Explanations to look forward to in 4E Eberron - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Explanations to look forward to in 4E Eberron

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
mahavira
Jun 15, 2009 22:30:10 I find myself thinking that the most interesting thing about the Eberron Player's Guide and Eberron Campaign Setting will be the extent to which things are reworded/described differently. I know Keith Baker has been more than slightly nonplussed by people's reaction to the Church of the Silver Flame and Lycanthropic Purge, for example (to the point of discussing the subject in Queen of Stone) and am interested to see if they try a new way of explaining the CotSF/Lycanthropic Purge in an attempt to 'rebrand' the church as actually...you know...good (as opposed to the KKK/Spanish Inquisition image lots of people seem to have). I am also dying to see if they Keep Queen Aurala as good, or shift her to unaligned.
#2
Alex_
Jun 16, 2009 2:12:10 Since it's the Player's Guide...

Queen Aurala is noted as being eager to lead her people to war, however.

The Silver Flame's more fanatic elements are called out as being the vocal minority that give the average follower (a more moderate and benevolent person) a bad rep. It points out that they are actually very tolerant of other faiths.

Same for the Blood of Vol, who are described as being painstakingly portrayed as creepy undead worshipers. In fact, there's no mention at all of it being a front for Vol's ambitions.

Kaius isn't mentioned as secretly being a vampire either.

It's written largely so that a lot of the big twists and backroom politics of the setting are not revealed. It's what the average person knows and deals with. I expect the other stuff to be covered in the campaign setting book, which should also have stats for monsters and NPCs.
#3
Nived
Jun 16, 2009 5:50:07 Yeah you will probably see that stuff addressed more in the campaign guide. I've been impressed so far with the EPG (not finished reading it, happened to find it last night, a store was putting it on the shelf when I was there for something else).

It is really written from the perspective of what the characters should know about the world. The Age of Demons is largely left out of the timeline, referenced obliquely in sections about ruins from prehistory, and the Deva section, (probably the Demon Wastes section as well but I haven't gotten there yet), clearly the Demon Overlords and the war witht he dragons is not common knowledge that people talk about over dinner.

Similarly the fall of the giant empire is left vauge. Not that they changed it, but that's something for the DMs to know.

Vol herself goes completely unmentioned.

This book is what many people wanted in 3.5. A book for the players without the DM juicy bits and secrets.
#4
Hellcow
Jun 16, 2009 8:15:59
It is really written from the perspective of what the characters should know about the world. The Age of Demons is largely left out of the timeline...

This is a vital point, and I wish it had been made a little clearer in the introduction, actually (so long-time players don't think it reflects a change in the story). The Age of Demons, cause of the downfall of the Dhakaani empire, etc, are intentionally left out here on the premise that the typical character won't know such things. All of these things are discussed in detail in the ECG, so it's up to the DM to pass along the information specific characters should possess.
#5
AvonRekaes
Jun 16, 2009 8:19:35 Fa-reaking-sweet. I actually went through my 3.5 ECS and *covered* large swathes of text with cut-up post-it notes. This is perfect.
#6
larrylat666
Jun 16, 2009 9:18:59
This is a vital point, and I wish it had been made a little clearer in the introduction, actually (so long-time players don't think it reflects a change in the story). The Age of Demons, cause of the downfall of the Dhakaani empire, etc, are intentionally left out here on the premise that the typical character won't know such things. All of these things are discussed in detail in the ECG, so it's up to the DM to pass along the information specific characters should possess.

That was always the issue with the original campaign setting book. I was loathe to lend the book the the players, as I didn't want them finding out everything about the world, the history, etc. But they needed the book to make their characters, etc.

I know when it first came out, there was a lot of traffic on the various boards about coming up with a 'Player's Guide' that was to cover all of the normal player information, plus a general overview of Khorvaire, etc.

I love that they plit it out this time. I was very pleasantly surprised that one of my players showed up to the game session last night with a copy of the EPG as well. It bodes well for my game when players are interested enough to buy the players and not just rely on my copy of it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 mahavira Jun 15, 2009 22:30:10	I find myself thinking that the most interesting thing about the Eberron Player's Guide and Eberron Campaign Setting will be the extent to which things are reworded/described differently. I know Keith Baker has been more than slightly nonplussed by people's reaction to the Church of the Silver Flame and Lycanthropic Purge, for example (to the point of discussing the subject in Queen of Stone) and am interested to see if they try a new way of explaining the CotSF/Lycanthropic Purge in an attempt to 'rebrand' the church as actually...you know...good (as opposed to the KKK/Spanish Inquisition image lots of people seem to have). I am also dying to see if they Keep Queen Aurala as good, or shift her to unaligned.
#2 Alex_ Jun 16, 2009 2:12:10	Since it's the Player's Guide... Queen Aurala is noted as being eager to lead her people to war, however. The Silver Flame's more fanatic elements are called out as being the vocal minority that give the average follower (a more moderate and benevolent person) a bad rep. It points out that they are actually very tolerant of other faiths. Same for the Blood of Vol, who are described as being painstakingly portrayed as creepy undead worshipers. In fact, there's no mention at all of it being a front for Vol's ambitions. Kaius isn't mentioned as secretly being a vampire either. It's written largely so that a lot of the big twists and backroom politics of the setting are not revealed. It's what the average person knows and deals with. I expect the other stuff to be covered in the campaign setting book, which should also have stats for monsters and NPCs.
#3 Nived Jun 16, 2009 5:50:07	Yeah you will probably see that stuff addressed more in the campaign guide. I've been impressed so far with the EPG (not finished reading it, happened to find it last night, a store was putting it on the shelf when I was there for something else). It is really written from the perspective of what the characters should know about the world. The Age of Demons is largely left out of the timeline, referenced obliquely in sections about ruins from prehistory, and the Deva section, (probably the Demon Wastes section as well but I haven't gotten there yet), clearly the Demon Overlords and the war witht he dragons is not common knowledge that people talk about over dinner. Similarly the fall of the giant empire is left vauge. Not that they changed it, but that's something for the DMs to know. Vol herself goes completely unmentioned. This book is what many people wanted in 3.5. A book for the players without the DM juicy bits and secrets.
#4 Hellcow Jun 16, 2009 8:15:59	It is really written from the perspective of what the characters should know about the world. The Age of Demons is largely left out of the timeline... This is a vital point, and I wish it had been made a little clearer in the introduction, actually (so long-time players don't think it reflects a change in the story). The Age of Demons, cause of the downfall of the Dhakaani empire, etc, are intentionally left out here on the premise that the typical character won't know such things. All of these things are discussed in detail in the ECG, so it's up to the DM to pass along the information specific characters should possess.
#5 AvonRekaes Jun 16, 2009 8:19:35	Fa-reaking-sweet. I actually went through my 3.5 ECS and covered large swathes of text with cut-up post-it notes. This is perfect.
#6 larrylat666 Jun 16, 2009 9:18:59	This is a vital point, and I wish it had been made a little clearer in the introduction, actually (so long-time players don't think it reflects a change in the story). The Age of Demons, cause of the downfall of the Dhakaani empire, etc, are intentionally left out here on the premise that the typical character won't know such things. All of these things are discussed in detail in the ECG, so it's up to the DM to pass along the information specific characters should possess. That was always the issue with the original campaign setting book. I was loathe to lend the book the the players, as I didn't want them finding out everything about the world, the history, etc. But they needed the book to make their characters, etc. I know when it first came out, there was a lot of traffic on the various boards about coming up with a 'Player's Guide' that was to cover all of the normal player information, plus a general overview of Khorvaire, etc. I love that they plit it out this time. I was very pleasantly surprised that one of my players showed up to the game session last night with a copy of the EPG as well. It bodes well for my game when players are interested enough to buy the players and not just rely on my copy of it.