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Eberron help

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
phil_manwaring
Jun 08, 2009 2:52:26 Guys,

My playing group and I have recently gotten into the Eberron world of D&D and I (as DM) was hoping to gleam a little more knowledge of Eberron from the novels released over the years.

With that in mind could any of you suggest which books I should read in order to get as much information as I can concerning Eberron, plus what order I should read them in if its important.

Thanks in advance

Phil
#2
Novacat
Jun 08, 2009 2:57:43 I know almost nothing about Eberron myself, but I'm fairly adept and finding information. According to Wikipedia, The Dreaming Dark series is authored by Keith Baker, the creator of Eberron, and so, I should think, would be the most true-to-concept novels.

Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
#3
Nived
Jun 08, 2009 5:37:15 As the Novels all take place in roughly the same time period there is no real need for a certain order of the reading. There's not really an overreaching meta plot. I mean a trilogy should be read in order ;) but beyond that there isn't a lot of overall continuity.

There are a few novels that directly lead off another James Wyatt's novels should be read in order of release, but if there is crossover between the different author's novels its more of an easter egg than a plot point. Like the protagonists of The Darkwood Mask happen to walk by the protagonists of Bound by Iron on the street, they're not called out by name, just a man walking down the street with a dead body over his shoulder, if you didn't pay attention to the description you'd never know it was anything more that backdrop.

That being said, generally the two series that most people would recommend to begin with are Keith Baker's The Dreaming Dark Trilogy, or Don Bassingwaite's The Dragon Below trilogy.

If you like warforged, halflings, House Cannith, Xen'drik, Eberron drow, go with the Dreaming Dark.

If you like shifters, orcs, goblins, the hordes of Xoriat, Droaam, go with the Dragon Below.
#4
fabius_maximus
Jun 08, 2009 6:36:38 Also, Eberron do not contain canon information. Nothing stops you from using it, but it's not hard-coded into the world like in the FR.
#5
joni-san
Jun 08, 2009 9:45:13 What the others have said, read the Dreaming Dark Trilogy by Keith Baker and the Dragon Below by Don Bassingwaite.
#6
williamhm75
Jun 08, 2009 17:09:45
What the others have said, read the Dreaming Dark Trilogy by Keith Baker and the Dragon Below by Don Bassingwaite.

Dreaming dark was in my opinion one of the two best series of dnd novels ever written. Other one being the windwalker series by Elaine cunningham but those are forgotten realms novels. But yeah dreaming dark is a good series to read for information on ebaron.
#7
superdeadsmurf
Jun 08, 2009 18:56:37 Don't miss Queen of Stone (Thorn of Breland), also by Keith Baker, unconnected to the Dreaming Dark trilogy story-wise. It's mostly about breland, Droaam and that monster civilization.
Also, when you're done the Dragon Below trilogy by Basingwaith, check out the next novel (continuing some of those character's story arcs) The Doom of Kings
#8
Marcus_Majarra
Jun 08, 2009 20:15:39 Since novels aren't canon for Eberron, you'll end up getting more of a feel to the setting than actual knowledge of it. If knowledge's what you're after, you're better off with sourcebooks. Outside the Eberron Campaign Setting, the Player's Guide to Eberron has plenty of diverse information on plenty of topics. The Explorer's Handbook and Secrets of Xen'drik hold plenty of different adventuring locales for you. Five Nations, Dragonmarked, and The Forge of War have more information concerning the more social aspects of the setting. Sharn: City of Towers and City of Stormreach are great to have if you plan on holding your campaign(s) in either city (and they're both really great). The remaining sourcebooks tend to be more specialized, but they're still worthwhile.
#9
Nived
Jun 08, 2009 20:33:55 Which is why I really suggest Don's novels, he is fantastic for the sociology of Eberron. His phrases, sayings, coloquialisms, and glossaries are fantastic.
#10
MDosantos
Jun 08, 2009 22:07:15 Well, I could point you to the Revised Grand History of Eberron, a fan made book... it's free and has lots of compiled information from the game books (I don't really know if it has info from the noveles...

Linky:
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1148128

Hope it helps :D
#11
Talae
Jun 09, 2009 10:27:05 Check my sig or the sticky in this forum for a list of links that prove useful.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 phil_manwaring Jun 08, 2009 2:52:26	Guys, My playing group and I have recently gotten into the Eberron world of D&D and I (as DM) was hoping to gleam a little more knowledge of Eberron from the novels released over the years. With that in mind could any of you suggest which books I should read in order to get as much information as I can concerning Eberron, plus what order I should read them in if its important. Thanks in advance Phil
#2 Novacat Jun 08, 2009 2:57:43	I know almost nothing about Eberron myself, but I'm fairly adept and finding information. According to Wikipedia, The Dreaming Dark series is authored by Keith Baker, the creator of Eberron, and so, I should think, would be the most true-to-concept novels. Book 1 Book 2 Book 3
#3 Nived Jun 08, 2009 5:37:15	As the Novels all take place in roughly the same time period there is no real need for a certain order of the reading. There's not really an overreaching meta plot. I mean a trilogy should be read in order ;) but beyond that there isn't a lot of overall continuity. There are a few novels that directly lead off another James Wyatt's novels should be read in order of release, but if there is crossover between the different author's novels its more of an easter egg than a plot point. Like the protagonists of The Darkwood Mask happen to walk by the protagonists of Bound by Iron on the street, they're not called out by name, just a man walking down the street with a dead body over his shoulder, if you didn't pay attention to the description you'd never know it was anything more that backdrop. That being said, generally the two series that most people would recommend to begin with are Keith Baker's The Dreaming Dark Trilogy, or Don Bassingwaite's The Dragon Below trilogy. If you like warforged, halflings, House Cannith, Xen'drik, Eberron drow, go with the Dreaming Dark. If you like shifters, orcs, goblins, the hordes of Xoriat, Droaam, go with the Dragon Below.
#4 fabius_maximus Jun 08, 2009 6:36:38	Also, Eberron do not contain canon information. Nothing stops you from using it, but it's not hard-coded into the world like in the FR.
#5 joni-san Jun 08, 2009 9:45:13	What the others have said, read the Dreaming Dark Trilogy by Keith Baker and the Dragon Below by Don Bassingwaite.
#6 williamhm75 Jun 08, 2009 17:09:45	What the others have said, read the Dreaming Dark Trilogy by Keith Baker and the Dragon Below by Don Bassingwaite. Dreaming dark was in my opinion one of the two best series of dnd novels ever written. Other one being the windwalker series by Elaine cunningham but those are forgotten realms novels. But yeah dreaming dark is a good series to read for information on ebaron.
#7 superdeadsmurf Jun 08, 2009 18:56:37	Don't miss Queen of Stone (Thorn of Breland), also by Keith Baker, unconnected to the Dreaming Dark trilogy story-wise. It's mostly about breland, Droaam and that monster civilization. Also, when you're done the Dragon Below trilogy by Basingwaith, check out the next novel (continuing some of those character's story arcs) The Doom of Kings
#8 Marcus_Majarra Jun 08, 2009 20:15:39	Since novels aren't canon for Eberron, you'll end up getting more of a feel to the setting than actual knowledge of it. If knowledge's what you're after, you're better off with sourcebooks. Outside the Eberron Campaign Setting, the Player's Guide to Eberron has plenty of diverse information on plenty of topics. The Explorer's Handbook and Secrets of Xen'drik hold plenty of different adventuring locales for you. Five Nations, Dragonmarked, and The Forge of War have more information concerning the more social aspects of the setting. Sharn: City of Towers and City of Stormreach are great to have if you plan on holding your campaign(s) in either city (and they're both really great). The remaining sourcebooks tend to be more specialized, but they're still worthwhile.
#9 Nived Jun 08, 2009 20:33:55	Which is why I really suggest Don's novels, he is fantastic for the sociology of Eberron. His phrases, sayings, coloquialisms, and glossaries are fantastic.
#10 MDosantos Jun 08, 2009 22:07:15	Well, I could point you to the Revised Grand History of Eberron, a fan made book... it's free and has lots of compiled information from the game books (I don't really know if it has info from the noveles... Linky: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1148128 Hope it helps :D
#11 Talae Jun 09, 2009 10:27:05	Check my sig or the sticky in this forum for a list of links that prove useful.