Rifts GAME Thread

File: SWRG.jpg (416KB, 1264x1677px) Image search: [Google]

416KB, 1264x1677px

>>51818467

Not playing anything at the moment, thinking of putting together a basic mercenary game set in NA. Just gotta compile the house rules I want to use, as is tradition.


Also, trying to do too many Rifts threads back to back just leads to them dying off. Should just accept we had a successful one a few days ago and try again in a month.

File: 1475785481856.jpg (294KB, 1570x900px) Image search: [Google]

294KB, 1570x900px

>>51818467
>>51820128

I like playing RIFTS(tm) ironically as a crazy, over-the-top, late-night B-movie with Laser Dinosaurs(R), Techno-Ninjas, Robo-Spiders and Wizard-Bots.

Just with a system that's 98% less complicated, like Risus or FATE or Cyberpunk 2020.

File: CS-Cybers-Knight-2.jpg (807KB, 1661x1588px) Image search: [Google]

807KB, 1661x1588px

>>51820510

I know I am one of the few on these boards, but I like playing Rifts unironically. I like parrying, dodging, actions per melee, missile salvos ect, I have never, and probably never will care if a game is considered balanced or not either.

File: pilot_by_tomisaksen-d46ekp6.jpg (174KB, 800x1000px) Image search: [Google]

174KB, 800x1000px

>>51820614

So what rules do you use for things like base to-hit numbers? Those get changed a few times over the various reprintings of the books.

I mostly prefer a modified version of the main rules with a bunch of things changed and simplified. Stuff like 1 MDC = 10 SDC so there's fewer instakills, changing skill systems and changing combat a bit.

>>51821985
>changing skill systems
That's a pretty big endeavour. What did you do?

File: RiftsD20houserules.pdf (1B, 486x500px)

1B, 486x500px

>>51822574

Divide all percentages by 5 and make that a bonus to D20 rolls. Then roll vs DC like in d20 systems. Each level adds +1 to all skills.

File: Rifts Palladium Attribute List.jpg (62KB, 983x220px) Image search: [Google]

62KB, 983x220px

Thoughts on an altered Attribute Chart?

>>51818467
Where's the thread for corporate drama?

File: riftsnorthamericacopy.jpg (802KB, 1280x1065px) Image search: [Google]

802KB, 1280x1065px

Maps - for reference's sake.

>>51822750
Right here, suicide attempts included:

>>51798553

File: riftsmap.jpg (280KB, 1327x1009px) Image search: [Google]

280KB, 1327x1009px

>>51822856
Better map.

File: Blame-Canada.jpg (287KB, 813x756px) Image search: [Google]

287KB, 813x756px

>>51821985

I have contemplated using alternate Attribute chart, but have yet to actually do so. Haven't bothered with the skill system, other than the skills not being clearly defined about what they do mechanically I don't have much of an issue with them. If it sounds appropriate to what the player wants to achieve then I let it be attempted, no biggy there.

As for rules to the base to hit numbers, I use the rules from the RUE as best as possible as a lot of stuff was clarified in that book, even if its hard to find.

Never bothered to lower MDC values because in my experience SDC essentially never comes up in a Rifts game, so MDCs relation to SDC always seemed a bit irrelevant. To help combat the issue of weapons doing little damage and armor having massive amounts of points making combat drag on, I USUALLY have it so most people that are encountered don't have brand new untouched armor, vehicles and robots when it makes sense, so they usuallly never have their full MDC amount. Speeds things up a lot, and in a post apocalyptic setting makes sense to me, MDC repair are costly, bets most people don't bother with them, just salvage what they can.

The big houserule change I have is I use an alternate initiative system from here

http://www.temporalnexus.net/multiverse/hosted_sites/rifts-rpg/adv/initiative.html

Tried it in a Palladium Fantasy game and a Rifts game so far and my players preferred it.

File: 20100429 rifts rock and roll.jpg (76KB, 640x512px) Image search: [Google]

76KB, 640x512px

>>51823202

>>51823327
>http://www.temporalnexus.net/multiverse/hosted_sites/rifts-rpg/adv/initiative.html

How fast is it for calculating that initiative in practice? Not that it's complicated, it just looks like it would take a minute or so each round.

File: 1485212179453.jpg (422KB, 891x1000px) Image search: [Google]

422KB, 891x1000px

>>51823444

I know it's not a good sales pitch to say it takes a min and I use a calculator, but its quick and I find the system once implemented and understood it just feels smoother.


That being said, I have never fully understood how the initiative system in Rifts was supposed to function in practice. I know its roll initiative, then go back and fourth with your actions in order until everyone is out and that you can move your speed on your action. But I never understood mechanically how gaining or losing initiative via certain moves actually affected anything mid fight.

>>51823561

It seems to be based on some notion of "Initiative order, until you run out of moves and can only use free defensive actions" but that gets out of hand when some characters get a ton of extra actions. Also how you account for when characters dodge.

File: rifts - zardoz.jpg (197KB, 700x525px) Image search: [Google]

197KB, 700x525px

>Rifts Related

>>51818467
>What are you playing? What's your campaign?

Team of dimensional explorers which found a way to quickly build a magic army by exploiting the characteristics of some randomly rolled dimensions. Now they're looking into becoming dimensional conquerors/traders ala the Splugorth (but less evil).

File: rifts_lean3revised_web_by_zeleznik-d7vei0h.jpg (149KB, 792x1056px) Image search: [Google]

149KB, 792x1056px

>>51827214

So, slaves or no slaves?

File: maxresdefault.jpg (266KB, 1920x1080px) Image search: [Google]

266KB, 1920x1080px

>>51820510
> Late Night B-Movie
Excellent taste in how to run Rifts. Rifts just isn't Rifts unless you can see the VCR tracking in your mind's eye.

File: rifts_sucker-punch2.jpg (141KB, 1280x720px) Image search: [Google]

141KB, 1280x720px

>>51827788

Best B-movie.

File: rifts_sucker-punch.jpg (126KB, 1600x772px) Image search: [Google]

126KB, 1600x772px

>>51828186

>>51827627
If I'm the guy in charge then Hell yeah, slaves are awesome!

If I'm not the guy in charge then no, slavery is immoral and evil.

>>51828461

I was specifically curious about the "dimensional conquerors" mentioned here:

>>51827214

Playing slavers is always an interesting dilemma.

File: rifts_glitterboy_diagram.jpg (46KB, 564x448px) Image search: [Google]

46KB, 564x448px

Do the suggested scales and weights for robots make sense at all?

>>51830318
that's more of an /m/ question, and all you'll get there is SQUARECUBE TANKS BLARGLALRGL

For my part, given all giant robots are fictional, do not have comprehensive component layouts, are generally are made with nonexistant supermaterials, it's really hard to say, and thus you really shouldn't worry about it.

File: My hat is guns.jpg (69KB, 464x534px) Image search: [Google]

69KB, 464x534px

>>51830374

Sure, though aside from weight, even figuring out the height of most robots is a little wonky.

>>51828450

Oh hey that thing that says "Fuck you" to low level non Nightbane parties.

>>51820128

Wow fuck me sideways there was allot of shit I never got around to downloading from my kickstarter pledge

Hey, just got into a group playing Savage Rifts and am totally new to the system. Are Savage Rifts-related postings and "is my PC built moderately well" postings OK in Rifts threads these days?

>>51833833

Hell yeah. Go for it.

>>51833833

Anyone else find savage rifts characters feel a little too "squishy" or is that just me? Not that the normal rifts characters don't have problems with being a little too hard to take down, but it seems like there is a happy medium that's missing.

File: MARS Pilot Build Process.png (65KB, 1048x1404px) Image search: [Google]

65KB, 1048x1404px

>>51834484

OK, thank you. Apologies for the delay; I had to go pick up a whole new modem.

Relevant stuff:

1) I'm playing in a homebrew campaign world that is very similar to, but not identical to, RIFTS Earth. For example, there's a few less powerful human-centric Empires, but no super-tough Coalition or NGR. I haven't gotten a full fluff guide yet. One important note: I was explicitly warned by the GM to think 3 or even 4 times about playing a Cyber-Knight *specifically*.

2) I'm joining a campaign already in progress, because other people flake out and I don't. The existing party consists of a "high-powered" Dragon, a "high-powered" Burster, a "high-powered" Mind-Melter, someone who is totally NOT Erin Tarn who who has pretty all the knowledges, and a Dog-boy Operator/wheelman who's basically BA Baracus with a shedding problem. I don't know what context "high-powered" is being used.

3) To my knowledge, the only relevant mechanical houserule in effect is that all PCs get a free Novice edge at character creation (reflected in the attached build procedure).

So here's the build process for my character. I'm looking at a power armor pilot who's inherited the old "family suit" that his grandfather won the family Fortune And Glory in; more or less looking at a modified (via Heroes Journey rolls) Death's Head-style SAMAS. Next post will attach the character "sheet".

File: MARS Pilot Character Sheet.png (28KB, 598x812px) Image search: [Google]

28KB, 598x812px

>>51835595

And here's the sheet.

>>51835593
>Anyone else find savage rifts characters feel a little too "squishy" or is that just me?

Poking around into the system, I keep seeing things like "all magic characters can 1-shot glitter boys without trying" and "all mega-damage combat is essentially Rocket Tag". So I'd agree with you, from what research I've done.

>>51835595
>>51835628

Power armor is a trap unless you're going to use a GB, and even then they aren't very good because all you can do is sit a 1/2-mile away and fire area attacks while stationary.

The problem with power armor is that it doesn't have the guns required to do enough damage (GB excepted) to compare to bursters and so forth. Meanwhile it's next to impossible to actually become harder to hit with ranged-weapons, so hitting you is easy. And unless you pull off cyber-cheese where you take reinforced frame something like 18 times to build a decent amount of Toughness, yes, pretty much every meaningful weapon in the game can 1-shot you.

The best thing for you to do if you must play a PA hero is to play a different MARS character and absolutely go nuts on the toughness-enhancing cyberware; increase your strain as much as possible. Make sure you take the Born a Hero edge so you can access a legendary edge. Take a Sidekick edge, and make the SIDEKICK be the PA pilot. Take PA Jock with your free Edge for being human. During play, have the sidekick charge an enemy while naked, get killed, and you get a free suit of power armor, and have the Toughness to actually use it and possibly not get 1-shotted.

SR is absolutely a rocket tag system.

File: Savage_Rifts_The_Tomorrow_Legion_Players_Guide_(9264337)_Page_083_Image_0002.png (411KB, 640x867px) Image search: [Google]

411KB, 640x867px

>>51836824

>Born a Hero
This isn't an edge you take, it's a settings rule meaning it automatically applies to everyone.

>The problem with power armor is that it doesn't have the guns required to do enough damage (GB excepted) to compare to bursters and so forth

What makes you say this? The bursters abilities are adding 3d6 to their fighting rolls and using a bolt that does 4d6. Plenty of these PA's have missile launchers doing 6d6+ or they can just choose to carry railguns that do 3d10/4d10+, in addition they will have a higher toughness than a Buster.

>>51830803
>Big Daddy Bot and his Mini-Me son next to him.
>Some artists cannot into perspective

>>51835593
>3 HP

>>51835628
>>51836824

bumping for any feedback

You can actually play Rifts?

>>51840341

The setting plays just fine. It's the Palladium rules that are completely useless

>>51835628
>>51836824
>>51837136
>>51835628
I'd say the biggest "Rocket Tag" issue is with Power Armor, and specifically, railguns.

Most railguns need their AP and damage shaved a bit, and the setting desperately needs some more Power Armor Jock dependent edges.

I'm also thinking the setting should have a general rule that most large things (Power armor, monsters) have a variant on Hardy where being Shaken a second time doesn't cause a wound unless the Shaken result was inflicted by a Trick.

Conversely, ion weapons are currently a joke compared to laser weapons due to the lack of AP.

>>51838488

Unfortunate that the HP doesn't scale with creature, size, or anything besides main character/mook status.

>>51842842

MARS pilot poster from upthread.

How then are you supposed to make a Power Armor pilot work in the game? Is there anything major I should consider changing?

>>51845640
Add a sensor rating for long-range sensors.

>>51845640

Weren't you listening? Power armor is a rocket tag trap. The major thing you should consider changing is the decision (a poor one) to play a power armor character in the first place.

>>51845640
At the get-go I would add an Edge like "+2 Toughness while wearing Power Armor". Which sounds powerful but is perfectly on par with Cyber Knight edges and Reinforced Frame.

In addition I'd make the -4 AP reduction apply to every ranged weapon including railguns.

>>51846023
>Sticking to written rules when everyone knows they're unbalanced.
I've hung out with boardgame designers enough that I now feel no compunction against houseruling shit everyone at the table agrees is lame.

I'm 90% certain the lead writer for Savage Rifts had a personal hatred of power armor, considering the weakness was brought up several times during the post-pdf/pre-print period and never corrected.

>>51846507

So houseruling is the only way to make power armor work?

I'm not trying to challenge you or be picky - I'm trying to ascertain exactly what's required here.

>>51818467
Currently running Savage Rifts. Been running a campaign since the pdfs dropped a few months back and it's been crazy fun. Honestly, it's the most fun I've ever had with the setting, and I've been collecting Rifts books since 1993 or so. My group just got to the Vampire Kingdoms, wound up fucking over Reid's Rangers, and left a swath of collateral damage behind them that has about half the party seriously wondering what kind of people they are.

>>51835593
I've been running Savage Rifts for about 50 XP worth of sessions now, and the only people who have actually dropped in a fight are the Glitter Boy pilot when she was out of her armor, and the Ley Line Walker when he got jumped without any prep magic up. Last session was kind of rough for them, and half the party had one or two wounds by the time the fight was done, but that's about as wrecked as they've ever gotten. I think the idea that Savage Rifts characters are "squishy" is really overstated by people who love white room combat and don't understand how soaking works or how many bennies the group is supposed to be getting on a regular basis.

>>51848375
>how many bennies the group is supposed to be getting on a regular basis.
There's that crutch again. Whenever there's a problem with the SW mechanics, the answer is always: "Use bennies better!" Sorry, but that's basically a cop-out of GM fiat.

>>51849230
It's really not, man. Bennies and their flow are an intrinsic part of the way the system is supposed to work. That's not a bug, it's a feature.

>>51849287

At a minimum you could argue it should be clearer how to incorporate them into the game.

As written it is a major resource but it tends to overshadow the other mechanics.

File: PlayersGuide1.jpg (2MB, 2550x3300px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 2550x3300px

>>51850510

I can agree with that, trappings as well. Book should spend more time emphasizing those things.

>>51835595
>>51835628
Heh, I'd forgotten how bad Savage Worlds is.

>>51851819

Wait, what now? what's making it bad?

>>51852945

Mostly being RIFTS.

Also being Savage Worlds, tho. Both things are terrible.

>>51852945
shitvag worlds is the worst attempt at a nu-rpg since that fucking irredeemable pile of shit fate

but yeah also their "interpretation" (to use the term disparagingly) of rifts is real shitty too

>>51856009

Where you been this last week? Been like 3-4 savage worlds threads completely devoid of your 'shitvag' spewing autism.

>>51856083
>this last week
kek, looks like you've got bigger problems than lil old me, I never come here anymore

>>51835595
>>51835628

The salt about Rifts will literally never amuse me.

So, is anybody actually going to help this guy? I would, but I play pretty much exclusively mages and psi-characters. I don't have the first clue how to optimize a giant robot or power armor pilot.

File: IMG_5012.png (279KB, 530x988px) Image search: [Google]

279KB, 530x988px

We use GURPS 4th Ed to run a Merc campaign set during the Siege on Tolkeen. Pic related it's my Wilderness Scout.

>>51857099
>So, is anybody actually going to help this guy?

No. If you're dumb enough to play Savage worlds, you're dumb enough to deserve what you get for not optimizing.

>>51857128

How do you handle the relative point values of different characters? I can't imagine a robot pilot is going to be anywhere near the same points as a scout.

File: Wormwood.png (1MB, 717x951px) Image search: [Google]

1MB, 717x951px

Under-Used Settings?

File: fleets_of_the_3_galaxies_cover_by_vulnepro.jpg (521KB, 753x1000px) Image search: [Google]

521KB, 753x1000px

>>51860196

>>51857099

Help somebody? Where do you think you are? The rifts community got somebody to literally try to kill themselves - what makes you think we're going to help anybody who's too stupid to have not played the game before?

File: NG-Samson.jpg (94KB, 328x670px) Image search: [Google]

94KB, 328x670px

>>51835595
>>51835628
>>51857099

What's the question?

>>51861740

He's wondering about making sure his Power Armor pilot character is competitive.

>>51850510
The irritating thing about "Bennies soak damage" is that bennies were originally a major change to get away from fate chips in Deadlands always getting spent to cancel wounds.

>>51861557
The problem is that power armor is in such a bad place from them directly copying the base values over from the sci-fi toolkit without compensating for increased firepower that there's no way to optimize without houseruling or waiting for a rules change.

Main issue being that railguns and missiles shit out tons of damage, most power armor will be +2 to be hit due to size, and the game hands out +2 bonuses everywhere but barely has any ranged penalties.

File: 1396315155168.jpg (75KB, 353x400px) Image search: [Google]

75KB, 353x400px

>>51835595
>>51835628
>>51861789

Well I mean just read the stats on them, Power Armors are very strong, lots of MDC Armor, decked out in powerful weapons, big strength bonus ect.

Take the ulti-max - 5d6 missile launchers, 4d10+4 heavy railgun ect, +14 MDC armor.

I mean PA are simple, straight forward and strong AF.

>>51861927
The ulti-max is a robot, not power armor.

The problem is that power armor weapons do much more damage than their armor values. A light railgun has a 90% chance of shaken or better and a 60% chance of wounding or better a Samson pilot with d8 vigor, and a Shooting TN of 4. Meanwhile, a pulse rifle only has a 50% chance of shaken or better against a starting Cyber-knight, with a TN of 6. The Samson gets MDC, but only has about 5 more armor than non-mdc warrior types, and doesn't have the same access to deflection edges. So any real heavy weapon will just punch right through them.

File: angry-bot-is-angry.jpg (789KB, 2550x3300px) Image search: [Google]

789KB, 2550x3300px

>>51862250
>The ulti-max is a robot, not power armor.

Its power armor and is statted as such. p84 of the players guide. Its the last power armor listed before the robot armor section.

Any heavy weapon will chew through anything in Savage Rifts, mage, man-at-arms, PA or otherwise.

>>51861927

Most of the bigger guns have AP values that completely negate any armor though, PLUS huge damage rolls.

So, anything with a heavy rail gun is doing 8-44 damage directly to toughness, since not many suits have over 18 armor value already (not even the Ulti-Max).

There are some robot vehicles that can resist that, but power armor would be completely blown away.

>>51862379

Have I got a different version of the player's guide then? Mine has the ulti-max on p.88 as a robot vehicle.

File: Big-Ass-Robot.jpg (370KB, 1125x1367px) Image search: [Google]

370KB, 1125x1367px

>>51862398

Entirely possible, they did release a bunch, thought I had the latest one though. I don't see a revision number anywhere.

So I feel I may be confused at to what the argument is. Let's say for example your right and yes a heavy railgun DOES chew through PA pretty easily. Okay fine, but how does that make a PA worse than a mage? The Railgun chews through the mage as WELL. And the PA pilot can, himself, USE a railgun so I guess he would be a classic Glass Cannon right? Well even if he does to a railgun quickly hes STILL more armored than most so not only does he DO a lot of damage hes still taking a lot less than his allies, even if a specific kind of weapon wrecks his, and everyone elses, shit.

>>51862379
>Its power armor and is statted as such

It was released as power armor in the first printing of the game, and was errata'd over to a robot vehicle in all others. The Ulti-max isn't worn like a suit, but piloted like a Battlemech or Gundan, and thus it never should have been power armor in the first place.

File: rifts-rpg-world-book-27-adventures-in-dinosaur-swamp-palladium-books-9781574571202-275.jpg (43KB, 360x360px) Image search: [Google]

43KB, 360x360px

>>51862487

Eh... it's always been a bit debatable what's "power armor" in the "suit" sense, and what's "power armor" in the "terran marines where there's no possible way a human could fit in those proportions".

Take the cover of "Adventures in Dinosaur Swamp" for example.

File: Savage_RIFTS_The_Tomorrow_Legion_Players_Guide (2).pdf - Adobe Acrobat Pro.jpg (57KB, 454x840px) Image search: [Google]

57KB, 454x840px

>>51862487

Yeah seems I missed the updated release. Got it now. Though still ignoring the ulti-max I firmly believe there is nothing under powered to PAs and that Anon up there will have no problem staying competitive with his dog boy and burster allies.

Also neat, my old book didn't even have this art in it.

File: karl_prosek.jpg (53KB, 350x350px) Image search: [Google]

53KB, 350x350px

>>51860196

Anything besides Rifts North America

>>51862665

BEST under-used setting then.

File: Tuesday_on_Rifts_Earth.png (178KB, 1381x929px) Image search: [Google]

178KB, 1381x929px

>>51862691

Going to say for me it's a toss up between the Russia books, and Wormwood.

File: rifts_jesus_christ.jpg (102KB, 454x515px) Image search: [Google]

102KB, 454x515px

>>51862716

Wormwood and three galaxies here.

The scale for three galaxies is just so unapologetically mind-boggling. I'd want to run space battles just to see if they can work at all.

File: A whole lot of party favors.png (631KB, 955x1391px) Image search: [Google]

631KB, 955x1391px

>>51862728

Dude I know right, I kinda want to just take the three galaxies setting, and port it to Strike Legion or something for maximum "What"

I'm pretty convinced that most stuff in the Three Galaxies would walk up the asshole of anything from 40k and reverse shit out of it's mouth one shoting ships as it passed by.

Also sorry for the picture spam, for some reason 4chan is not letting me post with out a pictured

>>51830803
>>51838479
Oh god, I don't even like the meme, but this could so be one of those, with "Don't talk to me or my son about magic ever again". Gotta keep it RIFTS themed I guess.

>>51862728
Well that is basically a death star, built by a god-like precursor race. The CCW and TGE's biggest weapons do "merely" thousands of points of mega damage.

File: UWW Dwarven Iron Ship.jpg (289KB, 1204x704px) Image search: [Google]

289KB, 1204x704px

>>51862665
I'll throw in another vote for Phase World. I always wanted to run a game in the Three Galaxies, but never got around to it before my group decided the system was unplayable.

>>51863383
That was suppose to be responding to >>51862691

>>51856161
...You're here right now posting this, you fucking moron.

>>51820510
>Laser Dinosaurs(R), Techno-Ninjas, Robo-Spiders and Wizard-Bots
The closest movie to actually having all these things was Kung Fury, and it was a parody.

>>51867827

How is that a problem?

>be me
>playing scrupulous Devilman out of DBees of NA
>Is a Leyline Walker
>currently adventuring with a demigod cyberknight fighting against both sides of the minion war
>insert new PC
>new to system and new to Role Playing;decides to play a shifter
>ohboy.kek
>roleplaying opportunity to teach him the value of Magic used for good.
>GM drops 2 balrog on the group because through dimensions, they felt him learn Carpet of Adhesion
>gitfuckedloser.czk
>show up the GM by owning them with crowd control spells
>CoA, Wall of Ice, Mystic Net on wings and legs, shit like that
>demigod can't hit the broadside of a demon's taint with his favorite rifle
>the valiant cyberknight charges
>is promptly bitchslapped through 100' of forest into a river
>insert Dnorr OP ability here:
>use Dessicate the Supernatural on one and follow it up with an Intimidation check
>Dnoor have a fuckton of MA stat
>both Balrog leave back to Hades taking my legend with them

TLDR; beat 2 high class demons with level 1-4 Spells and an intimidation check while the shifter ran away and the demigod was useless.

I love Magic in Rifts. I consistently tell my group that there is nothing stronger than magic; week by week I prove it.

I have tons more stories too if anyone would like to hear.

>>51869217

That sounds amazing. Are you using the RAW for magic actions per melee or the optional ones that let you cast more than 1-2 spells per turn?

>>51869610
We use the optional rules out of the Book of Magic. It's honestly more fun/terrifying that way. Mage fights get intense...

>>51869759

Good job using magic correctly. It shouldn't be about comparing raw damage of robots vs mages. Robots/guns/power armor should always win that contest. Mages win with hexes, status effects, charms and enchantment.

>>51869813
Wanna hear some bullshit?

>playing Dnorr in later game
>level 6 nao
>get targeted deflection
>awwyiss.fun
>in a fight with a Demon Dragon Mage I was hunting for "war profiteering" in the minion war
>catch him off guard on a mountain
>teleports me into melee range (gm inventing magic to challenge me at this point)
>enter new PC: Glitterboy Pilot
>youseewherethisisgoing.dontcha
>over headset radio: FIRE EVERYTHING
>Captain Kirk intensifies as the sonic boom of repeated boom gun fire echoes across the mountain
>Targeted Deflection
>DDM eats a full melee round of Boom Gun flechettes in the face and head.

He never saw it coming. Demigod cyberknight's jealousy grows. Will this come to a head or can the noble Cyberknight put glory aside in the name of duty? [spoiler/]the answer is no

>>51866909
and you're real mad about it qt

High stakes magical volleyball between two mages with targeted deflection and the meteor spell...

File: IMG_0127.jpg (251KB, 1131x1600px) Image search: [Google]

251KB, 1131x1600px

Glitter Knight?

>>51862449
The power armor's only real purpose is combat, whereas mages in general (And LLW's specifically) are swiss army knives that should have magic for every occasion.

On top of that, the power armor is less likely to survive against a heavy railgun than a cyber-knight, crazy, or juicer. The railgun rolls 8 damage minimum and the PA will have 10 toughness or less. The only way to survive is to not get hit, and the cyber-knight, crazy, and juicer are all naturally -2 to be hit, with the knight and crazy additionally having access to the deflection power.

Ironically, the best way to improve the survivability of power armor is to pair up with a mage or techno wizard that can grant Armor at the beginning of every combat.

File: vortex.jpg (122KB, 1680x1050px) Image search: [Google]

122KB, 1680x1050px

>>51828817

>I was specifically curious about the "dimensional conquerors" mentioned here

No "slaves" as such. One of the earliest dimensions they discovered had a domestic culture composed of Enlightened Imperialists. Think British Empire with technology from the late 20th century and an orange skinned population (don't ask). Their "home world" was a pocket dimension they had completely explored and developed. They had no knowledge of magic or other dimensions; except their own equivalent of science fiction.

When the party showed up the locals were getting very concerned with overpopulation. The party became the heads of the Empire's new Dimensional Exploration Corp, leading efforts at exploration and colonization in habitable realities. Of course several of those realities were inhabited by primitive peoples who needed the benefits of true civilization. By the end of the campaign the players were leading armies, governing colonies, and making a killing in inter dimensional trade.

Basically the campaign largely featured randomly rolling up dimensions. We kept getting:

>Plot Point: Henchmen; this world is inhabited by beings who would make perfect followers and effective troops. The traveller arrives at an opportune time to aid these people and earn their loyalty.

>>51873916
>the savage worlds rules make power armor more fragile than guys in infantry body armor

KEK can't pinnacle do anything right?

>>51873916
>(And LLW's specifically) are swiss army knives that should have magic for every occasion.

Maybe eventually, but in SW Arcane Background character don't usually get a LOT of spells. Not like they would in regular Rifts anyway.

>The railgun rolls 8 damage minimum and the PA will have 10 toughness or less

Every PA offers 8, 10 or 12 MDC Armor. The minimum toughness a PA will have assuming d4 vigor and the lowest armor rating is 12.

>>51874764

Not exactly regular guys in infantry armor, super powered warriors.

>>51874862
>this machine can withstand less damage than this guy on drugs

P I N N A C L E

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

P R E S E N T S

S H I T V A G E

R I F T S (TM)

>>51874883
You can do the same in classic Rifts with the Borgs supplement or if you bring in the conversion books and use powers from Heroes Unlimited.

>>51875864
>combat cyborg
>super powers

WOW DAMN IT'S INSANE THAT ROBOCOP MIGHT BE STRONGER THAN A GUY INSIDE ARMOR AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON HOW SURPRISED I AM THAT SUPERMAN IS PRETTY STRONG TOO

>>51875893

So... It works as intended. Awesome.

>>51876010
Yeah, the original rules work as intended, unlike the terrible savage worlds conversion.

>>51874883

Much like D&D 3e, if you aren't playing a mage, you're playing the game objectively wrong. Nerds are always superior to jocks.

>>51876386
Well it does say SHITVAG on front cover

File: stop liking what i dont like.jpg (88KB, 625x434px) Image search: [Google]

88KB, 625x434px

>>51876415
>>51876070

Okay there.

>>51876826
>entire thread filled with people hating the game
>one guy laughs about how shitty the game is
>stop liking what I don't like.jpg

You sad silly retard

>>51876386

Why the fuck do so many games DO that shit? If magic is available, it's practically always the best answer to every problem. The only games I can think of offhand where it isn't are Call of Cthulhu, Pendragon, and WFRP. Everything else is all about "mages uber alles".

>>51876935
Except the real Rifts game, which isn't skewed towards casters in the slightest.

>>51876932

>Thread literally has people appreciating various parts of the game despite its faults

You've got an ass-backwards idea about "hating" I see.

>>51876954

If anything they're somewhat underpowered.

>>51876954

Oh Christ no, there's *allways* a gun that can outpace the caster.

Sure some of those guns are big enough to have to be strapped to 12 foot tall power armor, and may cause semi-permanent deafness, but there you go.

>>51877034
>>51877018
Why is it that Kevin Siembieda is always so RIGHT about EVERYTHING

>>51877071

Hey Now, Lets not get Crazy here, but it easier easier to squeeze a trigger than to alter the fabric of the universe.

>Why_The_CS_won_the_war.JPG

>>51877034
>Oh Christ no, there's *allways* a gun that can outpace the caster.

I'm not talking about raw damage. I'm talking abut "winning" in general. See: >>51869813

>>51877071

The dude's a nutjob. But at least there are some fun ideas in the game.

>>51877132
At least he isn't a literal human penis cannibal like Monte "Fired from WotC for flying to japan on the company dime to eat slices of human penis at an art show" Cook

>>51877164

that did not actually happen.... did it?

>>51877200
Just google "japan penis cannibal art show"

>>51877164

...the fuck?

>>51877211

NO! My Search history is fucked up enough.

What should I get beside the core book? Which books are best?

>>51877211

I'd rather not.

>>51877255
Rifts Ultimate Edition, Rifts Black Market and any of the world books that look interesting to you (they're all pretty awesome)

All the other books are pretty good too

>>51877255

Core Rifts, or Savage Rifts?

Core Rifts - stick to the ones for the campaign you're playing, as-needed. 99% of the stuff in world books makes no sense in any other campaign. Conversion books, mercenaries, book of magic, those are a few handy ones, otherwise stick to the minimum of what you need.

Savage Rifts - there's only a handful of books, so just get the ones they put out. Supplement with core rifts books for background if you need to.

Thanks! Any good summary of the various worldbooks?

>>51877211
So Monte was one of the five people that got the Dong Dinner...I find that accusation somewhat unbelievable.

Also your boy Kevin is far from not doing fucked up shit. He threw his boy Carmen under the bus earlier this week, likely forever branding him the "Rifts Boardgame Suicide Guy."

>>51877350
https://palladium-store.com/1001/category/Rifts-World-Books.html

Each book's page has a description the setting and content in the books. The world books aren't just setting books, they have tons of new classes, gear, magic vehicles and so on too.

>>51877376
Hey look it's the obsessed anti-siembieda crusader here to try to shit up this rifts thread! Everyone remember to report and ignore!

Cool thanks!

>>51877255
In addition, there are books available to download through illicit means to browse through and find books you like and/or want.

>>51877400
Oh look, its the eternally triggered bitch-anon

>>51877426
The new book Heroes of Humanity is pretty rad. I'm sure it's online at this point, but it's got some crazy shit in it.

Vamp kingdoms, Africa, and China look cool. Any suggestions for which works best for ideas?

>>51877350

For your piracy needs: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/1dsdr28ic5vk0/Palladium

Better ones (IMHO):
- Vampire kingdoms
- New West
- Triax (if you wind up in Europe)
- Federation of Magic

>>51877490
Africa is pretty awesome, it's all about a cult trying to revive the four horsemen of the apocalypse and China has a ton of great asian style demons and martial arts stuff. The Vampire Kingdoms setting is in Mexico and it's a super classic Rifts book, probably one of the most beloved Rifts settings, definitely awesome. The City of Juarez in the Vampire Kingdoms book is like the best RPG city of all time imo.

It's Rifts, so honestly you can have your players walk through a Rift and go over to China or Africa or Mexico or wherever else whenever you want.

>>51877522
>>51877540

Oh yeah, the setting you pick also depends a lot on your PC's power levels. If they're all demigods, archmages and dragons, something like Africa or Atlantis might be up their alley - if they're a bunch of mercernaries and vagabonds trying to scrape together enough money to keep their weapons charged, then New West or Vampire Kingdoms might be better.

File: GRM.jpg (206KB, 1110x786px) Image search: [Google]

206KB, 1110x786px

How do you have anything resembling a boss fight in Savage Rifts? I threw the Gigantic Raging Monster from Savage Foes at a group of three players. It only got to act once before it was dead. That was with it spending a bennie to soak every time they hit it.

>>51880138

Without houseruling or just making shit up, you don't.

Just arbitrarily reduce the first attack which hits to 1d5 damage, and each attack that hits after that adds 1d5 to the damage roll (regardless of actual stats). So the 10th attack that hits deals 10d5 (which is equivalent to a mid-range railgun).

Rifts in general and Savage Rifts specifically is intended to be rocket tag where nobody can survive more than 2-3 hits from meaningful weapons. If you aren't going to GM arbitrate some bullshit to counter that, then there isn't any way to have a meaningful "boss fight".

So, I've been looking into Rifts and I really wanna play it, I love the absolute batshit insanity that is the setting. Though, question; should I go for Savage Rifts or Core Rifts? What're the pros and cons of both?

>>51881209

It'll start a shit show of an argument, but the basics are that the core palladium system is barely functional and needs a shit ton of houserules to play at all. Theres

Savage rifts on the other hand is functional and simple but has a few weird quirks of its own, like some rules seeming minor but winding up being crucial (ie bennies). Also I just kind of hate the term "bennies" in general.

>>51880226
>Rifts in general and Savage Rifts specifically is intended to be rocket tag where nobody can survive more than 2-3 hits from meaningful weapons.
That's not even remotely true of original Rifts. Rifts has the opposite problem. Fights involving power armor, vehicles, and/or big monsters are typically about slowing chipping away at each other's hundreds of MDC.

Is this game actually FUN?

I don't care as much about balance as I do having fun and feeling cool when a game session is over. Plus I was looking for a system where playibg something ridiculous like a cyborg vampire wizard is actually encouraged.

>>51823035

Does Kev live in the midwest by chance? Or just hates the West coast?

>>51883011
>cyborg vampire wizard
You can't actually do this in Rifts. You can be any one of those things, but not all three. Cybernetics doesn't mix well with magic. A vampire could also be a wizard I suppose, but there's no way in the rules as written for a player to do that. In Rifts classic you can play a vampire but then that's your class, and there is no multiclassing. In Savage Rifts there are currently no rules for playing as a vampire.

>>51882760
>I shoot at the main body because I'm an idiot

Yes, yes you are.

What is RIFTS?

>>51883037
Yep, the upper midwest, Michigan.

>>51883760
A MISERABLE LITTLE PILE OF SECRETS

No, it's an RPG about a future earth in which dimensional portals opened all over the place flooding the planet with monsters. Humans fight back against the monsters with high technology like cyborgs and super soldiers, futuristic vehicles and mechs and magic and psionic powers. Alongside all the monsters, friendly races of aliens and other creatures got brought in too, giving the whole game a bit of a star wars feel with lots of weird aliens running around.

The mechanics of Rifts are pretty much like D&D, with new rules to govern stuff like vehicle combat, cybernetics and etc.

File: CS-Old-New.jpg (1MB, 2528x3258px) Image search: [Google]

1MB, 2528x3258px

>>51883492

I mean look at the MDC values on most things in the game, yes the Main Body has the most, but its not like your going to blow a basic CS Soldiers head off quickly.

e.g. Their current main rifles do 2d6 or 6d6 on a 3 fire pulse. While their helmets have 70 MDC and main body have 80.
Takes 2 actions to do a called shot so it would take longer to sniper their heads then attack their main bodys.

Rifts needed mook rules imo, I think the extras from Savage Rifts are actually a really good thing to handle this.

>>51884440

Is RIFTS a huge clusterfuck to run? I like games that aren't high lethality but also not a slog like early d&d 4e was.

>>51884724
No, it's really simple. d20+bonuses to attack, d20+bonuses to defend.

>>51884440
>I shoot at their heavily armored space helmets because I'm an idiot

Yes, yes you are.

>>51884760

Oh cool so its d20 with a roll off.

Do you make a lot of attacks per turn?

>>51884760
>d20+bonuses to attack, d20+bonuses to defend.
Baby's first anime homebrew system.

>>51884801
Everyone gets a certain amount of attacks/actions per melee round. Fast guys get more, slow guys get less. A melee round is 15 seconds. Doing stuff like reloading, opening doors, etc uses an action and defending yourself uses an action, so essentially most guys will shoot a couple times and leave a few open to dodge a couple times and it's on to the next round.

File: TRASH EFFECT.gif (2MB, 245x245px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 245x245px

>>51884819
>how cool your bait makes you seem

>>51884835
Opposed rolls is retarded and slows the game to a crawl. Baby's first anime homebrew system.

File: autistic screeching.gif (2MB, 480x270px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 480x270px

>>51884867
>how cool your bait makes you seem

>>51884867

Nah, not in a simple roll format like this.

If you want slowed results go play Exalted 1e or VtM.

>>51884827

So do faster guys dominate the game? Because bigger action econony/more attacks > less attacks that deal more damage, at least in most game systems.

File: Combat-Compilation-Rules.pdf (1B, 486x500px)

1B, 486x500px

>>51884724
>>51884801

>>51884944
Nah, "fast" guys get maybe two more actions than slow guys. Everyone gets several actions to start, but it's really rare for anyone to just stand there and shoot with all of their actions because if they do, they won't be able to dodge any incoming fire, so it usually boils down to fast guys getting to defend themselves more often, which works out because fast guys are generally up in the melee fight where they will be targeted more often. Slow guys can stand way back and do stuff like shoot rocket launchers or whatever if they feel like they aren't getting enough bang for their buck.

>>51883213
>>cyborg vampire wizard
>You can't actually do this in Rifts.

Rifts has so much crazy shit that as a GM I would allow it. And anything like it.

>>51883011
Original Rifts has a very fun setting with rules that are obtuse at best and painful at worst. Savage Rifts pairs a slimmed down version of the setting with a much more manageable set of rules. I've been a Rifts fan since about 1993, and I've had more fun in the last six months with Savage Rifts than I had in the previous 20 years with Classic Rifts.

>>51883037
Kev S is from Michigan, which is why everything important happens in "flyover country" and the East and West Coasts are both ruined hellscapes from which hardly anyone returns alive.

>>51884801
Classic Rifts is a fucking slogfest to run. A small combat with maybe a dozen opponents can take hours on end to resolve a couple of rounds of combat. Savage Rifts is a lot faster and a hell of a lot more fun.

>>51884944

More actions is an advantage but not an insurmountable one. The bigger advantage is a class or race that gives automatic dodge.

>>51885716

>coasts disappear

>America turns into fascist hellscape that disdains reading and thinking.

Sounds about right.

>>51884971

Thank you! That helps a lot. Does not seem too convoluted. Is there anything I or my players should do when starting off, re:gear stats tactics? Anything the GM should avoid doing if they don't want to accidentally kill their players?

>>51886105

Wait, are we still talking about Rifts or 2018?

>>51886513

Depends which way the house elections go.

File: Adventure-Guide-1.jpg (427KB, 1266x1149px) Image search: [Google]

427KB, 1266x1149px

>>51886107

Limit the books you use/allow.

Like grab the RUE and a World Book of choice to start. Doing that should keep the amount of gear in check and easy to manage until you want to branch out.

One thing I recommend for enemies its to not have them all wearing armor thats fully repaired and mac MDC. Helps prevent the slogfest that Rifts can become. As for that pretty much throw whatever you want them at them, Rifts is front-loaded so your characters at level 1 are going to be pretty strong.

>>51886081
>Automatic Dodge

I played in a Rifts game where the GM allowed martial arts from Ninjas and Superspies. I took Tai-Chi, a form that came with Automatic Dodge, and I swear I made him rage for months as I would constantly dodge and still have all my attacks to go on the offensive. The GM had forgotten about Missile Volleys with 4+ missiles being undodgable for about 80% of the campaign and only remembered when a party member reminded him after unleashing a big volley on one of the Big Bads.

Also high end Tai-Chi's pushes are pretty hysterical, I knocked a heavy cyborg off a seaside cliff into the ocean where this fucked up sea monster was waiting. By the end of it the cyborg managed to kill the sea monster but was totally jacked up so he was easy for us to beat.

Shit was cash.

Can you play lizardmen, werewolves or robots in RIFTS?

>>51888550

One rule that I feel would be a big improvement is replacing the "normal dodge/automatic dodge" options with a certain number of free "dodge" actions that characters can accumulate and use with the right combat skills instead. So, maybe martial arts training gives you +1 free dodge to start, +1 more at later levels, that sort of thing.

>>51889894

You can play all three at the same time. You can play a werewolf riding on a robot lizard. You can play a half-robot, half-lizardman. You can play a lizard wizard.

>>51890500

>You can play a half-robot, half-lizardman. You can play a lizard wizard.

That sounds amazing.

>>51890812

Also a Dragonwolf, so wolf and lizard combined too.

File: Dolphin Power Armor.jpg (455KB, 1448x946px) Image search: [Google]

455KB, 1448x946px

>>51890864

The most "Rifts" character I can think of is the "Dolphin in Power Armor" personally.

>>51890864

There are wolf-dragons? What the christ

>>51891296

Yeah man, Conversion Book 1 revised, couldn't find any art for them though.

>>51891349

I dont know if that is awesome or too close to being someone's fursona.

That does sound very RIFTS tho

File: cyborg_samurai_by_blee_d-d76utcy.jpg (143KB, 1024x928px) Image search: [Google]

143KB, 1024x928px

>>51891373

I think going through the books and trying to figure out whats what as far as fursonas is a rabbit hole I don't wanna go down.

>>51891398

I think its okay, RIFTS is too bizarre and crazy to gain furfag traction

>>51891484

Is it still furfag if you're just playing an animal?

>>51891865

It's furfag if you're playing a normal human who has more-than-average body hair. Of COURSE it's furfag if you're playing an animal.

>>51891896

If you're just playing a hairy gay guy that's just playing a bear.

Still - dolphins in power armor. Rifts as fuck.

>>51891928
>Rifts as fuck.
Or Eclipse Phase as fuck.

>>51891987

Eclipse phase as fuck would be a dolphin in power armor with a bunch of forks of itself that it rents out as prostitutes for bitcoins from its cyber brothel orbiting Io.

Rifts as fuck would be a dolphin in power armor using an enchanted rune weapon that can still alter its physical structure to fire.

File: Rifts_After_the_Bomb_-_Mutants_in_Orbit.jpg (41KB, 357x455px) Image search: [Google]

41KB, 357x455px

Hmm.. "The Expanse" setting?

File: black+knight+defeated.jpg (38KB, 500x450px) Image search: [Google]

38KB, 500x450px

>>51883492
>>51884773
So is this the proper way to deal with your enemies in Rifts?

File: Horune Dolphin Combat Drone.jpg (172KB, 753x812px) Image search: [Google]

172KB, 753x812px

>>51891281
Those aren't even the most Rifts dolphins in that book.

>>51885266
You'd have to homebrew a cyborg vampire wizard class for them.

File: MDC Drums and Keys.jpg (416KB, 1215x779px) Image search: [Google]

416KB, 1215x779px

I like the stuff from the later Robotech Supplements where they went totally off the rails.

File: Rock and Roll MDC.jpg (408KB, 1214x783px) Image search: [Google]

408KB, 1214x783px

>>51894261
I'd love to get in a game where I could get away with rockin out to blast my enemies.

>>51889894
>lizardmen
Conversion Book One has the lizard men from Palladium Fantasy. There are also various humanoid reptile D-bees throughout the books.

>werewolves
The original edition of Conversion Book One has werewolves and various other playable werebeasts. Though they seem to have been cut from the revised edition.

>robots
Sourcebook One has rules for playing as a robot. There's also full conversion cyborgs, which are basically a brain in a robot body.

>>51884944
Boom guns and missile volleys dominate combat. Having a couple more attacks than the power armor guy doesn't do you much good when he's dealing 10 times as much damage per attack.

>>51894248
The newish Rifts Vampires sourcebook has cyborgs made up to impersonate vampires. Mist projectors, fake pale skin, "supernatural" strength and speed, the whole nine yards.

Pretty great.

>>51895137

What if you magic at them or sneak-stab them at close range?

Anybody have a scan of the Collectors Edition (black and silver cover)?

>>51897420
In Rifts magic generally can't compete with high tech guns and armor for a straight up fight. Though it can help put the tech opponent at a disadvantage. Such as sticking them in place with a carpet of adhesion spell.

Keeping the fight at close range where they can't lob missiles at you or bring a big gun to bear is usually your best bet against power armor and robot vehicles. It's not always easy to do though. Most of them can run at least at freeway speeds, and some are much faster than that. Sneaking up on them is also tricky because most have radar and/or thermal-imaging. If possible you want the fight to happen somewhere with lots of line of sight blocking cover, like the ruins of a city.

>>51884724
It's very much a 4e style slog in terms of how long combat takes. But without 4e's balance, rules clarity, or any assistance at all in judging how tough a particular enemy will be in a fight.

>>51874849
>Every PA offers 8, 10 or 12 MDC Armor. The minimum toughness a PA will have assuming d4 vigor and the lowest armor rating is 12.
The problem with that is that heavy weapons have enough AP that armor bonuses don't matter. Even a light railgun has AP 10. A heavy railgun has enough AP to ignore even a Glittery Boy's armor bonus. So only actual toughness really matters against big guns. Normal power armor maxes out at +3 toughness.

I'm thinking about house ruling a severe reduction in AP values. Maybe even making it so that only melee weapons get AP at all.

>>51894261
>>51894277

Jesus they really ended the 1st Edition Robotech line on a low note.

>>51891484
Tons of art in D-Bees of North America and Shemmarian Nation is done by a furfag artist.

One of the races in D-Bees of North America are very obviously the werewolves from Peter Is The Wolf.

>>51891296
>>51891349
I remember art for them in Book 1. They were a PFRP monster. Basically a wolf with a snake tail. Typical "trickster" monster.

>>51885716
>Specifically states in New West that the Pacific North West is the most heavily populated area outside of the CSA dominated heartland.
>Still does absolutely nothing with it for 20+ years.

>>51898852
I have to wonder if they were trying to cover Macross 2 and Macross 7 simultaneously.

>>51899609

That's because Kev does a mix of hiring decent artists and the cheapest ones he can find - seriously, look at the cover of "Rifts black market". Sometimes he lucks out with talent and sometimes it's just shit.

File: Rifts Black Market.jpg (428KB, 904x1176px) Image search: [Google]

428KB, 904x1176px

Seriously, look at this hideous bullshit. It's worse than cheap CGI porn.

>>51874883
It's not so much withstanding damage, it's that the guy on drugs can dodge and the railgun's damage is ridiculously off kilter.

Damage values match up well against power armor for ion weapons, lasers, and missiles, but the railguns are either stupidly overpowered or the writer was retarded about assigning them out. (For instance, the Ulti-max railgun does the same damage as the Samson's railgun in Rifts, but somehow one is a Heavy Railgun and the other is a light.)

Robots/power armor actually work if the AP reduction applies to all ranged weapons and you knock down most of the Heavy Railguns in the game to Medium.

>>51900372

Yeah I have no idea what they are thinking using that ugly ass CGI art when they have the kind of artists they do. Latest Rifter is also godawful CGI

>>51900389
Wow, way to go pinnacle. Jesus christ what a fucking failure.

>>51900372
Yeah that book needs a re-release. Fucking horrible cover for what has become one of our group's favorite content books. So much good shit in black market!

>>51901276
I'm 90% certain the shit with railguns is due to some bullshit "double buff" situation where one writer puts in an immunity to AP reduction, another writer puts in a flat +4 to damage, neither of them playtest with both, and the game somehow goes to print. The non-GB power armor being weak feels like Sean Fannon being a lazy ass and copying stats directly over from Science Fiction Companion when everything else in the setting has improved damage.

But yes, I was disappointed in the quality of the results from the Kickstarter. Aside from Mega powers they didn't do much to adapt arcane backgrounds to the Rifts setting. You pretty much need the Fantasy Companion for a sufficient selection of trappings and the Horror Companion for ritual rules. They also seem to have the Shifter confused with the Witch pretty much everywhere.

>>51900586
RPG people get weird ideas about art sometimes. Look at Cyberpunk 3.0.