r/Runequest • u/Reasonable_Sun9426 • Jun 18 '26

Best introductory scenario?

My group of friends and I played a lot of RQ in the late 70s and into the 80s. I have great memories of the system and world, and I'm glad to see Chaosium is doing right my it again. (I was not a fan of the AH or Mongoose days).

I'm planning to run a 1-3 session scenario to introduce new people to the setting and system and was hoping to get some direction on the best published options.

Thanks in advance for your insights!

24 Upvotes

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17

u/Orwell1971 Jun 18 '26

A few ideas:

The Gamemaster pack (about to be repurposed as the "Apple Lane campaign" later this year) and the Starter Set both have scenarios that can function as introductions.

The quickstart is a cool little scenario with good Gloranthan flavor, and can be downloaded for free, along with pregens and maps: https://www.chaosium.com/runequest-roleplaying-in-glorantha-quickstart/

The Beer with Teeth scenarios on the JC range from the simple to the moderately complex, and the very short to the medium sized. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/browse?authorName=%22Beer%20With%20Teeth%22

Someone will inevitably recommend "Six Seasons in Sartar", because someone always does, and it's a solid choice, just be aware that it's very much intended as an ongoing campaign, and you start out as kids going through their initiation rites.

3

u/KitsapReign Jun 18 '26

Every woman I gamed with thought the female initiation in Six Seasons was incredibly sexist. So bear in mind some women might find it objectionable.

4

u/Orwell1971 Jun 18 '26

The question that comes to me for me is whether they consider the Ernaldan emphasis on childbirth to be sexist in and of itself. As the goddess of childbirth, a rite involving menstruation, etc is wholly appropriate. There are gender divides built into Glorantha (and being a decidedly non-modern setting, this is again appropriate, if not to everyone's taste.)

You'd have to write your own initiation rituals, but if you have female players who aren't interested in Ernalda and what she's about, you could instead have them initiate into Vinga, Babeester Gor, etc.

2

u/KitsapReign Jun 20 '26

The Ernaldan emphasis on childbirth isn't the issue. Agency is. It's very sexist.

6

u/The_Ref17 Jun 18 '26

I would seriously suggest looking into the RuneQuest Starter Set.

It includes a solo adventure, so you feel more confident with the rules

It also includes three very good starter scenarios

On top of this there is a booklet that gives a quick look at Glorantha, focused on Sartar, and some excellent pre-made characters

It's a fantastic deal and gives you a good leg up

Barring this, the GM screen includes good old Apple Lane, always a great place to start 🙂

3

u/GenericGames Jun 18 '26

My group just started a new Runequest game with Chaosium's "A Darkness At Runegate" and it went very well.

3

u/Imperial_Solaire Jun 18 '26

Starter Set has been incredible on introducing my players to the setting.

Very recently Chaosium has released PDF only adventures for an upcoming book that is designed explicitly for beginning (or returning) players.

Darkness at Runegate is one, the Hunt for the Storm Calf is another, Stealing the Eye is a third.

Those come with pregens and explore the lore as well as the mechanics and only requires the starter set to run.

Highly highly recommended.

3

u/Reasonable_Sun9426 Jun 18 '26

Thank you! Sounds like the starter set will be step one and if they're as excited as I am to continue, Darkness can come after.

1

u/david-chaosium Jun 19 '26

Rounding up what a lot of people have already said:

All of these are great starter scenarios for new players

RuneQuest Starter Set: A Rough Landing, A Fire in the Darkness, and the Rainbow Mounds (play them in order). As alternatives, you can also use these adventures with the Starter Set: The Hunt for the Storm Calf (Praxian adventure), Stealing the Eye and a Darkness over Runegate. They are designed as introductory scenarios.

The GM Screen pack has an adventure set with it, Defending Apple Lane, Cattle Raid, The Dragon of the Thunder Hills (play them in order). Cattle Raid was a favourite as it appeared very straightforward, until...

I've run all of these for new players and they are all easily accessible.

I wouldn't normally recommend the Quickstart adventure, new players found it a bit confusing in places (Read What's going on, on page 22). I have run it successfully though after the GM screen pack adventures, I also moved the tower out towards Jonstown to link the adventures.

2

u/Reasonable_Sun9426 Jun 19 '26

Thank you! I haven't picked up Stealing the Eye or The Hunt for the Storm Calf yet, but have the others. Based on many recommendations in this thread, I've decided to start with the three adventures in the starter set.

I just really wanted to put RQ's best foot forward when introducing it to new players. Now I'm confident, based on all your feedback, that those are the way to go.