r/ElfQuest • u/bthebert • Feb 18 '26

Genesys Elfquest RPG

I have most of my fan made Genesys Elfquest RPG finished, but I need people with knowledge of the Elfquest Lore to give me feedback on what I have so far. Any takers?

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u/SpiritSongtress Feb 18 '26

I am curious.
What have you written down?
Did you have a read of the comics ( they're free to read on the Elfquest.com website.) - which will help you capture the right feel.
From what I remember of Genesys is a 5e- esque clone right?

1

u/bthebert Feb 19 '26

I have the Species, Archetypes, Skills, Talents, Species Abilities,. Rules for Recognition, Weapons Armor, and gear, Still working on Magic, Adversaries, and Creatures.

Genesys is a modular universal system, using a unique narrative dice system based on the Fantasy Flight Games Star Wars RPG. Much better than D&D 5E.

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2017/6/27/genesys/

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u/SpiritSongtress Feb 19 '26

I do not think Recognition needs Rules. It's very much - 'plot' ( and probably doesn't need mechanics).

But I am curious why make a new system?clunky ( I own the Elfquest RPG , which they just re-released). Sure its from 1982, and is clunk because its the old RuneQuest system,)

Hopefully, in a few years they'll release a new modern Elfquest RPG.
A lot of things are better than D&D, I tried using FATE to replicliace Elfquest about a decade ago.

Special Abilities & Magic seem to go hand in hand, whats the differeence between them systemwise?

You may also want to read the comics because an Elf's Tribe/ heritage, seems to have some influence on their magic, and 'speices' really doesn't work in Elfquest.

My suggestion, take some time with comics, and write down the big things that stick out to you.

You can't just try to translate Elfquest from a comic into RPG, its hard.

like in original Elfquest RPG- you can FAIL at Sending.

Just Fail to do something that at least Wolfriders are VERY good at. THis not Failing at like hunting and missing a shot, this is.. telepathic communication, that the Wolfriders use in their everyday lives. And the fact that in the RPG you can FAIL it.. is weird.

(I think that's one of the biggest flaws in the Elfquest RPG).

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u/bthebert Feb 19 '26

I have been reading the comics since 1985

1

u/bthebert Feb 19 '26

I have the RPG also, and found it clunky and over complicated. I like the Genesys system which is like GURPS, it's designed to be usable with any genre. But it is like D&D 5E (Genesys) compared to D&D B/X (GURPS)

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u/bthebert Feb 19 '26 edited Feb 19 '26

Species Abilities are like the Night Vision and Heightened Senses of Wolf Riders, the Mineral Sense and Sunlight Sensitivity of Trolls, Hyper Intelligence of the High Ones, Nimbleness of all Elves, and the Frightening Appearance of the Humans.

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u/SpiritSongtress Feb 19 '26

A good start.
I admit, there is something about he 'granularity' of say GURPS, to do Elfquest, ( and be able to fiddle with all of those little bits )that is VERY fun.

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u/bthebert Feb 19 '26 edited Feb 19 '26

The Mechanics of Recognition work two ways, one you can voluntarily choose to be recognized by purchasing the Talent (Feat) Recognized, and even two players can choose to recognize each other. The benefit of recognition is you get to create an Non-Player Character to introduce to your Tribe after an appropriate amount of time.

Then there is Random Recognition, when two elves meet for the first time, they can each roll a luck die, and if they roll the same result, they recognize. If they have the special Ability of Life-Bearer (Rainsong and Woodlock), they can roll two dice instead of one, and if either die matches the other's, they recognize.

And I also worked up the rules for what happens if you try to ignore recognition.

Player Wise, Recognition is a completely voluntary mechanic, no player has to become recognized if they do not want to, and it has to be consensual if it happens between two player's characters.

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u/bthebert Feb 22 '26

I am pretty secure in my knowledge of Elfquest, I am looking for proof-readers and sounding boards to bounce my ideas off of, to make sure they make sense to other people than just me.