Is Ebberon any good? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Is Ebberon any good? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Zelphi
07-08-04, 08:00 AM This must have been asked before, but my searches didn't seem to work very well.

What is the general opinion on Ebberon? Is it good? Bad or Ugly? How does it balance out, etc.

I was quite interested in this campaign setting, as it sounds similar to one I was writting (though completely different).

So really I'm just asking for opinions on how it's turned out.
sh0
07-08-04, 08:13 AM You may be asking a biased audience, but I think the general consensus on these boards is that Keith Baker did an excellent job in writing the ECS.

However, its not everyone's type of world and it may not fit your DM or playing style. If you consider Faerun an ideal world, Eberron is far from that, but to some of us, that is extremely refreshing.

sh0
smrtgmp
07-08-04, 08:40 AM I would recomend it.
Zelgadas
07-08-04, 08:44 AM As would I.
Pasquirlio
07-08-04, 09:04 AM ditto here
Mad Miso
07-08-04, 09:58 AM I'd say it's had an overwhelmingly positive response so far. It's not to some peoples tastes, but almost no one can fault it's quality. All the reviews I've seen have been very positive as well.

Personally, I like it a lot.
DwelleroftheDeep
07-08-04, 12:32 PM Getting an answer to that question here is like reading an ad for the campaighn setting, both will give you a positive opinion of the product, the ad because that is it's job, and this message board because it is visited primarily by those who already enjoy the book, personally I like it to.
ChronosCrow
07-08-04, 12:38 PM You're on the Eberron boards so more than likely you're going to find skewed info. from people that really like the game. For the most part I've seen a whole lot of great compliments to the Eberron game. For those that I do see that won't be using the world of Eberron they often say they'll a number of things out of the books because they like the ideas.

Heres why I like the game: Intrigue, great politics, a lush hisotry ripe with different ages, technology mixed with magic, pulp/noir feel, consipiracy consipriacy conspiracy and the plethra of mystries that are throughout the entire book.
Alac Luin
07-08-04, 12:55 PM I will be honest, I am more of a Realms fan.

At this moment I am working on aspects of Ebberon to be plundered and ported into the Realms, and their is quite alot.
(Compaired to the Dragonlance CS, I only found 2 PrCs and one or two feats that could even be aceptable).

Ebberon has a much different feel then any other setting.
The lightning rail, air ships, etc, etc.

I do like it. Will I run a game in it? I would, but it depends on my players.

It deffinitly is worth looking at (got mine from amazon at $27).
Its worth it!!

is it good? bad? or ugly?
Yes, to all 3:D
deganawida
07-08-04, 01:19 PM Well, if you know who Sean K. Reynolds is, and if you respect his work, he posted his review here (http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/opinions/review-eberron.html). I can't find a review from Monte Cook, but the user reviews on his board are very positive. ENWorld has featured at least one positive review of which I am aware, and most people over there seem to have a favorable opinion of it. Rich Burlew (http://www.giantitp.com/), who was one of the two other finalists in the campaign setting search, has had nothing but positive things to say about Eberron, and that's high praise indeed (especially with his tongue-in-cheek comparison of himself to Doctor Doom and Keith to Reed Richards). Anyway, these are all opinions and reviews from people who have posted their thoughts on other sites and boards, so if you are looking for objectivity (or at least a non-Ebbie review), these should bring you some comfort.

As for myself, I think that this is the best campaign setting that I have seen in a long time. I suppose, if one were to combine the excitement that I had with Planescape and Birthright (my previous two favorite settings), one would come close to my feelings about Eberron. About the only issues that I have with the book are the (relative) dearth of fluff regarding changelings and shifters, the lack of the Aundair Dragonhawk, and the lack of a good map. Yet all this is more than made up for by the excellent ideas, writing, design, and the best art ever in a D&D book (IMO, of course). I'd have gladly paid twice the cover price for the book, I feel that it is that good, and there aren't a lot of things that I'll say that about.
ENHenry
07-08-04, 02:00 PM You will like Eberron IF:

1) You like a setting with a strong attention to the logical effects of D&D 3.5 on a pre-industrial society.

2) You like a setting where alignment is not necessarily an indicator of action, and where monsters are not generally constrained to the alignment given for them in the Monster Manual.

3) You like a setting where divine magic is faith-powered more than god-powered, and where deities rarely if ever show direct intervention in mortal affairs.

4) You like the idea that the highest levelled NPC's are around 10th to 12th level.

5) You like a setting with a feel more similar to Doc Savage, The Shadow, and Indiana Jones than Elric, Elminster, or Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser.

If you are immediately repulsed by the above concepts, it MAY not be for you. But if the above intrgue you, then you may want to pick it up.

I highly recommend you read all of the preview articles on the Official Eberron Site, if you have not yet done so, because they are a good gauge of the world's feel.
Zelphi
07-09-04, 08:01 AM Hmmm... maybe I want to believe the hype, so I go and eat it...

That sentence doesn't need to make sense really.

It deffinately sounds of interest, it sounds like a world of constant adventure rather than occasional events like the realms.

I actually had a level 3 campaign once... but anyway...

How far are the base classes and races detracted from the standard set? Is there much to learn...
bare in mind I haven't fully gone through 3.5 and i'm not it's biggest fan.
Mad Miso
07-09-04, 09:44 AM Classes aren't a big issue. You have one new class, the Artificer, and some new options(through feats) for the old ones, and thats about it.

Races will take a little longer to get used to. There are 4 new races, and the standard races have a different spin on them. It still shouldn't be too hard to get used to, and you can always post questions here and get a quick response.
king_of_evil007
07-09-04, 03:45 PM I just bought it today and read maybe ten pages so far, but I'm definitely enjoying what I have read. I was always wondering why Forgotten Realms didn't have stuff like a rail system, with all the level 1000s and all that magic flying around...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zelphi 07-08-04, 08:00 AM	This must have been asked before, but my searches didn't seem to work very well. What is the general opinion on Ebberon? Is it good? Bad or Ugly? How does it balance out, etc. I was quite interested in this campaign setting, as it sounds similar to one I was writting (though completely different). So really I'm just asking for opinions on how it's turned out.
sh0 07-08-04, 08:13 AM	You may be asking a biased audience, but I think the general consensus on these boards is that Keith Baker did an excellent job in writing the ECS. However, its not everyone's type of world and it may not fit your DM or playing style. If you consider Faerun an ideal world, Eberron is far from that, but to some of us, that is extremely refreshing. sh0
smrtgmp 07-08-04, 08:40 AM	I would recomend it.
Zelgadas 07-08-04, 08:44 AM	As would I.
Pasquirlio 07-08-04, 09:04 AM	ditto here
Mad Miso 07-08-04, 09:58 AM	I'd say it's had an overwhelmingly positive response so far. It's not to some peoples tastes, but almost no one can fault it's quality. All the reviews I've seen have been very positive as well. Personally, I like it a lot.
DwelleroftheDeep 07-08-04, 12:32 PM	Getting an answer to that question here is like reading an ad for the campaighn setting, both will give you a positive opinion of the product, the ad because that is it's job, and this message board because it is visited primarily by those who already enjoy the book, personally I like it to.
ChronosCrow 07-08-04, 12:38 PM	You're on the Eberron boards so more than likely you're going to find skewed info. from people that really like the game. For the most part I've seen a whole lot of great compliments to the Eberron game. For those that I do see that won't be using the world of Eberron they often say they'll a number of things out of the books because they like the ideas. Heres why I like the game: Intrigue, great politics, a lush hisotry ripe with different ages, technology mixed with magic, pulp/noir feel, consipiracy consipriacy conspiracy and the plethra of mystries that are throughout the entire book.
Alac Luin 07-08-04, 12:55 PM	I will be honest, I am more of a Realms fan. At this moment I am working on aspects of Ebberon to be plundered and ported into the Realms, and their is quite alot. (Compaired to the Dragonlance CS, I only found 2 PrCs and one or two feats that could even be aceptable). Ebberon has a much different feel then any other setting. The lightning rail, air ships, etc, etc. I do like it. Will I run a game in it? I would, but it depends on my players. It deffinitly is worth looking at (got mine from amazon at $27). Its worth it!! is it good? bad? or ugly? Yes, to all 3:D
deganawida 07-08-04, 01:19 PM	Well, if you know who Sean K. Reynolds is, and if you respect his work, he posted his review here (http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/opinions/review-eberron.html). I can't find a review from Monte Cook, but the user reviews on his board are very positive. ENWorld has featured at least one positive review of which I am aware, and most people over there seem to have a favorable opinion of it. Rich Burlew (http://www.giantitp.com/), who was one of the two other finalists in the campaign setting search, has had nothing but positive things to say about Eberron, and that's high praise indeed (especially with his tongue-in-cheek comparison of himself to Doctor Doom and Keith to Reed Richards). Anyway, these are all opinions and reviews from people who have posted their thoughts on other sites and boards, so if you are looking for objectivity (or at least a non-Ebbie review), these should bring you some comfort. As for myself, I think that this is the best campaign setting that I have seen in a long time. I suppose, if one were to combine the excitement that I had with Planescape and Birthright (my previous two favorite settings), one would come close to my feelings about Eberron. About the only issues that I have with the book are the (relative) dearth of fluff regarding changelings and shifters, the lack of the Aundair Dragonhawk, and the lack of a good map. Yet all this is more than made up for by the excellent ideas, writing, design, and the best art ever in a D&D book (IMO, of course). I'd have gladly paid twice the cover price for the book, I feel that it is that good, and there aren't a lot of things that I'll say that about.
ENHenry 07-08-04, 02:00 PM	You will like Eberron IF: 1) You like a setting with a strong attention to the logical effects of D&D 3.5 on a pre-industrial society. 2) You like a setting where alignment is not necessarily an indicator of action, and where monsters are not generally constrained to the alignment given for them in the Monster Manual. 3) You like a setting where divine magic is faith-powered more than god-powered, and where deities rarely if ever show direct intervention in mortal affairs. 4) You like the idea that the highest levelled NPC's are around 10th to 12th level. 5) You like a setting with a feel more similar to Doc Savage, The Shadow, and Indiana Jones than Elric, Elminster, or Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser. If you are immediately repulsed by the above concepts, it MAY not be for you. But if the above intrgue you, then you may want to pick it up. I highly recommend you read all of the preview articles on the Official Eberron Site, if you have not yet done so, because they are a good gauge of the world's feel.
Zelphi 07-09-04, 08:01 AM	Hmmm... maybe I want to believe the hype, so I go and eat it... That sentence doesn't need to make sense really. It deffinately sounds of interest, it sounds like a world of constant adventure rather than occasional events like the realms. I actually had a level 3 campaign once... but anyway... How far are the base classes and races detracted from the standard set? Is there much to learn... bare in mind I haven't fully gone through 3.5 and i'm not it's biggest fan.
Mad Miso 07-09-04, 09:44 AM	Classes aren't a big issue. You have one new class, the Artificer, and some new options(through feats) for the old ones, and thats about it. Races will take a little longer to get used to. There are 4 new races, and the standard races have a different spin on them. It still shouldn't be too hard to get used to, and you can always post questions here and get a quick response.
king_of_evil007 07-09-04, 03:45 PM	I just bought it today and read maybe ten pages so far, but I'm definitely enjoying what I have read. I was always wondering why Forgotten Realms didn't have stuff like a rail system, with all the level 1000s and all that magic flying around...