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  1. - Top - End - #1
    Dwarf in the Playground
    Join Date
    Aug 2017

    Default Roll Master Adjustments

    So me and my group just had a buddy of ours run Roll Master for us, for the most part we love the system however we aren't the biggest fans of the charts and the time it takes to go from one to the other, even though the descriptions are wonderful. So we are wondering if we are able to convert it to remove the charts. Our ideas;

    1. For the attack/defense portion it would just be opposed rolls, the defender would use their Total DB vs. the Attackers total OB (with any minuses for called shots and such)

    And that's actually the only idea we have at the moment, the issue we have is when it comes to determining hits...would we need to make a flat damage per weapon or do we do it when there is a difference in attack and defense? Any ideas on how to do this would be wonderful!

    Everything else within the system is perfectly fine and is easily adjustable, it's just the hits portion that we can't think of how to change.
    When all else fails, find an Artificer, they will get it done!

  2. - Top - End - #2
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    Mordar's Avatar

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    Mar 2008

    Default Re: Roll Master Adjustments

    Quote Originally Posted by tstewt1921 View Post
    So me and my group just had a buddy of ours run Roll Master for us, for the most part we love the system however we aren't the biggest fans of the charts and the time it takes to go from one to the other, even though the descriptions are wonderful. So we are wondering if we are able to convert it to remove the charts. Our ideas;

    1. For the attack/defense portion it would just be opposed rolls, the defender would use their Total DB vs. the Attackers total OB (with any minuses for called shots and such)

    And that's actually the only idea we have at the moment, the issue we have is when it comes to determining hits...would we need to make a flat damage per weapon or do we do it when there is a difference in attack and defense? Any ideas on how to do this would be wonderful!

    Everything else within the system is perfectly fine and is easily adjustable, it's just the hits portion that we can't think of how to change.
    I'm a huge fan of Role Master (yes, the "roll" master joke thing is funny...not sure if you did it intentionally, but that line has been around for decades, along with Chart Master).

    I've got to tell you, I think you'd be making a big mistake to strip away the weapon/armor charts. They reflect the advantages and disadvantages of specific kinds of weapons and specific kinds of armor...trying to model, for instance, the difference between using a slashing weapon and a piercing weapon against chain mail, or a crushing weapon compared to a slashing weapon against plate armor. And as you gain more proficiency in the system the perceived difficulties drop away.

    So rather than stripping away something that is a real strength of the system, find a way to use that system more quickly. I specifically recommend making photocopies/printouts of the primary and secondary weapon chart for each character. You throw your attack dice, add your OB and modifiers, subtract the DB and look up the result. It takes longer to write that line than it does to use the system in practice. On the rare occasions you get a critical, the GM can tell you the result. This both reduces the burden of lookups on the GM and spreads the math around to the whole table.

    - M
    No matter where you go...there you are!

    Holhokki Tapio - GitP Blood Bowl New Era Season I Champion
    Togashi Ishi - Betrayal at the White Temple
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  3. - Top - End - #3
    Dwarf in the Playground
    Join Date
    Aug 2017

    Default Re: Roll Master Adjustments

    Quote Originally Posted by Mordar View Post
    I'm a huge fan of Role Master (yes, the "roll" master joke thing is funny...not sure if you did it intentionally. - M
    It was not done intentionally just me misspelling it like an idiot lol.

    Quote Originally Posted by Mordar View Post
    So rather than stripping away something that is a real strength of the system, find a way to use that system more quickly. I specifically recommend making photocopies/printouts of the primary and secondary weapon chart for each character. - M
    Do you know the best place to find them in PDF form, or what book the specific charts or in for me to find and print the specific pages?
    When all else fails, find an Artificer, they will get it done!

  4. - Top - End - #4
    Librarian in the Playground Moderator
     
    LibraryOgre's Avatar

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    Default Re: Roll Master Adjustments

    Quote Originally Posted by tstewt1921 View Post
    It was not done intentionally just me misspelling it like an idiot lol.



    Do you know the best place to find them in PDF form, or what book the specific charts or in for me to find and print the specific pages?
    The Mod Wonder: You might check ICEs website, but remember that such files would technically be a breach of copyright.
    The Cranky Gamer
    *It isn't realism, it's verisimilitude; the appearance of truth within the framework of the game.
    *Picard management tip: Debate honestly. The goal is to arrive at the truth, not at your preconception.
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  5. - Top - End - #5
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    Mordar's Avatar

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    Mar 2008

    Default Re: Roll Master Adjustments

    Quote Originally Posted by tstewt1921 View Post
    Do you know the best place to find them in PDF form, or what book the specific charts or in for me to find and print the specific pages?
    It depends on which edition you guys are using...back in my day they were in the Arms Law basic book, but that was 2nd edition. Yup, we chiseled our dice out of stone or dinosaur bones, but it was worth it! Just ask the GM and go from there!

    - M
    No matter where you go...there you are!

    Holhokki Tapio - GitP Blood Bowl New Era Season I Champion
    Togashi Ishi - Betrayal at the White Temple
    Da Monsters of Da Midden - GitP Blood Bowl Manager Cup Season V-VI-VII

  6. - Top - End - #6
    Orc in the Playground
    Join Date
    Sep 2014

    Default Re: Roll Master Adjustments

    Quote Originally Posted by tstewt1921 View Post
    Do you know the best place to find them in PDF form, or what book the specific charts or in for me to find and print the specific pages?
    You are probably looking for the version of Arms Law compatible with whatever version of Rolemaster you're playing.

    You're looking for page 54 in Arms Law for Rolemaster Classic and page 4 in Arms Law for Rolemaster Fantasy Roleplaying. My copies of Rolemaster V, unfortunately, are pre-release and I can't guarantee the page numbers haven't changed.

  7. - Top - End - #7
    Librarian in the Playground Moderator
     
    LibraryOgre's Avatar

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    Default Re: Roll Master Adjustments

    The Cranky Gamer
    *It isn't realism, it's verisimilitude; the appearance of truth within the framework of the game.
    *Picard management tip: Debate honestly. The goal is to arrive at the truth, not at your preconception.
    *Mutant Dawn for Savage Worlds!
    *The One Deck Engine: Gaming on a budget
    Written by Me on DriveThru RPG
    There are almost 400,000 threads on this site. If you need me to address a thread as a moderator, include a link.

  8. - Top - End - #8
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Knaight's Avatar

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    Aug 2008

    Default Re: Roll Master Adjustments

    Check out Middle Earth Roleplaying Game. MERP uses a lighter offshoot of Rolemaster, and will probably work better for you. This also prevents the need for customization.

  9. - Top - End - #9
    Ogre in the Playground
    Join Date
    Jun 2012

    Default Re: Roll Master Adjustments

    Ahhh, good ol' Role Master. Used to love it.

    I second the idea that you get print outs for your weapons and do the math yourself
    And remember you never want to get hit with a crit then have the GM role a 66...


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