This is all good and helpful stuff, people, and I must say THANK YOU!
I have three players interested in the arena scenario now. I am thinking an opener of a single Orc (Uruk in my setting, thank you Mr Tolkien). I can imagine the "hey, this will be easy" turning into a shock. When they best him, perhaps I can unleash 3 skeletons. And, having survived those, then maybe a final challenge.
Find a way to stress how any PC can do ANYTHING: no limit on lock picking or tracking or what weapon can be used or even spells learned (for this, look atthe spell list and create an encounter were its end results in a spell list magically learned to level 5. They may have to develop popwer points if they have none from stat mods, but the uniqueness of it will sell).
Forgive my ignorance here, but I thought in RM you could only cast a spell of your level or less? Level 5 spells would require level 5 heroes, right?
I imagine I am mistaken, but best to ask.
It is called over casting and requires a SCSM or ESF check, depending on what version/optional rules you are using (over casting was originally an optional rule back in the day, one of the RMSS "improvements" was making over casting RAW).
However, giving a treasure that cannot be fully utilized until additional levels are gained is ok, and players tend to like them. Gives them something to look forward too.
When the prize is given, it can be random, or if you prefer, link the list to some trait of the PC.
Note that such a gift can have additional limitations. If you give an essence list to non spell user, they normally wear armor: built in limitations. Menatlism would be the freindliest. Me, I would base the list on their highest spell stat, Em, Pr and In. This would probably guarantee at least a few pp, with or without pp development.