Basic Roleplaying: Quickstart

by Jason Durall, Steve Perrin

Powering some of the most influential and celebrated roleplaying games of all time, Basic Roleplaying is presented here in an easy-to-use, intuitive, and accessible quickstart. The system is at the heart of Call of Cthulhu, RuneQuest, Pendragon, and many other popular games. This quickstart gives you an easy entry point into the Basic Roleplaying world.

The Universal Game Engine

Basic Roleplaying is an ideal beginner’s game, but also appeals to those who wish for clear, concise rules that are easy to explain in play. Characters are based on what they can do: defined by skills and abilities rather than abstract roles or classes, and they advance by using their skills successfully in play.

Inside you’ll find:
- Core rules for adventuring, conflict, and combat.
- Rules for creating characters from a variety of settings.
- Three complete adventures spanning three settings: swashbuckling France, a hostile alien planet, and a ruined temple devoted to an evil god.

This standalone product is an excellent introduction to Basic Roleplaying-powered games, and introduces the fundamentals of the system in an easy-to-use format. With this quickstart, worlds of wonder and imagination await!

48 pages, Paperback

Published June 21, 2025

Reviews

[Meredith Katz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously I'm very familiar with this system (I've edited for Call of Cthulhu & Rivers of London the RPG as full disclosure) but this was a great and comprehensive summary of many of the rules for it, along with three usable games (though I think the sci-fi one would need adjustments if I were to run it because I know my players would basically go "Yeah, ok, it's cutthroat to get its freedom but isn't that a basic right?"). Also, since each system uses a subset of the rules, there were elements in this I hadn't encountered myself yet. Great if you want to pick up and play the BRP!