Q&A with the new BRP Author

[Atgxtg]

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

Oh, I'm not cranky or anything... it's just at 29 pages and counting, this thread has wandered so far over the place that it's not entirely useful as a resource any more.

I prefer more focused threads (with specific titles) that are easier for searching later, rather than having to remember that X was talked about on page 14 of a particular thread (whose title may not reflect the particular subject).

So, from now on I'll just duck out of this thread and answer questions in any new threads, as it'll be a much more useful resource in the future.

Uh, Jason,

Not to start trouble, but you have sort of gone off on a few tangents yourself, and that sort of give tacit approval to everyone else going off topic.
For instance,

While chatting with a coworker about games and BRP (he's a Call of Cthulhu player), we both lamented that it's impossible to "spring" the Mythos on a player as he (usually) knows what he's getting into.

It struck me that BRP allows a GM to do "the switch" (not in the Seinfeldian sense), starting with a generic system and players who may have no idea what's in store during the campaign.

So a normal world BRP game might suddenly veer into horror or science-fiction.

is off topic and has nothing to do with BRP Q&A (it's a good topic for a new thread, though).

I humbly suggest that rather than ducking out from the Q&AA to lots of different threads, we all just keep this thread "locked" onto Q&A and anyone with side questions start new threads for THOSE.


How about you, and/or Triff, and/or an assigned moderated enforce a "stay on topic" rule for this particular thread., and post a "off topic/please start new thread" reminder when we begin to stray?

Otherwise the problem will just move with us, as we jump from thread to thread and topic to topic. Sorry, but that's what will happen.

[Trifletraxor]

Hi Jason!

Do you know if the new cover is finished? Have you had a chance to look at it?

SGL.

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by Trifletraxor

Hi Jason!

Do you know if the new cover is finished? Have you had a chance to look at it?

Hey Trif!

Sadly, "no" and "no" are my answers.

But I'll keep folks posted as soon as I know, and I'm sure Chaosium will let me post something when it's done and final.

Thanks,

Jason

[The Last Conformist]

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

SAN = INT+POW (reasoning and will help resist insanity)

In some settings, perhaps. In Cthulhuverse, reasoning will only speed your descent!

While SAN is obviously an odd one out, it never struck me to regard the calculations of MP and HP as inconsistent. Both can be regarded as the (rounded) average of the relevant characteristics - it's just that for MP, there is only one relevant characteristic.

[The Last Conformist]

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

I've suggested before that the spirit, divine, and ritual magic from RQ; some de-Lovecraftized Call of Cthulhu magic; the Ki powers from Land of Ninja; more info on demon summoning from Stormbringer (4th edition); and some of the expanded magic from The Bronze Grimiore and The Unknown East would make a kick-ass BRP Magic.

I don't have SB4 - are the summoning rules similar to E!/SB5? I always liked the design-your-own-demon aspect.



Back to the actual BRP book, I understand there's a point buy option for chargen? Is it totally open à la GURPS (I think I'll lower my CON to buy more Persuade) or more structured à la, say, World of Darkness (X points for stats, Y points for skills, etc)?

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by The Last Conformist

I don't have SB4 - are the summoning rules similar to E!/SB5? I always liked the design-your-own-demon aspect.

They're similar, not entirely compatible. The SB4 rules are essentially based on the old Superworld powers (or so the author Ben Monroe claims), while the Elric!/SB5 ones are more low-key.

Originally Posted by The Last Conformist

Back to the actual BRP book, I understand there's a point buy option for chargen? Is it totally open à la GURPS (I think I'll lower my CON to buy more Persuade) or more structured à la, say, World of Darkness (X points for stats, Y points for skills, etc)?

The rules suggest four power levels - normal, heroic, epic, and superhuman.

You get X points to be divided amongst characteristics, and skills are handled through skill points. Each power level has a different point value.

There is no "turn in a characteristic for X skill points" or vice versa, though if you're using the super powers system, the Super Characteristics and Super Skills powers can be used for those aspects, and those points come out of the same bucket.

It's possible for the GM to decide to have PCs begin with heroic-level characteristics and superhuman-level skills, or any combination, based on the setting and desired style of gameplay.

[The Last Conformist]

Thanks.