Unnatural selections #74: as the new BRP heads to the printer, here's what reviewers and fans are saying about it

[MOB]

The 'Unnatural Selections' series is our regular round up of notable Chaosium reviews worth a look.

Basic Roleplaying Universal Game Engine is out now in PDF, and very, very soon we'll be sending the files to the printer. That means the full color hardback will be out several months from now, but you don't have to wait! Buy the PDF now direct from Chaosium.com and we'll take what you pay for the PDF off the cost of the physical book.

Here's what reviewers are saying about the new edition of our famous system of core rules for tabletop roleplaying — which you can use royalty-free for personal and commercial use under the ORC license. 

"A definitive update of a definitive game system... one of the simplest, most flexible, most customizable engines in the tabletop gaming business." — Andrew Logan Montgomery, Exploring the Otherworlds of Fiction, Magic, and Gaming.

"Sleeker and more beautiful while maintaining all of the best components of the original. Designing products for it should be a snap!" — RPG Imaginings.

"I've learned so much from this book... a must buy for game designers." — J-M, Iconic Productions.

"The bible of BRP... Is a new era beginning?" — Whispers from Darkness (nb article is in español).

"BRP is in a perfect place for creators and GMs who want a stable mechanics for their own creations… I can’t wait to start creating with it." — Never Mind the Dice Rolls. 

"I love this." — Shelly von Miller, 'What Do You Need to Know About Chaosium's Basic Roleplaying Game System?'

"This is a game changer." — Game On!

"Chaosium has put their best foot forward ... providing a familiar and well-regarded mechanical platform for a whole new swathe of game design talent." — Cannibal Halfling Gaming.

"5 stars - a most excellent update... This is everything I could ask for in a nice looking package." — James (customer review).

"5 stars - The layout, design, organization, and explanations are much better than the now-dated Big Gold Book." — Christopher (customer review).

"5 stars - A welcome update... It does not reinvent the wheel, it simply revises the good old BRP, and that's all it really needed - it's a system that works well and stood the test of time and has tons of material already released which are still compatible with it or require minimal conversion." — Illés Tamás (customer review).

"5 stars - A very appreciated update." — Devin Sonnier (customer review).

"I'm just grateful that BRP is now released under the ORC license... Basic Roleplaying is one of the most classic yet fictionally immersive rule sets of all time. For a content creator like me, it's a dream come true!" — Raunen (BRP Central).

Get your copy of Basic Roleplaying Universal Game Engine today!

Basic Roleplaying: Universal Game Engine is available now in PDF:

• Buy the PDF direct from Chaosium.com and get the cost of the PDF off the physical version: we'll email you a discount coupon when the hardback is released later in 2023.
• Also available in PDF at DriveThruRPG.

 

[Alliante]

If it's going to print, how does the ORC license still being in Draft 2 going to affect the license - just referencing the chaosium.com/orclicense web page?

Having the LoC number being TBD in print seems hasty.

I promise I'm not being pedantic

[g33k]

1 hour ago, Alliante said:

If it's going to print, how does the ORC license still being in Draft 2 going to affect the license - just referencing the chaosium.com/orclicense web page?

Having the LoC number being TBD in print seems hasty.

I promise I'm not being pedantic

My own plans are to develop my project with all due haste.
I don't doubt that the ORC license will be in final-draft before my own 1st-draft is complete.

Chaosium is committing to their print edition with the promise that they will adhere to the licensing as it appears -- they cite Aazora Law as one of the locations to find the license, and GenCon's website as another, in addition to the copy they will host themselves.

It's like one of those bold offers from a faerie-tale king:  "Name your boon, and it shall be yours!"
Chaosium is being strikingly more trusting and generous and expansive than they were with their prior "BRP SRD" offering (a couple of years ago).
 

Is it a "bold" move, going to print before the ORC license if finalized, or the LoC assigns a number?  Kinda, yeah.
Is it a problem?   Well... not likely, not that I can see.  Only if they find something problematic in the final license.  I'm guessing they've got a solid idea of what that final will be, and don't expect a problem.

[Alliante]

6 minutes ago, g33k said:

My own plans are to develop my project with all due haste.
I don't doubt that the ORC license will be in final-draft before my own 1st-draft is complete.

Chaosium is committing to their print edition with the promise that they will adhere to the licensing as it appears -- they cite Aazora Law as one of the locations to find the license, and GenCon's website as another, in addition to the copy they will host themselves.

It's like one of those bold offers from a faerie-tale king:  "Name your boon, and it shall be yours!"
Chaosium is being strikingly more trusting and generous and expansive than they were with their prior "BRP SRD" offering (a couple of years ago).
 

Is it a "bold" move, going to print before the ORC license if finalized, or the LoC assigns a number?  Kinda, yeah.
Is it a problem?   Well... not likely, not that I can see.  Only if they find something problematic in the final license.  I'm guessing they've got a solid idea of what that final will be, and don't expect a problem.

I agree! I love this dedication and ambition. It's the reason I'm working hard to get RPG Worlds out for us!

[MOB]

21 hours ago, Alliante said:

Having the LoC number being TBD in print seems hasty.

Even after a title is received by the Library of Congress it takes time for the control number to be released. Usually this is several weeks, but can be an indeterminate time longer, if they have a heavy work load. There will be copies of exactly the same ORC license text freely available in other locations (including Chaosium.com), so we don't want to potentially have to wait around for the LoC before we send this book to the printer.

Edited May 20, 2023 by MOB