Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Flame_Drake 10-28-06, 12:49 AM	This is the chat transcript of the 3 - hour long chat with Keith Baker and C.A. Suleiman about the upcoming Eberron product Dragonmarked. I sincerely apologize if this is a bit hard on the eyes at the moment, I’ll clean it up tomorrow morning. As it is, I’ve spent the last two hour cleaning up this behemoth. I must confess, I need sleep. I’ll also post my thoughts on the chat, some of the witty banter beforehand, and answer any questions tomorrow. A very special thanks to the Keith and Mr. Suleiman for taking so much time to talk to us! I would also like to personally thank all of the WizOs who helped to moderate the chat, and helped us communicate with Keith and eventually hack him into the TCG chatrooms so that we could speak to him in person. Without further ado… WizO_Shadow: Welcome to the Ebberon Dragonmarked chat with Keith Baker and CA Suleiman. In just a few moments I will open the queue for questions and comments for Kieth and CA. Please type a ? for a question, a ! for a comment, and /ga at the end of your question/comment so the guests know when to start answering. Also please remain silent so that everyone can enjoy our chat tonight. Thank you! I will open the queue now.Oops, Wait on the queue. Before we begin, CA, is there something you would like say as an opening announcement? CASuleiman: Nothing in particular, no. Questions are fine. WizO_Shadow: Ok, let's open the queue beginning with Cancerous, your question please? Cancerousmango: hmm, I cede to flame drake for a second Cancerousmango: go ahead Flame_Drake: For the benefit of those of us that couldn’t attend GenCon, what are the new maps like?/ga CASuleiman: I'm impressed with the maps for almost every Wizards book, but the Eberron ones seem especially cool and useful, and Dragonmarked is no exception. Cancerousmango: alright, got mine Cancerousmango: what is there to benefit a non dragonmarked character? CASuleiman: Good question, and the answer is, a great deal.I'll elaborate.. CASuleiman: First, the focus of the book is on the Dragonmarked houses themselves, not specifically that sub-section of members who actually have a mark. So, in essence, the book was designed to discuss non-marked characters as much as it was to discuss marked characters. CASuleiman: And in mechanics terms, that means you'll find a lot that works for (or was even designed for) non-marked characters. Few of the prestige classes, for example, actually require a mark in order to join. WizO_Shadow: Splendide, your question please? Flame_Drake: Sorry to butt in. Keith just posted on the boards saying he's trying to get in but the chat's giving him trouble. CASuleiman: He's not alone there. :) Splendide: Does Dragonmarked explain in more detail the role that members of other races have within House Structure? For example gnome clerks in Kundarak...is the glass ceiling detailed? /ga CASuleiman: Didn't get the end of Splendide's question, but I can say that there is some discussion of how the various house members deal with members of other races, beyond the essence of the house conflicts Galen_Michael What can we expect to see on House Tarkanan, the War of the Mark, and all others things related to aberrant marks? /ga CASuleiman: Not enough, to be honest, but I'll admit to being a bit of an aberrant mark nut. If we could have had 100 more pages to discuss all things aberrant, I'd have taken them gladly. WizO_Unicorn: hat! CASuleiman: That being said, there is some discussion of it, both in the context of the houses and in the War of the Mark. CASuleiman: Most of the book's focus, though, is on the player houses, as you can imagine. CASuleiman: Hit me, Stone. :) WizO_Shadow: Wait... WizO_Shadow: it's tsukasa's turn CASuleiman: Oops. :) tsukasa200422: OK tsukasa200422: I have a player in House Lyrandar who has the Mark of Storm (I believe I have my houses straight). My question is this: What sort of things could he or any other dragon marked character benefit from? For example Prestige classes, spells, feats, etc. CASuleiman: It sounds like you're asking how much house-specific content there is, and he answer is to that question is, "A good bit." Each house has a prestige class devoted to it, so that right there is pages and pages of house-only goodies. CASuleiman: In addition, there's a selection of feats that benefit only members of a particular house. Stoneson: Possible spoiler, close your eyes folks. Haven't seen the Dragonmarked accessory yet, but in "The Lost Mark" novels, the mark of death seems to be coming into play. Was this planned from the initial Eberon release? (It seems to have resurfaced fairly quickly.) And is there stuff in the new book covering it? CASuleiman: Ah, the old "Are the novels canon?" :) My understand of it is that the novels aren't specifically tied to the development of the unfolding story in the game books, of what little actual advnacement there is. Splendide: Is there any explanation of the business end of the houses? Like how independent craftsmen are protected from Cannith just ripping their work off, or how Tharashk and Deneith are dealing with their mercenary overlap? /ga CASuleiman: Good question. Yes, the inner workings of the houses are discussed, along with a bit of their histories, as well as the tenor of the ties between house members. CASuleiman: There's a section on commerce in general, as I recall. SteelDraco: How much of the book is rules material (feats, PrCs, magic items, etc), and how much of it is roleplaying or setting information about the Houses, important NPCs, and their role in the world? CASuleiman Before I reply, let me confess another bias of mine: I'm a Wizards writer who prefers narrative -- setting and characters and plot -- over mechanics, by and large, but that's just because words and stories are usually more appealing to writers than numbers. CASuleiman: Having said that, I'll say that the ratio in this book is just about perfect. It could easily have ended up even more mechanics-heavy than it is, but it didn't, and the book's better for it overall, in my opinion. Superdeadsmurf: A little more to expand on the previous question about the house of vol, will this mark's abilities be revealed or will these powers remain hidden? Is Lee Moyer's wonderful mark of death illustration appearing? /ga WizO_Ginger: Ok, folks! CASuleiman: Let me second the nod to Lee. Really great artist (and guy, really). WizO_Shadow: Ginger, are you Kieth's liason? WizO_Ginger: Keith Baker has desperately tried to log on, but is having fatal tech errors. WizO_Ginger: Keith is willing to have me relay the questions to him, and then relay his answers back at you. WizO_Ginger: How do people feel about doing it this way? Gstommylee: ((works fine)) Flame_Drake: I'm fine with it WizO_Shadow: ((queue: tsukasa, rowan, cancerous mage, flame drake, splendide, open)) JulesLetters: As long as we get to chat with Keith. :) WizO_Ginger: We will need to observe protocol, since this will be a little bit difficult. WizO_Ginger: So, go ahead and send the first question :){ WizO_Shadow: Go for it Ginger who is being mind controlled by Kieth :evil smile: CASuleiman: I think I'll forward this question to Keith WizO_Shadow: . WizO_Shadow: ((type faster kieth!)) WizO_Ginger: --waiting for Keith WizO_Shadow: (( :-D )) WizO_Ginger: Dragonmarked doesn't going into the Mark of Death in any detail. I'd describe it as a very player-focused book, and the Mark of Death has always been seen as a shadowy background thing. And no, I'm afraid you won't see Lee's great rendition of it. tsukasa200422 I am curious: are there any new details on some of the works of House Cannith? For example, can we expect new elemental vehicles? Can we expect new magic items and if so, what types (ie. wondrous, rods, rings, etc.)? WizO_Ginger: ---Keith types... WizO_Ginger: The book goes into some detail about the businesses and inventions of each house. However, it's not Magic of Eberron. It provides new abilities (feats, spells, PrCs, etc) for dragonmarked characters (including aberrants), but not a lot of items. /ga WizO_Shadow: CA, do you have anything to add? WizO_Ginger: Er. I probably shouldn't assume every question is for Keith, should I? WizO_Shadow: Well, I still need to know when Kieth is done typing :-D WizO_Ginger: It said ?ga this time. hmph. Rowan_Grey: Does the book talk at all about Siberys marked Heirs, and their role or even presence in the Houses? Are there any running about Khorvaire at all (It is, after all a 14th level minimum to enter the PrC, which is rather high for Eberron) /ga WizO_Ginger: Relaying... <WizO_Shadow> ((Queue: cancerousmango, flame drake, splendide, steel draco, superdead smurf, ieattrolls, closed)) WizO_Ginger: As you say, the level requirement makes them rare. When we were working on the Sharn sourcebook, we calculated there being one Heir of Siberys in Sharn. The book discusses the heirarchies of each house on some level, but we don't have, say, a chapter on Siberys heirs - which is unfortunate. Honestly, I'd love to do a book on Abeerants, a book on Siberys heirs, a book on each house - I suspect CAS would too. WizO_Ginger: So, we've done what we can. /GA <cancerousmango> Are there any new monsters? I always loves monsters. Surely house Ghallanda has some? /ga WizO_Ginger steals a little of Keith's greatness as she relays questions and answers back and forth :-D CASuleiman: I tried to steal some of Keith's greatness, but he stole it back. WizO_Ginger: Well, there's always people with aberrant dragonmarks... WizO_Ginger: ...more coming... WizO_Ginger: ... but no, no new monsters as such. Vadalis should certainly have unique creatures - I created a Vadalis monster for my Delirium Stone module - but as I said, the content in the book is really designed to be player accessible Editors Note: This is about the time when we entered our first hour of overtime. Flame_Drake: For both of you, what House do you believe to be the most underestimated? WizO_Shadow: ((oh! good question!)) Flame_Drake: ga thanks <CASuleiman> Underestimated by whom? Fans? Or other houses? Shriker: omg Shriker: i made it Flame_Drake: Fans, unless you want to answer about house instead. ga lucifer777: Isn't the chat about "How to DM like a cat" supposed to start like, 6 minutes ago? Why is this still going on? WizO_Shadow: ((Lucifer, the DM CAt is in RPG LIve!)) WizO_Ginger: For me? House Ghallanda. They're just a bunch of innkeepers, right? What could be scary about that? CASuleiman: Almost certainly Ghallanda. They're not all dark and foreboding, but they're really very cool. WizO_Ginger: ((that was Keith, not me) :-D WizO_Ginger: Now you get to see why *I* think they're scary. :-) /ga wargod22: Who would expect something suspicious from a bunch of halflings running an inn right? Splendide: Like the Race of Eight Winds is to Sharn, are there any inter-House competitions? Like marathons, horse races, that sort of thing. Also, has gambling been claimed by/assigned to a House? /ga WizO_Shadow: . CASuleiman: I will say that I wish there'd been more room overall, in part to cover stuff like that. I mean, it's a book covering not one but a dozen vital organizations in the setting. It could stand to have been twice the size it ended up being. WizO_Shadow: Kieth/Gingiepoos? WizO_Ginger: Sadly, we didn't get to delve too deeply into interhouse relations beyond the Twelve, the War of the Mark, and specific alliances such as those Cannith has with other houses. As for organized gambling, it's mainly a part of House Ghallanda; casinos and hotels are often one and the same. /GA SteelDraco: Is there any discussion of the idea that House Vadalis is breeding or modifying members of the humanoid races, possibly for some nefarious purpose? (I'm tempted to run with this idea the next time I run an Eberron game, making Vadalis a front for the daelkyr, with creepy eugenics and magebred animals suddenly becoming psuedonatural. Any thoughts? CASuleiman I like yer thinkin'. ;) WizO_Shadow: ((::Sighs:: and this man is my DM. People wonder why I live in fear...)) tsukasa200422: ((Heheh. Good luck to your PC Shadow)) WizO_Ginger: I didn't work on Vadalis myself, but I know there is actually SOME mention of the idea of work being conducted towards magebred humans (Ari's work, I believe, CA). But as CAS says, I certainly like your thinking. :-) /ga WizO_Shadow: CA, any further comments? CASuleiman: Nope. I didn't do Vadalis, either. Superdeadsmurf: How is the book layed out? Does each house have have their own chapter? (possibly with phiarlan and Thuranni sharing a chapter) Is the "crunch" material mixed in with the other material (like Faiths of Eberron) or does it have it's own distict chapter(s)? (like Races of Eberron) /ga WizO_Ginger: I await the voice of my master... CASuleiman: Each house has its own clearly defined section, absolutely, and the mechanics are mixed in throughout, although like Faiths of Eberron, centralized in part towards the end of the book. WizO_Hydragon: Ok, we have Keith in the Eberron chat room on the TCG chat server... WizO_Hydragon: If you want to see him for the final question, please go to that chat room WizO_Ginger: The portal is at wizards.com/chat WizO_Ginger: I'll see you guys over there :) ............................ Drake
Flame_Drake 10-28-06, 12:50 AM	Now talking in Eberron WizO_Hydragon: yes keithbaker: Woo hoo! WizO_Shadow has entered the room WizO_Shadow: one sec, I don't have mod powers WizO_Shadow is now a Room Moderator in Eberron (issued by WizO_Hydragon) keithbaker: Hi all! WizO_Shadow: Hydragon, empower me please WizO_Shadow: Thank you! WizO_Shadow: Hello Kieth! Nice to talk to you in person! Splendide: Huzzah! CASuleiman has entered the room Keithbaker: Could you repeat the question, Superdeadsmurf? Superdeadsmurf: sure Superdeadsmurf: How is the book laid out? Does each house have their own chapter? (possibly with phiarlan and Thuranni sharing a chapter) Is the "crunch" material mixed in with the other material (like Faiths of Eberron) or does it have it's own distict chapter(s)? (like Races of Eberron) /ga WizO_Ginger has entered the room WizO_Shadow: ((And CA too! woohoo! we're rocking!)) WizO_Hydragon: Welcome CA Suleiman! CASuleiman: We answered that one CASuleiman: But I think Keith is replying keithbaker: I think CA's answer really covered it. The book begins with an overview of common customs, life of dragonmarked heirs, etc; then has a section for each house; then goes on to PrCs, featsd, and other game material.\ keithbaker: There is some game material mixed in, but most is concentrated at the end. Keithbaker: And, of course, there is a brief section on aberrant heirs. WizO_Shadow: ((since we have Keith and a working connection, let's reopen that queue!)) WizO_Ginger: ((Mourns because she has lost her special Keith Mojo)) WizO_Shadow: Keith, are you ready for the next question? CASuleiman: Yes, let's hear it. Ieattrollsforbreakfast: Can we expect much information on the Lady of Plague and Halas Tarkanan specifically? How about rules to increase aberrant mark power to their level? /ga Keithbaker: There is a little more information on Halas and the LotP. There are certainly options introduced that allow aberrants to increase their powers, but not to that level. Essentially, you can now get a Great Aberrant Mark... but Halas was the equivalent of a Siberys mark, and you don't get quite that far. CASuleiman: Except me. I can. Keithbaker: Also, I suspect that Halas (like the Dreambreaker in The Delirium Stone) was using focus items to boost his power. CASuleiman: ./ga :-D Keithbaker: It is a subject I want to do more with over time - I'd like to do a Dragonshard on some of the main personalities of the War of the Mark. Keithbaker: As the Delirum Stone shows, I think it's a period of history ripe with adventure potential. Flame_Drake: Nice and simple, what is your favorite House and why? ga keithbaker: That is a REALLY hard question. I like all of them. But I'll try. Keithbaker: It's hard for me because each house is interesting in different ways. House Ghallanda is interesting *because* it's so underestimated, because few people realize the power it has. House Lyrandar is interesting because of its central role in Khoravar culture. CASuleiman: That's a toughie. For me, it might have been Kundarak (and they were one of my houses), but looking at the final product, I'd say probably House Lyrandar or House Tharashk. /ga Keithbaker: House Tharashk is interesting as one of the youngest houses (youngest except Thurrani, which of course is drawing on old traditions), giving it energy and ambition... and because of its relationship with Droaam. CASuleiman: I could tell stories around Tharashk until I was blue in the face. /ga keithbaker: And House Sivis because of its side projects - one aside mentioned in the book is that House Sivis may have been instrumental in the foundation and spread of the Common language. keithbaker: Erg. Keithbaker: I guess I'll say Ghallanda, but I like them all. Splendide: Its almost just been answered, but is there anything new revealed about House Sivis that is likely to make the typical gnome-neutral player think something other than gnomes+scribing=Zzzzzzzz? /ga CASuleiman: The House Sivis material in this book is *phenomenal.* /ga Keithbaker: I think so. There's more about the history of the house, the role it plays that may not be obvious, and things it might be doing. CASuleiman: I was actually going to include Sivis in my earlier response, especially now that they're even cooler. /ga Keithbaker: Control of communication - including the fact that they hold the edge on barristers, translators, mediators, and such - gives them a lot of influence. /ga Superdeadsmurf: How much detail does the book go into the leadership of each of the houses? Do we learn much more than the names and class levels of the baron(s) and their major aids? How about the ones we already know a lot about like Merrix? Keithbaker: Yes, you get the names and class levels of the leaders of each house, and in a few cases, complete stat blocks. tsukasa200422: ((Oh Cool!)) keithbaker: No complete stat block for Merrix, though. Oh, I think there are actually portraits of each leader. /ga keithbaker: (To add to the previous answer, the hierarchies of the houses are also discussed, since many have different structures from one another - Tharashk and Sivis are very different politcally.) wargod22: Which house do you think would be the most fun to have an outside force such as the Lords of Dust, the Dreaming Dark, Daelkyr, etc. try and infiltrate, manipulate, and/or try and gain control over (If they haven’t already)? Keithbaker: House Cannith would be an obvious one, because it is so split and vulnerable. keithbaker: The other issue is whether an organization would need to hit an ENTIRE HOUSE... or whether it would target enclaves and move up. CASuleiman: I designed a setting development around House Thuranni having just such an infiltration, but it was removed from the book before publication. /ga Keithbaker: If you've read the Sharn sourcebook closely, you'll no that at least one house in Sharn DOES have this going on. WizO_Shadow: Me! WizO_Shadow: What’s your favorite character to play in Ebberon, and why? /ga keithbaker: Well, to be honest about what I AM playing... WizO_Hydragon: Shadow always goes right to teh front of the queue ;-) WizO_Shadow: ((Hey now! I waited my turn patiently! 1.5 hours patiently!)) Keithbaker: At the moment I've been playing an orphaned kalashtar wilder, who talks to his embedded crystals. CASuleiman: Well, that sort of presumes that we've personally tried them all, and I can't speak for Keith, but I sure haven't. In fact, I've got a little list of concepts I'd love to get around to playing, but funny enough, there doesn't seem to be time to play in 13 different Eberron games at the moment. :) /ga keithbaker: I played a warforged artificer for a while, but I'm having a lot of fun with Kin (the kalashtar). Flame_Drake Is there anything that may let House Medani steal a bit of House Lyrandar's limelight in making Half-elves look cool? Keithbaker: (I'd love to play a truly devious weasely gnome sometime, though...) Keithbaker: Yes and no. keithbaker: House Medani isn't TRYING to be in the limelight in the same way that Lyrandar is... CASuleiman: Cool? Maybe, maybe not. Potent and versatile? No doubt. /ga keithbaker: Lyrandar is trying to make itself the pillar of the Khoravar, while Medani is content to stand in the shadows. Keithbaker: But Medani is certainly given more character, and some interesting character options. WizO_Shadow: splendide, you're up! Splendide: If its widely thought that mixing of blood causes aberrant marks, how does this explain gnomes and dwarves with aberrant marks? Is there a theory that there are more marks yet to surface? /ga keithbaker: This is certainly addressed. Keithbaker: Aberrant marks caused my mixing of blood are "mixed marks". But aberrant marks have always appeared spontaneously... and now, they are begining to do so again, in greater power and numbers. keithbaker: Hence, you do see more options and powers for aberrant marks in the book... keithbaker: ... something I've been wanting since I introduced House Tarkanan in Sharn. /ga Flame_Drake: A nice, simple, easy question: What Houses did each of you work on? keithbaker: (Oh, there is a clear reason why people don't confuse aberrant and pure marks - you'll see in the book.) tsukasa200422: ((Real Quick: I'm out. Bye All)) keithbaker: I worked on House Ghallanda, Sivis, Phiarlan, Lyrandar, and Tharashk. I did prestige classes for Ghallanda, Orien, Tharashk, Medani, Phiralan/Thuranni, Lyrandar, and Sivis. CASuleiman: I worked on Kundarak, Thuranni, and Jorasco, basically. /ga Ieattrollsforbreakfast: I remember a hint from a long time ago about the existence of Heir of Khyber. I assume they are somehow opposite to Heirs of Siberys, if they exist at all, anything about them in the book?/ga Keithbaker: Well, first off, Heirs of Khyber as counterparts to Heirs of Siberys would be people like Halas Tarkanan, the Lady of the Plague, and the Dreambreaker. keithbaker: As I've said, the book includes new abilities for aberrants, but not quite up to that level. Keithbaker: There was an aberrant prestige class, but that didn't make it into the final edit (again, lot to squeeze in) - it's my`hope that I can get it to you as a Dragonshard. <Flame_Drake> Is there anything about how the dragons view the Dragonmarks? Keithbaker: I'm 99% sure there's a sidebar discussing this... again, there's always that question of what made the final cut. Superdeadsmurf: Um yeah, who is Dreambreaker? new character? I don't believe Dreambreaker has been in any previous supplemnets Keithbaker: The Dreambreaker was one of Halas Tarkanan's lieutenants in the War of the Mark. He's an important figure in The Delirium Stone, which is an adventure I wrote for Mark of Heroes (RPGA). CASuleiman: It's rough, amigo, even with a big army. :-D CASuleiman: Wargod? Keithbaker: Yeah, Wargod, make with the question. :) wargod22: Under how much inclination are the houses towards turning the nations of Khoravaire into corperate state/s? Or at least gaining more power for themselves and to what degree? /ga WizO_Shadow: We're going to drop protocol and ask casually (but please be gentle!). Flamedrake, your question? Flame_Drake: Have either of you had the opportunity to watch how someone else runs Eberron (for example, in Real Adventures on the WotC boards)? Keithbaker: It varies by house. It's certainly a subject that's discussed. Bear in mind that some want to create a general plutocracy, while others (Lyrandar) are working on more personal ambition. CASuleiman: I've been playing in an Eberron game, run by a fellow writer, for a couple years running. And his games are always flavorful and fun. I'm having a blast. /ga keithbaker: Flame Drake, I've never watched Real Adventures, but I've played in Eberron adventures run by many other DMs. Splendide Who's the coolest gnome NPC in the book? /ga WizO_Shadow: no need for /ga as it's no protocol CASuleiman: I'll take one more and then I'm off. (Thanks for having me, gang.) Flame_Drake: Our pleasure, thanks for coming! ieattrollsforbreakfast: Thanks for coming along! Splendide: thanks CAS superdeadsmurf: thanks for coming! Keithbaker: Splendide, tough question. I'd say Tasker Torralyn d'Sivis, although you don't get a full stat block for him. (Think of him as the Tesla of House Sivis.) Keithbaker: ./ga - Anyone have one for CA? WizO_Shadow: Thank you CA for your patience and awesomeness to stay around and continue to answer questiosn! keithbaker I can stick around for a little longer, though if people run out of questionsd that's cool. Flame_Drake: What was the best part of working on this book? WizO_Shadow: LOL, that's something I want to know too keithbaker: I think that's one we both can answer. CASuleiman: Having written Kundarak, I'll say that they're a special scenario, but in the final analysis, it's not in their *interests* to turn any of the five nations into a corporate state per se. keithbaker All sorts of things, not the least of which was having a chance to work with CA. ;-) keithbaker: Beyond that... CASuleiman: Likewise (with a capital "Duh") CASuleiman: Take care, all, and thanks for keeping the story alive. keithbaker: The opportunity to expand on many of the houses I think ARE underestimated (notably Sivis and Ghallanda) was a big plus for me. Beyond that, getting to expand on the role and potential of aberrant characters, though I hope to be able to do even more on this in the future. /ga CASuleiman Quit WizO_Shadow: What I want to know is while you are designing/writing up a new project, do you ever just go run a test battle to make sure that the stats are right or even to predict the outcome of how it's going to go? WizO_Shadow: I have this vision in my head of you two disagreeing and then finally deciding to let the dice decide the outcome of it. WizO_Shadow: Welcome to the Ebberon chat with Kieth Baker Dwarven Fury! Keithbaker: Do you mean to find out the balance on, say, a feat, or do you mean that if we disagreed as to whether Ghallanda should be a certain way, would we go to the arena and dice it out? WizO_Shadow: yup on feats, anything. Do you just discuss it or actually head to the table to play it out? keithbaker: Good question. Keithbaker: I do try to test concepts whenever I can, but it is hard to test social feats or every aspect of a PrC at the table, especially if you've written six of them. keithbaker: So I try to play things out whenever I can - or to work with systems I've used before in some way - but I also rely on the WotC development team. keithbaker: Because, hey, they're a whole team. ;-) /ga cancerousmango: it must be hard to use every feat in relation to every other...but the charop folks find the time...Wizards should integrate folks like them WizO_Shadow laughs keithbaker: I don't disagree, CM. Splendide: Is there a feat similar to Favoured In House to indicate house ties that maybe aren't as strong, for members of races not appropriate to the house? WizO_Shadow: yeah. I've been tempted to 'challenge' them when I've had to make a very... *cough*powerful*cough* character last minute Cancerousmango: nice cancerousmango: they'd like that keithbaker: Well, to begin with, there's a lot of discussion of Favored in House, both in general and looking at each specific house. For outsiders... keithbaker: ... You can certainly use the house-by-house Favored in House options as a guideline for the sort of services houses might provide, and there is some discussion of the broader guild structure - the web of influence that extends out beyond the house. Only a fraction of the innkeepers who work for the Hosteller's Guild are blood Ghallanda, etc. Flame_Drake: What is your favorite PrC in the book, yours or otherwise? WizO_Shadow: Oh! Something my DM and I have been debating about dragonmarks Keithbaker: Conceptually, I'm fond of the Black Dog, which is Ghallanda... though it's suited to a more noir playstyle that may not fit in every game. WizO_Shadow: When you take the feat to get a lesser/great/etc... dragonmark, does the dragonmark actually get bigger to where it encompasses a significant more of your skin, like the syberiss(?) encompassing hte whole back or just does it shift around and stay relatively small? DM says it stays small, I say it gets bigger because if you look at the biggest one, it has the smallest mark as negative space in it. WizO_Shadow: ((sorry, when it gets late at night, I tend to forget exact terms)) Keithbaker: You're correct about the negative space, and yes, it is supposed to grow larger. This is discussed in the book. WizO_Shadow: in the main book right? Flame_Drake watches Keith become a hammer to beat DMs again Keithbaker: I meant in the Dragonmarked sourcebook, actually. :WizO_Shadow sweet! Keithbaker: The sourcebook talks a little more about the pysical nature of the marks, what happens when you try to remove them, what happens when they are used, etc. WizO_Shadow My main DM (not steeldraco) is actually my hubby so we tend to disagree a lot ;). I'm more of a fluff roleplayer and he's more worried about the rollplayers in the group. Keithbaker: Also addresses clearly the difference between aberrant and pure marks. Keithbaker: I've got about 15 more minutes. WizO_Shadow nods Splendide: Does the book discuss procedures for dealing with dragonmarked people who work against the house? keithbaker: What I love about this is the people who are going to see an Eberron room in the TCG live forum and think there's an Eberron TCG! WizO_Shadow: Why not!? There's a minis game for lots of DnD stuff. WHy not a TCG for Ebberon... WizO_Shadow: dragonshards are the mana Splendide: as in, if a guy from Ghallanda is abusing house privilege to help his mates out, or if a Cannith is sharing secrets, or an Orien is doing unlicensed teleporting. Do they try and capture them, or just eliminate? keithbaker: It certainly discusses excoriates and orphans (people who leave voluntarily), and a few specific groups working against the houses... keithbaker: Oh, and certainly, it discusses some of what they'll do to enforce their monopolies. Splendide: Ah cool Keithbaker: But there isn't, say, a full chapter on Dragonmarked Law Enforcement. Splendide: Well, no :) WizO_Shadow: heh Flame_Drake: What about the Houses that undercut one another? Keithbaker: Well, there you get things like Orien and Lyrandar or Tharashk and Deneith, so yes, that's discussed. keithbaker: (Or, for that matter, Cannith and Cannith) keithbake:> Sadly, as CA said, there's so much more I'd like to cover - I could do a book on each house. :( Flame_Drake: alas WizO_Shadow: Why didn't that happen? Profit vs. cost? Cancerousmango: I think Wizards would like that... cancerousmango: good point shadow WizO_Shadow: They did several for each class for Dnd, why not one for each house? ieattrollsforbreakfast: To be honest, I'd rather see just the one Dragonmarked book and get some other topics in before those 13 books keithbaker: Well, WotC only has the budget to put out so many books per year. We get about one Eberron sourcebook every quarter... so that would be three years plus! Keithbaker: Exactly. keithbaker: There's more I'd LIKE to do... but hey, I'm really excited about Secrets of Sarlona, too. Cancerousmango: yeah cancerousmango: AMPED <WizO_Shadow> what about web enhancements? any chance of a "detailed book" coming out as one of those? Splendide: If it'd be three years to cover the houses, I can only imagine how far off a book on Zilargo is Keithbaker: Well, I'd certainly like to expand on some of the points touched on in Dragonmarked as Dragonshard articles. We'll see. Flame_Drake: A bit off topic. At GenCon Rich announced that you were working on some stuff for Giantitp.com. Are we going to see that any time soon? keithbaker: If I ran WotC, Splendide, you'd get it next month. Sadly, I suspect you'll have to wait a while. ;) WizO_Shadow perks up Splendide: dang! WizO_Shadow: How hard is it making stuff that you know you can't talk about for a good year before it hits the shelves? Keithbaker: Honestly, I don't know. Rich has been sitting on something I've written for a little while now, but I know he hasn't had time to do much work on the gaming end of GitP. So, hopefully soon. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Rich, even is we are archenemies. Keithbaker: Shadow, it sucks. keithbaker: I've been done with Sarlona for months now. WizO_Shadow: ouch keithbaker: At least now I can say the name. ieattrollsforbreakfast: Just a quick clarification...was the Top Secret Protect (TM) mentioned on Bossythecow.com the Last War source book? ieattrollsforbreakfast: Protect? THat's an odd typo... keithbaker: The tricky part is that you also don't know what will make it to the final version; us writers tend to overwrite and things get squeezed out. Flame_Drake Waiting for this to come out when FireballedMage wrote up his notes on the houses? WizO_Shadow: keith, you don't get a copy right before it goes to print? keithbaker: Trolls, nope. I've had a chance to look at Last War stuff and offer opinions (and I talked a fair bit with Ari while he was working on it), but I'm not one of the authors. The Top Secret Project remains Top Secret. WizO_Shadow: watch, it's Ebberon the Movie starring Keith Baker ;) WizO_Shadow giggles keithbaker: Shadow, the issue is that Sarlona won't GO to print for months yet - so right this moment, I can't say for certain whether sidebar X will be in the book when it comes out. keithbaker: Seven more minutes for me! WizO_Shadow: Keith, LOL, if you need to go, you can. I'm not pinning you donw WizO_Shadow: *down Splendide: do jorasco have any political ambitions, or do they remain just the healing house? WizO_Hydragon: and you can grill Ari about the secret stuff tomorrow ;-) Keithbaker: And then I have an exciting question for you all! Splendide: ooh! WizO_Shadow: oh! Flame_Drake: nice! Keithbaker: Splendide - the book does explore the darker side of Jorasco. The don't heal for free, after all. Splendide: excellent Keithbaker: They don't want to RULE - but they certainly recognize the power they possess. Editor’s Note: This is not the section you are looking for! Keithbaker: Any last questions? Flame_Drake: none from me, thanks Keith! Splendide: naaaaaaah WizO_Shadow is out of questions. WizO_Hydragon: Thank you for coming Keith! And sorry that our chat server was being so difficult. WizO_Shadow: Thank you so much Kieth for taking your time to answer ALL of our questions! Splendide: yeah thanks Keith ieattrollsforbreakfast: Thanks! WizO_Shadow gives Kieth a huge round of applause wargod22: Big thanks Flame_Drake buys Keith a round Keithbaker: My pleasure. Thanks to all of you for making Eberron a wonderful place to play! keithbaker: Have a good night! WizO_Hydragon: you too Flame_Drake: You too WizO_Shadow: Sweet dreams until next time! wargod22: Good night keithbaker: Sweet? DARK dreams. ;) Splendide: seeya Flame_Drake: Don't let the Quori bite keithbaker Quit WizO_Shadow: lol WizO_Shadow: wow, I'm impressed cancerousmango seconds it Flame_Drake: me too, I'm psyched for this one wargod22: I think the book is going to be a winner cancerousmango: yeah ieattrollsforbreakfast: Well, I stayed up far too late for this, but it was worth it! WizO_Shadow: I've had a lot of dragonmarked questions come up in game WizO_Shadow: ieattrolls, same here but I imagine you're across the pond? cancerousmango: yeah WizO_Shadow: hehe, I wasn't going to ;) Splendide: i'm about to have lunch myself, so this is a great time :) ieattrollsforbreakfast Yeah thats right, nearly 4am here...and I have to be up at 8am WizO_Shadow: go, dream of trolls swimminga round in 2% milk for breakfast ;) Cancerousmango: owned Ieattrollsforbreakfast: heh :) WizO_Shadow: I'm sorry, your name is just too easy to alter around having fun Flame_Drake: Trolls< you are up way too late man Ieattrollsforbreakfast: I hadn't planned this...it was supposed to finish at 2am! ieattrollsforbreakfast: It started with an extra 'half an hour less sleep won't matter' ieattrollsforbreakfast: then one hour... cancerousmango: the name ieattrollsforbreakfast brings up an interesting point ieattrollsforbreakfast: then two... WizO_Shadow: no kidding. It's so extremely rare that they want to stay past their hour to answer one or two questions let alone take the time out and stay almost triple the time to answer ALL the questions Cancerousmango: wouldn't eating trolls do lethal damage to them? ieattrollsforbreakfast: Yes...yes it would :) Splendide: I was certainly pleasantly surprised to still be here Flame_Drake: Further evidence of the class acts that Keith and CA are WizO_Shadow: yes!!! ieattrollsforbreakfast: Hear hear! wargod22: That they are cancerousmango: huzzah ieattrollsforbreakfast: And now, I really should go...bye everyone! Thanks for a good chat! WizO_Shadow: ok guys, I'm locking her down for the night. Sweet dreams until next time! Flame are you posting the transcript on the ebberon general board? Splendide: seeya trolls WizO_Shadow: take care trolls! Splendide: seeya everyone! wargod22: night ieattrollsforbreakfast Quit (Web Browser closed) Splendide Quit Flame_Drake: indeed I am WizO_Shadow: thank you! Flame_Drake: Night Folks! ............................. <keithbaker> As for my question, it's more of a contest. I'm going to post it on ¬www.bossythecow.com ¬, but I'll give you first crack. <ieattrollsforbreakfast> Exciting :D <keithbaker> If you go to BossytheCow, we've done something in the past called the Baker's Dozen - a question of the week sort of thing. <Flame_Drake> to include in the transcript or not to include ? <keithbaker> However, because of my myriad comitments, it's been happening less than weekly. <keithbaker> So, I want help coming up with some good questions. Take a look at the archives, send me question ideas... <keithbaker> ... And I'll send the two people who give me the best questions signed copies of the Gates of Night. <WizO_Shadow> Nice! <keithbaker> (Third novel in the Dreaming Dark) <Flame_Drake> SWEET!!! <ieattrollsforbreakfast> Wow! Best put my thinking cap on! <Splendide> wowsers! <wargod22> awsome <keithbaker> Depending how quickly I can get to the post office, you may even get it before it hits bookstores. <keithbaker> So, think about it - I'm probably going to make Tuesday the deadline. ............................. Good Night Indeed, Drake
Forged_Fury 10-28-06, 10:57 AM	Editor’s Note: This is not the section you are looking for! Nice edit Drake :) I take it the question Keith asked was removed from the transcript? -FF
Raziel_Brokodar 10-28-06, 03:33 PM	I take it the question Keith asked was removed from the transcript? I was wondering the same, thanks for posting the transcript for us who couldn't attend or weren't able to because their damn usernames have spaces in them! (my problem) lol
Neofish 10-28-06, 04:31 PM	I'M SO FREAKING GLAD KEITH WROTE THE HOUSE THARASHK SECTION, WOOT!!! This book is gonna rock, I know it, it will at least be on par with 5 nations and Sharn:SoT. Also, did any else think the name of the house Ghallanda PrC sounds awesome and inspires wonder? Black Dog, hmmm, I wonder of it has anything to do with a phantom gaurd dog or perhaps Modienkien (sp?) faithful hound spell?
Flame_Drake 10-28-06, 05:15 PM	Nice edit Drake :) I take it the question Keith asked was removed from the transcript? -FF Indeed. You will know what the question was when Keith tells you at www.bossythecow.com. At that time I'll post the deleted section. Drake
AvonRekaes 10-28-06, 07:26 PM	Where can I find that Delerium Stone adventure that was mentioned? I tried looking on the RPGA website and only found 2 Mark of Heros adventures.
Raziel_Brokodar 10-28-06, 07:53 PM	Where can I find that Delerium Stone adventure that was mentioned? I tried looking on the RPGA website and only found 2 Mark of Heros adventures. I think it's only available at RPGA events, and not for purchase.
Twiggly the Gnome 10-28-06, 09:59 PM	keithbaker: I worked on House Ghallanda, Sivis, Phiarlan, Lyrandar, and Tharashk. I did prestige classes for Ghallanda, Orien, Tharashk, Medani, Phiralan/Thuranni, Lyrandar, and Sivis. Excellent! :thumbsup: Keithbaker: Splendide, tough question. I'd say Tasker Torralyn d'Sivis, although you don't get a full stat block for him. (Think of him as the Tesla of House Sivis.) Cool! :cool: Splendide: If it'd be three years to cover the houses, I can only imagine how far off a book on Zilargo is. keithbaker: If I ran WotC, Splendide, you'd get it next month. Sadly, I suspect you'll have to wait a while. I wish Keith ran WotC. :king:
Flame_Drake 10-28-06, 10:09 PM	I wish Keith ran WotC. :king: Don't we all Twiggly, don't we all. :) Drake
Flame_Drake 10-28-06, 10:11 PM	Also, did any else think the name of the house Ghallanda PrC sounds awesome and inspires wonder? Black Dog, hmmm, I wonder of it has anything to do with a phantom gaurd dog or perhaps Modienkien (sp?) faithful hound spell? What I wonder more about is the fact that Keith said it was better for Noir-eque games and the fact that this is Ghallanda's PrC. Drake
Raziel_Brokodar 10-28-06, 11:03 PM	What I wonder more about is the fact that Keith said it was better for Noir-eque games and the fact that this is Ghallanda's PrC. Drake Yeah that was interesting and got my noir-sense tingling lol Can't wait for this book. I mean alot of houses will be really fleshed out and that'll make people want to take the dragonmark feats more. (Most of my core race character concepts are marked characters, but most of my players aren't that interested in having them) :D
Teron Gorefiend 10-29-06, 12:46 AM	Thanks for the transcripts, Flame_Drake! Now I really hope Chapters doesn't include Dragonmarked among the books they inexplicably never stock.
Flame_Drake 10-29-06, 01:12 AM	Thanks for the transcripts, Flame_Drake! Now I really hope Chapters doesn't include Dragonmarked among the books they inexplicably never stock. Heh. Where are you? I've given up all hope of Chapters stocking anything relating to Eberron in Calgary. Drake
DBlizzard 10-29-06, 03:56 AM	Where can I find that Delirium Stone adventure that was mentioned? I tried looking on the RPGA website and only found 2 Mark of Heros adventures. It was an adventure for Mark of Heroes earlier this year (late spring/early summer, IIRC). You "might" be able to find a copy on eBay, if it was one of the adventures that were included in the WotC D&D Campaign packs that venue's could purchase (not 100% sure it if was one of those). Briefly the plot was - The players are sent to investigate an opening created during a recent seismic event by a mysterious benefactor looking for some heirlooms his family lost. One of these items is the deleirium stone. Once the PCs work around the obstacles to the entrance to the chamber, they end up transported back to Sharaat (the old name for Sharn) during the War of the Mark, although they don't necessarily realize it. An interesting twist to the adventure is they all "replace" people and end up with aberrant marks for the remainder of the adventure (and side effects throughout the campaign). There they find themselves in a tower being assaulted by the dragonmarked house's forces. Gradually they work thiere way to the top (hopefully), fighting or avoiding various threats from the houses (including a Cannith Glyphweaver and a Vadalis Bloodswarm) and encounter one of Halas Tarkannan's leaders the Dreambreaker. Typically the players will be able to disrupt his actions and grab the Delirium Stone, which will bring them to the present. It's noted that Dreambreaker has a more powerful dragonmark then you'll see today, but his abilities are only given when enhanced by the stone. Another aberrant appears with a mark slightly more powerful then currently available, but with a big drawback as well. The adventure has ramifications in adventures that have appeared since in the Mark of Heroes campaign. I don't feel too bad about spoiling this, since the adventure has long since expired as an RPGA adventure. Still, a few DMs who ran it may wish to run it as a future adventure (in fact, I might), so the caution.
Teron Gorefiend 10-29-06, 04:33 AM	Heh. Where are you? I've given up all hope of Chapters stocking anything relating to Eberron in Calgary. Drake Ottawa. The closest Chapters has a decent selection of D&D books, but no amount of clicking "I would have purchased this today if it was in stock" on the in-store search computers has caused Magic of Eberron to turn up. I'm not actually sure I would buy it, but they seem steadfastly determined not to meet the "demand" for it. S:CoT also took a couple of years to turn up (I checked often, just for the hell of it, since it was convenient), and things aren't looking too promising for Tome of Battle.
Forged_Fury 10-29-06, 04:53 PM	Also, did any else think the name of the house Ghallanda PrC sounds awesome and inspires wonder? Black Dog, hmmm, I wonder of it has anything to do with a phantom gaurd dog or perhaps Modienkien (sp?) faithful hound spell? As long as it has nothing to do with the "amazing" Patrick Swayze/Meatloaf movie of the same name, I'll be content. :) -FF
Neofish 10-29-06, 05:40 PM	What I wonder more about is the fact that Keith said it was better for Noir-eque games and the fact that this is Ghallanda's PrC. Drake Uh, I spelled it correctly, what's the beef?
Neofish 10-29-06, 05:43 PM	As long as it has nothing to do with the "amazing" Patrick Swayze/Meatloaf movie of the same name, I'll be content. :) -FF :rofl: Awe C'mon, you mean you don't want halfling heirs of Ghallanda driving around in big black earth sleds?
DBlizzard 10-29-06, 06:28 PM	Uh, I spelled it correctly, what's the beef? He's pointing out that is one of the houses least likely to have a noir prestige class. Medani on the other hand...
Flame_Drake 10-29-06, 08:23 PM	Uh, I spelled it correctly, what's the beef? No beef, just pointing out that that's one of the last houses that I'd expect to have the coolest PrC, let alone a noir based one. Oh and you all may want to re-read the transcript :) Or not, that's fine with me too! Cheers, Drake
Hellcow 10-30-06, 02:14 PM	Indeed. You will know what the question was when Keith tells you at www.bossythecow.com. At that time I'll post the deleted section. Posted, and 30 hours left before the deadline!
Hellcow 10-30-06, 02:20 PM	I mean alot of houses will be really fleshed out and that'll make people want to take the dragonmark feats more. I still want to emphasize that there were limits on what we could fit into the structure of the book - there's still a lot left I'd love to explore. The question asked about specific holidays of the houses, for example - that's a level of house culture that we simply didn't have space to delve into. However, the book does provide far more insight than has been available so far, and it certainly provides many options that will give characters of all classes reasons to think about taking dragonmarked feats.
AvonRekaes 10-31-06, 10:51 AM	Keith, where's the log posted to on your site? I couldn't find the link
davethebrave371 11-04-06, 02:56 PM	I wish Keith ran WotC. :king: I totally agree.