RIFTS Campaign Discussion

They do if they're rune weapons.

Elemental Fusionist: Originally from the Rifts video game on the N Gage (Ha!), the Elemental Fusionist is a unique spellcaster since unlike Ley Line Walkers and Rifters, they don't draw P.P.E. (Mana) from Ley Lines, but can instead draw their P.P.E. from an elemental of their element. Unlike classical elementalists, however, Fusionists use two opposite elements, so they either pair fire and water or air and earth. Because of this, Fusionists tend to be somewhat unstable, and if they lean too far towards one half of their power set, they may grow even more so, acting like their element (fire is spontaneous, air is aloof, earth is stubborn, water is solemn). They also get powers in addition to their spells, which follow slightly different rules, and their spells and powers are both innate and not derived from study.

Ley Line Walker: A person so attuned to magic that they can see ley lines, even weak and nearly dead ones, and they also study the magic that's around them to control it better. They wear medium armor and can sense magic on many different levels, including rifts themselves. They can interact with ley lines as well, using them as points of communication, teleportation, a magical "train station," healing spots, etc. Basically, they're the traditional wizards except everything they do revolves around ley lines. 

Ley Line Rifter: A subset of the Ley Line Walker, Rifters get a few different abilities, such as slightly different spell choices, the ability to hitchhike on teleportation, and reduced spell costs for spells involving rifting and teleportation. This is one of the classes I might have gone with.

Mystic: Mystics are like Theurges from DnD, in that they can draw from the two main branches of supernatural powers, but instead of Divine and Arcane magic (Though a Cerebremancer might be the better analogy, they're even less well-known), Mystics get Magic and Psionics. While they don't have many special features, they are the only class that can use both very effectively.

Shifter: Describing this class accurately is hard, but they're your summoner, but they don't just summon creatures. They can make pacts with them and gain abilities as well as plane shift and whatnot. It's sort of like a Warlock mixed with a Binder mixed with a Diabolist mixed with a Malconvoker (which just so happens to be one of my favorite prestige classes in terms of flavor). 

Techno-Wizards: One of the more flavorful spellcasters, the techno-wizard can use spells and advanced tech, but the greatest strength of a techno-wizard is their ability to create magitech items. They're the RIFTS answer to artificers in Eberron. They also have very detailed rules on constructing your own devices. This is one of the classes I might have gone with, but it's probably the most complicated due to the construction requirements.



That's it for spellcasters. Up next we have Psychics/Psions.

Man, all this new UA material for 5E rocks.

Like, so much better than any of the UA for the past year or so. It looks balanced and flavorful and so cool. We have a subclass that can actually craft things at a decent speed (can craft non-magical items worth less than 100 gp by expending its cost in materials/offerings as long as it makes sense, even if you don't have a forge to make the sword that you're making in over the course of a short rest).

Bursters: Bursters are extremely steadfast, stubborn, and powerful psychics who primarily use their psionic ability to create fire. The motto is "Kill it with fire!" Everything they do is fire, and they're immune to flame, can explode in a fireball, can increase the size of natural fires, can sense fire, etc.

Dog Boys: Dog Boys are psychic, humanoid dogs created by the Coalition (not sure if we're using the default setting still) who, despite popular belief, are not vicious at all but tend to be loyal, trusting, and obedient to their masters and comrades. Unlike other Psions, their specialty isn't using Psionics, but to detect and combat Psionics. They have supernatural senses as well as enhanced senses and strong physicality. You can also choose your breed and get special bonuses.

Mind Melters: Your traditional Psion, they can access a wide variety of psionic abilities and can use all of them very well. However, because of the sheer versatility and power of their psionics, they don't get many other features.

Psi-Stalkers: The human equivalent of Dog Boys, Psi-Stalkers are mutants who have developed moderate psychic abilities and are experts at tracking the supernatural. However, unlike Dog Boys, Psi-Stalkers must feed on the magical or psychic energies of mages and psions, but this is both a benefit and a curse. While feeding can be a hassle, it allows Psi-Stalkers to shut down enemy mages and psions by devouring all of their P.P.E. or I.S.P. Plus, they also get psionic powers themselves which are somewhat stronger than Dog Boys'. There's a Wild Psi-Stalker class that's the same but has different skill.



That's all the classes besides ones in expansions, the Coalition variants, and dragons.

Really? Cool.

So, our party so far is a Robot Pilot (Is it going to be Mecha or Power Armor?), a Cyber Knight, a Rogue Scholar, a Shifter, and a Dragon.

We don't have a psion or a rogue, but Rogue Scholar should be able to fill out that second role with sheer skillmonkeying.

H.F. is Horror Factor.

A.R. is Armor Rating.

Just writing this down.

Actually, dragons ARE Psionics. My character in particular is a Master Psychic, and she starts out with 12 Psionic Abilities. Including two Super Psionics.

.... Where do you think I got the idea for Psychic Dragons in STARS from?

Dragons are literal big guys though.

Also, remember, we might have to track EXP in this since one of the balance points for classes is different level-up points (especially for Dragons).