Thread: How to fix Mongoose RuneQuest/Glorantha

Originally Posted by frogspawner

No. The point in bold breaks Glorantha by turning it into just another D&D-style "kill things and their stuff" setting (or can do, if Runes are anything other than extremely rare).

I do realise that you believe physical runes that can be integrated by someone after the previous host has died ARE AN ABOMINATION AND HAVE NO PLACE IN GLORANTHA AND ANY POSSIBILITY OF THEM BREAKS GLORANTHA AND RUINS IT AND STEALS MY PET TEDDY BEAR (sob, I loved that teddy bear).

I think you'll find that players who like to kill things and steal their stuff will do so regardless.

If in your Glorantha physical runes are extremely rare or maybe don't even exist, then allow the casting of rune magic without the need for a physically integrated rune. Or ignore MRQ and play with RQ3 or BRP with RQ3 options. If you wish for runes to exist but dissipate after the host dies then that's your Glorantha. I suggest however that if you wish to debate the nature of runes in Glorantha and whether physical rune objects exist or not that a Glorantha list would be better.

Originally Posted by soltakss

You should never derive setting-specific information from game mechanics.

I disagree. I thing the game mechanics should reflect the setting, so extrapolating one from the other should work. If it doesn't work, then there is probably a problem with the game system representing the setting. The problem here is that while RQ/BRP is a good system, it wasn't a good fit for Glorantha.

Originally Posted by soltakss

RQM has runes and is set in the 2nd Age. RQ2/3 didn't have runes in the same way and is set in the 3rd Age. This doesn't mean that runes disappeared in the 2nd Age. In my opinion, anyway.

RQ2/3 did have runes. It's just that runes were incorporated into the Cult and Rune Magic system. Frankly, I think physical runes should be in the setting, but I don't think the MRQ method is right for Glorantha.

HeroQuest 2 is going to have runes and is set in 3rd Age. Does that mean that 3rd Age suddenly has runes again?

Depends on how they use the,m. What I7d like to see is the runic sysmbols being used, rather than physical "left overs". For instance, making the runic symbols focuses for spells. What I could see for the "bones/blood of the gods" idea would be something like a maxtrix and/or POW storing device.

For example, anyone could learn Bladesharp who knew the right rune(s), but a Bladesharp rune drawn in Humakt's blood might be usable by anyone, or maybe double the level of the spell. Rune Lords and Priests might even be able to get a few drops of blood from their deity, too. In other words kind of like relics.

Now since this is HQ that we are talking about, rather than RQ, I'm not quiote sure just how they plan to implement runes.

Originally Posted by deleriad

I do realise that you believe physical runes that can be integrated by someone after the previous host has died ARE AN ABOMINATION AND HAVE NO PLACE IN GLORANTHA AND ANY POSSIBILITY OF THEM BREAKS GLORANTHA AND RUINS IT AND STEALS MY PET TEDDY BEAR (sob, I loved that teddy bear).

Really? Then I'm afraid you realize wrong. My previous postings have said how the new idea of physical runes could have a place in Glorantha - if done properly.

Originally Posted by deleriad

I think you'll find that players who like to kill things and steal their stuff will do so regardless.

Rules shouldn't force such behaviour though. MRQ does.

Originally Posted by Atgxtg

Depends on how they use the,m. What I7d like to see is the runic sysmbols being used, rather than physical "left overs". For instance, making the runic symbols focuses for spells. What I could see for the "bones/blood of the gods" idea would be something like a maxtrix and/or POW storing device.

Sounds like a good implementation. Probably too compatible with pre-existing versions for them to use in HQ2, though...

Originally Posted by deleriad

Or ignore MRQ and play with RQ3 or BRP with RQ3 options.

To play Glorantha, I'd use BRP with my usual simple options (and a few house rules). Ignoring MRQ of course.

For those among us who might want to use Mongoose Glorantha material, what else (aside from Runes!) is there in MRQ stuff that needs conversion for use with BRP?

Originally Posted by frogspawner

For those among us who might want to use Mongoose Glorantha material, what else (aside from Runes!) is there in MRQ stuff that needs conversion for use with BRP?

Depends what you're wanting to achieve. If you're wanting to use Dedicated POW rather than sacrifice POW then clearly you'll need to adapt that. The Grimoires and orders from Cults II for sorcery might be useful though that's not open content. Similarly shamanism - though you have to unpick the editing disasters. Other material for the second age would be Draconic Mysticism and God Learner sorcery from Magic of Glorantha. The stuff on HeroQuesting can probably just as easily be adopted from HeroQuest. The Dragonewt and Aldryami source books have a lot of useful material in them.

99% of the stuff can be just copied and pasted. There's the odd spell that needs refining to work without hit locations and/or to take account of General Hit Points but that's about it. Any spells that can be resisted with resilience or persistence become POW vs POW instead.

Originally Posted by deleriad

Depends what you're wanting to achieve.

Basically, rules to convert MRQ-statted characters so they can be used in BRP campaigns. That shouldn't be hard, should it?

If Resilience/Persistence can just be crossed out (and POWvPOW used instead), then that's a great start!

Originally Posted by frogspawner

Basically, rules to convert MRQ-statted characters so they can be used in BRP campaigns. That shouldn't be hard, should it?

If Resilience/Persistence can just be crossed out (and POWvPOW used instead), then that's a great start!

That is a different thread. I think I've seem some chatter elsewhere. It can easily be done by eye with the following caveat:

MRQ weapon and armour values are closer to RQ2 than BRP. That said, if a character has a Bastard Sword then they have a Bastard Sword so use BRP stats.

MRQ uses hit locations but not general Hit Points. Therefore you will have to calculate your own. That said MRQ uses pretty standard BRP stat skills so you can simply use your favourite option. If you are using hit locations then MRQ does not use RQ3/BRP hit location calculations and you probably need to use the BRP ones to be fair to PCs. MRQ hit locations have 1 hit point per every 5 points (or portion) of CON+SIZ with an adjustment for location (+1 abdomen, +2 chest etc).
Average human (CON 10 SIZ 13) in BRP is
Legs: 4, Abdo 4, Chest 5, Arms 3, Head 4 if I remember correctly.
In MRQ same person is:
Legs: 5, Abdo 6, Chest 7, Arms 4, Head 5.
i.e. an MRQ character usually has 1-2 HP per location more than a BRP average.

Originally Posted by RosenMcStern

I do not know the proposed rule mechanics for runes in the new HeroQuest system as I missed all conventions last year, but seeing HeroQuest and RuneQuest converge more would not displease me.

News on HeroQuest's new Rune Magic from Continuum 2008 can be heard in this podcast here:
Continuum 2008 Rune Magic Seminar

or here:
Continuum 2008 Rune Magic Seminar - MP3

Originally Posted by Darran

News on HeroQuest's new Rune Magic from Continuum 2008 can be heard in this podcast here:
Continuum 2008 Rune Magic Seminar

or here:
Continuum 2008 Rune Magic Seminar - MP3

They are very enlightening and I have based my ideas on how Gloranthan runes might work in RQ (and, by association, BRP) on them. The concept of people being born with runic relations based on their culture, family, social & religious history makes a lot of sense to me. As does rune matching when joining theistic cults.

If I were re-writing MRQ I would make the runic powers table a little more free-form. E.g. if someone has an air rune then at affinity level they can make minor manifestations (making a candle gutter), at integration they can do more and with mastery even more. Then again I would probably also get all sort of nerdy and match runes with skills so your rune casting skill can augment a matching skill and draw up associations with metals, colours, weapons and behavioural traits.

Originally Posted by sdavies2720

I'm not running Glorantha, but a land inspired by White Bear & Red Moon, RQ, and therefore by reflection Glorantha.

I always thought that Apotheosis (attainment of godhood) required mastery, or ownership (I'm not near my reference materials to see if that is a real distinction) of one or more Runes.

So my take is: The Power eminates from the Runes. Gods & Goddesses control, transform, and direct that power for their own ends. Priests worship the Gods and Goddesses to partake in the power that they control. But, some people access the Rune power directly, and some people access the Rune power by using the power imbued in the land, special rocks, plants, etc.

Steve

I like this idea. I did a lot of soul searching about the physical Runes. I have reconciled it thus.

Physical Runes exist, but they are big. Geograhic in fact. These are places of power and shrines and temples have sprung up on them. So in order to attune a Rune, you need to go on pilgrimage and do 'tasks' 'stations' heroquests? Not sure yet. My Glorantha will vary.

Anyway, you'll need to quest for these runes and will be guarded by temples etc. Once you are dead, its gone.

Was also thinking of giving the runes a % rating too. That way, you gain mastery at 100%.