[RPG]: Fire & Ice: The Elemental Companion, reviewed by Brent Knorr (4/4)

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/9/9186.phtml

Brent Knorr's Summary:

A well written book with an interesting theory for Elemental interactions , but a little complex especially if you aren't used to the Rolemaster system.

Go to the full review for more information.

Post originally by Wes Johnson at 2003-03-28 08:54:58
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...no matter how good of a supplement the ICE churs out for Rolemaster it is still supplementing a flawed game design.

Oh I know I speak heresy. I played RM for almost 15 years. My gripe comes fromt he fact that when RMSS came out it was promised it was said to be streamlined and easier than RM2e. Lies. Terrible lies.

I will SAY RMSS is better than RM2e once you get used to it. I pretty much had every rules, variant, and duch memorized down to the page number, but repetition does this.

RMSS is also more complicated and suffering from anything useful that resembles a walk-through or tutorial. It could have been so much better...but they decided to improve upon a style of gaming that really didn't go with the trends in gaming. Which is too bad on both accounts.

--Wes

Post originally by Chris Hopler at 2003-03-31 11:12:07
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Is rolemaster perfect? No but I would not say it is flawed in the sense you mean.

Besides RMSS books are out of print and the current books are for Rolemaster fantasy role-playing (RMFRP). Yes the rules are essentially RMSS rules but the book layouts are different. Though I admit the format still could be better.

Also this review is about a suppliment not the mainrules. If you are going to gripe do it on a review of that product not a suppliment you have not seen. That is like saying this or that D&D module stinks because d20 system is flawed, which really does not comment on the module itself.

Even if you do not play Rolemaster, the book can be useful if only for an different way to bring in elementalists and elemental magic into your game. For instead of the normal circle or opposite elements systems they are place in triads that either create or destroy depending on the direction you go.

Post originally by Markus Herbert at 2003-03-31 21:40:38
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"Doesn't go with the latest trends in gaming."

I'm inclined to say, "and thank God it doesn't". Sadly I don't no of which trend you're speaking, I sincerly hope it's not the old "rules light/rules heavy". Care to clearify?

Post originally by Luke Sineath at 2004-05-17 10:50:55
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What are you talking about? RM is not complicated at all! Skill resolution: Roll d100, add your skill bonus, add any difficulty mods., and if your total is 111 or higher, you succeed. Attacks: roll d100, add your offensive bonus, subtract your foes defensive bonus, and consult the attack table.

How complicated is that?