OpsKT
Explorer
For me, it is the only thing from the v3.5 era that I actually like. I think it is because (by default) magic is tossed out the window and talent trees are a nice mechanic for class differentiation.
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Palladium books?
- Thread starter Summer-Knight925
- Start date
For me, it is the only thing from the v3.5 era that I actually like. I think it is because (by default) magic is tossed out the window and talent trees are a nice mechanic for class differentiation.
Treebore
First Post
Going back to Palladium, I have never regretted buying or even playing RIFTS or Paladium Fantasy. Awesome, awesome, AWESOME!!! stuff. If you are a rules tweaker it is not hard to "fix" most of what is wrong with it, and with RIFTS you can avoid a lot of problems other people have had by making sure the OCC's everyone plays are on par with each other, power wise, or that the players are clear on the fact that they will be seriously over shadowed if they insist on playing an OCC that is not as powerful as the rest.
From there, I think I did maybe 20 rules tweaks with RIFTS and it ran very well. Biggest thing I hated about it was the Dodge/Block rules really made fights drag out. So I got rid of them. Combats easily went 3 to 4 times faster.
Paladium Fantasy is my absolutely most favorite world ever made. Awesome histories, races, gods, monsters... absolutely fantastic stuff. Again, the rules need some fixing, but it isn't to hard to make it nearly 100% better.
So in my opinion, don't be afraid to check out their products.
From there, I think I did maybe 20 rules tweaks with RIFTS and it ran very well. Biggest thing I hated about it was the Dodge/Block rules really made fights drag out. So I got rid of them. Combats easily went 3 to 4 times faster.
Paladium Fantasy is my absolutely most favorite world ever made. Awesome histories, races, gods, monsters... absolutely fantastic stuff. Again, the rules need some fixing, but it isn't to hard to make it nearly 100% better.
So in my opinion, don't be afraid to check out their products.
Treebore
First Post
In response to your comment, yeah if you buy Paladium Fantasy and tell me you weren't the slightest bit impressed by the world they created my mind would go numb being hit with what I consider to be impossible.
Really, really good stuff! The changlings, Wolfen, Coyle, and tons and tons more of just really great ideas, concepts, etc... Even if you end up hating the system you will be discovering an awesome world.
Really, really good stuff! The changlings, Wolfen, Coyle, and tons and tons more of just really great ideas, concepts, etc... Even if you end up hating the system you will be discovering an awesome world.
Summer-Knight925
First Post
So at my game store, a paper back version (a little beat up) of RIFTS rpg (not the ultimate edition) for $3.00
now I need $9.00 for the mercenaries supplement, the Atlantis supplement and whatever else they have (wasn't really able to look, store manager hates me for only buying used items [usually buying used items])
now I need $9.00 for the mercenaries supplement, the Atlantis supplement and whatever else they have (wasn't really able to look, store manager hates me for only buying used items [usually buying used items])
Treebore
First Post
Your paying him to clear his shelves of unwanted and discounted stuff. If he is too stupid to appreciate that, then don't bother worrying about him in the first place.
I'm going to be a voice of dissent. I don't think the fluff in Rifts is that great.
IMO, the first Rifts book presents a pretty interesting post-Apocalyptic environment, but subsequent books make the setting worse and worse.
1. There are far too many unimaginably powerful tentacled alien intelligences swarming around Rifts earth for my taste.
2. Human villains in Rifts tend to be one-dimensional cartoons, described as psychopaths or sociopaths and given no further motivation.
3. There are tons and tons of very silly giant robots and suits of power armor in the supplements. Not only are the designs silly, the more giant robots there are, the harder it is to believe in a wild, untamed, dangerous setting.
4. Siembieda's world building tends to be ad hoc, and it focuses on stereotype and cliche. IMO, the pieces don't fit together very well.
CAVEAT: I walked away from Rifts ten years ago and haven't looked back. It might be super-awesome now.
IMO, the first Rifts book presents a pretty interesting post-Apocalyptic environment, but subsequent books make the setting worse and worse.
1. There are far too many unimaginably powerful tentacled alien intelligences swarming around Rifts earth for my taste.
2. Human villains in Rifts tend to be one-dimensional cartoons, described as psychopaths or sociopaths and given no further motivation.
3. There are tons and tons of very silly giant robots and suits of power armor in the supplements. Not only are the designs silly, the more giant robots there are, the harder it is to believe in a wild, untamed, dangerous setting.
4. Siembieda's world building tends to be ad hoc, and it focuses on stereotype and cliche. IMO, the pieces don't fit together very well.
CAVEAT: I walked away from Rifts ten years ago and haven't looked back. It might be super-awesome now.
Last edited:
Michael Silverbane
Adventurer
To me, the best RIFTS books were the Core book (probably okay to replace with Ultimate Edition), World Book One: Vampire Kingdoms, World Book 10: Juicer Uprising, World Book 11: Coalition War Campaign, World Book 13: Lonestar, Worldbook 17: Warlords of Russia, and World Book 23: Xiticix Invasion.
I very much liked the original Palladium Fantasy RPG, and, though I thought the Second Edition was slightly less good, enjoyed it, as well.
Like some others have said, there is little to no balance in RIFTS at all (Palladium Fantasy is somewhat more balanced).
Some flaws in the system (people have already mentioned the fluff, which is by far the Palladium's biggest advantage) are that it is poorly organized. Character creation can take upwards of two hours (for beginning level characters). Systems are not at all unified (up to and including things like blindness and deafness granting different penalties depending on how you became blinded or deafened. Many of the combat rules are unclear, or not where you'd expect to find them. And so on...
On the other hand, I played RIFTS for many many years and had (and likely will have again) a fabulous time with it.
I very much liked the original Palladium Fantasy RPG, and, though I thought the Second Edition was slightly less good, enjoyed it, as well.
Like some others have said, there is little to no balance in RIFTS at all (Palladium Fantasy is somewhat more balanced).
Some flaws in the system (people have already mentioned the fluff, which is by far the Palladium's biggest advantage) are that it is poorly organized. Character creation can take upwards of two hours (for beginning level characters). Systems are not at all unified (up to and including things like blindness and deafness granting different penalties depending on how you became blinded or deafened. Many of the combat rules are unclear, or not where you'd expect to find them. And so on...
On the other hand, I played RIFTS for many many years and had (and likely will have again) a fabulous time with it.
Summer-Knight925
First Post
not ACTUALLY hates me, I can tell he'd just rather have me buying new products, which I understand, he needs to make money to stay in business.
Treebore
First Post
I am not sure your actually being a voice of dissent. None of us are saying it is this flawless and totally awesome RPG, in fact we say it has a number of issues. My main points as for my opinions were, what is "wrong" with both RIFTS and Paladium Fantasy is not all that hard to fix, IF you are an experienced and confident rules tweaker like I am. I added somewhere around 20 "fixes" to the general rules to make them work well for my group and I, and I do remember having to apply numerous "changes" to various gear, etc....
Plus the setting material may be poorly written, but my point was that the ideas, concepts, etc... presented are so often just plain cool or outright awesome that they are definitely worth stealing if you end up thinking RIFTS itself is too lost of a cause to fix, and just use them in a system you do like.
Now what I have written here is primarily about RIFTS, the Fantasy game has far fewer problems and a lot more awesome.
Summer-Knight925
First Post
So after a day of having the book, I've decided it was well worth the $3.00 I spent on it, most likely more, is the ultimate edition worth the $45.00 or whatever the price?
No.
not to say it is not a good game, but it is the clay needed to make a piece of art while D&D is clay and a cool mold
this is unique and I like it a lot, but it will take some work to make it more...playable...but just breezing through I already came up with a story arc.
Players are sent (now whether or not they are soldiers/willing or slaves/prisoners sent to their doom) to investigate smoke rising from an abandoned and ruined city. What is this SMOKE ON THE HORIZON?
Only time will tell.
No.
not to say it is not a good game, but it is the clay needed to make a piece of art while D&D is clay and a cool mold
this is unique and I like it a lot, but it will take some work to make it more...playable...but just breezing through I already came up with a story arc.
Players are sent (now whether or not they are soldiers/willing or slaves/prisoners sent to their doom) to investigate smoke rising from an abandoned and ruined city. What is this SMOKE ON THE HORIZON?
Only time will tell.
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