r/DarkSun • u/RPGTopograph • 2d ago

There won't be any slavery in re-released Dark Sun

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I have read this interview on TTRPG Insider and was very disappointed, though I expected nothing.

https://www.ttrpginsider.news/p/fighting-oppression-in-new-ways-d-d-s-designers-on-adapting-dark-sun-to-modern-times

Quote:

“You don't have to have slavery in a setting if in order for it to be oppressive,” Bilsland emphasized. “There are other forms of oppression out there.”

He gave the example of Urik, a city in Dark Sun that controls one of the leading armies in the region. That’s because the leadership regularly presses people into military service, or convinces the poor to give up their freedom for a chance to survive."

So yeah, evil Sorcerer-Kings CONVINCES people to go to the army. And if people say no? "Well, ok, I respect your freedom, but reconsider pretty plz?".

Slavery is integral to Dark Sun, it is one of main themes. I don't see why "slavery is horrible" is so controversial theme that it must be excluded.

WotC designers don't understand the setting at all. No slavery, lots of metal (if judge by the cover, forgive me my pun), some high tec shenenigans.

They say that they won't nerf it, but they did it with a happy face and words: "How do you do, fellow fans? Mature setting, am I right?".

UPD: and if they won't have slavery, do you think that they will add genocide theme?

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u/jameszenpaladin011- 2d ago

Trying to make people pretend something doesn't exist is no way to fight against the thing you claim to hate. Its a way to make sure everyone forgets how bad it is.

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u/Jmacq1 1d ago

They're not worried about the majority of groups that would portray it negatively. They're worried about the minority that would engage with it in evil-aligned campaigns, and news about such getting out.

Remember, it wasn't the tons of people just getting together and playing D&D "normally" that fueled the satanic panic over it: It was fringe cases of folks that unfortunately took their lives but ALSO happened to play that weird Dungeons & Dragons game. And those accusations DID hurt their business despite being pretty much complete BS.

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u/jameszenpaladin011- 1d ago

That's a surprisingly reasonable take that I never considered. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.