Post originally by LarsDangly at 2005-02-18 11:44:35
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I am a big fan of basic roleplaying, and particularly like the version used as the engine for Runequest (with its hit locations, strike ranks, etc.). There is not a single thing wrong with 2nd edition Runequest, which is explicitly engineered for Glorantha. 3rd edition Runequest is also good for playing in Glorantha, but tries (unsuccesfully, I think) to also be a generic system for historical or fantasy settings.
The trouble with it is that the magic and character advancement systems (rune lords, etc.) are basically built around the quirky details of the Gloranthan setting and don't translate to other settings very well. It is easy to see in general terms how this could be changed and improved to produce a game that is perfect for other settings, but no one ever did the hard work of sorting out the details. I had hoped that this new edition of basic roleplaying would include those changes, but it sounds like it doesnt. Am I wrong? To be more specific, if I ran a historical rome campaign, would everyone on earth have 3 or 4 spirit magic spells and all the senators and generals be runelords and priests? If so, it is just glorantha in togas and really has problems. If not, I would like to hear what they have done differently.
Post originally by Phil at 2005-02-18 13:11:19
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I've never had a problem: if you want to play ancient Rome, of medieval Europe etc. just reduce the amount of magic that characters get; get rid of Runelords and make Initiates the lower ranks of priests and Priests the higher ranks etc.
It is really not that hard and I don't consider it a drawback.
Post originally by Strephon Alkhalikoi at 2005-02-18 15:29:43
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It's actually an amalgam of the four mini reviews on the Chaosium website that I did up as I purchased each of the monographs. The difference here is that the reviews have all been edited and put together, since unlike there it didn't make much sense to review the individual books seperately.
Some things that I had put into those mini-reviews I took out for this review, mainly inaccuracies such as the game being complete after the Creatures Book was printed.
It's my opinion that by posting the review here as well as the mini-reviews over there, the Basic Roleplaying system can get some wider exposure so that Chaosium will actually get the updated game OUT. After all, the monographs are there to gauge customer interest in such a rule set, and it's my belief that given the right "push", if you will, one of the best rulesets ever devised will again see the light of day.
Should you believe that what I did is bad form, then I am sorry that you disapprove. I believe though that posting this review so a larger audience could see that the game was out there and make up their minds is worth the small amount of grief or inconvenience I may endure for my choice.
Post originally by Buzz at 2005-02-18 16:10:25
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The missed opportunity is that, instead of trying to sell these ovepriced, tape-bound photocopies, Chaosium should be thinking PDF. Compile everything into one product, spruce it up a bit, and sell it as a download.
Post originally by Jason Durall at 2005-02-19 13:02:44
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DBRP is coming.
I'm working on it with Sam Johnson. Both of us are longtime BRP fans, and are slavishly trying to take what is best out of the various versions and condense them into one great multi-genre framework system.
It will be out for Gen Con this year, or at least, should be.
Post originally by Sergio Mascarenhas at 2005-02-19 20:00:41
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Jason
For completeness sake, I'll take a not to send you the answers by Sandy Petersen to the letters I wrote to Chaosium concerning RuneQuest. This was in the 80s and includes such gems as stats for donkeys and how to use a spear as a blunt weapon!
I can only do it in May, though, because the letters are in Lisbon and I'm thousands of kms away in Goa.
Post originally by camazotz at 2005-02-20 05:28:15
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I would love to see BRP back in print, with a fully functional book....I wish you guys luck and hope that Chaosium's tardiness with publishing does not crop up.
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