Will Eberron be a fully supported setting?

[Renaissance Man]

Wanted: Rampant Speculation

I think I've figured out what Eberron's main "schtick" is, and I think it will be cool, though perhaps a challenge for new DMs to convey the proper mood.

Do tell!

 

[Zerakon]

Do tell!

Well, since Keith did some work on my upcoming computer game, I fear that if I do tell and my suspicion is correct, then I might cause trouble. I haven't received any inside information, but I wouldn't want anyone to think that I did. So I'll keep my mouth shut, except to say that I think the dino-riders are a red herring.

 

[AeroDm]

Eberron will do well because it is the "next big thing" from WotC. However, I don't think it'll do _very_ well because there is a huge population of gamers who refuse to play pre-genned settings, a huge population that are loyal to FR, and a huge population that are already in campaigns that won't end. People generally don't run out to buy new settings when they are alraedy in a campaign, so even if people plan to play Eberron, it'll take time for the elasticity of the market to come around.

Moreover, Dragonlance just came out, FR is still around, GH is free, Ravenloft is strongly supported, and many other settings exist that are moderately supported and relatively cheap. Eberron is entering into a stiff market at a bad time, so regardless of quality it has a lot going against it.

 

[Henry]

Ask Barsoomcore why he thinks anyone would buy it, and he may have an answer, because his campaign and this setting have been using some of the same inspirations...

Also, expect to see some people try running an Eberron Campaign with the Savage Worlds game rules...

 

[WizarDru]

Where is the hype that everyone keeps mentioning? I saw the concept art in Dragon, but didn't see anything particularly ground-breaking. I mean, does anyone really know what it is about this setting that distinguishes it from anything we've already seen? Psionics? Dark Sun had psionics a-plenty. Dinosaurs? Seriously, does anyone know?

At Gencon, there was a panel, and they also passed out a promotional brochure, some of which was recycled for the Dragon article. They're being fairly tight-lipped about Eberron, but it is NOT about dinosaurs...it just has them in the world setting at some locations. What little we've been able to cobble together is that it takes place in a world where magic is much more pervasive to the common man, and it's applications are widespread. Many of the standard races are mixed up, so they don't match the pure PHB expectations, or so they claim. Everything I've seen so far has indicated that it will very much have a 'Edgar Rich Burroughs-feel' to the setting...being much more like the ancient cities of Tarzan and the martian landscape of John Carter than of your traditional medieval European fantasy setting.

And that, IMHO, is a Good Thing (TM).

As for it's support, I think Henry has the right of it. WotC is trying to find a way to keep their revenue stream for the RPG division going by means other than producing rules revisions. Creating a new setting from the ground up (and let's face it, this will be the first true WotC setting for D&D 3rd Edition) is a big undertaking, and then adding in supplements and support (and D&D minis) is a big deal.

As long as they don't treat it like Greyhawk, we'll be fine. Greyhawk got the Cloudbusting YoYo treatment...which is to say that they buried it in the garden, because what made it special is what made it dangerous.

 

[shadow]

I think Eberron will initially be strongly supported. After a year or so, the profits will determine whether or not it stays. Whatever happens WotC will continue milking the Forsaken Realms until it runs dry.

 

[Greatwyrm]

I don't think WotC would have put as much effort, hype, and time in to a product up front without planning on supporting it more than at least a year. I'd think they'd have to make at the very least a two year commitment just to get caught up on the time and money they've already got in.

Further, more time and effort is on the way. Just putting together a solid setting book, on a par with the FRCS, takes a lot of resources. Not to mention we'll probably get (as mentioned earlier) at least one book each of critters, spells/items/religion, and races/classes. Probably three or four adventures like the series that began with Sunless Citadel. Probably three of four novels in the first year as well. That's a mighty big ball to get rolling if you plan on just chucking it out after 6 - 12 months of "OK" sales (of course, who knows what the sales will be).

Finally, I don't think it's fair to compare this to Ravenloft, Dark Sun, Planescape, and Alternity. All of those were suffering from TSR's financial problems before WotC even got involved. I don't believe any of them sold in the numbers that the Realms stuff did, so TSR had to focus on what was paying the bills. Alternity (including Dark Matter) was on it's way out before the buyout, mostly because of the high production values in the series eating away at the margin.

 

[herald]

I don't think WotC would have put as much effort, hype, and time in to a product up front without planning on supporting it more than at least a year. I'd think they'd have to make at the very least a two year commitment just to get caught up on the time and money they've already got in.

Further, more time and effort is on the way. Just putting together a solid setting book, on a par with the FRCS, takes a lot of resources. Not to mention we'll probably get (as mentioned earlier) at least one book each of critters, spells/items/religion, and races/classes. Probably three or four adventures like the series that began with Sunless Citadel. Probably three of four novels in the first year as well. That's a mighty big ball to get rolling if you plan on just chucking it out after 6 - 12 months of "OK" sales (of course, who knows what the sales will be).

Finally, I don't think it's fair to compare this to Ravenloft, Dark Sun, Planescape, and Alternity. All of those were suffering from TSR's financial problems before WotC even got involved. I don't believe any of them sold in the numbers that the Realms stuff did, so TSR had to focus on what was paying the bills. Alternity (including Dark Matter) was on it's way out before the buyout, mostly because of the high production values in the series eating away at the margin.

Well, I think you wrong. It is perfectly fair to compare this setting to any other setting out there now. Ravenloft is alive and kicking just fine now that S&SS picked it up. Dragonlance has new life breathed into it. Spelljammer is seeing new live thanks to Dungeon Magazine. And I can go on and on about settings that 3rd parties are doing. WOTC did the right thing in allowing others take over thier stock worlds, but I kinda scratch my head about this Eberon setting. If anything, I would have expected them to beef up D20 modern, but who knows, maybe thier fiction writers have something big worked out. All I hope is that they don't use some of the writers that have been doing some of thier Greyhawk books.

 

[Greatwyrm]

Well, I think you wrong. It is perfectly fair to compare this setting to any other setting out there now...

If you want to compare them in terms of current competition, that's fine. I was answering this point by Michael_Morris

All signs point to a 1 year before being dumped future for Eberron...

Settings in WotC's care...

Ravenloft Rereleased 1998, closed 1999 (farmed out one year after 3e)
Dark Matter - killed after only 4 months.
Greyhawk sorta faded after a year - rarely mentioned now...

Obviously, Eberron will have to compete with the ton of other settings out there. I just don't think comparing Eberron's chances with game lines from a previous, failing owner is an accurate comparison.

 

[kigmatzomat]

Well, I think you wrong. It is perfectly fair to compare this setting to any other setting out there now.

Compare the settings yes, compare how they will fair under WotC/Hasbro no. Spelljammer and Dragonlance were pretty well abandoned by TSR. WotC had a hand in Ravenloft, I think, but mainly in being bright enough to contract it out after TSR had gotten goofy with the "Slayers" guides. It's hard to tell how Hasbro will influence WotC and what kind of long-term plans they have.

WOTC did the right thing in allowing others take over their stock worlds, but I kinda scratch my head about this Eberon setting. If anything, I would have expected them to beef up D20 modern,

I think Eberron is probably the last bit of WotC-thought. Having a campaign setting contest stirred up a lot of thought and likely inspired a lot of GMs to run games. That alone probably made it worthwhile.

Actually, I think Eberron will turn out to have been the most well written and slightly unusual setting submitted, but not the most original. I expect Hasbro will shy away from anything too terribly revolutionary even if WotC would have been willing to try it.

From what I've seen and heard, it really seems like a d20 Earthdawn. Combinations of magic-tech, pierced elves, feral halflings, and a war-torn setting all seem really old hat to people who know Barsaive. Hopefully I'll be wrong because I think WotC needs a non-FR/non-rules based revenue stream to keep their corporate overlords off their backs.