Keith Baker (creator of Eberron) Q & A thread

[Buzzardo]

Keith,

First and foremost, congratulations! As one of the 4 billion who submitted a one-pager, I think eberron kicks ass. I spent 5 hours on a plane 3 days ago and couldn't put it down. I can't wait to start playing it, and I can't wait for the modules. As for those who don't care for it... well, there is no accounting for taste is there?

My question is: Can you comment on the Talenta Sarrash? It is the scythe like reach weapon. It is a reach weapon with trip ability that does d10 damage (M) and has a threat range of 19-20 and crit damage of x4.

What is the thinking behind this, and do you feel it is overpowered? Compared to other weapons available in core rules and expansions it is way more powerful that any other weapon available.

Parker

 

[Remathilis]

Without hijacking it too far, my take on XPH races...

ELAN: In an attempt to turn the tide on the Inspired, the Kalashtar of Adar began a ritual that gave normal humans a liberal dose of psychic enegy. They were to be the perfect spies/infiltrators of the Inspired, but eventually, the Inspired learned the technique themselves. Now, both sides have created a small amount of these supersoldiers in their psychic war. Like the warforged, others have left the war to go elsewhere, like Khorvaire, and begin life anew.

DROMITE: Another race, found sparringly in Xen'drik and Sarlona

MAENAD: Descendants of A Quorti long ago, found mostly in the Lhazaar Principalities.

HALF-GIANT: Breed long ago from Giant and Quorti inspired stock, but the Giant's portal magic freed them and allowed them to live and grow in Xen'drik.

XEPH: Demon wastes, living in secret.

Duergar: Servator race of dwarves corrupted by the those who dwell below.

Giths: come from the proper planes

Thri-Kreen: Found in the Wilds of Xen'drik.

 

[Driddle]

Is it true that your original concept for Eberonnish elves included a seven-year adult mating cycle which could drive a character into an insane rage every so often if wasn't able to have sex?

 

[Hellcow]

The difference is that the werebear has an ECL of +8 (9 for natural lycanthropes) and the wererat has an ECL of +2 (3 for natural lycanthropes). So the difference in stats in normal lycanthropes is reflected (somewhat) in the difference in animal HD, and thus in ECL.

Yes, agreed, Brekki; I wasn't actually trying to get into a discussion of the lycanthropes themselves, and I apologize if my comment offended you. But the point you riase is exactly the point I was making. The werebear is a more powerful creature than the wererat, just as the bear is more powerful than the rat. If the stat modifiers were perfectly balanced, the weretouched master would either fail to reflect the power of the werebear, or be far more powerful than the wererat he is supposedly duplicating. That is why I would not try to balance the statistic modifiers; the power of the bear is an accurate depiction of the werebear itself. Instead, I would look at providing the weaker forms with a minor additional ability reflecting the lycanthrope it is duplicating. For example, a wererat could spread filth fever with its bite, darkvision while shifted, or gain weapon finesse as a bonus feat (not that Weapon Finesse necessarily balances against +16 Str: I'm throwing out ideas, not carefully thought out solutions). The goal of the weretouched master is to resemble the true lycanthrope; the question is how best to do that in a way in which no form gets cheated, given that the creatures are *not* equally powerful.

As with everything I say on this board, I should note that this is my personal opinion; I am not actually an employee of WotC, and I did not design the abilities of the Weretouched Master. So don't take my suggestions as official errata.

Speaking of errata...

My question is: Can you comment on the Talenta Sarrash?

Yes. The critical modifier on the sharrash is too high and will be addressed in errata, but I don't remember what it is off the top of my head.

Is it true that your original concept for Eberonnish elves included a seven-year adult mating cycle which could drive a character into an insane rage every so often if wasn't able to have sex?

Of course! But don't forget the +16 Strength during the rage. And the natural psionic abilities...

(Close-captioned for the humor-impaired: no.)

 

[apsuman]

If my reading is accurate, the lightning rail travels above the "tracks" (stones), not on them. So my guess would be, pretty much nothing at all happens.

Ok, what happens if someone puts an immovable rod in place above the stones?

 

[apsuman]

Ok, what happens if someone puts an immovable rod in place above the stones?

Oh, I just thought of an answer. Just like Babbage, yes that Babbage, designed the cow catcher on the front of the 19th century locomotive, their could be a "rod catcher" on the front of the lightning trainy things.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

Oh, I just thought of an answer. Just like Babbage, yes that Babbage, designed the cow catcher on the front of the 19th century locomotive, their could be a "rod catcher" on the front of the lightning trainy things.

Wouldn't work. Cows can be moved.

Unless you assume the rod is destroyed on contact and the magic is disrupted, the only result you could have is a "derailment". That rod ain't gonna budge, so the lightning rail will have to.

BTW - Thanks for the idea! I'm actually going to use that.

 

[apsuman]

Wouldn't work. Cows can be moved.

And lighting rails can't actually exist. It's magic.

And, btw, a DC 30 STR check will move a rod 10 feet. Really, it is not a strech to think that a lightning rail would simply be moving fast enough and have enough force to push the rods out of the the way.

 

[Macbeth]

Ok, what happens if someone puts an immovable rod in place above the stones?

That was my original idea, one that I intend to put into motion as soon as I get the $ to buy Ebberon. And even if the train could push it out of the way, it would still likely deal a good amoun of damage on impact... it might be reasonable to assume the front of the train would give before the rod would move.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

And lighting rails can't actually exist. It's magic.

And, btw, a DC 30 STR check will move a rod 10 feet. Really, it is not a strech to think that a lightning rail would simply be moving fast enough and have enough force to push the rods out of the the way.

Ah... See I was thinking the immovable rod was.....well...immovable.
Given that 8,000 lbs of force can move one, the lightning rail would knock it out of the way. But, I'd rule there is a good chance of it being jarred off its path of stones.