Explorer's Handbook Overview

[Glyfair]

I posted this on the official forums, but I thought some here might appreciate this.

Throughout the book are numerous "Wayfinder Foundation Tips" on things like "How not to be remembered by other passengers" (tip 2: don't be a shifter, warforged or goblinoid), "How to survive slavery in Darguun", etc.

Chapter 1: Travel

It presents a brief overview of travel in Eberron. Has prices, encounters and things like how to deal with teleport when available to players.

Chapter 2: Tools of the Trade

Details the vehicles with maps and such. Details such things as travel papers. A good section covers the Wayfinder Foundation (how to join, benefits, etc) & the Twelve's Acquisition Directorate.

It also has the 3 prestige classes. They are the Cataclysm Mage (gains abilities because of their intimate knowledge of the cataclysms that have hit Eberron), Thunder Guide (specialists in the area of the Thunder Sea) & the previously seen Windright Captain.

Chapter 3: Points of Origin

Covers areas that you begin your journey. Areas include the Stormhome Docking Tower, a Lightning Rail station, the Crimson Ship (a wandering ship run by an ultroloth who seems to be bound to the ship) & the Glitterdust Nightclub.

Chapter 4: Midpoints

Covers areas you'd visit in the middle of your journey. Areas in this section are Katal Hazath, Gateway to Khyber (with a sidebar on the Gith in Eberron); Mesk, Seren Villiage; the Aal'Drash Seals; Shae Mordal, the City of the Dead.

Chapter 5: Destinations

Places you are likely to be heading for. Here you'll find Ashtakala; an Argonnessen Observatory; a Khyber Dragonshard Cavern; Madwood Citadel; Pra'xirek; a Quori Monolith; Shalquar Monastery; Tharkgun Dhak; Frostfell Shipwreck; Haka'torvhak.

I particularly like that the whole work is covered with Sarlona locations (the Quori Monolith and Shalquar Monastery), Frostfell and Argonness covered.

Appendix: Ancient Treasures

Covers magic items and general treasure in two categories: Giant Antiquities and Dhakaani Antiquities. One item that caught my attention was the Drake Helm. It can contain several Siberys dragonshards that can contain spells. Sorcerers or Bards can use these spells as if they know them.

 

[Megatron]

Yep, it's a sweet book, my copies already broken in and consumed.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

Picked mine up, man I love Eberron.

 

[Mista Collins]

I love Eberron also. i went to pick it up today at my LFGS, and they were closed. They are normally open until 10:00pm on Friday's, but they weren't open when I showed up (7:30pm).

I guess I will have to go after work tomorrow.

 

[Glyfair]

I definitely like it a lot. Lots of flavor and ideas in there. That they have started some details on Sarlona is nice.

My only real gripe is that I don't like that certain designers stick to the typical D&D paradign of almost everyone having PC levels (a "typical" secret courier having only ranger & rogue levels?). I don't really like the trend that's been appearing in the newer Eberron books.

Still, I'm not one to let one little trend ruin my enjoyment of a book. The positives far outweigh the negatives.

 

[MadMaxim]

Glyfair, would you please go into further detail about the two unseen prestige classes, like requirements, BAB, saves and spellcasting progression? Are there any nifty abilities connected to either prestige class and how specialised is the Thunder Guide? Is it completely useless outside the Thunder Sea? Thanks in advance. And I'm going to pick it up as soon as possible, but your description made me curious as the content of those two prestige classes.

 

[Felon]

I don't run Eberron, don't particularly care for it at all. OTOH, D&D products on the whole (as well the folks at Dungeon) seem to have forgotten that adventurers aren't just guys who storm enemy fortifications; that D&D is more than just a game of skirmish combat. So the idea of a product dedicated to exploration is of some interest to me. If I had a party with characters who would actually like to take in breathtaking vistas as a break from the stronghold slaughterfests, is this really the book for us? Or are the places of exploration just your usual serving of nondescript dungeons?

 

[enworldatemylogin]

Felon, if you haven't check out the preview at the Wizards website, it might help you. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20050803a&page=1

Definitely read the How to Survive an Airship crash, if only for the entertainment value.

 

[Glyfair]

Glyfair, would you please go into further detail about the two unseen prestige classes, like requirements, BAB, saves and spellcasting progression? Are there any nifty abilities connected to either prestige class and how specialised is the Thunder Guide? Is it completely useless outside the Thunder Sea? Thanks in advance. And I'm going to pick it up as soon as possible, but your description made me curious as the content of those two prestige classes.

The Cataclysm Mage basically follows the Mage statwise and gains spellcasting levels all but the first level of it. It can be gained at 6th level (requires a couple of knowledge skills, plus the ability to cast 3rd level arcane spells). The tricky one is the player must have recieved a vision (from the description it sounds like an oracle must have given them the vision).

They gain all sorts of abiliites based on their historical knowledge of history, and some personal prophecies (indeed, the recommendation is that they can't gain a level until a prophecy they make comes true). Their top level ability is the ability to gain any non-siberys dragonmark for 24 hours. It's pointed out that using this ability will draw the ire of the Chamber and other dragons.

The Thunder Guide is best for fighters, really. They can go in at 5th level. You need BAB +4, 3 ranks in Diplomacy, adventured in two areas among a list and speak one of several languages. It has medium BAB advancement and good fort saves.

The abilities tend to vary. They regularly gain new languages (of those spoken in the area). Also, they have two lists of abilities to choose from. The first, Thunder Lore, are secrets you've gained from your contacts within the area. Examples are Ghost of Xen'drik (+4 to Hide, Move Silently and Survival in the jungle) & Malenta Peral Trick (use charm person 1/day with a 100 gp pearl as a focus).

The other, Native Ties, tends to be contact oriented. For example, Drow of Xen'drik means you have a family of Drow as a contact and they'll supply you with up to two items from a list whenever you visit.

 

[Felon]

Felon, if you haven't check out the preview at the Wizards website, it might help you. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20050803a&page=1.

Oh, I've read the WotC excerpts, but I don't want to hear about how great WotC thinks their product is. I want to hear from folks who own it.