Greetings!
I've been a Rolemaster and MERP player since the eighties. Wow, I remember the excitement of buying the original MERP boxed set- the one with the red cover and the adventurers in a treasure-filled cavern. This one:
Anyway, I have identified a few problems with the latest HARP. Great product, of course. And thanks for it.
On p51 the note says that:
XXNote: Pole Arms are unique in that they may be used
equally well either one-handed or two-handed. If used
one-handed, they do a maximum of a Medium critical. If
used two-handed, they do a maximum of a Large critical.
The spear is included in the "polearms" list of individual weapons but also under 2-handed "Staves". It seems to indicate that any polearm besides the spear can be used 2 handed using the polearm skill but the spear requires the "Staves" catagory to use two-handed. This also creates an issue with the Martial Law expanded polearm list which includes weapons that are only possible to use two-handed. But going back to the note quoted above can be used one or two handed. One-handed halbard or poleaxe would be an impressive, if not impossible feat!
Table 8.4 p.68-69 shows that both polearms and spears do Large criticals but probably should be broken down into medium and large 1 or 2 handed as the claymore, katana etc. This is assuming that polearms can be used one handed.
Maybe it'd be better if basically all the polearms listed in Martial Law should be in the staff weapons category (Staves) and spear removed from "Staves" allowing it to be used 1 or 2 handed as other polearms.
p91. Initiative Modifiers should mention staves along with polearms if spear is in staves. If a spear is used 2 handed do the "polearm" initiative modifiers apply or 2 handed?
Table 8.5 p.69 shows "Studded Leather" as a full armour set. It should probably be "Rigid Leather" to be consistant with other armour lists- table 8.7 p70, for example.
I'm not sure if you want typos brought to your attention or not..?
I came across these issues when creating a spear-fighter character.
Matthew