Ok, what exactly are these SRDs that can be seen on the main site. They seem to have the rules listed in the books, so why buy th books? Now, I am not particularly adept at computers, and there is probably seomthing blatantly obvious that I am missing here, so could someone please explain this to me?
Questoin on the SRDs
- Thread starter Mage
- Start date
sidkfjjteidlkkf
Mongoose
As far as I know, SRD's are basically that which is concidered Open License Content. IT DOES NOT contain the whole book. Though alot of it is in there, it is NOT a substitute for the books.
However, one can make a character from the SRD's.
However, one can make a character from the SRD's.
Mage said:
Because it is just plain wrong to download the SRD and use it for free if you actually plan on running the game.
I highly reccomend the wonderfully formatted (and bookmarked!)combined Core and Companion SRD PDF from the wiki here.
And don't forget Monsters, similarly formatted.
Honestly though, there is missing information in the SRD's. The Monsters SRD has no actual monster descriptions other then the necessary rules. The core nor Companion SRD's have no explanation or other descriptive text, and little things missing in the SRD's pop up from time to time.
I'd say it is easier to pick up the game from the full Core Rules(unfortunately the combat text and examples may be more confusing than the straight SRD), so that is definately worth purchasing if you plan on running the game. Monsters has the (color) pictures and descriptions, so that is also good to purchase. I would say the Companion is the book you can most get by on with the SRD alone.
Hopefully soon there will be some kind of combined Core/Companion with errata built in.
The SRD's do look fairly playable, I think that they are by far the most complete SRD I have ever seen. This is to Mongoose's credit, a full game is available for development purposes. They do however contain the trap of not being entirely (IMO) up to date, having not seen the full book I don't know if it is either. A bigger issue is that the full rules are being drip fed over a series of books. The SRD is no where near a complete game because the basic books are not either. (edit) Rurik makes a good point, use the pdf SRD from MRQwiki. (edit)
I will say that I wouldn't play this game of the SRD alone, I would also heavily employ this forum. What you want are all the current or newish posts on houserules. One that springs to mind right away is an alternative way to handle armour skill penalties. You should also check out the clarifications on the "one roll" v "two roll" combat systems. Since you will need a few books, a better question for you to search for might be "what books do I need" rather than "can I just use the SRD"
My experience with the SRD and all the debate over the rules made me a little wary of buying the full version. However, it should be said that I wanted a better RQ than RQ III. This is hardly something everyone would care about.
Reading endless design and debate threads (and articles) over RQ like
systems, I no longer have much faith that what I want is going to spontaneously emerge. MRQ might well be a good game (and I certainly don't buy the line that it is too much like D&D) but I am not sure if I want to put all the books together and combine all the houserules and clarifications to get it. Good game design principles are fairly available on the net so I am just makeing my own set for now. If you like to tinker like I do, then the SRD is not a bad way to go.
For an example of a complete "homebrew" game made by someone else try looking for "GORE" on these forums or the net.
(Edits for mistypes)
I will say that I wouldn't play this game of the SRD alone, I would also heavily employ this forum. What you want are all the current or newish posts on houserules. One that springs to mind right away is an alternative way to handle armour skill penalties. You should also check out the clarifications on the "one roll" v "two roll" combat systems. Since you will need a few books, a better question for you to search for might be "what books do I need" rather than "can I just use the SRD"
My experience with the SRD and all the debate over the rules made me a little wary of buying the full version. However, it should be said that I wanted a better RQ than RQ III. This is hardly something everyone would care about.
Reading endless design and debate threads (and articles) over RQ like
systems, I no longer have much faith that what I want is going to spontaneously emerge. MRQ might well be a good game (and I certainly don't buy the line that it is too much like D&D) but I am not sure if I want to put all the books together and combine all the houserules and clarifications to get it. Good game design principles are fairly available on the net so I am just makeing my own set for now. If you like to tinker like I do, then the SRD is not a bad way to go.
For an example of a complete "homebrew" game made by someone else try looking for "GORE" on these forums or the net.
(Edits for mistypes)
weasel_fierce
Mongoose
Its no more wrong to use the SRD than it is to borrow your mates book. Mongoose has made the basic stuff available free, which is awesome. Made me buy their books to get the rest 
Ok, I understand now. I had no idea what an SRD was, and thanks for explaining. The books are useful, but I cannot afford all them. I have bought monsters and the core rules, and I would recomend people to buy them rather than use the SRDs, unless they are waiting on an order.
The only thing I wanted to use was the additional cultural backgrounds and professoins found in companion, which I am not going to buy a full book for to just use a few pages of material.
I agree, the SRDs are no substitute for actual books, I love the art in the monster book, and to be honest it is just a balls to print out all the SRDs and bind them as it is too unwieldy.
If i like more of the material from the SRD, this means I have to use it in more games, which means I need it in a better format, and maybe then I will buy the companion, but I see no need for it now.
I do however plan on getting the dragonewt book, maybe Blood of Orlanth, and possibly the Glorantha book, not sure yet.
The only thing I wanted to use was the additional cultural backgrounds and professoins found in companion, which I am not going to buy a full book for to just use a few pages of material.
I agree, the SRDs are no substitute for actual books, I love the art in the monster book, and to be honest it is just a balls to print out all the SRDs and bind them as it is too unwieldy.
If i like more of the material from the SRD, this means I have to use it in more games, which means I need it in a better format, and maybe then I will buy the companion, but I see no need for it now.
I do however plan on getting the dragonewt book, maybe Blood of Orlanth, and possibly the Glorantha book, not sure yet.
weasel_fierce said:Its no more wrong to use the SRD than it is to borrow your mates book. Mongoose has made the basic stuff available free, which is awesome. Made me buy their books to get the rest
I was saying it was wrong to download and use the Mongoose SRD for free when you should be downloading and using the much better presented ones on the mr. qwiki for free. :wink:
weasel_fierce
Mongoose
ahh, I gotcha
I admit it - I'm shameless. :lol: I am buying as much of the Mongoose published literature as I believe I need (MRQ, Companion, G2A, Cults 1 & 2, Arms and Armour, PGG, Uz, Magic, with CC on order and Aldryami on the horizon) but am houseruling using the SRD's. Fundamentally this is because I am incorporating the (IMO) best ideas I find here, and making others up as they develop. The less complete SRD versions seem more appropriate for this type of wholesale reconstuction.
Just a thought!
Just a thought!
RosenMcStern
Mongoose
The companion is mandatory in almost all game settings, as it contains the two other magic systems and the enchantment rules. Without it you cannot play a God Learner, for instance, and you do not know what enhanced and magic items a player character has available. Any magician, even a rune magic user, that is played without the rules in the Companion will be greatly underpowered.
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