Author Topic: RMC or RMSS?  (Read 7462 times)

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Offline Cpt Tiberius J. Krik

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RMC or RMSS?
« on: January 02, 2017, 02:49:45 PM »
I'm looking for a new rpg to GM for our group. I really enjoyed MERP with all the crit tables and Move/Maneuver charts.

It doesn't look like RMU is out any time soon, so I've narrowed it down to either RMC or RMSS. But, being new to Rolemaster (I played MERP way back in the day and not that often), I'm not sure which to buy.

For my part, I like crunch as long as it's logical crunch, I'm looking for a system to use with my low magic 13th century Britain setting, and I have a quite big bug bear of errata.

Any advice on which I should go for?

Thank you

Offline Majyk

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2017, 03:14:43 PM »
RMC would be the easiest to roll into based upon your previous MERP experience.
Couple that with RMC also having the RMC I companion updated and possessing the Druid class, it will be a kewl profession to have in your world.

RMSS is nicer with tables for each Skill Category(see School of Hard Knocks book) so adjudicating skills is easier, but going from +5s down to +3s and +2s for character creation can be a mind*&^( for character creation.
That and greed took over when they started splitting everything up from Chapters and still calling them full books(really pointing the finger at RMFRP than RMSS - admittedly, Spell Law was going for $60+ in the RMSS days).

Offline Cpt Tiberius J. Krik

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2017, 03:25:42 PM »
Thanks for the advice Majyk

I just downloaded the previews of RMC and RMSS and what little I've seen, I think I much prefer the layout of RMSS.

No doubt there are supplements for it, but is the above RMSS complete, with character creation, combat and magic?

Offline Majyk

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2017, 04:05:52 PM »
Thanks for the advice Majyk

I just downloaded the previews of RMC and RMSS and what little I've seen, I think I much prefer the layout of RMSS.

No doubt there are supplements for it, but is the above RMSS complete, with character creation, combat and magic?

Up until 10th level, you do get quite a bit(but lots is left out race and class-wise and in Character Law), but this was the RMFRP product that RMSS was separated into its component parts...the way to tell(mostly) is the insignia in the top left corner of the books.
Check out the bottom scroll that shows what other people also bought and it will give you an idea of the massive amount of books you'll need...

I will agree that it was better laid out...
If possible, see if you can sneak old RMSS books(they usually had a black bar at the top of their books that mentioned they were RMSS or Rolemaster Standard System):
https://www.google.ca/search?q=RMSS+books&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwibrsXuu6TRAhVDwWMKHYISCPcQ_AUICCgB&biw=1920&bih=869

EDIT:  However, re:supporting ICE, you can indeed run entire character creation, with spells and monsters in the single Core book for RMFRP.

Offline Cpt Tiberius J. Krik

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2017, 04:51:58 PM »
Thank you Majyk

Offline Cpt Tiberius J. Krik

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2017, 04:36:36 AM »
Is this the Rolemaster Standard System: RM?

I'm asking because I listed it in the original post but I'm not sure it is.

Offline egdcltd

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2017, 04:48:28 AM »
Is this the Rolemaster Standard System: RM?

I'm asking because I listed it in the original post but I'm not sure it is.

My understanding is it's not exactly the same system, but RMSS and RMFRP are compatible to the same extent that RM2/RMC are. Two sets of stats are provided in new supplements, one for RMC/RM2 and the second for RMSS/RMFRP.
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Offline Spectre771

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #7 on: January 03, 2017, 08:56:07 AM »
We are RM2 fans in my group.  We played RMC, which is similar, but there are enough differences between the two, and preferred to stick with  RM2.  We tried RMSS and bought a few of the books in print and never really fell in love with the system.  There are some nice improvements that we did like, but when weighed against the amount of money we had already invested in RM2 and the supplements, we never made the jump to RMSS.  We still play RM2 some 30+ years later.  The amount of Companions and supplemental material RM2 is fantastic and it should be easily converted into RMSS.  I've never tried to so perhaps the revered elders in the forum can add to this?
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Offline Cpt Tiberius J. Krik

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #8 on: January 03, 2017, 09:00:43 AM »
I've decided to go with RMC until RMU is released.

Thanks all for the feedback

Offline Peter R

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #9 on: January 03, 2017, 10:27:20 AM »
Good Choice  :)
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Offline Cpt Tiberius J. Krik

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #10 on: January 03, 2017, 05:19:07 PM »
Is there an errata list for Character Law, and the other books as well?

Offline kwickham

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #11 on: January 03, 2017, 10:32:11 PM »
RMC looks closer to MERP combat-step wise (good and bad). I think they are from a similar time period.
 
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Offline Ecthelion

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #12 on: January 04, 2017, 06:37:27 AM »
I'm more on the RMSS side. In terms of books it depends on what you want. With RMFRP core book you have everything you need for a couple of professions up to lvl. 10, just like you were used to with MERP. If you want more professions you'd need Character Law, if you want all the spells to higher levels and for the new professions you'd need indeed three Spell Law books (of Channeling, of Essence and of Mentalism). And if you want more details for the weapons then you'd need Arms Law.

So it's indeed more books you'd require if you go the RMSS/RMFRP path with all professions and all spells. So if budget is your constraint, then go for RMC. I personally think that RMSS, with the similiar skills rules, Power Point Development (PP Dev) and Body Development progressions per race, PP Dev as separate skill etc., is an improvement over the older RM2/RMC rules. But the rules for similiar skills, implemented via rank development for a skill category (e.g. Athletic - Gymnastics plus development for the individual skills (e.g. Climbing) in conjunction with the increased list of skills leads to more time that is required for character creation. Again, if you don't want the level of detail, then go for RMC. Otherwise I'd suggest to go for RMSS/RMFRP.

Just my 2 cents

Offline Peter R

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #13 on: January 04, 2017, 08:12:12 AM »
...Power Point Development (PP Dev) and Body Development progressions per race, PP Dev as separate skill etc.,

Just my 2 cents

Power Point Development as a separate skill IS part of RMC. It is now part of Character Law.
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Offline Mordrig

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #14 on: January 04, 2017, 10:08:34 AM »
RMC,
  I have played Rolemaster since the first edition.  I love the system and as time goes by have increased the actual rules used, while lowering the apparent rules to the players, things function in the background using my pc to do rolls and calculations breaking everything down to a few quick rolls for the players.  They have no idea how many rules are in use, but have commented on how amazing the gaming has become.

Offline Peter R

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #15 on: January 04, 2017, 10:42:44 AM »
RMC,
  I have played Rolemaster since the first edition.  I love the system and as time goes by have increased the actual rules used, while lowering the apparent rules to the players, things function in the background using my pc to do rolls and calculations breaking everything down to a few quick rolls for the players.  They have no idea how many rules are in use, but have commented on how amazing the gaming has become.

What makes RMC particularly interesting is the fact that with RMC the rules simply are not there to be added. It is just the Character/Spell/Arms Laws, Creatures & Treasures and Companion I and if you are lucky the Combat Companion and that is your lot. You don't have the rules/professions/skills bloat. I am of course completely biased.
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Offline Cpt Tiberius J. Krik

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #16 on: January 04, 2017, 10:51:50 AM »
Doesn't rolling on the critical hit charts become a pain during combat? How frequently are they used?

Offline Peter R

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #17 on: January 04, 2017, 10:54:42 AM »
Doesn't rolling on the critical hit charts become a pain during combat? How frequently are they used?

The RM critical charts are the highlight of combat.
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Offline jdale

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #18 on: January 04, 2017, 11:46:40 AM »
Doesn't rolling on the critical hit charts become a pain during combat? How frequently are they used?

Often, but they are dramatic rather than tedious. If you want to save time, either use software or give each player a copy of the applicable critical tables for their attacks so they can look them up rather than putting it on the GM to look up everything themself.

On the more general question, personally I prefer RMSS, but if you intend to eventually switch to RMU, I think RMC's character generation rules are more similar to RMU's than RMSS's are. RMSS splits skill development between skills and categories, and adds training packages, neither of which are the case in RMC or RMU.
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Offline Mordrig

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Re: RMC or RMSS?
« Reply #19 on: January 04, 2017, 01:23:42 PM »
Hate to say it, but I created an excel sheet that does all of the lookups for me, I can either enter a number for it to look up or have the sheet do the rolls and immediately provide the lookup.