jj@rabbit.UUCP (11/11/83)
OK, maybe I'm nuts, but... I hereby volunteer to run a small (6-8 person) campaign using Rolemaster rules, with the following provisos. 1) The 6-8 people must be in easy mail contact of rabbit. <This isn't too hard for most> 2) Everyone must be willing to get a copy of the Rolemaster rule set (or have access to one), I have no intention of violating copyright laws by typing it all in. (And I have no intention of putting up with all that typing, either.) 3) The administration is as follows: a) Over each weekend the DM will post to net .games.pbm the results of the last week's move. b) Each player will have from Monday to Friday to get mail to rabbit!jj, describing their next set of actions. c) Players will be informed of each other's mail addresses at the beginning of the campaign, and may communicate freely, the DM will explain if such is not proper in any given instance. d) Each week will represent a variable length of time in FRP terms. In melee, each week will be (unless something odd happens) 6 rounds long. <This is roughly 1 minute game time.> In non-melee encounters, the time increment will be roughly the time between necessary decision points, with a few exceptions. During non-melee, non-encounters, the general instructions given for that time by each player will guide, and the turn end when something happens, or when the players' instructions call for it. 4) The timetable will be: a) The campaign will start (with the creation of characters beginning on that date) on 11/28/83. First come, first served, but PLEASE have Rolemaster Info. You won't have to be experienced, but do have the info. The names of the players (assuming at least 6 volunteer) will be posted on that date, or thereabouts. I will post a number of character stats for each person in that note, which can be arranged in any way, modified, etc, per Rolemaster rules. <I will provide ONLY the basic STATS. All else is your choice.> b) One week after that, on Monday, I WILL have received the basic character information from each player, and I will post the basic scenario. At this time the play, proper, will start, with the first moves being sent to me during that week. All characters will be starting at first level. 5) If there is an outpouring of objections, or there are not at least 6 players confirmed by 11/28/83, there will be no campaign. 6) Players who miss moves will continue their previous move, or tag along in the back, if reasonable. 7) Non-players are, of course, welcome to follow whatever ensues. They are requested to refrain from posting opinions and/or comments on the campaing, and from mailing either the DM or the players concerning the campaign. (i.e. if you recognize this or that particular Frammis, keep your trap shut!) 8) All decisions of the DM will be absolutely final. Cheers. -- (allegra,harpo,ulysses)!rabbit!jj
robison@eosp1.UUCP (11/13/83)
I would like to suggest two changes to rabbit!jj's rules for the Rolemaster adventure: - Player's moves should be posted publicly (normally). [Players would occasionally communicate privately with the DM to do things the other playes shouldn't know about, e.g., pick their pockets.] - Those of us who DO NOT recognise the scenario would like to be free to kibbitz. - Keremath, care of: Robison decvax!ittvax!eosp1 or: allegra!eosp1
jj@rabbit.UUCP (11/14/83)
Well, I'd rather that the players didn't post their moves, as there is a definite chance that the party may be in confusion part of the time. (I will say no more.) As to non-understanding kibbitzers, I can't stop you, but I'd rather not make too much net traffic. Just make sure you're NOT blowing the plot, if you think you recognize it. <Not all that likely, unless you have a good memory and a lot of associative ability, but...> As an aside, I have 5 players, as of 10:AM EST Monday 11/14. I'm looking for 1-3 more. -- (allegra,harpo,ulysses)!rabbit!jj
hammy@mit-eddie.UUCP (J. Scott Hamilton) (11/15/83)
I would very much have enjoyed playing, but I will be off the net by January 3. Instead, I would like to help get the game started, as well as offer advise and arbitration (with the permission of Mr. JJ). I believe I am qualified, as I have played in about 30-40 game sessions in three campaigns, and one of our players had a direct link to the originators in Charlottesville. I could probably get rulings on certain matters in fairly short order. Some of my ideas about getting this thing started. > 3) The administration is as follows: > d) Each week will represent a variable length of time in FRP > terms. In melee, each week will be (unless something odd happens) > 6 rounds long. <This is roughly 1 minute game time.> I think each person's plan during meelee will end up looking like a flow chart with a lot of conditionals, rather than a recipe. Although combat resolution is very structured, the fact that conditions can change drastically during play, as well as the probability of using opportunity actions (provided within the melee framework) will cause people to want to dynamic in their actions. Some provisions should be made for standardizing common reactions to adverse situations (e.g. full parry until unstunned, using 'Clot' spells when suffering bleeders, popping the ol' Mirenna berries, etc.). If anybody tries using the 'Intuituions' spell during combat, some weeks may have to be played over (at least that was how we played it). >4) The timetable will be: > a) The campaign will start (with the creation of characters > beginning on that date) on 11/28/83. First come, first served, > but PLEASE have Rolemaster Info. If people would like help with designing their characters, I would be glad to help. I will describe some of my online sheets later, one of them includes character sheets. I strongly suggest to Mr. JJ that he use the optional rules provided in Character Law, especially the 'Hobby Box' rule and the 'Half Level' Box rule. Those two rules are extremely valuable in getting a low level character in fighting shape. >6) Players who miss moves will continue their previous move, or >tag along in the back, if reasonable. Again, some standardization could be done. Fighters could go on auto-kill mode until all opponents are dead. Healers could start doing battlefield cures. Magic users at low levels can generally only get off two spells a minute anyway. >8) All decisions of the DM will be absolutely final. Definitely agreed. Even though I consider one of our DMs to be pretty poor, we would never have a campaign unless we ultimately followed his arbitration. It should be more fun to role play, then to argue over the rules. --- As far as online sheets, I have the following: Character sheets- (Hacked version of the one included in Character Law) Sheet a) Some personal, Stats, Skill Additions, OB-DB Stats Sheet b,c) 'Boxes' for Spells and Skills Sheet d) Spell Picks, OB for Martial Arts Sheet e) (xn) Delineated Spells for the Spell Lists I also have the following tables on the computer: 11.52, 15.11, 15.12, 15.13, 15.14 This MAY be enough to update a character, it is definitely not enough to generate one. I will post to the net the character sheets and tables if people are willing (please respond by mail). Also, if there is interest, I can generate random first level characters to be used as examples. This pbm really intrigues me. Hopefully it can get off the ground. -- J. Scott Hamilton !genrad!mit-eddie!hammy
jj@rabbit.UUCP (11/15/83)
Various comments on Hammy's comments. 1) I do NOT want hobby skills or half level advancements considered. The game is balanced for characters without such abilities. Such hobbies,etc, will NOT be permitted. 2) I do allow the proper stat bonus to apply to spell list rolls. <which stat(s) depends on the type of spell user> Only pure and hybrid spell users get this benefit. As far as his comments regarding moves, I have no objections, I am not going to try to constrain the way the players set up their actions, and I think his advice is well taken. As far as missing moves, I would, in melee, continue a fighter's attacks, unless events would dictate otherwise. In travelling situations, etc, I would have the character wander along without doing much. I WILL NOT play the player's characters. I think this is in line (mostly) with Hammy's comments. I certainly welcome his offer to help build characters. I'm interested in character sheets in an on-line form. I do want the players to remember what they've read about the basic scenario when they consider building their characters. AS to mirenna berries... I will put out a short set of comments on healing later. The names of the various herbs will not be as in the Character Law book, as they don't fit into the scenario very well. There will be limited amounts of healing herbs available, but those herbs are not common. <Most involve trips into the mountain regions.> -- (allegra,harpo,ulysses)!rabbit!jj