Here is the official announcement from the Design Mechanism:
Mythras is the new name for RuneQuest 6th Edition, the acclaimed roleplaying system developed by The Design Mechanism.
From July 2016, the name Mythras takes over from the previous trademark, but the same great rules continue, bringing you d100-based roleplaying adventure centred on logical, consistent, straightforward mechanics, coupled with innovative approaches to character creation, combat, magic and monsters. The name may have changed, but the song remains the same.
Why did we choose Mythras as a name? First of all, the game has always been about adventuring in mythic landscapes, with characters shaping their own stories, creating their legends and forging their own myths. It comes from the authors’ deep love of real world myths and ancient stories and so is the natural starting point for a new name.
Next comes Mithra or Mithras, a deity found in Persian, Greek, Roman, and Celtic mythologies. Mithras is a god of warriors, a divine protector of oaths and covenants, a protector of cattle and of waters. In the Zoroastrian Avestas, he is described as Mithra of Wide Pastures, of the Thousand Ears, and of the Myriad Eyes.
Bringing these two sources together gives us Mythras, a game concerned with myths, protectors, oaths, great deeds and wonderful stories: the perfect name for our game system.
While I'm dismayed that the DM didn't go with my suggestion "Mythic Quests" (no, not really!), this name has the virtue of being evocative and short.
In terms of rules, Mythras will be RQ6; this is not a 'new' or heavily revised version of the system. The main changes between the two core books will include:
Layout (cleaner, fresher, better, no ligatures, better use of space)
Art (some brand new pieces)
A couple of brand new Special Effects
General Errata
Most likely a renaming of the term 'Strike Rank' to 'Initiative'.
So nothing substantive. (But "no ligatures"? Oh no!)
If you already own the RQ6 core rulebook, there'll be no need to pick up Mythras -- unless, of course, you want an attractive new book!
A pretty decent name I'd say.
ReplyDeleteI'll be getting a copy to have an extra around and just as a general buy-in on the new identity.
Yeah, I'll be getting a couple of copies as well (one for my Toronto pad and one for my Milwaukee pad). I already own 2 copies of the special edition hardcover RQ6, but as Loz has witnessed, I'm reluctant to let others use them. A cheaper softcover version should make me a more congenial gamer.
DeleteSadly, I'm going to make a prediction: In five years, Mythras will still be in print and RuneQuest will still be in disarray.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Mythras will still be around. However, I suspect that RQ will be pretty stable as well. Unfortunately, it'll be embedded firmly within Glorantha, and with inferior rules. But there seems to be enough Glorantha fans with deep pockets willing to buy anything Glorantha-related that comes out. That may be enough for the Moon Design folks now running Chaosium to be content with their version of RQ.
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