Help! Please Help!

The situation is this. Its the summer holidays, and Im a parent of two teenage boys. Theyve suggested, along with their friends, that I run a D&D campaign for them over the holidays. I dont mind this, it gets the away from their X Boxes, PS2s, and whathaveyou, at least, for a little while. Theyre familiar with rpgs, (well, D&D), shouldnt be a problem. Might even be enjoyable for me!

Now, Im thinking of stealthing them into a Runequest campaign. I dont fancy all that D20 paperwork. Actually, I cant face another readthrough of the Players Handbook (3.5).

Trouble is, and I know this is amazing to think, but Im at a loss as to how to ease them into Runequest, (a hybrid of MRQ and BRP in fact, as the system of choice for my freinds and I). How do you introduce a bunch of teens to the wonders of Runequest?

Got any ideas for a D&D-like RQ campaign? A setting or scenario thats not too complex and bogged down in detail (that probably precludes Glorantha)? Something these guys will like? I got nothin', and we start next week! Any suggestions welcome, it may jog my creative instincts.
 
How about HAWKMOON? Let them fight against Granbretan, and use the Setting a little closser to End-Time Games PS/Movies. Take a Scenario from TRAGIC EUROPE, or make them fight an old Military Base wiht an evil CPU (or Granbretan Lord) and its foul Machines which attack their Kingdom (TERMINATOR 4 or so)?

Maybe this will be somethign for the Guys.

Or Let them fight ala "300" against the Forces of Granbretan?

About the Rules: take the MRQ, but wiht general HP (like ELRIC!/Stormbringer 5th Edition or CTHULHU). I guess it will better appeal to new Players?

And this are only my 5 Pennies.....
 
PrinceYyrkoon said:
Trouble is, and I know this is amazing to think, but Im at a loss as to how to ease them into Runequest, (a hybrid of MRQ and BRP in fact, as the system of choice for my freinds and I). How do you introduce a bunch of teens to the wonders of Runequest?

Got any ideas for a D&D-like RQ campaign? A setting or scenario thats not too complex and bogged down in detail (that probably precludes Glorantha)? Something these guys will like? I got nothin', and we start next week! Any suggestions welcome, it may jog my creative instincts.

Keep it simple. They're expecting D&D/MMORPG stuff so dig out an old scenario with a generic background and off you go. Doesn't have to be an RQ scenario. E.g. When I was running RQ with a bunch of D&Ders I found an old Iron Heroes scenario I must have picked up cheap or free somewhere. It has an old hill-fort, a witch and fairly straight-forward backstory. I changed a few names so it could be fitted into Glorantha later on, had the player-characters all be lay-members with some basic rune magic (I ignored the need for runes) bar one who was an initiate and had some divine magic and off they went with a couple of healing potions.

They got to do plenty of fighting and some basic role-playing and are still playing the same characters 18 months later in Blood of Orlanth.
 
PrinceYyrkoon said:
Got any ideas for a D&D-like RQ campaign? A setting or scenario thats not too complex and bogged down in detail (that probably precludes Glorantha)? Something these guys will like? I got nothin', and we start next week! Any suggestions welcome, it may jog my creative instincts.

A glorantha setting needn't be to complex/bogged down - especially if you are running for people with no previous experience, so won't worry if you ignore obscure fanzine articles!

Apple Lane contains two simple "introduction" scenarios - Gringle's Pawnshop (protect the traders shop against Baboons intent on recovering a stolen heirloom), and Rainbow Mounds - Track the Trollkin raiders to their cave lair. The Scenarios were originally written for RQ2, and were included in the boxed set. Avalon Hill reprinted them for RQ3. If you don't have a copy they certainly used to be cheap and common on E-Bay. Alternatively they were converted to Hero Wars by volunteers and posted on the Issaries site (along with a number of other conversions) - http://www.glorantha.com/hw/scenarios.html - The brief was to convert the scenario as was, so they should be reasonably easy to convert back... These scenarios could be run as second age scenarios with little if any modification.

Griffin Mountain is an old favourite that doesn't require a degree level knowledge of Glorantha, though personally I prefer Borderlands (Characters hire on as mercenaries with an exiled Lunar duke, settling new lands along the Zola Fel south of Pavis) - Either of these are, as written, firmly third age. Both have been reprinted as thick books by Moon Design


More generally, what do they like about D&D (beyond familiarity with the rules?) - You want to try and ensure that you satisfy this with your game - If they want to "Kill people and take their stuff" then a political, community based game is not going to get them excited, but making them a "hit squad" targetting secret Zistorite outposts might.

Outside of Glorantha, Stormbringer, Lankhmar, Slaine or Pirates might be more familiar and all offer different possibilities to introduce players to the RQ rules
 
If you're runnin it for young folk I would not recommend Hawkmoon or Elric, a wee bit too dark in some cases.

At the end of the day they asked for an RPG and you are the GM, just say they are different rules, they may like it.

If you are doing runequest and you want them to enjoy it, i would recommend that

1) Start off with slightly more powerful than beginner level characters. You do not want most of their skill checks to be so terrible that they get frustrated and don't want to play ten minutes into the game, and it will save you time too in some ways.

2) Check signs and portents for free runeqeust scenarios for use with the current rules

3) When it comes to armour, use the encumberance as the skill check penalty as opposed to the one listed. They are simply too much in my opinion.

It also depends on the exact age of these teenage boys, there is a massive difference other than years between a thirteen and fifteen year old, etc.

I've done plenty of Runequest stuff with my own homebrew scenarios if you want to pm I could email some to you.
 
Cheers guys, keep the suggestions coming please!

I thought about Apple Lane, its got talking ducks and baboons in it though, and I dont want to blow their teen minds with outlandish concepts like that!

I thought about the Big Rubble, the place, not the campaign. I guess you dont have to go into the baroque politics of Pavis to do that, a little explanation may be neccessary though.
 
Mage said:
If you're runnin it for young folk I would not recommend Hawkmoon or Elric, a wee bit too dark in some cases.

At the end of the day they asked for an RPG and you are the GM, just say they are different rules, they may like it.

If you are doing runequest and you want them to enjoy it, i would recommend that

1) Start off with slightly more powerful than beginner level characters. You do not want most of their skill checks to be so terrible that they get frustrated and don't want to play ten minutes into the game, and it will save you time too in some ways.

2) Check signs and portents for free runeqeust scenarios for use with the current rules

3) When it comes to armour, use the encumberance as the skill check penalty as opposed to the one listed. They are simply too much in my opinion.

It also depends on the exact age of these teenage boys, there is a massive difference other than years between a thirteen and fifteen year old, etc.

I've done plenty of Runequest stuff with my own homebrew scenarios if you want to pm I could email some to you.

Thanks, thats very thoughtful. The boys are all around 13 -14. I was going to say that you may see my dilemma, but, thinking about it, I was that age when I first played RQ, well, maybe a little older.
 
Still, I've seen veteran players walk out of a badly run game with a percentile system because of a few rounds of bad luck with low skill checks. Runequest should be grand for them as long as it is not too out there, just do something D&Dish in the game using runequest rules and it should be grand. Hopefully their imagination at their age will help in some regards with the game being run.
 
The scenario Rune of Chaos could be a could start for a generic RQ campaign.
If you play and know Glorantha: Blood of Orlanth
If your kids like Donjon crawling: Ruins of Glorantha

You can also download some S&P issues where you'll find some RQ scenarios.
 
Wow, Hawkmoon is to dark for the Teens? I´m suprised, never thought this way. When i see the Kids and what kind of Games they play on PSP. And I watched Terminator with 12 Years or so. I thought about the Setting (Dark Empire, Tech etc.) as easy for Teens, cause it remembers on Star Wars?
But sure, it could be to Dark for Teens.

I don´t own MRQ-Glorantha Stuff, but the Old Things.
Pavis & Big Rubble is a cool Idea! Whats about Snake Pipe Hollow?
 
Agonovos said:
Wow, Hawkmoon is to dark for the Teens? I´m suprised, never thought this way. When i see the Kids and what kind of Games they play on PSP. And I watched Terminator with 12 Years or so. I thought about the Setting (Dark Empire, Tech etc.) as easy for Teens, cause it remembers on Star Wars?
But sure, it could be to Dark for Teens.

I don´t own MRQ-Glorantha Stuff, but the Old Things.
Pavis & Big Rubble is a cool Idea! Whats about Snake Pipe Hollow?

Youre right about how dark generally entertainment for kids has become. They find a way, it seems, (regardless of certificate), to play stuff like Gears of War, which is pretty nihilistic, I dont think they would blink at a nation of crazy, mask-wearing psychopaths.

Snake Pipe Hollow is really deadly! It would be a pretty short campaign!

I dont own Rune of Chaos, unfortunately, is it any good?
 
Yes indeed Snake Pipe Hollow is deadly. But thought abut to build a Campaign around it: help somebody who is under attack from Creatures. Next Scenario find out wher did they came (Tracking to Snake Pipe), find a secret Way, kill the Guardian of it. Next Step gather Informations, look for old Maps (Trip to Yonstown), here is truble cause some other Raiders trying to obtain the Infos which youre Players have. And then, finally make an Trio into the Hollow. But don´t make it only an Dungeon, play with mood and Phenomen Challenges. Maybe this will keep the Teens in Line, cause they espect an typically WoW-Dungeon or so. In Wyrmfriends Footprints are some interest Ideas.
I uses Hollow in an similar Way. Not as an Dungeon Bash for Runelords or so. And my Ideas for the Steps are meant to build easy Sceanrios (you have not so much work, I guess). :wink:
 
Youre all getting me thinking.

The high power issue could be addressed by high initial stats, letting them reroll, shift values about, so that can be covered. I usually get players to roll up two characters at once in case of accidents, but this may be too much for new guys, and also, it doesnt encourage player/character association. I think the magic system could be simplified, so that everyone could have access to one or two rune spells, but NPCs wouldnt.

Im thinking now, its going to have to be with miniatures. Theyre used to miniatures and high visuals, so its got to be with minis I already have. This is ok, as theyre all familiar with orcs, and familiar with orcs being the bad guys, (Ive enough orc minis). So, its got be a Runequest setting with orcs. I can think of one; Griffin Island (I know, I know!). But I like Griffin Mountain, and I like the idea of an island that I can later place anywhere if the campaign takes off. I like the idea of a 'Soldier Port' too, kind of a melting pot of characters, where all have a justification to be there. Though I think I might limit their character choices, at least at first.

Borderlands has possibilities too. But no orcs. I cant bring myself to do something like replacing trolls or broo with orcs.

I think Blood of Orlanth is too steeped in Gloranthan lore to appeal to neophytes maybe.

Keep the ideas coming please guys! Its a big help.
 
If you're runnin it for young folk I would not recommend Hawkmoon or Elric, a wee bit too dark in some cases.

Heck, when I was 11 I thought 'Hawkmoon' (the novels—the game didn't exist back then) was a bit "wet". I much preferred 'Stormbringer' (the novel) as it had a more apocalyptic ending.

So, I'd say it all depends on the players... mind you, I've met some pretty immature and developmentally fragile 40 year olds!

Regards
 
Lord High Munchkin said:
If you're runnin it for young folk I would not recommend Hawkmoon or Elric, a wee bit too dark in some cases.

Heck, when I was 11 I thought 'Hawkmoon' (the novels—the game didn't exist back then) was a bit "wet". I much preferred 'Stormbringer' (the novel) as it had a more apocalyptic ending.

So, I'd say it all depends on the players... mind you, I've met some pretty immature and developmentally fragile 40 year olds!

Regards

I thought you were going to recommend Tekumel as being a suitable suggestion for a minute there, Munchkin!
 
No, I'm not even a "real" Tékumel fan... there are people out there who are really scary!

Although I think the RQ Tékumel conversion is pretty good (handling magic well), I wouldn't recommend it as it's "quite" a complex setting—although mechanically simple.

How about 'Traveller' Conan? One could use the fantasy thread that is running on the 'Traveller' forum.
 
I'd go with Hawkmoon, even though I'm a Glorantha fan.

Elric is probably too dark generally, although Hawkmoon had its moments. I read both series when I was around 13-14, so the age thing shouldn't be a problem. After all, what are teenage boys intersted in? Sex and violence. Hawkmoon has oodles of violence and that should appeal to them. If you want to downplay the fruitier parts of Hawkmoon then it shouldn't be a problem. After all, it's as easy to playe the Beast Orders as kill-crazy foreigners rather than sex-mad kill-crazy sadistic perverse foreigners.

Hawkmoon is good because it has elements of Fantasy and Science Fiction. It is Good vs Evil, with Granbretan being the Evil and everyone else being the Good. It also has the added ideas of the Runestaff and Balance, with a bit of Good and a bit of Evil (or Law and Chaos) being good for you.
 
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