Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DragoonDarkfire 02-24-07, 12:22 AM	1: Don't create characters that are ripoffs of other characters. 2: Such as a Monk/Ardent with the time mantle called "Neo". 3: Shifters are not furries. 4: Even the tiger ones. 5: Do not create a warforged drunken master and call him "Bender" 6: Or a mind flayer cleric and call him "Zoidberg" 7: Catfolk aren't furries either. 8: Even though they aren't specifically about Eberron I thought that was necessary to say. 9: Why do you want to play Furries anyway? 10: Your character cannot have more then one dragonmark 11: Even if he is apart of the prophecy THAT MUCH 12: The proper way of hitting on a kalashtar is not "I've seen you in my dreams" 13: If you get how ironic that is then you are probably ready to play. 14: You should stop reading this now if you are. 15: Should you come into conflict with the dreaming dark do not introduce yourself as "Their worst Nightmare". 16: Again, if you get that then you don't need to read any further. 17: Karrnath is not the proper location to start filming a Michel Jackson music video. 18: Nor is it the home of Rob Zombie 19: The church of the Silver Flame is NOT the Catholic Church. 20: Even though it participates in crusades. 21: and spreads faith by the sword. 22: and acts like it's superior to all other religions. 23: Okay it's the catholic church. 24: But there's no Jesus. 25: Unless of course you make a 30th level cleric/risen martyr as the next voice of the flame. 26: This is not suggested. 27: No matter how badass it would be... 28: The drow do NOT have a scorpion king. 29: He doesn't look like The Rock either. 30: Nor is the the subject of search from a powerful demigod-mummie. 31: Kaius does not have a Transylvania accent. 32: Kaius is not Bella Lugosi. 33: He doesn't have the title of "count" either. 34: There are NO furries in Eberron. 35: Why are you still asking?
Darth Syntax 02-24-07, 02:34 AM	36. Never underestimate a gnome, you will not live to regret this. 37. Dragons do not sit on vast piles of treasure or kidnap princesses; they manipulate things from behind the scenes or they sit around and contemplate the meaning of the cosmos. This is the correct way for a dragon to behave. 38. Just because someone is "good" does not make them your ally. 39. corollary to #38: Just because someone is "evil" does not make them your enemy. 40. You will refrain from toasting your marshmallows over the Silver Flame 41. You will more than likely fail to save the world. Accept this, and all will be well. 42. Sadly, Changelings are not a viscous liquid in their native state, nor do they regenerate every 16 hours. 43. Repeat after me: "I will not kill goblins on sight" 44. Just because you call yourself an "adventurer" does not mean people will like you. 45. Corollary to #44: Get a job. 46. Politics is everything.
rampant 02-24-07, 02:40 AM	47. The Forgotten Freedom threads are examples of how not to behave. 48. The silver flame is not a barbeque! Stop roasting things on it! 49. Bragging about how many buildings youcan destroy in ten minutes is a bad idea. 50. Especially in Sharn. 51. The cops are not just 1st level warriors. They have PC class levels and decent gear. You cannot use them as pins for a game of bowling.
Nived 02-24-07, 03:48 AM	52: If you're adventures take you to Xen'drik, assume everything not in the walls of Stormreach wants to eat you/sacrifice you/maim you/kill you/rob from you/or all of the above. 53: Actually you can assume pretty much the same inside the walls of Stormreach. 54: If its in Xen'drik assume its hostile. 55: House Jorasco does not abide by a hipocratic oath, they expect to be paid for their healing and are not above watching you bleed to death. 56: Elves are not tree huggers... any suggestion to that effect will lead to you being gutted with a scimitar/trampled by horses/killed in the name of their ancestors/killed by their ancestors/or all of the above. 57: It doesn't matter what organization you choose to align yourself with, the Silver Flame, the Soverign Host, the Wayfinders, a particular nation, the gatewardens... there is always a way for a DM to turn the affiliation against you. 58: This doesn't mean you can't trust anyone. 59: Just that you shouldn't trust anyone. 60: Remember with paranoia you only have to be right once to make it all worth while. 61: Always have a back up plan. 62: Yes, fire is generally a good backup plan. 63: Except when dealing with things that wont burn. 64: I don't know, throw lightning at those things!
DragoonDarkfire 02-24-07, 10:13 AM	65: The dealkyr are not perverts. 66: Even though they have an affinity for tentacles. 67: and whips. 68: and halfbloods... 69: dealkyr are perverts. 70: If you have a female party member who isn't an orc or a goblin use one as bait. 71: make sure she's in a school girl uniform. 72: Dragons contemplate the prophecy, there's a 90% chance you're apart of the prophecy. 73: In response to rule #72, please note the prophecy says you can die just as easily as you will live. 74: Don't trust your employer. 75: Don't trust the person you're going after. 76: remember, demon possessed and shapechangers are all around you. 77: But don't use either one as an excuse for killing someone. 78: Unless you're a member of the church of the Silver Flame, in which case go right ahead.
Macrovore 02-24-07, 11:49 AM	79. If you see a piece of the Prophecy, it WILL come true. 80. If the piece you saw says something about "Heros," it is talking about YOU.
SquirrelMortis 02-24-07, 01:20 PM	81. Killing sentient beings gets you in trouble. 82. Even if they are kobolds... 83. Not orcs or either... 84. Or goblins... 85. Yes, killing the above is just as killing a human. 86. If you want to kill goblinoids, go and play Greyhawk or Forgotten Realms. 87. Stop asking! 88. It is possible to be a good cleric of an evil deity. 89. And vice-versa. 90. Yes, even the Keeper. 91. And the Mockery. 92. The Cults of the Dragon Below too. 93. See 87! 94. No one in Eberron holds the title of Dark Lord. 94. That's such a stupid title anyway? What's so bad about the dark? Maybe it should be just Evil Lord? 95. There is no Evil Lord in Eberron either. 96. There are multiple evil people. 97. Strange, huh? 98. Just because you're evil doesn't mean you eat babies and worship demons. 99. Just because your good doesn't mean that you don't eat babies (in the name of the Silver Flame). 100. In Eberron, gnomes are scarier than trolls. 101. They do not have names like 'Namfoodle' and 'Tuktookle'. 102. Unless they wanted to... 103. Which is what makes them so scary. 104. The Daelkyr are not Cthulhu. 105. The Devourer of Dreams is not Darth Sidious. 106. Even if he wears a black hood. 107. And has creepy looking skin. 108. And shoots out blue lightning. 109. And refers to the current Dream Tarai as 'the Dark Side'. 110. STOP ASKING!!!
JulesCARV 02-24-07, 02:10 PM	51. The cops are not just 1st level warriors. They have PC class levels and decent gear. You cannot use them as pins for a game of bowling. Perhaps, but this is less true than in other settings. . 111. You'll probably be tempted to hoard your action points, wasting them when you gain a level. Try to resist that temptation and spend them when you think it's cool. 112. Yes, you can be a cleric of an abstract ideal or concept. 113. ... and exactly what sort of "ideal" or "concept" is compatible with a cleric who turns undead and spontaneously casts cure spells and has the undeath and planning domains from Forgotten Realms, anyway? 114. Even if you go into Master Inquitive, that doesn't mean that the Continual Flame signs of the run-down restaurant outside your office will flicker. 115. Nor does it mean that beautiful Khoravar women will walk into your office with sinister agendas. 116. Nor does it mean that you have to develop an alcohol or dreamlily habit that you've had ever since your wife or your partner in the town guard was killed by criminals. 117. There are cities other than Sharn. 118. You may have 5,000 gp, but that doesn't mean there are any level 9+ clerics around who can raise your party member. 119. You may have 5,000 gp, and there may be a level 9+ cleric around who can raise your party member, but that doesn't mean she's willing to subvert the laws of fate for the sake of a bunch of strangers who may or may not be part of her faith. 1120. When in doubt, it's the fault of the Daelkyr.
law 02-24-07, 02:32 PM	121: Rember think before you act 122: Well unless you are chaotic and not smart (9 int or less is not fully smart). But then just acting on what you feel at the moment might a good idea. 123: Just rember even then tryng to eat a bunch of beans and using a torch to unleash you sercet weapon. Might be funny but its still stupid. 124: Though if it works you might not be there see it work. 125: Then every one around will. 126: Rember a smarter then normal giant in eberron is not that rare. 127: Talking to it like its not the sharpest knife in the cubby is a bad idea. 128: Rember it might be smarter then you. 129: As a matter of fact it very well might have more class levels then you. 130: Yes neer epic giants are scary but they do happen. 131: So remberer giants do rock in ths world. Just dont get used as rock.
Sturm Jaeger 02-24-07, 02:38 PM	132. I don't care if they are all rangers and wield scimitars, you do not name your Valenar elf "Drizzt." 133. Repeat after me: Your female kalashtar soulknife is NOT Psylocke from the X-Men. 134. Not even with purple hair.
DragoonDarkfire 02-24-07, 02:38 PM	132: EVERYTHING is out to kill you. Don't even bother thinking you can trust someone or something. 133: The Aerenal elves are not necrophiliacs. 134: much. 135: Okay so they MIGHT have sex with an undying solider. 136: It's no more disgusting then with a Vampire. 137: Even though it's still Necrophilia. 138: The valenear elves are not the Persians. 139: despite there suspiciously similar cloths and horseback maneuvers... 140: CYRE! TONIGHT WE DINE IN KHYBER!
Fallcourt 02-25-07, 03:03 AM	141. The lord of blades is not your locally licensed Ginsu knife dealer. 142. Do not build a plastic male warforged by the name of Ken 143. or a plastic female warforged by the name of Barbie 144. no, they can't be looking for each other. 145. Just because your artificer has a grafted warforged arm, does not make him the Full Metal Artificer 146. and no, you can't call your warforged companion Al.
SquirrelMortis 02-25-07, 04:21 AM	147. Aundair is not France. 148. It is Aundair. 149. You will not investigate how the Gloaming came to be. 150. The truth involves one too many orders of Fish and Chips, a wand of Desecrate, and a flatulent Shifter. 151. Scary, eh? 152. Warforged are not robots. 153. Or gundam thing-a-ma-jigs. 154. There is not a warforged translator named C-3P0, who constantly brags about how he is fluent in over three million different languages. 155. And how it is against his program to impersonate a deity. 156. You can't program a warforged. 157. Or a halfling. 158. The Gnomes are not developing a way to program Halflings. 159. So sue me, I lied. 160. You will refrain from making a Brelish Dark Lantern named James Bond. 161. His catch fraise is wrong. 162. You can not possibly stir a martini. 163. Sorry.
SilvercatMoonpaw 02-25-07, 09:36 AM	(all of these are from my one and only personal experience playing Eberron) 164. Just because no one has developed explosive powder does not mean that ticking doll you just picked up isn't a bomb. 165. Not everyone speaks Common. 166. Just because the bad guy is a gnome does not mean he cannot commit a series of terrorist bombings. 167. Just because warforged aren't robots doesn't mean they can't be made to explode as a part of said terror bombings. 168. Goblins may actually be an important source of information……while they're still alive. 169. Warforged can have their own secret culture, they aren't just constructs that sit around and wait for your orders. 170. Your half-elf companion might actually be a changeling. 171. Just because they are goth-wannabes does not automatically mean they are part of a necromantic cult.
Wymarc 02-25-07, 10:38 AM	172. That gnome sitting over by that everbright lantern, ya, the information broker, is probably the person you can trust the most - you can trust him to sell you out, no matter what.
JulesCARV 02-25-07, 02:08 PM	With all of the stuff about how creepy and sinister Eberron gnomes are, I want to play a Zil gnome bard PC who's something of a dreamy, idealistic romantic (in the sense of Shelley or Blake), who's rather disillusioned and thinks Zil (and much of Khorvaire) society is corrupt and dishonest. Maybe a Greensinger bard/druid type.
goblin_pride 02-25-07, 02:38 PM	173. The fact that Zilargo has no police and no army even though it's surrounded by hostile, militaristic nations should scare you. 174. Killing goblins in Sharn may just leave you dancing at the end of a rope. 175. would you stop asking already, I said no.
Nived 02-25-07, 03:13 PM	176: Huh? No the Dark Lanterns don't get rings of the ram that allow them to fly. 177: Nor are they controled by a cabal of Blues. 178: The Dark Lanterns are NOT Eberron's Green Lantern Corps! 179: I don't care how cool that'd be. 180: Yes, it would be kinda cool. 181: Always make sure your character asks to read the Koranberg Chronicle, or whatever local newspaper might be handy. 182: Because its Noir that's why. 183: And a very handy way for your DM to float seemingly unconnected information that'll eventually prove connected to your adventure trust me. 184: Even if your DM hasn't thought of it yet ask to read the papers eventually he'll start to do that. 185: Besides they're handy to pretend to be reading while you watch a suspicious character.
Darth Syntax 02-25-07, 08:07 PM	186. Corollary to 181: You will not get your random adventure hooks in an inn. They will be provided through the Agony column of the Korranberg Chronicle. 187. Be wary when you hear zither music. 188. Remember, if a horrible beast is killing people in some remote part of the country, there is an 80% chance that it is a tool of some secret society bent on causing terror. 189. Never trust a coincidence. 190. Sometimes a good raincoat makes for better protection than all the platemail in world. 191. Everyone's got an agenda. 192. Never commit the 'perfect crime' if one of the following people is about: a short man with an impeccable mustache, and old lady with sharp eyes, or a tall fellow in an odd hat. Nothing good will come of it.
goblin_pride 02-25-07, 09:12 PM	192. Never commit the 'perfect crime' if one of the following people is about: a short man with an impeccable mustache, and old lady with sharp eyes, or a tall fellow in an odd hat. Nothing good will come of it. 193. No crime is perfect, someone somewhere knows what you've done and will be more than happy to keep that knowledge secret, assuming you're willing to them a favor.
SquirrelMortis 02-26-07, 02:56 AM	192. Never commit the 'perfect crime' if one of the following people is about: a short man with an impeccable mustache, and old lady with sharp eyes, or a tall fellow in an odd hat. Nothing good will come of it. Poirot, Marple, and Holmes... *Gazes off dreamily* In Eberron!!! :dancin: :dancin: :dancin: :dancin: :dancin: :dancin:
NerdNumber1 02-26-07, 06:47 AM	194. Don't ask a guild member if a quest you are given is legal. They don't like that. I had a player (my younger brother) do that in the adventure featured in the Eberron book. Lady Elaydren (sp?) was insulted, but since he was new and I didn't have any alternative adventure, I let him slide. He wanted to know if Cannith was a proper organization and not a society of criminals or something like that.
SilvercatMoonpaw 02-26-07, 08:46 AM	194. Don't ask a guild member if a quest you are given is legal. They don't like that. I had a player (my younger brother) do that in the adventure featured in the Eberron book. Lady Elaydren (sp?) was insulted, but since he was new and I didn't have any alternative adventure, I let him slide. He wanted to know if Cannith was a proper organization and not a society of criminals or something like that. 195. In Eberron these are the same thing.
goblin_pride 02-26-07, 01:10 PM	195. Anything you do to make your relations with an organization more friendly to you will torque the nuts of at least three other power groups.
Nived 02-26-07, 01:27 PM	196: While full of pirates, the Lhazaar Principalities is not the Caribbean. 197: Well for one thing it's near the artic circle... its really bloody cold, not tropical at all. 198: Think Scandinavia. 199: That doesn't make them vikings either. 200: Though their proximity to dwarves would give them plenty of justification to grow beards and swing axes. 201: This is a Lhazaarite Pirate. (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/eb_gallery/82137.jpg) 202: I don't care if that doesn't look like a pirate to you. 203: There need not be a 1-1 comparrison to real world things in Eberron.
yossarius 02-26-07, 04:23 PM	204) Yes, the 13-1 theme is repeated all over Eberron. Knowing this will not help you in any way. 205) Attacking everything that detects as evil is a quick route to an early character death. 206) Reading all the sourcebooks and novels will also not help you in any way. There exists an official Eberron in theory only (never in fact). If the setting hasn't evolved away from the books within one year of game time, the DM isn't doing his job. 207) Within every adventure, there are at least a dozen hidden facts that would help the party immensely, if only you knew them. 208) Half of them you won't discover until it's too late to matter. 209) The other half, you will never know. Get over it. 210) Ranks in Balance and Climb are essential in a Sharn-based game. Think about it. 211) Feather Fall wouldn't hurt, either. 212) If the party conceives of a plan of action after ten real-world minutes of discussion, assume your enemies are prepared for something so foolish, beg the DM to break for the night, and spend the next week strategizing. 213) The I-Don't-Know-What-This-Is-So-I-Guess-I'll-Break-It-And-See-What-Happens strategy is generally the wrong way to go. 214) Character one-night-stands always end badly. 215) And I don't mean like, run out of town by the mayor badly. More like, waking up in the bowels of Khyber strung up by your intestines type badly. 216) Go ahead and double-cross the helpful NPC. He has already double-crossed you five times. 217) You are not nearly as clever as you think you are.
goblin_pride 02-26-07, 04:33 PM	213) The I-Don't-Know-What-This-Is-So-I-Guess-I'll-Break-It-And-See-What-Happens strategy is generally the wrong way to go. 218. If a druid says don't touch something, don't bloody touch it. 219. and when dealing with aberrations, the sound of thosands of marching feet might just be one creature.
DragoonDarkfire 02-26-07, 05:33 PM	219. and when dealing with aberrations, the sound of thosands of marching feet might just be one creature. 220: But it's always nice to be prepared in case it IS an army of monsters.
yossarius 02-26-07, 05:33 PM	173. The fact that Zilargo has no police and no army even though it's surrounded by hostile, militaristic nations should scare you. Sigged
goblin_pride 02-26-07, 07:23 PM	217) You are not nearly as clever as you think you are. 221. But the guy you're chasing through the bowels of Sharn is.
jonci 02-26-07, 07:43 PM	222: It is not okay to sells yourself as a Necromancer in Kannath. Most of the population doesn't like undead, and the rest keep it a secret. 223: Being a wizard in Eberron doesn't make you all powerful. Half the shops in Sharn are run by wizards. 224: Using the Mournlands as a shortcut is a bad idea. 225: Because you could die just trying to enter, walking 5-ft, or just breathing in general. 226: You can't have free magic items from House Cannith, even if you are dragonmarked. 227: Not even with Favored in House. 228: You cannot be Merrik's lovechild to get free magic items, either. 229: Being a sorcerer doesn't make you descended from dragons. 230: Because being descended from a dragon will probably get you killed. 231: The Lightning Rail isn't the Orient Express.
DragoonDarkfire 02-26-07, 07:48 PM	231: EVERYTHING will try and kill you at one point or another. Accept it.
JulesCARV 02-26-07, 11:58 PM	223: Being a wizard in Eberron doesn't make you all powerful. Half the shops in Sharn are run by wizards. Perhaps, but this is less true than in other settings. PC classes are unusually rare in Eberron, not unusually common.
Kaizer_Ryu 02-27-07, 12:35 AM	233: Bards are NOT useless 234: Despite how hard this is to believe 235: Name one other class that convinces all other classes to act as their meat shield merely by being who they are 236: Play one, and all the ladies will love you 237: Even if you're playing a female Bard 238: Why, exactly, is that a minus? ;) 239: Bards can do Jedi Mind Tricks better than the Psions 240: They also get laid more 241: Being able to talk your way into the Trust's inner circle is priceless 242: They can be quite helpful if you find yourself on an extended stay in Dreadhold 243: Admittedly, getting Aundair to surrender in mere moments isn't that much of a feat 244: All this is negated, of course, if they turn out to be Spoony Bards 245: If you get that, you are ready to play 246: Telling everyone that the Silver Flame is powered by propane is frowned upon 247: You're still not allowed to kidnap Jaela 248: Yes, I know how adorable she is 249: STOP ASKING!
goblin_pride 02-27-07, 02:10 AM	250. If it weren't for the orcs, you'd be a Daelkyr's plaything. 251. Yeah, the orcs are the tree-hugging hippies, you'll get used to it. 252. The goblinoids have bards, try not to stare. 253. Goblinoids built the largest empire in history, try not to laugh. 254. Especially when one is within earshot.
DragoonDarkfire 02-27-07, 10:36 AM	253. Goblinoids built the largest empire in history, try not to laugh. 255: This is not correct. The giants built the largest empire... because they were larger.
yossarius 02-27-07, 10:58 AM	256) The Forgotten Freedom aside, abusing and destroying your first airship will not incline your DM to give you another one. 257) If you don't care about getting another one, you are ready to play. 258) The most powerful druid on the continent is an oak tree. 259) Stop laughing. 260) Consider playing a goblin. 261) I'm serious. 262) No, really. There's no punchline. It's cooler than you think. 263) There are some things you will never figure out. You will never really KNOW what caused the Mourning; you will never know why the Draconic Prophesy exists; you will never know exactly what that elderich machine does, etc. They exist mostly as plot devices. No amount of reasoning will change this. Accept it and move one. 264) Your character, on the other hand, is free to believe whatever he/she wants. 265) In any other world, your party would be heroes. Here, they are dirty scumbags who, unfortunately, are necessary from time to time.
DragoonDarkfire 02-27-07, 11:07 AM	266: One of the cool things about Eberron is that you can actually have the powers of the bad guys and still fight them. 267: See Quori Mindhunter, Impure Prince, Daelkyr Halfblood and a few other PRC's. 268: But try not to make your character too "angsty".
SquirrelMortis 02-27-07, 11:41 AM	269. In Eberron, the ending doesn't have to be happy. 270. It might be, but it doesn't have to be. 271. In Eberron, it is much rarer that your character would marry a princess. 272. Royals don't just pick scum-bag coin seekers off the street, have them fetch them (schema/artifact/forgotten tome) and then just betroth you to their children. 273. Yes, Theocracies don't do that either. 274. Is it like the latest fashion to stalk our current, 11 year old Keeper-o-Flame? 275. The Giants were smart. 276. Were smart. 277. And they would've gotten away with it too, if it weren't for those meddling quori... 278. Roooooooby Rooooooby Rooo!!!
Nived 02-27-07, 12:29 PM	279: Drow are completely different. 280: They typically don't live underground. (Umbergen milage may vary) 281: Because they live in the Jungle and the ruins of the giant empire. 282: Lloth doesn't exist. They don't worship spiders. 284: Because they worship scorpians, a strange idealistic version of the Plane of Fire (that will burn everythin in the world but them), or a living shadow which is probably the plane of Mabar. 285: No, not all at the same time. 286: No, it isn't just changing spiders for scorpians. 287: Because Vulkoor (the scorpian worshipping society) are nomads living in the deep jungle they are hunters and not matriarchal. 288: That doesn't mean they're patriarchal as a rule either... They're not pigeon holed. 289: Please don't argue about them ruining what makes a drow a drow. 290: Because drow come from British folklore originally, the spider stuff was made up in the 70s, and is hardly the only way to present dark elves. 291: They're different, get over it.
DragoonDarkfire 02-27-07, 12:35 PM	292: Stop thinking that this is Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk. 293: This isn't Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk. 294: If you don't like that then I suggest... oh I dunno... Playing Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk? 295: I mean if you REALLY don't like the fact that Eberron is basically a modernization of fantasy settings then I suggest you don't play it. 296: Is that REALLY to hard to understand?
JulesCARV 02-27-07, 01:29 PM	265) In any other world, your party would be heroes. Here, they are dirty scumbags who, unfortunately, are necessary from time to time. 271. In Eberron, it is much rarer that your character would marry a princess. 272. Royals don't just pick scum-bag coin seekers off the street, have them fetch them (schema/artifact/forgotten tome) and then just betroth you to their children. I'm sorta confused. I'm seeing a fair number of references to the idea that in Eberron, PCs aren't particularly exceptional, heroic, or famous. (See also "Being a wizard in Eberron doesn't make you all powerful. Half the shops in Sharn are run by wizards." and "The cops are not just 1st level warriors. They have PC class levels and decent gear. You cannot use them as pins for a game of bowling.") Everything I've read in ECS, Dragonshards, etc, suggests that, to the extent that Eberron differs from other campaign settings in this matter, it's that the PCs are more exceptional, more heroic, more famous, and more likely be regarded as popular heroes that bards sing about. Is there something in some Eberron book that I don't have or some Dragonshard I haven't read or some Ask Keith Baker answer that I didn't notice that has changed all of this, so that PCs are more gritty, average types, and not heroic chosen of destiny types? I kinda like the idea of a typical town guard being a level 3 urban ranger or somesuch. Heck, I've even proposed abolishing the commoner, expert, and aristocrat classes and replacing them PC-level classes such as the specialist (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=10505264&postcount=9) (civilian commoner) and chrysanthemum guard (seems to have been eaten by the forums, but a would-be replacement for the aristocrat). That way, PCs who are beginners just getting the ropes can start at level 1, PCs who are competent professionals can start at level 3, and PCs who are already exceptional can start at level 6, which seems more flexible than every level 1 PC already being exceptionally good. It seems to me, though, that everything I've read suggests that Eberron doesn't work that way -- that PCs are supposed to be action superheroes. It's not something I'm wild about, but everything I've read on Eberron that addresses this issue seems to insist on it: is there something I'm missing that takes PCs down a notch?
goblin_pride 02-27-07, 02:02 PM	It seems to me, though, that everything I've read suggests that Eberron doesn't work that way -- that PCs are supposed to be action superheroes. It's not something I'm wild about, but everything I've read on Eberron that addresses this issue seems to insist on it: is there something I'm missing that takes PCs down a notch? Just because you're well-known, the bards sing songs about you and you're above average doesn't mean you're any less a scumbag as you were before you got some levels under you.
Wymarc 02-27-07, 03:30 PM	... and more likely be regarded as popular heroes that bards sing about. this is where you go wrong. the heros are diffrent, but not famous.* ... that PCs are supposed to be action superheroes. think batman or spiderman as opposed to superman and you are correct. Your character can eat most other commoners for breakfast, but nobody knows this. *the major exception is if you are a Thunder Guide from the Explorer's Handbook
Nived 02-27-07, 03:45 PM	This is really dragging things off topic here guys... whether your characters are scumbags or heroes of the people have little to do with Eberron as a whole and more to do with who your characters are. You could all be vagabonds from the slums of Sharn and save the world an no one is going to care... conversely you could all be rich favored in house D'Marks that quite publicly defeated some monster, made the fron page of the Koranberg Chronicle and are renouned heroes. You could end up being a legend of the Brelish army, a guy who single handedly fought off a platoon of Karrnathi undead and be hailed as a hero the likes of Sergent York (from WWI), or you could have just been a grunt who did your time in the military and would rather forget about it. There is nothing manifest in the setting that makes you scum or hero with a sparkling smile (other than Paladins since they're immune to the gum disease gingivitis). That choice is up to you and your actions. Lets call that whole rant #293 Moving on... 294: When fighting goblinoids locked gauntlets are a good idea. 295: Because they have a fetish for chain weapons. 296: Chain weapons give bonuses to disarm. 297: So unless you want to be fighting a squad of highly trained goblinoids with nothing but your charm and your winning smile use a locked gauntlet! 298: I don't care how winning your smile is because the goblinoids are going to knock your teeth out. 299: ... and make a necklace out of them.
yossarius 02-27-07, 03:54 PM	265) In any other world, your party would be heroes. Here, they are dirty scumbags who, unfortunately, are necessary from time to time. Okay, allow me to elaborate. Yes, the PCs may become famous as they advance. Brittany Spears is famous. Not well-respected, though. Yes, people mob her everywhere she goes. But that doesn't mean that all those people are fans. Just worshipers of fame. The way I see it (to use Wymarc's superhero analogy), the PCs are the early X-men, or maybe the Defenders. In Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk, they'd be the Avengers or the Fantastic Four. Also, 297) It's unlikely bards will ever sing your praises. 298) It's much more likely that an article about you will appear in the Korranberg Chronicle or Sharn Inquisitive. 299) If it does, it's highly likely to lam bast you as a dastardly villian. 300) If you prevented someone who was rich, powerful, popular (or some combination of these three) from doing something truly nasty, #299 is almost definite.
JulesCARV 02-27-07, 04:56 PM	I suppose my point is, if you want, PCs can be scumbags constantly on the run from the law who are always hired for dodgy jobs and whom no one without a criminal record would associate with, but to the extent that that's true, it also seems to be true in D&D in general (are there any campaign settings where it's assumed that all adventurers are completely legitimate, admired, invincible figures?). If anything, it seems like, while it could still be true in Eberron that PCs are disreputable nobodies, it's less likely to be true in Eberron than in most campaign settings, not more likely, so I'm just saying that it's somewhat odd to put it in a thread called 1001 tips for newbies to Eberron. 301) Alignments are not teams. An LG Kalashtar psion can adventure to fight the Daelkyr forces to protect humanity while a CE orc barbarian can adventure with her in the hopes of revelling in a bit of bloodshed, pulling treasure out of the dead hands of slain dolgrims, and gaining a bit of fame and sex appeal, with no "inevitable betrayal" being the consequence of such an alliance. 302) Paladins are still paladins, though. Completely, 100% the same as in normal D&D. 303) Churches and temples don't sell divine magic. 304) Well, maybe sometimes they do, but they don't tell everyone about it. 305) Hey, I didn't tell you not to put ranks in Gather Information, knowledge (local), or knowledge (religion) to know which clergy are corrupt and bribable.
yossarius 02-28-07, 09:58 AM	I suppose my point is, if you want, PCs can be scumbags constantly on the run from the law who are always hired for dodgy jobs and whom no one without a criminal record would associate with, but to the extent that that's true, it also seems to be true in D&D in general (are there any campaign settings where it's assumed that all adventurers are completely legitimate, admired, invincible figures?). If anything, it seems like, while it could still be true in Eberron that PCs are disreputable nobodies, it's less likely to be true in Eberron than in most campaign settings, not more likely, so I'm just saying that it's somewhat odd to put it in a thread called 1001 tips for newbies to Eberron. Well, I didn't mean to suggest that the PCs can't be heroic in Eberron. More along the lines that it is unlikely that others will see the PCs as such. Misunderstood heroes, if you want. Calling them dirty scumbags, on the other hand, seemed more fun.
Lara_Flynn 02-28-07, 10:35 AM	306: It might be wise to run away and fight another day rather than playing the uber-hero. Noir-type characters often get away brusied and battered rather than ending up dead! 307: This should never stop you from acting like Indy Jones whenever you feel like it! (And have an action point in store to make sure you actually really perform like our beloved idol...)
SilvercatMoonpaw 02-28-07, 10:44 AM	308: Elves are not hippy tree-huggers. 309: They are highly trained assasins that masquerade as entertainers… 310: …or powerful necromancers who preserve their best people so they get really good… 311: …or scimitar-wielding, horse-riding warriors who want to conquer stuff.
JulesCARV 02-28-07, 03:38 PM	Perhaps Eberron PCs are likely to be social outcasts and misfits, but that seems to me like a fairly common genre convention to me. Aren't adventurers likely to be outcasts to some extent in all campaign settings? I'm not denying that adventurers are frequently (and frequently rightly) looked upon as dangerous, unpredictable, unethical and frequently criminal in Eberron. I'm just saying that, to the extent that Eberron differs from other settings on these matters, it seems to differ on the side of PCs being more likely to be widely idolized, less likely to be scorned, etc. That isn't to say that PCs are necessarily idolized and beloved: they can be misfit outcast types too. Just that they're even more likely to be misfit outcast types in other settings. 312. Karrnathi skeletons and zombies are not disposable, mass-produced cannon fodder. They are more powerful and better equiped than most warriors in Eberron, and are more than a match for a standard "fighter 2" warforged. 313. If you're a high-level artificer, be aware that trying to build your own custom eldritch machine is basically giving the DM a carte blanche to do whatever he wants to you in a nebulous zone completely outside any written rules. This could be fun if you have a fun DM. Or not. 314. Calm down and check the errata before you get too excited about the Weretouched Master or the Heir of Syberis with a Syberis Mark of Making. 315. Towns and cities are not safe areas which provide a respite from the adventure which is happening outside in the countryside or in dungeons. They're part of the adventure. 316. Whether core subraces exist in Eberron is disputable. Regardless, if they do exist, they almost certainly don't map neatly onto national identities. 317. If you're saving up, deposit your cash in a Kundarak account occassionally, to keep things safer and reduce the weight a bit. 318. Lightning rail trips are rarely as peaceful for PCs as they are for ordinary people. Be prepared. 319. Go ahead and come up with crazy ideas. Develop your own conspiracy theories about the Mourning. Make up your own religious ideas. Create your own conspiracies. Scheme to do the impossible: restore the Thranish monarchy, take over House Sivis, destroy the Children of Winter, or whatever. Go ahead and dream crazy dreams: after all, it gives the quori indigestion. 320. Psionics goes well with Eberron. You don't have to know psionics to play or anything, but reading the Expanded Psionics Handbook, or, if you don't have that, OGL psionics material will probably be rewarding.
Ryoden_Anariavas 02-28-07, 03:50 PM	320. Do whatever you can to be on the good side of all of the Dragonmarked houses. 321. However pick a few that you feel will be most usefull throughout your career. 322. Because at some point, regardless of how hard you try, you will do something that is favorable to one house and not favorable to another. 323. Also remember that no matter how favored in a house you are you can be double-crossed at any time. 324. Thats actualy very likely to happen.
SilvercatMoonpaw 02-28-07, 06:46 PM	325. If you're going to Xen'drick: IT'S A TRAP! (loved that thread) 326. Yes, the Riedrans really do thing the Inspired are better than them and that they got that way by being completly subserviant to other Inspired in a past life. 327. No, there is no mind control being used on them. 328. At least, none you'll find in a sourcebook. 329. The monsters have their own recognized nations, which you are not allowed to raid just because they are monsters. 330. Yes, the guy running Graywall is an illithid. No killing.
goblin_pride 03-02-07, 05:36 PM	331. The goblins living under Sharn are Brelish citizens, no killing.
DragoonDarkfire 03-02-07, 05:41 PM	332: Accept it. Unless you have a good reason too, you can't kill anything that's smart enough to talk and is protected by the code of Galifare. 333: Merrix d'Cannith is NOT Big Boss. 334: Even though he did fight in the last war. 335: And he was positioned in the Shadow Marches as a spy to save some information on a secret construct project called "Shajohaud" 336: And he lost an eye during a fight with his old mentor. 337: and he's cast Clone on himself... three times. 338: Merrix d'Cannith is not to be trusted. 339: In fact you might wanna kill him BEFORE Metal Gear...
JulesCARV 03-02-07, 06:54 PM	340. You can still kill dolgrims and dolgaunts with impunity, mostly. 341. Perhaps in some future setting you won't even be allowed to kill them, but in Eberron, you still can. 342. Don't worry too much about it: in a future setting where killing dolgrims and dolgaunts is unacceptable, there will be some new monster that it's okay to kill.
Kaizer_Ryu 03-02-07, 07:03 PM	343: (in regards to 339) But you still need a really good reason to do it 344: Evil people are not automatically excluded from your "friends" list 345: Good people are not automatically added to your "friends" list 346: Before you think you can outsmart anyone of higher intelligence, remember that there is a reason why they have higher intelligence 347: You cannot Bluff your way into anything absurd 348: Like being Pontiff Jaela's Tutor 349: Or anything else involving the jailbait leader of the Church of the Silver Flame 350: Stop asking 351: Seriouisly, what about this girl makes everyone want to do that? 352: Shifters are feral, not cute and cuddly 353: For the last time, NO CATGIRLS! 354: Shifters did not decend from Druids and strange fertility rites 355: Yes, the talking tree is smarter than you
SilvercatMoonpaw 03-02-07, 07:09 PM	354: Shifters did not decend from Druids and strange fertility rites 357: They descended from everyday people and normal fertility rites.
DragoonDarkfire 03-02-07, 07:29 PM	358: Olian is NOT the great Deku tree. 359: even though he COULD be used for a similar plot device. 360: Please note that Nintendo won't make a Legend of Zelda game based in the Eberron world. 361: UNLESS...
fiendish_platypus 03-02-07, 07:55 PM	359) you (or actually I) will not make a gnome blackguard that rides a half-fiend horrid dire magebred platypus 360) why not??? I have no clue 361) your super artificer may not run a shop called Pimp My Warforged that sells warforged components 362) your gnome character will not become an heir of siberys and hand out pieces of paper that say you're going to die (you can get in MAJOR trouble for that)
Kaizer_Ryu 03-02-07, 08:14 PM	365: Please note that while playing a multiclass Ranger/Bard is not against any rules, naming him Link will likely get you smote/smited/smitten/whatever the hell the right word is 366: Likewise for playing an Aristocrat/Cleric/Rogue and naming them Zelda 367: The Sahuagin are not the Zora 368: Rock golems are not the Gorons 369: Destroying foilage looking for money and items is a largely futile endeavor 370: It is usually bad form to set explosives near "suspicious looking" walls to see if a hidden chamber is behind it 371: While there may be Great Fairies, they are most likely not going to aid you just because you're there 372: They'll probably be pretty upset at the intrusion, actually 373: Though they'll likely be far less creepy than the ones in Ocarina of Time 374: The Hags of Sora Kell do have a passing resemblance to them, though 375: The Hags did not raise the only son born to a group of female thieves every 100 years to be an Uber Warlock 376: Unless the DM says so 377: If you are told that gathering magic relics to open a mystic door will lead to a Utopia, it's a trap 378: Probably set by the Daelkyr 379: Or the Lords of Dust 380: Or one or more of the Cults of the Dragon Below 381: Or the Inspired/Quori 382: Or the...you get the idea 383: Thankfully, attacking random Cuccos is not a death warrent 384: Just a misdemeanor 385: Attacking random people will not result in them simply recoiling and then acting as if nothing happened 386: It WILL, however, result in jail time 387: Even though Link doesn't need to rest/sleep, your characters do 388: Unless they're Warforged, Constructs, or any other non-Squishy 389: Having non-Squishy's call everyone else "meat bag" or some such name is frowned upon 390: No one's really gonna do anything about it, though 391: Unless you're in Thrane 392: Or just insulted someone important 393: Or insulted a spy 394: Ok, it's a really bad idea in general
fiendish_platypus 03-02-07, 08:34 PM	395) halflings are savage barbarians that beat people to near death then make them pay for healing 396) you may not make an anthropomorphic platypus, a gnome-platypus tauric, or any other attempt to make a gnome-platypus-fiend character 397) goblin bards are not allowed to sing songs that praise the daelkyr in the middle of sharn, no matter how tempting it is
Gorgon_Heap 03-04-07, 12:54 AM	398) Getting a tatoo of a dragonmark may be good for a bluff check in the country, but not at a House-sponsored gala. 399) Especially if it's the wrong House. 400) Blaming some organization with no presense in a community for a crime you committed is completely admissible. 401) Said organization will almost certainly have a presense in said community and will not like this. 402) Do not blame organizations with no presense in a community for your crimes. 403) Running a way is always a good plan.
Lancer2010 03-04-07, 05:45 PM	403) Running a way is always a good plan. 404) In fact, running away is often the best plan.
goblin_pride 03-04-07, 06:27 PM	404) In fact, running away is often the best plan. 405. And the only one that gives you a semi-reasonable chance of survival.
Eled_the_Worm_Tamer 03-04-07, 08:17 PM	406: Asking for 'Traveler's Cheques' at a Kundarak bank is asking for troble. 407: If you do get them don't spend them. 408: The more open freindly and likable some one is the less they should be trusted. 409: The Person you least suspect of anything is actualy a changling working for the bad guys.
rampant 03-04-07, 08:57 PM	410. The changeling working for the bad guys actually works for a bigger fish. 411. But really it works for aninterested fourth party.
Eled_the_Worm_Tamer 03-04-07, 09:11 PM	412: The Oddball regulars from the 2 incarnations of the Forgotten Freadom thread will almoast certanly take over any ebberon thread marked humor (and on that, Hi there guys ;) )
goblin_pride 03-06-07, 07:12 AM	412: The Oddball regulars from the 2 incarnations of the Forgotten Freadom thread will almoast certanly take over any ebberon thread marked humor (and on that, Hi there guys ;) ) 413. And strangely enough, they won't be the ones popping off the real gems on the list. Those will come completely out of left field from people you'd never expect humor from. (Re: Nived's 298 & 299)
yossarius 03-06-07, 09:54 AM	413. And strangely enough, they won't be the ones popping off the real gems on the list. Those will come completely out of left field from people you'd never expect humor from. (Re: 298 & 299) Why, thank you. One does what one can.
goblin_pride 03-06-07, 10:51 AM	Why, thank you. One does what one can. Umm, you were a tad off on your numbering, Nived posted 298 and 299 prior to you. My previous post has been edited to reflect this.
Lancer2010 03-07-07, 11:52 AM	414) The Mournlands is called that for a very good reason, it's scary, that's all you need to know. 415) Your best strategy in there is to run in, get what you're looking for, then run out. 416) Following the above tip does not make you any less of an adventurer. 417) Stop moping, it's not like your sword shrunk or anything. 418) For those who don't get the last two tips, I'll explain it to you when you're older.
yossarius 03-07-07, 03:42 PM	Umm, you were a tad off on your numbering, Nived posted 298 and 299 prior to you. My previous post has been edited to reflect this. Well, now. I don't feel stupid at all.
goblin_pride 03-07-07, 09:28 PM	Well, now. I don't feel stupid at all. Why would you feel stupid? I'm the one that didn't notice there were two sets of 298 and 299. It's not like they were right there in front of me when I was posting.
Ventifax 03-08-07, 01:09 AM	419. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to tell the flesh-eating monster summoned by cultists that you'll find other victims for it to eat, then run away "to fight another day." 420. I strongly recommend killing off or running off the actual cultists before this. 421. And by "fight another day" I mean find a dozen paladins of the Silver Flame to deal with it for you. Then you can loot the place afterward. 422. Yes, I really did this. Chaotic Neutral means not having to be brave.
UnderworldLord 03-08-07, 10:41 AM	423) No where in "Lawful Good' is there the word "brave". 424) Unless you're a paladin, but even then its not a strict requirement.
rampant 03-08-07, 01:01 PM	425. Nowhere in brave is the word stupid.
goblin_pride 03-08-07, 06:27 PM	425. Nowhere in brave is the word stupid. 426. brave and stupid can be synonymous if you're not careful.
DragoonDarkfire 03-08-07, 08:02 PM	427: If you're going to go down into a daelkyr's lair and fight it and someone says you're insane simply reply "DUUHHHHHHHHHH
Lancer2010 03-09-07, 10:06 AM	428. Remember, you don't need to outrun the horrible monster chasing you. 429. You just need to outrun the gnome in your party.
DragoonDarkfire 03-09-07, 10:28 AM	430: If you're after a known criminal then go to Dargunn or Droaam, that's most likely where they are.
Lancer2010 03-09-07, 10:52 AM	430: If you're after a known criminal then go to Dargunn or Droaam, that's most likely where they are. 431. Or Xen'drik. And while searching for them, hijinks will ensue. WARNING! Hijinks may not be of the good variety.
goblin_pride 03-09-07, 04:57 PM	430: If you're after a known criminal then go to Dargunn or Droaam, that's most likely where they are. Hey, I'm from Darguun. Watch comments like that or I'll have your sorry pink hide dragged before the courts for defamation of character, bub.
UnderworldLord 03-09-07, 07:40 PM	432: Just because he's wanted in Breland, doesn't mean Droaamite or Darguuni, or anyone else for that matter, will let you apprehend him. 433: Unless you're from one of the great Houses. In that case, go get 'em tiger. 434: But even in that case, you're authority may not be recognized. Expect you're not villainous plans to be thwarted, just like villainous plans.
DragoonDarkfire 03-09-07, 09:23 PM	Hey, I'm from Darguun. Watch comments like that or I'll have your sorry pink hide dragged before the courts for defamation of character, bub. You were kicked out of Sharn for selling illicit "Goblin Remedies" for the Black Death weren't you?
yossarius 03-09-07, 09:49 PM	435) There will eventually come a point when your character will have to betray something he/she believes in to advance the plot. Suck it up. 436) Try not to get to high and mighty about anything. After all, this whole continent actually belongs to the orcs and the goblin races anyway. Everybody else are trespassers. 437) Narrating your character's thoughts and actions like a Sam Spade book might not be worth extra XP with your DM, but it ought to be. 438) Any large criminal/corrupt organization you might be thinking about taking down is prepared for you puny intervention. 439) If they don't immediately squash you like a bug, it's either because they haven't noticed you yet, or you haven't impressed them enough to merit a response. 440) And that is the perfect time to unleash your real attack. 441) Let's hope it's a good one.
Lancer2010 03-09-07, 09:50 PM	You were kicked out of Sharn for selling illicit "Goblin Remedies" for the Black Death weren't you? Really? I heard it was for selling potions to help men with "difficulties"...
Kaizer_Ryu 03-09-07, 10:56 PM	Really? I heard it was for selling potions to help men with "difficulties"... Maybe that's the reason Boranel has so many illegitimate children? ;) It does help explain Prince (likely to be King soon enough) Steve. Steve: Kill him. Guard: Yes, lord. Messenger: *runs away* AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Steve: Uh-oh. Did I forget to tell them it was a joke? Ah well. Guard 2: *covered in soot* Sir, I'm here to report the Cyrean refugee camps near the capital have been reduced to ashes. Steve: Now why would you go and do a thing like that? Guard 2: But...but...you ordered me and my men to burn them to the ground! Steve: Oh, that was just a joke. Guard 2: :twitch: A joke...? :twitch: Steve: Oh, yes. Just a bit of royal humor.
Gorgon_Heap 03-09-07, 11:11 PM	And that is the perfect time to unleash your real attack. 442) "Real" attacks in Ebberon include leaking information that your enemy has evaded tax payments. 443) Etremely powerful magic in Ebberon is extremely hard to come by. 444) To attain powerful magics, search for Sora Kell. 445) When your mewling, insectiod-formed ghost goes in search of a cure for what Sora Kell did to you, refer to #443.
UnderworldLord 03-10-07, 10:15 AM	446: When all else fails, Dollurh isn't all that bad.
Lancer2010 03-13-07, 11:04 PM	447. Xoriat, however, is.
DragoonDarkfire 03-14-07, 06:39 PM	448: Sometimes you might as well betray the organization that you've affiliated with. The DM will probably turn it against you soon enough and this way you get something out of it. 449: Balors and Pit Feinds come from the same plane of existence. Despite how scary it sounds, the two could very well be allies.
Lancer2010 03-28-07, 01:34 PM	450. Invest in a Ring of Feather Fall. The biggest city in the main continent is all towers, and falling hurts. 451. Don't damage the elemental core in the airship. That equals fire and explosions, and the ship falling. 452. Take ranks in Diplomacy, and talk with the goblinoids, don't just kill em, that can start an international incident.
goblin_pride 03-28-07, 03:51 PM	452. Take ranks in Diplomacy, and talk with the goblinoids, don't just kill em, that can start an international incident. 453. Or a mugging, Sharn is a dangerous place and it's got alot of goblins.