Q&A with the new BRP Author

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by tal

Is there anything taken from the Shattered Isle suppliment? I am thinking specifically on the Aerial combat rules and the vehicles.

Nothing from there.

The chase rules from Call of Cthulhu are in the BRP corebook, but I suspect that one of the most demanded expansions to the core book will be a more robust or detailed vehicular combat system. I did some work on adapting the system from Sailing on the Seas of Fate and looked at the systems in Ringworld and Worlds Beyond (if I remember correctly), but it got to the point where it was, once more, way outside the scope of what BRP was intended to be.

I may put a system like that together as a web freebie to coincide with the core book. I'll send an email to Dustin and see if he's game and if they'll host it.

[Trifletraxor]

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

I may put a system like that together as a web freebie to coincide with the core book. I'll send an email to Dustin and see if he's game and if they'll host it.

If not, there's always the hungry wiki!

SGL.

[Rurik]

Is hit location information included for all the creatures (as locations are optional)?

Thanks again.

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by Rurik

Is hit location information included for all the creatures (as locations are optional)?

There's a big collection at the end of the bestiary chapter with a dozen different hit location charts and the breakdown of how HP are divided amongst them. With that is a breakdown of HPs showing the different divisions (1/2, 1/3, 1/4/ 1/5, 2/5, etc.) for ease of reference for the math-challenged.

It's not as easy as RQ3's bestiary was, but then, those values were based on average stats and weren't accurate if the creature had a non-average SIZ and/or CON.

[threedeesix]

Hey Jason,

I was meaning to ask this and figured this was a good place in case anyone else is wondering the same thing.

I know this wasn't in the Playtest document I saw but was kinda hoping it could be a late addition.

In Pulp Cthulhu (I believe, as I havn't seen it) there was mention of a "Trait" system, something like a lighter version of advantages and disadvantages. Any chance of this making it in as an option?

Rod

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by threedeesix

In Pulp Cthulhu (I believe, as I havn't seen it) there was mention of a "Trait" system, something like a lighter version of advantages and disadvantages. Any chance of this making it in as an option?

Not much chance at all.

The majority of the playtesters were adamantly against traits in the way they're commonly understood. It was, I think, one of the bitterest discussions during the entire playtest process, and stemmed not from a discussion about traits, but the introduction of the special "profession abilities" from the Call of Cthulhu Investigator's Handbook. (If you're curious, those got cut.)

Personally, I'm not really in favor of them for "core" BRP, though I've enjoyed them mightily in other games. If someone wants to put together a traits system as a fan-made submission, or make them a part of a monograph, that's perfectly acceptable and I'd be interested in seeing such a system. Whether I'd use it... it would depend on the system.

[badcat]

Good. The book looks better and better, to me.

[Nightshade]

[Deleted for off-topicallity].

[Trifletraxor]

So, anything more you can tell us about the cover Jason? The news section are screaming for more rumours you know...

SGL.

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by Trifletraxor

So, anything more you can tell us about the cover Jason? The news section are screaming for more rumours you know...

SGL.

I don't know anything solid.

The gist of what I reported on rpg.net is that Chaosium is aware that there is a negative perception, and is considering options.

I am aware of some of the options, and unaware of others.

If one of those options I'm aware comes to pass, I will be exceptionally pleased. (And that's beyond being unbelievably ecstatic that a core BRP rulebook largely written by me is actually in print.)

Obviously, I can't really speak publicly about the behind-the-scenes situation. I also don't want to give anyone the impression that a new cover is a foregone conclusion, because it's outside my control.