Basic Roleplaying: The Chaosium d100 system (Basic Roleplaying) (Basic Roleplaying)
by Jason Durall, Sam Johnson
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jason Durall, Sam JohnsonEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-06-20
ISBN: 1568821891
Number of pages: 384
Publisher: Chaosium Inc.
Book Reviews of Basic Roleplaying: The Chaosium d100 system (Basic Roleplaying) (Basic Roleplaying)
Book Review: Generic without being bland.
Summary: 4 Stars
This game is the latest manifestation of Chaosium's classic Basic Role Playing system. It was first presented in the classic fantasy game Runequest and then utilized in such games as Call of Cthulhu, Stormbringer, and SuperWorld.
Other reviewers have given an in depth description of the contents, so I'll just add a few additional comments.
First, this game is ideal for recreating almost any setting (sci-fi, horror, historical, fantasy, modern and so on. As such, if you like a variety of settings but would prefer to avoid learning a new game system for each setting, this is a good choice.
Second, the system is elegant and simple. I've played RPGs since 1979 and have played everything from D&D (original) to Space Opera. Of all the systems I've used, the BRP system is the most intuitive and easiest to use. Instead of having a multitude of "jury-rigged" rules (with a new rule for every special situation) BRP provides a coherent and consistent system for handling the game reality. If you are not fond of flipping through rule books to find the exact rules that cover each special situation, you'll like BRP.
Third, you should know that BRP combat tends to be a bit lethal. Players and game masters used to D&D and similar games that have both levels and high powered characters will need to re-think their style of play. While the game does allow for heroic characters, the hit point and combat system does not allow human (and human like) characters to have massive amounts of hit points. To use a comparison, a typical BRP character will have 12 hit points and my current 13th level D&D 3.5 characters has 100 hit points. Weapon damage is about the same as in most RPGs, so swords usually do about 1D8 and pistols do about 1D8. Hence, a BRP character can take about three average hits before dropping. However, BRP characters can dodge and parry. These abilities can enable a character to survive. Further, armor in BRP does not make a character harder to hit. Rather, armor works like it does in real life: it takes damage for you.
So, what does that all mean? Well, if you enjoy super-powerful characters who can take and dish out massive damage, BRP is not the game to play. If you enjoy a game that encourages planning, role-playing and strategy, then you'll probably like BRP.
Fourth, BRP does not provide much in terms of campaign details and settings. For example, the weapons are all generic (light pistol, sword, plasma rifle, etc.). As another example, there are no specific rules for dealing with adventuring on other planets or in space. As such, you'll need to supply all that stuff yourself or buy supplements. For example, if you want to do a science fiction campaign set in the future, you'll need to get rules for zero gravity, ship design, and world generation. Fortunately, supplements to Chaosium's other games will work just fine. I'd recommend my own Once Men book for those interested in a horror and science fiction mix (available on Chaosium's web site).
Overall, BRP is an excellent value for the dollar.
Summary of Basic Roleplaying: The Chaosium d100 system (Basic Roleplaying) (Basic Roleplaying)
Chaosium s BASIC ROLEPLAYING is a core rulesbook that gathers in one place the rules, modules, and options for one of the original and most influential role playing gaming systems in the world. BASIC ROLEPLAYING is designed to be intuitive and easy to play. While character attributes follow a 3D6 curve, most of the other BASIC ROLEPLAYING mechanics are even simpler. Virtually all rolls determining success or failure of a task are determined via the roll of percentile dice. The core virtues of the system are timeless. Primary characteristics of BASIC ROLEPLAYING that have emerged from decades of play, across many different varieties of the system are as follows: The system is remarkably friendly to newcomers. It is easy to describe the basics of the game system, and the percentile mechanics, to non-gamers. Players of other game systems often find BASIC ROLEPLAYING to be much less mechanistic and less of a barrier to the actual act of roleplaying. Less time spent on game systems usually equals more time available for roleplaying and thinking in character. Most of the information players need to know is present on their character sheets. Characters tend to evolve based on practicing the skills they use the most. They do not arbitrarily gain experience in skills and qualities based on ephemeral elements such as levels or experience ranks. Combat can be very quick and deadly, and often the deciding blow in a conflict is the one to land first. BASIC ROLEPLAYING is remarkably modular: levels of complexity can be added or removed as needed, and the core system works equally well with considerable detail as it does with a minimal amount of rules. The internal consistency of BASIC ROLEPLAYING allows for rules judgments to be made rapidly and with little searching through the rulebook for special cases. This book represents a first for BASIC ROLEPLAYING a system complete in one book, without a defined setting. Previously, BASIC ROLEPLAYING has been an integral part of standalone games, usually with rich and deep world settings. Due to differences in these settings, BASIC ROLEPLAYING has had many different incarnations. Variant and sometimes contradictory rules have emerged between versions, to better support one particular setting over another. Chaosium s BASIC ROLEPLAYING system reconciles these different flavors of the system and brings many variant rules together into the covers of one book, something that has never been done before. Some of these rules are provided as optional extensions, some as alternate systems, and others have been integrated into the core system. By design this work is not a reinvention of Basic Roleplaying or a significant evolution of the system, but instead a collected and complete version, without setting, provided as a guide to players and gamemasters everywhere and compatible with most Basic Roleplaying games. It also allows the gamemaster the ability to create his or her own game world (or worlds), to adapt others from fiction, films, or even translate settings from other roleplaying games into Basic Roleplaying.General Books
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