Basic Roleplaying: universal game engine review 

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.

I think small fish is selling yourself a little bit short, you’ve come a long way with this channel

I love this system. If I had to pick only one, this would be it. I really need to pick up the new edition, as I haven't owned a copy since it was the pamphlet in the Worlds of Wonder boxed set. I don't really believe in "universal" rules, but BRP comes pretty close. It tends to work better for more "down to Earth," or "gritty" games, where thinking your way through things is better than punching your way through them. I like it for historic settings and most Science Fiction, and I think it works well for a lot of Fantasy, but not really for "heroic" Fantasy like D&D, where combat is a major element. Combat is BRP is just so deadly, that if you're fighting all the time, you're not going to make it very long. If I ever actually got around to developing a game for the setting I use in a lot of my short stories & my WIP novel, it would be BRP. But that's not super likely. I wonder if, with this new edition, it might be something where a GM would want to print out the parts of the book that are appropriate for their particular game and hand those to the players. I don't know if it's actually set up to do that, though. I really need to grab a copy soon.

Thanks for your review of BRP! I love Runequest, I like Call of Cthulhu and Mythras, all of which are based on BRP. When I got this book, I did not have high expectations, as I knew the system is quite old. But I was really surprised to see, how well it has aged, and how many different possible settings it can be used for. The 256 pages are full of informations and ideas for all kinds of roleplaying worlds and styles. It tends more to the realistic/simulationist side of play, combat can be detailed and deadly, there are quite a lot of chatacteristics and skills. You can really feel and see the 40+ years of rpg experience that has gone into this system.

As you say, this is more of a tool kit from which you would choose options to build the rules for a game than it is an actual set of rules to be played as is. I’d be inclined to think about using a BRP build for some sort of swords-and-sandals historical adventure, say adventurers at the end ofthe Bronze Age (~1200 BCE) or straight-up Vikings.

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!

I've played a few Chaosium games but had no idea they made a universal basic system, that's really cool.

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!

Want to see Superworld revamped for this edition.

A universal system is rather specialized in its appeal. The GM looking to do a bit of customization will probably appreciate the universal system more than a general player would. A game like Basic Roleplaying is a toolbox, one that requires a lot of upfront work to pick and choose what tools to use in any specific campaign. It's a powerful game engine, but one that you have to assemble. The other way to enjoy this product is to bring mechanics from BRP into another game such as Call of Cthulhu or Runequest. Cheers!

Always good to see more videos about other TTRPGs than Hasbro's on RU-vid. 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)

I think I would be interested in a BRP Space Opera or Gothic Horror setting . I really like BRP and this book in particular .

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!

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.)

Played Call of Cthulhu last year for the first time and LOVED the system! Been slowly exploring Runequest, and im definately interested in the core of the system for my own setting. Thanks for the vid!!!

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.

Love your review, and really appreciate you covering other non dnd TTRPGs!

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! ⚔🍻

Thank you for the review, and the general TTRPG content!

Good video. I agree that this sounds like a GM resource rather than a player's handbook.

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.

You make a great reviews of RPGs, please continue with your good work!!!

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.

Thank you Lexi for another great video!

Definitely going to check it out! Thanks for the video!

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

great review! I'm looking forward to read this book

Picked this up a while back and was very pleased with it. Good Review

Great video! I really appreciated getting your insight on the system.

Thank you for this review. One question I have: is there a section that describes fantasy or alien races and the differences in their maximum stats and abilities?

It's weird how Pendragon is based on BRP, since it doesn't use d100 at all. I guess Greg just used the bones when making his game. also, you aren't the biggest fish, but you're definitely not the smallest! A lot of growth since I started watching. A reason for that I think is you don't always give glowing reviews, which is good. But you aren't ever mean about things you don't like.

Dragonbane was first made with the BRP license.

Hey at first, how is it going. My name ist Taka and I like this channel! :D

This looks like a good system to build on, fairly straightforward, consistent, and versatile.

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)

Thoughtful notion about GM/worldbuilder focus. Seems like the core system is tailored for that purpose

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.

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 RU-vidrs. Well done!

I love Runequest & Call of Cthulhu. Grabbed a pdf copy of BRP when Chaosium ran a special on it for $0.99. Worth the $30, but was a steal at less than $1. Great review as always!

Call of Cthulhu is my favorite, but all hail Chaosium for BRP!

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.

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.

I'd like to request more generic RPG system books for you to review. Namely Savage Worlds and GURPS. Thanks!

Do you do game reviews for small independent developers too?

If you could review IC RPG or EZD6? Please and Thank You 😊

When I saw the title I thought that video will be about the sex but one glance at speaker proved me wrong

People should be seeing this, clearly.

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

Great content

I think this seems like a good tool but i think i like the more genre specific rpg rules

Nice review.

Hi Lexi, sent you a copy of my game by mail

hi, im new to your channel..glad i discoved ya

Hrmmm…it seems to be like a d20 system trying to be GURPS but not quite.

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.

I really really want to love your channel, but you have an Australian accent still. :(