Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DBlizzard 08-05-05, 10:50 PM	Picked up my copy of the Explorer's Handbook today. I've skimmed it, but only looked at some areas in detail. Throughout the book are numerous "Wayfinder Foundation Tips" on things like "How not to be remembered by other passengers" (tip 2: don't be a shifter, warforged or goblinoid), "How to survive slavery in Darguun", etc. Chapter 1: Travel It presents a brief overview of travel in Eberron. Has prices, encounters and things like how to deal with teleport when available to players. Chapter 2: Tools of the Trade Details the vehicles with maps and such. Details such things as travel papers. A good section covers the Wayfinder Foundation (how to join, benefits, etc) & the Twelve's Acquisition Directorate. It also has the 3 prestige classes. They are the Cataclysm Mage (gains abilities because of their intimate knowledge of the cataclysms that have hit Eberron), Thunder Guide (specialists in the area of the Thunder Sea) & the previously seen Windright Captain. Chapter 3: Points of Origin Covers areas that you begin your journey. Areas include the Stormhome Docking Tower, a Lightning Rail station, the Crimson Ship (a wandering ship run by an ultroloth who seems to be bound to the ship) & the Glitterdust Nightclub. Chapter 4: Midpoints Covers areas you'd visit in the middle of your journey. Areas in this section are Katal Hazath, Gateway to Khyber (with a sidebar on the Gith in Eberron); Mesk, Seren Villiage; the Aal'Drash Seals; Shae Mordal, the City of the Dead. Chapter 5: Destinations Places you are likely to be heading for. Here you'll find Ashtakala; an Argonnessen Observatory; a Khyber Dragonshard Cavern; Madwood Citadel; Pra'xirek; a Quori Monolith; Shalquar Monastery; Tharkgun Dhak; Frostfell Shipwreck; Haka'torvhak. I particularly like that the whole work is covered with Sarlona locations (the Quori Monolith and Shalquar Monastery), Frostfell and Argonness covered. Appendix: Ancient Treasures Covers magic items and general treasure in two categories: Giant Antiquities and Dhakaani Antiquities. One item that caught my attention was the Drake Helm. It can contain several Siberys dragonshards that can contain spells. Sorcerers or Bards can use these spells as if they know them.
Majorafire77 08-05-05, 11:03 PM	Sounds decent. Give us the complete scoop when you're done reading it through please :)
Brastan 08-06-05, 12:23 AM	Snaps, if only I had gotten my lazy rump up early and beat the heat of the day I'd be reading it now. Oh well there's always tomorrow.
ieattrollsforbreakfast 08-06-05, 07:34 AM	The final destinations and midpoints sound great, I've been wanting to hear more about Hakator'vhak and some Sarlonan sites too. Is the Twelve's Aquisition Directorate much like the Argentum? I can see some crossover there. Also, how is the art?
Majorafire77 08-06-05, 09:15 AM	Does it have an INDEX?!?! :whatsthis
Old Sage 08-06-05, 09:28 AM	I'm particularly interested in the Tools of the Trade chapter. How many pages are there for EE?
PoeticJustice 08-06-05, 10:29 AM	This is an excellent book. It meets and exceeds all my expectations. Bring a second pair of pants when you buy it, because you're gonna crap yourself with happiness. The art is my favorite part; they've redone the chapter openings and, though still pulp comicbookish, the color pallete has been expanded and it seems much more fluid overall. They went to town on the colors. And if you think the pic of the drow from March's Dragon mag was cool, you have to get this book. Drow are vibrant, original, and fun again, and lord knows how they did it. They've got a pic and a map of the Rakshasa city in the Demon Wastes, and the Quori monolith and a giant/drow city gets the same treatment, along with many others I can't remember at the moment. What really impressed me is that a lot of the book demonstrates a keen understanding of the setting, as should be expected. The PrCs really exemplify this, as many offer esoteric and non-combat ability that makes perfect sense in the setting. A tenth level Thunder Guide gets the 'ir prefix to thier last name, for example. I am so happy with this book, I literally could not be happier with this book.
Troy70 08-06-05, 11:03 AM	I love the book so far. I can wait for anymore Eberrron Books. Keep up the great job with Eberrron WOTC.
BloodyRoots 08-06-05, 11:34 AM	I am very happy with the book as well. I did indeed crap my pants! Honestly I expected something that expanded my knowledge of the setting but would't thrill me (like 5n did, a good book IMHO but not great). This book has thrilled me from the opening. Its like its crunchy bits of campagin specific fluffiness(?). Couldnt be happier. Did anyone catch the cataclysm mages 10th level ability? She can develop any dragon mark for 24 hours. However when she does prophecy minded dragons try to kill her. Eberrons cataclysm mage...what a great flavor.
xombie-master 08-06-05, 12:20 PM	I hate my local bookstore! I won't see a copy of this book until near the end of the month, and that's if I'm lucky. Gotta love small towns. Oh well, I'm still reading Weapons of Legacy and some other non-DnD material.
ieattrollsforbreakfast 08-06-05, 12:29 PM	Wow, nice to see such good reviews across the board. I'm much more excited about this book now :) I wasn't expecting much of the ExH, but as the previews and reviews come in...I cant wait!
zentr 08-06-05, 12:40 PM	I've been looking forward to this book all summer. Now I really can't wait! I want to crap my pants too! Seriously though, it's great to hear some positive and excited responses. Keep them coming! It's all I have until I can get to a store.
Majorafire77 08-06-05, 01:10 PM	Just wait a week for the n00bs to start attacking with their complaints about "inconsistancy".
Ycore Rixle 08-06-05, 01:12 PM	Its like its crunchy bits of campagin specific fluffiness(?). Hehe, good way to put it! Sounds better than cruff, or flunch, or some other combo word. :) However when she does prophecy minded dragons try to kill her. Eberrons cataclysm mage...what a great flavor. Yep, it's not always easy being a cataclysm mage. Not that that ever stopped some people... Always nice to see some positive comments. I just wish my own copies would get here already! *stares expectantly at the mailbox*
DBlizzard 08-06-05, 01:20 PM	Is the Twelve's Aquisition Directorate much like the Argentum? Similiar, although it's pretty picky. You have to be a member of a dragonmarked house. You have to be able to cast 1st level spells or have 2 ranks in either Knowledge Arcana, Knowledge Dungeoneering or Knowledge Geography. Does it have an INDEX?!?! :whatsthis Nope. However, the table of contents does a pretty good job of covering most things you'd want to look up.
DBlizzard 08-06-05, 01:24 PM	I'm particularly interested in the Tools of the Trade chapter. Broken down this chapter further: Elemental Vessels Constructing an Elemental Vessel Controlling a Bound Elemental Suppresssing a Bound Elemental Freeing a Bound Elemental The Elemental and the Vessel Vessels in the Game Attacking a Ship The Airship The Elemental Land Cart The Lightning Rail The Stormship The Undersea Ship The Wind Galleon International Travel Border Guard Squads Traveling Papers Explorer Marks Organizations The Wayfinder Foundation Expeditions Foundation Trustees Wayfinder Rescue Team The Twelve's Acquisitions Directorate Prestige Classes Cataclysm Mage Thunder Guide Windright Captain
Majorafire77 08-06-05, 01:24 PM	Nope. However, the index does a pretty good job of covering most things you'd want to look up. :confused: You said that there wasn't an index, but then you said that there was one. :looloo:
ieattrollsforbreakfast 08-06-05, 01:31 PM	:confused: You said that there wasn't an index, but then you said that there was one. :looloo: I expect he means the Contents cover everything well :)
DBlizzard 08-06-05, 02:08 PM	:confused: You said that there wasn't an index, but then you said that there was one. :looloo: No I didn't, I clearly said the Table of Contents was pretty thorough and functional. Go back and look ;)
PoeticJustice 08-06-05, 02:39 PM	The Table of contents doubles as an index. Man, reading this book is like hearing your favorite song for the first time. Everything about it is soooooo cool. Then you hear it again and it only gets better. I haven't even gotten to a lot of it yet, but what I've read, I like a lot. I love that Skycaptain PrC. I've always wanted to play a Lyrandar pirate, and here's a perfect way of acquiring a ship without forking over 92 grand.
Majorafire77 08-06-05, 04:25 PM	No I didn't, I clearly said the Table of Contents was pretty thorough and functional. Go back and look ;) Using the 'edit post' feature to make others look like dumbasses?! That's not cool... :angelhide :nonono: :shifty:
Griff_Goodbeard 08-06-05, 05:28 PM	How much info is there on the Frostfell? I'm sendng my party there and was wondering if I should hold off until my copy comes from Amazon.
DBlizzard 08-06-05, 05:48 PM	How much info is there on the Frostfell? I'm sendng my party there and was wondering if I should hold off until my copy comes from Amazon. Not a lot. The Frostfell shipwreck is all I remember (and I haven't read that section, either).
BloodyRoots 08-06-05, 05:56 PM	How much info is there on the Frostfell? I'm sendng my party there and was wondering if I should hold off until my copy comes from Amazon. Not a whole lot. There is a sectin on a Frostfell Shipwreck. However I havent read all the book. About a 3rd of it. So there might be somethig else. A few cool things that stood out instantly. A Gith in Eberron sidebar. Cool. Keeps thier hate of mindflayers intact. A cool picture of the Ring of Siberyis(Sp?). On page 116. plenty more, my baby wants me now. have to go.
Indigo 08-06-05, 06:53 PM	A Gith in Eberron sidebar. Cool. Keeps thier hate of mindflayers intact. Eh. While I'm not in the "Keith is the only person who can do Eberron right" camp, in this case I think his take (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebee/20050704a) on the Gith (the Gith are survivors of a different world destroyed by the daelkyr, and the illithids are gith corrupted by the daelkyr/Xoriat) is more interesting than this one, which simply says that gith are twisted humans or hobgoblins and that they hate mind flayers because the illithids were often their overseers. We already have dolgaunts as hobgoblins corrupted by the daelkyr. Furthermore, every other race corrupted by the daelkyr (illithids, dolgaunts, dolgrims, etc) seems remarkably loyal to them, which presumably was part of the process of transformation. I prefer the idea that the Gith have a proud culture stretching back long before the daelkyr came to Eberron, and that they are the last remnants of a world that was completely destroyed... and furthermore, that they hate illithids because illithids are the embodiment of what was done to their world, instead of just "Those guys were mean to us back in the day." No big thing, it's just that the EH version seems more basic and less interesting; yup, they used to be slaves, just like always. The survivors-of-a-destroyed-world path gives them room to have a unique role within Eberron (and the Githzerai/Githyanki rivalry can be based on the culture that existed on their world).
Sieylianna 08-06-05, 07:41 PM	I picked up a copy today. With the title of "Explorer's Handbook" I was expecting something more focused towards players than DMs. New equipment, prestige classes, etc. That was not the case. I'd have bought it anyways, but if you're not a judge and on a budget, you won't miss it. Ed
Save-vs-DM 08-06-05, 09:02 PM	This was a great supplement. I gotta chime in that the artwork was indeed excellent. One picture of the lightning rail just totally made it click for me....I never imagined the conductor stones as pyramids but they totally work like that shape! The thing that puts this book over the top for me are all the fun tables. The mysterious travelers tables had me thinking of no less than 10 possible adventure ideas. That's quite good for one skimpy little table. It has maps and informatino on airships! And lightning carts! Huzzah! This was a nifty book. I give it an easy 8 or 9 out of 10. Cheers, Save vs DM
stalax 08-06-05, 11:58 PM	I may be in the minority, but I was a bit disapointed myself. The first couple of chapters are great & I made use of them the day after I got the book. However, I had hoped that the info would have been a bit more general. While the specific locations are interesting, I was disapointed to see the last 3 chapters composed of nothing else (apart from a few sidebars). Just a single page for any of additional, general info per continent would have been welcome and, frankly, more useful. Also, I continue to be dismayed at the continued lack of indexes in WOTC's products. The table of contents is extenseve, but it is no substitute for an index when I find myself needing a specific piece of info in the middle of a game. Admittedly, it is not as crucial with this book as it has been with others (Sharn for example), it is still missed. Does anyone know why WOTC has stopped spending the time & paper to include an index in each of their books? I'd give it about a 6/10 overall.
Brastan 08-07-05, 01:44 AM	I've read thought the first 30 pages and skimmed other sections. I also let one of my gaming buds take a quick read before a snatched it back. His impression was that its not necessarily a player helpful book. DMs will find much more utility from this book than most players will. In the first 30 I'm not picking up on anything setting shattering. So far I've been quietly pleased. The Wayfinder Foundation Tips are sidebar elements and sound like they were clipped from Rope and Piton. I guess if we read them all we'll get a bonus to our knowledge and survival skills. ;) I would still be reading through now but something caught my attention. Using the basic rules for ship maneuvering provide in the book Airships are hard to stop and start in a combat situations. Once it's going at full speed there's no Spaceballs style 'emergency break' available, although inducing one might be comical. I would not expect to use one a precision combat instrument. By my count it takes almost a full two minutes to bring the vessel up to top speed. (Mental image of an Airship sliding slowly away from a docking tower then igniting it's Elemental Ring and accelerating smoothly away into the sky.) :tongue: Oh, and I love the artwork. I can't even say which is my favorite piece but the chapter is... So when do we see the first Eberron comic?
DBlizzard 08-07-05, 03:01 AM	I picked up a copy today. With the title of "Explorer's Handbook" I was expecting something more focused towards players than DMs. New equipment, prestige classes, etc. That was not the case. I'd have bought it anyways, but if you're not a judge and on a budget, you won't miss it. I agree with this. It's primarily a DM book. The sidebars are great flavor. The prestige classes are good for players. Almost everything else is aimed at DMs.
d_nychus 08-07-05, 03:35 AM	Just wait a week for the n00bs to start attacking with their complaints about "inconsistancy". Oh, why wait that long? I'm sure they will be posting in an hour or so. Here, let me post one artwork mistake just to get the topic started. ;) On page 6, the first page of chapter artwork, the beholder is shooting out an eye ray in front of it with its central eye open, meaning the antimagic cone is in effect. Really weird when you consider the flavor text of 'unblinking eye.' (My roommate was the one who pointed this out, just for credit's sake.) I have enjoyed what I have read so far, and it's sparked a number of ideas for adventures and campaigns. I absolutely love the Wayfarer's Travel Tips sidebars. Nothing is spit-out-your-drink funnier than reading 'Travel Tip: How to survive a volcanic eruption.' DUCK AND COVER!!!
Mr. Wilson 08-07-05, 04:35 AM	It was ok. I'm not glowing about it, but it wasn't terrible. I wish the book would have spent less time dealing with individual sites and instead spoken in broader terms, but I can deal. I haven't read through the whole book (mainly skipping most of the sites), but I wouldn't say it's a waste of money. Like each of my Eberron books minus ECS, I have a feeling this is going to be "borrowed" by my current DM until we end the campaign. (But then again, I've felt the whole Eberron stuff is much more aimed at DM's anyways).
Guide D'Jorasco 08-07-05, 04:51 AM	Alright, I picked up the Explorer's Handbook today and I have to say it excited me greatly. It has rich locations and spots of interests and can really help when it comes to exploring Eberron (Combined with Weapons of Legacy it's even sweeter). There is a lightening rail station in Brelands wilderness called, "Nowhere" which made my players and I laugh everytime, but ****** me off in a weird way lol. No index sadly, but the table of contents is done really well. I recommend the book for you hardcore Eberron gamers, it really adds life to the setting.
Majorafire77 08-07-05, 07:46 AM	Alright, so would most people agree that Five Nations > Explorer's Handbook? I'm not sure which to get.
Aris Stormdragon 08-07-05, 08:54 AM	Any stats for the Aundairan Bloodhawk? You know, the big roc-like bird pictured on page 140 of the ECS?
polt 08-07-05, 08:57 AM	Any stats for the Aundairan Bloodhawk? You know, the big roc-like bird pictured on page 140 of the ECS? I think that's an Aundarian Dragonhawk, it's in the Five Nations book.
d_nychus 08-07-05, 02:41 PM	Alright, I picked up the Explorer's Handbook today and I have to say it excited me greatly. It has rich locations and spots of interests and can really help when it comes to exploring Eberron (Combined with Weapons of Legacy it's even sweeter). There is a lightening rail station in Brelands wilderness called, "Nowhere" which made my players and I laugh everytime, but ****** me off in a weird way lol. No index sadly, but the table of contents is done really well. I recommend the book for you hardcore Eberron gamers, it really adds life to the setting. Aside from that one picture, there is no mention of Nowhere. I already have a game starting there, and a back history of the thorp, so I'm kind of glad I didn't have to change anything.
Brastan 08-07-05, 03:05 PM	Alright, so would most people agree that Five Nations > Explorer's Handbook? I'm not sure which to get. Player or DM? Interested in Exploration of political dealings and details of the Five Nations. Five Nations will get you the details on the Five Nations that the ECS lacks, such as sub-organizations and secondary rulers that make a country feel more real. Explorers Handbook is about travel and what you before during and after it. I think it makes the convince aspects of Eberron more tangible. What movie inspirations color your view of Eberron most, Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon or The Mummy and Raiders of the Lost Ark? If you can take a quick read through both in the store do so. That should give you the best idea of which one you want to get.
darkthought 08-07-05, 03:17 PM	Where did you guys get your copies? Everywhere I've looked around where I live doesn't have them yet.
Guide D'Jorasco 08-07-05, 04:47 PM	Aside from that one picture, there is no mention of Nowhere. I already have a game starting there, and a back history of the thorp, so I'm kind of glad I didn't have to change anything. That kind of bothered me to that there wasn't any more info on "Nowhere". But you're right, it's only mentioned on the picture.
Ogre4Hire 08-07-05, 05:06 PM	The Thunder Guide is one of the coolest PrCs ever. It's very balanced, and (amazingly enough) it actually has prestige.
BloodyRoots 08-07-05, 06:40 PM	Where did you guys get your copies? Everywhere I've looked around where I live doesn't have them yet. I went in to a store that I hadnt visited since I was a kid. They always had a few used games and a dozen or so RPGs for sell. Now they have hundreds of RPGs on the shelves. And all the sweet ones to boot. The owner told me that they the Explorers Handbook/Stormwrack came in that day (friday). My FLGS wasnt expecting them until at least the 16th (thats what they all ways say). I might be getting my RPG books from this new store from now on.
Sieylianna 08-07-05, 08:38 PM	In continued reading, I ran across an error. Take a look at the sample lightning rail train. Cars 7 and 8 look like two different versions of sleeper cars. Neither of them looks like the standard passage day car. Ed
PoeticJustice 08-07-05, 09:37 PM	In art: Explorer's Handbook > Five Nations There's really no contest. The art in Explorer's Handbook is one of it's best features. They didn't let Crabapple within a mile of it, thankfully, and while we knew what to expect with Five Nations, everything in Explorer's Handbook is a delightful surprise. Prestige Classes Explorer's Handbook > Five Nations Worldbuilding Explorer's Handbook ? 5 Nations In other words, it's a toss-up. If you're into the exoticism of the campaign setting, then Explorer's Handbook beats it readily, as nearly half the book is replete with locations. If you're into the Last War, and run/play a heavy intrigue game, then 5 Nations is what you want Character Building Explorer's Handbook < Five Nations Although neither book has got a single feat, both have few spells or Prestige Classes, Five Nations fills in the gaps in minutiae like what your name/favorite food/clothing style/dialect would be, and that overall is more important to making a 3 dimensional character than knowing what a rail car would look like. Writing Explorer's Handbook ? Five Nations This is entirely subjective, but I got bored with Five Nations after so long. There's more game-pertinent references in Five Nations, but I actually am entertained by the writing in Explorer's Handbook. There's dry humor in a lot of it ad the NPCs that appear to be 3 dimensional. It also has the advantage of going out of its way to be memorable, whereas 5 Nations has to set an even tone for all of Khorvaire. If the authors of 5N had the luxury of picking what they wanted to write about, the book might have been more fun. More important to your game Explorer's Handbook ? Five Nations Too close to call. Read them both then decide.
Ycore Rixle 08-08-05, 01:26 AM	There's dry humor in a lot of it ad the NPCs that appear to be 3 dimensional. Glad you liked the writing style, PJ. It was definitely a lot of fun to write. I was glad to see the Rope and Piton Survival Guide sidebars made it through development and editing. I always think that humor, when appropriate, is great in a sourcebook. I still remember the +2 backscratcher and the Mickey Mouse were-rat disguises from the 1e DMG. :)
Wycen the Clueless 08-08-05, 03:04 AM	Our DM bought the book yesterday or today and I guess used part of it for tonight's session. We are doing Grasp of the Emerald Claw and had to deal with the insane dire shark encounter. I'm sure he pulled punches, but it did swallow 2 gnomes and 3 party members. The party members managed to live long enough to kill the shark. Anyway, after stopping to cut the net and repair, our bard mentioned something about a pirate legend, and produced a treasure map. The map led to an underwater cave containing 4 dragon shards and an elemental. Freeing the elemental we then found a hulk sitting at the bottom of the sea, thanks to the elemental stirring the silt up. So, after after some repair spells, we've now got a water logged airship hulk from a famous pirate of legend. He showed us a floor plan from the Explorer's Handbook. We nearly sidetracked the adventure to Xendrik thinking about what we could do with a fully functioning airship.