Spellbook - anyone seen it yet?

[Host of Angels]

Has anyone managed to get their grubby hands on the Spellbook yet?

And if so, what's in it? Does it present a decent selection of rune magic? Does it have any handy spell lists so obviously missing from the main rulebooks?

 

[TRose]

I just seen the preview. And to be honest I really dont like what I see there. Too many direct damage spells. I hope the new spells are not going to be turning spell casters into D&D type artillery pieces. I have always like the fact magic in Runequest was more of a supplement to player characters and not the big damage dealer that it was in other games where the wizard did all the killing and everyone else job was to protect the finger waver.

 

[Shadow Queen]

No not yet, proberbly arrive on thursday when im driving for my second appointment in Newton Abbott

 

[B_Steele]

I just seen the preview. And to be honest I really dont like what I see there. Too many direct damage spells. I hope the new spells are not going to be turning spell casters into D&D type artillery pieces. I have always like the fact magic in Runequest was more of a supplement to player characters and not the big damage dealer that it was in other games where the wizard did all the killing and everyone else job was to protect the finger waver.

PLease remember that Spellbook is a Core Line book, not a Glorantha/Lankhmar/Eternal Champion book. So, yes, many of the spells in there are going to look rather generic and "D&Dish"...because with us making the RQ system OGL, we WANT people to use these books for their own games. If someone wanted to pick up RQ and run a D&D game with our rules instead of WOTC's, we want them to have that ability to do so.

So, in a way, you are very right that a few of these spells might be a little direct-damagey for a Gloranthan spellcaster, but that is up to the Glorantha Games Master to decide if they want to use them.

Just please, before judgments are passed, take to heart that I love the Glorantha setting too - I just knew that I needed this to be a Core book for the generic setting.

Hope that helps shed some Light,
Bry

 

[Rurik]

It is not like Gloranthan GM's aren't already faced with making decisions on allowed spells in their game as it is. Things like "No, Humakti can't take Resurection, no, Yelmalions can't take Beserk, and my personal favorite, no, nobody can take Skybolt." are all GM's discretion currently.

 

[Host of Angels]

So can we get an idea of what is in it? Lots of spells obviously - but the blurb mentions "new methods of magic" - like what? Go on... Give us a hint...

 

[Rurik]

So can we get an idea of what is in it? Lots of spells obviously - but the blurb mentions "new methods of magic" - like what? Go on... Give us a hint...

I beleive they are Spells that require 2 (or more in some cases?) of one type of rune to cast, and 0 Magnitude spells (which cost 1 mp but do not require a casting roll.

Hmm. It'll be interesting to see if any of the 0 Mag spells have the Resist trait - as it won't play well with the updated 'All resist spells are opposed rolls' rule.

 

[duncan_disorderly]

Just please, before judgments are passed, take to heart that I love the Glorantha setting too - I just knew that I needed this to be a Core book for the generic setting.

I'm sure we were told (it might even be in teh main rulebook) that MRQ would be a generic book with Glorantha as it's default setting. If that is the case then Mongoose have a different meaning to "Default" to the rest of the world.

While I can appreciate your desire that people use Runequest for everything I'm not sure maiking it more like D&D is really the right way to go. If people want to play D&D (And there are people who refuse to play anything else, and have been for over 20 years...) then they will play D&D. Why bother to learn any other rules when there is already a set that does "D&D Fantasy" perfectly.

Runequest would be better served by being more like Runequest - both RQ2 and RQ3 were "generic" fantasy rule sets, with Glorantha (RQ2) and Mythic Europe (RQ3) as default settings. Many people first picked up RQ because they didn't want to play D&D, and it would be nice if the new ruleset still had something to offer them.

 

[B_Steele]

Many people first picked up RQ because they didn't want to play D&D, and it would be nice if the new ruleset still had something to offer them.

I think that we all agree that our vision of RQ still offers something drastically different from D&D, but we also have to make it available to those who want a more traditional fantasy game out of their RQ too. We must think of the bigger picture, and all of the third-party publishers who are steering toward generic fantasy worlds will hopefully find a great usefulness in Spellbook, too.

It is easier as a designer to include all that you can in a core book and let the Games Masters dilute your work at the game table rather than leave it out purposefully and listen to people clamour for it. I think Spellbook is going to be a great book for most RQ people, but I am also well aware that we will never be able to 'get it right' for some out there either.

Now, if I was told to make a Spellbook:Glorantha...this would have been a DRASTICALLY different book. But I wasn't, although I have it on good faith that many Glorantha fans will be VERY pleased with some of the spells that made it into the Spellbook. Knowing the perogative of many of the Gloranthaphiles here on our forum however, I'll call it a victory if it gets a few smilies and a lukewarm reception. Just kiddin', I think most of you folks will like it for what it is.

Cheers to all,
Bry

 

[TRose]

I am going to buy it and take a wait and see attitude. Just going to have to tell my players some spells are not allowed and other are limited. Such as the Verdant spell in preview is Elf only and no they dont teach it to outsiders. I made Skybolt for Followers of Uraine only so I can do it for other spells.

 

[B_Steele]

I am going to buy it and take a wait and see attitude. Just going to have to tell my players some spells are not allowed and other are limited. Such as the Verdant spell in preview is Elf only and no they dont teach it to outsiders. I made Skybolt for Followers of Uraine only so I can do it for other spells.

Exactly. Let me know what you think once you get it, I will be interested to hear more of your 'Gloranthan Adjustments'.

Cheers,
Bry

 

[Mage]

i play the runequest rpg for the system, and am wanting in more generic runequest books. Glorantha just does not appeal to me for various reasons: its old school, limits me, too many books, not my style of fantasy. As it stands gloranthan players are spoiled with books and scenarios, while there are only a few generic runequest books that appeal to a gamer like me. Elric or hawkmoon is better for me. As it stands, if you like the spells from older books that you already have, use them, or make up your own if you are not happy. As it stands, I felt the few spells that were in the core rules did not have enough damage orientated ones.

 

[weasel_fierce]

I love Glorantha, but even if I didnt, I'd propably still have bought the two Cult books, just to get a f**kton of spells

 

[duncan_disorderly]

As it stands gloranthan players are spoiled with books and scenarios, while there are only a few generic runequest books that appeal to a gamer like me.

By my reckoning there are currently 9 Gloranthan releases including a grand total of 0 scenarios, 3 Eternal Champion releases, 2 Lankhmar and 11 generic releases (including Pirates, since it is not tied to a licence).

But the point was not that flash "D&D" like spells were not in keeping with Glorantha, but that flash "D&D" like spells are not in keeping with Runequest, which has *always* been a generic system. RQ1/2 was a generic system that provided Glorantha as an example of a "closed world" campaign, but also supported RQ Gateway products (All the Worlds monsters from Chaosium, various modules from Judges Guild) and laterly "Questworlds". RQ3 was a generic system with a default setting of "Mythic Europe" and "Daughters of Darkness..."

People who want to play D&D will do so, and are probably better served by doing so. People that don't want to play it will not be best served if every other game tries to make itself as indistinguishable as possible.

 

[soltakss]

Let's wait to see it before we start slagging it off.

 

[Shadow Queen]

mine arrived this morning

 

[soltakss]

Wayland's Forge didn't have it on their release list this morning, so it won't be in Birmingham before the 9th November.

 

[Shadow Queen]

always preorder, in it you get

New Background for PC's

new professions

spells (Obviously)

A big list Saying where the spells can be found IE: core rule book, Companion etc...

 

[Puck]

new professions

Woo Whoo! This could be nice. Although I wont see this book for a while; America seems to take a while to get stuff in.

 

[Loz]

new professions

Woo Whoo! This could be nice. Although I wont see this book for a while; America seems to take a while to get stuff in.

RQ: Land of the Samurai references the Spell Book too, indicating which spells are appropriate to which religions. I'll be doing the same with Dara Happa Stirs.