What If?: Advancing The Eberron Metaplot

[Kaodi]

First of all, let me premise this thread with this: Don't do it!

That said, I was reading the first several pages of the Planescape thread and I had an idea that I just wanted to throw out there as a conversational piece:

What if we took inspiration from the genesis of the Eberron campaign setting, the campaign setting search, and iterated on that for advancing the metaplot? Have an "Eberron Metaplot Search" with a few basic rules: Keith Baker may not enter (and maybe not judge) because he is too authoritative on the issue for this experiment to function properly, and the base year cannot be advanced by a number of years greater than that between the Day of Mourning and the default year of the campaign setting, which I believe is four. The final result would be more or less decided by fans themselves, perhaps by some kind of ranked ballot.

With this method you could probably weed out the things most fans of other established settings hated about their metaplot advancements: setting changing apocalypses. Though people would be free to submit metaplots that have those; they would just be unlikely to be selected. You would get four main categories of metaplots: date is before 1000 YK and there has yet to be an "apocalypse"; date is before 1000 YK and there has already been an "apocalypse"; date is after 1000 YK and there has yet to be an apocalypse; and date is after 1000 YK and there was an apocalypse when the millennium turned. The winner would, I think, probably come from the first group, but I would not rule out the third out of hand.

Other than that, there would still be a division between metaplots where somewhat major things happen (i.e. some characters die, other emerge) and those where things have remained on the razor's edge without falling off, where perhaps the pressure has been ratcheted up in some places but they have no boiled over. I think there would be a lot of potential to see great play between those with cool ideas and those who are skillful at manipulating the setting without changing its core much at all.

It would be interesting to see the result I think, and compare the reaction to those that other settings' changed have incurred.

 

[Siberys]

Problem is, anything metaplot advancing without 'ruining' the setting would have to be pretty minor. Part of the reason I like Eberron is the lack of a metaplot, so something too involved would turn me off.

Best bet is some terrorist action (Emerald Claw or the Swords of Liberty or the Lord of Blades or Aundairian Flame adherents, et cetera) reignites the Last War. Use it as a means to advance the political situation in each of the nations, and ramp up tensions. Things like Droaam mobilizing to war, Breland becoming a democracy, et cetera.

Can't involve a repeat of the Mourning, because a repeat would imply who caused it, and that would violate one of the setting's 'no touch' rules. Anything too major, and you turn off fans. :/

Ultimately, my favorite idea that I've seen is a book or series of books with possible 'branches'. Like, here's an example path with a new Mourning, here's Cannith splitting in three, here's the Really Actually Last War.

 

[Kaodi]

Since I had just been loosely thinking about this I do not have many specific ideas myself. The state of the blown out bridge between Aundair/Thrane and Karrnath would probably be a place to look to update the situation. The more original idea I had was a "threat from the sea" on the West coast of Breland. Not a major incursion, yet, but a significant beachhead, on the shoreline behind that plains/hills area where things get confused or disappear.

 

[Hellcow]

... a few basic rules: Keith Baker may not enter (and maybe not judge)

No fair! I'm being singled out!

... because he is too authoritative on the issue for this experiment to function properly.

Aww, I suppose.

 

[Kaodi]

Aww, I suppose.

Thanks for chiming in, . Unfortunately it seems this idea went over like a sack of rocks though. Maybe helped along by my opaque thread title.

So, uh, if you were going to advance the metaplot, what might you do?

 

[Hellcow]

So, uh, if you were going to advance the metaplot, what might you do?

Well, one part comes out in the Thorn of Breland novels: a continuing rise in the power of Droaam, leading to threat of war on Breland's western border. With that said, I wouldn't want to actually start that war as part of the metaplot; I'd simply set it right at the edge. Turakbar is sending raiders into Breland, and ir'Clarn and others are clamoring for Boranel to take action; however, Boranel is concerned about taking his eyes off Aundair and Thrane. It's up to the players and DM to decide whether this turns into a full-on war, or if the situation can be defused. Could the PCs turn Droaam into a strategic ally of Breland? Might the Royal Eyes of Aundair encourage a Droaam - Breland war and provide arcane support to the Daughters to weaken and distract Breland?

I'd also consider some sort of action between Aundair and the Eldeen Reaches. Aurala still wants to unite Galifar under her rule; how can she do this when her own kingdom is broken? As with Droaam, this would have active forces pushing multiple outcomes; some would be working for a diplomatic resolution that would reunite the nations, while others would be encouraging Aurala to use force as a proving ground for the Next War. This would be an opportunity for Aundair to display some truly terrifying magical innovations, in part as a show of strength to the other nations. With that said, if Aundair displays terrifying war magic, how have they come by it? Is it just human innovation, or are Aurala's ministers in league with dangerous powers (say, the Keeper of Secrets or the newly-released fiends of Baator)? Alternately, Aurala could make a formal alliance with Riedra and get their help in pacifying the Reaches through "peaceful means" (IE psionic coercion). It all depends who you'd want as the villains of the piece - Lords of Dust, Dreaming Dark, or again, just human ingenuity.

I'd also consider the further collapse of the Korth edicts, especially the Lyrandar-Valenar alliance. I don't think I'd push it to war... but if the Five Nations learned that Lyrandar was producing a fleet of military airships in Valenar, what would they actually do about it?

These are just a few ideas. I'll post others when I have more time. I'd certainly be interested in hearing other peoples' ideas.

With that said, in any sort of PUBLISHED product, I'd be more inclined to explore interesting historical campaigns - the Xoriat Incursion, Lycanthropic Purge, Last War, Lhazaar Expansion - than to advance the timeline.