Why are you looking forward (or not looking forward) to Eberron?

[LostWorldsMike]

the setting doesn't grab me. I don't know that there's anything wrong with it, and there doesn't need to be. The lack of anything that strikes me as 'right' is sufficient for me not to spend money on it when I already have two published settings and a home brew or three to set games in.

I did find that the orriginal 'peek' we were given was underwhelming. criticizing people for bringing up dinosaurs in how they feel about the setting is pretty weak considering that it was one aspect that jumped out at people in the intro. WotC made it about dinos, not us, WotC can deal with a minor loss from people who were never hooked because of that first feel.

Kahuna Burger

I've not read ALL of the initial promotional material for the setting, so I might be missing something, but where did WotC make Eberron "about dinos"? Looking at the first promo booklet, "Across Eberron," dinosaurs are only pictured on one half of one page out of 10 (12 pages if you include the front and back covers).

Just curious.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

I'm looking forward to it simply because it beat out 10,999 other worlds as the best for WotC to produce.

And I want to see the setting that beat mine in the Setting Search...

Oh well, it was probably a deserved win. At the very least, I know that I will have to work a lot on the presentation of my setting before I publish it. I only wish I had the kind of development money that Eberron has...

 

[Hand of Evil]

I still say it may end up replacing FR as the prime setting, just too many people have hands in FR.

 

[Belen]

Well, its a good job that doesn't define Eberron then, isn't it? Dinosaurs exist in the standard D&D rule books, and in standard D&D can turn up anywhere as random encounters. At least in Eberron they are geographically located and can be completely ignored if you don't like dinosaurs (but I didn't notice you complain at the dinosaurs in the MM, for instance).

Magipunk? Where on earth do you get that idea? It is supposed to be a noir-ish setting, quite a different kettle of fish. The fact that it has a stab at societies to which low level magic is commonly available automatically makes it very different from almost all other campaign settings I can think of. FR has lots of magic but somehow assumes that it doesn't really get used in society.

Why not dismiss it for reasons based on fact rather than just trash-talk it?

No one trashed talked anything. I gave my opinion of the setting based on what I have seen and read. I find it "generic" and entirely too permissive.

You can ignore dinos in the MM because you have the CHOICE to use them or leave them. You have no choice in Eberron because they DO exist in the setting. And, Dinos are too big, and eat too much, to be able to live in a confined space, so unless they are magi-dinos, then I do not see them surviving anywhere.

In any event, I made a statement of opinion. I did not label anyone who liked the setting as wrong, I simplely stated why I did not look forward to it and do not like what I have seen.

However, the same cannot be said for your comments.

 

[BryonD]

Ahhh...I see. Point taken. Personally, I don't think of Eberron as Noir, but more of an E.R. Burroughs 'John Carter of Mars' type setting. And I think things like the action point setting, the art and the promo material gave me that pulp feeling...but I readily agree that it could just as easily be done in the settings you describe. Heck, wasn't the movie "Tequila Sunrise" basically noir in the Bahamas? And 1938 Chicago has probably seen more Cthulu in RPGing than gangsters.

I think you're right to be cautious. WotC is releasing little drips and drops, and it's hard to tell if it really is what they say it's going to be. I'm looking forward to it, but I'm a junkie.

Good enough for me.

But I think Chthulu ate more than his share of gumshoes in 1938 Chicago.

 

[WizarDru]

You can ignore dinos in the MM because you have the CHOICE to use them or leave them. You have no choice in Eberron because they DO exist in the setting. And, Dinos are too big, and eat too much, to be able to live in a confined space, so unless they are magi-dinos, then I do not see them surviving anywhere.

Well, I recall the following:

1. Keith Baker indicated here on ENWorld that said Dinos are a minor feature of the setting in a far corner of the world that is a virtual wildland, and easily ignored if that is your preference, just like they are in Greyhawk, and iirc, the Realms as well.

2. The only dino I can recall seeing so far is the picture from the promo pack of a halfling riding one as a mount. Not exactly a huge landbeast.

3. Next you'll be talking crazy talk about Ankhegs, Dragons, Giants and Frost Wyrms needing to have a proper ecology...and that way lies madness.

4. For all we know, they ARE magi-dinos.

I mean, if you don't dig the setting, that's cool...but won't someone think of the dinos?

 

[Mac Callum]

Where is the extra stuff from Keith Baker? Is it in Dragon only? I have only seen the 2-3 things the WotC page has, and it's not impressive (not to mention their formatting - is a 12 year old in charge of that?).

Mac Callum

 

[~Johnny~]

An Eberron booster weighs in

What excites me about Eberron is that it hits the sweet spot between "generic campaign setting" and "wacky new world with filled cool ideas."

You're missing the point if your reaction is: "so there are dinosaurs and magitech. I could have thought of that!" There's also a few millenia of backstory, some very unique cultures and the roleplaying opportunities inherent in a cold war era. Since it's an official setting, you can expect a high level of quality control and support. Homebrew settings are still my first love, but it's nice to feel like a part of something bigger.

Where is the extra stuff from Keith Baker?

I've collected a lot of Keith's message board posts here: Eberron

It's a little out of date right now, but the Designer Notes provide a lot of great insight into the world. You might also find a few interesting tidbits revealed more subtly in the Jhonen's Journal section.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

What excites me about Eberron is that it hits the sweet spot between "generic campaign setting" and "wacky new world with filled cool ideas."

Well said.

And if I hear "magitech with dinosaurs" from one more uninformed critic......

Yes, dinosaurs are in Eberron. They're in the Realms too. Cause...you know... Forgotten Realms is just a setting about drow and dinasaurs.

"Magitech" is too far off the mark to even comment on. Let's just say that "magitech" or "magi-punk" do not make for an even remotely accurate portrayal of Eberron.

 

[BryonD]

And if I hear "magitech with dinosaurs" from one more uninformed critic......

Blame WotC. That is what they put out as the first impression. So it isn't a case of being uninformed so much as one of some people being misinformed by others who perhaps should have known better.

Anyway, I did not mention dinosaurs because I understand that they are only found in one backwater whatever. But are you saying that magitech is also far less significant than we were first led to believe? (honest question)

Edit: I guess you edited while I was replying. I see your answer