Player Characters and their vehicles

[Ectoplasmic Bidet]

Try to convince him to trade up to a rusty junker of a hovercycle out of sympathy for your plight as a GM.

[Killer Cyborg]

One of my players chose an automobile (rusty junker) for his character's (vagabond) starting vehicle.

My question is this. How do you handle character's vehicles in your game when using their vehicle isn't viable. Clearly he's not going to be able to travel long distances outside of a city with his old junker of a car. Mainly because roads and highways through the wilderness just plain don't exist anymore. Should I try to convince him to purchase another vehicle or let him come to this realization on his own.

In past campaigns, my PC's just used hovercycles or traveled via ley line or rift.

Anyway, what are your thoughts?

If his rusty junker is a pick-up, especially one with 4-wheel drive, he can still get plenty of use out of it.
Remember, people crossed the US in frickin' WAGONS back before we had much in the way of roads.

[Killer Cyborg]

(double post)

[Colt47]

Yeah, automobiles are a viable means of wilderness transportation. The big boss ATV can cross just about any type of rough terrain as long as the path is big enough and the group isn't attempting to go through thick woodlands. If anything, a automobile usually has an enclosed area that can act as shelter and keep unwanted SDC critters from doing nasty things, like a scorpion sneaking into someones boot or a blood drinking alien tape worm from sneaking up on someone in their bedroll.

[Snow Hawk]

I say let him find out on his own. Maybe you as GM can give him the chance to trade it out for something ells or get it upgraded in game

[jaymz]

can always take possession of a bandits/targets/enemies hover bike later on down the road if necessary ....

[ShadowLogan]

Is the car stated out or not and how much non-travel use is the vehicle for?

You can always assign the stats for the car so it isn't so useless in your eyes.

Give him/her a small budget to upgrade via the super-vehicle rules in HU/N&S so it isn't so useless, it just looks that way.

[Faceless Dude]

Rifter 50 & 51 detailed MDC and sdc vehicle construction rules for a Rifts environment. This might help in statting out his old junker.

It cold also be a sophisticated alien machine intelligence thats slumming as an old car too.

[jaymz]

It cold also be a sophisticated alien machine intelligence thats slumming as an old car too.

Transformers.........more than meets the eye.........

[Pepsi Jedi]

If he insists, let him play it. If it gets stuck in the mud and he has to abandon it, it's on him. Sounds like you've already kinda hinted that it might not be good for the game. If he persists, it's on him.

[Josh Sinsapaugh]

Vast majority of games that I ran had the lionshare of the player characters walking (aside from one with a hovercycle or horse and/or one in a power armor, et cetera). So this has never really been an issue.

~ Josh

[glitterboy2098]

i would point out that 'old junkers' have been shown to be just fine at cross country travel. Vid 1, vid 2. two wheel drive, no less.

my suggestion is to talk to the player and decide what kind of car and what is wrong with it. you might consider looking over places selling used cars for inspiration.

[nilgravity]

There is another thread on here about haunted vehicles I haven't read yet. Something to consider. Also this is great for you, every river becomes a challenge to the players. They are giving you a gift. I would accept it.

Just make it fun. "There's a river. You will have to abandon the truck or go a few miles up stream to a bridge you see in the distance"
"We go to the bridge"
"There are a gang of hungry trolls on the bridge they are willing to let the party cross after you decide which of you they get to eat"