Eberron Setting worth buying? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Eberron Setting worth buying? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Farastu the Wizard
11-16-04, 10:12 PM Hi, Farastu the Wizard here with a question: I'm thinking of getting the Eberron Campaign Setting, to try something new(I've played normal D&D since 2001), but I would like other people's opinion on it... Is it worth buying? If so why?
Thanks,
Farsatu the Wizard
RatFlail OF DOOM!!!!
11-16-04, 10:22 PM Where else could you make a PC that can track npcs through an over populated city to perform an exorcist (exorcist of the silver flame). Where else could you use a living construct that suffers because it gets chased through the city of a floating city by a crowd of angry people with a hammer of smiting? Where else can dragons be so cool no one knows heck about them? Where else could you be chaotic evil in a church that only serves the greater good? I can go on for hours...
Edymnion
11-16-04, 10:25 PM Short answer, yes.
Long answer, well, this comes up just about weekly on this forum. Hit the Search function, and you'll find where lots of people have given detailed reasons why you should.

I really don't mean to sound mean or anything, its just that I've typed out long answers to this questions three times so far, and I really don't wanna do it all again.

But yes, it is most definatly worth getting. Heck, get two copies so you can get one encased in lucite as a keepsake! :D
EvilDuck
11-16-04, 10:30 PM From one Ed to another: I don't think its that collectible, and you should allow the hardcore gamingness to cause wear in the book. Think of it as battle scars, badges of honor on a great, great book.

To the Wizard who inquires: Youi should ask about this on the FR boards.

Seriously, this is a quality campaign setting. Get it. Now.
Farastu the Wizard
11-16-04, 10:40 PM Ok... Thanks for the replies, and one more question: I know I should be using 3.5 books with eberron, but I'm too loyal to 3.0 :) the "downgrade" shouldn't be too hard but the psionics changes might... other than races,classes,powers and feats,(and no combat modes) is the Expanded Psionics Handbook too different from the old one? For instance, would it be impossible to revert psionics in Eberron(with the exception of combat modes) to 3.0 psionics? Anyway thanks again for your opinions.
RatFlail OF DOOM!!!!
11-16-04, 10:51 PM Ok... Thanks for the replies, and one more question: I know I should be using 3.5 books with eberron, but I'm too loyal to 3.0 :) the "downgrade" shouldn't be too hard but the psionics changes might... other than races,classes,powers and feats,(and no combat modes) is the Expanded Psionics Handbook too different from the old one? For instance, would it be impossible to revert psionics in Eberron(with the exception of combat modes) to 3.0 psionics? Anyway thanks again for your opinions.
its possible but there was a thread i forgot which one.... it proved XPH is better 54 to 13 *we listed the advantages*
Amaril
11-16-04, 10:54 PM Ok... Thanks for the replies, and one more question: I know I should be using 3.5 books with eberron, but I'm too loyal to 3.0 :) the "downgrade" shouldn't be too hard but the psionics changes might... other than races,classes,powers and feats,(and no combat modes) is the Expanded Psionics Handbook too different from the old one? For instance, would it be impossible to revert psionics in Eberron(with the exception of combat modes) to 3.0 psionics? Anyway thanks again for your opinions.
Drastically different, and well worth the money, too! I actually bought the Expanded PsiHB to use in a 3.0 D&D game and it worked even better than the original 3.0 PsiHB. The improvements are far to numerous to mention.
Farastu the Wizard
11-16-04, 10:56 PM I would probably update to 3.5 if i was willing to spend a fortune getting the new core books(and XPH), and if they rereleased new versions of other 3.0 books.... I hate printed "updates" (excluding articles like Mind's Eye, Monster Mayhem, Spellbook, Far Corners of the World, and Bardic something...)
Neofish
11-16-04, 10:58 PM I would probably update to 3.5 if i was willing to spend a fortune getting the new core books(and XPH), and if they rereleased new versions of other 3.0 books.... I hate printed "updates" (excluding articles like Mind's Eye, Monster Mayhem, Spellbook, Far Corners of the World, and Bardic something...)

Thats a good choice, seeing as how Eberron is the First setting built with the 3.5 rules in mind.
Amaril
11-16-04, 11:01 PM I would probably update to 3.5 if i was willing to spend a fortune getting the new core books(and XPH), and if they rereleased new versions of other 3.0 books.... I hate printed "updates" (excluding articles like Mind's Eye, Monster Mayhem, Spellbook, Far Corners of the World, and Bardic something...)
Keep your 3.0 books and use the 3.5 SRD for mechanical differences. other than that, the differences are marginal, and probably transparent to both players and GMs after all that's said and done.

By the way, the Expanded Psionics system is in the RSRD, too.
Roxlimn
11-16-04, 11:23 PM Speaking as a person who "kind of" uses D&D 3.5, I would say that if you are happy with 3.0, there is no reason for you to "upgrade" to 3.5+ at all. Despite that, I highly recommend the XPH. I've seen Psionics ever since it was this weird system in the 1st edition DMG. I've seen it through 2e, through Spells and Powers, through 3e, and even through Bruce Cordell's 3rd party developments.

Without reservation, I will say XPH is the very best thing that's ever happened to Psionics in D&D. I'd even say that the XPH is the best thing that's happened to D&D since 3e. Even if you don't get the Eberron campaign setting, you should get the XPH. Heck, even if you aren't planning on playing Psionics at all, you should get the XPH. It's that good.
Edymnion
11-16-04, 11:52 PM You don't really need 3.5 rules to play Eberron, not really. Few things won't get used (like the special weapons materials), but other than that, you'll be fine.

And I would definately suggest getting the XPH, it is incredible how much better it is than the original. Its one of the best books WotC has printed, right up there with Eberron and the Draconomicon.
Brastan
11-17-04, 12:11 AM The best parts of Eberron are not base on D&D rules at all. The majority of the Eberron core sources book ( ECS ) is the story of the setting, which is its main selling point in my opinion. What's your gaming group up to? Are you DMing and looking for something new? Also the published adventures are the best I've ever seen in 3rd edition or revised. I've actually run them with out major modification (which is a first).

There are good things in 3rd revised, but I'm not going to try to convert you here. Go back and look up the gearing up for Eberron articles as well as the articles published at the Eberron site (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/eberron).
Farastu the Wizard
11-17-04, 12:08 PM Thanks for the replies! I'm starting to think about getting the XPH now. I do use the 3.5 sourcebooks(Draconomicon, Complete Series, etc.) I just note small mechanical diffs. between teh two versions. Like I said I'd gladly upgrade to 3.5 if wotc would just rerelease some of my old books like Manual to the Planes, Class books(Song and Silence) etc. Hmmm.... by the way are warforged treated like a normal race? Like with one class level is his ECL 1? Once again thanks for your advice and opinions.

Farastu the Wizard
The White Sorcerer
11-17-04, 12:57 PM Hmmm.... by the way are warforged treated like a normal race? Like with one class level is his ECL 1?

Yes.

Eberron is t3h kewl. I'm going to sell my Forgotten Realms books so that I'll have money for Eberron books. And I happen to love Forgotten Realms. Eberron is just so much cooler.
coyraven
11-17-04, 01:02 PM I would suggest going to enworld.org and rpg.net and reading reviews or asking there. You are not going to get many useful opinions here just due to the topic of this forum.

CR
Edymnion
11-17-04, 01:32 PM Class books(Song and Silence) etc.They are being reprinted, just under the Complete XXXXX label. If you look in your Complete Warrior/Divine/Arcane, much of it is just reprints of the 3.0 splatbook materials. WotC swore up and down they weren't going to reprint the 3.0 splatbooks and make us pay for something we already owned. So, they just changed the groupings, put in a few new things, and changed the book names.
Hmmm.... by the way are warforged treated like a normal race?Yes, the Warforged, the Shifters, the Changlings, and the Kalashtar are all normal ECL +0 player races.
ChronosCrow
11-17-04, 02:36 PM A big ol heck yes to your original question. I am having the time of my life running my Eberron game. It's due in large part to the setting and the fact that Keith Baker selflessly answers millions of our questions in the Ask Keith Baker thread.
DJDave
11-17-04, 03:51 PM I must amit Keith's board support for his setting is wonderful and is helping clarify things all the time. Wizards should make this part of his freelance contract its fabulous
Ezrael
11-17-04, 04:18 PM I lurk here and have for about two months, but I never ever post. So I'm not committed to any position or have a reputation as a partisan one way or another here. Purely as someone who owns the book, yes, you should get the Eberron setting book. It's excellent. It's so good I'm not even bitter over not having my entry picked to move on in the setting search... it's so good I can honestly say I'm glad it won. I've gotten loads of new ideas for my own game from reading it, and besides its excellence as a setting book it's also got some really nice art and more importantly well-chosen art, art that helps you develop a real understanding of places and themes in the book. The new races are interesting and evocative, the artificer class is interesting without being overpowered, there's plenty of room to expand and grow as you run any campaign or plenty of good ideas to cannibalize for your own games.

Is it the perfect holy grail of D&D settings? No, but it's really good... I put it next to Greyhawk as far as my favorite D&D settings are concerned, and considering how much I love Greyhawk that's saying something.
jkdjr25
11-17-04, 04:55 PM Personally I do believe that Eberron is worth buying. I'm not the best when it comes to Noir type settings but I like that races aren't bound by the static alignment rule that's in the DMG. I love the versatility of the setting and the freedom that it gives you. Many kudos to WoTC and Keith Baker.
Warforged_316
11-17-04, 07:19 PM You WILL BUY THIS BOOK! for I SATAN COMAND YOU! haha
Flame_Drake
11-17-04, 07:33 PM Thanks for the replies! I'm starting to think about getting the XPH now. I do use the 3.5 sourcebooks(Draconomicon, Complete Series, etc.) I just note small mechanical diffs. between teh two versions. Like I said I'd gladly upgrade to 3.5 if wotc would just rerelease some of my old books like Manual to the Planes, Class books(Song and Silence) etc. Hmmm.... by the way are warforged treated like a normal race? Like with one class level is his ECL 1? Once again thanks for your advice and opinions.

Farastu the Wizard

Manual of the planes accually has an offical update somewhere on the main wizards site. It should be at the end of the 3.5 preveiw.

And yes Ebberon is good. And I'm a guy who swears by homebrewed settings.
Edymnion
11-17-04, 08:10 PM Lets put it this way.
When I get my next liscense plate, its gonna be EBERRON.
qstor
11-18-04, 08:57 AM The DR changes it a little bit in 3.5. I actually like the changes esp to the ranger and the bard from a players perspective.

I got the Eberron setting about 2 months ago. Its great. I'm looking forward to the upcoming novels set in Eberron.

Mike
Save-vs-DM
11-18-04, 09:08 AM Lets put it this way.
When I get my next liscense plate, its gonna be EBERRON.

I hope you don't live in Oregon. I want Eberron for Oregon!

Cheers,
SvD
Tom McCarthy
11-18-04, 09:38 AM Farastu,

The setting and numerous ideas for adventures in the Eberron setting made me want to drop my ongoing campaign as soon as possible so I could run an Eberron campaign. As a setting, it did a great job of capturing the thematic elements that made me love pulp adventure and noirish detective stories. If you want to run something in the vein of Raiders of the Lost Ark (fast moving, vile villains, a dangerously powerful treasure, the whole world hanging in the balance), Eberron's a great setting to do it in. If you want something darker and morally ambiguous, it's got that too. If you want to delve deep into the ruins of an ancient civilization or three, there's been no less than three great empires brought low in Eberron's past. If you want to try a new race, every new race in Eberron is not just new, but has a history tying them to some dark chapter (persecuted kalashtar, shifters on both sides of the Silver Crusade against lycanthropes, changelings tied to doppelgangers, warforged facing questions of identity, prejudice, and serving as reminders of a hated war).
LordofIllusions
11-18-04, 09:51 AM The Eberron Campaign Setting is worth the money.

Unlike "some posters" I am not going to jump on the Eberron fanboy/girl wagon and start claiming that alternate settings are, all-of-the-sudden, not up to par just because I have the EBCS now. :rolleyes:

Eberron is an excellent setting, but then again so are the other settings I own.

~~~
ENHenry
11-18-04, 11:30 AM Also, don't forget that you can preview ALL changes to both the 3.5 Core books and the Expanded Psionics Handbook (XPH) by reading the System Reference Document on the WotC d20 site, or from www.d20srd.org .

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Farastu the Wizard 11-16-04, 10:12 PM	Hi, Farastu the Wizard here with a question: I'm thinking of getting the Eberron Campaign Setting, to try something new(I've played normal D&D since 2001), but I would like other people's opinion on it... Is it worth buying? If so why? Thanks, Farsatu the Wizard
RatFlail OF DOOM!!!! 11-16-04, 10:22 PM	Where else could you make a PC that can track npcs through an over populated city to perform an exorcist (exorcist of the silver flame). Where else could you use a living construct that suffers because it gets chased through the city of a floating city by a crowd of angry people with a hammer of smiting? Where else can dragons be so cool no one knows heck about them? Where else could you be chaotic evil in a church that only serves the greater good? I can go on for hours...
Edymnion 11-16-04, 10:25 PM	Short answer, yes. Long answer, well, this comes up just about weekly on this forum. Hit the Search function, and you'll find where lots of people have given detailed reasons why you should. I really don't mean to sound mean or anything, its just that I've typed out long answers to this questions three times so far, and I really don't wanna do it all again. But yes, it is most definatly worth getting. Heck, get two copies so you can get one encased in lucite as a keepsake! :D
EvilDuck 11-16-04, 10:30 PM	From one Ed to another: I don't think its that collectible, and you should allow the hardcore gamingness to cause wear in the book. Think of it as battle scars, badges of honor on a great, great book. To the Wizard who inquires: Youi should ask about this on the FR boards. Seriously, this is a quality campaign setting. Get it. Now.
Farastu the Wizard 11-16-04, 10:40 PM	Ok... Thanks for the replies, and one more question: I know I should be using 3.5 books with eberron, but I'm too loyal to 3.0 :) the "downgrade" shouldn't be too hard but the psionics changes might... other than races,classes,powers and feats,(and no combat modes) is the Expanded Psionics Handbook too different from the old one? For instance, would it be impossible to revert psionics in Eberron(with the exception of combat modes) to 3.0 psionics? Anyway thanks again for your opinions.
RatFlail OF DOOM!!!! 11-16-04, 10:51 PM	Ok... Thanks for the replies, and one more question: I know I should be using 3.5 books with eberron, but I'm too loyal to 3.0 :) the "downgrade" shouldn't be too hard but the psionics changes might... other than races,classes,powers and feats,(and no combat modes) is the Expanded Psionics Handbook too different from the old one? For instance, would it be impossible to revert psionics in Eberron(with the exception of combat modes) to 3.0 psionics? Anyway thanks again for your opinions. its possible but there was a thread i forgot which one.... it proved XPH is better 54 to 13 we listed the advantages
Amaril 11-16-04, 10:54 PM	Ok... Thanks for the replies, and one more question: I know I should be using 3.5 books with eberron, but I'm too loyal to 3.0 :) the "downgrade" shouldn't be too hard but the psionics changes might... other than races,classes,powers and feats,(and no combat modes) is the Expanded Psionics Handbook too different from the old one? For instance, would it be impossible to revert psionics in Eberron(with the exception of combat modes) to 3.0 psionics? Anyway thanks again for your opinions. Drastically different, and well worth the money, too! I actually bought the Expanded PsiHB to use in a 3.0 D&D game and it worked even better than the original 3.0 PsiHB. The improvements are far to numerous to mention.
Farastu the Wizard 11-16-04, 10:56 PM	I would probably update to 3.5 if i was willing to spend a fortune getting the new core books(and XPH), and if they rereleased new versions of other 3.0 books.... I hate printed "updates" (excluding articles like Mind's Eye, Monster Mayhem, Spellbook, Far Corners of the World, and Bardic something...)
Neofish 11-16-04, 10:58 PM	I would probably update to 3.5 if i was willing to spend a fortune getting the new core books(and XPH), and if they rereleased new versions of other 3.0 books.... I hate printed "updates" (excluding articles like Mind's Eye, Monster Mayhem, Spellbook, Far Corners of the World, and Bardic something...) Thats a good choice, seeing as how Eberron is the First setting built with the 3.5 rules in mind.
Amaril 11-16-04, 11:01 PM	I would probably update to 3.5 if i was willing to spend a fortune getting the new core books(and XPH), and if they rereleased new versions of other 3.0 books.... I hate printed "updates" (excluding articles like Mind's Eye, Monster Mayhem, Spellbook, Far Corners of the World, and Bardic something...) Keep your 3.0 books and use the 3.5 SRD for mechanical differences. other than that, the differences are marginal, and probably transparent to both players and GMs after all that's said and done. By the way, the Expanded Psionics system is in the RSRD, too.
Roxlimn 11-16-04, 11:23 PM	Speaking as a person who "kind of" uses D&D 3.5, I would say that if you are happy with 3.0, there is no reason for you to "upgrade" to 3.5+ at all. Despite that, I highly recommend the XPH. I've seen Psionics ever since it was this weird system in the 1st edition DMG. I've seen it through 2e, through Spells and Powers, through 3e, and even through Bruce Cordell's 3rd party developments. Without reservation, I will say XPH is the very best thing that's ever happened to Psionics in D&D. I'd even say that the XPH is the best thing that's happened to D&D since 3e. Even if you don't get the Eberron campaign setting, you should get the XPH. Heck, even if you aren't planning on playing Psionics at all, you should get the XPH. It's that good.
Edymnion 11-16-04, 11:52 PM	You don't really need 3.5 rules to play Eberron, not really. Few things won't get used (like the special weapons materials), but other than that, you'll be fine. And I would definately suggest getting the XPH, it is incredible how much better it is than the original. Its one of the best books WotC has printed, right up there with Eberron and the Draconomicon.
Brastan 11-17-04, 12:11 AM	The best parts of Eberron are not base on D&D rules at all. The majority of the Eberron core sources book ( ECS ) is the story of the setting, which is its main selling point in my opinion. What's your gaming group up to? Are you DMing and looking for something new? Also the published adventures are the best I've ever seen in 3rd edition or revised. I've actually run them with out major modification (which is a first). There are good things in 3rd revised, but I'm not going to try to convert you here. Go back and look up the gearing up for Eberron articles as well as the articles published at the Eberron site (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/eberron).
Farastu the Wizard 11-17-04, 12:08 PM	Thanks for the replies! I'm starting to think about getting the XPH now. I do use the 3.5 sourcebooks(Draconomicon, Complete Series, etc.) I just note small mechanical diffs. between teh two versions. Like I said I'd gladly upgrade to 3.5 if wotc would just rerelease some of my old books like Manual to the Planes, Class books(Song and Silence) etc. Hmmm.... by the way are warforged treated like a normal race? Like with one class level is his ECL 1? Once again thanks for your advice and opinions. Farastu the Wizard
The White Sorcerer 11-17-04, 12:57 PM	Hmmm.... by the way are warforged treated like a normal race? Like with one class level is his ECL 1? Yes. Eberron is t3h kewl. I'm going to sell my Forgotten Realms books so that I'll have money for Eberron books. And I happen to love Forgotten Realms. Eberron is just so much cooler.
coyraven 11-17-04, 01:02 PM	I would suggest going to enworld.org and rpg.net and reading reviews or asking there. You are not going to get many useful opinions here just due to the topic of this forum. CR
Edymnion 11-17-04, 01:32 PM	Class books(Song and Silence) etc.They are being reprinted, just under the Complete XXXXX label. If you look in your Complete Warrior/Divine/Arcane, much of it is just reprints of the 3.0 splatbook materials. WotC swore up and down they weren't going to reprint the 3.0 splatbooks and make us pay for something we already owned. So, they just changed the groupings, put in a few new things, and changed the book names. Hmmm.... by the way are warforged treated like a normal race?Yes, the Warforged, the Shifters, the Changlings, and the Kalashtar are all normal ECL +0 player races.
ChronosCrow 11-17-04, 02:36 PM	A big ol heck yes to your original question. I am having the time of my life running my Eberron game. It's due in large part to the setting and the fact that Keith Baker selflessly answers millions of our questions in the Ask Keith Baker thread.
DJDave 11-17-04, 03:51 PM	I must amit Keith's board support for his setting is wonderful and is helping clarify things all the time. Wizards should make this part of his freelance contract its fabulous
Ezrael 11-17-04, 04:18 PM	I lurk here and have for about two months, but I never ever post. So I'm not committed to any position or have a reputation as a partisan one way or another here. Purely as someone who owns the book, yes, you should get the Eberron setting book. It's excellent. It's so good I'm not even bitter over not having my entry picked to move on in the setting search... it's so good I can honestly say I'm glad it won. I've gotten loads of new ideas for my own game from reading it, and besides its excellence as a setting book it's also got some really nice art and more importantly well-chosen art, art that helps you develop a real understanding of places and themes in the book. The new races are interesting and evocative, the artificer class is interesting without being overpowered, there's plenty of room to expand and grow as you run any campaign or plenty of good ideas to cannibalize for your own games. Is it the perfect holy grail of D&D settings? No, but it's really good... I put it next to Greyhawk as far as my favorite D&D settings are concerned, and considering how much I love Greyhawk that's saying something.
jkdjr25 11-17-04, 04:55 PM	Personally I do believe that Eberron is worth buying. I'm not the best when it comes to Noir type settings but I like that races aren't bound by the static alignment rule that's in the DMG. I love the versatility of the setting and the freedom that it gives you. Many kudos to WoTC and Keith Baker.
Warforged_316 11-17-04, 07:19 PM	You WILL BUY THIS BOOK! for I SATAN COMAND YOU! haha
Flame_Drake 11-17-04, 07:33 PM	Thanks for the replies! I'm starting to think about getting the XPH now. I do use the 3.5 sourcebooks(Draconomicon, Complete Series, etc.) I just note small mechanical diffs. between teh two versions. Like I said I'd gladly upgrade to 3.5 if wotc would just rerelease some of my old books like Manual to the Planes, Class books(Song and Silence) etc. Hmmm.... by the way are warforged treated like a normal race? Like with one class level is his ECL 1? Once again thanks for your advice and opinions. Farastu the Wizard Manual of the planes accually has an offical update somewhere on the main wizards site. It should be at the end of the 3.5 preveiw. And yes Ebberon is good. And I'm a guy who swears by homebrewed settings.
Edymnion 11-17-04, 08:10 PM	Lets put it this way. When I get my next liscense plate, its gonna be EBERRON.
qstor 11-18-04, 08:57 AM	The DR changes it a little bit in 3.5. I actually like the changes esp to the ranger and the bard from a players perspective. I got the Eberron setting about 2 months ago. Its great. I'm looking forward to the upcoming novels set in Eberron. Mike
Save-vs-DM 11-18-04, 09:08 AM	Lets put it this way. When I get my next liscense plate, its gonna be EBERRON. I hope you don't live in Oregon. I want Eberron for Oregon! Cheers, SvD
Tom McCarthy 11-18-04, 09:38 AM	Farastu, The setting and numerous ideas for adventures in the Eberron setting made me want to drop my ongoing campaign as soon as possible so I could run an Eberron campaign. As a setting, it did a great job of capturing the thematic elements that made me love pulp adventure and noirish detective stories. If you want to run something in the vein of Raiders of the Lost Ark (fast moving, vile villains, a dangerously powerful treasure, the whole world hanging in the balance), Eberron's a great setting to do it in. If you want something darker and morally ambiguous, it's got that too. If you want to delve deep into the ruins of an ancient civilization or three, there's been no less than three great empires brought low in Eberron's past. If you want to try a new race, every new race in Eberron is not just new, but has a history tying them to some dark chapter (persecuted kalashtar, shifters on both sides of the Silver Crusade against lycanthropes, changelings tied to doppelgangers, warforged facing questions of identity, prejudice, and serving as reminders of a hated war).
LordofIllusions 11-18-04, 09:51 AM	The Eberron Campaign Setting is worth the money. Unlike "some posters" I am not going to jump on the Eberron fanboy/girl wagon and start claiming that alternate settings are, all-of-the-sudden, not up to par just because I have the EBCS now. :rolleyes: Eberron is an excellent setting, but then again so are the other settings I own. ~~~
ENHenry 11-18-04, 11:30 AM	Also, don't forget that you can preview ALL changes to both the 3.5 Core books and the Expanded Psionics Handbook (XPH) by reading the System Reference Document on the WotC d20 site, or from www.d20srd.org .