Note that the Starter Set Rules are available on The RuneQuest RPG Wiki

Official Answers by Chaosium

Contents

Starter Set Corrections 26 Jan 2022

Starter Set Update 26 Jan 2022

RQ Starter Set Corrections 26 Jan 2022 Download

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Please note that some of the entries in this document have been superseded below.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)

Warning

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)

Change

Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022

~~1st column, 2nd paragraph: Change “he does” to “he does not”~~

Superseded below

Change

Correction

2nd column, 2nd paragraph: Change “he does” to “he does not”

Opposed Resolution (page 9)

Change

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)

Change

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)

Add

Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022

1st column, 2nd bullet: Add “and ignores armor.”

Healing (page 29)

Natural Healing (page 29)

Delete

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)

Change

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)

Change

Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022

Type should be Ritual, not Instant

Command Worshippers (page 42)

Change

Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022

Delete “Instant”

Cure All Disease (page 42)

Add

Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022

Add “Instant” to Type

Dismiss Cult Spirit (Elemental) (page 43)

Change

Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022

Rename to “Dismiss (type) Elemental”

Earthpower (page 43)

Change

Correction

Draw 1 point of POW and 1D8 magic points from the earth per additional Rune point spent.

Harmony (page 44)

Delete

Correction

~~To act violently in this space requires a resistance roll of caster’s POW compared to the resistance table.~~

Healing Trance (page 44)

Change

Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022

Temporal ” should be “Duration (special)”

Superseded below

Change

Correction

Type: Touch, Duration (special)

Illusionary Sound (page 44)

Change

Correction

More points increase the ~~range and~~ volume.

Inviolable (page 44)

Change

Correction

Cancels Demoralize, Fanaticism, and other emotion affecting magic on them. All become calm and avoid violence if possible.

Lock (page 46)

Change

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)

Change

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)

Change

Correction

Cost: 1+ (delete +)

Oath (page 47)

Change

Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022

“Permanent” should be “Duration (special)”

Passage (page 47)

Add

Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022

Add “Type: Ritual”

Path Watch (page 47)

Add

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)

Add

Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022

Add “Type: Touch, Duration”

Shake Earth (page 49)

Add

Correction

Cost: 1+

Shield (page 49)

Change

Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022

Magic Rune should be “Rune varies by cult”

Soul Sight (page 49)

Replace description

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)

Change

Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022

Cost is 2, not 2+

Change

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.

Change

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)

Change

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)

Change

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)

Change

Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022

Replace Fertility Rune with Harmony Rune

Sureshot (page 50)

Change

Correction

and the spell can~~not~~ be combined with Speedart or Firearrow.

Translate (page 50)

Delete

Correction

~~Does not translate languages the reader does not know.~~

Warding (page 51)

Change

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)

Add

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)

Remove

Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022

Remove “or Stunning” from section title..

Skills over 100% (page 60-61)

Add

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%.

Replace the example

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)

Replace

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)

Remove

Part of Starter Set corrections 26 Jan 2022

Remove last paragraph of entry (it has been moved to Skills Over 100%).

Page Last updated: 2025-04-19 13:59:49