Gryphon wrote:@ Akashic: Agreed. Except Lone Star is a massive complex involving hundreds of scientists, a small mega cities worth of facilities as cutting edge as a North American power utilizing almost purely Golden Age gear can get, and literally thousands of aides and support personnel. Compare that against the statements that say that ALL of the strains of mutants listed in South America (1 & 2, and the Amphibians from Underseas apparently) were utterly viable AT the time of the Great Cataclysm. It wouldn’t be until sometime after 18 PA or so that they had established themselves securely enough to emerge as a full city state in their own right.
So South America managed to produce perfectly viable super animal mutants prior to the coming of the Rifts?! The woman that saved them from being eliminated during the Great Cataclysm apparently bore three of the fist Neo-Humans in her own womb. I can understand a non-US group making such advances, but why hasn’t the C.S. started to approach parity here? Either they aren’t that good yet, and might never be, or South American Mutant Animals are better than the game world should allow…much like a lot of other things in these two books.
Didn't NEMA have a ban on genetic experimentation, which is why the Amphib project was out at sea in the first place in open waters outside of U.S. law?
In theory, if the South Americans had the same thing going on and were doing illegal experimentation, wouldn't that make sense too?
I don't know, it had always just " worked " for me so I'd never given it too much thought.
Gryphon wrote:I guess my main issue with the Paratrooper is that he is still a first level character. How has he had the time to complete his super human, superior to Special Forces degree of training, and become trusted enough by the Black Market to attain his status as a “made man”? I have other issues with the O.C.C., but those aren’t the issue at hand here. Especially since you clearly DON’T have those same issues. But I still have to wonder how this super Delta level troop managed to scrap up the time to gain so much trust from the mob? This seems more like the kind of thing an experienced trooper would have accomplished, trained, served his time to pay off his training, struck out on his own, gotten noticed by the Markets scouts, and then worked his way inside over a period of time. And he did all of that and never gained a level? Or he didn’t do all of that, and shouldn’t have those abilities until he earns them in play. Or, lastly, he shouldn’t actually be 1st level here, but closer to 4th or 6th or similar.
In R:UE in the experience section, it uses Batman
from Year One as an example of a first level character. Batman has had significantly more happen in his life than ole Nicky. His training and travels were far more extensive, but he was still considered a First level character. That is what I've always used as a measuring bar. I've tried starting the character at a place where they're strong and can improve as time goes on, assuming of course the player wanted to keep playing them.
Gryphon wrote:Now that I think of it, I honestly haven’t got any real idea of what monsters are present in South America. At least not any more than the monsters listed in the two books, and many of them aren’t really the equivalent as a dragonsaurus…which I am not overly familiar with anyhow, I just thought this creature was an Altantean thing. Which is right next door(-ish), so I guess that works here.
Thanks, I honestly could not find anything else that looked even close to that thing in the picture.
Gryphon wrote:However, their OCC write up makes it clear that they can trade those starting spells for wards only if exposed to them. It also states that the South Americans haven’t had any such exposure. So starting with them at first level doesn’t really make sense. If you wrote him up an an NPC with a higher level, say 4th or 5th, fine, he came to North America, and was exposed to this new magic he instinctively understood. Even 2nd level wouldn’t be illegal, however unlikely it might be. But to trade away starting level slots for abilities he can’t ever have encountered by the time he finished his training? That doesn’t make a lot of sense to me chief.
Mine doesn't say that, it says that they can be traded at Game Master discretion. I thought "it seemed reasonable" and wasn't overpowered.
Gryphon wrote:Making a 1st level character unique compared to other 1st level characters of the same type IS difficult, but it really should be. Because a 1st level character is supposed to be built according to their class restrictions, even the inferred ones. It takes a great deal of back story to explain why a 1st level anything is getting special dispensation in their stating abilities, attributes or gear. So special that it typically makes more sense to expect this special dispensation o come about because of role playing and adventuring, rather than just going, “this will be neat!” and slapping it in. So in essence, no, I don’t feel either of those points for those two characters are reasonable for a starting character.
Well, I tried my hardest to make memorable characters and so far the other ambassadors like them, so I guess you can't please everyone. I'll try harder with the next lot I guess.
Gryphon wrote:BTW, the laser bow? I recognize why KC hates it (I think it was KC, but I forgot now, if not, apologies and all that nice stuff!) I don’t happen to really care for it much either, but I am willing to ignore it mainly because none of my players would even take one, and fewer still would instantly see the serious issue this thing has technology wise. That, and no matter what anyone says, Eric’s Light Bow was freaking awesome, and much like any variant of the Light Saber, gets a more or less automatic “PASS” from me. Again, I personally asked Mill’s Lane, and he responded form my DVD recording that he would allow it!
[Akashic's "Rifts is more than 200 years in the future we cannot predict or even fathom their technological breakthroughs in a scientific capacity as science can only project up to 70 years from the present with any reliability" argument].
Gryphon wrote:That said, overall, the actually character write ups aren’t really bad, though I get nervous when I see HP & SDC by location.
Game Master Guide/Compendium of Modern Weapons.
Gryphon wrote:The skills seemed mostly alright, and you avoided giving Nicky Commando, which is good.
He's an assassin more than he is a soldier, so it only made sense. Its like when you said it didn't make sense for his M.E. to be so high. I mean, as a sniper, he is trained to sit on a rooftop or in a swamp for days (sometimes weeks at a time) and that requires a great deal of physical and psychological endurance. Plus, if you talk to any sniper in real life and ask them the hardest part of their job, they'll tell you that its staying focused and not getting sloppy. At least, that is what my friend told me when he asked a buddy who is training to become a sniper and that was the answer we got back. So you know, M.E. made sense.
Gryphon wrote:- Nicky is a third generation Paratrooper: Really? Aircraft like that didn’t really exist even a generation ago. The only thing that seems to come close on the North American is maybe some TW flying ships, and the CS DHT. Nothing else seems appropriate. And the DHT doesn’t go back two generations. Was his grandpa leaping off the backs of dragons or something?
Paratroopers, as listen in the O.C.C., are the best mercenaries in North America. They're elite soldiers, they're not JUST dudes who jump out of planes. Plus, if golden age planes exist and the parachuting skill exists, it only made sense to me that the long standing tactic of jumping behind enemy lines and killing people would still exist. Thus, third generation Paratrooper.
Gryphon wrote:- Playboy/Assassin/Sniper/Paratrooper/Made-Man…uh…huh…so, he’s an evil Batman then?
Actually, he's more like a gangster version of
Slade, except you know... with a dual stun batons and a sniper rifle.
Gryphon wrote:- Nicky is Evil…specifically Aberrant…and has a penchant for sniping, and a 30 M.E. Is this intended to be a character that is actually for use as a PC, and is the majority of the people he hangs with both evil and willing to step aside of his ego? Cause if not, the one’s he doesn’t consider friends are going to grow a third eye when he hits them for 1D6x20 form 3,975’ away one night…
You can play any character as a psychotic killer. I specifically state in his write up (this one I remember), that he doesn't kill people unless that is his mark (its unprofessional) and goes against his code of ethics. In essence he's a "Rifts" version of the classic a gangster "Sweeper" stereotype. He breaks hearts, cracks skulls, and is a bit of a rogue. Going outside the law to get results.
Gryphon wrote: - Nicky likes to travel light…with an ATL-7…and a Long Gun…and four pistols…hmm… *looks up the definition of traveling light* …I see…
Actually, I'm not positive because I have not read it in a while, but I am almost certain that I made clear that he DOESNT carry around his sniper rifles and such, instead going to retrieve them when needed for a mission like a normal sniper?
Gryphon wrote:Most of these things are only truly applicable to an experienced character chief. At 1st level, he really isn’t likely to have accumulated so many of these fairly notable quirks. You wrote him up as a dragon, a powerful henchmen to a major boss, but he hasn’t actually earned that status yet.
I wrote him up as a useful tool, skilled (and somewhat repentant) killer. At least I tried, something must have gone wrong in the translation.
Gryphon wrote:Mendoza’s background is actually really neat
Thank you. Ironically, I felt he had one of the duller/blander origin stories, but he was never SUPPOSED to be incredible because of his skills (like Nicky), but because of who he was. So in my mind, he needed to do less. Its the type of character designed for more passive players who don't want to throw themselves right into the game. You can use them in the story because of their birthright, or who they are, rather than relying on them to kick butt and take names to get attention.
Gryphon wrote:but you might want to squirrel away a real good reason why he wandered from North America, through the Vampire Kingdoms, and through all the other stuff that would have killed, enslaved, or eaten his not even 1st level butt. I would actually presume that one of the gods from Nazca land was directly watching over him, and did it in such a way he never even noticed what was going on.
That was always my theory as well. A sort of divine exodus if you would, traveling south through the wilderness, avoiding trouble by mostly avoiding heavily populated areas.
Gryphon wrote:I am a bit suspicious of using Entryway as you have it listed. Having actually been inside of a tank, three feet of penetration should get one inside of say, an M-1 Abrams from the side. I can’t imagine a giant robot is going to possess much more than an M-1 in thickness. On the other hand, if a robot is moving in any way, shape or form, you aren’t drawing a doorway on it. Especially not when it takes two actions. Standing still? Sure, I can see that, but if it moves in any way, you lose those actions, cause your “canvas has just shifted upwards of several meters, and the multiple ton warmachine is guaranteed to jog your arm if you’re hanging off of it! It’s a cool idea in certain circumstances, though it sort of steps outside the intent of the spell. This will be an overpowering ability if he can do it with any frequency against manned and mobile opposition, but if he can’t normally use it, then it is a unique interpretation of an ability, an interpretation that I feel steps outside the intent of the ability mind you, but doesn’t appear to actually break any rules so far as I can see here, and therefore makes for a potentially “Crowning Moment of Awesome” type situation!
Thank you. However, remember, a melee round is 15 seconds. Which means that the average attack takes about 2 to 2.5 seconds. Which means that he can draw an entry way in chalk on someone in about 4 or 5 seconds (this becomes significantly faster as he gains more attacks per melee and his response time decreases). Of course, as you said, a tank or other vehicle could easily speed away. However, the CHALLENGE is making sure it doesn't. Either by finding a way to sneak up on it while your friends distract it, or by the guys in the tank thinking that there's nothing you can do.
Gryphon wrote:The pattern armor notation is also interesting. I would say his ME of 10 and his Scrupulous alignment would make plucking a foe’s heart out difficult at best…but he is apparently trained by Nazcans and exposed to Incans at a bare minimum…so heart plucking is probably a cultural skill down there…right?
Yup, that was the idea. I probably should have given him a higher M.E. attribute (but I only had a 10), and I wanted it to always be a big deal. The same way putting people to sleep forever was a big deal. Most of his "most extreme" powers, are not SUPPOSED to be used willy-nilly BECAUSE he is scrupulous (I
almost made him principled but after studying their religious practices it wouldn't have worked).
Gryphon wrote:Either way, most vehicle screws in robots and vehicles wear armor in Rifts Earth. Smaller Robots might not. Power Armor can’t, but the chances you are going to draw squat on a suit of PA are essentially nil really.
If he can hit (land a successful strike) and no one can stop him. He can draw a passage way in virtually anything. The likelihood of someone stopping him relies on a few factors.
#1. His opponent knowing what he can do (its an uncommon ability).
#2. His opponent rolling a successful dodge/parry or not being in melee combat. This is VERY easy with power armor, but again, anything is possible and Mendoza isn't alone. He
should have a part of other player characters backing him up. Since ESSENTIALLY most of his magic a support-based (walls of force, makeshift escape hatches, etc).
Gryphon wrote:Why is he carrying a sword that he spent so much time making invisible, and yet he isn’t even proficient with it? Did I miss that one somewhere?
Because it takes him a few hours to make it invisible. Because he isn't trained in it as part of his story. This is essentially, because one of the RICHEST experiences I EVER had playing a role-playing game was when one of the other player character's took the time to train my character in the use of the sword. It was really fun and a good role-playing opportunity. Sure, anyone can stab someone with a sword or a knife (so its still a very valuable weapon), but learning how to use it is difficult. Besides, he might be able to fight and have some potent combat capabilities. However, he is essentially a practitioner of magic, tattoo artist, and cartographer. He was never out the back training how to fence or fight with swords, and whereas he would LOVE to know how, the opportunity never presented itself. I am sure I covered this in his write up didn't I? Might have to reread/rewrite it.
Gryphon wrote:Also, if the ward is activated by drawing it.
Its not, its always on because it has been woven into the permanence ward. He literally has an invisible sword. Its a cheap tactic but that is how he "levels the playing field" using his magic. I know I explained that one at length.
Gryphon wrote:And hope they don’t wonder by he appears to be carrying nothing and is wearing a sheath? Most opponents wouldn’t make the connection, but anyone with say, fencing, would. W.P. Sword wouldn’t be enough I would think.
EXACTLY. A trained professional (or someone who has fought him before), might cotton on to something (but that still doesn't remove the penalties from not being able to see the weapons; as a GM I would reduce them though, as I would if the sword drew blood, exactly as per the spell). However, the AVERAGE soldier or monster, isn't going to get it and may not be able to compensate or adapt, and THAT is what he is hoping for. Again, its
not a flawless strategy, but it wouldn't be FUN if it was. Its bound to work sometimes, and not others.
Gryphon wrote:Do you still want me to look the other Pre-Gens over and comment chief? I am not trying to be accusatory here. After all, you obviously have a much loser interpretation of how things are come by in your setting, so in your setting, I assume there are sufficient threats to warrant what I am seeing.
Essentially, if you're not in a city in my Game, your life is a **** storm. Roaming monsters, marauding bandits and rapists of women, general hellish encounters from beyond the rifts (many with strong demonic/Lovecraftian themes). You know, mostly all Adventure Guide stuff with a few random wilderness encounters with wild animals and such to keep it "realistic." But yes, I typically run a low powered/deadly game. Players have to think. They can use magic and technology as equalizers (as you see with the character's here), but without those equalizers or a good plan/strategy, they're typically at a bit of a disadvantage.
Gryphon wrote:In my games, I don’t go this route often, but I DO from time to time go “off the reservation” and basically make stuff up. So this isn’t really me saying that all this stuff is wrong (though it will sound like that), so much as me saying that I wouldn’t do it that way without a good reason. SO I am assuming your reasons in game are good, or your overriding reason is simply that you DON’T want to restrictive approaches being used to heavily?
I
really wanted people introduced to the game to see the MAGIC of "In Rifts you're not just a Wizard with 1D4 Hit Points. You're Aldormon - Master of the Dimensional Precipices and long-lost rightful Prince of Tolkeen", because for me that is what makes Rifts really special and awesome; the fact that you don't just have a dull O.C.C. and race. Your character can be RICH and interesting, and use their abilities in unusual/creative ways. For instance, with Mendoza, they typically use the invisibility ward to make chests invisible so they cannot be stolen. However, he can do all sorts of amazing things with it if he is smart about it. From making a blanket invisible and laying underneath it too making a bridge invisible after he flees so that no one knows how to chase him over a chasm.
I didn't want to LIMIT new players (especially practitioners of magic O.C.C.s, who are TAUGHT to think outside the box), so that they could do anything they can imagine. Nicky for example, is a gangster, he can (and most people don't notice this), essentially shoot while standing on top of a speeding car (without the normal -6 penalty), or fire back over his shoulder as he flees and hit someone right between the eyes (again without penalty) as the rest of the party withdraws. This is a HUGE advantage and it comes up a lot in games and not many characters people build are ACTUALLY skilled enough gunmen that they have the skills to offset these kinds of penalties. So, to a "normal" character with W.P. Firearms (Like say a CS ISS Officer), Nicky is a god. He might be "first level" but he is most skilled than MOST other marksmen and an amazing sniper. The only guys who he is going to encounter that are better gunmen are going to be full-blown Gunslingers; and those guys are SUPPOSED to be better. The same way that Nicky is going to be better than them at sitting on a roof for a week and a half drinking nothing but coffee so he can shoot a politician in the head for the Chicago Network.
Its all situation and circumstance. I made characters that players can use in a certain way (you got a good feel for HOW you were supposed to play Nicky and what he could do, even if you didn't like it!), and he is damn good at it as a first level character. Good enough, so that if another member of the party says "They got James. They took of his leg, but we can't touch the bastards!" than Nicky can "go rogue" light a cigarette and get the job done and get away. It might not be easy, but he is skilled enough to make it happen. He's an assassin, but he's an assassin that is "on your side" and
should be an interesting role-playing opportunity for someone who loves that classic rogue hero/gangster stereotype.
As for if I want you to look at the others. Honestly, I don't mind. It is up to you. I'm always happy to hear your opinion. I tried to do the best I can and with constructive criticism (or a little enthusiasm), it'd be a lot easier to do better in the future.