Earthdawn Survival Guide

* Warden and Master Tier Archer * Reminder: EDSG Live at FreedoniaCon Sunday February 20 * Warden Discipline Ability: Blood Bound Bow * Recap of Archer Discipline themes. * Warden Discipline Talents: Blind Fire, Spirit Strike, Eagle Eye, Missile Lock * Warden Tier Talent Options * New talents: Chameleon, Critical Hit, Defensive Posture, Ethereal Weapon, Matrix Sight * Master Tier Discipline Abilit...

* Email from Nanander: Origin of the Name of the Gauntlet Discipline. * Bonus accidental etymology lesson! * Live Earthdawn Survival Guide Podcast on February 20! * Secret Societies: The Crownbreakers * Cult of the Mad Passion Raggok * Small organization devoted to overthrowing any kind of authority. * Infiltrate communities and sow discord against its leaders. * Long term goal of undermining Thro...

* The Wizard: Warden and Master tiers. * Review of themes and core concepts. * Ninth Circle Discipline Ability: Matrix Split * New Discipline talents: Eidetic Memory, Glyph of Unweaving, Glyph of Shielding, Concise Casting. * Circle Eleven Karma Ability. * Review of Warden tier talent options. * Thirteenth Circle Discipline Ability: Mystic Triangle * New Discipline talents: Glyph of Attunement, Gl...

* Email from Aaron: Another Outcast pop culture reference. * Email from Ted: Access to enchanting for the Shaman Discipline? * Email from Chad: Apologies for forgetting Dan. Question about Discipline talents versus Talent Options in the “All Talents to Advance” rule. * Secret Societies of Barsaive * Updates or changes to information in the book as of the current timeline. * A bit of development hi...

* Warden and Master tier Air Sailor. * Go back to Episode 9 from Jan 22, 2020 for the Novice and Journeyman tiers and more commentary. * Brief recap of the themes and ideas. * More development work on the higher Circles than lower ones. * Warden tier abilities, bonuses, and Discipline talents. * Focus on talents in the Companion. * Warden talent options. * Master tier abilities, bonuses, and Disci...

* Happy New Year! * Email from Ted: Outcast pop culture reference. * Enchanting * Disclaimer about optional status of enchanting rules. * Problems and hazards of enchanting rules and systems. * Goals of enchanting rules in fourth edition. * Primary methods of enchanting. * Alchemy skill: blood charms, common magic items, and consumables. * Role of alchemical enchanting in the setting. * Talent Kna...

* Paths in Depth: The Outcast * Development background for the path. * Originally the “Outcast Warrior” racial Discipline for trolls. * Very tied into highland troll concepts of honor as presented in the original Denizens of Earthdawn. * Path leans into the idea of an individual sacrificing something in the name of honor and gaining magical power in return. * Unlike other paths, no greater organiz...

* Email from Sebastian: Thoughts on a homebrew alchemist Discipline. * Design insights on new talents and knacks. * Email from Chad: Group symbol and vinyl stickers. * Email from Lee: Pop culture and historical references for Alchemy. * Email from Aaron: Difference between “elder” and “great” dragons? * Dragons in Depth: Vasdenjas, aka Talespeaker * Killed during the assault on Sky Point during th...

* Episode 100! Thank you to everyone who has been with us on this amazing journey, and we hope you stick around as we continue! * Please forgive Josh’s audio in this episode. We’re not sure what happened. * We are joined by special guest Opti, aka O.C. Presley. * We talk about how Opti came to the world of Earthdawn, his experiences working as a freelancer in the RPG industry and starting his own...

* Episode 99! Next week our 100th episode with special guest Opti, aka Scratch. * Paths in Depth: The Messenger * Development history; first appearance in RedBrick’s Namegiver’s Compendium. * Setting origins as obsidiman messengers being highly desired for inter-city communication. * Original version didn’t feel like its role in a game was considered. * Pop culture inspiration: The Postman, Book o...

* Email from RamethZer0: Discipline (or path) focused on alchemy? * If you can explain to Josh what gap needs to be filled by an Alchemist Discipline, please write in! * Insight from Lou about the choices were made by Living Room Games for Dvilgaynon and possibly why. * Dragons in Depth: Icewing aka Dollmaker * Silvery blue scales. * Origin of his moniker; ice storm summoned by his wings. * Very o...

* Paths in depth: Purifier * Dan calls out his favorite quote from the essay. * Development history of the Purifier. * Current version is no longer exclusive to obsidimen, but still owes a lot of its lore and concept to those Namegivers. * Original version concepts were split into two paths (Brother of Stone, Purifier) and one Discipline (Gauntlet). * Focus on the natural balance of the natural wo...

* Email from Scott: Detecting dragons in Namegiver form. * Email from Ramethzer0: Questions about group patterns. * Email from Lee: Liberators and binding/commanding spirits? * Email from Mortium: Origins and fate of t’skrang. * Immortal elves? * Hestaby in the Fourth World? * Deep dive into metaplot links? * Shadowrun’s HMHVV and Earthdawn Ghouls? * Dragons in depth: Dvilgaynon * Disclaimer: Much...

* Follow-up comment about Aban and dragon colors as possible homage to Dungeons and Dragons. * Email from Rasmus: Episode dedicated to Alachia? * Using multiple masks on a creature? * Avoid Blow’s all-or-nothing status? * Group patterns and thread limits? * New Legends of Earthdawn episodes? * New Earthdawn books? * Email from Sebastien: Shout-out for Lars and Steps! * Email from Aleyn: Why silver...

* Paths in Depth: The Liberator * Development history and perspective. * Origins in legacy of ork slavery. * Expanded to include any who feel the call to fight slavery and oppression. * Latest version deemphasizes slavery to expand story hooks and possibilities. * Josh talks about bringing modern-day perspectives into fictional situations (and the pitfalls thereof). * Possible internal disputes am...

* Vasgothia Kickstarter Special – A conversation with writer Nick Lowe. * Nick’s journey into Earthdawn and coming to work on the book. * Josh admits he hasn’t read the book yet. * Why Vasgothia? And why now? * How true to the original work by Robin Laws? * Inspiration from Nick’s own Vasgothia-based campaign? * Back to why this book now? * Connections between Vasgothia and Barsaive? * Cultural di...

* Email from Brian: Journeyman thoughts and path talents. * Email from Tim: Namegiver status of ogres. * Extensive discussion of what makes a Namegiver. * Vasgothia Kickstarter is live! * https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fasagames/eathdawn-4th-ed-vasgothia-and-champions-challenge-vol-2 * Dragons in Depth: Aban, aka Mistweaver * Like Usun, very insular and protective of her domain. * Raised by...

* Paths in Depth: The Scholar * Originally the dwarf racial Discipline of Traveled Scholar. * Background on the original version. * Mindset of the Scholar and contrast to the Troubadour. * Inspiration drawn from present-day academia. * Inspirations for Scholar-type characters. * Indiana Jones, Doc Brown, Atomic Robo, the Librarians, Daniel Jackson from Stargate, Giles from Buffy. * Venturing into...

* Email from Rasmus: Purchasable thread items from earlier editions? * Armor layering or stacking? * Dwarves getting lower initiative penalties for armor? * Flame Weapon on arrows? * Multiple Wounds from high damage results? * Chain casting-type ability for extended duration talents? * Creature Challenge Ratings? * Email from Jason: Thanks for the show. * Email from Shane: Taildancer tongue twiste...

* Episode Ninety and our two-year anniversary! * A look at our numbers over and after two years. * Paths in Review: Journeyman * Development history (with design insights) * Overview of the “original recipe “Discipline. * Morphism talent. * Rewards system mastery. * Josh reminiscences about a Journeyman from his old campaign. * Philosophy of the Journeyman path. * Effectively adds additional Versa...

* Josh is back from GenCon * Great Dragons: Usun; aka “Vast Green” * Solitary and does not look well on other Namegivers. * Classic dragon stereotype: physically powerful, vicious, territorial. * Straightforward, not complicated. * Believes dragons should rule over the younger races. * Outcast refers to him as a ‘throwback’ to earlier days. * Short-sighted when it comes to the ability of people to...

* Paths In Review: Taildancer * Historical development background from the Earthdawn Journal to present day. * One with the rhythm of the world. * The epitome of t’skrang combat style. * Requirements to follow the Path. * Association with the War College of House K’tenshin. * Review of the four schools presented in Mystic Paths. * Edo: Area control and movement. * Skora: Using tail as shield for d...

* Email from George: Coming back to the game and praise for the show. * Email from Jonathan: Can a Journeyman path join racially restricted paths by taking on aspects of that race? * Ogres as Namegivers? * Horror Stalkers relationship to the Grim Legion or Lightbearers? * Great Dragons: Earthroot * Secretive and mysterious, domain below the Throal Mountains. * Very rarely seen in dragon form outsi...

* Mystic Paths: Horror Stalker * Development history of the Horror Stalker from first edition Discipline to fourth edition path. * Uniquely Earthdawn—few fantasy games take an aspect of the setting and build a class or profession solely dedicated on it. * Problems with older versions of the Horror Stalker. * As with other focused Disciplines, it defines the style of game you are going to have. * P...

* Email from Anthony: Where can vendors get books? * www.studio2publishing.com * Email from Tim: Digital Travar map? * Now available free on the FASA Web Shop * Email from Insaniac99: Path requirements – Josh made a mistake! * Dragons in depth: Charcoalgrin * No physical description is presented in any official published material. * Very talkative, vain, and self-important. * Lairs in the former I...