Starting an Eberron campaign - Which books besides the ECS would you recommend?
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WayneLigon
Adventurer
I'd recommend Races of Eberron, Five Nations and Dragonmarked for greater detail in the most important areas. I just picked up all the books save the most recent one and I like them all, but I'd say those would be the best of the rest to pick up. You could do a perfectly good job with just the main campaign book and Sharn, though. You might want to look at some Dungeon issues for adventures.
Sharn: City of Towers positively *oozes* flavor. It's an incredibly dense book that helps to set the tone for the setting. True to its title, it focuses on Sharn, but even if you're not going to spend much time there, it discusses some other important setting bits, such as the Code of Galifar (legal system).
Races of Eberron has some great rules bits; excellent feats, racial substitution levels, and PrCs in particular. With the exception of the *fantastic* Kalashtar chapter, the fluff chapters range from uninspiring (Warforged, Shifter) to downright damaging (Changeling "Passer/Becomer/Reality Seeker" nonsense, I'm looking right at *you*).
Faiths of Eberron does a fantastic job of fleshing out the beliefs of the Sovereign Host; I like the rest of the book quite a bit as well.
Dragonmarked has great options for 'marked characters and the abberant 'marked.
I own all the rest, with the exceptions of Secrets of Xen'Drik and Player's Guide to Eberron (less gaming funds these days than I'd like). I've liked them all so far, but Magic of Eberron has excited me the least.
How much exposure to/familiarity with the setting do you have so far? Do you have any ideas as to particular parts of the setting that you or your players would enjoy most/would like to focus on? That could drive your purchases as well.
In any event, make sure that you take advantage of the Dragonshards articles as well - there's some great stuff there! Blades of the Quori, Gnomes of Zilargo, Heirs of Dhakaan, and Daughters of Sora Kell are among my favorites.
Races of Eberron has some great rules bits; excellent feats, racial substitution levels, and PrCs in particular. With the exception of the *fantastic* Kalashtar chapter, the fluff chapters range from uninspiring (Warforged, Shifter) to downright damaging (Changeling "Passer/Becomer/Reality Seeker" nonsense, I'm looking right at *you*).
Faiths of Eberron does a fantastic job of fleshing out the beliefs of the Sovereign Host; I like the rest of the book quite a bit as well.
Dragonmarked has great options for 'marked characters and the abberant 'marked.
I own all the rest, with the exceptions of Secrets of Xen'Drik and Player's Guide to Eberron (less gaming funds these days than I'd like). I've liked them all so far, but Magic of Eberron has excited me the least.
How much exposure to/familiarity with the setting do you have so far? Do you have any ideas as to particular parts of the setting that you or your players would enjoy most/would like to focus on? That could drive your purchases as well.
In any event, make sure that you take advantage of the Dragonshards articles as well - there's some great stuff there! Blades of the Quori, Gnomes of Zilargo, Heirs of Dhakaan, and Daughters of Sora Kell are among my favorites.
Glyfair
Explorer
First, and most importantly, I'd recommend the PHB, DMG & MM 
Also, add the XPH to that list.
Of Eberron specific books I'd recommend Five Nations, Sharn: City of TowersDragonmarked, Player's Guide to Eberron & Faiths of Eberron. I also recommend Secrets of Xen'drik & Secrets of Sarlona if you have any intention of heading to those areas (and Xen'drik is hard to avoid in most long term campaigns).
Of Eberron non-specific I'd recommend the MMIII, because many of the monsters were created for Eberron, but didn't make the cut for the campaign setting (runehound, warforged charger, full stats for the poison dusk and blackscale lizardfolk.
Also, add the XPH to that list.Of Eberron specific books I'd recommend Five Nations, Sharn: City of TowersDragonmarked, Player's Guide to Eberron & Faiths of Eberron. I also recommend Secrets of Xen'drik & Secrets of Sarlona if you have any intention of heading to those areas (and Xen'drik is hard to avoid in most long term campaigns).
Of Eberron non-specific I'd recommend the MMIII, because many of the monsters were created for Eberron, but didn't make the cut for the campaign setting (runehound, warforged charger, full stats for the poison dusk and blackscale lizardfolk.
Tzarevitch
First Post
I recommend in order of most useful on down.
1) Five Nations - decent background on the post-Galifar nations of Khorvaire. It is very short on detail but it is still very useful in figuring out how the post-Galifar nations operate. It is pretty much a must if your campaign is based anywhere in the Five Nations core areas. If it was as detailed and well written as Secrets of Sarlona it would blow the others away hands down. As it stands it ranks just a shred ahead of PGtE below.
2) Players Guide to Eberron - Good general adventurerer and DM background for the setting. It has a lot of stuff that the Eberron core book missed or left rather vague. It is a very good value for your buck. The topics in the book tend to be very ecclectic, but the information is generally usfeul.
3) Magic of Eberron - What is AD&D without magic? It is a must for artificers and helps explain a bit on the quirks and flavor of magic in the setting.
If cash permits add these two:
4) Faiths of Eberron - Very good source on the nature of religion in Eberron. This book should've been out earlier. Very informative for the DM on how the religions actually work and how they are viewed by ordinary folk.
5) Dragonmarked - Same as "Faiths" above except explains the Dragonmarked Houses. An absolute must for any dragonmarked PCs or NPCs or if the DM plans on giving the houses more than a passing glance in his campaign.
The other books are all good too but only if you expect your campaign to deal with those areas or topics much. Races of Eberron is a decent book but truthfully if you are on limited budget you can easily do without it. Personally I was mildly disappointed with it. It wasted too much space on races that change little in Eberron and not enough on races who are radically different in culture and outlook from their core 3.5 cousins. Make your players buy it if they want to use it.
Secrets of Xen'Drik and Secrets of Sarlona are only really useful if you plan on using those continents or their inhabitants. Don't get me wrong, Secrets of Sarlona in particular is a very good and interesting work. But if you don't plan on using the Quori it is a paperweight. Secrets of Xen'Drik is less useful in general as it is poorly organized in my opinion (but still an interesting read if you can find the information you are looking for). The useful text is broken up by big clunky stat blocks and topics are rather illogically placed.
I think there is one more book I am forgetting, but that is probably for a reason
Tzarevitch
1) Five Nations - decent background on the post-Galifar nations of Khorvaire. It is very short on detail but it is still very useful in figuring out how the post-Galifar nations operate. It is pretty much a must if your campaign is based anywhere in the Five Nations core areas. If it was as detailed and well written as Secrets of Sarlona it would blow the others away hands down. As it stands it ranks just a shred ahead of PGtE below.
2) Players Guide to Eberron - Good general adventurerer and DM background for the setting. It has a lot of stuff that the Eberron core book missed or left rather vague. It is a very good value for your buck. The topics in the book tend to be very ecclectic, but the information is generally usfeul.
3) Magic of Eberron - What is AD&D without magic? It is a must for artificers and helps explain a bit on the quirks and flavor of magic in the setting.
If cash permits add these two:
4) Faiths of Eberron - Very good source on the nature of religion in Eberron. This book should've been out earlier. Very informative for the DM on how the religions actually work and how they are viewed by ordinary folk.
5) Dragonmarked - Same as "Faiths" above except explains the Dragonmarked Houses. An absolute must for any dragonmarked PCs or NPCs or if the DM plans on giving the houses more than a passing glance in his campaign.
The other books are all good too but only if you expect your campaign to deal with those areas or topics much. Races of Eberron is a decent book but truthfully if you are on limited budget you can easily do without it. Personally I was mildly disappointed with it. It wasted too much space on races that change little in Eberron and not enough on races who are radically different in culture and outlook from their core 3.5 cousins. Make your players buy it if they want to use it.
Secrets of Xen'Drik and Secrets of Sarlona are only really useful if you plan on using those continents or their inhabitants. Don't get me wrong, Secrets of Sarlona in particular is a very good and interesting work. But if you don't plan on using the Quori it is a paperweight. Secrets of Xen'Drik is less useful in general as it is poorly organized in my opinion (but still an interesting read if you can find the information you are looking for). The useful text is broken up by big clunky stat blocks and topics are rather illogically placed.
I think there is one more book I am forgetting, but that is probably for a reason
Tzarevitch
blargney the second
blargney the minute's son
What kind of game would you like to run? Is there a particular continent that you'd like to spend the beginning or majority of the campaign?
-blarg
-blarg
MadMaxim
First Post
Eberron is a great setting and I wish you good luck with your campaign. And I'll second what many of the others already said. You already got the campaign setting and Sharn, so here follows:
1) Player's Guide to Eberron - It has something on all the topics you're likely to ask yourself questions about concerning the setting. It's like an encyclopedia for Eberron.
2) Five Nations - Good information on the different nations and one prestige class for each of them.
3) Magic of Eberron - I know some people didn't like it very much and it may not be as good as its Forgotten Realms counterpart, but I still think it's essential.
4) Faiths of Eberron - Just got it today, so I just think you need it as well
5) Races of Eberron - It has got some good stuff for the new races of Eberron. In my mind, it's definitely worth picking up if any of your players run a changeling, kalashtar, shifter or warforged.
6) Dragonmarked - I've only browsed it, but it seems to make dragonmarked PCs more viable and gives them a load of options in terms of feats and prestige classes that focus on the marks.
Explorer's Handbook isn't essential and I think many view it as one of the worst of the Eberron sourcebooks. I still think it's fair, but then again, I just got to get everything for this setting
Secrets of Xen'drik is only good if you ever plan to get the party to Xen'drik. It contains a bunch of adventuring sites and locations that can be inserted into your expeditions into the strange country.
1) Player's Guide to Eberron - It has something on all the topics you're likely to ask yourself questions about concerning the setting. It's like an encyclopedia for Eberron.
2) Five Nations - Good information on the different nations and one prestige class for each of them.
3) Magic of Eberron - I know some people didn't like it very much and it may not be as good as its Forgotten Realms counterpart, but I still think it's essential.
4) Faiths of Eberron - Just got it today, so I just think you need it as well
5) Races of Eberron - It has got some good stuff for the new races of Eberron. In my mind, it's definitely worth picking up if any of your players run a changeling, kalashtar, shifter or warforged.
6) Dragonmarked - I've only browsed it, but it seems to make dragonmarked PCs more viable and gives them a load of options in terms of feats and prestige classes that focus on the marks.
Explorer's Handbook isn't essential and I think many view it as one of the worst of the Eberron sourcebooks. I still think it's fair, but then again, I just got to get everything for this setting
Secrets of Xen'drik is only good if you ever plan to get the party to Xen'drik. It contains a bunch of adventuring sites and locations that can be inserted into your expeditions into the strange country.
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