Official ICE Forums
Systems & Settings => Rolemaster => Topic started by: Cormac Doyle on November 01, 2007, 10:31:05 AM
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RM - Rolemaster
RM2 - Rolemaster 2nd Edition (Red Border / 1989 edition); Generic term for any version prior to RMSS
RMC - Rolemaster Classic (Revised/cleaned up presentation of the RM2 core, with new options and some minor changes)
RMX - Rolemaster eXpress
(RME - Rolemaster Express ... however, this usage is discouraged)
RMSS - Rolemaster Standard System
RMFRP - Rolemaster Fantasy Roleplaying
RoCo I/II/III/IV/V/VI/VII - Rolemaster Companion 1-7
(RMC I/II/III/IV/V/VI/VII - Alternate abbreviation for Rolemaster Companion 1-7 ... however, this usage is discouraged)
EA1/2/3/4 - Express Additions
More Abbreviations will be added :)
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A necessary thing to reduce confusion, but I'll be hard pressed to stop using RMC for the companions.
At the risk of throwing a wrench into the gears, why not RCl (or RMCl) for Rolemaster Classic?
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At the risk of throwing a wrench into the gears, why not RCl (or RMCl) for Rolemaster Classic?
Mainly because of the potential for confusion overall RMCl looks very similar to RMCI and can easily be confused for it.
Thus, RoCo for Rolemaster Companion
and RMC for Rolemaster Classic (besides, THIS perpetuates the Rolemaster = RM abbreviation used in the other core versions of Rolemaster)
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That makes sense. Can't say I'll remember to use RoCo though. Old dogs, etc. ;)
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Can this be made a sticky for those who first join. It took me awhile to get it.
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One of the problems is that some of these changes are recent, so historically
RMC1, RMC2 etc etc where, and for some are RoleMasterCompanion1-8
RMX till last month (or the month before) was the abbreviation for the hoped for and much discussed new version of RoleMaster.
RME which is now discouraged was only recently changed to RMX.
As such there is a lot of confusion, not perhaps here so much but on other sites, and for some like myself RMC1 RMC2 etc may always mean the companions, as I'm to established in my ways to change my habits so easily (give me time).
In time if we use the new abbreviations (with notes perhaps) people other than those on this site may start using them, but if they don't we should live with it, after all they where right then, and it is only for convention that things have changed...
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Pardon, which is the official abbreviation for the Express Additions ?
EA1, EA2, :hm:
XA1, XA2
RMXA1, RMXA2
RMC Companions = RMCCo ? We will need this soon ::)
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Express Additions == EA3
RMC products won't be getting named as "RMC Companion x", Each product should have a relatively unique name (that is the goal as least).
RMX till last month (or the month before) was the abbreviation for the hoped for and much discussed new version of RoleMaster.
The use of RMX for the revision was never official. I know that I may have used it a few times but that would have been me talking not ICE in those revision discussions (I even argued against using RMX for RM Express, but we see how that turned out..... ;D)
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It's all about what is out there in the wild, and to change that will take time, so if someone abbreviates something and it isn't obvious what they are referring to, or even if it appears to be obvious check, as they may be using the non official but established abbreviation, after all it is very easy to misunderstand people if you aren't there in front of them.
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Hmm
What about SUC (Spell Users Companion) and AC (Arms Companion)? :)
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SoHK --> School of Hard Knocks
MAC --> Martial Arts Companion
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AC as arms companion probably wont work as it looks like armor class, perhaps ArCo ? which brings it into the RoCo1 style...
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I don't like the way that RoCo looks. RMCI-VII for me.
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I agree, but times are a changing.
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Ok, I am baby newbie here, so please be kind ;)
I played MERP and RM back in the early 80s briefly. I stumbled onto HARP Lite recently, and now I am interested in RM again. I have the three RM2 books and RMSS: The Basics. I returned to the ICE website to find out that there have been several editions and incarnations. I think that I have the chronological order down, but can I get a stamp of approval on this? ;)
Let's see, this is how I see it:
RM
RM2
RMSS
RMSS: The Basics
RMFRP
RMC
Now some quick clarification questions:
What is the differences between RMFP and RMC? More specifically, why go back to before RMSS and RMFRP?
Is RMX part of the RMC product line or separate?
Many thanks!
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If you have RM2 and RM: The Basics then you can just compare the them to determine the differences.
RMC is basically a reworked version of the old RM2 books. Lots better organization and some minor fixes. The two largest changes are the tactical system and spell types. But, RMC is essentially the same as the RM2 you have.
RM: The Basics is a cut-down boxed set version of RMSS, which was later repackaged into RMFRP. All three are basically the same thing.
RMX is part of the RMC product line. It is basically the core rules with a very few options put into place to make things slightly smoother overall. There is a thread at the top of the RM2/RMC/RMX forum that gives you a teaser showing the condensed combat system and the page which tells what options where used. The whole idea of RMX was to show that RM was not as complicated as some folks thought.....
More specifically, why go back to before RMSS and RMFRP?
Short version --- RMSS/FRP are, quite frankly, too complicated (in character creation) to be an initial buy-in product. it just cannot attract new players (or new gamers) as well as we need it to.
While there is some small growth with it, that growth is not enough to sustain ICE. Many old RM fans also refused to move to RMSS because they didn't like various aspects of it. (note: there is nothing wrong with RMSS/FRP as a system, it just doesn't enjoy the growth we need it to enjoy).
Whether RMC is working to reclaim that lost segment or not, I cannot actually say. However, sales of the RMC products have been phenomenal, with distributors wanting them like they were hotcakes.
RMX is meant to show that we can produce a FULL, playable game in a relatively few pages (88 pages, 10 of them being an adventure and other material, not rules). The print version sells for $10, what is essentially an impulse buy for many people.
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Thanks Rasyr! :)
Intuitively, I was on the same wavelength. I just wanted to make sure. RMC and RMX sound like exactly what ICE needs in today's gamer market. I am going to have to pick up RMX now as well as the print version of HARP 8)
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MenCo : Mentalism companion
EssCo : Essence Companion
ChanCo : Channeling companion
TreaCo : Treasure companion
ArCo : Arcane companion
MACo : Martial Arts companion
ComCo : combat companion
do i have it right (i am currentlu building a glossary for RMSS/FRP, so these are usefull for me)
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TMWTD - Anybody want to guess?
AATFP or would it be AA10FP? Another guess?
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Ten million ways to die. . .
Not sure of the other, what do I win?
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My respect and admiration.
Here's a hint, the first work in the second one is AND...
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I'll play your game you rogue!
What is "and a ten foot pole"
how do you like that Trabek?
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Duh. Rewrite. Didn't see the above.
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We have a new Jepoardy Champion!
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UR - Underground Races? (one of my favorite RMSS books)
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What is CCG?
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What is CCG?
Usually stands for Collectible Card Game -- something that the current ICE does not currently sell.
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I've read "CCG" in a post here, somewhere, and I've thinked was something related to ICE, like a Character Generator.
Perhaps I'm wrong.
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ARP = At Rapiers Point
WLF = Weapon Law: Firearms
C&TI-III = Creatures & Treasures I-III
Or were these already covered?
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Why is the word "abbreviation" so long?
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So here is the question.
With the new regime what exactly is going to be produced?
Are we going back to the RM or RM2 system, and is this what is referred to as RMC? If this is the case I am beyond happy... to be able to buy a new Companion III or Companion II would just rock my world!
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Why is the word "abbreviation" so long?
So that we appreciate abbr.
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So here is the question.
With the new regime what exactly is going to be produced?
Are we going back to the RM or RM2 system, and is this what is referred to as RMC? If this is the case I am beyond happy... to be able to buy a new Companion III or Companion II would just rock my world!
AFAIK, both RMSS/FRP and RM2/C are going to be supported by the N-ICE.
As to the RM2 Companions "the Company" ICE past and present have been trying to get a hold of the various authors so that they can reprint the material. It has been a difficult job IIRC and they are still trying to find some authors and just because they can find some authors or all authors for the book it does not mean that they will reprint the book. IE cost vs profit.
MDC
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So here is the question.
With the new regime what exactly is going to be produced?
Are we going back to the RM or RM2 system, and is this what is referred to as RMC? If this is the case I am beyond happy... to be able to buy a new Companion III or Companion II would just rock my world!
AFAIK, both RMSS/FRP and RM2/C are going to be supported by the N-ICE.
As to the RM2 Companions "the Company" ICE past and present have been trying to get a hold of the various authors so that they can reprint the material. It has been a difficult job IIRC and they are still trying to find some authors and just because they can find some authors or all authors for the book it does not mean that they will reprint the book. IE cost vs profit.
MDC
Coleman Charlton should be easy enough to find, as would Amthor, but I fear some of the authors may be more difficult. I remember a fellow named Monte I met at a gaming convention years ago who was writing material for ICE and he did not look well.
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So here is the question.
With the new regime what exactly is going to be produced?
Are we going back to the RM or RM2 system, and is this what is referred to as RMC? If this is the case I am beyond happy... to be able to buy a new Companion III or Companion II would just rock my world!
At this point, we are trying to get back as many products as possible from both RM2 and RMSS/FRP. 2 RMFRP products are waiting to be uploaded into OBS by me, the three volumes of RMFRP Spell Law are currently being rebranded, and there are more ready to be fed into the rebranding pipeline.
Subject to finding the authors and reaching a mutually acceptable agreement, older products will return either in whole or in parts.
Best wishes,
Nicholas
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Can someone summarize the new Rolemaster project ( RMU ) ?
What is the most important change in relation to the RMSS & RMFRP ?
When release date ?
What has inspired to do one more of new Edition ?
;D
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You can read about it for yourself in the beta forums...
Relative to RMSS/RMFRP, the skill system is much simplified. Skills are organized into categories but you only purchase skills (not categories), and all skills have the same progression. There are also fewer of them. There are rules for using similar skills which give some of the same benefit as RMSS's categories. Professional bonuses are mostly per level rather than up-front. Moving maneuvers and resistance rolls are streamlined. The number of armor types has been reduced to 10 (not 20) but there are new rules for partial armor and called shots which allow treatment of more combinations. The assumption that heavier armor makes it harder to dodge has been removed from the tables so that armor is clearly advantageous (not always true in RMSS). Combat rounds have been shortened to 5 seconds (which among other things makes movement during combat a little more tactical).
The rules also include systems for creating your own races, cultures, and professions.
The changes in Spell Law are not dramatic, although there are changes to some spells reflecting how the combat round has changed (e.g. haste). Also, healing spells now work in the framework of the recovery rules (i.e. they give a substantial bonus on the recovery roll and may also reduce the result by a significant factor, rather than being entirely separate). One notable change is that there are no blanks in the spell lists -- every spell list has a spell at every level.
The release date is "when it's ready." Arms and Character Law will be first, it is moving towards a final draft now which will inform work on the other books. I cannot guess how long this will actually take. It will also need layout and art of course. Spell Law will be next, it probably needs less work than A&CL did to get to the finish line (e.g. because we did some big organizational rearranging in A&CL, which is not needed in SL). Creature Law and Treasure Law have only been through one open beta draft (whereas the others have been through two) and will need some adjustment based on what happens in A&CL, so they will take longer.
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The assumption that heavier armor makes it harder to dodge has been removed from the tables so that armor is clearly advantageous (not always true in RMSS).
The change here is true for both RM2/RMc and RMSS/RMFRP...
but it is More that they Removed the Double Penalty rule, Since you were getting Penalized for Wearing the Armor. But the Armor Types Already HAD a Built In Penalty for wearing them In the tables in that you were More likely to be Hit wearing armor than Not. Yes, you had a smaller chance of being critted... But More Likelihood of Just being pummeled to death, since, especially with higher AT types, you Could almost never Not be hit and take concussion damage, Even if you parried a lot and carried a shield.
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You can read about it for yourself in the beta forums...
Relative to RMSS/RMFRP, the skill system is much simplified. Skills are organized into categories but you only purchase skills (not categories), and all skills have the same progression. There are also fewer of them. There are rules for using similar skills which give some of the same benefit as RMSS's categories. Professional bonuses are mostly per level rather than up-front. Moving maneuvers and resistance rolls are streamlined. The number of armor types has been reduced to 10 (not 20) but there are new rules for partial armor and called shots which allow treatment of more combinations. The assumption that heavier armor makes it harder to dodge has been removed from the tables so that armor is clearly advantageous (not always true in RMSS). Combat rounds have been shortened to 5 seconds (which among other things makes movement during combat a little more tactical).
The rules also include systems for creating your own races, cultures, and professions.
The changes in Spell Law are not dramatic, although there are changes to some spells reflecting how the combat round has changed (e.g. haste). Also, healing spells now work in the framework of the recovery rules (i.e. they give a substantial bonus on the recovery roll and may also reduce the result by a significant factor, rather than being entirely separate). One notable change is that there are no blanks in the spell lists -- every spell list has a spell at every level.
The release date is "when it's ready." Arms and Character Law will be first, it is moving towards a final draft now which will inform work on the other books. I cannot guess how long this will actually take. It will also need layout and art of course. Spell Law will be next, it probably needs less work than A&CL did to get to the finish line (e.g. because we did some big organizational rearranging in A&CL, which is not needed in SL). Creature Law and Treasure Law have only been through one open beta draft (whereas the others have been through two) and will need some adjustment based on what happens in A&CL, so they will take longer.
Thanks for answer! Sounds good! I will read more about RMU. And i can tell you for sure at i will buy every book when time comes.
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Role master express ! It is a good version of the game ? I hear that is a simple one, for beginner. But i can't find it. Why ?
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It’s not being supported anymore because of licensing issues as I understand it.