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Regarding Research tests: it is entirely up to the GM on how long they feel a particular test should take. For example, exhaustively searching the Library of Throal versus exhaustively searching the local records of the Questor of Mynbruje. Feedback suggested there was a large variety of ways it was being used, so the tools were kept general to support this, rather than limit it to one specific way.

Game terms should be read as mostly Prescriptive (of or relating to the imposition or enforcement of a rule or method) when the term is not also an in-game Named Concept ("Discipline", "Talent", etc, are a little more Descriptive of the Earthdawn world metaphysics).

So yeah, it's about allowing the character to initiate a long task, and then either have to focus entirely on it (Action:Sustained), or multitask (Action:Standard, long duration). If that lets somebody's Swordmaster/Wizard PC duel skeletons in a crumbling library while frantically trying to memorize pages pulled hastily from rotting books, then have fun with it!

Though that would probably extend the time it takes to complete the research...

More on point, don't confuse activation of effect with duration of effect. For example, Wood Skin is also a Standard Action that lasts for more than a round.

I understand your point, but it doesn't need errata as it is not an error.

You may not agree, and if you want to run it as "sustained" in your own game, that's fine.

Tracking & Book Memory. After use of any of these talents (standard action) their goal is already achieved. They let you do things but its not their "goal", its the players goal to follow tracks or read a manuscript. You dont need to follow the tracks you found and you dont need to read any pages from a book. Thats why they got Standard Action and duration.

Ofcourse when someone is reading its not like he can do other things, but thats so obvious it doesnt need rules, just common sense.

As for tracking, when you activate the Talent you "see the faint, luminous image of the tracks on the ground, allowing to unerringly follow the tracks" - so thats not sustained action, you made them glow and now you can follow them (you dont need to forfeit action each round to keep them glowing).

As for Skill, I would say its sustained action because you still need to search for marks on the ground. So if a fight suddenly happens you need to test the skill again because you lost those tracks from sight. Talent is so much better

Hope that helps.

Well you dont need rules for everything. When you activate Book Memory its already working. Then when you start "Reading", you dont need special rules for it, any GM that at least once read a book can judge easily that it takes in ED a Standard Action (you need to focus).

As for looking at Tracking Talent magic tracks, do you really need a character to use any action (if you need it, it would be Simple Action, but really???)

Baravakar if you're the GM and you got a "Rule Lawyer" player type, all it takes is your word that something works like that IYB (In Your Barsaive). But if you're the RL player, just stop that

You dont need rules for everything, use common sense. And GM is like wife, she/he is always right