Is the BRP System Tough to Learn for "Casual Gamers?"

[Jason Durall]

One of the things on my plate is a revision of the 16-page BRP booklet, featuring the basic-est version of the rules (no options, simplified somewhat).

I'm hoping it'll be available either cheaply or free via .pdf, and will be one of those "you could technically run a non-powers game from just this if you wanted to" sorts of products.

[Atgxtg]

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

One of the things on my plate is a revision of the 16-page BRP booklet, featuring the basic-est version of the rules (no options, simplified somewhat).

I'm hoping it'll be available either cheaply or free via .pdf, and will be one of those "you could technically run a non-powers game from just this if you wanted to" sorts of products.

That would be a nice idea. Maybe something a little more that the 16 page booklet. Like a 32 page book with some armor, and weapons, and a mini pick-a-path solo would be a nice "BRP-lite" Intro game.

[seneschal]

I second the motion!

[jarulf]

Originally Posted by Atgxtg

While I'm not a fan of D&D, I'll state that a lot of this depends on the GM and how he presents/teaches the game.

That's probably true, except this GM doesn't really remember exactly how D&D works (and thus in retrospect probably shouldn't have mentioned it). I played a lot of 1st ed in the 80's, but have only encountered 3.0/3.5 in computer games.

Originally Posted by Atgxtg

The approach you used for a 9 year old is probably the right approach for a 15 year old of a 50 year old, too.

He didn't seem to mind. I didn't bother with going through 'proper' character generation. We decided what kind of character he was going to play, and I just gave him suitable skills. Some I didn't think of at first came up during play when he asked to do stuff, so I just said "ok you have 40% in that".

I'm a very inexperienced GM but I think I managed to fool him

[jarulf]

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

One of the things on my plate is a revision of the 16-page BRP booklet, featuring the basic-est version of the rules (no options, simplified somewhat). .

That sounds like a great idea. I play mostly on-line now and have been in several GURPS games. Many potential players express interest but haven't got the rules but with the GURPS lite rules they can still take part.
I suspect their presence sells the real game, though I've no evidence of that.

[Enpeze]

Originally Posted by jarulf

That sounds like a great idea. I play mostly on-line now and have been in several GURPS games. Many potential players express interest but haven't got the rules but with the GURPS lite rules they can still take part.
I suspect their presence sells the real game, though I've no evidence of that.

I am sure you are right. A 16p booklet as pdf for download would be great for newbies. It would also important not to forget a simplified character sheet for this project. i was always fond of the minimalistic A5 character sheet which was part of the old online BRP rules.

[Enpeze]

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

One of the things on my plate is a revision of the 16-page BRP booklet, featuring the basic-est version of the rules (no options, simplified somewhat).

I'm hoping it'll be available either cheaply or free via .pdf, and will be one of those "you could technically run a non-powers game from just this if you wanted to" sorts of products.

Jason, if the text/pictures are ready and if you like a professional layout for this 16p booklet, let me know. I am graphic designer in my normal job and layouting this should be no problem for me. I use the usual programs like Photoshop, Xpress and Illustrator and the end format would be an pdf optimized for screen and fast download. And I would do it for free of course.

[The Tweaker]

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

One of the things on my plate is a revision of the 16-page BRP booklet, featuring the basic-est version of the rules (no options, simplified somewhat).

I'm hoping it'll be available either cheaply or free via .pdf, and will be one of those "you could technically run a non-powers game from just this if you wanted to" sorts of products.

I am thankful Triff added a few nifty smileys to reflect my opinion on this:

I am also pretty sure that things like Savage Worlds' Test Drive rules really helped to increase the sales of the rulebook for PEGINC.

I think it would be cool if someone stole another good idea from them and created free one-sheet adventures in the same vein as they do: a simple outline for an adventure, a set of pregenerated characters and a few bad guys to beat or an enigma to solve (or both! ).

[Atgxtg]

Originally Posted by The Tweaker

I think it would be cool if someone stole another good idea from them and created free one-sheet adventures in the same vein as they do: a simple outline for an adventure, a set of pregenerated characters and a few bad guys to beat or an enigma to solve (or both! ).

More like reclaim a good idea. Prince Valiant used to have these in the back on the book. They had some options

Those might be a bit beyond the original concept. Could be something we could add to it though.

I'd also be favorable to some, poor/average/good type NPC writeups such as the ones used in RQ Vikings and Pendragon.

[The Tweaker]

Originally Posted by Atgxtg

More like reclaim a good idea. Prince Valiant used to have these in the back on the book. They had some options

Those might be a bit beyond the original concept. Could be something we could add to it though.

Yes, you're right. I was thinking they could be separate downloads available in Chaosium's website or here, much like PEGINC's one-sheets.