Rangos

Yes, it's working quite well as an action-adventure game. I believe our group is using a few things from Pulp Cthulhu. Combined with the 7th edition rules mentioned above we're running along at Indiana Jones pulp level and it's working out well.

I don't know about making it a hard roll and any time in you have Knowledge (Cryptography) or even the Signals Intelligence skill. Morse Code is a simple substitution code. If you have a working knowledge of cryptography it's basically an entry level knowledge, a simple matter of remembering 26 various combinations of dots & dashes. The time period would have little to do with the difficulty if you have a specific body on knowledge that covers it. Around the time when Morse Code was in heavy use someone could have Knowledge (Telegraph Operator) that would cover Morse Code and the operation of Telegraph Machines with (INT/DEX) as base stats. All depends on the background of the character I suppose, why was your code breaker recruited, mathematics student, dab hand with a telegraph or he just showed an aptitude for it in basic training.

Agreed. I played both RQ & RoleMaster from the mid 80's. RoleMaster was great for bridging between RQ & D&D, it offered the level based structure from D&D with the skill flexibility that is an inherent part of RQ..........not sure where the background options came from though. Anyway, another great podcast from Jeff & MOB.