Earthdawn

[Dr. L. Loki]

I recently moved to the Berlin area.  I am looking to either join, or run an Earthdawn group.  And for those who have never played the game, feel free to ask me questions.

[Darth_Variable]

Could you give a little background on the game for everyone?

I recently moved to the Berlin area.  I am looking to either join, or run an Earthdawn group.  And for those who have never played the game, feel free to ask me questions.

[TheWake]

It has been a long time since I played Earthdawn.  Since well before FASA closed up shop.  As for the game DV, it is a fantasy set RPG.

There is a hybrid skill/level system in the background.  The most interesting playing point of the game is the magic.  Everything and everyone is somehow influenced by, and can influence the magic (at least partially).  Hang out with the same guys and gain fame and respect (and legend), the group becomes a magical bond.  Kill a big nasty monster with a certain sword, and the sword can achieve fame and become magical too.  As for the wizards and such, the magic is "not pure" and can have all sorts of nasty consequences for wandering too far from the perscibed formulas.  As an example, a low level wizard can cast a huge fireball using "raw" magic, but will most likely be driven insane and hunted down and tourtured, then eaten by one of the big nastys known as horrors.

The game is very much designed to be more story and character driven than D&D, which is about completeing tasks and collecting treasure.

As an aside, there are plenty of links between Earthdawn and Shadowrun (cyberpunk/fantasy game).  It was hinted at, if not stated, that the world of Earthdawn is a prehistoric earth and is just after a "reset" where the horrors came and killed just about everything.  Shadowrun is the far end of the cycle in our near future after magic is "reawakened" and the horrors are coming back.

[Dr. L. Loki]

Below is the concept of the game stated by the publishers.

"Before science, before history, there was an Age of Legend -- And Legends never truly die...

For years, the Name-givers -- those races gifted with the ability to Name, and shape the very magic of the world -- were forced to live in underground citadels known as kaers, while malevolent creatures from astral space, so terrible they could only be called Horrors, ravaged their world.

The time of hiding has passed. Now, the Name-givers have returned, and reclaimed their place in the world. The fight is not over. The Horrors still linger in this world -- in the cities and ruins lost during the Scourge. A corrupt Empire seeks to reclaim it's provinces, and Name-givers with dark ambitions seek to set themselves up as the new power in the absence of the Empire.

In this Age of Legend, only heroes can stand against the soul-rending power of the Horrors, and the dark machinations of those corrupt with power."

Taken from: http://earthdawn.lrgames.com/

After FASA closed it's doors, the game was picked up by LRGames, and is currently in its 2nd edition.  As someone earlier said, it is more about the story and the characters.  As your legend grows, so does your power or abilities.  Characters in the game are magical adepts. 

Though it is set in a fantasy world it is very different in its mind set than than a traditional fantasy setting.  I could go on with the differences between it and D&D but it would take awhile 

I have played or run the game since it originally was published back in '93.

Concerning the SR and ED connection, Earthdawn is our past and Shadowrun is our future.

[Darth_Variable]

Well it certainly sounds very interesting.  How long does setup take (i.e. character genration and such)?  When were you looking to play?  With Wednesdays Star Wars RPG a bust until Mike can get his schedule adjusted that might be an interesting time to play if we can get enough people.

Below is the concept of the game stated by the publishers.

"Before science, before history, there was an Age of Legend -- And Legends never truly die...

For years, the Name-givers -- those races gifted with the ability to Name, and shape the very magic of the world -- were forced to live in underground citadels known as kaers, while malevolent creatures from astral space, so terrible they could only be called Horrors, ravaged their world.

The time of hiding has passed. Now, the Name-givers have returned, and reclaimed their place in the world. The fight is not over. The Horrors still linger in this world -- in the cities and ruins lost during the Scourge. A corrupt Empire seeks to reclaim it's provinces, and Name-givers with dark ambitions seek to set themselves up as the new power in the absence of the Empire.

In this Age of Legend, only heroes can stand against the soul-rending power of the Horrors, and the dark machinations of those corrupt with power."

Taken from: http://earthdawn.lrgames.com/

After FASA closed it's doors, the game was picked up by LRGames, and is currently in its 2nd edition.  As someone earlier said, it is more about the story and the characters.  As your legend grows, so does your power or abilities.  Characters in the game are magical adepts.  

Though it is set in a fantasy world it is very different in its mind set than than a traditional fantasy setting.  I could go on with the differences between it and D&D but it would take awhile  

I have played or run the game since it originally was published back in '93.

Concerning the SR and ED connection, Earthdawn is our past and Shadowrun is our future.

[Dr. L. Loki]

Due to my work schedule weekdays are normally hard.  However if it needs to be a week night or not at all, I can shift things potentially.  When did everyone normally play on Wednesday? 

It is pretty easy to set up.  Character generation without a deep back story takes about 30 minutes in a group the first time.  To fully understand the deep histroy that is earthdawn it would take days of reading.  There is actually software you can get free called Second Step that speeds it up.  Try to Google it

If you want to know a little of the ED world history you should read http://earthdawn.lrgames.com/howitcametopass.html for some more insight.

[Darth_Variable]

We were trying to get together the last two Wednesdays of the month for Star Wars RPG at 7pm.  I don't know if that is completely dead or not so I wouldn't recommend changing anything schedule wise until we can firmly establish that as an available night.  I'll read up on it a bit and see if it's something I can get into.  It sounds very interesting so far.

Due to my work schedule weekdays are normally hard.  However if it needs to be a week night or not at all, I can shift things potentially.  When did everyone normally play on Wednesday?  

It is pretty easy to set up.  Character generation without a deep back story takes about 30 minutes in a group the first time.  To fully understand the deep histroy that is earthdawn it would take days of reading.  There is actually software you can get free called Second Step that speeds it up.  Try to Google it

If you want to know a little of the ED world history you should read http://earthdawn.lrgames.com/howitcametopass.html for some more insight.

[Dr. L. Loki]

Feel free to IM me with questions, or post them here (That goes for anyone).  7pm could work for me on a Wednesday.  How late do people normally play on these Wednesday games?  Some people have to work in the morning.    

[Darth_Variable]

Well the store closes at 9:30...so we kind of have a hard limit there.  I don't know how short the sessions are that you can run with this, they might not fit into that time frame.

Feel free to IM me with questions, or post them here (That goes for anyone).  7pm could work for me on a Wednesday.  How late do people normally play on these Wednesday games?  Some people have to work in the morning.    

[Dr. L. Loki]

It depends on the session.  In 2.5 hours you can get a lot or very little done.  But I do enjoy having a set finishing time with games, it allows everyone to be more focused.  But I can work with 2.5 hours.

[TheWake]

My Troll truabdor was fun to play, being the big bleeding hearted artist, who looked like someone that would rip your head off for thinking about looking at him funny.

Anyway I always wanted to try out a T'skrang...

[Dr. L. Loki]

A troll troubadour sounds painful to the ears.  Everyone has their own tastes I guess

[Darth_Variable]

Wow you guys are talking way over my head at this point.  Guess I ought to read the primer on it

A troll troubadour sounds painful to the ears.  Everyone has their own tastes I guess

[Woody00]

  So long as there is no "PSYCHOTIC THERMAL DETONATOR TOTING CLONE TROOPER" involved, could be interesting

[Darth_Variable]

Or no stinky jawa techno thief who blows up the ship while changing a light bulb either

 So long as there is no "PSYCHOTIC THERMAL DETONATOR TOTING CLONE TROOPER" involved, could be interesting