[3.5] Appropriate theme for Eberron one shot?

[Risada]

Hello people!

I was invited to DM a one shot (not exactly... it's gonna last 2 or 3 sessions) starting this saturday to introduce Eberron to a bunch of guys that only played FR as far as I am aware, but I am uncertain about the elements I will use.

Basically, I want this game to look like an Eberron game, but there's so much stuff to use... I am thinking about either some kind of Cult of the Dragon Below or a little of Emerald Claw. Regardless of what I choose in the end, an Eberron game has intrigue, politics and other stuff that takes time to develop, and 2 or 3 game won't make it justice.


So, what kind of tips can you guys offer someone about to run a small Eberron adventure so this adventure has the look of an Eberron game?

[Prime32]

There's a Dungeon adventure which features an artificer and his buddies trying to steal some Xen'drik artifacts from a lightning rail. Seems like a pretty good premise, even if you can't find the original. Maybe the PCs were invited to meet someone and given free lightning rail tickets, only for it to turn out at the other end that he's been dead for years; someone wanted them to be on the lightning rail so they'd stop the heist.

[radionausea]

Sharn: City of Towers contains so much information that it'd be a shame to not put it to use!

With 2-3 sessions you'd have enough time to run a murder investigation. A series of murders of shop-keepers and other business people in areas where the law isn't welcome and where nobody talks to the police means that Iyanna Ir'Talan (good guy commander of Lower Tavick's landing) hires and deputises some outsiders.  As things progress the PCs discover the criminal war between the Boromar Clan and Daask.  The business people have been killed as part of a territory war with both sides eliminated owners of businesses paying protection to the other side.  The players are forced to choice a side in the war: with Iyanna (both gangs are against them) with Daask (resulting in some shady-ass, dinosaur riding, halfling gangsters coming after you) with the Boromar Clan (resulting in a Air-Carriage/Soar-Disk aerial battle against Harpies).

Or something.

[Arz]

For a general one-shot:

One battle must take place on a moving conveyance be it a fortress, train, or airship. Bonus points if its crashing, exploding or going the wrong way!

This is pulp/noir so a double-cross or some subterfuge is a must. Baby switched at birth, the client is your enemy, or other misconceptions.

Lastly, old is new and new is old. Almost any edgar rice burroughs story can be made into an eberron adventure.

[veekie]

For a general one-shot:

One battle must take place on a moving conveyance be it a fortress, train, or airship. Bonus points if its crashing, exploding or going the wrong way!

This is pulp/noir so a double-cross or some subterfuge is a must. Baby switched at birth, the client is your enemy, or other misconceptions.

Lastly, old is new and new is old. Almost any edgar rice burroughs story can be made into an eberron adventure.

Murder on the Sharn Express Train?

[Risada]

Reading all your posts helped me get something going.... here's the resume:

Gnome researcher from Korranberg goes to conduct some research at the Shadow Marches and is abducted by a Cult of the Dragon Below. Party is hired by the Library to rescue the gnome.

After rescuing the guy, on the way to Korranberg (most likely by lightning rail), the party is attacked by a group of the Emerald Claw that is after the gnome's research notes. Battle on the rail.


That should give me 2 sessions to work with.


Thanks for all the ideas, guys... I will keep them around to use later...

[Arz]

Might also throw in this: Although the library hired you, said research gnome either doesn't work for them or is involved in a bitter professional dispute with another colleague. Bitter rival was actually behind your hiring causing friction with your rescuee.