From Weak to Wicked

Character development is the cornerstone of tabletop role-playing games (RPGs). Whether you're playing a mighty warrior or a cunning rogue, your character's stats, alignment, and motivations shape their journey and the overall narrative. One of the most rewarding aspects of RPGs is taking a character with seemingly insurmountable weaknesses and transforming them into a force to be reckoned with. This article explores how I evolved a low-stat character, Mordor, into a powerful and terrifying figure in a Rolemaster campaign, and how these principles can be applied to other games like Dungeons & Dragons (D&D).

The Rolemaster Game System

Rolemaster, introduced by Iron Crown Enterprises (ICE) in the early 1980s, is a tabletop RPG known for its detailed rules and high level of realism and customization. While it retains the class and level system familiar to many RPG players, Rolemaster stands out with several unique features:

• Skill-Based: Characters have a wide range of skills to learn and improve, from combat abilities to social interactions and professional knowledge. This granularity allows for highly customized characters tailored to specific playstyles and backgrounds.
• Percentile System: Rolemaster uses a percentile dice system (d100) for resolving actions. Players roll percentile dice, add their skill bonus, and compare the result to a target number to determine success or failure. This system introduces a level of unpredictability and excitement, as even highly skilled characters can face challenges.
• Critical Tables: One of the most notable features of Rolemaster is its extensive use of critical tables. These tables provide detailed outcomes for critical successes and failures, adding a layer of depth and consequence to actions. Criticals can result in anything from extra damage to unique effects or injuries, making combat and other actions more engaging and dynamic.
• Character Development: Rolemaster offers a highly customizable character creation process. Players can choose from a variety of races, professions, and background options, and they can allocate development points to improve their character's skills and abilities over time. This allows for a high degree of personalization and growth throughout the campaign.
• Combat System: The combat system in Rolemaster is designed to be realistic and tactical. It includes features like initiative, action points, and a wide range of combat maneuvers and special attacks. This level of detail can create more immersive and strategic combat encounters, challenging players to think critically and adapt to different situations.
• Magic System: Rolemaster has a detailed and flexible magic system, with several realms of power (e.g., Essence, Channelling, Mentalism) and a vast number of spells. The system allows for a high degree of customization and creativity in spellcasting, enabling players to create unique and powerful magical effects.
• Campaign Settings: Rolemaster has been used in various campaign settings, including the official setting of Shadow World, as well as adaptations for other worlds like Middle-earth (through the Middle-earth Role Playing game, also by ICE). These settings provide rich and immersive environments for players to explore, each with its own unique cultures, creatures, and lore.

Rolemaster is known for its depth and complexity, which can make it appealing to players who enjoy intricate rules and detailed character development. However, it can also be challenging for new players due to its steep learning curve. By understanding and incorporating these features, players can create more engaging and memorable campaigns in Rolemaster and other RPGs like D&D.

The Character and the Party

Set in a late Middle Ages/early Renaissance fantasy world, our campaign was human-centric, with each player controlling multiple characters. My primary character, Alexander, was styled after a 17th-century English Civil War Cavalier, but the star of this story is Mordor. Mordor was physically weak, with poor rolls in Strength, Constitution, Quickness, and Agility. However, he excelled in Intuition, Self-Discipline, and Presence.

I decided to make Mordor a Sorcerer, a hybrid spell user combining the realms of Essence and Channelling. Sorcerers are often used as villains in stories, focusing on spells of destruction. Mordor was no exception. Inspired by Raistlin Majere from the Dragonlance series, Mordor was a cerebral, introverted, and dark character. He had been picked on his whole life due to his diminished body, leading to a sociopathic, if not psychopathic, personality.

Mordor's party consisted of a mix of good-aligned characters, including Alexander. The dynamic was complex, as Mordor's true nature was hidden from the other players. He told them he was a Magician, but he had very few useful spells. His manipulative charm and cold demeanor made him a fascinating character to play.

Alignment: The Moral Compass

Alignment in Rolemaster is more fluid and nuanced than in systems like D&D. While D&D's alignment system provides a structured way to define a character's moral and ethical stance, Rolemaster allows for a more complex and dynamic portrayal of a character's motivations and behaviors. In our campaign, we carried over some of the mindset from our previous D&D campaigns, but with a more flexible and psychological approach.

Modern psychology can be mapped onto the concepts of "good" and "evil," "lawful" and "chaotic," revealing that these traits are not absolutes but rather a nuanced continuum. For example, a character who is highly empathetic and altruistic might be considered "good," while a character who is selfish and manipulative might be considered "evil." However, these traits can coexist within a single individual, creating a more complex and realistic portrayal of their personality.

Mordor's alignment was a reflection of his psychological makeup. He exhibited many of the traits associated with sociopathy, such as a lack of empathy, a grandiose sense of self-worth, and a tendency to manipulate others for his own gain. In D&D terms, his alignment might be classified as Chaotic Evil, but within the context of Rolemaster, his alignment was more fluid and adaptable.

Mordor's alignment influenced his interactions with the party and NPCs in profound ways. He would manipulate situations to his advantage, often using his charm and intelligence to deceive others. This created a dynamic where the other players were constantly on edge, unsure of Mordor's true intentions. His ability to blend in with the "good" party while pursuing his own agenda added a layer of depth and unpredictability to the campaign.

By embracing the complexity and nuance of alignment, players can create more engaging and memorable characters. Whether playing in Rolemaster or D&D, a deeper understanding of psychology and motivation can enrich the role-playing experience and create more dynamic and believable campaigns.

Stats: Making the Most of What You Have

Stats in RPGs define a character's abilities and limitations, but they are more than just numbers on a page. They represent the unique strengths and weaknesses that shape a character's identity and playstyle. Mordor's poor physical stats meant he was at a disadvantage in combat, but his high mental stats provided opportunities for creative role-playing and strategic thinking.

In Rolemaster, the mental stats of Intuition, Self-Discipline, and Presence can be incredibly powerful tools for overcoming physical limitations. Intuition represents a character's ability to perceive and understand the world around them, allowing them to anticipate events and make insightful observations. Self-Discipline represents a character's willpower and determination, enabling them to resist temptation, maintain focus, and persevere in the face of adversity. Presence represents a character's charisma and force of personality, allowing them to influence others and command respect.

Mordor's high mental stats allowed him to excel in areas where his physical stats were lacking. His Intuition made him a keen observer, able to read situations and people with remarkable accuracy. His Self-Discipline gave him the resolve to pursue his goals relentlessly, even in the face of overwhelming odds. His Presence made him a natural leader, able to inspire loyalty and command respect from those around him.

One of the key strategies for playing a character with low physical stats is to leverage their mental strengths to gain an advantage. Mordor's charm and intelligence allowed him to manipulate others, turning potential enemies into unwitting allies. He would often lie about his abilities, claiming to have powerful spells when he only had a few cantrips. This deception allowed him to maintain a position of power within the group, despite his physical weaknesses.

By focusing on the strengths of a character's mental stats, players can create more dynamic and engaging playstyles. Whether in Rolemaster or D&D, a character with high Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma can use their mental acuity to overcome physical challenges and achieve their goals. This approach encourages creative problem-solving and strategic thinking, making the game more enjoyable and immersive for everyone involved.

Character Motivation: The Heart of Role-Playing

Character motivation is the driving force behind a character's actions and the overall narrative. It is the reason why a character pursues their goals, faces their fears, and makes the choices that define their journey. Mordor's primary motivation was to gain power and respect, something he had been denied his whole life. This desire fueled his manipulative behavior and cold demeanor, shaping his interactions with the party and the world around him.

As the campaign progressed, Mordor's motivations evolved and deepened. He began to see the other party members as tools to achieve his goals, rather than allies or friends. This shift in perspective created tension within the group, as the other players started to question Mordor's loyalty and true intentions. His manipulative behavior became more pronounced, and his cold demeanor more calculating, as he sought to consolidate his power and influence.

The key to role-playing a character with complex motivations is to understand the underlying psychology that drives their actions. Mordor's desire for power and respect was rooted in his experiences of being bullied and marginalized. His sociopathic tendencies were a coping mechanism, a way to assert control over a world that had treated him unfairly. By tapping into these psychological underpinnings, players can create more authentic and engaging portrayals of their characters.

Moreover, character motivation is not static but rather a dynamic and evolving aspect of the role-playing experience. As a character grows and changes, so too do their motivations and goals. In Mordor's case, his initial desire for power and respect gave way to a more sinister and ambitious agenda, as he sought to dominate and control those around him. This evolution in his motivation created new challenges and conflicts, driving the narrative forward and keeping the other players on their toes.

By embracing the complexity and fluidity of character motivation, players can create more immersive and memorable campaigns. Whether in Rolemaster or D&D, a deep understanding of a character's psychological makeup and evolving goals can enrich the role-playing experience and create more dynamic and engaging stories.

Conclusion

Transforming a low-stat character into a powerful and terrifying figure requires creative role-playing, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of character development. Mordor's journey from a weak, introverted sorcerer to a manipulative mastermind highlights the importance of alignment, stats, and motivation in shaping a character's narrative. By embracing the nuance and complexity of these elements, players can create more engaging and memorable campaigns in Rolemaster, D&D, and other RPGs.