A couple thoughts regarding gameplay before I go to bed.

I want to try to adhere closely to RM's experience system, but I'll be watching your numbers as we go. If it looks like it's taking too long, I'll likely start applying a multiplier. There's already going to be one in place, because of the "novelty" bonus, and using Idea XP can effectively add another 50% to that -- and I'll be handing that out based on who comes up with a plan, not just who does it. Because coming up with a plan should be rewarding. (Plus it gives the less-combative types a steady XP stream.)

Anyway, point is I'll be adjusting the numbers as we go so that you actually gain a level once in a while. I'll probably tend toward more in general, 'cause there's no harm in letting you have a few levels under your belt.

In general, I'll handle the game mechanics. If you're obviously doing something that entails a die-roll, and you know the factors involved, by all means roll the dice -- otherwise I'll take care of it so you can worry about describing your actions. Whenever possible, I'll feed you the info, like telling you some possible courses of action and their difficulty. When you get into a fight, I'm simply going to tell you their AT and DB so you can look up the attack tables if you want to roll your own.

I do try to enforce the activity percentage rules. They're there for a reason. I also enforce the penalties for taking damage and using up power points. Play-by-post makes it a trivial matter to do the math on those. I'll help you work out the numbers on those (like whether you take a –10 penalty at 15 hits, or 16).

I'll put the setting in Bodlea to start. Basically low-tech highlands, I'll put up a post tomorrow with the description and start piecing together a timeline of recent history. It's Tech Level 2 (bronze age), so iron tools and weapons are scarce. They do some trade with their neighbors so it's possible, they just don't have the tech to make their own. (Be aware that bronze weapons and armor cost 10 times the listed price, but are just as effective in combat -- albeit a bit weaker.)

I've added an extra player; they're someone I've run games with here in the past, and even though they're new to RM they've very enthusiastic about learning.

They're also interested in playing a scout-type, so I'll probably make them something both combative and stealthy. That could be a Thief, Rogue, or Warrior-Monk.

Fantastic. Welcome new [scout/thief/monk]!

On my side, I think I've finished the apprenticeship skills. I opted to NOT take any training packages, and instead just focused on the skills I wanted this character to have.

Please double check him on the math. I've added a bookkeeping set of lines along the skills areas, so I could keep track of the level to level acquisitions. [C: Culture, H: Hobby] They also help for GM tracking of skills. I haven't added the numbers together for final skill bonuses, I've only finished assigning skill and category rank buys.

Other notes: If you are ok with the modified Visible Aura Flaw, I'll take it. For it I'd like to have a Spell Adder II, in the shape of a long hardwood and quartz quarterstaff. Let me know if this is ok with you.

I agree with the idea of slowly making Salinus warp with the use of his magic. We can work on a Talent later, as he makes his levels, assuming he lives that long. I am thinking by the time he reaches level 20 he should look distinctively "inhuman" and more "draconic". That should make for amazing story and roleplaying opportunities.

Not exactly an optimal choice, but okay. The Training Packages give a discount for taking a fixed set of skills, along with the chance of some extra items, money, and/or stat gain rolls. They take a lot longer in-game to acquire after character creation.

But you know what you're doing with this -- I'm mainly bringing this up for the others' benefit.


Both of those are fine with me. Bear in mind that your Visible Aura won't substitute very well for a light source, but it will make you stand out while you're casting a spell. It'll make it harder to be subtle about it. I might let you develop a special Aura Suppression skill (probably in the Power Manipulation group) later on.

Hmm... that's what I get for scanning things very quickly. I think I will work with the Training Package after all. I hadn't seen the two stat gain rolls. That's 16 points right there. With the skills and the equipment, this is certainly worth it.

I will rework that Apprenticeship level with one 'Amateur Mage' package, which I will call 'Apprentice Mage'. =)

Again, too fast on the draw. That Stat gain roll was reserved for Empathy, not Quickness. It was a "Realm Stat" roll.

I trust you. ;)

It was a good stat roll, definitely deserving of Quickness. But when I went back to check on what else I needed to upgrade, I saw "Own Realm". So, the only option was Empathy. =)

The Memory stat roll, though, was excellent. Almost at max.

So, I've finished factoring the skill numbers on my sheet. Please double-check if you are so inclined. It was a long process. I now have earned my honorary doctorate in RoleMaster Character Generation Studies. (Flips tassel to other side, in my head my speech is going on: "I'd like to thank the Academy...")

All that's left is finishing up the small details in the sheet and some basic equipment.

Talking about equipment, let me know what the results on the Amateur Mage special equipment is. If I get the Spell Adder bonus I won't be picking it as a Special Equipment from the list. I'll pick something else. Or maybe another Talent.

You got one item: a wooden rod with a bronze cap on one end, and a clear crystal on the other. When activated, it glows enough to light a 10-foot radius, lasing for 30 minutes. Activating it only requires a mental command, as long as you have the item in hand. At the time of activation, you can touch the crystal to something (an object or creature), and the light will emit from that point instead. If the target is mobile, the light will move with it.

It's a Daily II item, casting Light I (from the open Mentalism list Brilliance).
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:00, Sun 14 Feb 2021.

That is indeed a perfectly fine item for a wizard to have. What would this world come to if a wizard was not able to cast light at will? I'll take it. =)

Well, twice a day, but that's a light-source that works without fail and won't accidentally start a fire. Plus the option of putting the light on something (or someone) can be totally exploited.

Wanna be a target? Here, have some light. ;-)

On an unrelated topic, I added a version of my backstory to my profile. Please have a look and tell me if anyone sees any points where we could have gotten to know each other. Ayami has been in a big city the last nine years, so I don't know if anyone is old enough to have met her before.

I know, right?. Guess what? My character IS the target. You see, whenever he spends power points, his entire body glows! The more points, the brighter the glow. "Have some light", indeed! =D

On that note, GM, we have to come up with a scheme to define how much he glows based on how many points he spends, how long the glows lasts, and, optionally, if the glow diminishes slowly over time or stays at full power until time runs out.

Fun, fun, fun with (more) charts. =)

I was thinking it primarily happens during the rounds in which you're doing spellcasting -- it wouldn't linger. The brightness would depend on how many power points you're pushing around, but it will mainly serve as a visual cue for others. Not enough to light your way around for more than a few seconds, but enough to make it hard for you to be subtle about casting.

Hey, that's great. I'll take that.

In my mind I was thinking something like:

1-3 points: small glow
4-6 points: medium glow
9 + points: big glow
15+ points: huge glow

Then the glow would go down one degree per round afterwards, unless Salinus casts another spell, in which case it would grow to the larger of the two spells, then begin fading from that point on.

I clearly overcomplicated it. I'll take your solution. =)

Quick question regarding training packages.

For each iten its an open-ended roll and if you get it half the chance for the rest of the items.  However the notation on the last entry changed from 100 in the main rulebook to 0 in Character Law.

This changes the chance to get the last item - for example Scout would have a +50 of getting a mount as their second item if they were primarily successful, while a crafter would have a 0 percentage of getting +5 crafting tools as a second item.

Which way would you want to rectify this mistake (in which book is the mistake?)


Second question - For adolecence skills do you want to use race entries (base rules) and humans pick a subculture or are given one based on the region picked for the region or are communities more the focus over race?

I'm using the race rules from Races & Cultures, so your adolescence skills are determined by the environment you grew up in. Each race has a list of recommendations for suitable environments.

With Training Package items, the last item is intended to be a fallback -- if you didn't roll well enough to get any of the items listed, you get the final item without having to roll. It's also a GM option to give you that item anyway, if (say) you only scored something minor.

Also, we had a player drop out; ironically, the player that first proposed a RM game in GMW. We need to figure out if we want to try recruiting anyone else, or stick with what we have. It'll be worth taking a look at what everyone is making. I'll go over the posts and make a list.

Our original RM requester dropped out? Funny! =)

Despite the fact that the Rolemaster Cover shows a three-person party, I think we could use one more at least semi-martial class. (Says the wizard who's looking for his meat shields.)

I'd say let's get another player to replace them. I think if you announce this game possibility on the Iron Crown forums, you might get more people to bite than in here, where so few people know this game.

I just posted an ad in the Rolemaster Discord channel. I'm pretty sure I'll get a bite or two. It's a small group, but very enthusiastic.

Nice. I didn't know RM had a discord channel, but it makes sense. There's gotta be one for just about 'anything' in this world.

Hmmm... purple poodle groomers?

Pickle Rick pickle collectors?

5-sided hexagon designers?

I'm considering picking up one of the commercial programs for this game. ERA is really thorough -- it handles character creation and advancement, travel stuff like foraging for herbs, and combat. I can't say I care for the interface though, a lot of useful information is hidden behind buttons and widgets. It's intended for a group to use at the table, with the players using tablets or phones to look at their character stuff while the GM does the same with a tablet or laptop. I'm not sure if there'd be a way for any of you to see it, except for me sending you output files (which wouldn't be much help).

There's also Combat Minion, which is strictly for handling fights. Fewer visual doo-dads, but it's also more straightforward for that. It would only be for my use, they're really strict against sharing.

Both have free "play around with this and try it" modes, but unlocking the full data on either would cost a bit. That'd include all the attack and critical tables, and ERA would also include everything about character creation and NPCs and monsters. (It would require adding an extra item to make it include all the Shadow World-specific stuff.)

Sure, if you feel it helps, go for it.

Digging through the ICE forums about ERA, it looks like it may be possible for you all to access it through me -- by catching me when I'm online and connecting through a specific address in your browser. I already do something like this with a VTT program.

So that's a selling point in its favor, giving everyone a program to make characters and ensure we're on the same page. Granted, if it's just making characters we can lean on RMOffice for that.