A very interesting -- if rather depressing -- history.
It is worth mentioning that ICE is in the process of publishing a 'revamped' (cleaned up and reorganized) version of the core Rolemaster 2nd edition rules, called Rolemaster Classic. Many old Rolemaster fans preferred that version of the game over RMSS/RMFRP, and so I guess ICE is trying to appeal to that segment of the market. (This move may also suggest that RM 2e, and not RMSS, will form the basis of the new edition of RM, but that's speculation on my part.)
__________________ Akrasia: literally, "lacking command over oneself," the Greek term for the character flaw of weakness of the will.
My 'Old School' Fantasy Role-Playing Games Blog: Akratic Wizardry!
Supporter of, and contributor to, the 'Old School' FRP magazines KNOCKSPELL and FIGHT ON!
One thing missing in both discussions was Gemstone 3, an online text based roleplaying game on GEnie, somewhere around 1993. It used some basic Rolemaster stats and criticals, and was set in the Shadow World.
What was the actual connection between it and ICE?
I know that later on the Shadow World and RM link seemed to have been broken.
One thing missing in both discussions was Gemstone 3, an online text based roleplaying game on GEnie, somewhere around 1993. It used some basic Rolemaster stats and criticals, and was set in the Shadow World.
What was the actual connection between it and ICE?
I know that later on the Shadow World and RM link seemed to have been broken.
Yep, there was only so much I could include.
I mentioned briefly that there were a few computer games that used the RM system. One was Gemstone 3, the other was Darkness Falls. They were both text adventure games, and as far as I know they were both licensed. Darkness Falls was the basis of Dark Ages of Camelot, which is mentioned more fully in the article.
Whether the Gemstone 3 license went away before the Darkness Falls license was granted, I dunno.
Man, these columns are really consistently excellent. I enjoy them as much as anything I've ever read here at rpg.net.
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She said I'm Miss Muffet, I'm very afraid,
but something inside me is making me stay
I know deep down that if I run away,
I'll just meet more spiders and still feel the same
A few bit missing from this part of ICE's history, such as the issues with using material from Tolkien's works that ICE did not have the licenses to!
Although a big Tolkien fanboy I never really took to MERP. The rules, to be brutally honest, stank. And in my opinion ICE took liberties with Tolkiens' work and mde up far toomuch crap.
But would any LOTR RPG make oodles of money? Why buy sourcebooks from RPG companies when there is plenty of info in His works and books by others such as maps etc?
'Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible; and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works' JRR Tolkien
.. ... I never really took to MERP. The rules, to be brutally honest, stank...
Well, to be brutally honest, that's just your opinion.
Aside from the magic system -- which was not Tolkien-esque at all -- I thought (and still think) that the rules were just dandy.
__________________ Akrasia: literally, "lacking command over oneself," the Greek term for the character flaw of weakness of the will.
My 'Old School' Fantasy Role-Playing Games Blog: Akratic Wizardry!
Supporter of, and contributor to, the 'Old School' FRP magazines KNOCKSPELL and FIGHT ON!
Although a big Tolkien fanboy I never really took to MERP. The rules, to be brutally honest, stank. And in my opinion ICE took liberties with Tolkiens' work and mde up far toomuch crap.
I think I understand where you're coming from. I didn't like MERP (nor Rolemaster) much, til I learnt to divorce it from Middle Earth. Then I understood they were both fine games. In fact, I share Akrasia's opinion, that it would be cool to see a generic version of MERP, stripped of the setting, I would pay for that.
I would have loved HARP to be MERP system (especially the crits) + HARP magic.
Quote:
But would any LOTR RPG make oodles of money? Why buy sourcebooks from RPG companies when there is plenty of info in His works and books by others such as maps etc?
Because the information contained in Tolkien's work is not presented in a gameable format. Because of that.
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Grając zaś w grę komputerową, być może zdarzyło się wam zapragnąć zejść z wyznaczonej przez autorów ścieżki i, miast zabić smoka i ożenić się z księżniczką, zabić księżniczkę i ożenić się ze smokiem.
Running: Sanguine Usagi Yojimbo
Satisfactory game trades with: blizack, Jade Bells Ringing, solaris
Linear Mode
