Earthdawn (Game System)

The Earthdawn game contains a relatively unique game system which has been updated over the various editions. This page documents the current working game system for Earthdawn Fourth Edition.

Publication History

The Earthdawn (Game System) has seen multiple publications, updates, and retcons. For legacy versions of this system, please see the following:

• Earthdawn (Game System) - First Edition
• Earthdawn (Game System) - Second Edition
• Earthdawn (Game System) - Third Edition
• Earthdawn (Game System) - Age of Legend Edition
• Earthdawn (Game System) - Fourth Edition

Game Mechanics (Fourth Edition)

The primary source for the following mechanics are provided referencing the Earthdawn Fourth Edition Player's Guide.

Dice

The Earthdawn game system uses D4, D6, D8, D10, D12, an D20 dice while rolling.

The Step System

Dice rolls in Earthdawn are made against a standard table, called the Step/Action Dice Table in actions called Tests. Key to the Step/Action Die Table comes from a player identifying their Step Number, then selecting the appropriate Action Dice. The Fourth Edition Step/Action Table is provided below:

Step/Action Dice Table

Step Number	Action Dice	Step Number	Action Dice
1	D4-2	21	D20+2D8
2	D4-1	22	D20+D10+D8
3	D4	23	D20+2D10
4	D6	24	D20+D12+D10
5	D8	25	D20+2D12
6	D10	26	D20+D12+2D6
7	D12	27	D20+D12+D8+D6
8	2D6	28	D20+D12+2D8
9	D8+D6	29	D20+D12+D10+D8
10	2D8	30	2D20+2D6
11	D10+D8	31	2D20+D8+D6
12	2D10	32	2D20+2D8
13	D12+D10	33	2D20+D10+D8
14	2D12	34	2D20+2D10
15	D12+2D6	35	2D20+D12+D10
16	D12+D8+D6	36	2D20+2D12
17	D12+2D8	37	2D20+D12+2D6
18	D12+D10+D8	38	2D20+D12+D8+D6
19	D20+2D6	39	2D20+D12+2D8
20	D20+D8+D6	40	2D20+D12+D10+D8

Step Number

Defining the Step Number can vary from task to task, but when in doubt, ask your Game Master. Common Step Number calculations are:

• Action Tests Step = Attribute Step + Talent/Skill Rank
• Damage Step (Weapon) = Strength Step + Weapon Damage Step

Step Modifiers

A Step Number can be modified in several ways, including:

• Bonuses: Many abilities, such as Winning Smile, which adds the Skill Rank to calculated Step Number.
• Penalties: Statuses such as Impaired Movement or being Knocked Down, can impact the calculated Step Number.

Tests & Rolling

Actions are resolved in Earthdawn via Tests and dice rolling using the Step Table, with the following supplementary rules.

Karma Dice

Adepts can spend a Karma Point to add Bonus Dice to their roles, with limitations in the Discipline features. In early game, this Bonus is a D6, but can be modified through character progression, Horror taint, and Game Master discretion.

Bonus Dice

When a die is rolled with its maximum number, the player may roll the same die again, adding it to their test total.

The Rule of One

When all dice rolled for a test produce a 1, the Action fails. This holds true even if the sum would be higher than the Difficulty.

Calculating Success

Success on an Action occurs when the dice sum excedes the Difficulty Number provided. Every amount of 5 by which the roll result exceeds the Difficulty Number counts as an Additional Success. Additional Successes, as always, remain at the discretion of the Game Master in how they impact the action.

In older editions of Earthdawn, degrees of success have been provided, but are subject to Game Master approval:

• Average Outcome = 1 Success
• Good Outcome = 2 Success
• Excellent Outcome = 3 Successes
• Extraordinary Outcome = 4 Success

Character Creation

Character creation in Earthdawn, like other games, can be the most fun part of the game. Player characters are Adepts, Namegivers who have woven their fate with the setting's Disciplines, using a point-based system and references to racial attributes. The main steps are:

1. Choose a Race: The player selects one of the Namegiver races. Each race has a unique Attributes, bonuses, starting Karma Modifier, and Movement Rate.
2. Choose a Discipline: Players select their characters Discipline from their game-approved list, which is most commonly the core 15 disciplines. A Discipline provides the core rubric for advancement, Half-Magic, Talents, and archetype flavor.
3. Assign Attributes: The player assigns 25 points to their Attributes and Karma, using their Race Attributes as starting numbers.
4. Determine Characteristics: Secondary stats are generated from the assigned character attributes for Physical Defense, Mystic Defense, Social Defense, Initiative, Recovery Tests, and Death/Wound Thresholds.
5. Assign Talent Ranks: New players have a total of 8 points to assign to the Talents in their Discipline overview. Humans possess the Versatility talent, allowing them to learn Talents from other Disciplines. Magic using Disciplines; Elementalist, Illusionist, Nethermancer, and Wizard, also calculte their Starting Spells which is equal to their Perception.
6. Assign Skills: Players receive 2 Ranks in Knowledges, 1 Rank in Artisan Skills, 2 in Speak Language, and 1 Rank in Read/Write Language. The Adept may be further customized with 8 Rank points in Free Skills.
7. Equip Your Character: Often, Starting gear is selected using the equipment list and standard starting silver, or your Game Master may provide the Player with initial equipment.
8. Flesh Out Your Character: At some point, the Player will give their Adept a name, appearance, background, goals, personality, and connections to the world. As with other role-playing gams, this is good to at least think through.
9. Finalize: Review your character with your Game Master and get to killing Horrors!

The Step System & Action Economics

Dice rolls in Earthdawn are made against a standard table, called the Step/Action Dice Table in actions called Tests. The Earthdawn game system uses D4, D6, D8, D10, D12, an D20 dice while rolling, the type of dice are selected using the Step/Action Table below once the appropriate Step number has been identified.