Runequest/Glorantha newb

[Eisenmann]

Hi guys.

I'm a complete Runequest/Glorantha newbie and know little to nothing about the system or the setting. I've got the core book on order at my FLGS. Till I get my mitts on it, can you all tell me a bit about it? Any good links to general Runequest info on the 'net? I looked but my RQ-related google-fu is weak and much of what I've found has been sketchy.

Thanks!

 

[Shadow Queen]

Im a nwbe too the charicter creation is simple and quick i read in on friday and think im gonna love it

 

[King Amenjar]

For specifically Gloranthan stuff take a look at http://www.glorantha.com/new/ but really, RQ for me is about an alternative rules system.
It's more down to earth than many. Have you ever played D&D and got the impression your character is defined mainly by his or her magic items rather than ability? If so, you'll probably quite like RuneQuest.

 

[Eisenmann]

For specifically Gloranthan stuff take a look at http://www.glorantha.com/new/ but really, RQ for me is about an alternative rules system. It's more down to earth than many. Have you ever played D&D and got the impression your character is defined mainly by his or her magic items rather than ability? If so, you'll probably quite like RuneQuest.

Thanks for the link King Amenjar. And I know exactly what you mean about being defined by magic items.

 

[Shadow Queen]

I have a D&D ninja that people wont play with nevermind.

 

[atgxtg]

Much of what you found might not also appoly. This is a new edtion of the game, and all the info on RQ you can gogole related to ealier editions of the game, and may not be applicable to the Mongoose edtion.

What games are you familar with? THat is probably the best way to describe what RQ is like.

Genally, the big differences between it and, say D&D:


1) Characters do don't have level or gain XP, but instead improve thier skill scores and use them in play. FOr example, rather than going up a level and adding one to your attack rolls, a character in RQ would actually work on improving his weapon skill scores.

2)Weapon damage is signficiant, with a good solid blow capable of crippling or killing a man. Hit Points do not increase, at least not often, but the character can prevent damage by wearing armor or taking some sort of defensive action, like blocking an attack with a shield.

3) Dead is ususally a permanent condtion. Rasing the dead is possible, but generally rare, and not particularly easy-- So dead characters generally stay that way.

 

[Enpeze]

Hi guys.

I'm a complete Runequest/Glorantha newbie and know little to nothing about the system or the setting. I've got the core book on order at my FLGS. Till I get my mitts on it, can you all tell me a bit about it? Any good links to general Runequest info on the 'net? I looked but my RQ-related google-fu is weak and much of what I've found has been sketchy.

Thanks!

maybe you want to try these:
http://www.maranci.net/rq.htm
http://www.runequest.za.org/
http://www.basicrps.com/
http://www.glorantha.info/
http://www.chaosium.com
http://tavern.zunder.org.uk/tav/viewforum.php?f=7&sid=b9b84ab0522f2c9bcc843b44eb5a8674&PHPSESSID=a3ce27d06cdfdc9cc4d26943bc719c01

much fun with RQ. BRP is also very recommendable.

 

[Urox]

Glorantha is one of the most detailed fantasy worlds ever created for an RPG, and has been featured in various board games, rgps and computer games for 30 years now.

Previous editions of RQ (and HeroQuest) were set in the Third Age, but the Mongoose suppliments are going to introduce a new time period, the Second Age, which is set approximately 700 years prior to the previous material.

 

[Enpeze]

Glorantha is one of the most detailed fantasy worlds ever created for an RPG, and has been featured in various board games, rgps and computer games for 30 years now.

Previous editions of RQ (and HeroQuest) were set in the Third Age, but the Mongoose suppliments are going to introduce a new time period, the Second Age, which is set approximately 700 years prior to the previous material.

And Glorantha is the paradise for fans of birds and dinosaurs.

 

[soltakss]

Hi guys.

I'm a complete Runequest/Glorantha newbie and know little to nothing about the system or the setting. I've got the core book on order at my FLGS. Till I get my mitts on it, can you all tell me a bit about it? Any good links to general Runequest info on the 'net? I looked but my RQ-related google-fu is weak and much of what I've found has been sketchy.

Thanks!

There's an awful amount of general Gloranthan background on the web. It'd take weeks to plough through it all. There's also a load of supplements for old RQ around as well, which all contain good information.

However, I'd take it easy, play in the new Second Age Glorantha, possibly get the new supplements and see if you like Glorantha, not everyone does (although I don#t really understand why). If you like Glorantha and want to find out more, then try the following sites:

http://www.glorantha.com/tribes/links.php
http://www.glorantha.com
http://www.soltakss.com/index.html
http://lokarnos.com/

But some of them may be a bit heavy-going, except for my site, of course, that's a delight to read

 

[Crom's kid brother]

Hi guys.

I'm a complete Runequest/Glorantha newbie and know little to nothing about the system or the setting. I've got the core book on order at my FLGS. Till I get my mitts on it, can you all tell me a bit about it? Any good links to general Runequest info on the 'net? I looked but my RQ-related google-fu is weak and much of what I've found has been sketchy.

Thanks!

There's an awful amount of general Gloranthan background on the web. It'd take weeks to plough through it all. There's also a load of supplements for old RQ around as well, which all contain good information.

However, I'd take it easy, play in the new Second Age Glorantha, possibly get the new supplements and see if you like Glorantha, not everyone does (although I don#t really understand why). If you like Glorantha and want to find out more, then try the following sites:

http://www.glorantha.com/tribes/links.php
http://www.glorantha.com
http://www.soltakss.com/index.html
http://lokarnos.com/

But some of them may be a bit heavy-going, except for my site, of course, that's a delight to read

I like it so far, I am sort of a newbie as well, I just think the beastriders are silly.

 

[RMS]

I like it so far, I am sort of a newbie as well, I just think the beastriders are silly.

I did at first too, but they grew on me over time. Tie them in with the mythcial reason for them and it feels right. A lot of Glorantha is that way. It seems silly on the first pass, but after looking farther it seems more reasonable in the logic of the setting. Lots of it is still silly, in a good way, though. It'd be boring if it was too serious!

 

[atgxtg]

Yes the setting is mythical rather than scientific. THings like eople jumping over the moon (where there is one) are impossible and absurd to a modern person, but seem quite sensible to someone in a bronze ange culture like Ancient Greece or Glorantha.

For instance, it doesn't make much sense for a Witch to go to the trouble of making a livable house of of gingerbread and place in smack in the middle of a forest just to catch and eat children. But to the people who wrote such stuff and listened to it, it made sense just because Witches were "mean an evil and did bad things for no reason other than to do bad things".


P.S>> I'm not trying to tick of any Wiccans with this, just using a faery tale and an example of the nature of Glorantha.

 

[soltakss]

I like it so far, I am sort of a newbie as well, I just think the beastriders are silly.

I'd have thought ducks and baboons are sillier.

They ride buffalo and camels in Asia, reindeer in Siberia and horses everywhere else, so most of them are similar to Real World people. Nobody in the real world rides rhinos, though, which is a shame, really.

 

[GbajiTheDeceiver]

The beastriders are cool, and there's a sensible mythically grounded reason for them (remembering that myth is real in Glorantha). There's also the connected story of the Morokanth, who allegedly cheated in the contest where this was decided, and ended up herding and eating humans.

Another cool thing is that Trolls aren't your generic "bad guy" race, and Elves aren't your generic "good guy" race. Both have their own motivations, which may or may not coincide with those of humans. It's perfectly possible to have the equivalent of a Troll Paladin or an Elf brigand. (Ironically, this actually brings Gloranthan Elves closer to Tolkiens - at least those of his First Age tales. Feanor or Eol would fit in reasonably well in Glorantha.)

For a good feel of one way both RQ and Glorantha work, I can't recommend Jeff Okamoto's campaign log highly enough. http://www.seiyuu.com/okamoto/writing/campaign_log_2_0.pdf

It's a long read, but well worth it.

 

[Eisenmann]

I've never played D20 D&D but played plenty of 2nd edition. I'm a Burning Wheel fan and have to say up front that I love it but sometimes I just wanna run a game that isn't quite so heavy. Can RQ do that for me?

 

[atgxtg]

I've never played D20 D&D but played plenty of 2nd edition. I'm a Burning Wheel fan and have to say up front that I love it but sometimes I just wanna run a game that isn't quite so heavy. Can RQ do that for me?

Oh yeah. That it can do. The core rules are rather light. Some might say skimpy. There also isn't a much to worry about with "stacking" Practically everything stacks with the exception of a couple of spells that are incopatible. Things like your sword can be under a bladesharp and a dullblade at the same time.

With no classes and a skill based system you don't have to go looking up special class abilties and such.