History of the Last War? [Archive] - Wizards Community

History of the Last War? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tarionz_Cousin
10-02-05, 11:28 PM Is there an official timeline of which side each kingdom was on throughout the Last War? I know that alliances shifted, new kingdoms were formed, and "everybody fought everybody" at some point.

But is there a more detailed progression of who fought whom, and when?
Streamweaver
10-02-05, 11:39 PM Is there an official timeline of which side each kingdom was on throughout the Last War? I know that alliances shifted, new kingdoms were formed, and "everybody fought everybody" at some point.

But is there a more detailed progression of who fought whom, and when?

No there really hasn't been in all the published material, much in the way of real detail on this. I really think it's kind of silly there hasn't been more information on the war, especially in the Five Nations book. The Last War was the single biggest event we know of from the previous centurey. Everyone on Khorvaire was touched by it, every character is suppose to be effected by it in some way. They give us that then come up with no details about it, instead opting for cheese preferences and such.
Cutlass
10-03-05, 01:23 AM I'll second Streamweaver's heartburn on this issue. However, this is something that can be worked around. The vast majority of player characters would only have experienced the past couple of decades worth of the war, if that. So, all one really needs to know is what the last set of alliances was before the treaty of Thronehold was signed. That shouldn't be too difficult for a DM to decide on for his campaign. Granted, one then runs the risk that if an "official" version ever comes out that what any individual DM decided on for his campaign will no longer be "cannon".

However, each individual Eberron campaign that is run out there will necessarily be different because each DM and player group will use slightly different sets of house rules, rule slightly different groups of manuals and other source materials as being "acceptable", and have different events take place on different parts of Eberron than occurred in other people's campaigns. So, all the lack of information included on this subject so far does is to make a little more work for the individual DMs. Granted, that can be a pain in the rump, but compared to other settings and rules systems out there it's nowhere as obnoxious as it could be.

For instance, I like Hero System, but it is a very GM intensive system to set up a campaign in because the GM has to make about 10 times as many decisions right off the bat about how he wants his world to run than are required in D20. The flip side is that once the GM puts that effort in what he gets back out of it is literally tailor made to do exactly what he wants it to in a way that is not possible with D20. Unfortunately, however, that does not seem to tbe the system that is taking the gaming world by storm right now. WOTC making use of the concept of OGL materials and turning the D20 system loose for literally everybody to play with and publish stuff for was a very shrewd business move.

The bottom line, regardless of whatever campaign that you're running under whichever rules system, is just to wing it when you have to. It's nice to plan and develop things out in advance when you can, but sometimes you have to ad lib. Another response would be that if you have a player who wants to run a 160 year old elf who was either old enough to understand and remember what was going on or actually taking part in the combat throughout the entire course of the war, then have the player develop all that for you :)
Fordel
10-03-05, 03:39 AM I don't think you'll ever see an official timeline of the lastwar for the same reason you won't see a reason or answer to the mourning.

They might give you a few key battles, but they don't want to limit the DM.
Tarionz_Cousin
10-04-05, 11:20 PM Another response would be that if you have a player who wants to run a 160 year old elf who was either old enough to understand and remember what was going on or actually taking part in the combat throughout the entire course of the war, then have the player develop all that for you :)

Actually, the player _is_ an older Valenar elf who is a diplomat in Sharn. Coincidentally, I already have him working on the past relationships between the kingdoms, especially during the Last War.

However, a few major battles would be nice.
Cutlass
10-05-05, 01:12 AM Actually, the player _is_ an older Valenar elf who is a diplomat in Sharn. Coincidentally, I already have him working on the past relationships between the kingdoms, especially during the Last War.

However, a few major battles would be nice.

Wow! I'm impressed!! Most other games I've heard of it would have been the character that was an older Valenar elf :D

Silliness aside, that seems to be one of the better ways to do it. If the player wants to run that character, they should generate most of the details, all you need to do as DM is to double check it to see if you like it well enough to allow it.
Tarionz_Cousin
10-08-05, 12:24 AM Wow! I'm impressed!! Most other games I've heard of it would have been the character that was an older Valenar elf :D

Yeah, he can't leave the house unless he puts on a disguise. Too bad he's not a Changeling.

:rimshot:
polt
10-08-05, 06:55 AM I'd actually love a Last War timeline.

It's different from the Mourning, cause NOBODY know what caused the mourning. It's mysterious.

But the history of the Last War is probably something that most people of Khovaire at least know a little about.
Streamweaver
10-08-05, 07:05 AM I'll second Streamweaver's heartburn on this issue. However, this is something that can be worked around. The vast majority of player characters would only have experienced the past couple of decades worth of the war, if that. So, all one really needs to know is what the last set of alliances was before the treaty of Thronehold was signed. That shouldn't be too difficult for a DM to decide on for his campaign.

Well as it's been pointed out there are races where players could easily have been around for all of it. In my last Eberron campaign I had a 120 year old Valenar who saw it all, in this one I have a player who is 80 years old and retired from the war 50 years ago.

I don't think you'll ever see an official timeline of the lastwar for the same reason you won't see a reason or answer to the mourning.

They might give you a few key battles, but they don't want to limit the DM.

I really hope this isn't the case. The day of mourning standing out as a mystery is a cool element but the single biggest world event that all the players should have some knowlege of and some effect from shouldn't be that big of a myster. I don't think they need to write major amounts of detail to accomplish a little connection to it for players and DMs. Maybe a short chapter or section in the ECS and a short section for each part of Five Nations would have been good.

I'd actually love a Last War timeline.

It's different from the Mourning, cause NOBODY know what caused the mourning. It's mysterious.

But the history of the Last War is probably something that most people of Khovaire at least know a little about.

Yep, agree for pretty much the same reasons.
Fordel
10-11-05, 05:05 PM Which is why I said they are probably going to give us the large key battles, in which the general population is likely to know ;)

But if your hopeing for a Dec (insert eberron month :P) 12, 8:45 the Brelish 14th irregulars intercepted the Aundurian 2nd forward reconnosance troop on the foothills of the blackcaps... your probably going to be hopeing for a long time ;P

I can see them listing the big ones, like the 4th battle of Cragwar or something-- but one hundred years of war is too large and long for there to be a definate "timeline" of battles. You'll either get so many battles that the DM's and Players will be overloaded, or you'll get too few and you'll have players going "No, there wasn't any fighting there during the 12th of Oct!"

Do we know about every skirmish that happend in WW2? No way. Do we know about D-Day or Middway? Yes, I'm sure just about everyone here knows about one if not both.
yossarius
10-11-05, 07:51 PM It's understandable, I think, why this topic hasn't been fleshed out. From a gaming perspective, the DM needs to be free to invent the war's history, to allow as much freedom as possible. But, from a real-world perspective, consider how many 1 hour documentaries there are on World War II, and that only lasted six years ('39-'45). 100 years worth of the same would be a monstrous undertaking, especially considering that all that work is simply background.
Tarionz_Cousin
10-11-05, 09:42 PM I would be content with a general overview--something like the following:

In the beginning, Breland and Karrnath allied vs. Thrane.
Cyre and Aundair seemed to build their defenses, but Aundair suddenly charged into Thrane.
For nearly 10 years, it seemed like Thrane stood against all comers.
But Breland and Karrnath argued and fought among themselves.
...etc.

Heck, I would be happy with the names and dates of a few main battles, too.

As I often say "Something is better than nothing." :twocents:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tarionz_Cousin 10-02-05, 11:28 PM	Is there an official timeline of which side each kingdom was on throughout the Last War? I know that alliances shifted, new kingdoms were formed, and "everybody fought everybody" at some point. But is there a more detailed progression of who fought whom, and when?
Streamweaver 10-02-05, 11:39 PM	Is there an official timeline of which side each kingdom was on throughout the Last War? I know that alliances shifted, new kingdoms were formed, and "everybody fought everybody" at some point. But is there a more detailed progression of who fought whom, and when? No there really hasn't been in all the published material, much in the way of real detail on this. I really think it's kind of silly there hasn't been more information on the war, especially in the Five Nations book. The Last War was the single biggest event we know of from the previous centurey. Everyone on Khorvaire was touched by it, every character is suppose to be effected by it in some way. They give us that then come up with no details about it, instead opting for cheese preferences and such.
Cutlass 10-03-05, 01:23 AM	I'll second Streamweaver's heartburn on this issue. However, this is something that can be worked around. The vast majority of player characters would only have experienced the past couple of decades worth of the war, if that. So, all one really needs to know is what the last set of alliances was before the treaty of Thronehold was signed. That shouldn't be too difficult for a DM to decide on for his campaign. Granted, one then runs the risk that if an "official" version ever comes out that what any individual DM decided on for his campaign will no longer be "cannon". However, each individual Eberron campaign that is run out there will necessarily be different because each DM and player group will use slightly different sets of house rules, rule slightly different groups of manuals and other source materials as being "acceptable", and have different events take place on different parts of Eberron than occurred in other people's campaigns. So, all the lack of information included on this subject so far does is to make a little more work for the individual DMs. Granted, that can be a pain in the rump, but compared to other settings and rules systems out there it's nowhere as obnoxious as it could be. For instance, I like Hero System, but it is a very GM intensive system to set up a campaign in because the GM has to make about 10 times as many decisions right off the bat about how he wants his world to run than are required in D20. The flip side is that once the GM puts that effort in what he gets back out of it is literally tailor made to do exactly what he wants it to in a way that is not possible with D20. Unfortunately, however, that does not seem to tbe the system that is taking the gaming world by storm right now. WOTC making use of the concept of OGL materials and turning the D20 system loose for literally everybody to play with and publish stuff for was a very shrewd business move. The bottom line, regardless of whatever campaign that you're running under whichever rules system, is just to wing it when you have to. It's nice to plan and develop things out in advance when you can, but sometimes you have to ad lib. Another response would be that if you have a player who wants to run a 160 year old elf who was either old enough to understand and remember what was going on or actually taking part in the combat throughout the entire course of the war, then have the player develop all that for you :)
Fordel 10-03-05, 03:39 AM	I don't think you'll ever see an official timeline of the lastwar for the same reason you won't see a reason or answer to the mourning. They might give you a few key battles, but they don't want to limit the DM.
Tarionz_Cousin 10-04-05, 11:20 PM	Another response would be that if you have a player who wants to run a 160 year old elf who was either old enough to understand and remember what was going on or actually taking part in the combat throughout the entire course of the war, then have the player develop all that for you :) Actually, the player _is_ an older Valenar elf who is a diplomat in Sharn. Coincidentally, I already have him working on the past relationships between the kingdoms, especially during the Last War. However, a few major battles would be nice.
Cutlass 10-05-05, 01:12 AM	Actually, the player _is_ an older Valenar elf who is a diplomat in Sharn. Coincidentally, I already have him working on the past relationships between the kingdoms, especially during the Last War. However, a few major battles would be nice. Wow! I'm impressed!! Most other games I've heard of it would have been the character that was an older Valenar elf :D Silliness aside, that seems to be one of the better ways to do it. If the player wants to run that character, they should generate most of the details, all you need to do as DM is to double check it to see if you like it well enough to allow it.
Tarionz_Cousin 10-08-05, 12:24 AM	Wow! I'm impressed!! Most other games I've heard of it would have been the character that was an older Valenar elf :D Yeah, he can't leave the house unless he puts on a disguise. Too bad he's not a Changeling. :rimshot:
polt 10-08-05, 06:55 AM	I'd actually love a Last War timeline. It's different from the Mourning, cause NOBODY know what caused the mourning. It's mysterious. But the history of the Last War is probably something that most people of Khovaire at least know a little about.
Streamweaver 10-08-05, 07:05 AM	I'll second Streamweaver's heartburn on this issue. However, this is something that can be worked around. The vast majority of player characters would only have experienced the past couple of decades worth of the war, if that. So, all one really needs to know is what the last set of alliances was before the treaty of Thronehold was signed. That shouldn't be too difficult for a DM to decide on for his campaign. Well as it's been pointed out there are races where players could easily have been around for all of it. In my last Eberron campaign I had a 120 year old Valenar who saw it all, in this one I have a player who is 80 years old and retired from the war 50 years ago. I don't think you'll ever see an official timeline of the lastwar for the same reason you won't see a reason or answer to the mourning. They might give you a few key battles, but they don't want to limit the DM. I really hope this isn't the case. The day of mourning standing out as a mystery is a cool element but the single biggest world event that all the players should have some knowlege of and some effect from shouldn't be that big of a myster. I don't think they need to write major amounts of detail to accomplish a little connection to it for players and DMs. Maybe a short chapter or section in the ECS and a short section for each part of Five Nations would have been good. I'd actually love a Last War timeline. It's different from the Mourning, cause NOBODY know what caused the mourning. It's mysterious. But the history of the Last War is probably something that most people of Khovaire at least know a little about. Yep, agree for pretty much the same reasons.
Fordel 10-11-05, 05:05 PM	Which is why I said they are probably going to give us the large key battles, in which the general population is likely to know ;) But if your hopeing for a Dec (insert eberron month :P) 12, 8:45 the Brelish 14th irregulars intercepted the Aundurian 2nd forward reconnosance troop on the foothills of the blackcaps... your probably going to be hopeing for a long time ;P I can see them listing the big ones, like the 4th battle of Cragwar or something-- but one hundred years of war is too large and long for there to be a definate "timeline" of battles. You'll either get so many battles that the DM's and Players will be overloaded, or you'll get too few and you'll have players going "No, there wasn't any fighting there during the 12th of Oct!" Do we know about every skirmish that happend in WW2? No way. Do we know about D-Day or Middway? Yes, I'm sure just about everyone here knows about one if not both.
yossarius 10-11-05, 07:51 PM	It's understandable, I think, why this topic hasn't been fleshed out. From a gaming perspective, the DM needs to be free to invent the war's history, to allow as much freedom as possible. But, from a real-world perspective, consider how many 1 hour documentaries there are on World War II, and that only lasted six years ('39-'45). 100 years worth of the same would be a monstrous undertaking, especially considering that all that work is simply background.
Tarionz_Cousin 10-11-05, 09:42 PM	I would be content with a general overview--something like the following: In the beginning, Breland and Karrnath allied vs. Thrane. Cyre and Aundair seemed to build their defenses, but Aundair suddenly charged into Thrane. For nearly 10 years, it seemed like Thrane stood against all comers. But Breland and Karrnath argued and fought among themselves. ...etc. Heck, I would be happy with the names and dates of a few main battles, too. As I often say "Something is better than nothing." :twocents: