Re: Middle Earth game
I'm not sure you could do Rolemaster unless each and every Player had access to the books. So many skills, diff prices for each Class, such complex chargen and advancement accounting. And let's not even talk about the spell lists.
Merp is, indeed, RM-Lite - better, but still challenging.
And PbP, with either one the GM would have to carry a LOT of the combat - lots of work. If you're up for it, np, but don't underestimate what you're signing up for if you go there.
I know both RM and MERP, and would love to play - but I no longer have access to the books, and even with my experience I am leery of even trying chargen without.
GL!