Monday 13 December 2021

Rolemaster Revisited: Plains Marauders

 I thought it might be time for my blog to do a bit more of what it says on the tin...so here is some Rolemaster material, the latest addition to the List of Things Left Undone! You can find the underlying thinking behind this material in this post.







Plains Marauder Cultural Package

Plains Marauders are those highly feared tribes that inhabit the great steppes beyond the borders of civilisation. Although they practice a pastoral and nomadic lifestyle, they also delight in raiding their neighbours – other tribal groupings or those who dwell on the marches of feudal realms. They value self-sufficiency, tribal unity and martial might and spurn those who they hold to be softened by an excess of civilisation. However, they do esteem outsiders who are both worthy foes and honourable in word and deed. They are also highly superstitious, and it is possibly their fear of enemy magic that reins in their depredations against their more ‘advanced’ neighbours.

Cultural Skills:

Body Development 2, Cookery 1, Culture Lore (own) 2, Foraging 1, Herding 1, Language: Own Spoken 6, Maneuver In Armor (Rigid Leather) 4, Perception 2, Primary Weapon 3, Region Lore (homeland) 3, Riding 3, Secondary Weapon 1, Stalk & Hide 1, Tracking 1.

Free talents:

Native of the Swaying Grasses: +20 to Fauna Lore, Flora Lore, Foraging and Navigation in Plains.

Mounted Warrior: +10 to melee OB whilst mounted.

Drawbacks:

Oral Tradition: learning a written language costs double the amount of development points per rank, until you have reached rank 5 in one written language and spent 1 Background Option, to overcome to your tribe’s lack of literacy and contempt for the appurtenances of civilised lands.

Limited Access: although you may learn any kind of magic, those who can or will teach you of the Essence and Mentalism are extremely rare. Even if you are a Pure or Hybrid user of those realms (excluding the Seer and Astrologer) you can only learn spell lists as if you were a Semi-spell user (in terms of Picks. DP costs are unchanged). You may eliminate this deficiency by spending 2 Background Options after you have learned at least three lists to level 10.

Optional talents (Cost 1 BGO unless noted):

Detect Liar: +15 to Perception rolls when attempting to determine whether an individual is engaging in verbal deception. You must have the appropriate spoken language to at least rank 4.

Well-Seated:+10 to Riding.

Dinner on the Hoof: +15 to Cookery.

Grassland Scout: +15 to Perception in plains only.

Myth-Keeper: +15 to Public Speaking only when relating myths and legends of own culture.

Skilful: 5 ranks in Fauna Lore, Fletching, Flora Lore, Herb Lore, Herding, History, Leather-crafts, Religion, Navigation, Public Speaking, Signalling, Star-gazing, Weather-watching or Wood-crafts* (may be selected multiple times, each time for a different skill).

Totemic Charm: Daily III item (Channeling only)* Cost: 2

Sagittarius: you gain +15 to Riding maneuvers and +10 to your OB whilst wielding a Composite Bow. Cost: 2

Inherited Weapon: +10 non-magic weapon *.

Sneak: +10 to Stalk & Hide.

Nimble Skirmisher: +15 to OB & DB when in melee vs. Armored Cavalry (mounted enemy fighters wearing Chain or Plate) Cost: 2

Nature-Attuned: ‘A’ Pick in one of the following lists: Locating Ways, Lofty Movements, Nature’s Law or Weather Ways*.

Tribal Crafter: ‘A’ Pick in the following three lists: Alchemical Preparations, Channeling Imbedding (as Essence Imbedding, but using Channeling as a base) and Organic Skills. +15 to Leather-crafts and Wood-carving*. Cost: 5

Fear No Sorcerous Foe: you gain a +25 to all RRs vs. one realm.

Centaur-Friend: +20 to all Influence/Interaction and Lore rolls relating to Centaurs.

Herd Guardian: +15 OB & DB vs. one particular predatory species that commonly attacks your tribe’s herds (e.g. Wolf, Tiger, Jackal, etc.) or one race of enemy humanoids (Orcs, Goblins, Ogres etc.) This can not be applied to magical creatures or monsters. Cost: 2

Options marked ‘*’ may only be selected at level one.



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