Elric and Hawkmoon RPG from Mongoose? Is it good?

[Zogmo]

I just discovered (I'm slow, I know) that Mongoose is releasing rpg's based on Hawkmoon and Elric. I am a huge Moorcock fan and only vaguely familiar with the Chaosium attempt with these properties and not at all familiar with Runequest. From what I can tell from the website these books are a modified Runequest ruleset and are separate from it.

That's about all I know.

I was wondering what the consensus was here. Are they good/bad? Strong points and weak points?

Thanks

 

[Quartz]

I've got the original Stormbringer hardback somewhere around. Modified Runequest is about right. There's no balance between different PC origins - a Melnibonean PC will be more powerful than just about any other. And if you think high level D&D PCs were OTT, just wait until you see what you can do with bound demons, especially if your players don't have problems with human sacrifice.

 

[Aus_Snow]

IIRC, Mongoose Publishing released the SRD (i.e., core rules, if not prettied up) for their version of RuneQuest, for free! Incidentally, it's also 'open gaming', as well as (in this context) free. Ah yes, here. Also on that page are numerous previews, maps and so forth. Worth a look.

Not sure how far (if at all) the Moorcock fiction-based books deviate (from the MRQ SRD), but it might be a handy place to start. Also, there are quite a number of threads about these games on RPGnet. Not trying to dissuade you from discussing them here - hardly! I hope discussion does take place. It's just that there are threads already in existence there, which might provide some insight. Sorry, no links atm.

 

[Waylander]

I think Mongoose has done a wonderful job with Elric and Hawkmoon. Very faithful with the original material.

Mongoose RuneQuest also has a very similar feel to the d20 system so if you're familar with D&D 3.x you should find the rule system very intuitive.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Was Elric their Holy Grail license?

 

[Aus_Snow]

Never mind, lack of sleep -> lack of logic.

License, as in non-RPG. Hm, probably was that.

(edited for improved clarity)

 

[Inferno!]

Was Elric their Holy Grail license?

I may be wrong (as they always seem to have some big, new license on the horizon) but I think it was Traveller.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

I may be wrong (as they always seem to have some big, new license on the horizon) but I think it was Traveller.

Uhh... Well, yes, of course, that makes sense. When I think of the #1 license I'd like to score for RPGs, it's Traveller.

 

[Zogmo]

Cool, a lot more responses than I was expecting. Thanks!

Does anyone know if the Hawkmoon and Elric use the exact ruleset? And are the game worlds tied together in anyway?

I love the Moorcock books so much I think I'll have to pick up some of these in a couple months. If I end up not liking them I won't be able to resist cannibalizing them for my D&D game.

 

[Treebore]

SLAINE!?! They have Slaine?!? *whimper*