Mongoose Plans for RQ in 2007

[Rurik]

This is from this thread over in the Mongoose General section. I know many of us don't find our way over there often (hell, I found this on RPG.net). Full thread is here.

RuneQuest
The biggie. The Daddy. We had a feeling the new RuneQuest would be popular, but we certainly underestimated by how much. The first printing of the rulebook disappeared within weeks, and another is already being prepared. Stocks on many of the supplements are also looking a little low, which is a good measure of the game’s popularity (in that gamers are continuing to buy into the system, having decided the core rules suit them).

So, what is next? Well, we have the luxury of a long term with this licence, enabling us to plan far ahead. However, over the next 12 months, you can expect to see Second Age Glorantha examined in ever finer detail, the odd grand campaign, a small number of ‘core’ rulebooks dedicated to all settings, a Gloranthan box set, and the introduction of new worlds.

In terms of the latter, Lankhmar has already arrived at our office and will be on your shelves in January, closely followed by a Nehwon supplement. We also have a very poorly kept secret involving some very famous fantasy worlds on the way – a quick web search should turn up the answer for you, though I have to keep my mouth shut at this time. However, we are just a contract signing and cheque away, so there will be plenty of news soon. Fans of big black swords will be happy.

If, on the other hand, you prefer Pirates or Ninjas (not in the same game, I hasten to add – though that has a certain attraction. . .), then projects from both Gareth Hanrahan and Aaron Dembski-Bowden next year are going to put a huge grin on your face. These will appear in the Summer and Autumn, respectively.

There has been a lot of speculation about what other games can be converted to RuneQuest. However, one rumour I can squash right now is about Conan – it will not be joining the RuneQuest brand, but retaining its own system. On the other hand, development is about to begin on SpaceQuest, a set of science fiction rules based on RuneQuest, and a number of settings will be appearing to support this as well. Both Judge Dredd and Strontium Dogs have been mooted as possibilities but, as yet, nothing has been confirmed.

EDIT: I think he used the words "Gloranthan", "Boxed", and "Set" in that rough order.

 

[Stormwalker]

Well that pretty much clears up the EC question then - Looks like you might be getting your Derek and the Dominoes source book after all Rurik!

Pity about Conan - that setting should so be RQ ...

 

[Ravage]

Hey Guys!

Nice 1 Rurik with this post.... Its vital that we who follow and chew over the pros and cons of MRQ on this forum hear such details as:

We had a feeling the new RuneQuest would be popular, but we certainly underestimated by how much. The first printing of the rulebook disappeared within weeks

Having spoken to Mr Sprange (whose being quoted btw) back when the rulebook was new at Continuum and that the continued production of supplements was based on a good following, I'd like to congratulate everyone (includng myself) for investing in the range - pat yourselves on the back hey?

But for myself, the most anticipated and eagerly awaited 2007 release was mentioned:

you can expect to see Second Age Glorantha examined in ever finer detail, the odd grand campaign

Right: 1. More detail and its Gloranthan - that rules. Though not the consensus of the forum, I'm sure a significant proportion is like myself - Gloranthan.

Right: 2. Grand Campaign. Having already once sent in a proposal myself for a GC myself (yes Mongoose, I appreciate NOW post Glornathan book-supplement releases why my synopsis didnt cover all benchmarks) but equally I said to Mr Sprange at last years launch/Continuum that whats needed to make Glorantha MRQ take off is scenario material. Let me try to explain my sentiment:

A good few years back, between buying and investing in Hero-GTA HW/HQ and buying fanzine RQ material solely I did falter and I spent a bucket on Vampire: the masquerade when it came out. Source, source, source - more condiments than at a chippy and after a year i had a dozen source books. But if this is the gravy to spread, amalgamate and harmonize as virtual roast dinner - wheres the core meat and two veg people want? Well... The rules are the meat, the source books is one veg, the other is the scenario/more particularly campaign sprouts.

Scenarios for the "lazy" gamer who has a job/life/wife/kids is what this MRQ range needs vitally. And hell. I'm lazy in this respect. I buy, read but dont utilize with my group yet. Why? To portray source material I particualrly need the application of it in a quick form - my group meets twice a year.... I'd rather quality hive-minded or better than my mind's campaigns to be the meal rather than my own home-cooked offerings... I'm hungry now...

...and indeed at this point I'd like to repeat the sentiment I expressed about MRQ and what I still find imerative: MRQ is working and distributing fabulously well: I suspect a greater proportion of purchasers are people who already experienced a RQ release and are previous RQ gamers who KNOW they are supporting and historically proven gaming-environ (hmm... has there been a poll on newbies to MRQ VS. Pre MRQ-Gloranthans yet?).

But taking my stance on board for a second - this MRQ following is a generation of what must be 30-somethings like myself (argh! I feel old now). As life takes in new directions with family commitments increasing, and pulls on our ever-decreasing spare time and ultimately, like myself having to sacrifice RPG time, the importance of the grand campaign and indeed scenario material is key as I know I am unique in that I personalyl can spare time to produce material (but I'd like to state that I want to produce to support Gloarntha of which I find 2nd age a great get-in, my group will continue to play HQ for another decade before MRQ gets a chance but I repeat we play twice a year!) , but I know this is against the norm and no-one I know in my group, or those I met at continuum, particularly could spend time to produce their own home-cooked campaigns.

Equally, We maybe growing into a generation who can afford to splash on every supplement for MRQ and thus the sales figures and take-up looks great ( I have - and prepaid gladly in advance!), but equally I suspect a huge proportion of initial take-uppers will exploit their initial purchases with off the shelf scenarios as there starters.

From reading other forums and inet resources I hear scenarios dont sell... Cummon, the Ralios supplement on drivethru seems to have been a massive success: we are not faceless spotty newbies (I suspect - again get a poll going to prove me wrong), we are people rushing headlong on lifes course who need a hollywood-style pre-prepared scenario fix world!

So yay! Mr Sprange - I salute MRQ being successful, I applaud your taking on board of campaign releases in the future, and cant wait to see what develops next year for me to prepay... and ultimately utilise!

...and from a personal point of view... Look forward to a second draft of my proposed campaign release post Cults of G., 2nd Age G. etc (yes, I'm not submitting till I see Magic of G.!)....

But if you recall who I am... My sentiment was I would only write for Glorantha: Thats why ***I'M*** HERE, supporting MRQ like I supported HQ thru the GTA as it was gloranthan.

yes, I'll get Lhankmar, its vaguely FRP and can perhaps be bastardised to Sartaran use or something ultimately, but dont please expect my prepaid support to be an indication that necessarily supporting new worlds or anything non-Glornathan will continue (though dammit, you hint at Moorcockian multiverses...)

 

[weasel_fierce]

All I can say is Hot Damn.

MRQ would be excellent for Eternal Champion games. Too bad about conan. Maybe their license only permits one system

 

[Chardros The Reaper]

Yes! Looks like Mongoose may be getting all the Eternal Champion rights! I've never been completely happy with Chaosium's rendering of the Multiverse. I dare say MRQ is the perfect fit for them. Can't wait!

It is too bad about Conan. I know the d20 version has a lot of followers but personally I think MRQ is such a better fit and I'm so fried on d20. Ah well...not too difficult to convert. I'll probably be too busy playing Elric, Hawkmoon or Corum to notice anyway!

I'm super anxious about SpaceQuest as well...hope they come up with a new, independent gameworld. Wizards' Star Wars has left me seriously cold (I doubt the new Revised Saga Get More Money Edition will be much better) and since Weis has Battlestar Galactica (too bad, that...okay system, not the best production comapany) I can't think of any licensed worlds I'd like to see used for SpaceQuest.

Yeah, I'm rambling, but this news makes me very happy! I think Mongoose is headed in the right direction here and this gives me a lot of hope. Now I just have to wait....

 

[robyn]

Good news but am slightly confused.....am sure i read a thread on the Mongoose forums a while ago re Mr Darlage and a Conan sourcebook.....still Lankmar will keep me sweet!

 

[elgrin]

I am another to pick up on the hint about 'big black swords' as a reference to albinos and a really great background for fantasy adventuring. If this is what it actually is, please Mongoose, don't let it slip through your fingers, as the RQ system and this multiverse go together so sweetly.

 

[soltakss]

That's really disappointing.

I hoped that they would stick with Lhankmar and Glorantha, so I wouldn't have to spend a lot of money.

If they are having Big Black Sword World as well, I won't be able to eat all of next year.

Which might not be a bad thing, come to think of it ....

 

[weasel_fierce]

Arioch will feed you

 

[Quire]

Arioch will feed you

Blood and souls!

- Q

 

[Steve Mitchell]

Well, if Conan is going to stay in D20 format only. . . .

And if Solomon Kane is going off to some Savage Worlds. . . .

Mongoose could still pick up King Kull of Atlantis or Bran Mak Morn for RuneQuest.

I'd particularly like to see Bran handled by RQ; hordes of screaming Picts, blood-slavering Celts, battle-crazed Norseman, creeping shapes in the mist, creeping shapes under the earth, cruel and cunning Romans, all mixed together with the RQ system.

 

[philreed]

I'm gonna cross my fingers and hope for Conan RQ anyway.

 

[TRose]

With Ninjas and pirates on the way, I hope they can be used for Vormain and the Eastern Islands.

 

[soltakss]

You can use a lot of the non-Gloranthan stuff for Glorantha, if you squint and change the background.

After all, you don't need to care about the politics of this House vs that House or the niceties of the Bushido Code, all you need to know is how much damage a Ninja does with a pin blown from his mouth.

 

[Dead Blue Clown]

You can use a lot of the non-Gloranthan stuff for Glorantha, if you squint and change the background.

After all, you don't need to care about the politics of this House vs that House or the niceties of the Bushido Code, all you need to know is how much damage a Ninja does with a pin blown from his mouth.

It took me ages to think of the Hundred Houses. I mean, there's a hundred of them. They'll be getting a big chapter, methinks. Maybe even bigger than the (admittedly huge) chapter (and free pull-out supplement) on blowpipes and their myriad uses.

 

[Voriof]

You can use a lot of the non-Gloranthan stuff for Glorantha, if you squint and change the background.

After all, you don't need to care about the politics of this House vs that House or the niceties of the Bushido Code, all you need to know is how much damage a Ninja does with a pin blown from his mouth.

It took me ages to think of the Hundred Houses. I mean, there's a hundred of them. They'll be getting a big chapter, methinks. Maybe even bigger than the (admittedly huge) chapter (and free pull-out supplement) on blowpipes and their myriad uses.

Houses are an integral part of the Trader Princes who now occupy (albeit lightly) the Manirian lands that were once under the control of the Middle Sea Empire.

But what can I say? Houses such as Harkonen and Atredies are inspiring!

Jeff

 

[EvilGinger]

I was thinking of taking the background and using the Runquest rules to do it with as I dont think D20 fits the world half as well as Rune quest

 

[Nickbergquist]

That's really disappointing.

I hoped that they would stick with Lhankmar and Glorantha, so I wouldn't have to spend a lot of money.

If they are having Big Black Sword World as well, I won't be able to eat all of next year.

Which might not be a bad thing, come to think of it ....

I had the same problem, but I have decided I can cut out my D20 purchases (except for Conan) and just focus on RuneQuest now. In fact, I've decided to make 2007 my "conversion year." I plan to ditch D20 entirely in favor of RuneQuest as my fantasy system of choice; I've already got a game going, at long last, and I am more impressed than ever with the MRQ system; far more dynamic than I'd even realized before the campaign started....!

 

[weasel_fierce]

I had the same problem, but I have decided I can cut out my D20 purchases (except for Conan) and just focus on RuneQuest now. In fact, I've decided to make 2007 my "conversion year." I plan to ditch D20 entirely in favor of RuneQuest as my fantasy system of choice; I've already got a game going, at long last, and I am more impressed than ever with the MRQ system; far more dynamic than I'd even realized before the campaign started....!

Welcome to the other side

 

[Rurik]

I had the same problem, but I have decided I can cut out my D20 purchases (except for Conan) and just focus on RuneQuest now. In fact, I've decided to make 2007 my "conversion year." I plan to ditch D20 entirely in favor of RuneQuest as my fantasy system of choice; I've already got a game going, at long last, and I am more impressed than ever with the MRQ system; far more dynamic than I'd even realized before the campaign started....!

Welcome to the other side

Y'know, as a card carrying member of the Old Ways Traditionalist Crusty Old RQ Grognard Whiny Bitches it is moments like these that re-affirm my faith the Mongoose is indeed doing good in the world.

Welcome indeed!