Game Introduction & Character Creation Guide

1.0 Abbreviations used in this Guide

RM2 Rolemaster 2 - the 1989 release of Rolemaster.

RMC Rolemaster Classic - the 2007 re-release & update of RM2.

RMX Rolemaster Express - simplified RMC rule set designed for quick & easy

play.

RMSS Rolemaster Standard System - Mid 90's version of Rolemaster. RMSS is a

very different game to RM2/RMC in many respects.

SM2 Space Master 2 - RMs Sci-Fi sister product. SM2 follows the same rule set

as RM2 & the two products are compatible.

ChL&CaL Character Law & Campaign Law - Game System Rule Book

AL&CL Arms Law & Claw Law - Combat System Rule Book

SL Spell Law - Magic System Rule Book

RMCx Rolmaster Companion x - x representing the Volume number (from one to

seven) of the Companion. Example: RMCII - Rolemaster Companion II

C&Tx Creatures & Treasures. RMs beast & treasure compendiums. x represents

the Volume number (from one to three). Example: C&TI - Creatures &

Treasures I.

EC Elemental Companion. RMs definitive tome on Elemental Magic &

Creatures.

SUC Spell Users Companion. Optional rules & spell lists for Spell Users of all

realms.

AlcC Alchemy Companion. RMs definitive tome of Alchemy & Item Creation.

OrC Oriental Companion. Optional rules & professions with an Oriental flair.

SeaL Sea Law. RMs Marine vessel rule book

WL War Law. RMs Mass Combat System

PC Player Character

NPC Non Player Character

OB Offensive Bonus

DB Defensive Bonus

AT Armour Type

MM Movement Maneuver Bonus

SM Static Maneuver Bonus

SP Special Skill Bonus

RR Resistance Roll Bonus

DP Development Points

XP Experience Points

ExhP Exhaustion Points

PP Power Points

TP Training Package

Ess Essence

Chan Channeling

Ment Mentalism

2.0 Some Things To Keep In Mind For Character Creation

We will be using the full scope of the Core Rolemaster rule set, along with a number of

optional rules from the old RM2 Companion books (these were books released in th late 1980's &

early 90's which expanded RM in a number of different ways). I have provided you with RMX

(Rolemaster Express) because it is the best summation of the Rules for beginners that I have found.

But there are a number of things we will be adding to the basic rules of RMX. What follows are

some of the details of the rules we will be adding.

2.1 Races

First off, more then four races will be available for Player Characters. If you have read the

Beginners Guide To The World Of Nytheun you would have quickly realized that there are more

then just Common Humans, Dwarves, Wood Elves & Halflings populating the world. Because this

campaign is set in the Grand Duchy of Ravenstone, players may choose from the following list of

available PC Races found in the Grand Duchy:

Race Nytheun Culture RM Book Rarity In

Ravenstone

High Elf Iperatesi Chl & CaL Common

Grey Elf Ronith RMCI Rare

Wood Elf Sosith Chl & CaL Common

High Man High Erupuan Chl & CaL Common

Mixed Man Lesser Erupuan RMCI Common

Common Man One of the Pliac Nations Chl & CaL Common

North Man One of the Hanoteac

Nations

RMCI Common

Dark Tribes Raivarivar RMCI Rare

Common Or Noble Oriental

Man

Zrilan OrC Common

Dwarf Rhysemen Chl & CaL Common

Halfling Rhphemen Chl & CaL Common

2.2 Professions

When it comes to professions, all of the professions listed in Rolemaster Companion 2

(RMCII) are available - depending on Racial Restrictions. The following table lists the professions,

the Realm of Power, a short description & their suitability as a PC Profession rated from Rare; Poor;

Fair; Good to Excellent.

Profession Realm Description Suitability

Alchemist Ess Creator of magical items Poor

Animist Chan Nature based cleric Good

Archmage Arcane* Powerful spell caster Rare*

Astrologer Chan/Ment Information gatherer Fair

Barbarian Arms Unarmoured warrior Good

Bard Ment/Arms User of song spells Good

Beastmaster Ess/Arms Animal master Good

Burglar Arms Specialized thief Good

Cleric Chan Religious priest Good

Conjuror Ess Summoner of entities Fair

Crystal Mage Ess/Ment Spell power from gems Rare

Dancer Arms Entertainer Fair

Delver Ess/Arms Information gatherer Fair

Dervish Chan/Arms Uses dances & songs for spells Fair

Druid Chan Woodland spell caster Good

Fighter Arms Basic arms profession Excellent

Healer Chan Healer who takes on the

wounds of others

Fair

High Warrior Monk Arms Martial Arts zealot Good

Illusionist Ess Creator of illusions Fair

Lay Healer Ment Basic healing profession Poor

Magician Ess Basic spell caster profession Excellent

Mentalist Ment Master of mental spells Excellent

Monk Ess/Arms Spell using Martial Artist Good

Mystic Ess/Ment Deal with misdirection &

illusions

Fair

Necromancer Ess/Chan Summoner of the Dead Poor

Nightblade Ment Magic using thief/assassin Good

No Profession Arms/Any Generic Catch-All Poor

Paladin Chan/Arms Holy Crusader Good

Ranger Chan/Arms Wilderness Expert Excellent

Rogue Arms Jack Of All Trades Good

Runemaster Ess Master of scroll enchantments Good

Sage Ment Academic magic user Poor

Scholar Arms Academic Poor

Seer Ment Prophet/Visionary Poor

Shaman Chan Summoner of animal spirits Good

Sorcerer Ess/Chan Powerful magic user Good

Thief Arms Basic thief profession Excellent

Trader Arms Merchant Fair

Warlock Chan/Ment Powerful manipulator Good

Warrior Mage Ess/Arms Good with magic & weapons Good

Warrior Monk Arms Basic Martial Arts Profession Good

Witch Ess/Chan Uses potions & demons Poor

* Archmages draw their power from the Arcane Realm which was the only Realm of Power

before Magic was split into the three Realms known today. As such, Archmages can learn spells

from all three Realms & choose their Base Lists from the Arcane Spell Lists available in the various

Companions. Due to the nature of their power, this profession is extremely rare. If a player wishes

to play an Archmage, he/she will have to devise some special background to explain the source of

the Mages knowledge of the Arcane.

2.3 Stats

The Statistic system outlined in RMX is quite simple & does not allow for much Character

variation. As such, we will be using a modified version from one of the Companions. Each player

will make ten D100 rolls. Any values below 50 can be re-rolled. Any roll of exactly 100 allows the

player an extra roll. If this second roll is 90 or more, the player then makes the stat 101. Once each

player has their list of 10 values, he/she will assign a value to each of the ten temporary stats. Next,

each player should swap out the values of their Primary Stats for 90s. At this point, Stat bonuses can

be calculated. To calculate Development Points (DP), take each value of Constitution, Agility, Self-

Discipline, Memory & Reasoning and divide them by 5. Add up the results and this is your DPs for

this level.

To determine Potential Stats, roll for each stat. If the value rolled is higher then the

temporary stat, this is the value of the Potential. If the value rolled is the same or less then the

temporary stat, then the potential stat is the same as the temporary stat.

Finally, we will determine the PCs tertiary stats. Appearance (AP) is determined by making

a D100 roll and adding the PCs PR bonus. Luck (LU) is a simple D100 roll. Rationality (RA) is

the average of the PCs RE & SD. Finally, Will (WL) is the total of the stat bonuses (not the Stats!)

Of PR, EM, IN, SD, RE plus the Resistance Roll bonuses for Essence, Channeling & Mentalism for

the PCs Race. These Territary stats do not affect skills but are used in certain game situations to

help determine outcomes.

2.4 Background Options

Each PC will have a number of Background Options that are determined by their Race.

Players may use these Background Options on any of the ChL&CaL Background Tables or the

Background Tables in RMCI. In the case of the RMCI Background Tables, a Player must choose

either the Arms or Magic Table & can (only once) spend two Background Option Points to receive

three rolls on the Table.

Players will then roll on the Social Standing Table in RMCIII to determine their Social Status

within their culture as well as their starting money to purchase additional goods & equipment.

A Player may opt to also make a roll on the Idiosyncrasies Table (section 9.2 of Cyberspace)

to further spice up their PCs background & personality.

2.5 Skills

Again, we will be using the entire skill set from RM2 - the majority of which are summarized

in Rolemaster Companion II (RMCII). Other skills are also available in later Companions as well

as some of the other RM releases, such as Rolemaster Standard System (RMSS). If there is a skill

that a Player thinks he/she will require during the game but is not covered in any of the

RM2/RMC/RMSS products, the GM has the option of adding the skill to the list & determining a

Skill Cost. However, the entire line of RM products cover just about ever imaginable skill one might

need in a RPG.

There is also the option of using the Training Packages (TP) from RMSS (without the

Catagory ranks) if the Players are interested in them. Training Packages are packages of skills

available for a set Development Point Cost (relative to the PC Profession) which represent some sort

of Formal Training. Examples of TPs are City Guard; Con Man; Manipulator; Amateur

Mage; &c TPs also have the advantage of giving the PC items relevant to the training as well as

useful knowledge or contacts within the Game World. TPs are divided into two classes: Lifestyle

& Vocational. A PC can only ever have one Lifestyle TP, whilst he/she may study as many

Vocational TPs as the Player desires. Initially, Players can purchase a TP during their Adolescent

Development (Level 0 Skill Development). Further TP purchases can be made only if the PC spends

the allotted time in continuous training as indicated by the TP. This means no adventuring while

learning the TP.

TPs purchased in Adolescent Development will require that the Player explain the

Background of how their Character acquired this knowledge. Who was their teacher/mentor? How

did the PC learn about the Training? How did the PC acquire any TP items or connections during

the training? Was the PC a good student? There are TPs to be found in the RMSS rule book as well

as a number of RMSS supplements & other sources. Players may pick TPs with the final approval

of the GM.

2.6 Final Character Preparation

The final step of Character Preparation are is to total up all the bonuses from skills & abilities

(OBs, DBs, MMs, SMs, SPs, RRs, &c). After this is complete, each player should create their

characters family using the tables in RMCI. Finally, each player should choose their character

motivation, alignment, any allegiances (religious, political or other) as well as any sort of character

goals they wish to achieve.

3.0 Game Play

3.1 Arms Law & Claw Law

We will be using every Melee & Natural Attack & Critical table available throughout

AL&CL as well as all of the Companions. As such, we will also be using the full RM Armour Type

System (ATs 1 - 20).

3.2 Spell Law

As with AL&CL, we will also be using the Spell Attack & Critical Tables available in SL

as well as the Companions. We will also be using the full SL Spell System (i.e. Spells up to &

beyond Level 50; Spell Learning System, &c). Spells offered in the Companions will also be

available as per the normal SL rules.

3.3 Other Game Play Notes

All other game play will be refereed by the GM. If there are questions about the rules at any

given time during game play, the appropriate section of the RM Material will be referenced & the

GM will have the final decision on what will transpire.