Savage Rifts Blog

[homebrew-rifts]

I grew up on Palladium (especially Rifts), I still own like 30 Rifts books and a ton of Rifters despite not touchibg the system for 20 years, and they and the world of Rifts holds a ridiculous amount of sentimental value to me.

So I'm stoked that next week I begin my first Savage Rifts game, which of course means now im making a ton of homebrew Iconic Frameworks and Races.

I'll be sharing those and other Savage Rifts info and updates here ^^

Have any conversion requests? Ask me!

General Play Advice

One Simple Trick To Speed Up Combat

Iconic Frameworks

Turbo-Jockey (Phase World)

Races:

Noli Bushman

Wolfen

Equipment:

G-10 Gurgoyle Power Armor

Coalition IAR-2 Abolisher Robot

House Rules:

House Rules: Group Barrage

House Rules: Downtime Crafting Activity

[homebrew-rifts]

So after about a year or so of really giving Savage Worlds (both as its own thing and Savage Rifts) i've decided I do really just not like Savage Worlds. I will keep stuff up here, and I'm honestly happy to do more conversions for people if they want them!

What may end up getting posted here is another Rifts Hack that I am working on myself!

[homebrew-rifts]

MARS Framework - Turbo-Jockey

The Turbo-jockeys are naturals at piloting. They are hotshot pilots with the "right stuff," possessed of incredible reflexes, reaction time, and spatial perception. They are a small, highly respected elite group found among several race. Some are sports racers, using their skills on land, air or sea vehicles. Others become fighter pilots. Many of these talented mavericks end up among mercenaries and outlaws, because they often have little patience for military discipline. Speed freaks, the turbo-jockeys love speed, the feeling of pushing a vehicle to its limits and beyond, and taking insane risks .

Turbo-jockeys are usually discovered at an early age, probably because of their desire (or obsession) to drive or fly, which usually manifests itself among them at an early stage of life . The lucky ones soon get the training they require to become pilots. They pick up piloting with an uncanny quickness and exceptional ability. Most of them live short, glorious lives, until the day they take one risk too many, or have a stroke of bad luck that ends it all.

~ Phase World Sourcebook Page 41

Add 1 die type to Agility, maximum Agility is d12+1.

They gain the Fleet-Footed, Quick and Ace Edges.

They begin with a d6 in Boating, Driving and Piloting.

They gain a free reroll with any Boating, Driving and Piloting rolls.

Piloting Instincts: The Turbo-Jockey Ignores up to 4 points of penalties for piloting an unfamiliar or alien vehicle. This ability does not work with a Robot Vehicle or Power Armor.

Dogfighter: When Piloting, Driving or Boating in a vehicle, the Turbo-Jockey gains the use, bonuses and effects of all personal Combat Edges and associated maneuvers. This ability does not work with a Robot Vehicle or Power Armor.

Adrenaline Junky: The Turbo Jockey begins with the Death Wish (Minor) and Impulsive (Major) hindrances.

Select one Non-Robot Vehicle (per GM’s review)

Begin with standard Starting Gear and tool kit.

Foundry Framework (automated) + Special Abilities

[homebrew-rifts]

Coalition IAR-2 Abolisher Robot

Originally released on p. 35 of Rifts Sourcebook 1

The Abolisher, Infantry Assault Robot (IAR-2), is another giant vehicle that is part of the Coalition States' military forces. Unlike the UAR-1 Enforcer, which is designed specifically to combat ground troops in an urban/city environment, the Abolisher is a frontline infantry unit with long-range capabilities and heavy firepower for obliterating enemy troops. The focus of its armaments is anti-robot and anti-tank, hence the six heavy cannons bristling around what appears to be the head. The rim of cannons has given the 30 foot (9 m) robot the nickname 'Thorn Head."

The heavily armored bot is a massive, humanoid shaped, all terrain assault vehicle designed to withstand heavy bombardment. However, in keeping with the frightening Death's Head motif, the Abolisher is designed to look like a massive skull with arms and legs. The two eyes are infra-red and conventional light searchlights for night assaults. The upper skull body can rotate 360 degrees and is operated by a five-man crew. Two soldiers are gunners operating three cannons each, the pilot and the copilot/communications engineer (either the pilot or copilot can fire the small, forward facing, dual laser turret) and the top hatch gunner, usually a SAMAS.

The big guns are devastating weapons that can blast an enemy from all sides simultaneously. The robot's arms and hands are powerful and lethal in hand to hand confrontations (can rotate 180 degrees at the shoulders). On top of the behemoth is a Gunner's Hatch which allows a SAMAS or soldier to perch himself on the head and fire at the enemy from the top of the robot. An inner hatch locks automatically, preventing the enemy from easy access should the top gunner be killed; the inner hatch can only be opened by one of the pilots.

The only real disadvantage to the 30 foot (9 m) giant is that its incredible weight and large size reduce its speed and maneuvering capabilities. Although great in the field as an outer perimeter defense or as an infantry assault unit (tank with arms and legs), its speed and size make it an easy target (hence the heavy armor). Unless one wishes to destroy a city, the bot is not well suited for city conflicts. Its weapons are too powerful for use in the city, able to demolish an S.D.C. skyscraper in mere moments, and its size and bulk makes maneuvering through narrow streets difficult. Still, it is excellent for city defense, being able to be placed wherever needed, and ideal for infantry combat.

IAR-2 Abolisher: Size 9 (Huge), Crew 5+2, Strength d12+10, Toughness 60 (36), Pace 14+d10 (70 MPH)

Notes: MDC Armor, Shoulder STS-Cluster -4 to hit and 24 Hardness.

Weapons:

6 x C-144 Auto-Cannons (Spaced 360 degrees around the crown of the bot; Range 100/200/400, 5d12+5 Mega Damage, AP 12, RoF 1)

Anti-Personnel Lasers (belly gun)

Black Market Cost: 80 Million credits, Rarity -4

[homebrew-rifts]

Savage Rifts Crafting Rules v1.0

I have created a Crafting system to work with the Downtime Setting Rule (Variations of which can be found within the Fantasy and Horror companions at the moment). 

My initial system (and the one I like the most) does utilize a single crafting roll, which sets it apart from other Downtime activities, so I also created a non rolled variant for people that prefer.

The system currently right now focuses on traditional crafting of technological devices, however the system could easily incorporate TW, magic and other devices (and likely will as I expand it)

The system currently includes 10 Edges Taking you all the way up to Heroic level.

Savage Rifts Crafting (Single Roll)

Savage Rifts Crafting (No Roll)

[homebrew-rifts]

Wolfen

Originally release in Palladium Fantasy TTRPG and converted into Rifts on page 86 of the Rifts Conversion Book 1.

The most civilized and powerful of the three canine races is the Wolfen. The wolfen were a fierce warrior people divided into 13 warring tribes. Their constant infighting and their insistence on clinging to barbaric warrior ways, held them back for centuries. However, in the last few decades the wolfen tribes have united and have quickly grown into a well organized, disciplined and orderly society. They still hold to the ways of the warrior, but have developed into a sophisticated military machine, extremely reminiscent of the ancient Romans of Earth.

~ Text from Pg 86 of Rifts Conversion Book 1

Wolfen

Code of Honor (Hindrance) [-2]: Wolfen society places great importance on honor, justice and rule of law.

D-Bee [-2]: They are treated with hostility by human supremacists, distrusted by commoners, spurned everywhere, and have no rights except in the most cosmopolitan areas. They should expect frequent trouble and violence, depending on the crowd and situation, and Reactions of others typically starts at Unfriendly, or Hostile for human supremacists. Failed social checks with Hostile parties often result in violence. 

Nonstandard Build [-2]: The species has proportions which make common equipment problematic. Armor and clothing must be custom-tailored at triple normal cost. Glitter Boy armor (and the Framework) and most human power armor is not an option. Wolfen take a -2 on Trait rolls to use equipment designed for humans.

Size +1 [+1]:

Bite [+2]: Strength +d6 damage.

Enhanced Senses [+1]: +1 Bonus to Notice checks that rely on sense of smell and hearing.

Enhanced Strength [+2]: Strength is increased by i die-type and the Wolfen’s maximum strength is d12+1.

Darkvision [+1]: The species can see in the dark, ignoring all illumination penalties.

Born to Warfare [+1]: The Wolfen begins with a d4 in Fighting.

[homebrew-rifts]

House Rule: Group Barrage

This is something I put together specifically for Savage Rifts due to the adjustment of numbers with many Frameworks and Creatures, modifying the Group Rules concept abit.

Any number of extras with ranged weapons can concentrate fire on a single enemy. Only one of these extras roll (using Group Roll rules, so gain a d6 wild die), every additional attacker also deals an extra +1 damage.

SDC Weapons can, of course, not increase the damage of MD weapons, and vice versa. Supporting Weapons do not get their special effect (it burns!, etc).

This provides two main benefits, the first is Speeding things up, the second is allowing smaller threats to pose a minor threat to some of your moderately powerful units, but get enough of them together and a you may be able to even shake a dragon hatchling :P

Of course your Dragons and Power Armor Aces should feel powerful a lot, so don't always use this, but even when you do use this it allows them to shine as the extras are gonna be easily wiped out reducing that benefit and providing a real feeling of effecting the battlefield.

[homebrew-rifts]

One Simple Trick On Speeding Up Combat

An issue with Savage Worlds in general gets even more centered in Savage Rifts is the modifier stacking from multiple sources and characters onto a single character making every turn not so fast but more just a giant string of long but basic math.

If you are new to Savage Worlds and find its not living up to"Fast. Furious. Fun" tag line (because god they overcomplicate everything making each action worse than a PF1E turn) all that bullshit where you do something (cover, protection power, etc) and tell them to subtract it?

Fucking bananas bad game design, and it amounts to the same thing but is much faster if instead, you take the precedent already made by Parry and instead add that shit to what they need to hit you.

Let them worry about MAP and called shots and whatever they got going on.

You pay attention to what you have going on and then just say "you need a 6 (or 8 or whatever) to hit me".

So much faster.

[homebrew-rifts]

Noli Bushman

Originally released on pg 137 of Rifts World Book 20: Canada

The Noli are D-Bees who emerged from the Detroit-Windsor Rift at least two centuries ago. They have adapted to the forests of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, and some have recently migrated to Ontario and Lower Michigan. They are bipedal humanoids with grass-green skin and dark green or brown tufts of fur that resemble dreadlocks or thick, soft quills on their heads, shoulders and waist. The neck i s long and thin, supporting a rather melon-like head. The mouth is large, with flat teeth ideal for biting and grinding tree bark, tough roots , grass, fruits, nuts and vegetables, which are their main food. The dark green eyes are large and round, with a light green iris. The nose is two, barely visible pinholes and the ears are small holes just above the jaw.

Noli are natural woodsmen w h o love nature, particularly forests , where they live as hunters and gatherers. However, Noli are not opposed to using modem machines and unlike some wilderness people, Noli do not find cities and towns distasteful, although if they live in one, it will be a small town. They simply prefer life in the open and choose to live a simple, quiet life in the wild.

All Noli are psionic. They respect magic and practitioners of magic, but never study magic themselves. Noli communities are typically small towns or tribal communities. Unlike the Coalition States, they accept most other people as equals and allow humans and D-Bees to live in their communities provided they obey tribal customs and help to defend "the people." They make excellent scouts, cowboys, ranchers, animal handlers and explorers.

~ Text from Pg 144 of Rifts World Book 30: D-Bees of North America

Noli Bushman

Alien Physiology (-2): Noli are quite alien, giving those unfamiliar with their biology a −2 penalty to Healing checks. Compatible medical supplies/services and cybernetics cost double the listed price.

Cyber Resistant (-1): Cybernetics are incompatible with Noli physiology. Juicer and Crazy augmentations don’t work for this race.

D-Bee (Major) (-2): The initial Reactions to Noli typically start at Unfriendly, or Hostile for human supremacists. Those with an Unfriendly or lower Reaction will refuse to sell wares or provide services such as healing, repairs, etc. Failed social checks with Hostile parties often result in violence.

Restricted Path (-1): A Noli has no capacity for magic. They cannot take any Arcane Background or Framework using PPE.

Fast (+2): Increase Pace by +2 and Running die by a die type.

Natural Psionics (+2): Noli begin with the Arcane Background (Psionics) and start with 3 powers of their choice. If a Noli chooses a framework providing Arcane Background (Psionics) they gain 1 additional power to his starting total (e.g. a Noli Burster starts with four powers, a Mind Melter with six).

Natural Woodsman (+2): Noli begin with the Woodsman Professional Edge which grants them a +2 to Survival and Stealth rolls made in the wild (not towns, ruins or underground).

Polarized Membrane (+1): Noli have a membrane-like second eyelid covers and protects their eyes from bright lights. A Noli have a +4 bonus to resist the effect of effect intended to Blind that use a Light trapping.

Nightvision (+1): Noli ignore Dim and Dark Illumination penalties.

[homebrew-rifts]

Gurgoyle G-10 Power Armor for Savage Rifts

Originally released on p. 205 of Rifts World Book 5: Triax and the NGR

The gurgoyle power armor is a full environmental suit with robot augmentation much like the human suits. It is giant-sized because the wearer is a giant. The armor has wicked, spiked shoulder plates, jet thrusters for power leaps , and a few basic weapons. The complexity of the weapons and the suit's operation have been kept to a minimum. Weapons are deliberately familiar and easy to use. They include vibro-claws for hand to hand combat, a vibro-axe, an optional hand-gun and built-in ion blasters and mini-missiles . The sensor and communication system are similar to those of the human units , but with simpler display screens and more automated systems to make the armor user friendly.

Size 3 (Normal), +11 MDC Armor, +6 Toughness, Strength d12+6, Pace 18 + d10 (100 MPH). 3,086 lbs, Rarity -6 Restricted, 2 million or more credits

Notes: Jet-Assisted Jumping (Jump +12" horizontal, +6" vertical), 100 MPH overland speed.

Weapons

2x Anti-Personnel Ion Blasters on the lower portion of the chest. Each is a circular style turret that can rotate in all directions 90 degrees.

1x Concealed Back Mini-Missile Launcher holding 4 mini missiles.

2x Giant Vibro-Claws, one in each hand. (Str+2d6 MD, AP 10, +1 Parry when paired, Min Str d8, Weight 10, 22000 credits)

Giant Vibro-Axe as a standard weapon. (Reach 2, Sized for 2+ or larger, requires 2 hands if not size 3 or larger, Str+3d6 MD, AP 14, Min Strength d12+2, Weigh 14, 45000 credits)

While the default Power Armor doesn't come with Energy Rifles or Rail Guns, they are often carried and used.

[homebrew-rifts]

Tomorrow I start GMing my first Savage Rifts game, I'm excited.

I'm a long time Rifts fan, it was a fundamental RPG for me as a child (as well as many other Palladium games) however I haven't played it in over two decades because of just how much I don't actually like playing in Palladium Megaversal (Designing? Yes. Making Characters? Yes. Playing? Nope!)

So tomorrow is a session zero for my first Rifts game which will run for a few months, the characters/players are:

??? the Royal Frilled Dragon Hatchling, the player is new to Rifts and, I think, to Savage Worlds.

Cazador the Anti-Monster, the player is new to Rifts, well versed in Savage Worlds.

Ferryn the Four-Armed D-Bee Power Armor Ace, the player is somewhat familiar with Rifts and somewhat new to Savage Worlds.

Chuck the Rhino-Buffalo riding Grackle Tooth Barbarian Tundra Ranger, new to Rifts, well versed in Savage Worlds.

??? the Dogboy Mind Melter, character is familiar with Rifts but not at all familiar with Savage Worlds. This guy is also the only person that is a complete rando (never met him before he joined the game)

Hopefully we'll have time to dip into some mechanics as well, and to acquaint the players I have set up a quick in-media-res encounter where they've been ambushed by a coalition patrol that jumps them while they are trying to enter the Federation of Magic which will lead to a Chase scene with some SAMAS just to get a brief familiarization with the system.