What does it mean to have only X% of your actions left?

Question

Disclaimer: We use RM2 in the German version which came out in the 90ies through Laurin and then Queen Games. From what I read on wiki this seems to be almost the same as RMC, but my nomenclature might be off as I'm freely translating this from German.

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Rules on combat, magical and other actions often times refer to "a character can do [something], but will then only have X% of his actions for the rest of this round." However, I never really understood what this properly means for the actions of the character in this round...

For example (if I remember the numbers correctly):

When a character casts an instant-time spell (one that doesn't need any preparation) the character is left with 50% of his actions for this combat round.

What does "having X% of ones actions" actually mean in terms of:

• attacking (using offensive bonus),
• active defence, i.e. parry using part of ones offensive bonus (and the passive defence bonus) to block/weaken an incoming attack,
• other maneuvers like jumping/running/riding a horse/... ?

Could the above character for example still attack, but with only 50% of their total offensive bonus?

Answer 1

Summary:

Lost percentages limit the type of actions a character can perform in a round.

Longer

AL&CL ICE-1100 (Second U.S. Edition September 1989), page 7. (The basis of RM2 combat)

The basic principle to keep in mind is that each action takes a percentage of a round to complete. For example, one can view a physical attack as at least a 50% activity, casting a spell as a 75% activity, preparing a spell as a 90% activity, and movement as a 0-100% activity. Thus someone that casts a spell may not make another attack.*1

This means that specific activities cost a percentage to be used each round, out of 100% of course.

Action               Percentage Activity Required
Attack               At least 50% activity.
Cast a spell         a 75% activity. *2
Prepare spell        90% acivity
Movement             0-100%

This means that a character who is at a 50% penalty can perform only movement or a single attack (of up to 50% of their OB), losing the option of attacking once again with 50% if they use the minimum amount.

A Percentage loss limits the amount of OB that can be committed to an attack; reducing the maximum (say 25% lost) would allow a 75% attack or a 50% and 25% attack.

Straight Penalties and percentages

Straight penalties (Eg -20 to all actions) are applied on top of this.

So a fighter with a -50 penalty to all actions can make 2 attacks of 50% in a round, both at 50% OB and at -50 penalty.

A fighter with a 50% penalty to all actions can make a single attack at 50% OB a round. If they had -20 penalty then they would apply that to the 50% OB.

Notes

*1 Bow and missile attacks take 75% action in Arms Law 1st edition

*2 Instantaneous spells take no preparation. ICE-1200 (Same edition) p 35

Answer 2

It should be interpreted as:

1. You can do other actions only if they can be done in (or they take up to) 50% of the round
2. You'll get a -50 to the manouver.

So if your character wants to fight in that round, it'll get a -50 to its OB. It can spend the rest of its OB as it wishes, divided in attacking and parrying, as always.