|
For those that don't know, the new version of Rolemaster is being open play tested right now. It's the other OPEN playtest.
Having looked at the new play test documents, there are less charts in Character Law than there is in the PFRPG. Character Law doesn't have millions of charts for you to look up in. The new spell law is missing it's Elemental Attack charts and critical strike tables -- apparently all of that will be in Arms Law.
Rolemaster has pretty much evolved. There is a lot of European influence in the new version, by the way. But it still has class. If we are going by class, if 4e has all the class of an unwashed automotive mechanic, Rolemaster still gives you John Ronald Reuel Tolkien vibes or has all the class of David Niven combined with Roger Moore from the Saint.
Signing up for the play test is as easy as pie. You go to the Iron Crown website at www.ironcrown.com and just sign up to be on the forums and downloading the play test documents will be easy.
If you want a Rolemaster that will be intuitive and play like PFRPG, then here you go. Here's your chance to turn Rolemaster into D&D or PFRPG.
I used to play RM a lot back in the day, having got into it from MERP.
However, the more I think of it, the more I realize that it's a system that is peculiarly unsuited to describing things in Middle Earth; it just doesn't capture the feel of the setting at all.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVED all the source material for MERP/RM (the Robin Hood campaign book and the Pirates book are both outstanding in terms of flavor), but as a system I just can't muster the energy to get enthused about it :(
But I'm sufficiently intrigued to wonder what the current state of the rules are to take a look at the playtest :)
Signed on - It looks good,
Love Rolemaster!!! I have two groups in Nashville TN at the moment. I also have checked out the new version. I hope it does streamline everything!
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4; Contributor; Publisher, Legendary Games
|
I bought Arms Law, Spell Law, and The Iron Wind as a kid of about 11 by mail order out of Dragon magazine. Still have em and messed around with them plenty, but never really used them to run a game. I *did* incorporate several sections of The Iron Wind into a long-running 3rd Ed campaign, and used plenty of converted magic items from Treasures of Middle-Earth over the years.
Their setting books on Middle-Earth were mostly fabulous, but I was never totally sold on the system mechanics.
New Beta rules are out for play testing.
Last playtest there was "Groin Destruction", the whole table was in hysterics. The new rules are very good. I think the high numbers scare people even though it's easier.
Thier monster rules look very interesting - you create monsters as classes so you can add skills talents and other abilities.