Balance of fluff & crunch: Eberron & FR

[IronWolf]

Hopefully it is signaling a shift in the source books released by WotC. I greatly prefer the fluff books and as others have commented count Silver Marches as one of my favorite Realms source books. Sure there is crunch in there, but it seems to be there more to support the fluff than to simply me another prestige class, feat, etc. Races of Faerun is another book I count as a great example of fluff for the Realms.

 

[Mystery Man]

The question is, why the difference in approach? I know Eberron is new, but if the FR model has been what's selling, why the change? And while you could argue that there have been so many 1E and 2E FR products that you don't need as much fluff for FR, what about those folks just coming to the setting with 3E, who may not know about (or want) the 2E products?

The ratio of crunch to fluff is shifting towrds fluff in the FR books lately it seems. They would have to add more fluff to Eberron since its a fledgling setting and needs all the info about everything that it can get.

1. Eberron is a lower powered setting than FR. Unlike FR, where you can't throw a stone without hitting some epic level uber-NPC of doom, anyone above 10 in Eberron is RARE. Thus, they don't need as many rules to cover how cities and lands deal with these uber-killy people.

That and you can't swing a dead cat in Sharn without accidentally killing some low level pud, anywhere you go.

 

[Gez]

Unlike FR, where you can't throw a stone without hitting some epic level uber-NPC of doom

You've never heard about epic armor classes, have you?

 

[haiiro]

And while you could argue that there have been so many 1E and 2E FR products that you don't need as much fluff for FR, what about those folks just coming to the setting with 3E, who may not know about (or want) the 2E products?

By the same token, that may mean there's a built-in expectation to see conversions to 3e of the old 1e & 2e FR crunch -- which isn't present for Eberron.

 

[FoolishFrost]

Actually, I've come to the conclusion that most books that lead and maintain a high 'fluff' level are passed over in a lot of cases. I personally like lots of fluff myself, but the average buyer just seems to want crunch with a light flavoring of fluff.

Did I just sound like I was talking about food somehow? :\

I'm going to go eat... Later,

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

How does Eberron keep levels down?

 

[drnuncheon]

How does Eberron keep levels down?

By assuming that the PCs (and NPCs who gain levels in PC classes) are special and rare, and that most people don't gain XP like the PCs do.

 

[fanboy2000]

How does Eberron keep levels down?

Pretty much the same way FR has all those high level NPCs, Game Designer fiat.

 

[BaadJim]

How does Eberron keep levels down?

Fluffwise, all the big heroes in Khorvaire were most likely killed in the Last War.

 

[Glyfair]

How does Eberron keep levels down?

Actually, a combination of everything above. The most important paradigm is that player characters are a cut above the average man and are somewhat special.

There are several things that enhance this. First, most NPCs keep to NPC classes. Even the elite warriors in Sharn have mostly NPC class levels (i.e. warrior levels instead of fighter levels). The highest level NPCs in Sharn have NPC classes instead of PC class levels (18th level adept, 17th level commoner).

Second, NPCs earn experience differently that player characters. I think this actually applies to most worlds, but that depends on the world designer and DM. Basically, the 17th level commoner above earned her levels by practicing cooking for years, not by going out and fighting monste's threatening the city.

Plus, there is a conscious decision by the designers to keep this active in the world. They didn't feel the need to make the mayor of Sharn an 18th level magic-user just because they hold such an important position. The Kings aren't 17th level fighters because of their war experience.

Yes, there are high level challenges out there. For the most part, however, they aren't directly involved, yet and aren't allies or potential allies of the characters.