What to get, what to get?

[Nagisawa]

I've come into a bit of well, Christmas Gift in the form of one RPG book up to a certain value.

Now, I like the Runequest stuff, and so I wanted to get one of the later books.

I have to original core book, and I have the SRD for the companion, and assuming the next year goes well, I'll have a chance at picking up the Deluxe edition. So that's out.

And so I've taken a look at what's available, and I've managed to narrow it down to Legendary Heroes or Arms & Equipment.

And so my question is thus:

Which is better?

 

[TRose]

I would go for Arms and Equipment and get Legendary Heroes later. Arms and Equipment has stuff that can be used for starting , mid level , and Rune level players while Legendary Heroes is more for end game , although there some stuff that can be used earlier.

 

[Nagisawa]

Good point...

Still, could I get a break down of what to expect in either books?

Starting with Arms & Equipment, please?

 

[sidkfjjteidlkkf]

I would start off with the Companion book, as the SRD does not have all the information. Then, the monster book, then Legendary Heroes, then finally Arms and Equipment. Of course, if you get Deluxe, you get teh monster book, core book, and the companion.

If I had to pick three books in order, including ones to be released, I would go with deluxe, Legendary Heroes, and GM Guide.

As far as the book go:

Arms & Equipment: Various rules, new armor, weapons, and equipment, as well as old stuff.

Legendary Heroes: Great book, covers lots of stuff, mostly dealing with New Legendary abilities.

 

[Rurik]

I'd skip the Companion. Of the three SRDs it is the one you can get by on without the supporting text better than the others. Plus, buying the Companion and Monsters seperately costs more than Deluxe, so just go right for Deluxe over buying any book seperately (unless you really want monsters in color and money is not an issue).

I don't have either Legendary Heroes or Arms and Equipment so I can't say which of those to choose first, but the spellbook also available now and has a ton of new spells (and some professions and other stuff), plus the GM guide will be out soon.

 

[sidkfjjteidlkkf]

Although the spellbook is GREAT, it is not needed to play the game. In fact, just the core book is needed for that. All the others help.

I am fortunate to have all the books, the newer releases on order.

I also have all the Glorantha books, but that is not needed.

Pick which books you want, get them, find a world or setting you like and PLAY RUNEQUEST..

 

[Nagisawa]

Well, I have an idea for a setting, it's a riff off the Legacy of Kain series, namely the gothic aspects, so I have the Corebook which I think is enough for it.

But seeing as I expect players to be powerful, Legendary Heroes would be good.

Also, I'd like to see what sort of ideas for equipment I could get, as this world would probably have some unique situations that would come up, requiring unique tools.

 

[soltakss]

If it's a choice between Legendary heroes and Arms & Equipment, I'd go for Arms & Equipment without hesitation - it's a lot better and a lot more useful.

Of the core books, I haven't seen RQ Deluxe, but from what I've heard, don't buy the RQ Rulebook, Companion or Monsters, buy RQ Deluxe instead.

Spellbook is OK, but I'd put it on the end of a list.

Pirates is the one to buy, although it's more of a setting, it's far better than any of the core books, except perhaps Arms & Equipment.

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

Dear All,

You'll be looking at 'Arms & Equipment' a lot more often....

Regards

 

[sidkfjjteidlkkf]

I asked my players last night, of all the core books, which three would they buy. Responses were almost the same: Core Book, Arms and Equipment, and Legendary Heros. Of course, they would rather BORROW MINE instead... :lol:

 

[RosenMcStern]

Well, for once I do not agree with Simon. I got A&E at Tentacles and it was a bit of a delusion. It contains some useful stuff, but very generic, and I prefer to use the rules for item modification found in the Companion rather than those in A&E. Legendary Heroes is more interesting, although still generic, but you will need it much later in a campaign.

If I were you, I would go for the Spellbook, and the GM book first, even if you play in a non-Gloranthan environment. If you play in Glorantha, get the Player's Guide and Cults first, then start thinking of other books.

 

[TrippyHippy]

Am I right in saying that the Deluxe book has adjusted rules for opposed actions, but the original 120pp copies only have the old, slightly clunky tables in operation?

 

[Rurik]

It is correct that deluxe has the opposed combat from the latest players update.

Legendary Heroes also has Mass Combat rules, which may or may not be a factor in deciding what to purchase depending on if you want them or not.

 

[Sinisalo]

Edited to say: bugger I feel dreadful for writing that, I don't know what came over me. Most of the Glorantha stuff top quality. Well done!

 

[B_Steele]

Having written several of the books you are speaking of, I would place their general level of importance as:

Arms and Equipment - There is alot of stuff in there for you and your players.

Spellbook - This one is good for you as a GM; it will allow you to equip your baddies with LOTS of new and interesting ways to get at your players.

Legendary Heroes - Although it has a few mistakes due to my absent-mindedness during the creation (download the errata), it will help you more in the late-game, rather than the beginning.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,
Bry

 

[gamesmeister]

To a certain extent it depends how 'crunchy' you like your game.

A&E has lots of equipment (duh!), much of which has specialised rules to go with it. It also has a greatly increased set of weapons and armour if those in the core rulebook aren't enough. However, while this is a nice to have, I've yet to use any of the rules in it and am not really likely to in the near future. If you intend to run a game where players can buy and use specialised gear, this would be good but otherwise I'd leave it till last.

I have used Legendary Heroes for it's new Legendary Abilities, where I ran a high level combat as a bit of a one-off. These were very useful, but again are only so for high level campaigns. It also contains mass combat rules, which I've not yet used but may possibly do in the future.

I don't think you can go wrong with the spellbook though. You're running a homebrew campaign, so an expanded spell list is going to be very useful, as are the new professions. I'd put this at the top of your list, unless you're running a very low-magic campaign.

 

[Mage]

Considering you are doing a legacy of kain game, I would do it in reverse order of an above post:

1 - Legendary Heroes

2 - Spell Book

3 - Arms and equipment

I have spellbook, the core rules and monsters, and will get heroes or equipment next probably, but am otherwise running a generic runequest game, but considering the setting, weapons and equipment are few and far between, and are better off being made up.