In Eberron magic isn't a rare thing practiced by a select few who hide away in their towers and refuse to share it with anyone. Across Khorvaire (the main continant in Eberron) its a part of everyday life. Everbright lanterns light the night like modern streetposts, Speaking stones connect the far corners of the world like telegraphs, the lightning rail and airships make crossing the continent possible in safety (though expensive... and once PCs are on board nothing is truly safe is it?)
Still the thing to keep in mind is that although magic is prevalent in society these are all practical applications of low level spells. Continual flame, whispering wind, etc. High level magic is difficult to learn, few have the ability, only exceptional people can. Good thing the PCs are exceptional people.
Also Eberron is a world that's been dubbed 'pulp noir'. The setting seeks to capture the feel of Doc Savage, The Shadow, The Phantom, along with The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, and Sunset Boulevard. Eberron is a world of questionable morals populated by tough hard nosed inquisitives and rugged globe trotting explorers. To reference more recent pop culture, its Sin City meets Indiana Jones with some The Mummy and Blade Runner thrown in. Only replace the guns with magic, and the Nazis with the Emerald Claw.
Really, I think the setting is quite awesome. :D
However, you have to keep in mind that it's very un-traditional fantasy unlike FR which is just 'classic'. So if you're tired of playing FR it's a good change.
Also, as it's already been mentioned, it's low-level with widespread magic, yet combined with the lower levels it doesn't let things out of control.
Two things that I like best about EBERRON is i) magic is used as an economic resource (which just makes plain sense......) ii) the world is very-very-GRAY (morally). There are no good, smart, brave guys, etc. evil, cunning, ugly people. Every person or entity has its good and bad sides (for example the king of the biggest kingdom who's the typical 'good old king' (CG in alignment IIRC) is also a bit of womanizer)
There are just so many things about EBERRON that I love.......
well that is my thoughts on the matter. Oh and needles to say, I really enjoy the setting, it has a great deal of common knowledge mysteries that are given no explanation just so the DMs are free to make up what ever they feel that should be the reason behind it.
One term, I think it was coined by Edy, that I like to use when describing Eberron is Wide Magic.
Pssst... you forgot to actually include the term. "Wide Magic". Its not high magic, because there are almost no high level casters. Its not low magic, because magic is everywhere. Its low and spread out, aka wide.
Hey, I was thinking of buying the ebberon campaign setting. as of now I play core D&D and the FR. Ebberon looks cool and new, so i think i'll give it a shot-is there anything i should know first?
The Drow are very different.
Been thinking about it quite a bit lately...
Really thinking about coming over to the 'Dark Side" myself when 4e hits. My FR books will be worthless, but from what I understand, all my Eberron ones will still be valid.
Been thinking about it quita a bit lately...
Thats funny, I've been thinking the same...
Join us and you will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.Really thinking about coming over to the 'Dark Side" myself when 4e hits. My FR books will be worthless, but from what I understand, all my Eberron ones will still be valid.
Been thinking about it quita a bit lately...
Now, we only have to drow Lord Karsus over, and our victory will be complete.
Really thinking about coming over to the 'Dark Side" myself when 4e hits. My FR books will be worthless, but from what I understand, all my Eberron ones will still be valid.
Yes and no. The heavy fluff books will still be valid, but things like Magic of Eberron will be completely invalidated.
Eberron just takes a much less crunch heavy approach to settings than Faerun does, so the bulk of it cannot be invalidated by simply changing rulesets (I still need to make my M&M2e conversion, actually).
(I still need to make my M&M2e conversion, actually)
Don't you think Green Ronin will put out a M&M4e version that uses the new SRD?
so are the goblins, and the orcs and elves... as eehamburg (i think) proclaimed: "when the orcs are treehuging hippies and elves are bloodthirsty warmongers you have reached eberron."
WOW ... I'm quoted ...
WOW ... I'm quoted ...
Well its a great description of the sitting if you ask me. I actually use it from time to time to get new players to understand the idea behind the setting.
Oh, this sounds like the start of a great joke!
I define the difference between the "typical" Xen'drik drow and the traditional FR drow as "Silly spider girls. Boys are for luvvin'!"
Yes and no. The heavy fluff books will still be valid, but things like Magic of Eberron will be completely invalidated.
Eberron just takes a much less crunch heavy approach to settings than Faerun does, so the bulk of it cannot be invalidated by simply changing rulesets (I still need to make my M&M2e conversion, actually).
Also, the fact that the FR world timeline is being advanced a century, and just about all the NPCs will be dead, countries will rise and fall, and the entire plitical landscape will be quite different... rendering any of the current fluff useless in the new setting. Sure... the same ancient Empires existed in the past, but that doesn't help me tell my players who's the mayor of the town their in... or weather the town is even there anymore.
In 4e Eberron, even though the mechanics will change, Joe Smoe from east Breland still works in the local Starbucks.
Now, we only have to drow Lord Karsus over, and our victory will be complete.
That'll be the day... we can't even get him to accept the change in the Sundering date, even though the new date has been in at least two official timelines.
He's one of the most obstinant people I know.
Now... I need to look around here a bit more and get a feel of the place, before I commit. ;)
Yes and no. The heavy fluff books will still be valid, but things like Magic of Eberron will be completely invalidated.
Luckily, Magic of Eberron is the only heavy crunch book. All the other ones should still be fairly useful.
The Eberron setting has been written in such a way that is is teeming with adventure and intrigue in every paragraph. The ECS sets a stage of adventure that is so full of possibilities that you can run just about anything you would want to run, from full out wilderness campaigns, to campaigns set in the greatest cities of all( Sharn). With a fairly simple to grasp history that preps the stage so amazingly for adventure, Eberron is unlike any setting I have ever encountered.
Also, is there anything I have to keep in mind about Eberron's conversion to 4E canon-wise? Are they advancing the world in any significant way as they are in FR, or is it "same Eberron, different rules"?
Are they advancing the world in any significant way as they are in FR, or is it "same Eberron, different rules"?
Nope no advancement, "same Eberron different rules" as you so nicely put it. Most of the books are as far as my experience goes is equally balanced between fluff and crunch. I have all the books except the latest, but havent read all of them.
Now on what books to get it depends on what you want from the setting. Its a lot of "what books to buy" threads out there you could look at.
Now my personal recommendations would so far be:
5 nations. Gave me a great feel of the "most central" nations of Khorvaire (main continent).
Sharn: City of Towers. It gives of a great feel of the biggest city in the world, not really necessary if you wont be spending much time there.
Dragonmarked: It really helps out with the understanding of the houses and their motivations.
Forge of War: Broadens the newer history of the world. Makes you understand why the different nations hate each other.
The others I either don't use to much or haven't fully read yet so I wont say anything about them. Others certainly can. But I feel that you don't really need the other books unless you are going for a different continent like Xen'drik or Sarlona. Well that's my
