Basic Roleplaying: Creatures. RPG Resource by Chaosium

Seth Stauffer

Without generic role-playing games, the entire hobby would be in an awkward place. Every TTRPG has a simplified system within its genre tropes. Chaosium’s Basic Roleplaying Universal Game Engine is a respected entry into the ‘generic’ game systems category. The no-frills game system is a worthy choice for any gamer, and now there is a supplement titled Basic Roleplaying: Creatures to entertain guests at the gaming table.

The book is loosely organised by well-known genres rather than alphabetically; however, each section is alphabetised. A few examples include Natural Animals, Science Fiction, Fantasy, The Lost World, and so on, until the appendices. The inclusion of the ‘Man in Black’ is a humorous addition in the science fiction category. It’s safe to say the organisation is similar to the kind of game players would organise, and it’s very clear where the designers and writers drew inspiration from.

From cover to cover, there is plenty of full-colour art throughout. Overall, it’s an attractive book, despite being a very straightforward concept and design. The layout is good. For the most part, individual entries don’t sprawl across pages, making the book easier to read.

There is more in the book than one might expect. There are tips for using familiars, making megafauna (dinosaurs), harvesting (i.e., what can be extracted from a carcass that has value), and much more.

Few creatures are more fantastic than dragons, and while there is a single entry for this iconic creature, there are several pages detailing “dragon ancestry,” which breaks down lore and different ways of incorporating these legendary beasts into a game. Dwarves, giants, and elves receive similar treatment.

Horror is not present as a genre, but familiar terrifying foes are lumped into the Fantasy category. In a way, this makes sense. Yet it feels like a missed opportunity, since Chaosium is synonymous with horror-themed role-playing.

A lot of people are familiar with what’s under the hood of a TTRPG, but having something malleable to convert on whim is at the core of this hobby. It’s nice to see that the Basic Roleplaying system is getting support to allow players to experiment further and make Chaosium’s rules their very own in a broader capacity. This book is still a bit flawed and feels incomplete, but it’s a quality addition to a well-known game system.