Before we dive into the wonders of Rifts Earth, let's understand the engine that drives our adventures. Savage Worlds is like a well-oiled machine - fast, furious, and fun. Think of it as the operating system for our game, while Rifts is the amazing software we're running on it.
In Savage Worlds, your abilities are measured by dice. The better you are at something, the bigger the die you roll. It's like having different sized hammers in your toolbox - a d4 is your small tack hammer, while a d12 is your mighty sledgehammer.
In the savage world of Rifts Earth, you don't start as a farmhand dreaming of adventure. You begin as someone extraordinary - perhaps a fire-wielding Burster, a dimension-hopping dragon, or a power-armored Glitter Boy. This is reflected in the "Born a Hero" rule: you can take powerful abilities right from the start, ignoring normal rank requirements during character creation.
Every hero is built on five fundamental attributes, like the pillars holding up a great temple:
If attributes are your raw potential, skills are your refined talents. In Rifts, you start with 15 skill points - a generous amount that reflects your character's extensive training or natural gifts. Five skills come free at d4:
This is where Rifts truly shines. Instead of picking a simple class, you choose an Iconic Framework - a complete package that defines not just what you can do, but who you are in this world. It's like choosing between being a knight, a wizard, or a dragon - except the dragon is literal!
Here's where your character becomes truly unique. The Hero's Journey tables add random elements to your background - perhaps you found an ancient weapon, learned from a master, or survived something that should have killed you. These rolls don't just give you mechanical benefits; they give you story hooks and connections to the world.
Think of it like this: two Glitter Boy pilots might have the same armor, but one found theirs in a pre-Rifts bunker while fleeing Coalition forces, while the other inherited it from their parent who died defending a village. Same framework, completely different stories.
Edges are special abilities that set you apart - like having a photographic memory, being ambidextrous, or having nerves of steel. Hindrances are your flaws and complications - maybe you're overconfident, have a code of honor, or someone powerful wants you dead.
In Rifts, we deal with two scales of damage. Regular damage is like getting punched or shot with a conventional weapon. Mega Damage is like getting hit by a tank shell or dragon's breath. One point of Mega Damage equals 100 points of regular damage - it's the difference between a firecracker and a stick of dynamite.
In a world where you can replace your arm with a plasma cannon, there's always a price. Strain represents how much cybernetic enhancement your body can handle. Too much chrome, and you start breaking down. Worse, if you have magical or psionic powers, each point of Strain interferes with your abilities - like trying to channel lightning through a rusty pipe.
Creating a character in Rifts isn't just about numbers and abilities - it's about crafting a hero with a story, a purpose, and a place in this incredible world. Whether you're a mystical Ley Line Walker channeling the planet's energy, a Juicer burning bright and fast, or a noble Cyber-Knight defending the innocent, you're not just playing a character - you're becoming a legend.