First impressions of MRQ from an old Glorantha fan and RQ:er

[drdentista]

Finally I've gotten around to buying some MRQ books. And they rock! When MRQ came out I was very curious, having been away from RQ since the folding of Avalon Hill something....

But I didn't like the layout and feel of the books, felt too much D&D in comparison to the older versions. Also, the game received some bad raps on the internet, so I decided to stay away.

BUT...a while ago I found this forum, and while looking for RQ2/3 stuff I got really curious again. So I gave it a second shot. And it's definitely cool! MRQ has that RQ2 feeling that was missing in the rather dry RQ3. I want my games to be full of cinematic adventure. Monsters and treasure, hell, even dungeons and caves!

So, now it's into reading the books, checking out the new stuff...

 

[Rasta]

MRQ has that RQ2 feeling that was missing in the rather dry RQ3.

Heretic! Only kidding. Welcome to the boards.

 

[The King]

But I didn't like the layout and feel of the books, felt too much D&D in comparison to the older versions. Also, the game received some bad raps on the internet, so I decided to stay away.

Then you missed very good things if you missed the "Gloranthan Renaissance".

 

[master of reality]

Finally I've gotten around to buying some MRQ books. And they rock! When MRQ came out I was very curious, having been away from RQ since the folding of Avalon Hill something....

But I didn't like the layout and feel of the books, felt too much D&D in comparison to the older versions. Also, the game received some bad raps on the internet, so I decided to stay away.)

I started playing RQ 2 over 20 years ago. I stopped playing for a while, but seeing the MRQ books rejuvenated my interest. I did a little research before deciding whether to buy anything. There were a fair number of negative reviews, but I liked what I saw and eventually took the plunge. I wound up tweaking the combat rules a little, but otherwise I'm very happy with what Mongoose is doing with RuneQuest. Better yet, I get impression that, unlike other game companies, Mongoose will be in business for a while.

 

[drdentista]

Then you missed very good things if you missed the "Gloranthan Renaissance".[/quote]

King, I didn't miss the RQ Renaissance. In fact I have all the stuff for RQ3 including most of the fanzines (which are, of course, excellent). And, no, you're right: the Renaissance books are very good. Maybe I was a little too tough there..:-D

 

[drdentista]

And please don't get me wrong. I like RQ3, but somehow the game lost some of it's "special" appeal going from the old Chaosium RQ2 to AH:s RQ3. I don't know what it was. Maybe the graphical presentation of the materials? Or the dry text?

But as you said, the RQ Renaissance books are truly excellent...

 

[The King]

I think the major grief old Glorantha fans have about RQ3 is the rules. Unfortunately I didn't know RQ2 rules to compare.

Technically I have only great words for later RQ3 books. River of cradles is perfect for beginners players and masters (IMO) and the cover of the RQ Deluxe set (box or book) gives a great picture of Griselda and Wolfhead (these faces change a lot of what we usually see for fantasy setting).

 

[Antalon]

I too have recently taken the plunge into 2nd Age. What I wanted was something digestable - that set out the concepts of Glorantha, a setting that I've struggled with for years due to its detail. I've read Chapter 1 - so far, it is very much clearer than the old Chaosium/AH stuff I owned.

 

[Darran]

I too have recently taken the plunge into 2nd Age. What I wanted was something digestable - that set out the concepts of Glorantha, a setting that I've struggled with for years due to its detail. I've read Chapter 1 - so far, it is very much clearer than the old Chaosium/AH stuff I owned.

That is what is missing for the 3rd Age Glorantha, a book that is easy to digest but covers the major part of the setting!

 

[khazwind]

For my money, the best thing Mongoose have done is to vastly expand the previous experience section of character creation.

AH tried to expand the world, IMHO, by adding extra rules (and crappy art).

I do love the way that MRQ doesn't have a ton of new rules, but does have a ton of skill lists for backgrounds and professions. It certainly makes a character feel more grounded in the world. Respect is due.

 

[Sinisalo]

For me it was the Roger Raup paintings on the covers, plus they were written by enthusiasts. I would love to know why RR and AH parted company because there was talk in spectral tones at the time.

 

[duncan_disorderly]

For me it was the Roger Raup paintings on the covers, plus they were written by enthusiasts. I would love to know why RR and AH parted company because there was talk in spectral tones at the time.

If you google "Roger Raupp" you can get to This page which reveals he is aka Rudy Rauben, and has a website Woken Dreams.

There is a link on that site to an interview in a blog that might go some way to answering your question...