Earthdawn Survival Guide

* Sorry about the technical and sound issues this episode!

* Secret Societies: The Liferock Rebellion

* What makes a “secret” society?

* The founding of the Liferock Rebellion.

* Omasu: Leader and one of the founding members.

* Membership mainly obsidimen and t’skrang.

* Josh defends Theran strategic decisions.

* The Rebellion acts as a go-between and partisan force behind efforts to unite Barsaive against the Therans.

* Omasu flexing his financial and political muscles.

* Status of the Liferock Rebellion post-Second Theran War.

* A second round of Josh defending the Therans.

* Using the Liferock Rebellion in adventures and campaigns.

* Use as an antagonist in Theran/Iopan campaigns.

* Sorry about the technical and sound issues this episode!

* Email from Riley: Thoughts on grimoire prices.

* Email from Brian: Second Chance can be decent, actually!

* Email from Tim: Burned through episode archive!

* Rites of Protection and Passage interactions with spirits, Passions, or Netherwalk?

* Thoughts on lack of change in kaers during the Scourge?

* Reason for kaer secrecy and trapped Horrors as mana level dropped?

* Liferocks and obsidimen during the Scourge.

* How quickly did the Mad Passions fall? Their questors?

* Development of new spells in the setting?

* Age of Exploration vs Looking to the Past?

* Mystic Paths errata.

* High Circle Nethermancer

* Ninth Circle Discipline Ability: Otherworldly Willpower

* Warden Tier bonuses and Discipline talents.

* Warden Tier talent options.

* New in the Companion: Armored Matrix, Astral Pocket, Contest of Wills, Perfect Focus, Range Pattern, Safe Thought, Soul Aegis, Summoning Circle

* Thirteenth Circle Discipline Ability: Astral Face

* Master Tier bonuses and Discipline talents.

* Master Tier talent options.

* New in Companion: Casting Pattern, Confront Horror, Effect Pattern, Lion Spirit, Resist Pain, Second Chance, Shared Matrix

* High circle talent analysis and build options.

* Secret Societies: The Holders of Trust

* Not to be trifled with!

* Potential spoilers in this episode!

* The Holders are the mechanism through which the Denairastas maintain (and expand) their control.

* An intelligence network… but more.

* Sworn to the scion of the Denairastas family first, Iopos second.

* Iopos and its ruling cult of personality; authoritarian regimes.

* Three levels.

* Silver Branch: Public face, city guard, and army.

* Judge, jury, and executioner.

* Not swayed by bribes or corruption.

* Patrol in “triads” – squads of three.

* Copper Branch: Informers, intelligence gatherers, spies on their fellow citizens.

* Unlike the Silvers, hidden, secretive. Could be anyone.

* Operate in cell-like groups, passing information up the chain.

* Informs much of Iopan way of life.

* Gold Branch: High-powered, high-Circle agents and operatives.

* Usually members of the Denairastas clan.

* Operate in other parts of Barsaive in furtherance of Denairastas goals.

* Association with House Ishkarat and the Firescale Moot.

* Orichalcum Branch: Denairastas elite personal bodyguards.

* Very skilled, high-powered combatants. Often enhanced with blood charms and other magic.

* “The Broken Keys” – a possible Denairastas faction in Indrisa.

* Recruitment to the Holders.

* Commentary on the Holders and the Denairastas.

* Ultimately petty but backed with incredible power.

* Using the Holders in adventures in campaigns.

* Avalanche of emails!

* In case you missed the Grand Bazaar Kickstarter…

* Email from Leamon: Breaking his no crowdfunding rule!

* Email from Matthew: Running adventures at conventions?

* Email from Jen: What books are necessary for running fourth edition?

* Email from Stefan: Praise for the game and table tales.

* Compatibility of Acrobatic Defense and Maneuver but not Anticipate Blow.

* Seeing in Ethereal Darkness with Astral Sight?

* Dispel Magic versus Suppress Curse?

* Earthdawn audio books?

* Survival Guide on YouTube?

* Second email from Leamon: Kudos for the Safety Tools episode!

* Experience of safety tools and game writing.

* Email from Brendan: Questions about Life Circle of One spell.

* What’s the point of Aspect of the Cruel Physician spell.

* Monetary value of a looted grimoire?

* High Circle Swordmaster

* Two-Minute recap of the Swordmaster themes and focus

* Ninth Circle Discipline Ability: Blood Bound Blade

* Warden Tier bonuses and Discipline talents.

* Warden Tier talent options.

* New in the Companion: Champion Challenge, Ethereal Weapon, Lion Spirit, Matrix Sight, Relentless Recovery, Spirit Strike, Undermine, Witty Repartee

* Thirteenth Circle Discipline Ability: Audacious Bravado

* Master Tier bonuses and Discipline talents.

* Master Tier talent options.

* New in the Companion: Aura Armor, Bardic Voice, Chilling Strike, Resist Pain, Second Chance, Soul Aegis, Unflinching Fortitude, Vital Ward.

* High Circle talent analysis and build options.

* Safety tools with special guest Rev Deschain!

* Rev’s connection with Earthdawn

* What are safety tools? What purpose do they serve?

* The ability to “opt out” of content or themes you don’t want to deal with.

* The X-Card – Rewriting or reframing a scene to avoid upsetting material.

* Lines and Veils – discussing what to include (or not include) and to what extent.

* An ongoing conversation with respect for your fellow players.

* If you’re using tools, USE them!

* Post game tools: Stars and wishes.

* Positive reinforcement, not just watering down the darkness.

* It can feel strange to start using safety tools.

* The GM can set an example by laying out their own boundaries.

* Bleed – when the character’s experiences affect the player.

* Player connection to the character, and character mortality.

* Trust, and trust being broken.

* An anecdote about harassment – players being turned off a game (or gaming in general).

* Game as performance – safety tools in streaming or podcast games.

* The Open Door – ability to step away from the table (or the game) if they find it is not for them.

* Rev’s GenCon dragon-girl anecdote.

* Closing thoughts.

* Find Rev on Twitter: @RevDeschain

* The Critshow: www.thecritshowpodcast.com (or anywhere you find your podcasts!)

* Critshow YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheCritshow

* Critshow Safety Tools Discussion: https://youtu.be/FqbTdDPcUgk

* The TTRPG Safety Toolkit (curated by Kienna Shaw and Lauren Bryant-Monk): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/114jRmhzBpdqkAlhmveis0nmW73qkAZCj

* High Circle Illusionist

* Recap of the Illusionist themes and style.

* Circle Nine Discipline ability: Hide Matrix

* Warden Tier bonuses and Discipline talents.

* Warden Tier talent options.

* New to the Companion: Armored Matrix, Astral Pocket, Range Pattern, Safe Thought, Undermine.

* Circle Thirteen Discipline ability: Manipulate Reality.

* Master Tier bonuses and Discipline talents.

* Master Tier talent options.

* New to the Companion: Bardic Voice, Casting Pattern, Effect Pattern, Impossible Hide, Second Chance, Shared Matrix, Soul Aegis, Witty Repartee.

* Analysis and advancement options.

* Hope you backed the Grand Bazaar Kickstarter!

* Email from Brendan: Do pattern items lose their link to the associated True Pattern if they spend too long away from it?

* Email from Andy: Bonuses for working together or helping another character?

* Email from Alan: Horror Stalkers and loyalty to a Group True Pattern? Marked characters in a Group True Pattern?

* Discussion includes some spoilers for the Blades adventure collection.

* Email from Jesse: What was T'skrang hibernation like during the Scourge?

* Discussion of the Scourge as a cultural freeze.

* Email from Fraser Cain: Blast from the past from an old Earthdawn writer.

* Cult of the Great Dragon

* Great antagonists for high Circle campaigns involving Horrors and/or dragons.

* Discussion of the metaplot connections referred to in the essay from Secret Societies.

* Multiple groups/cells that don't coordinate with each other.

* Thoughts on modeling members of the cult in mechanics.

* Typical organization of a cult cell.

* Goals and objectives can vary from group to group.

* Might support Verjigorm's goal of corrupting dragons.

* Might worship power and be seeking it for themselves.

* Might generally loathe dragons for some reason.

* Few cells actually directly interact with Verjigorm, more rumor than fact.

* Incorporating the Cult of the Great Hunter in adventures and campaigns.

* Straightforward, but flexible in ways they can be used.

* Larcenical is still not a word!

* Grand Bazaar Kickstarter running through June 14!

* Plush Mountainshadow, new Namegiver and Verjigorm miniatures!

* Vasgothia pre-art draft has been released to backers!

* Production notes and upcoming episodes.

* High Circle Thief

* Recap of the Discipline’s themes and focus.

* Ninth Circle Discipline Ability: Shadow Sight.

* Warden tier bonuses and Discipline talents.

* Warden talent options.

* New to the Companion: Echolocation, Escape Plan, Perfect Focus

* Thirteenth Circle Discipline Ability: Shadow Meld.

* Master tier bonuses and Discipline talents.

* Master talent options.

* New to the Companion: Alley Cat Approach, Critical Hit, Defensive Posture, Disarming Smile, Fluid Movement, Netherwalk, Second Chance, Spirit Strike

* Build paths and talent analysis.

* High Circle Elementalist

* Check out Episode 29 for Novice and Journeyman tiers.

* Recap of Elementalist themes and focus.

* Ninth Circle Discipline ability: Earth and Air.

* Warden tier Discipline talents.

* Warden tier talent options.

* Thirteenth Circle Discipline ability: Elemental Form

* Master tier Discipline talents.

* Master tier talent options.

* Build options and talent analysis.