Unearthed Arcana Unearthed Arcana is Here - and it's all about EBERRON!

Pretty awesome that this series has started

http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/unearthed-arcana-eberron

Will Greyhawk or Dragonlance be next??

Probably Dragonlance. Does Greyhawk have any particular crunchy player bits that aren't covered by the PHB already?

 

[Dausuul]

I'm going to start DMing in the Eberron Setting and for the problem of Dragonmarks only apearing on the 4th level, what do you think about giving non human races the option of having a feat on the first level, exclusivelly for dragonmarks, as long as they get -1 on two atributes or -2 in one?

I strongly recommend adding the requirement that if you do this, your 4th-level ability boost must go to buy off the penalty. Otherwise, you could put -2 into a dump stat, leave the dump stat at 6 forever, and effectively get a free dragonmark feat.

 

[Bolares]

I don´t feel like there are so many dump stats in 5e for the -2 penalty to not affect the PC, wiht the skill tests and saving throws being mainly affected by de abillities.

 

[Dausuul]

I don´t feel like there are so many dump stats in 5e for the -2 penalty to not affect the PC, wiht the skill tests and saving throws being mainly affected by de abillities.

Strength, Intelligence, and Charisma saves are too rare for an additional -1 to be a big deal.

Speaking as a longtime wizard player, wizards dumping Strength is a time-honored tradition and 5E has done nothing to change it. Strength saves are few and far between, and the consequences of failure are seldom catastrophic. My wizards hardly ever carry enough gear to worry about encumbrance, and I can always ritual-cast Tenser's floating disk if I have to. That only leaves Athletics checks, and I have any number of spells that can compensate for not being a good climber and swimmer.

Likewise, if I were building a fighter and didn't have a concept that required high Intelligence, the only thing preventing me from dumping it would be a vague sense of guilt about whether I was adequately roleplaying the low stat. There is no mechanical reason not to. Charisma is also a fine fighter dump stat, just as it's always been.

I don't think there's any class that doesn't have at least one stat it can safely dump.

 

[Bolares]

okay, point taken. LOL
Maybe limiting the penalty to the class related stats or the race bonus stats?

 

[DMZ2112]

I'm going to start DMing in the Eberron Setting and for the problem of Dragonmarks only apearing on the 4th level, what do you think about giving non human races the option of having a feat on the first level, exclusivelly for dragonmarks, as long as they get -1 on two atributes or -2 in one?

Your theory is sound, but I would implement it differently. Don't just let a PC drop two points from their attributes after rolling. You need to modify the method in which such a character generates their ability scores. Either drop the two highest numbers in the standard array by one or remove enough points from the point buy system to drive down high stat modifiers.

I don't have my books with me or I'd pitch you some numbers.

 

[Bolares]

I'm going with the point buy, so they won´t have very high stats, i'm going with that penalty because thats the penalty you have when picking a feat in the 4th level. I'm trying to figure out a whay for anyone who chooses to use this to follow, in my table I will limit the options on wich stat they will put the penalty, so thy don't put it in a dump one

 

[MarkB]

I'm going to start DMing in the Eberron Setting and for the problem of Dragonmarks only apearing on the 4th level, what do you think about giving non human races the option of having a feat on the first level, exclusivelly for dragonmarks, as long as they get -1 on two atributes or -2 in one?

ps: sorry for any grammar error, not my native language

Just allow all races, including humans, to take a Dragonmark feat at 1st level in addition to their other racial features, conditional upon them giving up their 4th-level feat to do so.

Yes, that will make dragonmarked characters more powerful than non-dragonmarked ones for the first three levels, but I don't think that'll break anything. If it seems like it will, then give dragonmarked characters 2-3 fewer action points until 4th level.

 

[Dausuul]

okay, point taken. LOL
Maybe limiting the penalty to the class related stats or the race bonus stats?

You could do that, but then you have to start deciding which stats are "dumpable" based on class and race and whatnot, and it seems like too much hassle. Requiring that the PC use the 4th-level feat slot to buy back the lost points is simple and fair enough. You get to have your dragonmark from levels 1 to 3, with a very minor cost. Starting from level 4, you become identical to a character who was built normally and took the dragonmark at level 4. You get a bit of extra power from levels 1-3, but at the price of locking in your 4th-level build choice to a sub-optimal one; unless you're allowed to cast your dragonmark spells with spell slots, I can't imagine any build in which a dragonmark feat is a better 4th-level choice than +2 to your prime stat.

As an alternative, require that the points be taken off your highest stat. (If you have two equally high stats, you can pick one.) You can then buy them back or not as you choose. It's pretty safe to say that if you put your top score in a stat, it's not a dump stat.

 

[Bolares]

As an alternative, require that the points be taken off your highest stat. (If you have two equally high stats, you can pick one.) You can then buy them back or not as you choose. It's pretty safe to say that if you put your top score in a stat, it's not a dump stat.

This one I like very much, making the penalty hurt, but still giving the player an option in the 4th level. And for Syberis(siberys?) marks, any sugestions?

 

[Dausuul]

This one I like very much, making the penalty hurt, but still giving the player an option in the 4th level. And for Syberis(siberys?) marks, any sugestions?

Can't help with that, my knowledge of Eberron is pretty limited. As I said in my earlier post, my main interest in this article is what I can yoink for my homebrew setting. (Which turns out to be quite a bit, so I'm happy with it and looking forward to the next one.)