Probably a strange question, one on one Rifts?

[Kordwar]

Does anyone have any experience running Rifts or any other Palladium products with just one player? Simply put: My friends are Chumps and aren't interested in TTRPGs or just don't have the time to commit to a regular game. So any advice would be appreciated.

[Tiree]

Yes, it's like running a game with a single player in any other game system.

You create a plot, and you run it.

Now you can tailor the plot more the individual player, make them shine all the time. It can become a competition between the player and the GM. But overall, it's not as great of an experience unless you have more players. I have seen some folks toss in a recurring NPC to help the player, so basically the GM plays along as well. But that gets to be a bit tougher, when combat is involved. But it all boils down to: create a plot, and run it.

[scorps]

have done. as Tiree above says -- plot it, run it.

combat you may have to tweak as it tends to drag on with less damage sources combined with bloated MDC. one way i have found around it is roll a D6; 1,2,3 come up as half damage and 4,5,6 come up as full damage rolls. so still some chance but combat resolves quicker and deadlier. so PC's will either quickly blow someone away or if they get damaged too quickly, run away themselves. then they learn to pick their fights (which to me is more realistic).

[Zer0 Kay]

RP the combat

[Spinachcat]

Here are some options:

1) Let them have 2 characters. Or let them have 1 PC and 2 NPC sidekicks. You play the sidekicks, but the player rolls the dice for them.

2) Convert Rifts to a system your group likes. I've converted / perverted / contorted / extorted a dozen rulesets and at the end of the day, the players and you having fun matter FAR more than what ruleset you are using. Full disclosure - I use a simplified version of the PB system based on Mechanoids for my games. I hear many people enjoy the Savage Rifts game.

3) Check out Scarlet Heroes by Sine Nomine Games. Kevin Crawford created a system that allows you to run AD&D with 1 player. I am sure the concepts within can be ported over to Palladium. Not the system, but the ideas of how 1 PC can become equal to a party to allow for interesting SOLO play. Download Exemplars & Eidolons on DriveThru RPG if you want to see the free version. There may even be a Scarlet Heroes Quickstart that explains the concept.

4) Find some new players.

[Nightmartree]

this could be a good opportunity to run one of the more "broken" rifts classes, without them going too crazy, after all number matter and when your solo...sometimes being a bit godly is a good thing

[The Dark Elf]

Im actually working on a one player intro adventure for Rifts that I was intending to submit to the Rifter. If you like I can PM u the concept/plot.