History YMMV / Rifts

* StrawmanHasAPoint: the Coalition States in many respects as a nazi-esque pro-tech anti-magic big bad who are racist against aliens. Their views are promoted as being irrationally paranoid and intolerant. A careful look into the powers of many creatures such as dragons, or what magic and psionics are capable of doing, and the comparative weakness of normal humans totally justifies these fears though. The CS Emperor Karl Prosek's speech in Coalition War Campaign, though terrifying Erin Tarn, actually brings up valid points about the unpredictability of magic and how it corrupts humans. The 'Corrupt' class and Dunscon himself in Federation of Magic (the group that originally invaded the Coalition States and instigated their anti-magic attitudes) serve as shining examples of this. As do the Witches ported from Palladium Fantasy, and even the Diabolists and Summoners who also appear in Conversion Book 1, since they make a habit of calling the true name of various Old Ones and Demons and Devils to cast their magic. The risks of magic are made even more apparent when the Nightbane sourcebook Through the Glass Darkly expands the rules and reveals how magic can become sentient on its own, randomly killing living creatures to sustain its PPE. It also reveals how the practice of magic can instill multiple personalities in sorcerers or give them the equivalent of the 'Wizard Eyes' that the Ice King suffers from in Adventure Time.

** Before their divorce, Kevin's wife Maryanne was usually listed as the editor. One wonders if she did anything beyond typesetting and posing for various pictures.

** Before their divorce, Kevin's wife Maryanne was usually listed as the editor. One wonders if she did anything beyond typesetting.

* ProtectionFromEditors: More like "Kevin doesn't hire any editors," leading to occasional RougeAnglesOfSatin, [[AuthorFilibuster Author Filibusters]] and playtest anecdotes filling up space in the books.

* BrokenBase: Between the {{Fandom}}, the FanDumb and the HateDumb [[ComplainingAboutGamesYouDontPlay complaints by those who don't play it]], the constant calls of RuinedForever following ''any'' [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks new Sourcebook, rules change]], the rules ''not'' changing for decades, or CanonDefilement (perceived or real)...and the occasional (rare) rational disagreement over an issue related to the game or setting...the Rifts fanbase has split more times than a sequoia's root system.

* HighOctaneNightmareFuel: Some of the things done by [[EldritchAbomination Alien Intelligences]], Atlantis, Dark Mages, Cults, Evil Gods, [[MadScientist Mad Scientists]], and the various versions of TheEmpire are often damned sick and horrifying even by RPG standards!
** There's some stuff, like the Soul Harvesters ([[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin guess what they do]]) from ''Psyscape'', which is so disturbing that the book has a disclaimer right before that section warning off folks with timid sensibilities.
** The artwork and concepts of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in the Africa world book.
** The mutants in ''Madhaven''. Their freaky appearance is bad enough until you remember that they're all descended from [[UncannyValley humans]].

* The mutants in ''Madhaven''. Their freaky appearance is bad enough until you remember that they're all descended from [[UncannyValley humans]].

* The artwork and concepts of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in the Africa world book.

* FetishFuel: Pretty much everything about Atlantis.

*** Or, worse still, glorify the evil and atrocities. This may stem from the fact that, while [[ANaziByAnyOtherName the Coalition want to commit genocide on every non-human on Earth]], most non-humans on Earth [[EvilVersusEvil actually are evil.]]
**** Along with WhatMeasureIsANonHuman

* BrokenBase: Between the {{Fandom}}, the FanDumb, the {{Hatedom}}, the HateDumb [[ComplainingAboutGamesYouDontPlay complaints by those who don't play it]], the constant calls of RuinedForever following ''any'' [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks new Sourcebook, rules change]], the rules ''not'' changing for decades, or CanonDefilement (perceived or real)...and the occasional (rare) rational disagreement over an issue related to the game or setting...the Rifts fanbase has split more times than a sequoia's root system.

*** Or, worse still, glorify the evil and atrocities.

* ProtectionFromEditors: More like "Kevin doesn't hire any editors," leading to occasional RougeAnglesOfSatin, [[AuthorFilibuster Author Filibusters]] and playtest anecdotes filling up space in the books.
* YourMileageMayVary: RPG fans are [[{{Understatement}} somewhat divided]] on the system, the rules, every setting, every change, the [[{{Hatedom}} creator/publisher himself]]...see BrokenBase.

** The Palladium forums, though, are pretty tame.

** Game breaking in the sense of rendering the game unplayable: How do you resolve a skill check? [[WallBanger The rules don't say]]. You have to ''buy other Palladium gameline books'' to get an answer. ''Nice one'', Siembieda!
** It tells you what percentiles are on page 8 of the rule book. Then it tells you what the numbers mean twice for the different type skills sets. What do you think the percent sign is for behind each number when it says radio: 45+5% per level. If you're a first level character, you roll under a 50 on two ten sided dice. * HighOctaneNightmareFuel: Some of the things done by [[EldritchAbomination Alien Intelligences]], Atlantis, Dark Mages, Cults, Evil Gods, [[MadScientist Mad Scientists]], and the various versions of TheEmpire are often damned sick and horrifying even by RPG standards!