Hero of the Force
Siddartha of Suburbia
Underboss
2277 Posts
    
 | | 05/13/2005 6:52 PM |
| | recovered topic 3595 | |
"We can't stop here...This Is Bat country!"
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Hero of the Force
Siddartha of Suburbia
Underboss
2277 Posts
| | 05/13/2005 6:52 PM |
| | You know I have one of those sinking feelings about the future of this thread. | |
"We can't stop here...This Is Bat country!"
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2004 D&D Miniatures Champion
Kiddoc
Underboss
1797 Posts
| | 05/13/2005 6:56 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by tree druid
I am thinking about buying the Eberron campaign setting for my first actual rpg. I would like to know what are the strengths and weaknesses of the setting, and also from people who have played it about what they liked.
Thanks,
Tree Druid
I'm a biased party, though I'm not sure how you couldn't be in one direction or the other.
When I was first introduced to the concept of Eberron, I hated it. I hated the stupid "Mech" machine things, and the concept of magic being commonplace and underrated, the stupid costumes, and their stupid action points. Elves were obsessed with death, and halflings were barbarians, goblins were smart... What the...f...?
Then, on a whim, I got invited to join a team for the D&D roleplaying world championships. Very cool experience, HUGE crowds of DM's and players, and all the support WoTC could throw at it. I have to say, Eberron amazed me. The full color table-sized, gridded transparency maps of temples, airships, and vast ruined cities were amazing. The game played with a smoothness that I was unacustomed to, and the action seemed... fluid, both well-paced and heroic.
Needless to say, I bought the campaign manual. Best purchase I've made outside of the core books. It's tremendously well written, with a style that actually makes you want to read it, not just use it as a reference book. Keith Baker is a real find by WoTC, and he did an amazing job crafting an original world. After I read the campaign manual, I got the distinct feeling that Wizards had used all the past lessons they'd learned about campaign creation, both good and bad, and put them all to use in crafting Eberron. All my concerns about Warforged, Magic, and the pulp-noir style were answered.
I both play in, and DM an Eberron game, and I have to tell you, I'm loving it. The style of the world, the way that it challenges players to think past their typical core D&D stereotypes, the way every encounter and description of the world pushes the "what if" question. Eberron oozes flavor, and it's very easy for a DM to convey that flavor, and for a player to embrace it. Very nice change of pace from traditional D&D thinking, and great product development and support thus far. | |
POST DISCLAIMER: Above post may contain humor. Now with micro scrubbing bubbles. Do not operate heavy machinery. Take with food. Use only as directed. Contents may settle during shipping. No user-servicable parts inside. Void where prohibited. Beware of dog. This side up. Do not fold, spindle, or mutilate. No salt, MSG, or artificial coloring or flavoring added. Actual cash value of this post is 1/100th of a cent. Avoid contact with skin... | |
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Iconomancer
bassman2972
Underboss
1675 Posts
The ville IN. AKA Hell on earth
| | 05/13/2005 7:53 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Siddartha of Suburbia
You know I have one of those sinking feelings about the future of this thread.
Me too. Let me be the first. I like the setting and don't regret buying the book. I don't think I would have bought it without playing it first though. | |
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Thoth, Gatherer of Knowledge
MerricB
Underboss
2350 Posts
Australia
| | 05/13/2005 8:30 PM |
| Yes, it's worth buying if you want Eberron. I did. [:)]
Here are the prime features of Eberron:
* Much intrigue and deception
* A wide level of low-level magic
* A world just coming out of a century-long war, where old enmities are not forgotten
* Many ruins from ancient civilisations
* A threat from outer planar horrors.
Cheers! | |
Merric Blackman
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Iksander
Underboss
1010 Posts
| | 05/13/2005 9:35 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Siddartha of Suburbia
You know I have one of those sinking feelings about the future of this thread.
Let me be the first to legitimize those feelings: Eberrons sucks, don't buy it. | |
Bite me. | |
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Custom Title
WakeXX
Warlord
10131 Posts
Edinboro PA
| | 05/13/2005 10:11 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Iksander
quote:
Originally posted by Siddartha of Suburbia
You know I have one of those sinking feelings about the future of this thread.
Let me be the first to legitimize those feelings: Eberrons sucks, don't buy it.
Think Happy thoughts,Iksander![)] | | | |
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glauron
Underboss
1379 Posts
Sydney, Australia
| | 05/13/2005 10:22 PM |
| Alas for poor Iskander of the closed mind. (He's not really, just loves playing the part). I love your dedicated resistance to change. And I so knew you would be posting here. It is good to see some things do not change.
I reckon you're a closet Eberronian and want to keep it all to yourself. The setting is so right for you.
Not being prone to grandiose statements myself, [:)] I would say without hesitation, that Eberron is without doubt, the best D&D campaign setting to date. The ECS read like a novel. I couldn't put it down, and have subsequently purchased everything Eberronian.
I love the fact that gnomes are smart, halflings are kick-ass fighters, and elves are warlike. As well there is so much subterfuge going on that players can be surprised at every turn. Alignment isn't something that is locked in, and the gods don't get in your way. Dragons however, hehe. Lets just say certain of them seem to have a vested interest in the goings on in Eberron, and work behind the scenes, to help 'the prophecy' unfold. Also, there is the great unknown waiting to be explored. You can boldly go ..
As for weaknesses tree druid, there are none,
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I have always been here. | |
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Testament
Underboss
1397 Posts
| | 05/13/2005 11:14 PM |
| The only weaknes is that it doesn't go far enough! If it was a third party work by Mr Baker, it would have been even more kick-a, since he wouldn't have been limited by the rule of the campaign setting search that if its in D&D, its there.
But goblins and hobgoblins are perfectly valid PC races, and that's always a bonus. Pick it up, and start playing, its brilliant. | |
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bombur
Sergeant
362 Posts
| | 05/14/2005 12:19 AM |
| It's not perfectly balanced (but what is?). If this is you and your players first paper and pencil RPG experiance you might want to buy the DnD basic set and see how you do with that first. But you y'all feel up to campaigning then its more a question of what you, and just as importantly your players, think is cool.
Now if you think that: atheistic, death obsessed, ancestor worshiping, nomadic, bloodthirsty elves, scheming while living under the gestapo gnomes, mercantial houses with as much power as nations, magic as tech, living constructs, dinosaur riding halflings, quasi-lycanthrops, semi-doppelgangers, a long collapsed giant/goblinoid civilisation that has ruins lying about waiting to be plundered, hippie orcs, psionic creatures from the realm of nightmares that possess people and are trying to take over the world are cool then you will probably like Eberron. If you don't you won't.
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Testament
Underboss
1397 Posts
| | 05/14/2005 12:29 AM |
| Sweet drunken ninja Jesus bombur! Here's some things for you ->. ,
It's a full stop and a comma. Please try and use them in future, it makes things a lot easier! | |
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Oni
Underboss
1131 Posts
| | 05/14/2005 12:58 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Testament
Sweet drunken ninja Jesus
Never thought I would see those four words put together [)].
Anyway I got it, and found it fun to read. I have never played an Eberron game, but like most DMs I have taken things from it.
The things I like are
1. monk weapon feats
2. Druidic sects
3. Changling (will not let a player be one, but they have fought them a lot)
Now I would love to play a game of it. The different groups sound a lot like the houses of A Game of Thrones. Also nothing beats good diplomatic maneuvering, and so few games really allow for that. This seems like one of them. | |
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Champion of the Nymph!
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kestrel.ca
Underboss
1678 Posts
| | 05/14/2005 1:50 AM |
| | Have to agree with the positive posts above. Haven't had much chance to play in it, but I do like the flavour it tries to impart to the game. Another bonus not mentioned above: it currently has the best "official" adventure support of all the available campaigns. Starting with the Forgotten Forge adventure in the back of the ECS, Whispers of the Vampire's Blade, Grasp of the Emerald Claw (and the other one which I've forgotten), as well as consistent monthly RPGA adventure support, there's lots of high quality adventures all ready to go with minimal preparation by the DM. | |
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glauron
Underboss
1379 Posts
Sydney, Australia
| | 05/14/2005 2:05 AM |
| Good point made by Kestrel.
The support for Eberron by WOTC is second to none.
You must bookmark
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/eberron
Cheers | |
I have always been here. | |
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The Great
Choco Monster
Ghendar
Warlord
11228 Posts
The Dark and Forbidding Lands of The Necromancer.
| | 05/14/2005 9:05 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Testament
Sweet drunken ninja Jesus
What would his stats be? | |
Ghendar - Now with 51% more snark
Champion of the Spider Eater with rider.
I actually love to be swallowed. - Posted By gss_000 on 09/04/2007 2:32 PM
How many times in life do you get to eat your own Cthulhu? - Posted By Pedro on 03/31/2008 2:29 | |
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Fry
Underboss
1724 Posts
| | 05/14/2005 10:14 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Iksander
quote:
Originally posted by Siddartha of Suburbia
You know I have one of those sinking feelings about the future of this thread.
Let me be the first to legitimize those feelings: Eberrons sucks, don't buy it.
Iksander's opinions suck, don't buy 'em. [:P]
I've always been intrigued by steampunk and 'magic meets technology' settings, and Eberron seems to go with that. One of their key points is that everything in the core D&D books has some place in the campaign world, as opposed to certain other campaigns that might say "we don't have adamantine or mind flayers" or whatever. There are an incredible number of locales, and the omnipresence of rapid transport means you can have the PCs hop around to visit them all fairly easily. | |
"Why am I all sticky and naked? Did I miss something fun?"
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tree druid
Sergeant
414 Posts
| | 05/14/2005 10:26 AM |
| | WOW, thanks for all the great information, I was on the borderline for buying Eberron but with such glowing reports I am really liking it. Thanks a lot.[:D] | |
After all the battles, all the death, life can begin again
Champion of Radiant Dragons | |
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Stabmastaarson
Sergeant
442 Posts
| | 05/14/2005 11:47 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Testament
Sweet drunken ninja Jesus bombur! Here's some things for you ->. ,
It's a full stop and a comma. Please try and use them in future, it makes things a lot easier!
Testament...Sweet drunken Ninja Jesus? I'm so going to use that. I will give you full credit should it catch on in our group.
Oh yeah, Eberron is a fantastic setting, enjoy Druid! | |
Better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you're not
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Captain Harlock
Sergeant
450 Posts
| | 05/14/2005 12:21 PM |
| | You would do better by buying the campaign that Ebberon got most of its good ideas from....Arcanis. Get the Player's Guide to Arcanis and Codex Arcanis and you will have the best campaign being published. | |
Dan Cooper
For there is surely nothing so beautiful than the sight of a lone man facing single-handedly half a ton of angry pot roast.
You will all go directly to your respective vahallas, Go directly, do not pass go do not collect two hundred dollars
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The Great
Choco Monster
Ghendar
Warlord
11228 Posts
The Dark and Forbidding Lands of The Necromancer.
| | 05/14/2005 12:35 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Captain Harlock
You would do better by buying the campaign that Ebberon got most of its good ideas from....Arcanis. Get the Player's Guide to Arcanis and Codex Arcanis and you will have the best campaign being published.
Hmmm, I'm intrigued. Off to ebay. [:D]
Eberron isn't bad. It's definitely got some interesting elements. I'm not sure how I feel about the whole "magic is everywhere" idea.
I love the warforged though. IMO, the best thing to come out of Eberron. | |
Ghendar - Now with 51% more snark
Champion of the Spider Eater with rider.
I actually love to be swallowed. - Posted By gss_000 on 09/04/2007 2:32 PM
How many times in life do you get to eat your own Cthulhu? - Posted By Pedro on 03/31/2008 2:29 | |
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PatEllis15
Commander
4462 Posts
| | 05/14/2005 2:48 PM |
| I'm curious from all you Eberron fans, do any of you DM?
I've never not liked the concept of Eberron, but I'm deeply entreanched in a Greyhawk Campaign, so I haven't run out to buy anything...
In any event, my only hang up is that the setting seems "different", and I'm a bit concerned at how much work it would take to craft my own adventures. It certainly seems that you couldn't run out and grab an old generic adventure and stick it into Eberron very easily.
For any Eberron DM's, how hard has adventure writing been?!
Pat E | |
"Games evolve. Otherwise we'd still be pushing rocks around the dirt. What do you think the cavemen said when some dude showed up with sticks?" - Chairman7w | |
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Zardnaar
Sergeant
522 Posts
| | 05/14/2005 7:51 PM |
| | If you can get past the fact its different than standard fantasy settings it looks OK. I didn't like the emphasis on psionics in certain parts of the world and I like the warforged but have suspicions about how balanced they are. | |
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Iconomancer
bassman2972
Underboss
1675 Posts
The ville IN. AKA Hell on earth
| | 05/14/2005 8:03 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by PatEllis15
I'm curious from all you Eberron fans, do any of you DM?
I've never not liked the concept of Eberron, but I'm deeply entreanched in a Greyhawk Campaign, so I haven't run out to buy anything...
In any event, my only hang up is that the setting seems "different", and I'm a bit concerned at how much work it would take to craft my own adventures. It certainly seems that you couldn't run out and grab an old generic adventure and stick it into Eberron very easily.
For any Eberron DM's, how hard has adventure writing been?!
Pat E
I've DMed quit a bit, but never Eberron. From playing it though I don't think it would be to hard. Our DM created his own adventure in the Eberron setting and he says it wasn't that hard. | |
183 Completed trades with the best people on the net! | |
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Testament
Underboss
1397 Posts
| | 05/15/2005 5:11 AM |
| | I shall echo Harlock's reccomendation of Arcanis, and shall also admit that I stole "Sweet Drunken Ninja Jesus" from i-mockery.com. Read their rant on the history of sexuality in video games and try not to fall over laughing. | |
Support awesome games: Play Hecatomb!
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My Have/Want List, (Updated July 6 2004, will be updated soon)
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rocksalt
Warrior
194 Posts
| | 05/15/2005 4:09 PM |
| Eberron is great. I run a custom world but I have put some Eberron stuff in it. It seems like a much more consistent design than the other settings. One of the major design points of Eberron is something I have always tried to do since I've been what I consider a mature DM. That is to allow the players to become major factors in the world and not just pawns for powerful NPCs.
Sure, you can tell some of the ideas were lifted from other sources Warforged and Full Metal Alchemist anyone?) but name one setting where this isn't the case.
The best thing about Eberron is the excitement it is generating in my local area. I've got a list of players that are waiting for me to start an Eberron campaign. | |
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Monsoon28
Underboss
2299 Posts
Toronto
| | 05/15/2005 5:31 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Testament
I shall echo Harlock's reccomendation of Arcanis, and shall also admit that I stole "Sweet Drunken Ninja Jesus" from i-mockery.com. Read their rant on the history of sexuality in video games and try not to fall over laughing.
OMFG! LoL!!!! The fact there was a game where you played 'Holy Protein' and fought a giant corn on the cob evil boss is priceless! hahahahahahahaha!
Ohh I have to add I love this line! "ure, they're naked and quivering with fear now, but all of the parts that make the baby jesus cry are covered up." ROFL! | |
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Okay McKay
Underboss
1068 Posts
| | 05/15/2005 5:38 PM |
| WotC was looking for something new and different and they definitely got it with Eberron... It has been received even better than they could have imagined, I think.
The best thing I can say for Eberron is that everyone who I have talked to who actually tried it, liked it. The naysayers really haven't given it a shot... as far as I've seen. | |
"It's an automatic robot, based on science." | |
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Kiirnodel
Sergeant
484 Posts
| | 05/15/2005 6:24 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by PatEllis15
I'm curious from all you Eberron fans, do any of you DM?
I've never not liked the concept of Eberron, but I'm deeply entreanched in a Greyhawk Campaign, so I haven't run out to buy anything...
In any event, my only hang up is that the setting seems "different", and I'm a bit concerned at how much work it would take to craft my own adventures. It certainly seems that you couldn't run out and grab an old generic adventure and stick it into Eberron very easily.
For any Eberron DM's, how hard has adventure writing been?!
Pat E
I have DMed for Eberron since it came out and I'll tell you... it's actually slightly more difficult than the standard settings, however, so much is given to you to play with I found it difficult what NOT to use, its very open... no one knows the Lord of Blades stats, and when they fight him, they will not entirely be too sure what to expect, knowing someone's levels isn't too much help. I think that once you've gone through the book a few times, storywriting just comes naturally.
I think this is one of the greatest settings ever made. [:)]
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Official Smiter of Min/Maxers and Powergamers. | |
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Testament
Underboss
1397 Posts
| | 05/15/2005 10:29 PM |
| Actually, the LoB was statted in an issue of Dragon. Who cares though, I think its more fun having him being a blank slate.
I'd have him as an artificer/fighter/juggernaut still. | |
Support awesome games: Play Hecatomb!
8-Bit Chibi Goths forever!
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"Sorry! I was tryin' to open these beans!"
My Have/Want List, (Updated July 6 2004, will be updated soon)
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glauron
Underboss
1379 Posts
Sydney, Australia
| | 05/16/2005 3:42 AM |
| I'll back what kiirnodel says about DMing in Eberron. Lots of detail. ECS, Sharn City of Towers, Races of Eberron, the trilogy of modules, modules in Dungeon, supporting material in Dragon, tons of stuff on its own website, user groups, novels.
And still I'm wondering occasionally which tower in Sharn a certain establishment is located in.
Best part is the six PCs are constantly bugging me for the next session. They love it as much as I do. | |
I have always been here. | |
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Hero of the Force
Siddartha of Suburbia
Underboss
2277 Posts
| | 05/16/2005 8:42 AM |
| My roleplaying group are all fans of homebrew campaigns, and I wouldn't want to change that. It suits us.
If I was to try a campaign setting, Eberron would now be my first choice. It used to be Diamond Throne, because I found it quite new and interesting. But the material I have read from Eberron has allowed it to steal that claim. Just my catfloks worth. | |
"We can't stop here...This Is Bat country!"
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Iconomancer
bassman2972
Underboss
1675 Posts
The ville IN. AKA Hell on earth
| | 05/16/2005 4:35 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Siddartha of Suburbia
My roleplaying group are all fans of homebrew campaigns, and I wouldn't want to change that. It suits us.
If I was to try a campaign setting, Eberron would now be my first choice. It used to be Diamond Throne, because I found it quite new and interesting. But the material I have read from Eberron has allowed it to steal that claim. Just my catfloks worth.
My group is the same way. We 99% of the time do Home Brew games, but in certain settings (like Eborron), I haven't run an Eberron game, but by reading the book I may when our current campaign is over.
SIDE NOTE: Hey Sid, What are catfloks?[:p][:D][)] | |
183 Completed trades with the best people on the net! | |
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Korhal_IV
Sergeant
852 Posts
| | 05/16/2005 4:39 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Testament
Actually, the LoB was statted in an issue of Dragon. Who cares though, I think its more fun having him being a blank slate.
I'd have him as an artificer/fighter/juggernaut still.
Those stats are extremely subject to change, you know. It's a sample Lord of Blades, not the canon Lord of Blades. Heck, he could be a cleric/rogue and still do what he does very well. Or a paladin!
I have DM'd briefly for Eberron, and spent a great deal more time plotting adventures. I think it's quite easy - Eberron does you a favor by deliberately not statting out NPCs, or establishing NPCs in such a way that it might restrict your freedom to invent a new power in the area, or so forth.
Eberron is, in my opinion, the best campaign setting a DM can have. I think I could pick just about any sentence out of the Eberron flavor text and structure a campaign around it. My first thought after I got half way into Sharn: City of Towers was that I should have gotten pen and paper earlier to keep track of cool things I read about (S:CoT is missing an index, which is frustrating, but Mr. Baker has put in some overtime and published one on his personal site, www.bossythecow.com). | |
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