Arcane Mysteries of Barsaive is a 1997 tabletop game supplement published by FASA for Earthdawn .
Arcane Mysteries of Barsaive is a supplement in which magic is expanded extensively, as a companion to Magic: A Manual of Mystic Secrets . Organized into three distinct sections—Spells, Talent Knacks, and Magical Items—it delivers an array of options for players. The Spells section introduces over 200 new enchantments distributed among the four Disciplines: Elementalist, Illusionist, Nethermancer, and Wizard. Notably, it includes the first officially published spells of Circle 13 and beyond, along with enhancements to the concept of Named Spells. Talent Knacks receive a major expansion. With more than 70 new Knacks, players can improve their existing Talents to yield new effects—from Matched Weapons for dual-wielding adepts to By the Fingernails, offering Scouts a desperate last grab in failed climbs. The book also outlines custom Knack creation. The section on Magical Items offers a wide range of additions, from minor comfort-enhancing charms like temperature-regulating bedrolls to formidable artifacts such as the sword Truefang. [1]
Andy Butcher reviewed Arcane Mysteries of Barsaive for Arcane magazine, rating it a 6 out of 10 overall, and stated that "If you really feel that your Earthdawn campaign would benefit from several hundred new magical bits and pieces – perhaps your group is particularly experienced and looking for new toys, for example – then I'd recommend this very highly indeed. On the other hand, new gaming groups, or those wanting to keep things a little simpler, can safely do without it." [1]