Note that the Starter Set Rules are available on The RuneQuest RPG Wiki
Official Answers by Chaosium
- RQ Starter Set – Book 1 Rules – Q&A
- RQ Starter Set – Book 2 Glorantha – Q&A
- Starter Set – Book 3: Soloquest – Q&A
- RQ Starter Set – Book 4: Adventures – Q&A
- RQ Starter Set – Pregen Folios – Q&A
- Starter Set Corrections 26 Jan 2022
- Starter set Rules vs Core Rules (page 3)
- The Game System (page 4)
- Passions (page 17)
- Combat (page 21)
- Healing (page 29)
- An Example of Combat (pages 32-33)
- Magic (pages 34-39)
- Rune Spells (pages 39-51)
- Axis Mundi (page 39)
- Bind Ghost (page 41)
- Command Worshippers (page 42)
- Cure All Disease (page 42)
- Dismiss Cult Spirit (Elemental) (page 43)
- Earthpower (page 43)
- Harmony (page 44)
- Healing Trance (page 44)
- Illusionary Sound (page 44)
- Inviolable (page 44)
- Lock (page 46)
- Magic Point Enhancement (page 46)
- Matrix Creation (page 46)
- Oath (page 47)
- Passage (page 47)
- Path Watch (page 47)
- Regrow Limb (page 47)
- Resurrect (page 47)
- Safe (page 49)
- Shake Earth (page 49)
- Shield (page 49)
- Soul Sight (page 49)
- Spell Trading (page 49)
- Spirit Armor Enchantment (page 49)
- Spirit Block (page 49)
- Summon (Cult Spirit) (page 49)
- Summon (type) Elemental (page 50)
- Summon Healing Spirit (page 50)
- Sureshot (page 50)
- Translate (page 50)
- Warding (page 51)
- The Spirit World (page 52)
- Spot Rules (page 55)
- RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha Quickstart – Q&A
- RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha – Q&A by Chapter
- RuneQuest Gamemaster Screen Pack – Q&A
- RuneQuest Glorantha Bestiary – Q&A
- The Red Book of Magic – Q&A
- The Smoking Ruin & Other Stories – Q&A
- Pegasus Plateau & Other Stories – Q&A
- RuneQuest Starter Set – Q&A by Book
- Weapons & Equipment – Q&A
- The Prosopaedia – Q&A
- The Lightbringers – Q&A
- Earth Goddesses – Q&A
- Mythology – Q&A
- The Lunar Way – Q&A
- The Glorantha Sourcebook – Q&A
- Dragon Pass – Q&A
Starter Set Corrections 26 Jan 2022
All are listed below so as to be searchable
Please note that some of the entries in this document have been superseded below.
Starter set Rules vs Core Rules (page 3)
If you have the Core Rules and are running the Starter Set Adventures, please use the Core Rules. The Starter Set Rules are deliberately streamlined for new GMs and are not a replacement for the full rules.
Are the Starter Set rules supposed to replace Core Rules when different?
No.
or are they “just” to be considered a streamlined version?
If you’re already familiar with RuneQuest or even Call of Cthulhu, these rules should be more than familiar, though this represents a streamlined and beginner-friendly version of the game mechanics. The rules presented in the RuneQuest core rulebook are more complex and address a wider range of situations likely to arise in extended play.
Starter Set Book 1 Rules, Players and Gamemasters Box, page 3
The Starter Set is designed for new players to access the game without having to buy the core rules. It contains enough to play the adventures within (and likely a few more). Having played the adventures, we’d hope that they would move on to the full rules. This is exactly the same as our Call of Cthulhu Starter set.
If you already own the Core rules and have bought the Starter Set for the adventures, I’d expect you’d be running the Core Rules (I did). Otherwise, the only reason to use them would be a conscious attempt to use the more streamlined rules, which for some maybe beneficial.
The Game System (page 4)
An Example of Play (page 6)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
1st column, 2nd paragraph: Change “he does” to “he does not”
Superseded below
Correction
2nd column, 2nd paragraph: Change “he does” to “he does not”
Opposed Resolution (page 9)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
2nd column, Opposed Resolution, “Tie” bullet point: Change “same number” to “same type of success”
Passions (page 17)
Inspiration (page 18)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
1st column, Inspiration, “Failure” bullet point: Modifier is −10%, not −20% (this is correct in the rules reference handout)
Combat (page 21)
Attack & Parry Results Table (page 25)
Which Attack & Parry results table is the one Chaosium intends to use going forward? The core rule book and GM screen, or the new Starter set?
The core rule book
Damage (page 27)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
1st column, 2nd bullet: Add “and ignores armor.”
Healing (page 29)
Natural Healing (page 29)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Delete “and the speed of healing increases” from the 4th sentence.
An Example of Combat (pages 32-33)
On page 32 they are talking about the strike rank of Harmast. It seems that there he intends to use his sword in the combat and they say that the strike rank would be 6. Looking at the Harmast Baranthos’ Son character sheet for Broadsword he has strike rank 5. Why is that?
He’s delaying his attack, to let the rubble runners close.
Any combatant can delay an action and go on a later strike rank, if desired.
While strike ranks are about who goes first. With his statement of intent, he’s left open a lot of options:
Harmast: I hold back, and attack which ever one of them gets near me with my sword, on strike rank 6.
For example, if they all ganged up on another adventurer he could still attack them. By waiting until their SR he’s more flexible.
Magic (pages 34-39)
Stackable Rune Magic (page 38)
Some may find this Clarification in the Red Book of Magic Q&A helpful.
Rune Spells (pages 39-51)
Axis Mundi (page 39)
Correction
Cost: 1+ (delete the +)
- Lasts for 15 minutes plus an additional 15 minutes per magic point added to the spell.
Bind Ghost (page 41)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Type should be Ritual, not Instant
Command Worshippers (page 42)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Delete “Instant”
Cure All Disease (page 42)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Add “Instant” to Type
Dismiss Cult Spirit (Elemental) (page 43)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Rename to “Dismiss (type) Elemental”
Earthpower (page 43)
Correction
Draw 1 point of POW and 1D8 magic points from the earth per additional Rune point spent.
Harmony (page 44)
Correction
To act violently in this space requires a resistance roll of caster’s POW compared to the resistance table.
Healing Trance (page 44)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Temporal ” should be “Duration (special)”
Superseded below
Correction
Type: Touch, Duration (special)
Illusionary Sound (page 44)
Correction
More points increase the range and volume.
Inviolable (page 44)
Correction
Cancels Demoralize, Fanaticism, and other emotion affecting magic on them. All become calm and avoid violence if possible.
Lock (page 46)
Correction
Cost: 1+ (delete +)
Locks a door, gate, hatch, chest, etc. with a STR equal to the number of magic points used multiplied by 10.
This spell maybe cast simultaneously with Passage (page 47).
The 2nd sentence seems wrong where it starts “It must be cast upon a closable door” which taken literally is incorrect. To me this whole sentence seems redundant since casting Lock on a non-closable door doesn’t make any sense, and I can’t see the need to specify that it doesn’t increase the door’s AP.
It’s designed to prevent broken or otherwise unclosable doors being locked, and the misunderstanding that it makes the door tougher.
Magic Point Enhancement (page 46)
Correction
Cost: 1+ (delete +)
Cast on an item to make it store magic points for spellcasting at the cost of permanent POW. Each point of POW cast takes one hour and lets it store 1D10 magic points. Takes one melee round to store 1 magic point in an item.
Matrix Creation (page 46)
Correction
Cost: 1+ (delete +)
Oath (page 47)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
“Permanent” should be “Duration (special)”
Passage (page 47)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Add “Type: Ritual”
Path Watch (page 47)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Add “Type: Self, Duration (special)”
Regrow Limb (page 47)
Starter Set specific rules
The recovery rate of full regrowth within one season is significantly faster on average than the rate in RQG and RBM when the spell is applied later than 10 minutes after damage. Is this intentional?
Yes, specifically for the Starter Set.
Resurrect (page 47)
Starter Set specific rules
This version seems to say that failure in spirit combat results in no future (retry) chance of resurrection, as it says that in this case “the spirit passes beyond hope of recovery”.
Yes, specifically for the Starter Set.
But both the CR and RBoM don’t say that, instead that on failure “the soul returns to the Courts of Silence”. They do not say that another attempt cannot be made.
Correct, but the clock is ticking.
Safe (page 49)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Add “Type: Touch, Duration”
Shake Earth (page 49)
Correction
Cost: 1+
Shield (page 49)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Magic Rune should be “Rune varies by cult”
Soul Sight (page 49)
Correction
This common spell allows the target to see magically both the POW aura and the current magic points of anything living, including the amount devoted to currently in-effect spells (such as defensive spells).
Spell Trading (page 49)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Cost is 2, not 2+
Correction
for a single use of any Rune spell known by another initiate of any cult.
Spirit Armor Enchantment (page 49)
Correction
Note that the following correction is a mistake, the cost is 1.
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Cost is 1+, not 1
Spirit Block (page 49)
Starter Set specific rules
This description lacks this added layer of protection and only provides the spiritual armour.
Yes, the Starter Set is a deliberately streamlined rules set.
Summon (Cult Spirit) (page 49)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Magic Rune should be “Rune varies by cult”
Correction
Type: Summon, Ranged, Temporal, Stackable
Summon (type) Elemental (page 50)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
- Rename to “Summon (type) Elemental”
- Magic Rune should be “Rune varies by cult”
Starter Set specific rules
The Starter Set has a change saying that the elemental won’t attack if not under the control of Command, unless attacked. This different from the CR and RBoM, where there is an option for it to attack cult enemies. Is this change intentional?
Yes, the Starter Set is a deliberately streamlined rules set.
Summon Healing Spirit (page 50)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Replace Fertility Rune with Harmony Rune
Sureshot (page 50)
Correction
and the spell cannot be combined with Speedart or Firearrow.
Translate (page 50)
Correction
Does not translate languages the reader does not know.
Warding (page 51)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
- Cost should be 1+
- add “Type: Ritual”
Correction
When this happens, a loud noise (a keening, whistling, booming, etc.) begins, which can be suppressed by the caster.
The Spirit World (page 52)
Spirit Combat (page 54)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
1st column, 3rd full paragraph: Add “(INT×3)” after “concentration check”.
Spot Rules (page 55)
Knockout or Stunning (page 58)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Remove “or Stunning” from section title..
Skills over 100% (page 60-61)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022 (Corrected in Second Printing)
Add the following text after the example on page 61.
Also, an adventurer with a skill above 100% may perform multiple attacks in a round, if there are adequate strike ranks to do so. The skill must be divided into two or more increments, with each having a minimum of 50%.
Correction
Vasana, with Broadsword 90%, inspiration from a Passion (+20%), a spell (+10% from Bladesharp 2, cast by a friend), has a 120% chance of success. She reduces her opponent’s chance of success by 20% and rolls for Criticals and Specials as if her skill is 120%.
Question
To reduce an opponent skill, do you need to have a base skill above 100%?
No, but the total must be over 100% to reduce an opposed roll
What is the intent of the rule in RQ, Criticals and Specials are figured off the final modified ability or the base ability?
Final modified ability
Thrown or Dropped Objects (page 61)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Replace second bullet with this:
- For every 3 SIZ an object has (round down), add 1D3
to the damage it does.
Two Weapon Combat (page 61)
Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022
Remove last paragraph of entry (it has been moved to Skills Over 100%).
Related Pages
- CHA4035 RQ Starter Set – Book 2 Glorantha – Q&A
- CHA4035 RQ Starter Set – Book 3: Soloquest – Q&A
- CHA4035 RQ Starter Set – Book 4: Adventures – Q&A
- CHA4035 RQ Starter Set – Folio Adventurer Sheets – Q&A
Page Last updated: 2025-04-19 13:59:49