Baldur's Gate, Moonshae Isles, and Icewind Dale - Adventures in Faerun

Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJt6sfuolo8&ab_channel=EternityTTRPG Transcription Civilization cut off. The solar system dimming. You’re not a hero—you’re just a soul, caught in the aftermath. Hey everyone! Today we’re unpacking Starset: The Great Dimming—the new 2nd‑edition tabletop RPG by Josiah Mork. It's a gritty, hope‑tinged sci‑fi RPG where ordinary lives shape the story. If you haven’t ever tried out TTRPGs besides D&D, this video is for you. I personally love finding the gems out there, especially from people who have fresh ideas in the RPG space. So, let’s dive into what makes this game truly unique. 1. Life‑Path Character Creation – “Your Story Shapes Your Stats” In most tabletop RPGs, you start by picking numbers—your strength, intelligence, gear, etc. Starset flips that completely. Here, you start with a life path : five origin stories to choose from— Combat , Common , Exploration , Mercenary , or Slave . These aren’t classes. They’re your character’s past. Were they a soldier in a forgotten war? A wanderer searching for hope? A prisoner stripped of identity? Once you’ve chosen, you roll dice to simulate major events in that character’s life. Each result gives you a moral choice , like “Did you steal the food to survive… or go hungry and keep your honor?” Your decision directly affects what skills, alliances, and scars your character carries—and even how old they are by the time the game begins. And yes, it’s possible to die before session one. That's how real and brutal the world of Starset is. You also collect keywords —these are mechanical tags that represent things like trauma, friendships, or defining traits. Some make you stronger. Others are burdens that shape how you grow. Either way, they evolve with you, like emotional milestones that actually change your abilities over time. In short: You don’t make a character—you live them. As creator Josiah Mork put it, this is “ backstory on mega-steroids. ” 2. Simultaneous Action Resolution – “It’s Not Your Turn—It’s Everyone’s Turn” In most tabletop RPGs, combat goes in turns: “You go, then I go, then the monster goes.” Starset changes the entire flow. Here’s how it works: Whenever someone targets you—say, with an attack or a persuasion attempt—that action is delayed until the end of your next turn . That delay is called a Floating Action . It gives you and your allies time to do something about it. Maybe you dodge out of the way. Maybe you talk them down . Maybe your teammate steps in with an assist , giving you a boost. These responses turn every round into a mini strategy session. So instead of sitting there waiting for your next turn, the idea is that you’re constantly engaged. Helping allies. Blocking threats. Choosing whether to defend, or risk it all. Your dice pool —which you use for actions—is also your health . Take a hit, and you lose dice. That means fewer options and more vulnerability next turn. The result? Combat is less “hit and wait” and more like chess with story beats— tactical, interactive, and team-driven. Even the quiet players at the table get a reason to act and shine. 3. Rich, Thought‑Provoking Worldbuilding – “Loneliness Is the Real Enemy” Starset isn’t just dark because it looks cool—it’s dark because it wants to say something. The game is set after a cosmic event collapses the Oort Cloud... did I pronounce that right? The Oort Cloud collapses, cutting off Earth from the rest of humanity. Civilization falls into chaos. Survivors are left scattered, alone, and desperate for connection. Every faction in the game is built around a different solution to loneliness : One turns to faith . Another to techno-utopia . One seeks control through power. Others build tight-knit communities . Each choice has promise… and danger. No side is “right”—they just reflect real human struggles. To support this, the game includes the 8 Edicts of Man , a set of philosophical rules that shape society post-collapse. The setting spans 1,000 years of history , giving Game Masters tons of material—from colony ships in deep space to dying cities on Earth. At the end of every game session, players earn experience not for killing monsters, but by sharing how their character helped others or fought against isolation . It’s a system that rewards empathy, as much as power. So yes, Starset is bleak—but it’s also hopeful. It’s a game about surviving the dark… by reaching for the light. Who Should Play Starset… and Why? So who is this game really for? Starset is for story lovers : If you're the kind of player who enjoys deep, emotional character arcs—where your decisions carry weight and shape your story—Starset was made for you. Every character is a layered person with a past, not just a collection of stats. Starset is for strategic thinkers : Starset rewards thoughtful play. Combat and problem-solving aren't just about rolling high—they're about making smart, team-based decisions. And because you’re always involved—even during someone else’s turn—there’s no dead time at the table. Starset is for sci-fi fans with a philosophical streak : Starset tackles big questions: How do we find connection in a broken world? What do we believe in when everything falls apart? If you love sci-fi that makes you think, you’ll feel right at home. And finally, Starset is for game masters who crave worldbuilding fuel : The game’s setting is rich with lore—factions, history, philosophy, politics. It's all there to spark story hooks, conversations, and custom adventures. Whether you’re building a gritty survival tale or a cosmic morality play, Starset gives you tools to explore both. To summarize, here’s Why Starset Stands Out You don’t just create a character—you live their backstory through interactive choices before the game even begins. The simultaneous action system keeps players engaged and reactive, almost all the time. Which is a fresh change to many D&D battles, if we’re being honest. The world of Starset is dark, yes—but it’s also filled with glimmers of hope , and it challenges you to explore themes like empathy, survival, and belief. And finally, every rule and system is designed to reward meaningful interaction —with the world and each other. The Bottom line? Starset doesn’t ask, “How do you win?” Instead, it asks, “What kind of person will you be when everything falls apart?” Intrigued? You can back it now on Kickstarter or check out the rulebook when it’s available.  And lastly, let me know what you think of new game coverage like this, in the comments below. Eternity TTRPG is still feeling out who we are as a channel, so your insight helps me connect you with the content you want most. Until next time!

Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvX8XJ7leKc&t=1s&ab_channel=EternityTTRPG Transcription Meet the 2025 Arcane Archer—no longer just elves with bows. Now they can wield any ammo‑based weapon, deal scaling magic damage, and manipulate the battlefield like dedicated spellcasters. But does this overhaul truly hit the mark? Let’s find out. Hey everyone, welcome back to Eternity TTRPG. Today we’re shooting straight at the new Arcane Archer from Unearthed Arcana. Since 2017’s Xanathar’s Guide, this Fighter subclass has been overshadowed by melee‑centric options—but Wizards just buffed it hard in their latest UA Arcane Subclasses playtest. Time to ask: is this the ranged spotlight the subclass always deserved? Arcane Archer Lore now grants proficiency in both Arcana and Nature , plus either Prestidigitation or Druidcraft—strengthening its elven‑archer ancestry, but broadening its identity. Previously , Arcane Shot was limited to bows, and could only be used twice per rest. Now , you can channel effects through any Ammunition‑property weapon (blowguns, slings!), with uses tied to your Intelligence modifier , and feature a scaling “Arcane Shot Die.” This isn’t just incremental—it's a quantum leap in design. The subclass now scales with you, not sealed off after two shots. Here’s some other new, critical features to the class: Ever‑Ready Shot is now at Level 7 (instead of 15), giving Arcane Archers a much earlier safety net to stay magically effective in more fights. With this ability, when you roll initiative and have no uses of Arcane Shot left, you regain one use automatically. Improved/ Powerful/ and Masterful Shots: these are tiered upgrades to Arcane Shot that progressively increase your Arcane Shot Die from a d6 (base) to a d8 at level 10, a d10 at level 15, and a d12 at level 18—boosting the damage and effectiveness of every magical shot. These features didn’t exist in the 2017 version at all—this is a brand-new scaling mechanic to make the subclass’s magical damage grow meaningfully with your level. These two updates together ensure that each arcane archer level feels meaningful. The earlier and more frequent upgrades basically round out the subclass.” Just as a quick interjection, it’s worth noting as well that “Arcane Shot” is far more advanced than it was, say back in 3.5edition. Now, you have a variety of arcane shots, including “banishing shot” (which ads psychic damage and forces a Charisma save. On a fail, the target is banished until the end of their next turn). There’s also “seeking shot” (where you choose a creature you've seen in the past minute; the ammo seeks them out , flying around corners and ignoring cover) and a host of others that make your “arcane shots” do a huge number of interesting things both in and out of combat. When it comes to the upgrades to ever ready shot and masterful shots, Dungeon Mister has praised these changes, saying they’re: "quality of life improvements...[that] take what was a poor subclass, up to being a more decent one on par with the Battle Master.” Reddit users are also generally optimistic. The overall vibe is that the “New Arcane Archer looks good. Been waiting for that.” Okay, so the new Arcane Archer is packed with magical power—but like any subclass, it comes with a few strings attached. Issue #1: Intelligence Matters - Most Fighter builds focus on Strength or Dexterity to hit hard and take hits—but the Arcane Archer needs Intelligence too, because all your magical shots rely on it for saving throw DCs. If you don’t invest in Intelligence, enemies will resist your effects more often. And in campaigns nowadays where min-maxing is “so important,” where you have to spread out your stats too thin, your stat investments might feel wasted. Ok, on to Issue #2: Weapon Weirdness - One of the coolest changes is that you can now use any weapon with the Ammunition property—not just bows. That means blowguns, crossbows… even firearms, if your DM allows them. But here’s the catch: guns and ammo rules aren’t standard in every campaign. Your DM has to give the green light, and not every table runs with optional gear or rules. So while the subclass is a powerhouse on paper, it takes a thoughtful build and a cooperative DM to really make it shine. Without those, your arrows might fall a little short. Final verdict? Overall, the 2025 Arcane Archer nails the bullseye. It’s versatile, scales smoothly, has earlier impact, and remains flavorful—definitely the best version yet. It definitely has more combative oomph, and less tabletop baggage. If you want to test it, grab the Unearthed Arcana PDF and share your build ideas below. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring the bell for more tabletop RPG coverage.