Nice, thorough review. Although I am in "the other camp," of MRQ supporters, who largely I think have given up on trying to dispute the matter of MRQ's merits with the detractors, I just wanted to say that your review (well, comparison review) was carefully thought out.
Just a couple odd bits:
MRQ is definitely comrpised of "Hard Skills." So a high STR character isn't worth as much as a high atheltics PC in MRQ terms. This is a design feature I like because it prevents runaway high-attribute issues, making it more realistic to retain focus on skill development. Also, I have no problem with the idea of a brawny guy who doesn't know his own strength getting trumped by the skinnier guy who has practiced hard to apply force and mettle where it's needed.
On the SR issue of Dex+Int based, and the Actions/round method: speaking as someone who intensely disliked the unnecessarily cumbersome strike rank system from older editions, I much prefer the current system. It's just proven much easier for me to execute from a mechanical standpoint in my gaming groups. As realistic, maybe not. But it works for me. Now, for the idea of INT as a deciding factor in number of actions: I think the smartest guy in the world isn't going to think his way in to a faster reaction time if he's not physically fit. The fastest players on the battlefield ought to be those who act on instinct, and have the dexterity to match. Again, my own opinions: the power of the older RQs to simulate reality may have been more accurate, but from a playability standpoint, MRQ is a much easier system to sell current generation players on.
Finally, on the presentation of the books: can't really argue. The RQ Deluxe edition is what it should have been all along, and it is regretful that Mongoose has hurt their rep with poorly-conceived releases. Still, given that almost all of my gaming money goes to them these days, I can only hope that they are learning....once they get used to their new press!
DISCLAIMER: Please, I'm only commenting on the fact that I liked the structure and presentation of you review, even if I strongly disagree with most all MRQ detractors on both esthetic and practical issues regarding the differences between this system and older systems. I strongly believe that if this system had been called anything other than Runequest, and had not been tied to Glorantha in any way, that it would be getting none of this flack and attention from a very vocal minority. But these are just my opinions, and I am not trying to pick an argument at all; the differences between the two camps are too distant for us to ever see eye-to-eye on one another, so please just take my final comment as "good job, even if I disagree," and not an attempt to open a new debate...I don't want to convince you, and please don't try to convince me, just ain't happenin'
