Death Point. You no longer SPEC
have movement. All d20 rolls you make are with Rege
disadvantage, and all foes have advantage against your class Henc
abilities, such as spells, but not items such as wands. You count
lose this condition if you gain any hit points. chara
HEAL
DEATH POINTS Beca
If you ever have 2 Death Points, you gain a stagg
lingering injury per DMG 272. If you ever have 3 Point
Death Points, you die. Death Points can only be
removed at the rate of 1 per long rest.
50
ADVANTAGE OR DISADVANTAGE
Dynamic Initiative Take the best or worst of two rolls as usual.
This optional initiative rule replaces the d20 roll with a die
based off a choice of action, making initiative unpredictable READY (PHB 193)
each round. Lowest numbers go first. Need not be declared. Remember, you can only ready an
action, not movement, and this converts your action into a
START OF ROUND reaction. If you have already used your reaction, you cannot
Enemy actions. The DM secretly chooses what the enemies take your Readied action.
will do and rolls their initiative(s).
Declare Action(s) Players generically declare Action and DURATIONS
Bonus actions along with the item or spell associated with Durations that persist until the "beginning" or "end" of your
that Action, such as: "I attack with my short sword and use turn (such as guiding bolt, chill touch, and monk's stunning
bardic inspiration" or "I cast fireball." (See PHB 192 for strike), last until the end of the next round. Otherwise,
Actions in Combat). Options that replace an Action, such as duration is checked normally.
Shove or Grapple (PHB 195) and Ready (PHB 193), need not Optional: Effects last until the end of the initiative number
be declared in advance. that they started (e.g. monk stuns ogre on initiative count 4.
Players never designate who they will target or how they The ogre is stunned until the end of initiative count 4 next
will carry out the action(s) until it is their actual turn, round.)
including movement.
Incapacitated. If unable to take Actions at the start of the DURATION AS INTENDED
round, you may declare a Ready action (PHB 193) as follows: Expanding the duration of 1-round effects to the
If the incapacity ends, I [choose an Action]. end of the next round is the simplest method
Roll a die. Find the highest numbered die for all your because it requires no tracking. The optional
declared actions. That is the only die you roll for initiative. method is more accurate but requires the DM or
Modifiers. A feature that improves or penalizes initiative player to note exactly when the effect ends. Putting
moves the die roll by one step (e.g. a d4 improves to a d3 or an extra die on the table with the turn number or a
worsens to a d6.) DM note work well.
The highest a die roll can be is d20; the lowest d3.
Ties. Ties are resolved by whoever has the highest
Dexterity or Intelligence score, or if the same, a d20 roll.
Count up. DM counts up from 1 and players announce TIPS
The DM should describe what enemies appear to
when they act. be doing before players declare actions, such as
Your turn. You move and carry out Actions as you see fit. If "the giant looks like it's reaching for another rock
you opt to not take the Action, you do not lose anything or the cultist is grabbing spell components." Play
associated with that Action, such as spell slots or should noticeably speed up over a default system
ammunition. when, instead of waiting one at a time to decide
what to do, everyone is deciding at the same time,
INITIATIVE DICE and no duration order needs be set. Over time and
Action Die* with trust, players may not need to say anything
and instead will roll their die and be ready when the
No action (move only) 1
DM asks if ready. When counting, DMs may wish
Light weapon, Medium or smaller natural to use categories such as "1 to 3, anyone 4-6,
d4
attack, Power Word spell above 6?" DMs should be reasonable. If an action
is interrupted (such as fighter is Disarmed), the
Actions not listed, Use items, Cantrip, Large DM should permit the player to take a related
d6
natural attack
action (such as picking up the item or using fists.)
Huge natural attack d8 As normal, DMs can use one roll for larger groups
of enemies instead of individual rolls. DMs may
damage wish to take notes for each round, such as: Drow
Weapon
dice Wiz, 5 (MS+RF), meaning you rolled a 5 for Misty
Spell, Psionics, Colossal natural attack d10 Step + Ray of Frost. Monsters with no variation,
such as a wolf, may only require an initiative
Incapacitated d20 number because what they do each round does not
change.
Monsters like storm giants may have weapon damage dice
that exceed d20, but a roll is capped at d20. Weapons
without damage, like a net, fall under "actions not listed."
"Natural attacks" includes monsters using body weaponry
like a bite (MM 10-11) and the monk unarmed strike.
51
Dark Sun
Campaign
Guide
Amid the barren wastelands of Athas lie the
scattered city states, each in the grip of its own,
tyrannical sorcerer king. Protecting their own
positions with dark magic, they demand absolute
obedience. The restless mobs are placated with
bread and circuses - the arenas overflow with
spectators seeking release from their harsh lives.
The land outside the cities belongs to no one.

Savage elves race across the deserts while
insectoid thri-kreen satisfy their taste for blood.
Dwarves labor at projects beyond the scope of
men, and feral halflings lie in ambush.
Athas is a land of deadly magic and powerful

psionics that offers no promise of glory or even
of survival. Those who do not have the cunning
to face life on Athas will surely perish, leaving
nothing but bones bleached white under the
blistering rays of the Dark Sun.
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Dark Sun Camp

Athas waits to challenge you. Whether you are a mul

Tablelands. Life among slave tribes is often At

Replace Bear with Klar, a massive Kodiak bear with

CLASS CHANGES 1/4

WILD SHAPE AND PSIONICS

Wizards function as in the PHB with changes as below:

COMMERCE AND CURRENCY WEAPONS

METAL ITEMS FROM THE PHB

Alternate damage. Add bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing

Removed Spells Magic and Psionics

TRACKING FOOD AND WATER TIP

Bows Are Hard to Pull: It takes strength to pull back a

The land outside the cities belongs to no one.

Athas is a land of deadly magic and powerful

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