Another game I would love to play more. I played it once in the service and ran it once a year or so ago. Despite that I have done quite a bit of playing around with it, to the point of writing javascript to create
descriptions of ruins in the city of Pavis and a generator to create stat blocks for creatures. (The function for equipping weapons and armor seems to be broken now.) I've used it as a source of inspiration in countless posts and have delved into it's mysteries on occasion. I backed the Kickstarter where they republished the classics and have picked up a number of third party and Mongoose Runequest publications that expand on it.
Things I love about the game, no levels, learn whatever skills you want and advance by using them. That everyone use magic is odd, but not destabilizing. And the setting - not so much Glorantha in it's magnificent, glorious weirdness (OK, I like Ducks, the annoying little buggers) but Pavis and the Big Rubble a whole unique adventuring site, with a consistent history and reasons for monsters and opponents being there. Not to mention the Lunar Army Occupation bureaucracy - they know about the secret tunnel and have a tax collector waiting for you.
The system is fairly well known as it became the basis for Basic Roleplaying and Call of Cthulhu. Seven stats: Strength, Constitution, Size, Intelligence, Power (Magic Points), Dexterity and Charisma. A whole raft of calculated values come off of them - Hit Points equal Constitution plus of minus bonuses for Size and Power. High Power in addition to fueling spells gives a character an advantage in almost everything - as one of the rationals reads "It's nice being on touch with the Universe". Humans roll 3d6 for their stats, other races may roll individual stats differently, such as Ducks having a 2d6 for size.
The combat system tracks the location you hit, so you can have different hit points and AC in different locations and they handle it elegantly. You see it on the right hand side of the stat block below R LEG 0/7 is Right Leg AC 0/ 7 Hit Points. He has three points of natural armor in his head.
Other parts of the stat block.
 |
| Dragonnewt from Runequest |
Def = Defense, a passive capability subtracted from the opponent's attack,
ENC = Encumbrance, how many 'things' can a character carry. Tracks bulk as much as weight.
TF = Treasure Factor a rough guide for how tough a monster is.
SR = Strike Rank, calculated for each weapon, modified by Size and Dexterity, more or less far does your weapon reach and how fast can you move it.
Pry% = Parry, active defense;
Pts - Hit Points in the weapon - you take damage, so can your weapon. If it takes enough you need a new weapon. The butt is natural, if you break his head he's dead anyway.
I thought about doing a Dragonnewt, but decided to roll up a Broo. Broo being the satyr like evil humanoids who breed with anything they can catch (regardless of gender) and let the young eat their way out of the host. For various reasons most are vaguely goat like, but there are occasional exceptions such as the rhinoceros broo of the Big Rubble and Razalkark, the Unicorn Broo ruler of cursed Dorastor.
Half the broo carry disease and many of them, like the one below have mutations.
Blord the Greasy Broo
 |
| Broo from Borderlands & Beyond |
STR 16 CON 18 01-04 R LEG 0/7
SIZ 15 INT 13 05-08 L LEG 0/7
POW 13 DEX 15 09-11 ABDOM 0/7
CHA 5 HP 19 12 CHEST 0/8
Move 10 ENC 16 13-15 R ARM 0/6
Def 15 TF 7 16-18 L ARM 0/6
19-20 HEAD 3/7
Weapon SR Atk% Damage Pry%Pts
Butt 5 25 1d6+1d4 - 0
Skills: Tracking 60, Listen 40
Feign Death 35
Basic Magic: Binding, Bludgeon
Detect Spirit, Extinguish 2, Healing 2
Special:
The creature exudes a
greasy, flammable oil from it's skin.
it receives a +10% bonus to skill
checks involving navigating tight
places or escaping bonds.
The
creature is infected with Wasting
Disease
Base Attack 10 Base Parry 5;Base Manipulation 10 Base Stealth 5
Base Knowledge 5 Base Perception 5 Base Oratory -5 Base Move 10
Strike Rank (SIZ) 1 Strike rank (DEX) 2
Kitting him out
Blord the Greasy Broo
STR 16 CON 18 01-04 R LEG 2/7
SIZ 15 INT 13 05-08 L LEG 2/7
POW 13 DEX 15 09-11 ABDOM 4/7
CHA 5 HP 19 12 CHEST 2/8
Move 10 ENC 16 13-15 R ARM 3/6
Def 15 TF 7 16-18 L ARM 3/6
19-20 HEAD 3/7
Weapon SR Atk% Damage Pry%Pts
Butt 5 35 1d6+1d4 - 0Long Spear 4 25 1d6+1+1d4 25 15Armor: Leather Hauberk (Chest & Abdomen);Leather Pants (Abdomen and Legs) CuirbolliVambraces (Arms)Skills: Tracking 60, Listen 40
Feign Death 35
Basic Magic: Binding, Bludgeon
Detect Spirit, Extinguish 2, Healing 2
Special:
The creature exudes a
greasy, flammable oil from it's skin.
it receives a +10% bonus to skill
checks involving navigating tight
places or escaping bonds.
The
creature is infected with Wasting
Disease
Base Attack 10 Base Parry 5;Base Manipulation 10 Base Stealth 5Base Knowledge 5 Base Perception 5 Base Oratory -5 Base Move 10
Strike Rank (SIZ) 1 Strike rank (DEX) 2And I want to say that coding html stat blocks to display and print evenly is a pain.
Character Creation Challenge Posts:
2021 Character Creation Challenge
Another favorite.
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