Topic: How many use RM2, RMC, RMU or -ERP for a Tolkien Setting Rule Set?

[markc]

The poll will run for 30 days.
MDC

[Cory Magel]

Not curious how many people use RMSS/RMFRP? (1 vote here!)

[Ecthelion]

Not curious how many people use RMSS/RMFRP? (1 vote here!)

And another vote for RMSS/RMFRP

[Bladorthin]

And another vote for RMSS/FP. Just started a campaign set in 1409 last week (running select adventures from Thieves of Tharbad and then Dark Mage of Rhudaur). Fun Stuff...

[Frabby]

I cast a vote for RM2, but our group has really begun on MERP then moved on to RM2 and then to RMFRP.

I'll freely admit that I feel the magic system doesn't fit Tolkien's books very well, and when I GM I do tone down magic as much as possible.
My fellow players don't care either way though and our current Umbar campaign was specifically drawn up as a relatively high-magic Arabian Nights-esque setting to see what we can do with unrestrained Spell Law rules.

[arakish]

I voted MERP.  But if I were to run a Middle-Earth based campaign, I would use MERP as the basis, but also use RMC, RM2, RMSS/FRP to update and extend some of the material in MERP.

If memory serves, all of the spell lists were limited to tenth level?

However, since I no longer possess any of my MERP material (lost in fire), I would have to say I would use the RMC/2 systems since it was on those systems that MERP was originally based.  Was it not?  If pushed, I might would port it into the RMU system.

rmfr

[intothatdarkness]

I actually think that if I decided to use a Tolkien setting without MERP, I'd modify the original GW Warhammer FRP rules. Take out the firearms and you're almost there, anyhow.

[markc]

I did not include an option for RMSS/FRP as I was really just interested in the RM2/C, RMU and ?ERP numbers. But I guess I should have included it to cloak my intent some.
I also could have/Should have asked if the Tolkien based setting is your main setting, whether it is more home brew, ?ERP based or some updated version of Middle Earth.
MDC 

[Defendi]

RMFRP.

[markc]

Ok, I added the RMSS and RMFRP options to the poll.
MDC

[tbigness]

Not curious how many people use RMSS/RMFRP? (1 vote here!)

+1 for me....

[Defendi]

Doesn't look like I can edit my vote.

[Ecthelion]

Ok, I added the RMSS and RMFRP options to the poll.
MDC

Thanks. Probably the distinction between RMSS and RMFRP makes no sense, because rules-wise there is not really a noticeable difference.

[markc]

Ok, I changed the fact that you can edit your vote.


Ecthelion,
 I thought about just having RMSS/FRP but then I said I am here to change it and I have votes for RM2 and RMC which I think are the same so I decided to just have both options. But yes I think that main difference was the editing, layout and stretching the material out over a larger number of books.
MDC

[Frabby]

Changed my vote from RM2 to FMFRP. But ultimately, RM* is just MERP+ to me anyways.

[Khorah]

+1 for RM2.. You can take my RM books from my cold, dead hands

Although, you have to do some juggling in terms of magic as MERP is pretty low magic.

[Cory Magel]

I did not include an option for RMSS/FRP as I was really just interested in the RM2/C, RMU and ?ERP numbers. But I guess I should have included it to cloak my intent some.
I also could have/Should have asked if the Tolkien based setting is your main setting, whether it is more home brew, ?ERP based or some updated version of Middle Earth.
MDC

Well, you did ask in the RM2 section so we probably are just being nosey.

We used MERP in our very first full RM campaign (when we made the switch from DnD 2nd Ed) then moved to RMSS right as it was coming out.  We'd used RM stuff in conjunction with our DnD campaigns for many years already though.

My MERP setting (which I'm not using) was based just after the fall of Numenor.  So I'm not sure how much you can call it 'modified' since there really isn't much material for that time frame.  The only thing I messed with in terms of story was that the One Ring stayed at the bottom of the sea with Numenor and part point of the plot was to eventually stop a new one from being forged (but that would have been way way down the road - I don't like starting a campaign story based on the idea that the characters have already been picked to 'save the world').  Not having the One Right in play let me put the rest into play.

Now I just have a setting that includes some of the elements of Middle Earth and I don't see myself running in it officially.  But who knows, I've got a lot of the books.

[markc]

 The main reasons I ask was the most of my experience and data with RM2 groups is that they play in a heavenly influenced Middle Earth game or in Middle Earth (some in SW). So I was interesting in just how many were using RMU in such a setting.


 As for me I have at times used a setting but often with another system and most if not all of my games since the mid 90's have been a home created world/setting or universe for a space game. 
 Since moving here to the Portland, OR area I have played in (2) home brew White Wold setting games (based on material submitted for WoTC setting competition), a Pathfinder game that was mainly used their material, a Deadlands game. So it has been a lot of out of the box type settings vs. what I played in the Bay Area before moving here. But again every group is different, so maybe I need to stretch my legs and see what other groups are in the area. (The rub is that this group is so close and the others a fair distance away from where I live.)


 Any way that was my main question, how many RM2/C users use Middle Earth to game in, or as their main game world. In my mind there is nothing wrong or right in doing so and I expected a fairly large uptick in the numbers because of the movies. I know we were influenced by the versions we saw in the 80's.
MDC   

[intothatdarkness]

My first RM2 game (that I played in) was a homebrew/pseudo-post apocalypse type setting (the GMs were never very clear on the origins, but locations were in what had been Colorado). After that we went to a Greyhawk setting (which I ran), and then I did my own world and total rules remake. My world is more of a Conan-meets-Greyhawk sort of thing, with a much shorter historical timeline (I can't stand settings with thousands of years when nothing happens). I didn't actually read ME stuff until MUCH later (my main fantasy influences were RE Howard and Brian Daley).

Just tossing this out for some context.