BRP as a first game vs. "converting" gamers --

[NickMiddleton]

Originally Posted by frogspawner

Where? A-ha!

What a grotesque and blasphemously cyclopean bulk! 22 pages?? I'm sure it's quality stuff (I'll read it later) but can no-one at Chaosium edit? I think 4, or 8 tops, would be more like it... Something to give away free, something to put through all the neighbourhood's letter-boxes... (ok, perhaps not Cthulhu, in that case!)

*shrug* GURPS lite for 4th edition GURPS is 32 pages and includes no scenario. In the Cthulhu quick start the actual rules bit is pages 5 - 11. Pages 12 to 19 are the classic scenario "The Haunting", revised for novice Keepers, and the rest is the usual padding (Cover, blank character sheet, details of other Chaosium products). I'm not sure what you were expecting, but I think Ben Monroe and William Jones did a bang-up job of distilling the core rules of that game and sprucing up a classic scenario for new players, and they do it in 14 pages (ignoring padding), including a scenario such that you genuinely could run the game with just the quick start - not something that's possible with say GURPS lite.

Cheers,

Nick Middleton

[Trifletraxor]

4 pages for a system? That's just not do-able. Even 16 is short.

SGL.

[frogspawner]

Challenge accepted! But I'm busy now, and away for the weekend...

[jarulf]

Originally Posted by NickMiddleton

I noticed Jason said: (my emphasis)...

Well, if you put that emphasis on it... One can hope.

I'm sure the power systems available in the core book will all be fine (I'm not an initiate of the EZ cult, so can't comment), but I also think I'm not the only one who'd like to see the ones for RQ updated for the new book. And while they're at it they can do Mysticism and Dragon Magic as well

[darkheart]

Originally Posted by RosenMcStern

Let characters distribute stats from a pre-determined point pool. Let them roll one more die and drop the lowest die. Let them swap rolls. Do as you like. Character creation is just a guideline in BRP - adjust it to your taste.

It's the toss up between point buy mini maxing vs random stats. I've used a few diferent ideas in the past. This last time I gave characters extra points for low rolls that they could distribute where ever they wanted. This ended up with people with still crap rolls but with DEX of 16-18.

Originally Posted by RosenMcStern

Add one additional tick per extra successful use if character does something really heroic (frex criticals). When improvement is rolled, add 5 to the die roll per each extra tick. Simple and not too disruptive.

I like this idea. I like it I does. I reckon I shall impliment it in the current game.

Originally Posted by RosenMcStern

All in all, one of the beauties of BRP is that you do not have to adhere strictly to the rules, especially WRT character creation and development, and there are dozens of already-tested variations you can use.

Pretty much every RPG says the same thing. Getting back into RQ though after a few years off I wanted to just go straight from the book.
I'm hoping the new BRP has some decent new idea to pull from to counter some of the issues.

[RosenMcStern]

Originally Posted by darkheart

It's the toss up between point buy mini maxing vs random stats. I've used a few diferent ideas in the past. This last time I gave characters extra points for low rolls that they could distribute where ever they wanted. This ended up with people with still crap rolls but with DEX of 16-18.

A known problem. DEX is an uberstat in all BRP incarnations, even worse in MRQ. Make it count less and you will see more balanced characters.

I like this idea. I like it I does. I reckon I shall impliment it in the current game.

In fact this houserule has survived for erm, something like 15 years, and with GMs other than me. A tad complex but effective

Pretty much every RPG says the same thing.

Sad but true. Get over it and get rid of the parts you don't like (99% in D&D).

[frogspawner]

Originally Posted by Trifletraxor

4 pages for a system? That's just not do-able. Even 16 is short.

BRP - A Brief Introduction

Ok, how's this? A boiled-down (and updated) version of the original BRP pamphlet. It's 5 pages, not 4, but close enough to establish the principle, I hope. And not all the shrinkage is due to using a smaller point-size!

Just thought I'd put this out there for comments before putting any more work in. And is it even a worthwhile exercise? Making it smaller still is possible, but will be harder...

[RosenMcStern]

Remember that not everyone has MS Word. Convert it into PDF before publishing (it also becomes easier to read).

[frogspawner]

And not everyone likes Adobe/pdf's. Anyone who doesn't have Word might like to download the Word Viewer, free.

[Trifletraxor]

Originally Posted by frogspawner

Just thought I'd put this out there for comments before putting any more work in. And is it even a worthwhile exercise? Making it smaller still is possible, but will be harder...

A very good introduction to the system!

(only the heading looks like some strange formula, was it supposed to be some font I don't have maybe?)

SGL.