A Return to the Skyrealms

RPG of the Month: Skyrealms of Jorune, 3rd Edition.

Still no elves >:)

It's hard not to feel like I'm letting my Jorune folks down while prepping Tenra Bansho Zero games. Two for Open Hearth weekend in November, one for a friend, one for my kid. Two other friends are on standby for some adventures in the Skyrealms of Jorune. I think the rough spot for me is, what do I even play this game in? The core system is a mess, utterly. Having recently played Rolemaster, Palladium Fantasy, and Champions 1E - those games were like archeological digs, playable, and to some degree easy to mod if I need to, like for helping... which apparently didn't exist in the 80s!!

But the Skyrealms of Jorune mechanics are rough, and what to do about it is the hurdle...but I'm jumping the Thombo.

Skyrealms of Jorune is a tabletop role-playing game first released in 1984. The game is set on the planet Jorune, a unique and fantastic world full of wonder, history, mystery, and dangers. The game has developed a cult fan base over the years with solid support online across many sites. I remember getting it to the table as a kid, making characters talking up the lore. Actual play was clunky to us then, and I'm not so sure we played it RAW --ever!

Jorune is a planet that teems with life, from the strange and exotic flora and fauna to the various sentient alien species that make it their home. Some of the most notable species on Jorune include the Shantha, the Thriddle, and the Ardoth, each of which has its own distinct physical features and cultural norms. This place is full of diverse and intriguing landscapes, from dense jungles to the icy tundras of the poles. The planet has a crazy ecosystem that is full of unique and bizarre creatures, many of which are deadly to humans and other intelligent species. The planet is also home to several mysterious and powerful forces, including the ancient energy source called Issa, which is said to have magical properties and can be harnessed by those with the proper training and knowledge. Life on Jorune ain't easy, and survival often requires bravery, ingenuity, and a willingness to adapt to the strange and unpredictable world.

The ownership and licensing of Jorune…has twists and turns and drama!! I’ve had a couple of IP lawyers say, after some legwork —How about you just do an ‘Inspired by’ setting. We’re not likely to see a 4th edition, but again, the online open-source community is vast!

This month, as I re-read Journe, 3rd edition, I'll explore what to do with Jorune now. I'll answer the question, "What do you do?" I'll cover what to do with the current system or other systems I might use the Jorune setting in and, if I got my way, how I would reboot the Skyrealms of Jorune setting —from soup to nuts. I am not the first or only lover of Jorune on this path. There are many, many suitors a-courting!

For those of you, with time and courage, maybe we get online and stumble through the original ruleset, see what we see today.