Going Palladium

[Summer-Knight925]

I expect to get some negative feedback to this, but I have run a few Rifts sessions with my friends (whom have played 3e and some of them 4e) and they all agree that they enjoy the megaverse system more.

All (except maybe one of them) wants to try Palladium Fantasy, they all want to try Dead Reign, Heroes Unlimited seems like fun to most of them as well. When the rest of Beyond Supernatural come out I'm sure that will bring in a few, but this is the interesting part and why I'm posting this.

I've been playing D&D (3E) since I was 6 (I am 18 now) and I actually enjoy the megaverse system more than anything WoTC did.
However, TSR D&D will always have a spot at my table, as will Pathfinder, but I really do find it interesting that Palladium Books is 'the favored company' at my table.

I hope Mr. Siembieda reads this, I would like to thank him.

But anyways, this is the question for you, do you find it odd (or nearly criminal) that my group is now all into Palladium? Does your table have a favored system (Savage Worlds, Chaoism, Hero System, Gurps, D20, ect. ect.)

 

[OpsKT]

I ran a one year war campaign in Palladium Fantasy over 15 years ago.

Palladium is not a bad system, but it's not a good one either. The biggest issue is the lack of organization and clarity. Be ready for a lot of house rules, or discovering a rule you've missed that you decide to ignore because it works better being ignored anyway.

The combat system in Palladium Fantasy makes a bit more sense than in Rifts (lack of MDC and auto-fire weapons helps) and the active parry/dodge is a hit with most people that try it.

Thanks to the wonders of internet archiving, even though I have not hosted the materials in over 15 years, you can still find it. WARNING: the websites are very 90's in design. Sorry.

Some game materials-

Northern Wilderness Notes

The war campaign journal-

ISC's GK Kyldynar

Good luck with your games!

 

[Dragonblade]

Though we heavily house ruled the system to make it playable, RIFTS was probably played as often as AD&D was in my group when I was high school some 15+ years ago.

I love the RIFTS setting. We stopped playing RIFTS right around the time Siembieda got rid of Kevin Long and CJ Carella and Vince Martin stopped illustrating their books. CJ Carella's vision of RIFTS was closest to how I liked to play it. And Martin's art was a perfect match for Carella's style. He brought an epic anime flair to the books that featured more powerful OCCs that could go to toe to toe with supernatural villains.

Kevin Siembieda's vision seemed like more of a post apocalyptic Cuthlu, where every day is a struggle to survive against demonic and alien forces you have little hope of ever defeating.

Both styles are valid, but myself and my group enjoyed more over the top anime action. I don't like gritty games generally. Phase World was by far my favorite RIFTS book and Cosmo-Knights are my favorite class by far. They just ooze epic badassness and anime cool.

That being said, my current group plays PF and 4e exclusively. We have dabbled in other games like Dresden and Alpha Omega, but they never last more than 3 or 4 sessions. We have played Savage Worlds but only as one shots. I have played HERO and WW WoD back in the day, but none of those systems have any traction in my current group.

I think FATE is pretty much dead to us. We didn't like how Dresden played at all though we love Jim Butcher's novels. I personally think Dresden Files should have been designed with True20 as the base engine with some tweaks to update it ala M&M 3e.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

But anyways, this is the question for you, do you find it odd (or nearly criminal) that my group is now all into Palladium?

No. Its sweet spot has always seemed to be teenagers, who often like the larger than life aspects of Palladium products. It's no stranger than you liking girls, terrible music and staying out late.

 

[Crothian]

I ran a Rifts campaign that lasted about a decade. It's the longest campaign I've ever been part of. If its the game that works for you; go for it! It doesn't matter what the nameless masses think. Best of luck and happy gaming!

 

[Treebore]

Here is a clue, play what you like, don't worry what the masses think. Paladium Fantasy, like RIFTS, is jam packed with fantastic setting, and the rules and classes largely work, but some house ruling will likely occur. The most important thing is that you will have fun, and lots of it.

 

[Summer-Knight925]

No. Its sweet spot has always seemed to be teenagers, who often like the larger than life aspects of Palladium products. It's no stranger than you liking girls, terrible music and staying out late.

Girls?

What are those?

 

[Summer-Knight925]

Here is a clue, play what you like, don't worry what the masses think. Paladium Fantasy, like RIFTS, is jam packed with fantastic setting, and the rules and classes largely work, but some house ruling will likely occur. The most important thing is that you will have fun, and lots of it.

I actually care little of what the masses think, I'm still going to play it, this was more of the backstory of what sparked my question.

It seems few have realized I'm actually asking "What systems do you like?"

 

[Crothian]

It seems few have realized I'm actually asking "What systems do you like?"

Right now we are liking Pathfinder. It is a bit meaty for me at times but I love the adventure paths and the group enjoys the game. If I had my choice and didn't have to worry about what the players wanted we would be playing Changeling the Dreaming.

 

[coyote6]

Does your table have a favored system (Savage Worlds, Chaoism, Hero System, Gurps, D20, ect. ect.)

For one group, probably GURPS, with M&M 2e for supers. Another group is all Pathfinder or D&D 3.5e (it's all one guy will play, I think).

I'm trying to get the first group into Savage Worlds, too. We'll see how that goes.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk