LEB Discussion Thread '09

[renau1g]

you can read on scribd without downloading (although it's harder), but there is copyrighted material on there. (i.e full copies of PHB)

You don't need to be intimitely familiar with the Houses, but it's good if someone mentions House Lyrander you can quickly go double check who they are and what they do.

 

[Theroc]

you can read on scribd without downloading (although it's harder), but there is copyrighted material on there. (i.e full copies of PHB)

You don't need to be intimitely familiar with the Houses, but it's good if someone mentions House Lyrander you can quickly go double check who they are and what they do.

Alright, are there any other things in particular I should familiarize myself with before attempting to create a character? Also, can one play a Dragonmarked character without having the Eberron books, or is there something in the books that is required?

 

[ScorpiusRisk]

The Dragonmarks grant certain powers to it's weilder. The benefits are provided through a series of feats in the Eberon Player's Handbook. You can be a member of a Dragonmarked House without having the physical mark.

 

[Kalidrev]

Without access to the specific mechanics of the Dragonmarked feats, it would be difficult to play such a character. If you cannot gain access to the 4e Eberron books, you most definitely can still play, though you will not be able to use the mechanics available in those books. Here's my suggestion (and the greatest bang for your buck):

Subscribe to D&Di; You will gain access to the Character Builder, which has pretty much everything you could need to build a character. Although it is always a month behind on products, that's not a long time to wait to see it in the builder. Simply configure the Character Builder so that the only available options match the LEB charter and BLAM, now you have an LEB character generator! I don't know if this is an option (due to the cost) but it's an idea!

Also, as far as the Grand History of Eberon is concerned, the creator has given credit to all of those who are due credit, and has even had contact with Kieth Baker about it. No need to worry about legalities there! There are NO mechanics at all in the Grand History, just background and history of the world, complete with chapters for each of the houses! The perfect way to get a feel for the world is to first get a base idea of WHAT and WHO is in the world (especially Sharn, since that's where you start!) and then to play in it. No need to memorize the Grand History (I know I haven't), just peruse it and learn what you WANT to learn about the world. It's especially great for DMs as it's got entries for each of the main locations/countries.

 

[ryryguy]

Without access to the specific mechanics of the Dragonmarked feats, it would be difficult to play such a character. If you cannot gain access to the 4e Eberron books, you most definitely can still play, though you will not be able to use the mechanics available in those books.

Just as a side note, it's theoretically possible to play a character with a dragonmark but without taking the dragonmark feat. Without the feat you don't get the mark-specific mechanics, but you can still be marked as far as the story goes. You could even say that some of your class powers and so forth are powered by or enhanced by the mark - not in terms of game mechanics, but in terms of story.

This would be a pretty unusual choice, though. Most people would take the feat. The feat abilities are pretty good for the most part.

Another thing, characters can manifest dragonmarks at any time. So if you only got access to the books and the feats later on, your character could pick up a dragonmarked feat at that time.

 

[Theroc]

Alas, at the moment I am too strapped for cash to even afford the 3$ a month to support enworld, let alone afford a D&Di subscription(though I admit I don't know the actual costs), as much as I'd love to be able to buy all the books and subscribe(I've been interested in 3.x D&D and more recently been looking into 4th), but my monetary situation is such that I literally have no disposable income.

Waiting on the Dragonmarks could work, and if I really wanted to incorporate it, could manifest class powers in the future as an Aberrant Dragonmark, and all the story that would rise from that. One question the wiki didn't seem to answer: Is position in a House birth only? And how racially discriminant is it?

A less Eberron related and more LEB specific question: Which roles are least common here on LEB at the moment? Defenders and Controllers sounded to be the lesser roles on Living 4th, is it the same here?

 

[stonegod]

Scribd (the service) is legal. what folks post there may or may not be. Its like bittorrent: Its legal, but some folks use it illegally.

As for the Grand History: Much of it is from the Dragonshard articles from the Wizards site, others from the various texts. I know some of it is verbatim, so it some of it may or may not be considered infringment. It doesn't have crunch, but fluff is also covered by copyright. Unless Hellcow (Keith) has permission to grant license to the Dragonshard articles (i.e., he didn't sign the rights over to WotC), it really doesn't matter if the author talked to him for those sections.

I'd have to look at it in more depth with my books, but if you want to make sure you have no possible issue, then its safest not to download it. Use the Eberron Wiki instead.

 

[stonegod]

Waiting on the Dragonmarks could work, and if I really wanted to incorporate it, could manifest class powers in the future as an Aberrant Dragonmark, and all the story that would rise from that. One question the wiki didn't seem to answer: Is position in a House birth only? And how racially discriminant is it?

Position in a House is by birth directly or indirectly (i.e., you are a child of a known member or you manifest a mark (and are of the right race). Many work for a House, so they are in a sense 'members', but they are not scions. They incorprate many races in different houses, but only those of the right race can manifest the mark (except PCs. PCs are special).

A less Eberron related and more LEB specific question: Which roles are least common here on LEB at the moment? Defenders and Controllers sounded to be the lesser roles on Living 4th, is it the same here?

Ask r1. He did the census a ways back.

 

[Kalidrev]

Dangit! I got ninja'd!!

 

[Theroc]

Position in a House is by birth directly or indirectly (i.e., you are a child of a known member or you manifest a mark (and are of the right race). Many work for a House, so they are in a sense 'members', but they are not scions. They incorprate many races in different houses, but only those of the right race can manifest the mark (except PCs. PCs are special).

So, my choice of race now won't preclude me from any particular house in the future? I haven't decided on anything in particular, but want to make sure a choice of race besides Human, Elf, Half-Elf or Halfling won't suddenly make it so I cannot join a House besides House Tarkanan(Which doesn't seem to care about race)

Ask r1. He did the census a ways back.

Hopefully he sees this and can post his findings, lol.

I haven't decided on anything in particular, but am looking for something besides a defender(as I just made a Dragonborn Warden on Living 4th, I'd like to make something different here)

Edit: Additional question -

• Where was your character born? Nationality and region of origin plays a large role in Khorvaire, where tensions from the Last War still linger.
• What did you do during the Last War? The Last War changed everything and had a major effect on those living in Khorvaire. Everyone was touched by it.
• Where were you on the Day of Mourning? The Day of Mourning is the singular shared event of the current generation. Most know where they were when it occurred or when the first learned about it.

Where do I find the information regarding these events? Is it in the wiki Renau linked me? I haven't found much of a way to browse it. Should I just search for "Last War" and the "Day of Mourning" in the wiki?