The Rifter #26 (April 2004 issue)
From: Palladium Books
Reviewed by: Ron McClung & Tracie Ellis.
The Rifter #26 (April 2004 issue) is a new RPG Sourcebook for the Palladium Megaverse from Palladium Books.
Disclaimer: I am not a Palladiums games player. I am not a Palladiums games GM. I am not a Palladiums games fan. I would not say that I am the best judge of what a good Palladiums games product would be. However, I’ve recruited help with this Palladiums games review -a long time Rifts GM and player, Tracie Ellis. Hopefully, between my overview of the product and her comments of the good and the bad, you will get a worthwhile review out of this.
Rifter is a source-‘zine put out for by Palladium books for all its games contained in the Mageverse. Number 26, the April Issue, contains a wide variety of items including articles for Beyond the Supernatural, Palladium Fantasy and Rifts.
Tracie says: The updates on forthcoming projects was useful, even with the delays outlined in Siembieda’s letter to the fanbase (at least he talks to people!). It mentions products expected out for the rest of the year, the delayed projects, and why they are delayed. Oh you wanted me to mention those projects? Well, that spoils the point of getting your own copy; now doesn’t it?
This sourcebook opens with a long letter from Kevin Siemdieda, and gives the reader the insight Tracie mentioned above. Following this is a news section with updates to Palladium’s convention calendar and coming attractions including the new RPG Splicers and Beyond the Supernatural.
From the front cover: “Your Guide to the Megaverse ”
The first article is one for the System Failure RPG called Fleas. It’s a short 3-page descriptive on a mutated version of the Earth flea that is plaguing the Bugs. They are much larger then your run-of-the-mill flea and use diseased acid saliva to burrow into their victims. A threat to both humans and Bugs, this nasty creature gave me the willies.
Tracie says: What’s with “Fleas?” Or maybe I should be asking about Systems Failure? “Fleas” is a combat weapon system for this game system, but I couldn’t find out about it (game system). However, as with all Palladium games, it’s transferable, so look at it that way. Fleas are large mutant bugs that suck the bio-energy out of other Bugs, especially Bugs that transform into energy forms. In this way, they are like ticks. These might be fun to use if you want to try an invasion plan against the Xiticix or something, but I’m not sure the Xiticix are bio-forms at any point in their growth stages…
Following this is a special preview of the much anticipated and very late release of Beyond the Supernatural Second Edition RPG – the new updated version of the old Palladium horror game. For five pages, Kevin describes what is in store for the new release and truly shows his passion for gaming and in particular, horror gaming.
Construct Animation Magic is an article of optional material for Palladium Fantasy. It describes the Elves attempts to combat Dwarven Rune Magic during the Elf-Dwarf War, and their discovery of a new school of magic – Construct Animation. “Elves found that by channeling large amounts of their own energy into inanimate objects, they could give them magical powers and a limited intellect.” Included in this article is a new O.C.C. called the Animator and rules on how to created an animated construct.
Unknown Depths is more optional material for Palladium Fantasy, describing Lizard Men in Palladium Fantasy worlds. This article, at 3+ pages, provides a full description of the Lizard Men, their society and culture, the military and their territory. It ends with a short section on Lizard Men as players and in campaigns.
The next article is yet another one for Palladium Fantasy – an adventure, The Fires of Korath Part Two. By the title alone, one can tell it is part of a larger work, which explains my confusion when I try to find the background or GM information on the adventure. This particular part of the Korath series is a long descriptive of several locations including the Obelisk of Ra, the Temple of Eriel, the Temple of Utu, and the Temple of Korath. In order to know the significance of these places, I suppose one should have the first part of the Korath series (which I do not).
Following the Fantasy adventure, is an article call Rifts: Mutants.
Tracie says: This contains optional rules on Mutants which clarifies for both GMs and players how to create strong, colorful NPCs and PCs for the campaigns. These are nice. Included are percentile rolls for what kind of mutant you want to create (animal, psychic, super) and the powers, abilities or quirks therein. I would strongly suggest using them if you want to play one.
The mutant section is well written. There is so much detail. Siembieda and crew ought to just get a group of writers together and write a Mutant book. All the references were marked out from just about all the books in the Palladium universe, so don’t tell me it can’t be done. You just have to find space on an already crowded calendar…somewhere.
That article is 10+ pages.
Two short stories follow – one being the 26th chapter of an on-going saga set in the Phase World universe and the other being a short story called Lords of the Deep set in Rifts.
Tracie says: The adventure and story chapters were portions of a whole,
and for someone just picking up Rifter for the first time, that can be viewed as
a bad thing. The story sounds good…it has a nice plot. The adventure sounds cool and
would be a treat to run, but it was like Part 11 or something and there’s no
mention of how to get the rest of it. I checked the back of the book, in the
catalog (when I got there), and Palladium only has limited copies of previous
issues of Rifter available. So, if you don’t have the whole run, I don’t know
how to get this adventure in total…maybe they will print the whole thing one
day.
Following this is a Palladium Product Catalog.
Tracie says: The catalog listing of products in the back of the
book was great. I don’t know how often this comes out in Rifter, but it was definitely
nice to see. I’ve been out of the loop for awhile and I needed something to
look at to say, ‘… ok, I have this, need that, etc…” Also, it comes with a
handy ordering form to get items from Palladium, Inc.
In conclusion, if you have previous issues of Rifter and are really into
Palladium Fantasy, this issue would be most useful to you. The Mutations
section would be very attractive to a Rifts GM or player also.
For more details on Palladium Books and their new RPG Sourcebook for the Palladium Megaverse “The Rifter #26 (April 2004 issue)” check them out at their website http://www.palladiumbooks.com and at all of your local game stores.
The Rifter (April 2004 issue)
From: Palladium Books
Type of Game: RPG Sourcebook for the Palladium Megaverse
Editor in Chief: Wayne Smith
Contributing Authors: James M.G. Cannon, Evan Cooney, Chris Fox, Michael
Long, Jason Richards, Andrew Rustling, Kevin Siembieda
Cover Art by: John Zeleznik
Additional Art by: Kent Burles, Drunken Style Studios, Michael Dubisch,
Allen Manning, Brian Manning, Apollo Okamura, Ramon Perez
Number of Pages: 127
Game Components Included: One Softback book
Game Components Not Included: Core Palladium Megaverse
rulebooks
Retail Price: $ 9.95
Item Number: 126
ISBN: 157457-100-1
Website: www.palladiumbooks.com
Reviewed by: Ron McClung & Tracie Ellis.