Mongoose's Runequest, Anyone have it?

[Huw]

can anyone summarize differences between Runequest and D&D/d20

1) Nearly everyone knows some magic
2) Nearly everything is skill based.
3) No experience per se; skills and ability scores slowly get better. By analogy, no levels (although the term "rune-level" is used for characters with sufficiently good skills, magic and equipment)
4) Chaos is the de facto enemy. Warhammer copied the concept.
5) Dangerous combat with frequent loss of limbs (but given the frequency of magic, recovery is reasonably easy)
6) Tendency to wilderness style adventuring
7) Active spirit world. Possession by evil spirits causing pain and disease is commonplace
8) Characters form allegiances with various cults. Sufficiently powerful characters can become senior members of these cults (runepriests and runelords - see (3) above)

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Lankhmar?

If Glorantha and Lankhmar are going to be using the new Runequest rules, I'd like to check them out. I guess Mongoose gave them quite an overhaul, though like I said, that doesn't tell me much.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Yep, it's going to be one of the worlds.

The ducks, as far as I can tell, were put in because someone pre-publication was a big fan of (the then popular comic) Howard the Duck and the duck race has about the outraged pissed-off attitude you'd imagine Howard the Duck would have in a violent fantasy world.

People either love them or hate them. They're a cursed race (of either humans or ducks, no one's sure) turned into a weird hybrid form by the gods.

 

[Voadam]

Since it is OGL and written by Robin Laws I believe I'm quite interested in what could be ported to d20.

Mongoose is doing Lankhmar with their new RQ rules, should be interesting, and good to have lankhmar back in action.

 

[Voadam]

Lankhmar?

Fritz Lieber's fantasy series with Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, one of the inspirations for D&D. TSR put out Lankhmar products in 1e and 2e D&D days.

 

[Haffrung Helleyes]

Other D20/Runequest differences:

D&D has a diverging skill system, which encourages PCs to specialize. Runequest has a converging skill system , which encourages PCs to be generalists.

In D&D, magic roughly divides into two types: arcane and divine. In Runequest, there are three types: Sorcery, Divine Magic, and Spirit Magic.

Ken

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Oh, I've read the books plenty of times; I just was unaware that it was being resurrected as a gaming property. Should be cool.

Fritz Lieber's fantasy series with Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, one of the inspirations for D&D. TSR put out Lankhmar products in 1e and 2e D&D days.

 

[Dragonbait]

<sigh> Every time I see the word "Runequest" I start singing the Ducktales theme song. I just can't help it.

..and this is a bad thing?

I heard that the ducks are not in this version? Any truth to this horrible rumor? If so, I'll pass on the game until "The Complete Duck" comes out.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Not only are the ducks in this version, they've released duck miniatures.

 

[Dragonbait]

Not only are the ducks in this version, they've released duck miniatures.

I just saw them. They gave them a unique look. While I liked the old similarities to the Marvel comic's Howard the Duck in design, this new look makes them look very gritty, even with the bills. I'm just glad they are still there.