RIFTS Campaign Discussion

So, at level 1, the Royal Frilled Dragon Hatchling starts with 3 spells, 12 Psionic powers(Including two Supers), long range nightvision, shadow meld(Essentially invisibility), a paralyzing AoE breath, claws and fangs that are treated as MDC weapons and do MDC, and potentially several hundred natural MDC, SDC, and HP. Oh, and the ability to sense Ley Lines, other dragons, read and understand even complicated magic, and instinctively use all magic weapons. Oh, and they can see through invisibility. And more I'm probably forgetting. All right out of the gate.

... That's so OP. I love it.

Had time to read the Shifter introduction...

This makes me think too much of M...

(Probably won't play as M though, cause M being equal to the other players would be weird)

Then looking at classes like Vagabond, the power levels seem really messed up in the style of most campaigns (lots of combat), since those classes are heavily overshadowed by the combat ones like Juicers and Glitterboys.

I think Rifts tries to go for a more "realistic" approach to classes, rather than a "balanced" approach. For example, a trained soldier in uber powerful Power Armor(Glitter Boy) is realistically going to be much better in combat than a Vagabond. However, a Vagabond is better suited to surviving in the wilderness and following trails and stealth and that kind of thing. Outside of battle, a Glitter Boy might not have a lot to do other than keep watch and stand guard. Whereas a Vagabond could be a Forward Scout, tracker, or hunter. So each class has individual skills they're good at, like they would in real life. And like Mystic said, outside of combat is equally important to combat itself in Rifts. Perhaps even more so at times. Rifts is all about traveling, surviving, investigating, and scouting. In many ways, there will probably be less combat in Rifts than there is in Schism.

At least, that's my view on stuff.

Well, my character is thought-out, now I just have to fill his character sheet and dwelve deeper into the rules and all that.

Oh boy... Still have some stuff to read but it's one complicated class I picked...

Question though, because it's not specified:

I start with a small animal as a familiar. Who controls that familiar, me or the Game Master?

I've seen it done either way, even within the same system...

Generally speaking, I'd say it depends on the familiar you choose and the GM. In this case, Mystic will most likely let you control it, unless specific circumstances dictate otherwise.

I'm about to go on Roll20 and start working on my character sheet, since it will be a complicated one.

Very carefully.