Earthdawn (IP) - Revision history

Stonedreamer at 15:15, 20 April 2025

2025-04-20T15:15:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:15, 20 April 2025
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	Earthdawn is a fantasy tabletop roleplaying game originally published in 1993 by [[~~FASA Games\|~~FASA Corporation]] which is a seperate legal entity than [[FASA Games Inc]], who currently holds the license<ref>[https://fasagames.com/ FASA Games Official Website]</ref>. As licensed intellectual property, Earthdawn has changed hands several times since its creation. The game uses a custom dice rolling set of mechanics called the Step System.		Earthdawn is a fantasy tabletop roleplaying game originally published in 1993 by [[FASA Corporation]] which is a seperate legal entity than [[FASA Games Inc.\|FASA Games Inc]], who currently holds the license<ref>[https://fasagames.com/ FASA Games Official Website]</ref>. As licensed intellectual property, Earthdawn has changed hands several times since its creation. The game uses a custom dice rolling set of mechanics called the Step System.

	== Publication History ==		== Publication History ==

Stonedreamer at 15:14, 20 April 2025

2025-04-20T15:14:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:14, 20 April 2025
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	Earthdawn is a fantasy tabletop roleplaying game originally published in 1993 by [[FASA Games]] who ~~it is~~ currently ~~owned by, but during its publication history fan~~/~~player perspective on the aligned canon of the two~~. As licensed intellectual property, Earthdawn has changed hands several times since its creation. The game uses a custom dice rolling set of mechanics called the Step System.		Earthdawn is a fantasy tabletop roleplaying game originally published in 1993 by [[FASA Games\|FASA Corporation]] which is a seperate legal entity than [[FASA Games Inc]], who currently holds the license<ref>[https://fasagames.com/ FASA Games Official Website]</ref>. As licensed intellectual property, Earthdawn has changed hands several times since its creation. The game uses a custom dice rolling set of mechanics called the Step System.

	== Publication History ==		== Publication History ==
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	=== 1993 - FASA Games ===		=== 1993 - FASA Games ===
	Earthdawn was originally published by FASA in 1993. It introduced a unique step-based dice system, a post-apocalyptic fantasy setting, and a metaplot linking it to Shadowrun. Core books included the ''Player’s Guide'', ''Gamemaster’s Guide'', and regional supplements like ''Parlainth'' and ''Throal''.		Earthdawn was originally published by FASA in 1993. It introduced a unique step-based dice system, a post-apocalyptic fantasy setting, and a metaplot linking it to Shadowrun. Core books included the ''Player’s Guide'', ''Gamemaster’s Guide'', and regional supplements like ''Parlainth'' and ''Throal''.

	=== 2001 – Living Room Games (2nd Edition) ===		=== 2001 – Living Room Games (2nd Edition) ===
	After FASA closed in ~~1999~~, Living Room Games licensed the property and published a Second Edition starting in 2001. This version updated mechanics and continued the storyline with new supplements.		After FASA officially closed in 2001<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010804200000/http://www.fasa.com/earthdawn/ Official website] at the [[Wayback Machine]] (archived July 13, 2001)</ref>, Living Room Games licensed the property and published a Second Edition starting in 2001<ref>Shannon Appelcline (2011). ''Designers & Dragons''. Mongoose Publishing. ISBN <bdi>978-1-907702-58-7</bdi>.</ref>. This version updated mechanics and continued the storyline with new supplements.

	=== 2005 – RedBrick (Classic and 3rd Edition) ===		=== 2005 – RedBrick (Classic and 3rd Edition) ===
	RedBrick Ltd. also acquired a license and published ''Earthdawn Classic'', which largely followed 1st Edition's rules and aesthetics. This was followed by ''Earthdawn Third Edition'' in 2009, which revised mechanics and presented new material, including the ''Nations of Barsaive'' series and ''Shards Collections''.		RedBrick Ltd. also acquired a license and published ''Earthdawn Classic''<ref>[https://www.nobleknight.com/Products/Earthdawn-Living-Room-Games Earthdawn – Living Room Games Product Archive (Noble Knight)]</ref>, which largely followed 1st Edition's rules and aesthetics. This was followed by ''Earthdawn Third Edition'' in 2009, which revised mechanics and presented new material, including the ''Nations of Barsaive'' series and ''Shards Collections''. Redbrick retired from games publishing in 2012<ref>[https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/1051/blogpost/12891/redbrick-retires-from-game-publishing-fasa-reborn RedBrick Retires from Game Publishing – FASA Reborn (BoardGameGeek)]</ref>.

	=== 2012 – FASA Games, Inc. (4th Edition) ===		=== 2012 – FASA Games, Inc. (4th Edition) ===
	RedBrick’s successor, FASA Games, Inc., launched ''Earthdawn Fourth Edition'' in 2015. This version advanced the timeline slightly and refined the rules further. Core books were again released alongside new regional and thematic supplements, such as ''The Adept’s Journey: Mystic Paths''.		RedBrick’s successor a publisher of, FASA Games, Inc., launched ''Earthdawn Fourth Edition'' in 2015 on Kickstarter<ref>[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fasagames/earthdawn-4th-edition/posts/719245 "That was a little unexpected!", Earthdawn 4th Edition Kickstarter, 2014] </ref>. This version advanced the timeline slightly and refined the rules further. Core books were again released alongside new regional and thematic supplements, such as ''The Adept’s Journey: Mystic Paths''.

	=== 2016 - Vagrant Games (Age of Legends) ===		=== 2016 - Vagrant Games (Age of Legends) ===
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	=== Adepts, Disciplines, Karma, and Threads ===		=== Adepts, Disciplines, Karma, and Threads ===
	Player characters in Earthdawn are [[Adepts]], uniquely powerful heros, and cultivate their magical abilities in [[Disciplines]]. Adepts have access to Karma, a magical trait that can be used to power their abilities. Lastly, and generally unique to the game setting, are Threads, powerful arcane connections players can weave into [[Patterns]].		Player characters in Earthdawn are [[Adepts]], uniquely powerful heros, and cultivate their magical abilities in [[Disciplines]]. Adepts have access to Karma, a magical trait that can be used to power their abilities. Lastly, and generally unique to the game setting, are Threads, powerful arcane connections players can weave into [[Patterns]].

			== References ==
			<references />

Stonedreamer at 03:13, 18 April 2025

2025-04-18T03:13:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:13, 18 April 2025
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	Earthdawn is a fantasy tabletop roleplaying game originally published in 1993 by FASA who it is currently owned by~~. Writings on the web seem to confirm a sentiment that Earthdawn is canonically tied to Shadowrun canon~~, but during its publication history fan/player perspective on the aligned canon of the two. As licensed intellectual property, Earthdawn has changed hands several times since its creation. The game uses a custom dice rolling set of mechanics called the Step System.		Earthdawn is a fantasy tabletop roleplaying game originally published in 1993 by [[FASA Games]] who it is currently owned by, but during its publication history fan/player perspective on the aligned canon of the two. As licensed intellectual property, Earthdawn has changed hands several times since its creation. The game uses a custom dice rolling set of mechanics called the Step System.

	== Publication History ==		== Publication History ==

Stonedreamer at 04:34, 17 April 2025

2025-04-17T04:34:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:34, 17 April 2025
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	=== Adepts, Disciplines, Karma, and Threads ===		=== Adepts, Disciplines, Karma, and Threads ===
	Player characters in Earthdawn are Adepts, uniquely powerful heros, and cultivate their magical abilities in Disciplines. Adepts have access to Karma, a magical trait that can be used to power their abilities. Lastly, and generally unique to the game setting, are Threads, powerful arcane connections players can weave into Patterns.		Player characters in Earthdawn are [[Adepts]], uniquely powerful heros, and cultivate their magical abilities in [[Disciplines]]. Adepts have access to Karma, a magical trait that can be used to power their abilities. Lastly, and generally unique to the game setting, are Threads, powerful arcane connections players can weave into [[Patterns]].

Stonedreamer at 04:32, 17 April 2025

2025-04-17T04:32:54Z

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			[[File:Earthdawn Logo.gif\|thumb\|Earthdawn Logo, FASA]]
	''At one of the times when an age, there were...dwarves.''		''At one of the times when an age, there were...dwarves.''


	Earthdawn is a tabletop roleplaying game originally published		Earthdawn is a fantasy tabletop roleplaying game originally published in 1993 by FASA who it is currently owned by. Writings on the web seem to confirm a sentiment that Earthdawn is canonically tied to Shadowrun canon, but during its publication history fan/player perspective on the aligned canon of the two. As licensed intellectual property, Earthdawn has changed hands several times since its creation. The game uses a custom dice rolling set of mechanics called the Step System.

			== Publication History ==
			Earthdawn's publication history is an interesting one. It has had at least four major publishers, sometimes confusing to the player base in its publication history of who exactly owned the property. As of 2025, four major editions have been published with a parallel "rules-lite" version published by Vagrant. Additionally, several fiction books were published in the Earthdawn setting.

			=== 1993 - FASA Games ===
			Earthdawn was originally published by FASA in 1993. It introduced a unique step-based dice system, a post-apocalyptic fantasy setting, and a metaplot linking it to Shadowrun. Core books included the ''Player’s Guide'', ''Gamemaster’s Guide'', and regional supplements like ''Parlainth'' and ''Throal''.

			=== 2001 – Living Room Games (2nd Edition) ===
			After FASA closed in 1999, Living Room Games licensed the property and published a Second Edition starting in 2001. This version updated mechanics and continued the storyline with new supplements.

			=== 2005 – RedBrick (Classic and 3rd Edition) ===
			RedBrick Ltd. also acquired a license and published ''Earthdawn Classic'', which largely followed 1st Edition's rules and aesthetics. This was followed by ''Earthdawn Third Edition'' in 2009, which revised mechanics and presented new material, including the ''Nations of Barsaive'' series and ''Shards Collections''.

			=== 2012 – FASA Games, Inc. (4th Edition) ===
			RedBrick’s successor, FASA Games, Inc., launched ''Earthdawn Fourth Edition'' in 2015. This version advanced the timeline slightly and refined the rules further. Core books were again released alongside new regional and thematic supplements, such as ''The Adept’s Journey: Mystic Paths''.

			=== 2016 - Vagrant Games (Age of Legends) ===
			The Vagrant games edition provided an alternative to the complex Step System.

			== Game Setting ==
			Earthdawn's setting is a rich one, exploring an alternate timeline of the Earth's distant past, with a the core setting focused on the land of [[Barsaive]]. Fan analysis of the setting clearly paints the setting as set during Earth's mesolithic era, primarily focused on the world of Europe, the Mediterranean, India, and East Asia. Like many good fantasy settings, there are dragons, evil empires, and horrors a plenty.

			=== Barsaive & The Theran Empire ===
			The initial setting of Barsaive was set in land recovering from a recent epochal disaster called the Scourge, where eldritch creatures known as Horrors stalk the land and lay waste to all they find. Magicians and leaders of the Fourth Age knew of this, and built magically warded settlements, many underground. After centuries of hiding in their walled ''kaers'', as the warded settlements were called, the people's of Barsaive begin emerging to a world changed, and an ancient empire seeking to the province to the fold. The conflict between Barsaive and the Theran Empire drives much of the meta-plot narrative throughout the various editions.

			=== The Cycles of Magic ===
			Earthdawn expands on the cyclical nature of magic that is core to the Shadowrun canon, and is the age of magic that proceeded the Sixth World. In the game's narrative, magic functions as a background factor of the world, rising and falling in potency over millenia. When the world's magic is strong, great spells can be cast, elemental spirits walk the lands, and eventually the Horrors come.

			=== Adepts, Disciplines, Karma, and Threads ===
			Player characters in Earthdawn are Adepts, uniquely powerful heros, and cultivate their magical abilities in Disciplines. Adepts have access to Karma, a magical trait that can be used to power their abilities. Lastly, and generally unique to the game setting, are Threads, powerful arcane connections players can weave into Patterns.

Stonedreamer at 03:29, 17 April 2025

2025-04-17T03:29:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:29, 17 April 2025
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	''At one of the times when an age, there were...dwarves.''		''At one of the times when an age, there were...dwarves.''


			Earthdawn is a tabletop roleplaying game originally published

Stonedreamer: Created page with "''At one of the times when an age, there were...dwarves.''"

2025-04-15T01:31:04Z

Created page with "''At one of the times when an age, there were...dwarves.''"

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''At one of the times when an age, there were...dwarves.''