Keith Baker (creator of Eberron) Q & A thread

[Hellcow]

How does research work for PCs who don't have the feat? I would assume that wizardly types have been doing research long before the feat got invented.

I think this has been covered officially (IE by Bill Slaviscek) on the WotC boards, but the short form is that it's the difference between me going into a library and trying to find out as much as I can about snails and someone with professional training in digging up information doing the same thing. I'd probably get a bonus to my Knowledge check if I had Knowledge, or a very basic outline of the subject if I didn't, and it would take X amount of time. The person with the Research feat would perform the same task faster and would get more detailed and reliable information. It's not that you can't do research without the feat, rather that the feat represents a talent for locating, sifting through, and organizing information far above just skimming through a bunch of books and looking for "snail".

 

[Hellcow]

How do you See Artificers with Psionics? If they use Feats to Gain Psionic Crafting Feats, and Get skilled in the Use Psionic Device Skill - can they then use that skill like they use Use Magic Device to Created Psionic Arms/Armor and Dorje and Such?

Or, can they Use thier Use Magic Device Skill for Useing Psionic Items?

If you wanted to make a psionic version of the Artificer, I'd swap Use Magic Device with Use Psionic Device, Spellcraft with Psicraft, Knowledge (arcana) to Knowledge (psionics), all of the creation feats with their psionic equivalents, spell-storing item to "power-storing item" (same idea but with psionic powers), and change the augmentation infusions to use psionic abilities. There may be other changes, but you get the idea. I wouldn't allow the artificer as it stands to cover psionics *and* magic. In Eberron, psionics and magic come from different sources (psionics from Dal Quor, Xoriat, and the human mind, while the common theory is that magic is drawn from the three progenitor dragons) -- I think that overlap makes sense for purposes of dispel magic/antimagic field, but the artificer should have more focus.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Thanks a lot K-dog. I very much appreciate your answering the Q's.

 

[GreyWanderer]

Dragonshards

What is the point of incorperating Dragonshard crystals into magic items? There are no rules reducing cost or increasing ptency. Or is it purely for flavor?


Grey

 

[mythusmage]

The Wizard's Boards are acting up (again), so this gets asked here.

Keith, is Khorvaire 5,000 miles east to west or 500 miles east to west?

 

[Hellcow]

What is the point of incorperating Dragonshard crystals into magic items? There are no rules reducing cost or increasing ptency. Or is it purely for flavor?

Purely for favor. The conceit is that many magic items - including existing items from the DMG - cannot be built without the use of dragonshards.

 

[RPGgirl]

I don't know if this has already been covered or not, but I understand WotC is coming out with Living Eberron in January. DO you know what format it is going to take? That is, the region, circle, triad format of LG or the open module format like LGr and the other campaigns.

 

[Hellcow]

The Wizard's Boards are acting up (again), so this gets asked here.

Keith, is Khorvaire 5,000 miles east to west or 500 miles east to west?

Despite the concerns about population density, it's still 5,000 miles across. Certainly, increase the population if it makes you feel better!

 

[pogre]

Keith,

Thanks for doing this - your openness and generous attitude has gained WOTC a usually reluctant customer for this product. I'm sure some of these queries are irksome, but your patient, friendly responses are much appreciated.

 

[RPGgirl]

Keith,

Thanks for doing this - your openness and generous attitude has gained WOTC a usually reluctant customer for this product. I'm sure some of these queries are irksome, but your patient, friendly responses are much appreciated.

ditto ... nice to see someone take the time.

Tracy