Earthdawn Survival Guide

* 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-illusions/

* Important Attributes: Charisma, Perception, Willpower

* Karma Ritual leans into the “stage magician”

* Brief aside about real-world stage magicians.

* Artisan skills.

* Knotted handkerchiefs as Illusionist grimoire.

* Half-Magic

* Durability 3

* Novice Tier Talents

* An example of Sensing Difficulty and use of False Sight.

* Illusionists have more of a Social direction or sub-theme than other magicians.

* Some overlap with Thief and Troubadour.

* Options can be chosen to potentially “present” as another magician Discipline.

* Illusionist can fill the role of a “face man” with their social capability.

* A brief word about the Illusionist artwork.

* Journeyman Tier Talents.

* Glamour Discipline ability.

* Power Mask discussion.

* Best Multi-Discipline options.

* Illusionists suited to more creative, clever, thinking-outside-the-box play.

* Good investigators, contrast to Archers.

* Illusionist and Archer “buddy cop” concept.

* Potential group roles for the Illusionist

* Storytime: Rensil and the illusory breakfast.

Find and Follow:

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g

Twitter: @EDSGPodcast

Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant

Dan on Twitter: @boice_voice

Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com

FASA Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fasagamesinc

FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u

Earthdawn Guild Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/earthdawnguild

Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW

* 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?

* Facebook feedback about episode prep.

* Character Advancement: Places to spend Legend Points

* Talent Ranks

* Circle Advancement

* Discussion of different edition advancement requirements.

* Increase Attributes

* Increasing Skills

* Spells for magicians

* Talent Knacks

* Permanent Threads (items, group patterns)

* Legendary Status

* Total and Current Legend.

* Renown and Reputation Bonus.

* Benefits and drawbacks of fame.

* New Kickstarter! Empty Thrones - a campaign story book!

Find and Follow:

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g

Twitter: @EDSGPodcast

Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant

Dan on Twitter: @boice_voice

Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com

FASA Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fasagamesinc

FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u

Earthdawn Guild Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/earthdawnguild

Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW

* 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 group of adepts in common cause swear an oath to work together and can gain power from that.

* Pop culture example: The Avengers.

* Walkthrough example: The Redeemers of Cynoc from Legends of Earthdawn.

* Group Name.

* Group Symbol.

* Individual items to represent each member of the group.

* Perform creation ritual and swear blood oath.

* The group as a “conceptual” place.

* Weaving threads to group pattern and the benefits that can provide.

* Oath of Blood Peace.

* Obsidimen, blood oaths, and group patterns.

* Death of a group member, adding or removing members.

* Legend Awards.

* Different categories of awards.

* Where the numbers on the chart came from.

* Josh’s Under the Hood Legend Award blog post.

* Legend awards are a pacing mechanic.

* Monetary rewards.

* Under the Hood Financial Awards blog post

Find and Follow:

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g

Twitter: @EDSGPodcast

Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant

Dan on Twitter: @boice_voice

Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com

FASA Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fasagamesinc

FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u

Earthdawn Guild Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/earthdawnguild

Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW

* 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-social identity of Garlthik and J’role from The Longing Ring.

* Self-reliance versus selfish.

* Iconic role of the Thief as trap handler in dungeon/kaer delving style of play.

* Important Attributes: Dexterity, Perception, Charisma.

* Sample Artisan skills.

* Half-magic abilities.

* Free Talent: Danger Sense.

* Novice Tier Discipline Talents.

* Iconic Thief abilities.

* Disarm Trap unlocks ability to notice traps with Awareness.

* Haggle as negotiation for fencing stolen goods.

* Novice Talent Options.

* Discussion of Climbing as an option.

* All attack talents are options.

* Different attack styles for the Thief.

* Journeyman Tier Abilities.

* Shadowcloak was originally Circle 10 and did basically the same thing.

* Journeyman Tier Discipline Talents.

* Minor theme of illusion magic enhancing Thief abilities.

* Journeyman Talent Options.

* The problem of Dead Fall.

* Thief concepts: Cat burglar, con artist, high damage striker.

* Comparison and coexistence with other Disciplines.

* Book recommendation: A Burglar’s Guide to the City

* Heist movies. Ocean’s Eleven and sequels.

* Leverage as heroic team of different Thief concepts.

* Indiana Jones as a kaer-delver Thief.

* Racial Thief variations.

Find and Follow:

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g

Twitter: @EDSGPodcast

Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant

Dan on Twitter: @boice_voice

Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com

FASA Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fasagamesinc

FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u

Earthdawn Guild Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/earthdawnguild

Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW

* 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 similar monsters.

* “Modern” development of the fantasy genre and fantasy gaming.

* Orks as allegory or parallel of racism, especially in Shadowrun.

* Problematic descriptions of orks and similarity to racist language.

* Earthdawn’s cultural context of orks as slave race and the related real-world minefield.

* Approaching perspectives of orks and Cara Fahd in the setting and the appropriate empathy.

* Fiery, passionate, shorter-lived people whose culture derives from that nature.

* Archetype of the nomadic horsefolk.

* Vast majority—like any Namegiver—are just people.

* Gahad: A physiological response that drives them to act.

* “We are measured by our outlaws.”

* Three flavors: City orks, raiders or “Scorchers”, and the “Carads” or traditional tribes.

* Gender equality - prominent female ork leaders.

* Ork manners and behavior.

* Game mechanics: Higher Strength and Toughness, lower Willpower and Charisma.

* High Karma - only Windlings are better.

* “Ujnort”; “Those who do not understand.”

* The ork Cavalryman as a Barsaivian icon.

Find and Follow:

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g

Twitter: @EDSGPodcast

Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant

Dan on Twitter: @boice_voice

Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com

FASA Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fasagamesinc

FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u

Earthdawn Guild Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/earthdawnguild

Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW

* 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, but still not “front line”

* Frequently seen as “combat caster”

* The double-edged sword of Fire Heal

* Relationship with elemental spirits.

* Novice talent options

* “Skinning” talents as a way of expressing character’s magic

* Journeyman-tier abilities and upgrades.

* Journeyman Discipline Talents

* Journeyman Talent Options

* Flavor paths of wilderness caster, scholar, or combat support.

* Pop culture reference - Avatar: The Last Airbender

* Elementalist is easiest conceptual grasp for new players.

* Stereotypical “blasts” spells are Elementalist

* Works nicely with enchanting.

* Synergies with Weaponsmith, questor of Jaspree or Garlen

* Grove Renewal was the spell Josh couldn’t think of.

Find and Follow:

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g

Twitter: @EDSGPodcast

Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant

Dan on Twitter: @boice_voice

Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com

FASA Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fasagamesinc

FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u

Earthdawn Guild Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/earthdawnguild

Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW

* 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 talent pushing not worth the cost?

* Blood magic often an indication that somebody is a “bad guy”.

* Blood charms, living armors, group oaths.

* Discussion of some specific blood charms.

* Blood oaths.

* Depatterning (Josh is not a fan)

* Creatures

* Original location of the encounter balance guidelines

* The complexity of managing player characters versus creatures and GM characters.

* Special maneuvers and powers.

* Tactical complexity without a battle map.

* Balancing encounters and opposition that is stronger or weaker than the group.

* Boss fights and the drawbacks of the action economy.

Find and Follow:

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g

Twitter: @EDSGPodcast

Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant

Dan on Twitter: @boice_voice

Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com

FASA Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fasagamesinc

FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u

Earthdawn Guild Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/earthdawnguild

Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW

* 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 Aaron: Momentum Attack as a skill?

* Adapting old adventures to Fourth Edition and balancing combat encounters?

* From Brandon: Swordmaster two-handed weapons?

* Handling downtime in game (especially for players familiar with D&D/Pathfinder)?

Find and Follow:

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g

Twitter: @EDSGPodcast

Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant

Dan on Twitter: @boice_voice

Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com

FASA Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fasagamesinc

FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u

Earthdawn Guild Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/earthdawnguild

Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW

* 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 outside performance.

* Anne McCaffrey’s Harper Hall of Pern

* Novice Discipline Talents

* Free talent: Entertainer

* Interaction Tests and their utility in the game

* Variety of social talents.

* Item History

* Novice Talent Options

* A couple of combat tricks but Troubadours are not fighters.

* Impressive Display

* Throwing vs Missile Weapons

* Journeyman Abilities: Karma after a social test failure.

* Contribute Karma to another character’s test

* Journeyman Discipline Talents

* More social support and manipulation

* Journeyman Talent Options

* The complexity of Blade Juggle

* The Troubadour options add a little bit of illusion.

* Reminder: Troubadours are not fighters.

* GM Tip: Make sure you give your Troubadour PCs have their moments to shine.

* (Episode 15 has the discussion of social mechanics.)

* Troubadours have a significant role in the setting.

* Maybe base your character’s performance style on an existing musical style.

* Filk

* This week’s unsurprising fact: Josh loves Troubadours.

Find and Follow:

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g

Twitter: @EDSGPodcast

Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant

Dan on Twitter: @boice_voice

Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com

FASA Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fasagamesinc

FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u

Earthdawn Guild Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/earthdawnguild

Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW

* 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 than the Deep Lore.

* Elven Nations did not go into ancient immortal elf secrets.

* The story of the immortals and powerful beings is interesting.

* Focus on kings, dragons, and immortals can result in not leaving room for the player characters.

* Word of the day: Deprotagonization

* Sourcebooks should be gameable, not a novel focused on favored NPCs.

* Potential pitfalls of a living setting.

* Can’t assume that every game has the same interest in the Deep Lore.

* Josh avoids a rant on the obsession with continuity, canonicity, and trivial minutiae.

* Only so much space in the book, so choices must be made.

* Elves!

* Lots of information to take in about them in Earthdawn.

* The trouble with elves in RPGs and related backlash.

* Elves are people.

* The Elven Court and a twist on the cliche.

* Tension between Blood Elves and Unprotected Elves.

* Lest you forget, Alachia is awesome, but also a garbage person.

* Philosophy of the Wheel of Life.

* Weaknesses of the Wheel as presented.

* Lots of detailed rituals described in the Denizens essay.

* Descriptive, not prescriptive.

* Elven crafts form as much as function.

* Family size and the realities of population sustainability.

* The stereotype of long-lived races, patience, and relationship with time.

* Number crunching the elf player character.

* Combat-type elves should probably focus on defensive talents that lean on their high Dexterity

* Good Troubadours and magicians

* Fast, agile, middling karma, fragile.

Find and Follow:

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g

Twitter: @EDSGPodcast

Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant

Dan on Twitter: @boice_voice

Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com

FASA Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fasagamesinc

FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u

Earthdawn Guild Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/earthdawnguild

Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW