How's the explorer's handbook? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How's the explorer's handbook? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Jeremiah DeathFist
09-14-05, 04:59 PM So I'm going to be getting some new dnd books and was wondring if I should get the explorers handbook. I want to know does it actually have a lot of usefull stuff for players? From what I read of the excerpt the book seemed more usefull to a DM. So is it good?
ieattrollsforbreakfast
09-14-05, 05:35 PM In my opinion, the Explorer's Handbook is an exellent book, consistent with the whole Eberron line to date (RoE was fair, but isn't of the Eberron line). Its packed with useful information in the first two chapters about Travel and Tools of the Trade which will be useful to pretty much every Eberron game. The final three chapters, Points of Origin, Midpoints and Destinations, are adventure sites that can be used and adapted for a range of games. However, the vast majority of the book is only useful to DMs. The three prestige classes are really the only thing that is useful to players, and I don't think its worth it for just those (one is available free on the official site).
MrFilthyIke
09-14-05, 05:43 PM Lovin' it. :D

Espcially since Rich B. drew a pic of Belkar in the credits area looking at the authors and declaring them a "Hack". :rofl:
Orion Polaris
09-14-05, 05:46 PM I like it. A lot. It's mainly for DM's though. Not a lot for Players.

If you are a DM, and can get the book. Then get it. It's well worth the price for the maps alone.

The prestige classes and all of the other setting flavor is just the icing on the cake.
Isran_Imrador
09-15-05, 08:39 AM Like it very much! great PrC! and many fun places.. :)
Setherial
09-15-05, 09:16 AM My brother has it and I looked it over while I was visiting. It looked very good, lots of fluf, lots of great locations together with usuable NPC's.
Majorafire77
09-15-05, 09:28 PM I enjoy it more than Five Nations, to be honest. The first two chapters are interesting and I think that the prestige classes were well thought out [even though the Thunder Guide is a bit limited in scope (for now)]. The Cataclysm Mage is sweet. Of course, the meat of the book is the locations. Both the docking tower and the lightning rail station are useful in any Eberron campaign, and the Crimson Ship kicks major ass. I'm not sure about the nightclub, but I it has a lot of potential for interesting beginnings. The midpoints chapter was pretty good, the best part being the Seren Village and the worst being the fact that the gate to Khyber didn't have a map :mad: It's still cool though. The endpoints chapter has a lot of stuff in it, including Sarlona, Xen'drik, Frostfell, and Argonnessen info! :dancin: Pretty cool stuff in here, but I get the feeling that they're for mostly mid-high level PCs, so heads up.
Whitewind115
09-15-05, 10:41 PM I think the book is great! It does have a lot of stuff for Dm's. However, many of my players enjoyed the book as well because of how well it out-lined the travel.
barrymcw
09-16-05, 03:25 AM I like it but it could use A LOT more maps. It is for explorers, right? And explorers need maps.

Sure, some places like Xen'drik will never get maps and that's great but, for example, why not give us one Khorvaire-wide map that shows every lightning rail line? Instead, we have lots of smaller maps that, if we scanned and put together would give us the entire lines. But we shouldn't have to do that.

Also, I'd have like a serious list of distances from various points in Eberron to other points in Eberron, sort of like the one chart showing distances via the Lightning Rail. The map I'd like would give distances between all of the major cities via both the d'Orien roads and "as the crow flies" for airships, and maybe even the distances on various ocean routes too.

My PC's are soon to be deciding on how to get from Sharn to Darguun and, bummer, I get to figure out all the options myself and let them pick. IMHO, this book should've done that for me.

But I like the book, I do. It's just seriously lacking in this one aspect.
Roxlimn
09-16-05, 09:19 AM Seriously disppointed in the stats for Lhazaar Sea Galleons, the Lyrandar Wind Galleon (it's not even a Galleon), and the Mark-powered Sailing Ship (which is actually worse than a normal one). I've been restatting the things and making them something more sensible in line with Stormwrack entries.
Arden Blackleaf
09-16-05, 01:18 PM I love the book! Specially the Cataclysm Mage. I definitely suggest you get it.
lugnut71
09-16-05, 02:57 PM I rather like it too finding the various adventure points help to create alternate trips.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jeremiah DeathFist 09-14-05, 04:59 PM	So I'm going to be getting some new dnd books and was wondring if I should get the explorers handbook. I want to know does it actually have a lot of usefull stuff for players? From what I read of the excerpt the book seemed more usefull to a DM. So is it good?
ieattrollsforbreakfast 09-14-05, 05:35 PM	In my opinion, the Explorer's Handbook is an exellent book, consistent with the whole Eberron line to date (RoE was fair, but isn't of the Eberron line). Its packed with useful information in the first two chapters about Travel and Tools of the Trade which will be useful to pretty much every Eberron game. The final three chapters, Points of Origin, Midpoints and Destinations, are adventure sites that can be used and adapted for a range of games. However, the vast majority of the book is only useful to DMs. The three prestige classes are really the only thing that is useful to players, and I don't think its worth it for just those (one is available free on the official site).
MrFilthyIke 09-14-05, 05:43 PM	Lovin' it. :D Espcially since Rich B. drew a pic of Belkar in the credits area looking at the authors and declaring them a "Hack". :rofl:
Orion Polaris 09-14-05, 05:46 PM	I like it. A lot. It's mainly for DM's though. Not a lot for Players. If you are a DM, and can get the book. Then get it. It's well worth the price for the maps alone. The prestige classes and all of the other setting flavor is just the icing on the cake.
Isran_Imrador 09-15-05, 08:39 AM	Like it very much! great PrC! and many fun places.. :)
Setherial 09-15-05, 09:16 AM	My brother has it and I looked it over while I was visiting. It looked very good, lots of fluf, lots of great locations together with usuable NPC's.
Majorafire77 09-15-05, 09:28 PM	I enjoy it more than Five Nations, to be honest. The first two chapters are interesting and I think that the prestige classes were well thought out [even though the Thunder Guide is a bit limited in scope (for now)]. The Cataclysm Mage is sweet. Of course, the meat of the book is the locations. Both the docking tower and the lightning rail station are useful in any Eberron campaign, and the Crimson Ship kicks major ass. I'm not sure about the nightclub, but I it has a lot of potential for interesting beginnings. The midpoints chapter was pretty good, the best part being the Seren Village and the worst being the fact that the gate to Khyber didn't have a map :mad: It's still cool though. The endpoints chapter has a lot of stuff in it, including Sarlona, Xen'drik, Frostfell, and Argonnessen info! :dancin: Pretty cool stuff in here, but I get the feeling that they're for mostly mid-high level PCs, so heads up.
Whitewind115 09-15-05, 10:41 PM	I think the book is great! It does have a lot of stuff for Dm's. However, many of my players enjoyed the book as well because of how well it out-lined the travel.
barrymcw 09-16-05, 03:25 AM	I like it but it could use A LOT more maps. It is for explorers, right? And explorers need maps. Sure, some places like Xen'drik will never get maps and that's great but, for example, why not give us one Khorvaire-wide map that shows every lightning rail line? Instead, we have lots of smaller maps that, if we scanned and put together would give us the entire lines. But we shouldn't have to do that. Also, I'd have like a serious list of distances from various points in Eberron to other points in Eberron, sort of like the one chart showing distances via the Lightning Rail. The map I'd like would give distances between all of the major cities via both the d'Orien roads and "as the crow flies" for airships, and maybe even the distances on various ocean routes too. My PC's are soon to be deciding on how to get from Sharn to Darguun and, bummer, I get to figure out all the options myself and let them pick. IMHO, this book should've done that for me. But I like the book, I do. It's just seriously lacking in this one aspect.
Roxlimn 09-16-05, 09:19 AM	Seriously disppointed in the stats for Lhazaar Sea Galleons, the Lyrandar Wind Galleon (it's not even a Galleon), and the Mark-powered Sailing Ship (which is actually worse than a normal one). I've been restatting the things and making them something more sensible in line with Stormwrack entries.
Arden Blackleaf 09-16-05, 01:18 PM	I love the book! Specially the Cataclysm Mage. I definitely suggest you get it.
lugnut71 09-16-05, 02:57 PM	I rather like it too finding the various adventure points help to create alternate trips.