Earthdawn - 4e or original rules?

[tyrlaan]

So I’m contemplating running an Earthdawn game and I can’t help but look at 4e and see incredible amounts of similarities. This leads me, inevitably, into thinking about how much work it would take to make 4e-ize Earthdawn. Which leads me to a handful of questions…

If you were running an Earthdawn game, would you prefer the original ruleset or something based on 4e?

How much work do you think it would really take to convert Earthdawn to 4e and is anyone out there doing it? (I know about Redbrick’s plans, but it’s really just a fluff port with no rules changes)

Is my problem that I’m just too interested in running a 4e game that I’m being silly and I should just use Earthdawn RAW?

 

[Obryn]

Well, Red Brick is making a 4e-ized Earthdawn sooner or later, but I wouldn't expect it for a while.

And yeah, you're not the only one to notice the similarities!

-O

 

[Kwalish Kid]

I think ED RAW, since the great thing about ED is that the system reflects the metaphysics of the game. You do things by weaving threads, or by spending karma or legend in a way that relates the game system to the world actions.

 

[tyrlaan]

Yeah, I’ve read up on Redbrick’s plans, and they’re not quite what I had hoped they’d be. It sounds like all they plan to do is port the fluff over to 4e. No new classes or anything.

 

[tyrlaan]

I think ED RAW, since the great thing about ED is that the system reflects the metaphysics of the game. You do things by weaving threads, or by spending karma or legend in a way that relates the game system to the world actions.

Well…I think I’ve already come up with ways to handle thread weaving at least.

Just say everyone has it as a basic ability (because no self-respecting Barsaivian skips that talent anyway). You can’t have a thread “power” (read, rank) higher than half your level and you can’t have more threads active than half your level. And I suppose remove the LP costs. Make magic items have staged ranks to support the +1 per 5 levels mantra of 4e. I think that’s about it, albeit at a very high level.

For karma points, I’m thinking of just expanding the uses of action points to specific abilities (discipline talents), but I haven’t put too much thought in this yet.

 

[Serendipity]

Um...eh. I don't see how as a player or a GM I could improve things for 4e or for Earthdawn by some wierd system conversion.
Of course I *like* the mechanics in Earthdawn as is. Obviously this is like Chaosium doing Call of Cthulhu and Stormbringer conversions to d20 back in the day. e.g. to make money and remain competitive.
Now Equinox - that looks interesting!

 

[Shemeska]

I think ED RAW, since the great thing about ED is that the system reflects the metaphysics of the game. You do things by weaving threads, or by spending karma or legend in a way that relates the game system to the world actions.

QFT.

Certain games have their metaphysics so entwined with their mechanics that it's somewhere between silly and an exercise in self-delusion to try to run them using a different system. If I'm going to play Shadowrun I'll use SR rules, Earthdawn with ED rules, WoD with WW's rules tailored to each subsetting.

Running certain games with 4e (or 3e for that matter)... square pegs and round holes and all that.