What book to get? Five Nations or Exploreres Handbook

[Scorpionfolke]

I'm running a pbp Eberron game dealing with mutant pcs(via D20 Apocalypse) & I'd like to enhance the game by incorporating some additional material from Five Nations, Expolorers Handbook, or maybe even Lords of Madness---which of these three would you recommend? Why?

And thanks!

 

[Aeric]

It really depends on the scope of your game. Explorer's Handbook is useful for PCs that do a lot of travelling to places that are off the beaten track--Xen'drik, Sarlonna, the Demon Wastes, etc. Five Nations is a good sourcebook for games that deal more intimately with the various kingdoms of Khorvaire.

 

[Odhanan]

Five Nations is about Eberron itself.

Explorer's Handbook is about travelling in Eberron.

I'd get the Five Nations first, for the background.

 

[Reynard]

I think Explorers Handbook is a gem, full of neat ideas and useful information. If you're planning on the PCs travelling widely over the whole world, get that.

 

[diaglo]

avoid Lords of Madness.

if you do Eberron... Five Nations for the background.

Explorer's handbook much less. but as a player it might be worth reading.

 

[Jarrod]

Another note for "depends where the adventure is".

If the adventure is in the Five Nations, pick it up. If you're going to be exploring the darkest depths of Africa... err... Xen'Drik, pick up the Explorer's Handbook.

 

[deClench]

It depends on what you're trying to do.

Doing the mutant thing, you may want LoM. It's a very cool book and fits into Eberron easily (though you have to do it yourself).

Five Nations is good, but if you're already do an alternate Eberron, as it sounds you might be, the history of the lands may not be as important.

As for the Explorer's Handbook, I thought it was incredible. Sure there are the rules and numbers for travel which are certainly useful in a pinch. However, the real gem of the book IMO is the encounter sites they talk about. They don't go into tremendous detail, but give enough info to get the DM started. If nothing else, these were incredible inspiration for me as a DM. My players will now be seeking Ashtakala soon. >