There is a common thread that is woven in every Dark Sun novel and short story. It’s the idea that the Green Age was the way the world of Athas should be and that preservers, druids, and their ilk work to restore the world to that standard. This concept often infects Dark Sun campaigns having the players fighting evil defilers and helping restore the world to its former (green) glory. This noble ideal restricts a great deal of possibilities for not only story telling, but also game play. I’ve found the world far more interesting and unique when there are some key ideas put in place.

  1. Athas is as it is. The Blue and Green Ages are gone, and they will never return.
  2. Stories and adventures don’t need any Blue or Green Age connection. Stories and adventures dealing with the world and its people as it is can open up just as many interesting events and scenarios as can harking back to ages past.
  3. Templars and defilers aren’t all bad. Sure, most might be evil, but some might be unaligned or good just trying to survive on a desolate world.
  4. Even the good need to survive. Given that the world is a savage wasteland, the good should be able to look the other way when bad things happen and not be eaten up by moral failings. Survivors can’t afford to always wrestle with their conscience.

Taking these ideas to heart doesn’t mean there isn’t a fascinating connection with the current state of the world and the Blue and Green Ages. Exploring ancient Green Age ruins is an interesting twist since most readers/players are used to those places in pristine condition being fairly commonplace. Even finding ancient magic from ages past could lead to interesting effects on the world as it is now. Similarly, templars and defilers make great villains, and the good guys do need to do good. What I’m trying to convey is that playing Dark Sun as a twisted world makes far more sense and generates more interest than having characters fall into the “hope is still alive” and “goody-two-shoe’d-ness” cliches. Athas is brutal, it will always be that way, and everyone needs to survive.