Keith Baker (creator of Eberron) Q & A thread

[apsuman]

Originally Posted by apsuman: "Ok, what happens if someone puts an immovable rod in place above the stones?"



No need to wait. You can do it right now, this very minute!

...

So what are you doing with your magic immovable rod now?

I am comparing it to my non-magic immovable rod.

 

[apsuman]

As for the rod and the train.

As I understand it, the original (at leat US) trains were made in the days before the bessemer steel process. So, the rails were made of pig iron. Also, there was no good way to secure the end of the rails to the ground. The result of this is that the trains (heavy with cargo) would exert downward pressure upon on the rail much like a scissor's blade would upon a ribbon, and like scissors and ribbons, the rail would curl... up.

The result was an immovable rod, and it would derail and rip through trains like a knife through butter.

 

[Hellcow]

Anyway, as we started making characters for Eberron, there were a few warforged-related questions left unanswered (or at least I didn't find a solution in the book)

Glad you like it, Flyspeck! As regards your questions, Staffan has answered them all correctly (thanks, Staffan!).

 

[Staffan]

Glad you like it, Flyspeck! As regards your questions, Staffan has answered them all correctly (thanks, Staffan!).

You're welcome

 

[dravot]

Hi Keith!

This is one of the most enjoyable d20 books I've looked at, I think. The more I read, the more I want to try out a campaign in Eberron.

Is there a relationship between celestials and the deities? If so, what is it?
Same for fiends and the deities.

Or celestials/fiends and the Prime, for that matter.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

I'd personally give the heroes 32 point buy.
(or 88 at a 1:1 ratio) or just use the normal rolling method. 4d6 drop the lowest.

Given the lower levels seen throughout the book, I'd use 28 point. The fact that the PC's will outstrip most NPC's in level soon enough will counteract any feelings of being "weak".

 

[Hellcow]

Lightning Round!

OK. I have less than 24 hours to complete a big deadline, and then I'm going ot be away from the computer for five days. So I'm afraid I have to be as quick as possible. As a result, the more complicated questions (moons, theory behind warforged design) are going to get pushed, and I apologize for that. I hope to answer all questions in time. But for now, I'm going to have to answer the questions that can be answered quickly. Thanks for your patience.

Lots of questions already! Mine also involves the War Forged. Their armor "skin" can have enchantments. Does this include Glamor? If so- does this mean they can appear to be something other than a war forged or does the plateing simpily become more decorative or less?

I would say that the changes would be cosmetic only. A warforged with an adamantine body could appear to only have composite plating. And you could certainly play up decorative aspects. But you couldn't change into a form other than a warforged.

Keith, what level point buy do you recommend for Eberron characters?

I would go for 28 or 32, depending on your personal preference. Characters are supposed to be exceptional individuals. I do feel that a flaw adds color to a character, though.

Would things like elemental binding work without the mechanics of dragonshards?

You could certainly use elemental binding without dragonshards.

As a simple, harmless historical curiosity ( ), what powers did the Mark of Death provide?

I am not at liberty to say -- sorry!

Do Warforged feel pain? Or do they just acknowledge damage?

Warforged can suffer nonlethal damage, and are subject to the effects of a symbol of pain. So they certainly receive an unpleasant sensation that can temporarily render them unconscious as a result of damage. However, I doubt that it is exactly the same way that a human feels pain. If you attain construct perfection -- becoming invulnerable to nonlethal damage -- that most likely represents a change in the way you experience pain.

As a default within the setting, do any of the player races other than the Kalashtar manifest psionic powers?

All races have the potential to manifest powers with proper training; for the quori-touched races, it is a natural gift.

I'm sorry if this info has been posted elsewhere, but I wanted to ask why a color pull-out map wasn't included, and if there will be one with another product.

You'd have to take the "why" up with WotC. I know there will be a map released in one of the magazines.

I was wondering what expansions / accessories are currently planned.

Currently, two adventures and the sourcebook for Sharn have been revealed. Other things are in the works, but until WotC reveals them I can't say nuthin.'

Are you going to do a list of monsters that seem out of place? Or as the book says all of the monsters from the Monster Manual fit in Eberron?

Most anything could be put in the Mournland or Xen'drik, if you really want it in the world and can't see a better place for it. That's one of the goals of the Mournland: to have a place where there can be an odd assortment of monsters in the midst of a fairly civilized realm.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

Keith, did you intend for everyone to look so grim, angry or otherwise unhappy in Eberron, or is that just an artist's interpretation? Is it appropriate for my PC to smile every so often?

No, you are only allowed to frown and scowl, and everything must be dark. The sun never shines, and it rains...constantly. If you deviate, the WotC ninjas will come for you.

You have been warned.

 

[Hellcow]

Last Answers for Today

What kind of things does the Order of the Emerald Claw do? Whenever they're mentioned, it's always to say that they're Vol's military arm. So... what does a lich in hiding DO with a military arm? What do they get up to now that the Last War is over?

Supporting the necromancers and priests as they continue to seek ways to build their power: Searching for weapons hidden in the Mournland or the cause of the Mourning itself. Building horrible eldritch machines. Exploring Xen'drik for lost secrets of the elves and giants. Scheming with the Stillborn to destroy the Undying Court. Trying to find ways to restore the Mark of Death. Fighting a secret war with the Church of the Silver Flame. Working with sympathetic Karrn nobles to seize power in Karrnath. You know, kid stuff.

Will there be a metaplot for Eberron? In other words, will the world move forward like Forgotten Realms, or will it remain still and just get more details revealed like Exalted?

This is up to WotC, but I doubt you'd see any major enforced changes for quite some time, if at all. There's a lot of stories to explore without huge changes to the world. Five-ten years from now (if the world is still around, he says, crossing his fingers), maybe. But I don't know of any plans that would impose major changes on the world.

In the timeline in the book it mentions the creation of 2 (or is it 3) new dragonmarks after the war of the mark and the establishment of "the twelve". The war of the mark also happens after the 13th mark was "thought" to be destroyed.

Alder d'Cannith had studied the history of the houses and knew that the Mark of Death was destroyed, and from his arcane studies he was confident that there were indeed twelve pure marks, even though only ten had been discovered, and only ten houses were part of the organization. Alder was highly respected, and the others let it go.

Is "divine magic" in that instance not to be taken in game terms but rather the flavor of drawing power from a deity? Would it be more accurate to say that the Ashbound abhor non-animistic divine magic?

Yes. Druidic magic comes from the world itself. These people who profess to draw their power from "gods" are most likely the agents of demons or other foul spirits, whether they know it or not. Though frankly, I've always put arcane magic ahead of divine magic for the Ashbound hit list.

Bear in mind that it is possible to have a moderate Ashbound (which is the only way you'd see an Ashbound PC). While their ranks include violent fanatics, there are Ashbound who will try to reason with spellcasters -- calling on a cleric to question the source of her powers, pointing to the Mournland as a possible consequence of toying with arcane forces. It doesn't have to be "DIE, cleric!" -- it can also be "Do you know what you're doing?"

Why the decision to split the demons and devils among several different planes? Do these outsiders have any common heritage any longer? (IE, the Balor and the Marilith having any common unity aside from "tanar'ri" traits?)

I'll address the first question when I have more time. As for the second, my inclination is to say "no"; they draw their identity from the planes. Just like there are felines and canines on different continents, there are demons and devils on different planes. The fiends of Shavarath are part of Shavarath. But I'd like to see what James thinks about this; perhaps I'll change my mind. (And hey, if you want to do things differently, it's your call.)

 

[Driddle]

Keith, is it true that the 13th dragonmark is the Mark of Supersizing, and that anyone who developed it sort of ate themselves to death? (Least mark led to diabetes, greater mark led to heart failure, etc.)