[Rq-rules] *** JUNK MAIL ***Re: New Runequest Question

[Simon Phipp]

John Pare:
> Hey Yall, after losing my copy of 3rd edition, I decided to get the new one 
> (4th edition?).

Probably 5th, to separate it from RQ4 which never made it into print.

> I have read a few reviews regarding it before purchasing it, and I 
> understand it is NOT as Runequest as the previious editions, but playable 
> none-the less.

It's just as RuneQuest as earlier additions but has been changed considerably.

> I order the core book, Monster book, DM screen, Companion, and the two cult 
> books.  I plan on doing the campaign in Hyboria, since I have all the 
> supplements for Conan RPG...  I will not publish it, as I am not wanting to 
> deal with licensing.

You probably need Lhankmar and Newhon as well, then, as they describe things for RQ.

It's probably worthwhile downloading all the SRDs as well, especially the Companion. Look at the Mongoose Site, go to Downloads and choose RQ.


> QUESTIONS:  Is the combat different? is it lacking anything from previous 
> editions?

It's a bit different. Basically, you roll percentiles to hit, then percentiles to dodge/parry, then work out the result. SRs are completely different, armour is a bit different, damage is less, there are no Total Hits, Encumbrance works differently and magic has changed. But apart from those and a few more things, it's pretty much the same :-)

> Does the Monster book cover other playable races for the game?  This seems 
> to be lacking in some reviews.  How many can be used, and what is the detail 
> gone into making them as PC's...

Just about all the standard RQ monsters are covered. They are lacking in background and detail, but this is just a Monsters Book not a detailed sourcebook. There are rules for playing certain species as PCs, with a list of proffesions available for 22 creatures. Other than that, character generation follows the standard rules. You have to play according to the stats of the creatures, though, so instead of rolling 4D6 for a Great Troll's STR you roll 5D6+12 and take the best 4 and so on.You have to intrepret the skills as well, as some human skills make sense and some don't when used for non-humans.

But, yes, it is generally playable and easy to use.

Peter Maranci:

> Personally, I'm boycotting Mongoose RQ and Glorantha products. But that's
> me.

> It's also worth noting that Chaosium is going to be publishing a multi-genre
> system under the name "Chaosium's Basic RolePlaying System" (possibly also
> going by the name "d100", I'm not sure). It consists of the best rules taken
> from many iterations of the Basic RolePlaying system. A modular rules system
> allows the duplication of virtually any previous BRP-derived  game - and
> yes, that includes RuneQuest III.

It looks good, but when is it going to come out?

> I was a playtester for both Mongoose RQ and the Chaosium d100/BRP, and in my
> opinion d100 blows the doors off of the Mongoose system. I just hope
> Chaosium comes out with it soon, and manages to sustain and support it.

Mongoose has produced 9 RQ books so far and has a lot more in the pipeline. Personally, I couldn't justify advising someone to wait for a system that might come out, sometime, rather than one that has been well supported so far.

I'd like to see both systems supported, together with systems such as GORE, using the Open Licence. That way, we'll be able to mix and match, taking bits from each system and having a grand old time.

See Ya

Simon
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