Runequest Previews are up at Mongoose

[Glyfair]

Mongoose has posted some Runequest previews. They are on Mongoose's Runquest Main Page

The first one seems contradictory. In a 3 page excerpt 1 page states that Runequest is published under the Open Gaming License, yet the credits state that there is no open content in the product.

It's also interest that none of the original Runequest developers have any credits, so presumbably this will be a larger departure from the RQ system than many were expecting (even though it's never been clear). The only connection to the original from the credits is that Issaries owns the Runequest trademark.

However, looking at the second preview we can see the connections to the original with the same stats, Strike Ranks in the combat system, etc. Although I'm not complaining, I wonder how they can adhere so close to the original, but not credit the authors of the original.

 

[trancejeremy]

I wonder if there will be an special Atlantean edition (Duckian edition?) 6 months later with the hundreds of typos fixed?

 

[bolen]

I wonder if there will be an special Atlantean edition (Duckian edition?) 6 months later with the hundreds of typos fixed?

No that will take at least a year

 

[Man-thing]

The first one seems contradictory. In a 3 page excerpt 1 page states that Runequest is published under the Open Gaming License, yet the credits state that there is no open content in the product.

I'm not sure that this is contradictory. It indicates that it is published under an Open License, not the WOTC's Open Game License.

Also the PHB, DMG, and MM contain no open game content. Only the SRDs, Unearthed Arcana, MM II (for 2 pages) and Weapons Locker contain open game content.

 

[nerfherder]

Thanks for the heads-up.

It looks like Strike Ranks are there, but a bit different (roll 1d10 at start of each round and add Strike Round modifier). Weapons have a particular skill group (e.g. 1H sword, 2H axe), AP, HP, ENC, minimum STR/DEX, but no SR listed.

Cheers,
Liam

 

[Glyfair]

I'm not sure that this is contradictory. It indicates that it is published under an Open License, not the WOTC's Open Game License.

If it's a different "Open Gaming License" why call it "the Open Gaming License." Call it something slightly different ("The Runequest Open Gaming License", "The Mongoose Open Gaming License") so you won't cause confusion.

Also the PHB, DMG, and MM contain no open game content. Only the SRDs, Unearthed Arcana, MM II (for 2 pages) and Weapons Locker contain open game content.

That's true, but the PHB, DMG & MM aren't published under the Open Gaming License. Much of their content just happens to be open (because it's included in the SRD). I so no purpose behind publishing something under any Open Gaming License if the cotent isn't open.

I'll certainly check it out. It still nags at me that it's obviously tied strongly to the original system, but no credit seems to have been given to Steve Perrin who was the main driving force behind the original system.

Runequest was the second game system I ever ran (unless you count BD&D and AD&D as two different systems). I was over a friends house doing some gaming when we decided to explore some different RPGs. We created Chivalry and Sorcery characters, for example (one that never got used, as we decided not to play after that).

He then offered to give me Runequest II & Cults of Prax under the condition that I ran a Runequest campaign. I readily agreed and started a campaign soon after.

 

[Turanil]

It still nags at me that it's obviously tied strongly to the original system, but no credit seems to have been given to Steve Perrin who was the main driving force behind the original system.

I can tell you that it's not the first time that Mongoose forgets to credit properly...

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

It's also interest that none of the original Runequest developers have any credits, so presumably this will be a larger departure from the RQ system than many were expecting (even though it's never been clear). The only connection to the original from the credits is that Issaries owns the Runequest trademark.

However, looking at the second preview we can see the connections to the original with the same stats, Strike Ranks in the combat system, etc. Although I'm not complaining, I wonder how they can adhere so close to the original, but not credit the authors of the original.

It’s difficult to tell, but from the previews this looks closer to RQ2 than to RQ3. However, it certainly owes a huge debt to the original game design. Even if no-one else is mentioned, I think It’s downright rude not to credit the men who designed the basic structure of your game, even if it was 30 or so years ago. I’ll be e-mailing Mongoose to tell them so.

If anyone here is interested the design credits were:
RQ1: Steve Perrin and Ray Turney, with Steve Henderson, Warren James, and Greg Stafford
RQ2: Steve Perrin and Ray Turney, with Steve Henderson, Warren James, Greg Stafford, and John Sapienza.
RQ3: Steve Perrin, Greg Stafford, Steve Henderson, Lynn Willis, Charlie Krank, Ray Turney, Ken Rolston, and Sandy Petersen
I don’t know who you are Mr Sprange, but tinkering with character generation and combat and re-naming some skills does not give you the right to claim authorship of a substantially derivative work.

Interesting too that the Glorantha supplement is set in the second age, the God-learner time, which I’ve always regarded as ancient history. Perhaps that explains the lack of ‘Red Moon’ runes. There’s no Red Moon! That’ll take me a while to get used to!

 

[Odhanan]

I'm not sure that this is contradictory. It indicates that it is published under an Open License, not the WOTC's Open Game License.

You are right. The RuneQuest OGL isn't the same thing as Wizard's d20 OGL.

 

[Hairfoot]

The preview says I will need:

One or more friends.
A character sheet.
A pencil, eraser and spare paper.
A full set of dice.
Imagination.

I have most of these things, but I will need to buy some friends.

Should I look for campaign-specific friends, or will a generic set do? Is Amazon a reliable supplier for booster packs? I'd appreciate any links to reviews or downloads. Hopefully they'll be included in the Runequest SRD.