I do think we'll see a reconfiguration, but only minor changes. I'm confident the 13 planes will remain unchanged, though maybe some of the inhabitants will be shifted around.
For example, since archons don't exist in 4E, we'll probably see Shavarath as a battleground between demons, devils and angels now instead.
The Etheral and Shadow planes will probably be removed, too.
For example, since archons don't exist in 4E, we'll probably see Shavarath as a battleground between demons, devils and angels now instead.
The old "furry angel" type Archons are gone, but a different type of Archon remains. They're probably an even better fit for the theme of Shavarath than the old school Archons were. :fight!:
The Etheral and Shadow planes will probably be removed, too.
No great loss, they existed only for the sake of certain 3E spell effects.
Syrania may also end up a little different, since angels aren't always good anymore. It'll either be the home of angels, good and bad, or the plane of peace and air with different people flying around. Personally, I think Syrania could use some diversifying and, well, any fleshing out beyond that one paragraph would be nice.
Net result: impact of 4E mechanics on Eberron pantheon is negligible.
Hmm - I see the question was actually about planes rather than religion. In many ways, planes like Thelanis fit the 4E model better than the 3E model; one could rename the Feywild as Thelanis with little difference.
Some of the more hostile planes present more interesting challenges, since a 4E goal was to make planes actually viable places to adventure rather than "you visit; take umpteen d6 elemental damage every round until you die". However, the idea of planar travel is there in 3E. In contrast, Eberron doesn't seem very planeswalker-friendly; it seems to assume most interesting action is on Eberron, or Khyber.
Some of the more hostile planes present more interesting challenges, since a 4E goal was to make planes actually viable places to adventure rather than "you visit; take umpteen d6 elemental damage every round until you die". However, the idea of planar travel is there in 3E. In contrast, Eberron doesn't seem very planeswalker-friendly; it seems to assume most interesting action is on Eberron, or Khyber.
I disagree, I think the planeswalker-friendly aspect of the 4E cosmology grew out Eberron's planes.
Non of Eberron's planes provide a constant environmental danger, unlike those of Planescape. Instead of the Positive Energy Planes (you die if you go there), we have Irian, a hospitable plane of light and life. Instead of the Negative Energy Plane (you die if you go there), we have Mabar, a plane of darkness and undeath.
The trend continues - Fernia and Risia aren't nearly as dangerous as the Inner Planes. There is no continuing fire or cold damage on either. The latter is only 0oF!
Then you have the idea of orbiting planes, which means you can travel to another world while it's coterminous (or otherwise through a manifest zone) without using planeshift magic.
If anything, Eberron's planes are the most accessible of any campaign setting at any level.
Angels will have to be a bit changed from "core" 4E. They're normally the messengers and henchmen of the gods, but since Eberron's gods don't meddle to the point it's arguable they even exist, the angels will need something else to rally around / command them.
I don't think they'll need to change a lot. They can still be servants of the gods. Just like many earthly priests are messengers of the gods they believe in. They just won't have direct communication with any gods. Angels can figure out "the will of the gods" from omens and scripture and what the elder angels tell them. For example, according to an angel of Balinor, the birth of a pure white velociraptor in Talenta is a direct message from Balinor.
The only big change might be losing the mercenary aspect. Instead of performing miracles in exchange for kudos from their gods, perhaps angels perform miracles in order to "feed" on the good vibes from other believers (and what with mortals being so numerous).
I don't think they'll need to change a lot. They can still be servants of the gods. Just like many earthly priests are messengers of the gods they believe in. They just won't have direct communication with any gods. Angels can figure out "the will of the gods" from omens and scripture and what the elder angels tell them. For example, according to an angel of Balinor, the birth of a pure white velociraptor in Talenta is a direct message from Balinor.
The only big change might be losing the mercenary aspect. Instead of performing miracles in exchange for kudos from their gods, perhaps angels perform miracles in order to "feed" on the good vibes from other believers (and what with mortals being so numerous).
Makes perfect sense to me.
I linked the new cosmology with the 3 dragons
Shadowfell=Khyber
Feywild=Eberron
Elemental Chaos=Siberys
Theses plans orbit Eberron
The Astral Sea is the space between
I do have more detail if you want to know more.
Shadowfell replaces Plane of Shadows.
Feywild replaces Ethereal.
Elemental Chaos lies beneath everything.
The Astral Sea replaces the Astral Plane.
The 13 planes are replaced by 12 Dominions plus the Far Realm (Xoriat); this means the Domains can be reached by not only Astral travel (sailing?) but (usually) by coterminous portals. Some of the planes (dominions) may change, such as Thelanis and Dolurrh, but they aren't lost seeing as they're now covered by the Feywild and Shadowfell so I will have to come up with new identities for those planes. Obviously the Nine Hells and other defined Domains are what I will incorporate first (Dolurrh = Nine Hells) but I'm not so beholden to the others (such as Daanvi or Fernia) not to change them to suit the new "make the planes fun for adventure" philosophy.
I was also going to copy the world of Eberron 3 time, each one would represent one of the planes: Feywild, Shadowfell, and Elemental Chaos. Also give them an orbit around the material plane of Eberron. In so many "X" years, one would completely align/merge with Eberron causing a big change. Even when they are not merged the power of the planes will still be stronge. The essence of each plane will trace a path of their orbit. Black cloudy ring for the Shadowfell, Green(maybe) cloudy ring for Feywild, and a ever changing color cloudy ring for Elemental Chaos. But i'm still working on it.
I don't think they'll need to change a lot. They can still be servants of the gods. Just like many earthly priests are messengers of the gods they believe in. They just won't have direct communication with any gods. Angels can figure out "the will of the gods" from omens and scripture and what the elder angels tell them. For example, according to an angel of Balinor, the birth of a pure white velociraptor in Talenta is a direct message from Balinor.
The only big change might be losing the mercenary aspect. Instead of performing miracles in exchange for kudos from their gods, perhaps angels perform miracles in order to "feed" on the good vibes from other believers (and what with mortals being so numerous).
Exactly. While angels in other settings are the messengers of the gods, and obviously the existence of the gods (especially the SH and D6) is a matter of opinion, that doesn't rule out that the angels in Eberron still believe that they are the messengers of the gods. That even fits what Keith's been saying about faithful outsiders answering the more powerful divinations spells.
This shift in standard cosmology with 4ed. does give WOTC a chance to do a little housecleaning with the planes. For example, Syrania could still be the home of angels, but it now could also have a stronger tie to "Air" (rather than Lammania), as the effects of its manifest zones would suggest it should have but is not born out by the 3.5 version of the plane itself, as well as being the source of immortal humanoids that by and large are peaceful and benevolent yet isolationist (making the radiant idols still fit within the "fallen angel" motif and giving the setting a source for the rebellious angels that became the devils of Shavarath, their rebellion being one between pacificism/isolationism on one hand and warmongering/interventionism on the other, rather than simply Good versus Evil.)