Dark Sun - Races and Monsters

Races and Monsters

Due to the harsh conditions of the planet, all the forms of flora and fauna have evolved to be extremely hardy and powerful as compared to their counterparts on other D&D worlds. Most, if not all, races on Athas have a unique self-defense mechanism that consists of psionic ability, enhanced strength, augmented agility, increased mass, lower food/water intake, superior visual/aural capabilities and/or various physical weapons.

In the 2nd edition D&D setting, there are many differences between the similar races found in other D&D worlds as compared to that of Athas. For instance, an Athasian elf is faster, stronger and larger than any other elves from other D&D worlds. in some editions of the game, players begin the game at higher levels and may have more abilities than in other D&D settings.

This evolution and advancements are because of the following reasons:

  1. Many natural resources have been depleted by Defiler Magic.
  2. The harsh environs have induced a societal change to a primitive and basic government control. Athas adopts a Darwinian approach whereby the weak perish, the strong survive and the strongest rule. Therefore, the weaker of the species have long since been weeded out, leaving only the stronger ones to pass on their beneficial genes.
  3. In Second edition, there are no "commoners" (i.e., non-combatant bystanders) in Athas. Every "villager" is trained to defend herself against voracious creatures of the wild. No one is spared from such training. Those who can't adapt don't survive.

Read more about this topic:  Dark Sun

Famous quotes containing the words races and, races and/or monsters:

    “Women are most fascinating between the ages of thirty-five and forty, after they have won a few races and know how to pace themselves. Since few women ever pass forty, maximum fascination can continue indefinitely.”
    —Christian Dior (1905–1957)

    “There are only two races on this planet—the intelligent and the stupid.”
    —John Fowles (b. 1926)

    “We’ve forgotten what it’s like not to be able to reach the light switch. We’ve forgotten a lot of the monsters that seemed to live in our room at night. Nevertheless, those memories are still there, somewhere inside us, and can sometimes be brought to the surface by events, sights, sounds, or smells. Children, though, can never have grown-up feelings until they’ve been allowed to do the growing.”
    —Fred Rogers (20th century)