Forgotten Realms vs Eberron NPCs

[thecasualoblivion]

Just a comparison between "big names" that have been given stats for 4E:

Forgotten Realms

Manshoon-level 28
Fzoul Chembryl-level 28
Szass Tam-level 30
Jarlaxle Baenre-level 21
Drizzt DoUrden-level 21(from sample character in DDI Character Builder

vs

Eberron

Lady Vol-level 19(from 4E ECG preview)


I know FR has had a hard on for Epic level NPCs for a long time now, but I find it interesting that Eberron places one of their "name" NPCs in the high Paragon tier instead. It does bear some discussing, as to the consequences of having as many epic level NPCs as FR does, and what it means for the setting.

 

[Nymrohd]

Eberron has tons of epic NPCs. They are just horrid immortal monsters instead of wizards who forgot to die.

 

[jdrakeh]

Eberron has tons of epic NPCs. They are just horrid immortal monsters instead of wizards who forgot to die.

Being horrid immortal monsters means that they exist to be killed (presumably by PCs). I'm down with this. This is D&D to me. This does not seem to be the default assumption where many FR NPCs of vast power are concerned. If evil, many epic FR NPCs exist only to be killed by good epic FR NPCs as part of a novelized story arc. If good, many epic FR NPCs exist only to kill epic evil FR NPCs as previously described or, alternately, to dispense quests to PCs like some kind of fantasy social worker. I blame it on TSR and their push to canonize the novel lines. Feh.

 

[Nymrohd]

Oh certainly i did not mean to compare function. Just noted that Eberron has a massive number of epic level threats, and dozens of unique high epic tier solos are possible. (I do wonder if anything will ever come close to the strength of Ioulaum though . . .)

 

[thecasualoblivion]

It bears saying that Eberron generally does not have Epic-level NPCs that are well known pillars of civilized world, for good or ill.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Elminster is there to be killed. Like everything else in D&D.

In my view, it's the best way to play him.

 

[Crothian]

In 3e there were very few high level NPCs in Eberron so it doesn't suprise me that that is still the case.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Being horrid immortal monsters means that they exist to be killed (presumably by PCs). I'm down with this. This is D&D to me. This does not seem to be the default assumption where many FR NPCs of vast power are concerned. If evil, many epic FR NPCs exist only to be killed by good epic FR NPCs as part of a novelized story arc. If good, many epic FR NPCs exist only to kill epic evil FR NPCs as previously described or, alternately, to dispense quests to PCs like some kind of fantasy social worker. I blame it on TSR and their push to canonize the novel lines. Feh.

I again agree 100%, the defualt realms should have always been the novels are NOT canon...

Elminster is there to be killed. Like everything else in D&D.

In my view, it's the best way to play him.

man I wish I played in your group...

 

[Bumbles]

Try Birthright instead. Double Digits are high.

 

[stonegod]

Mordain the Fleshweaver was one of the few near Epic threats in Eberron; he's level 21 in Dragon 372. A certain important person

Spoiler

Kaius III

was also relatively high level; I expect them to be high paragon tier instead of Epic. As mentioned before, the Epic Threats tend to be really old (so old as to make Lady Vol seem young): Rakshasa fiends, Daelkyr masters, Dragon Sages, and, of course, the Overlords.

(This discounts Secrets of Argonessen, which had its own "Epic Level Town". While I understand what it was there, it just smells tacked-on to me. I.e., "We need a place for epic level PCs... okay, here we go...).