Picked up Earthdawn 3Rd Edition today - Questions?
- Thread starter wazza
- Start date
Earthdawn is a fantasy RPG originally published by FASA back in 1993.
Red Brick Entertainment have just released the 3rd edition which is the one I picked up. I think it's a great alternative to D&D and boasts some unique game machanics such as "magic Threads" which play an important part in the spell and magic item system.
The basic premise is that Barsaive is a magic rich world and over time that magic drew the attention of fantastically powerful entites from Astral space termed "Horrors", these horrors invaded Barsaive and over the course of four centuries almost decimated the place. To protect themselves the peoples of Barsaive (eight playable races) chose to retreat into fortified dwellings known as Kaers.
PC's emerge from their respective Kaer after the scourge has ended and deal with the remaining horrors and the powwer of the Theran Empire with designs of world domination.
This is, of course, a highly simplified precise of the game, but I find it has a uniquely evocative atmosphere and the ever-present threat of the horrors (which are truely powerful) lends a distinctive edge to the gaming experience.
Having played the first edition I'd highly recommend trying it out.
Red Brick Entertainment have just released the 3rd edition which is the one I picked up. I think it's a great alternative to D&D and boasts some unique game machanics such as "magic Threads" which play an important part in the spell and magic item system.
The basic premise is that Barsaive is a magic rich world and over time that magic drew the attention of fantastically powerful entites from Astral space termed "Horrors", these horrors invaded Barsaive and over the course of four centuries almost decimated the place. To protect themselves the peoples of Barsaive (eight playable races) chose to retreat into fortified dwellings known as Kaers.
PC's emerge from their respective Kaer after the scourge has ended and deal with the remaining horrors and the powwer of the Theran Empire with designs of world domination.
This is, of course, a highly simplified precise of the game, but I find it has a uniquely evocative atmosphere and the ever-present threat of the horrors (which are truely powerful) lends a distinctive edge to the gaming experience.
Having played the first edition I'd highly recommend trying it out.
EarthDawn_Player
Mongoose
Are all the classes from the EarthDawn Journal books in the players guide as well? For example The Spy, The Inquisitor, Combat Mage , Mystic Warrior, and SongSmith to name a few. 
Hiya,
With the exception of the Songsmith, no. The Songsmith was reworked for EDC and will appear in the Namegiver's book when that appears (not sure when in the release schedule is at time of writing, sorry). The other EDJ Disciplines have not been ported across and there are no plans to do so at this time.
Take kaer, James
EarthDawn_Player said:Are all the classes from the EarthDawn Journal books in the players guide as well? For example The Spy, The Inquisitor, Combat Mage , Mystic Warrior, and SongSmith to name a few.
With the exception of the Songsmith, no. The Songsmith was reworked for EDC and will appear in the Namegiver's book when that appears (not sure when in the release schedule is at time of writing, sorry). The other EDJ Disciplines have not been ported across and there are no plans to do so at this time.
Take kaer, James
EarthDawn_Player
Mongoose
Will Questors and Lightbearers be in the Players companion or Gamemasters companion? Also have they changed much. Thanks in advance.
Hiya,
Questors, yes. Lightbearers will be in the book covering Secret Societies, further along the release schedule.
Take kaer, James
EarthDawn_Player said:Will Questors and Lightbearers be in the Players companion or Gamemasters companion? Also have they changed much. Thanks in advance.
Questors, yes. Lightbearers will be in the book covering Secret Societies, further along the release schedule.
Take kaer, James
EarthDawn_Player
Mongoose
It's nice to hear you are Doing a Secret Societies book. I'm also pretty happy about the Kratas City of Thieves sourcebook too. It's a much needed sourcebook in my opinion. I hope you do many more. Are you planing on doing any Box sets like Skypoint Vivane? Thanks in advance.
EarthDawn_Player
Mongoose
No Problem. Just keep coming out with cool source books like Kratas City of Thieves.
EarthDawn_Player
Mongoose
Your lineup is looking very impressive. Thank you.
EarthDawn_Player
Mongoose
I'm finally going to get the EarthDawn Players guide and EarthDawn GameMaster's guide next week.Yeah!!! Happy Days.
EarthDawn_Player
Mongoose
wazza said:
Earthdawn is just a lot of fun to play. It's one of the best High Fantasy games I have ever played. It has a very unique setting and game mechanics as well. I can't wait to play EarthDawn 3rd edition. I really don't think I could say enough good things about EarthDawn. It's seriously a diamond in the ruff in the sea of fantasy games out there. I could recommend this game to anyone looking to play a great game.
I have been reading the Gamemaster's guide and found the background to the world of Earthdawn, especially the Horrors and the Scourge, to be excellent. Very well written and informative without an information overload.
I am looking forward to seeing the contents of the forthcoming Companion books and adventure.
I am looking forward to seeing the contents of the forthcoming Companion books and adventure.
EarthDawn_Player
Mongoose
It's nice to see the EarthDawn Player's and GameMaster's companion's coming out just around the corner too.
EarthDawn_Player
Mongoose
wazza said:
I'm pretty sure that's going to be a given with EarthDawn 3rd edition. It's a fresh start of sorts. Just like Kratas city of thieves is new source material for the setting. I'm pretty sure new adventures will come out as well.
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