Earthdawn Survival Guide

Josh H & Dan B

A semi-official podcast dedicated to the Earthdawn role-playing game, hosted by Dan Boice and Earthdawn developer Josh Harrison. Whether it's rules basics, setting lore, or behind-the-scenes insights, this is the place to start building your legend.

  1. JAN 28

    EDSG Episode 270 - Mailbag!

    * Mailbag! We asked, you delivered! * Email from Elie: Alternative mechanics to play in Barsaive? * Cortex -- https://www.cortexrpg.com/ * Earthdawn: Age of Legend -- https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/176986/earthdawn-the-age-of-legend-english * Earthdawn: Savage Worlds -- https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/100174/earthdawn-player-s-guide-savage-worlds-edition * Also discussed: Cypher, Genesys * Problems with Horror marks as a concept (from player perspective) * Other active Earthdawn podcasts? * Email from Maggie: Changes to the Mad Passions' temples or shrines when they went mad? * Symbols and iconography of the Mad Passions from before the Scourge? * Email from Scott: Follow up to Mailbag 268 about Beast Spirits * Another Email from Maggie: T'skrang and Obsidimen as trans metaphors * Email from Simon: Many questions about the Gate Hound magic drain power * Range of chakta birds' Mental Assault power? * Range of the crakbill's paralyzing breath? * Is there a maximum Circle (0-thread) spell that a manticore can learn? * Constrict and Grab & Bite maneuvers for the porcupine snake and troll snake? * Engulf power from an air elemental? * Descriptions of true element kernels? * Awareness vs Perception (and limits of Awareness)? * Spending Karma on secret tests (especially Awareness)? 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 FASA Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fasagamesinc Official Earthdawn Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/officialearthdawn FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW

    1h 5m
  2. 11/19/2025

    EDSG Episode 265 - Theran Province Overview

    * We're back! * Post-hiatus update on Josh's latest theatrical production * Legends of Barsaive chapter 13 should be released soon! * FreedoniaCon: February 28-March 1 * Overview of Theran Provinces from Vivane boxed set * Great Thera: Island in the Selestrean Sea (aka the Mediterranean) * Present-day Santorini/Thira * Creana: South of Great Thera; city states along river and up along eastern coast of the Selestran Sea * Inspired by ancient Egypt; desert, ancient tombs * The groundwork for the Theran Empire sourcebook was laid in this supplement. * Indrisa: Far to the east/southeast of Great Thera * Indian sub-continent * Brief descriptions of orks and trolls feels like Barsaive rehash * Marac: West/southwest of Great Thera * Inspired by Arabian Nights and similar materials * Talea: Due west of Great Thera * Italian peninsula; fell to Thera due to internal squabbles * Multiple city-states * Vasgothia: Northwest of Great Thera * Dense, haunted forests and forbidding mountains * Inspired by Roman interactions with Germanic tribes, Black Forest, etc. * Other areas * Araucania: Amazon Basin * Aznan: Sub-Saharan Africa 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 FASA Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fasagamesinc Official Earthdawn Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/officialearthdawn FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW

    44 min
  3. 10/15/2025

    EDSG Episode 264 - Mailbag!

    * We're still getting new listeners! * Sidebar about "jumping into the middle" * Continued sidebar about James Gunn's Superman * Mailbag! * Email from Eli: Ideas and inspiration for seaborne adventures? * Sidebar about campaign theme: Scavenger Hunt * Email from Scott: Recommended reading order for Earthdawn novels? * Email from Tim: Highland trolls outside Twilight Peaks? * Forgot to mention trolls from Kaer Otosk in southeast Barsaive * Email from Magic Octopus: Authors of Blades? * Our experience with running any of the adventures? * Another Email from Scott: More about Blades * Timing of learning about the curse? * What if they decide to discard the titular Blades because they're cursed? * Email from Patrick: Why weave a thread to the cursed Blades? * Sidebar about Josh's love of putting PCs he is playing in difficult situations. * Email from Robert: Callback to episode 51 and making game "less corny" * Attribute values and whether they make an actual difference in play. * Different ways to offer options and make mechanical choices "matter" in RPGs. * Some game design philosophy and examining assumptions 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 FASA Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fasagamesinc Official Earthdawn Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/officialearthdawn FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW

    1h 6m
  4. 10/01/2025

    EDSG Episode 263 - Blades in Depth: Bond Breaker

    * Blades in Depth: Bond Breaker * Lou P. responds to previous Blades episode * Origin of the interludes. * Concerns among the writers about the curse. * Short adventure * Written by Robin Laws * Interlude One: Secret of the Runes * Open-ended, lays groundwork to kick the story into motion. * Clearly provides what they need to learn and how they can learn it. * Good use of higher skill test results for additional detail/insight. * Handy NPC to provide key info if necessary. * Designed for Journeyman-tier characters. * Goal: To find Gnanagh to get key information. * Discussion of notable NPCs and their stats. * Copper Cauldron and the Wedding Feast * Early focus on role-playing and interacting with the orks * First meeting with Gnanagh and activating the curse. * The assassination attempt on Moschtug and its aftermath. * Pursuing the Righteous Vipers and Gnanagh. * The fortress and navigating the conflict. * Learning the Key Knowledge... and the curse. * Open-ended resolution, classic Robin Laws structure. * Solid adventure, but not an introduction to Earthdawn. 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 FASA Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fasagamesinc Official Earthdawn Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/officialearthdawn FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW

    53 min
4.8
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

A semi-official podcast dedicated to the Earthdawn role-playing game, hosted by Dan Boice and Earthdawn developer Josh Harrison. Whether it's rules basics, setting lore, or behind-the-scenes insights, this is the place to start building your legend.