Anyone discouraged with D&D/Eberron missing one central theme?

[Charles Dunwoody]

I've been getting discouraged with D&D 3.5 and the new campaign, Eberron, but couldn't figure out why until now. I think that both D&D and Eberron are both missing a cental theme. Does anyone else find this a problem?

For instance, 3.5 now puts out books with a swashbuckler (pirate/Reinaissance theme), samurai (Japanese theme sort of), and a hex blade (more traditional D&D to me). Also a shugenja (Oriental), favored soul (theme on this one escapes me, maybe post modern cheesy?), and shaman (spirit focuses maybe African or Native American).

Eberron has constructed warriors, dino riding savage halfings, psionics, magical trains, super magic through shards, war, and other stuff I haven't begun to learn about. To me, constructed warriors work or dino riding savage halflings, or psionics but not all together.

I like pizza. I like Chinese food. But I don't want Kung Po chicken and rice on top of my pepperoni and sausage deep dish pizza.

In early versions of D&D you had a quasi-Western European theme with polytheism tossed in. Heavy armor, powerful spells, and dungeons. Small touches from other themes/cultures here and there, but mainly Middle Earth/King Arthur like.

I've tried to create some worlds of my own with just one theme but the rules are too hard to modify easily (which may be why Eberron doesn't try to change the rules). Anyone else feel this way or disagree with me? Any suggestions to get me enthused about D&D again?

 

[jarlaxlecq]

I've been getting discouraged with D&D 3.5 and the new campaign, Eberron, but couldn't figure out why until now. I think that both D&D and Eberron are both missing a cental theme. Does anyone else find this a problem?

For instance, 3.5 now puts out books with a swashbuckler (pirate/Reinaissance theme), samurai (Japanese theme sort of), and a hex blade (more traditional D&D to me). Also a shugenja (Oriental), favored soul (theme on this one escapes me, maybe post modern cheesy?), and shaman (spirit focuses maybe African or Native American).

Eberron has constructed warriors, dino riding savage halfings, psionics, magical trains, super magic through shards, war, and other stuff I haven't begun to learn about. To me, constructed warriors work or dino riding savage halflings, or psionics but not all together.

I like pizza. I like Chinese food. But I don't want Kung Po chicken and rice on top of my pepperoni and sausage deep dish pizza.

In early versions of D&D you had a quasi-Western European theme with polytheism tossed in. Heavy armor, powerful spells, and dungeons. Small touches from other themes/cultures here and there, but mainly Middle Earth/King Arthur like.

I've tried to create some worlds of my own with just one theme but the rules are too hard to modify easily (which may be why Eberron doesn't try to change the rules). Anyone else feel this way or disagree with me? Any suggestions to get me enthused about D&D again?

That western european/Middle earth feel is probably the only thing i miss from 2E. But then there are alot of people that were burnt out on that kind of thing, look how popular Dark Sun and Planescape are. I think there are just trying to be all things to all people for better or worse

 

[Nightfall]

Uhm funny...I thought that's all I've seen is "Western" medieval fantasy. I mean that's why something like "Medieval Player's Guide" by Green Ronin came out...along with a few others.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

Honestly, I never thought Dark Sun was all that popular. Never once did I see a posting at the FLGS looking for players of a Dark Sun game or a posting for players looking for the same. I bought it for Muls, and Thri-Kreen characters... that is about it.

 

[cdtaylor_nats]

I like pizza. I like Chinese food. But I don't want Kung Po chicken and rice on top of my pepperoni and sausage deep dish pizza.

Don't knock it - I recently tried a Chicken Tikka Pizza - if Indian food will work, Chinese could too.

 

[Nightfall]

Well using Psionics instead of magic was nice too Calico. I mean you could do the same for Midnight too, as a means to get past Legates. (Course that only works IF Psionics are different from magic...and that presents its own problems...)

 

[Qualidar]

I think you're being a little close minded. Campaigns have themes, rules don't. They are being broad so you can use them for whatever you want, but the "whatever you want" part is up to you.

~Qualidar~

 

[SilentJay]

Honestly, I never thought Dark Sun was all that popular. Never once did I see a posting at the FLGS looking for players of a Dark Sun game or a posting for players looking for the same.

Perhaps the audience it attracted weren't the type of gamer who posts player/game wanted signs in FLGS. In all honesty, they're the minority of gamers, the majority are folks who have a set group of friends, and never game outside that set group.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

Well using Psionics instead of magic was nice too Calico. I mean you could do the same for Midnight too, as a means to get past Legates. (Course that only works IF Psionics are different from magic...and that presents its own problems...)

I've kicked that idea around in my Midnight game and decided against it. "Hope" in that setting should come from the actions of the players instead of some new fangled ability that is undetectable by the Astiraxes.

I think Dark Sun had Psionic overload as a means to sell more copies of The Complete Psionics Handbook. Every stinking creature on the planet had psionics... even the bugs. It wasn't a case of Psionics instead of Magic either... both were present in Dark Sun. There were in fact two forms of arcane magic, that practiced by the Defilers and the other practiced by the Preservers. Then you had your elemental stuff practiced by the Druids.

 

[Nightfall]

Well to each his own Calico. I personally don't feel a new power will be that unbalancing since true clerics are Izzy's to begin with. Now there's a powerful class. But in any case I think Quid is right, rules don't make a campaign or even a campaign world. It's the people that run them. Hell I could have the best darn campaign world and if I can't make it for my players, it's a waste.