Xendrik Expeditions at Origins [Archive] - Wizards Community

Xendrik Expeditions at Origins [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Vigabrand
04-12-06, 06:19 PM So I noticed that this is going to be run at Origins at the end of June, but it's the middle of April and there's not even a message board for it. Is this being discussed any where else?

Vig
Sieylianna
04-13-06, 07:27 AM So I noticed that this is going to be run at Origins at the end of June, but it's the middle of April and there's not even a message board for it. Is this being discussed any where else?

What is there to discuss? Other than the call for factionmasters and the Child of Vulkoor promo card, the RPGA has released absolutely no information on the upcoming campaign.

Since it's about two months to Origins and Gen Con is a month after that, I'm not optimistic about the RPGA even managing to get the announced modules ready on time since the factionmasters haven't been announced.

Ed
grahamdrew
04-13-06, 08:34 AM How long before the GenCon SoCal preview in 2004 did the RPGA start posting info about Mark of Heroes?

Andrew Beard
Frobi-Wan Kenobi
04-13-06, 10:16 AM 24th of November was when the first CS for MoH was out for download - a week and a day prior to the start GenCon SoCal 2004.
grahamdrew
04-13-06, 10:23 AM Did they have any info on the campaign prior to that? Announcements, "comming soon" features, etc?

I feel like they must have said something before they dropped the campaign standards in our laps.

Andrew Beard
Frobi-Wan Kenobi
04-13-06, 10:40 AM They'd announced it, everyone had gotten the first round of MoH cards in the mail already plus they had given out the promo cards too. I think that the FAQ for the campaign was out earlier that month but can't say for sure.
psgj
04-15-06, 01:18 AM According to the reward cards
Duration Dates (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=rpga/rewards/durations) web page, the next batch of D&D reward cards (which should be Xendrik related) should start arriving Mid-June, [2006] (Note there is a typo on the web page). Should arrive just in time for Origins, June 29 - July 2.

Patrick Jacobs
Ishorn
04-15-06, 06:16 PM I read the RPGA blurb in Aprils Dragon that there would be an announcement about D&D Open and the new Xen'drik campaign in Mays Dragons magazine. There is an announcement about the D&D Open but nothing about the Xen'drik campaign. Hopefully in Junes issues.
TimRat
04-18-06, 04:54 PM i can't speak for the new factionmasters but i am pretty sure they are already hard at work on the adventures for both origins and gencon. most of the gencon mods have to be turned in by late may/early june (its why i have to finish off a few of the ones i'm writing).
Herrbard
04-18-06, 08:34 PM Well, the call has gone out for judges for Origins, but without more info on what the campaigns are, it's sort of tough to commit to running something from Xen'drik.
TimRat
04-27-06, 04:53 PM not sure what you mean by having more information? its eberron and there are different factions that your character will belong to. now granted you dont know exactly what those factions are but the basics are there and its an eberron campaign.
Herrbard
04-28-06, 04:20 PM Well, let's see if I can be a little clearer. :)

I get it's Eberron, and with the title, I imagine it will feature a lot of adventures in Xen'drik. ;)
Four different factions: check. By looking at the Origins and GenCon info on the Horsemen site, I'm slowly piecing some things together. Here are my questions.

1. You can choose to play or judge in one or more factions, without interfering with the others?

2. These are multi-round events, over the course of the con? GenCon shows that one set of factions adventures will take three slots (an entire day) with the option of playing early or late on the schedule. If you tried to play all four factions, that would be your entire con?

3. I know no information has been released to the public on the factions yet. As a potential judge, how do you know which slots to sign up for, if something is going to be run as a series? (Especially for Origins, which has no info posted on what is what).

I've been judging MoH for a while, (GenCon, Winter Fantasy, local stuff, etc) but missed out on the start of the campaign. I have already signed up to judge it at Origins. I would love to get into Xen'drik at the beginning. I'd just like to know what I'm signing up for.

(Please ignore this if all that rambling makes no sense. I know I'll sign up for it anyway!) :D
pedr
04-28-06, 10:30 PM On Point 2, I think we can extrapolate something from the information we have from consupport.com regarding GenCon Indy.

All the 1st Faction adventures say: Play this adventure before playing Well of Woe and <second faction adventure>.

All the 3rd Faction adventures say: PLay this adventure after playing <first faction adventure> and Well of Woe.

So I am deducing that Well of Woe is common to all the factions, in some sense, and guessing that each player can only play it once, regardless of how many factions he has characters in.

Of course I might be wrong, but that's how I expect things will turn out.
Ishorn
04-29-06, 11:39 AM I really want to get excited about this but I keep asking myself will I get to play the character I create after Gen Con or will it sit in a folder along with my Mark of Heroes character that keeps increasing in level even though he doesn't adventure. This all looks good on the screen but will these adventures and further adventures be as available as say Living Greyhawk. I have limited time and funds. I want an Eberron campaign I can play in at a monthly RPGA games day at my local game store, library, or friends home. I do not want to hear that I need to go on Warhorn and find a con to play in this campaign.

Homer
TimRat
04-30-06, 08:57 PM Ok i can answer some questions now.

pretty much there are 4 factions like 'regions in LG'. they will continually come out with mods and DM's marks based around there faction. then there are CORE xendrik mods that are exactly what they say core where any faction can play in them. so a mixed group of factions could be interesting and good roleplaying if the factions have different agendas.

so the well of woe i think is going to be the main start point of the core line and i suppose the mods at gencon are going to be tied to it like you have said.

pretty much you can easily judge one faction and play in the others and not lose a thing other than that storyline of that faction that you judge. (its what i plan on doing)

as far as when they release the factions that i have no idea. i'll put the call in tomorrow about that and EMH 9
ShadeMoon64
05-01-06, 01:40 PM Do we have any information as to the diffences between the factions? Are they just four seperate groups or are there REAL choices to be made? (i.e. different goals, character type, alignments, race, etc.) This would be valuable info seeing as tickets go on sale for GenCon in less than 2 hours and we have no way of selecting a faction. :confused:
Lightblade
05-01-06, 08:37 PM What I did was I bought ticekts for the universal 3 slot event, and left spaces in my schedule for the individual factions.

I went to WF, so i have the Drow creation card. Assuming I don't get any other spiffy creation cards in the mail from the next rewards duration, i'll probably go with Cabal of Shadows. My MoH character is a Kalashtar Atavist, so i've already got my good guy base covered in Eberron.
Ishorn
05-02-06, 12:44 PM What I did was I bought ticekts for the universal 3 slot event, and left spaces in my schedule for the individual factions.

I went to WF, so i have the Drow creation card. Assuming I don't get any other spiffy creation cards in the mail from the next rewards duration, i'll probably go with Cabal of Shadows. My MoH character is a Kalashtar Atavist, so i've already got my good guy base covered in Eberron.

I am hoping that I do not get into a party of all drow. I also have the character creation card from WF. I am planing on being in the Cabal of Shadows too.
Sieylianna
05-02-06, 06:52 PM I am hoping that I do not get into a party of all drow. I also have the character creation card from WF. I am planing on being in the Cabal of Shadows too.

I expect at least 50% drow in the campaign just because you can't play them in any other campaign (the fact that it looks like they'll only have a level adjustment of 1 instead of 2 is another factor).

Ed
grahamdrew
05-02-06, 07:41 PM Maybe initially, but I think you'll see that die down as the campaign continues. I'm not seeing nearly as many hobgoblins or whisper gnomes in MoH as I used to.

Andrew Beard
Herrbard
05-02-06, 09:29 PM Maybe initially, but I think you'll see that die down as the campaign continues. I'm not seeing nearly as many hobgoblins or whisper gnomes in MoH as I used to.

Andrew Beard

Agreed. I've judged 21 tables of MoH, and I've only seen 1 hobgoblin, no whisper gnomes, and no dragonmarked characters. I expect to see lots of Drow initially, but they will die down once the novelty wears off.
URABAHN
05-02-06, 10:41 PM My wife and I are looking foward to playing Well of Woe at Gen Con in August. We have all the basic 3.5 books and the supplements for the Forgotten Realms. Are there any books we need to understand Xendrik Expeditions?
Lightblade
05-02-06, 11:52 PM None of the Forgotten Realms books will be of any use. I'd reccomend checking out the Eberron Campaign Setting, which is very good at conveying the setting.
Frobi-Wan Kenobi
05-03-06, 02:58 AM I've noticed that the number of Artificers has dropped as well - during my second and third MoH games I was at a table with 2 other artificers. Nowadays I'm finding tables of all warforged Fighter 4/ Barbarian 1/Warforged Jug 2 to 5 begging me to sit down.
Lightblade
05-03-06, 03:18 AM See, I still see plenty of Kalashtar. Maybe that's because psioics are really neat. (I'll confess to my Atavist having a level of Psion. Carrying around a ML 6 djore of Energy ray is really nice)
grahamdrew
05-03-06, 09:45 AM See, I still see plenty of Kalashtar. Maybe that's because psioics are really neat. (I'll confess to my Atavist having a level of Psion. Carrying around a ML 6 djore of Energy ray is really nice)

I think that's more of an artificial link between Kalashtar and psionics. If you anyone could play a psionic class I don't think we'd see nearly as many. If the psiforged card was introduced earlier in the campaign I think you'd see a similar effect.

Andrew Beard
TimRat
05-03-06, 04:14 PM Yes urahbahn like some others have said xendrik expeditions is not Forgotten Realms its Eberron. There is a new xendrik core book coming out in the next month or so that will be very good to have plus of course the eberron campaign sourcebook.
URABAHN
05-03-06, 06:54 PM So, the Eberron and Xen'drik book are the ones to get. Player's guide worth having? What about the EPH as recommended by WotC on the Eberron page?
smerwin29
05-03-06, 07:13 PM So, the Eberron and Xen'drik book are the ones to get. Player's guide worth having? What about the EPH as recommended by WotC on the Eberron page?

Assuming it is like MoH, XE is going to let you use just about any book WotC has published (that is 3.5 compatible). You are definitely going to want the PHB and DMG (obviously). If you want to make a character with Eberron flavor, the Eberron Campaign Sourcebook is a must have. If you want to get into the psionic stuff, the XPH (and possibly the Complete Psionic) would be nice. All of the Eberron books, such as Magic of Eberron, Races of Eberron, Sharn: City of Towers, etc., will most certainly be allowed in some way.

For most of the other books, you can either unlock elements (feats, spells, classes, races, etc.) through either campaign cards or through your campaign sheet--where you can unlock one element per level.

What's going to be nice, assuming that you play a different character for each faction, is that you can create four completely different characters and try out all sorts of cool concepts.

Shawn
The Dude
05-03-06, 07:29 PM The Player's Guide is neat if you want something to give you encyclopedia-like detailed information about Eberron's history, politics, races, or other miscellaneous subjects; however, the book isn't necessary at all (you get enough information to enjoy playing in Eberron with the ECS) and it has very little in the way of character options (although it does have a smattering of feats and magic items). Remember that you can only use options from the Player's Guide if you have them on your expansion list, so getting the Player's Guide for the feats right now isn't worth it if your expansion list is already full.

The Expanded Psionics Handbook is very cool if you are interested in playing a character with psionic powers or in taking feats or spells related to psionics. Although the spells in that book are unlimited, the non-psionic feats must be unlocked on your expansion list to use, so getting the book for that reason isn't worth it if your expansion list is already full. Psionic feats, classes, and other material can only be used if you have a campaign card unlocking those features. If you are really interested in playing a character with psionic abilities but don't have a campaign card to unlock them, look around for someone willing to give you / sell you such a card. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about the EPH.

IMHO, the best books on the optional materials list for character expansions are the Complete series, the Spell Compendium (if you are a spell-caster of any kind), and Races of Eberron. Of course, everyone has their favorites and for different reasons; I am sure other people will chime in with what books they think are most important. However, all you really need to have a good time are the core rulebooks and the ECS.
grahamdrew
05-03-06, 07:51 PM I would definitly wait on the psionics stuff until we find out if psionics are going to be allowed, and to what extent. I may have convinced SRM how broken psionics can be at Winter Fantasy... :embarrass

Andrew Beard
TimRat
05-04-06, 10:08 AM there are going to be some restrictions with psionics in this campaign but you can still play them. thats all i can say for now. its nothing real bad restricting though.
The Dude
05-04-06, 11:54 AM Wow, I didn't realize Xen'Drik was going to be that different. I am glad to hear that psionics will be available. I am looking forward to seeing more information; if it sounds good, maybe I will play a slot or two at GenCon (assuming its even possible to only play "a slot or two").
Lightblade
05-04-06, 01:30 PM Well, the suggested order is: Faction Adventure 1 (1 slot), Wheel of Woe (3 slots), Faction Adventure 2 (1 slot). So, playing just one slot is no problem. If you want to play another slot or two but don't want to commit to Well of Woe, you can play DM's Marks. (Each Xendrik DM's mark judge at GenCon has been asked to prep 2 adventures for the faction he choses to judge for).
Wavester
05-04-06, 02:38 PM There are 2 adventures for each faction, 2 DM's Mark for each faction (using generics run during same slot times as everything else), and the big 3 round Well of Woe special.

So basically 19 rounds of XE. Add to that a special onsite Xen'Drik Delve where you get to use your XE character in a MasterMaze and Mini setup and there is your entire show shot in the foot if you wanted to go that route. The Delve will not earn you character xp or gold but does have some really cool things you can earn during play (You can play it as many times as you want, each session is 20 mins for one generic). You will want to play (oh ya baby trust me).

Dave C
Somebody Nobody
The Dude
05-04-06, 06:11 PM Xen'Drik Expeditions is starting to sound pretty dang cool. Once the GenCon judging info goes up tomorrow, I will have to see if I can get in on one of those...
PatEllis15
05-07-06, 08:28 PM Help a newb out...

Delve: I can't find reference to it on hte Gen Con registration page. Is it in the exhibit hall, or in the RPGA hall? Can I sign up in advance?

DM's Mark: I thought (obviously wrongly!) that a DM's mark was an opportunity for budding XE DM's to play in events that they were to run later on... Obviously not! Help me understand what these are...

How much lead time do you think we are going to get for character creation via the faction descriptions?!

Pat E
smerwin29
05-07-06, 09:14 PM The Xen'drik Expedition Delve is happening in (or just outside of) the RPGA hall. I do not think you sign up for this event, since it only runs for 20 minutes. Basically, you have 20 minutes to see how far you can get, and then you are done. You can supposedly play it over and over again though.

The DM's Mark is the chance for any DM to write their own adventure based on some very loose directions, as opposed to them running a completed adventure directly from the RPGA. If you were running a DM's Mark, you would get a file from the RPGA possibly giving you some suggested encounters and the rewards to work into the adventure. The rest is up to you.

In terms of time to create characters for XE, I assume you are asking when the character creation guidelines will be released. I wouldn't expect them before mid-June. If you mean will you have time to create a character at your GenCon table before play starts, I think most people are relatively understanding and would give you a few minutes to create a character, and they would probably even help you. Of course, it's always best to get to the table knowing as much as possible about what you are doing.

I hope this helps.

Shawn
TimRat
05-09-06, 06:31 PM To add on to what the great merwin wrote.

the 20 minute xendrik thing will be in the rpga hall and you dont have to sign up at all. pretty much if you have a lot of free time you can play then go back to the end of the line and play again when you get up to it. there of course will be rewards for doing this too. oh and your character can die and its ok no harm done as its just for fun and getting introduced to eberron and the new campaign.

The new campaign guidelines to make characters will be out in mid june i would think since some of the adventures are going to be at Origins which is at the end of june.
URABAHN
05-09-06, 11:00 PM 20 minutes? Wow, my wife and I are signed up for the all day event on Saturday, the Well of Woe. We'll purchase the Eberron Campaign Setting and Secrets of Xen'drik when that comes out to prepare ourselves! Anyone ever done an all day RPGA event, 10 hours or so?
psgj
05-10-06, 09:39 AM Is the Well of Woe a con special or will it be available for home play?

psgj
Wavester
05-10-06, 11:01 AM Cannot answer the home release question but as the the length question it is 3 rounds. Which means it will run in three 4 to 4 1/2 chunks with some breaks for food and such things. It will take all day (8am to 11PM) to run.
Mind Flayer Monk
05-11-06, 04:55 AM So, the Eberron and Xen'drik book are the ones to get. Player's guide worth having? What about the EPH as recommended by WotC on the Eberron page?

I would suggest actually starting with one of the novels (Sharn: City of Towers, or the Binding Stone maybe) and getting a feel for the environment and then getting the Eberron Campaign Setting after that. The novels will give you a feel for how the Eberron RPGA campaigns and also let you know if you like the setting, Plus $7 is less than $40.
Mind Flayer Monk
05-11-06, 04:59 AM maybe I will play a slot or two at GenCon (assuming its even possible to only play "a slot or two").

I hear that. If you go to SoCal Gencon you can get all the slots you want-much much easier to get game than Indy.
Smilinggm
05-13-06, 11:14 AM 20 minutes? Wow, my wife and I are signed up for the all day event on Saturday, the Well of Woe. We'll purchase the Eberron Campaign Setting and Secrets of Xen'drik when that comes out to prepare ourselves! Anyone ever done an all day RPGA event, 10 hours or so?

Yes! Several Times in fact. I have been in a couple multi round events that took all day . I have played in Several BI (Battle Interactives) that took 8-12 hours. So a 10 hour event is not that uncommon.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Vigabrand 04-12-06, 06:19 PM	So I noticed that this is going to be run at Origins at the end of June, but it's the middle of April and there's not even a message board for it. Is this being discussed any where else? Vig
Sieylianna 04-13-06, 07:27 AM	So I noticed that this is going to be run at Origins at the end of June, but it's the middle of April and there's not even a message board for it. Is this being discussed any where else? What is there to discuss? Other than the call for factionmasters and the Child of Vulkoor promo card, the RPGA has released absolutely no information on the upcoming campaign. Since it's about two months to Origins and Gen Con is a month after that, I'm not optimistic about the RPGA even managing to get the announced modules ready on time since the factionmasters haven't been announced. Ed
grahamdrew 04-13-06, 08:34 AM	How long before the GenCon SoCal preview in 2004 did the RPGA start posting info about Mark of Heroes? Andrew Beard
Frobi-Wan Kenobi 04-13-06, 10:16 AM	24th of November was when the first CS for MoH was out for download - a week and a day prior to the start GenCon SoCal 2004.
grahamdrew 04-13-06, 10:23 AM	Did they have any info on the campaign prior to that? Announcements, "comming soon" features, etc? I feel like they must have said something before they dropped the campaign standards in our laps. Andrew Beard
Frobi-Wan Kenobi 04-13-06, 10:40 AM	They'd announced it, everyone had gotten the first round of MoH cards in the mail already plus they had given out the promo cards too. I think that the FAQ for the campaign was out earlier that month but can't say for sure.
psgj 04-15-06, 01:18 AM	According to the reward cards Duration Dates (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=rpga/rewards/durations) web page, the next batch of D&D reward cards (which should be Xendrik related) should start arriving Mid-June, [2006] (Note there is a typo on the web page). Should arrive just in time for Origins, June 29 - July 2. Patrick Jacobs
Ishorn 04-15-06, 06:16 PM	I read the RPGA blurb in Aprils Dragon that there would be an announcement about D&D Open and the new Xen'drik campaign in Mays Dragons magazine. There is an announcement about the D&D Open but nothing about the Xen'drik campaign. Hopefully in Junes issues.
TimRat 04-18-06, 04:54 PM	i can't speak for the new factionmasters but i am pretty sure they are already hard at work on the adventures for both origins and gencon. most of the gencon mods have to be turned in by late may/early june (its why i have to finish off a few of the ones i'm writing).
Herrbard 04-18-06, 08:34 PM	Well, the call has gone out for judges for Origins, but without more info on what the campaigns are, it's sort of tough to commit to running something from Xen'drik.
TimRat 04-27-06, 04:53 PM	not sure what you mean by having more information? its eberron and there are different factions that your character will belong to. now granted you dont know exactly what those factions are but the basics are there and its an eberron campaign.
Herrbard 04-28-06, 04:20 PM	Well, let's see if I can be a little clearer. :) I get it's Eberron, and with the title, I imagine it will feature a lot of adventures in Xen'drik. ;) Four different factions: check. By looking at the Origins and GenCon info on the Horsemen site, I'm slowly piecing some things together. Here are my questions. 1. You can choose to play or judge in one or more factions, without interfering with the others? 2. These are multi-round events, over the course of the con? GenCon shows that one set of factions adventures will take three slots (an entire day) with the option of playing early or late on the schedule. If you tried to play all four factions, that would be your entire con? 3. I know no information has been released to the public on the factions yet. As a potential judge, how do you know which slots to sign up for, if something is going to be run as a series? (Especially for Origins, which has no info posted on what is what). I've been judging MoH for a while, (GenCon, Winter Fantasy, local stuff, etc) but missed out on the start of the campaign. I have already signed up to judge it at Origins. I would love to get into Xen'drik at the beginning. I'd just like to know what I'm signing up for. (Please ignore this if all that rambling makes no sense. I know I'll sign up for it anyway!) :D
pedr 04-28-06, 10:30 PM	On Point 2, I think we can extrapolate something from the information we have from consupport.com regarding GenCon Indy. All the 1st Faction adventures say: Play this adventure before playing Well of Woe and <second faction adventure>. All the 3rd Faction adventures say: PLay this adventure after playing <first faction adventure> and Well of Woe. So I am deducing that Well of Woe is common to all the factions, in some sense, and guessing that each player can only play it once, regardless of how many factions he has characters in. Of course I might be wrong, but that's how I expect things will turn out.
Ishorn 04-29-06, 11:39 AM	I really want to get excited about this but I keep asking myself will I get to play the character I create after Gen Con or will it sit in a folder along with my Mark of Heroes character that keeps increasing in level even though he doesn't adventure. This all looks good on the screen but will these adventures and further adventures be as available as say Living Greyhawk. I have limited time and funds. I want an Eberron campaign I can play in at a monthly RPGA games day at my local game store, library, or friends home. I do not want to hear that I need to go on Warhorn and find a con to play in this campaign. Homer
TimRat 04-30-06, 08:57 PM	Ok i can answer some questions now. pretty much there are 4 factions like 'regions in LG'. they will continually come out with mods and DM's marks based around there faction. then there are CORE xendrik mods that are exactly what they say core where any faction can play in them. so a mixed group of factions could be interesting and good roleplaying if the factions have different agendas. so the well of woe i think is going to be the main start point of the core line and i suppose the mods at gencon are going to be tied to it like you have said. pretty much you can easily judge one faction and play in the others and not lose a thing other than that storyline of that faction that you judge. (its what i plan on doing) as far as when they release the factions that i have no idea. i'll put the call in tomorrow about that and EMH 9
ShadeMoon64 05-01-06, 01:40 PM	Do we have any information as to the diffences between the factions? Are they just four seperate groups or are there REAL choices to be made? (i.e. different goals, character type, alignments, race, etc.) This would be valuable info seeing as tickets go on sale for GenCon in less than 2 hours and we have no way of selecting a faction. :confused:
Lightblade 05-01-06, 08:37 PM	What I did was I bought ticekts for the universal 3 slot event, and left spaces in my schedule for the individual factions. I went to WF, so i have the Drow creation card. Assuming I don't get any other spiffy creation cards in the mail from the next rewards duration, i'll probably go with Cabal of Shadows. My MoH character is a Kalashtar Atavist, so i've already got my good guy base covered in Eberron.
Ishorn 05-02-06, 12:44 PM	What I did was I bought ticekts for the universal 3 slot event, and left spaces in my schedule for the individual factions. I went to WF, so i have the Drow creation card. Assuming I don't get any other spiffy creation cards in the mail from the next rewards duration, i'll probably go with Cabal of Shadows. My MoH character is a Kalashtar Atavist, so i've already got my good guy base covered in Eberron. I am hoping that I do not get into a party of all drow. I also have the character creation card from WF. I am planing on being in the Cabal of Shadows too.
Sieylianna 05-02-06, 06:52 PM	I am hoping that I do not get into a party of all drow. I also have the character creation card from WF. I am planing on being in the Cabal of Shadows too. I expect at least 50% drow in the campaign just because you can't play them in any other campaign (the fact that it looks like they'll only have a level adjustment of 1 instead of 2 is another factor). Ed
grahamdrew 05-02-06, 07:41 PM	Maybe initially, but I think you'll see that die down as the campaign continues. I'm not seeing nearly as many hobgoblins or whisper gnomes in MoH as I used to. Andrew Beard
Herrbard 05-02-06, 09:29 PM	Maybe initially, but I think you'll see that die down as the campaign continues. I'm not seeing nearly as many hobgoblins or whisper gnomes in MoH as I used to. Andrew Beard Agreed. I've judged 21 tables of MoH, and I've only seen 1 hobgoblin, no whisper gnomes, and no dragonmarked characters. I expect to see lots of Drow initially, but they will die down once the novelty wears off.
URABAHN 05-02-06, 10:41 PM	My wife and I are looking foward to playing Well of Woe at Gen Con in August. We have all the basic 3.5 books and the supplements for the Forgotten Realms. Are there any books we need to understand Xendrik Expeditions?
Lightblade 05-02-06, 11:52 PM	None of the Forgotten Realms books will be of any use. I'd reccomend checking out the Eberron Campaign Setting, which is very good at conveying the setting.
Frobi-Wan Kenobi 05-03-06, 02:58 AM	I've noticed that the number of Artificers has dropped as well - during my second and third MoH games I was at a table with 2 other artificers. Nowadays I'm finding tables of all warforged Fighter 4/ Barbarian 1/Warforged Jug 2 to 5 begging me to sit down.
Lightblade 05-03-06, 03:18 AM	See, I still see plenty of Kalashtar. Maybe that's because psioics are really neat. (I'll confess to my Atavist having a level of Psion. Carrying around a ML 6 djore of Energy ray is really nice)
grahamdrew 05-03-06, 09:45 AM	See, I still see plenty of Kalashtar. Maybe that's because psioics are really neat. (I'll confess to my Atavist having a level of Psion. Carrying around a ML 6 djore of Energy ray is really nice) I think that's more of an artificial link between Kalashtar and psionics. If you anyone could play a psionic class I don't think we'd see nearly as many. If the psiforged card was introduced earlier in the campaign I think you'd see a similar effect. Andrew Beard
TimRat 05-03-06, 04:14 PM	Yes urahbahn like some others have said xendrik expeditions is not Forgotten Realms its Eberron. There is a new xendrik core book coming out in the next month or so that will be very good to have plus of course the eberron campaign sourcebook.
URABAHN 05-03-06, 06:54 PM	So, the Eberron and Xen'drik book are the ones to get. Player's guide worth having? What about the EPH as recommended by WotC on the Eberron page?
smerwin29 05-03-06, 07:13 PM	So, the Eberron and Xen'drik book are the ones to get. Player's guide worth having? What about the EPH as recommended by WotC on the Eberron page? Assuming it is like MoH, XE is going to let you use just about any book WotC has published (that is 3.5 compatible). You are definitely going to want the PHB and DMG (obviously). If you want to make a character with Eberron flavor, the Eberron Campaign Sourcebook is a must have. If you want to get into the psionic stuff, the XPH (and possibly the Complete Psionic) would be nice. All of the Eberron books, such as Magic of Eberron, Races of Eberron, Sharn: City of Towers, etc., will most certainly be allowed in some way. For most of the other books, you can either unlock elements (feats, spells, classes, races, etc.) through either campaign cards or through your campaign sheet--where you can unlock one element per level. What's going to be nice, assuming that you play a different character for each faction, is that you can create four completely different characters and try out all sorts of cool concepts. Shawn
The Dude 05-03-06, 07:29 PM	The Player's Guide is neat if you want something to give you encyclopedia-like detailed information about Eberron's history, politics, races, or other miscellaneous subjects; however, the book isn't necessary at all (you get enough information to enjoy playing in Eberron with the ECS) and it has very little in the way of character options (although it does have a smattering of feats and magic items). Remember that you can only use options from the Player's Guide if you have them on your expansion list, so getting the Player's Guide for the feats right now isn't worth it if your expansion list is already full. The Expanded Psionics Handbook is very cool if you are interested in playing a character with psionic powers or in taking feats or spells related to psionics. Although the spells in that book are unlimited, the non-psionic feats must be unlocked on your expansion list to use, so getting the book for that reason isn't worth it if your expansion list is already full. Psionic feats, classes, and other material can only be used if you have a campaign card unlocking those features. If you are really interested in playing a character with psionic abilities but don't have a campaign card to unlock them, look around for someone willing to give you / sell you such a card. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about the EPH. IMHO, the best books on the optional materials list for character expansions are the Complete series, the Spell Compendium (if you are a spell-caster of any kind), and Races of Eberron. Of course, everyone has their favorites and for different reasons; I am sure other people will chime in with what books they think are most important. However, all you really need to have a good time are the core rulebooks and the ECS.
grahamdrew 05-03-06, 07:51 PM	I would definitly wait on the psionics stuff until we find out if psionics are going to be allowed, and to what extent. I may have convinced SRM how broken psionics can be at Winter Fantasy... :embarrass Andrew Beard
TimRat 05-04-06, 10:08 AM	there are going to be some restrictions with psionics in this campaign but you can still play them. thats all i can say for now. its nothing real bad restricting though.
The Dude 05-04-06, 11:54 AM	Wow, I didn't realize Xen'Drik was going to be that different. I am glad to hear that psionics will be available. I am looking forward to seeing more information; if it sounds good, maybe I will play a slot or two at GenCon (assuming its even possible to only play "a slot or two").
Lightblade 05-04-06, 01:30 PM	Well, the suggested order is: Faction Adventure 1 (1 slot), Wheel of Woe (3 slots), Faction Adventure 2 (1 slot). So, playing just one slot is no problem. If you want to play another slot or two but don't want to commit to Well of Woe, you can play DM's Marks. (Each Xendrik DM's mark judge at GenCon has been asked to prep 2 adventures for the faction he choses to judge for).
Wavester 05-04-06, 02:38 PM	There are 2 adventures for each faction, 2 DM's Mark for each faction (using generics run during same slot times as everything else), and the big 3 round Well of Woe special. So basically 19 rounds of XE. Add to that a special onsite Xen'Drik Delve where you get to use your XE character in a MasterMaze and Mini setup and there is your entire show shot in the foot if you wanted to go that route. The Delve will not earn you character xp or gold but does have some really cool things you can earn during play (You can play it as many times as you want, each session is 20 mins for one generic). You will want to play (oh ya baby trust me). Dave C Somebody Nobody
The Dude 05-04-06, 06:11 PM	Xen'Drik Expeditions is starting to sound pretty dang cool. Once the GenCon judging info goes up tomorrow, I will have to see if I can get in on one of those...
PatEllis15 05-07-06, 08:28 PM	Help a newb out... Delve: I can't find reference to it on hte Gen Con registration page. Is it in the exhibit hall, or in the RPGA hall? Can I sign up in advance? DM's Mark: I thought (obviously wrongly!) that a DM's mark was an opportunity for budding XE DM's to play in events that they were to run later on... Obviously not! Help me understand what these are... How much lead time do you think we are going to get for character creation via the faction descriptions?! Pat E
smerwin29 05-07-06, 09:14 PM	The Xen'drik Expedition Delve is happening in (or just outside of) the RPGA hall. I do not think you sign up for this event, since it only runs for 20 minutes. Basically, you have 20 minutes to see how far you can get, and then you are done. You can supposedly play it over and over again though. The DM's Mark is the chance for any DM to write their own adventure based on some very loose directions, as opposed to them running a completed adventure directly from the RPGA. If you were running a DM's Mark, you would get a file from the RPGA possibly giving you some suggested encounters and the rewards to work into the adventure. The rest is up to you. In terms of time to create characters for XE, I assume you are asking when the character creation guidelines will be released. I wouldn't expect them before mid-June. If you mean will you have time to create a character at your GenCon table before play starts, I think most people are relatively understanding and would give you a few minutes to create a character, and they would probably even help you. Of course, it's always best to get to the table knowing as much as possible about what you are doing. I hope this helps. Shawn
TimRat 05-09-06, 06:31 PM	To add on to what the great merwin wrote. the 20 minute xendrik thing will be in the rpga hall and you dont have to sign up at all. pretty much if you have a lot of free time you can play then go back to the end of the line and play again when you get up to it. there of course will be rewards for doing this too. oh and your character can die and its ok no harm done as its just for fun and getting introduced to eberron and the new campaign. The new campaign guidelines to make characters will be out in mid june i would think since some of the adventures are going to be at Origins which is at the end of june.
URABAHN 05-09-06, 11:00 PM	20 minutes? Wow, my wife and I are signed up for the all day event on Saturday, the Well of Woe. We'll purchase the Eberron Campaign Setting and Secrets of Xen'drik when that comes out to prepare ourselves! Anyone ever done an all day RPGA event, 10 hours or so?
psgj 05-10-06, 09:39 AM	Is the Well of Woe a con special or will it be available for home play? psgj
Wavester 05-10-06, 11:01 AM	Cannot answer the home release question but as the the length question it is 3 rounds. Which means it will run in three 4 to 4 1/2 chunks with some breaks for food and such things. It will take all day (8am to 11PM) to run.
Mind Flayer Monk 05-11-06, 04:55 AM	So, the Eberron and Xen'drik book are the ones to get. Player's guide worth having? What about the EPH as recommended by WotC on the Eberron page? I would suggest actually starting with one of the novels (Sharn: City of Towers, or the Binding Stone maybe) and getting a feel for the environment and then getting the Eberron Campaign Setting after that. The novels will give you a feel for how the Eberron RPGA campaigns and also let you know if you like the setting, Plus $7 is less than $40.
Mind Flayer Monk 05-11-06, 04:59 AM	maybe I will play a slot or two at GenCon (assuming its even possible to only play "a slot or two"). I hear that. If you go to SoCal Gencon you can get all the slots you want-much much easier to get game than Indy.
Smilinggm 05-13-06, 11:14 AM	20 minutes? Wow, my wife and I are signed up for the all day event on Saturday, the Well of Woe. We'll purchase the Eberron Campaign Setting and Secrets of Xen'drik when that comes out to prepare ourselves! Anyone ever done an all day RPGA event, 10 hours or so? Yes! Several Times in fact. I have been in a couple multi round events that took all day . I have played in Several BI (Battle Interactives) that took 8-12 hours. So a 10 hour event is not that uncommon.