Sell me on Basic Roleplaying.

[Lord Dynel]

Okay, my FLGS has had this copy of Chaosium's Basic Roleplaying on the shelf now for...gosh, a year now? I'm a sucker for generic systems, but I have absolutely no experience with Chaosium (and guy at the FLGS was like, "well, it's the same system that they use for CoC"...but that's doesn't help me as I have no experience with Chaosium whatsoever).

So can anyone educate me on this system? It looks liek you can play just about any genre from this book, so that's a plus. Other than that, I know basically nothing.
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LD's C&C creations - the witch, a half-ogre, skill and 0-level rules

Troll Lord wrote:
Lord D: you understand where I"m coming from.

[Treebore]

I own it, but I haven't really learned it yet, all I know is its percentile based and supposed to be pretty easy to learn and use. I hope to get around to learning it one of these days, soon.

I am pretty sure several board members know it much better than I do.
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[Aramis]

Lord Dynel wrote:
Okay, my FLGS has had this copy of Chaosium's Basic Roleplaying on the shelf now for...gosh, a year now? I'm a sucker for generic systems, but I have absolutely no experience with Chaosium (and guy at the FLGS was like, "well, it's the same system that they use for CoC"...but that's doesn't help me as I have no experience with Chaosium whatsoever).

So can anyone educate me on this system? It looks liek you can play just about any genre from this book, so that's a plus. Other than that, I know basically nothing.

Here is a 48 page quickstart
http://catalog.chaosium.com/product_inf ... ts_id=3700

(I think you need to register to download)

As Treebore said, it is a skill based system, roll percentile. It is the system used for some pretty neat games (Stormbringer, Call of Cthulhu, Runequest). But they probably get high marks more for flavour, than for system

The quickstart will give a taste of it, I assume
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"Kids, you tried your best, and you failed miserably. The lesson is: never try"

Homer Simpson

[Traveller]

To be fair, Basic Roleplaying was distilled from Runequest, the first game to use the system. Chaosium's biggest games all used the system:

RuneQuest

Call of Cthulhu

Stormbringer

Pendragon

Ringworld

Superworld

Worlds of Wonder (includes an abbreviated version of Superworld)

While the basic system remained the same, there were subtle differences between all the systems. The most notable was Call of Cthulhu's sanity mechanics, which didn't appear in any other game. Pendragon's mechanics are the furthest from Basic Roleplaying, though it is a BRP system game.

The quickstart will give a taste, but the system is notable for two things: being the first "house system" in existence, and being one of the easiest systems to learn because to resolve actions, depending upon whether the action is opposed or unopposed...

Roll 1d% less than or equal to your score in the given skill (unopposed).

Roll 1d% less than or equal to a score determined on a table. The score is determined by comparing the active attribute to the resisting attribute. (opposed).

In fact, before I stopped working on it, I had converted AD&D classes, spells, and some of the monsters over to Basic Roleplaying. I still might.
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[Lord Dynel]

Interesting. I didn't know about the Quick Start, I'll check that out. Thanks for the info guys!
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LD's C&C creations - the witch, a half-ogre, skill and 0-level rules

Troll Lord wrote:
Lord D: you understand where I"m coming from.

[Piperdog]

I don't have BRP, though I still may get it. I do have RuneQuest II, which is pretty darn cool, though a little more complex than I normally care for. Still, it has some cool concepts, like combat manuvers, hit location, and hit points assigned to limbs, torso, head, etc, allowing aimed shots. The magic system looks very interesting as well.

Oh, just a nitpick really, but I dislike the attribute system just a bit. It is a percentile system, yet uses D&D 3-18 style stats. I would rather they were d100 stats....that just makes sense to me. That's just me. As a whole, the system is very solid and deserves a run through. If I really find that I dig it, I will upgrade from my pdf to the hardcover.[/quote]
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When in doubt as to who is in charge on the battlefield, listen to the man with the bloodiest sword.

[Traveller]

Piperdog, be careful.

Are you talking about Chaosium RuneQuest II or Mongoose RuneQuest II? Mongoose RuneQuest doesn't use the Basic Roleplaying System, since that would have required Mongoose to license the system from Chaosium. That said, it is highly compatible with Chaosium RuneQuest products.
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My small homage to E.G.G.

[Omote]

Here comes the sales pitch:

BRP - I like it.

~O
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> Omote's Advanced C&C stuff <
Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society

[DangerDwarf]

Its a good system but I think it is overated. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing that got me excited either. It exists and it doesn't suck.

[moriarty777]

I approve of Chaosium core products:

I own some CoC ... Stormbringer ... RuneQuest... Pendragon... Nephelim and of course the BRP when it came out.

Despite my love for the game and system, I never seem to play or run it.

I've played CoC the most followed by a bit RuneQuest. I would love to play some on a more regular basis though. It's been years since I've played any of these games.

M
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[Treebore]

Yeah, I own Coc, Stormbringer, and Pendragon in addition to the Basic book, but I have never played any of them, only read through them. Well, except Pendragon, I did play that one for a few weeks nearly 20 years ago.
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The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

Next Con I am attending: http://www.neoncon.com/

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[serleran]

The best thing about BRP is that is it super simple and cross-genre. Whereas something like GURPS may be multi-game style, it has a much higher level of complexity, especially in character creation, compared to BRP. As a percentage system, nearly every game in existence can be converted to it, using probability if one were inclined, though some would be harder than others (ie, those using dice pools make probabilities somewhat more difficult to gauge.)

It being used for Call of Cthulhu is not as awesome as the fact that you can play anything you want with BRP. Anything. And, you don't need to buy 1000000000 books to do so.
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Serl's Corner

[Omote]

I like BRP for the reasons that Serleran mention, but there are better games out there for certain genres or feel. I learned BRP through Call of Cthulhu and now if I play BRP, it all seems like CoC. Recently, Chaosium released a D&D-like fantasy supplement to BRP. This supplement was designed to better represent classic fantasy roleplaying using BRP. While cool, there are just better games for fantasy out there *ahem* Castles & Crusades.

BRP is a rock solid system in general. And if you love those d%, man-oh-man, BRP is for you. BRP can do everything, but it doesn't always feel awesome.

~O
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> Omote's Advanced C&C stuff <
Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society

[serleran]

I can agree that BRP does not necessarily hold well to some fantasy tropes and conventions, like Vancian magic, but that can also be a good thing. It would likely not emulate D&D perfectly, but I don't think any game should... or its not really its own game.
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Serl's Corner

[Coleston the Cavalier]

I do not know all the history / politics or d100 gaming, but it feels a lot like Lejendary Adventures, so I've been checking it out.

On a couple of good reviews, a bought the pdf for OpenQuest, which is an OGL version of the Mongoose's RuneQuest. It is supposed to be a very simple version of d100. And apparently, nearly everything written for d100 (in whatever form) in highly compatible - pick and choose whatever you want to use.
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php? ... s_id=81035
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John Adams

[Joe]

BRP...you guys call yourself old school but i am hearing the whimperings of Chaosium noobs!

The strength in anything Chaosium is the flavor...not the system.

I bought BRP a while back when I was collecting basic systems. Basic...is the wrong word for any 400 plus page book. The only thing basic about it is using it to bash the skulls of wild boars.

I wanted our local group to switch to CoC but they are still playing some incarnation of D&D.

I won't bother to try to sell you on BRP...I'm not yet myself.

But I would suggest CoC for anyone that has not played it yet.

A classic game designed for plot and suspense over super powers and uber goobers.
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'Nosce te Ipsum' -Delphic Maxim

'Follow your bliss.' -Joseph Campbell

[Traveller]

To be fair, the new book incorporates all the various tweaks done to the rules in the last thirty years to fit them into the other games, such as the sanity mechanic from CoC, and the various changes made for Pendragon.

However, having owned every BRP system at one time or another, except Ringworld, I agree that having a world with flavor helps wonders. But the system also plays a big part in that. The guys at Chaosium recognized that the system itself was popular, and made the Basic Roleplaying book available for purchase.

In my opinion, a good move on their part. Now if they wish, they can create world books that work with the core system, ala GURPS.
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My small homage to E.G.G.

[Hrolfgar]

I would recommend picking up a copy of one the BRP systems instead, unless you just want a generic system. I not much into 400 page plus books. Actually the older Chaosuim box sets included a booklet called Basic Roleplaying (16 pages long)

Chaosium products like Joe said above were about the flavor more than the system.

I've never considered Pendragon (even though it does have may similar fetures) a BRP game and don't recall ever being promoted as one (i.e. box set didn't have a copy of BRP).

[mordrene]

i wil sell u on it. it a simple system that u can tell any story arc and not question the crunch factor. i would recommend downloading the quickstart and read it. it gives one night senarios for multiple genres.

[Traveller]

Picking up a copy of Call of Cthulhu is a good idea, since its the only BRP game still in print when I last checked their site.

The old BRP booklet was revised in 2002 and ended up being superflous when Quick Start Cthulhu was released. Quick Start Cthulhu became redundant when the current quickstart booklet was released. So the comment about the 16-page booklet is irrelevant because the same information is in the new quickstart.

Of course, you could go to basicrps.com and look there.

[Lord Dynel]

I did download the Quick Start but have yet to give it a look.

I do like basic/generic systems, and I don't know if buying CoC would do me any good other than looking it over since I have little interest in the game itself. So if I was going to look over a game, it may as well be the BRP book. I appreciate all the info so far!
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LD's C&C creations - the witch, a half-ogre, skill and 0-level rules

Troll Lord wrote:
Lord D: you understand where I"m coming from.

[Shenron]

I love the BRP book and the system, it is very simple and fun, yes the book is huge but do not let that scare you. It covers just about every genre from Apples to Zombies.

As stated before it includes sanity rules, etc.

I have played in multiple games, we did a B-Movie feel of super spies, then a haunted house two shot, then zombie survival, then a WW2 pulp action.

Great fun all around.

They have some source books out for it and a few of them are setting/genre books.

I also have CoC and Strombringer.
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Mongol General: "Conan! What is best in life?"

Conan: "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of their women."

[kreider204]

Sorry, zombie thread ...

For reasons with which I will not bore you, I find myself souring a bit on Savage Worlds, and I'm looking for another / new generic system. I have the BRP quickstart, and I'm thinking about buying the hardcover full rulebook. Since this thread was active, has anyone else gotten into BRP, and do you have any opinions? Also, a specific question: I keep hearing that the combat is very deadly. Any comments on that? True, false? Deadlier than C&C? If so, what makes it so deadly, and are there optional rules for making it a bit less deadly?

Thanks in advance.

[tylermo]

Souring on Savage Worlds? Say it isn't so. I did see the big hardcover for Basic. Seems like the art for the monsters were just some black silhouettes. Not sure about the rest. Looked like a meaty tome to be certain.

[MormonYoYoMan]

I've loved BRP ever since 1978, when it was just called "Runequest." By 1980, IIRC, Chaosium published the bare bones as a quick-start in the first Call of Cthulhulhulhu (I know how to spell "Cthulhu," I just don't know when to stop!) box - and our group (the No-D&D Gamers of Oklahoma) immediately began to run all sorts of genres using just that short critter.

Until I stumbled across C&C, the old (2nd Chaosium) Runequest & BRP booklet were my systems of choice. Now I'm torn between C&C (as the better game), Fudge (as the easiest to introduce to a new player), and Tunnels & Trolls (warped sense of humor & lotsa solos) - but clearly, C&C is about the best combination of simplicity, classes/levels, & skills - whereas BRP is a skill system alone.

Of course, for those who think the BRP hardback is large, have you seen the DCC rulebook? My mailman had words with me today about that package!

[tylermo]

I keep forgetting that I wanted to check out DCC. I'm already behind on most of the last 7-10 Savage Worlds books though. DCC may escape me, but I have plenty of C&C to play. Still yet, Kovac's DCC covers call out to me.

[MormonYoYoMan]

That art is mainly the reason why I wanted DCC. I do like its way of handling magic, however, and may quietly use it in other games. (Don't tell!!)

[Sir Ironside]

For many years BRP has been my favourite generic system. I played a lot of GURPS (Probably more than BRP) but BRP is still my #1 generic system of choice.

I've loved BRP ever since 1978, when it was just called "Runequest." By 1980, IIRC, Chaosium published the bare bones as a quick-start in the first Call of Cthulhulhulhu

Mongoose Games got the rights to Runequest and published a number of books. Now they are calling the rules "Legends" and use the BRP derivative for a fantasy generic system with some cool worlds attached to system. Legends and BRP are basically the same set of rules so if you like Mongoose's offerings it'd probably be better to go that route. (Plus they use the Traveller rules as a sci-fi generic system for not only Traveller but other cool sci-fi worlds.)

Fudge (as the easiest to introduce to a new player)

I like FATE over Fudge. Jut my opinion but Evil Hat Games and Cubical 7 have done some good work with FATE.

[kreider204]

Also, a specific question: I keep hearing that the combat is very deadly. Any comments on that? True, false? Deadlier than C&C? If so, what makes it so deadly, and are there optional rules for making it a bit less deadly?

[MormonYoYoMan]

Also, a specific question: I keep hearing that the combat is very deadly. Any comments on that? True, false? Deadlier than C&C? If so, what makes it so deadly, and are there optional rules for making it a bit less deadly?

It's deadly enough to convince a player, after the first combat or two, to try to solve the problem in another way if that's possible. Just like real life.

Also just like real life, one doesn't always HAVE the opportunity to attempt a solution other than combat, when it's a matter of self-defense. A GM following Chaosium's RQ2 would have consequences....not necessarily bad. But we did have a Humakt warrior who slaughtered a camp of broos, including their children -- and even when talking about chaotic monsters, they were still children, and some Lhankor Mhy folk wanted him put on trial.