This gritty 90s Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting would make a great part of a live-action D&D show

The 1990s were a strange time in the gaming world. Gamer tastes have evolved beyond the basic standards of the '80s, demanding new and innovative settings and sourcebooks. TSR Inc., publisher of Dungeons and Dragons at the time, responded to that demand with a campaign setting that eclipsed everything they had released before. In doing so, it created the dark horse of a setting that still influences Dungeons and Dragons to this day. Aspiring showrunners will decide what D&D adventures and lore they'll adapt as discussion swirls about the future of live-action television after Paramount chose to ignore this opportunity You may want to consider this strange world. After all, it's clear that modern audiences like their fantasy to be dark, so without just copying Game of Thrones, the twisted world of Dark Sun will give them exactly what they want. . Dark Sun is harsh and cruel enough to satisfy even the most cynical fans that can compete with shows like Game of Thrones This is different from the settings. The beautiful scenery, trees, water and everything else is gone. Athas is a wasteland forged by a well-intentioned apocalypse long ago. The few plants there struggle to survive under the harsh red sun, and civilization is limited to a few city-states ruled by a mad wizard king. Most alarmingly, Athasas' magic drains the life force from people and objects in its vicinity, making casting arcane spells a secret and terrifying thing rather than a display of power. Dark Sun features familiar fantasy races like elves, dwarves, humans, and halflings, but adds twisted hybrids like mals and the terrifying insect-like threekeen. Because metal is rare, most adventurers use equipment made from bone or ceramics. Most alarmingly, Athasas' magic drains the life force from people and objects in its vicinity, making casting arcane spells a secret and terrifying thing rather than a display of power. Dark Sun would stand out in a live-action TV show, although it has had some media partnerships with TSR, and had a few novels and some video games released in the 90s, but never received much support. It was. A Forgotten Realms-like setting. In fact, Wizards of the Coast completely ignored Dark Sun when they took over D&D during the game's 3rd edition era, but released its sourcebook for 4th edition. Some Dark Sun material has since appeared in 5e. Related D&D's Spelljammer Brings Back Dark Sun Mechanic Dungeons & Dragons' Spelljammer campaign introduced Dark Sun's Defiler magic, bringing this old mechanic to new editions. All of this means that Dark Sun has truly untapped potential for future live-action Dungeons and Dragons media. This unique world of sun-drenched deserts and savage inhabitants who are just trying to survive but don't have the luxury of lining up and other details offers plenty of opportunities for conflict and storytelling. It has the kind of gravitas that allows D&D shows to rival series like Game of Thrones. There is only one dragon in all of Athas, the fearsome Boris of Ebe. The most powerful creature in the world, he is a gigantic, twisted monster fueled by hate and anger that once drained the life force from every dwarf in the city of Kemalok. As a setting, Dark Sun certainly has its strengths and weaknesses. However, Dungeons and Dragons characters often have the ability to traverse the dimensions of reality in a variety of ways, so Athas doesn't have to be the focus of the series. It could be just one of many interesting locations. Of course, in traditional D&D cosmology, Athas is dangerously isolated, and adventurers who get there may have a hard time escaping. That in itself sounds like a great premise for a show. Dungeons & Dragons The Dungeons & Dragons series is a fantasy adventure series based on the iconic tabletop role-playing game. The series includes both live-action and animation, most notably the recent film Dungeons & Dragons: Thieves' Honor (2023). The film brought the fantasy world of D&D to a wider audience with its blend of humor, action, and fantasy. Classic D&D elements. The franchise explores themes of heroism, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of adventure in a magical world filled with dragons, wizards, and mythical creatures. Created by: E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson, Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daly Series is a fantasy adventure series based on the iconic Table Talk role-playing game. The series includes both live-action and animation, most notably the recent film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor of Thieves (2023). The film brought the fantasy world of D&D to a wider audience with its blend of humor, action, and fantasy. Classic D&D elements. The series explores themes of heroism, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of adventure in a magical world filled with dragons, wizards, and mythical creatures. expand