g33k

I tend to feel that we literally do not know what is possible and what is not. Every few decades, people seem to think that they have finally got things almost right, that there are no new Great Breakthroughs to be made (only details to work out). History suggests that we are probably no more correct than they were. And science fiction doesn't really care; everybody has their own hard-vs-soft thresholds for their sci-fi. 😁

However, note the licensing issue(s)... I mean, I don't think you or I know them. But I expect the issues are non-trivial, given that the French Mourneblade still seems to carry Mongoose markings...?

Hmmm. Mr. Boddy has no body. But isn't dead. He isn't a ghost, precisely -- he has used some mythos-tech to float his consciousness into other people. He can control them while they sleep, spy quietly out through their eyes while they wake and move about, maybe even spy into their thoughts... and/or dreams. Just a brief thought; dunno that it leads anywhere productive. (Edit: also -- horror/comedic bodyswap hijinks!)

This -- particularly Chaosium's experiences with playtesting early RQG drafts, comparing RQ2-v-RQ6 elements -- are significant points to reference! I dunno... maybe the production of a Glorantha game differs sufficiently (from the production of a general-purpose game) that it's an apples-to-oranges comparison (or apples-to-pears)...? Or... I dunno, I really don't. But I will point out that TDM seems to be doing very VERY well indeed producing top-notch settings & supplements for RQ6 & now Mythras. Chaosium obviously has a bunch of BRP titles under their belt, but... how many successful products based directly upon the BGB (the way, e.g... TDM's Luther Arkwright is based upon RQ6)? I'm not sure what TDM is doing differently from Chaosium, but their "general toolkit" approach seems to generate titles/sales that Chaosium's has not. I will also point to some Chaosium/BRP "monographs" & very-small products that have moved over to TDM/Mythras and become full-blown product-lines, or at least gotten much bigger/better treatments. Maybe TDM is taking a bigger risk on a smaller product, than Chaosium has? Or... I dunno, again/still. Notwithstanding my suggestions and criticisms, I realize that nuChaosium management and business practices have amply demonstrated that y'all DO know what you're doing and are VERY competent and capable at making a successful go of the RPG business. Honest reality-check says you folks have the track record, and us internet-rando-fans have ... nothing but our whining "but I waaaant it!" Still, I hope we can collectively bring you some perspectives and ideas you may not have already considered (such as @smiorgan's marvelous "collection of sheets" idea!).

I suspect they want to keep the budget leaner than this. BGB was never a huge seller, and neither was the "generic fantasy" MW. I don't think Chaosium wants to invest big into "if you gild it, they will come." Dunno, maybe Chaosium has enough bought-outright artwork that they could do a really high-end layout without much capital outlay? But that still calls for a lot more effort in layout, and for them to invest in more expensive full-color print runs... of a book that, in the end, may not sell dramatically better. I think this idea is brilliant. Selecting the set of available skills in a BRP campaign is a big part of defining your setting; cultural and professional backgrounds similarly. A bunch of character sheets seem like a great way to capture and present many different options in a minimal pagecount, and be a great resource for GM's/campaigns.

<swoons>

Depends on where in the timeline you've set your campaign. Has Sartexit happened yet?

I don't consider MW a "gateway" product, honestly. If anything is, that gateway is probably CoC, because of widespread exposure & YEARS of pop-culture. Also, MW honestly suffers a bit from being "D&D, but not." I think lots of players looking to branch out from D&D/PF/etc are looking to branch a bit further out.

The last time I saw numbers that I was inclined to trust, the USA was by far the largest market for RPG's. Sufficiently so that pretty much by-default, whatever was "most popular" in the USA was also the "global" leader. I am not finding that info now (I saw several years ago), let alone up-to-date info.

Wow. I'm sure you folks will get a LOT of interest on this topic! But since you ask... There've been a bunch of innovations in BRP since the BGB, so I'd like to see those brought aboard! Even things that may have been less than stellar in their initial format, should be revisited and polished up for possible BRP2.0'ing. I'd like to see Stunts from BloodTide, Arete from AdvSrc, 3d6vsd100 stats (offer both), RQG's Augments, Pulp-style tunings from Pulp Cthulhu, Hero/Luck points, etc etc etc. I would love to see a BRP-engined mini's/skirmish game, that could integrate as desired for either the combat element of traditional RPG's, and/or for doing larger "Battle" scenarios (I understand something in this direction is already in development for RQG?) I'd want more n00b-support. I don't feel like the BGB is something I can throw at my players (unless they're being really annoying, in which case the 1d3 damage is only what they deserve); its too wide-open, and pre-supposes too much systems mastery that they don't have, don't want to acquire. Same goes for when I'm making a recommendation to 3rd parties, e.g. via online (non-BRPcentral) forums, in-person in FLGS, etc: it's great, BUT you need to invest the time to figure it out. Now, @Chaosium: brace for incoming. Please know that it's Friendly Fire... but I recognize that it's still incoming fire... To be brutally honest -- and specifically because you ask -- take a good hard look at Mythras' organization & presentation. It's easier to grasp their content than yours. I see this sentiment widely echoed online, too... Mythras is widely praised for how approachable and comprehensible it is. I think it's worth looking at a bunch of online reviews, even OUTSIDE the extended BRP family of games, and look for books where there is wide reviewer/fan agreement that they are comprehensible, accessible, clear... study those books (and the elements the reviews praise) in considering a BGB2. BRP-BGB fans will point out that it's far more comprehensive (as opposed to comprehensible) than Mythras... but even from them I've read more than once it's "a bit of a hot mess" (or similar) in other regards. I don't find it that bad, personally... but then I'm coming up on my 40th BRPthday (late '80 / early '81 (I forget, it was my freshman year at college... before or after winter break???)) so it's not like I'm going to hit the BGB and discover a concept that's strange, novel, or confusing to me... So I'm NOT the person to best evaluate these issues (indeed, that I notice them at all is a testament to their severity, since I'm already familiar with their content). Which leads me to the topic of the playtest/edit cycle. Get a BUNCH more playtesters onboard. Solicit MANY more never-BRP'ed folk, WITHOUT a grognard in those groups to ease their way. Make this e-a-s-y to learn... and for fans to unreservedly recommend! And find an editor who isn't a BRP-grognard... it's clear we're (ALL of us, not excluding Jeff & Jason & everyone else at Chaosium) far too capable of glossing over cross-edition discrepancies, preconceptions, expectations, etc. It should be clear from the online criticism & support threads that you guys were at least 1 cycle (of playtest and/or edit) short, on RQG... it's a great game, and IMHO the best RQ ever; good work and don't let my (or anyone else's) criticisms take that away from you! But it's REALLY close to being a LOT better than it is, and I honestly put the blame on the dev-team having so much systems mastery: you needed more late-cycle eyeballs and editors who did NOT know all those 45 years of prior iterations so well... === I think it might be worth doing something that looked kind of like a BGB X WorldsOfWonder hybrid, a slipcase set (with separately-buy'able pieces) ... BRP-core + Supers + Tech + Fantasy, each a toolkit ... without the Superworld/FutureWorld/MagicWorld settings. I presume Chris Spivey's work (possibly with Ringworld RPG? Or possibly that IS the core from which Mr. Spivey is already working?) could give you the foundation of the "Tech" book. Maybe a "BRPadvanced" or "BRPcompanion" for non-"core" (but not Supe/Tech/Fant specific) options. Possibly also a "retro-tech & alt-science" book for steampunk, clock/mech, crystal-tech, retro-future, etc. I think other genres might occur, too. Um... I think I'm done. For now.

d3-2 damage... sometimes 1 point, but mostly no damage. But either way, the zombie doesn't notice. 😉

I'd be OK with a Mythras OR a Superworld/BRP game; but not my players, who have already bounced off Mythras. But the way TDM keeps on cranking out great supplements for Mythras, and Chaosium keeps doing topnotch lines of BRP games... (and both seem to be succeeding!) I'm solidly behind the notion that there's probably enough market for both visions of a Supers RPG.

Undoubtedly. So here's a thought... Other than RQG+HQG, which two #WeAreAllUs adventures can most smoothly & with least effort, be combined in the same game? Adaptationswill obviously be needed, but which two need the /least/ work? I confess I may be challenged to get ANY game in, the next few weeks (planned to travel), but I'll bring book & dice & some printed materials, and keep my eyes open for a chance... But I'd LIKE to twofer this one, if there's any way I could!

Naw, that's right off the table. Don't think there was ever a suggestion that Jesus of Nazareth was a castrato. They did NOT pick up His balls & run.

+1 to each of the suggestions above -- conventions, and online games such as Roll20. Also, where are you physically... what city, what country? There may be a RL gamer-finder that can connect you with an actual group that meets face-to-face. Meetup, FB, Reddit, etc ...

Have you looked at their already-released "Agony & Ecstasy" product? It'll probably give you a VERY close appriximation of the final tone&feel...

I recently saw it alleged that there is a Thundercats movie in the works. I presume somebody will license it for a RPG; dunno that Chaosium wants that IP, or cares to swim the licensed-IP waters at this time. I think a BRP game could do this setting quite well. It'd be a subset of Superworld, I think... But as a fan project, it should go pretty easily.

Also, when I joined I noticed there was a LOT of welcome-text, in which IIRC the password was not really clearly set apart. Easily found if you read the whole thing, but not necessarily obvious on a glance / skim.

What I'm really hearing here is a mashup game... Pendragon X MyLifeWithMaster <quietly lets self out the postern gate, before all the knights here draw swords...>

<looks at the players> <looks at it could happen> ... "Oh, it'll happen." 😇 With a sufficient application of Mytho-Handwavium, we might surmise that KL is looking to regain what She lost via some reverse application of Arkat's "Troll Adoption" whereby She gains an uninjured ability to reproduce. This calls for certain crossbreeds, to study the process and work out the problems... Add more Mytho-Handwavium, as needed, to create the needed background. I'm gonna go with "yes and no" on this one. Neither breeding nor bearing is 100% responsible for Rune Affinities; at least, not in all cases. Mostly, I expect, it's both. But one or the other might be much the larger influence in some cases; and in a few, only "Nature" OR "Nurture" is detectable in the character that formed. YGMV (mine does!)

<looks at the players> <looks at it could happen> ... "Oh, it'll happen." 😇 With a sufficient application of Mytho-Handwavium, we might surmise that KL is looking to regain what She lost via some reverse application of Arkat's "Troll Adoption" whereby She gains an uninjured ability to reproduce. This calls for certain crossbreeds, to study the process and work out the problems... Add more Mytho-Handwavium, as needed, to create the needed background. I'm gonna go with "yes and no" on this one. Neither breeding nor bearing is 100% responsible for Rune Affinities; at least, not in all cases. Mostly, I expect, it's both. But one or the other might be much the larger influence in some cases; and in a few, only "Nature" OR "Nurture" is detectable in the character that formed. YGMV (mine does!)

It's a heroquesting thing. You wouldn't understand. (n.b. just following the formula for that phrase because it's so perfect.) (Also, given Pavis' experiment with interbreeding Man Rune races, and Kyger Litor's notable fecundity, I am quite sure it can be a "hq thing!")

TYVM!

Is it? And... in which source(s) is this so?

Much of the GL magic does still work; I think in fact the majority of it works. Mostly it's sorcery, after all... The key thing that I think doesn't work is the "Runequest Sight" or "Runesight" -- the ability to Neo-in-the-Matrix see the Rune-structure underlying the reality of Glorantha. Maybe it WOULD work, if anyone alive knew the method to teach it, if any books on the topic survived. As best we know, there are no such resources -- and MANY forces on the look-out for efforts to recover this secret! There's some other specifics, mainly AFAIK to do with how the GL's mucked about in various mythologies and Cults (the most infamous being the Goddess Switch). So those mythologies and Cults reverted to pre-GL shape (mostly), but the sorceries of the GL's themselves still (mostly) work. I expect we'll get more on this from Chaosium... eventually.