Warning! The fictional world of Rifts

®

is quite violent and deadly . It is an exotic realm where magic is as real as technology, and demonic creatures plague humankind.

Some parents may find the violence and super­natural elements of the game inappropriate for young readers/players. We suggest parental discre­tion.

Note that none of us at Palladium Books condone nor encourage the occult, the practice of magic, the use of drugs, or violence.

®

A complete new Role-Playing Game

Compatible with the entire Palladium Books® Megaversl!l ®

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This work is dedicated to the troops in the trenches, Maryann, Kevin Long, Alex, and Thorn, all of whom worked diligently and tirelessly to get this special project out on time. Without them, this book would not have been possible.

Special Thanks to Keith Parkinson who is a good friend, as well as a great artist. Also to Richard Cook, whose additional research was a great help, Larry MacDougall who did what had to be done, Jim Osten and Jim Dombrowski for pitching in when needed, Erick Wujcik for the name Rifts, and Cheryl Corey

for making sure this one got out on schedule!

Other titles in the Rifts· series include: Rifts· Sourcebook One Rifts· Sourcebook Two: Mechanoidse

Rifts· Sourcebook TIrree: Mindwerks'" Rifts· Conversion Book One Rifts· Conversion Book Two: Pantheons of the Megaverse· Rifts· World Book One: Vampire Kingdoms Rifts· World Book Two: Atlantis Rifts· World Book Three: England Rifts" World Book Four. Africa Rifts" World Book Five: Triax'" and the NGR Rifts· World Book Six: South America Rifts" World Book Seven: Rifts" Undersea Rifts·: Mercenaries'" Rifts· Dimension Book One: Wonnwood'" Rifts· Dimension Book Two: Phase World'" Rifts· Dimension Book TIrree: Phase World Sourcebook'"

Coming in 19951 Rifts" World Book Eight: Rifts" Japan Rifts" World Book Nine: Rifts· South America Two Rifts·: The Juicer Uprisings'" Rifts·: Chi-Town World Book Rifts": The New West World Book Rifts": Lone Star World Book Rifts" Novels

Ninth Printing - September 1995

Copyright © 1990, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1983 by Kevin Siembieda.

Other Palladium RPG titles include: The Compendiwn of Weapons, Annor, and Castles'" The Compendiwn of Contemporary Weapons'" The PaUadiwn" RPG Revised Heroes Unlimited'" ViUams Unlimited'" Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles· and Other Strangeness After the Bombe

Nightspawn'" Ninjas and Superspies'" Robotech" RPG Macross II'" RPG Beyond the Supernatural'"

Palladium Books, Rifts, The Mechanoids, The Mechaonid Invasion, and Megaverse are registered trademarks owned and licensed by Kevin Siembieda. Mega-damage, M.D.C., S.D.C., P.P.E., Triax, Xiticix, Splugorth, Erin Tarn, Victor Lazlo, and their likenesses, The Palladium Role-Playing Game, Heroes Unlimited, Beyond the Supernatural, Ninjas & Superspies, and other titles are trademarks owned and licensed by Kevin Siembieda.

Copyright © 1990 by Kevin Siembieda. AJI rights reseIVed under the Universal Copyright Convention. No part of this book may be reproduced in part or whole, in any fonn or by any means, without pennission from the publisher, except for brief quotes for use in reviews. AJI incidents, situations, institutions, governments and people are fictional and any similarity, without satiric intent, of characters or persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

Rifts is published by Palladium Books Inc., 12455 Universal Drive, Taylor, MI 48180.

Printed in the United States of America.

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Palladium Books ®

Written By: Kevin Siembieda

Editors: Alex Marciniszyn Thorn Bartold

Cover Art: Keith Parkinson

Interior Paintings: Kevin Long Keith Parkinson

Additional Color/Painting:

Adam Siembieda Kevin Siembieda Larry Mac Dougall

Interior Art: Kevin Long

Additional Art: Kevin Siembieda Larry MacDougall

Art Direction & Keylining: Kevin Siembieda Typography: Maryann Siembieda

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

Glossary of Tenns ...... .. . 7

Creating A Character The Eight Attributes 8 Hit Points & S.D.C. 9 Mega-Damage ... . ..... . . . . . ........ .. .............. . ..... . ... II How to Determine Psionics ..... . 12

12 13

Selecting an O.c.c. . . . . Money and Equipment .

Rounding Out One's Character .......... . · ...... 14 14 15

Alignments .. .. . . .. .. .. . .. . . . .. . ........................ Experience Points . ...... .. .......... . ........ .. . O .c.c. Experience Tables ........... . ......... . ... . 17

18 19

Optional Rules . .. .. .... .. .. . Insanity Tables . ... .. . .. . .

Player Characters and Skills . 22

Skill List . . ... 23

Skill Descriptions

Modem Weapon Proficiencies ............ . 33

Hand to Hand Combat ..... . . . . . . . . 34 37Hand to Hand Combat Tables .....

Combat Rules for High-Tech War Machines Volleys & Bursts .......... . . . . . ..... . .. 40

41 ... . . ..... 42

Missiles ... .. . . ... . .. .... .... . ... . Combat Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Robot and Power Annor Combat Training Tables ... . ......... 44 46Missile Chart . .... .. ... . ....... .

Occupational Character Classes (O .c.c.) .. . .. . 47

Men of Arms

25

38

47.. . . ... . ... . ...... . .. . . .. ......... . .... .. ... .. ........ . . Borg .......... . ..... .. .. .. ......................... .. .... ... . ... . . .. .. 47 Coalition "Dead Boy" Grunt ..... . .... . ..... . ......... . ..... .. .. . .......... . 51 Coalition Elite RPA O.c.c. (SAMAS) .. ..... .. . . . ... .. .. .. ... ......... ... . . . . .. . · . . .... 53 Coalition Military Specialist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................................ . · ...... 54 Coalition Technical Officer ... .. ............... . ............ . ... .. ..... . .. .. . . 55 Crazies ... ........... . . ... .. .. . ... .. . . ... . . . . .. . . 56 Cyber Knight .......... . 62 Glitter Boy ... .. .. .... . 64 Headhunter ....... . ... . 66 Juicer ......... . .. . 68

Scholars and Adventurers . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Body Fixer ....... ... .. . .. . . , . . ... .. .............. . . ... ...... . . .. .... 71 City Rat . ................. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . ..... .. .. . .. .. .. .. ........ 73 Cyber Doc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Operator . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Rogue Scientist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Rogue Scholar ........ . .... .. . .. . .. .. .. ...... . ............... . ................ . 79 Wilderness Scout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Vagabond . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Practitioners of Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Line Walker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Mystic ............ .. ........ . . ... ... . .... . .... . . . .............. . ..... . . 84 Shifter ....... . .. . .... ... .... . ... . .... . . . .... . ............... . .... . .... .. .... 87

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Page

Techno-Wizard ..... . .. . 89

Racial Character Classes (R.C.C.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Dragons as Player Characters . ........ ... ....... .... ........ .. ....... . . .. . 98 Homed Dragon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 100 Fire Dragon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 100 Ice Dragon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Thunder Lizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 101

Psychic R.C.C.s ............. .. . 101 Burster . . . . . .. . .. .. . . 102 Psi-Stalker ... ....... ... . 104 Wild Psi-Stalker .... . .. .. . 106 Coalition Dog Pack ..... . ... . . . 107 Mind Melter ....... . ....... . ... . 112

Psionic Powers . . . . . ....... . 113 Meditation & Saving Throws 1\3 Animal P.P.E. . .... 114

Psionic Power Descriptions . ......... . 115 Healer. . ........... . 115 Physical ............ .. . . .. . 116

Sensitive .... 1\9 Super Psionics 124

The Time Before Rifts 128

Color Section . .. .. . 129

A World Overview .. 137 Chi-Town ...... . 140 CS State of Missouri 141 CS State of Lone Star 143 The Magic Zone .. .. . . .. .. . 144 Dinosaur Swamp ....... . . . . 146 Northern Gun (Michigan) ...... . . . 147 The Free State of Lazlo (Toronto) . 149 CS State of Free Quebec . .. ....... . 149 Atlantis. . . . ........ . ... . . . 150 Outer Space ...... . .. . ....... . 152

Color Section . .. .. . . ..... .. ...... . 153 Color Map of the Americas & Atlantis .. 158 Color Map of the Old American Empire 159

Magic . .. . ...... . 161 Mastery of Magic 162 Ley Lines .... 163 Learning Spells 164

Magic Combat .... 165

Alphabetical List of Spell Invocations 166

Spell List by Levels .... 167

Spell Descriptions Begin . 168

Coalition State Weapons & Equipment ...... . . 191 Body Armor .................. . . . 193 Robot Vehicles . ......... .. .... . 194 Other Vehicles & Equipment .. . . 198 Coalition Guns ........... .. . . . . 203

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The Black Market . .. .. .... . 205 207Pre-Rift Artifacts . .. . .. .

Selling to the Black Market

Mega-Damage Body Armor . 209 211 214

Power Armor . . . . . . . . . . Robot Vehicles .. . . .. .. .

Glitter Boy Armor/Robot

Other Weapons & Equipment Energy Weapons Rail Guns Vehicles

Cybernetics .. 229 Bionics

Partial Bionic Reconstruction 238

Prosthetics, Weapons, and Tools Full Bionic Conversion . . ..

Miscellaneous Equipment Game Master Section .. . 246

208

218

223 223 225 226

237 237

239

243

Quick Find Table Men of Arms ....... . .. .. . . . ... . . .. .. .. 47 Death's Head Transport . .... .... ... .. .... . . 199

S.D.C . for Men ofAnns (lD4 x 10) . . .. .. ... . . . . 9 Sky Cycle Vehicle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 201 Cyborgs ("Borgs") O.C.c. .. . .. . ...... . .. . . . . . . .. 47 Energy Weapons . . . . . . . . . . ... . .... . .... . 203

Bionic Section . . . . . . . .. ...... . .. ... . . . . 237 Explosives . ... ... . .. . ... .... . . . . . . . . .. 204 Crazies O .C .c. ...... . . .. . ... . . . . . .... . ...... 56 Vibro-Blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204Cyber Knight O.C .C . . . ... . . .. . ... .... . . .. .. .... 62

Neural Mace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205Glitter Boy O .C.c. . . .. ... .. ..... .. ... .. . . . .. . . 64 Glitter Boy Armor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 218 Additional Weapons & Equipment .•.....•......•. 205

Head Hunter O.C.C. . ... . .. .... .. ... ... ... . .. .. 66 Black Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 Juicer O.C.C. . . .... ..... .. .. .... . ..... . . .. .. 68 Black Market Pre-Rifts Artifacts . .... . . .. . .. . " 207

Juicer Body Armor .. . .. .. .. . .. .... . . . . . . 210 Body Annor (Non-Coalition) ...... .. ... .. . .. . 209 Juicer Energy Weapons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 225 Coalition Body Annor .. .. . .. . . ... . . .. .. ... 193

Coalition O.C.C.s ............................ 49 Coalition SAMAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 193 Propaganda and Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 49 Flying Titan Power Armor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212

Grunt O .C.C. ...... .. .. ... .. . .. . . ... .. . . .. . . 51 Glitter Boy Annor/Robot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 Elite Robot Pilot ("Sam") O.C.c. ... .. . . . . . ... .. .. .. 53 NG Samson Power Annor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212

Pilot: Robot Combat Elite Skill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Titan Robot Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 214Pilot : Tank & APC Skill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 30

Weapons (Non-Coalition) . . . .. . .. .. . . . . ..... 223Military Specialist .. . .... ... ..... . . . . .... . . . . " 54 Techno-Wizard Items . . .. .... . .. .. . . .. . .. .. . 92Espionage Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Technical Officer .... .. ... . ... . .. . ... . . . . . . .. 55 Bionics .........•......•................. 237 Coalition Psychic: Dog Pack .. .. .... ... . .. . . .. . . . 107 Cyborg Body Annor . ... ... . . ... . . . . . . ... . 243

Dog Pack Body Annor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 193 Cybernetics ...... . . . ... .... . . ... .. ... .. . . 229Dog Pack Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204

Blackmarket Cybernetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 234Dog Pack Optional Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. III Coalition Psychic: Psi-Stalker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 104 Combat

Psionic Power Descriptions .. .. . .. . .... .. ... . 115 Weight and Fatigue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Coalition State: Data & Information Hit Points and S.D .C . . .. ... . . .. .. . 9

The Recollections of Erin Tam . ... . 191 Coma and Death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Coalition Soldier Propaganda . . . .. .... . ... . 102 Mega-Damage . . . .. . ....... . .... . . .. .. .. . I I CS State of Chi-Town . .. . . . .... .. .. .. . .. . 140 Demolition Ski1is . . .. . . .. ... ... .. . . . . . . 28 CS State of Free Quebec . . . . . . . . .. 141 Physical Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 28 CS State of [ron Heart . . . . ... ..... . .... . . . 149 Rogue Skills ..... . . . . .. . . .. . ... . . . . . . ... 30CS State of Lone Star .. . .. . . .. . . ... . . 143

W.P. Skills .... .. . .. . . . .. .. . ... .. . . . .. . . 32CS Slate of Missouri . .. ...... . . .. .. ..... . . 141 Modem Weapon Proficiencies . . . .. . . . 33Magic Zone & Federation of Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 Hand to Hand Tables .. ....... ... . 37Psychics in the CS .. ... ..... .. .... .. . 102

Black Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 Robot Combat Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Vol1eys and Bursts .. . . ... ... . . . . . . . . ... ... 40Coalition Weapons & Equipment Called Shot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Body Annor . ... . . .. .. . . . .. ... . . .... . . . 193 Missile Combat ..... . . .. . . . . . . . . . .... . .. . 41Dog Pack Annor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193

SAMAS Power Armor .. .. .. .. . . . . .. . . ... . . 193 Missile Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

UAR- I Enforcer ' Bot ... .. . .. . . . 194 Magic Combat . . . . . . . ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 165

Spider-Skull Walker 'Bot .. . . . .. . 197 Psionic Combat . .... . ..... .. . . . . ... . .. .. .. .. 113

Armored Personnel Carrier .. . . .. 198 Horror Factor . . . . . . 114

6 Animals ... ... .. . 114

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