[Dragonshard] Psionics in Eberron [Archive] - Wizards Community

[Dragonshard] Psionics in Eberron [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
eehamburg
09-25-06, 11:02 AM Well ... there's a new Dragonshard out by the Infernal Bovine.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/20060925a

What is everyone's opinions? How can you use it or not use? What rules do you use or not use? Or variations even.

I like the fact that KB gave information on places that use psionics but even more that he gave options for what to do if you don't like psionics. I like the sorcerer connection bit. I am trying to figure out how to use that and add it to the game as an addition to psionics. I wish that KB would have made this a multi-parter so that there would be more information on this topic. I guess, that we'll have to wait and see.

In addition, how often will the Dragonshards be coming out now?
Neofish
09-25-06, 11:34 AM Eh... I hate to say it, but I really didn't enjoy this article at all, which sucks, because i've loved all of the previous dragonshards that came before it.

This one just kinda read out like an Eberron Expanded article, and een those contain abit more detail than this one.

It just seem to lack depth, all it did in my opinion was spout out patchs and suggestions. Nothing like the other shards in which Mr. Baker goes into loving detail about creatures, orders, or places.

Anyway, I hope this doesn't get you down Mr. Baker, because honestly, I probably don't know what i'm talking about. And as always, keep up the good work and best reguards.

-Neofish.
ccerose
09-25-06, 12:39 PM I found the article informative. I like the way different schools of psionics were tied to Dal Quor and Xoriat.
The White Sorcerer
09-25-06, 12:51 PM I like that Sarlonans used psionics before the quori invasion, and that it makes the Principalities an alternate non-quori source for psionic training.
eehamburg
09-25-06, 01:50 PM This one just kinda read out like an Eberron Expanded article, and een those contain abit more detail than this one.

It just seem to lack depth, all it did in my opinion was spout out patchs and suggestions.

I agree that there should have been more detail and information. However, I am inclined to believe that any information is better than none. But it would have been nice to get some insights about how people in Eberron view psionics or even how they are used. Some more fluff could have been helpful.
Siran Dunmorgan
09-25-06, 03:14 PM We know from Sharn: City of Towers that House Deneith has a (mostly) secret psionics research/training facility in Sharn.

Though it is not canon, we have the example of Lei's reaction to psionic devices in The Shattered Land: she was puzzled that the device's patterns did not correspond to magical principles.

This suggests that while psionics is known to the people of Khorvaire, it's not well known: Lei is apparently qualified for the Arcane Congress, and even she didn't recognize the device as psionic.

Placing the Hidden Houses in the Principalities, now... that has potential. I'd previously thought of them as spread out throughout the Five Nations, Talaron having been destroyed by the Riedran conquest (and the Enemy, the Dreaming Dark). But... the Principalities. That has possibilities.

—Siran Dunmorgan
beezly
09-25-06, 03:18 PM Psychic Pirates? Cool!
Hellcow
09-25-06, 05:21 PM I wish that KB would have made this a multi-parter so that there would be more information on this topic.
The next Eberron Expanded should be about Complete Psionic, and is intended to compliment this article. I know people may be disappointed with the brevity of this article; it's an overview, and really aimed more at people who don't currently use psionics than at those who do. I could easily take any one of these points and write any entire article on it (King's Dark Psions of Breland! Psychic Pirates of the Gray Tide!), and I'd enjoy doing so... but the point here was simply to suggest that the King's Dark Psions may exist, and that you can use psionics without using kalashtar... or, alternately, that you can use kalashtar without using psionics.

So, I admit, it's not the most exciting article I've written... on the other hand, free content is free content. ;)
Hellcow
09-25-06, 05:23 PM Placing the Hidden Houses in the Principalities, now... that has potential. I'd previously thought of them as spread out throughout the Five Nations, Talaron having been destroyed by the Riedran conquest (and the Enemy, the Dreaming Dark).
And again, while not the subject of the entire article, the Hidden Houses will be addressed in Eberron Expanded... albeit with the standard EE "You could do this if you wanted" rule.
eehamburg
09-25-06, 05:36 PM free content is free content.

Some content is better than no content.
DoveArrow
09-25-06, 08:00 PM Honestly, I loved this article. The idea that the planes are affected by the thoughts and actions of the creatures that exist on the Material Plane is absolutely fascinating. In fact, I'm left wondering if the power wielded by the quori during the Age of Giants was a direct result of the arcane might of the giants living in Xen'drik. It could also explain why the quori are much weaker today, since the current races are also weaker. In any case, I thought it was a great article, and I'm glad to see Keith is writing them again.
Identitystolen
09-25-06, 11:43 PM Kinda funny the article was sort of like how I had things pegged in my campaign, except Xen'Drik had the non-Quori or abberation related psioncs and not the LPs.

Excuse my ignorance, but whats the 'Hiddne House'?
Nived
09-26-06, 01:11 AM The Six Hidden Houses are from the book Complete Psionic. A series of organizations presented in a generic manner so they could be dropped into pretty much any setting (though it'd have to be a setting with Psionics).

For the Six Hidden Houses... well, if memory serves you just take the plot of "The Covenant" and drop it into D&D... strange that book was out before that movie... but heck I thought they ripped off White Wolf maybe they were just ripping off any RPG they could find.

I'm going off on a tangent now.
mhacdebhandia
09-26-06, 02:22 AM In fact, I'm left wondering if the power wielded by the quori during the Age of Giants was a direct result of the arcane might of the giants living in Xen'drik. It could also explain why the quori are much weaker today, since the current races are also weaker.
Dove, thank you. That's an incredibly cool idea.
Sereno
09-26-06, 09:19 AM The Six Hidden Houses are from the book Complete Psionic. A series of organizations presented in a generic manner so they could be dropped into pretty much any setting (though it'd have to be a setting with Psionics).

So, do we split them into twelve Hidden Houses (with one gone missing, of course) for Eberron? :)

How many major islands are there in Lhazaar? Is there enough room for twelve?
maollelujah
09-26-06, 12:24 PM Which leaves me wondering about our favorite Ancient Psionic Vampire... Is she an ancient Sarlonian that brought psionics with her? Or is she even more ancient?
eehamburg
09-26-06, 12:33 PM Which leaves me wondering about our favorite Ancient Psionic Vampire... Is she an ancient Sarlonian that brought psionics with her? Or is she even more ancient?

Forgive my ignorance ... but who is the ancient psionic vampire? can you give some info?
maollelujah
09-26-06, 12:37 PM Forgive my ignorance ... but who is the ancient psionic vampire? can you give some info?

Calderus from the Sharn Book. She also plays a behind the scenes role in Whisper's of the Vampire's Blade.
eehamburg
09-26-06, 12:38 PM Calderus from Sharn. She also plays a behind the scenes role in Whisper's of the Vampire's Blade.

That would be why I don't know her ... don't have WotVB... I tend to like to make the campaigns myself ilo published adventures.
Estelindis
10-02-06, 10:53 AM While I enjoyed this article very much, for me the best thing about it was reading the following sentence:

"The realms of Sarlona and the powers of its inhabitants will be explored in greater detail in the upcoming sourcebook, Secrets of Sarlona."

I am one happy kalashtar-player. :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
eehamburg 09-25-06, 11:02 AM	Well ... there's a new Dragonshard out by the Infernal Bovine. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/20060925a What is everyone's opinions? How can you use it or not use? What rules do you use or not use? Or variations even. I like the fact that KB gave information on places that use psionics but even more that he gave options for what to do if you don't like psionics. I like the sorcerer connection bit. I am trying to figure out how to use that and add it to the game as an addition to psionics. I wish that KB would have made this a multi-parter so that there would be more information on this topic. I guess, that we'll have to wait and see. In addition, how often will the Dragonshards be coming out now?
Neofish 09-25-06, 11:34 AM	Eh... I hate to say it, but I really didn't enjoy this article at all, which sucks, because i've loved all of the previous dragonshards that came before it. This one just kinda read out like an Eberron Expanded article, and een those contain abit more detail than this one. It just seem to lack depth, all it did in my opinion was spout out patchs and suggestions. Nothing like the other shards in which Mr. Baker goes into loving detail about creatures, orders, or places. Anyway, I hope this doesn't get you down Mr. Baker, because honestly, I probably don't know what i'm talking about. And as always, keep up the good work and best reguards. -Neofish.
ccerose 09-25-06, 12:39 PM	I found the article informative. I like the way different schools of psionics were tied to Dal Quor and Xoriat.
The White Sorcerer 09-25-06, 12:51 PM	I like that Sarlonans used psionics before the quori invasion, and that it makes the Principalities an alternate non-quori source for psionic training.
eehamburg 09-25-06, 01:50 PM	This one just kinda read out like an Eberron Expanded article, and een those contain abit more detail than this one. It just seem to lack depth, all it did in my opinion was spout out patchs and suggestions. I agree that there should have been more detail and information. However, I am inclined to believe that any information is better than none. But it would have been nice to get some insights about how people in Eberron view psionics or even how they are used. Some more fluff could have been helpful.
Siran Dunmorgan 09-25-06, 03:14 PM	We know from Sharn: City of Towers that House Deneith has a (mostly) secret psionics research/training facility in Sharn. Though it is not canon, we have the example of Lei's reaction to psionic devices in The Shattered Land: she was puzzled that the device's patterns did not correspond to magical principles. This suggests that while psionics is known to the people of Khorvaire, it's not well known: Lei is apparently qualified for the Arcane Congress, and even she didn't recognize the device as psionic. Placing the Hidden Houses in the Principalities, now... that has potential. I'd previously thought of them as spread out throughout the Five Nations, Talaron having been destroyed by the Riedran conquest (and the Enemy, the Dreaming Dark). But... the Principalities. That has possibilities. —Siran Dunmorgan
beezly 09-25-06, 03:18 PM	Psychic Pirates? Cool!
Hellcow 09-25-06, 05:21 PM	I wish that KB would have made this a multi-parter so that there would be more information on this topic. The next Eberron Expanded should be about Complete Psionic, and is intended to compliment this article. I know people may be disappointed with the brevity of this article; it's an overview, and really aimed more at people who don't currently use psionics than at those who do. I could easily take any one of these points and write any entire article on it (King's Dark Psions of Breland! Psychic Pirates of the Gray Tide!), and I'd enjoy doing so... but the point here was simply to suggest that the King's Dark Psions may exist, and that you can use psionics without using kalashtar... or, alternately, that you can use kalashtar without using psionics. So, I admit, it's not the most exciting article I've written... on the other hand, free content is free content. ;)
Hellcow 09-25-06, 05:23 PM	Placing the Hidden Houses in the Principalities, now... that has potential. I'd previously thought of them as spread out throughout the Five Nations, Talaron having been destroyed by the Riedran conquest (and the Enemy, the Dreaming Dark). And again, while not the subject of the entire article, the Hidden Houses will be addressed in Eberron Expanded... albeit with the standard EE "You could do this if you wanted" rule.
eehamburg 09-25-06, 05:36 PM	free content is free content. Some content is better than no content.
DoveArrow 09-25-06, 08:00 PM	Honestly, I loved this article. The idea that the planes are affected by the thoughts and actions of the creatures that exist on the Material Plane is absolutely fascinating. In fact, I'm left wondering if the power wielded by the quori during the Age of Giants was a direct result of the arcane might of the giants living in Xen'drik. It could also explain why the quori are much weaker today, since the current races are also weaker. In any case, I thought it was a great article, and I'm glad to see Keith is writing them again.
Identitystolen 09-25-06, 11:43 PM	Kinda funny the article was sort of like how I had things pegged in my campaign, except Xen'Drik had the non-Quori or abberation related psioncs and not the LPs. Excuse my ignorance, but whats the 'Hiddne House'?
Nived 09-26-06, 01:11 AM	The Six Hidden Houses are from the book Complete Psionic. A series of organizations presented in a generic manner so they could be dropped into pretty much any setting (though it'd have to be a setting with Psionics). For the Six Hidden Houses... well, if memory serves you just take the plot of "The Covenant" and drop it into D&D... strange that book was out before that movie... but heck I thought they ripped off White Wolf maybe they were just ripping off any RPG they could find. I'm going off on a tangent now.
mhacdebhandia 09-26-06, 02:22 AM	In fact, I'm left wondering if the power wielded by the quori during the Age of Giants was a direct result of the arcane might of the giants living in Xen'drik. It could also explain why the quori are much weaker today, since the current races are also weaker. Dove, thank you. That's an incredibly cool idea.
Sereno 09-26-06, 09:19 AM	The Six Hidden Houses are from the book Complete Psionic. A series of organizations presented in a generic manner so they could be dropped into pretty much any setting (though it'd have to be a setting with Psionics). So, do we split them into twelve Hidden Houses (with one gone missing, of course) for Eberron? :) How many major islands are there in Lhazaar? Is there enough room for twelve?
maollelujah 09-26-06, 12:24 PM	Which leaves me wondering about our favorite Ancient Psionic Vampire... Is she an ancient Sarlonian that brought psionics with her? Or is she even more ancient?
eehamburg 09-26-06, 12:33 PM	Which leaves me wondering about our favorite Ancient Psionic Vampire... Is she an ancient Sarlonian that brought psionics with her? Or is she even more ancient? Forgive my ignorance ... but who is the ancient psionic vampire? can you give some info?
maollelujah 09-26-06, 12:37 PM	Forgive my ignorance ... but who is the ancient psionic vampire? can you give some info? Calderus from the Sharn Book. She also plays a behind the scenes role in Whisper's of the Vampire's Blade.
eehamburg 09-26-06, 12:38 PM	Calderus from Sharn. She also plays a behind the scenes role in Whisper's of the Vampire's Blade. That would be why I don't know her ... don't have WotVB... I tend to like to make the campaigns myself ilo published adventures.
Estelindis 10-02-06, 10:53 AM	While I enjoyed this article very much, for me the best thing about it was reading the following sentence: "The realms of Sarlona and the powers of its inhabitants will be explored in greater detail in the upcoming sourcebook, Secrets of Sarlona." I am one happy kalashtar-player. :)