"The Rules Lawyer's Guide To RQ"

From: David Cheng (drcheng@sales.stern.nyu.edu)
Date: Fri 02 Jul 1993 - 21:51:35 EEST


This is a blasphemous idea that I've shared with Oliver. I would like
to post it here for us to kick around, criticize, praise, etc...

* RQ4 comes out with a nice simple, elegant set of rules with lots of
  internal consistency and cultural (Gloranthan) relevance.

* LATER, the "Rules Lawyer's Guide to RQ" (working title)
  is published.

Only in the RLGRQ are all these optional rules that we are so fond of
kicking around actually published. Hell, we could publish _all_

of them, for those who really salivate over rules minutae.

I envision the following sections in the RLGRQ:

1) Suggested Rules

   Rules that didn't make it into the basic RQ4 book, because we wanted
   to keep it simple. But, we think they'll add a more distinct flavor
   to your game, and maybe even improve it.

   In this section goes: Fatigue, slash/crush (?), new/optional skills,
   and other simple things.

2) Optional Rules
 
   Rules ideas that don't get enough endorsement to go in section 1.
   * Could even present several options for the same topic. *

   In this section potentially goes: Special combat tactics (Flurry,
   Weave, Mighty Blow, etc.), several Sorcery systems, DC's world-
   reknown/vilified Rune Power variant, skills like March, etc.

3) Very Optional Rules

   Rules ideas that get even less acceptance, but where the author has
   enough clout to get them in the book in the first place.

   Things like: Martin Crim's Spirit Combat variant, Nick Brooke's
   "spontaneous Rune Magic," and other blasphemy.

4) Totally wacky stuff

   Rules to really placate the total Rules-Lawyer-Heads.

   Stuff like: Tables on how pregnancy affects the skill percentages of
   female characters (who remembers that Different Worlds actually published
   this?), the effect of muddy conditions on combat movement (down to
   increments of 1/10th of a metre), and how interracial matings affect
   the child's characteristics...

Of course, these could be just sub-headings within major headings like:

* Combat Rules
* Magic Rules
* Skill variants
* Campaign-play Rules (like the Pregnancy stuff)

Also, certain rules could be classified as "Glorantha-Friendly" and
"Strictly Gateway."

I may be sounding sarcastic at times here, but I am very serious about
this idea. I honestly think it has merit. Please tell me/us if
you agree, why, and how we could improve on the concept.

-David Cheng
 (going off to write more of the RQ-Con pre-reg book now...)


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