Food for Thought via RuneQuest

Between Stormbringer and Ringworld, it was inevitable that I'd be plowing my way through RuneQuest (2e, which I've been reliably told is the "best" edition by those who have an opinion on such matters). I'm only just delving into its mysteries, but I've already been struck by several things in the character generation chapter:

1. Though ability scores can be increased through training, there are limits to high how they can be increased, said limits based on the results of the initial random rolls for the initial scores.
2. Some ability scores simply cannot be improved through training, such as SIZ and INT. CHA is variable based on the success or failure of one's previous adventures, since successful adventurers are more likely to be perceived as good leaders than those who fail.
3. Beginning characters start with very few skills and most at fairly low percentages. You can get higher skills only be spending starting cash to train or, more likely, accepting credit from various guilds and organizations to acquire the training.

I have to say that I'm finding all three of these ideas rather interesting, particularly the third one. By giving the characters a reason to go into debt early on, it provides them with both a reason to adventure and, more importantly, connections to the wider world. That's one of the things I'm finding I appreciate about RQ: its ability to place player characters within a wider context that seems organic rather than merely a game artifact. That's something D&D has always lacked out of the box and that I find is one of the reasons why many D&D campaigns ultimately falter. That's why I'm happy that the Dwimmermount PCs have forged their own connections. Without them, I suspect the campaign wouldn't have lasted as long as it has or have as many prospects for further development outside the megadungeon.

In any case, I'm enjoying my latest bit of gaming archeology. Much like OD&D, which I never played back in the day, I missed out on several Chaosium classics the first time around. So it's a real joy to "discover" them now. Reading them more than two decades after the fact is a pretty enlightening experience and I suspect that, in some ways, I probably can appreciate them more now than I could ever have done when they were newly released.

More on this in future posts.