Topic: followers/cohorts in [b]Rolemaster [/b]

[tooleychris]

Is there a set of rules/options for attracting followers? How do kingdoms raise armies? Desert barbarians raise a hoard? Thieves form a city guild? A necromancer raise an army of undead?

[VladD]

In a skill based system there is: skills.

Use military organization, propaganda, public speaking, bribery, etc for these things, depending on race and culture. Where barbarians might need to intimidate others in to their service, Romans need military organization (during the republics a legion was bought and paid for by its legate; who would set up a legion banner on a recruiting field in Rome during a special recruiting day in the year and his centurions and other officers would talk publican sons in to buying armor and take up a place in the legion for 20 years.)

As a GM you should wing it. People will not be eager to join such ventures, although paying upfront might convince many youngsters to go on adventure. Try poor areas, unless some culture has a streak of heroism.

[tooley1chris]

I didnt really mean how was this done in our histroy. I watch enough history channel to figure that out. LOL. I just want to know if there is a precedent already in print for rolemaster before I go making new house rules. Thanks!

[intothatdarkness]

Is there a set of rules/options for attracting followers? How do kingdoms raise armies? Desert barbarians raise a hoard? Thieves form a city guild? A necromancer raise an army of undead?

Not in standard RM. It wasn't like D&D where you had level-based tables for that sort of thing. Even War Law assumed that you'd have to recruit and pay an army...not that it would flock to you.

[Voriig Kye]

School of Hard Knocks (Skill Companion): Leadership on page 78
This has difficulties for recruiting and keeping morale of an army.
There is a very detailed mechanic for building your own following.

[tooleychris]

Voriig,  my hero!

[Old Man]

School of Hard Knocks (Skill Companion): Leadership on page 78
This has difficulties for recruiting and keeping morale of an army.
There is a very detailed mechanic for building your own following.

Does SoHK have the Military Organization type skill equivalents from War Law? (If not, I'd suggest checking them out as well.)

[Voriig Kye]

It does (on page 84). It says there that Military Organization is used for day to day maintenance of the army.