I didn't want to say about the Windlings, since I didn't want to spoil the pleasure for you, but... Yeah, that is my issue with them.

They put an unreasonable high pressure on the rest of the group to compensate for their lack of hitpoints. It's like a spellcaster without the spells.

See, I didn't run into that in 1st ed.  Admittedly the Windmaster started with Dive Attack so they had a sufficient way to deal good damage without being right in the thick of things.  I guess it really depends on what everyone else wants to play too.

I'm pretty sure I could make a Windling Warrior work.  They'd never be like, optimized, but that's because Windlings are min/maxed for spellcasting right out of the box.


I'm... I think I would need more of an idea of the type of game to settle a character, though I totally get that you kind of want an idea of characters before settling on the type of game.  We seem to be at an impasse. grin  I'm kind of thinking of a front line fighter type myself, just because my only other active character right now is an Illusionist and sometimes just punching things is very satisfying.  But the merchant island you're writing up in the Setting Thread looks like it could be awesome for the kind of game where a Troubadour could like, meaningfully contribute, and if we're thinking about something more intrigue-y, I'd hate to miss that opportunity.  I think it could be very cool to have the kind of game where we don't need the traditional party layout, and perhaps where even a Windling doesn't need to stress so much about their HP because the game isn't mostly about people trying to hit us.

But those kinds of games are a whole lot more work to GM, and I'd be perfectly happy punching our way through problems.  Speaking of punching, what do you have for 4th Edition?  If you have Mystic Paths, I'm curious about the Gauntlet Discipline.

I personally only have the core set of books(I believe that's the Player's Guide, Game Master's Guide and the Companion off the top of my head, names might be wrong), though if someone else has access to what you need I have no complaints about you looking into the Gauntlet Discipline.

I have had multiple people tell me a good mix of adventure and intrigue is the preferred route, and I have no issues supplying that. More to the point, I don't particularly like forcing groups into the traditional "necessities" of a party composition. I've had the experience of working with groups in a few different systems that were heavily skewed one way or the other, and I will honestly try to ensure that it never becomes an issue.

Depending on the views of the group, the party could be outsiders coming into Kavos or natives working to make a name for themselves. Either way, as the party's legend grows, they're going to get dragged into more and more of the political happenings of Kavos, and the schemes and plans of its Merchant Captains. Not to mention the growing interest from outside sources Perhaps culminating in helping to decide the final fate of the nation itself, but that's far into the future if we even make it that far.

Overall, I plan for there to be plenty of opportunity for any kind of character to get their chance to shine. The island is a merchant nation after all, and everything relies on money and good faith. More "social combat" characters(for lack of a better term) should have plenty of opportunities to verbally spar with the inhabitants. More combat focused individuals will get their licks in doing the more traditional work, as there is plenty of danger on and around the island to contend with.

What Circle are we planning on starting at?  I kinda had an idea for a windling cavalryman that performed in a circus but I don't really want to dump a bunch of LP into the missile weapons skill just to pick it up as a talent at 5th circle, lol.  I would look at Beastmaster but unarmed combat for a windling would be the worst, lol.  Although now that the adept book is out I could play a Journeyman (I always felt they were kinda the cheesy discipline though).
This message was last edited by the player at 02:58, Fri 10 Apr 2020.

Most of my favorite characters are antithetical, like the Windling Warrior or the Troll Troubador (which is sounding very tempting suddenly).

Spitballing here, off the Windling desire of PCO.Spvnky, We could go for an all Windling party:  A group of Die-hard anti-Theran activists who are attempting to separate this revenue stream from the Evil Empire.

I... Must admit I'm not really feeling like playing in an all-Windling party...
Not unless we shift the entire premise to being in a Windling village or Kavos is generally an island with pygmy fauna and no Biggun-namegivers...

I'm (naturally) not going to tell others what to play, but if we have a lot of Windlings in the party I'd like something non-combat heavy... In which case I may (or may not) make a Swordsmaster "Extraordinaire".

Since we have a decent number of people I think I shall start asking slightly more direct questions to help things along slightly.

Is this particular group of adepts going to be outsiders coming in(for whatever reason, though I have a few ideas personally) or is the aim for a group of Kavos natives doing their part to help their home nation in whatever way they can?

Either way the coin falls, I believe I have a reason for all the characters to be together, though perhaps not entirely as a cohesive group yet.



I was personally thinking starting at 1st, but awarding LP quickly enough over a relatively short time to bump the group up to 2nd or even 3rd. That's partly due to my  relative inexperience, and wanting to ensure I get the opportunity to properly learn how things work. I'm sure all those more experienced than me can keep me on the proper path(read everybody else), but a little initial buffer never hurts.

I am strongly leaning toward the Trollbador; an outsider recently arrived on the island following a need to learn new stories of new people while building his own.

Do you have a preferred format for character display/?

Oh right.
I'll send a template to GM now.

The template has now been placed. I checked it over, and everything on it should be right. About the only thing inconsistent with standard character creation in 4th ED would be 30 points for attribute distribution instead of 25, but honestly, I'm not against a little extra oomph in the characters.

I like 30 points. ^_^

You can still take Missile Weapons as a Skill can't you as a Beastmaster?  It makes sense that they could use a bow from the back of a beast, so why have they excluded it?

What's our party composition at the moment?

As I have registered (no one has really decided yet, but here is what it looked like as per last night):

Me: Human Airsailor (Or Windling if we're going with it)
Utsukushi: Windling Warrior.
Iz2tricky: Windling Cavalryman.
PCO. Spvnky: Windling Beastmaster.
Saviouonedge: Troll Mount for multiple Windlings Troubadour.

That's some ship we're on...

"You're going to make me spend more points?"

Nobody; Ever.

And FtR, Windlings are my favorite ED race. I am always willing to play about any discipline as a Windling.

In reply to savioronedge (msg # 22):

I've never played one, so I'm looking forward to it.

So the revised list right now.

Utsukushi: Windling Skyraider
Iz2Tricky: Windling Cavalryman
PCO: Windling Beastmaster
Saviour: Windling Troubadour(?)
Arachne: Windling Airsailor

We need a Windling Spellcaster.

Edit: I've thought about it.
Could we please tune it down with the Windlings?
Honestly I think two Windlings in a game for five is a bit much.
I'd rather have a more diverse group.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:59, Sun 12 Apr 2020.

I will add that while the idea of an all windling party sounds good on paper, I don't think it would be all that survivable. Granted, I'm using my limited understanding of the game's mechanics, but even then I get the distinct feeling windlings aren't supposed to be taking hits to the face often.

I'm certain in can be done, especially by those more skilled in using the mechanics, but I don't think that was the intent of the race.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:07, Sun 12 Apr 2020.

In reply to Arachne (msg # 24):

I am finalizing Equipment for Troll Bard (comedian).
I would go to Elementalist in an all Windling party.

I am not opposed to Windling Troubadour, but A) Wind Dancer and B) This guy's persona is Smiling, happy big guy you don't want to get mad and that doesn't work as a Windling.

I am happy to go either/any way. Windlings focusing on Intrigue, normal party, or Big non-combatant with tiny combat support. I will have two characters finished by EoD 12APR20.

I... um... blinks

Arachne?  Do you realize that you're the one who ran away with that idea in the first place?  I know somebody else tossed it out there a while ago, but nobody was actually doing it until your list.  So, um, sure.  I'd be happy to tone that down a little.  And Saviour can have his Trollbadour back.

I just said I think I could make a Windling Warrior work, like, as a thought exercise.  It wasn't ever particularly my plan.  And for the record, I wouldn't try it with a Sky Raider.  You want Wood Skin, not Fireblood.  Windlings don't have the Recovery Tests to fuel a Sky Raider, and Sky Raiders have too many "dead" Discipline Talents for a Windling.  Climbing and Great Leap are both a bit pointless when you have wings.  Admittedly, a Battle Shouting Windling is an amusing image, but otherwise the only reason I could see to even try that would be like, on a dare.  It just seems like bad planning.

Running a Windling Warrior next to a Troll Troubadour does seem exceptionally appropriate, though, I have to admit.  I'm not going to discard that possibility yet, but I agree - even two Windlings in a party is pushing it, and I believe Spvnky wants one a lot more than I do.


I'm kind of waiting to see what Spvnky and Iz2 want to do.  I have a lot of flexibility, so I'm pretty happy to pick last, even if we're not feeling that pressure to have a "standard party".  (On which note, I did want to say, I see what you mean about needing a spellcaster, but I think that's actually less necessary in Earthdawn than, say, D&D.  In Earthdawn, we're all magical.)

For whom it may concern, I've unlocked the character sheets for use... at least I think I did. I hope it worked. It's been awhile since I've used the function on this site, admittedly, but if it's not working as it should, let me know and I go see about fixing it.

Mine is open!  Thanks!

Oh, as an aside...


puts hand back down quickly

...I mean, I don't have a real problem with it and it seems to make everyone else happy, and I don't think there's any real harm to it.  But I find 30 points makes things a little too easy.  I'd rather have meaningful choices than everything handed to me, overall.  Like I say, not arguing against it in this game, but as a matter of... philosophy, I guess?  I think the designers put it at 25 for good reasons.  Especially in 4e - Josh and Morgan know the Mathematics of Earthdawn really well.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:01, Sun 12 Apr 2020.

that's what the Windmaster is for.

As for the 25vs30, I had serious internal arguments over where to spend points with both. I'm still not sure Smiling Tim (not his real name) shouldn't have saved a point for Karma at either level.

In the debate of 25vs30, I'm perfectly willing to allow for the final decision to be among the group. It honestly matters very little for me overall one way or the other, since any NPC I actually feel the need to fully stat out for whatever reason are going to be using the 25. But I tend to fall under the belief that adventurers are adventurers for a reason, and that usually translates to them being the exceptional few willing to do things.

A little less of a thing in Earthdawn, since Adepts are at the least relatively common enough to be recognized as such, but there it is.

Spvnky has, unfortunately, bowed out of the game for reasons I won't fault them for. Another has come to replace our lost traveler, however, and I'm sure they'll pop in to announce themselves whenever they get the chance.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:47, Sun 12 Apr 2020.

Hallo hallo! Sorry I'm late to the party. I have some experience with ED, and a lot more with other systems, so hopefully I won't get in the way too much.

I see we're still coming up with party concepts. I'm not exactly stressed about the number of windlings in the group, so I'll just go with the flow on that. It looks like people are leaning to more fighty concepts so far, so if you're looking for a more magical type, I'm happy to make an elementalist or something. Just let me know where we land on the windling thing.