Ok, I am getting all nostalgic again. I remember the good old days of 50 combat charts (one for each weapon), Armor Defense (class?) 13 (chainshirt), choosing to play a rogue character because they were a good jack of all trades and 66 E criticals on any crit chart being very descriptive and gory.

Do I get the RME beta pdf? Or stay with HARP which I own but have never played. Decisions, decisions...

RoleMaster Express, huh?  That's a new one on me.  I just can't keep up with all the versions of that game anymore.

Me neither. I realize a company needs to create ongoing cash flow and that short-term projects like these will generate it. But as a gamer I wouldn't mind them focusing on developing the definitive Rolemaster edition instead of all these classic and express thingies.

Anyone got a link for this RME thingamabobo?

Rolemaster Express is not a 'new' version of Rolemaster!  Rather, it's a 'light' version of Rolemaster Classic (which is a reorganized and clarified version of Rolemaster 2e).

I think Rolemaster Express is great.  Indeed, I'm thrilled with it!  It distils Rolemaster into a simple but complete 88 pages (yes, all the essential Rolemaster rules in 88 pages!).
:cool:

Here is the blurb from the ICE website:

QuoteBased upon the Rolemaster Classic rules, Rolemaster Express brings you all the excitement of Rolemaster in a small, streamlined simple to use package. Rolemaster Express brings you everything you need to begin playing Rolemaster today!

4 Races
4 Professions
Condensed Combat System
30 Spell Lists (to 10th level, covering 2 realms)
20 Monsters
Streamlined XP guidelines
Streamlined Treasure Generation
Starter Adventure
Rolemaster Classic Compatibility Guidelines

To elaborate a bit, the 4 races are humans ('common men'), wood elves, halflings, and dwarves; the 4 professions are fighters, thieves, animists, and magicians, and the 'condensed combat system' is (essentially) the system from MERP.  Oh yeah, the streamlined XP system is essentially the one from HARP (which I much prefer to the standard RM system).

The reason why I'm thrilled with this version of Rolemaster is that it provides an excellent and simple -- but still flexible -- version of the game that strongly resembles old MERP.  Indeed, it's almost 'generic' MERP!

Furthermore, the 2 'simplifying' optional rules that RME uses fixes the two main problems that I had with the old MERP (viz. 1st level PCs in RME have more hits and more power points than they did in MERP, and thus are more able to survive).

I can definitely see using RME as the core for a future fantasy campaign, introducing select things from RMC (Spell Law & Arms Law) on a case-by-case basis.  Also, since it's only 88 pages, I'd consider buying multiple copies to give to my players in order to get the game going!  It's a great model for RM: a simple and cheap core that is fully compatible with the full rules.

My only complaint with RME is that it doesn't include the ranger and (essence-based) bard as core classes (since, if it did, it would have covered all of the core classes from MERP).

But that quibble aside, I'm very happy with this product!  I can hardly wait until the print version is available!

:woop:

Here's the links to RME:

The official place to buy it:
http://store.ironcrown.com/detail.jsp?itemId=3121169&category=162528

The forum for it:
http://www.ironcrown.com/ICEforums/index.php?board=73.0

My question on the HARP/RME differences:
http://www.ironcrown.com/ICEforums/index.php?topic=4413.0

When I read about RME, it brought back many fun days of 1st ed Rolemaster.

Quote from: Pierce InverarityMe neither. I realize a company needs to create ongoing cash flow and that short-term projects like these will generate it. But as a gamer I wouldn't mind them focusing on developing the definitive Rolemaster edition instead of all these classic and express thingies.

I think RMC is the main focus of ICE's Rolemaster line for the near future.  RME is an introduction to that system.  My impression is that RMSS/RMFRP is just too intimidating to new players, and there are still a lot of RM2e/MERP fans around, so ICE is trying to appeal to them.

It'll be a few years before we see the next 'definitive' version of Rolemaster, but my impression is that Rolemaster Classic will serve as its basis, rather than RMSS (although things will no doubt be imported from RMSS as well).  In the meantime, though, RMC will likely be the focus (also, unlike RMSS, RMC is supported with a setting, namely, Shadow World).

What I'm curious about is the future of HARP.  Rolemaster Express seems to serve the function of HARP in terms of introducing new players to the 'ICE style' of games, but in a manner directly compatible with RMC (and more compatible with RMSS than HARP is).  I'm sure HARP isn't about to disappear, but it seems unwise for ICE to be pushing so many FRPGs.

Oh well, that's their business.  I'm just glad that RME is available now!  :cool:

Looks nice, but I'd definitely get RMC instead of it, since RME looks like it's designed to give you just enough of everything that you start jonesin' for RMC.

Quote from: James McMurrayLooks nice, but I'd definitely get RMC instead of it, since RME looks like it's designed to give you just enough of everything that you start jonesin' for RMC.

Of course, RME is $5.  Not bad for something for the players to pick up to get a feel for it.

On the other hand, the focus on RMC has basically put me off ICE.  I was actually relieved when James decided to pick up a bunch of GURPS instead of Rolemaster.

Thanks for the heads up, looks nice, played HARP for a while but it just never clicked with me, this however seems pretty slick.

Quote from: Tom BOf course, RME is $5.  Not bad for something for the players to pick up to get a feel for it.

Ah, I missed the price. Definitely sounds like a good starter game for those that aren't already into RM.

I'm really glad they're bringing the RM2e material up-to-date with RMC.  We had dropped RMSS a few years before ICE went under and gone back to 2e.  Just a lot easier to work with.  HARP has been great, but I'd like to give it a good head-to-head comparison with RMC now that it's available.  RME gives a good taste...

On the other hand, RME makes HARP even  more irrelevant and pointless.

Actually, one thing I should say is that ICE needs to go this way now.  It could have chosen a different path, but now with their limited resources they'd better chase the RM2 crowd for all it's worth.  They don't have the staff or the finances to be schitzophrenic.

Quote from: David JohansenOn the other hand, RME makes HARP even  more irrelevant and pointless.

Actually, one thing I should say is that ICE needs to go this way now.  It could have chosen a different path, but now with their limited resources they'd better chase the RM2 crowd for all it's worth.  They don't have the staff or the finances to be schitzophrenic.

Unless, of course, you like HARP and its mechanics.  In particular, the spell system is totally unlike RM's.  We dropped RMSS for RM2e, and then dropped RM2e for HARP.  RMC will certainly bear another look, though.  RME will provide a good glimpse into that...HARP will be hard to beat for us, though, of the ICE products.