Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Drumstick 12-23-06, 09:07 PM	I have recently been toying around with the idea of starting an Eberron campaign right after the death of the king and just minutes before the war begins. My party members seem to love the idea of playing a role in the Last War. However, there is a lack of information, or at least information I havent found about the last war. Here is the list of questions I hope i can get some answers too, or at least point me in the right direction. 1. Dragonmark Houses: How did the Dragonmark Houses operate during the war? Did they sell/trade goods with all of the 5 nations? Did citizenship of the House matter during the war? Or did a house split into 5 seperate organizations in order to serve their own country? This is a major concern of mine because im sure the Houses played an important part in the war regardless of what they offered. 2. Lightning rail and air ships: While these play a huge role in the world of today in Eberron, how did they operate during the War? The lightning rail spans a few current day countries, and I assume it did pre war as well, Did the 5 nations fight for control of the lightning rail? I was also curious to know how the air ships opperated during the war. Were they bought by each of the 5 nations or did house Lysander operate them and charge fees to the nations? (think Dune Spacing Guild-esqe) My main concern is if these were used in combat and sieges of cities. Heres 2 for now, undoubtly i will have a few more in the days to come. This is just a jumping off point, I plan on heavy interaction between the PCs and the houses and nations full of subterfuge, spying and probably an assassination or 2. Also, from my reading it looks as if the war started between 2 alliances, 1) Cyre and Aundair and the other 3 on the other side. The only thing is, Who attacked who and where did the first assualt take place?
(Psi)SeveredHead 12-23-06, 09:22 PM	I have recently been toying around with the idea of starting an Eberron campaign right after the death of the king and just minutes before the war begins. My party members seem to love the idea of playing a role in the Last War. However, there is a lack of information, or at least information I havent found about the last war. Here is the list of questions I hope i can get some answers too, or at least point me in the right direction. 1. Dragonmark Houses: How did the Dragonmark Houses operate during the war? Did they sell/trade goods with all of the 5 nations? Did citizenship of the House matter during the war? Or did a house split into 5 seperate organizations in order to serve their own country? This is a major concern of mine because im sure the Houses played an important part in the war regardless of what they offered. Your House status was more important than your national status and Houses were officially neutral. You were supposed to show more loyalty to your House than nation. However, this didn't always work out, as House members are people too. Also note that some House HQs are in a nation, although not necessarily in one of the Five Nations. Cannith was based in Cyre, for instance, and was devastated along with Cyre. Can you imagine a House secretly supporting the nation that houses its HQ? Each House sold their services. I'm sure House Jorasco and Deneith made out like bandits; probably House Tharask as well, if they were offering mercs at the time. House Cannith made lots of $ selling warforged, of course. You could find warforged on most sides (not among the Valenar or Thrane, presumably) but nations like Karrnath used their own special troops they did not make available to other sides (eg the Karrnathi undead). 2. Lightning rail and air ships: While these play a huge role in the world of today in Eberron, how did they operate during the War? The lightning rail spans a few current day countries, and I assume it did pre war as well, Did the 5 nations fight for control of the lightning rail? They do? I don't know if they transport anything other than people. I suppose you could make a deal with House Orien to move troops quickly. During the Civil War in the US, railroads were frequently used this way, and to transport food. Lots of fighting took place around rail terminals. However, both the Union and the Confederates had railway engineers, whereas I wonder if anyone who wasn't a member of House Orien could actually control the railways? I was also curious to know how the air ships opperated during the war. Were they bought by each of the 5 nations or did house Lysander operate them and charge fees to the nations? (think Dune Spacing Guild-esqe) My main concern is if these were used in combat and sieges of cities. I suspect the latter. There were attack airships in the Dreaming Dark series (by Keith Baker), but I suspect they were too expensive and vulnerable to be really useful as bombers. Heres 2 for now, undoubtly i will have a few more in the days to come. This is just a jumping off point, I plan on heavy interaction between the PCs and the houses and nations full of subterfuge, spying and probably an assassination or 2. Also, from my reading it looks as if the war started between 2 alliances, 1) Cyre and Aundair and the other 3 on the other side. The only thing is, Who attacked who and where did the first assualt take place? This is covered in Five Nations. I don't really recall who exactly started the fight, but the alliances didn't last; they shifted too much.
Drumstick 12-23-06, 09:46 PM	great! thanks for the quick response. I will look into the five nations, and a friend also recomened dragonmarked as well. Ive been trying to think what other important information I will need to know. I plan on starting this within the next week or 2 as a kind of test run for my group. My plan is to have them align with a nation and a house of their choosing. Of course, these choices have very specific effects in game as to who is allied with who. I plan on them having House specific missions for the pcs to accomplish, such as spying, deliveries, messengers and the like in addition to major quest. Kind of specific side quests for each character. Thats the goal at any rate. Anyone have any suggestions?
Siberys 12-24-06, 10:11 AM	Also, in July there'll be a whole book on the war. I hope it explains stuff like this. While a blow-by-blow would be a bit mch to expect (despite that that's exactly what I want), it should have a more general timeline. Most, if not all, of your questions should be answered in that book a couple of things, though 1) there will be no Warforged/Thuranni at the time you describe. I'm sure you know this, just wanted to point it out. 2) Airships, at that time, were much rarer than today (and they're pretty rare today!). Lightning rails were more efficient, cheaper, and connected ALL of galifar. Thus, 102 years ago, Lightning rails were VERY important, moreso than today, and airships were more-or-less just out of the beta.
ChaoticGood 12-25-06, 03:41 PM	Also, it should be pointed out that the war did not begin "a few minutes" after the King's death. It began at the coronation of Mishann, when two of the nations (Karrn and Breland, if I recall correctly) showed up with armed troops to put their own ruler on the throne instead. Judging from historically similar situations, this would not have happened until several days or even weeks after the King's death, so as to give each of the Five Nations a chance to mourn Jarot's passing and to prepare an official delegation for the coronation celebration.
Drumstick 12-27-06, 10:17 PM	great! thanks for that information, ive done alot of reading lately, and i hadnt seen that part. thanks for all the help