Runequest Compendium V1 - contents?

[Kadath]

So I've been looking around trying to discover what is in the MRQ2 Compendium V1. I Haven't established anything outside of the very short blurb that ends 'and rules for getting drunk."

I can't even find any reviews on rpg.net or similar sites.

Anyone have any idea what's in this book or whether or not its of use for a non-glorantha game? At 96pgs. I can't imagine there being much in there.

 

[ThatGuy]

I found the contents surprisingly awesome.

Drunk rules, yes (and good ones)

But the part that floored me were the extensive rules- and detailed description of various- traps.

I have almost every S&P with anything RQ related in them, and somehow this (very good) chapter slipped past me.

There are some other goodies in there as well- extra elementals, and some other stuff (I'm not in front of the book at the moment). I will give a (very brief) run down when I get back to 'em.

Honestly, I've been very impressed with the RQ line of late. I got the core and Monster coliseum and was really excited. Then I got A&E and Necro, and while I liked the ideas in the books, the poor editing made me pause for a moment. But recently, in support of a game I run I picked up the compendium, Vikings, Empires and Pavis. Someone was listening. All of the books are great. Like...really great. Usable stuff in all of them. Guilds and Factions stuff in Empires, as well as a very cool "Reknown" skill/mechanic. Usable even if you aren't playing and "Empire vs. Empire" game. Vikings was just drop dead AWESOME- and I was skeptical- I only bought it because Pete Nash spotted me Viking Rnd Sheild stats when he didn't have to. Boy did he do me a favor. The second one better than the first. That Vikings book has some GREAT stuff in it- usable, again, even if you aren't running a Vikings campaign/game. The Compendium and Pavis are the same. I have to say, I've been very impressed. I'm hooked and convinced once again.

 

[kurgan84]

Compendium previews

Contents
Introduction 2
A job well done 3
Additional humanoids 6
Alternative elementals 8
Camel spiders 17
Cutting edge 19
Down the hatch! 21
Druids 29
Gloranthan goodies 34
Go for the eyes 39
Legendary swords 46
Lesser known fauna and flora 50
Living magic 54
Lock and ward 58
Loot 81
Plunder of the ducks 86
The serpentine hive 92

 

[languagegeek]

Having not played earlier versions of RQ, am I to assume that instances of "Dodge" in the Compendium 1 refer to evade?

 

[Loz]

Having not played earlier versions of RQ, am I to assume that instances of "Dodge" in the Compendium 1 refer to evade?

Yes.

 

[Vagni]

I did a brief review a while back. here it is again:

I received my copy of RQ Compendium Volume 1 yesterday. I've not read it fully yet but it looks pretty good. Its a slim, neatly bound 96 page volume with a dragon on the cover.

Here's a list of contents:
Introduction
A Job Well Done - alternative rewards for PC's, potions, orders of merit etc.
Additional Humanoids - the Farseer giant
Alternative Elementals - different elementals; time, energy. matter, emotion etc.
Camel Spiders - dangerous desert creature...in the desert no one can hear you scream...
Cutting Edge - combat styles, military schools etc.
Down the Hatch! - drinking rules, mainly non-Gloranthan but does contain Uz drinks. Pint of Powzie anyone?
Druids - very interesting druid background and some new spells, potions etc.
Glorantha Goodies - speaks for its self, not all are magical and some are usable in a non-Glortanthan setting
Go for the Eyes - eye related fantasy monsters, some great ideas for my Dorastor campaign
Legendary Swords - 'historical' weapons from legend; Tyrfing, Excalibur etc.
Lesser Known Fauna and Flora - more animal and plant critters
Living Magic - interesting article on 'live' magic items that can influence their owners behaviour
Lock and Ward - thieves equipment and security counter measures
Loot - interesting article on treasure and some random tables for pickpocketing etc.
Plunder of the Ducks - Gloranthan duck items of legend
The Serpentine Hive - an order of intelligent snakes who are enemies of all lesser reptiles

All the articles seem to have had RQII editing tweaks as promised in the introduction.

I'd happily buy the RQ Compendium 2 when it arrives, its nice to have them all updated and in one book to save time printing them from S&P.

Hope that helps.