Keith, Wayne, Kristian, and Scott hit the mean streets and step into the shadows of noir adventuring in Eberron. Time Markers * – Introduction* – Why Was Noir Included in Eberron?* Readings: * – Chapter 9 of Eberron Campaign Setting* – Magewright, Marked, Cabal, Claw* – “Hardboiled Adventure”, Kobold Quarterly #3* – “Neo-noir Intrigue” and “Callestan”, Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron * – Definition of Noir* – Moral Ambiguity and Motives* – Conveying...

Wayne, Kristian, and Scott swing into action to discuss swashbuckling in your Eberron games. Time Markers * – Introduction* – What We Mean by Swashbuckling Action* – Movies to Inspire* – Readings * Dragonshards – Swashbuckling 101: Combat * Environmental Elements in Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron* – Players Can Prompt the GM* – Systems Can Influence Style* – Swashbuckling Action in D&D 5E* – Clearly Communicate Intent* – How GMs Can Facilitate...

Keith and Kristian step through a gate to explore the planes of Eberron. Time Markers * – Introduction* – Readings: * Gearing Up for Eberron: Some Perspective on the World of Eberron* Dragonmarks: Planes of Hope, Peace and Order* Dragonmarks: Xoriat* Dragonmarks: Thelanis and the Fey* Dragonmarks: Thelanis in Play: Maniest Zones* Dragonmarks: Thelanis in Play: Curses* Dragonmarks: Thelanis in Play: Artifacts* Dragonmarks: The Endless Night* Dragonmarks: Shavarath and...

Keith and Kristian explore all of the ways adventurers travel across the world of Eberron. Time Markers * – Introduction* Readings * – Dragonshards: Heroic Journeys * – Explorer’s Handbook * – Travel Helps Explore Styles of Adventure* – Travel and Cross-cultural Mixing* – Travel Supports Industries within the Setting* – Airships* – Lightning Rail* – Teleportation* For GMs * – Journey vs....

In his “Welcome to Eberron” panel at KimiKon 2018, Keith speaks with an audience of newcomers to the Eberron campaign setting. Audio editing by Rob Abrazado.

We have a full house with Keith, Wayne, Kristian, and Scott discussing the scope and role of magic items in Eberron. Time Markers * – Introduction* – Gaiming and BS 206 – Magic and Eberron* – Ubiquity vs. Power Level* – Systems Dependent on Magic Items* – Setting Player Expectations* – Utility Instead of Power* – Where Do We Get Those Wonderful Toys?* – Designing Magic Items to Solve Problems* – Availability of Utility Items in a Campaign* – Wands as Common Tools* –...

In his “Eberron Returns!” Dragon Con panel, Keith fields questions about Eberron and its return for Dungeons & Dragons 5e. 

Keith, Wayne, and Kristian explore the culture and lives of halflings (and the dinosaurs they rode in on). Time Markers * 00:00:00 – Introduction* 00:00:59 – Readings * Dragonmarks: Halflings* Druids of Khorvaire, Part Three* “Boromar Clan,” Dragon Magazine #354 * 00:04:34 – Halfling Culture* 00:06:17 – Various Cultural Identities* 00:08:36 – Roots in Wandering Tribes* 00:13:23 – Mysterious Destinations in the Talenta Plains* 00:21:11 – Racial Traits* 00:27:33 – Halflings Riding...

Keith, Wayne, and Kristian discuss Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron, Keith’s 5e supplement for Eberron. More Links * Wizards of the Coast announcement * D&D Beyond video: Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition * D&D Beyond video: The Playable Races of Eberron in Dungeons & Dragons * D&D Beyond video: The War of Eberron in Dungeons & Dragons * D&D Beyond video: Playing Warforged of Eberron * D&D Beyond video: Playing Changelings in...

Keith, Wayne, and Kristian discuss the Lords of Dust and their complex schemes. Outline * 00:00:00 – Introduction * 00:01:52 – Readings * Dragonmarks: The Lords of Dust * Dragonmarks: The Age of Demons and You * Dragon Magazine #337, “Eternal Evil: Lords of Dust” * 00:04:25 – Why Rakshasa; “Overlords” vs. “Rajahs” * 00:08:20 – Overlords embody a concept of evil * 00:11:47 – Exposing the PCs to The Lords of Dust’s plans without spoilers * 00:17:10 – The Lords of Dust feeling...

Scott, Keith, and Kristian explore the role of dragons in the world of Eberron. Outline * 00:00:00 – Introduction * 00:01:10 – Readings * Dragonshards: The Role of Dragons * Dragonshards: The Serens * Dragonshards: The Draconic Prophecy * Dragons of Eberron * 00:02:55 – The impact of dragons * 00:08:14 – Not XP fodder * 00:10:05 – Almost living gods * 00:12:20 – The dragons of Argonnessen and the Chamber * 00:14:27 – The Draconic Prophecy * 00:18:17 – Colors not...

Kristian and Keith “dream” about kalashtar. Outline * 00:00:00 – Introduction * 00:00:57 – Gearing up for Eberron: Mind Games in Eberron * 00:01:18 – Races of Eberron * 00:01:33 – Dragonshards Articles * 00:01:48 – Design Intent * 00:05:54 – Oneiromancy in Occult Lore by Atlas Games * 00:07:04 – Dragon Magazine #324: Living Nightmares * 00:07:17 – Sarlona as a Separate Campaign Setting * 00:07:37 – The Effects of Psionics on Civilization * 00:13:09 – Core Concepts of Kalashtar *...

Keftiu writes in: I love changelings a lot, but it feels like they’re always forced into the role of the sneaky, deceptive Rogue. Do you have any other clever or unexpected classes you think fit the race well? Scott shares his experiences and suggestions. Additionally, Keith presented some ideas in a blog post on Changelings, Shifters and Lycanthropes as a follow up to our previous episode.

Kristian and Keith have a “freeform” discussion about changelings and shifters. Outline * 00:00:00 – Introduction * 00:00:24 – Why Changelings and Shifters Seem Underused * 00:04:50 – Shifter Communities * 00:08:00 – Shifter Culture, Classes, and Lineage * 00:13:20 – Inspiration for Creating Shifters * 00:20:33 – Lycanthropic Purge * 00:35:44 – Changeling Identity * 00:55:09 – Complete Guide to Doppelgangers * 01:00:31 – More on Changeling Identities * 01:06:54 – Dragonmarks...

Jeremiah asks: I listened to the most recent episode on warforged. Warforged are probably my favorite D&D race ever, and I pretty much play one whenever the DM lets me. I particularly enjoyed the discussion on warforged wizards and sorcerers. I was wondering, in particular, what types of entities would a warforged warlock likely make a pact with. Kristian answers with some additional contributions from Keith and Wayne. Also, DND Beyond coincidentally posted a video of Mike Mearls...

Keith, Wayne, and Kristian discuss warforged (and how they’re not robots). Outline * Introduction * Articles * Warforged, Part One * Warforged, Part Two * Druids of Khorvaire, Part Two (Warforged Druids) * Dragonmarks 11/14: Warforged and More * What are warforged? * Culture * Psychology * Alignment * For GMs * Living reminders and really dangerous * Extremist Lord of Blades followers * Players against warforged * Interactions with local communities *...

Keith and Kristian discuss the Aereni, Tairnadal, and Valenar elves of Eberron. Outline * Introduction * Articles * The Elves of Valenar, Part I * The Elves of Valenar, Part II * The Elves of Aerenal, Part I * The Elves of Aerenal, Part II * House Phiarlan, Part One (Deals with Aereni history) * Eberron Flashback: Aereni and Tairnadal * Aging, Experiences, and Culture * Aereni and the Undying Court * Line of Vol and Necromancy * The Tairnadal and the Ancestor Spirits *...

Keith and Kristian catch up at Dragon Con and discuss Keith’s panels and running Eberron for a con game or as one-shots in general.

Due to scheduling conflicts and travel, we’re unable to record and release an episode for the month of August 2017.

Keith, Wayne, Kristian, and Scott discuss the Daelkyr and cults of the Dragon Below. Outline * Introduction * Dragonmarks: The Daelkyr and their Cults * Comparing to Lovecraft and Far Realms * Xoriat * Random detail: mind flayers * Daelkyr * Good starting villains * Each daelkyr lord has unique powers * Cults of the Dragon Below are unique * Why do people join a cult of the Dragon Below? * For GMs * Incomprehensible plans as an advantage for GMs * Daelkyr as hackers or...

David Mitchell asks: Hi guys, I was wondering about how you guys use the paths of light / inspiration. Are they philosophies or religions? Do they have priests or just monks. Could you have clerics for them. How do they differ aesthetically. Are there non quori followers and would you allow a player to play a good follower of the path of inspiration or vice versa. How and when have you guys used these as faiths? Kristian discusses the two paths as philosophies and faiths.

Kevin asks: Can a member of the Church of the Silver Flame also be a part of other religions, like the Sovereign Host? I know Tira Miron was a paladin of Dol Arrah, but I cannot find anything that says if or how her faith was changed by it. If it didn’t, has the modern Church doctrine been changed to only allow for exclusive belief in the Silver Flame? Keith discusses the possibility of crossing faiths.

Brandon asks: What were the ancient religions of the Dhakaani empire (or, for that matter, the giant empire of Xen’drik)? Would they be variations on the Host and the Six, or an entirely different pantheon? Keith gives some clarifications regarding ancient religions.

Keith, Kristian, and Wayne discuss religion in the world of Eberron. Outline * Dragonshards – Religion in Eberron * Dragonmarks 4/11: Religion, Faith and Souls * Clergy vs. divinely empowered * Religion is about faith; both are subjective * Temples are for spiritual guidance, not healing * The Sovereign Host * The Silver Flame and other ‘forces’ * Other faiths * For GMs * What story are you telling? * The role of religion in your campaign * Just incorporating religions...

Graham asks: I know you mentioned that a Siberys mark would cover the whole body, but how are are the other types of marks supposed to be? Keith argues the complexity of the mark vs. the size.