Favorite Rifts Earth Book

Mechanurgist · Unread post by **Mechanurgist** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:33 pm

Excluding the main rulebook (RMB/RUE), the Dimension Books and Chaos Earth, what is your favorite book, if you had to choose just one? And why?

Not everything is listed, couldn't fit all the books into the 50-count poll limit.

For me I'd choose Atlantis; it's got bio-wizardry, the weird-ass metzla, splugorth and their minions and some fantastic artwork which just screams Rifts. It's also one of the first Rifts books I ever bought and it knocked my socks off.

jaymz · Unread post by **jaymz** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:35 pm

Mercs because it allows a lot of varity withouth having to revert to using stolen CS gear

Mechanurgist · Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:59 pm

jaymz wrote:Mercs because it allows a lot of varity withouth having to revert to using stolen CS gear

Now you can pay a 10-40% markup for your stolen CS gear!

Crucible · Unread post by **Crucible** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:01 pm

Psyscape minus the Harvester metaplot.

The Galactus Kid · Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:16 am

I selected Free Quebec, but it was really a tough choice between that and D-Bees of North America.

Free Quebec does a wonderful job explaining the Nation, political structure, culture, ideologies, tech, and military while still giving us many avenues of adventure. It is a great model for a world book.

The Dark Elf · Unread post by **The Dark Elf** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:11 pm

CWC.

Big players that are expanded rather than a region.

D-Bees is close second as are the guides all for the same reason. Repeat usefulness.

novatomato · Unread post by **novatomato** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:19 pm

This is a tough one and I'm torn between CWC, Free Quebec, FoM and Psyscape.

Mechanurgist · Unread post by **Mechanurgist** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:51 pm

I was thinking about letting people select up to 3 choices, but a single choice really makes you think and forces the issue.

I didn't realize people held Free Quebec in such high regard.

Balabanto · Unread post by **Balabanto** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:57 am

This choice is impossible to make for me, because I'm a designer and not just a player.

As a designer, Book of Magic and the Gamemaster Guide clearly get the nod. Having that much necessary mechanical information at your fingertips is the best you're going to get in terms of usefulness.

As a player, if I'm a crunch player, I want D-Bees of North America or Coalition War Campaign. If I'm a fluff player, I want Federation of Magic (Revised), Arzno, or Dinosaur Swamp, because they give a lot of additional information about the ideas behind what Rifts are all about and what's really going on in the day to day life of ordinary people and creatures.

So I'm not voting.

Jorel · Unread post by **Jorel** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:13 pm

Mechanurgist wrote:I was thinking about letting people select up to 3 choices, but a single choice really makes you think and forces the issue.

I didn't realize people held Free Quebec in such high regard.

One of the best books/concepts out there.

The Galactus Kid · Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:32 pm

Mechanurgist wrote:I was thinking about letting people select up to 3 choices, but a single choice really makes you think and forces the issue.

I didn't realize people held Free Quebec in such high regard.

As a complete package, it really doesn't get much better.

Svartalf · Unread post by **Svartalf** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:40 pm

My choice went to South America 2... the most original and interesting setting in all of Rifts. Better than Africa, NGR, Japan, Phase World or Russia; giving a better view of the place than New West; for some reason more interesting than Atlantis...
You might even play it as a self contained setting, if you keep things contained to the area it covers rather than travelling thoughout the Continent, or planet, or multiverse, and it would still be a more fascinating sandbox than North America or Europe/Russia or Japan...

Crucible · Unread post by **Crucible** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:18 pm

Iron Manticore wrote:Juicer Uprising! This book expanded on the culture, mentality, background, and other necessary information for a specific class/type of character, that has yet to be done with any of the other augmented Humans.

My second favorite and I don't even like Juicers.

johnkretzer · Unread post by **johnkretzer** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:40 pm

D-Bees of North America is my favorite so far....though all of them are pretty good.

Mechanurgist · Unread post by **Mechanurgist** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:46 am

Nice thing about having a line of 50+ books is that there's something for everybody. Bad thing about having 50+ books is that everything is scattered across 50+ books...

The Baron of chaos · Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:35 am

Everyone had its favorend one, and entitled to do so. Yet I'm surprised that Psyscape got one vote.
Really every book has something worth inside, but psyscape....well is so outdated that has fallen even below Rifts England in term of likeability. Or is just a thing of mine(for the chronicle I think anyone interested in psichic classes should buy Between the Shadows and Shadows of Light sourcebook for nightbane. Nightbane setting treated psionic in much more respectful way thant Rifts Setting)

Athos · Unread post by **Athos** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:02 pm

I think it would have been interesting to give 3 choices instead of 1.

My favorites are Atlantis, Vampire Kingdoms, and Mercenaries, with an honorable mention to the GMG and BoM for their usefulness. Wormwood should be in there as well, I loved adventuring there.

I started Rifts back around 1991... can't remember the exact date, am getting old I guess... it would be interesting to see if the players identified more with the first couple books they played. I know that is why I like Atlantis, Wormwood and Vampires, those were my original settings and we had great fun with them. Nothing against more recent books, it is just that a certain thrill is there when you are new to the game.

RainOfSteel · Unread post by **RainOfSteel** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:17 pm

Mechanurgist wrote:Excluding the [...] RMB [...]

You shot down my favorite at the opening and then shot down the dimension books right after that. I liked Phased World and Wormwood. I mulled around a while and finally picked Merc Town, just because it offers a lot of NPC, setting, and adventure material. Runners up would have been Atlantis and the Vampire Kingdoms as they are sentimental favorites from way back at the beginning of it all.

Mechanurgist · Unread post by **Mechanurgist** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 9:17 pm

Sentiment is a factor for all of us, I think. We all remember our first RPGs with fondness - no matter how bad they may have been in fact.

I had to exclude the mainbook because probably half the people here would have chosen it if it was an option. The Dimension and Chaos Earth books would have made the list too long (the limit is 50), and they veer off in a different direction anyway. Though I have to admit Wormwood is among my favorites too.

johnkretzer · Unread post by **johnkretzer** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 1:45 am

Mechanurgist wrote:I had to exclude the mainbook because probably half the people here would have chosen it if it was an option. The Dimension and Chaos Earth books would have made the list too long (the limit is 50), and they veer off in a different direction anyway. Though I have to admit Wormwood is among my favorites too.

Well you could start another poll thread that includes the Dimension books...

BookWyrm · Unread post by **BookWyrm** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 4:16 pm

I can't honestly say that I have ONE favorite Rifts book. Several of them come to mind for different reasons (& in no particular order);
Madhaven, because not only do I live nearby to Manhattan, but the entry on Brooklyn & Coney Island made both myself & my (now current) ex laugh with irony.
Mechanoids, because I got a glimpse at these fearsome beings after years of hearing about the original Mechanoids game.
Shemarrion Nation, because I had to see what this latest facet of Archie-3's mania produced.
Cyber-Knights, because this OCC deserved it's own book.

I could go on about all of them, but I think this short list will do for now.

keir451 · Unread post by **keir451** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 4:33 pm

I chose Underseas. I see the New Navy as having the potential to be a counter balance for the CS, as they have knowledge at least equal to the CS. All they need is the land based resources of Western North America to ramp things up to full gear and become a much more significant presence on Rifts Earth.

Crucible · Unread post by **Crucible** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 12:28 am

keir451 wrote:I chose Underseas. I see the New Navy as having the potential to be a counter balance for the CS, as they have knowledge at least equal to the CS. All they need is the land based resources of Western North America to ramp things up to full gear and become a much more significant presence on Rifts Earth.

Thats a great book. I'm looking for a geographic description of Psyscape so that I may be able to have the two worlds collide.

keir451 · Unread post by **keir451** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 1:18 am

Crucible wrote:
keir451 wrote:I chose Underseas. I see the New Navy as having the potential to be a counter balance for the CS, as they have knowledge at least equal to the CS. All they need is the land based resources of Western North America to ramp things up to full gear and become a much more significant presence on Rifts Earth.

Thats a great book. I'm looking for a geographic description of Psyscape so that I may be able to have the two worlds collide.

OOOH!!!!!! I LIKE that idea. Also consider that Sea Titans are TWICE as likely to produce psions even up to Master level Psionicists.
New Navy plus Psyscape could make a real difference in the shape of Rifts Earth.

keir451 · Unread post by **keir451** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 1:19 am

Crucible wrote:
keir451 wrote:I chose Underseas. I see the New Navy as having the potential to be a counter balance for the CS, as they have knowledge at least equal to the CS. All they need is the land based resources of Western North America to ramp things up to full gear and become a much more significant presence on Rifts Earth.

Thats a great book. I'm looking for a geographic description of Psyscape so that I may be able to have the two worlds collide.

OOOH!!!!!! I LIKE that idea. Also consider that Sea Titans are TWICE as likely to produce psions even up to Master level Psionicists.
New Navy plus Psyscape could make a real difference in the shape of Rifts Earth.

Crucible · Unread post by **Crucible** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:56 am

keir451 wrote:
Crucible wrote:
keir451 wrote:I chose Underseas. I see the New Navy as having the potential to be a counter balance for the CS, as they have knowledge at least equal to the CS. All they need is the land based resources of Western North America to ramp things up to full gear and become a much more significant presence on Rifts Earth.

Thats a great book. I'm looking for a geographic description of Psyscape so that I may be able to have the two worlds collide.

OOOH!!!!!! I LIKE that idea. Also consider that Sea Titans are TWICE as likely to produce psions even up to Master level Psionicists.
New Navy plus Psyscape could make a real difference in the shape of Rifts Earth.

Thats what I was thinking. Do you know where I can get a geographical map of Psyscape and some better idea of the location and all?

Vrykolas2k · Unread post by **Vrykolas2k** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 3:08 pm

I like most of them, picked Japan... but it was a coin-toss between it and the Xiticix book.

keir451 · Unread post by **keir451** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 8:35 pm

Crucible wrote:
keir451 wrote:
Crucible wrote:
keir451 wrote:I chose Underseas. I see the New Navy as having the potential to be a counter balance for the CS, as they have knowledge at least equal to the CS. All they need is the land based resources of Western North America to ramp things up to full gear and become a much more significant presence on Rifts Earth.

Thats a great book. I'm looking for a geographic description of Psyscape so that I may be able to have the two worlds collide.

OOOH!!!!!! I LIKE that idea. Also consider that Sea Titans are TWICE as likely to produce psions even up to Master level Psionicists.
New Navy plus Psyscape could make a real difference in the shape of Rifts Earth.

Thats what I was thinking. Do you know where I can get a geographical map of Psyscape and some better idea of the location and all?

Check w/mobutto. He came up w/some solid Rifts Maps. But generally it seems it's in Ohio to the west of Dweomer.here's a link to his post on the Rifts maps http://forums.palladium-megaverse.com/viewtopic.php?t=104785.

Mechanurgist · Fri Mar 25, 2011 10:23 pm

Well, Atlantis is in the lead by far, as expected, but the popularity of Japan really surprised me.

strtkwr · Unread post by **strtkwr** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 11:31 pm

Triax forever. Not only was it the first book to give really excellent additions to robots (this was before there was an over abundance of them), along with some of the best illustrations in any book ( I miss Kevin Long).

Crucible · Unread post by **Crucible** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 11:31 pm

keir451 wrote:
Crucible wrote:
keir451 wrote:
Crucible wrote:
keir451 wrote:I chose Underseas. I see the New Navy as having the potential to be a counter balance for the CS, as they have knowledge at least equal to the CS. All they need is the land based resources of Western North America to ramp things up to full gear and become a much more significant presence on Rifts Earth.

Thats a great book. I'm looking for a geographic description of Psyscape so that I may be able to have the two worlds collide.

OOOH!!!!!! I LIKE that idea. Also consider that Sea Titans are TWICE as likely to produce psions even up to Master level Psionicists.
New Navy plus Psyscape could make a real difference in the shape of Rifts Earth.

Thats what I was thinking. Do you know where I can get a geographical map of Psyscape and some better idea of the location and all?

Check w/mobutto. He came up w/some solid Rifts Maps. But generally it seems it's in Ohio to the west of Dweomer.here's a link to his post on the Rifts maps http://forums.palladium-megaverse.com/viewtopic.php?t=104785.

Thanks man!!!

Mr. Jays · Unread post by **Mr. Jays** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:29 am

Other than the RMB, Mercs has my favorite O.C.C.s.

gaaahhhh · Unread post by **gaaahhhh** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:47 pm

O Canada!

Kagashi · Unread post by **Kagashi** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:53 pm

I liked the Black Vault. Always seems to stand out for me.

Damian Magecraft · Mon Apr 04, 2011 4:06 pm

Book of Magic.
All the Magic collected into one easy to reference book.
Big Whoo Hoo for us mage players.

Mechanurgist · Unread post by **Mechanurgist** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:45 am

And the winner is: MERCENARIES! Beating out odds-on favorite Atlantis is quite the feat. What an upset!

Anthar · Unread post by **Anthar** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:58 am

I voted for Free Quebec since that is what I feel is the last book written in the old style. With a few exceptions the newer books are 90% fluff and 10% useful material.

Mechanurgist · Fri May 20, 2011 11:55 pm

Anybody else care to vote?

keir451 · Unread post by **keir451** » Sat May 21, 2011 12:37 am

jaymz wrote:Mercs because it allows a lot of varity withouth having to revert to using stolen CS gear

+1!!! Any of the OCCs from Mercs can be used in ANY Palladium MDC setting (or even SDC setting if you so wish) with little effort. I routinely use these OCCs even for Aliens Unlimited characters.

MikelAmroni · Unread post by **MikelAmroni** » Sat May 21, 2011 12:49 am

Dinosaur Swamps (and I would have chosen its companion as well) because it shows how you can make a Rifts book that doesn't have to be all tech toys and is heavy on setting information - while still making for a very enjoyable setting.

Mechanurgist · Unread post by **Mechanurgist** » Mon May 23, 2011 1:59 pm

The results and further commentary can be seen on my blog here: http://www.portalseeker.com/blog/2011/0 ... opularity/

Grell · Unread post by **Grell** » Mon May 23, 2011 2:05 pm

I voted SB1 simply because it's got Archie, monsters, robots and the Republicans!

TechnoGothic · Unread post by **TechnoGothic** » Mon May 23, 2011 3:50 pm

WARLORDS OF RUSSIA
Good balanced out NPC list of characters. Good, Selfish, Evil. Plus BORGS !!!! Thunderstorm Borg !!!

My favorite books has to be :
Warlords of Russia
South America 1
South America 2
New West
Spirit West
SoT-Cyber-knights
Free Quebec
Japan
Underseas
Juicer Uprising

Giant2005 · Unread post by **Giant2005** » Mon May 23, 2011 8:33 pm

I voted China 2.
A pre-rifts advanced civilization that still exists today is exciting. I know we already have that with Japan but there is significant difference between someone who has spent the last couple of years advancing that Pre-Rifts tech while surviving the horrors of Rifts Earth and someone who conveniently managed to skip the whole thing.

Grafsburg · Unread post by **Grafsburg** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 6:58 pm

Probably a toss-up between Vampire Kingdoms and New West, but mostly New West, largely because I'm a huge fan of Westerns in general.

Proseksword · Unread post by **Proseksword** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:40 am

It was a tough choice for me, but ultimately, I voted for RIFTs Japan, and I'd like to explain why:

RIFTs Japan was one of the last World Books released that actually covered an entire region with enough detail that it's easy to play that is also an interesting region that's got something for everyone. RIFTs Japan captures the classic RIFTs core principles of really cool high technology meets really cool mysticism with demons and a hint of alien thrown in. It's got a lot of wicked fun classes, the region is completely fleshed out, and everything jives really well.

I think one of my least favorite trends in Palladium books has been the decision to split a setting up into two or three books covering different aspects of the region, like one for tech and one for magic (Russia). This becomes an especially annoying problem when for whatever reason the ball is dropped and the latter books don't come out, because players and GMs are left having to fill in holes in the setting themselves or not use the books at all, a very frustrating predicament (Australia, China, I'm looking at you). I'd really prefer if a region is going to be split into two books, that it be done in the fashion of South America, where it's done by cutting it geographically in half, instead of segregating by O.C.C. type.

Runners up for me would be Coalition War Campaign (the book that made the Coalition scary), Federation of Magic (See? Entire region covered in one book! Added a lot of really cool spells and O.C.C.s!), and Triax 2 (Thank you thank you for actually giving the country background and not just more mecha!)

ZINO · Unread post by **ZINO** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 5:32 pm

I.M.H.O
Mercenaries updated in hardware add O.C.C as a physic Mercenary
RIFTS Mercenaries book II North America
* add air force add jet , propeller planes ,new helicopters
* tank force
* brown water
* V.T.O.L /S.T.O.L military transport
* a physic O.C.C Mercenary
* new Iron heart Mercenary (this is a Mercenary company with all the toys from of old Iron heart
* steel heart is are the true Iron heart with new toy unknown allied
*Archie three Mercenary company !!!!
RIFTS Mercenaries book III south America
* V.O.T.L force
* jungle force
* brown water /river Mercenaries
RIFTS Mercenaries book IV sea Mercenary
* north America Atlantic side
* pacific side
* south America
RIFTS Mercenaries book IV Europe
* retire N.G.R soldiers
* refugee Mercenary
* N.G.R security force (I.D.F units )
* Poland Mercenary (I.D.F units )
* V.T.O.L Mercenary (I.D.F units )
* D-bee militia force (I.D.F units )
* Kingdom of Tarnow (I.D.F units )
*Temporal Raiders Mercenary human

Chronicle · Unread post by **Chronicle** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 7:48 pm

Ever since i GMed a setting in england and actually made it work, i have liked it all the more. The temporal Classes were a HUGE addition to the game, i love them. Temporal Raiders have slowly become a faverate villian, comlpete with lackies.

ZINO · Unread post by **ZINO** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 11:23 pm

ZINO wrote:I.M.H.O
Mercenaries updated in hardware add O.C.C as a physic Mercenary
RIFTS Mercenaries book II North America
* add air force add jet , propeller planes ,new helicopters
* tank force
* brown water
* V.T.O.L /S.T.O.L military transport
* a physic O.C.C Mercenary
* new Iron heart Mercenary (this is a Mercenary company with all the toys from of old Iron heart
* steel heart is are the true Iron heart with new toy unknown allied
*Archie three Mercenary company !!!!
RIFTS Mercenaries book III south America
* V.O.T.L force
* jungle force
* brown water /river Mercenaries
RIFTS Mercenaries book IV sea Mercenary
* north America Atlantic side
* pacific side
* south America
RIFTS Mercenaries book IV Europe
* retire N.G.R soldiers
* refugee Mercenary
* N.G.R security force (I.D.F units )
* Poland Mercenary (I.D.F units )
* V.T.O.L Mercenary (I.D.F units )
* D-bee militia force (I.D.F units )
* Kingdom of Tarnow (I.D.F units )
*Temporal Raiders Mercenary human

RIFTS Mercenaries book IV Europe
*add gargoyle Mercenary company (surprise aiding humans in Kingdom of Tarnow!!! and N.G.R as well !!! )
RIFTS Mercenaries book II North America
*add U.S army ranger from earth past or possible another dimension !!!
*add U.S navy for brown water operation or possible another dimension
*add U.S air forces from earth past or possible another dimension !!!

Voodoolaw · Unread post by **Voodoolaw** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 11:28 am

For me, Vampire Kingdoms has been my all-time fav. Others are right there with it, namely Atlantis and Mercenaries, with New West and Japan (if used as stand alone) coming up close. Vampire Kingdoms was probably my first book aside from the RMB, and shaped the concept of what I thought the post-apocalyptic world to be. The more books that came out, the more the world seemed to become post-post-apocalyptic. The NPCs in it were great, and even though he only got a small mention, the character of Vyur Kly made me fall in love with psi-stalkers and changed what I would look for in the style of my Rifts characters.

The only gripe I ever had with the book was that I can't bring myself to let my players take on vamps with water guns. I pretended I never saw that weakness. Holy Water, sure. Umbrella style water spout "forcefields", not happenin.

I am also "one of those people" who are actually looking forward to the revision and re-release. I am not gonna buy every revised book that gets updated, but I am interested in seeing my all time fav get some polish and more info. I have some apprehension, but overall, I am more interested in revised VK over Lemuria or another setting that I am prolly not gonna use.

Favorite Rifts Earth Book?