Jens

I don't think any of those have had updated editions, just online errata.

Take a look at temple sizes on page 284 of the core rules. Even a shrine (smallest size that lets you replenish rune points) needs 75-225 lay members and initiates.

You only use the BOTH column if both attributes are in the same range (an unusual circumstance, not worth having a column for IMHO). Since Ferrin's STR and SIZ are in different ranges, you can't use it for him. Overall idea seems fine; if you want to go with an individual bonus per characteristics, I'd just use two columns, the first labeled (STR or SIZ), the second labeled (DEX or POW). Instead of two columns you could also go with three summed columns to look more like the original- (SIZ+STR) , (SIZ or STR) + (DEX or POW), and (DEX + POW); this could help with your dice size and low stat issues (see below). Roll a D6 treating 6 as 5 does not approximate a D5- the average for a D5 is 3, the average for D6 treat 6 as 5 is 3.333 (you have a 2 in 6 chance of getting a 5, and only 4 in 6 of less than 5 rather than a 1 in 5 and 4 in 5). Only fair way would be to re-roll a 6 (or use a combined table, not odd dice sizes). Giving a smaller damage bonus for DEX or POW makes sense; I'm not so sure about giving a lesser penalty for a low DEX or POW (below 9). Of course, this would only be an issue for a character with 3 stats below 9, but could also be addressed by using my 3 combined column suggestion instead.

In my headcanon the Lunars didn’t teleport at the Battle of the Queen. Instead they used the Blue Moon provided Invisibilty spell to appear behind them, which the Orlanthi mistook for the more familiar to them Teleportation. And yes, while separate spells cast by a Rune Lord and their allied spirit wouldn’t stack, either could use the other’s points to fuel one giant spell.

Step 1. Steal the White Bear’s skin from Harrek. Step 2. Reskin the Bat. Step 3. Profit!

A few ways come immediately to mind- Lend your Humakti and Axe Maidens all of your MP sinks (crystals, matrixes, etc.), and have them cast Trance. 100 MP should get them skills over 1000% before adding in Morale or other boosts, for over 50% chance to critical each blow. Aldryami with Arrow Trance may seem underpowered with only 2-300% attack chances, but load them up with multispelled multimissiles and each archer can launch 30 or more arrows every single round. Find a friendly sorcerer, and load them up with big Boon of Kargan Tor and Neutralize Armor inscriptions. Should be possible to get at least a 50% chance to ignore armour, as well as straight damage boosts in the +10D6 range. For even more fun, have the sorcerer research the Manipulation version of Logician, and boost their weapon skill by a few hundred % as well, guaranteeing at least a special on each hit. Find some friendly Trolls and load up on Yellow Stones to Kill Chaos- 1D10 points of damage ignoring armour per stone can take even the Bat down fast. You've got some bound Tricksters, of course. Have them cast Strike on your SWAT team weapons- the first blow that hits ignores armour, and the spell lasts until you do hit. If you have some Xiola Umbar friends who are all in for the win, have them cast Attract Attention and Turn Blow on themselves (or see if you can borrow a matrix). The Bat will swoop in to attack them, and all damage will be reflected back on the Bat, ignoring armour. If you're lucky, the Bat will even hit you in the head. Thinking truly outside the box? Perhaps you can loot a Vomit Acid matrix, or find an Illuminated Ogre to cast it for you. Pump it with 42 MP, puke on the Bat, problem solved!

Which day of the week?

Agreed, I'd use the Praxian Dagger-Axe to stand in for the Ge and the Bronze Age halberd, or any such slashing weapon without a point, although perhaps with reduced damage (3D6 is a bit high for those). Since the RQ:G Halberd is defined as a Cut + Thrust weapon, I'd only use it for something with a spike, including a Je and a medieval halberd.

The drawing in the book looks like the older Shang dynasty Gē (dagger-axe), not the later Ji (halberd) which added a spear point for more versatility since you could then thrust, not just swing the weapon. This made the weapon more useful both for infantry fighting in formation, as well as from horseback. As you've noted, that drawing does not match the description in the book for a halberd, having no 'spear tip jutting out the top'.

Humakt and Uleria are canonically illuminated. Indeed, Greg was clear every god that owned or was the source of a rune was illuminated, and perhaps all gods are- see https://wellofdaliath.chaosium.com/home/gloranthan-documents/greg-sez/humakti/

Fully agree- with reusable rune magic no longer the exclusive domain of rune levels, there are many more paths to power that don't involve becoming one. And Ernalda strikes me as a great cult for a farmer- farming, animal and plant lore are cult skills, Bless Crops is a fabulous spell, not to mention your cult controls the distribution of farm land in many regions... I'm also a touch bemused at this presumed tight coupling between cult and occupation/skill set. Advertising copy that suggests you can think of your cult as a D&D character class is not in my mind a handcuff that turns your cult into a restrictive class. Players should feel free to explore interesting combinations- not everyone needs to be a min-maxed world shaking super being, unless of course that's the flavour of your particular campaign. Same with the notion you need particular rune spells to be an effective combatant- Ernalda for example offers pretty much every spirit magic spell you'd need to be a fantastic front-line fighter, either directly or through her allied cults.

Cyclical Characteristic is incredible for sorcerers and Lunar Magician- 1.5x your Free INT to cast giant spells? Yes please! And being the clever Illuminate that you are, you'll dispel it before you take minuses on Crescent, Dying, or Black Moon days.

Agreed, Summon Household Guardian costing only a single RP which can easily be regained (even for 1 POW it would still be a bargain) means pretty much every household in an Ernaldan community would have one. Have any spare RPs before your seasonal holy day? Head out and bless a few homes. Although since only the caster can draw upon the MP of the spirit, it's still best to cast it on your own home- which would include roughly 70% of homes in Esrolia. Summon Snake Daughter would similarly make Earth Temples nearly inviolable- since every Priestess would have more than the 4 RP required to cast that permanent spell, you could imagine that larger temples would have many Snake Daughters guarding it over time.

Ruling it wouldn't count as a stress situation, and therefore not grant a POW check, can address that issue. In my mind CA's protection has always interacted with the ransom system- it's a well recognized and supported way of getting defeated combatants out of harm's way. This of course becomes more interesting for beings that don't have a ransom, which is likely the case for most trollkin.

So like modern teenagers? 😉