MERP: the simple rulez

Characters
Copyright ©2001 George Chatzipetros
Edited for The Guild Companion by Joe Mandala

Character creation

ATTRIBUTES: Each character gets the attributes of his race. However, he

can customize his attributes by decreasing an attribute to increase another
one. This can be done 3 times (for 3 points). No attribute may be increased
or decreased by more than 2 points.
Size may not be modified.
SKILLS: Each character gets some skills at +1 rating according to his race.
He also has 8 skill points to spend on these or other skills. At the end of
character creation, a character may not have any skill rating greater than
+3.
MAGIC: A character who wants access to magic sacrifices 4 skill points and
reduces 2 of his attributes by –1. In return, he gets 3 spells of his choice at
+1 rating and DET+3 Magick points.

RACIAL MODIFIERS
PHY LIT VIT REF INT INS DET SEN INF SIZ
Dunadan +0 +0 +0 +0 +1 +0 +0 +0 +2 +0
Dwarf +1 -1 +2 -1 +0 -1 +1 +0 -2 -1
Half-elf +0 +1 +0 +0 +1 +0 +1 +1 +1 +0
Half-orc +0 +0 +1 +0 -1 -2 -1 +0 -1 +0
Half-troll +3 -2 +3 -2 -2 -2 -1 +0 -2 +1
Hobbit -3 +3 +2 +2 +0 -2 +0 +0 -3 -1
Man +0 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0
Noldo +0 +1 +0 +0 +3 +1 +2 +2 +3 +0
Olog-hai +5 +0 +6 -2 +0 -2 +1 +0 +2 +3
Orc +0 +0 +1 +0 -3 -3 -2 +1 -3 +0
Silvan +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +1 +2 +3 +1 +0
Sinda +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +1 +2 +2 +2 +0
Troll +4 -3 +5 -3 -4 -4 -2 +0 -4 +2
Umli +0 -1 +3 -1 +0 +0 +1 +0 -1 -1
Uruk-hai +2 +0 +2 +0 +0 -2 +1 +2 +0 +0
Wose +0 +1 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0 +1 -2 +0

Racial skills
DWARVES: blacksmithing or masonry, one craft, one weapon skill
UMLI: survival, one craft, one weapon skill
NOLDOR: one art or craft, scholar, leechcraft
SINDAR: one art or craft, scholar, leechcraft
SILVAN ELVES: survival, traplore, one craft
HOBBITS: farming, one craft, stealth
WOSES: stealth, survival, foraging
DUNEDAIN: one art or craft, scholar, politics
ORCS: one weapon skill, survival, brawl
URUK-HAI: one weapon skill, brawl, armor maneuvers
TROLLS: one weapon skill, brawl, survival
OLOG-HAI: one weapon skill, brawl, armor maneuvers
HALF-ELVES, -ORCS AND –TROLLS: The skills of one of the parent races.
BEORNINGS: traplore, one weapon skill, foraging
BLACK NUMENOREANS: politics, intimidation, persuade
CORSAIRS: sailing, swim, one weapon skill
DORWINRIM: persuade, farming, herbalism
DUNLENDINGS: one weapon skill, survival, traplore
EASTERLINGS: ride, one weapon skill, one craft
GONDORIANS: one craft, bargain, politics
HARADRIM: survival, one weapon skill, one craft
LOSSOTH: swim, traplore, survival
ROHIRRIM: ride, farming, animal lore
VARIAGS: one weapon skill, brawl, one craft
WOODMEN: traplore, foraging, survival