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Warning!
The fictional world of Rifts
®
is quite violent and deadly . It is an exotic realm where magic
is as real as technology, and demonic creatures plague
humankind.
Some parents may find the violence and supernatural elements of
the game inappropriate for young readers/players. We suggest
parental discretion.
Note that none of us at Palladium Books condone nor encourage
the occult, the practice of magic, the use of drugs, or
violence.
®
A complete new Role-Playing Game
Compatible with the entire Palladium Books® Megaversl!l ®
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This work is dedicated to the troops in the trenches, Maryann,
Kevin Long, Alex, and Thorn, all of whom worked diligently and
tirelessly to get this special project out on time. Without them,
this book would not have been possible.
Special Thanks to Keith Parkinson who is a good friend, as well
as a great artist. Also to Richard Cook, whose additional research
was a great help, Larry MacDougall who did what had to be done, Jim
Osten and Jim Dombrowski for pitching in when needed, Erick Wujcik
for the name Rifts, and Cheryl Corey
for making sure this one got out on schedule!
Other titles in the Rifts· series include: Rifts· Sourcebook One
Rifts· Sourcebook Two: Mechanoidse
Rifts· Sourcebook TIrree: Mindwerks'" Rifts· Conversion Book One
Rifts· Conversion Book Two: Pantheons of the Megaverse· Rifts·
World Book One: Vampire Kingdoms Rifts· World Book Two: Atlantis
Rifts· World Book Three: England Rifts" World Book Four. Africa
Rifts" World Book Five: Triax'" and the NGR Rifts· World Book Six:
South America Rifts" World Book Seven: Rifts" Undersea Rifts·:
Mercenaries'" Rifts· Dimension Book One: Wonnwood'" Rifts·
Dimension Book Two: Phase World'" Rifts· Dimension Book TIrree:
Phase World Sourcebook'"
Coming in 19951 Rifts" World Book Eight: Rifts" Japan Rifts"
World Book Nine: Rifts· South America Two Rifts·: The Juicer
Uprisings'" Rifts·: Chi-Town World Book Rifts": The New West World
Book Rifts": Lone Star World Book Rifts" Novels
Ninth Printing - September 1995
Copyright © 1990, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1983 by Kevin Siembieda.
Other Palladium RPG titles include: The Compendiwn of Weapons,
Annor, and Castles'" The Compendiwn of Contemporary Weapons'" The
PaUadiwn" RPG Revised Heroes Unlimited'" ViUams Unlimited'" Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles· and Other Strangeness After the Bombe
Nightspawn'"
Ninjas and Superspies'"
Robotech" RPG
Macross II'" RPG
Beyond the Supernatural'"
Palladium Books, Rifts, The Mechanoids, The Mechaonid Invasion,
and Megaverse are registered trademarks owned and licensed by Kevin
Siembieda. Mega-damage, M.D.C., S.D.C., P.P.E., Triax, Xiticix,
Splugorth, Erin Tarn, Victor Lazlo, and their likenesses, The
Palladium Role-Playing Game, Heroes Unlimited, Beyond the
Supernatural, Ninjas & Superspies, and other titles are
trademarks owned and licensed by Kevin Siembieda.
Copyright © 1990 by Kevin Siembieda. AJI rights reseIVed under
the Universal Copyright Convention. No part of this book may be
reproduced in part or whole, in any fonn or by any means, without
pennission from the publisher, except for brief quotes for use in
reviews. AJI incidents, situations, institutions, governments and
people are fictional and any similarity, without satiric intent, of
characters or persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
Rifts is published by Palladium Books Inc., 12455 Universal
Drive, Taylor, MI 48180.
Printed in the United States of America.
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Palladium Books ®
Written By: Kevin Siembieda
Editors: Alex Marciniszyn Thorn Bartold
Cover Art: Keith Parkinson
Interior Paintings: Kevin Long Keith Parkinson
Additional Color/Painting:
Adam Siembieda Kevin Siembieda Larry Mac Dougall
Interior Art: Kevin Long
Additional Art: Kevin Siembieda Larry MacDougall
Art Direction & Keylining: Kevin Siembieda Typography:
Maryann Siembieda
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Glossary of Tenns ...... .. . 7
Creating A Character
The Eight Attributes 8
Hit Points & S.D.C. 9
Mega-Damage ... . ..... . . . . . ........ .. .............. .
..... . ... II
How to Determine Psionics ..... . 12
12 13
Selecting an O.c.c. . . . .
Money and Equipment .
Rounding Out One's Character .......... . · ...... 14 14 15
Alignments .. .. . . .. .. .. . .. . . . .. .
........................ Experience Points . ...... .. .......... .
........ .. .
O .c.c. Experience Tables ........... . ......... . ... . 17
18 19
Optional Rules . .. .. .... .. .. .
Insanity Tables . ... .. . .. . .
Player Characters and Skills . 22
Skill List . . ... 23
Skill Descriptions
Modem Weapon Proficiencies ............ . 33
Hand to Hand Combat ..... . . . . . . . . 34 37Hand to Hand
Combat Tables .....
Combat Rules for High-Tech War Machines
Volleys & Bursts .......... . . . . . ..... . .. 40
41 ... . . ..... 42
Missiles ... .. . . ... . .. .... .... . ... .
Combat Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Robot and Power Annor Combat Training Tables ... . ......... 44
46Missile Chart . .... .. ... . ....... .
Occupational Character Classes (O .c.c.) .. . .. . 47
Men of Arms
25
38
47.. . . ... . ... . ...... . .. . . .. ......... . .... .. ...
.. ........ . .
Borg .......... . ..... .. .. .. ......................... ..
.... ... . ... . . .. .. 47
Coalition "Dead Boy" Grunt ..... . .... . ..... . ......... .
..... .. .. . .......... . 51
Coalition Elite RPA O.c.c. (SAMAS) .. ..... .. . . . ... .. ..
.. ... ......... ... . . . . .. . · . . .... 53
Coalition Military Specialist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . · ...... 54
Coalition Technical Officer ... .. ............... .
............ . ... .. ..... . .. .. . . 55
Crazies ... ........... . . ... .. .. . ... .. . . ... . . . .
.. . . 56
Cyber Knight .......... . 62
Glitter Boy ... .. .. .... . 64
Headhunter ....... . ... . 66
Juicer ......... . .. . 68
Scholars and Adventurers . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Body Fixer ....... ... .. . .. . . , . . ... .. .............. .
. ... ...... . . .. .... 71
City Rat . ................. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . ..... .. ..
. .. .. .. .. ........ 73
Cyber Doc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 74
Operator . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 76
Rogue Scientist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 78
Rogue Scholar ........ . .... .. . .. . .. .. .. ...... .
............... . ................ . 79
Wilderness Scout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Vagabond . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Practitioners of Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Line Walker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
83
Mystic ............ .. ........ . . ... ... . .... . .... . . .
.............. . ..... . . 84
Shifter ....... . .. . .... ... .... . ... . .... . . . .... .
............... . .... . .... .. .... 87
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Page
Techno-Wizard ..... . .. . 89
Racial Character Classes (R.C.C.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Dragons as Player Characters . ........ ... ....... ....
........ .. ....... . . .. . 98
Homed Dragon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 100
Fire Dragon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .. 100
Ice Dragon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Thunder Lizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .. 101
Psychic R.C.C.s ............. .. . 101
Burster . . . . . .. . .. .. . . 102
Psi-Stalker ... ....... ... . 104
Wild Psi-Stalker .... . .. .. . 106
Coalition Dog Pack ..... . ... . . . 107
Mind Melter ....... . ....... . ... . 112
Psionic Powers . . . . . ....... . 113
Meditation & Saving Throws 1\3
Animal P.P.E. . .... 114
Psionic Power Descriptions . ......... . 115
Healer. . ........... . 115
Physical ............ .. . . .. . 116
Sensitive .... 1\9
Super Psionics 124
The Time Before Rifts 128
Color Section . .. .. . 129
A World Overview .. 137
Chi-Town ...... . 140
CS State of Missouri 141
CS State of Lone Star 143
The Magic Zone .. .. . . .. .. . 144
Dinosaur Swamp ....... . . . . 146
Northern Gun (Michigan) ...... . . . 147
The Free State of Lazlo (Toronto) . 149
CS State of Free Quebec . .. ....... . 149
Atlantis. . . . ........ . ... . . . 150
Outer Space ...... . .. . ....... . 152
Color Section . .. .. . . ..... .. ...... . 153
Color Map of the Americas & Atlantis .. 158
Color Map of the Old American Empire 159
Magic . .. . ...... . 161
Mastery of Magic 162
Ley Lines .... 163
Learning Spells 164
Magic Combat .... 165
Alphabetical List of Spell Invocations 166
Spell List by Levels .... 167
Spell Descriptions Begin . 168
Coalition State Weapons & Equipment ...... . . 191
Body Armor .................. . . . 193
Robot Vehicles . ......... .. .... . 194
Other Vehicles & Equipment .. . . 198
Coalition Guns ........... .. . . . . 203
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The Black Market . .. .. .... . 205 207Pre-Rift Artifacts . .. .
.. .
Selling to the Black Market
Mega-Damage Body Armor . 209 211 214
Power Armor . . . . . . . . . .
Robot Vehicles .. . . .. .. .
Glitter Boy Armor/Robot
Other Weapons & Equipment Energy Weapons Rail Guns
Vehicles
Cybernetics .. 229 Bionics
Partial Bionic Reconstruction
238
Prosthetics, Weapons, and Tools
Full Bionic Conversion . . ..
Miscellaneous Equipment
Game Master Section .. . 246
208
218
223 223 225 226
237 237
239
243
Quick Find Table Men of Arms ....... . .. .. . . . ... . . .. ..
.. 47 Death's Head Transport . .... .... ... .. .... . . 199
S.D.C . for Men ofAnns (lD4 x 10) . . .. .. ... . . . . 9 Sky
Cycle Vehicle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 201
Cyborgs ("Borgs") O.C.c. .. . .. . ...... . .. . . . . . . .. 47
Energy Weapons . . . . . . . . . . ... . .... . .... . 203
Bionic Section . . . . . . . .. ...... . .. ... . . . . 237
Explosives . ... ... . .. . ... .... . . . . . . . . .. 204
Crazies O .C .c. ...... . . .. . ... . . . . . .... . ...... 56
Vibro-Blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Cyber Knight O.C .C . . . ... . . .. . ... .... . . .. .. ....
62
Neural Mace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
205Glitter Boy O .C.c. . . .. ... .. ..... .. ... .. . . . .. . .
64
Glitter Boy Armor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
218 Additional Weapons & Equipment .•.....•......•. 205
Head Hunter O.C.C. . ... . .. .... .. ... ... ... . .. .. 66
Black Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
205
Juicer O.C.C. . . .... ..... .. .. .... . ..... . . .. .. 68
Black Market Pre-Rifts Artifacts . .... . . .. . .. . " 207
Juicer Body Armor .. . .. .. .. . .. .... . . . . . . 210 Body
Annor (Non-Coalition) ...... .. ... .. . .. . 209
Juicer Energy Weapons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
225 Coalition Body Annor .. .. . .. . . ... . . .. .. ... 193
Coalition O.C.C.s ............................ 49 Coalition
SAMAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 193
Propaganda and Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
49 Flying Titan Power Armor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
212
Grunt O .C.C. ...... .. .. ... .. . .. . . ... .. . . .. . . 51
Glitter Boy Annor/Robot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Elite Robot Pilot ("Sam") O.C.c. ... .. . . . . . ... .. .. ..
53 NG Samson Power Annor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
212
Pilot: Robot Combat Elite Skill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 30 Titan Robot Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. 214
Pilot : Tank & APC Skill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. .. 30
Weapons (Non-Coalition) . . . .. . .. .. . . . . .....
223Military Specialist .. . .... ... ..... . . . . .... . . . . "
54
Techno-Wizard Items . . .. .... . .. .. . . .. . .. .. .
92Espionage Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 26
Technical Officer .... .. ... . ... . .. . ... . . . . . . .. 55
Bionics .........•......•................. 237
Coalition Psychic: Dog Pack .. .. .... ... . .. . . .. . . . 107
Cyborg Body Annor . ... ... . . ... . . . . . . ... . 243
Dog Pack Body Annor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
193
Cybernetics ...... . . . ... .... . . ... .. ... .. . . 229Dog
Pack Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Blackmarket Cybernetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
234Dog Pack Optional Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
III
Coalition Psychic: Psi-Stalker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .. 104 Combat
Psionic Power Descriptions .. .. . .. . .... .. ... . 115 Weight
and Fatigue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Coalition State: Data & Information Hit Points and S.D .C .
. .. ... . . .. .. . 9
The Recollections of Erin Tam . ... . 191 Coma and Death . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Coalition Soldier Propaganda . . . .. .... . ... . 102
Mega-Damage . . . .. . ....... . .... . . .. .. .. . I I
CS State of Chi-Town . .. . . . .... .. .. .. . .. . 140
Demolition Ski1is . . .. . . .. ... ... .. . . . . . . 28
CS State of Free Quebec . . . . . . . . .. 141 Physical Skills .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 28
CS State of [ron Heart . . . . ... ..... . .... . . . 149 Rogue
Skills ..... . . . . .. . . .. . ... . . . . . . ... 30
CS State of Lone Star .. . .. . . .. . . ... . . 143
W.P. Skills .... .. . .. . . . .. .. . ... .. . . . .. . . 32CS
Slate of Missouri . .. ...... . . .. .. ..... . . 141
Modem Weapon Proficiencies . . . .. . . . 33Magic Zone &
Federation of Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Hand to Hand Tables .. ....... ... . 37Psychics in the CS .. ...
..... .. .... .. . 102
Black Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Robot Combat Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 44
Vol1eys and Bursts .. . . ... ... . . . . . . . . ... ...
40Coalition Weapons & Equipment Called Shot . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Body Annor . ... . . .. .. . . .
.. ... . . .... . . . 193
Missile Combat ..... . . .. . . . . . . . . . .... . .. . 41Dog
Pack Annor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
193
SAMAS Power Armor .. .. .. .. . . . . .. . . ... . . 193 Missile
Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46
UAR- I Enforcer ' Bot ... .. . .. . . . 194 Magic Combat . . . .
. . . ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 165
Spider-Skull Walker 'Bot .. . . . .. . 197 Psionic Combat . ....
. ..... .. . . . . ... . .. .. .. .. 113
Armored Personnel Carrier .. . . .. 198 Horror Factor . . . . .
. 114
6 Animals ... ... .. . 114
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