It's a great introductory book for new players, or to minorly detail practically everything that is Eberron. I really like it for this. It's a short 64 pages, which is good for a quick read.
However, it sucks as a coffee table book (too many words, too much recycled art).
And lastly, it's $20. That's absurd. I think I'd pay $6 for it.
And lastly, it's $20. That's absurd. I think I'd pay $6 for it.
I purchased this book just over a week ago and I agree with ekomega its not worth $20. After browsing through it I have to say I am thoroughly disappointed with its contents. Its complete fluff, the majority of its contents are in other books. I found very little useful stuff in it.
I purchased this book just over a week ago and I agree with ekomega its not worth $20. After browsing through it I have to say I am thoroughly disappointed with its contents. Its complete fluff, the majority of its contents are in other books. I found very little useful stuff in it.
Ignoring the value of the contents of this book being nothing more than what's found within other books, does this book at least accurately convey the feel of Eberron as a world? In other words, I a player wanted a quick and dirty introduction to the setting that gives them the basic concepts of what Eberron is about without going into excessive details, or if I as a DM who owns all Eberron sourcebooks wanted a sort of perspective refresher on Eberron as a world (what makes it unique), does this book accomplish that?
As a player it gives a brief overview of the races and cities and such so yes its gives a quick dirty intro. As a DM since you have all the sourcebooks, save your cash.
As a DM, I'm tempted to purchase it for the purpose of loaning it to first-time players before asking them to invest in the Eberron Campaign Setting in case it's not their cup of tea, which is why I'm asking about it's relative accuracy in portraying the world of Eberron.
I think it could have done a better job of presenting certain pieces of information. I also disliked certain pieces of art that were not specific to Eberron such as the "Goblin Pits of Io-Rach" from Book of Vile Darkness.
I wouldn't pay cover price for it, but the Amazon price is pretty close. I don't know if it makes a good "new player" handout as it gives away a bit too much in some places, though not too often. At the Amazon price, it makes a good low cost preview of Eberron for potential DMs. I think WotC would have even more buy-in if they had stripped it down a bit more as to be less revealing and placed it as a multimedia presentation (music, images, voiceover, etc.) on their website. That would really set the mood and tone for Eberron. In fact, I might consider doing that myself.
In fact, I might consider doing that myself.
Please tell me if you do.
Please tell me if you do.
The only think I would need is the text itself. Everything else is relatively easy.
I noticed this book at the store today and when I went to flip through it, low and behold, the cover was put on upside down and backwards! Awesome!
-FF
Interesting aside...
I noticed this book at the store today and when I went to flip through it, low and behold, the cover was put on upside down and backwards! Awesome!
-FF
Buy it if you didn't. Misprints always end up worth a lot.
Buy it if you didn't. Misprints always end up worth a lot.
Except that they don't.
Printing mistakes like an upside down page are common enough that they aren't worth anything. At least not for anything new. And by new, I mean anything printed in the last 50 years.
An original copy of the Collected Works of Edgar Allen Poe where they misspell Raven might be worth something. A game book that had ten million copies published and is of no interest to anyone but a small niche, not so much.