Whilst it is disappointing that Mongoose will no longer be publishing "Runequest and Glorantha" products, it is very encouraging to see they will be supporting their fantasy RPG's with the re-badged Runequest-Wayfarer product line.
However, these kinds of changes, regardless of publishers, are IMO the catalyst for illegal downloading. I'm not suggesting or condoning this, but I understand why people do it.
As an example:
In approx 2001/2002 I spent a couple of hundred bucks on D&D V3.0. The only group I found locally were playing 2nd ED.
In about 2004 we started playing V3.0 but then V3.5 came out. So long to several hundred dollars on new rules and settings books. Then 4 years or whatever later, D&D 4.0 comes out. Another hundred bucks or so for the three core books + a couple of setting books. Then the errata, the never ending changes...
As a result of WoTC constant tinkering we decided to look for other systems to play. I wasn't going to pay $30-60 for rulebooks I wasn't sure my gaming group would want to play, so what are the options? I don't have a lot of disposable income and I can't afford to waste it on books I may never use. Then I discovered Runequest and I thought my prayers were answered, apparently not.
Now the same kind of thing is happening with the Runequest rules. I fully support Mongooses decision to republish the rules in the less expensive format, but it wasn't a long period between their revisions of RQ and now this has happened, so there will yet another revision a year or two later.
Makes you wonder what's going to happen in the future...
However, these kinds of changes, regardless of publishers, are IMO the catalyst for illegal downloading. I'm not suggesting or condoning this, but I understand why people do it.
As an example:
In approx 2001/2002 I spent a couple of hundred bucks on D&D V3.0. The only group I found locally were playing 2nd ED.
In about 2004 we started playing V3.0 but then V3.5 came out. So long to several hundred dollars on new rules and settings books. Then 4 years or whatever later, D&D 4.0 comes out. Another hundred bucks or so for the three core books + a couple of setting books. Then the errata, the never ending changes...
As a result of WoTC constant tinkering we decided to look for other systems to play. I wasn't going to pay $30-60 for rulebooks I wasn't sure my gaming group would want to play, so what are the options? I don't have a lot of disposable income and I can't afford to waste it on books I may never use. Then I discovered Runequest and I thought my prayers were answered, apparently not.
Now the same kind of thing is happening with the Runequest rules. I fully support Mongooses decision to republish the rules in the less expensive format, but it wasn't a long period between their revisions of RQ and now this has happened, so there will yet another revision a year or two later.
Makes you wonder what's going to happen in the future...
I wasn't attracted to 'Runequest II' for the name (or the history that I knew almost nothing off) but for the ruleset. Still, it is a bit homely.