Getting back to my attempted conversion of the Deductionist, I promised a look at skill conversions. In order to do this, we need to decide which RM system we're using, or if we're using more than one! Pathfinder uses somewhere between 30 and 40 skills (depending on whether or not one applies one or more of the various options in Pathfinder Unchained). Rolemaster Classic uses somewhere in the vicinity of 70-80 skills, or, if using only 'Primary Skills', about 30. RMFRP, including the skills from the various Companions offers hundreds, although organised in Skill Categories to reduce - a bit - paperwork. 2nd Edition Rolemaster has a similar amount (disclosure: RM2 is my favourite iteration of Rolemaster, although much of my work on this blog will be for RMFRP). I'm going to look at both RMFRP and RM2 for the purposes of this discussion. It looks as if, in many instances, its going to be the case that the Pathfinder skill will have multiple equivalents - or that multiple skills might be needed to approximate the functions of a particular skill. This isn't as problematic as it sounds, as players have far more points to spend on skills in Rolemaster - which is, after all, a skills-based system - compared with Pathfinder players.
We can at least glean the skills at which the Deductionist is more likely to excel by looking at the Deductionist's list of Class Skills. It's worth noting at this point that there are multiple variations of the Deductionist according to areas of specialisation. The Vicar, for example, specialises in religious matters. So we'll actually be looking at a base set of skill costs with variations according to area of concentration. Plenty to do.
I've put together a rather ad hoc list purporting to link Pathfinder skills to their multifarious Rolemaster equivalents, and this is the basis for the discussion that follows. But first, it should be mentioned that there are considerable differences between 2nd edition Rolemaster and RMFRP when it comes to skills. Both use hundreds of skills, but in RM2 each skill has its own associated development cost, whereas in RMFRP, skills are organised into categories (each of which has a development cost), whereby the category and the subskills are developed. In this post, I'll start with RMFRP, for reasons of economy.
Comparing the Deductionist's class skills with the RMFRP skill categories, we can make a few assumptions: the Deductionist is strong with regard to Influence skills (Bluff, Diplomacy, etc.), Lore skills (Pathfinder Knowledge skills), Awareness skills (Perception) and Subterfuge skills (Disable Device, Stealth, Sleight of Hand, etc.). We can safely surmise that the cost of these categories will be lower than for most RMFRP professions (whilst being mindful that the Deductionist will probably not be the equal of the Thief in Subterfuge skills, the Sage in Lore and Science skills or the Seer in Awareness skills). We can add to this the notion, previously discussed, that a good 'Will' save might be reflected in good Self Control skills, whilst the Deductionist's 'poor' Reflex and Fortitude saves may have analogies in lower Athletic skills and Body Development. it's worth noting, at this point, that both RMFRP and RM2 have the Surveillance skill - compulsory for all Deductionists - which not only allows for long-term perception, but also allows the character a roll to determine the best means or method for solving a crime.
At this point, it must be said: the Deductionist's abilities do not lend themselves to the easy creation of spell lists. To incorporate these unique abilities, I propose simulating them through the use of skills and of talents specific to the Deductionist.
In RM2, each skill has its own individual cost: this makes the task of conversion in some senses easier, as particular skills are not shoehorned into categories, and RM2 has a number of optional skills - such as Resistance - that we may incorporate in search of a more accurate conversion. There are also some more 'cinematic' skill applications that lend themselves to simulating the Deductionist's abilities. I'll be posting full conversion documents over the next couple of weeks.
We can at least glean the skills at which the Deductionist is more likely to excel by looking at the Deductionist's list of Class Skills. It's worth noting at this point that there are multiple variations of the Deductionist according to areas of specialisation. The Vicar, for example, specialises in religious matters. So we'll actually be looking at a base set of skill costs with variations according to area of concentration. Plenty to do.
I've put together a rather ad hoc list purporting to link Pathfinder skills to their multifarious Rolemaster equivalents, and this is the basis for the discussion that follows. But first, it should be mentioned that there are considerable differences between 2nd edition Rolemaster and RMFRP when it comes to skills. Both use hundreds of skills, but in RM2 each skill has its own associated development cost, whereas in RMFRP, skills are organised into categories (each of which has a development cost), whereby the category and the subskills are developed. In this post, I'll start with RMFRP, for reasons of economy.
Comparing the Deductionist's class skills with the RMFRP skill categories, we can make a few assumptions: the Deductionist is strong with regard to Influence skills (Bluff, Diplomacy, etc.), Lore skills (Pathfinder Knowledge skills), Awareness skills (Perception) and Subterfuge skills (Disable Device, Stealth, Sleight of Hand, etc.). We can safely surmise that the cost of these categories will be lower than for most RMFRP professions (whilst being mindful that the Deductionist will probably not be the equal of the Thief in Subterfuge skills, the Sage in Lore and Science skills or the Seer in Awareness skills). We can add to this the notion, previously discussed, that a good 'Will' save might be reflected in good Self Control skills, whilst the Deductionist's 'poor' Reflex and Fortitude saves may have analogies in lower Athletic skills and Body Development. it's worth noting, at this point, that both RMFRP and RM2 have the Surveillance skill - compulsory for all Deductionists - which not only allows for long-term perception, but also allows the character a roll to determine the best means or method for solving a crime.
At this point, it must be said: the Deductionist's abilities do not lend themselves to the easy creation of spell lists. To incorporate these unique abilities, I propose simulating them through the use of skills and of talents specific to the Deductionist.
In RM2, each skill has its own individual cost: this makes the task of conversion in some senses easier, as particular skills are not shoehorned into categories, and RM2 has a number of optional skills - such as Resistance - that we may incorporate in search of a more accurate conversion. There are also some more 'cinematic' skill applications that lend themselves to simulating the Deductionist's abilities. I'll be posting full conversion documents over the next couple of weeks.
No comments:
Post a Comment