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Basic Roleplaying: universal game engine review

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It’s far from basic. Also there is a design challenge, please submit your game pitches here: https://www.chaosium.com/blogthe-basic-roleplaying-design-challenge/

Link: https://www.chaosium.com/basic-roleplaying-universal-game-engine-hardcover/

my ko-fi: ko-fi.com/thegamingtable

You can send an email to me here: tabletoproleplayinggamereviews@gmail.com

My twitter is @TheAbleLexi

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49 comments

@Antitheist March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Try GURPS. That’s about as truly universal as you can get.
@simontemplar3359 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
This was a great and thoughtful take on one massive tome. This book is to be like those copies or the law codes that lawyers have. It's a good reference document. I would say that for a great engine that could be not only universal but easily learned, I have to say Dragonbane. That may be one of the most elegant systems ever. And I wanted to hate it at first!
@crouchback4820 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
A good review. I think there's still a simple BRP booklet available that introduces the basic mechanics and concepts of the game. That would probably be helpful for new players. For anyone curious, the various power systems were all imported from previous BRP games - thus the two magic systems. Magic comes from the Magic World supplement from the old Worlds of Wonder box set (not the current Magic World game) which was probably the first multigenre game. Superpowers likewise come from the Super World supplement from WoW. Sorcery was imported from Elric/Stormbringer. I'm not sure where Mutant and Psychic powers came from but my guess is that the former came from Hawkmoon and the latter from Elfquest.
@keithfta789 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Interaction! I love the review of systems like these. I desperately want to find a generic rpg that just clicks you know.
@CaptainNotFinity March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Awesome insight into this book, thank you 😊
@Cantofre27 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Awareness of this system really deserves to be increased
@AndrejaPopovik March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
I was wondering where to reach you, I sent you an email with our game :)
@kentreuber8026 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Have a look at Mythras Imperative, which is a free much reduced version of BRP.
@borusa32 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
I had the most success in BRP in the past with adapting other games. I found this was a good way to go and a good alternative to GURPS which I also like a lot but it had become a bit too unwieldy for me.
@Jeffrywith1e March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
I'd like to request more generic RPG system books for you to review. Namely Savage Worlds and GURPS. Thanks!
@Jeffrywith1e March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Nice review.
@SusCalvin March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Dragonbane was first made with the BRP license.
@SusCalvin March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Call of Cthulhu 5th ed isn't terribly complicated. Assigning skill points takes a while because so many things are a skill. The BRP games usually have their own niche rules about magic, SAN, cars, battles etc. Chaosium does not change rules a lot, they gather up the spot rules they like most in the next edition.
@klasa3gplaterka5 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
When I saw the title I thought that video will be about the sex but one glance at speaker proved me wrong
@artzpops March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
hi, im new to your channel..glad i discoved ya
@brandonrains5602 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Great content
@neuromancer9k March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
My gateway drugs to BRP were Runequest 2e, Stormbringer 1e, and Worlds of Wonder. These were all disposed of 8-10 years later by my mother (who found them to be "worthless" - grrrrr, arrgggh), but I was very happy to see this newer edition of BRP and CoC 7e. Even though I think I prefer Savage Worlds these days, I'm in that group of people who like Magic World (basically Stormbringer without the IP (?)), which is still available via DriveThru RPG. Some great coverage here, thanks! ⚔🍻
@kendiamond7852 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Picked this up a while back and was very pleased with it. Good Review
@dirkvoltaar March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Great review. Very rounded.

Call of Cthulhu was one of the first games I played, so I have a soft spot for Chaosium and the d100 system.

Your review has definitely sparked my interest. The price point for the PDF is a bit high in my opinion.

Happy to support your emerging channel. Subbed! You’re over the 1,000 mark (and closing in on 2,000!), which I believe is a milestone for YouTubers. Well done!
@joepartlow March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Good video. I agree that this sounds like a GM resource rather than a player's handbook.
@DareToWonder March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Hi Lexi, sent you a copy of my game by mail
@VictorQueirozPlayer March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
You make a great reviews of RPGs, please continue with your good work!!!
@TheOldDragoon March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Thanks for your review! I'm taking a deep look at BRP again today. I look forward to writing a pitch for the Chaosium BRP writing challenge!
@dzmitry_k March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
I've bought mine in my local gaming store, and it didn't have with a PDF. Not that I miss it, there's a free PDF («Basic Roleplaying ORC Content Document») which works for quickly searching text.

I'm not sure what to think about Basic Roleplaying. It's elegant but character creation feels a bit overcomplicated. Also, without a setting, it's hard to sell it to the players.

I do want to try playing something with it (I've been thinking about borrowing a setting from Anna Sokalska's Opowieści ź Wieloświata books? I love her world and I think Slavic urban fantasy is not a well-developed setting, so it kinda justifies using an universal engine for it)
@BeautifulNight March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Always good to see more videos about other TTRPGs than Hasbro's on YouTube. Most people's introduction to BRPG is Call of Cthulu, but I have fond memories of StormBringer, based on the Michael Moorcock Elric books. those were good times, (though a long time ago now)
@TakaD20 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Hey at first, how is it going. My name ist Taka and I like this channel! :D
@scotmcpherson March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Hrmmm…it seems to be like a d20 system trying to be GURPS but not quite.
@jackdavis4657 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Definitely going to check it out! Thanks for the video!
@RoadDeerGames March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Nice video, I’m planning to submit a roleplaying to the BRP event happening until the end of March. Your video calling yourself a small fish and yet still making the video has helped me stay determined to make what I want and submit it. Thx
@AlternateGM March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Love your review, and really appreciate you covering other non dnd TTRPGs!
@SimonSedgwick March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
I’ve used it for running a Dune setting and Mission Impossible current day setting. The book gives you a tonne of options but it’s very much a case of cherry picking the rules you’re going to use and then defining the skills that your setting requires. Session zero is super important to explain why as the GM you’ve selected what you have and your interpretation of the skills. Ideally you’d build out some archetype skillsets, then the players can knuckle down to character builds. With any generic system, it’s important to start with a basic setting and let people get used to it. Typically like modern day heist type settings as a good place to start. Once you get your head around the basics, it’s great for one shots and just exploring random settings. Have fun with it!
@peterterry7918 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
If you could review IC RPG or EZD6? Please and Thank You 😊
@WikiSnapper March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Do you do game reviews for small independent developers too?
@MikeLemmons March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Thank you for the review, and the general TTRPG content!
@jarrettperdue3328 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
I appreciate your balanced and clear review.

I think BRPG is best understood as a GM-facing book that's intended as a second purchase, after you've learned the system through Call of Cthulhu, King Arthur Pendragon, Elfquest, Prince Valiant, Runequest, etc.
@lausenteternidad March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
BRP is a great generic system. Like, it has the potential to be your only system that you run for any genre. More accesible than GURPS. But it has some kinks that made it uncomfortable to use for us. And I feel this edition could have had more support for different kinds of situations.
A version of BRP with the same core mechanics and more current sensibilities would be incredible.
@Blerdy_Disposition March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
As someone who has ran BRP and CoC (and reviewed BRP too!) this is a wicked and quick review. You did address one issue I did have with BRP's Engine: its complexity. Id you as rhe gm/player dont due diligence and spexify thr kind of game you are playing, it'll feel super difficult to eun this game.

It'd also be nice to have more direct examples of character creation in the book or sample characters but i sont recall the book having that either.

Regardless great review and keep up the awesome work!
@henrikcollin4727 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
I am planning a game with BRUGE, and the two biggest hurdles I have is "trimming the fat", nit using too much like choosing witch skills, powers and backround proffessions I shall use, and making a character sheet .. 😂
But I started with basic roleplaying systems and I do feel confortable working with it...
But I am very happy that I am only use this book to do it. (and one or two other books for mining for ideas, random tables etc.)
@Sir_Anarch March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Having tried the game, it suffers from the same issue as other skill-based systems: there are too many skills; not enough 'points' to spread across them; and low base chances of success which require GM situation modifiers to make you able to progress the story. It's a well-made version with lots of cool ideas though.
@wingusryu8289 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Nice review. I tend not to be excited by universal systems. Started back in gurps 3rd Ed but never got into it. I tend to be more interested into settings. Currently the best system is Dragonbane and excited for dolmenwood
@burtonmiller March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Thoughtful notion about GM/worldbuilder focus. Seems like the core system is tailored for that purpose
@normanlennox4949 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
I always love to hear about new systems, and the "big" channels don't always cover them, even after the OGL nonsense.

Thank you for presenting something new to me.
@kbfrancis7092 March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
I converted to BRP (Mythras versions) for most of the reasons you stated. It is a true toolkit that allows a GM to create their own world from the ground up.
@GKahla March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
The Basic Roleplaying core book is my go-to toolkit for building games; the new edition of BRP-UGE is really effective at presenting the various bits and options.
@PuppaSmirk March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Great review. I'd be interested in a comparison with other toolkit generic systems such as Savage Worlds, Cypher System, GURPS, FATE etc strengths and weaknesses from the point of view of a gamesmaster creating their own game.
@ausferret March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
Want to see Superworld revamped for this edition.
@namynikki March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
great review! I'm looking forward to read this book
@Korica March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
I've played a few Chaosium games but had no idea they made a universal basic system, that's really cool.
@MemphiStig March 28, 2025 - 6:12 am
This looks like a good system to build on, fairly straightforward, consistent, and versatile.

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