Modern Runequests links to the past.

[capheind]

I've never actually played Runequest, although I'm sure it was somewhere in our "d&d cannon" when we played and kitbashed as kids. Looking around I see that there are three or four different Modern Versions of the game being published by multiple outfits. I'm just curious as to which ones embody the Heart of classic runequest, if any.

[Finarvyn]

I'm not a RQ scholar by any means, but I have thumbed through rulebooks of most of the editions and fundamentally they are quite similar.
* D100 based dice mechanic.
* Skill based (instead of D&D's classes)

I suspect that there are some variations from one edition to the other in terms of setting and background material, perhaps how spells are done, stuff like that.

Not quite the answer you want, I suppose. Perhaps others will weigh in on this.

[ffilz]

It depends on what you consider the heart of classic RQ. For me personally, I don't think anything other than the original RQ1 or RQ2 really captures the heart of those editions. I have not dug into the latest Mongoose RQ (MRQ2), but what I had looked at of MRQ1 was definitely different enough that I did not find it appealing.

For those who consider the heart the d100 skill system, well, then MRQ or any version of Basic Roleplaying will be sufficient.

Frank

[uncruliar]

Jul 15, 2010 8:00:40 GMT -6 capheind said:

I'm just curious as to which ones embody the Heart of classic runequest, if any.

I guess you could probably get any number of answers to this question, but here's my two penn'orth.

So far as I know RQ was the first major FRP to use a D100 skill system, although some argue that is really a D20 system as skills increase in 5% increments. If you see that as being 'the heart of classic RQ' then ffilz is right any any version of BRP or MRQ will do.

Personally I think that a Gloranthan setting is an absolute essential in capturing the spirit of classic RQ. So that rules out BRP as far as I am concerned. However the Gloranthan setting of Mongoose RQ seems to be very true to Chaosium's Glorantha.

For me personally though only Chaosium's RQ ticks all the boxes. Before going further I should say that I haven't actually played Mongoose RQ.

The Chaosium RQ approach to magic is another key point for me. In Glorantha magic is commonplace, available to everyone who can pay for it, and simple. There is Battle Magic and Rune Magic. Battle Magic is used by pretty much all adventurers, it is fairly easy to come by and, although very useful, it is not all powerful. Rune Magic is mainly the preserve of Rune Priests and Rune Lords who are high level characters, although cult Iniatites have some limited access to it. Rune Magic is generally more powerful than Battle Magic.

From what I understand of Mongoose RQ the magic system is more fragmented and complex although I have to say that my understanding is limited.

So in conclusion I have to say that if you want classic Runequest it has to be Chaosium's RQ 1or 2. Unfortunately that is not terribly easy to come by but it can be found. If you are interested in RQ2 then you might weant to check out Grinle's Pawnshop which is a relatively young board aspiring to do for RQ what this board does for OD&D.