Rolemaster Unified

Once I read that Rolemaster was being "reworked" for publication I had to find out what was going on. So I went to the Iron Crown Enterprises website, and sure enough, a revised version of Rolemaster is coming out. ICE has also undergone a change in ownership.

Now I like the Rolemaster Standard System, but from what I've read so far, this new version looks good.

They're calling it Rolemaster Unified. Two of the core books are in public playtest, and you can download the PDF's. The two PDF's available are, Spell Law, and Character Law. There's also a Excel spreadsheet to help in creating characters, but since I can't use Excel, it doesn't do me any good. Oh well.

I've skimmed both, and plan on an in depth reading later this week. As I mentioned before, I like what I'm reading. Character creation is somewhat different, and gives two options for stats. You can generate the ten stats randomly, or spend points on them. It's been done both ways in past editions, but I like the option of picking which method. In RMSS you generated your stats by assigning points.  In earlier versions I believe it was always random. I plan on creating a character later this week in both RMSS and RMU and comparing the two rule sets.

It really looks like they are streamlining things somewhat, and this could be a good thing. RMU could be more "playable" than RMSS, and this is also a good thing!

One drawback to this "new" Rolemaster is that I'm spending far too much time in the Official ICE forums...

This was kind of a quickly written post, but I will have more on what was always one of my favorite RPG's later this week.

What I want to play...

Theron, over on My Dice Are Older Than You discusses games he would like to play.  He lists roleplaying games, but I thought I would list some of the many games I would like to play, roleplaying and otherwise. These are not in any particular order.

World of Darkness RPG
Reading many blog posts about WoD has piqued my curiosity.  I really want to play a Created, or more specifically a Wretched, from Promethean: the Created source book.

Rolemaster: The Standard System RPG
One of my favorite fantasy RPGs of all time.  I like the system.  Yes, character generation can be glacial, but once that's done; I find everything else about the system to be fairly smooth going.  Unless of course the gamemaster doesn't know what they are doing; then you might as well be playing Uno.

Champions/Hero System RPG
Champions is another favorite of mine, and I've played in, and ran a few campaigns. I mean what's more fun than picking up a car and smashing it on a supervillain?  One thing that bugged me was that my players always made the stupidest superheros.  Roachman was a giant humanoid cockroach, with super strength.  Quiche Lorraine, was a speedster cook, who threw explosive quiches.  I could go on, but now my brain hurts.  These players really ruined the genre for me for a while...

A Weird West RPG/Skirmish Miniature Game ( System ? )
I used to read Heavy Metal Magazine, and one of the regular series I really enjoyed was Tex Arcana, which was quite a weird west.  I'm not sure which system I would want to play in...  More research needed...

All Things Zombie Skirmish Miniature Game
"Braaaaaaaaaains..."

Cosmic Encounters: the "Board Game"
"I'm a giant alien Brain!"
I never owned a copy of this game, but a friend did, and we played this game so much the box wore out, and he had to keep all the components in a cookie tin.  ( He had almost all of the expansions. )  This is one game that I never grew tired of playing.  There is an online version that I've played a few times, but unless you subscribe to the game the options as to what alien you play are limited.  A company has recently rereleased CE, and I really want a copy.

Traveller RPG
Traveller was one of the first games I ran as a GM.  I also played in a couple of campaigns.  It was fun, and being a more "mature" gamer I would like to play again; even if it's only a play by post campaign.

Gamma World RPG ( Both the old and the new... )
"I'm a giant mutant braaaaaaaaiiiiin!"  That's also got tentacles, and is clutching a Popeye Gumball Machine.  "Thanks for the gumball Popeye... thanks for the gumball!"

Call of Cthulu RPG
"It's a giant braaaaaaaaaaaiiiiin! RUN!!! It's got tentacles! Aaaaaiiiiieeeeee!"  Actually I may have played once or twice, but the passing of so much time and maybe the loss of a few sanity points makes my episodic memory so unreliable...

Necromunda: Skirmish Miniature Game
This is one of two Games Workshops games I have played.  I also ran a Necromunda league at a comic book and game store.  Man, that was a pain in the arse.  I actually had my entire gang painted, and built quite a bit of terrain for the game. Funny thing is, well not so funny at the time, is that I LOST every game I played.  My gang list wasn't so good I guess.  Eventually, I sold it all on eBay, and made a little profit.

BattleTech
I guess BattleTech is a skirmish level minaiture game?  Dunno, but I played it a few times.  I believe my brother owned it, and we always just used the cardboard stand ups.  As I remember there was quite a bit of stuff to keep track off, like heat, etc...  Sheeesh, maybe I don't really want to play this again.  On a side note there used to be a place in Dallas where you could sit in a "cock pit" and pilot a mech, and play against other people.  "Death from above!" Tons of fun.

Superhero Genre Skirmish Miniature Game ( System ? )
Yeah, something fun, rules lite, but still with all the car smashing, krash kapowing, and zoooooming, that's so vital to the superhero genre.

I could go on... Car Wars, Ogre, GURPS, Magic the Gathering CCG ( Hey, I figured I better put on CCG in the list. ), Mage Knight, etc.  I don't know why, but I'm not too keen on D&D, AD&D, or any of the retroclones right now.  Maybe, I've just been reading too many blogs about them.

Also, I know I'm not interested in any of the MMORPGs.  I used to play Ultima Online, and a little City of Villains.  I have never played WoW.

Maybe next time I will list the games I never want to play again.  EVER!

On an editorial note, I plan on trying to finish out the year by posting everyday.  Hopefully, the computer will cooperate with me.  Otherwise, I may invent a new game called, 'SMASH the Tower!'  Also, anybody know where I can get a Popeye Gumball Machine???