Hey all,

Has anyone played using Chaosium's basic roleplaying system?  I've been looking around on their website and it looks like it could be promising.  I like the idea of a generic system that could be used for anything (I know GURPS is out there but could never really get into that system's mechanics) and some of the campaign settings they have are pretty sweet sounding.  Anyway, just asking for yall's thoughts or experiences with the system.

Thanks for the offer.  I'd like to take a look at it if you don't mind.  I'm interested in the idea of not having set levels and that skills advance as you use them (which is something I really liked about the Morrowind game if you've ever played it).  I'm gonna be out of town this weekend but I plan on making it to next week's game.

Kebb wrote on Jul 14^th, 2010 at 4:52pm:

Yeah, I've played all 4 of the main Elder Scrolls games, but none of the off shoots like Redguard or Blackspire (I think).

Not sure about actual published material, but I am sure there is fan created stuff.  I guess the best thing to try is do a google search for your system of choice and elder scrolls.

gurps elder scrolls
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Lots of fan conversion and questions and stuff.

BRP elder scrolls
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From what I have seen with a quick scan of a couple of these links is the BRP is the way to go to closely match the skill system used in the computer games.

hewhorocks wrote on Jul 14^th, 2010 at 6:52pm:

mmmmmmm......RuneQuest......drool  Been a damn long time for that one.  Some of the most fun in middle and high school playing that.

Picked up Mongoose's RuneQuest II Core Rulebook last week or so, have not had a chance to read it yet, but thumbing through it looks like they kept the system for the most part intact.  Deeper reading when I get the time will let me decide if it is any good.

New to the boards here, Hi everyone........ but I have been playing with BRP in the form of Runequest /CoC for over 20 years and still believe it's the most versatile system out there.

To a new player I would describe some of the Pro's as:-

1. Very intuitive % based system, no cryptic THAC0's or dots to count.

2. Scaleable villains. A single trollkin (goblin equivalent) can still be deadly to high level characters as a dragon.

3. Very rich campaign backgrounds available from Glorantha, and Cthulhu to Ancient Rome, Ringworld and Superheroes. Many still available OOP or via ebay etc.

4. Various types of magic systems available

5. Much cheaper than 4e, WFRP/40K or White Wolf to collect.


Cons would include:-

1. Little sparse on detail in some areas that gamers want detail such as exhaustive fatigue rules or psionics

2. Large combats can bog down when you're not familiar with the rules, but with practice they can be as fluid as nay system and have a host of extra details in optional rules.

3. PC's can die easily. As mentioned as a pro even apparently  minor enemies can deliver deadly critical blows.

4. Some of the depth of background materials can be intimidating. Don't worry about it, it's your game use what you want.


I could go on but you get the idea....highly recommended.

Just to add to Hew's linky.  Here is the quick-start for the base BRP system.

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If you want to wait a few days I'll bring both the BRP Core book and the RuneQuest II (Mongoose) to the game so you can give them a once over and see what you like before you decide. 

Yes, the BRP is just rules, but if you look on the Chaosium website there are alot of monographs that will cover a variety of settings.  From Fantasy and Rome, to Sci-Fi and Apocalyptic, and a bit in between.  It would also not be that hard to use another setting from another game.

RuneQuest II is, for the most part, stand alone fantasy but the defacto setting for it is Glorantha.  There is also Lankhmar and soon to be released the Elric (Stormbringer) world.  While the introduction to MRQ2 stated the rule set can be used for any setting and genre, it does focus on gritty fantasy.  The thing to keep in mind is although this game was originally a BRP game when produced my Chaosium, Mongoose has changed the system a bit.  It is still d100 but there are a few significant changes, at least that is what I see from the little I have read of the RQ2 Core book and seen on the BRP forums, that may not be fully compatible with BRP.

Let me know about the books and I'll bring them on Saturday.

You could make any rules set work for you if you dont mind a little elbow grease. Not having a setting married to the rules allows you to beg, borrow and steal to get you own setting how you envision it. Sounds like a bit of work but computers really help cut the workload down. BRP will make you set the core assumptions for your game (by making you determine which mechanics you incorporate) This will help you in conveying your setting to your players though its a little more work on the front end.

What I mean is if your using a sanity mechanic then we automaticly know something about the game world. Its like determining keywords for the setting.

I think the settings available are all probably pretty good though you will run into players expectations by using them. "A Tie fighter's core can be used to power an independant shield generator didnt you read rouge squadron 44?" If your going to pull together something unique and put in the effort in the front end then BRP may be up your alley.

The thing is with any homebrew campaign though is you have to enjoy the building process. The game can suffer if you try to build railroad tracks to your coolest creations.

Runequest has a very cool setting (in my opinion) and it has the benefit of not being as widely known as say Forgotten realms etc. Mongoose does seem to do a good job of breathing new life into vintage games. (Their travelller stuff get a thumbs up from me.) But unless you are looking to go right out of the box into the Runequest world I might lean towards BRP.

Just my .02