D&D General What do you like about Eberron?

[Zaukrie]

I'm not sure I can add anything that hasn't already been said. Y'all captured my thoughts well. Other than .... My players like playing in it.

 

[Reynard]

If I remember right, Keith Baker has/had a website where he would write 'his' Eberron, which I thought was interesting to see a designer's version of their setting, done without committee.

One article he had that I found very interesting was when he got into the concept of reskinning, which maybe some players weren't familiar with, and as an example, he reskinned a barbarian into a Brelish supersoldier, if I remember right, who instead of being a raging beast, their powers and rage came from alchemical experiments that had been done to them

If you really want to do a deep dive into the Eberron setting, Keith Baker's blog is a must-read. He adds a ton to the pre-existing lore and you can also take or leave what you want

FOr those interested: Dragonmarks – Keith Baker’s Blog

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

It would be easier to list the few parts of the setting that I dislike. I agree with most of what people have mentioned in this thread. I like most of Eberron. I like the focus on politics and intrigue, the Indiana Jones-style pulp adventures, industrialized magic, focus on a major historical event, and nuanced take on fantasy races.

But, above all, I like the mysteries. The unopened mystery boxes that the DM gets to fill to make Eberron their own. What caused the Day of Mourning? Where do Warforged souls come from? Are the Gods real? What is Mordain the Fleshweaver up to? How can the Dreaming Dark be defeated? How can Erandis Vol bring back the Mark of Death? Can the Warforged bring about the Becoming God? What is it like on the Ring of Siberys and Eberron’s many moons?

They are a great source of adventures/campaigns. You can create a whole campaign based around any of Eberron’s mysteries.

Because a major focus of Eberron is that everyone’s approach to the setting will be different and the DM should make their Eberron feel like it’s their take on the setting. You can play multiple different campaigns focused on what caused the Mourning, and have it be unique and fun every time because there are many possible causes. (Not that you should, ideally you would play different campaigns focused on different mysteries/plot hooks.)

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I like how different it is from D&D's normal flavour while still feeling properly like D&D.

 

[Bravesteel25]

If you really want to do a deep dive into the Eberron setting, Keith Baker's blog is a must-read. He adds a ton to the pre-existing lore and you can also take or leave what you want

Thanks! I had no idea he had a blog going until this thread. I've bookmarked it and I'm looking forward to delving into his musings.

 

[Zaukrie]

I like how different it is from D&D's normal flavour while still feeling properly like D&D.

Great summary.

 

[UncleGoblin]

"Camel is a horse designed by comitee."

My overall favorite thing about Eberron is that it allowed a single wildly talented writer to share his imaginative world. I love Dolmenwood and Forgotten Realms for the same reason. Somehow great products are most often made by very few people with many great ideas, Keith Baker is one of them.

And the highest echelon of elves using necromancy in secret is perhaps my favorite single detail of Eberron- it makes total sense

 

[Vael]

This is my favourite DnD setting. Here's why:

1. It invites the GM and players to make it their own. Too often I feel like I'm playing in other people's sandboxes in FR or Greyhawk. Eberron explicitly tells you here are things that we left out so you can decide what they are.
2. Pulp and Noir influences. I like that blend of intrigue and action and PCs just look better with fedoras ;-)
3. Kitchen sink, yet everything fits. This doesn't feel hodge-podge or random, and there are ways to make any PC feel like a part of the world.
4. Artificers!
5. The new Ancestries: Changelings, Warforged, Kalashtar and Shifters are all really cool.
6. Psionics!
7. Sharn. It's an urban setting that feels fun to play in.
8. The vectors of loyalties ... Dragonmarked houses, Nationality ... love that.
9. Draconic Prophecy makes for a great driver of adventure.
10. It's a setting that works for adventurers.

 

[Reynard]

"Camel is a horse designed by comitee."

My overall favorite thing about Eberron is that it allowed a single wildly talented writer to share his imaginative world. I love Dolmenwood and Forgotten Realms for the same reason. Somehow great products are most often made by very few people with many great ideas, Keith Baker is one of them.

And the highest echelon of elves using necromancy in secret is perhaps my favorite single detail of Eberron- it makes total sense

Eberron was still very much "made by committee", and is probably better for it.

 

[Gradine]

Eberron was still very much "made by committee", and is probably better for it.

Keith would in fact be the first to tell you that, also