yojimbo

Is the discount code one use only? I used it for the Collected Hearts in Glorantha. I was hoping to get 25% off River of Heaven.

Thanks for the interview, Clarence. It's always interesting to see the thoughts and motivations behind an author's work. Also, I don't really understand the reaction to the criticisms of BRP. BRP is not without its flaws. However, I'm pretty sure this game isn't for me. Largely because I'm an old dude stuck in his ways. However, more power to the author and those fans that do want Jarn.

manuscript

As an addendum, the author also has a blog for the BRP monograph Swords of Cydoria.

The second edition of Swords of Cydoria was released as a non-BRP RPG, Exiled in Eris. It was first self-published and is now published by Precis Intermedia. I recommend it despite it not being BRP. Also, the author, Christian Conkle has a blog for the game which may prove useful for Swords of Cydoria GMs.

Sounds a lot like Blue Planet (but without that setting's MacGuffin). Similar set of themes: colonists vs colonial government, colonists vs corporations, etc. Incidentally, the first edition of Blue Planet was a d100 based game (not BRP). I found it a little over complicated.

A second edition of Chronicles of Future Earth is planned. It will switch to using RQ6/Mythras. Not sure when Mindjammer will get round to releasing it. I guess Sarah Newton is busy with other irons in the fire. Also, I believe a second edition of Cthulhu Rising as an OpenQuest game was planned but later cancelled. I'm pretty sure there has never been a BRP adaptation of Dream Pod 9's Jovian Chronicles. There have been three versions of that game: the first a sourcebook for Mekton, the second a standalone RPG using the same system (Silhouette) as Heavy Gear, and the third was a dual stat sourcebook for d20 Modern and Silhouette Core. I think you may be confusing it with Jovian Nightmares, a supplement for Cthulhu Rising.

My feeling is that BRP Essentials will be more like CoC than RQ when it eventually arrives. The core CoC system (without magic, monsters, etc.) can be easily distilled into a small number of pages. As for your choice, Mythras Imperative provides a nice base for a modern/sci-fi game. Also, OpenQuest (an OGL game so you can base your own stuff on it without a license) is a possibility. It's based on MRQ1 but is much simpler than Mythras. There are fewer skills, three combat skills (ranged, close combat, unarmed) and no hit locations. OQ seems to try and create a hybrid of the classic BRP games published by Games Workshop: RuneQuest 2nd Edition, Stormbringer 3rd Edition, and the 96 page GW RuneQuest 3rd Edition core book. I like it a lot but I prefer simpler iterations of BRP like CoC and Stormbringer. I see a lot of threads about Mythras/RQ6 which seems to be a popular BRP choice at the moment. Also, the games based on MRQ1 (of which Mythras is one) are all largely similar (and similar to BRP) so it can be easily ported to other variants.

Totally agree. Especially, since the RQ development team abandoned RQ6 in favour of something more nostalgic as a result of the success of the RQ2 Kickstarter. And it's not like there won't be a BRP variant, Revolution D100, that doesn't meet the OP's requirements.

You also have GORE, OpenQuest, Renaissance and the 1st Edition of Mongoose RuneQuest as OGL SRDs. GORE being a retro-clone of CoC is probably the closest in style to Gold Book BRP. James.

How about "compatible with d100 role playing games"? That avoids using trademarked names. The other option is seek a license from the publishers. I rather think that Chaosium or TDM would only license it as an exclusive product. James.

Not going to happen. Unlike Wizards of the Coast, The Design Mechanism have a version of RQ in print that they are promoting. Why would they want to undermine RQ6 by producing a nostalgia piece like an RQ2 reprint? WotC are publishing the reprints because they do not have new D&D items to sell at the moment while D&D Next is being developed. As mentioned previously, AEON is an RQ2 retroclone and you also have the Glorantha Classics books by Moon Designs.

Combat and skills are simpler in OQ whereas magic is simpler in Magic World. Character generation is simpler in MW. Really, either system is much simpler than RQ and should prove a good choice.

I'd be inclined to set max spell level a character can cast to POW-10. Spells would have a MP cost of its level (this would make magic users more like 3e sorcerers or psions). To simulate leveling up maybe have a Arcane Knowledge skill which determines what level of spell you can understand (10% for each level) and determines the mutliplier for POW to calculate your magic points (x1/3, x1/2, x1, x2, x3, x4, etc for every 5% increment). Clerics would use Allegiance (deity) instead. Then I'd make characters read grimoires (which would function like CoC tomes) in order to acquire new spells. Jim.