arnold@umcp-cs.UUCP (10/27/83)
The information that I have on the Avalon Hill edition of RuneQuest is from 'Different Worlds' magazine issue 30/september 1983 by Chaosium page 43. There are going to be four books: Basic Rulebook, Magic Book, Creatures Book, and Gamemastering Book. The Basic Rulebook includes an introduction to FRP (hopefully similar to Basic Role Playing); Character Generation - changes to int and siz stats, cha has been replaced with app, and a new method for initial experance; The Game System - mechanics of the game i.e. dice, fumbles, critical, ...; Combat - changed from 12 strike ranks to 10 strink ranks (this remove my favorite uses of the d12, when something random will happen in a round) also a section on mounted combat; skill - new skills catagories and changing of old catagories; The world - information about natural events ( acts of gods). The Magic Book includes intoduction to magic - changes in pow and int uses for magic; Ritual Magic - something new ; Primitive magic - old battle magic, changes in shaman rules; Divine magic - old rune magic; sorcery - new skills based on the magic system. Creatures Books - much like the D&D monster manual Gamemaster Book includes How to run a scenario - sounds interresting; Civilization - deifines standard population centers, money, trade, time table , ...; Scenarios - old standard and some new ones Besides these four book other information includes an Introduction to Glorantha, Converting Characters to RQ3, Other components to play the game. The Avalon Hill - Chaosium Pack is planning relasing other materials: Introduction to Glorantha (new), Introduction to Alternate Earth (new) Prax Pak (Cults of Prax) , and Boarderlands (new version). I think that this is a good move for FRP, Chaosium and Avalon Hill. It may even put a scare in Gary Gygax about Runequest becoming a strong second to D&D. The combat system should be better off with the new changes. The Magic system is getting more powerful, with all the different types of magic that is avaible. It should still work out fine. Seperating the game master book from the rest of the information is an idea that Chaosium should have done long ago. One does not want ones players to accidentally read what they should not read. Being a FAN of Runequest ( Having editions I & II, Wyrms Foot notes from 5 to end, and all of the Different Worlds) I would by the new edition of RuneQuest even if it cost $30.00 RuneQuest is the one of the best FRP system that I have seen and the Third edition can only make it better. Now: Back to attack the Ph.D. creature ---- arnold@umcp-cs-- --- Arnold Miller, U of Maryland, College Park MD Usenet: ...!seismo!umcp-cs!arnold Arpanet: arnold%umcp-cs@CSNet-Relay