Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Seghan 12-19-06, 08:52 PM	Okay, say I wanted to read 1 Eberron novel to get ahold of the flavor of the setting would be better. The issue is that I don't care much for fantasy novels in general. So basically, I'd just like to get as much flavor as possible for the buck. My character is a Karrnathi expat in Sharn who will be working in town and also I think in Droaam in the earlier levels of the game, so these are the important areas for me to see. BTW, I don't mean to crack on the the genre of fantasy novels in general, it's not my thing, but I understand it is for a lot of people here. Thanks.
Bluebrush 12-19-06, 09:21 PM	Well, for Sharn, the best bet is probably going to be Keith Baker's own City of Towers, the first book of the Dreaming Dark trilogy. Then again, you'll probably get more info out of the Sharn sourcebook. Out of the novels released so far, only Blood and Honour is set primarily in Karrnath. It's not terribly flavourful but may give you something to work with. The Dragon Below series, in addition to being the best series in my opinion, is set around the Shadow Marches and travels to Droaam in the second book. Even the first book may give you some insight into a "monstrous" culture. If novels aren't your thing, then consider looking for the Eberron comic "Eye of the Wolf", written by Keith Baker and set primarily in Droaam. It may be more what you're looking for.
ORC_Paradox 12-19-06, 10:35 PM	You could try the campaign setting itself. That's not a novel and gives plenty of flavor. That or the Player's Guide to Eberron. :D
Seghan 12-19-06, 11:49 PM	Oh man, the ECS and other setting books have more flavor than dinner at, er, the Olive Garden or something. Or Forgotton Realms, Ravenloft, and Kingdoms of Kalamar combined. That is something I love about Eberron. But I think a little man (person) on the streets perspective would be best gleaned from the books. But maybe I'm wrong.
Seghan 12-19-06, 11:52 PM	Or Forgotton Realms... Okay, before I get hit, FR has tons of flavor. That was uncalled for and I'm sorry. But Eberron tastes better :smirk:
Teron Gorefiend 12-20-06, 12:13 PM	Okay, before I get hit, FR has tons of flavor. Yeah, but it's terrible. I was irrevocably turned off from it (not that I'd been interested before) when I read an article in Dragon that bothered to mention what one city's people eat on picnics, and the local name for leeks. Who the hell cares what people call leeks?! The Forgotten Realms' "flavour", as far as I can tell, consists of a neurotic amount of insignificant details, plus drow.
hcotterson 12-20-06, 04:13 PM	Okay, before I get hit, FR has tons of flavor. I agree. It's just not a flavor I particularly like. There's tons of cool stuff in the Realms, but the whole package is just too fantasy-conventional for me.
Seghan 12-20-06, 04:57 PM	Yeah, but it's terrible. Exactly my point. I'm just ever vigilent for FR fanboys (and girls) who seem to take easy offence. So I give them what props I can. Like "Oh, what an interesting dress..."
valkeriesmurf 12-20-06, 05:12 PM	On a side note, my only problem with FR is ending up in a game where players demand what happened in the books be used for cannon, especially when they've been able to reall all of them and you've only read one or two. Novels for flavor text, definently KB's City of Towers book, the start of his Dreaming Dark trilogy. The first book takes place mostly in and around Sharn. The Dragon Below trilogy is good too as mentioned for flavor on monster cultures. And I will second the comic Eye of the Wolf as another flavor text source. Not just in reading, but visuals as well.
Edymnion 12-21-06, 08:41 PM	I have yet to find an Eberron novel that comes close to the Dreaming Dark trilogy, written by the setting creator, Keith Baker. The rest I've found to range the gammet from "eh, not bad" to "oh my god, did this guy even READ the source book before dribbling this nonsense out of his oriface?".