Rifts Space (Huge Update! 4-15-09)

[Aramanthus]

Sounds like the update you're working on El Magico is going to be pretty huge on your comic.

[rat_bastard]

I never considered vehicle-mounted weapons to fall under heavy energy unless they were rifle-type weapons used by anthropomorphic devices, like mecha. For example, an Ulti-Max Rifle would allow the use of heavy energy weapons WP, but not the vulcan machine gun on a F-14.

The description of the skill in RUE makes it pretty clear it covers all vehicle mounted weapons (mega damage ones at least).
weapon systems covers things like using targeting computers to acquire firing soulutions for your guided weapons etc, while enhancing vehicle mounted weapon skills.

[rat_bastard]

I never considered vehicle-mounted weapons to fall under heavy energy unless they were rifle-type weapons used by anthropomorphic devices, like mecha. For example, an Ulti-Max Rifle would allow the use of heavy energy weapons WP, but not the vulcan machine gun on a F-14.

The description of the skill in RUE makes it pretty clear it covers all vehicle mounted weapons (mega damage ones at least).
weapon systems covers things like using targeting computers to acquire firing soulutions for your guided weapons etc, while enhancing vehicle mounted weapon skills.

Is that an updated description from what it originally was? I've yet to do a Rifts campaign under the RUE (been doing Nightbane and Heroes) and there's little things I haven't seen yet.

Lets see, RUE page 329 has it listed as any vehicle weapon.

RIfts has it listed as...(just a sec) yes it is a change from the previous edition.

[rat_bastard]

Rifts Space could also use a Skills section.

Listing what languages are spoken/signed/telepathically transmitted/communicated with a complex series of scents and light displays

What skills are not appropriate and which ones are (my Fingers are crossed for Genetics) is also important.

I could probably come up with a list of skills that I would think of as appropriate if you would like the help.

[glitterboy2098]

I never considered vehicle-mounted weapons to fall under heavy energy unless they were rifle-type weapons used by anthropomorphic devices, like mecha. For example, an Ulti-Max Rifle would allow the use of heavy energy weapons WP, but not the vulcan machine gun on a F-14.

The description of the skill in RUE makes it pretty clear it covers all vehicle mounted weapons (mega damage ones at least).
weapon systems covers things like using targeting computers to acquire firing soulutions for your guided weapons etc, while enhancing vehicle mounted weapon skills.

Is that an updated description from what it originally was? I've yet to do a Rifts campaign under the RUE (been doing Nightbane and Heroes) and there's little things I haven't seen yet.

Lets see, RUE page 329 has it listed as any vehicle weapon.

RIfts has it listed as...(just a sec) yes it is a change from the previous edition.

i've always defined it covering any weapon tied into a vehicles control system or targeting system.

if it's not tied into the vehicles control/targeting, it would fall under the appropriate WP because it's aimed and fired by hand. thus turrets and waist guns on a B-17 bomber, for example, would be using WP heavy, but the remote operated turrets of the B-29 would be using weapon systems. on a B-17, the gunners have direct handling of the guns, while on the B-29 one gunner handles many guns through a mechanical linkages tied into a targeting system.

[Princedarkstorm]

Wow !Looking forward to reading the comic and seeing the updates!

[rat_bastard]

id like to see those new skills RB

Its not so much new skills as just defining appropriate skills from what games.

Most people from the colonies have no business taking lore demon/monster, but a Nix might.

Automobile may be a completely inappropriate skill for Rifts Space and be automatically replaced with hovercraft (and motorcycle to hover cycle).

then their is the question of which starship mechanics to take, as in the various palladium books their are dozens

and a list of appropriate OCCS from other books.

[rat_bastard]

Then there is the question of Nix males, do they take every physical skill that gives them PE or do they die of exhaustion shortly after puberty? Does the Nix Government force them to learn the spell Superhuman Endurance, or are the vast crowds of women have to learn it?

I'm just saying if I was a Nix male I would have no character motivation to have skills not associated with video games or weigh less than 300 pounds or move out of my parent's basement.

DLDC is gonna beat me with a 2x4 one of these days.

[rat_bastard]

I'm playing around with making a rogue scientist (Pyathenar Scholari), and I've decided that Terran, Arkhon and Xintrin are all languages.

I'm a little confused as to which Starship mechanics I take, and I don't like the precedent of taking a Manhunter skill as Manhunter is a rare out of print books.

Perhaps a Setting Specific Null drive Mechanics? requiring Advanced math, astrophysics and electrical and mechanical engineer? Say 20-25% +3-5%/level? Perhaps a clan bonus for clans Hannu and Pyathenar Scholari?

just throwing this out there.

(Edit so I don't post again)

what are the percentages for psychic abilities? I get the impression that they are lower than rifts earth but I don't know what they are.

The Sensate and Empath OCCs are the only OCC's that list starting cash, how is that calculated (1d4xsalary?)

The Arkon Space fold drives don't appear to have a listed speed, I assume its a certain amount of light years per jump?

Duelist power armor's chain gun has no listed ammunition.

[Princedarkstorm]

I like your ideas ,Rat_bastard.

[Aramanthus]

Excellent ideas Rat_bastard. Are you going to be thinking of adding these to your various OCCs and RCCs El Magico?

[rat_bastard]

The more I read, the more I like, and I keep having ideas for something that goes here, or there etc.

I Just don't want to **** of DL by nitpicking his baby, I like what he has here and I want to see it grow.

Hopefully I'm not pissing him off with my posts.

[Princedarkstorm]

The more I read, the more I like, and I keep having ideas for something that goes here, or there etc.

I Just don't want to **** of DL by nitpicking his baby, I like what he has here and I want to see it grow.

Hopefully I'm not pissing him off with my posts.

I hope to see more !
And I doubt it .

[rat_bastard]

The more I read, the more I like, and I keep having ideas for something that goes here, or there etc.

I Just don't want to **** of DL by nitpicking his baby, I like what he has here and I want to see it grow.

Hopefully I'm not pissing him off with my posts.

I hope to see more !
And I doubt it .

Sha'laquina seems to think I'm laying it on a bit thick...

[Princedarkstorm]

I do not think so .

[gaby]

el magico will you give Info on the Imperial Consortium you are using in your comic?

[gaby]

OK.

I hope you will mentioned in your comic the size of TP,s territory.
A the directions of all the other known powers,like Rimware,Coreware,Spinware and antispin,I like to known.

[gaby]

TP is for the Terran Protectorate.

[rat_bastard]

Ok, I got another question:

Where are all the Brothers in space?

Its like there was a sign on the entrance to the Hawkings that said "you must be this pale to ride this ride". I counted, on the rifts space website there are 47 pictures of humans and only three black people! Its like 81 years after the first black president's second term expires there still are not enough brothers with good enough credentials to get their zygotes added to the Science community's fancy space ark.

And its not much better on The Freelancers! They got a token brother, but he's all mamby-pamby oh I don't use reasonable force against those guys who are trying to space my black ass! Sure if it ever gets made into a film we got a Will Smith part, but Will Smith is'nt gonna play some sorry-*** *****! Get some .40 oz bottles of Melanin and put some color in space!

And don't give me that I got some blue people crap, I didn't say anything bout smurfs I'm talking bout brothers!

[SoulofThunder]

damn...He has a point....

[rat_bastard]

Well, glad you are getting to match your original vision.

[rat_bastard]

Now, my galaxy is starting to go from that to looking like Zion from the Matrix (seriously, there are like three white people in Zion). I have to find a happy medium.
Realistically, everyone would be kinda brown by this point, but that's just visually uninteresting.

three white people, but they all had speaking parts...

[rat_bastard]

Now, my galaxy is starting to go from that to looking like Zion from the Matrix (seriously, there are like three white people in Zion). I have to find a happy medium.
Realistically, everyone would be kinda brown by this point, but that's just visually uninteresting.

three white people, but they all had speaking parts...

Yeah, and one of them was the leader......the hell?

of course the white people are in charge, apparently they can free themselves from the matrix

[Misfit KotLD]

Now, my galaxy is starting to go from that to looking like Zion from the Matrix (seriously, there are like three white people in Zion). I have to find a happy medium.
Realistically, everyone would be kinda brown by this point, but that's just visually uninteresting.

three white people, but they all had speaking parts...

Yeah, and one of them was the leader......the hell?

Just doing our part.

[Misfit KotLD]

Now, my galaxy is starting to go from that to looking like Zion from the Matrix (seriously, there are like three white people in Zion). I have to find a happy medium.
Realistically, everyone would be kinda brown by this point, but that's just visually uninteresting.

three white people, but they all had speaking parts...

Yeah, and one of them was the leader......the hell?

of course the white people are in charge, apparently they can free themselves from the matrix

Yeah, apparently emo's are the only people more discontent with reality than black folk. Go figure.

Y'all don't know what it's like
Being male, middle class, and white!

[rat_bastard]

So I've got an idea to write up a thing on the Proletariat Citizen's Militia. The idea is that non military Proletariat colonists suffered especially badly last war when they where taken prisoner and they decided to be prepared for an armed resistance for the occasions when the Arkhon take Terran planets. Would you be interested in such materials Mr Dark Lord?

[rat_bastard]

So I've got an idea to write up a thing on the Proletariat Citizen's Militia. The idea is that non military Proletariat colonists suffered especially badly last war when they where taken prisoner and they decided to be prepared for an armed resistance for the occasions when the Arkhon take Terran planets. Would you be interested in such materials Mr Dark Lord?

Yes, I would! The new coming update even has a ship or two specifically for that.

I might need you to render some images down the road...

[rat_bastard]

I wonder how many qualified caucasian archeologists where turned down so you could show that happy multi-cultural scene at the The FACE Agent OCC page.

[rat_bastard]

Oh, and check out that Daniel Boone-class scout ship image. That's a program I'm learning called Carrara. Next level up in power from Daz. Going to try to do more ship art that way when I can.
You can get a pretty cool level of realism with it.

It looks like a Holstein and the enterprise got freaky one night and this is their child. What are the wings for?

[rat_bastard]

tHe firestorm Frigate is all right, its no Rama Class destroyer but I would not kick it out of my Carrier group for eating crackers.

[rat_bastard]

I wonder how many qualified caucasian archeologists where turned down so you could show that happy multi-cultural scene at the The FACE Agent OCC page.

...see, I'm gonna take back that link I just sent you in PM...

I think the best thing you can do now is have the same black guy appear in the like a dozen pictures. I would laugh my ass off.

[rat_bastard]

I wonder how many qualified caucasian archeologists where turned down so you could show that happy multi-cultural scene at the The FACE Agent OCC page.

...see, I'm gonna take back that link I just sent you in PM...

I think the best thing you can do now is have the same black guy appear in the like a dozen pictures. I would laugh my ass off.

Great. Instead of "Where's Waldo?" it'd be "Where's Lando?"

It would be like those colleges in the 90s that where trying anything but accepting minority students to look diverse.
I read this story about a man who makes massive amounts of money lending his image to schools and colleges what wanted to appear diverse, literally a professional token black man.

luckily because corny drives the market price down we don't have to pay you very much to be into science fiction.

[Princedarkstorm]

True !

[rat_bastard]

While his Attempt is nice. It's a rampant conversion of some other sci fi properties. And his versions of arhhons don't jive with the official Kind at all.

It is not a conversion, but there are defiantly tired and true conventions from other Science fiction series that make an appearance in rifts space. For instance you have one clan of artists/musicians/sexy dancers that could be interpreted as inspired by any number of conventions like the companions of Firefly, the Bene Gesserit of Dune, the Betazoid of Star Trek etc. Calling that a conversion is absurd but you can see where some of your inspirations come from.

The Fleet combat against a viscous monolithic enemy can has come up again and again in science fiction and calling it a conversion is similarly absurd, its a traditional theme. Star wars, Battlestar Galactica, the Honor Harrington Series and countless others are examples of this. In fact I have to give DLDC for being one of the first to really embrace space combat.

as for the implication that DLDC is not playing the Arkhons as they are written, I have to wonder what book you got your Arkhons from, DLDC's write up is extremely faithful to their original attitudes and write up.

[gaby]

What is the Rank strucure you have for the Protectorate,Arkhon and other aliens?

Your doing a Great job el Magico.

[rat_bastard]

while you are it, can you come up with a simple way for me to understand ship speeds?

[Misfit KotLD]

while you are it, can you come up with a simple way for me to understand ship speeds?

He's not a miracle worker?

[Misfit KotLD]

Mind being clearer in what of El Magico's stuff is lifted directly from other properties? Like what of his linked to the property it violates. Either here or via PM, I am curious.

*Edit* That way he can either defend himself or learn he did, indeed have a blond moment. I know he's bald and black, but he still has them.

[rat_bastard]

I can't go over everything and give a line by line attack.
Most of the material in question came out in the same time period as when he first started, So Geezers like me can easily spot them.

so you know its copied but you cannot say from where...

gotcha.

[Misfit KotLD]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but rat's right.

[Misfit KotLD]

Don't smack him for this (but if you have another reason, it would be funny), prove him wrong.

[rat_bastard]

being something else-esque is a far cry from being a rampant conversion.

[Misfit KotLD]

But saying it's a conversion of something is just a nice way of saying its plaguerized...and that's bull.

That's why we've been asking for evidence.

[SoulofThunder]

While his Attempt is nice. It's a rampant conversion of some other sci fi properties. And his versions of arhhons don't jive with the official Kind at all.

Just, out of curiousity, which other properties?

Off the top of my Head:
I've seen some races lifted off the Encyclopedia of Aliens based on the Ben Bova and other 1970s'/80's Scifi Authors.
(Hell, that Space Elephant in Rifter 44 is from that... )

Then there's some Stuff from the Star Control Series

Then there's some stuff lifted from Fire fly

And Stuff Lifted from Star frontiers

and Star Blazers used WWII analogues and the fleet battle Rule book is full of that..

flat out. DLDC made this stuff up over 20 years ago now. before Firefly even existed , before we even hear of a Star Control Star Blazers. and I dont know what the hell Star Frontiers is now.

Most (90% ..who wasnt slightly influenced by space operas of the 70-80's) of the stuff he uses is stuff from games we all made up off the top of our heads years ago. We didnt have access to these properties. there was no internet. Accusing DLDC of plagiarism is a load of bunk.

Hell, some of the stuff he is using now I played !! some of the stuff is what myself and another character did. hell, we should get writing credit for some of that stuff!!!!!

edit....i like the word "stuff" for some reason this morning

[rat_bastard]

I envy the crap out of you Supa soul...

If DLDC ever removes the restraining order I want to drive up to baltimore to play in one of his games.

[gaby]

What is a lowest rank which commands specific ship types and organizational units?

[Tiree]

DLDC stole all this great material from my mind... I know it! yes... He used his tin foil hat, and TV Antenna to tap into my vast imagination, and TV and RPG Archives. Ingenious I say, and thievery at its highest level!

Seriously - I see where people can say you have taken inspiration from, but nothing is truly stolen. Influenced is probably the best word to describe it.

And yes, the planet "Light Year" does sound pretty cool!

Also Star Frontiers is sci-fi game setting by TSR. I definitely had fun with it, and the games I played at the time were reminiscent of Star Wars.

[Tiree]

and dont' give the " Didn't air " .. it was constantly spoken of by All the Geek magazines of the day.

I know your an old crotchety guy... so am I.

There were shows that I never saw, except heard about years later. Exo Squad when it aired originally, it was not showing up on my local channels. Instead I was able to watch it off of Satellite. My favorite was not being able to get Deep Space 9, nor Babylon 5 in my area. Maybe if I stuck an antenna, and prayed for good weather I could grab it from a station 80+ miles away. And this was just in the mid-90's. From 91-93 I only had 7 TV Channels available. And they were all static antenna based and within a canyon.

I don't agree with DLDC on a lot of things - but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on this, because it is quite plausible.

[Misfit KotLD]

War games West did See A ton of reviews for scifi of the day... Which he may inadvertently Absorbed and recreated. However, just because he doesn't remember anything in specific, there's alot of stuff that DID infact get lifted from other sources.
Stuff from Renegade Legion was inspired by other scifi ( Buckrogers/Original battlestar for example) ... Most people never even heard of the game but the game was out there in the 80s.


and dont' give the " Didn't air " .. it was constantly spoken of by All the Geek magazines of the day.

Dude, seriously, do you have anything of substance or are you going to blow that tired old horn again?

[Nxla666]

For the record DL, I like the material you have "ripped off" from whatever source.