[1:03 PM]JasonD: Hi!
[1:04 PM]JasonD: I’m Jason Durall, line editor for RuneQuest, Basic Roleplaying, and formerly line editor for Dune and Conan. I’ve been working in the industry for about 25 years, and also do computer games.
[1:04 PM]JasonD: I’ve recently done an update of Basic Roleplaying, which first was published in 2008 or so, though development began in 2005ish.
[1:06 PM]JasonD: (done)
[1:06 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Thanks, @JasonD! The floor is open to questions!
[1:06 PM]Dan the GMshoe: I guess we should start with the basics (pardon the pun)… What is Basic Roleplaying?
[1:07 PM]JasonD: BRP is the core system that almost all of Chaosum’s games have been based on since the publication of RuneQuest back in the late 70s.
[1:08 PM]JasonD: It was developed by Steve Perrin, Warren James, and Greg Stafford, among others.
[1:08 PM]JasonD: It uses a roll-low percentile dice resolution system.
[1:09 PM]JasonD: BRP – the product – is a generic version with lots of optional rules that you can buiild your own game with, much like many Chaosium games have different rules as needed.
[1:09 PM]JasonD: It is the first product to be released under the ORC and is available for anyone to develop their own RPGs with.
[1:09 PM]JasonD: (done)
[1:10 PM]Dan the GMshoe: (No need for (done) after the intro, unless you just want to. 
)
[1:10 PM]lotcaster: Jason – Do the character attributes use a percentage, like in the newest Call of Cthulhu, or do they still use the older format, like in the Gold Book and earlier versions of CoC?
[1:10 PM]JasonD: Great!
@lotcasterJason – Do the character attributes use a percentage, like in the newest Call of Cthulhu, or do they still use the older format, like in the Gold Book and earlier versions of CoC?[1:11 PM]JasonD: Older format. The characteristics-as-% rules unfortunately don’t scale well beyond human ranges, and break many, many different rules that make up BRP.
[1:12 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Bear with me, as I’m likely to ask questions to which I already know the answer for the sake of competeness.
[1:12 PM]Dan the GMshoe: For example: What is ORC?
[1:12 PM]lotcaster: Is there an ETA for the print version of the new version?
[1:12 PM]JasonD: That’s the Open RPG Creative license, or ORC for short.
[1:13 PM]JasonD: It is an industry response to the old and problematic OGL.
[1:13 PM]JasonD: (Open Game License)
@lotcasterIs there an ETA for the print version of the new version?[1:14 PM]JasonD: We’re sending it to press this week with all edits/errata/corrections fixed and it will be printed in Poland. This printer is much faster, and as we’re not doing it in China we’re spared a lot of the delays. But when it will be available… I can’t speculate. Too many variables.
[1:15 PM]Dan the GMshoe: The game doesn’t come with its own setting, correct?
@Dan the GMshoeThe game doesn’t come with its own setting, correct?[1:15 PM]JasonD: There are many suggested settings in one chapter and copious advice on how to build or adapt your own.
[1:15 PM]lotcaster: The ORC isn’t finalized yet, though, right?
@lotcasterThe ORC isn’t finalized yet, though, right?[1:17 PM]JasonD: Not yet, no, but we’re confident that it won’t change much from the current state. None of the stakeholders have given any indication that it will change. It’s in the “crossing Ts and dotting Is” phase.
[1:18 PM]lotcaster: How will that work for people who are interested in developing and selling products that use the new ORC-based BRP? If there ends up being some sort of important change to ORC, will the final version supersede whatever is in the BRP book?
@lotcasterHow will that work for people who are interested in developing and selling products that use the new ORC-based BRP? If there ends up being some sort of important change to ORC, will the final version supersede whatever is in the BRP book?[1:19 PM]JasonD: The book is the book. We’re releasing it under the ORC, but the book’s contents are not going to change.
[1:19 PM]JasonD: If for some reason the ORC changes we’ll likely assess our options and do our own open game license that allows what we’ve promised and committed to.
[1:20 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Very cool.
[1:20 PM]lotcaster: Good deal. Thank you!
[1:20 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Is the plan to release a series of settings using the new BRP?
[1:21 PM]JasonD: We are not including a copy of the ORC in the book, just a note to which version of it we are releasing it under. IIRC the ORC allows you to release under a particular version and that is the version it will be linked with forever, not whatever the ORC changes to become.
[1:21 PM]lotcaster: Oh, k, that makes sense.
@Dan the GMshoeIs the plan to release a series of settings using the new BRP?[1:22 PM]JasonD: Kinda. A couple of products are being released as standalone products powered by BRP, but right now our plans are for things that support the DIY aspect of the existing game.
@JasonDKinda. A couple of products are being released as standalone products powered by BRP, but right now our plans are for things that support the DIY aspect of the existing game.[1:22 PM]Dan the GMshoe: How will that work?
@Dan the GMshoeHow will that work?[1:23 PM]JasonD: One of them was planned as a RQ release but makes more sense as a BRP release. Another is in the works now.
[1:24 PM]JasonD: Other things we’ll do directly for BRP are related to providing more support for the sorts of things GMs need for running games.
[1:24 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Ah. So “here’s what you need to run a sci-fi game,” etc.?
[1:24 PM]JasonD: Indeed!
[1:25 PM]lotcaster: So if developers buy the PDF now, are they good to go in terms of going ahead and creating and selling content based on it?
[1:25 PM]JasonD: Yes.
[1:25 PM]JasonD: It’s already happening.
[1:26 PM]JasonD: We’re already telling people who’ve come to us asking to license BRP “No need. Just take the new BRP and do what you want.”
[1:26 PM]lotcaster: That’s exciting. BRP has been my favorite system since the 1980s (when it was still just Runequest and CoC), so I’m glad to see it expanding.
[1:26 PM]JasonD: Obviously if we do a license it’s more of a partnership, but using the ORC version is more freedom.
[1:27 PM]lotcaster: How long were you working on the new edition, once you got the go-ahead?
[1:27 PM]JonMarkHicks: Hi Jason – Are there any plans to publish more setting-specific books for BRP, using either established or original IPs?
@lotcasterHow long were you working on the new edition, once you got the go-ahead?[1:27 PM]JasonD: Three months of near-constant work, long days, weekends.
@JonMarkHicksHi Jason – Are there any plans to publish more setting-specific books for BRP, using either established or original IPs?[1:28 PM]JasonD: One “original” property is almost art-complete, and another license we’ve just signed off on the details.
[1:28 PM]JasonD: After that, we’re discussing several things.
[1:28 PM]JonMarkHicks: Nothing you can talk about yet?
[1:29 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Could you share the game’s character sheet with us?
@JonMarkHicksNothing you can talk about yet?[1:29 PM]JasonD: Not without incurring the wrath of our marketing dept. 
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[1:29 PM]JonMarkHicks: lol
[1:30 PM]JasonD: Here you go!
BRP-Character-Sheet-2023-print.pdf1.17 MB
[1:30 PM]JasonD: This was done by Dan Zappone, who’s great at sheets.
[1:32 PM]Dan the GMshoe: That is a nice, clean character sheet, especially given the amount of info displayed.
[1:33 PM]lotcaster: Yep, easy to read and reference.
[1:34 PM]Art Waring: very nice layout
[1:34 PM]lotcaster: Jason – This may be outside of your realm of knowledge, but do you know if Hero Lab will be allowed to add the new BRP book to its current offerings?
@lotcasterJason – This may be outside of your realm of knowledge, but do you know if Hero Lab will be allowed to add the new BRP book to its current offerings?[1:34 PM]JasonD: I really don’t know. I love Hero Lab and use it a lot for Call of Cthulhu, but I don’t know anything about their plans.
[1:34 PM]Andy-C: Adding to the love for that character sheet
[1:35 PM]JasonD: I’ll let Dan know!
[1:36 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Again for the sake of covering all the bases, can you describe the game’s core mechanic?
[1:36 PM]JasonD: Everything is based on skills. Roll % to equal or under the skill’s value and succeed. A low roll is either a critical or a special success, a very poor roll is a fumble.
[1:37 PM]JasonD: Characteristics are the usual mix from many RPGs, but with a couple unique to BRP – STR, CON, DEX, INT, CHA, POW and SIZ.
[1:37 PM]JasonD: HP based on CON+SIZ averaged.
[1:37 PM]JasonD: No levels.
[1:37 PM]JasonD: Experience is based on successful use of skills.
[1:38 PM]JasonD: You shoot someone and succeed, that’s practice. Your aim gets better.
[1:38 PM]JasonD: In BRP you can use one skill to augment another, using them in tandem.
[1:39 PM]JasonD: The BRP book contains five power sets – mutations, psychic powers, magic, sorcery, and superpowers.
[1:39 PM]JasonD: Plus gear from Stone Age to Space Opera.
[1:40 PM]lotcaster: I have always loved that experience system. It makes a lot more sense than more standard ones.
[1:40 PM]lotcaster: How are you differentiating between magic and sorcery?
[1:41 PM]JasonD: Magic spells work like skills. You spend some power points, roll a d%, and if successful, the spell works.
[1:42 PM]JasonD: Sorcery spells you pay the power points, and the spell works automatically, unless you need to oppose someone’s will or make some roll to control or finesse some aspect of the spell.
[1:42 PM]JasonD: Magic is a bit looser and more open to improvisation, and the sorcery spell list is very specific.
[1:43 PM]lotcaster: If you are allowed to tell us, what general genres do the upcoming supplements (in-house and third-party) fall into? The ones you know about, I mean.
[1:43 PM]JasonD: I can’t say.
[1:43 PM]lotcaster: I figured. Had to ask, though
[1:43 PM]JasonD: No harm in it.
[1:44 PM]lotcaster: Do you know if Chaosium will be doing some sort of BRP special area on DriveThruRPG for the new system?
[1:44 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Which would be used for demon-summoning: magic or sorcery?
@lotcasterDo you know if Chaosium will be doing some sort of BRP special area on DriveThruRPG for the new system?[1:45 PM]JasonD: We’re discussing something like the Jonstown Compendium and the Miskatonic Repository for fan publication.
@Dan the GMshoeWhich would be used for demon-summoning: magic or sorcery?[1:45 PM]JasonD: Sorcery
[1:45 PM]Dan the GMshoe: By default, what is the relationship between attributes and skills?
@Dan the GMshoeBy default, what is the relationship between attributes and skills?[1:47 PM]JasonD: One of the optional rules has skill category modifiers. Usually 3-4 characteristics create a bonus (or penalty) applying to all of a particular class of skills.
[1:47 PM]JasonD: The absolute basis rules doesn’t have a strong correlation between them.
[1:48 PM]JasonD: There are also characteristic rolls, usually a characteristic x5, that you can use for things that are not exactly skills, or for quick resolution.
[1:48 PM]lotcaster: Just out of curiosity, what is your personal favorite BRP-based game to play or GM?
[1:49 PM]JasonD: Stormbringer or Hawkmoon.
[1:52 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Going forward, what will determine if a game requires the BRP corebook or if it’s complete in one book?
[1:52 PM]lotcaster: When it comes to Chaosium’s standard systems (like Runequest and Call of Cthulhu), will the licensing agreements remain the same? I assume that the ORC only applies to original settings and such.
[1:52 PM]JasonD: The ORC is only a BRP thing for now.
[1:55 PM]lotcaster: So, outside of BRP-related games, what is your favorite rpg to GM, and your favorite to play?
[1:56 PM]JasonD: So many!
[1:58 PM]JasonD: I’m a big fan of the Fria Ligan family of games, especially Coriolis and Tales from the Loop. Ran a lot of Spire during the pandemic, as it worked quite well online. I am digging Warpland, and enjoy playing in a local Hypertellurians game.
[1:58 PM]JasonD: I quite like Barbarians of Lemuria, but almost never get the chance to play.
[1:59 PM]JasonD: And I am a big fan of most Middle-earth gaming, from the LotR RPG to The One Ring. Even early MERP.
[2:01 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Can you say a bit about the mechanics behind mutations, psychic powers, and superpowers?
[2:05 PM]JasonD: Psychic powers are a bit of a hybrid between sorcery and magic spells… they either work or you need to defeat some opposed characteristic to make them work.
[2:07 PM]JasonD: Mutations are inevitably improvements to characistics or offer abilities that can be rolled for, usually based on a characteristic.
[2:07 PM]lotcaster: How extensive are the superpowers?
[2:08 PM]JasonD: Superpowers are usually based on levels and you can customize them tremendously. Not as much as, say, Champions, but greater than other games.
[2:08 PM]JasonD: They usually require skill rolls.
[2:09 PM]Dan the GMshoe: How “gonzo” are the mutations? Or is the really freaky stuff, like laser beam eyes, rolled into superpowers?
[2:09 PM]JasonD: One of the big issues in BRP is that there are four power levels for games. Normal, Heroic, Epic, and Superhuman.
@Dan the GMshoeHow “gonzo” are the mutations? Or is the really freaky stuff, like laser beam eyes, rolled into superpowers?[2:10 PM]JasonD: Gonzo, but also the rules encompass mixing-and-matching powers sets.
[2:11 PM]JasonD: The power levels let you have different budgets for characteristics, skills, and powers.
[2:11 PM]Beelzedude: Do they all use separate sub systems like the different flavours of magic in RQG?
[2:11 PM]JasonD: Normal is like Call of Cthulhu heroes, and Superhuman is all the way to minor gods.
@BeelzedudeDo they all use separate sub systems like the different flavours of magic in RQG?[2:11 PM]JasonD: Yes.
[2:12 PM]JasonD: But there are rules for hybridization or what happens when different power sets run into one another.
[2:12 PM]JasonD: (more guidelines, really)
[2:13 PM]Dan the GMshoe: As I recall, the first edition didn’t include any mental superpowers, presumably because those are covered by psychic powers. Is that the case in this edition?
@Dan the GMshoeAs I recall, the first edition didn’t include any mental superpowers, presumably because those are covered by psychic powers. Is that the case in this edition?[2:14 PM]JasonD: Correct. We wanted each power set to be unique and have minimal overlap.
[2:15 PM]JasonD: And the mix-and-match aspect of the game actually discusses how to handle such characters.
[2:15 PM]lotcaster: So mutations and psychic powers don’t overlap much with superpowers?
@lotcasterSo mutations and psychic powers don’t overlap much with superpowers?[2:16 PM]JasonD: Not a lot, though you could almost model most beneficial mutations with superpowers.
[2:16 PM]lotcaster: Are mutations more along the lines of post-Apocalyptic style games, the, rather than X-Men types of thing?
@lotcasterAre mutations more along the lines of post-Apocalyptic style games, the, rather than X-Men types of thing?[2:17 PM]JasonD: A bit more Gamma World, but as a lifelong X-Men fan, there is some overlap.
[2:17 PM]JasonD: Most BRP mutants might be Morlocks.
[2:18 PM]JasonD: You can pick or roll randomly, though, so it’s really up to you.
[2:18 PM]The Convenient Skill: Does this version of BRP include anything similar to Pendragon’s passions?
[2:18 PM]JasonD: Yes, it has an adapted version of RuneQuest’s Passions.
[2:19 PM]JasonD: Which are an evolution of KAP’s Passions.
[2:19 PM]JasonD: It also has personality traits, Reputation, and a simpler version of Sanity.
[2:21 PM]Dan the GMshoe: What is KAP? Pendragon?
[2:21 PM]The Convenient Skill: With the offset (?) printing where are you expecting to hold stock? As an Englishman hopefully somewhere in Europe at least partially
[2:22 PM]Andy-C: King Arthur Pendragon.
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@The Convenient SkillWith the offset (?) printing where are you expecting to hold stock? As an Englishman hopefully somewhere in Europe at least partially[2:22 PM]JasonD: Printed in Poland, shipped to UK, US, CA, and AUS.
[2:23 PM]lotcaster: This is a geeky question, but what software do you use when you are developing TTRPG material (Word, Scrivener, etc.)?
[2:24 PM]JasonD: Just Word.
[2:24 PM]JasonD: I do a lot of typing on an Alphasmart Neo and transfer it into Word, though.
[2:27 PM]Dan the GMshoe: One aspect I always liked about BRP’s superpower system was the super-skill power. Is that still a thing?
[2:27 PM]JasonD: Yes
[2:27 PM]lotcaster: That’s interesting! Do you just like the portability of it?
[2:28 PM]Dan the GMshoe: That’s good. It’s one of the few systems I know of that easily allows you to simulate a character like Green Arrow.
@lotcasterThat’s interesting! Do you just like the portability of it?[2:28 PM]JasonD: Light, no distractions, durable, very easy to focus with. They start instantly.
[2:32 PM]Dan the GMshoe: How would you go about scaling up the power level of psychic powers to make them superpower-worthy?
@Dan the GMshoeHow would you go about scaling up the power level of psychic powers to make them superpower-worthy?[2:34 PM]JasonD: They’re already superpower-level. The power levels are what determine how many psychic powers you can have at character generation and how strong they are.
[2:37 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Ah, I see. Cool.
[2:40 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Does the book have a bestiary, and if so, how extensive?
@Dan the GMshoeDoes the book have a bestiary, and if so, how extensive?[2:41 PM]JasonD: There are multiple categories of creatures – natural animals, summoned beings, supernatural creatures, sci-fi creatures, and a big block of stock NPCs. It’s pretty expansive but there’s room for more…
[2:42 PM]JasonD: I’m curious what sorts of things you, as potential GMs, would want to make your BRP games easier to run?
[2:42 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Hmm! Interesting question…
[2:42 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Well, a large bestiary certainly helps.
[2:43 PM]Dan the GMshoe: I’m trying to think of something that I think is needed that I don’t recall BRP 1e covering…
[2:43 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Is there an index?
[2:45 PM]JasonD: There is an index.
[2:45 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Good good. That’s a biggie.
[2:46 PM]Dan the GMshoe: You mentioned setting suggestions. How much detail do they offer?
[2:49 PM]JasonD: Basically a paragraph of description, some ideas about optional rules that would apply, and themes and overall suggestions. Plus a bit of discussion about modifying them, mixing-and-matching them, such as adding superpowers to a Age of Sail campaign or something like that.
[2:49 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Awesome.
[2:50 PM]Dan the GMshoe: That kind of thing is also quite useful.
[2:50 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Do you cover pulp adventure, by any chance?
[2:51 PM]JasonD: Indeed!
[2:51 PM]JasonD: Yes to pulps.
[2:51 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Sweet. One of my personal favorite genres.
[2:52 PM]Dan the GMshoe: (I know, I know, “pulp is a medium, not a genre.” Everyone knows that I mean. 
)
[2:52 PM]Dan the GMshoe: I guess one big question we haven’t covered is: What’s new in this edition? If you have the first edition, is there any reason to get this one?
@Dan the GMshoeI guess one big question we haven’t covered is: What’s new in this edition? If you have the first edition, is there any reason to get this one?[2:55 PM]JasonD: Passions, Reputation, Personality Traits, Augments, a lot of cleaned-up rules, lots of streamlined rules, etc.
[2:55 PM]JasonD: It’s in color, it’s better explained, and it has gorgeous art.
[2:55 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Got an art sample handy?
[2:58 PM]JasonD: Give me a second…1
[2:59 PM]JasonD: This by John Sumrow:
[3:01 PM]JasonD: By Loic Muzy:
[3:01 PM]JasonD: First Loic did the new cover, then he did eight new variants of the image breaking down for chapter headers.
[3:01 PM]Dan the GMshoe: That is some sweet artwork.
[3:01 PM]JasonD: Indeed!
[3:02 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Oh, remind me of what Augments are?
[3:06 PM]JasonD: If you have a skill that might support another skill, or a personality trait or a passion, you can make a first roll. If it succeeds, you can add a bonus to the primary skill, augmenting it.
[3:06 PM]JasonD: Like your Reputation trait might even be used to augment your Persuade skill.
[3:06 PM]JasonD: Or your Mathematics for your Physics.
[3:07 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Oh, very cool!
[3:07 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Wow, we’re already past two hours… Before we wrap up, though, is there anything we haven’t covered that you’d like to bring up?
[3:09 PM]The Convenient Skill: Do you have an ETA of the printed sale date?
[3:10 PM]JasonD: I do not have an ETA.
[3:11 PM]JasonD: I’m good… I hope you all pick it up and that it inspires you to make cool games under the ORC. I would love to see it inspire other game designers the way the original BRP inspired me.
[3:11 PM]lotcaster: Thank you Jason and Dan for doing this!
[3:11 PM]Art Waring: Cheers!
[3:11 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Thanks for joining us, @JasonD!
[3:11 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Usual reminder: If you’ve enjoyed this Q&A and would like to treat me to a coffee or two, you can do so at https://www.ko-fi.com/gmshoe. Anything’s appreciated! Ko-fiBuy Dan Davenport a Coffee. ko-fi.com/gmshoeBecome a supporter of Dan Davenport today! ❤️ Ko-fi lets you support the creators you love with no fees on donations.
[3:11 PM]JasonD: I was thrilled to have Chris Klug – primary designer of James Bond 007 and DragonQuest, tell me that BRP will be the core text for his game design class at Carnegie-Mellon. That was a thrill.
[3:11 PM]Dan the GMshoe: Wow!
[3:12 PM]JasonD: Thanks for having me, all!
[3:12 PM]JasonD: As they say here in Germany, tchuss!
[3:12 PM]Dan the GMshoe: If you’ll give me a minute, I’ll get the log posted and link you!
[3:12 PM]JasonD: Will do!
The Hardboiled GMshoe's Office 
