BRP The Edition Wars To End All Wars

[TristramEvans]

Has anyone bought the new Cults books for RQG? Any good? These days I’m always caught between my natural “buy RuneQuest” and “you’ll only be disappointed, it’s nuChaosium” responses.

Is "nuChaosium" just Chaosium without Stafford?

 

[SJB]

Is "nuChaosium" just Chaosium without Stafford?

Chaosium since Messrs Stafford and Petersen exercised their share rights to install a new management of the company and the late Mr. Stafford brought RuneQuest/Glorantha back into the firm.

 

[Simlasa]

Is "nuChaosium" just Chaosium without Stafford?

For me, it's got more to do with MOB and his... bad attitude.

 

[Newt Newport]

Has anyone bought the new Cults books for RQG? Any good? These days I’m always caught between my natural “buy RuneQuest” and “you’ll only be disappointed, it’s nuChaosium” responses.

I rushed to buy them the day they came out because I was super-curious to see how this aeons in the making project had worked out. Also, the art previews had tickled my fancy somewhat.

I'm not disappointed. It's invigorated my Gloranthan fandom, where I was waning a bit. I've been into the setting since the 80s and in my head, the whole Cults of RuneQuest was in effect, triggering yet another edition! But it isn't. The books are glorious full colour, with art ranging from good to AWESOME throughout. In short, these are the updated long-form cult descriptions that the setting/game has needed since Cults of Prax/Cults of Terror disappeared from the shelves in the 80s.

That said, the corrections threads over a BRP Central have already started (Lightbringers here and Earth Goddess here) , and there are some rule discrepancies between what's said in the main rulebook and the cult's books.

 

[Alai]

For me, it's got more to do with MOB and his... bad attitude.

I don't think he was a leading hand in the CoRQ sub-line, so unless you're still really smarting from some social-media sick burn he's dispensed, seems a bit tangential here.

Chaosium since Messrs Stafford and Petersen exercised their share rights to install a new management of the company and the late Mr. Stafford brought RuneQuest/Glorantha back into the firm.

I generally read the term as a fuzzy, open-ended complaint about the Moon Design peeps as-was (possibly as-is, they didn't exactly spell out the relationship between the two entities in lurid bookkeeping detail) moreso than Stafford and Petersen. Maybe due to the difficult of imagining Sandy and Linkin Park juxtaposed...

Has anyone bought the new Cults books for RQG? Any good? These days I’m always caught between my natural “buy RuneQuest” and “you’ll only be disappointed, it’s nuChaosium” responses.

Haven't bought, have glanced at a couple of "unboxing" (new-book-smell-huffing?) vids. I am on the one hand likewise very tempted to buy, but on the other, don't have an immediate use-case, and might wait until the shelf-space and funding sitches seem more favourable also. Maybe I'll wait until the 2nd ed, when they've managed to take out some of the more egregious howlers. Sorry, I mean "incorporate the minor textual clarifications".

I dunno what expectations you'd have that you're anticipating will be disappointing. I think the You-Mustn't-Call-It-The-Storm-Book-Even-Though-That's-Exactly-How-We've-Decided-To-Structure-It volume is going to have a pretty strong Cults of Prax but we've blown the art budget (much of it on hypersaturated colour) energy. Let's party like it's 1979! Inevitably there's going to be a bit more new material in the Earth Goddesses one, and escalatingly thereafter. That'll be a bit more like "GoG but Jeff wrote a lot of words, coffee-table edition". What it won't be is anything at all like the HW/HQ material -- "salami-sliced subcults and domestic drudgery" -- unless there's a heckuva plot twist in that respect.

 

[Mankcam]

Has anyone bought the new Cults books for RQG? Any good?

Yes, I just bought these, and yes they are good.

The only issue is that this is gonna take many volumes to collect, and that may be a barrier for folk new to the setting.
However for those who like Glorantha, these books look pretty much like what we were told - full-colour expanded cult write-ups heavily inspired by RQ2 Cults of Prax and Cults ofTerror.

I think I read it's going to be ten books in total, and so far we only have three - The Prospaedia, The Lightbringers, and The Earth Goddesses.
I'm in for the journey, they look great and are good reads.

I loved RQ2 and RQ3 back in the day, and the RQG book looks absolutely beautiful. However RQG as a ruleset just feels a bit like a hobbled collection of BRP mechanics, some of which have been long superceeded by other editions. I want to like RQG, but it feels cumbersome for me, and at the end of the day I feel that both Mythras and OpenQuest are smoother sets of BRP core mechanics.

If I do run Glorantha, I'm likely using Mythras and adding three Rune Passions and renaming Theisim to Rune Magic, that's it. The system is back on track how I like it, and most of the RQG NPC stats and content in these books seem easily portable or can be handwaved converted with ease. Maybe OpenQuest may be an easier option, I really like it, but I do prefer Hit Locations for my Gloranthan games - ah the nostalgia of losing limbs in dusty Prax - so RQ6/Mythras it will be (I have a few other ideas for OpenQuest).

However I'm not sure if I'm ever running games in Glorantha again, as the setting just seems to be becoming so lore-laden that I don't know if I can sandbox the old loose way I used to. It's like the more I know, the less I create. Maybe I'm just getting older too, heh heh.

Not to worry, I have many other trpgs on my shelves these days, so I may be just collecting these Gloranthan titles purely for reading and reference, I'm not sure.

In any case, I'm glad I just ordered these Cults of Glorantha hardcovers, and the pdf versions are currently in my tablet getting perused.
Highly recommended if you like Glorantha, but beware, there is definately more of the new artwork which may not fit everyone's interpretations of the setting.
I don't mind it however, and think these are great for Gloranthan lorekeepers, but possibly may shy away newcomers to the setting.

 

[ffilz]

I really wish they had shared a sample cult from these. Before laying out all the dough I really want an idea of how much they have changed from Cults of Prax. I found neither the RQ3 nor the HQ cult stuff of any use.

I’m thinking of starting with the Earth Gods as having the most new material while having a few from the old days so I can compare.

If they had released Orlanth as a sample that would give me a good idea.

 

[SJB]

It's invigorated my Gloranthan fandom, where I was waning a bit.

the setting just seems to be becoming so lore-laden that I don't know if I can sandbox the old loose way I used to. It's like the more I know, the less I create.

Maybe I'll wait until the 2nd ed, when they've managed to take out some of the more egregious howlers. Sorry, I mean "incorporate the minor textual clarifications".

Before laying out all the dough I really want an idea of how much they have changed from Cults of Prax.

Thanks for the responses, which articulated some of my own feelings.

Just for the record Newt Newport I’ll take the opportunity to say that I’m a big fan of Red Sun Rising: it presented a new adventure setting without needing to insist everything you knew previously was wrong. I hope you decide to write some more Glorantha/RQ stuff.

 

[Marktplatz]

I've found Cthulhu Dark Ages blended with Pulp Cthulhu works really well for grittier fantasy games. Tried Mythras and RQ and both were too crunchy or awkward for my tastes. Haven't played BRP Core yet, but so far I'd say CoC is the best overall framework for running games that are generally lower in power. It's a really nice balance of crunch and fluff, and lethality and power advancement. I do think that like with any system, especially generic ones, every edition or iteration of BRP I've played requires varying levels of houserules and homebrewing to make it work well.

 

[Alai]

I really wish they had shared a sample cult from these. Before laying out all the dough I really want an idea of how much they have changed from Cults of Prax.

I'd imagine you might have certain specific concerns that might be expressed in very specific terms, that our own resident purchaser(s) might be able to address without resorting to wholesale c'n'p. Or failing which there are WIR threads in Another Place that might...

I’m thinking of starting with the Earth Gods as having the most new material while having a few from the old days so I can compare.

Makes sense.

 

[ffilz]

I'd imagine you might have certain specific concerns that might be expressed in very specific terms, that our own resident purchaser(s) might be able to address without resorting to wholesale c'n'p. Or failing which there are WIR threads in Another Place that might...


Makes sense.

My concerns are how the discounts for skills and spells come out. The way each cult was individualized was more interesting to me than a generic 50% off sone generic list of spells or skills.

Sort of the way the weapon tables change from sort of quirky in RQ1 to being more formulaic in RQ2.

 

[Newt Newport]

Just for the record @

Newt Newport I’ll take the opportunity to say that I’m a big fan of Red Sun Rising: it presented a new adventure setting without needing to insist everything you knew previously was wrong. I hope you decide to write some more Glorantha/RQ stu

Thanks. I'm planning to. I tease my plans and generally pontificate about RQ/Glorantha on my fan blog Arkat's Playground.

 

[Alai]

I think I read it's going to be ten books in total, and so far we only have three - The Prospaedia, The Lightbringers, and The Earth Goddesses.

Dash roish. "Mythology" and "Moon" we have actual release pipeline -- and even windows! -- for. The follow in some unspecified month, quarter, year and order, "Darkness", "Water", "Sky", "Spirit", "Chaos". So that'll be eight actual "Cults of" books with actual "RuneQuest" in, and two others "co-branded" with what some people might somewhat cruelly call the "fluff".

However I'm not sure if I'm ever running games in Glorantha again, as the setting just seems to be becoming so lore-laden that I don't know if I can sandbox the old loose way I used to. It's like the more I know, the less I create. Maybe I'm just getting older too, heh heh.

Sure you can. "Of course it hurts. The trick is, not minding that it hurts."

Maybe wait until you're struck by some high-concept elevator pitch. At which point, edit "lore" that contradicts or impedes that from your brain ruthlessly, and go with what suits.

My concerns are how the discounts for skills and spells come out.

Thought that might figure! Mank, might you be prevailed on to cough up up a brief precis of those for one of the cults common to CoP and CoRQ:tLBs that satisfies both ff's Needs on the one hand, and the Spirits of IP Reprisal on the other?

 

[Simlasa]

I don't think he was a leading hand in the CoRQ sub-line, so unless you're still really smarting from some social-media sick burn he's dispensed, seems a bit tangential here.

MOB was the public face of Chaosium during the turnover, at least in my experience of it... and he was pretty clumsy at it. Though I can't recall ever engaging with him directly, he's the primary reasons I no longer visit the BRP forums.
Some of my other complaints are petty... but mostly it's just that I have no use/interest for their products now, EXCEPT for the reissue of the core BRP book... based on what I've seen of it, things could change.

 

[Mankcam]

Mank, might you be prevailed on to cough up up a brief precis of those for one of the cults common to CoP and CoRQ:tLBs that satisfies both ff's Needs on the one hand, and the Spirits of IP Reprisal on the other?

Already onto this!
I'm not one for articulation, so I've done one better

 

[Mankcam]

If they had released Orlanth as a sample that would give me a good idea.

Check your PMs for something that may help here

 

[Mankcam]

I tease my plans and generally pontificate about RQ/Glorantha on my fan blog Arkat's Playground.

I love that you refer to your own Gloranthan Cinematic Universe, heh heh

 

[Mankcam]

Some of my other complaints are petty... but mostly it's just that I have no use/interest for their products now, EXCEPT for the reissue of the core BRP book... based on what I've seen of it, things could change.

The new BRP core book is pretty much just a new production of the BGB with new art direction etc.
I can't see any new rules in it, which is a surprise, as one would think that some of the CoC 7E dials (as well as RoL) could have been included as Optional Rules.

So it doesn't feel innovative, nor as comprehensive as it should for a 2023 release of the BRP rules.
I think it's a missed opportunity, and this is likely because it was a hasty product to get published while all the ORC stuff is fresh in the minds of punters.

It is a great looking book however, and much nicer to have than the BGB. It certainly doesn't feel like a hasty product, and is a pleasure to read.
But there's not much reason to grab a new set of the BRP rules if they are not comphrensive for the year that they are published, unless it's for your own bookshelf pleasure.

 

[Alai]

MOB was the public face of Chaosium during the turnover, at least in my experience of it... and he was pretty clumsy at it. Though I can't recall ever engaging with him directly, he's the primary reasons I no longer visit the BRP forums.

I suppose that'd be under the famed "community engagement" head. Not sure if he's here at all, but we do have R rmeints, who to reprise the old The Producers line, "outranks him!!"

Some of my other complaints are petty... but mostly it's just that I have no use/interest for their products now, EXCEPT for the reissue of the core BRP book... based on what I've seen of it, things could change.

So good, you might be interested in other BRP material now, or so bad, not even?

I can't see any new rules in it, which is a surprise, as one would think that some of the CoC 7E dials (as well as RoL) could have been included as Optional Rules.

I thought that was deliberate, for licensing purposes? Or did that have the whiff of a Cope about it?

 

[Mankcam]

I thought that was deliberate, for licensing purposes? Or did that have the whiff of a Cope about it?

Maybe. I dunno.
I have exactly 0% insider knowledge

I suspect there was no RoL options because the book has only just been published, and there may be licensing restrictions and whatnot.

I have no idea why the options from CoC 7E were not included however. Some of them at least. Just seems like the right thing to do to bring it all under one banner again, and indicate that the various gamelines are just using various 'builds' of BRP. Essientially that is what they are doing, but including a few of these in the new BRP Universal ruleset would have been the way to go.

Even though it is a missed opportunity, I do like that a new version of the BRP Universal Rules does exist however, and it does look really great.
Chaosium does make beautiful books these days.

 

[Simlasa]

The new BRP core book is pretty much just a new production of the BGB with new art direction etc.
I can't see any new rules in it, which is a surprise, as one would think that some of the CoC 7E dials (as well as RoL) could have been included as Optional Rules.

The lack of CoC 7e's 'innovations' is a bonus for me... again, a petty response, but a heartfelt one.

 

[Mankcam]

The lack of CoC 7e's 'innovations' is a bonus for me... again, a petty response, but a heartfelt one.

I just think it's common sense that some of the more recent changes in the BRP system should be included in there as optional rules; that way they are appealing to all their fans.

On the flipside, if you are in the market for a new version of what you have, then I'ld definately pick this book up at some stage.
You won't be unhappy with the production quality, and your current version can then be used for easy table reference.

 

[Alai]

Maybe. I dunno.
I have exactly 0% insider knowledge

Ah-hah! Well, I have you beat because I've had a beer with Jason, and...

... OK, I got nuthin', either.

I suspect there was no RoL options because the book has only just been published, and there may be licensing restrictions and whatnot.

I have no idea why the options from CoC 7E were not included however.

Sketchy as I am about CoC stuff, I somehow manage to know even less about RoL, so hard pass on that. But I'd formed the impression this related to the ORC. Now obviously you can't in any case just say 'here's my own BRP mythos game, it's called Summons of Shub-Niggurath, it's based on CoC 6th ed, very nasty but you can't touch me for it, bwah-ha-ha-hah!!!', so maybe I'd formed that idea wholly wrongly...

 

[ffilz]

Check your PMs for something that may help here

Had a looky loo...

It looks like there is the same kind of skill and spell discounts, though significantly more than in Cults of Prax. It is probably ultimately worth getting the books, but I'll have to pace myself a bit slower than the release schedule. I will probably pretty quickly get Lightbringers and Earth Goddesses, though I wouldn't just absorb everything, but more use them as decent guides to fill in some interesting missing cults.

I note the fluff text is significantly increased from Cults of Prax... Which makes sense, but does add to the lore than newcomers might think they need to absorb to enjoy Glorantha.

 

[Alai]

It looks like there is the same kind of skill and spell discounts, though significantly more than in Cults of Prax. It is probably ultimately worth getting the books, but I'll have to pace myself a bit slower than the release schedule.

Overheard at Chaosium HQ East: "Hold our Weissenglaser. Challenge!! Wait for it!!! Accepted!!!!"

I dunno what your interest in the Moon book is -- I guess it has Aggressor Squadron applications, if you happen to need anything like that much detail for that -- but bear in mind that's the only other actual-RQ, actual cults book that's scheduled. At all. And that's for just over 3+1D3 months from now...

I note the fluff text is significantly increased from Cults of Prax... Which makes sense, but does add to the lore than newcomers might think they need to absorb to enjoy Glorantha.

If I might quote another of the Top Personnel from CHQE, "Jeff likes to write a lot of words. A lot of words."

I just think it's common sense that some of the more recent changes in the BRP system should be included in there as optional rules; that way they are appealing to all their fans.

Or conversely, "common marketing sense" is, don't give away too many of the goods too cheap, we want to the punting those CoC7 units too!

 

[Mankcam]

Or conversely, "common marketing sense" is, don't give away too many of the goods too cheap, we want to the punting those CoC7 units too!

Yeah that probably has alot to do with it as well!

But there is plenty of room for horror-specific dials to be kept in CoC 7E, they still could of put some of the more broad rules in as optional rules in the Universal BRP book, it's meant to be a toolkit after all. GURPS did it. Cypher System does it, as I'm sure numerous others as well. There really is no excuse other than this was a urgent upline job to ride the ORC popularity, and probably a bit of 'we don't like all these rules divisions' going on with the authors, and yet they still publish CoC 7E...

Oh well, I have the pdf of the new BRP Universal Book, it's pretty and whatnot, an improvement on the original BGB. However the fact remains they haven't made it comphrehensive enough as the current rules compilation to warrant it a place in my book shelf for the printed hardback. I'll hold off in case they ever want to make a more complete non-hurried edition with a wider range of options, heh heh

Not a big deal really, I tend to mainly use Mythras for pretty much all my BRP stuff now and convert it on the fly, so I really don't need a new BGB.
I wanted to get it for old time's sake, but yeah Chaosium could of done a bit better with this as far as I'm concerned, so digital copy it shall remain for me.

No one's loss. They have my money, I have a great pdf in my tablet, and space in my bookshelf for my favourite titles, we all win.

There ain't such a thing as bad pizza I reckon, heh heh

 

[Mankcam]

Ah-hah! Well, I have you beat because I've had a beer with Jason,

You definately have the high ground Obi-Wan!!!
Jason Durrall presents as a likable bloke, and I'm sure he would be great to banter with

Sketchy as I am about CoC stuff, I somehow manage to know even less about RoL, so hard pass on that. But I'd formed the impression this related to the ORC. Now obviously you can't in any case just say 'here's my own BRP mythos game, it's called Summons of Shub-Niggurath, it's based on CoC 6th ed, very nasty but you can't touch me for it, bwah-ha-ha-hah!!!', so maybe I'd formed that idea wholly wrongly...

Sure, alot of the horror-specific rules and the setting lore and whatnot needs to stay with CoC. But Chaosium created the CoC 7E rules mechanics, even if it was different authors to that of the RQG and BRP Universal line. Game mechanics can't be copywrited anyway, but core game engine options like percentile core characterisitics, pushing rolls, luck points, different combat flow options, bonus/penalty dice, etc, some of that should have been included as optional rules, it just makes sense.

Unless, of course, there are plans already afoot for CoC 8E to be more consistent with the classic BRP build (like previous CoC editions). That would not surprise me one bit, and probably would win back earlier fans (but could distance the more recent ones).

Hmmm, like in DUNE, there may be "Plans within Plans..." heh heh

 

[yojimbouk]

Or conversely, "common marketing sense" is, don't give away too many of the goods too cheap, we want to the punting those CoC7 units too!

i think the BGB was chosen as the template for opening the BRP system for exactly this reason. It contains material they is already in the public domain, such as the core system (as a result of Mongoos RuneQuest & Legend), and material from defunct Chaosium products they have no intention/possibility of reviving (Elric!/Stormbringer 5e, Superworld, Worlds of Wonder) so it won’t hurt sales of their lines. The fact they had already done the work compiling all this material for BGB made it an easy win to republish it under the ORC license.

I’m pretty sure that you won’t see mechanics that are regarded as special to their various lines ever opened up, such as for CoC 7e: percentile characteristics, advantage/disadvantage, luck points, the full blown sanity system, for RQ: runic affinities and the RQ magic systems (despite the latter having been released as a supplement for BGB), for Pendragon: d20-based alternative aystem.

 

[Mankcam]

The new BRP book is still a decent acquisition for anyone who wants a classic universal system with skill-based mechanics, it's very solid.
If I wasn't already using Mythras for this (which is really just a variant of BRP), then this would still be my go-to book like its previous edition used to be.

I must admit that it is good to see the BGB presented so nicely. The art direction with the new edition is very colourful, and the pages and text are nice to read.
I won't rush out to get it, but who knows, I did spend many hours with the BGB, so nostalgia may eventually grab my hand...

 

[Mankcam]

I’m skimming through the Rivers of London book and quite like the core mechanic.
When CoC 7E came out, it seemed a bit confused and sat somewhere between classic BRP mechanics and a more contemporary rule set.

RoL however feels much more contemporary, yet remains very recognisable as BRP. It has a lot of the rules that were added to CoC 7E, yet because the system feels lighter, then these rules don’t feel like bolt-on mechanics, instead they all help to make RoL run as a smooth game engine

I’m now thinking that CoC8E should follow suit and do a variation of this RoL BRP build, or otherwise it returns to its more classic BRP roots of the pre-7E editions.

 

[Fenris-77]

I’m skimming through the Rivers of London book and quite like the core mechanic.
When CoC 7E came out, it seemed a bit confused and sat somewhere between classic BRP mechanics and a more contemporary rule set.

RoL however feels much more contemporar, yet remains very recognisable as BRP. It has a lot of the rules that were added to CoC 7E, yet because the system feels ighter then these rules don’t feel like bolt-on mechanics, instead they all help to make RoL run as a smooth game engine

I’m now thinking that CoC8E withper follows suit and does a variation of this RoL BRP build, or it returns to its more classic BRP roots

I think you might have just sold be on RoL.

 

[Raleel]

This thread is a hilarious war.

 

[K_Peterson]

I’m now thinking that CoC8E should follow suit and do a variation of this RoL BRP build, or otherwise it returns to its more classic BRP roots of the pre-7E editions.

Is Chaosium making rumblings about producing an 8th edition of Call of Cthulhu... or are you the one... rumbling? I guess it's been close to 10 years since 7th edition's release, so it wouldn't be shocking to be in their plans.

To be fair, I've been 'divorced' from Chaosium for years, so I haven't paid much attention to their future plans or announcements. After they released that steaming pile of shoggoth ichor I've looked elsewhere for my CoC fix. Then Arc Dream released Delta Green 2E a few years later, embarrassing Chaosium with a real evolution of the BRP system, that was well-designed and streamlined - and, well, even less need to pay attention to Chaosium.

 

[Mankcam]

This thread is a hilarious war.

In truth it was always meant to be, heh heh

 

[Mankcam]

Is Chaosium making rumblings about producing an 8th edition of Call of Cthulhu... or are you the one... rumbling? I guess it's been close to 10 years since 7th edition's release, so it wouldn't be shocking to be in their plans.

I just threw that out there, I doubt that there are any formal plans afoot for CoC 8E for the next five years!

But given the direction of the company, I would not be surprised if they did bring it back to the fold being closer to the classic build of BRP, and keep the more contemporary changes with RoL.

But yeah there is no hints of CoC8E at this stage, that's just me throwing that out there to the void, heh heh.

To be fair, I've been 'divorced' from Chaosium for years, so I haven't paid much attention to their future plans or announcements. After they released that steaming pile of shoggoth ichor I've looked elsewhere for my CoC fix. Then Arc Dream released Delta Green 2E a few years later, embarrassing Chaosium with a real evolution of the BRP system, that was well-designed and streamlined - and, well, even less need to pay attention to Chaosium.

Yes and that's pretty well reflected in many forum posts around the world.

Whilst I don't mind some of the changes with CoC 7E, I was unhappy with a few others and would also prefer the current edition to be FULLY compatible (not CLOSELY compatible) with all other edition supplements, as per ALL of the previous editions.

I think RoL looks a great place to park the 'contemporary BRP' mechanics, and that way the 'classic BRP' mechanics can sit with their evergreen games like CoC etc

Anyway, I'm just speculating for the sake of it, heh heh

 

[K_Peterson]

Anyway, I'm just speculating for the sake of it, heh heh

Nothing wrong with that.

I think RoL looks a great place to park the 'contemporary BRP' mechanics, and that way the 'classic BRP' mechanics can sit with their evergreen games like CoC etc

I've vaguely heard of Rivers of London (Kickstarted?), but I wasn't aware that it had more contemporary mechanics. Will need to look back through this thread for more info...

 

[JAMUMU]

The BGB is one of my dearest and most beloved rulebooks. I should really get the new version, just because.

I have every CoC edition from 2nd on and 7th did not spark joy. I hope that some of the stuff (pulpy rules f'rex) get gently folded back into a build that feels more traditional.

 

[Lofgeornost]

Thought I would mention a couple of free D100 games I stumbled upon on Drivethru. I've not had a chance to read either one:

Lore 100, which claims to be "built to combine the investigative abilities of system's like GUMSHOE with the gritty combat of Mongoose Legends, all tied to the setting and character backgrounds with Lore Sheets."

Hack100: Simple, Flexible D100 Gaming which bills itself as "an old-school flavoured percentile-based tabletop role-playing game in which characters can be created in minutes and the vast majority of in-game actions are covered by around a dozen, rather than dozens of, skills."

 

[Mangoplum]

I'm not a huge fan of the art in the new core BRP book. I mean, the art is fine, competent, but a bit bland IMO. The BGB borrowed art from previous Chaosium products and so was kind of all over the map, but had more 'soul' than the 'contemporary' version.

And what is it with people caring one way or another if a rules system feels 'contemporary'? You either like it or you don't. Is it feeling 'contemporary' really a factor in making that decision? Would you turn away a system simply because it didn't feel 'contemporary' enough? Or is that just shorthand for a collection of elements you don't like? Style of illustration maybe? Black and white vs. color? Or glossy pages vs. flat paper?

 

[sharps54]

The “youngest” rule set I regularly run is Barbarians of Lemuria and just about all the others are from the ‘70s and ‘80s. That said some people are a lot more picky than me regarding layout so for them a more contemporary ruleset layout wise may be important. Hell look at all the people that fell head over heels for OSE when it is just B/X without the play examples.