Savage Rifts and the Tomorrow Legion

Game Master Shadow Bloodmoon

So build the Novice and then add 9 advancements, wow.
Seems like we could make use of a Flying Titan in this group.
Like a GIFTED Flying Titan who can fly without his armor too!

Just a thought.

What do you guys think you need the most?
From looking, it is NOT Telekinesis ...

So build the Novice and then add 9 advancements, wow.

Seems like we could make use of a Flying Titan in this group.
Like a GIFTED Flying Titan who can fly without his armor too!

Just a thought.

What do you guys think you need the most?
From looking, it is NOT Telekinesis ...

Looks like nobody has any significant social skills. Jingμ has Persuasion d4 and Burgurk is running on default. Barbara (if she is picked to join) is only running d6 (+1 to a subset of the population), with a small bonus when interacting with human settlers who respect the legend of the Glitter Boys.

Still looking for players? I'm in two games with GM ZenFox and she mentioned this game needed bodies.

Ummm...don't know if that was auto-fill, but just for the record, I'm a traditional "he"...no offense taken. ;)

I've got attributes, skills, hindrances, and edges for a MARS character. I won't post the details yet, but the character was created using the Rogue Scholar package and is heavy on Smarts skills, languages, and related edges such as investigator, Linguist, and some helpful results on the Hero's Journey rolls. Likely male, middle-aged, traveled extensively, studied at what advanced universities and libraries still existent in different countries, fought in some wars in other dimensions, where he picked up the Internal Life Support upgrade while dealing with a world that was hard to breath in. Also has Thief edge and modest thievery skill.

Has d8 fighting and shooting skills plus some combat edges to help him hold his own once he gets some decent weapons and armor.

I'm still working on other ideas.

Someone mentioned persuasion. I have a Mystic in development who would make a good face, so I'll work that up next.

While I'm at it, I'm going to reroll the Hero's Journey result for my mystic since it resulted in Danger Sense edge which mystics already get as part of the iconic package.

1d20 ⇒ 5 off Experience & Wisdom table.
With a nose for opportunities, horse-trading, and five-fingered discounts, your hero is the go-to person for getting what’s needed in a crunch. He has the Scrounger Edge.

Re: Advancements and MARS characters. Yes, that means that they start with 13 advancements, as they already start at seasoned rank.

Re: Starting Wealth. I will have to look into this for RIFTS, as I don’t have my books in front of me. Standard rules say that it is double each rank, so veteran would be 2000. That is supposed to take into account your expenditures over your adventuring career. Plus, you also get the Legion beginning package and whatever your framework and any fortune rolls provide. Again, I will look more closely at this when I get to my books.

Something to note for those of you with machines or thinking about getting machines. Elsie, the group vehicle, is also heavily armed and armored, so you will have that as support as well.

@Joseph: I think there might be room for another. Post up a character idea and we’ll go from there.

I've roughed out a mystic character (female human, age about 30). Best attributes Spirit d10 and Vigor d10. Best skills: Notice d8, persuasion d8, Faith d10, Healing d8, Performance d8, psionics d8. Fighting and Shooting d6 mostly for self-defense, as she will not be a formidable fighter.

Hindrances: Code of Honor, Heroic, and Vow (part of Complications).

Edges (Hero's Journey rolls and Iconics Package) Scrounger, Arcane Background (Miracles), Arcane Background (Psionics), Master of Magic, Power Points, Major Psionics, Danger Sense.

Edge (From Hindrances and advances): Attractive, Charismatic, Beast Master, Beast Master 2 (Size 1), Beast Master 3 (Size 2), New Powers 1, New Powers 2

Beast Master companion is a snow leopard (Big Cat, size 2).

If I go with this character, I'll probably include a power or two for combat but make the bulk of her powers more support oriented. She would make a good face, with good persuasion and networking options.

I think I will work out a Dragon Hatchling next and then choose from the three, so let me know which might make the best addition.

The entry on Dragon Hatchling in the Rifts Sourcebook is for a Fire based dragon, but it suggests there are other types with potentially different attributes. Let me know if anyone has any sourcebooks that spell any of the others out. I can go with a fire dragon, but might see something I like better.

Re: Advancements and MARS characters. Yes, that means that they start with 13 advancements, as they already start at seasoned rank.

Re: Starting Wealth. I will have to look into this for RIFTS, as I don’t have my books in front of me. Standard rules say that it is double each rank, so veteran would be 2000. That is supposed to take into account your expenditures over your adventuring career. Plus, you also get the Legion beginning package and whatever your framework and any fortune rolls provide. Again, I will look more closely at this when I get to my books.

Something to note for those of you with machines or thinking about getting machines. Elsie, the group vehicle, is also heavily armed and armored, so you will have that as support as well.

@Joseph: I think there might be room for another. Post up a character idea and we’ll go from there.

I realize that no one has solicited endorsements, but all of these people are awesome players (I know them as Isabella, Arabella, and Daisy respectively).

Filthy Rich Half-DBee Bastard Power Armor Ace
Left out one of the descriptors until I hear back from Jessie ...

Dragon Hatchling Hero's Journey Roll
Psionics: 1d20 ⇒ 2
With deep concentration, meditation, or prayer, your hero regains her ISP at a faster rate than most. She gains the Rapid Recharge Edge, or improved Rapid Recharge if she already has that Edge.

My third character option is a dragon hatchling. It has some psionic powers and some Magic powers, plus breath weapon, large size, high armor and toughness, high strength, powerful melee attacks, and it can fly. Magic powers: Healing, Stun, Summon Ally, invisibility, teleport. Psionic powers Speak Language, Empathy, Mind Link.

Hindrances: Clueless and Tongue-Tied
Edges: Rapid Recharge, Counterattack, Improved Counterattack, and First Strike.

Weak on skills but tough in a fight.

I think that is where I'm going to stop. I've considered a Ley Line Walker and a Techno-Wizard, but I'm happy with the mystic as a spell user and the Techno-Wizard seems too complex to try to work out and advance.

I'll make a decision about which I'd like to use and submit a detailed profile for review. I'm open to suggestions as to which to play. Each one has a different sort of appeal to me, so I could go with any one.

Dragon Hatchlings are pretty cool. I think the flame dragon in the books is the only official species available, but I've seen a few fan versions of other breeds.

I think I did one at one point for a campaign; it was the Catseye Dragon, which is more of a chinese lion-headed type dragon with no breath weapon, but a hypnotic gaze and at-will invisibility, I think. I'd have to look and see if I ever finished it.

Jingu is a Psi-Warrior (melee specialist with Mega-Psionics {Illusion, Force Fields, Telekinesis}), but he has a Techno-Wizard sidekick, so that role is covered (not that we can't have another). TW is one of my favourite archtypes in SW Rifts, which is funny, because they kind of sucked in the original Rifts game. Jingu was kind of envisioned as a scout/thief/saboteur, but he's got a bit of the samurai one-man army flavour to him in a fight when he needs it.

Burgurk is a Burster that has been reflavoured from Fire to Telekinesis, but essentially he's another combat psychic.

It appears the original characters in this campaign were created using an earlier version of SW Rifts. I have RIFTS: The Tomorrow Legion Player's Guide published in 2019.

Are the established characters going to update their characters to the new version?

Or will those using the new version get some additional perks, such as more rolls of the Hero's Journey tables, as the original characters appear to have had more rolls than allowed in the new version?

There also appear to be differences in how powers are handled and power points allotted.

We updated to Swade rules along the way in the campaign somewhere. I vaguely remember Burgurk asking for some old rule to be grandfathered in regarding his character, but can't recall the details. Jingu follows the current rules, or at least is intended to. Josiah Oates is his sidekick, so basically another character controlled by me. We use him mostly as backup and as the vehicle driver, so as not to steal limelight from the main stars.

Here's Josie, for reference.

I heard that you were short people.

If it is not to long, I will pick up the Rifts PDF on my payday.

After that, if you will let a person slip in, I was thinking cyberknight.

Looks like there's plenty of interest!

Hey everyone. As far as the money goes, I am going to say that since the Legion picks up most of your tab on ammo and food while you are there, plus, you do get paid weekly, that we will start veterans at 4000 credits plus the Legion starting gear, framework gear and anything you may get from Fortune rolls.

Re: Dragons. I believe the other dragons are in the Tomorrow Legion Field Guide if you want to look into those.

Re: Rules. We are using the newer rules, as we started this with the original ones and then they were updated. As Jingu said, we made the change not too long ago, but not everyone has finished the update.

PPE/ISP: We are still using the power points rules, even though I’m not a fan of tracking them. I prefer dice pools, which I use for NPCs. Note that it is NOT the No Power Points Rule, which doesn’t really fit with RIFTS anyway.

I’ll answer some more questions later on. Gotta go for now. On that note, please be aware new players that for the most part, I only post during the work week, not on weekends.

I heard that you were short people.

I'm reasonably tall.

Ow! :)

Pardon me for butting in, I just wanted to list the players who have expressed interest so far :

Jesse Heinig (Barbara Lance)
Clebsch73 (several)
Daniel Stewart (Ah-Rekhmire)
Evindyl (no PC)
Joseph Martin 681 (no PC)
Mokshai (no PC)

Unless someone is posting under multiple aliases...

Did I miss anyone?

Mokshai - I think Cyber-Knights are pretty cool, and built an awesome SWD Novice one that entered a couple of games which quickly died. The SWADE Novice version is less powerful, but with all the Advancements you've got access to, it could become a very helpful combat PC.

DM SBM - I'm going to take this opportunity to re-work Burgurk from scratch. As-is, he's a mis-mash of SWD rules, SWADE rules, and the Psycho-K rules which someone (I think Rigor) re-trapped from the Burster.

ALL - does anyone have the Healing Power (or its Framework equivalent)???

Sounds like a good thing to have in this kind of game...

Jingu - a while ago, in Discussion, you mentioned the Adept Edge. I can't find it in SWADE Core or SWADE RIFTS. Where did it come from???

Mokshai is my main handle.

I will have a Cyberknight up later today. Thanks to Brook Longshot.

As soon as I got him sorted, I will post an alias.

Jingu - a while ago, in Discussion, you mentioned the Adept Edge. I can't find it in SWADE Core or SWADE RIFTS. Where did it come from???

Adept is an Edge from Arana & Mysticism

I think I'll submit this character for consideration. I'm working on selecting powers, so she's not complete, but you can check her profile for most of her stats. She does have healing, both the skill and she will have the healing power, for sure. She's basically a cleric, although I could give her various religious trappings. Let me know if there is any information about religions in RIFTS.

I'll fill in the background spoiler on her profile soon.

Adept is an Edge from Arcana & Mysticism.

The only "Arcana & Mysticism" I can find in my version of SWADE RIFTS is a Heroic Journey table (and it's called "Magic & Mysticism"). Actually, every single instance of the word "Mysticism" I can find in the book is referring to that table.

Can someone please give me a page number?

Brook wrote:

Adept is an Edge from Arcana & Mysticism.

The only "Arcana & Mysticism" I can find in my version of SWADE RIFTS is a Heroic Journey table (and it's called "Magic & Mysticism"). Actually, every single instance of the word "Mysticism" I can find in the book is referring to that table.

Can someone please give me a page number?

No problem

Had originally looked it up in savaged.us, but it's in the PDF as well

https://www.scribd.com/document/662866768/Savage-RIFTS-Arcana-and-Mysticism

Oh, "Arcana and Mysticism" is a BOOK! No one mentioned that...

Thanks!

I've been using SWADE's Powers descriptions, but should I be using the list from Supers? They are mostly the same I think, but I think the Supers book came out after SWADE and may include some updates.

It's my understanding that you only use Supers Powers to build a Supers PC, because you pay with them just once with Super Power Points, and they usually don't have a PP (or in RIFTS, ISP\PPE) cost per use.

If you're building any other kind of PC, use the SWADE list.

As I started to compare the two sources, I figured the RIFTS was keyed to SWADE, since all the Mega Power Modifiers used the same names as SWADE for things like Bolt.

Ounce's powers have been selected and a background composed. Let me know if anyone spots any issues or has any suggestions.

Oh, "Arcana and Mysticism" is a BOOK! No one mentioned that...

Thanks!

Would NEVER have occured to me actually.

The defaults that are loaded into savaged are:
SWADE
Rifts®: Arcana and Mysticism
Rifts®: Atlantis and the Demon Seas
Rifts®: Blood and Bane
Rifts®: Empires of Humanity
Rifts®: Savage Foes of North America
Rifts®: The Tomorrow Legion Players Guide
Rifts®: Tomorrow Legion Field Manual

Current operating power armor framework is from Rifts®: The Tomorrow Legion Players Guide, so I assume that is okay, but I would like to hear if the others are okay also.

Thanks!

I've got the Tomorrow Legion Players Guide. What does the Tomorrow Legion Field Manual have that might be of interest to creating a PC? Does Arcana and Mysticism have usable material? I don't want to buy a lot of books just now, but sometimes these other books have good stuff, which is why they divide the good stuff among different books, to get us to buy them all.

I've got the Tomorrow Legion Players Guide. What does the Tomorrow Legion Field Manual have that might be of interest to creating a PC? Does Arcana and Mysticism have usable material? I don't want to buy a lot of books just now, but sometimes these other books have good stuff, which is why they divide the good stuff among different books, to get us to buy them all.

LOL, um, I guess I can just be cheeky ... the link IS right there ;)

So you could go ahead and take a look at those 196 pages without spending a nickel. Could then look in the right hand margin of that website to see all the other docs that are there too. Could take a look at Empires of Humanity (another 196 pages). Just spit balling here, not suggesting anyone spend money or anything. Worth taking a look though maybe :)

I think I looked at one of the links and after scrolling for about 15 seconds, all the text was blurred.

I might have to re-work some of Ah-Rekhmire to better fit into this game. That or cut a new PC from roughly the same cloth...perhaps not a mummy from ancient Egypt, but an occultist or mystic from a more modern period to fit the game better.

I might have to re-work some of Ah-Rekhmire to better fit into this game. That or cut a new PC from roughly the same cloth...perhaps not a mummy from ancient Egypt, but an occultist or mystic from a more modern period to fit the game better.

Since one of the defining features of Rifts is that it's an interdimensional nexus and creatures come from everywhere to Earth, you could just rework him as from some kind of Egypt-like desert planet, a humanlike alien or a descendant of humans that were captured and taken elsewhere long ago, like in Stargate.

To whom it may concern : meet the "all new" (but still basically the same) Burgurk!

I think I looked at one of the links and after scrolling for about 15 seconds, all the text was blurred.

That was the scribd link, the same thing happened to me. And the duration of the blurred periods got longer the longer I tried to read.

Just checking my numbers and then going to do my rolls for hook and life path.

Man, is Cyberknight MAD.

Once that is done, I will post an alias.

Couple of questions though, what equipment is in the legion starting gear.

Daniel Stewart wrote:

I might have to re-work some of Ah-Rekhmire to better fit into this game. That or cut a new PC from roughly the same cloth...perhaps not a mummy from ancient Egypt, but an occultist or mystic from a more modern period to fit the game better.

Since one of the defining features of Rifts is that it's an interdimensional nexus and creatures come from everywhere to Earth, you could just rework him as from some kind of Egypt-like desert planet, a humanlike alien or a descendant of humans that were captured and taken elsewhere long ago, like in Stargate.

The Necessary Evil campaign called for villains who want to help get rid of the V'Sori invaders. So the main problem with a mummy in this RIFTS campaign, as I see it, is the normal trope of mummies being evil. Maybe in some other dimension or world mummies are good guys fighting evil.

A techno-wizard Mummy might be interesting or a cyber-mummy.

I was kinda thinking of a techno-wizard, but a mummy who worked for the good of his people would be pretty interesting too!! Will have to see how I can work it out. Also what "level" are we? I am sorry but I did not see it anywhere (or missed it if it was already posted)

Ok, My rolls, and Profile.

Hook: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Training: 1d20 ⇒ 12
Psionics: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Hook, Black Market
Training - +1 Die Athletics, +2 Roll climb.
Psi - New Powers

Edit, Forgot my money
Money: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 6, 3) = 21 x100=2100 Cr.
gear and stuff: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4 x500= 2000 Cr.

Mokshai

Ounce wrote:

I think I looked at one of the links and after scrolling for about 15 seconds, all the text was blurred.

That was the scribd link, the same thing happened to me. And the duration of the blurred periods got longer the longer I tried to read.

Yeah, three cheers for advertising. I'll admit that I prefer AnyFlip.

I was kinda thinking of a techno-wizard, but a mummy who worked for the good of his people would be pretty interesting too!! Will have to see how I can work it out. Also what "level" are we? I am sorry but I did not see it anywhere (or missed it if it was already posted)

Character start with 9 advances. Wealth details TBA.

Wealth rolls for Ounce:
4d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 6, 4) = 13
x100 = 1300 credits
2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5
x500 = 2500 worth of gear and valuables.

Plus what GM awards all new PCs = 4000
5300 credits

Yeah, don't be too thrilled at 2500 credits of gear and 5300 credits to spend. Everything in RIFTS is *crazy* expensive (like, usually over *ten thousand* credits for the simplest weapons and armor).

Everyone should get some variant of Standard Starting Gear, but in all the time I've been playing this game, I have yet to get enough credits to buy any significant weapons or better armor (not complaining, just stating - after all, *I* am my best weapon ;). And the Huntsman Standard Starting armor we get for free is a pretty good common armor. But to get just 2 more points of Armor (not Toughness) would cost 38,000 credits! I suppose I could look at some support tech...<time passes>...nope, nothing useful that's affordable.

DMSBM - speaking of which, I have money noted from two missions and one month's salary. Surely I've been on more than two missions, and been with the Legion for more than a month (altho I have *no* idea how much in-game time has passed since I started)?

I think Ounce is fully ready to adventure unless there are changes needed or recommended.

I was able to afford a few items with starting wealth and standard gear, so I'm not complaining. Ounce doesn't need a lot of weapons, but it would be nice to be able to have something more than a laser pistol, such as a melee weapon. Not that she's going to wade into battle with glitter boys and cyber knights around to deal damage. But sometimes melee fights cannot be avoided.

Have people found valuable weapons or armor or other items as "booty" after defeating an enemy?

If someone has time, can we get a brief summary of what adventures have gone down so far in the campaign? Where are we starting? Any long term goals established?

Yeah, don't be too thrilled at 2500 credits of gear and 5300 credits to spend. Everything in RIFTS is *crazy* expensive (like, usually over *ten thousand* credits for the simplest weapons and armor).

Everyone should get some variant of Standard Starting Gear, but in all the time I've been playing this game, I have yet to get enough credits to buy any significant weapons or better armor (not complaining, just stating - after all, *I* am my best weapon ;). And the Huntsman Standard Starting armor we get for free is a pretty good common armor. But to get just 2 more points of Armor (not Toughness) would cost 38,000 credits! I suppose I could look at some support tech...<time passes>...nope, nothing useful that's affordable.

DMSBM - speaking of which, I have money noted from two missions and one month's salary. Surely I've been on more than two missions, and been with the Legion for more than a month (altho I have *no* idea how much in-game time has passed since I started)?

This is a really good point, because as I was playing with configurations, the only way that you end up with any money is as a Filthy Rich MARS Vagabond

@Burgurk, thank you for making the list of candidates. It is quite a few and I want to get a solid group hopefully by the beginning of next week so we can get back to the story.

Money- For Jingu and Burgurk, I thought at some point I had given you guys a few paydays and after that million credit run in that ended up being turned in, you are mostly back to broke Legionnaires. I did some math and according to my calculations, since I started tracking time, you have been in the Legion 67 days, from October 22nd, 109 PA to December 27th, 109 PA at current. The total credits for that, using your rank in the Legion, as it was in the original version was 5360 credits, some of which has been paid to you. However, in the SWADE edition, you are paid by your game rank, Novice, Seasoned, etc. Which changes the total amount significantly. That said, I still think I owe you guys some cash, especially since you’ve stuck around this long, so I am going to give you both another 2000 credits on top of what you already have.

Starting Gear: In the Tomorrow Legion Player’s Guide, under gear, it gives you a list, which is then modified by Fortune Rolls and your framework. It is basically either Huntsman or Plastic Man Armor, an NG-2 Survival pack, a laser rifle, a laser sidearm and the starting money you roll for and add 4000 credits to.

Supers: You can use the Supers rules if you are an actual super, otherwise, we use the base SWADE and Rifts powers. I can post the rules for playing a Super in RIFTS if needed.

I think that’s everything. Let’s get these characters tidied up and we can get to work. As for story, here is how I am thinking to introduce the new characters:

Burgurk and Jingu’s team have been on the trail of people hunting a specific group of D-Bees, presumably for their inherent magical battery abilities, but no one knows for sure who. Their mission is in the top secret status at Castle Refuge. The new team has been LRRP for some time and has been tracking a black market group that has been transporting slaves across the CS Fort Eldorado corridor. Luckily for both teams GM Fiat, it is the same group you are tracking. Unfortunately for both teams, since the first mission is top secret, the other team doesn’t know about it yet. It’s going to be an interesting first encounter.

If there is anything I missed, let me know and I’ll get to it as soon as I can. Looking forward to reading over the finalized characters.