Earthdawn Survival Guide

* The Scout Discipline * The Spy and the Wolf by Dakota Wind * The Scout is the vanguard, the tracker, the ranger. * Original Adept’s Way essay talks about the Scout’s oneness with their environment. * Not limited to the wilderness, the Scout can be equally at home in towns and cities. * Important Attributes: Dexterity and Perception. * Karma Ritual Discussion * Artisan Skill Suggestions * Hobo co...

* Josh’s day gig has been a bear recently, so it’s another e-mail episode! * Email from Scott: Is Shield Bash compatible with Second Weapon or Second Attack? * Link to the Official Earthdawn Errata Document . * Email from Corey: Correction on Teal’c from Stargate SG-1. * Correction on member of a group pattern dying. * Limit on number of permanent threads. * Masks are great. * Official support for...

* Don’t listen to Dan. It’s okay if this is your first episode. * Email from Rob: Spirit Talk talent. Errata about Ally and Beast spirits. * Email from Vince: Spell creation mechanics and why there are no plans for it in ED4. * Number of threads versus narrative casting complexity? * Reducing Wound Threshold as a Nethermancer spell effect? * Email from Steven: Illusion buff targets not being aware...

* Third time is the charm! * Sky Raiders * “Ruthless pirates” * Sky Raider vs. Air Sailor * Crystal Raider vs. Theran Empire * Important Attributes * Conceptually the aggressive, “barbarian-style” fighter * Karma Ritual discussion * Artisan Skills * Combat Discipline, high Durability and no free talents. * Novice Tier Discipline talent discussion. * Focus on themes of combat, aggression, and endur...

There were technical difficulties getting out next episodes together. We know you want your weekly Earthdawn fix, so here's the audio from the FASA Games Panel at Orichaclum 2020. Join Andi, Don, James, Josh, Karol, Kyle, Michael, and Morgan as they answer questions, talk about upcoming projects, and generally discuss Earthdawn.

* Episode Forty! * Any ideas on one-year anniversary special? * Any ideas for spreading the word about Earthdawn? * Email from Lee: Windling Archer and weapon selection? * Link to Fang from the Developer’s Blog * Email from Kogorsi: Swordmaster feedback and Josh gets called out. * Email from Brandon: Magicians not killing? * How soon to provide thread items? * Western gunslingers as inspiration fo...

* Nethermancers! * Spooky, unsettling. * Josh plays Virag, a Nethermancer in the Legends of Earthdawn game. * Not Necromancers. An Earthdawn twist on a well-worn archetype. * Focus on denizens of the astral realm and netherworlds. * Karma Ritual example and the symbolic importance of ritual. * Significance and symbolism of bones. * Nethermantic Grimoire “Chain of Skulls” * Half-Magic knowledge cov...

* Attitudes and Interaction Tests * Josh addresses social mechanics and roleplaying. * Some Disciplines are socially oriented and should leverage the social system. * History lesson about reaction rolls and morale in past games and shifts in design. * Attitudes and social rules can help reduce the GM’s workload. * Attitudes range from Awestruck to Enemy. * Intended mainly for PC to GMC interaction...

* Follow-up on Beast Form spell email from episode 35 * Email from Jesse: Information from an anthropologist about line marriage. * Email from Cory: Using Earthdawn in a home-brew setting? * Long sidebar about setting development and the stumbling blocks of a setting based in the real world. * More from Cory: How hard is it to keep quiet about cool stuff you’re working on? * Suggestion of an episo...

* A brief mention of listener metrics. * Swordmasters! * No lack of pop-culture references for Swordmasters * But not Jedi * Panache, style, presentation. * Warriors versus Swordmasters * Important Attributes: Charisma and Dexterity * Combat as a dance * Artisan Skills and Half-Magic * Swordmaster schools and styles. * Old dueling manuals. * Princess Bride duel between Inigo and Westley. * Jackie...

* Empty Thrones Kickstarter until July 31! * Fragging Unicorn Games Kickstarter Gangs of the Undercity ! * Artisan Dice are good people as well! * Josh will be on Seize the GM Podcast! * Email from Chris: Questions and discussion about following multiple Disciplines. * Email from Shannon: Metaplot focus on politics and factions? * Email from Rafael: Beast Form spell and non-magical animals? * Emai...

* Don’t forget the Kickstarter for Empty Thrones! * Disregard what Josh said — Uhl *will* be on the poster. * Illusionists! * Magician Discipline, masters of illusion, deception, and mental magic. * Common perception as pranksters or practical jokers. * Illusion mechanics can be difficult to wrap your head around. * Josh’s Blog post about illusions: https://fasagames.com/earthdawn/practical-magic-...

* Email from Steven: Tips on converting old adventures to 4th Edition? * Email from Matty S: Tips on managing small parties? * Email from Aaron: Obsidiman episode? Known Liferock or brotherhood Names? * Email from Matthew: Combining tail attack and Spellcasting? * Special note: Touch range spells should not require a separate unarmed test. * Email from Kogorsi: Sure on the rules of being an ork? *...

* Bombshell dropped in Earthdawn Webcomic Champion’s Challenge - Uhl is Dead * PDF of Iopos sourcebook is out. * New Kickstarter! Empty Thrones! * Email from Kendall: Namegivers Podcast * Email from K Scott: Magicians who can’t summon spirits? * A sidebar on niche protection, Discipline theme and focus, and design choices. * Group True Patterns. * A deliberately created magical enchantment. * A gr...

* The Thief Discipline * Language lesson: Josh says “larcenical” is not a word. * Two new Earthdawn actual play podcasts: Namegivers Podcast and Circle of Dawn . * Legends of Earthdawn podcast is back to a more regular release schedule. * Final PDF of Iopos Sourcebook is available, as are preorders for dead tree version. * Origin of Thieves in fantasy gaming. * Thief working with a group; anti-soc...

* Episode 30! * Email from Jan: Questions about the Servos Jungle and ruins within. * Shorthand for appearance of Barsaivian cultures? * A deep dive into the Passions and theories about them. * Email from Cory: Refund of Legend Points from broken/defunct threads? * Email from Matthew: Obsidiman biological functions? * Orks! * Etymology of the word “orc”. * Folkloric and mythic origins of orks and...

* Elementalist * The Five Elements: Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Wood. * Important Attributes: Perception and Willpower. * Karma Ritual. * Elementalist as a guardian of the natural balance. * Elemental specialists and the Litany of the Elements * Artisan Skills * Half-Magic * Durability * Free Matrices * Novice Discipline Talents * The seemingly odd choice of Wood Skin * Tougher than other magicians,...

* A few words on recent national events. * Intro * Josh walks back his suggestion about Swordmaster Discipline talents. * Email from Kosmit: Will we talk about Kratas? * Email from Brian: Elves and single child families. * Blood Magic * A source of magical power available to everybody. * Possible alternate method of powering kaer defenses. * Why is blood magic not more common? * Bonuses from talen...

* Email bonanza! * From Matthew: New Earthdawn novels? * From Carl: Artisan tests and Horror taint? * From Brian: Past technology in Earthdawn? * Adding another age? Future tech? 1879 and Equinox * From Ted: Silver was the Lone Ranger’s Horse * Pattern item questions: Can you voluntarily unweave a thread? * Horrors and pattern items? * From Joao: Beastmaster and Cavalryman fluff vs crunch. * From...

* How are you doing? * Troubadours * Dan raves about A Knight’s Tale * Shakespeare * Entertainers, storytellers, actors and songsmiths. * Oral historians and scholars. * THE social Discipline. * Bards versus Troubadours. * Strongly tied into Earthdawn’s theme of legend and history. * Charisma is highest priority. * Karma Ritual as a ritual performance. * Artisan skill as background or interest out...

* Email from Spencer: Getting back into Earthdawn and thanks for the podcast! * Email from Rob: Clarifying earlier comment about recorded actual play. * Any plans for the EDSG to talk about the connections with 1879? * Rob will be doing an Earthdawn one-shot for an actual play podcast and will let us know! * Josh’s Soapbox: Metaplot * Focus of the Iopos book on the city and people in it rather tha...

* Cavalryman * Least played Discipline? * Primary issue with Cavalryman: Their mount. * Size and logistics when kaer diving. * Remember though, kaers can be big. * The Cavalryman is great world building. * Josh’s campaign wish list: Cavalry focused game. * Bond between rider and mount. * Pop culture references: Sparhawk and Faran, Phoebus and Achilles, Sleipnir * Karma Ritual * Important Attribute...

* Parlainth * Important in what it represents * Review of Parlainth’s History * Haven: An adventuring boom town * Original boxed set available in PDF * A full campaign setting on its own * Lots of room for GMs to place their stuff * Not fully mapped out on purpose * The Map Wall * Immersive in-character inserts and bits * Laneways and Screaming Fountain * 8-episode In depth podcast series from Liv...

* Email from Brian: PDF tools - Nitro PDF Reader * https://www.gonitro.com/pdf-reader * Email from Rob: Renaming the Weaponsmith? * Putting best practices and advice for online play in the guides? * Recording an actual-play session to complement the books? * Coming soon: An Earthdawn one-shot with the folks from The Critshow * How do new Disciplines come to be? * Email from Aaron: What sourcebooks...

* Episode Twenty-One! * The Warrior Discipline * Soldier, mercenary, “the fighting’ guy” * Important Attributes Dexterity Strength and Toughness * Can fight unarmed but not their strongest role * Karma Ritual * Elements of wuxia, martial artist flavor * Remember the mystical and philosophical resonance required to be an adept * Winning the battle doesn’t always mean killing the enemy * Half-magic...