[Eberron] Real player's guide / player's intro

Hi, folks -

I'm launching an Eberron campaign, and want to give the players some setting info. Unfortunately the books (as many have commented) are riddled with meta-plot secrets; so I've told my players NOT to get Campaign Guide or the incredibly badly named Player's Guide. Does anyone have any suggestions or pointers to materials I can give them? Websites, etc, are fine, as long as they're canonical.

thanks!

No, but I agree that the guides spill waaaaaaay to many beans. Very annoying. Faiths of Eberron does the same thing, IMO.

Do you own the Eberron Players Guide or are you going by what others have said?

I personally liked the Players Guide for the reason that all big secrets from major plotlines had been taken out. Besides you still have to provide your players with access to the first part of the Campaign Guide to create a character.

If you don't want your players to read the entire EPG, why not let them read the specific sections that are pertinant to their character? The very first section of the EPG will certainly help your players because it describes the most common character types found in the setting.

If you don't own it, I'd say give it another look.

I put together a short document in outline format with some basic info about Eberron. It loses its formatting when pasted here, so you'll have to put in tabs, boldface, italics, and whatever else you need.


Eberron Basic World Stuff – for the Player Characters

Days of the Week
1 Sul
2 Mol
3 Zol
4 Wir
5 Zor
6 Far
7 Sar

MONTHS OF THE YEAR
Correspond to the 12 known moons of Eberron; the Ring of Syberys is not associated.
Month Season Dragonmark
1 Zarantyr Mid-winter Storm
2 Olarune Late-winter Sentinel
3 Therendor Early-spring Healing
4 Eyre Mid-spring Making
5 Dravago Late spring Handling
6 Nymm Early summer Hospitality
7 Lharvion Mid-summer Detection
8 Barrakas Late summer Finding
9 Rhaan Early autumn Scribing
10 Sypheros Mid-autumn Shadow
11 Aryth Late autumn Passage
12 Vult Early winter Warding

CONSTELLATIONS (Gods of the Dragons)
Skill: Knowledge (arcana or history) – Constellations are Dragon associated...
1 Aasterinian Invention and trade
2 Astilabor Wealth
3 Bahamut Protection and good fortune
4 Chronepsis Fate and prophecy
5 Falazure Death and decay
6 Garyx Chaos and destruction
7 Hlal Humor
8 Io Magic and knowledge
9 Lendys Justice and law
10 Tamara Life
11 Tiamat Greed and power
*Eberron, Khyber, Siberys are not constellations and represent the earth, underdark, and sky according to legend.

MONEY
1000 Copper Crowns =
100 Silver Sovereigns =
10 Gold Galifars =
1 Platinum Dragon.

HISTORY OF EBERRON
Current year is 998 (YK) from the founding of the kingdom of Galifar.

HISTORY CHECKS (Page 224-225 ECS) Score DC Information about...
5 Last 5 years
10 Current Age
15 Age of Monsters
20 Age of Giants
25 Age of Demons
30 Age of Dragons

GEOGRAPHY
Skill: Knowledge (Geography): DC Info about...
5 National capital or metropolis (Sharn)
10 City, major fortress, or environmental feature (the King’s Forest, Sterngate)
15 Village or town, smaller fortress or feature (Black Pit, Argonth)
20 Hamlet or thorp, obscure fortress or feature (Ringbriar, The Dragon's Crown)

A successful skill check means you can point to the location on the map and you know basic details about it: primary industries, size, most common race among the population, form of law. More detailed information may require a higher check or Knowledge (local).

DC Modifier Information is...
+ 0 Trivial (the name of a city)
+ 5 Slightly difficult (the name of the mayor of Sharn)
+ 10 Challenging (the names of all of the city councilors in Sharn)
+ 15 Obscure (the names of the councilors' spouses)
+ 20 Very Obscure (names of the councilors' spouses during the reign of King Jarot)

PLANES OF EXISTENCE
Eberron (Material Plane)
Ethereal Plane (Contacts Eberron)
Plane of Shadow (Contacts Eberron)
Astral Plane (Contacts Eberron; planes revolve through this)

Other Planes below revolve around Eberron and can contact, wax/wane or be remote
Daanvi, the Perfect Order (like Manual of Planes - Arcadia)
Dal Quor, the Region of Dreams
Dolurrh, the Realm of the Dead (a dreary realm where mortal souls go after death)
Fernia, the Sea of Fire
Irian, the Eternal Day (positive plane)
Kythri, the Churning Chaos
Lamannia, the Twilight Forest
Mabar, the Endless Night
Risia, the Plane of Ice
Shavarth, the Battleground
Syrania, the Azure Sky (realm of angels)
Thelanis, the Faerie Court
Xoriat, the Realm of Madness


DRAGONMARKS & DRAGONMARKED HOUSES
Identification Skill: Spellcraft. Aberrant Feat mark (DC18), Least mark (DC15), Lesser mark (DC20), Greater mark (DC25) Syberys mark (DC30)
Mark House Race Influence
Detection Medani Half-elf Warning Guild
Finding Tharashk Half-orc,Human Finders Guild
Handling Vadalis Human Handlers Guild
Healing Jorasco Halfling Healers Guild
Hospitality Ghallanda Halfling Hostelers Guild
Making Cannith Human Tinkers & Fabricators Guilds
Passage Orien Human Couriers & Transportation Guilds
Scribing Sivis Gnome Notaries & Speakers Guilds
Sentinel Deneith Human Blademarks & Defenders Guilds
Shadow Phiarlan Elf Entertainers & Artisans Guilds
Shadow Thuranni Elf Entertainers/Shadow Network
Storm Lyrandar Half-Elf Windwrights & Raincallers Guilds
Warding Kundarak Dwarf Banking & Warding Guilds

House Colors – GM’s Interpretations
Cannith (Making, Humans) Gorgon. Red and Gray. Anvil and Hammer or Gear.
Deneith (Sentinel, Mercenaries, Guards, Humans) Chimera. Gold and Green. Doubledagger in gauntlet fist.
Ghallanda (Hospitality. Halflings). Jackal. Gold and Purple. Wheat and Grapes.
Jorasco (Healers, Halflings). Griffon. Green and Silver. Acorn or Mace.
Kundarak (Warding, Dwarves). Manticore. Red, orange, and yellow. Flames, Axes and interlockig silver rings.
Lyrandar (Storm, Half-Elves). Tentacles. Silver and Blue. Lightning
Medani (Detection, Half-Elves) Basilisk. Orange and Blue. Eyes.
Orien (Passage, Humans). Unicorn. Purple and Silver. Crescent moon.
Phiarlan (Shadow, Elves). Hydra. Red and black. Sword or Leaf.
Sivis (Scribing, Gnomes). Cockatrice. Red and Silver. Scroll, Candle, and Quill or Ruby.
Tharashk (Finding, Humans, Half-orcs) Dragonne. Red and Gold. Thorns, Pick and Dowsing rods.
Thuranni (Shadow, Elves). Displacer Beast. Dark Green, Green, and Blue. Flail.
Vadalis (Handling, Humans). Hippogriff. Green and Silver. Spear and Tree.

Other Heraldry
Breland – Black Bear. Black, gold, red. Gold dragons, holly berries, halberd and scythe.
Sharn – Three silver towers. Blue, gold, and silver. Crossed gold keys.
Cyre – Field of green, a crown and bell. A hammer and bellows.
Zilargo – X-crossed scrolls separating four gems (types vary)


KINGDOMS OF KHORVAIRE

The Five Nations
Breland – Agriculture, Urban/Industrial, Cosmopolitan. Humans, Gnomes, Half-Elves.
King Boranel, Parliament of Lords and Commons. Adventurers, Explorers.
Sharn: “City of Towers.” Metropolis. Adventurers, Morgrave U, “Gateway to Xendrik.” Most cosmopolitan city in the world. Shoppers’ delight.
Aundair – Agriculture, Education. Mage School “Arcane Congress.” Grain, Wine, Horses, Cheese, Books. Humans, Half-Elves, Elves. Queen Aurala. Mages.
Cyre – Art, Culture, Fashion, Scientific Progress. Prince Oargev in Breland. Bards.
The Mournland – Warped magic, plants and animals; Warforged Congregation.
Thrane – Theocracy, Crafts, Wool, Textiles. Humans, Half-Elves, Dwarves. Keeper of the Flame Jaela Daran (11 years old). Nominal Queen Diani. Clerics and Paladins.
Karrnath – Lumber, Textiles, Ale, Grain, Livestock. Humans, Dwarves, Halflings. King Kaius III. Undead soldiers. Military society. Fighters, Necromancers.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thronehold – Ancient island capitol of Galifar. Castle guarded, but city is neutral and a haven for intrigue between all kingdoms and dragonmarked houses.
Droaam – Mercenaries, Chaos. Gnolls, Orcs, Goblins. Three Hag rulers.
Eldeen Reaches – Haunted Forest, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry. Humans, Half-Elves, Shifters. Druids. Formerly part of Aundair.
Shadow Marches – Dragonshards, Herbs. Orcs, Humans, Goblins. Orc tribes.
Demon Wastes – Badlands, ruined soil. Humans, Orcs, Demons. Barbarians.
Zilargo – Education, Alchemy, Gems. Gnomes, Humans, Dwarves. Korranberg Library.
Darguun – Mining, Ore, Slavery. Clan warfare. Goblins, Hobgoblins, Bugbears.
Valenar – Horses, Mercenaries. Elves, Humans, Half-Elves. Warrior culture and Farmers.
Talenta Plains – Crafts, Art. Halflings, Humans, Changelings. Nomads and Farmers.
Q’Barra – New Frontier, Idealistic. Dragonshards. Lizardfolk, Humans, Kobolds.
Mror Holds – Banking, Ore, Gems, Crafts. Dwarves, Humans, Orcs. Dwarf clans.
Lhazaar Principalities – Ships, Mercenaries, Trade Goods. Pirates and Merchant Princes. Humans, Gnomes, Half-Elves.

Other continents:
Xendrik – Relics. Jungles, Ruins of the Giants’ civilizations, Drow tribes.
Aerenal – Rare woods. Undying Court of the Elves.
Argonessen – Dragons, barbarian tribes.
Sarlona – Mystics, Insular Humans.

Other Areas:
Ring of Siberys – Surrounding the planet, Siberys Dragonshards enhance Dragonmarks.
Eberron – The surface world. Eberron Dragonshards hold magic.
Khyber – The Underworld. Khyber Dragonshards bind elementals and trap souls.

WELL-KNOWN ORGANIZATIONS
Arcane Congress – In Aundair. Mage School.
The Twelve – Joint Organization of the Dragonmarked Houses.
Wayfinder Foundation – Invitation only renowned explorers and adventurers.
Order of the Emerald Claw – Extremist “knights” of Karrnath, now outlawed.
Lords of Dust – Fiends who once ruled the lands. Enemies: Silver Flame Church.

That's a really hand list! Thank you
-blarg

TarlonzCousin, hope you don't mind if I edited the list to keep it from stretching the screen. The Unbroken hyphen-break was causing it.

bento said:

Do you own the Eberron Players Guide or are you going by what others have said?

I personally liked the Players Guide for the reason that all big secrets from major plotlines had been taken out. Besides you still have to provide your players with access to the first part of the Campaign Guide to create a character.

Click to expand...

Hi - I own it. I guess you're right that the 'big secrets' have been taken out. But there's still a lot of non-standard info in it - if nothing else, all those DC 20 knowledge check listings!

But you're right, there is some good stuff in there. I guess I'll photocopy some relevant sections & give them to people.

blargney the second said:

That's a really hand list! Thank you
-blarg

Click to expand...

Seconded. Thanks!

The Wikipedia article is pretty complete and good to push people towards. At least in my opinion.

The Wikipedia article is nice. Thanks for pointing that out.

There was also an article on the WotC site that had an intro to Sharn. I don't have time to look for it, but I think there was something similar for Eberron itself too.

Henry, edit away. I wondered why my post stretched out so wide; it wasn't like that on my original document. Thanks.