Official Answers by Chaosium

• CHA4035 RQ Starter Set – Book 1 Rules – Q&A
• 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 – Pregen Folios – Q&A

Starter Set Corrections 26 Jan 2022

Starter set Rules vs Core Rules (page 3)

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)

Opposed Resolution (page 9)

Passions (page 17)

Inspiration (page 18)

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 and GM screen.

Damage (page 27)

Healing (page 29)

Natural Healing (page 29)

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.

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)

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)

Matrix Creation (page 46)

Oath (page 47)

Passage (page 47)

Path Watch (page 47)

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)

Shake Earth (page 49)

Shield (page 49)

Soul Sight (page 49)

Spell Trading (page 49)

Spirit Armor Enchantment (page 49)

Correction

Note that the following correction is a mistake, the cost is 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)

Summon (type) Elemental (page 50)

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)

Sureshot (page 50)

Translate (page 50)

Warding (page 51)

The Spirit World (page 52)

Spirit Combat (page 54)

Spot Rules (page 55)

Knockout or Stunning (page 58)

Skills over 100% (page 60-61)

Thrown or Dropped Objects (page 61)

Two Weapon Combat (page 61)

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 – Pregen Folios – Q&A