MRQ2 Elric > Wayfarer questions.

[danskmacabre]

I know I asked this question in another thread, but I think it warrants a thread of it's own, as I don't play/Run Glorantha and am not really that interested in it.

I'm a Big Elric/Stormbringer fan tho and I've been running it since the 80s.

Now I've recently bought the following material:

MRQ2 Core rules
Elric MRQ2
Elric MRQ2 GM screen
Elric: MRQ2 Cities of the young kingdoms

I got all this to replace/update all the Elric MRQ1 material, of which I bought just about all Elric related books from Mongoose.

NOW there's going to be a NEW version of MRQ called "Wayfarer".
I AM aware that it's been stated Wayfarer and MRQ2 will be 100% compatible.
I have also read that Gloranthan references will be removed from the new Wayfarer Core sules that will replace the MRQ2 core rules.

First question:
Is there going to be content in the Wayfarer core rules that is NOT in the MRQ2 core rules?
If so what sort of content? are we talking more generic races will be added maybe?

Second question:
It's my understanding that new Wayfarer/Elric rules will be released.
Is there going to be content in the new Elric/Wayfarer rules that ISN'T in the Elric/MRQ2 rules?
Or is it simply all the MRQ2 words in there are going to be changed to "Wayfarer" and the Errata being updated?

Third Question: What is the future for Elric and Wayfarer anyway?


Fourth question:

“RuneQuest has been an adventure in publishing fantasy, but we can only seek so much treasure at once. It is clear to us that Traveller, miniatures and our future board and card games are our strong suits. We’ll now channel more resources in these directions.”

This sounds like Mongoose is moving away somewhat from the RQ/Wayfarer system.
Will "Wayfarer" be getting less attention than MRQ2 did?

 

[DamonJynx]

Mate, we'll have to wait and see. I'm not spending any more money until I know for sure the direction this is all going. As you point out, Matt seems to be giving mixed messages.

Regardless, I'll still be using the rules I have and will home-brew if I have too.

 

[master of reality]

Thanks danskmacabre for starting this thread. Since the announcement that Mongoose will stop publishing Glorantha stuff, I've decided to focus on the Elric setting. I like Glorantha Second Age, but it never seemed to interest the other guys in my RuneQuest group. One of them is a huge Elric fan, and owns most of the Elric MRQ1 stuff. I've had my eye on the MRQ2 Elric stuff. All of us have read the Elric books. I'm on the verge of ordering all the Elric books, plus a few extra copies of the Elric Core book to distribute to my gaming group. Matt says that the only thing that will change is that RuneQuest will now be called "Wayfarer", but Mongoose plans to publish a Wayfarer edition of Elric. So I have the same questions. I also wonder how the Wayfarer Elric books will look. Will they be hard cover in the same size as the current books? I'll probably just buy the current Elric books. They look nice and they're compatible with MRQ2.

 

[danskmacabre]

Mate, we'll have to wait and see. I'm not spending any more money until I know for sure the direction this is all going. As you point out, Matt seems to be giving mixed messages.

Regardless, I'll still be using the rules I have and will home-brew if I have too.

Yes it's not like the rules I have are gonna suddenly disappear and not work anymore.
But I am concerned that the reissue of Elric and MRQ2 > Wayfarer will have SOME changes, as it sounds like stuff is going to be removed, so it might be replaced with more content.
That being the case, I'm going to feel like I've invested in MRQ2/Elric only to yet again will need to buy more Core books less than a year later..

Anyway, like you say let's see what happens and what is said.

 

[danskmacabre]

One of them is a huge Elric fan, and owns most of the Elric MRQ1 stuff. I've had my eye on the MRQ2 Elric stuff. All of us have read the Elric books. I'm on the verge of ordering all the Elric books, plus a few extra copies of the Elric Core book to distribute to my gaming group.

It probably is worth buying up the MRQ2 versions, especially if they're going on sale to make way for the Wayfarer versions.
There's nothing wrong with MRQ2, actually I really like it. But it's nice to have the Glorantha content, even if it's just for the extra monsters, which may be taken out in a Wayfarer version.

Matt says that the only thing that will change is that RuneQuest will now be called "Wayfarer", but Mongoose plans to publish a Wayfarer edition of Elric. So I have the same questions. I also wonder how the Wayfarer Elric books will look. Will they be hard cover in the same size as the current books? I'll probably just buy the current Elric books. They look nice and they're compatible with MRQ2.

I think the new versions will have cheaper covers. A shame tho, I love the leather covers.
The odds are I'll end up getting the Wayfarer edition of Runequest and Elric anyway at some stage. Roleplaying games are a cheap hobby. So a purchase of a couple of books later this year isn't exactly gonna break me.

 

[danskmacabre]

I just read on the rpg.net forums that someone from Mongoose said any changes between MRQ2 and Wayfarer will be posted online publically.
Let's hope the same goes for the Wayfarer/Elric RPG.

If this is all true, it's not so annoying.

 

[mwsasser]

I know a lot of people are upset about it but I think it's a good thing. People newer to RQ aren't as interested in Glorantha. But we do like the new settings.

To be honest I'm now considering how to design part of my homebrew gameworld into a classic fantasy setting for "wayfinder."

 

[Ultor]

My honest feeling is that unless Wayfarer goes OGL, I don't think it'll succeed.

Great systems die unless there are ongoing examples of how to use them, and I think there's enough interest that people will provide those without Mongoose taking the risk on them. Given what Matt has said about concentrating on Traveller and miniatures, and the loss of the writers to Moon Design, I think OGL is this product's only chance to succeed.

 

[danskmacabre]

Making it OGL would be really nice.
I bought most of the Pathfinder books even though all the content is available online.
A few other other players in my gaming group bought some of the books as well, so that model DOES work.

I have plenty of content now anyway to happily run an Elric campaign.
whilst it would have been nice to see more source material for the YK, I do wonder if this is going to happen what with Losing Loz and Pete.

Still with this new Fanzine coming out and S&P as well, there may well be no shortage of new material.

Speaking of which, How's that going Ultor? Wasn't it you who was trying to kick something off with a Fanzine?

 

[The Dan]

At the risk of stating the obvious, Wayfarer will live or die by the support of its fans. These days, I think that internet resources (especially access to free online content) is a big part of that: Getting 'it' out there in the blogsphere, websites, and yes, wikis and system reference documents et al. Speaking as someone who's run and written for both D&D 3.5/Pathfinder, and 4e for example, I know for sure which set of online material feels most inclusive and useful, and although OGLs are relatively old news these days, there's still always a healthily customer-attracting buzz of interest for them (exactly when a new system needs). maximum online content is better in my view: The more people we can drag into the Young Kingdoms or a home-grown Wayfarer world the better. Like a lot of people in my gaming circle, I was never a Glorantha fan, so that's no big loss to me (although I did love the 'Mythic Earth' setting included in what was then called "Runequest 3" UI think, back in the day).

Like other systems I can technically get access to for free (RISUS or FUDGE, for example) having a free look at a good game generally makes me more inclined to pay for the shiny-wrapping paper dead tree version. I view it as good free advertising.

 

[DamonJynx]

Still with this new Fanzine coming out and S&P as well, there may well be no shortage of new material.

I'm working on article for S&P for Elric. I believe others are also. I'm also playing around with a homebrew Eternal Champion setting using the guidelines in the Elric core book. Regardless of whether or not Mongoose or whoever (if the system goes OGL) publish any of this work, it is not that difficult to distribute our own IP via PDF's etc. I'm quite sure fansites, blogs etc will keep the dreams alive.

Regarding your comments about the changes to the "Wayfarer" name;

• 
  Obviously any reference to Runequest will be replaced with "Wayfarer"
  All references to Glorantha will have to be removed including Glorantha specific creatures - which is a bit of a shame, as Broo in particular are a great example of a Moorcockian Chaos warped being.
  There should be no other changes to the Elric books per se as they have nothing to do with Glorantha.

I feel confident that with the fan base out there for the Elric/Stormbringer games published by Chaosium and Mongoose, the changes being brought about will have minimum impact on support material, other than the fact that such support material may be indie published, rather than published by a recognised company.

 

[master of reality]

I just took the plunge, ordering 4 copies of the Elric core rules, one copy of Cults of the Young Kingdoms, one copy of Cities of the Young Kingdom, and the GM screen. I'm committed to the Elric setting now.

Hopefully Mongoose will continue to support Elric with campaigns and scenarios. I wanted to buy the Elric books while they were still available in the larger size with a hard cover for the core book. I don't mind if adventures are published in the new 5.5 by 8.0 format, though if Mongoose does switch to the new format for Elric, I'd just as soon purchase new material as a pdf. Whether scenarios are published with fancy covers is not that important to me, but I really wanted a hard back copy of the core rules.

 

[HalfOrc HalfBiscuit]

All references to Glorantha will have to be removed including Glorantha specific creatures - which is a bit of a shame, as Broo in particular are a great example of a Moorcockian Chaos warped being.

So just call them Chaos Beastmen (or something more imaginative).

 

[DamonJynx]

All references to Glorantha will have to be removed including Glorantha specific creatures - which is a bit of a shame, as Broo in particular are a great example of a Moorcockian Chaos warped being.

So just call them Chaos Beastmen (or something more imaginative).

I think that's imaginative enough. Moorcock doesn't actually give them any better name unless it's something like Chaos spawn. There might be some issue with Chaos Beastmen in relation to WFRP.

 

[duncan_disorderly]

All references to Glorantha will have to be removed including Glorantha specific creatures - which is a bit of a shame, as Broo in particular are a great example of a Moorcockian Chaos warped being.

So just call them Chaos Beastmen (or something more imaginative).

I think that's imaginative enough. Moorcock doesn't actually give them any better name unless it's something like Chaos spawn. There might be some issue with Chaos Beastmen in relation to WFRP.

...Who, of course just renamed their Broo "Chaos Beastmen" when they stopped licensing other systems/settings to concentrate on Warhammer...

 

[danskmacabre]

I'm most likely going to stick with Elric MRQ2 and the core MRQ2 books for the foreseeable future.
I just don't see any point in buying Wayfarer really if it's the same as MRQ2 in everything but name.
I just bought "Empires" and "Necromatic Arts" today.
So of the core books all that I don't have is "Vikings" which I might not bother with, since I have MRQ2 primarily for the Elric RPG.
Plus "Arms and equipment" which I might get as it's so cheap, but not in any rush as apparently it has loads of errors.
All this will keep me going for ages.
I may well buy Wayfarer one day on an impulse buy maybe if I see it somewhere some time in the future. But I don't need it really.
I'm not really convinced Wayfarer is even going to happen, but I would love to be proven wrong.

The Elric Core rules is in desperate need of an Errata though.
Wasn't there a thread for this posted somewhere?
I might have to carefully trawl though the Elric core rules and point out what I think are errors.

I noticed a funny error in Cities of the south. The prices of goods mention Copper pieces, even though Copper pieces are supposed to be BRONZE pieces in the Young Kingdoms!

Anyway I look forward to more official Elric material, but if it doesn't happen I think there's enough fans out there to keep it going.

 

[languagegeek]

So of the core books all that I don't have is "Vikings" which I might not bother with, since I have MRQ2 primarily for the Elric RPG.

I think Vikings is the best historical supplement period. I am using the magic systems in Vikings for a completely non-historic campaign. Just buy it You won't regret it.

Plus "Arms and equipment" which I might get as it's so cheap, but not in any rush as apparently it has loads of errors.

A&E has errata out which has complete weapon/armour tables so just use those instead of what's in the book and it's fine really. Also, A&E has the item enchantment rules which are very useful.

 

[danskmacabre]

I think Vikings is the best historical supplement period. I am using the magic systems in Vikings for a completely non-historic campaign. Just buy it You won't regret it.

Sounds interesting, I might get it if it's going cheap somewhere.

A&E has errata out which has complete weapon/armour tables so just use those instead of what's in the book and it's fine really. Also, A&E has the item enchantment rules which are very useful.

OK the enchantment rules might be nice. It's going cheap as well on the Mongoose store, so it might be worth getting at some stage.

 

[DamonJynx]

...Who, of course just renamed their Broo "Chaos Beastmen" when they stopped licensing other systems/settings to concentrate on Warhammer...

Quite so...

Anyone notice on 2nd Ed WFRP the Chaos symbol in the top right corner of every page...

 

[master of reality]

I'm most likely going to stick with Elric MRQ2 and the core MRQ2 books for the foreseeable future.
I just don't see any point in buying Wayfarer really if it's the same as MRQ2 in everything but name.
I just bought "Empires" and "Necromatic Arts" today.
So of the core books all that I don't have is "Vikings" which I might not bother with, since I have MRQ2 primarily for the Elric RPG.
Plus "Arms and equipment" which I might get as it's so cheap, but not in any rush as apparently it has loads of errors.
All this will keep me going for ages.
I may well buy Wayfarer one day on an impulse buy maybe if I see it somewhere some time in the future. But I don't need it really.
I'm not really convinced Wayfarer is even going to happen, but I would love to be proven wrong.

Anyway I look forward to more official Elric material, but if it doesn't happen I think there's enough fans out there to keep it going.

I completely agree. I'm still waiting for my Elric books to arrive, but between the Elric core book, Cults of the Young Kingdoms, and Cities of the Young Kingdoms, I'm sure there's enough information in those books to properly flesh out my Elric setting, and I'm perfectly happy with the rules as given in my RuneQuest 2 core book.
I will undoubtedly buy any new supplements or scenarios published under the Wayfarer name, but I will not replace any of the stuff I own now with the Wayfarer version. I might buy the Wayfarer core book as a pdf, just so I can read a version of the rules without any reference to runes. I currently don't pay much attention to runes anyways. When a character casts a spell, I'm really only interested in the percent chance of success, the magnitude, range, etc. The rune associated with that spell never really enters my mind.