Dimension of Shadows

Carl Gleba · Unread post by **Carl Gleba** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 1:04 pm

I'll have to read it when I get home and let you know. funny, but I can't seem to remember those details at the moment.

Carl

Josh Sinsapaugh · Wed Dec 27, 2006 1:14 pm

I'd go with "Dimensional Override."

Also, Gleba's Shadow article is not only bad ass, it also contains the most Kick Ass picture of a Shadow Beast ever done by anyone (Kudos, Apollo).

~ Josh

Carl Gleba · Unread post by **Carl Gleba** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 8:04 pm

gadrin wrote:In Rifter #28, Carl wrote up the Dimension of Shadows p82, which is pretty neat.

I'm thinking of incorporating some (well, most) of it into a scenario for Phase World.

However just in case I run into a Rules Lawyer™ I want to get a couple of clarifications:

the plane o'shadows has those funny "anti-ley lines" on p87 which draw PPE from mages.

RUE (and before) has a rule where it's impossible for mages to have PPE taken from them:

1) so is this a "Dimensional Override" for that ?

Yes, its considered one of the big dangers in the Plane of Shadows and why most magic users don't come back.

gadrin wrote:2) if it is then does the dimension also make it easier for mages to steal PPE from one another ? (bwahaha!) or is this two different processes ?

No it would not be easier for a mage to steal PPE from another. Like you said its a different process.

gadrin wrote:3) does it also syphon off PPE from non-mages ? some creatures like Brodkil, Uteni and others can have a fair amount of PPE, but aren't mages.

Yes, everyone is vulnerable. I'm sure there maybe an exception to the rule, or a magic spell that I'm not thinking of. Just use common sense. Also I'd have to read more on them, but maybe the Shadow Dragons (from SOT) might not be affected.

gadrin wrote:BTW -- for 1 & 2 I'm guessing that this only happens when the mage "opens themselves up" to the ley line in anticipation of grabbing energy, like they would on Rifts Earth, etc., but mentions just resting near one of the "anti-ley lines". I'm also guessing natives or creatures like Silhouettes, aren't vulnerable to this PPE drain ???

Actually both. I would say a mage would figure out that they are loosing PPE right away, so by the time they decided to steal PPE from the supposed Ley Line they would have already figured out that opening themselves up to the ley line is bad.

As for the natives I did say that even they are affected in the article. I might re-think this for a source book in the future.

Don't worry about the rules layers, it says right in the article "Optional Source Material" so its not official and as a GM you have the right to interrupt it however you want. One of these days I might expand it into a small source book, but until then its not really cannon.

gadrin wrote:Thanks!

Anytime. Its cool for me to see people who like my stuff and are using it. Its even better if they expand on it themselves.

Carl

DhAkael · Unread post by **DhAkael** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 9:11 pm

Dimension of shadows...yeek!
NOT nice place..however, Lord Grey; charming fellow really, just don't stay for dessert when visiting his manor

Aramanthus · Unread post by **Aramanthus** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 8:37 pm

I like the thoughts suggested in this thread. I'll have to see if I could convince my player to go there.

Swift-13 · Unread post by **Swift-13** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 3:49 am

The Shadow Dimension (and all varieties of its name) is excellent! Even more brutal than the Nightlands in the hands of the right GM.

There even seems to be a hidden, no pun intended, cult among Palladium fans for the use of Shadow Magic. Unfortunately, I can't remember which Rifter compliments the spells in PFRPG's Library of Bletherad...

Aramanthus · Unread post by **Aramanthus** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 5:01 am

I can definately believe it could be devastating in the hands of a GM.

Carl Gleba · Unread post by **Carl Gleba** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:59 am

Darkmax wrote:what is the brightness in the dimension of shadow?

Think of a night with full moon out. You can only see so far and there are tons of shadows. During what is considered "day" its like dusk.

Carl

Aramanthus · Unread post by **Aramanthus** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:20 pm

Are you sure it's sold out? Maybe you should ask the nice people at PB if they have any in stock.

Aramanthus · Unread post by **Aramanthus** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 4:05 am

But still it's better than not having it.

Aramanthus · Unread post by **Aramanthus** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:42 pm

That is very true!

Aramanthus · Unread post by **Aramanthus** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 4:57 am

Maybe you would be lucky there!

Aramanthus · Unread post by **Aramanthus** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 3:44 am

You never know without trying it.

Aramanthus · Unread post by **Aramanthus** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:14 am

You will Darkmax! You'll find one!

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 2:49 pm

Would be kinda cool if they were all the same somehow or at least connected thought portals. Also in my personal little version i have a Japanese god of darkness called Aramatsu Mikaboshi or something like that as a major player in all those realms. Using Hounds looking like Samurai to hunt down his enemies.

I think Rifts in general should incorporate more of the Palladium and Nightbane cosmology. There are many good ideas that would fit well into Rifts setting. For one thing Through the looking glass darkly actually has some descriptions of the Astral Plane. That has to be a resource for anyone playing a psychic.

And Carl if you are seriously thinking about doing a whole book about a Shadow Plane i would say that would be very cool.

Carl Gleba · Unread post by **Carl Gleba** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:17 pm

anarchclown wrote:I think Rifts in general should incorporate more of the Palladium and Nightbane cosmology. There are many good ideas that would fit well into Rifts setting. For one thing Through the looking glass darkly actually has some descriptions of the Astral Plane. That has to be a resource for anyone playing a psychic.

And Carl if you are seriously thinking about doing a whole book about a Shadow Plane i would say that would be very cool.

They are good ideas. I haven't thought too much about the Shadow Dimension recently. I'm still finishing the Minion Wars. I would like that done this year! :eek:

Once that's done I might mess around with the Elemental Planes, but we'll see where Palladium is at that point.

Carl

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:33 pm

Elemental Planes are good too. I love Warlocks and their special bond with the elementals. I have done so since first edition Palladium. Of course actually finishing the Minion Wars series would be a feat in it self considering the state Palladium is in right now. And actually Shadow Dimensions could be pretty tied in to the whole elemental vibe. I mean there is already a Shadow Warlock.

Carl Gleba · Unread post by **Carl Gleba** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 10:07 am

Dimesnion books are just easier to write :mrgreen:

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 11:18 am

Though some of us wouldn't mind some World Books that aren't about North America either. Like maybe an Africa two that is actually about Africa instead of ancient Egypt and The Four Horsemen. Or something at all about India or the Middle East. But of course I guess i got a little derailed from the subject here. Unless Set and the other gods of Darkness from Africa book actually have something to do with a Shadow Dimension.

Carl Gleba · Unread post by **Carl Gleba** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 10:19 pm

I should clarify. When I'm inspired and all fired about about a particular book or idea the words flow pretty fast and so do the ideas. Having to write something I'm not all that inspired over is difficult and I feel it wouldn't be my best. I don't want to turn in sub-par work to Palladium. I strive to give it my all and turn in the best work possible. I feel Palladium produces quality books and I don't want to lower the curve

As you guys can probably tell my while I love Rifts, my interest lies in its Dimension Books. I think the Rifts setting is very well established. I've always been a fan of the dimension hopping campaigns. In the last few Rifts games I've ran the players have gone to Hades, Robotech, 3G, Wormwood, Manhunter and Palladium. Different groups have gone to different places and we've had all kinds of cool adventures. The best had to be the dimensional scavenger hunt. I sent the players to 4 different dimensions to collect rare components so some Atlantians they knew could build them a D-pyramid. Long story, and campaign.

Well that was pretty long winded

Carl

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:58 pm

Don't get me wrong. I actually love to have well described other dimensions to send my players as well instead of generic fantasy plane 1.2. Though my players normally play more tech oriented than magic oriented which makes planehopping a little more difficult.

Thats part of why a Forest of shadows possibly connecting to the shadow planes that possibly connects to other worlds is a very good thing for me. :)

Carl Gleba · Unread post by **Carl Gleba** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:19 pm

anarchclown wrote:Don't get me wrong. I actually love to have well described other dimensions to send my players as well instead of generic fantasy plane 1.2. Though my players normally play more tech oriented than magic oriented which makes planehopping a little more difficult.

Thats part of why a Forest of shadows possibly connecting to the shadow planes that possibly connects to other worlds is a very good thing for me.

Rifts Earth is full of Rifts and dimensional anomalies. A plane shift can happen anywhere, because you're the GM

Carl

shiiv-a · Unread post by **shiiv-a** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:02 pm

oh ... i fully agree. as the GM, rifts can happen anywhere .. people should NEVER assume that its safe and wander thru like a 'flower-child' and find everything or everyone on the other side to be easy pushovers.

the 'plane of shadows' ... should NEVER be thought of as a walk in the park. it is populated with the darker emotions and desires of the population. it also has ALL the things that go 'bump in the night' ... maybe NOT as bad as the nightlands ... but its nasty enough.

so yeah .. have the players fear the 'what ifs' .. but not so scary that they run in fear from the next random rift that opens ... after all, it could open up and all they see is pink fluff .. like cotton candy. :shock:

and its NOT a fun place, cause its one of hte corners of the realm of chaos ... at least in MY games it is ... and none has ever found it yet ...

shiiv-a · Unread post by **shiiv-a** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 8:23 pm

well ... sadly i do not have access to those books ... and it seems that MOST characters seem to know everything about anything their owners do ...

seen too many people run their chars with Out Of Game Info ... it just sickens me ... ruins the games then. so ... i'm thinking a change of venue .. and where only 'silver' harms said beast ... only a certain type of wood will do the job. or other things like that ... you NEVER know whatbeasts will be found in this place or that...

Carl Gleba · Unread post by **Carl Gleba** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:38 pm

shiiv-a wrote:well ... sadly i do not have access to those books ... and it seems that MOST characters seem to know everything about anything their owners do ...

seen too many people run their chars with Out Of Game Info ... it just sickens me ... ruins the games then. so ... i'm thinking a change of venue .. and where only 'silver' harms said beast ... only a certain type of wood will do the job. or other things like that ... you NEVER know whatbeasts will be found in this place or that...

I know where you're coming from. I had a player who read all the book, had most of the stats memorized and sometimes would even keep track of how much damage the group did and would complain when we went beyond what its M.D.C. should have been. That's when another GM and I just take stuff and bastardized it. Not really bad, but one example was a Baal-rog wizard. He had a crap load of spells in addition to what a normal Baal-rog could do. We would also role up complete N.P.C.'s (the villain N.P.C. that is) with gear and everything, plus playing them smart always challenged the players and when they did something that they couldn't it was because maybe they had a magic ring, amulet or something that would end up as a treasure for the player later.

You can also make up your own setting and do not have to stick to exactly what's in the books. Or make your own dimensions and populate them with different critters or something of your own creation.

Remember as GM you should feel free to mix it up a bit, but be consistent about it.

Carl

Aramanthus · Unread post by **Aramanthus** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:36 pm

I've had the problem too Shiiv-a with players in the past. I've had some who really try not to use that information. And they do a good job too.

shiiv-a · Unread post by **shiiv-a** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:09 am

well .. hwho's really gonna be afraid of wispy pink clouds? ... not many ...

* its not the clouds that are the danger ... its what the clouds DO that are dangerous ...

its what they turn into .. act and react .. lure and tease that are the dangers ... you need one of hte locals to guide you ... but they are .... about 3 in number ... ? ... and don't get out to play that often and don't wanna deal with a bunch of crazy insanes ... and usually leave them for the clouds to deal with ...

gotta love the insensitive godly beings that rule the doorways huh? ...

shiiv-a · Unread post by **shiiv-a** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:25 pm

anyways ... that being said ... i made me a total bad ... err ... *rethinks the wording briefly* .... totally evilly and inane character. she's Elvan in nature ... and then a few other things tossed into the works ... genetic anomalies due to the rifting that happened a whiles back .. then a bunch of other things that happened ... she's currently a shadow warlock that grew up in the Darklands ... and has made an arrangement with a shadow beast or two, to eat the 'prisoners' ... she drops off.

its a win win situation for her .. and she loves it.

shiiv-a · Unread post by **shiiv-a** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 3:38 pm

well .. for an SDC being in an MDC world .... she gets by well enough ... she's currently a bodyguard .. knows evil needs to be stamped out ... feeds a shadowbeast .. but they leave her alone most times .. and she leaves them alone. they love to chase down the 'meal in the box' ... and since they're IN the shadow realm ... the are bound to run out of ammo first .. and provide an hour or two amusement for the beast ... while the person runs away firing like crazy ...

but hey .. thats HER arrangement ... she's as much one with the shadow realm as she is in NB or Rifts or any of the SDC worlds she was sent to ... it was her niche. just never ask her to 'can you do me a favor ... ?" .. cause like any self centered self absorbed elf tht thinks their the center of the universe .. they'll figure out WHAT she can get outta you first and second .. do the work .. and if you shortchange her? ... deal with you in the above mentioned manner and not feel bad about it. you DID cross her first

DhAkael · Unread post by **DhAkael** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 3:50 pm

Carl Gleba wrote:
shiiv-a wrote:well ... sadly i do not have access to those books ... and it seems that MOST characters seem to know everything about anything their owners do ...

seen too many people run their chars with Out Of Game Info ... it just sickens me ... ruins the games then. so ... i'm thinking a change of venue .. and where only 'silver' harms said beast ... only a certain type of wood will do the job. or other things like that ... you NEVER know whatbeasts will be found in this place or that...

Not really bad, but one example was a Baal-rog wizard. He had a crap load of spells in addition to what a normal Baal-rog could do.

Carl

Then there is the GREATER baal-rogg; from out of Morgoth

instead of 1D6X100 MDC, we're talking X1000..and well... are YOU an avatar of a greater being of light? No? Then please write up another PC...thank you.

DhAkael · Unread post by **DhAkael** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 9:04 pm

Darkmax wrote:Can I bring Gandalf?....

As I said "Avatar of a greater being of light"

Aramanthus · Unread post by **Aramanthus** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:05 am

Actually he (being Gandalf) would be an avatar of light! Technically the Baal-Rog and he were related in their origins. They were the original children of the Valar.

Aramanthus · Unread post by **Aramanthus** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 11:17 pm

Again, they were both miar. I know I mispelled it.

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 11:30 pm

You guys are so lost it's not even funny. While we are on the subject of alternate dimensions by the way. I think another thing that should really be explored is what exactly the dimension known as flux is. Are there being that originate there or make it their home or is it just a place people pass through when using Riftdrives to get places.

Personally I made a lost and very advanced civilization of semi spirits that had been lost since the before the Dominator invasion that lived in there. Of course they didn't normally interact with people just passing through in the blink of an instance but sometimes their probes caught ships and examined them before letting them pass on to their destinations and eventually I am planning on them invading the Three Galaxies when the time is right.

Aramanthus · Unread post by **Aramanthus** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:08 am

Actually I know we are off topic, but I have to educate someone.

Aramanthus · Unread post by **Aramanthus** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:17 am

Just like usual!

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:21 am

Both of you two are compulsive posters. If i post something you just have to get the last word don't you. And yes i am specifically referring to you Darkmax. Of course I am also able to post into infinity so you will not have the pleasure.

Maniacal Laughter

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:28 am

No ****.

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:31 am

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:35 am

It means Meh!

About the same as Bah but a little less rude

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:47 am

Well i am Swedish if that helps.

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:50 am

Thus the mention of Location: Singapore in your tag.

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:32 am

Yeah that and the fact that you mentioned it in another thread earlier that i read.

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:51 am

Why is that? It's morning here.

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:49 am

I can't believe i went from peasant to wanderer by posting stupid posts like this one.

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:57 am

No I am merely trying to get the last word in on one single post at least. :-D

Carl Gleba · Unread post by **Carl Gleba** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 1:05 pm

I don't think anyone can keep up with Darkmax in terms of posting on the boards. Looking at his profile he averages like 31 posts a day. At least that was last I looked. :eek:

Carl

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:29 pm

You guys need to get a grip. Those aren't real. I think he is more like an octopus. Genetically engineered to answer every post on the PB Rifts DB forum. That makes much more sense. :shock:

Carl Gleba · Unread post by **Carl Gleba** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:00 pm

Darkmax wrote:haha.... I've got 2 pictures of my wife, my son and me in the Sound Off Forum under Sound Off Pictures thread, if you really want to know if I'm an octopus.

Darkmax you have a beautiful family :ok:

and you look nothing like your avatar

Carl

anarchclown · Unread post by **anarchclown** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:44 am

I have no idea how to get in to the Sound Off forum.

Forums of the Megaverse®

Dimension of Shadows

Re: Dimension of Shadows