Rolemaster Professions

DCMetro Rolemaster Group – Singh Khanna (GM)

This work is made for the game(s) of the DCMetro Rolemaster Group, shared out
to the various GMs who wish to use it, and the Players in those games. It is not
meant for any sort of commercial use, nor intended to infringe on any copyright.
The only reason that the Creative Commons tag has been used is to make it clear
that my personal work cannot be resold without my permission, I make no claim
to anything owned by Iron Crown Enterprises.

The cover art is used with link-back permission to https://88grzes.deviantart.com/

Creative Commons Licensed by Singh Khanna, 2013, CC BY-NC-SA

 Rolemaster Professions
DCMetro Rolemaster Group – Singh Khanna (GM)

Through the years, Rolemaster has spawned an enormous number of professions, and this
group has been the cause of quite a few of them! They’ve come from the games of many different GMs
who created them at different times, often for different versions of Rolemaster and sometimes just for
different scenarios. While it looks neat to have so many choices, the truth is that many of the
professions are of very limited scope (too limited to be a viable Player option) or simply don’t make
much sense in most people’s world schemas. Some professions have morphed over time, from version
to version, book to book, changing realms, being revised, or even having complete duplicate names
which describe different skill sets and spell lists. To call the entire mass, ‘confusing’, is an
understatement. And yet, it’s too rich a trove of intellectual creativity to throw away wholesale.

With that in mind, the number of Rolemaster professions in my game which are worthwhile to
maintain skill costs for, has been deliberately culled down to those which are viable for Player
Characters. Others may still find use as NPCs (or Monsters – is there a difference!?) but it’s not worth the
while to do the work of keeping them in the stable of options for the Players. That is the purpose of the
Rolemaster Professions Wrap-Up chart.

An added benefit is that the spell lists from professions which are not deemed viable in the
game can always be parceled out as treasure to be found by the Players. The base lists of Essence
Wizard, for example, make splendid Closed Essence list treasures for an Illusionist or Magician. Waste
not, want not. Professions which are superceded by better concepts or duplicated, only need one set of
skill costs and can either have different base lists, or be rolled into a single profession with a wider
choice of base lists.

As always, if any Player really wants to play one of the eliminated professions, check with your
GM and see if he’ll let you do it, and if he has time to generate all the data you’ll need make the
attempt. This is what I’ve found to work very well in my game, it may not work for others.

Creative Commons Licensed by Singh Khanna, 2013, CC BY-NC-SA

 Rolemaster Professions
DCMetro Rolemaster Group – Singh Khanna (GM)

Notes on Various Profession Decisions

Profession Notes
Alchemist Its purpose precludes adventuring, it’s a great NPC though
Animist It’s need is questionable when you have the Shaman and the Druid, but it’s here
Astral Traveller Great ideas, limited use in the game, spells are better used by other professions
Beastmaster Can be based on Essence OR Mentalism
Champion Used for either Essence or Mentalism, non-religious versions of the Paladin
Crystal Mage Too powerful, yet too specific
Doppleganger Shades of D&D! A better, more modern idea is the Shifter
Dream Lord Awesome idea, but of limited value as a Player Character
Elemental Warrior Variation of the Warrior Mage, use Warrior Mage skill costs
Enchanter There are two which are merged, one from ROCO 4, the other ROCO Mentalism
Healer There are good arguments to make it Essence (it’s resemblance to ST:TOS’ Empath)
but it remains Channeling for system balance. It’s power makes it Pure, not Hybrid
Inquisitor People who ask questions to promote a cause, more often an Antagonist
Loremaster (Sage) ‘Loremaster’ was the original name for the ‘Sage’ profession, we use it as such
Magus Merged into the Runemaster
Maleficant This is definitely an Antagonist profession, but the GM may need the skill costs
Malificant Clearly an Antagonist
Mana Molder Great ideas, limited use as a profession, spells better offered as Closed lists
Monks Every realm has it’s cloistered ascetics who are devoted to its mysteries through
self-abnegation and deep contemplation/meditation
Moon Mage Great idea, was meant as a template for creating narrow-focus magic users
Mythic Poor name, but good ideas, rolled into the Inquisitor for base list selection
Night Blade Just too much unless the entire party are Night Blades, folded into the Magent
Noble Warrior Superceded by the ‘Champion’
Paladin Beneficiary of the largest number of base lists to select from, of any profession!
Pathfinder Variation of the Ranger, use Ranger skill costs, can be Essence or Mentalism
Priest Duplicated profession, spell lists go to the Cleric
Rune Mage Merged into the Runemaster, also considered an alt name for the Runemaster
Runemaster This profession merges with ROCO Essence Rune Mage and ROCO 3 Magus
Seer Perhaps the single most unbalancing profession ever created for any game
Shadow Mage Sometimes PCs dabble in the darkside, this could be relegated to ‘Antagonist’
Venturer Retained because RMC likes it, we shall test it out
Warrior This is someone who is fanatically dedicated to Arms combat
Warrior Mage Can be based on Essence OR Mentalism, GM should adjust base lists accordingly
Wizard I didn’t like either of the ones in the earlier books, so this is a wholly new version

Creative Commons Licensed by Singh Khanna, 2013, CC BY-NC-SA

 Rolemaster Professions Consolidation
Functional Professions
Book Arms Channeling Essence Mentalism Hybrid Arcane
Rolemaster 1&2 Fighter (A) Cleric (C ) Magician (E ) Mentalist (M) Sorceror (EC)
Rogue (A) Animist (C ) Illusionist (E ) Lay Healer (M) Mystic (ME)
Thief (A) Healer (C ) Monk (AE ) Bard (AM) Astrologer (MC)
Warrior Monk (A) Ranger (AC )
ROCO 1 Barbarian (A) Paladin (AC ) Archmage (Arc)
Druid (C )
ROCO 2 Trader (Merchant) (A) Dervish (AC) Conjuror (E ) Sage (Loremaster) (M) Necromancer (EC)
Runemaster (E ) Beastmaster (A/E or M) Witch (EC)
Shaman (C ) Warrior Mage (A/E or M)
ROCO 3 Hunter (A) Sleuth (AC)
Assassin (A)
Warrior (A)
ROCO 4 Enchanter (ME)
ROCO 5 Forcemage (E )
ROCO 7 Inquisitor (AC ) Elementalist (AE) Arms Master (AM)
Tarot Mage (E ) Shifter (M)
Arcane Companion Channeling Monk (AC) Essence Monk (AE ) Mentalism Monk (AM) Chaotic (AArc)
Channeling Companion Mage Hunter (AArc)
Essence Companion
Mentalism Companion
RMSS Dabbler (E ) Magent (M)
RMC/RMX Priest (C ) Champion (E or M) Pathfinder (E or M)
Venturer (AM)
Wizard (NEW)
Changes to Professions Antagonist-Only, Unsuitable, or Dysfunctional Professions
Obsolete Current Channeling Essence Mentalism Hybrid Arcane
Bounty Hunter (A) -> Hunter (A) Evil Cleric (C ) Evil Magician (E ) Evil Mentalist (M) Astral Traveller (ME) Arcanist (Arc)
Sleuth (AC) -> Sleuth (AM) Chaotic Lord (AC) Wizard (E ) Nightblade Crystal Mage (CE) Arcane Wizard (Arc)
Witch Hunter (AC) -> Inquisitor (AC) Macabre (AC) Mana Molder (E ) Noble Warrior Dream Lord (M / E or C) Arcist (Arc)
Doppleganger (M) -> Shifter (M) Moon Mage (AC) Mage (E ) Montebanc Magus (EC) Avatar (Arc)
Monk -> Channeling Monk (AC) Mythic (AC) Houri Maleficant (CM)
Taoist and Zen Monks -> Essence & Mentalism Summoner (C ) Mentat (M) Rune Mage (EM)
Champion -> Paladin variant Seer (M) Shadow Mage (EC)
Pathfinder -> Ranger variant Summoner (CM)
Priest -> Cleric variant Warlock (CM)
Elemental Warrior -> Warrior Mage variant
Venturer -> Arms Master variant
Alchemist Creator Professions
Alchemy Companion Smith (A) Theurgist (C ) Core Alchemist (E ) Thaumaturge (M) Adept (Historical)(EC)
(These professions are not Charlatan (A) Theocratist (C ) Royal Alchemist (E ) Tinker (AM) Shamanic Alchemist (CM)
suitable for roleplaying due Craftsman (A) Dwarven Alchemist (C ) Inorganic Alchemist (E ) Engineer (A/E,M,C) Geomancer (CE)
to the amount of time it Crafter (A/E,M,C) Organic Alchemist (E ) Grand Vizier (EM)
takes to create items) Evil Alchemist (E )
Delver (AE)
Abbreviations
(C) - Channeling (E) - Essence (M) - Mentalism (A) - Arms (Arc) - Arcane
(AC) Semi-Channeler (AE) - Semi-Essence (AM) - Semi-Mentalism (AArc) - Semi-Arcane
(CM) - Chan-Ment (EC) - Ess-Chan (ME) - Ment-Ess
Note: All Alchemist professions are grouped together, out of the the scope of Player Charactors in 99% of the games I've participated in across nearly 40 years of Rolemaster
Note: Professions in RED are variants which use the skill costs of their base profession. E.g. the Venturer uses the skill costs and bonuses of the Arms Master
Note: These conclusions are my own, for my game and what makes sense to me. Use it as a guide, or not at all, whatever works best for you.

Creative Commons Licensed by Singh Khanna, 2010, CC BY-NC-SA

 Master Level Bonus Chart
Skill Categories

Concentration

Subterfuge
Perception
Evaluation
Academic

Linguistic

Survival
General
Combat

Magical

Medical
Athletic
Animal
Prime

Lethal

Social
Profession Requisite
Barbarian CO / ST +2 +1 +2 +2 +1 +1 +3
Dancer AG / QU +3 +1 +1 +2 +3 +2
Non-Spell-Users

Fighter CO / ST +2 +2 +3 +1 +2 +1 +1
Warrior CO / ST +1 +3 +3 +1 +3 +1
Hunter CO / IN +2 +1 +1 +3 +2 +3
Arms

Rogue AG / ST +1 +2 +2 +1 +2 +1 +2 +1
Assassin AG / QU +1 +2 +1 +1 +3 +1 +3
Thief AG / QU +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +1 +3
Scholar RE / IN +3 +2 +2 +1 +3 +1
Trader AG / PR +1 +1 +3 +2 +2 +3
Warrior Monk SD / QU +1 +2 +3 +3 +1 +1 +1
Layman (No Prof) None +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1

Animist ME / IN +3 +2 +1 +3 +1 +2
Cleric ME / IN +3 +1 +3 +2 +3
Pure

Druid ME / IN +3 +1 +2 +1 +3 +1 +1
Channeling

Healer ME / IN +1 +1 +2 +3 +3 +2
Shaman ME / IN +2 +2 +2 +3 +2 +1
Dervish AG / IN +3 +2 +1 +2 +1 +1 +2
Inquisitor SD / IN +1 +2 +1 +1 +3 +3 +1
Semi

Monk (Channeling) SD / IN +3 +2 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +2
Paladin / Champion CO / IN +1 +1 +3 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +2
Ranger / Pathfinder CO / IN +2 +2 +1 +2 +2 +3

Conjuror RE / EM +2 +1 +3 +2 +3 +1
Force Mage RE / EM +1 +1 +3 +2 +3 +2
Pure

Illusionist RE / EM +2 +2 +1 +3 +3 +1
Essence

Magician RE / EM +3 +2 +2 +3 +2
Rune Master RE / EM +3 +1 +2 +3 +3
Tarot Mage RE / EM +2 +1 +1 +1 +3 +1 +2 +1
Dabbler AG / EM +1 +1 +1 +1 +2 +1 +1 +1 +3
Semi

Elementalist CO / EM +2 +1 +2 +2 +1 +1 +2 +1
Monk (Essence) SD / EM +1 +2 +3 +1 +1 +1 +1 +2
Warrior Mage CO / EM +2 +2 +3 +1 +1 +1 +2

Lay Healer SD / PR +2 +1 +1 +3 +3 +2
Pure

Mentalist SD / PR +2 +3 +1 +3 +2 +1
Loremaster SD / PR +3 +2 +3 +3 +1
Mentalism

Shifter SD / PR +2 +2 +1 +3 +3 +1
Arms Master CO / PR +2 +3 +1 +2 +1 +2 +1
Bard ME / PR +1 +1 +2 +3 +1 +1 +3
Beastmaster AG / PR +3 +2 +2 +1 +1 +3
Semi

Magent / Nightblade AG / PR +1 +3 +1 +3 +1 +3
Monk (Mentalism) SD / PR +1 +2 +3 +1 +1 +2 +2
Sleuth RE / PR +1 +1 +1 +3 +2 +2 +1

Astrologer IN / PR / SD +2 +3 +1 +2 +2 +2
Spell-Users

Enchanter PR / EM / SD +2 +2 +2 +1 +2 +3
Hybrid

Mystic EM / PR / SD +2 +3 +2 +3 +2
Necromancer EM / IN / SD +3 +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +2
Sorceror EM / IN / SD +3 +1 +2 +2 +2 +2
Witch IN / EM / SD +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +1 +2 +2

Archmage IN / EM / PR / SD +3 +3 +2 +4
Semi Pure
Arcane

Wizard IN / EM / PR / SD +4 +4 +4
Chaotic IN / EM / PR / CO +2 +2 +2 +3 +3
Mage Hunter IN / EM / PR / CO +2 +2 +2 +3 +3

Note: These level bonuses apply to the skills shown in the 'Related Skill Cost Categories' chart, with some important exceptions; they do not apply to Ambush , Body Development , or Power Point
Development skills.
Note: When applying the level bonus to the Base Attack Roll or Elemental Attack Roll, the level bonus can only be used once. If the caster uses List Mastery , Spell Mastery , or Directed Spell , which incorporates
the level bonus, that is the only instance of level bonus which applies to the roll.
Note: After 20th level all level bonuses increase at a lower rate. +3 level bonuses drop to +2, +2 bonuses drop to +1, and +1 bonuses go away entirely. At 30th level, +2 bonuses drop to +1, and +1 bonuses go
away entirely.

Level Bonus Depreciation with Level Advancement

Level Bonus 1-20th 21th-30th 31st-40th 41st-50th 50+
+1 +1 0 0 0 0
+2 +2 +1 0 0 0
+3 +3 +2 +1 0 0
+4 +4 +3 +2 +1 0 Creative Commons Licensed by Singh Khanna, 2013, CC BY-NC-SA
 Rolemaster Fantasy Professions by Edition and Companion Books
Rolemaster Standard Rolemaster Fantasy
Rolemaster 1 Rolemaster 2 System Roleplay System Rolemaster Classic ROCO 1 ROCO 3 ROCO 4 ROCO Alchemist
Fighter Fighter Fighter Fighter Fighter Burglar Bounty Hunter Leader Alchemist
Thief Thief Thief Thief Thief Barbarian Assassin Houri Adept (E&C)
Rogue Rogue Rogue Rogue Rogue High Warrior Monk Bashkar Enchanter (E&M) Royal Alchemist
Warrior Monk Warrior Monk Warrior Monk Magician Warrior Monk Druid Fanner Astral Traveller EM Inorganic Alchemist
Cleric No Profession Layman Cleric Cleric Paladin Duelist Arcist Organic Alchemist
Animist Cleric Magician Mentalist Animist Delver Craftsman ROCO 5 Evil Alchemist
Healer Animist lllusionist Ranger Healer Night Blade Cavalier Force Mage Thaumaturgc (M)
Magician Healer Cleric Dabbler Magician (Mage) Archmage Gypsy Wizard Theurgist (C)
illusionist Magician Animist Bard Illusionist ROCO2 Sailor Maleficant (M&C) Theocratist
Alchemist illusionist Mentalist Alchemist Dancer Warrior ROCO 7 Dwarven Alchemist
Mentalist Alchemist Lay Healer Mentalist Scholar The Professional Witch Hunter Shamanic Alchemist
Lay Healer Mentalist Healer (C&M) Lay Healer Trader (Merchant) Chaotic Lord Elementalist Geomancer (E&C)
Seer Lay Healer Mystic (E&M) Seer Shaman Moon Mage Tarot Mage Grand Vizier (E&M)
Sorcerer Seer Sorcerer (E&C) Sorcerer Dervish Sleuth Arms Master Engineer
Mystic Sorcerer Ranger Mystic Paladin Crafter (&M) Doppleganger Tinker
Astrologer Mystic Paladin Astrologer Beastmaster Noble Warrior Shadow Mage Delver
Monk Astrologer Monk Monk Runemaster Macabre (&E) Crafter
Ranger Monk Dabbler Ranger Conjuror Montebanc Smith
Bard Ranger Bard Bard Warrior Mage Crystal Mage Charlatan
Bard Magent Sage (Loremaster) Magus (Cabbalist) Craftsman
Warlock (Chaos M) Dream Lord
Witch
RMC ROCO Combat RMC Spell Law II ROCO Oriental ROCO Arcane ROCO Channeling ROCO Essence ROCO Martial Arts ROCO Fire & Ice
Champion Archmage Samurai/Ronin Arcanist Mythic Mana Molder Taoist Monk Elemental Priest
Elemental Warrior Beastmaster Sohei Wizard Priest Warrior Mage Zen Monk Elementalist
Venturer Dabbler Ashigaru Chaotic Summoner Runemage Elemental Champion
Druid Ninja Magehunter Warlock Arcane Elementalist
Mage Kuge
Magent Geisha
Mentat Yamabushi
Paladin Buddhist Priest
Pathfinder Shinto Priest
Priest Wu Jen
Ranger (2) Note: I've tried to keep sub-professions/vocations/training packages/dev packages out of the list
Runemage Note: Some professions are listed in RED because they are duplicate names but different visions
Warrior Mage Arms Channeling Essence Mentalism Hybrid Arcane