The Realm of Runes tabletop role-playing game is coming soon, but what is it? What makes it special? What makes it tick?
There are four conceptual pillars that Realm of Runes is built on, each of which contributes fundamentally to what sets it apart from other systems. In this inaugural blog, we'll examine each of these core principles. Subsequent blogs will delve deeper into specifics, previewing what you can look forward to when you pick up a copy of Realm of Runes.
1. Breadth of Options
Realm of Runes is designed to encourage variety. Making a character easily results in a combination entirely unlike anything else. When making choices, the number of available options starts big, and gets bigger as you go. The options themselves are designed to fit smoothly with each other, too. Each choice is a building block that joins with others to create a suite of diverse abilities unique to your vision. Even among characters with the same ancestry and class, choices are so varied and plentiful that no two characters feel too similar to each other. There are no cookie-cutters in Realm of Runes.
2. Depth of Options
Realm of Runes is not content to just offer a lot of choices, but an option must feel meaningful and impactful immediately. When you pick up a new ability, you can tell the difference right away. It adds an ability you didn't have before or finds new ways to use the ones you've already got. Finding interesting combinations with good synergy can be half the fun of an RPG, and Realm of Runes works hard to ensure that no choice is "obviously best" for every situation. If you decide that one of your choices isn't working for you the way you expect, easy retraining rules make sure that you're never stuck with a dud.
3. Clear Mechanics
Rules in Realm of Runes are designed to be easy to understand, simple to use, and always internally consistent. The basic fundamentals of play can be learned quickly, without obscure edge cases, strange contingencies, or weird restrictions. When these fundamental rules are altered, it's always the result of a character choice. So if a rule functions differently for you than your friends, it's because you "opted in" and know what changed, and how.
This is especially important from a Game Master's perspective, as it allows incredible variety of monsters, NPCs, and other challenges to be added quickly and naturally, with the only special rules needed those directly relevant to the situation at hand. A new GM doesn't have to be a system master to prepare and run a play session, and can just get started and learn on the fly. Being a GM can feel like a job in many systems, but it doesn't have to in Realm of Runes.
4. No Treadmills
The majority of options in Realm of Runes include automatic scaling. So as you get better, your abilities get better with you. You'll always be choosing something new, pushing the boundaries of your capabilities instead of making sure that you stay competent. Most checks made against the world have a fixed DC, and become easier the more you improve. Unlimited degrees of success make sure that there's always a benefit for being incredible at a "simple" task. With simple binary outcomes few and far between, every check is important and exciting for a character of any skill level.
Hopefully this overview of what's coming with Realm of Runes has you excited, or at least intrigued. Next time we'll start looking at some more detailed aspects of the rules, and how the system handles the integration of mechanics and role-playing. Head to the forums to join in the discussion until then!
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