House Rules

[sawg138]

House rules for my game. Many are taken from Ed3's house rules, but many are mine.

Changing OCC's

All skills, powers, abilities of the old OCC are frozen. They will remain so UNLESS selected again with skills from the new OCC. Skills from the new OCC are limited to OCC and OCC related only. The OCC skills begin upon the new OCC without the OCC bonuses. Upon achieving 0 XP OCC skill bonuses are applied and OCC Related skills are selected as normal. The new OCC is reduced to negative XP equal to the amount required for 2nd level. Skills selected to unfreeze old OCC skills are NOT unfrozen until the new occ level surpasses the old. HP does not increase until the same event occurs. You need to be 3rd level or higher to change OCC, and you can't change to an OCC you don't meet the requirements for (so you can't become a chiang ku tattoo master unless you are already a chiang ku, and you can't become a mind melter unless you are already a master psi. and so on).

Spellcasting and Psionics

Spellcasting requires a melee action and the PPE unless it is a ritual. Psionics will be given the same leeway by and large. This makes powers like Psi-Sword much more useful.

Questioning the GM

Do not ask the GM for information you missed during the game. If you arrive late or had to leave early the previous session, don't bug me during a session for the things you missed. There are usually between 6-9 players in my game, most of whom would be perfectly happy to explain everything you missed in much greater detail then I have time to do while I am running the game, so ask one of them. Generally speaking I don't have enough time while GMing to also recap an hour or more of missed game. If you want to bug me for what you missed during the week and are lucky enough to catch me online to do so, that's great, but not during the game.

Timeliness

The Game will start on time. I have decided that it is unfair to those players who are responsible and punctual to have to wait for the players who for whatever reason are unable to show up on time for the games. Therefore from now on, all of my games will start promptly at the appointed time or as quickly thereafter as there is at least one player present. The game time is every Wednesday at 7:00 PM EST for those who are confused.

Absences

Absence without notification may result in loss of your place in the game. If a player does not show up for any games for a month or longer without sending me some kind of notification as to why they are not there, or at least that they will be back soon and still want to play, then I will have to assume that they have left the game and are not coming back. If players I thought had left do return before I have given their spot to someone else they can just jump right in, however if the spot is filled they are out of luck. So notify me if you intend to come back, and tell me about how long you expect to be gone.

Damage Capacity

Human sized and scaled things are SDC. Power Armor has its MDC multiplied by two for MDC and by three for damages. Human MDC weapons will be SDC and in many cases have their damage dice increased. Remaining MDC weapons will do double. The general guideline is human scaled weapons do double dice in SDC.
Magic and psionics will use the HU2 versions where applicable and have a 1:1 conversion where no SDC rules for the spell are available. Anyone getting froggy enough to face a SAMAS without a PA of their own will see the magic a SAMAS can cast. This spell is Transmute to Red Mist. Human armor will receive an AR as per CB1 rules and have the MDC doubled and turned to SDC.

Rail Guns

Rail guns typically fire single shot now. Heavier vehicle mounted ones will be able to do more.

Psi-Stalkers

Are able to feed on ISP, getting 1/4th of what they consume in usable PPE. They will find ISP distasteful compared to PPE but will be able to do it. They also appear as per RMB, in other words, they are not automatically Powder with fangs and eye-liner.

Money

Most states will issue their own currency, though some will use neighboring states’ currency and some will have none at all, instead relying on barter. This is a world emerging from an apocalypse, credits do not exist. More advanced states may have banks that will issue credit, but high interest rates are typical. States with industrial powers such as MI, the CS, and similar may utilize electronic currency within their territory, but this likely will not be any good elsewhere. Paper money, precious metals as coin, and barter are the rule of the day.

Terminology

There is a difference between game mechanics language and setting vernacular. ISP, PPE, Armor Rating, and anything else applying strictly to game mechanics should remain there, and not be on the lips of the PC’s. After all, IRL we talk about similar terms in much less specific terms. The PC’s should be no different.

Themes and Language
This is not a kids game, there will be all sorts of adult themes and language. If you are either not mature or easily offended, this game is not for you. Look elsewhere for a game that is for you.

Martial Arts
Martial arts from N&SS and MC do recieve the two attacks for living, but still cost six skills above HtH Martial Arts. Any martial art not from those two will use the Keseru Kennobi Project to conform to N&SS standards. Also note that as a Rifts game set in Mexico, any martial art will need to be discussed with me beforehand.

Firearms
The Rule that Shall Not be Named is unused in my game. Yes, no -10 penalty to dodge at range.

Combat
Combat will be handled by GM Guide and back. Don't use RUE rules for it.

Chi and the Supernatural
Lesser Supernatural creatures Chi=PEx3
Supernatural with base PPE 200+ Chi=PEx5 (Demi-Gods fall here regardless of PPE)
Supernatural with base PPE 1001+ Chi=PEx10 (godlings fall here regardless of base PPE)
Gods Chi=PEx100

Horror Factor
ME bonuses count for HF saves.

Learning Spells
Two days per level of the spell.

Spell Costs

1st - 5,000
2nd - 10,000
3rd - 20,000
4th - 30,000
5th - 50,000
6th - 70,000
7th - 90,000
8th - 120,000
9th - 160,000
10th -200,000
11th -250,000
12th -300,000
13th -350,000
14th -400,000
15th -450,000
Legend - 700,000

+10% for offensive
+20% for metamorph/summoning
+30% for specialized spells available to common spell casters(mystic bulwarks, fulmination, shadow ect)
+40% for specialized spells that are class specific spells (where applicable. Necromancy being the obvious, cloud magic as well)

[sawg138]

Also, the GM must have the book in question for any spells, powers, items, or anything else you may want.

[sawg138]

Since we use OpenRPG, I do not always catch whispers in the chat. So, if you must poke me, do so via Trillian, otherwise it may be a while before I notice that blinking face at the top of the screen.

[sawg138]

House rules have been updated.

[sawg138]

Changing OCC's

All skills, powers, abilities of the old OCC are frozen. They will remain so UNLESS

selected again with skills from the new OCC. Skills from the new OCC are limited to

OCC and OCC related only. The OCC skills begin upon the new OCC without the OCC

bonuses. Upon achieving 0 XP OCC skill bonuses are applied and OCC Related skills are

selected as normal. The new OCC is reduced to negative XP equal to the amount required

for 2nd level. Skills selected to unfreeze old OCC skills are NOT unfrozen until the new

occ level surpasses the old. HP does not increase until the same event occurs. You need

to be 3rd level or higher to change OCC, and you can't change to an OCC you don't meet

the requirements for (so you can't become a chiang ku tattoo master unless you are

already a chiang ku, and you can't become a mind melter unless you are already a master

psi. and so on).

 

Spellcasting and Psionics

Lower level spellcasting requires a melee action and the PPE unless it is a ritual. Many

psionics will be given the same leeway by and large. This makes powers like Psi-Sword

much more useful.

 

Damage Capacity

Human sized and scaled things are SDC. MDC Armors see their MDC doubled and

converted to SDC with an AR equal to the ancient armor the suit is most comparable to.

MDC weapons, spells, and psionics do double damage or have their SDCs doubled.

Power Armors convert to SDC at a one-to-one ratio. Light armors will have an AR of 12

while heavy armors have an AR of 15. True power armor appropriate weapons (not man-

portable) do double damage but treat natural AR as armored AR while reducing the AR

of armored by two. Vehicular-mount weapons also share this ability

Giant robots and other massive weapons of war have convert one-to-one but their

weapons ignore non-natural AR.

Rail Guns

Rail guns typically fire single shot now. Heavier vehicle mounted ones will be able to do

more.

Vampires

Vampires will not follow all of the Palladium rules for their kind. I will leave it to the

players to figure it out, unless a vampire smart PC turns up.

Money

Most states will issue their own currency, though some will use neighboring states’

currency and some will have none at all, instead relying on barter. This is a world

emerging from an apocalypse, credits do not exist. More advanced states may have banks

that will issue credit, but high interest rates are typical. States with industrial powers such

as Mantisque, the CS, and similar may utilize electronic currency within their territory,

but this likely will not be any good elsewhere. Paper money, precious metals as coin, and

barter are the rule of the day.

Chi and the Supernatural

Lesser Supernatural creatures Chi=PEx3

Supernatural with base PPE 200+ Chi=PEx5 (Demi-Gods fall here regardless of PPE)

Supernatural with base PPE 1001+ Chi=PEx10 (godlings fall here regardless of base

PPE)

Gods Chi=PEx100 

Horror Factor

ME bonuses count for HF saves.

Learning Spells

Two days per level of the spell.

Spell Costs

1st 5,000 +10% for offensive

2nd 10,000 +20% for metamorph/summoning

3rd 20,000 +30% for specialized spells available to common spell casters

4th 30,000 mystic bulwarks, fulmination, shadow ect

5th 50,000 +40% for specialized spells that are class specific spells

6th 70,000 Where applicable. Necromancy, cloud magic, temporal

7th 90,000

8th 120,000

9th 160,000

10th 200,000

11th 250,000

12th 300,000

13th 350,000

14th 400,000

15th 450,000

Legend 700,000

Skills and Combat

These are taken from the Rifts GM Guide, not from RUE.

Attributes

Roll 4d6 and discard the lowest unless the highest three are 16 or above, in which case

reroll the lowest and add to the remaining dice. All PCs roll at least 3d6, though without

bonus for exceptional rolls.

Class Alterations:

Cyber-Knights: No Zen combat, but use the expanded psionics options. Instead, CKs can

parry energy blasts and effects while using the Death Blow on the supernatural and

mechanical.

Amazons: Most have no magic or psionics. Ten percent do and use the Super-Spy rules

for their psionics and magic. These Amazons are the result of a pairing between an

Amazon and either mage or psychic. All Amazons know the Way of the Bow per the PF

Longbowman.

Psi-Stalkers: Are able to feed on ISP, getting 1/4th of what they consume in usable PPE.

They will find ISP distasteful compared to PPE but will be able to do it. They also reduce

the effective AR of supernatural creatures by 1 point for every three levels. They also

vary widely in appearance, from normal human to the pale, bald versions.

Royal Knights: Know how to perform the Demon Death Blow.

Super-Juicers and Mega-Crazies: Multiply their MDC by 10 to get their SDC, in addition

to the standard Juicer/Crazy HP modification. A Mega-Juicer will have PE*40 SDC, for

example.

Mythology

Since this is a heavily mythology influenced game, humans and humanoids often can

interbreed. Gods are not limited to humanoid, as Loki can attest to. While gods do often

walk the world, they tend to not interfere directly in mortal affairs; they just have affairs

with mortals and send their clergy and offspring to interfere.

MDC PCs

Convert MDC to SDC. If a humanoid race, add these to base SDC per class.