Earthdawn, like most stuff released by FASA at the time, is innovative. The system is a sort of precursor to Alternity, in that it uses a die step mechanic (the actual resolution is a bit different) and has a very strong "feel" of AD&D, to the point where many who play both ask why they play both, and just incorporate them together. It has a mixture of skills and "classes" (really - archetypes, like Shadowrun uses), and a wealth of options for playable races, like T'skrang (I think I spelled that right) who are lizardmen, Obsidimen (rock-like humanoids), trolls, and the traditional fantasy races as well.

As a setting, it is high magic (anyone can cast spells if they want to learn them) and the world has things like flying ships ran by trolls, but it works because it is that very nature that causes the world to be full of advanture and threat: the Horrors, who are drawn by, and only exist because of, the magical nature of the world. There is a lot of "history" to the world, and everything seems to make sense... rather than "its just that way." If you don't like that sort of adventuring, its easy to play it political, or military, or whatever other way: for example, you cna simply combine politics and war together and brew an adventure to overthrow the Theran Empire by joining one of a few "resistance movements."

I'd suggest trying the system out, at least, and seeing it for yourself. There are some terms and mechanics that need to get used to, but that's because its "not AD&D."

JohnGaunt wrote:DCC 12.5, GenCon version:

. . .  
** expired/removed eBay auction **

Its not the very limited GenCon version; its the after GenCon limited mass reprinted version.

Thanks guys - I will check it out.  Not fazed by system differences - am of the opinion that detailed and imaginative world and background trump system (in most situations), so sounds v. interesting.  

Plaag wrote:http://www.edpt.org/index.php?POSTNUKES ... b072d666e7

A good fan based site for Earthdawn.

ShaneG.

Shane thanks for the link.

I think alot of the comments around Role Playing vs WoW are definitely worth a read ....  

http://www.edpt.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=640&POSTNUKESID=09ab4c873957a8a1844441b072d666e7

lokiwookie wrote:Very rare Beasts, Men & Gods in a lot. US only and seller doesn't want to ship internationaly


** expired/removed eBay auction **

Wow though that book looks definitively rogered!

The Shire for MERP still fairly cheap.  Only 10 hrs. left:




** expired/removed eBay auction **

I have seen some of the second edition MERP stuff top out at over $100.  But they seem to have dropped off in price over the last year so it may not go quite that high.  I would be surprised if it didn't go for at least $70....after all it does contain the maps.

If your FRP store has MERP stuff in shrink and you can pick it up for around $10 apiece you would be crazy not too.

Far less MERP stuff than I recalled.

In fact, far less Iron Crown stuff altogether.  There's a large chunk missing in their shelves, so I'm thinking they cleared out a bunch of stuff that wasn't moving at the prices they were originally asking.  (There were two late-90s Spell Law books for $3.  However, they both have giant clearance stickers on the front of them. )

All I did find were two shrinked copies of the MERP Acessory Pack that would, after tax, come to about $21.60 (CAD).

The local second hand bookstore didn't have anything either, but I did find a fair amount of Rolemaster stuff in their piles.  (I'd say 3rd ed., from what I can tell.)  I may go back later and see if I can take a few pictures (they won't notice, since all the RPG stuff is in the back room), and people can let me know a) if it's worth what they're asking (they have no idea what any of this stuff is worth, so it either gets priced really cheap or really expensive for what it is) and more importantly b) if they want it.

Very large Traveller lot here:




** expired/removed eBay auction **




With the last copy of Digest Group's 101 Robots going for over $100 and the last two copies (that I noticed) of Grand Census and Grand Survey going for over $50 apiece this lot is definitely worth a look.  It also has a couple of the Paranoia Press items and the rarer GDW books Merchant Prince and Robots.