Keith Baker (creator of Eberron) Q & A thread

[mythusmage]

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

Keith; the population says 500 miles, the politics say 500 miles, the history says 500 miles, the lands say 500 miles, the geography says 500 miles, the look of the map of Khorvaire says 500 miles. Call 5,000 miles a typo and make life easier. The book better fits a land 500 miles from east to west. Listen to the book.

 

[I'm A Banana]

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.

Thirded.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

Keith; the population says 500 miles, the politics say 500 miles, the history says 500 miles, the lands say 500 miles, the geography says 500 miles, the look of the map of Khorvaire says 500 miles. Call 5,000 miles a typo and make life easier. The book better fits a land 500 miles from east to west. Listen to the book.

Um,...16 million+ in a 500 mile wide landmass leaves:
a)No room for monsters to hide.
b)No room for ruins to be discovered.
c)Too many people in one area.

from http://www.npg.org/states/fl.htm and http://www.fact-index.com/f/fl/florida.html

At about 16 million people, an 23 percent increase since 1990, Florida's population growth is overwhelming the state's growth management efforts, straining schools and highways, drying up already scare water supplies, swallowing valued open space, and destroying the state's quality of life. Florida adds 750 people every day.

Using my state as an example. Miami, Ft Lauderdale, and Palm Beach are essential one continous city. Tampa is almost a continous city down to Sarasota (other side of the bay). Orlando is BOOMING with people trying to run the tourism industry there. Jacksonville covers a huge land area with 1 million+ residents. Within an 800km area, there are 15,982,378 humans.

Now where are the mosters? The ruins? Anything other than human cities?

5,000 miles is appropriate, and gives more to add in stuff as a DM.

 

[Gez]

I can't understand why people wants to have 21st century-like worldwide population figures AND wide unexplored wildlands AND lost worlds AND non-humanoid civilizations with high numbers of people AND untamed wildernesses full of monsters AND forgotten kingdoms full of ruins AND the aftermath of several massive wars that claimed enough lives to build a tower of bones climbing up to the moon AND all that on a single continent the size of Australia.

And find it "unrealistic" and "breaking the suspension of disbelief" when they're told that, no, numbers are much lower.

Go figure.

 

[buzz]

5,000 miles is appropriate, and gives more to add in stuff as a DM.

I have no problem with the size of the continents... I am a bit puzzled by the individual area maps, though. Each one's scale says that it's about 500 miles on a side, but the maps look like maps of much smaller regions. I mean, according to these maps, there are hardly any towns less than 50-100 miles apart, and most of the forests are about 100 miles.

I know that these maps are just highlighting the major centers of population, but it just seems a little big and sparse. I mean, each one is about 5 times the size of England!

 

[Hellcow]

Keith; the population says 500 miles, the politics say 500 miles, the history says 500 miles, the lands say 500 miles, the geography says 500 miles, the look of the map of Khorvaire says 500 miles. Call 5,000 miles a typo and make life easier. The book better fits a land 500 miles from east to west. Listen to the book.

You can do so if you want, MM -- that's the beauty of running your own campaign. But I disagree. As I've said before, in my mind the degree of open and potentially unexplored space is a critical part of being able to adventure in the world. There are Dhakaani ruins that no one has discovered, manifest zones that no one has found. There could be a lost tribe of grimlocks tucked away in the middle of Breland. With Eberron, we aren't *trying* to make a world that feels like medieval Europe; we are trying to make a world with as much room for adventure as possible. Vast stretches of uninhabited lands means put what you want in those spaces.

I have no problem with the size of the continents... I am a bit puzzled by the individual area maps, though. Each one's scale says that it's about 500 miles on a side, but the maps look like maps of much smaller regions. I mean, according to these maps, there are hardly any towns less than 50-100 miles apart, and most of the forests are about 100 miles.

I didn't actually work on the final maps for the book. All I can say to this is that I think they've only picked out a few towns to mention. Just adding up the population listed for Breland as is, you're talking less than a 1/6th of the population accounted for by the settlements as listed. The nations will be developed further in the detail, but at the moment, use what's there as a guideline but feel free to drop communities in as you see fit.

In general, anywhere there is a settlement on the map, I would assume a circle of thorps, hamlets, and villages spreading out around it, with some gap between it and the next population center. The spots on the map presumably indicate the areas most suitable to habitation, either due to fertile land (and remember, geography aside, magic may play a role here; a place set on a manifest zone to Lammannia will be the most fertile land around, even if geographically this doesn't add up), lack of natural predators, pre-existing fortifications, or what have you. As noted above, it is supposed to be the case that there are significant gaps between major population centers; here again you have some room to place Dhakaani ruins, remnants of the Daelkyr War, monstrous enclaves, or what have you.

 

[fredramsey]

Amen! I love the distances between towns. I hate having population centers 1 day or less walk from each other. Boring! As other people have said, this is not Europe, this is not earth, this is not a real place. Magic and monsters and ruins and other planes of existance. The land can be laid out any way the DM wants it. If you want overpopulated land masses, I suggest Kalamar.

Thanks Keith, for a great adventuring world!

<snip> As I've said before, in my mind the degree of open and potentially unexplored space is a critical part of being able to adventure in the world. There are Dhakaani ruins that no one has discovered, manifest zones that no one has found. There could be a lost tribe of grimlocks tucked away in the middle of Breland. With Eberron, we aren't *trying* to make a world that feels like medieval Europe; we are trying to make a world with as much room for adventure as possible. Vast stretches of uninhabited lands means put what you want in those spaces. <snip>

 

[Enforcer]

I posted this on the WotC "Ask Keith Baker" thread as well, but just in case:

The text description of Leafweave armor says it's not only as tough and as flexible as leather, but less weight and encumbrance. In the stats, Leafweave is certainly as tough (+2 armor bonus) and as flexible (same Armor Check Penalty, better Max Dex Bonus, better Arcane Failure %), but it weighs exactly the same (15 lbs.). Is Leafweave Armor supposed to be lighter than Leather Armor? I can't imagine anyone paying 75x the cost of Leather Armor for Leafweave as is.

 

[ironmani]

Ok after reading some of the stuff in the Eberron book I have a question about Bronzewood. Could a Druid have created for him bronzewood weapons and not suffer ther penalties for them due to said weapons not being metal? The same goes for Leafweave armor and Darkleaf armor.

 

[SpuneDagr]

Ok after reading some of the stuff in the Eberron book I have a question about Bronzewood. Could a Druid have created for him bronzewood weapons and not suffer ther penalties for them due to said weapons not being metal? The same goes for Leafweave armor and Darkleaf armor.

That's the whole point of having them, so yes.