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Systems & Settings => Rolemaster => Rolemaster Software => Topic started by: Hurin on March 14, 2019, 05:36:09 PM

Title: ERA vs. Combat Minion?
Post by: Hurin on March 14, 2019, 05:36:09 PM
I'm just getting more acquainted with ICE software, and wondering what is the relationship between the Combat Minion and the ERA? It seems to me that the Minion is a part of the ERA (the part that tracks combat). Is that right?

If I buy the ERA, do I get the Combat Minion too?
Title: Re: ERA vs. Combat Minion?
Post by: Jenkyna on March 14, 2019, 07:18:15 PM
I have all of the ERA modules for RMC, and it did not come with combat minion.

I can't compare the two, but ERA is pretty nice. It's quite extensible with a little xml editing.
Title: Re: ERA vs. Combat Minion?
Post by: Voriig Kye on March 14, 2019, 09:21:36 PM
From where I see it, ERA and Combat Minion are completely different products, and aimed at different play styles.

Based on the comments so far, Combat Minion allows easier tracking of combat, once you input the OB/DB/Hits of the participants. It handles criticals, initiative, bleeding (I think, not sure on that one), and you can prepare in advance NPCs to use in the combats.

ERA allows character creation, skill resolution, spell casting, combat, foraging, treasure generation.
It obviously has a steeper learning curve, and depending on the house rules of your group, character creation can require more or less tweaking.
The Adventuring module (skill resolution, spells, attacks, etc) works only with characters created with ERA, so you must first make sure to get the values right in the created characters (all skills can be manually edited if required).

There are online tutorial videos on YouTube for both products.
And I'm certain there are users of both in the forums who might provide a less biased answer.

@Jenkyna last time I checked on RPGNow/DriveThruRPG, all ERA RMC modules had 1/5 stars, with no review given and based on only 1 rating. If you think it's nice, could I bother you with a rating? At times I worry that people might pass on trying it because of the bad rating. Thanks!
Title: Re: ERA vs. Combat Minion?
Post by: Jenkyna on March 14, 2019, 09:58:59 PM

@Jenkyna last time I checked on RPGNow/DriveThruRPG, all ERA RMC modules had 1/5 stars, with no review given and based on only 1 rating. If you think it's nice, could I bother you with a rating? At times I worry that people might pass on trying it because of the bad rating. Thanks!

Yes, and sorry I never really think to rate stuff.
Title: Re: ERA vs. Combat Minion?
Post by: Jenkyna on March 14, 2019, 10:16:17 PM

@Jenkyna last time I checked on RPGNow/DriveThruRPG, all ERA RMC modules had 1/5 stars, with no review given and based on only 1 rating. If you think it's nice, could I bother you with a rating? At times I worry that people might pass on trying it because of the bad rating. Thanks!

Yes, and sorry I never really think to rate stuff.

And done.

I do look at ratings when buying something sight unseen, so I think it does make a difference. 
Title: Re: ERA vs. Combat Minion?
Post by: Hurin on March 14, 2019, 10:35:31 PM
Thanks for the breakdown guys. Just a couple of further questions, if you will permit me:

We are committed to playing RMU henceforth. Which app do you think better supports/will support RMU?

Does Combat Minion lack a character builder?

Thanks!
Title: Re: ERA vs. Combat Minion?
Post by: Jenkyna on March 14, 2019, 11:22:20 PM
I suspect that once the RMU modules for ERA are out you will find it to be the best tool for character generation. I can build a level 5 character in about 15 minutes with ERA if I know exactly what I am looking to build when I start.

It's going to take longer if you are deciding on everything as you go.
Title: Re: ERA vs. Combat Minion?
Post by: Hurin on March 15, 2019, 01:18:11 AM
Thanks Jenkyna; that is helpful.
Title: Re: ERA vs. Combat Minion?
Post by: silarkhar on March 15, 2019, 03:09:54 PM
@Jenkyna last time I checked on RPGNow/DriveThruRPG, all ERA RMC modules had 1/5 stars, with no review given and based on only 1 rating. If you think it's nice, could I bother you with a rating? At times I worry that people might pass on trying it because of the bad rating. Thanks!

Done.
Title: Re: ERA vs. Combat Minion?
Post by: Merkir on March 19, 2019, 12:06:09 AM
I'm just getting more acquainted with ICE software, and wondering what is the relationship between the Combat Minion and the ERA? It seems to me that the Minion is a part of the ERA (the part that tracks combat). Is that right?

If I buy the ERA, do I get the Combat Minion too?

Author of Combat Minion here. Sorry for the late pickup on this thread.

As others have explained, Minion and ERA are quite different things and cater to different groups. Combat Minion allows you to enter all of the basic combat related stats for PCs and NPCs and then allows them to be grouped into a combat encounter. Minion then facilitates all of the combat steps and record keeping, and when the full combat tables are installed it provides all attack results and criticals.

The web app itself is completely free and usable at:
www.web.com.au/rolemaster/minion (http://www.web.com.au/rolemaster/minion)

It comes with a few sample attack and critical tables so that you can test out the full functionality. Then if you like it you can purchase the full set of attack and critical tables from ICE at RPGNow or DriveThruRPG.

Title: Re: ERA vs. Combat Minion?
Post by: Siltoneous on March 19, 2019, 09:58:20 AM
Appreciate the topic Hurin, (and the answers everyone); it's something I've been considering myself but was hesitant to put it to words.


I'd decided to buy/support both: one to help with the game, but two to help support those who support the product. That said, I'm waiting until RMU is released. Frankly I don't run any pre-beta RMU campaigns anymore, so I'm not sure I'd see any benefit now with them.  :-\  If I'm wrong though, I'd appreciate a correction, and I'll fix the oversight.



Title: Re: ERA vs. Combat Minion?
Post by: Hurin on March 19, 2019, 10:09:52 AM
Thanks very much Merkir!

I too will try both out and see which works best for my group.
Title: Re: ERA vs. Combat Minion?
Post by: Merkir on March 20, 2019, 03:29:02 AM
Importantly, I forgot to say that there are no plans to support RMU in Combat Minion. I simply don't have the time, but I'm happy to hand over to others if they have the coding experience and willingness to give it a go.
Title: Re: ERA vs. Combat Minion?
Post by: OLF, i.e. Olf Le Fol on March 20, 2019, 05:47:22 AM
Importantly, I forgot to say that there are no plans to support RMU in Combat Minion. I simply don't have the time, but I'm happy to hand over to others if they have the coding experience and willingness to give it a go.
In which language is Combat Minion written? And which environment and compiler do you use, if any?
Title: Re: ERA vs. Combat Minion?
Post by: Merkir on March 21, 2019, 04:18:05 PM
In which language is Combat Minion written? And which environment and compiler do you use, if any?

Javascript, with EasyUI (www.jeasyui.com), and a tiny bit of PHP/SQLite for the very basic storage of users. For the build process, I simply used the internal Sublime, and later Notepad++, build process. It simply concatenated the 10+ Minion js files, then runs an obfuscator. It needs nothing more complex.

The full web app, with its single page html source is at:

www.web.com.au/rolemaster/minion (http://www.web.com.au/rolemaster/minion/)