History YMMV / Rifts

** The [[HordeOfAlienLocusts xiticix]], a warlike race of InsectoidAliens that live on what was once the border of Canada and north america. They're extremely hostile towards all other sentient and represent a threat to [[OmnicidalManiac all life on earth!]] And beings the worst part? People have only recently realized this!
** The [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter Ee-Bee-Gee-Bees]]. At first they seem to be ewok ripoffs until you notice a few strange things about their anatomy. First, they scuttle on two pairs of crab like legs. second, they have two extra pairs of eyes. Lastly, they usually lead their "new friends" back to their den to web them up to be eaten alive later. [[GiantSpider sound familiar?]]
*** That's not the worst part though, the worst part is that [[BitchInSheepsClothing they're aware of how cute they look]] and use it to lure prey to them [[AdultFear usually children.]]
* ProtectionFromEditors: More like "Kevin doesn't hire any editors," leading to occasional RougeAnglesOfSatin, {{Author Filibuster}}s and playtest anecdotes filling up space in the books. If you come upon something that doesn't quite meet that standard, chances are it was drawn by Siembieda himself. 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.

** The [[HordeOfAlienLocusts xiticix]], a warlike race of InsectoidAliens that live on what was once the border of Canada and north america. They're extremely hostile towards all other sentient and represent a threat to [[OmnicidalManiac all life on earth!]] And the worst part? People have only recently realized this!

** The [[HordeOfAlienLocusts xiticix]], a warlike race of InsectoidAliens that live just on what was once the border of Canada and north america. They're extremely hostile towards all other sentient and represent a threat to [[OmnicidalManiac all life on earth!]] And the worst part? People have only recently realized this!

* StrawmanHasAPoint: The Coalition States is portrayed as a nazi-esque pro-tech anti-magic big bad who are racist against aliens/psychics/mages. Their views are promoted as being irrationally paranoid and intolerant. Actually examining the powers and abilities of something like a dragon or a high-powered psychic makes them sound a lot more sane. People who have played a lot of Rifts tend to slowly drift towards the Coalition's viewpoint that the possession of certain powersets makes you a constant threat to everyone around you, and you should be treated as such.

* CreatorsPet: The designers ‘’love’’ the Glitter Boy’s — the initial name for the game was going to be their original name (“Boomers”, after their guns). Numerous books will have references to them, and countries from all over have access to Glitter Boy technology (said to be very rare) — Japan, the NGR, and more all have their own variations.
** True Atlanteans were a big part of ‘’Rifts Atlantis’’, and mentions of them are everywhere in later books. Most things mentioning human modification make note of them.

* StrawmanHasAPoint: the Coalition States is portrayed as a nazi-esque pro-tech anti-magic big bad who are racist against aliens/psychics/mages. Their views are promoted as being irrationally paranoid and intolerant. Actually examining the powers and abilities of something like a dragon or a high-powered psychic makes them sound a lot more sane. People who have played a lot of Rifts tend to slowly drift towards the Coalition's viewpoint that the possession of certain powersets makes you a constant threat to everyone around you, and you should be treated as such.

** However, this trope can be subverted with being more on VillainHasAPoint, due to NGR and Lazlo having aspects that are many examples of sane and benevolent non-humans and magic along with both of them having better standards of living compared to Coalition States' [[FantasticCasteSystem highly stratified class system that encourage illiteracy]] (excluding state-sponsored scientists and sizable upper echelons of the government) and their [[ANaziByAnyOtherName campaigns in the name of human superiority]]. Not to mention that Coalition States used to be better (at least allow magic and democratic governance) until [[TyrantTakesTheHelm Karl Prosek's regime]].

** However, this trope can be subverted with being more on VillainHasAPoint, due to NGR and Lazlo having aspects that are many examples of sane and benevolent non-humans and magic along with both of them having better standards of living compared to Coalition States' [[FantasticCasteSystem highly stratified class system that persecutes intellectuals who studies magic]] (excluding Lone Star and those who are sponsored by the Coalition States) and their [[ANaziByAnyOtherName campaigns in the name of human superiority]]. Not to mention that Coalition States used to be better (at least allow magic and democratic governance) until [[TyrantTakesTheHelm Karl Prosek's regime]].

** However, this trope can be subverted with being more on VillainHasAPoint, due to NGR and Lazlo having aspects that are many examples of sane and benevolent non-humans and magic along with both of them having better standards of living compared to Coalition States' [[FantasticCasteSystem highly stratified class system that persecute intellectuals]] (excluding Lone Star and those who are sponsored by them) and their [[ANaziByAnyOtherName campaigns in the name of human superiority]]. Not to mention that Coalition States used to be better (at least allow magic and democratic governance) until [[TyrantTakesTheHelm Karl Prosek's regime]].

** However, this trope can be subverted with being more on VillainHasAPoint, due to NGR and Lazlo having aspects that are many examples of sane and benevolent non-humans and magic along with both of them having better standards of living compared to Coalition States' [[FantasticCasteSystem highly stratified class system that persecute intellectuals]] and their [[ANaziByAnyOtherName campaigns in the name of human superiority]]. Not to mention that Coalition States used to be better (at least allow magic and democratic governance) until [[TyrantTakesTheHelm Karl Prosek's regime]].

* CriticalResearchFailure: * The first {{Sourcebook}}, now called Sourcebook One, had an animal/monster race called the Ostrosaurus. In the description, they note that despite the name, it's not a lizard like a dinosaur, but closer to a featherless bird. The irony kicks in with the realization that [[ScienceMarchesOn Theropods, which the Ostrosaurus resembles, essentially were featherless birds]]. Or more accurately, [[ArtisticLicensePaleontology birds are feathered dinosaurs]]. Or, even more more accurately, [[ScienceMarchesOn birds are dinosaurs with (perhaps) a few more feathers.]]

* GameBreaker: If the character you are playing ''doesn't'' break the game in some way, shape, or form, ''you're doing it wrong''. The Glitter Boys get most of the heat for this trope for being a clear author favorite. Palladium tries to make out that they're just [[MightyGlacier Mighty Glaciers]], but seem to forget that the Glitter Boy can still travel 60 MPH and has a gun with a range of 2 miles which is only slow by mech standards. Moreover, Rifts combat is far too abstract for anyone to take advantage of flanking or the Glitter Boy needing to stand and plant before firing. Rifts being Rifts, there are several other game breaker classes including the Godling, the Cosmo-Knight, the Elder Magelord, and the Cosmic Being.
** PowerLevels aside, the Carpet of Adhesion spell is broken because there is effectively no saving throw. If you're caught in the carpet, you're stuck. That's it, no way out.

** Feeling cold? Hop on over to rpg.net and post ''anything'' about Palladium games. The ensuing flame wars will heat your home for months.
** The Palladium forums, though, are pretty tame, partly due to strict moderation. (The FanworkBan, one of the bigger sources of flamethrower fuel elsewhere, is [[OrwellianEditor fully supported and obeyed]] here.)
* DracoInLeatherPants: For all the atrocities they commit, the Coalition can be surprisingly easy to sympathize with. After all, the vast majority of the world's problems actually ''are'' caused by magic and/or creatures from other dimensions. If it weren't for their zero tolerance policies and ceaseless propaganda, they would easily come off as TheFederation.
** This gets brought up in the introduction to the second book in the ''Siege on Tolkeen'' series. Siembieda states flat out that "die-hard fans of the Coalition" will probably be displeased with the way the CS is portrayed in this book. But nothing in the book is coming out of nowhere, it all fits previously-established techniques and doctrines used by the CS for decades now.
** They probably wouldn't get hit with this trope so hard if their armor and weaponry didn't look so darn badass.

* MagnificentBastard: A standard villain or AntiVillain trope in Rifts.
** Karl Prosek, Emperor of the Coalition, and his son Joseph, who if anything is ''worse''.

** DracoInLeatherPants can sometimes result; because they wear cool armor and are indisputably badass, some people think the Coalition are awesome, and minimize or ignore the evil and atrocities they commit. 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]], many non-humans on Earth [[EvilVersusEvil actually are evil.]]

*** Along with WhatMeasureIsANonHuman for the vast majority that isn't evil.
*** Or just being an ordinary human that the CS has no immediate need for. The Burbs are populated by people who have been waiting for ''generations'' to gain CS citizenship, and it is [[RedShirtArmy not because the CS bureaucracy is slow]].
*** [[RealityIsUnrealistic Oh, like Switzerland.]]
*** This issue can often be resolved by simply turning to WordOfGod. Kevin Siembeda admits that while some CS characters may be sympathetic, his overall depiction of them as being predominantly evil is pure {{Canon}}. Multiple books contain examples of the CS being extremely malevolent, including orchestrating the deaths of humans purely to create raw footage for propaganda purposes. Also, players whose characters are actually forced to ''obey'' CS laws and military regulations often lose their enthusiasm for it quickly, since freedom and independent initiative are strongly frowned upon in the rigidly hierarchical military government, which is not above punishing (or killing) {{Military Maverick}}s who might shake up the status quo.
* NightmareFuel: Some of the things done by [[EldritchAbomination Alien Intelligences]], Atlantis, Dark Mages, Cults, Evil Gods, {{Mad Scientist}}s, and the various versions of TheEmpire are often damned sick and horrifying even by RPG standards!

* ProtectionFromEditors: More like "Kevin doesn't hire any editors," leading to occasional RougeAnglesOfSatin, {{Author Filibuster}}s and playtest anecdotes filling up space in the books.
** 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.
** Speaking of which...As mentioned on the main page, ''Rifts'' is known for its high quality of artwork. If you come upon something that doesn't quite meet that standard, chances are it was drawn by Siembieda himself.

* GameBreaker: If the character you are playing ''doesn't'' break the game in some way, shape, or form, ''you're doing it wrong''. The Glitter Boys get most of the heat for this trope for being a clear author favorite. Palladium tries to make out that they're just [[MightyGlacier Mighty Glaciers]], but seem to forget that the Glitter Boy can still travel 60 MPH and has a gun with a range of 2 miles which is only slow by mech standards. As well as the fact that Rifts combat is far too abstract for anyone to take advantage of flanking or the Glitter Boy needing to stand and plant before firing. Rifts being Rifts, there are several other game breaker classes including the Godling, the Cosmo-Knight, the Elder Magelord, and the Cosmic Being.

*** My [[http://www.lordhighrikonian.com/oldsite/rpg/ultra.html Cosmic Being]] was [[PowerCreep holding its own on a planet full of Ancient Magekings]], but then a [[MetaConcepts Meta-Dimensional]] being started [[FlippingTheTable upsetting the 2D foundation]] of ''all'' our characters existence until another Meta-D entity [[ADogAteMyHomework chewed our Meta-Patterns apart]]. And to top it off, we kept getting these hints about a sort of Meta-D RealityWarper [[GameMaster villain]], so it'll be interesting to see how the next campaign works out.
** PowerLevels aside, the Carpet of Adhesion spell is broken because there is effectively no saving throw. If you're caught in the carpet, you're stuck. That's it, no way out.

* GameBreaker: If the character you are playing ''doesn't'' break the game in some way, shape, or form, ''you're doing it wrong''. Oddly, although they're really just a MightyGlacier class writ very large, the Glitter Boys get all the heat for this trope.
** The Cosmo Knight, however, is simply ridiculous.
*** And the Godling makes the Cosmo-Knight look sane.
*** And the Elder Magelord makes the Godling look like a wimp. First session with one of these, I tore apart a Glitter Boy with ''my bare hands''.
*** My [[http://www.lordhighrikonian.com/oldsite/rpg/ultra.html Cosmic Being]] was [[PowerCreep holding its own on a planet full of Ancient Magekings]], but then a [[MetaConcepts Meta-Dimensional]] being started [[FlippingTheTable upsetting the 2D foundation]] of ''all'' our characters existence until another Meta-D entity [[ADogAteMyHomework chewed our Meta-Patterns apart]]. And to top it off, we kept getting these hints about a sort of Meta-D RealityWarper [[GameMaster villain]], so it'll be interesting to see how the next campaign works out.

** DracoInLeatherPants can sometimes result; because they wear cool armor and are indisputably BadAss, some people think the Coalition are awesome, and minimize or ignore the evil and atrocities they commit. 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]], many non-humans on Earth [[EvilVersusEvil actually are evil.]]

* FreudWasRight: Some of the robots have... interesting weapon placements.

** They probably wouldn't get hit with this trope so hard if their armor and weaponry didn't look so darn {{Badass}}.

* MagnificentBastard: a standard villain or AntiVillain trope in Rifts

* HilariousInHindsight: The [[UsefulNotes/ChineseWithChopperSupport Chinese military]] claims to have invented anti-laser coatings made of "rare earths, carbon fiber, silver, and diamonds that have been processed to fine sheens and tailored against specific laser weapon systems". Yes, they claim to have made Glitter Boy armor (mostly for ships but the principle is the same). [[http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1444732/us-lasers-pla-preparing-raise-its-deflector-shields Link here]].

* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Just the fact that [[HorsemenOfTheApocalypse Death's]] steed is named [[VillainsOutShopping Bones]], really.

*** This issue can often be resolved by simply turning to WordOfGod. Kevin Siembeda admits that while some CS characters may be sympathetic, his overall depiction of them as being predominantly evil is pure {{Canon}}. Multiple books contain examples of the CS being extremely malevolent, including orchestrating the deaths of humans purely to create raw footage for propaganda purposes. Also, players whose characters are actually forced to ''obey'' CS laws and military regulations often lose their enthusiasm for it quickly, since freedom and independent initiative are strongly frowned upon in the rigidly hierarchical military government, which is not above punishing (or killing) MilitaryMaverick[=s=] who might shake up the status quo.

* HilariousInHindsight: The [[{{UsefulNotes/ChineseWithChopperSupport}} Chinese military]] claims to have invented anti-laser coatings made of "rare earths, carbon fiber, silver, and diamonds that have been processed to fine sheens and tailored against specific laser weapon systems". Yes, they claim to have made Glitter Boy armor (mostly for ships but the principle is the same). [[http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1444732/us-lasers-pla-preparing-raise-its-deflector-shields Link here]].


* NightmareFuel: 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!

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

* PuritySue: The Perola, from ''Aliens Unlimited''. Pacifistic, well-loved, attractive, charismatic. Oh, and [[InnocentFanserviceGirl committed nudists]], too.