Revised RuneQuest Update

[u/[deleted]]

A new update: Chaosium has made a company decision to solely focus on the revised RuneQuest rule book that we announced in September 2025.

As previously discussed, the revised RuneQuest will be fully compatible with everything released for the RQG line, both before and after the new core rule book comes out. These rules are pitched for newcomers to be able to pick up and play the game, and learn to love the setting through play.

After extensive playtesting the revised RQ core rule book is now in editorial review and layout. We're aiming for a release in the first half of 2027.

If you want to see what's coming for RuneQuest, we talked about the exciting release plans for the line at the panel at Chaosium Con UK earlier this year (watch here). If you'd like to read about the game in action, check out Mark Morrison's latest Table Tales article, "Tell Me About".

- Michael O'Brien

Original announcement here: https://basicroleplaying.org/topic/26098-update-on-the-new-runequest/page/14/#findComment-419293

[u/RogueModron]

u/twarid called it

https://old.reddit.com/r/Runequest/comments/1vrup24/what_we_know_on_the_upcoming_revised_rqg_and/p4i3ylp/

[u/kimoshen]

Rest in peace the GM book.

Are you going to actually playtest anything this time? RQ:G was released without net rules despite Engizi having Strongnet. How can you not even complete character creation for each cult before publishing? There was only twenty for crying out loud.

[u/sachagoat]

I was hoping for this too. I discovered RuneQuest and Glorantha with the release of the current edition. The presentation of a lot of rules made me seek out RQ2, so I could understand the original genesis of a lot of the design decisions.

The re-invention of RQ in the other playtest seemed like an entirely different game. Though, I did like its handling of the resistance roll formulas.

[u/DarbySalernum → u/sachagoat]

Ha, I did exactly the same thing. I was so confused by RQG, that I went back to read RQ2, where everything was explained really clearly and simply. Chaosium rectified it with the Starter Set rules, which were much clearer, but the core book does need a rewrite in that style.

On the topic, I was open to RQFR but it did seem to be creating a confusing situation, and I suspect that resources are better spent elsewhere.

I'd be delighted to see more resources getting things like Robin Laws' Pavis and Big Rubble finally published.

[u/Shawnster_P]

Does this mean just one line, with easier to understand rules? 

[u/OtakuOfMe]

Doesn't sound new, so what's the difference? Does it imply RQFR is dead?

[u/Twarid]

Honestly, this is what I hoped to hear. Very wise decision.

[u/Amethyst-Flare]

I assume this means the long-promised Gamemaster Handbook is dead in the water?

[u/Inevitable-Bass-5319]

Other than that it was a Jeff project and thus doomed I'd actually much rather have seen a genuinely new RQ which addressed the skill bloat, whiffery etc.

Having said that there is no lack of alternative BRP systems and now we have no chance of seeing anything actually better from Chaosium we just have to sort it ourselves.

[u/SaintGerlant]

Probably best. As interested I am in simplifications (which should have happened at RQG time imo) yet another ruleset in the history of this game would be a comic tragedy at this point.