6th world question, What info is there on worlds 1-5 Options

[Dayhawk]

So I have a plot idea to have a small cast of characters (Vampires, Dragons and such) who are actually from the previous round in which magic was in the world.

While I have issues making that part of my games reality... it would be nice to have some idea's to draw from.

Is there any information for these previous worlds?

[Kagetenshi]

Well, there's Earthdawn in its entirety… was there anything else you were looking for?

~J

[ShadowcatX]

EarthDawn was the 4th world, we currently live in the 5th world, and then as you mention Shadowrun is the 6th.

[Dayhawk]

I had read something once about Earth Dawn being one of the other worlds.

Thanks for that clue being more clear.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthdawn

I should bonk myself on the head for not even counting present day as the 5th world. DUH!

But then I am to understand that 1-3rd worlds are completely a blank slate?

[apollo124]

As far as I know, but since a "world" seems to last 3-5,000 years, you would really be reaching to go that far, IMO. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[darthmord]

What I've gathered from reading Earthdawn is that the 2nd World was extremely magical (moreso than Earthdawn) and that Dragons were *VERY* powerful in comparison. It might have even been the peak of their civilization. They really don't say a whole lot though. Any magical things from the 2nd World though... I'd be willing to bet they'd be off the charts powerful and even moreso coveted.

[Ancient History]

There were vampires in the previous age (and, if you believe the hype, a couple during the downcycle), but they were...different.

[the_dunner]

There's very little stated about World's 1-3. However, there are a few things that have been strongly hinted at.:

• Only even numbered worlds have magic. So, world's 1 and 3 would be non-magical.
• Dragons were around during the second world.
• There were more namegiver magical races in the second world than there were in the fourth world (Earthdawn).

[Dayhawk]

As far as I know, but since a "world" seems to last 3-5,000 years, you would really be reaching to go that far, IMO. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

True, that is pretty far reaching.

But my games run on average 3-4 years. Usually with factions of grossly powerful "things" behind the scenes and the players being slowly intergrated over the years to the forefront of the conflict. In many of these games the players never reach the true powers behind the masks.

But mostly I was trying to get some idea of what kind of lore exists for the other "worlds".

[ThreeGee]

But mostly I was trying to get some idea of what kind of lore exists for the other "worlds".

Their plenty of out of print EarthDawn sourcebook pdf's XXXX. These would provide you with a good idea of the 4th world and rumours about the 2nd.

Not that I would countenance you downloading them, of course...
XXXX = MODERATOR EDIT

[Lionhearted]

Earlier worlds ey?
Been playing some Earthdawn (Approx 10-12k from our time) I've run into some nasty shit..

First of: There was lingering second world magic that pretty much blow the hats of anything. (Even rumours of surviving second world dragons)
Second: The place was swarming with horrors, the entrance of the fifth world barred them from our dimension, but they're looking for ways back
Third: There is two ways of casting magic, by matrixes (havent quite figured out what they're supposed to be but ultimately they some kind of beacon for mana) and raw magic, 6th world magicians haven't learned to channel magic into matrixes, which is the reason for why drain occurs.
Fourth: Truenames, every creature has a common name, and a universal magical name in the language of creation or power or whatever, knowing that name gives you benefits when using spells against that particular person/dragon whatever.
Fifth: You know atlantis? well it sunk, before it was the capitol of the world pretty much with the Theran enslaving pretty much every country on the planet, Except for Barsaive (current hungary) that was obviously run by dwarves

[Momijizukamori]

Earlier worlds ey?
Been playing some Earthdawn (Approx 10-12k from our time) I've run into some nasty shit..

Second: The place was swarming with horrors, the entrance of the fifth world barred them from our dimension, but they're looking for ways back
Third: There is two ways of casting magic, by matrixes (havent quite figured out what they're supposed to be but ultimately they some kind of beacon for mana) and raw magic, 6th world magicians haven't learned to channel magic into matrixes, which is the reason for why drain occurs.

Harlequin's Back covers some of the Horrors trying to come back - I've also heard that shedim in SR are kind of proto-horrors, but my SR knowledge is mostly 4, so I can't give references.

There's actually three ways of casting magic - grimoire, raw, and matrix. Raw casting is what SR mages do (in ED it's the worst plan ever, because Horrors will come and eat your brains out while you're doing it). I always got the impression that matrixes were basically used to attune and cleanse magic, so that it didn't do nasty things to you. All ED player characters are either phys adepts or phys mages, pretty much - everyone uses magic to fuel physical talents, and spellcasters use it for both physical talents and spellcasting - I've been told that SR3 magic has a huge number of parallels with Earthdawn, but again, I only know SR4 stuff well.

Earthdawn's a fun game - we run it alternating with our SR4 game. If you want more info on it with out resorting to piracy, some of Ancient History's stuff talks about Earthdawn, and in particular, it's ties to Shadowrun.

[Slymoon]

Earlier worlds ey?
Been playing some Earthdawn (Approx 10-12k from our time) I've run into some nasty shit..

First of: There was lingering second world magic that pretty much blow the hats of anything. (Even rumours of surviving second world dragons)

iirc the Second Age was the Age of Dragons.
Dunklezahn/ MountainShadow
Ghostwalker/ Icewing
Were both from the Second Age, Dunkie being the eldest of all.

I dont ever recall an exact name for the Third Age.

But do check out Ancient Histories site, alot of research there.
There is also the unpunblished but released PDF Book of Dragons and Earthdawn supplement. Linky here: http://www.dragonpaw.org/~ash/earthdawn/dr...agons-v0.10.pdf
I dont recall where the official one was, likely gone though.

[Rasumichin]

Harlequin's Back covers some of the Horrors trying to come back - I've also heard that shedim in SR are kind of proto-horrors, but my SR knowledge is mostly 4, so I can't give references.

Don't know about the shedim, but wraiths used to be declared as proto-horrors.

[Lionhearted]

iirc the Second Age was the Age of Dragons.
Dunklezahn/ MountainShadow
Ghostwalker/ Icewing
Were both from the Second Age, Dunkie being the eldest of all.

Are those second world dragons? no wonder they had their way, even in the fourth world even mentioning second world magics would have most people wet their pants

[WeaverMount]

In SR4 terms Casting from matrices, and grimoires hides your "signature" so the horrors can't find you. There use would either be a meta magic so common and necessary that they come with spell casting or simply something you can do in the 4th world because the magic just works different.

Also as for types of ED magic, you left out a biggie: Blood magic. Raw magic in ED didn't hurt... directly. It just left you crazy vulnerable. IMO the best mapping of SR magic to ED magic is that in the 6th world the mana levels are so low that you have to use sacrifice magic get your umph. When the levels rise in a few thousand years 6th world people. This is also not even mentioning thread magic, adept magic, half magic, and Name Magic

If you are looking to ED for SR stuff. Your first stop should be Ancient Files - Hands down. My personal recommendation is to bring the Horrors into the picture. That will take some doing if you want to stick to cannon. Some MAJOR plays put a huge hurt on them. I'm sure other here can tell you exactly where in SR3 that happened.

Other wicked cool things from ED:
Blood Elves -The best rendition of scary elves to date.
Name magic -Cool system, the most powerful type of magic in ED, entirely possible some 2nded ager can still work it in the 6th world.
Throal: A Dwarfen Kingdom full of scholars and merchants. A major find of Throal culture would have huge, magical, racial, and shadow fallout

Really you should just go check out Ancient Files.

[Fortune]

Even rumours of surviving second world dragons

There are surviving Second World Elves!

[Lionhearted]

There are surviving Second World Elves!

Yeah we met one of those once, She felt insulted by a party member and disintegrated him

[Fortune]

I meant in the Sixth World as well.

[the_dunner]

Their plenty of out of print EarthDawn sourcebook pdf's XXXX. These would provide you with a good idea of the 4th world and rumours about the 2nd.

Not that I would countenance you downloading them, of course...

THIS IS A MOD POST
Promoting piracy on dumpshock is in direct violation of the ToS. Do NOT discuss piracy on dumpshock.

In a non-Mod post voice:
Further, the vast majority of FASA's Earthdawn publications along with a number of newer publications are available in PDF (or hardcopy) from Redbrick games. Here's their list of products from drivethrurpg.com They're also available on a number of other PDF vendor's sites.

[stevebugge]

Isn't Llofwyr / Goldmaster also in the Age of Dragons club?

[Fortune]

Isn't Llofwyr / Goldmaster also in the Age of Dragons club?

Yep, along with his brother Alamaise/Alamais.

[Slymoon]

Ya they are, and a few others that have yet to be mentioned in SR. But of course that doesnt mean they cant exist in your game.

[Lionhearted]

Other wicked cool things from ED:
Blood Elves -The best rendition of scary elves to date.

I searched like a hungry ghoul after more information about these I had a slight recollection of one of the players actually being one. You're right, they're not particular evil, just twisted, mostly insane and in constant agony

http://earthdawn.lrgames.com/howitcametopass.html
Complete Earthdawn timeline, along with some other tasty bits of information.

[jago668]

Where did you come across the Icewing/Goldmaster? I always thought it was Icewing/Llofwyr.