Q&A with the new BRP Author

[Lord Twig]

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

I'm not familiar with how MRQ handled it.*

However, the BRP book uses the traditional system, but there are guidelines as to when a skill check is appropriate. If a skill is not being used to further the story and no dramatic purpose is achieves, or no reasonable threat is implied (climbing a tree or swimming in the lake), the skill use is Easy (double skill). Success at an Easy skill roll does not merit a skill improvement check.

Similarly, the GM should be able to tell players when a skill improvement roll is called for, and when it's clearly just a part of the "golf bag of weapons" exploit.

Glad to hear it. I have always loved the improvement system in BRP and would be disappointed if it had changed.

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

* I didn't want to deal with any cross-pollination from that vector, and my extremely unpleasant experiences as a onetime freelancer for Mongoose have soured me on giving them any of my money or reading a word they've published.

Wow... Just Wow. Unfortunately this is not the first time I have heard of this type of thing. I believe Steve Perrin had a similar experience.

More questions!

Are there rules for handling non-lethal damage? If so, can you comment on it? This would be especially useful superhero games where you generally knock out the bad guys and "bring them to justice". But would be useful in all genres when you need to capture someone.

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by Lord Twig

Are there rules for handling non-lethal damage? If so, can you comment on it? This would be especially useful superhero games where you generally knock out the bad guys and "bring them to justice". But would be useful in all genres when you need to capture someone.

There are rules for knocking out foes, and I think an optional rule for non-lethal damage. But I'm not 100%, as I don't have the manuscript handy and it's been a long time since the core rule stuff was written.

[The Tweaker]

Hello, Jason.

Thanks for hanging around here, answering our questions. You are really spoiling us!

And now, yet another couple of questions:

I read elsewhere that the new rules will include some kind of guidelines for stating up vehicles. I am not interested in any kind of crunchy design systems, but I would be delighted to find some simple general rules that allow you to quickly note down some basic vehicle data and using them in your games. I also read a sample mecha write-up was included in the rules. Am I right?

Also, are there any kind of guidelines or advice for making up your own creatures? I don't mind if there is not an extensive list of critters if you can easily create your own.

Thanks in advance!

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by The Tweaker

I read elsewhere that the new rules will include some kind of guidelines for stating up vehicles. I am not interested in any kind of crunchy design systems, but I would be delighted to find some simple general rules that allow you to quickly note down some basic vehicle data and using them in your games. I also read a sample mecha write-up was included in the rules. Am I right?

Also, are there any kind of guidelines or advice for making up your own creatures? I don't mind if there is not an extensive list of critters if you can easily create your own.

There are a variety of vehicles statted up, but no vehicle creation system. It's something I'd originally planned for, but was really outside the scope of what BRP is to most people (myself included).

There is a sample mech in the equipment chapter, and a giant robot in the bestiary.

There's some rough advice on customizing creatures, but no flat-out "here's how to create a new creature" system. I can't imagine anyone having any trouble using existing ones to stat up something original, though.

A book I'm sure Chaosium would love to see written soon after this one is an expanded bestiary. Any volunteers?

[Trifletraxor]

I have a feel that both a magic book and a creature book will be sorely needed, because the rule book divides the focus btw so many different power systems and settings.

Would that be a correct assumption?

Sverre.

[Enpeze]

A vehicle designer ala Gurps would be too much for BRP I think. I am trying to convert the little Gurps vehicle designer in Gurps Traveller Interstellar Wars to BRP as soon as the new book is released and I have some spare time. Its just for traveller space ships but very simple to use and allows for a lot of different spaceship designs. With some tweaking maybe it can be used for other vehicles too, I`ll see.

[Enpeze]

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

There are a variety of vehicles statted up, but no vehicle creation system. It's something I'd originally planned for, but was really outside the scope of what BRP is to most people (myself included).

There is a sample mech in the equipment chapter, and a giant robot in the bestiary.

There's some rough advice on customizing creatures, but no flat-out "here's how to create a new creature" system. I can't imagine anyone having any trouble using existing ones to stat up something original, though.

A book I'm sure Chaosium would love to see written soon after this one is an expanded bestiary. Any volunteers?

I would love to contribute something, but my english is much too bad.

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by Trifletraxor

I have a feel that both a magic book and a creature book will be sorely needed, because the rule book divides the focus btw so many different power systems and settings.

Would that be a correct assumption?

Sverre.

I'd love to see someone do books on either subject.

I think if I handle a 'core' book after the rulebook, it'll be an expanded powers book with some more magic, sorcery, spirit magic, rune magic, more superpowers, more mutations, more psychic powers, demon creation rules, etc. But on the other hand, I would happily watch someone else write it.

It came up during the playtest, and I know that Doyle Tavener was working on a ritual magic book.

An expanded bestiary would be a natural expansion. I'm sure I don't have the time to write it, though, and I firmly believe that a better resource would be world sourcebooks with appropriate creatures, rather than a big book of monsters (of which 90% aren't going to be used in your campaign).

[Trifletraxor]

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

I think if I handle a 'core' book after the rulebook, it'll be an expanded powers book with some more magic, sorcery, spirit magic, rune magic, more superpowers, more mutations, more psychic powers, demon creation rules, etc.

I like the sound of that!

An expanded bestiary would be a natural expansion. I'm sure I don't have the time to write it, though, and I firmly believe that a better resource would be world sourcebooks with appropriate creatures, rather than a big book of monsters (of which 90% aren't going to be used in your campaign).

Kindoff agree with that. The Glorantha Bestiary was mostly filled up with useless critters from Pamaltela!

Cheers,
Sverre.

[Enpeze]

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

I'd love to see someone do books on either subject.

I think if I handle a 'core' book after the rulebook, it'll be an expanded powers book with some more magic, sorcery, spirit magic, rune magic, more superpowers, more mutations, more psychic powers, demon creation rules, etc. But on the other hand, I would happily watch someone else write it.

It came up during the playtest, and I know that Doyle Tavener was working on a ritual magic book.

An expanded bestiary would be a natural expansion. I'm sure I don't have the time to write it, though, and I firmly believe that a better resource would be world sourcebooks with appropriate creatures, rather than a big book of monsters (of which 90% aren't going to be used in your campaign).

I like the way SB5 handled the creature section. There is a list with special creatures and supernatural entities. Another one very useful passage with typical NPCs and a short single page list with natural beasts (the latter without graphical display which is very good because everbody knows how a elephant looks like)