The Earthman’s Burden

Ed used to have a website at alchemist.excessivelydangerousthing.com. There was a comic and everything. It's not on the Wayback Machine, sadly, and he says he's lost the content. In the mean time, you can play virtually on Tabletop Simulator or buy a physical copy from The Game Crafter.

How to Play

How to play video

Physical Edition

I have a tangible copy of the game, which contains printouts of the following items:

The Earthman's Rulebook.pdf - The rules for my physical version
quick reference.pdf - Quick reference card, front and back
basic technology 5x10.pdf - Technology tree
tracks 5x10.pdf - Research roundel and other progress tracks
special abilities.pdf - The special abilities card deck

Ed Heaney’s Rules

first edition - rules.pdf – my physical edition rules are adapted from this version
The Earthman's Burden - 20250430 - v11.pdf – eleventh edition
- it requires some more boards, which have yet to be drawn

Other Files

old rules: previous versions
first edition - technology.pdf: a functional black-and-white technology board by Alex Atkins
first edition - tracks.pdf: a functional black-and-white tracks board by Alex Atkins
second edition - rules.pdf: an experiment with more complicated espionage mechanics
second edition - technology.pdf: differences: Machinations; Tracking Systems
second edition - tracks.pdf: with an Intrigue track that (optimistically) counts up to 79
solar disc - 4 x A4 - black+white.pdf: A black-and-white A2 game board split into four A4 pages
solar disc - A2 pdf - black+white.pdf: A black-and-white A2 game board for printing cheaply onto A2 paper
solar disc - A2 pdf - colour.pdf: A slightly cropped colour board for printing portrait onto A2 paper
solar disc - colour image.png: Ed Heaney’s colour game board as a square PNG with modified wording
solar disc - print 'n' play image.png: Ed Heaney’s black-and-white game board as a square PNG with modified wording

Game concept and rules by Edward A. Heaney
Game boards (with planets and trajectories) by Ed Heaney
Technology and tracks boards by J. Alexander D. Atkins