runequester
Swordsman
- Joined
- 29 Apr 2018
- Messages
- 474
There is a LOT of BRP and BRP-derived material out there, much of it from the Svenska scene. With some friends of mine, I have been trying to devise a few subcategories to make sense of it all. Let me know what you think. (of course, these types of discussions are always a bit silly).
Classic BRP ("true BRP") - The games originally released by Chaosium or very directly based on them (Runequest 1-3, Call of Cthulhu, Stormbringer, Drakar och Demoner up through 1987 etc.)
These games often have small changes to the core game engine but are largely compatible and follow similar logic.
You might make an argument that games like Harnmaster or Privateers&Gentlemen belong to this category as well, despite not formally acknowledging their inspirations.
Mongoose-BRP - The strain that began with the Mongoose version of Runequest and lives on in Mythras. Most SRD based BRP variants trace back to one of these.
These tend to borrow elements that originated in the Mongoose game (multiple actions per round, ability scores adding directly the skills, improvement points instead of checkmarks etc.).
They tend to be fairly similar to each other.
Modern BRP - Games that deviate further from the core BRP ideals, usually for the benefit of genre emulation, speed or resolving issues. This might mean omitting ability scores, skill challenge mechanics or meta-mechanics. Examples include Järn and its relatives.
BRP20 - BRP games that adopt a 20 sided die. They often share with the Modern BRP games that they are willing to make changes to the core BRP formula. Examples include Pendragon, Expert Drakar och Demoner, original editions of Kult and Mutant Chronicles.
This can also be expanded to cover Eon 1-3 and Viking (which have heavy BRP elements but use a dice pool instead a D20)
Post BRP - Games with their roots in BRP where some elements are still recognizable, often in overall feel of vulnerable characters and skill driven play, but which have largely deviated to the point of little or no compatibility remaining. Trudvang or Symbaroum fit into this role. Saga?
Comments? Things that don't fit? What games I didn't list fit where?
I am omitting games that have inspiration from BRP games but which do not have any mechanical links at all (Forbidden Lands).
As always feel free to reply and discuss in Swedish if you prefer.
Classic BRP ("true BRP") - The games originally released by Chaosium or very directly based on them (Runequest 1-3, Call of Cthulhu, Stormbringer, Drakar och Demoner up through 1987 etc.)
These games often have small changes to the core game engine but are largely compatible and follow similar logic.
You might make an argument that games like Harnmaster or Privateers&Gentlemen belong to this category as well, despite not formally acknowledging their inspirations.
Mongoose-BRP - The strain that began with the Mongoose version of Runequest and lives on in Mythras. Most SRD based BRP variants trace back to one of these.
These tend to borrow elements that originated in the Mongoose game (multiple actions per round, ability scores adding directly the skills, improvement points instead of checkmarks etc.).
They tend to be fairly similar to each other.
Modern BRP - Games that deviate further from the core BRP ideals, usually for the benefit of genre emulation, speed or resolving issues. This might mean omitting ability scores, skill challenge mechanics or meta-mechanics. Examples include Järn and its relatives.
BRP20 - BRP games that adopt a 20 sided die. They often share with the Modern BRP games that they are willing to make changes to the core BRP formula. Examples include Pendragon, Expert Drakar och Demoner, original editions of Kult and Mutant Chronicles.
This can also be expanded to cover Eon 1-3 and Viking (which have heavy BRP elements but use a dice pool instead a D20)
Post BRP - Games with their roots in BRP where some elements are still recognizable, often in overall feel of vulnerable characters and skill driven play, but which have largely deviated to the point of little or no compatibility remaining. Trudvang or Symbaroum fit into this role. Saga?
Comments? Things that don't fit? What games I didn't list fit where?
I am omitting games that have inspiration from BRP games but which do not have any mechanical links at all (Forbidden Lands).
As always feel free to reply and discuss in Swedish if you prefer.
