What is Orc?
Orc is an Open Source Application that is built mainly for use with the Rolemaster Fantasy System targetting RMFRP when it comes to tables. It is a combat manager. It will take in a party of characters, including NPC's and help manage a melee combat with this party. You can save encounters to load up for future use as well. Once you start combat Orc will automatically roll initiatives and parse through each character as their initiatives resolve. You can either attack, roll of maneuver or cast a spell.
Orc's Features
I had a lot of features in my first draft but have listened to reason and streamlined a lot of those features out. However some features just needed to stay. For example, Orc will keep track of critical information for you and even apply that information to attacks or for the round as you fight (for example, bleeding crits will hack off hit points after each round). Also parries and attack values are kept so that you know how much you have left to parry or attack with. Fumbles are a part of the program and you can even tell Orc to bracket criticals if you are performing a special attack like a Subdual or Ambush (this basically allows you to scroll through the appropriate criticals based on the ranks you enter). Orc will also look up breakage, fumbles and range values for each weapon so you don't have to.
Orc's Limitations
Orc does not help with Flank, rear or surprise. Simply add this to the modifiers. Orc will not keep track of who has initiative over you. You can click a character in the main window to override the Combat and bring up that character to attack over the character who is highlighted. Orc will not keep track of Action phases such as Snap, Normal or deliberate. These features and more will be included at some point in the future. Initiatives and Action phases are most definitely being considered for Version 1.1.
What's are the requirements to run Orc
Right now Orc will only work for Windows, however it is coded to work under Linux and OSX. I can only create binaries (a working application) for Windows as that is the only environment I have to work with. Also I am running Windows 7, so I'm not sure if it works under Vista or XP. I would think it should work fine. The application uses wxWidgets, C++ and XML so I see no reason why Vista and XP wouldn't run it out of the box.
What is Open Source
Open Source basically means this program is free. That's right, it's free (except for the database which I will get to later). Also if you are developer you can join the Development/Support Team of Orc making improvements. Right now I'm in need of a Linux and Mac developer as I cannot create an application for these environments as I do not have access to them. So if there are Linux and OSX developers out there and are interested in helping out with Orc, send me an email and I can get you in the Rolemaster Open Source Google Group and work out the details. The source in not available yet but I will make it available here soon.
Why isn't the database free?
The database for Orc is basically Arms Law and Spell Law and parts of RMFRP rolled into XML tables. In other words, to have the database means to own these books which makes it a copyright issue. I have no further information and will hopefully have more information on this soon. What you do have are templates with the source code thus those who have bought these books can fill in the tables on their own.
Additional Information
Orc's blog is found at http://rolemastercombatmanager.blogspot.com/ which contains updates to the application as I have them. You will find screenshots and other announcements as they happen. I will update the blog as it comes to the future of the XML database for Orc.
Also in a few weeks I plan to start a Character Generator and Manager so people can create character sheets and manage them. I will also link this with Orc so the two can be used simultaneously. This is also going to be Open Source.
