Earthdawn Survival Guide

* Part Three of Passions and Questors

* Floranuus: Passion of Revelry, Energy, Motion, and Victory.

* The thrill of speed or exhilaration, anything that makes you “feel alive”.

* Strong association with the element of fire.

* Shares some ideas of classical or mythological sun gods driving across the sky.

* Powers include increased stamina, turn depression into exhilaration with a thought.

* The antithesis of depression and lethargy.

* Not great planners, drive to get up and go, DO something.

* Essay highlight: Tying Floranuus to aspects of other Passions.

* Floranuus and their aspects in the setting.

* Questors of Floranuus: Generally happy, optimistic.

* Strong association with windlings, Air Sailors, and Boatmen.

* Overview of Devotions available to Questors of Floranuus.

* Lots of upbeat social and movement related abilities.

* Upandal: Passion of Construction, Building, and Planning.

* Associated with order in the sense of following a plan.

* Symbols include the hammer, compass, forge, blueprints.

* Hephaestus or other smith or craftsman deities.

* More practical than Astendar when it comes to crafting or artistic expression.

* Powers include making tools quickly, fortify structures, make bridges and towers.

* Essay highlight: Two questors debating the Passion’s ideals.

* Not just physical engineering: Civil and cultural engineering.

* Upandal and their ideals in the setting.

* Overview of Devotions available to Questors of Upandal.

* Many extended action and group project management powers.

* Strong association with dwarfs, Weaponsmiths, and enchanters.

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Earthdawn West Marches:

* Most of the recorded streams from FreedoniaCon are available on the FASA Games YouTube Channel.

* Email from Riley: Ways of handling magician spell acquisition.

* Josh reveals Virag has 44 spells in her grimoire and talks spell scarcity.

* Email from Ted: True Ephemeral Bolt and how its secondary effect interacts with other tests.

* Email from Lee: Interpretations of Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham as Disciplines and followers of Passions.

* Nethermancers not Necromancers; lack of animate/control undead spells in the core book.

* Email from Brian: Guidelines for spell design – effects to be careful with.

* Geographic overview: Death’s Sea

* According to legend, the Passions imprisoned Death beneath the sea, turning it into molten rock.

* The Keys of Death cult

* Reasons for characters to visit Death’s Sea: True Fire, unusual components from creatures native to the area, interesting and dangerous terrain.

* Possible kaers or abandoned strongholds.

* Area surrounding Death’s Sea: Twilight Peaks.

* Dead Man’s Gullet and the Scarlet Sea.

* Southernmost reaches of Death’s Sea are water.

* Mist Swamps: The Great Dragon Aban and the Castle of Assassins of the Hand of Corruption

* The Badlands.

* Unusual and exotic location for adventures to be set.

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* Passions Part Two

* Chorrolis: Passion of Wealth, Trade, Envy, and Desire

* Overlap of aspects and how that is expressed in different Passions.

* Even the Passions that aren’t Mad can have toxic or destructive expressions.

* Trade and exchange; Throal’s cultural dissemination as an expression of Chorrolis’s ideals.

* Symbols and powers of Chorrolis.

* Ways to show devotion to Chorrolis.

* Not just about raw wealth; trade as a cultural good.

* Review of Devotions available to questors of Chorrolis.

* Player character questors of Chorrolis.

* No strongly aligned Disciplines; Weaponsmiths, Air Sailors, and Boatmen could be peripherally related.

* Theme or story ideas relating to Chorrolis.

* First Edition Adventure: Desire Box in Parlainth Adventures

* Raggok: Mad Passion of Vengeance, Bitterness, and Jealousy.

* In some respects, the easiest, most direct of the Mad Passions.

* Strongly associated with undead and corruption.

* Symbols and markers of Raggok.

* Pop culture references: Cask of Amontillado, Count of Monte Cristo.

* Review of Devotions available to questors of Raggok.

* Reasons for access to Durability.

* Another pop culture references: Wormtongue from Lord of the Rings.

* Approaches and motivations for a questor of Raggok as an antagonist.

* Before they went Mad: Rashomon and how those ideals might be twisted in a Raggok-fueled antagonist.

* Scrooge’s bitterness and misandry and Raggok.

* Expressing devotion toward Raggok; witting and unwitting.

* Pop culture reference: Chronicle (film), Jack the Ripper

* Player character devotees of Raggok: Safety Tools like the X-Card, Lines and Veils, etc.

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* Into the Weeds: Spell Acquisition

* Historical Retrospective: First Edition

* Start with PER Step in spell points.

* No free or granted spells after creation.

* Spells must be acquired through training with mentors, finding in kaers, or looting from dead enemy magicians.

* No codified cost in silver, no Legend Point cost.

* Second Edition

* Starting spells based on WIL Step (possibly to diversify important Attributes at creation for magicians).

* On Circle Advancement, 2 times Circle in spell points for free new spells.

* Introduced a Legend Point cost for spells, 100 LP times Spell Circle.

* Codified silver piece cost for purchasing spells.

* Discussion of reason for some ED2 rules changes for spells.

* Earthdawn Classic

* Returned to starting spells based on PER Step.

* One free spell of new Circle on Circle advancement up to Fifth Circle.

* Legend Point and silver cost are shifted to Optional Rules, changed some values in those options.

* Third Edition

* No changes from Earthdawn Classic

* Fourth Edition

* Removed free spells on Circle advancement, Legend Point cost is now standard rule.

* Josh discusses the concerns with spell LP cost hindering character advancement.

* GM Advice: Where does a magician learn new spells?

* Discipline mentors and trainers, whether as part of Circle advancement or not.

* Recovering grimoires from ruins, kaers, or defeated opponents.

* The GM should provide spells as rewards for magicians the same way they provide rewards or loot for other Disciplines.

* Suggestions for learning about NPC magicians to approach for tutoring.

* Common spells might be available in library collections.

* Sidebar about magician guilds and their role in the Earthdawn setting.

* Josh waxes admiringly about magicians.

* Spell creation rules. First Edition had detailed spell creation rules, no plans for that detailed a process in Fourth Edition.

* Porting or updating spells from earlier editions to ED4; look to similar spells and set up effects and extra threads based on published material.

* Spells don’t always have to cost silver; that is a rough guideline for simple “buying” spell knowledge.

* Keep track of mentors and GMCs for future connections and plot development.

* GMC magician mentors traveling along with their PC students.

* FreedoniaCon panels and seminars have started appearing on the FASA Games YouTube Channel. Looking at what might start being done on the FASA Games Twitch.

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* Episode Sixty LIVE from Freedonia Con 2021

* Brief look at show stats

* Email from Dustin: Thanks for the Astral Sight episode!

* Email from Nanander: Impressions provided by astral sight?

* Visibility of patterns through materials?

* Pattern centerpoints; space the pattern takes up “inside” an item.

* Names and ED4 philosophy addressing them.

* Email from Lee: Fiction suggestions for astral sight inspiration.

* Katherine Kerr’s Deverry Cycle, David Gemmell’s Drenai Series, Raymond Feist’s Riftwar Series

* Email from Aaron: Thoughts on astral space and patterns.

* Email from Riley: Introducing Passions to new players.

* Email from Brian: Followers who aren’t questors displaying their devotion.

* Email from Vincent: Handling the modifier for Steps 1 and 2?

* Armor penalties reducing Initiative to 0?

* Rules variant for armor on Morgan’s blog.

* Discussion of comments and questions from the live audience chat.

* Bookshelves, Unarmed Combat, Audiobooks, Passions appearing to characters, Harbingers

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* Part one of our series on Passions and Questors

* Reminder: FreedoniaCon February 19-21

* The Passions

* Earthdawn’s version of deities.

* Questors can work together, but no large-scale formal religious organization.

* Passions represent ideals of Namegiver society.

* True nature is unclear.

* Astendar: Passion of love, art, music, creative arts and inspiration.

* Vaguely analogous to Aphrodite, Cupid, Apollo, the Muses.

* Strongly associated with Troubadours, Swordmasters.

* Devotees can be seen as frivolous, flighty, overly romantic.

* Astendar can entrance with music, inspire love, restore youth.

* Sidetrack general discussion of questors.

* Population of questors and adept questors.

* The role of questors in society; connection between the mundane and spiritual.

* Introducing or using Astendar in adventures or plot arcs.

* Best suited to social/political scenarios and obstacles.

* More than love stories—artistic and creative challenges.

* Passions don’t necessarily play favorites; Followers and questors of the same Passion can come into conflict.

* Questors of Astendar in depth

* Brief overview of questor powers and progression.

* Devotion Points and acts of devotion to replenish them.

* Overview of devotions available to Questors of Astendar.

* Brief discussion of non-adept Questor player characters

* Jaspree: Passion of growth, care of the land, and love of the wilderness.

* Analogous to Gaea, Demeter, Pan, harvest deities.

* Not just “nature” but proper stewardship of the land.

* Strong association with Beastmaster, Shaman, and Cavalryman Disciplines.

* Gardener, famer, herdsman.

* Jaspree in adventures and story arcs.

* Followers of a “positive” or not-Mad Passion as antagonists.

* Overview of devotions available to Questors of Jaspree.

* Final thoughts on using Passions in your game.

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* Email Questions and Blood Wood

* Email from Matthew: Steps Desktop Version

* Email from Brandon: Comments and question on Forge Weapon

* Why was Ukraine chosen as the setting for Barsaive?

* Josh discovers ED4 doesn’t have Improve Blade/Weapon

* Anonymous Email: Upcoming episode on the Passions?

* Favorite adventures for new groups?

* Managing crunchiness of the Step Dice? Rules lite options?

* Blood Wood

* It is a fascinating and unique setting but can be difficult for a standard campaign to interact with.

* The “Cavalryman” of the setting; games with it can often end up revolving around the Wood.

* Not to be taken lightly. Creepy, and everything screams “Go away!”

* Geographic survey of the Wood

* Eidolon: Fortress at the confluence of the Serpent and Mothingale Rivers.

* Joint venture between Blood Wood and House Syrtis to forestall Ishkarat aggression.

* Trenevar is the “market town” on the Mothingale, most accessible location in the Wood.

* Low population density, only about 60k elves in 600 square miles.

* Pop culture references: Mirkwood and the Old Forest from Lord of the Rings. “Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining on the Forest Moon of Endor.”

* The Southern Fringe: More populated and cultivated than other regions.

* The Western Border: More isolated, heavy magical defenses protecting the border from Iopos and their allies the Firescale moot.

* Northern Reaches: Most sparsely populated, not quite as heavily patrolled because of how far it is from Barsaive.

* May be easiest to sneak in this way, though it would take a long time to get there.

* Goro’imri: The settlement of dissidents and outsiders.

* Grove of Thorns: Blood Wood’s War College

* Elf Queen’s Palace and the Ranelles

* Josh can’t help but talk about Alachia.

* The Forest’s Heart: The most dangerous region. The rot at the heart of the apple. Nobody is allowed in.

* More discussion about Alachia.

* Hazards and obstacles in the Wood.

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* Astral Sight and Astral Sensing

* Questions from Dustin

* Does a character directly perceiving astral space see native astral entities as imprints or in their full appearance?

* Does a character using Astral Sight see the imprints of astral entities present in astral space?

* Tangent into astral perception translating information about magical energy into stimuli the Namegiver can understand. It is not necessarily limited to sight.

* Astral Sight as a way for visually impaired characters to navigate the world.

* Can the patterns of purely astral entities be studied in the same way as patterns of physical objects?

* What does astral sensing perceive when it comes to dual-natured Horrors?

* Question from K Scott

* How can you tell a person/place/thing is tainted or corrupted? Can you just astrally perceive the target?

* Questions from Brian

* Lifesight and the Shaman spell Lifesense

* After consultation with Morgan, should behave like the Wizard spell Astral Sense, with the GM requiring new tests when appropriate.

* Can you use Astral Sight (or Lifesight) separately while the related spell is active?

* Can the user make a new Astral Sight test when they are aware of a poor initial result?

* Tangent into Josh’s general approach to astral sight. Providing mood and atmosphere, providing clues or information during an investigation.

* Describing what astral space and astral imprints look like.

* Question from Lee: Can Astral Sight provide insight into a subject’s emotional state?

* Question from Shane: Visual consistency of portraying astral space in published books?

* Ideas and suggestions for imagery and sensations to use when describing patterns and imprints.

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* Discipline Review: Shaman

* Anthropological background on the term

* Some thoughts on the problematic origins and use of “shaman”

* Goals of the Fourth Edition rework of the Shaman Discipline

* The in-character essay

* Shaman as Earthdawn’s take on the “druid” archetype

* Karma Ritual

* Artisan Skills

* Half-Magic Abilities

* “Fetishes” as set dressing for spellcasting

* Novice Tier Discipline Talents and abilities

* Novice Tier Talent Options

* Journeyman Tier Discipline Talents and abilities

* Journeyman Tier Talent Options

* Warden Tier Discipline Talents and abilities

* Warden Tier Talent Options

* Master Discipline Talents and abilities

* Master Discipline Talent Options

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* We will soon be doing an episode focused on Astral Sight and astral perception. Get your questions in!

* Episode Fifty-Five: Airships

* Pop Culture References: Firefly, Red Dwarf, Star Trek, Killjoys, Battlestar Galactica, The Orville, Farscape

* Wooden Airships

* Airboat: Smallest airship, small capacity, short range. Flying rowboat.

* Drakkar: “Longship”, scout or patrol vessel. Common among highland troll raiders.

* Most common vessel that a PC group would have.

* Owning an airship would have ongoing costs, not just a purchase price.

* Style and design of airships as a campaign aspect.

* Galley: Merchant or military vessels. Travels between major population centers.

* Faster than a traditional caravan, but limited cargo space.

* Galleon: Largest Barsaivian airship. Limited number. Flagships of naval forces.

* Stone Airships

* Vedette: Equivalent to the drakkar. Transport, scouting, elemental mining.

* Kila: Flying fortress. Display of Theran might. Gunship or carrier equivalent. Primary focus of Theran naval forces.

* Theran airships in adventures.

* Behemoth: Flying city. Rare and powerful. When it shows up, things are serious.

* Behemoths are a campaign-shaping display of Theran power. The “Death Star” of the setting.

* Refer to supplement Prelude to War for info on the behemoth.

* Ghost ships: Any kind of airship that has befallen a disaster or problem; can be the focus of an adventure.

* Ships as characters; drama and story potential of airship crew.

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