Mythic Glorantha

[Exubae]

Are there any plans to publish some Mythic background for the cults... Something to flesh out the cults (though this is probably tied to DBC suggestion of hero quests).

The Cults in Cog1 have a lot more flavour to them than the RQ3 GOG, but it would be cool to get across more of the character of each pantheon and the individual gods.

It would be cool to have a pantheon book for each...well pantheon, with Myths, quests, and cult long descriptions.

Even Pdf's would be good, help flesh out more detail.

 

[Quintus]

More detail - that's the crux. I have to tell my players to "just wing it" with many other details in this system, not just the gods. "Yelm, no, can't worship him. Only the Emperial family can...his son is cool though. Why, don't know...but they say he's cool..."

Anyone ever compare the content in the Basic book with a basic D&D book? I did last night...I really dont like the D&D system at all. Too old I guess. Played it since the little paper back books. But just for comparison purpose...

I'm a new player. I open up the Runequest Book. Ok. Characters. Ok. Skills (Check), Equipment (Check), Combat (Check), Spells (Check), DM stuff (Check), Monsters (great). But...

One of 3 (or 4?) magic systems
One playable race
One confusing combat system
One long and one very very short list of skills
One list of outdated equipment
One language (this is starting to sound like the lord of the rings...)
One ranged damage spell (disruption - how does that compare to like, magic missile, or melfs acid arrow, or fireball? and they say the sorcery is sooo strong in this world)

Did anyone ever realise that Skeletons get 6 armor points for beeing made of bones? With no skill penalty? Why? No pain? Hard Bones? What?

Yes. More detail - on basic stuff we need to play this game. See the D&D books for more details on monsters, if you cant think of any. And perhaps the Harn system for how to set up pantheons. Just a thought...

Q...

 

[Dead Blue Clown]

Are there any plans to publish some Mythic background for the cults... Something to flesh out the cults (though this is probably tied to DBC suggestion of hero quests).

The Cults in Cog1 have a lot more flavour to them than the RQ3 GOG, but it would be cool to get across more of the character of each pantheon and the individual gods.

It would be cool to have a pantheon book for each...well pantheon, with Myths, quests, and cult long descriptions.

Even Pdf's would be good, help flesh out more detail.

I think all that'd rock. Detail is a tricky thing, though. More pantheon stuff in the future? I'd bet my life on it. Remember though that they would be fantastically-specific books, and that would harm sales a bunch. RPG books don't sell all that great these days and Glorantha is no longer the industry giant it once was.

However, that said, I expect a lot more pantheon stuff in the future. It's the meat of Glorantha, easily as important as geography stuff, and there's no way it'll get sidelined. In the race-specific books, f'rex, the pantheons will get no small deal of coverage, I'll wager.

It's a great thing to write about, too. Fun as hell.

 

[Quintus]

Nice to hear. Regional books may adress that, instead of pantheon books.

As DM, I pick a region. No need to travel far. Get to know that area in-side and out. Then travel on. Regions, states, etc detailed in this manner, can be great stepping stones for new players to a system. A rough outline where it fits into the broad world scheme, and then start from the gritty bottom. People, tribes, cities, maps, temples, believes magics, interesting places, beginning sites great for adventuring starting characters, some local legends and events, and the movers and shakers. Something to make it worth playing in...we can place dungeons, towns, mosters, wherever we want. Cultures and regional flavor is where its at...what do I care what civilisation X is doing across the world? Unless you mean that lizard looking guy that moved into the cave up in the hills, with the funky tail, that tells us we are hatchlings, waiting to be reborn...what nonsense...

Q...

 

[Banned Beetle]

However, that said, I expect a lot more pantheon stuff in the future. It's the meat of Glorantha, easily as important as geography stuff, and there's no way it'll get sidelined. In the race-specific books, f'rex, the pantheons will get no small deal of coverage, I'll wager.

It's a great thing to write about, too. Fun as hell.

Maybe we'll even get to know something about aldryami and mostali too? That was something very lacking in the previous editions. I got loads of stuff about trolls (AND I LOVE IT), but even with my extensive collection, I got very little about the elves and dwarves...

Trifle.

 

[Quintus]

I was befuddled by that oversight - create a weared creature that exists, and nothing...they may as well be just regular dwarves and elves, ala Tolkien style for all that it matters...ehh? No details, no race...the Orcs, with their debased Nightsight (Goblins have Nightsight also, but dont suffer the -10%...? Why?) they sure seem like Tolkin Orcs...but their Resilience and Athletic Skill really bites. Maybee they can ride...?

Just picked up a copy of the 5 classic fantasy monsters from Seraphim Guard....very, very nice writeups. I love their descritions on Kobolds, Orcs, Goblins, Ogres and Hobgoblins...Very well done.

 

[Voriof]

However, that said, I expect a lot more pantheon stuff in the future. It's the meat of Glorantha, easily as important as geography stuff, and there's no way it'll get sidelined. In the race-specific books, f'rex, the pantheons will get no small deal of coverage, I'll wager.

It's a great thing to write about, too. Fun as hell.

Yes. Yes it is. I admit that its one of the sheer joys of Glorantha. Thoughts of future pantheon material is good to hear. Hopefully, whomever writes them knows the world. I look forward to seeing them greatly. Something with a bit more flesh to them than the tragically short treatments I used in CoG. I originally wanted to do about a dozen cults in great detail but in the end had to go with a single format as there simply was too much ground to cover - and still is.

But as you say, pantheon materal is indeed best set with race/region specific books which have the space to allow such fleshing out - and these books don't sell as well as they once did.

Jeff

 

[Voriof]

One language (this is starting to sound like the lord of the rings...)
One ranged damage spell (disruption - how does that compare to like, magic missile, or melfs acid arrow, or fireball? and they say the sorcery is sooo strong in this world)

I am not sure that you're familar with Glorantha but... the world comes with a dearth of direct damage spells. No fireball. No magic missle. The best way to kill someone with magic was always to summon up some god awful horror and sic it on your enemy.

Just sayin'.

Did anyone ever realise that Skeletons get 6 armor points for beeing made of bones? With no skill penalty? Why? No pain? Hard Bones? What?

They're dead. They don't feel pain. You're busy breaking their bones. Which, I might say, is hard to do. Its more like killing a mini terminator than a living meat-machine.

Ever seen the excellent Harryhausen animation in "Jason and the Argonauts?" That's what Gloranthan skeletons are like. Damned hard to kill without the right magic.

Yes. More detail - on basic stuff we need to play this game. See the D&D books for more details on monsters, if you cant think of any. And perhaps the Harn system for how to set up pantheons. Just a thought...

Q...

This is sarcasm, right? You can't possibly be serious. Right? TThis is a joke, right? Or is this some trolling? Pity as Gloranthan trolls are pretty damned cool.

You do know where the guys at Columbia Games got their ideas for Pantheons, right? It was on a place called Glorantha - of which at least one of their authors was very fond.

As to details on monsters... someone get this man a copy of Troll Pack and the charles roberts awards it came with :roll: Its ironic to note how much like RQ D&D 3.0+ became - you might want to ask Monty Cooke about his inspirations. RuneQuest is very much one of them.

I'd say more but I'm too busy writing more cults, sorry. :roll:

Jeff

 

[ninthcouncil]

[As to details on monsters... someone get this man a copy of Troll Pack and the charles roberts awards it came with :roll:

I think if you gave him a copy of Trollpak he'd come back 15 minutes later and complain that there was too much fluff, before launching into a tirade about wanting more detail. Then he'd generate a Mistress Race character and get upset that she'd kicked the other players' butts, and how that was so unbalanced. :wink: