What Game System do you play Rifts with?

[wingsandsword]

The thread about Palladium books and many of the things in there made me think.

I've heard it from more than one source, on more than one occasion, that many gamers happen to like the Rifts setting, but they hate the Palladium system. I read posts of people on this board, and know people offline who play Rifts, but only a home-brewed d20 conversion of it, I know personally several gaming groups who have played Rifts with their own d20 conversions. In fact, I haven't seen a group play an actual Rifts campaign with the Palladium system since d20 came out. I've even seen two GMs of different d20 Rifts games argue about the best way to translate various archetypes into d20.

However, Palladium is infamously hostile to fans who try and share their own conversions (and if they could sue the people who play it at home without sharing their rules, they probably would, or so it seems), and they are outright rude to anyone who suggest to them they produce their own d20/OGL version of Rifts. Part of me wonders it the d20 Apocalypse book due out from WotC this June for d20 Modern is in at least in small part a quiet nod in the direction of d20 Rifts groups, by giving them a book of generic post-apocalyptic d20 stuff that can be easily fitted into any similar campaign.

The only time I ever hear of Rifts being played with the Palladium system in the present is by a few fans I run into on rare occasion at my FLGS, so there are some people who do play it, when I asked them about this issue (do they play it with d20 or Palladium) they became hostile and started ranting about how inferior d20 was to Palladium and how it was a rip-off of the Palladium system and Palladium should sue WotC into the dirt. My FLGS has a shelf devoted to Palladium, but nothing ever seems to move, only the hardcore players who buy the new releases and the rare parent or grandparent who comes in to buy a book for their son. However, everyone I've seen who has played d20 and Rifts combines the two.

Now, I know this is a d20 message board, so the answer is likely to be pretty lopsided, but I'm curious about people's thoughts on the matter.

 

[hero4hire]

I used to play with the Palladium system when doing Rifts. Now however we are talking about reviving the old campaign d20 style.

 

[Campbell]

In general, I've found that systems that work well for superhero games like Mutants and Masterminds and HERO serve as passable avenues for Rifts style gaming.

 

[The Gryphon]

Palladium said right up front when d20 was released that they would be staying with their own rules system and not joining the d20/OGL bandwagon (as a company which has now been going for 20+ years I can't see why they would change their system and alienate the avid fans they have). So by this point I'm not surprised that they'd be getting somewhat hostile or rude to players as I think telling people for 4 years is more than enough.

Of course since none of their system is done under any form of OGL, player's shouldn't be PUBLISHING (whether free or not) any conversions of material from any Palladium books without permission.

Now back to the question at hand

As for playing Rifts or any system which has it's own ruleset. I personally can't see the point of taking a system and converting it when it works as is. Whether anyone perceives it as balanced or not is their opinion, and who says balanced is always good anyway.

If you're up for all the headaches with conversions or just making a game using the setting's flavour more power to you. I'm sure any publisher would love that, you buy their books to get the setting info, iconic character types, etc. and another company's books for the rules

For me though, if I want to play Rifts (which I have in the past), I'll play it as Rifts lumps and all. It just has a different feel with it's own ruleset, and it makes a nice change of pace from playing d20 all the time

As for the avid fans, it's really like asking people who have stuck with OD&D or 1st/2nd Edition AD&D why they don't convert their game to d20. They feel their system is better, and who can argue if it's what they want to play.

I love that arguement about d20 ripping off Palladium, as the arguement was reversed when Palladium first came out

 

[The Horror]

I have done a Talislanta conversion for Rifts, but never got the chance to try it out.

I've contemplated HERO as well, though I don't have the time to do it properly.

What I might do though is give RandomAnime a shot in the Rifts setting one day. Hell, I'll be using it for Robotech anyhow, so I don't see why not.



The Horror

 

[HellHound]

As for playing Rifts or any system which has it's own ruleset. I personally can't see the point of taking a system and converting it when it works as is.

The issue is that many players feel tha tthe system as is does not work.

I've played in d20 Rifts games, a fantastic d6 system adaptation, and a few games using Fuzion. Not to mention a bunch using the core system from the rules.

 

[Eosin the Red]

HERO......that is the ticket.

I might also look at GURPs

 

[Salad Shooter]

Call me a stick in the mud purist...I play RIFTS under the Palladium ruleset, d20 with the d20 ruleset, WoD with the WoD ruleset, et. al ad infinitum...it might be because I'm lazy and don't want to convert, it might be because I enjoy a break from any given ruleset, maybe I'm just dumb, who knows.

 

[beeber]

i use the palladium system, warts & all. the unbalanced nature is part of the fun! when you have the MDC/SDC mechanic (and juicers, and. . .) the game just screams beer & pretzels anyhoo.

 

[Desdichado]

Call me a stick in the mud purist...I play RIFTS under the Palladium ruleset, d20 with the d20 ruleset, WoD with the WoD ruleset, et. al ad infinitum...it might be because I'm lazy and don't want to convert, it might be because I enjoy a break from any given ruleset, maybe I'm just dumb, who knows.

d20 isn't a game, though. I assume you mean D&D with a d20 ruleset?