Character in training...

[HarleeKnight]

My nephew, who has played another RPG for a couple years wants to try Rifts, and he asked me about an interesting idea.
He was thinking about playing a runaway farm kid (or something similar) from the town we just helped who joins our crew and starts to train as one of our OCCs. I thought it was a pretty interesting concept, but I have no idea how to implement it. Anybody ever done this and have any pointers?

[mercedogre]

they can start as a Vagabond OCC and actively "train" to become another OCC (ie Headhunter, Juicer, Bounty Hunter, Gunfighter etc) and at some point he would change to that OCC and follow the rules as outlined in the book

[HarleeKnight]

There are rules outlined in the book for multi-classing?

[Killer Cyborg]

There are rules outlined in the book for multi-classing?

http://www.palladiumbooks.com/index.php ... Itemid=200

[ShadowLogan]

There are rules outlined in the book for multi-classing?

Yes. There is a copy of the rules on the cutting room floor (on the palladium website, KC posted a link)), and a form(s) of them in the Rifts Bionics Source book (and maybe a few other places) that operate similarly for switching to a Cybrog and out-of-Cityrat.

I'm not sure if they are quite what you are after though. You start at Level Zero, and IIRC you have all your skills just not the bonuses (you earn those at Level 1).

[guardiandashi]

another way to do it is the character "effectively" does not have a class, but instead has a few skills, and stats, then you use something like the heroes unlimited "education /student" stuff to develop the rest of the skills needed for the OCC the character is training into.
Ideally all the skills he has pre training are ones that they can choose as occ, occ related and or secondary skills for the class.

[HarleeKnight]

Thanks everyone. I always wondered how NPCs multiclassed. I'll let you all know what he decides as I'll probably need advice depending on which OCC he chooses.

[say652]

The Juicer Wannabe occ could be modified to "Wannabe" Any Occ.

[Killer Cyborg]

My nephew, who has played another RPG for a couple years wants to try Rifts, and he asked me about an interesting idea.
He was thinking about playing a runaway farm kid (or something similar) from the town we just helped who joins our crew and starts to train as one of our OCCs. I thought it was a pretty interesting concept, but I have no idea how to implement it. Anybody ever done this and have any pointers?

a) How old is the "farm kid," and what OCC does he want to grow into?

b) You might consider having the kid start off with the Farmer OCC that I created years back. It's lower powered than adventuring classes, and might be a good starting point.
http://palladiumbooks.com/forums/viewto ... 3#p2305195

[dragonfett]

As for learning skills, the Rogue Scholar has the special ability to teach skills you may want to look at to get a good idea of how to eyeball it.

[Blue_Lion]

As for learning skills, the Rogue Scholar has the special ability to teach skills you may want to look at to get a good idea of how to eyeball it.

HU also talks about learning skills from a educational institute, that addresses adventuring while taking classes this covers skills not normally teachable by rouge scholars. Although not rifts it does seam worth considering. The two do seams to reflect the same thing and would be a good way to come up with the hours. a full tine student is considered by many colleges to be around 12 credit hours.

[drewkitty ~..~]

My nephew, who has played another RPG for a couple years wants to try Rifts, and he asked me about an interesting idea.
He was thinking about playing a runaway farm kid (or something similar) from the town we just helped who joins our crew and starts to train as one of our OCCs. I thought it was a pretty interesting concept, but I have no idea how to implement it. Anybody ever done this and have any pointers?

The Farmer/Peasant occ from the PF2 mainbook for a starting CC. (will need 'some' to 'much' ""converting"" for use in rifts (technological environment) depending on how much tech was used on the farm.)

[13eowulf]

One of the Rifters (I dont recall which one at the moment) has rules for HU2 Teen Heroes/Heroes in Training/Side-Kicks. Perhaps those could be adapted?

[drewkitty ~..~]

One of the Rifters (I dont recall which one at the moment) has rules for HU2 Teen Heroes/Heroes in Training/Side-Kicks. Perhaps those could be adapted?

Minor Heroes
page 71 of PU2

[13eowulf]

One of the Rifters (I dont recall which one at the moment) has rules for HU2 Teen Heroes/Heroes in Training/Side-Kicks. Perhaps those could be adapted?

Minor Heroes
page 71 of PU2

Minor heroes are a completely separate thing.
Rifter #16 Teen Heroes is the article I was thinking of (Article starts on page 28)
Specifically the Sidekick that starts on page 32, with the "learning" special ability.

[drewkitty ~..~]

One of the Rifters (I dont recall which one at the moment) has rules for HU2 Teen Heroes/Heroes in Training/Side-Kicks. Perhaps those could be adapted?

Minor Heroes
page 71 of PU2

Minor heroes are a completely separate thing.
Rifter #16 Teen Heroes is the article I was thinking of (Article starts on page 28)
Specifically the Sidekick that starts on page 32, with the "learning" special ability.

I was posting a relevant/closely related canon text that was brought to mind when the rifter text was mentioned.

[13eowulf]

One of the Rifters (I dont recall which one at the moment) has rules for HU2 Teen Heroes/Heroes in Training/Side-Kicks. Perhaps those could be adapted?

Minor Heroes
page 71 of PU2

Minor heroes are a completely separate thing.
Rifter #16 Teen Heroes is the article I was thinking of (Article starts on page 28)
Specifically the Sidekick that starts on page 32, with the "learning" special ability.

I was posting a relevant/closely related canon text that was brought to mind when the rifter text was mentioned.

Ah, well there is that, yes, Minor Heroes are a thing that exists. Not sure they help with the Character in training question of the OP

[drewkitty ~..~]

In a situation like this, the GM has taken most of the decision making about the mechanics of how the training is going to work onto him-/herself. Because even the changing class texts don't cover the mechanics down to the granular level.

[glitterboy2098]

IIRC there is a book has rules for taking a city rat OCC (including the various variants it adds) and transitioning them to a new non-city rat OCC. they are a bit different than the changing OCC rules from PFRPG. can't remember which one it was though.

[mercedogre]

not really multi-classing, but more like freezing one class and starting over with another, ie City rat occ that acquires too many cybernetics effectively becomes a borg, the City Rat occ does not go away, but it stops advancing and the character starts at level one cyborg

[dragonfett]

I had thought that City Rat was one of the few classes that didn't automatically switch to another class if they got a lot of cybernetics.

[glitterboy2098]

it wasn't about cybernetics... it was "what happens to a city rat that leaves the city to adventure". it allowed a city rat to transition to one of the other OCC's over time.

i'm just having trouble figuring out which book it was in now.

[13eowulf]

it wasn't about cybernetics... it was "what happens to a city rat that leaves the city to adventure". it allowed a city rat to transition to one of the other OCC's over time.

i'm just having trouble figuring out which book it was in now.

I am not at my books, but the Bionics source book really expanded the City Rat, so maybe there?

[Nox Equites]

Depends on the class. Learning a basic soldier class could take a year of game time. Specialist men at arms like robot pilots/GB pilots are going to take a few a few years considering the complexities of the job. LLW and other traditional casters are less clear the time being more dependent on the teacher. Although how long it takes to develop PPE is unclear. Master Psychics are generally something you are just born able to do so the time to transition into the class is short. Rogue scholar or scientist is a good decade to train up all things considered.

Maybe they don't quite have the stats for one class and pick up a few skills but not the full package. Some of the classes will be delayed since training for the nomadic adventuring party is gonna be sporadic.

[glitterboy2098]

okay yeah. Bionics sourcebook, pg17. my memory played tricks on me a bit, it is another variation on the PF rules, but it does include some major differences. no XP penalties for the new OCC like in PFRPG, and old skills don;t just freeze but gradually fade if not retaken in the new OCC.

also, i would suggest that the "city Rat Archtype" OCC from that book would make a good base for a "runaway kid" character, even if not originally from a larger town. just pick the OCC related and secondary skills appropriately.

[rem1093]

If you have access to it, look at the new Southern cross book. The Tactical corps, could work as a template, for what you want. You start with the basic skills, (some changed to fit your background), After so many levels, you then pick one of the special forces MOS. Then pick the SF's MOS so many levels after that.
Personally I never like the way that they Duel-classed. The hole freezing of your skills, never made sense to me. Especially with the Cyborg. I mean did Alex Murphy have to go back to the police academy, no he didn't. so why should you?