Iron Crown Enterprises (ICE) first published Middle Earth Role Playing (MERP) in 1984. At that time, the Rolemaster roleplaying game – the basis of the MERP rules – was relatively new as a unified rules set.
Previously RM was a set of accessory books one could apply as desired to their existing fantasy RPG – primarily Dungeons & Dragons – though most played RM as its own game I reckon. Likewise, the first ICE Middle Earth campaign books (Angmar, Ardor, Umbar, Isengard) predated MERP itself, and were intended for any FRP game.
MERP used an abbreviated version of the RM rules. MERP was the first time Rolemaster was published complete in one book, intended for beginners. (The parallel to Holmes edition D&D is obvious in this respect.)
The game was revised in 1986, mostly by adding appendices with much-needed information about Tolkien’s creatures and the mannish races. MERP was released in its 2nd edition in 1993.
Today, I’m going to focus on the 1986 edition, along with three (3!) foreign translations I’m fortunate enough to have at the moment: French, Spanish, Italian.
Middle-earth Role Playing (1st edition, revised)
Box set includes:
- The MERP rulesbook.
- An adventure booklet including a solo adventure and a beginning multi-player adventure with layouts.
- A layout and chart booklet with layouts for the Trollshaws adventure.
- 56 full-color stand-up playing pieces of all the adventure characters.
Rulebook:
1986 … S. Coleman Charlton … 128 pages (paperback) … ICE 8000 … ISBN 0915795310
Noble Knight | Amazon
Box set:
1986 … ICE 8100 … ISBN 042509037X
Noble Knight | Amazon
Visit the MERP pages at my RPG Reference Site for a comprehensive catalog of everything published for the game.
English
Box lids, top & bottom
Book covers, front & back
Book Interior
Read This First booklet
Map Book
Stand-ups, stands, and promo sheet
Spanish / Español
El Señor de los Anillos (JOC Internacional)
Spanish MERP is a lovely 224-page hardcover book. The 2 booklets found in the English box set are in the back of the book.
It – like the other foreign editions – is faithful to the original, including the illustrations for the most part. In some of the photos, I contrast with the English version.
Italian / Italiana
Il Gioco Di Ruolo Del Signore Degli Anelli (Stratelibri)
Italian MERP is a 220-page softcover.
French / Française
Le Jeu de Role des Terres du Milieu (Hexagonal)
French MERP is a box set, like the original!
See Also:
Oh how I wish I still had my copy. It was either the first or second non-dnd RPG I ever bought. I still haven’t played it though. 😁