Topic: Runemage Skill Cost Question

[ob1knorrb]

In Spell Law II, and Express Additions 16, the Runemage is listed as having a cost of 1/2/2 for Runes.  This would make sense considering what the profession is, but I think it is the only 3 cost skill in the game, and I vaguely recall from originally working on Rolemaster Classic that it wasn't going to have any.
If that is true, then might be a good time to change it before Spell Law II goes into hard copy.

[Rasyr-Mjolnir]

RMC, in general, isn't going to have 3 ranks per level - true. However, that does not preclude the inclusion of the very very rare special case, which is what the Runemage is where runes are concerned.

[ob1knorrb]

  ok, just checking.  It kind of stood out on the spreadsheet that I'm working on.

[Rasyr-Mjolnir]

Yeah, I wrestled with the cost of Runes for the Runemage for a bit before deciding what to set the cost at. A cost of #/* (be it 1/* or 2/*) would have allowed for unlimited ranks per level, and that was too much, while a cost of 1/2 wasn't good enough for that specific profession.

I wouldn't look for there ever be many skills that allow 3 ranks per level (without having a cost of #/*). The Runemage is the only profession that I can think of off the top of my head that would ever need it.

[ob1knorrb]

That's what I figured the reason probably was, makes perfect sense to me.

[thrud]

I don't really mind the Rune Mage having a 1/2/2 cost for runes, however the same reasoning could be applied to any specialist profession.
What makes him so special?
How about a über warrior profession? Would he get 1/2/2 in his preferred weapon?
Or a mage hellbent on being the greatest elemental bolt thrower of all time?
What about healing skill costs for Healer or Lay Healer?
The list goes on...

It all comes back to the same question, what makes the Rune Mage so special?

[Rasyr-Mjolnir]

There are several factors involved.

The major ones being

1) His unique focus on runes and the other types of magic for his spells
2) The pre-existing skill costs of all other professions regarding the rune skill.

The suggestions you listed are more "power-gaming" examples than an example of trying to make a balanced profession who has a unique focus.

If the result were not a balanced profession, then it wouldn't be something that I would allow.