Classic Comic ElfQuest Returning to Tabletop RPGs

[Abstruse]

Chaosium announced a 40th anniversary reissue of the classic roleplaying game ElfQuest. This reissue will follow the lead of Call of Cthulhu Classic and RuneQuest Classic reissues of early edition materials, focusing on the 1984 release with the 40th anniversary ElfQuest Classic reissue.

The ElfQuest roleplaying game is based on the classic fantasy comic that launched in 1978 from creators Wendy and Richard Pini. The comic is one of the longest-running creator-owned titles in comic books and has won multiple awards including a 2019 entry into the Will Eisner Hall of Fame.

From the announcement:

Chaosium President Rick Meints said, “For years ElfQuest fans have asked us to bring the game back into print. Based on all we’ve learned from our previous Classic projects we are ready to add ElfQuest Classic as the next in this series. We all look forward to revisiting, rediscovering, and further exploring the Pinis’ World of Two Moons.”

“ElfQuest has from its inception been about the value and strength of family and tribe,” said co-creator Richard Pini. “We can’t think of a better way to encourage community than through people coming together to enjoy the world-building challenges that role-playing offers.”​

ElfQuest Classic will have a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign launching in October of this year to bring back the vintage game in its original boxed edition format along with later supplements included.

 

[Cergorach]

I loved the ElfQuest comics, I even had the 2nd Edition ElfQuest RPG book (depicted above). But this feel and reads like a cashgrab that's using KS as a FOMO tool for a reprint of 35 year old material. In a boxed set, expect premium prices for a mediocre game. I even view it through nostalgia glasses. At the time it sold poorly...

Even the reviews of 20 years ago, gave it 'average' ratings (look around at rpg.net), how well has it aged 20 years later? Probably not that well...

I also came across this article: Too Complex and Slightly Creepy
That gives you a very different view of the game and Chaosium's work, quality and perspective on this IP and work.

Just a straight up reprint might work well for collectors, but for actual play the ElfQuest RPG has too many issues as is. And something like 'Recognition' as a mechanic is going to be problematic for most people. An overwhelming biological drive to mate with another elf that's biologically compatible. The rules pretty much say: Encounter elf, roll randomly!

ElfQuest art is awesome, the comics have some rough points, but still well loved by the fans. But the RPG and especially the boardgames were atrocious. It feels a lot like the Dark Crystal IP, absolutely stunning source IP, but the licensed games were cash grabs and not good games at all.

 

[aramis erak]

The recognition check is not repeated upon re-meeting a previously non-recognized character. Further, and it's in the EQ Companion as well as the initial 20 issues of the comic: a pair of elves can force recognition, even if they've previously failed. One of the published adventures uses recognition as a plot element — but between two NPCs.

Having run the EQ RPG a few one shots, it's no worse than any other Chaosium game of the era; BRP with just enough changes to evoke the setting's key tropes. It is much loved by many EQ fans. Myself included.

The other thing of import for fans of EQ: the original edition only covered the first 20 issues. THere are a hundred plus other issues not covered in those rules, and it looks like it's JUST a reprint.

 

[Zarithar]

If it is just a reprint then I am likely not interested. If new stuff will be include (as in the TMNT reprint) then I am onboard.

 

[Zarithar]

I also came across this article: Too Complex and Slightly Creepy
That gives you a very different view of the game and Chaosium's work, quality and perspective on this IP and work.

I stopped reading when the blogger stated they hadn't actually read any ElfQuest comics. Their opinion lost all credibility for me at that point.

 

[Zarithar]

.

 

[Theory of Games]

Glad to see a great game returning