Earthdawn Survival Guide
By Josh H & Dan B
Whether it's rules basics, setting lore, or behind-the-scenes insights, this is the place to start building your legend.
Earthdawn Survival GuideAug 19, 2020
EDSG Episode 219 - History of the Western Kingdoms
* The Western Kingdoms
* A little bit of background of the Elven Nations book.
* The placement of the Western Kingdoms and relation to Sereatha.
* Overview of the western kingdom's political structure.
* Individual domains each ruled by a ranelle, called a gerryth.
* Collectively called the Gwydenro, or "heartland".
* The founding ranelles of the western kingdoms.
* The legend of Sereatha's founding.
* Ancient past, relationship to Wyrm Wood.
* Tales developed to justify the way things are.
* How the tales lead to Shosara's heresy.
* Providing monarchs for the Rose Throne.
* Lots of BS called out in this episode!
* Josh's headcanon of elven high court politics.
* The Orichalcum Wars and the Scourge.
* Emergence after the Scourge and Sereatha's fate.
* Reactions to the Blood Wood and Shosaran reconciliation.
* The Roheline Wood and the Wastes.
* Present-day political situation in Sereatha.
* Sereatha's orthodoxy and the strength of cultural narrative.
* The three-sided political struggle over the fate of elvendom.
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 218 - Mailbag!
* Mailbag episode!
* Lou provided some insight into other pieces written by Sam Witt
* Aleyn sent us a bunch of adventure journals!
* We talk about character journals back in the day.
* Email from Brendan: Penalties for sleeping in armor?
* Josh suggests: Reducing recovery tests by the Initiative Penalty.
* How long to put on armor? Related somehow to Physical Armor rating?
* Email from Kenneth: House rules for thread weaving/spell casting.
* Spell casting "cantrip" knacks and extra threads.
* Legend Point cost for spells and the thinking behind it.
* Email from Stefan: Enchanting Deep Dive.
* Player perspective vs GM perspective.
* Mechanics vs story.
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 217 - Parlainth Adventures: Threads
* Parlainth Adventures: Threads
* Return to form; facing a Horror threat.
* Higher challenge.
* Roots lie in Parlainth's history and is now threatening Haven.
* Does not require as much established NPC relationships as earlier adventures.
* Can benefit from some foreshadowing and build-up.
* Hired to investigate escalting violence in Haven.
* Fairly linear, can run into "mystery adventure" problems.
* Some guidance into how the adepts can notice weird magic.
* Not so much about the investigation, just following the thread to the cause.
* How these adventures sidestep the "investigation" phase.
* Some ideas for expanding the early stages.
* Excursion into the ruins.
* The Cult of Pain and what has gone before.
* The Abomination and its plans.
* "Kaer crawl" in the Western Catacombs.
* Analyzing the Horror's stat block.
* Linear and traditional, but not bad for it.
* Sidebar about mystery and investigation plots.
* Gumshoe, Brindlewood Bay, and Apocalypse Keys.
* Levels of success on Perception tests.
* Final thoughts.
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 216 - Shosara: The Navolok Ranelle
* Shosara: Navolok Ranelle
* Foil or rival to the Laryskova.
* Focused on helping adopt non-elven ideas.
* Not concerned with the opinion of the Elven Court.
* Internal dynamic of the "liberal" elven nation.
* Enough information to inform, not too much to overwhelm.
* More willing to share titles and promote non-elves.
* Remained behind after the Separation where the Laryskova left.
* Forging identity as Shosarans.
* Name is a human word; declaring independence from the Court.
* Did much to grow and establish the nation and its political structure.
* Cultural friction with the Laryskova due to differing objectives.
* Only a third of the ranelle are elves.
* Post-Scourge history and activities.
* "Radicals" from an elven perspective.
* Changes to the elven Wheel philosophy.
* Support of arts and culture.
* Grand Prince Zinoviy
* Takes some inspiration from Throal's Council Compact.
* Thinking of nominating a human as his successor.
* Final thoughts.
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 215 - Parlainth Adventures: Desire Box
* Parlainth Adventures: Desire Box
* Lighthearted adventure; Josh thinks it's "a hoot"
* Potential farce, funniest of the Parlainth Adventures.
* Most easily transported to another location.
* Slow build to a frenetic conclusion.
* Premise: Politics, Archiana Smoothskin, and Torgak.
* The Desire Box: Chorrolis-infused artifact from the ruins.
* For best effect, requires relationships in Haven.
* Planning and forethought on the GM's part.
* Not much GM guidance on the conclusion.
* More possible adventure prep.
* Final resolution; appearance of a Passion.
* Expanding the ways PCs might solve the mystery ahead of time.
* Dan talks about his experiences with the adventure.
* Contrasting writing and design styles.
* Playing with expectations.
* Embrace the weird!
* Rare example of an actual Passion being involved in a published adventure.
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 214 - Shosara: The Laryskova Ranelle
* Shosara: The Laryskova Ranelle
* Kickstarter for the next expansion for Aetherstream is live!
* The ranelle inspired by Jaspree to travel north, founding Shosara.
* Shosara might not exist if not for the pilgrimage.
* Largest single political power in Shosara.
* Prefer trade and diplomacy over military force.
* Ranelle's main objective is to move the seat of the court to Shosara.
* History of the Laryskova and the Court in Wyrm Wood.
* The ranelle tends to act more quickly than traditional elven ranelles.
* Due to history, don't want to just go their own way; still elven culture.
* Balancing act between elven tradition and innovation.
* Natural explorers and merchants.
* Common Disciplines among the ranelle's adepts.
* Relationship with Thera and broader political philosophy.
* Patron of magical and scholarly research, artistic pursuits.
* Close-knit and loyal family.
* Grand Prince Beranis Laryskova.
* Oak Heart as the key to becoming the new Elven Court.
* Wrap up.
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 213 - Shosara's Capital City
* The Capital City of Shosara
* Shosara's approach to traditional elven philosophy.
* Overview of the city layout.
* Great Lighthouse - North end of the bay.
* Seat of magical study and scholariship.
* Symbol of knowledge as light and guidance.
* Berths for airships.
* Grand Arsenal - South end of the bay.
* Keep, smithies, armory.
* Base for the Free Companies
* Dockside - Along the shore between the Lighthouse and Arsenal.
* Busy district with inns, shops, residences.
* Large central market with shrine to Chorrolis.
* Old City - East of Dockside; inland.
* Government offices and palace.
* Wealthy merchants and fancier residences.
* Basic overview of the city government.
* Garden District - East of the Old City.
* Estates of the Shosaran ranelles.
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EDSGPodcast
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 212 - Mailbag!
* Diving into the mailbag!
* Panels from FreedoniaCon 2024 are available on the FASA Games YouTube channel
* Email from Rob: Update on actual play podcasts.
* Declaration phase at start of each round.
* Bringing on other GMs to answer questions?
* Email from Leamon: Kaer breached and survived?
* Battle Shout: Increased DN based on target, or the talent user?
* Non-adept humans and Versatility? Learn skills more easily?
* Story time! Character death and consequences.
* Josh sidebars about obsidiman sky raiders and air sailors.
* Email from Konrad: Any restrictions on armor for magicians?
* Thoughts about using Generative AI for personal use?
* Josh rants about art and late stage capitalism.
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EDSGPodcast
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Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com
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FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u
Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 211 - Parlainth Adventures: Dead Man's Hand
* Parlainth Adventures: Dead Man's Hand
* Written by Robin Laws
* Features Twiceborn, Queen of the Cadaver Folk
* More darkly whimsical.
* Early Tim Burton, Addams Family
* Works best with the characters having a previously established relationship with an NPC.
* Agreement between Torgak and Twiceborn
* Inciting Event: The Carnival of the Dead.
* Stuff to see and do at the Carnival.
* Friendly NPC loses a wager and gets taken down to the Catacombs.
* Different approaches to rescue the friend.
* A coup is brewing!
* Choosing which side to support.
* Outcomes and consequences.
* Influences and inspirations.
* Another likely one-session scenario.
* Solid option to flesh out a Legends of Barsaive home campaign.
* But keep in mind how it might affect Ch 9, Once Bitten, Twiceborn.
* Presents a non-standard adventure story for Earthdawn.
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 210 - Parlainth Adventures: Blood Pact
* Parlainth Adventures: Blood Pact
* Dan figured out why he thought there was a well!
* Overall theme: Vulnerability of youth and the responsibility to protect the weak.
* Child gets poisoned by Mindtrap's blood on the map wall.
* Josh explains the set-up; what came before.
* Avenues of investigation.
* Portraying those mentally broken by Horrors.
* The infection spreads.
* Hunting the Horror.
* Mindtrap's game statistics and challenge.
* Alernate approaches and things to keep in mind.
* Player Character plot armor and ways to address it.
* A good, short adventure with a mix of stuff.
* Reward: Butterspider Box.
* Back to Mindtrap's methods and analysis.
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Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com
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FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u
Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
Special Video Episode! Live from Freedonia Con!
This special episode is the video of Episode 209, recorded at FreedoniaCon 2024.
EDSG Episode 209 - Live from FreedoniaCon 2024
* EDSG Live at FreedoniaCon 2024!
* Josh summarizes the convention so far.
* Email from Patrick: Our ending to Infected!
* Email from Matthew: Thread items allowing the user to cast a specific spell?
* Email from Patrick: Favorite easter egg or plot detail?
* Email from K Scott: Glowing eyes in description of Astral Targeting spell?
* Email from Konrad: Thanks for the show.
* What do you do when a skill the character knows becomes a talent?
* Conventions in the UK?
* Email from Graywulfe: Our resolution to Infected!
* Another email from Matthew: Life in Haven: food and water?
* Adventure inspirations and hierarchy of needs.
* Non-adept humans using Versatility?
* Chat question from K Scott: Third printing of the guides?
* Chat comment from Rob about adventure inspriations.
* Josh gushes about a therapist analyzing video games on YouTube
* Chat question from Bean: Intelligent thread items?
* Dan's wish for an Earthdawn dice set.
* Closing thanks and comments.
Find and Follow:
Email: edsgpodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EDSGPodcast
Find and follow Josh: https://linktr.ee/LoreMerchant
Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com
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FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u
Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 208 - Shosara's History and Geography
* Shosara: Elves of the North
* Reminder: FreedoniaCon Feb 16-18 on the FASA Games Discord!
* Live EDSG on the 18th!
* Shosara is on a peninsula extending into the Gwyn Sea.
* Shosara's citadel was not breached.
* Founded by elves who set out from Wyrm Wood following a vision from Jaspree.
* Real world parallel geography.
* Early history of the Shosaran elves, meeting the Khistovans.
* Partnership and cultural blending, shared ship designs.
* Separation from the Elven Court.
* Abdication of Queen Failla and ascension of Liara.
* Josh's head canon of behind-the-scenes politics.
* Exile of the Laryskova ranelle.
* Stresses in the elven cultural diaspora.
* Preparing for and surviving the Scourge.
* One citadel for the region's entire population.
* After the Scourge, pushing to claim the seat of elvendom.
* Geographical and environmental overview.
* Wild, feral lands that seem to shift.
* Lots of open area to fill in details; "distant horizons".
* Region has its own primeval, wild magic feel.
* Marvel's Savage Land
* Conan Doyle's Lost World
* Skull Island
* Not just a retread of Barsaive.
* Feast of the New Dawn, regatta on the Gwyn Sea.
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 207 - Infected
* Infected! Spoilers for the adventure in this episode!
* FreedoniaCon February 16-18 on the FASA Games Discord
* Written by the legendary Robin Laws
* Probably Josh's favorite published adventure.
* Let's talk about the cover!
* General gushes about art from old school FASA
* Dramatic, evocative cover.
* Open ended resolution.
* Plays on expectations and twists them.
* Plot background and summary.
* How the PCs are introduced.
* On the Road to Hanto
* Shantaya's Sextant
* Yellowspring and Cherrypit.
* Thematic foreshadowing - no clear cut solution.
* The previous messengers attack.
* Learn about the situation in Hanto.
* Combat focused groups may miss a lot of the nuance.
* Arrival at Hanto, meeting the Grim Legion.
* "Now what do you do?"
* Discussion of Moltaa and Kwamm.
* Aardelea and what's really going on.
* Branching endings... ways to resolve the problem.
* The aftermath.
* Features strong player character agency.
* Situation not story.
* Discussion of the treasures recovered.
* Threads moving forward in the setting.
* Maps and handouts.
* Masterclass in "Adventure as location"
* Any interesting stories from your experience with this adventure? Let us know!
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 206 - The Talshara Ranelle
* The Talshara Ranelle
* Reminder: FreedoniaCon Feb 16-18 on the FASA Games Discord!
* Talshara comprises most of the militia and exolashers in the Blood Wood
* Nearly every combat Discipline is represented in the ranelle.
* Likely includes a significant number of Woodsman followers
* (Check out Episode 78 for the Woodsman Episode.)
* Current leader: Erithander, strongly loyal, can be blunt with the queen.
* Founded during the reign of queen Failla
* Queen Liara brought on members of the ranelle as her personal guard.
* Alachia charged the Talshara with repeling the Horrors as the kaer was prepared.
* Founded the Grove of Blades as a military academy to train fighters.
* If you go with Failla as a prior tenure of Alachia as queen, that puts an interesting spin on her relationship with the ranelle.
* Detachment of Talshara at Eidolon, representing the Wood in that partnership.
* Erithander: Over 300 years old, honest, loyal, and straightforward.
* Follows the elven wheel, has studied four combat Disciplines.
* Possible spin of Erithander as another immortal elf.
* Erthander's agenda: Ensure the defense and protection of the wood.
* Heads the Grove of Thorns that trains the militia, guards, and exolashers.
* Rhisiart: Eritahnder's son.
* Sent out on expeditions to retrieve elven artifacts from outside the wood.
* Banished from court when he disagreed with the queen, now leads Eidolon garrison.
* Dedicated to rooting out Monus Byre and the Seekers of the Heart.
* Honest and loyal like his father.
* Current consortis: Ilisa Willowby
* Was scribe on Rhisiart's expeditions, good friends with the scion.
* Born and raised in court, knows a bit about court culture and politics.
* Made consortis as a slight against the Talshara because of Rhisiart's gaffe.
* Working to get her friend back in Alachia's good graces and lift his exile.
* Goro'imri: The town of the outsiders.
* Founded by an unprotected elf who believes in the strength found in diversity.
* Alachia is aware of the settlement but does not acknowledge it.
* Rommanarel Oakfast is the leader, and has petitioned to meet with Alachia.
* She has learned of the wood longing and its effects.
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FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u
Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 205 - Terror in the Skies
* Adventure breakdown: Terror in the Skies
* SPOILERS!
* FreedoniaCon is February 16-18 on the FASA Games Discord
* Live Survival Guide on Sunday the 18th.
* Second adventure published.
* Like Mists of Betrayal, likely written to feature different aspects of the game.
* Still potential balance issues, but not as severely as Mists.
* Sidebar about adventures not strictly speaking a series, despite easter eggs.
* Written by Shane Lacy Hensley.
* High concept of the adventure.
* "You all meet in a tavern..."
* Early heroics and hired by the air patrol.
* Options for NPC interactions and character development.
* The Obsidian Flyer and first encounter with the rakken.
* Letter from a Wizard and learning about the Tome of Banishment.
* Voyage to the Thunder Mountains.
* Sidebar about Juliak Merris, Omasu, and future storylines.
* Encountering ork scorchers.
* Talon Kaer, the windling refuge.
* Sidebar about Jennell Jacquays and adventure design.
* First appearances of some creatures.
* Lower section and the vault.
* The problem with the solution to opening the vault.
* Leaving the kaer and chasing the Shadow Skulker.
* Possible appearance of railroading.
* Opposition of the climactic battle.
* Banishing the rakken and Rasper-Nor.
* Overall opinions and assessment.
* Discussion of casting the banishment spell.
* Ship combat and the airships in the adventure.
* Treasures and loot.
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 204 - The Jae'Helastri Ranelle
* The Jae'Helastri Ranelle
* Politically inclined gossip-mongers
* Most likely to pass information to manipulate events.
* May be envoys outside the wood.
* Keep an eye on other ranelles.
* No farming, trade, or other aspects of life.
* Smallest ranelle, no more ancestral lands or lesser ranelles sworn to them.
* The ranelle that "knows things".
* Came to power through unswerving loyalty to Alachia.
* Founder became the go-between the consortis and blood warders.
* Willing to share their information, but just as willing to use it against you.
* May see themselves as a balancing force to keep any other faction from gaining too much power.
* Willing to share gossip and falsehoods to further their ends.
* Focused more on internal politics than external.
* Do not write down their information to keep control of it.
* Pop-culture archetypes: High-class courtesan.
* Littlefinger or Varys from Game of Thrones.
* Involving the ranelle in traditional campaigns.
* Personalities and activites.
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 203 - New Year, New Mailbag
* New Year, New mailbag!
* The full, unedited interview with Lou is available on our YouTube channel.
* The pre-art draft for Grand Bazaar has been made available to backers.
* Email from Bart: Dispelling or disrupting threads?
* Email from Chris: Crossbows! Why Strength?
* Why not more kinds of crossbows?
* Convention news!
* Email from Brendan: Twisted ideals for the non-mad Passions?
* Email from Shady Dragon: Teamwork knacks?
* Email from Brendan: What about the Grim Legion?
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FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u
Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 202 - A Conversation with Lou Prosperi, Part 3
* The Third and Final Part of our conversation with Lou Prosperi
* Lou's Favorites
* Why Ukraine
* One More Thing for Earthdawn
* Enduring Nature and Cliffhangers
* Is Lou a Passion
* Tales From Lou's Table
* Working With Greg Gorden
* Working on Different Systems
* Something from Fourth Edition You Like
* An Area You Wanted to Cover
* If You Could Change Anything
* What Would You Like to Revisit Now
* Grand Storyline
* Differetiation From Other Fantasy Games
* Magic System Development
* If You Could Create a New Game
* Blood Wood
* Disney Imagineering Books
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FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u
Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 201 - A Conversation with Lou Prosperi, Part 2
* The second part of our conversation with Lou Prosperi.
* T'skrang as alien race?
* What's the deal with the ash blowing in from the Wastes?
* Sidebar about the "Western Kingdoms"
* Questions about loci and their use in original plans for Barsaive at War.
* World maps?
* Thoughts about the return of the Earthdawn and other parts of the world.
* Magic use in lands outside the Theran Empire.
* Portals to the elemental planes.
* Back to the illusion of a fully-developed plan.
* Cover art and war golems?
* Why does Lou hate goblins?
* The profileration of PC races (and monstrous humanoids) in fantasy gaming.
* Involvement with 1879?
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EDSG Episode 200 - A Conversation with Lou Prosperi, Part 1
* Episode 200! Part one of our conversation with Lou Prosperi.
* How does Lou pronounce certain Earthdawn names?
* What were the plans for continuing coordination with Shadowrun?
* Some discussion about crossover characters.
* Story about Lou sending his SR players into the past before Earthdawn
* Lou's path to Earthdawn.
* How did they go about building the setting?
* Were there secrets that weren't revealed?
* A story about a supplement that never was to provide context.
* "As much as you have to, but as little as possible."
* Is Rosper an homage?
* Magical laser cannons at Sky Point?
* In-setting narratives and what people know.
* What other magical stuff did the Therans have lurking about?
* Some discussion about the loci and setting development.
* Loose plans when first edition shuttered: Vivane, Pawns of the Dragon, Scytha.
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 199 - Mists of Betrayal and 2023 Wrap-Up
* Wrapping up 2023 with some listener statistics and analytics
* We broke 100k total listens this year according to our host.
* Where our listeners hail from and what platform they listen on.
* Most listened to overall episodes.
* Our Spotify Wrapped summary... new listeners and audience growth.
* Listen Notes score and commentary.
* YouTube stats (all our backlog is now on the channel)
* What does the future hold?
* Adventure analysis: Mists of Betrayal
* First official adventure... spoilers ho!
* Initial thoughts.
* Overview of recommended character Circles and broad session structure.
* Arrival in Tureem.
* Disucssion of the introductory jehuthra encounter.
* Moving on to Haven and getting hired by a Wizard.
* On the road to Blood Wood: Theran ambushes.
* Random sidequest: Ruined caravan and the Horror Duaga.
* Blood Wood and elven politics: The next step along the story trail.
* Tracking the slavers and discovering Akarem.
* Exploring the ruined tower and catacombs.
* Difficult obstacle 1: The Spectral Dancer.
* Difficult obstacle 2: The Mist.
* Back to Blood Wood and returning to Haven.
* Final encounter: Kalourin and the Mist.
* Discussion and potential stumbling blocks.
* Loose ends and possible follow-ups.
* Thread items in the adventure.
* Legend Awards.
* Memories of running the adventure.
* Timeless adventure not tied to any particular era.
* High marks despite difficulty spikes.
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EDSG Episode 198 - Mailbag!
* Mailbag!
* Email from Jonathan: Would Blood Warders or Exolashers have been a path?
* Email from Alexandre: Social Defense needs and protections for a Gauntlet?
* Discussion of Resist Taunt, Lion Heart, Lion Spirit, and other options.
* Email from Leamon: Ways to track Legend Point awards.
* Spreadsheets!
* Email from Brendan: Are Karma and Legend Points diegetic?
* What about talent ranks?
* Episode with Lou Prosperi coming up in a couple weeks!
Find and Follow:
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 197 - The Escalanas Ranelle
* Great Ranelles of the Blood Wood: The Escalanas
* Quick update on social media and the like.
* Kindness from a fan on the FASA Games Discord.
* Tradtionally provides the most Warders to the Rose Throne.
* Current head Kethos was one of the main architect of the Ritual of Thorns.
* The "magic" ranelle, but like other ranelles they do other stuff.
* Based in the western regions of the Wood.
* Traces their origins back to the Western Kingdoms.
* Established the Queen's Warders under Queen Failla.
* Warders developed a lot of the magic to control and interact with the Wood.
* Their sanctuary based in the heart of the Wood.
* Escalanas are covertly meeting with the Denairastas.
* Kethos seeks to end/reverse the Ritual of Thorns in defiance of Alachia.
* Hoping to redeem himself before he dies.
* No longer welcome in court; loyal, but more to elvendom than Alachia specifically.
* Some discussion of possible consequences of ending the ritual.
* Orlando Escalanas: Current consortis.
* The pair staged a falling-out to cover Orlando working as a spymaster for Kethos.
* Adventure hooks or campaign arcs using the Escalanas.
* Seekers of the Heart and the acorns of Oak Heart.
* Eletheria: The ghost of the western forest.
* Vanished from the citadel early in the Scourge.
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 196 - Kaers
* Kaers
* Significance of kaers in the game and setting.
* Common (and most dangerous) destination for adventurers.
* Mists of Betrayal, Terror in the Skies, Ardanyan's Revenge.
* Not a lot of concrete examples in later published material.
* Appearances in novels and fiction.
* What is a kaer?
* Purpose to keep people inside alive.
* Why are you going and what might you find?
* Kaers vs citadels.
* Traps and defenses. Could be turned off by residents to safely emerge.
* Traps are apt to be nasty and deadly.
* Other features of entry and approach tunnels.
* The kaer as a community like surface towns and villages.
* Don't necessarily need to map every inch of the kaer.
* How the residents and conditions might shape the environment.
* A kaer is not a D&D-style dungeon of 10-foot corridors.
* Need space for people to live for generations.
* Entry tunnels should allow room for livestock and goods to be taken inside.
* Concealing the entrance as an additional layer of protection.
* Obvious kaers are likely to have already been found and explored.
* Where kaers were built and why.
* Basic Theran design. Large central chamber with offshoots for various services.
* Mosaics or other fixed decorations as a source of lore or knowledge.
* Living quarters; tiny homes, apartments, dorm suites.
* Main thing about kaer design is there likely would be no wasted space.
* Growth or expansion during the Scourge.
* Wards and protections of the kaer interior.
* Oxygen and air filtration.
* Crops and greenery; rooftop gardens.
* Resource use and waste disposal/recycling (including the dead).
* Water - wells, water spirits, connections to elemental plane.
* Animals and livestock; diet variety (or lack thereof)
* More about crops and food plants.
* Five likely states for a kaer.
* Unopened and inhabited.
* Open and empty.
* Collapsed and not used.
* Failed by Horror breach.
* Failed by other disaster (starvation, disease, collapse)
* Adventurer groups and kaers.
* How do you get in and what do you find there?
* GM should think of the story of the kaer.
* Who lived there and what happened to them?
* Cultural drift (or lack thereof).
* Sidebar about Urupa development.
* How much of a role will the kaer play?
* Exceptions to expectations and what that can do.
* Magic can solve a lot of problems!
* Returning to water source and its importance.
* What do you find inside? Treasure, artwork, lore?
* Kaer-focused game ideas.
* Other sources and inspiration.
* Civic planning and civil engineering.
* Don't put more work into your kaer design than you must!
* City of Ember
* The Expanse
* Silo
* Ultimately limited only by your imagination.
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EDSG Episode 195 - The Daevenar Ranelle
* The Daevenar Ranelle
* Some comments on Blood Wood games.
* Renowned as the finest artists and craftfolk in the Wood.
* Significant presence in Court, but not an obvious politics player.
* Likely a notable influence on elven culture.
* Possibly behind the campaign against Shosara.
* Importance of art and culture during the Scourge and Ritual of Thorns.
* Loyalty to throne and ability to shape public opinion.
* Strong negative feelings about the Therans.
* Belive the thorns have elevated the Blood Elves.
* Strong antipathy with the Carithasca and source of conflict.
* Returning to the weakness of Blood Wood as a notable setting in typical games.
* Ranelle's main home is near the Court.
* Persons of note.
* Tarin Daevenar: Current leader of the ranelle.
* Embodiment of Blood Elf snobbery and superiority.
* Baltana Daevenar: Exolasher and court bodyguard.
* Supporter of and spy for the Seekers of the Heart.
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Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant
Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com
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EDSG Episode 194 - Mailbag!
* Diving into the mailbag!
* Email from Leamon: GMs with players who know more about the setting.
* Fighting large groups of low-powered opponents.
* Questions for Greg Gorden?
* Email from Brad: Stories about player character death.
* Handling replacements for a dead PC?
* Plans to reintroduce Lightbearers as a path?
* Email from Scott: More stories about character death.
* Player buy-in and expectations with Paranoia as a framework.
* Suggestions for running Earthdawn at conventions.
* Pre-generated characters? Races? Disciplines? Circle?
* Descriptions or maps of kaers? Starting in a kaer?
* Published adventures for convention settings?
* Other advice for convention play?
Find and Follow:
Email: edsgpodcast@gmail.com
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Twitter: @EDSGPodcast
Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant
Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com
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EDSG Episode 193 - The Carithasca Ranelle
* Great Ranelles of the Blood Wood: Carithasca
* A ranelle is similar to a noble house or clan; extended family.
* Mainly based in the Southern Fringe, focused on trade.
* While each ranelle is best known for a particular thing, they don’t do just that thing.
* The ranelle’s background and how they got to where they are.
* The ranelle’s biggest advantage is the network they have built over time.
* Alachia and using royal patents to pit houses against each other.
* Kaer Eidolon as the only trade point with the outside world.
* Carithasca’s goals and motives.
* Opinions of other ranelles, and some inspirations for the house.
* Legends and history.
* Persons of note.
* Ethenia, matriarch and possible immortal; close relationship with Alachia.
* Some thoughts about immortal elves and their role in the Elven Court.
* Haeleon, senior Carithasca consortis.
* Captain Trellius, sailor and frequent visitor to Eidolon.
* Trellius appears in Heavy Metal Queen from Legends of Barsaive.
* Additional thoughts and wrap-up.
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EDSG Episode 192 - Exploring and Surviving Underground Environments
* Email from David: Love for the show and for Earthdawn
* Reminder from Josh about the Earthdawn West Marches community.
* Email from Bryan: Stories about player character death.
* Josh shares a party wipe story from an old D&D game.
* Exploring and surviving underground environments.
* Careless folk get themselves killed in the depths.
* Four things to worry about when caving.
* Bad air: Stale air or other things that affect breathing.
* Try to use magical light sources – torches or lanterns can use up oxygen.
* Toxic or poisonous gases.
* Underground fires can burn for a long time.
* Many visual references for underground environments.
* Cave-ins and collapses.
* Elemental spirits as a useful resource when caving.
* Other useful character skills and abilities that may help.
* Underground water: streams, rivers, and lakes.
* Flooding hazards.
* Additional resource: Dungeoneer’s Survival Guide from AD&D.
* Fire threats: Magma and hot springs.
* Sample underground hazard traps in the Earthdawn Survival Guide book.
* Additional concerns with underground fires.
* Dangerous creatures.
* Often hunt by scent or sound, and sound can carry long distances underground.
* Horrors and constructs.
* Classic Earthdawn adventures with strong underground themes.
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Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com
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EDSG Episode 191 - Player Character Death
* Player character death.
* Reminder: Tastes and desires on what a player wants from a game can vary!
* Most problems arise from a difference in expectations between the players and GM.
* Story about Josh’s friend Doug and his approach to his characters.
* Players who strongly identify with their characters can dislike having their story “cut short”.
* A brief sidebar about gamemasters fudging dice results.
* Leaving the “training wheels on” – how long before death becomes a legitimate stake?
* “Sliders” – the degree to which PC death can come into play.
* Setting a policy on handling player character death.
* Is death permanent? How easy is it to come back?
* Revisit the policy to see if it needs to change as the campaign progresses.
* Table tale from Josh about Bearclaw the Journeyman and a player choosing death for their character.
* Table tale from Dan about a character death and how it shaped the game.
* Critical Role Campaign 2 and how a character death shaped character growth and future story.
* In-game acknowledgement of the character death.
* Does removing taking death off the table remove any tension or stakes to the game?
* Finding other options to threaten characters without death; deus ex machina.
* If a character can come back, what does it cost? How might it change them?
* Another table tale from Dan about a fight against the “big bad”.
* Earthdawn’s “lethality curve” and how that shifts as powers come online.
* Email from Leamon (part 1): Petty GM on a power trip.
* Game tone and setting conceit example: Paranoia.
* Character as pawn or game-piece. “Character funnels”.
* The Traveler RPG and characters dying before the game even started.
* Email from Leamon (part 2): Connection to a character affecting feelings about the game.
* Player grief and emotional bleed.
* Bringing in a new character, how to create them, and other consequences.
* Email from Leamon (part 3): Bringing a character/archetype back for more exploration.
* Player introspection and self-discovery resulting from character death.
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EDSG Episode 190 - Exploring and Surviving the Wastes
* Surviving and Exploring the Wastes.
* Another example of an area devastated by the Scourge, similar in that way to the Badlands.
* Of note in earlier material mainly because of its effect on western Barsaive.
* Also an area with a significant number of lost and corrupted kaers.
* Not as easy to get imagery to draw inspiration about the Wastes.
* Jerris is most likely location to launch expeditions into the region.
* Terrain and environment.
* Some discussion of the perpetual ash.
* Magical side effects of the area’s corruption.
* Denizens of the Wastes.
* Sidebar about avoiding easy tropes about deformity and evil.
* Mysteries of the Wastes as a campaign hook.
* Quick summary of some mechanics in the original Earthdawn Survival Guide
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EDSG Episode 189 - Exploring and Surviving Death's Sea and the Mist Swamps
* Surviving the inhsopitable: Death’s Sea and the Mist Swamps
* Death’s Sea
* Invest in protection from heat and bring plenty of water.
* No walking! Airship access only.
* Only solid ground are klenkas, temporary islands of cooled lava.
* Bring foods that can survive the hot, dry conditions.
* Lots of fire-adjacent wildlife to make life difficult.
* Additional suggestions for supplies to help survive the environment.
* Reasons to visit Death’s Sea (aside from mining).
* Mist Swamps
* Fabled ancient ruins (Yrns Morgath)
* Difficulty in crossing the terrain.
* Other reasons to visit the region: rare plants or other magical reagents.
* Supplies to bring and challenges to overcome.
* Silver lining: Not likely to encounter Horrors and Horrorspawn.
* Past episodes that cover these areas.
* Death’s Domain and escaping it.
* Rescuing player characters from Death’s Domain.
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EDSG Episode 188 - Another dive into the mailbag
* Another packed email episode!
* Email from Michael H: Supporting the show, and a question about airship and riverboat rules.
* Upcoming topic: Dealing with player character death
* Email from Jennifer: Knacks spreadsheet?
* Sheet is actually what talents become available for the core Disciplines
* Email from Jonathan: Do animal companions count as allies for the Shaman pack spell benefits?
* Handling the Repel Animal spell cast in the path of a charging mount?
* Email from Francois: Questions about kaers. How were they closed? How did people open them? Communication from outside to residents of the kaer?
* Naming spirits? Pattern items for Throal, Thera or other places?
* What do Josh and Dan do for their day jobs?
* Email from J: New Earthdawn fan! Question about obsidimen and the Messenger path.
* Email from FrankFrankFrank: Support talents; Wilderness Survival, Navigation, etc.
* Additional thoughts on vehicle-based talents, as well as Haggle.
* Email from Joel Fowler: Legend Point totals for Fifteenth Circle characters.
* Updating player characters from earlier editions to fourth edition.
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EDSG Episode 187 - Healing Herbs and Plants of Barsaive
* Herbs, plants, and natural medicines in Earthdawn.
* Can add more flavor, detail, and variety to your setting.
* The Survival Guide includes a mix of real-world and fictional plants.
* The Herbalist’s Primer by Anna Urbanek.
* Great system-neutral supplement for any fantasy game.
* Item by item list from the first edition Survival Guide.
* Descriptions, uses, and adventure or story hooks.
* Pop culture connections: Lord of the Rings, Aquaman.
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EDSG Episode 186 - Exploring and Surviving the Badlands
* Exploring and surviving in the Badlands
* Final report on the Deeper Secrets Kickstarter campaign
* Possible reasons to go into (or over) the Badlands
* Historical overview of the region
* Is calling it the Badlands reinforcing its corruption?
* Additional ideas and hooks in the Travar sourcebook
* Solving the mystery of the region’s growth and cleansing the corruption
* Geography and environment
* Travel difficulties
* Resources and survival
* Denizens of the Badlands
* Creatures, Horrorspawn, and foul folk
* Mountainshadow’s Lair
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EDSG Episode 185 - Post GenCon Mailbag Part 2
* Second of TWO post-GenCon mailbag episodes!
* Question from Josh (not that Josh): Adapting Earthdawn to other systems?
* Some non-legally binding discussion of how to handle fan works.
* Email from Svenn: Book of Tomorrow and the Earthdawn Publishing Trust.
* Josh reminisces about the EDPT.
* Questions about Legend Awards…
* ED4 challenge ratings versus ED1 specific creature awards?
* Why change the Legend award system?
* History lesson from Josh about the revisions to Legend awards over the years.
* With a side of design philosophy about creatures vs player characters.
* Updating old adventures to the newer Legend award system?
* Guidelines for building creatures and Legend awards in fourth edition?
* Different Legend awards based on character Circle?
* Reprints of Elven Nations and Questors?
* Appreciation for thoughts and comments Lou Prosperi posts to Facebook.
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EDSG Episode 184 - Post GenCon Mailbag Part 1
* First of TWO post-GenCon mailbag episodes!
* As of this episode’s release, just over two days left in the Deeper Secrets Kickstarter
* Email from Alexandre: Playing an offended obsidiman?
* Email from Donald the SoloRPG Guy: Recent Earthdawn episode and shout-out to the EDSG
* Email from Ben: What kind of Horror was Zorg from the Legends of Earthdawn podcast?
* Email from Patrick: Illusionist spells and disbelief/sensing?
* Check out Episode 34 for Illusionist Discipline discussion, Episodes 72 and 181 for Illusionist spell discussions.
* Email from Aaron: Running a game for someone who is well-versed in the setting.
* A few suggestions and ways to approach the situation.
* Email from Tim: Thoughts on adventuring in mountains and making interesting choices.
* Question about characters leaving their kaer in the Badlands for the first time.
* Thoughts on experiences and encounters for newly emerged kaer dwellers.
* Email from Mark: Suggestions on speeding up combat mechanically and narratively.
* Josh shares a hard lesson he learned about pacing and resolving a combat.
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Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com
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EDSG Episode 183 - Third and Fourth Circle Shaman Spells
* Third and Fourth Circle Shaman spells
* Quick review of a couple important Shaman spell features.
* Third Circle Spells
* Catwalk
* Invoke Lion’s Pride
* Mark of the Wolf
* Polecat Resilience
* Sunlight
* Third Circle picks and discussion.
* Fourth Circle Spells
* Ferret Reflex
* Gills
* Invoke Shark Rend
* Mark of the Bear
* Repel Animal
* Fourth Circle picks and discussion.
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Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com
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EDSG Episode 182 - Exploring and Surviving Forest Environments
* Josh gives a GenCon update! Booth times and such!
* Reminder: If you have questions for Lou Prosperi, send them in!
* Exploring and surviving forest environments.
* Named vs unnamed forest.
* Typically, much drier than jungles, more undergrowth.
* A brief ecological overview of deciduous and evergreen forests.
* Potable water in forests and the associated hazards.
* Fauna commonly found in forests.
* Pop culture references and inspirations for forest environments.
* Negative vs positive portrayals of woodlands.
* Corrupting presence of Horrors in forests.
* Namegiver and spirit presence.
* The Blood Wood
* Iconic “haunted forest”, the land is alive and watching you.
* How the Blood Wood differs from regular forests.
* The Poison Forest
* Perpetually in a state of undying decay; infected by the ash blown in from the Wastes.
* Mood and feeling of the Poison Forest.
* Large number of Horrors and Horrorspawn.
* How the Poison Forest differs from normal woodlands.
* More mood and feelings.
* Encountering spirits and fauna.
* Corrupted and cadaverous masks from the Companion.
* Book of Exploration entry about the Poison Forest: The Fountain Parchment.
Find and Follow:
Email: edsgpodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g
Twitter: @EDSGPodcast
Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant
Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 181 - Third and Fourth Circle Illusionist Spells
* Magic: Deeper Secrets Kickstarter is live!
* Third and Fourth Circle Illusionist Spells
* Josh briefly recaps some thoughts on the Illusionist as a magician
* Third Circle Spells
* And Then I Woke Up
* Blinding Glare
* Fog of Jeer
* Nobody Here
* Phantom Warrior
* Top third Circle picks and discussion
* Fourth Circle Spells
* Clarion Call
* Great Weapon
* Notice Not
* Phantom Lightning
* Stop Right There
* Suffocation
* Unmask
* Top Fourth Circle picks and discussion
Find and Follow:
Email: edsgpodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g
Twitter: @EDSGPodcast
Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant
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 West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 180 - Email and Jungle Environments
* Email from Brendan: Question about Wound penalties?
* Email from Mark: Having Brad on the show to talk about 1879?
* Theran Empire and Horrors defanged?
* Comparing the Denairastas to the Therans.
* Some spoilers for Empty Thrones.
* Horrors as a disrupting political influence.
* Question about the Earthdawn version of Turkey/Anatolia?
* Why is Naaman Y’ross such a big deal?
* Exploring and surviving Jungle regions.
* More life in jungle habitats than anywhere else.
* Things to watch out for in the Servos Jungle.
* Heat, humidity, and water.
* Mold, insects, heatstroke.
* Low amounts of underbrush, swampy low spots.
* Inspirations: Return of the Jedi (Forest moon of Endor), James Cameron’s Avatar.
* Real-world inspirations: Amazon basin, equatorial Africa, southeast Asia.
* Tomb Raider and Uncharted video games.
* Easier to forage/hunt to survive due to abundant plant and animal life.
* Fantasy versions of hazardous plants; giant flytraps, pitcher plants.
* Wood and plant spirits.
* Downsides of vegetation-based threats.
* Fauna: Snakes, frogs, boar, and more!
* List of creatures by terrain at Panda Gaming Grove.
* Remember motivations of creature encounters!
* Using creatures as clues or hooks for jungle adventures.
* Fire and forests vs jungles.
* The Liaj Jungle, Usun, and the Tamers.
Find and Follow:
Email: edsgpodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g
Twitter: @EDSGPodcast
Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant
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 West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 179 - Third and Fourth Circle Nethermancer Spells
* Some production business: Upcoming episodes
* Send in questions for Lou!
* Third and Fourth Nethermancer spells
* Arrow of Night
* Aspect of the Bone Spirit
* Aspect of the Cowardly Skulk
* Fog of Fear
* Grave Message
* Pain
* Summon Bone Spirit
* Discussion and top picks for Third Circle
* Aspect of the Menacing Tyrant
* Dark Spy
* Evil Eye
* Last Chance
* Nightflyer’s Cloak
* Viewpoint
* Discussion and top picks for Fourth Circle
Find and Follow:
Email: edsgpodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g
Twitter: @EDSGPodcast
Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant
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 West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 178 - Third and Fourth Circle Elementalist Spells
* Third and Fourth Circle Elementalist spells.
* Ice Mace and Chain
* Lightning Bolt
* Mantle of the Reflecting Pool
* Plant Feast
* Thrive
* Winds of Deflection
* Discussion and top picks for Third Circle
* Air Blast
* Blizzard Sphere
* Elemental Spear
* Grove Renewal
* Lightning Step
* Uneven Ground
* Discussion and top picks for Fourth Circle
Find and Follow:
Email: edsgpodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g
Twitter: @EDSGPodcast
Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant
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 West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 177 - Exploring Mountain Regions
* Email from Riley: Tales of the Cult of the Great Hunter.
* Email from Charles: Official map of the world of Earthdawn?
* Email from Nick: Explaining half-Horrors.
* Email from Jesse: Covering the ork tribes or scorcher bands?
* Dangers, obstacles, and hazards in mountainous regions.
* Context, expectations, and objectives.
* Personal experience and familiarity.
* Loads of inspiration and research material: documentaries and reality shows.
* Many kaers took advantage of natural caves in mountain ranges.
* Environmental hazard: Cold and snow.
* Namegivers in Barsaive aren’t likely to have extensive experience with snow due to climate.
* Avalanches
* Frostbite
* Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”
* Suggested mechanics from the Survival Guide.
* Cold water and hypothermia.
* Thin air and altitude sickness.
* Snow blindness.
* Movement and travel in snow.
* True air as a hazard.
* Cliffs, ravines, and crevasses: falling damage.
* Flora and fauna of the mountain ranges.
* Wrapping up.
Find and Follow:
Email: edsgpodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g
Twitter: @EDSGPodcast
Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant
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 West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 176 - Third and Fourth Circle Wizard Spells
* Please excuse Dan’s rough audio in this episode, he was having computer issues.
* Third Circle Wizard spells
* Astral Targeting
* Aura Strike
* Combat Fury
* Identify Magic
* Levitate
* Wizard Mark
* Top picks
* Fourth Circle Wizard spells
* Ball of String
* Binding Threads
* Evolved Consciousness
* Juggler’s Touch
* Lighten Load
* Wizard’s Cloak
* Top picks
Find and Follow:
Email: edsgpodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g
Twitter: @EDSGPodcast
Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant
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 West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 175 - The ABCs of Raiding
* Our final Crystal Raiders episode, we promise!
* Why do the Crystal Raiders, well, raid?
* Scarce resources, need to get things to survive.
* Cultural self-justification and myth-making.
* Where and what they target with their raids.
* Highland troll culture is broken, and their reputation is deserved (at least somewhat).
* Rituals to assuage troll honor to best cope with raids.
* Typically, don’t raid for silver or gold; not really interested in money.
* General tactics
* Raids on other trollmoots.
* Conflicts over resources, feuds between individuals or clans within moots.
* Ceremonial aspects and strict rules of engagement.
* Will not attack grounded drakkars.
* Raids on lowland communities.
* Stagger and rotate through their targets, like managing hunting grounds.
* Raids of caravans.
* Greater challenge due to protection.
* Tactics unique to attacking caravans.
* Raiding other airships.
* Scouting and intelligence gathering.
* Raids over water and against riverboats.
* T’skrang newots and Sky Raiders.
* Confiscating Theran airships.
Find and Follow:
Email: edsgpodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g
Twitter: @EDSGPodcast
Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant
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 West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSP Episode 174 - Mailbag!
* Diving into the mailbag!
* Josh recaps his weekend adventure to Los Angeles.
* Email from Walter: New listener thanks us for the show.
* Email from Matthew: Recommends “Silo” on AppleTV for ideas on a life sequestered underground.
* Email from Riley: Eberron as another richly developed setting.
* Email from Aaron: Praise for Horror and Crystal Raider episodes.
* Question about forging implanted armor like Blood Pebble.
* Threaded blood pebble or living crystal armor?
* Email from Captain Olimar: What was the weird cat-thing faced in Josh’s FreedniaCon adventure?
* Elemental affinity of the central tree in the Floating City?
* Using True Shot with Second Shot?
* Horrors from the Cathay books? Half-Horrors?
* Earthdawn novel from Russell Zimmerman?
* When is the next Kickstarter?
* EDSG episodes about the Elven Nations?
* Campaign book about the Harwood Incident?
* Paths for Cavalryman Discipline?
Find and Follow:
Email: edsgpodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g
Twitter: @EDSGPodcast
Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant
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 West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 173 - Verjigorm
* Our last Horrors episode: Verjigorm
* The “Big One”, the “Hunter of Great Dragons”, Earthdawn’s Great Cthulhu
* One of three Named Horrors from the original core rulebook.
* Entry is very similar to the entry in the Dragons sourcebook.
* The “Dark One”, at the beginning, spawned the “Horoi”
* One Horoi – Nightstlayer – left the darkness and woke on Earth, saw its beauty, and wept the Nammegivers into being.
* Josh speculates how this creation myth might reflect events in the distant past.
* Not necessarily intended to be a foe to face directly; like the Great Old Ones from Lovecraft.
* Early stats were likely a way to impress how powerful it is.
* Summary of game statistics and powers.
* Not very active in most recent Scourge, but looms very large in the setting.
* Use and presence of Verjigorm in games – Cult of the Great Hunter
* Getting involved with this Horror will likely draw the attention of the dragons.
* Obsessions: Hunger for power, fanatical hatred of dragons.
* Captured numerous dragons during the last Scourge.
* This prey is wrapped in astral cocoons that warp them into Horror-corrupted entities.
* Verjigorm’s spawn as a campaign focus and epic opponent.
* Exploring Verjigorm’s Horror Thread power.
* Lovecraft parallels and cosmic nihilism.
* More than just a giant sack of hit points.
* Most common appearance.
* Closing thoughts.
Find and Follow:
Email: edsgpodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g
Twitter: @EDSGPodcast
Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant
Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com
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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Special 14 - Legends 6
* Special 14 Legends 6
* A Fragment From Nutreva
* An Ancient Mystery
* Citadel in the Sky
* The Growing Bones
Find and Follow:
Email: edsgpodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g
Twitter: @EDSGPodcast
Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant
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 West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW
EDSG Episode 172 - Crystal Raider Arts and Crafts
* Email from Chris: New listener excitement!
* Josh is running an in-person game!
* Trolls: The final (?) episode.
* Arts and crafts.
* Purpose first, beauty second.
* Crystal, stone, leather.
* Steel is rare; resource and labor intensive.
* Stonesmiths and crystalsmiths.
* Troll crafts and spirituality; more complex and personal than honor.
* Revisiting the dichotomy of troll culture.
* Comparison between highland troll crafts and other cultures.
* Depth and variety found in setting and cultural development later in the game line.
* Sidebar about the Theran Empire book.
* Elemental mining in the Twilight Peaks.
* Crystal weapons and armor as magnets for thread or pattern item status.
* Kintsugi as an inspiration for an aspect of troll culture (and a sidebar about cultural appropriation)
* Josh plugs Designers and Dragons again.
* Airships; crystal raider drakkars.
* Helm, figurehead, and magical importance.
* Magical Law of Similarity.
* True elements used in the process of constructing ships.
* Barsaivian airships versus Theran airships.
* Sailcloth (and trivia about denim).
* Roles on a drakkar crew.
* Possible ritual and ceremony in airship operation.
* Importance of the crew’s focus on airship performance.
* Wrapping up, continued praise for the Crystal Raiders book.
Find and Follow:
Email: edsgpodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g
Twitter: @EDSGPodcast
Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant
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 West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW