Savage Worlds had always been a tough sell. My gaming groups loved the system, but the settings just never caught hold. The campaigns just never lasted. Rifts, was nearly the opposite. Nobody (except me) liked the system and only a serious amount of house ruling could save vs. arguments; yet, Rifts allowed the crazy kitchen sink campaigns we wanted and endured the longest. Boom Guns and Dead Boys and dragons, oh my!
Embarking on our sixth session, Savage Rifts has a tinge of classic Rifts wonkiness, but this is mostly in spirit. What Savage Rifts is, is exactly as the author advertised, Rifts (the setting), enveloped in Savage Worlds (the system).
Keeping with the tone of Rifts, Occupation Character Classes or O.C.C.s as well as Racial Character Classes R.C.C.s, have been replaced by Iconic Frameworks. Without apology, these frameworks throw the typical Savage Worlds character, out a nine story window. Iconic Frameworks, much like the original classes, are character templates which govern special abilities or Edges, and innate boosts. All of it catering to gonzo wonderfulness, which is Rifts.
Beyond the power classes, Savage Rifts offers a treatment for Mercenaries, Adventurers, Rogues and Scholars (M.A.R.S.). M.A.R.S. Characters are crafted with little more flexibility and a few more choices. One of the more interesting and in my mind much needed tweaks was to balance the M.A.R.S. characters with experience. These characters start at Seasoned Rank, or four progressions within the Savage Worlds system.
If ever such a thing exists-despite upsetting typical Savage World sensibilities, Savage Rifts includes a robust amount of subtle changes in a system by system comparison. Psychic classes (or Psionic R.C.C.s) have been simplified. Magic classes have traded in some utility, while at the same time are immediately more combat effective. Most changes, center on which features of the Rifts O.C.C.s and R.C.C.s have been transferred, versus which have been trimmed in the conversion. Game Masters and players, who are familiar with Rifts, will notice a good deal of both.
Beyond characters, Rifts verbiage is included in spirit, but more serves as a nostalgic channel to the original RPG. This none more apparent than in regards to Rifts duel teared Mega Damage Capacity (M.D.C.) and Structure Damage Capacity (S.D.C.) system, in which 1 point of M.D.C, equals 100 points of S.D.C. With the average un-armored human character being less than 100 S.D.C. the ease of character death hasn’t gained popularity with modern role players. This system has been discarded for the Shaken, Wound and Soak conditions of Savage Worlds.
Overall, I’m impressed. I think Savage Rifts accomplishes what it is designed to do and does it very well. Like the saying goes, "we’ll cross that bridge, when we come to it." And without a doubt Savage Rifts is that bridge. And I’m sure I’m not the only one when I say, I cannot wait for what comes next!
Disclaimer: This review includes affiliate links. Savage Rifts was written by EN World contributor Sean Patrick Fannon. As of this review, I don’t know Mr. Fannon personally or professionally and under no condition would it affect the review itself if I did.
