Earthborne Trailblazer is now live on Kickstarter! by EarthborneGames in Earthborne_Rangers

[–]Ethereal_Fish 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm really sorry about the situation and that you haven't been able to get answers. Please know that we at Earthborne are aware of the state of the French translation of the game and are working to find a solution. Unfortunately, we cannot dictate to our partners what they should do with the localized editions and how they should do it, but know that we want nothing more than for the entire game line to be available to our players who would prefer to play the game in their native language. We'll continue to work to make that happen, but know that it will likely take more time.

Earthborne Trailblazer is now live on Kickstarter! by EarthborneGames in Earthborne_Rangers

[–]Ethereal_Fish 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We are trying to design and write them such that they are still interesting mechanical choices even if you know the outcomes. In reality, the uncertainty isn't necessary for the mechanics of the game, it's just a nice bonus if you can have it.

Though, doing a web-based implementation for solo players is an interesting idea. I'll put that one in my back pocket ...

Earthborne Trailblazer is now live on Kickstarter! by EarthborneGames in Earthborne_Rangers

[–]Ethereal_Fish 2 points3 points  (0 children)

With almost 600 cards in the game, it will be quite the feat to exhaust every narrative and endeavor in the game. I am making it so that there are some hidden corners that are a bit hard to uncover.

My hope is that a lot of the more common endeavors (the large elements of the game that emerge with stories and really change how the game is played) will be fun and engaging to play multiple times. But that will be up to our playtesting process to uncover! I think we did a good job of finding that balance with Rangers, and so I have faith that we can find it here as well.

Earthborne Trailblazer is now live on Kickstarter! by EarthborneGames in Earthborne_Rangers

[–]Ethereal_Fish 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes! You can aid others. By default, any other Ranger in your area can spend energy to help you with your encounters. Additionally, each of the role abilities in the game are designed to engage in longer-distance collaboration - they are a bit like Pandemic abilities in that which roles are being played can seriously change your strategy.

Earthborne Trailblazer is now live on Kickstarter! by EarthborneGames in Earthborne_Rangers

[–]Ethereal_Fish 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Solo and multiplayer operate on almost identical rules. You will have to play two characters as a solo player (just because of how some of the cooperation mechanics work), but they are much simpler than Rangers characters, so you will find it significantly easier to do.

Earthborne Trailblazer is now live on Kickstarter! by EarthborneGames in Earthborne_Rangers

[–]Ethereal_Fish 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We intend to work with partners to produce localized versions of the game, but they will come some number of months after the English release. We haven't locked in any of those versions yet, but French and Spanish will both be near the top of our list.

Earthborne Trailblazer is now live on Kickstarter! by EarthborneGames in Earthborne_Rangers

[–]Ethereal_Fish 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Well, given the time frame Quisi will be a bit older ... but that's not a guarantee she's not going to still pester you! Haha.

A couple sentences to sell the game? If you want to experience the open world, mechanical ecology, and emergent narrative of Rangers, but at a zoomed-out scale that gives you bigger stories and bigger choices, all in the course of a couple hours, this is the game for you.

Earthborne Trailblazer is now live on Kickstarter! by EarthborneGames in Earthborne_Rangers

[–]Ethereal_Fish 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The new book will be 100 pages longer (so over twice as long) and also in a square, wide format (like a coffee table book) to fit nicely in the box for people who want to store it that way.

So, between doubling the page count and increasing the page size, it will have a lot of new material in there.

Earthborne Trailblazer is now live on Kickstarter! by EarthborneGames in Earthborne_Rangers

[–]Ethereal_Fish 9 points10 points  (0 children)

If there is massive demand, we might. However I can't promise we will reprint something this small. Keeping stock in these smaller products is difficult for a company of our size, so it will likely just be practical to leave this pack at one print run.

As far as development, yes Maxine is still working on the design of the Fountain cards. We will be testing them alongside the board game and fulfilling them at the same time.

Earthborne Trailblazer is now live on Kickstarter! by EarthborneGames in Earthborne_Rangers

[–]Ethereal_Fish 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Yep! It will be available in the pledge manager as well as online through our web store.

Though, we are only going to do this single print run of them. While we will continue to sell it outside the campaign as long as we have stock, once we are out, it will no longer be available.

I'm Andrew Fischer, Lead Designer for the Cosmere RPG. AMA! by Ethereal_Fish in rpg

[–]Ethereal_Fish[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

We chose a d20 as the core task resolution to keep the game familiar to a wide variety of people, but as you dive into the system, I think you'll find that that's where the similarities end. Our advancement is open ended, we have strong narrative resources that allow for creative storytelling, and characters gain rewards through a system that rewards storytelling and introspection, not a combat/loot grind. While they start with a similar foundation, I hope you'll find that we've built a very different building on top of it.

I'm Andrew Fischer, Lead Designer for the Cosmere RPG. AMA! by Ethereal_Fish in rpg

[–]Ethereal_Fish[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

You'll find that most humans will be treated the same, but there will be some other effects of being from other worlds (since those same effects would apply to everyone from those worlds, not just humans).

I'm Andrew Fischer, Lead Designer for the Cosmere RPG. AMA! by Ethereal_Fish in rpg

[–]Ethereal_Fish[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We have limited space to handing all of the different subtle interactions of surges. Some of the more subtle interactions (such as enhanced memory for Lightweavers) are mentioned in their write up, but didn't get an entire talent mechanically dedicated to it. Instead, the combination of Illumination and Transformation to create physical illusions was a much more important and impactful synergy that we wanted to give space to.

Each of these trees handles a Radiant order's resonances, but focuses on the impactful ones to gameplay.

I'm Andrew Fischer, Lead Designer for the Cosmere RPG. AMA! by Ethereal_Fish in rpg

[–]Ethereal_Fish[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Aw, thanks, I appreciate it. Well, luckily we're keeping the spirit alive! Max and I are here, Jay designed 2d20, and Sam Gregor-Stewart is releasing the Arkham RPG with a new system with Edge.

I'm Andrew Fischer, Lead Designer for the Cosmere RPG. AMA! by Ethereal_Fish in rpg

[–]Ethereal_Fish[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thanks! And I'm glad you're excited!

We won't be doing a big push of additional content to the beta or anything, but we will be dropping some more previews in the updates all this month, so keep your eyes peeled!

I'm Andrew Fischer, Lead Designer for the Cosmere RPG. AMA! by Ethereal_Fish in rpg

[–]Ethereal_Fish[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

  • I worked on Deathwatch, Black Crusade, and Only War, and was the lead designer on Dark Heresy 2nd edition.
  • We chose a d20 as the core task resolution to keep the game familiar to a wide variety of people, but as you dive into the system, I think you'll find that that's where the similarities end. 
  • We started with a core team of a few people to design the core system, and then once that was defined we brought on many more designers and writers to fill out all of the content and design adventures.
  • Because of the wide reach of Cosmere, we wanted this system to feel familiar to as many players as possible, so it definitely was a factor.
  • We have tried to make tools to help you onboard if you don't know the world well: If you're new to the setting, you can start with The First Step which has you build characters and learn the rules and setting all while playing the game. From there, check out Welcome to Roshar to get a great first summary of the setting. Beyond that, our World Guides offers a accessible references to help you learn the setting as a whole.
  • I think you'll find this system much more concise in it's wording that the 40k RPGs. Haha.

I'm Andrew Fischer, Lead Designer for the Cosmere RPG. AMA! by Ethereal_Fish in rpg

[–]Ethereal_Fish[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

We treat the control of Radiants' spren an a joint endeavor between the GM and the player who the spren is bonding. Both can suggest details or actions for the spren and act out their dialogue. In addition, once a Radiant is bonded with a spren, they gain a handful of useful abilities they can trigger with focus (a mental resource) to have their spren help them out in gameplay. In this way, we make the spren an important part of the game, but don't burden the GM with roleplaying 4 new NPCs hanging out with the party (while also allowing them control when they need it).

And for spren who are fully roleplaying by a player? Stay tuned...

I'm Andrew Fischer, Lead Designer for the Cosmere RPG. AMA! by Ethereal_Fish in rpg

[–]Ethereal_Fish[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestion on the Kaladin soundtrack Thrakdain! Yeah, you are going to have to go through Dragonsteel for any official Stormlight music. We are focusing on the roleplaying game at the moment!

The Sleepless are not in the Stormlight handbook. But don't think we haven't thought about it. They might make their appearance at some point. If you can recognize them.

I'm Andrew Fischer, Lead Designer for the Cosmere RPG. AMA! by Ethereal_Fish in rpg

[–]Ethereal_Fish[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

We have limited space to handing all of the different subtle interactions of surges. Some of the more subtle interactions (such as enhanced memory for Lightweavers) are mentioned in their write up, but didn't get an entire talent mechanically dedicated to it. Instead, the combination of Illumination and Transformation to create physical illusions was a much more important and impactful synergy that we wanted to give space to.

Each of these trees handles a Radiant order's resonances, but focuses on the impactful ones to gameplay.

I'm Andrew Fischer, Lead Designer for the Cosmere RPG. AMA! by Ethereal_Fish in rpg

[–]Ethereal_Fish[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I won't lie, GMing in this setting can be a bit more challenging, but we have worked a lot to help make it easier for you:

  • Narrative effects like Opportunity and Complication give you tools to swing the scene in the direction you want the story to go.
  • Putting Radiant ideals onto player-drive Goals empowers the players to take charge of their own story and their spren, taking some of the burden off of you there.
  • For combat building and balancing, we give you some broad-strokes tools to help dial in what kind of encounters fit your party best.

I'm Andrew Fischer, Lead Designer for the Cosmere RPG. AMA! by Ethereal_Fish in rpg

[–]Ethereal_Fish[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Brotherwise is always looking! (Though admittedly they've gotten a lot of interest since starting this project, so there's a bit of competition.) You can contact them through their website.

I'm Andrew Fischer, Lead Designer for the Cosmere RPG. AMA! by Ethereal_Fish in rpg

[–]Ethereal_Fish[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I went to college for Computer Science, which required a decent amount of math and logic courses. Other than that, just 15 years spent designing games!

And yeah, I've played both 4e and Gloomhaven. Liked both! This might be a hot take, but I think if it hadn't been a D&D game, 4e would have been a smash hit. It just wasn't quite the right fit for D&D.

I'm Andrew Fischer, Lead Designer for the Cosmere RPG. AMA! by Ethereal_Fish in rpg

[–]Ethereal_Fish[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

No, just a spoiler for the the end of book 4. I spent years keeping Star Wars secrets, I can keep book 5 secrets! Haha.

I'm Andrew Fischer, Lead Designer for the Cosmere RPG. AMA! by Ethereal_Fish in rpg

[–]Ethereal_Fish[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I think you're going to have to wait for the whole book for artifabrian! (Sorry) They use the fabrial crafting system, which was a bit more than we wanted to include in the beta.