History TabletopGame / Rifts

* CanadaEh: Mentions have been made here and there of what's going on in Canada ever since the first book (unsurprising since [[CreatorProvincialism most of the books are about North America]]). Calgary is the site of a permanently open Rift, and many [[RubberForeheadAlien D-Bee]] and monster races prevalent in North America are assumed to have come from there. The Coalition State of Iron Heart, as well as [[note]]the former state[[/note]] Free Quebec are in Canada, as is the city-state of Lazlo, the adopted home of Erin Tarn. [[{{Sourcebook}} World Book 20]] was dedicated solely to Canada, and revealed among other things that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police still exist in the form of a group called the Tundra Rangers. Interestingly, this has resulted in people (human and D-Bee) in areas policed by the Tundra Rangers flying Canadian flags in their communities and self-identifying as Canadians. Certain Canadian cryptids, such as the ''[[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent loup garou]]'' and Ogopogo, are also given stats in the book.

** The New German Republic's human supremacy was only canonized in its own book. Previously in the Conversion Book, a Rahu-Man (a [[OurGiantsAreBigger Four-armed giant]]) had been mentioned as a hero of the NGR. Canonized again in the second NGR book, which reintroduced Rasheen (the Rahu-Man) as an NGR hero with an ''unofficial'' title of General. In fairness, NGR racism is rooted more in the fact that they ended up being the only safe haven for human survivors of the Great Cataclysm in Europe and at the time they lacked to resources to protect and feed alien populations as well. But even their current president supports allowing more non-humans to become citizens of the NGR; the FantasticRacism is still there, but at a lower level than previously implied and slowly getting better.

* OurOrcsAreDifferent: While Orcs[[Note]]archetypal Tolkienesque Orcs who like goblins were originally fairies from the Palladium Fantasy world[[/Note]] and Ogres do exist in ''Rifts'' (along with many, many others), the Brodkil sub-demons are the race that most often fits the bill: tall, brutish, stupid, war-like and cannibalistic, though with a fondness for cybernetics and high-tech weapons. They also tend to be mercenaries, bandits, raiders, and generally form large armies of disposable {{Mooks}} which work for various villains, factions and empires. Their stats get reprinted a lot and they're present on most continents so the writers must expect to get a lot of use out of them in campaigns over all the other monster races. They also have a loose empire in Europe, whose leader/god is an [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity insane 300-year-old pre-Rifts human cyborg]] who calls herself the Angel of Death.
* OurSoulsAreDifferent: One of the most {{Squick}}y villains in the game are the Soul Harvesters, an offshoot of necromancers who ([[ShapedLikeItself you guessed it]]) steal the souls of other living beings. Their goal in harvesting souls is to bring their EldritchAbomination/god Nxla to Earth. [[note]]Siembieda realized that the concept of soul stealing might be too intense for some, so he provided a disclaimer at the beginning of the section warning off anyone who might be offended.[[/note]] Later on, the [[EvilVersusEvil Minion War]] meta subgroup of books, dealing with the previously simmering conflict between two powerful [[TheLegionsOfHell demonic hordes]] reaching an apocalyptic fever pitch threatening worlds and dimensions across the [[TheMultiverse Megaverse]], introduced soulmancy, a more versatile but just as unpleasant form of magic which allows both factions to fuel their spells and war machines with the souls of sacrificial victims.

** The citizens of Atlantis, way back in prehistory. Their magical experiments led to hordes of demon and monsters being dumped on an unsuspecting Earth (which became the source of our [[AllMythsAreTrue legends about such creatures]]).

* BigDamnHeroes: Twice during the end of the Siege on Tolkeen. Free Quebec was approached by Tolkeen with an offer of mutual aid against the Coalition. The plan was for Tolkeen and Free Quebec to hit the Coalition Army threatening Free Quebec on both sides, crushing them in a pincer attack. However, Free Quebec was so outraged by the Sorcerer's Revenge(and you know, being ex-Coalition themselves) that they instead helped the Coalition Army destroy the Tolkeen force. Emperor Prosek was so impressed by the Quebecois' valor that he immediately called off all hostilities against their human neighbors (or at least, the attack gave him an opportunity to bow out of the unpopular war gracefully). An even bigger BigDamnHeroes moment occurred during the Final Siege against Tolkeen itself. The Coalition Army, who were about to get bushwhacked by Tolkeen sorcerers waiting for the Solstice to power up their magic, were rescued by a force of soldiers lead by General Jericho Holmes, who had marched into [[BeePeople Xiticix]] territory and had been presumed dead months earlier. Holmes is credited for almost single-handedly winning the war.

** The demon goblins of Wormwood are ugly, vicious humanoids native to another dimensions, from which they were brought to Wormwood by the sorceress Salome; as Salome also freed them from the rule of a cruel alien intelligence, they are fanatically loyal to her. They are cruel killers and cannibals who feed on their own kin. They may be distant kin to the goblins of Rifts Earth and the ''TabletopGame/PalladiumFantasy'' world, but are much stronger and more organized than them.

* EvilKnockoff: In the Three Galaxies setting, the Invincible Guardsmen are this to the Cosmo Knights, and were specifically designed to be the Transgalactic Empire's answer to the them. They're not quite on the same power level as the Cosmo Knights, but considering that the later are powered by an omniscient {{Precursor|s}} artifact, the Kreeghor did a surprisingly good job.

** The Minion Wars. Hades and Dyval, hellish dimensions populated by Demons and Deevils, respectively, start a war with each other that spills across several dimensions, including Rifts Earth and the Three Galaxies settings.

* BenevolentPrecursors: In the ''Three Galaxies'' setting, there was a race known only as The First. Their only lasting legacy is the Cosmic Forge, a mysterious artifact/entity responsible for creating the Three Galaxies and the Cosmo-Knights(and possibly the entire Megaverse).

* ForTheEvulz: A lot of monstrous creatures lack any particular motivation for their actions beyond being evil; they torture, murder and eat people because that's what evil monsters do.
** At the same time, most races lumped under the category "monster" have animal-level intelligence, and are probably incapable of forming complex motivations, anyway.
** It's explicitly mentioned a couple times that most demon races are fundamentally incapable of planning beyond an instinctual level.

''Rifts''' main selling points are a compelling "everything and the [[FantasyKitchenSink kitchen sink]]" setting and spectacular artwork. As a world, its feel could be fairly described as "''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' meets ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''... with Creator/MichaelBay in charge". Its critics, however, consider it hampered by its rules, as it uses the Palladium System [[note]]also called the Megaversal system[[/note]], developed in the early '80s as Kevin Siembeida's HouseSystem for ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. As the system hasn't changed much since then, it can feel clumsy, obtuse, and unfriendly to players used to more polished modern [=RPGs=]. Many gamers purchase the books to convert the stats to another engine (such as ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}''), or to plunder ideas for other games, or simply to read about the setting and admire the artwork. This has earned ''Rifts'' the title of "the most popular [=RPG=] that nobody actually plays" in many fan circles.

* InvokedTrope: Archie's plan with his [[RobotGirl Shemarrian Warriors]] is so effective in part because he's intentionally loaded their design with tropes to shape people's reaction to the race. An AmazonBrigade of [[StatuesqueStunner giant, beautiful]] [[TheStoic strong, silent]] [[ProudWarriorRace Proud Warrior Race]] D-Bee {{Cyborg}}s who ride [[HorseOfADifferentColor dinosaurs]] and hate the Splugorth and [[SlaveLiberation slavery]] in general? Each of these elements was put into the "race" for a reason, and the combination comes across as completely believable, so their sudden appearance doesn't make anyone suspicious.

* SpiritWorld: Owing to AllMythsAreTrue, there's several different brands of SpiritWorld in ''Rifts''. There's numerous afterlives from various mythologies ([[Myth/NorseMythology Valhalla]], [[Myth/ChineseMythology the Nine Hells of the Yama Kings]], etc). The Dreamtime gets described in ''Rifts Australia''. The Astral Plane gets a mention here and there, but isn't really described in detail in any book (though ''Nightbane'', another game by Palladium using the same rule system has a {{Sourcebook}} describing it).

* ''More'' often than not, an AuthorTract from Kevin Siembieda at the front.

In order to protect itself, mankind has taken back the secrets of magic, salvaged and re-discovered past technologies, and slowly rebuilt civilizations all over the world. However, even with monsters, demons, vampires and alien invaders to deal with, Mankind is still its own worst enemy.

''Rifts''' main selling points are a compelling "everything and the [[FantasyKitchenSink kitchen sink]]" setting and spectacular artwork. Its critics, however, consider it hampered by its rules. It uses the Palladium System [[note]]also called the Megaversal system[[/note]], developed in the early '80s as Kevin Siembeida's HouseSystem for ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. As the system hasn't changed much since then it can feel clumsy and unfriendly to players used to more polished modern [=RPGs=]. Many gamers purchase the books to convert the stats to another engine (such as ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}''), or to plunder ideas for other games, or simply to read about the setting and admire the artwork. This has earned ''Rifts'' the title of "the most popular [=RPG=] that nobody actually plays" in many fan circles.

* One or two really sexy, super-killy Classes with tons of power or toughness.

* A couple of ''really'' bad Classes that nobody would ever take.
* A bunch of selectable Races.

* A handful of random images of ancient art from other games, or bad art by the lesser artists on staff.

* At least one class that is "like this other class, but worse in every way".

In 2016, a successful Kickstarter campaign was held for an official conversion of the ''Rifts'' setting to the ''TabletopGame/SavageWorlds'' system.

* ArmyOfThievesAndWhores: The Coalition's new forces under Operation Hellbender are the result of a crash program established during the Minion War, as the Coalition's resources are already badly stretched after the war on Tolkeen. Non-Coalition mercenaries and rogues are largely being kept together in their own companies with Coalition advisors and thrown at the enemy, while NewMeat are being drawn as deeply as possible, with enlistment standards becoming a polite fiction, and given a few weeks of basic training before being sent into the field. To even the score, many of the latter group are being [[SuperSoldier given Juicer and Borg upgrades]].

** The ''TabletopGame/SavageWorlds'' adaptation is a bit more forgiving, as it uses that system's Heavy Weapons and Heavy Armor rules to simulate Mega Damage and MDC. It's still a good idea to be wearing MDC armor (if you can get it), but it's not an automatic death sentence to be caught in Mega Damage combat without it.

* {{Atlantis}}: Played straight with the lost continent's original inhabitants, and subverted by the new residents.

* ArmourIsUseless: Thoroughly averted; what with all the Mega-Damage weapons floating around, your lifespan without armor will be very short.

** The ''TabletopGame/SavageWorlds'' adaptation is a bit more forgiving, as it uses that system's Heavy Weapons and Heavy Armor rules to simulate Mega Damage and MDC. It's still a good idea to be wearing armor, but it's not an automatic death sentence to be caught in Mega Damage combat without it.

* BadassNormal: In the TabletopGame/SavageWorlds port, MARS (Mercenaries,Adventurers, Rogues and Scholars) start at Seasoned rank and the advancements that come with it, along with extra stat increases and edges and/or equipment

* InNameOnly: ''Rifts Manhunter'', the only official ''Rifts'' book not published by Palladium (prior to the TabletopGame/SavageWorlds adaptation). The now-defunct Myrmidon Press was given permission to use Palladium's Megaversal Rules System in making ''Manhunter,'' and the ''Rifts'' title was tacked on almost as an afterthought. About the only parallels this game has to any other Rifts product is that magic and science exist side-by-side, and infrequent, awkward mentions of rifts in time and space suddenly appearing in the setting. The book has been out of print for a very long time, and extant copies are so rare most Rifts fans have never even heard of it.

* ObviouslyEvil: Just in case their xenophobic attitudes, FantasticRacism, Imperialism, and massive war machine wasn't enough to clue you in that the Coalition is evil, they helpfully remind anyone who sees them by painting all their vehicles and armor black, and covering them with images of skulls (which is why Coalition soldiers are known as [[InSeriesNickname Dead Boys]]). Of course, in-universe this is done as a psychological warfare tactic. Facing down a platoon (let alone an Army) of FacelessGoons in armor that looks like an animated skeleton is downright scary.

* PowerAtAPrice: All three major forms of technological human augmentation come with steep downsides. Chemical augmentation is a DeadlyUpgrade that'll burn Juicers out within seven years. M.O.M. implants drive Crazies...well, insane. And bionics are their own price; a Borg gives up their human flesh to become partly or completely mechanical, losing most of their sense of touch and their connection to their fellow man.

** Crazies receive Mind Over Matter (or [[FunWithAcronyms M.O.M.]]) implants which boost the central nervous system and give the recipient greatly enhanced speed, reflexes, and strength (though not quite as much as a Juicer gets). It even grants him with minor [[PsychicPowers psionic]] abilities. Unfortunately, the implants also wear down the mental stability of the recipient, hence the nickname "Crazies" (a less common nickname is "Momma's Boys", in reference to the M.O.M. implants, but it would be [[BerserkButton unwise to call a Crazy that to his face]]). Every level after the first, a Crazy character has to roll for a random insanity, ranging from phobias to obsessions to all other [[AddedAlliterativeAppeal manner of mental maladies]]. And those bolts in their head? Well, the M.O.M. implants are the size of pinheads -- but Crazies ''want to be noticed''.

* ValuesDissonance: An InUniverse case stated by WordOfGod regarding Pre-Rifts films that have managed to survive into Rifts Earth. In the "modern era" of Rifts Earth, audiences couldn't care less about any type of SpeculativeFiction movie (it's too much like real life for them), but will eagerly watch even the stupidest movie that depicts typical life on Pre-Rifts Earth. For example, ''{{Film/Avatar}}'' or ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' would be total flops, while ''Film/TheRoom'' or ''{{Film/Gigli}}'' would have people lining up for repeat viewings.

** Lemurians: Genetically engineered humans and the world's foremost masters of [[GreenThumb Biomancy]]. They stuck themselves in a YearInsideHourOutside NegativeSpaceWedgie when Atlantis fell, accidentally unleashing an EldritchAbomination in the process. They returned after 150 years subjective time; many of those who went into the other dimension in prehistoric times are still around.

* One or two really sexy, super-killy Classes with tons of toughness.

* A bunch of selectable Races without much thought put into them.

''Rifts''' main selling points are a compelling "everything and the [[FantasyKitchenSink kitchen sink]]" setting and spectacular artwork. Its critics, however, consider it hampered by its rules. It uses the Palladium System [[note]]also called the Megaversal system[[/note]], developed in the early '80s as Kevin Siembeida's HouseRules system for ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. As the system hasn't changed much since then it can feel clumsy and unfriendly to players used to more polished modern [=RPGs=]. Many gamers purchase the books to convert the stats to another engine (such as ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}''), or to plunder ideas for other games, or simply to read about the setting and admire the artwork. This has earned ''Rifts'' the title of "the most popular [=RPG=] that nobody actually plays" in many fan circles.

* HouseRules: As mentioned above, the game is often modified. It's intentionally created with no balance to speak of, and each power, spell, and piece of technology is written without considering how it interacts with the rest of the system. Most of the rules were initially created for other Palladium games that focused on human (or human-ish) characters: Ninjas & Superspies, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Robotech, etc. Since Rifts has everything from super-powered humans to giant mecha to demons to gods in it, there aren't any guidelines for, say, when your martial arts stop being effective. (6-foot human throwing a 7-foot insect with Judo? Not mentioned, but probably okay. 6-foot human throwing a 25-foot demon? Still not mentioned.) For bonus points, the rules are (intentionally?) just slightly vague. For extra special bonus points, the entire Palladium game system (of which Rifts is a member) is supposedly cross-compatible, but each particular game uses slightly different rules. HouseRules to the rescue! Reportedly the creator of Rifts uses house rules in his own campaign. Frustratingly, he refuses to put them in an update supplement, even as optional rules.

** Or in the frequent case of fan conversions of other copyrighted material (StarWars, Franchise/StarTrek, etc.) it's more that Kevin [[ThatCameOutWrong doesn't want people touching his things to someone else's things]] lest he find a nasty letter waiting in ''his'' mailbox courtesy of some major film company. This is apparently the main reason; Kevin has said the policy was adopted in order to shield Palladium from liability for other parties's intellectual property getting converted.

* CulturalPosturing: The NGR tend to consider themselves the height of civilization, and they're the only major human power to look down on other groups because of this. They only recognize the pre-Rifts society of the Republic of Japan as an equal; the Coalition is a valued ally but held in some contempt for their AntiIntellectualism, and the Polish kingdoms are seen as little more than vassals who need to be shepherded by German leadership. Russia is seen as a chaotic hellhole and the Warlords as mere barbarians; only the Sovietski (who are, not coincidentally, most similar to the NGR in structure) receive any recognition, and not much of that.