Hombrew or Eberron

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

JARman712

Jul 05, 2014 18:13:30

One of my players wants a homebrew world, but I have no ideas for one and want to use Eberron, but have no hook for Eberron. I need advice for Eberron hooks and inspiration for homebrew worlds.

#2

Plaguescarred1

Jul 06, 2014 4:12:43

Here are some character hooks from the Eberron's Campaign Guide;

 

CHARACTER HOOKS

The advcnture begins as the characters approach
the ruined tower on the hillside. Use one or more or
the following hook to explain to the characters what
Ihey're doing there.

 


HOOK: SCOUTING THE TOWER
Your commanding officier ordered you to scout the tower on

the hillside. Its possible that the enemy is using it as a place

to store supplies or as good vantage point ovver the battle-

field. The officier didn't say anithing, but but something gave

you the feeling there might be more going on in the tower

than anyone's willing to admit.


You can me this hook for a soldier or spy on either
side of the conflict, including a mercenary.
   Minor Quest (level 1, 100 XP): Scout the tower
for signs of enemy activity.

 


HOOK: FINDING THE CAPTIVE

You have been ordered to free Lord Major Bren ir'Gadden,

a Brellish officer and noble man who was captured in a 

skirmish a few days ago. He's being held in the tower

on the hillside.

 

Thc Lord Majr has imporlant information about
Brellish operations in the region, so everyone involved
In the Last War would like to get their hands on him,
You can use this hook for spies from any nation, for
Brelish soldiers, or for welll-meaning adventurers
who's heen hired by ir'Cadden's family, (if the characte-
rs have been hired, they receive 120 gp as a quest
reward,)
It 's not a good idea to give Ihis quest to multiple
characler and ask them to bring ir'Caddell to diff-e
rent places. You don't want to create a situation
where the characters actively competing with one
another.
   Minor Quest (Ievel 1, 100 XP): Rescue Lord
Major Bren ir'Gadden and bring him to safety.

 


HOOK: INVESTIGATING THE PROPHECY
The ruined tower on the hillside is more than it appear.

The tower contains an element of the Draconic Prophecy,

and you've been sent to glean the secrets it hold.

 

You can use this hook ror any d dragonmarked character,
or adapt it for a variety of other situations. Agents
of the Chamber or the Lords of Dust could hire an
unwilling character to bring them a record of the
Mark of Prophecy in the tower, providing a specially
prepared d dragonshard for the purpose, The undy-
ing elders of Aerenal might give the same charge to
one of their elf descendants. A character who has a
personal interest in the Prophecy might also have
learned about the significance of lhe tower,
   Minor Quest (level 1, 100 XP): Find the Mark
of Prophecy in the tower.

 


HOOK: AGAINST THE EMERALD CLAW
Intelligence says that the Order of the Emerald Claw is up

to something near the battle on Saerun Road. They're sen-

ding three officers and a bunch of zombies up the hills. It's

job to find out what they're up to - and put a stop to it.


Agents of the Emerald Claw are on Iheir way to the
Tower of Scars, hoping to seize Ihe two captives and
take them away for their own nefarious purposes.
You call use Ihis hook for a member of any nation's
intelligence service (such as Ihe Royal Eyes of Aun·
dair or Breland's King's Dark Lanterns), A character
might have a longstanding grudge against the Emerald
Claw, or might have had a recent brush with these
agents.
   Minor Quest ( level 1 , 100 X P): Find oul what
the Emerald Claw agents are up to and stop them.

#3

Drewboy74

Jul 19, 2014 4:20:52

JARman712 wrote:
#4

Mephi1234

Jul 19, 2014 12:25:05

I find that its always best to start off with finding some kind of inspiration or story that you want to run first, then select the appropriate setting for that.    

 

For maps?   Its easy enough to look up, say, Fable or some other fantasy game, download a world map off there, and use that.

 

Steal lore as necessary from anywhere else to make your game run.   Could even be heavily drawn from Eberron, with touches from elsewhere, or even personalized sections.

 

#5

Ogiwan

Jul 20, 2014 9:17:27

I think, before you develop a hook, you need to figure out what sort of campaign your players want. I can come up with a hook for a conspiracy campaign inside of a minute, but other kinds of campaigns are tougher for me.

 

Find out what kind of campaign your players want, and introduce them to Eberron. Once we know what they want, and what their characters are, we can rock.

#6

Cennedi

Jul 21, 2014 14:57:33

JARman712 wrote:
#7

Errant

Jul 27, 2014 10:35:19

Cennedi wrote:
#8

Ogiwan

Jul 27, 2014 14:23:52

I'll bet you that Cennedi played DDO and hates Warforged (or something similarly trivial like that.)

 

But, to get back on topic, here are the advantages and disadvantages:

 

Eberron:

Advantages: 

1.) You have an established setting

2.) There is still room to be flexibile in interpritation.

3.) Political, social, and economical factors are familiar enough to modern-day folk to be readily understandable.

4.) Eberron rules.

5.) Pulp action resonates with a lot of people. Especially people who love Indiana Jones.

 

Disadvantages:

1.) Some people don't like Warforged.

2.) Some people don't like the Lightning Rail.

3.) Its an established setting, so some people hate on you for being unoriginal? I'm sorry, I'm stretching.

4.) There may be a lot to read in order to "do Eberron right"

 

Homebrew:

Advantages:

1.) You can make a setting specifically fitted to the campaign you are writing.

2.) You can do anything you want?

3.) Your players can exercise creative authority?

 

Disadvantages:

1.) Your ideas may be dumb (not an indictement; you don't have an editorial staff)

2.) The setting may not resonate with a wide variety of people.

3.) Aspects of the world may be underdeveloped.

4.) Player apathy.

5.) The DM (and maybe players) have to create everything, so possible writers block/fatigue.

 

Now, I will say right now that I am an Eberron player and DM who not only has all the Eberron game books, but has the bulk of Eberron novels as well. I'll admit to being biased. I just think that Eberron is a lot more compelling than many published settings, and most homebrews, that I have encountered.

(Reply to #8)

RustedKitsune

Ogiwan wrote:
(Reply to #8)

Cennedi

Ogiwan wrote: