Yelm's Light

There's a cult description including mythology in the Cult Compendium, pp. 237-240. I'm not sure about other sources.

Emphasis mine. I've always wondered about this...is Agape pronounced and meant in the Greek sense of the term, or is it mouth wide open?

Sorry about that, they tend to run together for me. I don't run pure HQ games, more like HQ rules shoehorned into my RQ game. However, I'm working on an Earthsea variant that will eventually use HQ2 core.

Dealing with NPC's shouldn't be much of a problem; a few keywords and abilities, maybe some quick motivation and personality notes. Or, you could treat them as you would PC's when converting them, but that would be quite a bit more time-intensive. I'd suggest using the narrative method for character creation starting from the sketches given in Sun County, and have the players flesh out/distill them. This obviously isn't exhaustive, but here are some specific suggestions: 1) Some keywords should be straightforward, bearing in mind their implications; for instance, a Yelmalio Rune Priest would become a Devotee of Yelmalio. In this case, since devotees will tend to concentrate magic, I'd cut out most or all of any battle magic spells they have, possibly giving them a magic item or two which can duplicate some of those effects. Whatever fits with the character. Homeland keywords should be easy enough, but occupational ones might need a little adjustment. Then fill in the abilities under each keyword. 2) Translate stats of 15+ (or whatever level you prefer) to abilities, e.g., Strong, Hardy, etc. You could also convert exceptional weapon/shield skills, abilities, or items into abilities, and add low-end stats to limitations. 3) Work out a selection of spells (assuming the character has any, common magic or otherwise) to fit under Magical Abilities. The Common Magic rating could be translated directly from POW, as long as it's at least equal to the starting level, or set at starting level if lower. 4) Personal Connections would obviously fit under Relationships, and Followers should flow from the RQ write-ups. Some of the PC's without any reference to such in the books could be given the opportunity to create followers and/or an ally. 5) As for ability ratings, I'd start them at the basic levels, with perhaps some modifications based on the character write-ups. Then you could simply give the players a number of Hero Points to distribute, depending on where you want them to start in terms of power, and guide the players as far as the areas they should be spent.

Two problems with the premise: First, what would motivate her to leave her place of power? She'd need some kind of mortal agency to carry around dead animal parts to summon sprul-pa, although she'd have no similar trouble with the dream-wefts. She'd also have a problem with being limited in POW, since she'd be unlikely to be able to draw from worship away from her altar. Second, Idrima is a daughter of Maran Gor. The party might have serious trouble getting the Shakers to aid them.

Zero Point Energy isn't literally zero energy. What it means is that the minimum energy of a field will fluctuate thanks to our old buddy Werner Heisenberg (who it is quite possible sabotaged the Nazi nuclear program, but that's beside the point). ZPE refers to the minimum possible energy for that field, which can't be zero, or there would be no field. Whoever wrote that part of the wiki apparently doesn't know enough about quantum physics...or is very bad at communicating it. (Also, that Feynman & Wheeler calculation is unsupported by experimental evidence.)

Among other things, that depends on whether you accept that the Runes themselves are the fundamental particles of Glorantha, another assertion that I reject for a number of reasons, primarily having to do with complexity. Or, if you accept Joerg's assertion that Runes are analogous to elements, then they are not the fundamental particles, so what are those particles? Funny how every explanation I've ever seen has involved myth, not science. For there being no RW science, it's also funny how so many things on Glorantha work exactly the same as in the RW. I have a problem with this in particular. So energy just appears from nowhere or goes away to nowhere in the God Time?

Galleys are basically preliminary copies of a book made before the final printing for editing and critique.

According to you, it's an attempt at world-building from underlying mythic principles which quite literally denies all science. I'm still waiting to see any canonical reference that explicitly states that there is no such thing as science in Glorantha, not some conclusion that you've drawn based on some highly questionable premises. I won't find the word 'supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' in RQ either. So what? You don't get it. I don't need to work out scientific principles. I know what they are already, well enough that I can tell where there will be violations of those laws. You're the ones who are coming up with mythical rationalizations for concepts that I have to spend no effort on.

Yet those limited senses have allowed us to create a huge variety of technologies through application. That's a rather sweeping generalization. The 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics are over 200 years old. Some Newtonian physics is still correct, 350 years after its introduction (actually, it's all correct, but only for a specific frame of reference). Most of relativistic physics is still true roughly a century after Einstein posited it. Chemistry and biology generally have changed hardly at all in the last 100 years other than in the discovery of new applications and methods. The fact that there are no scientific explanations for it only shows that it hasn't been studied enough, and brain scanning has proven very useful in studying emotions and to a lesser degree thoughts. Certainly the placebo effect can be explained. The power of belief has long been known as an important factor in healing, and been proven in scientific experiments. However, that belief is often dependent on the individual's faith, which is generally stronger overall in those cultures than in, say, the American culture. Santeria is in wide use and acceptance through much of South and Central America. That doesn't make it of a great deal of use in the USA. Of course science is open to change. That does nothing to reduce its value. But it's interesting that literally no one on this board has ever agreed with me on the subject, at least not anyone who's actually posted here.

We've been over this ground before. Others have provided arguments that NO scientific principles apply, period. Yet somehow most basic things just happen to work exactly as in the real world. Do you really not see the contradiction there? And where did I say that 'all effects are due to spirits?' I gave a single example.

So he dual wields or goes 2H instead. Just beware archery...although once he reaches Rune Lord level likely his armor/protections will be enough to reduce that to plinks.

That looks bloody awesome. I love the city. You'd think that would be in Pamaltela somewhere, but I always envisioned it as being more Aztec or Mayan.

That's funny. I'm somewhat of an expert on RQ2, and never once in any of the many supplements, mags, or the rules themselves I've owned did I see a single mention of such. The only old-time things I've never owned are Borderlands and the WF's, although I do have Footprints. So pretty clearly not explicit. There must be a lot of spirits around to keep every being and other object that isn't connected to the earth from floating away like Lastday. Tell me about handwaving. Positing magic says nothing about physics, other than that magic may be able to violate physical laws through application. Claiming no science is an assertion only. It'd be interesting if he himself would comment on some of this stuff...does he ever post here?

YOU already did. I didn't. The second I bought the game, it became MY world, not the 'owners'.' You remember YGMV, don't you? I'm fine with canon, as long as it makes sense. This makes none whatsoever. And you mean the rationalizations, not reasons. So basically you've all invented a new pseudoscience, called 'mythics.' Witness that silly and voluminous thread about theorizing why rivers flow to the sea. There's no point to a new thread. I've said it numerous times already. But at least maybe some lurker might get it.

Let's 'myth' it instead.

But things just happen to work out mostly the same as in the RW. According to the Malkioni. And anyway, combination is not devolution. What power do Aether and Harana Ilor have 'now,' other than to leave a few runes? Apotheosis, anyone (Sedenya being the most powerful example)?

Wait a second...empirically? In a world without science? That's funny. And to your 'devolution' point, what did species devolve from, according to your theory? What was the 'super race' of men, or bison, or merfolk? I don't care if it's page 1 of RQ. It's ludicrous to spin myths for every possible thing that could happen on the world. I suppose everything that is ever learned by a Gloranthan creature is because Lhankor Mhy or some other local god of knowledge smiled down on them. Give me a break.

I weary of this whole 'there is no such thing as science' concept. Every time I've ever presented a scientific rationale there's been someone to contradict me.

There's an evolution of knowledge and application at the very least, assuming that those who learn it don't end up going the way of the God Learners. Mutation is a different question (what's the background radiation level of Glorantha?), but the crucible of Glorantha would seem to be a good place to test survival traits. I would think that inheritance would still be possible at any rate. For instance, suitability for breeding (whatever that is for the particular species involved) would tend to be passed on.

The berserkers would make some fine Babeester Gori, particularly the ones on either end.

This is the first I'd heard of it. Truly a great loss. She also wrote some classic sci fi novels: The Left Hand of Darkness, The Lathe of Heaven, The Dispossessed, The Word For World is Forest (the basis for the movie Avatar, though she was less than thrilled at the way some of her themes were 'adjusted'), the Hainish cycle, numerous short stories in both genres, and even some non-genre stuff. She was (is) the archetype for many women authors who followed. RIP.

Thanks, guys. Prax, Sartar, Dorastor, and the Elder Wilds (and to a lesser degree Pent) I pretty much own, but once I start heading west I'm clearly not an expert. Philosophy-wise I'm solid on the Neo-Platonists (I think it was Mankcam who mentioned them in the other thread). The One came to mind when reading about Irensavel, and the stacked order of the higher Planes was familiar, although Plato and Plotinus defined them quite differently. Not sure I get the Judaistic reference, unless you're talking about the Kabbalah. And did you mean Zoroastrianism?

I don't know about Greg, but I certainly was. It was primarily to do with her style, I think...so economical and evocative.

That would only make the current notation look even more obviously bass-ackwards. And then there'd be the issue of 10% fumbles.