The age of the ORC begins: Chaosium to release a new edition of Basic Roleplaying in April using the Open RPG Creative License

[MOB]

For Immediate Release

Ann Arbor, MI—Chaosium, creators of the award-winning Call of Cthulhu tabletop roleplaying game, announced today the April release of Basic Roleplaying: The Universal Game Engine in PDF, with hardcover to follow in 2023.

Basic Roleplaying (“BRP”), is the game engine that powers Chaosium’s most popular games including Call of Cthulhu and RuneQuest. For 40 years the BRP system has been lauded for intuitive and easy-to-understand “roll low” mechanics, which makes games designed with BRP accessible and quick to learn. BRP games keep the focus on roleplaying, and exploring the setting that the game master has prepared.

This release serves as an update to the core BRP system. Under the new Open RPG Creative License (ORC), game creators are free to use the BRP rules engine to develop their own games, royalty-free and without further permission from Chaosium.

"Chaosium was one of the first game companies to sign on to the Open RPG Creative License initiative being spearheaded by our friends at Paizo,” said Chaosium COO Neil Robinson. “We're pleased to have our core rules system released under the ORC as an example of an open RPG license that anyone can use.”

Basic Roleplaying: The Universal Game Engine contains all the core rules for character creation and advancement, deadly and tactical combat, magic, psychic powers, mutations, superpowers, weapons, equipment, and vehicles applicable to any setting and genre.

Players can use this book to create a seamless roleplaying experience using an existing setting, or one of their own design.

Basic Roleplaying: The Universal Game Engine will be released in PDF in April, and will be available directly from Chaosium.com, and DriveThru RPG.

A hardcover release will follow later in 2023.

[Sam E.]

I'm going to buy multiple copies of this!!!

[trechriron]

That cover is sexy. This is great news!!

[Jakob]

Damn cool! Now I'm very curious whether this will be based on the BGB, on CoC7/RoL, on RuneQuest: Glorantha, on something upcoming like LotMS, or whether it will be bits and pieces of all of it or something unified and new ... Jason Durall being one of the two designers named on the cover points more towards a RQ/LotMS connection

[rsanford]

I totally wasn’t expecting anything like this! I wonder to what degree they updated the BGB? This is a must-buy for me!

[jackleg2010]

I am going to wait for a print version.

 

[GothmogIV]

This is great news, but will it be available on VTTs like Roll20? 

[Stan Shinn]

Wow! Can't wait to learn more about what the updates change!

Edited March 21, 2023 by Stan Shinn

[SDLeary]

Color me seriously surprised! On the shopping list!

SDLeary

[albesias]

Dreams come true! 

[DreadDomain]

I am both excited and terrified! I've said before, the content of BGB is awesome. I hope it won't be (too) watered down. Hopefully, it will be awesomer!

[NickMiddleton]

The contents list somewhat echoes the BGB; and Jason has been working on a streamlined BRP for LotMS, alongside his other duties. And given the timescales, and Chaosium’s wider slate of material, my guess is this is more likely an evolution / streamlining of the BGB rather than an extensive, radical re-write.

I would speculate that some options have been trimmed, possibly for future supplements, and others refined with lessons learned since 2008.

But we will know soon enough.

[sladethesniper]

Well, guess I'm getting the PDF and the print as soon as it arrives. I am so pleased.

-STS

[Ravenheart87]

1 hour ago, NickMiddleton said:

The contents list somewhat echoes the BGB; and Jason has been working on a streamlined BRP for LotMS, alongside his other duties. And given the timescales, and Chaosium’s wider slate of material, my guess is this is more likely an evolution / streamlining of the BGB rather than an extensive, radical re-write.

My thoughts exactly. I have a hunch it will be closer to BGB than CoC7e or Rivers of London, though I wouldn't be surprised if it included options from them.

[DreadDomain]

Based on the preview of LotMS Jason provided on FB, I can only imagine BPR will be quite good (ok, we have only glimpsed at character creation). Classic BRP with Drives, Reputation, Personality, Connections, etc... The only thing I didn't like in the lack of skill categories. I love my SC and how they are based on characteristics.

 

 

 

 

[Brian Duguid]

Who is the cover artist?

[albesias]

I really love the toolbox perspective from the BGB. You can configure a really streamlined game or a really heavyweight one up to your taste or your table needs. Cover art shows a Vitruvian swiss tool man.

I'd like an update that includes lastest options like, CoC's 7th push your luck, characterists x5, RQG's passions, reputations, personality traits like runes and more power magic options.

Jason has my trust.

 

 

Edited March 21, 2023 by albesias

[Joerg]

The acronym BRUGE reminds both me and google of Bruges/Brügge, the biggest city in central Europe in the middle ages and financial capital of the Hanseatic League(s).

[CussaMitre]

The news that I have been waiting from January! \😃/

[Newt]

Awesome on so many levels 🙂

Well done Team Chaosium (and especially @Jason D) 

[MOB]

For anyone who may be concerned about what happens to products released under the existing BRP OGL, the answer is simple - absolutely nothing. Products released under the current BRP OGL are completely unaffected.

[Ravenheart87]

3 hours ago, DreadDomain said:

The only thing I didn't like in the lack of skill categories. I love my SC and how they are based on characteristics.

I doubt that won't be there as an option in the new BRP.

[smiorgan]

6 hours ago, NickMiddleton said:

 my guess is this is more likely an evolution / streamlining of the BGB rather than an extensive, radical re-write.

Yes, I also think it's an update of the existing BGB not a rewrite/ redesign. 

So, I don't think it will take the CoC7 / Rivers of London route.

It might incorporate material from RQG and/ or the upcoming Lords of the Middle Sea.

But my guess is that it will be mostly based on the BGB.

And yes I bet the Resistance Table will be still there.

 

 

[Baphomet69]

OMG! So awesome! I expect the things outlined as off limits in the old OGL (Sanity, certain things from RQG, etc.) will still not be included, but still, I cannot wait! I hope the innovative chase rules from CoC7 are added…

[Baphomet69]

And I hope YouTube personalities cover this well and get the word out and drive up the popularity of this system. This should be the premier game system!