The default setting for Rolemaster, Shadow World, seems to have something of an online presence, but I've never seen the sort of enthusiasm for the setting that I've seen for the likes of, say, Glorantha, Harn, or Tekumel. What's up with it? Is it a forgotten gem or is it just a bit mediocre?

EDIT TO ADD: I've seen the author's official site, but most of what I've seen there has left me ambivalent: it could be awesome, it could be lame, I'd actually need to see a more in-depth look at the world to judge.

Oh, and note to Sett: there's apparently starships in Shadow World.

I GMed Rolemaster for some years, so I had a good look at it. I remember that it had nice maps. Apart from that, it seemed to me a fairly standard fantasy world.

QuoteOh, and note to Sett: there's apparently starships in Shadow World.

That´s awesome!
I knew there was hope for Rolemaster.
With the Spacemaster rules, it´s also easy as pie to let me actually fly one!

It's pretty expansive, as I recall, and complements RM nicely, but I don't think its ever reached anywhere near the fan levels of the aforementioned settings.   I think its just perceived as "another fantasy setting--this one for Rolemaster".

RoleMaster itself hasn't seen many enthusiastic fanboys spouting rabid drivel on the internet. Mostly for two reasons:

1) Posting about RoleMaster can come pretty close to trolling, so if you can't have a productive discussions, why try? RM doesn't seem to attract Internet Fishwives.
2) RoleMaster players actually play and don't have time for that Internet crepe

Quote from: SosthenesRoleMaster itself hasn't seen many enthusiastic fanboys spouting rabid drivel on the internet. Mostly for two reasons:

1) Posting about RoleMaster can come pretty close to trolling, so if you can't have a productive discussions, why try? RM doesn't seem to attract Internet Fishwives.
2) RoleMaster players actually play and don't have time for that Internet crepe

I'm actually a big RM fan (run a RMSS/RMFRP hybrid), and I enjoy hanging out at the ICE forums now and then.  Now that's a fan base that knows their stuff.

I loved playing RM1 and RM2. I had one Shadow World product, but was unimpressed. We just ran homebrew settings. SW did nothing for me.

Despite my insanely over-the-top love affair with Rolemaster, I have never opened a single Shadow World book. I started running a campaign someone else had written for SW, but I ran it in Rolemaster's true home: Middle Earth.

Quote from: Zachary The FirstI'm actually a big RM fan (run a RMSS/RMFRP hybrid), and I enjoy hanging out at the ICE forums now and then.  Now that's a fan base that knows their stuff.

Creepy.
Fan 1: "Slashing E 57!"
Fan 2-20: "Hahahahaha"

Quote from: SosthenesCreepy.
Fan 1: "Slashing E 57!"
Fan 2-20: "Hahahahaha"

lol...ok so, perhaps there are multiple descriptors that might apply.

Quote from: SosthenesCreepy.
Fan 1: "Slashing E 57!"
Fan 2-20: "Hahahahaha"

Funny, but Krush D 66 is a much better punchline. Just don't get me started on the virtues of CEATS vs the Companion IV initiative options!

Shadow World is a great setting for the right group.  I ran it for about ten years.  It's full of neat little bits, as opposed to big epic empires.  The attraction isn't so much for the individual kingdoms as the variety available and the tons of accessible plot hooks.  It even has the SF bits from the far past for those who like to add that tech flavor.

I'll be the dissenting voice. I've played in Shadow World using Rolemaster, and I didn't like the setting at all. It's a mish mash of different ideas, some of them cool by themselves, but awful when mixed together; it felt as if the authors added every random idea they could come up with. There were so many kinds of monsters, and so much weird stuff, that I didn't know how peasants were supposed to grow food. :confused:

I hated it, but your mileage might vary.

Quote from: ClaudiusI'll be the dissenting voice. I've played in Shadow World using Rolemaster, and I didn't like the setting at all. It's a mish mash of different ideas, some of them cool by themselves, but awful when mixed together; it felt as if the authors added every random idea they could come up with. There were so many kinds of monsters, and so much weird stuff, that I didn't know how peasants were supposed to grow food. :confused:

I hated it, but your mileage might vary.

More than with a lot of settings, Shadow World's quality really depends on the GM.  Having a mishmash of ideas can be great if the GM picks and chooses the right elements for a cohesive campaign.  If he tries to shoehorn in everything, though, it will be a right mess.

Quote from: WarthurThe default setting for Rolemaster, Shadow World, seems to have something of an online presence, but I've never seen the sort of enthusiasm for the setting that I've seen for the likes of, say, Glorantha, Harn, or Tekumel. What's up with it? Is it a forgotten gem or is it just a bit mediocre?

Well, there is a lot of enthusiasm for the setting here:
http://www.ironcrown.com/ICEforums/index.php?board=9.0
:cool:

But I think that SW suffered from not having a clear identity.  It was always ICE's "other setting".  And because Rolemaster was saturated with 'Middle-earth-isms' at the time (ageless elves; long-lived 'high men' distinct from scrubby 'common men'; etc.), these crept into SW.  The mix of Tolkienesque races, lost interstellar relics, and high-powered secret groups (NPCs of level 20+ are not uncommon in SW), was one that many RM fans found hard to digest.

Having said that, though, some of the campaign modules written for it are truly excellent.  Almost anything written by the setting's creator, Terry K. Amthor, is worth getting (e.g. Jaiman, The Iron Wind, Cloudlords of Tanara, Haalkitaine), if only for idea mining.