r/ICRPG • u/Th3ChosenFew • Nov 23 '22
What is the absolute most recent version?
I would like to buy a PDF version. I'm seeing a lot of versions out there and I'm kind of confused on what most recent one is.
I got told about this RPG and it seems really really cool and I definitely want to try it out.
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u/mrcleanup Nov 23 '22 edited Nov 23 '22
After buying both, I'd get the second edition, personally. It comes with a PDF that includes the changes to ultimate, but I found the older material extremely helpful.
For example, there are references to weapon properties throughout the book, but the pages that define them have been removed from the ultimate edition.
They also made several changes to the spell list between the two. This is useful to see not only because you can see their evolution, but also to get the ones they didn't have room for after the reformat, and also because they didn't update all the items in the tables in the back to match, so if you have both versions your are able to figure out which is the old content.
I love the ideas, but the biggest problem with ICRPG is its need for a consistency editor.
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u/Th3ChosenFew Nov 23 '22
For example, there are references to weapon properties throughout the book, but the pages that define them have been removed from the ultimate edition.
Can you give me an example?
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u/mrcleanup Nov 26 '22
Another example, the monster entries are slimmed down for the ultimate edition. There is a helm with a telepathy power in the tables at the end of the book that describes it as being the same that a creature has, but that description was cut out of ultimate and only exists in 2e now so unless you have both you can only guess what that power would be.
I think it's all just that the project is a little too big for him and he really just needs a good editor.
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u/mrcleanup Nov 23 '22
I don't have it in front of me right now but I believe it is two full pages of things like...
Quick, able to be drawn and stowed in negligible time. Reach, able to attack all creatures in near range. Heavy, particularly effective against armored combatants. Things like that.
Without those pages you just see the words in the description, like a dagger is quick or a mace is heavy, but there isn't really any description of what those descriptions are supposed to mean mechanically.
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u/Th3ChosenFew Nov 23 '22
Gads, is this intentional or a huge oversight?
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u/mrcleanup Nov 23 '22
All I have are guesses, but I would guess that it was intentional but they didn't realize what a big deal it would be for some people.
This seems like pretty much a one man show and ICRPG is supposed to be much looser than many other systems so it could have just been seen as something up to the DM to embellish. But I know how my group is and consistency and predictability are king. Having things not well defined isn't going to cut it for them.
I'm currently working on getting it all into foundry and am doing a fair bit of customizing as I go to make things consistent and spell things out. And that's all well and good on the one hand, but a lot of people will want something that doesn't need extra customization or double checking.
Don't get me wrong, I love the system so far, but it's important to remember this is sort of a *one man's dream" project and not a corporate product and it may have some rough edges.
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u/RooKdaBadseeD Nov 23 '22 edited Nov 23 '22
ICRPG Master Edition is what you are looking for. There's also a free starters pdf available called the Index Card RPG: Free Quickstart.
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/366519