NewPlayersCompendiumtoRIFT

WelcometoRIFT,newlyAscended!ThisisaguidetoanswerasmanyquestionsyoumayhaveaspossiblewhethertheybeabouttheWardrobe,orhowtoproperlywriteamacro.Fornow,letsstartoffwithalittlebitofanintroductiontothegame.

I. LoreIntroductiontotheGame:

InRIFT,youareanAscendedasaviourbroughtbacktolifefromthepowersofdivinebeings,orthroughamagitechmachine.AsanAscended,youpossesstheabilitytodrawpowerfromthesoulsofpreviousheroesinsidetheSoulstreamastreamofsoulsthatexistswithinthePlaneofDeaththatharborstheessencesofthedeceased.AsyouenterTelaratheworldofRIFTyoufindthatitisinthemiddleofanapocalypticeventRegulos,theDestroyerofWorlds,hasbrokenthroughthemagicalbarrierplacedbytheVigilknownastheWardandseekstodestroyalllifeonTelara.Withtheworldinhavoc,innocentslooktoyourvastpowerastheirlastactofhopetocorrecttheconsequencesofthepasttopreventtheApocalypsefromoccurring.

ThefateofTelararestsonyourshoulders,Ascendedyoumustnotfail.THEWARDisamagicalbarrieraroundTelarathatprotectstheworld,anditsdenizens,

fromthePlanesthatexistwithintheuniverseaswellastheirDragonGods.TherearesixPlanesinRIFT:Life,Earth,Water,Air,Fire,andDeath.EachPlaneisgovernedbyaDragonGodamalevolentdeitythatexiststoconquerworldsthatexistoutsideofitsPlane,aswellasotherPlanes:

Life

Greenscale Greenscaledespisestheconceptofcivilizationhe

believesitisfortheweak.HisdesireistocoverTelarainwilderness,whereeachspecieswillcombateachotherfor

survival.Onlythestrongmaysurvive,andtheweakwillbecrushedtoextinction.

Cult:Aelfwar Earth

Laethys Laethysistheaspectofgreed.Obsessedwiththedesire

tohavepowerandriches,Laethysgoestogreatlengthstomanipulateothersforherownpersonalgain.Shedespisestheideaofdestroyingtheworld,forthenshewouldnothaveanyworshipperstogiveherpraise.

Cult:GoldenMaw Water

Akylios Akyliosistheaspectofsecrecyandmagic.Hisroleis

moreofaLovecraftiannicheakintothatofCthulhuwherehedwellswithinthedarkestdepths,yetstillinspiresinsanitywithonlyawhisper.AkyliossleepsbeneathHammerknell,acursedDwarvenfortress,wherehethrivesoffnightmares,secrets,andevilspells.

Cult:Abyssal Air

Crucia Cruciaistheaspectofmanipulation.Hermerepresence

drivesanyonetocarryourherwill,whateveritmaybe.Abletopossessanymortalthatlackswillpower,CruciacanspyontheTelaransandtheAscended.Becauseoftheeffectsofhermethodsanddesiretomaketheworldherslaves,LaethysdespisesCrucia.

CruciaalsoattemptstoconspirewiththeotherdragonstobetrayRegulos.

Cult:StormLegion Fire

Maelforge Maelforgeischaosincarnatehissoledesireistowatch

worldsburn.Hisdesireistoenactanendlesscycleoffierytormentforallthingsthatareliving.

Duetohisunquenchablethirstforchaos,MaelforgeturnsawayfromtheBloodStormLegionashedoesnotwanttoendallofcreationforever.Therewouldbenothingmoretodestroy.

Cult:Wanton Death

Regulos RegulosistheaspectofDeath.Hissolepurposeisend

alllifeforever.OutofallsixDragonGods,Regulosisthemostpowerful.However,hisphysicalbodywasdestroyedduringtheBloodStormWarsandhisspiritwasbanishedtohisPlaneofDeathbytheTelarans.

Cult:Endless

THESHADEistheapocalypticeventinwhichRegulosisabletopourhisenergythroughthe

brokenWard.AedraxisMathos,theMathosianKing,wascorruptedbyRegulosinfluence.ActingasRegulospawn,AedraxisconvincedOrphieltoconstructmagicaltechnologytohelphimwinthecivilwarbetweenhimandhisbrother,ZarephMathos.OnceAedraxisforcesweredefeatedinbattle,heusedOrphielsmachinestoopenaDeathRift*weakeningtheWardandgivingRegulosthechancetodestroyTelara.Outofdesperation,anAscendedwasbroughtbacktolifeandsentbackintimetopreventtheapocalypsefromoccurring.(*RiftsarewheretheelementalPlanescollidewithtearsinTelarasWard.)

Nowthatthosekeyeventsareoutoftheway,wecantakealookatthetwofactionsthatarepresentinRIFT:theGuardians,andtheDefiants.

THEDEFIANTareafactionconsistingoftheEth,Kelari,andBahmiraces.Abandoningtheir

faithintheVigil,theDefiantstooktotheirowninventionstopreventtheShade.Becauseofthis,theywereexiledfromtheGuardianscreatingtheDragonslayerCovenantoffofEthiantechnologyandthosewhoalsorefusedtoplacefaithintheVigil.OrphielwasamongoneofthefirstoftheDragonslayerCovenanttotakeaninterestinrecoveringancientEthiantechnology.UnabletoofferassistancebecauseoftheongoingconflictoftheShade,theCovenantturnedhisideasaway.Dissatisfiedwiththeirrefusaltoassisthim,Orphielenlistedasmallcontingencyofdevotedfollowerstohelphimrecoverthetechnology.Upondiscoveringthedevices,hewaspleasedtofindoutthattheystillworkedafterafewadjustmentsespeciallyamachinethatwasbuiltwiththeintentionofbringingthedeadbacktolife.Curious,Orphieltestedthemachineslegitimacy,andtohissurprisethefirstAscendedemergedAshaCatari.Withnewfoundconfidence,OrphielspreadhisfindingsacrossTelaraasmanyotherdenizenshadalsostartedtolosefaithintheVigilbecauseof

theirsilencewiththeimpendingapocalypseapproaching.WiththereturnofAshaCatari,manytooktoOrphielscauseformingtheDefiantfaction.

OrphielisthefounderoftheDefiant,andisalsotheircurrentleader.

THEGUARDIANSareafactionconsistingoftheMathosian,HighElves,andDwarves.GuardiansplacetheirhopeintheVigilbeingtheirsalvationevenduringtheVigilssilence.ResidinginthecityofSanctum,theGuardiansbelievethemselvestobethechosendefendersofTelaratheinstrumentsoftheVigil.EachGuardianbelievestheyserveaspecificpurposeforthefutureofTelara,thattheywillonedayparticipateinthebattlebetweenGoodandEviltheDayofJudgementtosaveTelarafromannihilation.BecauseoftheirstrongbeliefintheVigil,theyseemembersoftheDefiantasblasphemersandactivelyseektodestroytheirmagitechmachines.TotheGuardians,theybelievetheDefiantsconstructsandmachineryweakentheWardbecausetheyuse

SourcestoneapowerfulplanarmineralfoundonTelarathatwasusedbytheVigiltocreatetheworld.

AfterthedeathofZarephandAedraxisMathos,CyrilsteppeduptopresideovertheremainingGuardians.Heistheircurrentleader.

II.DecidingYourCalling:

RIFThasaprettyuniqueclasssystem.TherearefourCallingsinthegamelistedabovethat

havenumeroussubclasseslabelledasSoulstochoosefromtocreateyourownspecialization.Asofthecurrentexpansion,RIFT:NightmareTide*,allCallingshavetheabilitytoperformeveryroleHealer,DPS,Support,andTank.However,eachCallinghastheirownuniquetwistontheseroles.Unfortunately,IonlyreallyplaytheMagecalling,soIcannotgointodetailabouttheCallingswhichmaybebetter:asitisbestforyoutoformyourownopinion,insteadofgoingofftheopinionsofothers,whenchoosingyourCalling.Ican,howeverprovideashortgistofeachoftheCallings.(*PurchaserequiredtoaccessnewSouls)THEMAGEisprobablythemostcomplexoutofthefourCallings.ItsnotyourstandardManaMage,asyouhavemorethanlikelyseeninothergames,butthereisatwisttoitsnormalparadigmwiththeintroductionoftheChargeresource.MageshavetoactivelymanagetheirChargetogetthemostoutofthemselves,anditreallyisntaseasyasitseems.Chargeenablesyoutoempoweryournormalabilities,orusenewonesthathavegreatereffects.THECLERICisaprettyversatilespec,howeveritismorefocusedontheHealingrolethanalloftheotherCallings.TheClericisyourstandardManabasedcasterbutthehealingSoulshaveveryuniquetwistsaboutthem.Also,ithasaHolythemeddamagespec.Awesome.Ifyouhaveathingforhealing,thendefinitelygiveClericatry.THEROGUEisaninterestingtwistonyourclichestealthRogue.NotallofitsSoulshasaccesstotheabilitytogoinvisible,buttheyhavesomeinterestingimplementationsinitsstead.RoguescanalsofillthatArchernichewiththeMarksmanandRangersouls,ifyouhaveathingforthebowandarrow.Withthenew

expansion,RoguesalsohaveaccesstothePhysicianSoul,whichshootsvaccinesandsyringesfromtheirbow/guntohealpeople.AlsoBard.Bard.Bard.Bard.THEWARRIORisnotyouraveragewarrior.Notonlycantheyperformfrommeleerange,theyalsohaveaccesstoSoulsthatmakethemranged.ThatsrightrangedWarriors.Scary.WhilethisCallingalsohasaccesstoSoulsthatenableittoperformallofthestandardMMORoles,WarriorshavethemostTankingSoulsinRIFT.Ifyouprefertotank,Warriormaybeaprettygoodchoiceforyoutotryout.

III.TheSoulSystem:

TherearealotofquestionsfromNewcomersconcerningtheSoulSysteminRIFT.Ihonestlydontblameyouitcanbevery,very,verycomplex.

ThisistheSoulTree,youcanhaveuptothreedifferentactiveSoulsatthesametime.AcompletesetofthreeSoulsiscalledaRole.Youcanhaveupto76SoulPointsallocatedacrossallthreeSoulsatanygiventime.TheSoulTreeisdividedintothreesections:

YouwillspendyourSoulPointsintheTreesasyougainlevels,andinreturnyouwillgainaccessto

Rootabilities.Forinstance,putting2SoulPointsintotheDominatorTreegivesmetheThunderBlastRootability.Youcanupto61SoulPointsinanyonegiventree.ThemorepointsyouspendintheTrees,themoreabilitiesyougetfromtheRoots.

AsforMastery,youwonttouchthatsectionuntillevel61.Youhaveawaystogobeforeyoucanspendpointsthere.Dontworryaboutitfornow.

NowIwilldiscusshowtonavigatetheSoulTreeWindow.

Firstoff,youarenotrestrictedtoonlyoneRole.TheuniquethingaboutRIFTisthatyoucanhaveaplethoraofRolesatyourdisposalwheneveryouwanttousethem.SimplyclicktheRolesbutton,anditwillbringupallofyourcurrentRolesyouhavemade.Additionally,youcanplaceyourRolesonyourActionBarsbygoingtoyourAbilityBook(P)anddraggingthemontotheActionBarslot:

IfyouarenotcurrentlysatisfiedwithyourselectedRole,youareabletoresetittoablankRolefromanywherebydoingthefollowing:

Clickthecircledbutton.ItwillpromptyouwithaquestiontomakesurethatyouwanttoresetyourRoletoablanktemplate.Ofcourse,amodestfeewillbechargedforthisservice.AlsoyouareabletonameyourRolesbyclickingthebottombox(nexttoCUSTOM)andtyping

whatevernameyouwanttouseforthatRole.

TheresonemorequestionIknowalotofNewcomersask:WhatsaPreset?DoIhavetouseit?APresetisaprebuiltRolethateithercamefromTrion,oraRIFTGuideWriterfromtheForums.Occasionally,Trionwillholdconteststoseewhocanbecreativeandmakeaviablebuildthatplayerscanuse.WinningbuildsareplacedinthePresetMenu.WhenyouclickthePresetbutton,amenuwillappear:

OntheleftareyourPresetswhileontherightwillbetheinformationaboutthePreset.Forexample,thisPresetiscalled:TheBeginnerwithadifficultylevelofeasy.TheKeyabilitiesthatyouwillwanttofocusonprioritizingareIgnite,Necrosis,andCrystallineMissiles.ThisisalsoaDamagePreset.TherightsidewillalsogiveabriefsummaryofthePreset,aswellasafewtipsonhowtoplayitproperly.

WhenNewcomersfirstmakeacharacter,theyarerequiredtopickfromPresets.OnceyourfirstSoulPointisachieved,anarrowwillguideyouonhowtospendyourpointsforthatspecificPreset.IfyoudonotwishtouseanyPreset,simplyclickonadifferentTreestalentslotandclickOKwhenittellsyouthatitdeviatesfromthePreset.Oncethatisdone,youarefreetotinkeraroundwithwhateverSoulsyouwanttouse.Ifyoufeelconfused,orfeelthatyourownRoleisnotperforminggoodenough,youcanalwaysgobacktousingaPresetorchecktheForumsforguides:

ROGUEMAGECLERICWARRIOR

Nowontothefunpart!TheWARDROBE!!!!!!!

IV.TheWardrobe:

Simplyput:RIFTsWardrobesystemisamazing.Youhavetotalcustomizationoverhowyourcharacterlooksaesthetically.HereistheWardrobe,accessedbyopeninguptheCharacterMenu(C):

Asyoucansee,youhave12Wardrobeslotstoutilize:Feet,Legs,Hands,Chest,Shoulders,

Cape,Head,TwoHandedWeapon,RangedWeapon,Offhand,andMainHand.Asyoupickupitems,youcollecttheirappearancepermanently.YoudontneedtoholdontotheitemonceitsappearanceiscollectedifyouwanttouseitforyourWardrobe.TochangetheappearanceofaWardrobeslot,simplyclicktheslotandawindowwillappearforyoutochoosedifferentunlockeditemappearancesfromregardlessofclass/levelrestrictions:

Asyoucansee,IhaveclickedtheTwoHandedWeaponcategory,andawindowhasappeared

formetochoosefromdifferentitemmodelsthatIhavecollected.NoticehowIcanchangetheappearancetoaHammer,Polearm,TwohandedAxe,oraStaff.Remember:ThereareNOrestrictionsforWardrobe!PolearmsareonlyusablebyWarriors,butIcanchangemyweaponsappearancetoitregardless.

Onceyouhavedecidedwhatyouwantyourappearancetobe,simplyclicktheitemsiconandthewindowwillclosethenpresstheSavebuttonatthetop,righthandcorneroftheWardrobewindow.SameappliesforchangingyourArmorslots,andyourDyes:

WithRIFT:NightmareTideslaunch,DyesarenowcollectedbyeitherhavingthempreviouslyusedonanyarmororbypurchasingthemthroughtheStoreviaCredits.Note:YouarealsoabletobuyDyesfromotherplayersbyusingtheAuctionHouse.ChangingtheDyeistheexactsameaschanginganythingelseintheWardrobe:Clicktheoneyouwant,andthenpresssave.

NowletsdiscussMacros

V.MakingMacros:

ImgonnaadmititfiguringouthowtomakeMacrosfunctionalinthisgamewassortofconfusingafterIcamefromWorldofWarcraft.Thankfully,itwasntreallythatcomplicated.IjusthadproblemsgettingusedtohowthecastsequencefunctionbehavesinRIFT:

TheabovemacroisakintowhatyouwouldseeifyouhaveplayedWoW,andwhatyouwouldexpecttofunctioncorrectlyifyoujustcamefromthatgametoRIFT.Well,thismacrowontfunctionthewayyouwantitto:allitwouldeverdoiscastStormLocuseverysingletimeitisclicked.Iciclewillneverbecast.Why?Whenyouremakingamacro,youneedtoplacespellswithcooldownsabovespellswithoutcooldowns,otherwisethemacrowillcontinuetospamthespellthathasnocooldownifitisplacedfirstinthemacro.Thismacrowillfunctionproperlybycastingbothspells:

Iciclewillbecastfirst,andbecauseithasacooldownStormLocuswillbecastonceIcicleis

finishedcasting.Now,youwouldnever,everwanttoputIciclebeforeStormLocusbecauseofhowmuchdamageyouwouldlosebutthisisjustanexampletoshowhowamacroisscriptedproperly.Ifyouhavequestionsaboutmacrocommands,simplyclickthatCommandsbuttonnexttoTutorialandawindowwillopenupwitheverylegitimatemacrocommandandabriefdescriptiononwhatthatcommandwilldointhemacro.

Macrosarebeneficialtousebecausetheyallowyoutotieinoffglobalcooldown(OGCD)abilitieswithyourglobalcooldown(GCD)abilitiesforamorefluidrotation.Forinstance:

Withtheabovemacro,InfernowillalwayscastOGCDwhenthetargetisbelowitsexecutethreshold.Thatway,IneverforgettouseInferno,anditisalwaysfollowedimmediatelybyaFireballcasttomakesuremydamagedoesntdropofffrompressingmybuttonstooslow(iftheywereseparated).Note:Foreveryspellinyourmacro,youwillhavetoclickthatmanytimesforittoactivateeveryspell.Forexample,theabovemacrorequiresoneactivationtocastInferno,andanadditionalactivationforittostartcastingFireball.

VI.InstantAdventures:

InstantAdventures(IAs)areveryhelpfulforlevelingupyourtoonatanefficientpace,aswellasgettingsomelootwhiledoingit.Afterawhile,theycangetalittleboring,butIalwaysdotheminmoderationsoIdontburnmyselfoutonthisfeature.ToaccessIAs,pressyour.buttontopullupthewindow:

Asyoucansee,youhavethreedifferentoptionstochoosefrom:theFeaturedIA,aregularIA,oranIntrepidIA.Forbeginners,IrecommendnotdoingIntrepidIAsuntilyougetalittlemorecomfortablewithyourCallingandIAsingeneralastheyarealotmoredifficultthantheotheradventures.Completingadventureswillawardyouwithalootchestthatcontainsitemsforyourcharacteraroundyourlevelrange.Tip:IfyoudoIntrepidIAswhilearoundlevel60,waituntillevel65toopenthosechests!!!

VII.TheGuildFinderandDimensions:

TheGuildFinderisagreatassetwhenyouretryingtofindaguild,asadvertisingthatyouarelookingforoneinChannel4willoftengetyouflamedbyidiots.TrytoneveraskaquestionwhenthetrollsareoutinChannel4.ToopentheGuildFinder,pressShift+G:

ThisistheGuildFinderwindow.UnderCategories,youareabletoselectaspecifictypeof

playernicheyouarelookingforinaGuildaswellasviewingwhatRolesaGuildmayneedfilledandtheiravailability(usuallywhentheydoRaids/PvPEvents).YouarealsoabletofilterwhatsizeGuildyouarelookingfor:asmall,friendly,casualGuildamedium,friendly,casual/hardcoreGuild,oralarge,friendly,hardcore/crazyGuild*cough*Philanthropy*cough*.IfyouarelookingforaspecificGuild,welltheSearchfunctionisprettyhandyforthat!)

WARNING:ADDICTIONAHEAD!

DimensionsareRIFTstwistonPlayerHousing,andyoucandoalotofcreativethingswiththeiriterationofsuchagloriousfeature.Fromconstructinglittlecozyhouses,tomakingnaturescapes,to

recreatingreallifelandmarksyoucandoitallinadimensionofanysize.Allyouneedisabigimagination.

YoullgetyourfirstDimensionshortlyaftercompletingyourtutorial.YourfirstdimensionwilleitherbeSanguineShores(Guardian),orWardensPoint(Defiant).Additionally,youareabletopurchasekeystootherDimensionsintheStore,AuctionHouse,orbybeingluckyandopeningLockBoxes.ToaccessDimensions(evenifyoudonthaveone,butwouldliketovisitotherplayersDimensions)pressyour[key:

RightwhenyouopenuptheDimensionswindow,youwillseeyouractiveDimensionkey(s).You

canonlyhavetwoactiveDimensionsatonce.OtherDimensionsthatareunusedwillbestoredintheInactiveDimensionstab.AlsoyoucanusethePermissionstabtosetrestrictionsonwhatplayerscandowithyourDimension.Tip:NeverletrandompeoplehavethepermissiontoedityourDimension.Additionally,youcanusethelefttabstonavigatetodifferentsearchmenustoviewotherpeoplesdimensions.

Also,besuretocheckouttheDimensionsForumstoseealotofgreatcreationsourcommunitymakes!YoucanthenmakeacharacterontheirserverandsearchfortheirDimensionifyouwanttoviewityourself.TherearealsoDimensionGuidesontheForumsaswell.

Thatsit,folks!Ihopethisguidehelpedyouout.HappyRifting!!:)