Recently, at GenCon Indy 2009, Wizards of the Coast announced the next campaign setting for Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition. WotC announced that Dark Sun would be the next official campaign setting for 4th Edition. This announcement was to the delight of many fans, as Dark Sun was widely considered a fan-pleasing choice that offered new variety and a change of pace from the current fantasy settings offered for D&D 4e.

As stated, the world of Athas is very different from the stereotypical fantasy settings. Unlike Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Greyhawk, or the many other ‘traditional fantasy’ settings, Athas is a bleak desert wasteland set in a post-apocalyptic setting. Many players compare the Dark Sun setting to a ‘Dying Earth’ setting more than a fantasy setting.

One of the biggest differences in this setting is the lack of magic and the prominence of psionics. The world of Athas has been ravaged by magical backlash and destruction. Magic is primarily wielded only by a select few who typically dominate the land and are looked at negatively, for the most part. In place of magic, psionics has become of big part of society in the world of Athas. Psionics, rather than magic, is more common and accepted among the population.

The majority of the traditional fantasy races are represented in the Dark Sun setting. There are Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Half-Elves, and Halflings. In addition to these races, you also have certain races that are specific to the Dark Sun setting, as well as races available for player character that are not typically available in other fantasy-based games. There are Half-Giants, which are typically only ‘monster’ creatures and not often available for play as a player character race. There is also Thri-Kreen, which are a race of Mantis men. And there are Muls, which are a half dwarf and half human hybrid.

The classes in Dark Sun vary from other settings as well. There aren’t too many true equivalents to Sorcerers, Monks, or Paladins in the game. Most spell casters are divided into two different sides, Defilers or Preservers. The ‘Priests’ in Athas don’t worship deities in the traditional sense. They derive their power from other available sources in the world.

If you are looking to get some reading in about Dark Sun before the campaign guide comes out, there are three different book series that will help you. The first series is the Tribe of One by Simon Hawke. It is a three book series which make a great starter series about the setting. There is also the Chronicles of Athas, which is a five book series by multiple authors. It provides several different writing styles in one series. And finally the Prism Pentad by Troy Denning is a five book series. This series was the first to come out in the early 90’s and will most likely be republished prior to the Dark Sun Campaign Guide’s release.

The Dark Sun setting is a great choice by Wizards of the Coast for their next campaign setting. It is something that the fans asked for and it makes perfect sense for Wizards of the Coast as a company. The world is unique and a welcomed change from the traditional fantasy settings that are available currently. The Dark Sun Campaign Guide will be released in 2010 for the Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition rule set.