Earthdawn Survival Guide

Josh H & Dan B
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  • GAMES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. APR 15

    EDSG Episode 275 - Vrontok

    * Exploring Vrontok * This is our second go at this topic * Located in the shadow of Sky Point * Desperate, lawless, crowded town built on the slave trade * Not a vacation spot! * Like Bartertown... but darker * Combination of town, slave market, and military base. * Stealing slaves is the most serious crime. * Only punishments for crime are enslavement or death. * Fortified by a high wall and dry moat with sharpened stakes. * Three gates: Empire Gate (SE), Vivane Gate (NE), Outlaw Gate (NW) * Theran citizens are not subject to laws in Vrontok * Mayor T'rask, former slaver with large force of thugs. * Taxes: House Tax, Guest Tax, Exit Tax * T'rask focused on keeping the Therans from getting upset. * Lots of business that serve the slave merchants: taverns, gambling halls, brothels. * Result of imperialism; empires thrive on exploited labor. * Reflections on Thera and Vrontok in light of present-day economic and political systems. * "Keep politics out of rpgs!" is a crock. * Contrast of Sky Point's wealth and power to Vrontok's "wretched hive" * Fourth Edition changes and updates 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

    42 min

  2. APR 1

    EDSG Episode 274 - Mailbag!

    * Mailbag! * Email from Eli: More about the winged t'skrang? * Do t'skrang and windlings derive from human stock? * What about their falling birthrates? * Email from Matthew: NPC based on Dan to introduce legends? * Email from Chris: Thanks for the show! * Blades: Handling different PC approaches to the curse. * Email from Nicholas: Question about Extended Pattern Spike knack * Email from Frank: Clarification of Bleed talent knack * Email from Bernhard: More thanks for the show from a new listener * Wrap up musing about long-term future of the show 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. MAR 11

    EDSG Episode 273 - Blades in Depth: Pure Liquids

    * Blades: Pure Liquids * Interlude: Last Words * Rank 8 Key Knowledge and Deed * Very open framing; PCs just need to get the info in some way * Prophetic vision by the last surviving member of the Seven Spokes * Deed: Visit site of the last battle against Betrayer by the Seven Spokes * Adventure by Robin Laws * Destination: Pale Ones dome below the Tylon Mountains * Escorted by the Vodanicus family * True Water miners, strongly disliked * Opportunity for dark comedy; poor, hillbilly-style * Overland trek with large rafts * Dangerous journey; ork scorchers, underground rivers, rapids, waterfalls * Betrayer pits the Vodanicus against each other just before encountering the Pale Ones * Meet with the Shivalahala; she had a dream about the group's arrival * PCs must learn a blood ritual to summon Betrayer out of the Blades * During the week the group spends with the t'skrang, Betrayer continues to work * Uprising against the Shivalahala led by Vodanicus * Complete the Deed and may weave the last thread. * Escorted by adolescent t'skrang to the ritual site * Face the ghosts of the Seven Spokes, now under the Horror's influence * Ghosts can only be harmed by the Blades * Breakdown and analysis of Betrayer's game stats and combat tactics * Play Betrayer intelligently; make it a difficult fight * Climax of the story arc, could be a strong campaign ending * Discussion of Karma Tap * Closing thoughts about adventure difficulty * Final thoughts about the overall Blades campaign 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

    52 min

  4. FEB 25

    EDSG Episode 272 - Blades in Depth: With an Axe in Hand

    * Blades in Depth: With an Axe in Hand * Interlude: With a Tale to Tell * Liferock corrupted by a Horror that resembles the way the Horror operates * Objective: Find a Troubadour who can provide information about the liferock * Campaign context and purpose of the interlude * Open format -- can easily substitute with an existing NPC or change location * Adventure written by Nicole Lindroos * Josh talks about his acquaintance with Nicole * Josh talks about the weirdness of being a "peer" in the RPG industry * Reminding Dan he has also contributed to Earthdawn * Act 1: Journey through the Tylon Foothills * Encounters with villages on route to the liferock * Purpose of this stage of the adventure * Darkest adventure of the campaign * Narrative importance of the curse and its consequences * "The only way out is through" * Summarize the three encounters in Act 1 * Act 2: The Corrupted Liferock * Asmersious, the lone survivor * Message from the Seven Spokes * Wait for Asmersious to wake up from hibernation * Attack by obsidiman Horror constructs * Objective other than simply killing the PCs * Act 3: Return Journey * Consequences of the curse * Reason for the tragedies and character motivation * Pacing of the later adventures * Take care with the dark themes, but Josh advises not overly downplaying them * Lots of material in a relatively small space 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

    54 min

  5. FEB 11

    EDSG Episode 271 - Fortress of Sky Point

    * Fortress of Sky Point * Josh avoids gushing about Expedition 33 * 800 feet tall * Founding of Sky Point before the Scourge * Comparisons of Sky Point to existing buildings and structures * Context for impressive architectural presence * Basic structure; five pillars around the outside and one central pillar * Constructed over 50 years * Deserted during the Scourge * Base of operations for incursions after the Scourge * Conceptually similar to a military base outside a city * Main platform is 2000 feet across * Pillars are 300 feet in diameter * Alternate between solid stone and hollow structure * Comparing Sky Point's "footprint" to real world scale * Impressive magically reinforced engineering * Demonstration of Theran military might * Northern pillar is airship hanger and repair * Southwest tower is slave pens * Southeast tower is Overgovernor's palace * Wall around entire platform except northeast edge for airship launching * Elemental elevators only non-airship access from the ground * Secure fortress; very hard to sneak in or infiltrate * Elevators are guarded, vedette and kila patrols * Fourth edition timeline and destruction of Sky Point * The ruins and comparison to Ground Zero of World Trade Center * Engineering discussion of the collapse; forces out of balance * Sky Point and Parlainth; military vs cultural might * Quick overview of stationed Theran fleet 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

    45 min

  6. 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

  7. JAN 14

    EDSG Episode 269 - Blades in Depth: A Traitor's Fate

    * Blades in Depth: A Traitor's Fate * Interlude: Lighting the Way * Visit Questor of Mynbruje * Darkness and paranoia start to intrude on the campaign * Questor communes with the Passion to find location * Provides a magical "compass" to point to the traitor's tomb * Main adventure written by Teeuwynn Woodruff * Travel to Liaj Jungle * Encounter with Lightning Lizards * Encounter Tamers * Background on the Tamers * Tamers don't want the group in the jungle * The curse affects the Tamers * Potential tweaks to the Tamers' motivations * Handling the curse appropriately; escalation * Arriving at the crypt * Kragen Overtall: The Dark Fetch * Dealing with Overtall and learning the Name * Loose ends and follow-ups * Linear, self-contained adventure 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

    41 min

  8. 12/31/2025

    EDSG Episode 268 - Year-End Wrap-up

    * Year End 2025 * Spotify for Podcasters Wrapped * Numbers breakdown: Followers, listening time, etc. * Analytics * Thanks and looking back * Mailbag! * Email from Frank: Kind words and thanks * Email from Jesse: Beast spirit questions * Invertebrate beast spirits (e.g. octopus)? * Edge cases, writing inconsistencies and oversights * Where to draw the line on categories? * Happy New Year! See you in 2026! 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

    46 min
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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.

Information

  • Creator
    Josh H & Dan B
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    293
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Josh H & Dan B
  • Show Website
    Earthdawn Survival Guide