Combat is similar in both, just more detailed in the RMSS/RMFRP system etc. You can go past 10th lvl in MERP, just none of the spell lists show spells for it, you'd have to buy the RMSS/RMFRP spell books.

You can buy pdfs of the RMSS/RMFRP from ICE's site, they had them discounted recently too. Although, a physical book is nice to have. The MERP 2nd edition has all you'll need to play, its just not organized very well. Also it is a simplier version of RM, but they still use the same system overall. If you want a more detailed system get RMSS/RMFRP but you will spend about 2 hrs or more making a pc. Plus if you play a spell user you'll need to buy the appropriate spell book (Essence/Mentalism/Channeling) etc. MERP 2nd has spell lists to 10th lvl and all the MERP specific racial bonuses etc. When RM lost the license they had to remove everything Tolkien from their products, so RMSS/RMFRP are "generic". If you use them you'll still need a copy of MERP 2nd to reference for the racial bonuses, beginning adolescent skills etc.

MERP 2nd edition has a good skill list (all the major maneuvering in armor, weapon skills, stealth/tracking, perception, etc). It also has a good list of secondary skills from RM. There are over a dozen professions in RM, in MERP there is like 6-8 (a couple optional ones are described in the appendices). So its all a matter of whether you want a complete generic roleplaying system or a specific one related to Tolkien or you want them both to use together.

Example of combat:

Dunedian Warrior and his friends go into some caves. They fail to make stealth rolls and make some noise so they're ambushed by a group of orcs.

After initiative and all, the warrior draws his +15 hgih steel (or some other MERP metal) broadsword (or has it readied) given to him by his father, its of "slaying orcs" and he charges the orcs. He swings (open ended d100 roll plus OB bonus of your 1 handed edged weapon skill (this includes your skill ranks, plus the warrior/strength bonuses, plus 15 for magic sword). You may need to make a maneuvering in armor roll too to to be sure you don't fall when charging...

You get a high roll, the roll is then modified by the orcs DB (defensive bonus) and it lowers the result, say to like 100, the GM cross references the 100 result on a table, looks at the orcs armor type (none, leather (soft/rigid), chain or plate and then tells you how many hits you did and whether you roll a critical (A being the lowest type).. but you remind the GM that your sword is of "orc slaying" so he says, "roll an additional critical" (slashing for the sword, and he either uses the slaying critical table in RMSS/RMFRP or just assigns a critical from the ones in MERP.. So in the end, the first hit might just wound the orc,but the critical or the slaying critical might remove its head/arms etc.

So this system has a lot of crunchiness and you will roll a a bunch of d100 rolls.

To the GM: Can I use Rolemaster Express and would those rules be completely compatible?

Also, I thought the only wizards in Middle Earth were the Maiar lke Gandalf, Radagast, Sarumon, etc.

Lots of mages in Middle-Earth amongst Elves and Men primarily. The Witch King is a powerful sorcerer for example. The five wizards are the more famous ones. Sauron is a powerful mage (he's maiar though). Corruption by Morgoth/Sauron is always possible though for mages (see the rules in MERP). I'm not sure if he'll use such rules or not.

Can we arrange with the GM please to have a meeting over Skype or Ventrilo or Teamspeak or something similar soon please when you all are available to discuss the basics of the campaign such as time period, day/time of week, options from MERP 2e and Rolemaster, etc?

He posted some of the information in the original page or two of posts. It's post War of the Ring, so that'd be the End of Third Age/4th Age. He has it set in and around the kingdom of Rohan. So that's orcs/urk-hai and Dunlendings for sure, plus any left over forces from Isengard. 1st lvl pcs starting with 100 gp (plus your background options). 100 gp is much better than the normal 2 gp starting funds (also in MERP you start with arms/armor based on what you put your starting ranks into). I've left messages for him here and on Mayhem, no word yet, but I'm open to it.

I'd love to have a little player meeting just so I can be clear on a few things whenever he is open for it.

Would anyone be adverse to getting together tommarow at 6pm EST for character creation?

I run a Rifts game at 9 pm est, and usually eat around 6 pm est. I could eat a bit earlier and meetup though.

I oredered MERP 2e and RMX yesterday and they shipped today. I should have the books in the next couple days.