Dirst Time DM'ing Eberron [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dirst Time DM'ing Eberron [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Machina
07-13-07, 10:31 AM Well, today I'm starting up my first Eberron game, I'll be running the published adventure path from "Forgotten Forge" to "WHispers of the Vampires Blade" and then comandeering the plot line on my mown from there (is there even a published continuation?) It's also the first time in my 5 years of playing D&D/ DMing that I'll be using the XP system, before hand it was predominantly a system of "The plot calls for you to be a little more powerfull now, level up." For those who have run this adventure path before or know of simple problems the XP system carries that I might not yet recognize, I welcome your advice.
bykov1
07-13-07, 10:48 AM It goes Forgotten Forge > Shadows of the Last War > Whispers of the Vampire Blade > Grasp of the Emerald Claw. My group thoroughly enjoyed the campaign through these adventures.

Bykov.
3nigma
07-13-07, 10:52 AM One thing you want to do is go from Forgotten Forge to the "Shadows of the Last War," rather than straight to "Whispers of the VB."

I love this plotline. One thing that I do is whenever Lady Elaydren sends the adventurers a letter, I actually typed it up in a word processor with Lucida font (looks like cursive handwriting), and printed it on old, tattered looking paper (like copper-colored resume paper). Then I tore the edges to look all parchment-y. It adds a lot of flare and fun character to the game, and makes it more immersive.

Tonight I'm running WotVB, and I have a letter in a genuine wax-sealed envelope with some foreign gold coins in it ;-D.

I could probably add more insight, but I have to look at my old notes.

-3nigma
Machina
07-13-07, 02:03 PM I'm sorry, poor wording on my part, I wasn't going stright from FF to WotVB, I am of course including shadows of the last war. Sound advice though. Thanks.
Toloran
07-13-07, 07:55 PM The only thing I should point out is that whispers of the vampires blade makes absolutely no sense between SotLW and Grasp of the Emerald Claw. The only relation between it and the rest of the series is Garrow (and only a little bit). I can seem to find it but someone made a nice set of compiled suggestions to link them all together. It basically involved introducing the main villian from WotVB at the end of SotLW before he became a vampire (along with a nice mini-adventure). It ties it all together nicely.

I also suggest you look at this: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=842347
Nevarre
07-13-07, 09:15 PM The only thing I should point out is that whispers of the vampires blade makes absolutely no sense between SotLW and Grasp of the Emerald Claw. The only relation between it and the rest of the series is Garrow (and only a little bit). I can seem to find it but someone made a nice set of compiled suggestions to link them all together. It basically involved introducing the main villian from WotVB at the end of SotLW before he became a vampire (along with a nice mini-adventure). It ties it all together nicely.

If you're interested you can view that adventure at http://www.mageblade.org/2007/06/14/machinations-of-the-makers-house/

As I've said before, it's a work in progress, and really designed to connect the two adventures and offer an idea of how Lucans story can be tied into the overall story arc. It's far from perfect, but you might find it useful.
GrimAlchemist
07-14-07, 04:01 AM One thing that I do is whenever Lady Elaydren sends the adventurers a letter, I actually typed it up in a word processor with Lucida font (looks like cursive handwriting), and printed it on old, tattered looking paper (like copper-colored resume paper). Then I tore the edges to look all parchment-y. It adds a lot of flare and fun character to the game, and makes it more immersive.

You don't even need special colored paper. Just take some standard white paper (after you've printed it), and soak it in coffee, then take it out and let it dry (or use a hairdryer if you're impatient). Gives it a very nice grainy parchment texture. If you want it to look even older, pour some more coffe on top of the dried paper in places let it soak and dry again, giving it splotches of darker color.

Didn't mean to turn this into a "DiY RPG props" post. Continue with the thread. :D
Kinger
07-14-07, 11:23 AM While I can't help with arts and crafts (;)), I can give some advice on the Forgotten Forge.

First off: the encounter in the sewers. As written, the interesting "The pipes'll knock you down!" part is really wasted, because the whole encounter can happen at the base of the stairs. Replace the Warforged Rogue with a caster or ranged attacker, or switch the shifter thugs with ranged attackers, and stick 'em on the other side of the sleuce-zone. Maybe give one of them a net or caltrops to keep the PCs in the sleuce-zone longer.

Second: the Swarm. Swarms are killers for those unprepared, so really stress the need for fire in the opening interview. Without it, your PCs are going to get nibbled and nibbled bad! Give any with Knowledge: Nature the chance to figure out that the swarm will disperse if they can't get much to eat (DC 15, perhaps?).

Third: Horrid Rats. NASTY. High AC, and a nasty bite. 1d6+1d6 can spell doom to a 1st level adventurer. They DO have low hitpoints, though, so a solid smack from a barbarian or a max-damage Magic Missile can end it. A party low on resources (or high damage-per-smack characters) can have difficulty. You may only want to throw one rat at a time at them.

Fourth: Iron Defenders. If the party sees them inside, the encounter can be a piece of cake. They can't climb particularly well and the party can just pelt them with ranged attacks from a position of safety. If someone leaps into the workshop without noticing them, however, they can get shredded.

That's about all I recall from when I ran the adventure. I'm sure others have some observations too.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Machina 07-13-07, 10:31 AM	Well, today I'm starting up my first Eberron game, I'll be running the published adventure path from "Forgotten Forge" to "WHispers of the Vampires Blade" and then comandeering the plot line on my mown from there (is there even a published continuation?) It's also the first time in my 5 years of playing D&D/ DMing that I'll be using the XP system, before hand it was predominantly a system of "The plot calls for you to be a little more powerfull now, level up." For those who have run this adventure path before or know of simple problems the XP system carries that I might not yet recognize, I welcome your advice.
bykov1 07-13-07, 10:48 AM	It goes Forgotten Forge > Shadows of the Last War > Whispers of the Vampire Blade > Grasp of the Emerald Claw. My group thoroughly enjoyed the campaign through these adventures. Bykov.
3nigma 07-13-07, 10:52 AM	One thing you want to do is go from Forgotten Forge to the "Shadows of the Last War," rather than straight to "Whispers of the VB." I love this plotline. One thing that I do is whenever Lady Elaydren sends the adventurers a letter, I actually typed it up in a word processor with Lucida font (looks like cursive handwriting), and printed it on old, tattered looking paper (like copper-colored resume paper). Then I tore the edges to look all parchment-y. It adds a lot of flare and fun character to the game, and makes it more immersive. Tonight I'm running WotVB, and I have a letter in a genuine wax-sealed envelope with some foreign gold coins in it ;-D. I could probably add more insight, but I have to look at my old notes. -3nigma
Machina 07-13-07, 02:03 PM	I'm sorry, poor wording on my part, I wasn't going stright from FF to WotVB, I am of course including shadows of the last war. Sound advice though. Thanks.
Toloran 07-13-07, 07:55 PM	The only thing I should point out is that whispers of the vampires blade makes absolutely no sense between SotLW and Grasp of the Emerald Claw. The only relation between it and the rest of the series is Garrow (and only a little bit). I can seem to find it but someone made a nice set of compiled suggestions to link them all together. It basically involved introducing the main villian from WotVB at the end of SotLW before he became a vampire (along with a nice mini-adventure). It ties it all together nicely. I also suggest you look at this: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=842347
Nevarre 07-13-07, 09:15 PM	The only thing I should point out is that whispers of the vampires blade makes absolutely no sense between SotLW and Grasp of the Emerald Claw. The only relation between it and the rest of the series is Garrow (and only a little bit). I can seem to find it but someone made a nice set of compiled suggestions to link them all together. It basically involved introducing the main villian from WotVB at the end of SotLW before he became a vampire (along with a nice mini-adventure). It ties it all together nicely. If you're interested you can view that adventure at http://www.mageblade.org/2007/06/14/machinations-of-the-makers-house/ As I've said before, it's a work in progress, and really designed to connect the two adventures and offer an idea of how Lucans story can be tied into the overall story arc. It's far from perfect, but you might find it useful.
GrimAlchemist 07-14-07, 04:01 AM	One thing that I do is whenever Lady Elaydren sends the adventurers a letter, I actually typed it up in a word processor with Lucida font (looks like cursive handwriting), and printed it on old, tattered looking paper (like copper-colored resume paper). Then I tore the edges to look all parchment-y. It adds a lot of flare and fun character to the game, and makes it more immersive. You don't even need special colored paper. Just take some standard white paper (after you've printed it), and soak it in coffee, then take it out and let it dry (or use a hairdryer if you're impatient). Gives it a very nice grainy parchment texture. If you want it to look even older, pour some more coffe on top of the dried paper in places let it soak and dry again, giving it splotches of darker color. Didn't mean to turn this into a "DiY RPG props" post. Continue with the thread. :D
Kinger 07-14-07, 11:23 AM	While I can't help with arts and crafts (;)), I can give some advice on the Forgotten Forge. First off: the encounter in the sewers. As written, the interesting "The pipes'll knock you down!" part is really wasted, because the whole encounter can happen at the base of the stairs. Replace the Warforged Rogue with a caster or ranged attacker, or switch the shifter thugs with ranged attackers, and stick 'em on the other side of the sleuce-zone. Maybe give one of them a net or caltrops to keep the PCs in the sleuce-zone longer. Second: the Swarm. Swarms are killers for those unprepared, so really stress the need for fire in the opening interview. Without it, your PCs are going to get nibbled and nibbled bad! Give any with Knowledge: Nature the chance to figure out that the swarm will disperse if they can't get much to eat (DC 15, perhaps?). Third: Horrid Rats. NASTY. High AC, and a nasty bite. 1d6+1d6 can spell doom to a 1st level adventurer. They DO have low hitpoints, though, so a solid smack from a barbarian or a max-damage Magic Missile can end it. A party low on resources (or high damage-per-smack characters) can have difficulty. You may only want to throw one rat at a time at them. Fourth: Iron Defenders. If the party sees them inside, the encounter can be a piece of cake. They can't climb particularly well and the party can just pelt them with ranged attacks from a position of safety. If someone leaps into the workshop without noticing them, however, they can get shredded. That's about all I recall from when I ran the adventure. I'm sure others have some observations too.