Topic: Do minuses from leg injuries affect the movement rate?

[pglbs]

Hi!

I'm fairly new to Rolemaster. I recently started running a Pbp RM2 campaign.

The character of one of my players got the tendons of one of his legs sliced, and is currently at -30.

Should this minus be reflected in the movement rate in some form?

I read that these penalties to the activity from critical injuries are not applicable to DB nor RRs, but I wonder if movement should be affected.

Thanks and sorry for my English (it's not my native language).

[Spectre771]

Yes, they would apply.  Especially in the example you give where tendons have been cut.  I'm surprised the penalty isn't higher than -30

[Hurin]

But they do not mechanically affect the movement rate; at least, not directly. If you move at a walk (and your GM does not feel that you need to make a Moving Maneuver roll), then they would not affect the rate.

If, however, you wanted to run, then that is going to require a Moving Maneuver, and that -30 penalty would apply to the maneuver, so you will move less distance.

Requiring a roll for paces higher than walking was common in RM2, but Companion IV (p. 8, 'Movement Pace Anomalies') explained why this is a problem: namely, because requiring a roll means that choosing a faster pace often results in the character moving less of a distance.

So, according to the Rules As Written, the penalty really would not affect the character's pace unless the character were attempting something the GM decided required a Moving Maneuver roll.

[netbat]

But they do not mechanically affect the movement rate; at least, not directly. If you move at a walk (and your GM does not feel that you need to make a Moving Maneuver roll), then they would not affect the rate.

I would think that a major injury to a leg would be grounds to require a MM for walk. Maybe it is my poor memory or something from RMSS, but isn't there a rule statement that MM shouldn't be required for "normal" routine actions(like walking)? Walking with cut tendons is not a normal routine maneuver.

[MisterK]

I would think that a major injury to a leg would be grounds to require a MM for walk. Maybe it is my poor memory or something from RMSS, but isn't there a rule statement that MM shouldn't be required for "normal" routine actions(like walking)? Walking with cut tendons is not a normal routine maneuver.

Actually, try to do anything with slashed tendons in your leg... beyond writhing on the floor screaming, I mean

[Hurin]

I should clarify that I think the lack of a guaranteed penalty is a bit of a problem with the RM movement rules. The RM2 rules require a roll whenever the GM thinks one is required, but that generally does not include movement at a walking pace. See for example that section in Companion IV, p. 8, where it lists the difficulties for movement at the various paces: in the 'Maneuver Difficulty' column for walk, it lists 'none'. This suggests that in the RAW, you don't need to make a roll, and that in turn would mean that walking at least is not affected by the injury.

I personally find that an issue, because like many of you I think that an injury should slow you down. I proposed adding a houserule to RMU to address this. My suggestion was that light injuries should reduce max pace by 1, medium by 2, and severe by 3.

[Spectre771]

After thinking of this for some time, I think a little clarification dawned on me. 

The movement rate value for the PC doesn't change.  Human still has X-movement rate, rabbit has Y-movement rate, troll has Z-movement rate, etc.  However, the injury would apply to any rolls made when attempting to move in a "special situation" i.e.: combat, sprinting, distance running, swimming, tightrope walking.

[MisterK]

I would go for a quick and dirty fix - the penalty applies as a % reduction to movement rate AND as a penalty to manoeuvers. So a -30 penalty reduces the BMR to 70% of its normal value, and, in addition, any manoeuver suffers the same penalty.

Let's face it, if you have damaged leg tendons, you don't move at a standard pace, even when walking.

[Hurin]

I would go for a quick and dirty fix - the penalty applies as a % reduction to movement rate AND as a penalty to manoeuvers. So a -30 penalty reduces the BMR to 70% of its normal value, and, in addition, any manoeuver suffers the same penalty.

Let's face it, if you have damaged leg tendons, you don't move at a standard pace, even when walking.

That's not bad either.

[rsarres]

I would go for a quick and dirty fix - the penalty applies as a % reduction to movement rate AND as a penalty to manoeuvers. So a -30 penalty reduces the BMR to 70% of its normal value, and, in addition, any manoeuver suffers the same penalty.

Let's face it, if you have damaged leg tendons, you don't move at a standard pace, even when walking.

That's the way I rule.