With the MRQII Second Age Glorantha supplements at $1 I decided I'd crank out the kingly sum of $2 and pick up Glorantha: The Second Age and Cults of Glorantha.

While I've been strongly prejudiced pro-Third Age since reading the old RQ2 Genertela: Crucible of the Hero Wars and playing King of Dragon Pass, I liked both better than I expected.

The Middle Sea Empire makes for a great Atlantis-like sorcerous superpower. God Learner characters can run the gamut from Hrestoli evangelists to amoral bug-men (Timinit) sorcerers.

Dara Happa gives you the opportunity to play an ass-kicking sun-worshipper rebelling against the Dragons.

The Empire of Wyrms' Friends has the whole alien mysticism thing going for it, and can serve as antagonists or just as aloof assholes with enigmatic and often unintelligible agendas, both political and spiritual, PCs or NPCs.

And of course, Orlanthi will be Orlanthi, regardless of age.

Also, I cannot express how happy it makes me to see demon summoning spells for God Learner sorcerers in the Cults of Glorantha book. I cling to the notion that no fantasy RPG is complete without an option for demon summoning sorcerers. Sure, there's the Elric magic system, but it's too different from standard Gloranthan magic to be really compatible.

So, who's got any Second Age gaming done here? How did it go? I'm seriously considering picking up Pavis Rises, is it any good?

Magic in Runequest? Totally borked. Only a retard with assburgers would play a magician and join the stupid cults. Why is it that magic gets a stupid Magic Point mechanic to balance it? Where's the Sword Point mechanic for warriors? What you want is to be a flying Orlanthi swordsman. And in the Second Age it's even worse. Which is why I converted all my Glorantha books to d20 and never looked back.

There. This should draw some traffic to this thread.

I was looking forward to seeing anyone's opinion on the interesting bits you pulled from the Second Age of Glorantha. You're focusing on some of the interesting aspects that could be talked about more, that's for sure.  It would be good to hear any suggestion of the best content to seek for this focus upon Glorantha too.  There is such an amount of published material, and I don't want to mess with the bland bits.

Completely ignoring the pointless second post ...

Second Age Glorantha was a great idea - God Learners vs the EWF and the End of Empires, Clanking City, the Closing and the Dragonkill.

However, the supplements didn't really live up to the promise.

Some of them were good, some middling and some poor, but very few had an epic feel. The later ones were better, Blood of Orlanth, Dara Happa Stirs and Pavis were pretty good and epic.

I still use them as background material for my Third Age games, but have never really been inspired to run a Second Age game.

Quote from: soltakss;577668Completely ignoring the pointless second post ...

I was just trying to extend to Runequest what seems to be the most popular discourse about D&D around here lately.

Quote from: soltakss;577668Second Age Glorantha was a great idea - God Learners vs the EWF and the End of Empires, Clanking City, the Closing and the Dragonkill.

However, the supplements didn't really live up to the promise.

Some of them were good, some middling and some poor, but very few had an epic feel. The later ones were better, Blood of Orlanth, Dara Happa Stirs and Pavis were pretty good and epic.

I still use them as background material for my Third Age games, but have never really been inspired to run a Second Age game.

All I've got is the first/core setting book, and Cults of Glorantha.

I'll look into the adventures you've mentioned (Blood of Orlanth, Dara Happa Stirs, Pavis Rises). What are they like?

never really got into glorantha, but for a buck, can't pass up the chance to learn about it for so cheap.  

what's the difference between the second age and the second age core rulebook?  aside from 1. the name and 2. the former retailed for US $35, the latter merely a buck.

The "core rulebook" one is stated for the critically acclaimed MRQII. The other, for its eminently forgettable predecessor, MRQI.

Both show up as $1 purchases for me.

Quote from: The Butcher;578008The "core rulebook" one is stated for the critically acclaimed MRQII. The other, for its eminently forgettable predecessor, MRQI.

Both show up as $1 purchases for me.

ah, thanks for the clarification.  the same sale prices added to my confusion.

now added empires, vikings, cults, and dragonewts to my cart (plus MGT biotech vehicles, inspired from the 2300 ad mention in another thread).  all that for $7.99, can't beat it

Quote from: The Butcher;577990All I've got is the first/core setting book, and Cults of Glorantha.

For the absurdly cheap prices, the PDFs are well worth buying. If you are into Glorantha, they provide excellent background material and have stuff that can be used in Third Age campaigns as well. If you are not into Glorantha, they provide skills, spells and background that can be used elsewhere.

Quote from: The Butcher;577990I'll look into the adventures you've mentioned (Blood of Orlanth, Dara Happa Stirs, Pavis Rises). What are they like?

Epic and well written. They are a cross between a scenario and a campaign pack. Not as detailed as, say, Griffin Mountain, but more focussed. I enjoyed reading them but haven't run or played them as my preference is Third Age Glorantha.

Just saw it now. Never went much into second age but Butchers first post grabbed my atention.

So, Second Age is basically Glorantha: Sword and Sorcery version ? Weird forked tongue dragon mystics vs nmage-like atlantean sorcerers vs sandal-footed bare chested spear-wielding sun worshippers ? Fuck, Im totally in..  

(forget our third age game, lets ask Bland Jor Dwarf to run this right NOW! :eek: )

Quote from: silva;585500So, Second Age is basically Glorantha: Sword and Sorcery version ? Weird forked tongue dragon mystics vs nmage-like atlantean sorcerers vs sandal-footed bare chested spear-wielding sun worshippers ? Fuck, Im totally in..  

That is what it should be.