Hail, Rolemasters!
Long absence, and I have returned. Intermittantly, at best.
Many apologies for my long absence, but RL threw another nastiest of curve balls. Just let it be known that it took a while to find the ball.
During my absence, I have been working on an attempt to devise a simpler method for calculating the Base Movement Rate (BMR) for characters created with the Rolemaster system. Although it may not be the best method, or a method welcomed by all, it is a method that is simple. It is also a method that could solve many of the problems inherent with all flavors of RM.
For part of the analysis, I found an old CSV file that contained the data I used to propose my first treatise on the slightly flawed RM2, RMC, RMFRP BMR system. The data are proprietary, but I do include the first 555 records (25.6%) of 2164.
My simple, and perhaps, eloquent proposal is to multiply the character's Height in inches by 0.6 to derive the character's equivalent BMR in feet per round (fpr).
Example: For a 72 inch tall character, their BMR would be 43.2fpr.
Of course, this adds a level of difficulty of having to deal with decimals.
However it does sovle the problem that is currently inherent with the current RMUS method:
BMR = 50fpr + Stride - Encumbrance
Stride = +/-1 BMR for each +/-2 inches Height.
I have eliminated the Encumbrance modifier for ease's sake and focused on only the BMR + Stride. The table below (replicated from Sheet5 of the ODS file (
wait for approval) in the attached ZIP file) demonstrates the major problem with the RMUS incarnation of the BMR. This table only shows the lower end, for that is where the major problem lies. I have only calculated for Heights 1 to 144 inches. Above the 72 inch mark, I do not foresee any problems. What about a 4800 inch tall character (40 feet, 12.192 meters)? Well, from what I show in the ODS file (in ZIP file), such a character might would mosey faster than Usain Bolt could Dash.
Height (in) | | BMR | | Height (in) | | BMR | | Height (in) | | BMR | | Height (in) | | BMR |
72 | | 50 | | 54 | | 41 | | 36 | | 32 | | 18 | | 23 |
70 | | 49 | | 52 | | 40 | | 34 | | 31 | | 16 | | 22 |
68 | | 48 | | 50 | | 39 | | 32 | | 30 | | 14 | | 21 |
66 | | 47 | | 48 | | 38 | | 30 | | 29 | | 12 | | 20 |
64 | | 46 | | 46 | | 37 | | 28 | | 28 | | 10 | | 19 |
62 | | 45 | | 44 | | 36 | | 26 | | 27 | | 8 | | 18 |
60 | | 44 | | 42 | | 35 | | 24 | | 26 | | 6 | | 17 |
58 | | 43 | | 40 | | 34 | | 22 | | 25 | | 4 | | 16 |
56 | | 42 | | 38 | | 33 | | 20 | | 24 | | 2 | | 15 |
However, I refuse to believe that a 2 inch tall being would have a BMR of 15fpr. Let's do some math.
15 feet is 180 inches, meaning that a 15fpr BMR for a 2 inch tall being is 90 body lengths.
50 feet is 600 inches, meaning that a 50fpr BMR for a 72 inch tall being is 8 and one-third body lengths.
With my proposed method, this problem is solved with the ×0.6 multiplier as shown on Sheet6.
Anyway, all who feel like looking, the ZIP file contains a LibreOffice ODS and ODT file. The files should open in OpenOffice since LibreOffice is the ODF fork.
rmfr