Eternal Champion RPGs

[Imajica]

Thrilled to see that Hawkmoon and Elric are on their way, that Corum is going to follow. But there's one thing stopping me - and it's a very White Wolf thing to do.

Buy Hawkmoon, get a complete set of rules.
Buy Elric, get another complete set of rules.
Buy Corum, get a third complete set of rules...

Assuming Mongoose go on to publish Von Bek, Cornelius and the rest, that's more full rulesets when all we really need is the one core book and a nice, detailed sourcebook for each Champion's setting... White Wolf finally got it right with their new World of Darkness and it looks like Mongoose have made an old mistake anew.

So what was the rationale behind the separate, self-contained books for each of the Champions? Who's just going to buy Elric and not have a use for the other material?

Just my $0.02 but it's brought them from "purchase immediately in hardcover" to "get the PDFs as and when..."

 

[Vagabond]

This is a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation.

The different spheres/aspects of the EC are varied enough, that separate
"setting" books would have dispensed with significant amounts of core
rules and provided alternatives within. So, Mongoose was faced with:

1) An EC corebook and separate setting books. But, people would have
complained because why buy the core book and a setting book if a) you
only wanted the setting and b) most of the core is obsoleted by setting
material

2) Individual self contained books. But, as you point out, you get the same
subset of core rules in every book, though the overlap might be very small.

3) No core rules, and only setting books with limited rules mods. This would
presumably require the RuneQuest core.

I think you'll find significant detest for all three camps, as well as kudos
for all three. Mongoose had to make a choice of the lesser of all evils.
Also, there is another point to consider. A large chunk of the target
audience are Elric!/Stormbringer players, and they already have a core
system. So for them, option 3) is out since they most likely would not buy
the MRQ core, and option 1) would also force them to buy another set of
core rules to go with whatever settings they choose. Again, option 2)
would be the most attractive - self-contained and neatly packaged.

-V

 

[Vagabond]

I'll also say that only a small subset of players will buy more than 2
books in a complete EC line, 3 tops. And the majority will be buying
only 1 line most likely.

-V

 

[multiverse]

Elric would know what to do.

 

[weasel_fierce]

We also dont know if the rules will be completely unchanged either. They may well be changing some things to fit the specific setting

 

[andakitty]

Such as?

 

[weasel_fierce]

uh ? Character creation ? Combat ? Magic ? (well, we know that'll be different), How damage works ? The sides on a D6 ?

I dont know. Im just suggesting

 

[andakitty]

I was just looking at Gwenthia. If Loz uses a simplified combat system similar to that I'm in.

Character creation was one of the improvements in MRQ over older versions, IMO.

Also just visited the Tavern. It appears that the Runes will not be in the first rulebook. Mongoose marches on.

D6's will no doubt remain the same.

Otherwise, I know you are just suggesting. If you find anything concrete out, please share.

When Elric comes out I will have a look at it, I guess, but I am not holding my breath as I was a year ago, for MRQ...

 

[Trifletraxor]

MRQ's character generation is a clear improvement upon RQ3's char-gen, as it takes much less time. It's still not particularly good though. With a Stormbringer/Cthulhu like system for determining previous experience, 2 pages would be enough to deal with cultural backgrounds and occupations. Instead we have several books filled up with them, and Mongoose can continue to churn out loads upon loads of new backgrounds and occupations. Good buisness strategy though.

SGL.

 

[Loz]

I was just looking at Gwenthia. If Loz uses a simplified combat system similar to that I'm in.

Character creation was one of the improvements in MRQ over older versions, IMO.

Also just visited the Tavern. It appears that the Runes will not be in the first rulebook. Mongoose marches on.

D6's will no doubt remain the same.

Otherwise, I know you are just suggesting. If you find anything concrete out, please share.

When Elric comes out I will have a look at it, I guess, but I am not holding my breath as I was a year ago, for MRQ...

No, we couldn't fit Runes into the core rulebook, although sorcery and cults are extensive. I'm hoping to find a way of getting Runes into a PDF 'companion' that will be relatively inexpensive (think Ralios) and I'll let you know how I get on.

I debated with myself about the streamlined combat developed for Gwenthia. Indeed, I've tinkered with combat for Elric a little, but held-off on the full-scale changes again, for space reasons: I've had to cram a lot into the main book. You will see the revised combat, along with a shed-load more, in the RQ GM's book, which can be used across the entire gamut of RQ settings. Yes, I know it's more to spend, but its an accessory, not an essential.

 

[Loz]

Elric would know what to do.

Oh, that's cool. Is there a Barbie Cymoril too?

 

[Aramanthus]

SciFi Channel annoced this on their SciFi Wire today.....

Compass' Weitz To Adapt Elric

Empire Online reported that Chris Weitz will move from The Golden Compass to Michael Moorcock's Elric, with his brother, Paul. The Weitz brothers will adapt the fantasy saga, about Elric of Melniboné (aka Elric Kinslayer or The White Wolf) for the big screen, the site reported.

The Elric books first appeared in print in 1961 and number more than a dozen volumes.

"Of the great classic fantasy series, it's the one that hasn't been done yet," Chris Weitz told Empire Online. "My brother, Paul, and I liked those books growing up, and we've met Michael Moorcock, and he trusts us to take those books forward."

The Weitz brothers' Depth of Field production company will develop the adaptation, although no director is yet attached. "I'd really like it if my brother directed them," Chris said.

 

[multiverse]

We have an entire forum dedicated to the movie: http://www.multiverse.org/fora/forumdisplay.php?f=24

SciFi Channel annoced this on their SciFi Wire today.....

Compass' Weitz To Adapt Elric

Empire Online reported that Chris Weitz will move from The Golden Compass to Michael Moorcock's Elric, with his brother, Paul. The Weitz brothers will adapt the fantasy saga, about Elric of Melniboné (aka Elric Kinslayer or The White Wolf) for the big screen, the site reported.

The Elric books first appeared in print in 1961 and number more than a dozen volumes.

"Of the great classic fantasy series, it's the one that hasn't been done yet," Chris Weitz told Empire Online. "My brother, Paul, and I liked those books growing up, and we've met Michael Moorcock, and he trusts us to take those books forward."

The Weitz brothers' Depth of Field production company will develop the adaptation, although no director is yet attached. "I'd really like it if my brother directed them," Chris said.

 

[multiverse]

Here's the thread that Mr. Moorcock checks in on from time to time where you get the info from the source. http://www.multiverse.org/fora/showthread.php?t=4940

 

[algauble]

I was just looking at Gwenthia. If Loz uses a simplified combat system similar to that I'm in.

What's the simplified combat system in Gwenthia like?

 

[Mongoose Pete]

I was just looking at Gwenthia. If Loz uses a simplified combat system similar to that I'm in.

What's the simplified combat system in Gwenthia like?

Hi,

Gwenthia was originally designed as a setting which can be used with either RQ3, or Chaosium's Elric. Thus technically you can use whatever combat system you want with it. The characteristics and rules in the Iqari and She'eth books are still in RQ3/C-Elric format, for example.

However for the purposes of publication, the team made a decision to make Gwenthia MRQ compatible, and currently there is some work being done to overhaul some of the previous work to bring it in line. Gwenthia's mammoth and unique magic system (which is not on the website before you go looking there) has been converted to use Resilience and Persistence, rather than characteristic resistance rolls for example.

Since Loz is currently working on (shall we say) a refined combat system for MRQ (to be published in the MRQ GM's Guide - read Planet Mongoose), we are ensuring that Gwenthia will remain totally compatible and thus take advantage of the revised rules that "work logically, fluently, and without any hitches."

Pete

Gwenthia is coming...