Rifts: Steel and Chaoshttp://steelandchaos.postach.io/feed.xml2021-04-19T00:47:01.183000ZWerkzeugHow Casters Are Different in Riftshttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/how-casters-are-different-in-rifts2021-03-20T14:09:41.731000Z2021-03-20T04:17:26ZAndy Fundinger<div>In most video games and indeed classic table top RPGs a caster is a glass cannon. Like the wizard from gauntlet they have devoted their life to the study of magic and risked their soul to arcane forces, they gain an massive power at the cost of fragility. This is not the case in Rifts, instead they sacrifice one set of knowledge for another and overall lose power to gain supernatural abilities. Most casters in Rifts will do well to carry an energy weapon and wear light armor since their spells do not provide enough power to make up for their lack. To be clear I've used the example of combat equipment, but they should also ride a hover bike and carry a toolkit for it. Also, power levels in Palladium are--at best--loosely balanced, so this is not meant to imply that anything is balanced, only to discuss expectations.</div>
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<div>For the purpose of this article I'll consider three kinds of casters; the learned caster, the intuitive caster, and the specialty caster. The learned caster is the the most typical, these are the ley line walker, the shifter, the dragon hatchling, and so on. Studied casters can learn spells anytime they are available, so they will generally have a lot of spells--subject to the GM providing them. The intuitive casters are the mystic, the warlock, the mind melter, the chaos mage, and similar. Intuitive casters get spells as they level, the player can predict what spells they will get to fit their theme. The specialty caster includes the Techno Wizard, the Burster, the Tattooed man, however wide you want to spread your definition of a caster.</div>
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<div>Starting with the specialty casters, I think the design intent is apparent. A Techno Wizard is going to be dependent on his gadgets, the Burster will burn, the Tattooed man will be enhanced and limited by their tattoos. The nature of these characters is written on the label and that is what you get, a character with supernatural abilities. Unless the class is very combat focused they will need a weapon, but do have their own reserve.</div>
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<div>Continuing backwards, intuitive casters get a nice range of spells that allow them to do many more things than a mundane character, at first level the effects are minor things like creating light or darkness, sensing things beyond the natural world, scare crowds, or floating. Their abilities are only slightly above mortal, but they are not abilities that can be replicated entirely by mundane skills and they are wide.</div>
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<div>The learned caster takes this further, they have a selection of spells and--when they encounter another caster--they can get more. Again their starting spells are very low, but they can get higher or lower level spells. They won't get really powerful offensive or defensive spells until they get at least level 4 spells with fireblast doing 3d6 MD. Before this it's a matter of using the wide variety of spell that they do have in creative ways. Spells like Shatter, Create Wood, or Paralysis: Lesser. Their flexibility will be limited by their ability to marshal up PPE to cast spells. Some of this is gained by leveling but if they want to do something truly significant they need to work with places of power, sacrifices, and so on. Other than class specific differences generally Learned casters have more PPE, but they will not get an equal number of spells unless they purchase or receive some as treasure.</div>
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<div>All casters in Rifts seem to be more designed around being magic than any particular role in the party and I urge players considering them to build this into their concept, as it says in the Rifts Book of Magic, "Mages are convinced magic is superior," and any player should be including that into their concept. Your character is not someone who could have been a Glitter Boy Pilot, rather they are someone who would have been a peasant except for magic. If they are using something mundane they are not only using it until they get something better, but rather until they can replace it with magic.</div>
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<div style="text-align:start;background-color:rgb(236, 240, 241);"><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">"Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, Phase World®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Megaverse®, Nightbane®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Heroes Unlimited, Beyond the Supernatural, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. and Kevin Siembieda.</span></span></span></div>
How I Plan Encountershttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/how-i-plan-encounters2020-11-03T21:37:32.940000Z2020-10-12T02:37:33ZAndy Fundinger<div>I try to avoid rolling random or wandering monster encounters mid-session, even for minor encounters. 90% of the encounters for my sessions are pre-planned. Even when the PCs do something unexpected I may have floating encounters that are prepared and changeable. I don't hesitate to use random tables for planning, but I roll the dice beforehand, the at-table randomness--if any--is determined by perception since some encounters will not start if their triggers are not noticed. </div>
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<div>Pre-planning minor encounters let me plan for special rules and interactions between PCs, weather, NPCs, and plot before bringing them into the game. When I think about an encounter I usually look at four components:</div>
<div><br /></div><ul><li><div>Composition - What do I want the PCs to encounter? This is the easy one.</div></li><li><div>Leadership - Who is the leader of the antagonists? Are they there? What are they like? Even animals have a leader.</div></li><li><div>Mission - If the PCs did not arrive, what would the antagonists be doing? How would they do that? How are they prepared for anyone that might interfere?</div></li><li><div>Faction - What larger faction is represented by the encounter? What is their plan and goal?</div></li></ul><div><br /></div>
<div>This sort of planning has a few effects which are mostly <span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">intensional</span>:</div><ol><li><div>The existence of a leader means that one of the antagonists is more important than the others. Depending on how the PCs interact with the leader the whole nature of the encounter may change. This may control diplomacy or a morale check.</div></li><li><div>The antagonists are not just waiting for the PCs unless they are ambushing them. The PCs might get surprise, but the antagonists might be ready for an attack. They also should have tools and maybe even existing opponents. </div></li><li><div>This group is probably part of a larger faction that has a longer term plan, the current group's mission contributes to that somehow. Perhaps they will take special notice of the PCs. Played right the PCs may gain powerful allies, played wrong the antagonist faction might decide to <b>end the world!</b></div></li></ol><div><br /></div>
<div>Though we are still playing a game my goal in all the planning is to create a world that feels alive. If I need to plan an encounter in, even if it doesn't tie to the main plot, I make it tie to something--and if the PCs want to unravel it that something could become a main plot.</div>
Psionics House Ruleshttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/psionics-house-rules2021-01-02T01:50:33.028000Z2020-07-18T01:11:45ZAndy Fundinger<div>All Characters with psionics get meditation(<a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/800HC-Rifts-Ultimate-Edition.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Rifts® Ultimate Edition™</span></a> page 165) as in addition to their other powers</div>
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<div>The 2 ISP base cost for Total Recall(<a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/800HC-Rifts-Ultimate-Edition.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Rifts® Ultimate Edition™</span></a> page 177) is usually subtracted permanently from your base ISP</div>
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<div>The melee of concentration for intuitive combat (<a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/800HC-Rifts-Ultimate-Edition.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Rifts® Ultimate Edition™</span></a> page 174) can be done while in combat if shooting wild or otherwise not concentrated on combat.</div>
<div><br /></div><h1>For reference</h1><ul><li><div><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/800HC-Rifts-Ultimate-Edition.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Rifts® Ultimate Edition™</span></a> page 366 - Psychic Combat <b>READ THIS PAGE IF YOU ARE PLAYING A PSYCHIC CHARACTER</b></div></li><ul><li><div>ISP Recovery</div></li><li><div>Psionic Saving Throws</div></li></ul></ul>Campaign Prospectus - The NEMA Files (revised 1-2-2021)https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/campaign-prospectus-the-nema-files2021-01-06T14:28:59.365000Z2020-07-07T02:07:29ZAndy Fundinger<div><h1>Plot</h1></div>
<div>As NEMA retreated to Chicago not every city emptied entirely. One that did not was Cincinnati. In Cincinnati cases that seem to involve the paranormal, arcane, or extra-dimensional are investigated by squads from FBI's special investigations section. If there is any chance for the civilians of the city to live normal lives it will be because of the hard work and special skills of these brave heros.</div><h1>Themes</h1><ul><li><div>Cities are dangerous and mysterious places.</div></li><li><div>The new threats and the old ones may or may not be possible to tell apart. </div></li><li><div>Magic is a mysterious, arcane thing where a few facts can be leveraged for great power.</div></li></ul><h1>Feel</h1><ul><li><div>Threats can be dealt with many ways, characters are actively engaging in their cases and thus get to choose the terms of engagement much of the time</div></li><ul><li><div>this means that opponents will attempt to escape unless prevented, but they may or may not be able to depending on circumstances</div></li></ul><li><div>Episodes are self contained and the player characters start each episode at full strength</div></li><li><div>There will be callbacks and references between episodes</div></li><li><div>Equipment constraints are minimal, but so are upgrades since human technology is already cutting edge. Don't expect equipment upgrades.</div></li><li><div>Treasure/rewards will consist mostly of information about current and future threats</div></li><li><div>You will feel more like police officers in combat than military forces, that is to say you might win, but you should really be there.</div></li></ul><h1>Metagaming </h1><ul><li><div>Player input in this campaign is primarily by retrospective discussions at session or episode end.</div></li><li><div>Out of character planning is generally not a concern though timers may be used on occasion, for example to accelerate combat. </div></li><li><div>In general if you would like something added to the campaign please discuss on discord between sessions, as campaign is episodic an episode request can be added. </div></li><li><div>Again because this campaign is episodic we can swap characters in and out.</div></li><li><div>The GM reserves the right to fudge dice rolls but in practice I rarely do so, philosophically I prefer to not roll if I'm not going to abide by the dice.</div></li></ul><h1>Scheduling</h1><div>One player will monitor the discord scheduling channel and schedule episodes. Each episode will be scheduled as 3 Saturdays online from 1pm to 6pm. </div>
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<div>Two sessions are expected to be plays sessions and the third is "social session." Social sessions might have a small amount of wrap up or scene setting but are generally just a chance to check-in as friends. </div>
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<div>Players that need to do bookkeeping for their character should schedule extra time with the GM.</div><h1>Characters </h1><div>Characters will be investigators for the FBI Cincinnati. Replacement characters will be more of the same. Players must build the explanation for their character joining the FBI effort either officially or unofficially. Characters should not be built to be disruptive. As Characters are added role breakdown of the group in any given episode should remain:</div><table width="548px" style="width:548px;border-collapse:collapse;"><colgroup><col style="width: 190px;" /><col style="width: 168px;" /><col style="width: 190px;" /></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><b>Type</b></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="text-align:center;"><b>Minimum</b></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="text-align:center;"><b>Maximum</b></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><b>Law Enforcement</b></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="text-align:center;">1</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="text-align:center;"><br /></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><b>Soldier</b></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="text-align:center;">1</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="text-align:center;"><br /></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><b>Paranormal Expert</b></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="text-align:center;">1</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="text-align:center;"><br /></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><b>Caster</b></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="text-align:center;"><br /></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="text-align:center;">1</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><b>Psychic</b></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="text-align:center;"><br /></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="text-align:center;">1</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div>Creative categorization is anticipated to allow some flexibility, also if all minimums are met and the party is at all maximums it may be possible to allow another character in excess of a maximum. Players may have multiple characters but should express clear preferences for how include or exclude their characters on a per episode basis. We will not allow two characters of the same class to play in the same episode.</div>
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<div>While some characters may be killed and replaced between episodes it is also possible for others to simply recover between episodes if there is any possible way to do--details subject to hand waving.</div>
<div><br /></div><h2>Allowed Classes</h2><ul><li><div>Any class from the Rifts Chaos Earth Main Book</div></li><li><div>Chaos Earth classes from the Rifter, Rise of Magic, and Psychic Storm, <i>limited to books owned by both player and GM</i></div></li><li><div>NEMA classes with selected additional MOSs from Coalition Classes with approval <i>limited to books owned by both player and GM</i></div></li><li><div>Certain Military classes from Rifts books with approval <i>limited to books owned by both player and GM</i></div></li><li><div>Civilian classes from Modern Palladium Settings with approval <i>limited to books owned by both player and GM</i>Allowed Classes</div></li></ul><h2>Character Creation</h2><div>Characters can be created in one of two ways:</div><ul><li><div>Partially Pregenerated Characters provided by the GM, see <a href="https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/creating-pcs-from-pregens" rev="en_rl_none">https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/creating-pcs-from-pregens</a> for details on this process.</div></li><li><div>Use a provided set of rolls arranged to your liking, no further genetic engineering will be done on these. Available options are:</div></li><ul><li><div>A normal human: 16, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, and 6 (see <a href="https://anydice.com/program/1fa04" rev="en_rl_none">https://anydice.com/program/1fa04</a>)</div></li><li><div>A balanced hero: 16, 13, 12, 11, 10, 10, 9, and 8</div></li><li><div>An unbalanced hero: 18, 14, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, and 7</div></li></ul></ul><div><br /></div>
<div>In general pregens will have much higher stats, but limited choices of class.</div>
<div><br /></div><h1>Campaign End</h1><div>There are a number of plot arcs built into the episodes one or more of which may build into a season arc. After 8-12 episodes I'll try to build one into a season finale. Ideally we'll renew the campaign one season at a time.</div>
Campaign Prospectus - The March To Pittsburgh (updated 8-23-2020)https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/campaign-prospectus-the-march-to-pittsburgh2020-08-27T02:29:49.295000Z2020-07-07T00:41:57ZAndy Fundinger<div><h1>Plot</h1></div>
<div>In the aftermath of the cataclysm Mt. Weather sends a shipment of vital supplies to Pittsburgh. In a world where travel is rare and dangerous it's not enough to just move the supplies but the mission must make as many contacts as it can on the way. In the few months since Christmas 2098 the country has fallen apart and if it is to survive then it is a time for grand gestures.</div><h1>Themes</h1><ul><li><div>good and evil are relative</div></li><li><div>what is a person?</div></li></ul><h1>Feel</h1><ul><li><div>Supplies are limited, isolation is growing</div></li><li><div>The world is full of action, and even passing through there are chances to become embroiled in happenings</div></li><li><div>The cataclysm has changed the world into a very strange place </div></li><li><div>Magic is an unknown technology that the PCs will learn little to nothing about during this campaign.</div></li><li><div>The player characters will usually be strategically on the defensive, a prepared, intelligent attacker does not leave themselves to be defeated</div></li><ul><li><div>this means that opponents will attempt to escape unless prevented and have an excellent chance to do so </div></li></ul><li><div>Since human technology is already cutting edge, don't expect equipment upgrades.</div></li><li><div>Treasure/rewards will consist mostly of survivors and chances for communities to survive, resupply is also possible as treasure. </div></li></ul><h1>Metagaming </h1><ul><li><div>Player input in this campaign is primarily accomplished by unlock gems allowing players to vote on various game aspects of interest to them for increased inclusion. Gems are allocated based on participation and swapped at the table based improving enjoyment.</div></li><li><div>Out of character planning is generally not a concern though timers may be used on occasion, for example to accelerate combat. </div></li><li><div>This includes suggesting to another player what their character might be able to do, but please consider basic courtesy here.</div></li><li><div>In general if you would like something added to the campaign please discuss with the group and try to get gem votes, if it is focused on your character you can also discuss with the GM between sessions, and we can consider options including backstory retcons.</div></li><li><div>The GM reserves the right to fudge dice rolls but in practice I rarely do so, philosophically I prefer to not roll if I'm not going to abide by the dice.</div></li></ul><h1>Scheduling</h1><div>Sessions for this campaign are in person are approximately monthly, one player will take care of scheduling and keep touch with the group to arrange sessions. The group should handle scheduling with them, but current policy is to play either Saturday from 3pm-9pm or Sunday 1pm-7pm. We currently schedule sessions on days when at most one player is unable to attend, and cancel them when two or more players cannot attend. Even if a session is cancelled we'd love to see you so please plan to come anyway.</div><h1>Characters </h1><div>Initial characters will be soldiers and refugees from Mt. Weather. If replacement characters are necessary they will have to be justified as coming from a community on the way or some sparse contact with other NEMA forces. Players must build the explanation for their character either joining NEMA or becoming dependant on the party to get to Pittsburgh, disruptive characters, or characters that could and would abandon the group and proceed independently to Pittsburgh will not be allowed. New character classes are expected to be civilians found in passing.</div>
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<div>Character death is very possible as you will regularly be facing enemies that are quite sufficient to defeat the unwary.</div><h2>Allowed Classes</h2><ul><li><div>Any class from the Rifts Chaos Earth Main Book</div></li><li><div>Non-magic, non-psychic, Chaos Earth classes from the Rifter <i>limited to books owned by both player and GM</i></div></li><li><div>NEMA classes with selected additional MOSs from Coalition Classes with approval <i>limited to books owned by both player and GM</i></div></li><li><div>Certain Military classes from Rifts books with approval <i>limited to books owned by both player and GM</i></div></li><li><div>Civilian classes from Modern Palladium Settings with approval <i>limited to books owned by both player and GM</i></div></li><li><div>Magic and Psionic Chaos Earth classes from the Rifter, Rise of Magic, and Psychic Storm, once unlocked <i>limited to books owned by both player and GM</i></div></li></ul><h1>Campaign End</h1><div>This campaign will end with an arrival in Pittsburgh, afterwards we could launch a new campaign, or one-shots from the city.</div>
Required Books for Playershttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/required-books-for-players2020-07-19T16:13:24.077000Z2020-07-05T16:41:04ZAndy Fundinger<div>In order to play in a Steel and Chaos campaign there are certain books required, I will assume that you have access to the books relevant to your character and can look up rules and details by page and paragraph at least between sessions. This should include the Rifts Chaos Earth main book and any other books including OCCs, RCCs, PCCs, psychic powers, magic spells, super powers, chi powers, robot vehicles, power armors, and complicated special equipment included in your character design. This also applies to multiclassing or purchases but not anything awarded as treasure or in the plot of the campaign. </div>
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<div>If you do not wish to purchase a book to match the rolls for character creation we'll simply remove those abilities. Current character creation rules only cause this possibility with regard to Psychic characters. For reference here are the books most players should consider:</div><h2>Normal NEMA/Chaos Earth characters as well as everyone for setting and rules information</h2><ul><li><div><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/660-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-RPG.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Rifts® Chaos Earth® RPG</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> </span><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 51);">note that rules in this book </span><a href="https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/misc-house-rules" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 51);">take precedence over any other printed rule</span></a><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 51);">.</span></div></li></ul><div><br /></div><h2>Psychics</h2><ul><li><div><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/800HC-Rifts-Ultimate-Edition.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Rifts® Ultimate Edition™</span></a> - not needed for minor, latent, psychics</div></li></ul><h3>Optional additions with more psychic powers:</h3><ul><li><div><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/822-Rifts-World-Book-12-Psyscape.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Rifts® World Book 12: Psyscape</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> </span><i>(Telekinetic Leap, Telekinetic Punch, etc.)</i></div></li><li><div><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/845-Rifts-Game-Master-Guide.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Rifts® Game Master Guide™</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> </span><i>(all psychic powers included)</i></div></li></ul><h3>Chaos Earth Latent Psychic Classes and powers</h3><ul><li><div style="text-align:start;"><a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/102535/The-RifterR-50--Special-Anniversary-Issue" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(0, 131, 229);">The Rifter® #50 - Special Anniversary Issue</span></a></div></li></ul><h3 style="text-align:start;">Chaos Earth Psychic Classes</h3><ul><li><div style="text-align:start;"><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/667-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-Sourcebook-Psychic-Scream.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Rifts® Chaos Earth® Sourcebook: Psychic Scream™</span></a></div></li></ul><div><br /></div><h2>Magic</h2><ul><li><div><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/800HC-Rifts-Ultimate-Edition.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Rifts® Ultimate Edition™</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> </span></div></li></ul><h3>Chaos Earth Magic Classes </h3><ul><li><div><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/662-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-Sourcebook-Two-Rise-of-Magic.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Rifts® Chaos Earth® Sourcebook Two: Rise of Magic™</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> </span> </div></li></ul><h3>Warlock Class and Elemental Spells </h3><ul><li><div><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/803-Rifts-Conversion-Book-One-Revised.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Rifts® Conversion Book One Revised</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> </span></div></li></ul><div><br /></div>
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<div>Other books will be added to this post as relevant, but to restate the general principles:</div><ul><li><div>you need the <a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/660-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-RPG.html" rev="en_rl_none">Chaos Earth</a><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/662-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-Sourcebook-Two-Rise-of-Magic.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">®</span></a><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/660-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-RPG.html" rev="en_rl_none"> Main Book</a></div></li><li><div>you need the book with your class in it</div></li><li><div>if you have magic or psychic powers you need the <a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/800HC-Rifts-Ultimate-Edition.html" rev="en_rl_none">Rifts</a><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/803-Rifts-Conversion-Book-One-Revised.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">®</span></a><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/800HC-Rifts-Ultimate-Edition.html" rev="en_rl_none"> main book</a></div></li><li><div>if you have chosen something that is not in the main book then you need that too. <a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/848-Rifts-Book-of-Magic.html" rev="en_rl_none">Book of Magic</a> or the <a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/845-Rifts-Game-Master-Guide.html" rev="en_rl_none">Game Master Guide</a> may help avoid the need for certain otherwise obscure books.</div></li></ul><div><br /></div>
<div>I've linked the book titles here to the Palladium books website the same books are also available from <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/index.php" rev="en_rl_none">DriveThruRPG</a>.</div>
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<div>Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Powers Unlimited®, Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Phase World®, Nightbane®, Megaverse®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars®, Chaos Earth®, Dead Reign®, and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. RPG Tactics™, Beyond the Supernatural, Coalition States, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Minion War, Mysteries of Magic, SAMAS, Thundercloud Galaxy, Three Galaxies, Vampire Kingdoms, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.</div>
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Using Missing or Unknown Skills (Revised 4-18-2021)https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/using-missing-or-unknown-skills2021-04-19T00:47:01.183000Z2020-06-12T03:00:09ZAndy Fundinger<div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><i><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">Previously included in </span><a href="https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/misc-house-rules" rev="en_rl_none">Misc House Rules</a></i></span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">All in lieu of normal affinity benefits, IQ bonuses apply.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:start;background-color:rgb(236, 240, 241);"><br /></div><ul><li><div style="text-align:start;background-color:rgb(236, 240, 241);"><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">Unknown skills with no affinity and no accurate portrayals i.e. surgery -- 0%</span></span></span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">Unknown skills commonly seen, but not known by the character i.e. driving -- Attribute as % situational bonuses halved penalties doubled</span></span></span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">w/ Minor affinity -- 5% situational bonuses halved, penalties normal</span></span></span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">w/ Major Affinity -- 10% bonuses and penalties as normal</span></span></span></div></li></ul><div><br /></div>
<div>Also note, sometimes an attribute roll will be more appropriate, see <span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><i><a href="https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/misc-house-rules" rev="en_rl_none">Misc House Rules</a> for details.</i></span></span></div>
Creating PCs from Pregenshttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/creating-pcs-from-pregens2020-04-05T02:51:21.779000Z2020-04-01T00:48:08ZAndy Fundinger<div>When creating a player character from a previously generated character these are the guidelines to follow:</div><ul><li><div>You will receive a character sheet with a class, stats, various details, etc.</div></li><li><div>There may be addresses listed, you may assign meanings to them or ignore them</div></li><li><div>You may not change class, race, or stats</div></li><li><div>You should resolve anything that is self contradictory on the sheet</div></li><li><div>If the character has unselected OCC related or secondary skills you should pick them, generally:</div></li><ul><li><div>OCC Related skills should be spent on major affinities especially "Major and Formative Affinities." Affinities to skills that are generally not allowed to your OCC or RCC would be ignored here.</div></li><li><div>Secondary skills would be spent on Minor Affinities and the rare Major Affinities that is allowed as secondary skills but not as OCC Related. Unrecognized Minor Affinities are ignored here.</div></li><li><div>Extras skills are only rarely selected from any category your character has an aversion to</div></li></ul><li><div>If the character has not yet been used in play i.e. as an NPC you may change:</div></li><ul><li><div>name</div></li><li><div>gender </div></li><li><div>age</div></li><li><div>disposition</div></li><li><div>alignment</div></li><li><div>looks</div></li><li><div>picture</div></li></ul><li><div>If genetic engineering has not yet been done and bonus dice have not yet been rolled you may do any of or all of:</div></li><ol><li><div>Pick one attribute to increase by two points</div></li><li><div>Pick a different attribute to increase by one point</div></li><li><div>Pick any attribute to increase by 2(or 1) while decreasing another by the same amount </div></li><li><div>Pick any attribute to increase 1 while decreasing another by the same amount </div></li><li><div>roll the normal bonus dice for attributes higher than 16</div></li></ol></ul>Perceptionhttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/perception-22020-07-05T18:33:01.299000Z2020-01-16T14:47:06ZAndy Fundinger<div>To track perception you will have a pile of numbered coins visible in front of you at all times</div>
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<div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">In the pile</div>
<div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">+ Perception Bonus </div>
<div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">+1/ +2 for paranoia</div>
<div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">+(skill/30) for relevant skill</div>
<div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">+1 minor affinity/+2 major affinity</div>
Movement Speed and Perceptionhttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/movement-speed-and-perception2020-01-12T03:36:12.407000Z2020-01-03T14:20:49ZAndy Fundinger<div>Our normal of perception rules are designed to cover perception for movement at a "normal speed," this is defined as your normal walking speed or your normal vehicle cruising speed considering conditions. Of course moving slower and more carefully allows one to see so much more. </div>
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<div>As usual announce the skill and or affinity that you are applying, presumably setting +2 for paranoia. Then move at 1/2 your walking speed to double your total bonus or 1/3 to triple it. Obviously some degree roleplaying should be involved, "I'm suspicious of a demonic threat and using demon and monster lore to watch for anything odd as I walk slowly down the path." Except in rare cases you must use your characters SPD stat, even in a vehicle.</div>
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<div>The net effect is that if you are watching for the right kind of trouble the party is very unlikely to be caught by a trap, ambush, or really anything else that they have any suspicion of.</div>
Creating New Spellshttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/creating-new-spells2020-07-05T18:32:54.630000Z2019-11-11T01:08:28ZAndy Fundinger<div>In our campaign I am treating spells as part of the universe. They do exactly what it says in the book, no more, no less. They may have flexibility, but only if listed in the book as being flexible, permitted by a class feature, or simply equivalent to casting at a lower level than the caster.</div>
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<div>One significant group of classes that does have the ability to alter or even create spells is the Nightbane classes. If anyone wants to play one of their casters they will follow their rules. Consider however that Nightbane is an SDC setting so your character may need to spend some time and effort altering damage dealing spells.</div>
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<div>Creating a new spell will generally be beyond the ability of a player character. In addition to the research to create a spell it also requires casting a ritual. This ritual is itself a spell of legend. The ritual is demanding and includes a specialized first casting of the spell. Gods of knowledge and magic always know this spell as well as leaders of pantheons and many other gods. Mortals rarely know this spell but might know it, if they do, they are likely to be viewed with suspicion or worse by the gods themselves.</div>
Food and Living Supplieshttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/food-and-living-supplies2020-07-05T21:33:54.146000Z2019-07-14T17:40:34ZAndy Fundinger<div>Leaving Mt. Weather you were provided with a generous portion of supplies to ensure that it was that you could both reach your objective and provide a small amount of food relief on the way. Here's what you left Mt. Weather with:</div>
<div><br /></div><ul><li><div>Supplies for 12 people </div></li><li><div>Supplies for 15 Days</div></li><li><div><span style="font-size: 14px;">Total <b>180 person days</b> of supplies</span></div></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 14px;">The next session will start at the end of mission day 4 at which point you'll have used the following:</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><ul><li><div>44 person days of supplies for the pcs and the nurses</div></li><li><div><span style="font-size: 14px;">9 person days of supplies for the refugees from ralph's garage </span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-size: 14px;">5 person days of supplies for the refugees from lakehaven</span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-size: 14px;">All other usages were either coffee acquired on the way or rounding errors</span></div></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 14px;">This leaves </span><span style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;">122 person days</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> of supplies currently available, you know, just in case you need them.</span></div>
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Attributes over 20https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/attributes-over-202020-07-05T18:32:41.605000Z2018-07-11T13:27:03ZAndy Fundinger<div>I regard playing a character with an attribute over 20 as a special challenge, especially for mental attributes, 20 represents a level of attainment that you the player probably have never encountered. These are world class performers and it is unlikely we know more than one person who performs at this level. If we do know anyone who performs at this level we probably do not know how their mind works well enough to model it at the table.</div>
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<div>In order to help you play a character who's abilities outstrip your own I will occasionally be rolling for "accidental successes" this will be done thusly:</div><ol><li>You must have a relevant attribute over 20</li><li>Humans and near humans only, <ul><li>supernatural stats are right out <ul><li><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">If you have some supernatural stats, your other stats do not follow this rule</span></li></ul></li><li>Robotic stats need not apply </li><li>Creatures of magic, animals, monsters and demons are generally excluded</li></ul></li><li>You must be doing something relevant to the attribute that is over 20</li><li>You can't be doing something else that would interfere </li><li>You can't be describing your actions in such a way as to preclude extra things from happening <span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">ie "I'm moving very carefully" </span></li><li>Usually there must be something possible to happen--I will be tweaking this some as we try this</li><li>I'll roll a stat check at -20 behind the screen if successful I will either:<ul><li>Announce that your character has suceeded at something, what, and how</li><li>Let your chacter cover for some other character's failure</li><li>Tell you about your success and ask you what happenned </li></ul></li></ol><div><br /></div>
<div>Example successes include:</div><ul><li>IQ - Realizing and NPC's motive or plan in your next 15 minute break </li><li>ME - Your psychic powers temporarily overcharge doing more than they should be able to without ill effect </li><li>MA - Causing a positive opinion in an NPC</li><li>PP - Saving a falling teammate without risk or (additional) roll</li><li>PE - recover a full day's worth of HP and SDC in your next 15 minute break </li><li>PS - you accidentally punch through into a hollow panel </li><li>PB - The character is mistaken for a celebrity(without making any attempt at such a pretense), perhaps asked for an autograph </li><li>Spd - within the realm of possibility, the character is wherever it would be most convenient to the players for them to be right now</li></ul><div><br /></div>
Multiclassinghttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/multiclassing2020-07-05T21:44:14.422000Z2018-07-04T13:32:24ZAndy Fundinger<div>For Steel and Chaos there are several different options allowed to multiclass depending on what you would like to achieve. You should pick between these to best fit your character and the plot. </div>
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<div><b>To a Significantly Different Class</b></div>
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<div>If the development of your character suggests that you should switch to a different class type, for example switching between civilian, military, magic user, psychic, and augmented OCCs. We will use the standard <a href="https://www.palladium-megaverse.com/questions-resources/resources/the-cutting-room-floor/58-resources/cutting-room-floor/226-dual-occs" rev="en_rl_none">Palladium Dual Class Rules</a>. These are the only official multiclassing rules currently in print from Palladium. This is the simplest and arguably the worst option.</div>
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<div><b>To a Related Class </b></div>
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<div>If you are acquiring a new focus within the same type of class(usually martial, scholar, trained magic, etc.) then you'll redraw the character at the new level using OCC Related Skills to take OCC skills from the old class as much as possible. The skills that cannot be taken will be frozen at their current level and the new skills and OCC abilities will start at level 0. This will cost 1000xp + 500xp/frozen skill. </div>
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<div><b>Cross training/Advanced Training MOS</b></div>
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<div>This is a standard military option whereby soldiers are trained in advanced skills and skills outside their normal core competencies. Any MOS may be available if the character meets the attribute requirements of the original OCC. Doing this will cause you to lose all class, skill, and level bonuses to 5 OCC Related and Secondary Skills--4 if one or more of them is an new skill you have not selected at all. Characters are limited to at most 3 MOSs, usually their original and two advanced training, but they may retrain, dropping an entire MOS and all of its skills.</div>
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<div>Advanced training MOSs are available in the <b><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/889-Rifts-Coalition-States-Heroes-of-Humanity.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(0, 204, 255);">Heroes of Humanity</span></a></b> book, with the course times as listed. Exact availability will depend on plot, but normally crash courses would be available to all NEMA personnel with approval of senior commanding officers and the full courses would be available to all NEMA personnel with college degrees. Cross training Peacekeeper MOSs will take 16 weeks and 32 weeks for all other OCCs. </div>
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<div><b>Black Marketer Special Abilities </b></div>
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<div>A few of the special abilities from the <b><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/886-Rifts-Black-Market.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Rifts® Black Market™</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> </span></b>book may make sense if the plot allows but does not provide the benefits directly. These would take the place of 2 other skills either unselected or reduced to half their base level, losing all bonuses other than IQ. </div>
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<div><b>Sorcerous Proficiencies </b></div>
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<div>Casters are able to take Sorcerous proficiencies in place of secondary skills in pairs of Proficiencies and Limitations. These can be found in <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/61101/The-RifterR-27" rel="/includes/ajax/tooltip_request_handler.php?products_id=61101" rev="en_rl_none">The Rifter® #27</a><span style="font-size: 16px;"> and </span><b><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/733-Nightbane-3-Through-the-Glass-Darkly.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(0, 204, 255);">Through the Glass Darkly™</span></a></b><span style="font-size: 16px;">. These proficiencies are subject to review for compatibility with your class and the campaign plot.</span></div>
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<div><b>Dabbler (AD&D like) </b></div>
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<div>If you want to take a few levels in another class you must make a serious, in character choice to do so and play it through. As this is not normal to Palladium and can create a very powerful character I am making this expensive, but perhaps you will find it worth it. </div><ol><li><div>This must make sense in character, you will need an interest, mentor, and opportunity to learn the new OCC. You must have the attributes required for that OCC.</div></li><li><div>Your character must be at least level 3.</div></li><li><div>From here on you will use the less favorable of your classes xp charts. <b>This applies even if you fail to acquire your new class below.</b></div></li><li><div>For an entire level after taking up the new class you will have its OCC and MOS skills at level 0, related skills as unknown skills(IQ and affinity bonuses only) and none of its special abilities. You will accrue playing in character xp only when you try to use your new skills and approaches suited to your new class before falling back on your existing skills. This is expected to mean more than normal playing in character xp.</div></li><li><div>If you maintain this focus on the new class throughout that level you will gain all the class skills and special abilities at level 1 and at this and every future level you may add a level to <b>either </b>class.</div></li><li><div>If you do not maintain this focus you will lose all but one of the new OCC skills, and gain a level to your "main" class as normal when you have enough xp.</div></li><li><div>At the session where you complete your level the group will vote on whether you have maintained focus in character. The player and GM will each be able to cast a vote equal 25% of the group size and then each other player will be able to cast one vote. If no votes equal to a majority of players are cast you will fail as above.</div></li></ol><div><br /></div>
<div>This is the other competitor for the worst option.</div>
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<div>Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Powers Unlimited®, Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Phase World®, Nightbane®, Megaverse®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars®, Chaos Earth®, Dead Reign®, and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. RPG Tactics™, Beyond the Supernatural, Coalition States, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Minion War, Mysteries of Magic, SAMAS, Thundercloud Galaxy, Three Galaxies, Vampire Kingdoms, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.</div>
Ammo Trackinghttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/ammo-tracking2018-06-03T15:37:27.147000Z2018-01-22T14:33:01ZAndy Fundinger<div>In order to keep ammo tracking reasonable we're going to track it using a system adopted by Black Hack and other RPGs. For rifles, pistols, rail guns, and any other weapon capable of firing bursts we will track ammo by the clip:</div><ol><li>During combat count your shots/bursts exactly, if you empty a clip it's gone. <ul><li>I suggest using either paper notes or a die counting down from the size of your clip.</li></ul></li><li>After combat roll a die at least the size of your clip - 1, ie a d20 for a normal 21 shot e-clip.<ul><li>If you roll over the number of shots remaining, the clip is gone</li><li>If you roll under the number of the shots left in the clip you keep the clip, don't worry about the spent shots</li></ul></li></ol><div>Larger clips or ammo drums are divided into sections for tracking purposes.</div>
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<div>There are a couple player options here:</div><ul><li>For weapons that would ordinarily follow these rules, if your character fires exclusively single shots you may track by the shot instead. If so, after each combat roll 1d4 for extra shots fired during and between combats</li><li>For weapons that would not ordinarily follow these rules, if your character treats the weapon casually you may divide its ammo into clips and use these rules. For example a grenade launcher might be treated as having clips of 8 grenades for a character that typically calls out his melee actions as "I'm going to pump him full of grenades"</li></ul><div><br clear="none" /></div>
<div>Specific Weapons:</div><ul><li>E-Clips in standard NEMA weapons 21 shots per clip (d20) (45 handgun shells) </li><li>NEMA PR-470<ul><li>E-Clip 7 shots per (d6)</li><li>E-Canister 21 shots per (d20)</li></ul></li><li>NEMA PR-476<ul><li>E-Clip 10 shots per (d9)</li><li>E-Canister 21 shots per (d20)</li></ul></li><li>NEMA GLR-540<ul><li>10 grenades 1/6th of a drum (d9)</li></ul></li><li>R-660 Rail Gun<ul><li>200 round clip or drum in 200 round sections as short bursts of 10 rounds (d20)</li></ul></li><li>R-670 Rail Gun<ul><li>100 round clip or drum in 100 round sections as short bursts of 10 rounds (d9)</li></ul></li><li>USA-40R (308 winchester) <ul><li>200 round sections as short bursts of 20 rounds each (d9)<ul><li>10 short or 5 long per clip</li></ul></li></ul></li><li>RG-14 Boom Gun <ul><li>Single Shots only! Not tracked as clips</li></ul></li></ul><div><br clear="none" /></div>
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Character Death and New Character Creation (March to Pittsburgh)https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/character-death-and-new-character-creation2021-01-02T01:52:41.075000Z2017-06-11T00:04:30ZAndy Fundinger<div>First a word about my intentions, I am not trying to kill your characters. How ever I am very much intending to set up scenarios such that there is a serious risk and a serious threat. Here's a few things to keep in mind:</div>
<div><br /></div><ul><li><div>I'm planning for the level of co-operation I see the team normally have. I'm factoring in the fact that you are mostly not combat characters.</div></li><li><div>Although this an Earth you were masters of mere months ago things have changed and the risks are new and unknown. If you mis-estimate your situation you will get hurt and characters may die</div></li><li><div>If your character acts as a hero and takes big risks remember heros often get recognized post-mortem</div></li><li><div>Nothing I'm throwing at you is intended to kill the entire party</div></li></ul><div><br /></div>
<div>So with that in mind, I do expect we'll see a few characters die during the campaign, and while you have doctors handy no one has a resurrection spell, so it's likely to be final. That said here's what we need to know about new characters. This also goes for anyone joining the campaign in progress:</div>
<div><br /></div><ol><li><div>There won't be any magical saves, dead is dead. We may also have characters removed by plot, poison, or infirmity. Usually the player will have a chance to discuss (and always a chance to avoid) before their character is plotted out. </div></li><li><div>You can start rolling stats right away, note that genetic engineering rules have changed in favor of slightly larger bonuses.</div></li><li><div>Discuss with the group what sort of character you would like to make,</div></li><ol><li><div>Each player present will vote to give you xp ranging from 0 to their current xp.</div></li><li><div>You will vote using the final xp from your former character, which may include significant self sacrifice bonuses. </div></li><li><div>You will start with the average of the votes.</div></li></ol><li><div>Based on your stats and the plot your OCC and MOS may be limited--or even expanded.</div></li><li><div>I'll work with your on backstory.</div></li></ol><div><br /></div>
Combat Rules (updated 1/1/2021)https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/combat-rules2021-01-02T01:04:18.528000Z2017-03-19T03:45:29ZAndy Fundinger<div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Calculate all bonuses in advance--please do not hold up the combat to search and calculate, use your previously calculated bonuses instead.</span></span></div>
<div><br /></div><h1><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">Combat will flow as follows</span></h1><ol><li><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">establish positions</span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">start timer</span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">roll initiative</span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">call out actions</span></div></li><ul><li><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">if you can call out before the 3 minute mark </span></div></li><ul><li><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">your attacks will resolved first in rotation for resolution (upto +6 initiative) </span></div></li><li><div>if you take the same action the whole melee you may make one extra attack ie "I'll empty my rifle into the black faerie"</div></li></ul><li><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">if you take more than 5 minutes you'll lose an action</span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">exception: if you need extra time to determine whether an action is in character you will not lose an action for that</span></div></li></ul><li><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">resolve actions in initiative order</span></div></li><ul><li><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">if an action needs to have extra info that's fine</span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">if an action needs to be replaced you will lose an action to replan.</span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">you may attempt to dodge an otherwise undodgeable attack by rolling and getting a natural 20 (also at the cost of an action)</span></div></li></ul><li><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">return to 1</span></div></li></ol><h1><br /></h1><h1><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">Strike rolls for ranged weapon (minimum to hit)</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;"> (Rifts Chaos Earth Pg 148)</span></h1><table width="380px" style="width:380px;border-collapse:collapse;"><colgroup><col style="width: 190px;" /><col style="width: 190px;" /></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><b>Minimum Roll</b></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><b>Circumstance</b></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>5</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">to hit in HtH (</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/660-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-RPG.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Chaos Earth</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> pg 139</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>5</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>flat footed within 60 feet</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>8</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">flat footed > 60 feet</span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>10</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans, sans-serif;">moving more than 40mph</span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>10</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">target evading (pilot skill roll for evasive action)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>6</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>Called shot, to hit main body <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">(</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/660-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-RPG.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Chaos Earth</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> pg 147</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">)</span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>12</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>Called Shot, to hit designated target <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">(</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/660-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-RPG.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Chaos Earth</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> pg 147</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">)</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">Partial cover can be circumvented with a called shot.</span></div>
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<div><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Modern Weapon Proficiency</span></span></b></div>
<div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">These bonuses apply when dismounted or using humanoid robots or power armor with non-built-in weapons. Standard vehicles use only weapon systems skill(+1). See also specific bonuses for your vehicle</span></span></div>
<div><br /></div><table width="1252px" style="width:1252px;border-collapse:collapse;"><colgroup><col style="width: 202px;" /><col style="width: 190px;" /><col style="width: 190px;" /><col style="width: 148px;" /><col style="width: 171px;" /><col style="width: 161px;" /><col style="width: 190px;" /></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><br /></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><u>No Skill</u></div>
<div>Slow reloads, cannot use special features of weapons.</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><u>Affinity</u></div>
<div>Normal reloads</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><u>Major Affinity</u></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><u>Skill</u> or</div>
<div><u>Affinity+Related Skill</u></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><u>Sniper</u></div>
<div>Additional bonus for single shot rifles only</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><u>Sharpshooter</u></div>
<div>Additional bonus</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>single shot/wild</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>0</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>0</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>0</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>+WP Bonus from <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/660-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-RPG.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Chaos Earth</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> pg 147</span></span></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><br /></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/660-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-RPG.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Chaos Earth</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> pg 136</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Sharpshooter aimed shot</span></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>aimed shot </div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>Not Possible</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>Not Possible</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>+2</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>+WP Bonus from <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/660-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-RPG.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Chaos Earth</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> pg 147</span></span></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>+2</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/660-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-RPG.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Chaos Earth</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> pg 136</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Sharpshooter aimed shot or sharpshooter called shot (requires 2 actions)</span></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>called shot -- specific target</div>
<div>(no evading except with pistols)</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>Not Possible</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>Not Possible</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>Not Possible</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>+WP Bonus from <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/660-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-RPG.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Chaos Earth</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> pg 147</span></span></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><br /></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/660-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-RPG.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Chaos Earth</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> pg 136</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Sharpshooter called shot (requires 2 actions)</span></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>aimed called shot -- specific target</div>
<div>(no evading except with pistols)</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>Not Possible</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>Not Possible</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>Not Possible</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>+WP Bonus from <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/660-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-RPG.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Chaos Earth</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> pg 147</span></span></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>+2</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/660-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-RPG.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Chaos Earth</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> pg 136</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Sharpshooter called shot (requires 2 actions)</span></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>burst</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>-3</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>0</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>0</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>+1 <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/660-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-RPG.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Chaos Earth</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> pg 147</span></span></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><br /></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><br /></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>called burst -- specific target</div>
<div>(no evading except with pistols)</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>Not Possible</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>Not Possible</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>Not Possible</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>+1 <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/660-Rifts-Chaos-Earth-RPG.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Chaos Earth</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> pg 147</span></span></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><br /></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><br /></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>dual wield</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>-12</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>-12</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>-12</div>
<div>-6 (w/ WP Paired)</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>-12</div>
<div>-2 on hand (w/ WP Paired)</div>
<div>-6 offhand (w/ WP Paired)</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><br /></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div><br /></div>
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<div><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans, sans-serif;">This is an optional ruleset from the Rifts Game Master Guide page 40.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">With Weapon Systems</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">+1 for any vehicle mounted weapon in addition to combat skills</span></span></div>
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<div><b><span style="font-size: 16px;">Dodging or Parrying Ranged Attacks from Modern Weapons </span></b></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Bonuses from physical skills including HtH do not count. If you are more than 60ft away and aware of the attack we'll use straight parry and dodge rolls without concern for the absurd difficulty. Within 60ft we'll use a -4 on the parry/dodge roll if it is even possible.</span></div>
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<div><b><span style="font-size: 16px;">W.P. Paired Weapons</span></b></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">WP paired weapons is the skill of using a weapon you are otherwise trained in as part of a pair. Generally this is how you parry. It can also be used to make it harder for an opponent to parry by presenting two simultaneous attacks. It cannot be used to simultaneously strike 2 different opponents in melee combat--despite what the rules say</span>, </div>
Session Update: March 11th, 2017 - 3/16/2099-3/19/2099https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/session-update-march-11th-2017-3-16-2099-3-19-20992017-06-01T18:54:28.653000Z2017-03-18T00:15:14ZAndy Fundinger<div>In session 2 we worked out how to bring the dinosaur and mission equipment, basically making room for the dinosaur by driving one of the ATVs that the mission planners had envisioned being parked in the behemoth as needed. The team also managed to requisition a couple jet packs. But otherwise took the supplies as planned. </div>
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<div>With the packing done, the commando team arrived headed by their own Captain Daniel Addey, a peer of Captain Burns. </div>
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<div>The squad decided to cover the first 50 miles of the trip quickly, effectively covering the first two and a half days travel in a couple hours. But about 8 miles in while stopping to check out a land-built ship they were jumped by a black faerie which seemed drawn to the spic-and-span NEMA vehicles. </div>
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<div><b>Voting Standings</b></div>
<div><br /></div><table style="-evernote-table:true;border-collapse:collapse;margin-left:0px;table-layout:fixed;width:100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); padding: 10px; margin: 0px;width:18.51851851851852%;"><div>Category</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); padding: 10px; margin: 0px;width:14.25925925925926%;"><div>Votes</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); padding: 10px; margin: 0px;width:67.4074074074074%;"><div>Why you do not want this to reach 25</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>Creatures</div><ul><li>Dinosaurs</li></ul></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:25%;"><div>1</div><ul><li>2</li></ul></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:25%;"><div>Lets have more of the the creatures that make chaos earth a terrifying place, does that sound like a good idea to you somehow?</div><ul><li>The one dinosaur you've met had no special abilities and was killed off screen, do not presume that they are all such minor menaces.</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>Psionics</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:25%;"><div>2</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:25%;"><div>When your mind is not your own your actions aren't either.</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>Technology</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:25%;"><div>19</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:25%;"><div>If the supernatural is fearsome what manner of technology do you think will match it?</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>Magic</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:25%;"><div>5</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:25%;"><div>The special terror of magic is that it is crafted by men, men who think they know what they are doing--whether they are or not.</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>Supplies</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:25%;"><div>11</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:25%;"><div>Do you want to live forever? Do you punks?</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>
Starting Cashhttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/starting-cash2020-07-05T20:20:45.364000Z2017-03-11T07:02:11ZAndy Fundinger<div>As most of our characters are slightly higher level than the book describes, to account for this determine:</div>
<div><br /></div><ul><li>officer or enlisted</li><li>spender or saver</li><li>wealthy i.e. Leo</li></ul><div><br /></div>I <table style="-evernote-table:true;border-collapse:collapse;margin-left:0px;table-layout:fixed;width:100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:19.875776397515526%;"><div>Description</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20.18633540372671%;"><div>Valuable trade goods/tools</div>
<div>(unless lost in the cataclysm)</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); padding: 10px; margin: 0px;width:20.341614906832298%;"><div>Valuable Jewelry</div>
<div>(unless lost in the cataclysm)</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); padding: 10px; margin: 0px;width:19.875776397515526%;"><div>Cash on Hand</div>
<div>(unless lost in the cataclysm)</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20.031055900621116%;"><div>Cash in Bank</div>
<div>(probably inaccessible)</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div>enlisted saver</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div>6d6 * 100</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;">1d4 * 100 +200</td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">2d4*100</span></div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;">5d6 * 100</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div>enlisted spender</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;">3d12 * 100</td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">3d6 * 100 +700</span></div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div>1d4 * 1000</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;">2d6 * 100</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div>officer saver</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">1d4 * 1000</span></div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">1d4 * 1000</span></div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;">2d6*100</td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;">6d6 * 100</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div>officer spender</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;">2d10 * 100</td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">5d6 * 100 +500</span></div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div>1d6 * 1000</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;">3d6 *100</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div>+ wealthy </div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div><br /></div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div>4d6 * 1000 + 6000</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div>3d12 * 1000 +30,000</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:20%;"><div>3d4 million </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>
<div>In order by post apocalypse liquidity :</div><ul><li>Trade goods - these are tools and supplies in addition to NEMA issue that most people will recognize value in. You may, but do not need to specify these. Subtract the value of any personal equipment from this amount. </li><li>Valuable jewelry - this is items of precious metals, stone, or decorative value. Also amusements and entertainment. </li><li>Cash on hand - cash is stored on a distributed computing based stores value card system where each card is actually a small computer that does some computation and forward enough data to effectively prevent counterfeiting. The system was always designed to function even with only sporadic connections and will far outstrip its designers goals. For the moment the challenge is not transferring credits but convincing anyone that they have value. </li><li>Cash in bank -- Under normal circumstances the cash in the bank is accessible through a debit card which connects to the bank accounts via the world wide network and could transfer directly to a "Cash" stored value card at anytime. Without the world wide network these cards read "error." Withdrawals can only be processed at the head branch of a bank where you have funds deposited.</li><li>Savers would have even more in investment and retirement funds, but we are not calculating those. </li></ul>Session Update: February 4th, 2017 -- 1/7/2099-3/16/2099https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/february-4th-2017-1-7-2099-3-16-20992020-07-05T18:35:07.616000Z2017-02-12T03:49:23ZAndy Fundinger<div>Our kickoff for the new campaign started with working through the pre-published updates. We started with the first one, the rationing announcement in January and continued up to the Operation Eagle Feather mission announcement. </div>
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<div>Though several characters found ways to help the base, the big tangent was the work on Dino-Drone. Using the Alioramus killed in mid January Lieutenant Cinders has been working for months on converting the Dinosaur to a Cyborg and Sergeant Hacker has been reprogramming and adapting the control systems from a RX 2020 to control it. Progress has been slow, and full of setbacks but after two months the Dino-bot is 3/4 done. The remaining operation is to attach, integrate, and program the extremities, with the foot and arm prosthetics mostly complete by this point. The completed dino will look something like this:</div>
<div><a href="http://dino-master.deviantart.com/art/Cyber-Zilla-65920092"><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/e776e3e0-8d26-4079-8491-9daf2ce1a63f/aeb1f9ce-bf52-460c-ad66-1af573c4e49a/66a074cd-bca3-4fc5-be5f-5453b0978b9f.jpg" alt="Cyber-Zilla by Dino-master" style="height: auto;"/></a></div>
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<div><b>Voting Standings</b></div>
<div><br/></div><table style="-evernote-table:true;border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;table-layout:fixed;margin-left:0px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>Category</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>Votes</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>Creatures</div><ul><li>Dinosaurs</li></ul></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>1</div><ul><li>1 </li></ul></td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>Psionics</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>0</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>Technology</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>8</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>Magic</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>5</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>Supplies</div></td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:rgb(211,211,211);padding:10px;margin:0px;width:50%;"><div>9</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div>Rules Change: voting threshold will now be 25</div>
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<div><b><span style="font-size: 16px;">Tip </span></b></div>
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<div>You have a wide world around you and know your character best. I'll fairly frequently ask, "is anyone doing anything?" This is a chance to interact with anyone or anything else, in the world. You can also mention what effect you'd like to achieve and we'll work out what your character might do to that end.</div>
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<div><b>Next Time on Chaos Earth</b></div>
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<div>The commandos from Raven Rock Army Research arrive and the party sets out on the trip to Pittsburgh.</div>
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Operation Eagle's Feather -- Mission Assignmentshttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/operation-eagles-feather-mission-assignments2020-07-05T18:35:13.971000Z2017-02-06T13:56:10ZAndy Fundinger<div>The following soldiers are assigned to Operation Eagle's Feather:</div>
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<div><b>Captain Cosima Burns -</b> <i>Mission Commander</i> as both an experienced officer and a trained doctor Cpt Burns is the ideal commander for this mission. </div>
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<div><b>1st Lieutenant Brick Stern</b> - <i>Second in Command</i> once in Lieutenant Stern will be assisting with installing the new equipment as well as efforts throughout Pittsburgh to bring manufacturing plants online. </div>
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<div><b>1st Lieutenant Fred Cinders</b> - the UPMC attacks and other incidents mean that the need for cybernetics is extremely high and Doctor Cinders will be invaluable in that capacity. </div>
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<div><b>Staff Sargent Lance Hacker AKA "Binary"</b> - although the computer facilities at Mt Weather are very good, they were never intended to be used for anything beyond disaster relief and SSgt Hacker can do very little within his specialty at Mt. Weather. In Pittsburgh it is hoped he'll assist Lt. Stern with the equipment and factory reactivations. </div>
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<div><b>Technical Sergeant Daniella Padgett</b> - In addition to supporting the communications needs of the mission, Sergeant Padgett will attempt to create a consistent and stable link between Chicago and the key commands in the surviving mid-east coast; Charlotte, Mt. Weather, and most especially NEMA HQ.</div>
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<div><b>Sergeant Phil Lavar</b> - General practitioners with combat training will help fill the gaps in Pittsburgh and Doctor Phil's less military bedside manner made him an obvious choice for the civilian facing roles that will be required. </div>
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<div><b>Private 2nd class Leo Hayden</b> - few of the Mt Weather personnel are trained on the EX-5. Leo pushed himself through training on it in order to be helpful and almost specifically to join this mission as the driver.</div>
Cast of Charactershttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/cast-of-characters2020-07-05T20:20:36.944000Z2017-02-04T01:39:47ZAndy Fundinger<div>The following characters are lined up for the Steel & Chaos campaign:</div>
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<div><b>Sergeant Phil Lavar</b> - A doctor with a full career of general practice.</div>
<div>Not for a lack of trying, Phil looks slightly out of place in his peacekeeper uniform. Through the years no one has been able to put their finger on what specifically seems off. The one thing they can all agree on is that the medpack at his side belongs.</div>
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<div><b>Captain Cosima Burns</b> - An undercover operative who survived the cataclysm due to being in the right place at the right time.</div>
<div>Cosima was born in 2058 in New York City. She was a tomboy and had a normal childhood during the Golden Age. Starting in the late 2060s everyone got into medicine and human enhancement in a big way. Everyone had a very different vision of an idealized mankind. As it was the trend at the time, Cosima became obsessed with the human mind. She obtained a Doctorate in Medicine specializing in Neurology. And then somebody published a worldwide bestselling spy thriller series which Cosima became a big fan of. Now the idea of a supersoldier was on everyone's minds, and also hers.</div>
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<div>Sometime around 2088, Cosima enlisted in NEMA to become an Intel-Agent. She was trained in espionage and undercover agent. Inter-Agent missions are more difficult and hazardous than those of normal soldiers. She was expected to operate with very little support from the rest of the army and to engage in operations that are secret. Among her assignments, she has to scout enemy positions, engage in sabotage, train or fight guerilla or terrorist groups, engage in kidnapping, or rescue hostages. As ain intel-agent specializing in espionage, she has all the necessary tools to execute an investigation. Cosima is an intelligent, astute, confident and stealthy woman. One will also soon find out that she is an anarchist with a somewhat selfish demeanor. She is fluent in English and Spanish and has conversational knowledge in Portuguese and Italian. When she is not in a mission, Cosima style is bohemian and carefree. Cosima is of white complexion, brunette, 5’9" in height and 140lbs.</div>
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<div><b>Lieutenant Fred Cinders</b> - A noted doctor in cybernetics who has been taken enough with his own work to have a half dozen cybernetic implants visible across his body.</div>
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<div><b>Private 2nd class Leo Hayden</b> - Leo is a good looking young man. All of his non-uniform clothes are embroidered with his family crest, sometimes even putting a slight bend in regulations, but as he is militia it's not been an issue. Leo is almost always found in the drivers seat or under the hood of a vehicle. He likes to joke around, but tries a little too hard.</div>
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<div>A team from Mt. Weather rescued Leo and his immediate family after the cataclysm.</div>
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<div><b>Lieutenant Brick Stern</b> - Brick is a fan of military discipline. Recent events have led him to be more stressed than normal, but writing reports on things that matter and discovering new phenomenon are providing him a purpose that teaching did not. His time in training and the field has given him fairly strict armor and uniform discipline, but he's frequently seen with lab safety equipment in addition. This discipline does not always carry over to carrying his weapons when he's on base. Brick was working on designing air systems for NEMA HQ and relocated to Mt. Weather at the first sign of trouble. </div>
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<div><b>Technical Sergeant Daniella Padgett</b> - Short black hair, pixie cut. Grey eyes. Petite, fit, quick and accurate. She fades into the background a lot - she knows she's a follower, not a leader, and stress exhausts her. But several months of trying to keep the comm systems actually communicating have started to numb her to the stress levels.</div>
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<div><b>Staff Sargent Lance Hacker AKA "Binary"</b> - A handsome man of average height and build, Lance Hacker (if that is his real name) is a computer hacker turned NEMA Military Specialist. In his younger days, he was a criminal operating under the name Binary, but during the cold war, he joined NEMA, turning over a new leaf. Despite his years in the special forces, deep down, he is still an overgrown nerd with a love of technology and pop-culture</div>
March 16, 2099 -- Operation Eagle Featherhttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/march-16-2099-operation-eagle-feather2020-07-05T18:34:40.289000Z2017-02-03T14:34:05ZAndy Fundinger<div>This week we will mount our first truly long range mission. The mission is called Operation Eagle Feather and has two main objectives:</div><ol><li>Relieve Pittsburgh by transferring NEMA and Army personnel from Mount Weather and Raven Rock to Pittsburgh command. Especially important are the combat trained NEMA doctors who will be expected to practice medicine in an environment where there are no safe areas and hospitals are as much targets of terror as anywhere else. We have trained to function in active war zones and that is what we will now do. </li><li>Reassure the American public that, while civilization is weakened and it may even be accurate to say that our country is in disarray, it is not fallen. We are still here, NEMA, the governments, and people of North America will weather and master this crisis like any other. We are first responders and we will not cower in bunkers while the less fortunate, less lucky suffer. </li></ol><div><br /></div>
<div>The mission is as as follows:</div><ul><li>A team of commandos from Raven Rock and specialists from Mt. Weather will meet at Mt. Weather Thursday and proceed to Pittsburgh</li><li>The team will transport about 100 tons of medical supplies.</li><li>Although it is approximately a 200 mile trip to Pittsburgh, the team will plan for a 10 day trip and an average rate of 20 miles per day, allowing the team to be reached and assist civilians enroute.</li><li>Once in Pittsburgh the team will join NEMA, military, and civilian forces there as a permanent assignment.</li></ul><div><br /></div>
<div>Although in terms of people and material this is a small mission it is a critical one in terms of morale, especially demonstrating our ability to operate over long distances. </div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans;"><br clear="none" /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans;font-size:16px;"><div>Suzanne Wood</div>
<div>Lt. Colonel</div>
<div>Cm Battalion 45</div></div><div><div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans;font-size:16px;">Commanding</div></div><div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><br /></div>
March 9, 2099 -- Weekly Update ***Unclassified***https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/march-9-2099-weekly-update-unclassified2020-07-05T18:34:29.513000Z2017-02-02T23:19:20ZAndy Fundinger<div><div>Further updates from Pittsburgh have given us a death toll that is, frankly, staggering. Reports of the UPMC Trauma center as a total loss probably brought to mind the image of a peacetime emergency room, a couple hundred doctors, nurses, and patients--awful enough in and of itself. But the actual damage was far worse, UPMC Presbyterian had shifted to a crisis footing. The first attack claimed the lives of 112 staff and nearly 600 patients. The second attack at Mercy Hospital was worse as the animated bodies from the morgue did their gruesome work outside the trauma center killing almost two hundred patients and staff on the wards for a death toll of almost 900. The attack at Children's Hospital turns out not to be deathless after all as two surgeons and a resident wounded in the first and third attack have now succumbed to their injuries. </div>
<div><br clear="none" /></div></div><div>Obviously the medical situation in Pittsburgh is at this point critical or even direction. Relief missions will be organized from several sources. As we are well supplied with doctors and very well defended I expect one of those missions to be ours. We will not be seeking volunteers for this mission per se, but if any of you have a personal connection to Pittsburgh and would like to go for that reason please mention it to Lt Mackay who is working on the mission profile and will consider requests. If you have some reason why you would be especially suited to Pittsburgh's needs please ask your commanding officer or sergeant to update your personnel jacket. </div>
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<div>Suzanne Wood</div>
<div>Lt. Colonel</div>
<div>Cm Battalion 45</div></div><div>Commanding</div>
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March 2, 2099 -- Update on the Pittsburgh incidentshttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/march-2-2099-update-on-the-pittsburgh-incidents2020-07-05T18:34:24.896000Z2017-02-02T04:42:45ZAndy Fundinger<div><div style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">I am posting this a day early because so many of you have asked about the latest from Pittsburgh, just 3 days after the previous attack the same creatures came back angrier and crueler if that's even possible. This time they attacked the re-established trauma operations at Mercy hospital. Defensive forces were quicker to respond but the damage this time was worse. Not only was an entire trauma center gutted again, but the dead bodies from the morgue were brought to some kind of horrific unlife and set about tearing apart patients and staff alike. We were much better prepared for the third assault Friday at Children's Hospital which caused only injuries, no deaths. The remains of the attackers are being kept under heavy guard and on the advice of volunteer Para-Arcane specialists they've laced the remains with silver, garlic, and unseasoned wood.</span></div></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Obviously the losses have again severely depleted the medical staff, not to mention the many patients cut down in what should have been a safe place of recuperation. Our hearts go out to them and we will be looking at how we can help them.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">A few of people have asked about the rumor that the dead buried themselves afterwards. This is in fact true. After some discussion and with not a small amount of trepidation it was decided to allow an arcanist to reanimate the dead and walk them out for burial under their own (magical) power. I take this as a reminder that like fire, electricity, and the demon of nuclear power humans can harness the newly revealed energy of magic and the use we put it to will be what renders it good or evil. Sgt Lynch has drawn a different conclusion and has asked the machine shop to make up med alert style "Do not reanimate" bracelets, he says there's extras for whoever needs them. </span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Suzanne Wood</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Lt. Colonel</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Cm Battalion 45</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Commanding</span></div>
February, 23 2099 -- Weekly Update ***Unclassified***https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/february-23-2099-weekly-update-unclassified2020-07-05T18:34:47.698000Z2017-01-31T13:27:08ZAndy Fundinger<div><div style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I'm sure all of you are as shocked as I am about the incident at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; four monstrous creatures; a dominatrix, a walking rhino, a red slug, and some sort of horned creature with a giant axe entered through Scaife hall, worked their way into the trauma center several of the operating centers, leaving a path of carnage in their wake. The trauma center was a complete loss and the whole incident would have been worse if there hadn't been enough walking wounded present to slow down the attackers as local NEMA forces rallied. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We don't yet have all the details, but as UPMC's facilities are the best in the region so they expect to restaff their trauma center from other nearby facilities and NEMA commands. </div>
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<div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans;"><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">Suzanne Wood</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">Lt. Colonel</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">Cm Battalion 45</div></div></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">Commanding</div>
February 16, 2099 -- Weekly Update ***Unclassified***https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/february-16-2099-weekly-update-unclassified2020-07-05T18:34:03.291000Z2017-01-31T04:06:38ZAndy Fundinger<div><div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">First, thanks to everyone who attended and contributed with the Valentine's Ball!</span></div>
<div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br clear="none" /></span></div></div><div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Second, a few of you have asked where I think we might relocate to, personally I think Pittsburgh is most likely, but we could also follow General Sawyer to Chicago, or even move south to Charlotte.</span></div>
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<div><div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Suzanne Wood</span></div>
<div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Lt. Colonel</span></div>
<div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Cm Battalion 45</span></div></div><div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Commanding</span></div>
February 14, 2099 -- Weekly Update ***Unclassified***https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/february-14-2099-weekly-update-unclassified2020-07-05T18:34:16.302000Z2017-01-30T04:40:52ZAndy Fundinger<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">First off Happy Valentine's Day! I know things are very dark, but normality cannot be allowed to completely slip from our mind even in these trying times. We've all worked with disaster survivors before and must accept that in this case we are both survivors and the only source of relief for our troubled nations. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Tonight there will be our grand Valentine's Dance in the west gymnasium and I encourage you all to attend as time permits and at least briefly. We all understand that there is no reason for a party, but this is a rough year and we must fake it until we make it in terms of letting in happiness anywhere we can. Special thanks to the motor pool who will be using several of our special purpose vehicles to provide sound and light, the shelter pharmacy team for coordinating libations, the mess teams for several special surprises, and everyone who diligently searched their personal effects for our music selection. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Two notes:</span></div><ol><li><span style="font-size: 16px;">Normal regulations on fraternization are not, and will not be set aside. I do not have the authority to do so and this would not fit under my general authority "in case of emergency to do whatever is necessary to maintain life, order, and the effectiveness of their command." To all our volunteers, please do consider that workplace romances are not a laughing matter in the military, we have to trust each other with our lives and cannot let personal matters interfere. Your sergeants can inform you of the proper decorum for military balls. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: 16px;">I must caution all of you against getting too comfortable. Although we are doing an incredible job of holding our little patch of ground it is not actually a very useful piece of territory and we should all expect to combine and relocate with other NEMA forces.</span></li></ol><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Suzanne Wood</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Lt. Colonel</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Cm Battalion 45</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Commanding</span></div>
February 9, 2099 -- Weekly Update ***Unclassified***https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/february-9-2099-weekly-update-unclassified2020-07-05T18:34:58.892000Z2017-01-29T04:35:13ZAndy Fundinger<div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">The elves paid us a visit and while I've heard a few of you suggest that Gimili had the proper measure of an elf, I for one am glad they did. We did at least learn a few things specifically:</span></div><ul><li><span style="font-size: 16px;">This whole disasters and monster's thing is apparently just the sort of thing that happens. Apparently the universe is not as friendly a place as we thought.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 16px;">An awful lot of all this is apparently "magic," the elves seem very serious about that.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 16px;">Elves are really good at archery, I think everyone who tried to match them went away disappointed.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 16px;">They're also good at magic, good enough to disappear in a puff of smoke when they left, but not good enough to provide much in the way of direct help.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">We also have received word of a group of congressional survivors arriving at NEMA HQ including House Majority Leader Alexander Gagnon. We also seem to have both Republican whips, the chair of the Republican Conference and a few committee chairs. Unfortunately Senator Julia Castillo who some of you may remember from her inspection tours is not among the legislators that have been reported at any shelter or base.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Suzanne Wood</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Lt. Colonel</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Cm Battalion 45</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Commanding</span></div>
February 2, 2099 -- Weekly Update ***Unclassified***https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/february-2-2099-weekly-update-unclassified2020-07-05T18:34:53.578000Z2017-01-27T00:51:46ZAndy Fundinger<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">As of today I have instructed Quartermaster Meyers and his staff to review and simplify our rationing program. Partially this is because we're seeing good results with the hydroponics systems, but mostly this is because we are not seeing as many refugees as we feared, or indeed hoped. The quartermasters will release details as they have them and will keep us within some variant of LTSP1, but the mess team has already been directed to prepare and serve our consumable supplies without further delay.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br/></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Another improvement in our supply situation has come from Raven Rock. We have now outfitted our surface perimeter with R-670 Rail Guns and PR-476 Plasma cannons. If you have not been trained on at least one of these weapons please see your Sergeant or Lt. Felix to schedule training.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br/></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">In new contacts, Raven Rock has successfully reached Presidental relocation site 8 AKA Eagle's Nest. Although the President is presumed lost at NORAD other senior members of the administration did evacuate to Eagle's Nest. The most senior surviving member of the US government seems to be CIA Director Brian Allen Manning. While Captain Bishop thinks Director Manning could make a case that this makes him acting President, he is limiting himself to organizing the remaining executive agencies at Eagle's Nest and elsewhere. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br/></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Suzanne Wood</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Lt. Colonel</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Cm Battalion 45</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Commanding</span></div>
January 26, 2099 -- Weekly Update ***Unclassified***https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/january-26-2099-weekly-update-unclassified2020-07-05T18:34:36.205000Z2017-01-25T03:11:37ZAndy Fundinger<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Our main updates this week are about gaining and losing contact. First the loss, after </span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.2px;">several</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> reports of escalating dinosaur activity it has now been 4 days since we've heard from Bok's tower and while we hope it was only equipment problems, we do fear the worst. On the bright side, the US Navy is not only broadcasting but also receiving. While it does not look practical to sail the Ticonderoga up the Potomac to provide relief it gives me a great deal of hope to know they are out there. Apparently a number of Dove flights have reached them and they are able to report that Canadian NEMA forces and the RCMP are rallying in Ontario and Quebec. They also report that Russia, Japan, and China a fighting </span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.2px;">desperate</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> holding battles, similar to those here. Mexico, South America, and Africa seem lost, partially and probably because of a large island that has appeared southeast of Florida. It seems likely that is the cause of our flooding here and more </span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 23.2px;">devastating</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> damage as one looks south. The Navy confirms, but we have also heard directly from Germany, they seem to be fighting some sort of winged lizards mostly attacking across the French border. Another direct contact is Charlotte, NC who reports dinosaurs similar to but less numerous than those from Bok's Tower.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">For anyone who thinks every threat we face is in the form of a wild animal or dumb monster, please speak to Platoon B-03 and the surviving Murray boys. They fought off a band of 9 foot tall bronze skinned barbarians armed with energy weapons of an alien design. Shockingly the leader of the group had a bionic arm as good or better than anything we could produce. Services for Private Aubree Bergeron and Private Dominic Ambrose will be held Thursday.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Suzanne Wood</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Lt. Colonel</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Cm Battalion 45</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Commanding</span></div>
<div style="font-family:gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;"><br /></div>
January 19, 2099 -- General Update ***Unclassified***https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/january-19-2099-general-update-unclassified2020-07-05T18:33:56.521000Z2017-01-23T02:10:44ZAndy Fundinger<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Before I discuss anything else a word of thanks is in order to the dedicated volunteers of the Rain Platoon. The Rain Platoon was on guard two nights ago when the base was attacked by a five ton flightless bird. None of you can be blamed for thinking that it was a Tyranosaurus Rex, but those were found mostly in Montana and went extinct 65 million years ago. It seems that it was actually a Alioramus. Normally Alioramus is an Asian dinosaur, also normally they are also extinct. In any event the Rain Platoon reacted with a level of skill and professionalism that belies the fact that they were at best recreational hunters 2 weeks ago and brought it down with neither casualty nor damage, harrying it and distracting it while the on-duty Guardsmen from Platoon A-2 and Bull Dog from D Troop could take it down. Bok's tower has reported many dinosaur contacts but this is our first.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br/></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Our first truly long distance contact came in the form of Dove 18 flight. The Dove 18 flight was a single Lightning III from Monthan AFB. Initially intending to reach to Eglin AFB it was looking for any base with field facilities suitable to military jets. From Dove 18 we learned:</span></div><ul><li><span style="font-size: 16px;">Long distance rotary-wing aircraft or even fixed wing aircraft at low speeds is total unsafe. Monthan lost multiple crews to either creatures or atmospheric conditions.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 16px;">High speed, high altitude flights are possible, but navigation is not. The Dove flights are being planned as one-way trips and Monthan is recommending that messages be relayed on a best efforts basis.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br/></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">We will continue our base policy of gathering and transmitting messages of a personal nature as military necessity allows. As a reminder.</span></div><ul><li><span style="font-size: 16px;">Simple messages of survival or demise are not necessary, we are collecting those and sending them separately.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 16px;">We will only accept messages to people who you are relatively sure of the last location of.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 16px;">Messages must be actionable, no "I'm sorry and I love you" messages. There simply isn't room.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 16px;">For normal broadcasts priority will be based on #2 and #3. For Dove flights we'll consider #3 and then select randomly.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br/></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">In a more local contact, we have also been in regular contact with Raven Rock Army research center. It is likely that Raven Rock will be helping to supplement our combat strength especially in infantry and commando roles.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br/></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Suzanne Wood</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Lt. Colonel</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Cm Battalion 45</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Commanding</span></div>
January 12, 2099 -- General Update ***Unclassified***https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/january-12-2099-general-update-unclassified2020-07-05T18:33:52.843000Z2017-01-21T03:14:24ZAndy Fundinger<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">I wanted to provide something in the nature of a general update and answer a number of questions that have been raised persistently.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br/></span></div><ul><li><span style="font-size: 16px;">First, we believe at this point that all command and control functions in both Washington and headquartered out of NORAD are permanently lost along with most of not all command personnel attached. The NEMA-HQ complex was never made operational, but we do have some indications that the commissioning team is trying to bring it online. If they do, the resources of that complex and its utility literally cannot be overstated.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 16px;">We have managed to maintain or establish certain contacts, particularly we are in intermittent contact with NEMA detachments in Chicago and Pittsburgh as well as a determined amateur broadcasting daily from Bok's tower in Florida.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 16px;">The chapel remains sealed and we're stumped as to how or what to do about it. As anyone can observe through the window, Chaplain Hansen and a few of our guests are inside and seem to be immobile. Both churches in Bluemont seem to be in the same state, everything stopped at about 7:30 in the morning on the 29th of December. For those seeking spiritual guidance or comfort, PFC Wells will be holding services just in front of the chapel at the normal times and will be in the Chaplain's office at other times as her schedule permits.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br/></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Suzanne Wood</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Lt. Colonel</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Cm Battalion 45</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Commanding</span></div>
Mt. Weather Organizational Structure - Combined Arms Battalion 45https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/mt-weather-organizational-structure-combined-arms-battalion-452020-07-05T18:33:47.097000Z2017-01-19T18:10:46ZAndy Fundinger<div>For your reference, the Mt. Weather in the Chaos Earth setting is a minor NEMA base with a continuity of operations mission. It is prepared for evacuees from Washington and other nearby areas and intended to support them until external support can rally and relieve them. It can also function as a minor command center at need. The host unit at Mt. Weather is Combined Arms Battalion 45 and consists of about 400 NEMA soldiers and officers. There are also as many as 200 civilian scientists and contractors at any given time. CmBatt 45 is structured and commanded as follows:</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Combined Arms Battalion 45 - Lieutenant Colonel Suzanne Wood</div>
<div>------------------------------</div>
<div> Combined Arms Battalion 45 HHC - Captain Rosa May</div>
<div> ------------------------------</div>
<div> Mechanized Company A - Major Justin Roy</div>
<div> ------------------------------</div>
<div> Mechanized Company B - Major Rick Rivera</div>
<div> ------------------------------</div>
<div> Troop C - Major Emile Taylor</div>
<div> ------------------------------</div>
<div> Troop D - Major Teresa George</div>
<div> ------------------------------</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>NEMA is generally structured similar to the US Army, with some variations. Of course no unit is ever at full stregth and there have been some losses (and additions) since the cataclysm.</div>
January 7, 2099 -- Rationing LTSP-1K ***ALL PERSONEL PLEASE READ AND SHARE***https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/january-7-2099-rationing-ltsp-1k-all-personel-please-read-and-share2020-07-05T18:33:40.100000Z2017-01-19T00:18:08ZAndy Fundinger<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Just a reminder, due to the unprecedented nature of the current disaster we have activated the Long Term Shelter Plan. Specifically I have instructed Quartermaster <b>Meyers</b> to implement the 1K variant to preserve our limited supplies against what I expect to be a large influx of refuges over the next few months. I must however ask all of you not only to abide by these very stringent rationing requirements but also to watch for deficiencies in these plans. Unfortunately this plan last received it's 5 year update in 2093 so we are aware there will be many gaps and we must conserve whatever we can, wherever we can.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br/></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Suzanne Wood</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Lt. Colonel</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Cm Battalion 45</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Commanding</span></div>
Character, Background, and Plot Generatorshttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/character-background-and-plot-generators2019-07-26T01:52:20.695000Z2017-01-15T17:30:14ZAndy Fundinger<div>Sean spotted a random backstory generator that you may find helpful to fill out the backstory questions on the RSVP form, please find it below along with several other random generator sites that I've collected.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Please don't feel bound by any detail that you don't like, anything you get with one of these tools is just a suggestion and ultimately you should build a character you understand and will enjoy playing. Even better is one that you feel sympathetic too and invested in.</div>
<div> </div><ul><li><div><a href="http://whothefuckismydndcharacter.com/">http://whothefuckismydndcharacter.com/</a></div></li><li><div><a href="http://chaoticshiny.com/">http://chaoticshiny.com</a></div></li><li><div><a href="http://donjon.bin.sh/">http://donjon.bin.sh</a></div></li><li><div><a href="http://fantasynamegenerators.com/">http://fantasynamegenerators.com</a></div></li><li><div><a href="http://www.fakenamegenerator.com/">http://www.fakenamegenerator.com</a></div></li><li><div><a href="http://www.springhole.net/writing_roleplaying_randomators/">http://www.springhole.net/writing_roleplaying_randomators/</a></div></li><li><div><a href="http://mochakimono.chipx86.com/">http://mochakimono.chipx86.com</a></div></li><li><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=generalperson">https://www.seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=generalperson</a></span></div></li></ul><div><br /></div>
<div>Other generators that may be interesting:</div><ul><li><div><a href="http://www.inkwellideas.com/roleplaying_tools/superhero_generator/powers.shtml?origin=Birthright&prowess=5&coordination=4&strength=4&intellect=4&awareness=5&willpower=4&submit=submit">http://www.inkwellideas.com/roleplaying_tools/superhero_generator/powers.shtml?origin=Birthright&prowess=5&coordination=4&strength=4&intellect=4&awareness=5&willpower=4&submit=submit</a></div></li></ul><div><br /></div>
PPE Recoveryhttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/ppe-recovery-for-creatures-of-magic2017-01-29T04:42:31.199000Z2017-01-12T18:42:48ZAndy Fundinger<div><br/></div>
<div>Restore PPE Psionic <b>can</b> be used on yourself or by another to help you</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>Recording PPE/ISP</b><br clear="none"/></span>You may assume that your character will meditate at the next break in action recovering 10PPE or 6 ISP(or 1hr of meditation per your OCC) . If a break in action can be anticipated you need not note such a small usage.</div>
<div>You may assume that your character will sleep or sleep and meditate to recover 40PPE or 16 ISP overnight. (or 8hr of sleep per your OCC)</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Larger expenditures should always be tracked and you should note any extra meditation</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>PPE is also fully recovered if you walk or rest in a blue zone (40/hour) </div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;"><br/></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>Creatures of Magic</b></span></div>
<div>Optional player character creatures of magic recover like any other player character unless specifically noted or affected by OCC. </div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>NPC Adult/greater creatures of magic recover at double the normal rate. Often they recover through blue zones or sacrifices or other mechanisms. Dragons are lethargic partially because of the long recovery time. </div>
<div style="font-size: 14px;"><font size="6" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><b><br/></b></font></div>
<div><div style="orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2;"><div><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Other Sources of P.P.E.</b><font color="#000000"> (slightly adapted from<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span></font></span><a href="http://www.angelfire.com/pa/thebreach/magic.html">http://www.angelfire.com/pa/thebreach/magic.html</a>)</span></div><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/e776e3e0-8d26-4079-8491-9daf2ce1a63f/0f31d0a9-7d79-4606-883f-b572ec8abd54/b493a7ce-94f2-48f7-907c-019cd42c4ed1.gif" width="25"/></span>Practitioners of magic have a few options at their disposal in acquiring P.P.E. to use instead of their own or to supplement what they have. These other sources include magical talismans, ancient artifacts, items created by the gods, ley lines, nexus points, and living creatures, including humans. </font><br/><font color="#000000"><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/e776e3e0-8d26-4079-8491-9daf2ce1a63f/0f31d0a9-7d79-4606-883f-b572ec8abd54/b493a7ce-94f2-48f7-907c-019cd42c4ed1.gif" width="25"/></font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><b>Drawing P.P.E. from magic talismans and artifacts</b>:</b><font color="#000000"> There are some magic artifacts that act as portable P.P.E. batteries that store magic energy from which a mage can draw more power. These items are quite uncommon, but immediately recognized by practitioners of magic. In most case, the energy contained in these devices is finite and drained, they remain empty. </font><div><font color="#000000"><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/e776e3e0-8d26-4079-8491-9daf2ce1a63f/0f31d0a9-7d79-4606-883f-b572ec8abd54/b493a7ce-94f2-48f7-907c-019cd42c4ed1.gif" width="25"/></font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><b>Drawing P.P.E. from other living beings</b></b><font color="#000000"> is a fairly easy task. As stated previously, all living creatures have a certain amount of P.P.E. and taking it from them does no damage. However, there are certain conditions and limitations.</font></div>
<div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br/></span></div></div><ul style="orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2;"><li style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><u style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Drawing P.P.E. without one's knowledge:</u><font color="#000000"> The mage can usually draw on anybody's P.P.E. without their consent or knowledge. The man of magic simply focuses his concentration on the target from which he intends to plunder the magic energy and tries to absorb it. The intended target(s) automatically gets to save versus magic attack and must roll a 12 or higher to save. A successful save means that the mage was not able to draw the energy into him and must try again or abandon the plan. A character's failure to save means that the mage was successful in absorbing some of his P.P.E.--limited to 1D4 points. </font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Note:</b><font color="#000000"> A mage can never absorb more than half of the victim's total P.P.E. without the individual's consent. Also note that the P.P.E. can be drawn from animals as well as people (see the animals in </font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><i>Monsters & Animals</i></b><font color="#000000"> for the </font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game</b><font color="#000000"> for a comprehensive list). The spell caster can attempt to simultaneously absorb P.P.E. from several individuals, as many as one person/animal per level of experience (the exception to this are </font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Druids</b><font color="#000000"> and </font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Biomancers</b><font color="#000000">, they can draw on 1D4 animals (</font><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">not</i><font color="#000000"> human(oid)s) per level of experience). </font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Range:</b><font color="#000000"> 10 foot radius per every level of experiance. Stolen P.P.E. returns at the normal rate of five (5) points per hour of sleep/rest.</font><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"/></li><li><u style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Drawing P.P.E. from an unwilling subject is impossible:</u><font color="#000000"> Anyone who is aware that the mage wishes to absorb P.P.E. can resist and prevent his energy from being used. It does not matter why the individual resists, weather its out of fear, hate, anger, dislike, etc., only that he resists is enough. A person who resists/refuses to give his P.P.E. will </font><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">not</i><font color="#000000"> give up any of his; an automatic save. The mage must find a more receptive target.</font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Note:</b><font color="#000000"> In a combat situation, </font><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">all</i><font color="#000000"> opponents on the defensive are considered to be </font><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">unwilling</i><font color="#000000"> subjects. Likewise, the P.P.E. of frightened animals cannot be draw upon by the mage.</font><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"/></li><li style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><u>Drawing P.P.E. with a person's knowledge/consent:</u> Having willing donors of P.P.E. is much more effective than stealing it from people. What happens when the person is willingly donating his or her magic energy is that the attempt is an automatic success (no save vs. magic attack) and the mage can absorb as much as 70% of that one person's energy! Better yet, several people can link together by holding hands and concentrating on giving their P.P.E. enabling the mage to use 50% from each person simultaneously. However, in order to draw upon more than 10 people simultaneously, a mesmerizing ceremony is required, as well as willingness on part of all participants. This "mass" offering is typically used by members of fanatical cults, covens, tribes and churches.</span><br/><br/><br/></li><li><u><font color="#000000">Drawing P.P.E. from other practitioners of magic is impossible!</font></u><font color="#000000"> These men and women of magic are too attuned to and in control of their magic energies for it to be plundered. Years of training has built in numerous mental defenses. On the other hand they can give as much of their PPE as they would like</font><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"/></li><li style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><u>Blood Sacrifices!</u> The most terrible method of extracting P.P.E. from a living creature is by killing it. This is where animal and human sacrifices come into play. For reasons unknown to scholars and mages alike, a living being's P.P.E. doubles at the moment of death. An evil mage takes advantage of this by murdering his subjects and absorbing <i>all</i> the victim's doubled P.P.E.! <b>Note:</b> Only characters of an evil alignment will consider a blood sacrifice as a means to acquire magic energy. Most good characters will not even consider animal sacrifices.</span></li><li><u><font color="#000000">Self-cannibalization:</font></u><font color="#000000"> Should a mage find himself wanting, he is able to put his own health on the line and draw power from his own body. Mages can trade their Hit Points (not S.D.C., it goes directly to Hit Points (or M.D.C. depending on the campaign setting) for P.P.E. points on a 1 for 1 basis. So for every 1 hit point/M.D.C. point the mage sacrifices (s)he gains 1 P.P.E. point. In this way, the mage </font><font color="#000000">can sacrifice 70% of his hit points for P.P.E. points. </font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Note:</b><font color="#000000"> Should the mage reduce his points by more than 50% his original base, he will begin to suffer from fatigue penalties from the strain put on his body (-2 Speed, -2 Initiative, -1 Parry and Dodge, -2 Damage).</font><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><br/><br/></div></li><li><u style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Drawing ambient energy from nature:</u><font color="#000000"> </font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">All</b><font color="#000000"> living things have Potential Psychic Energy in them, humans, humanoids, animals, even plants. Only few mages are able to use this method of drawing P.P.E. from the surrounding plant life. The men of magic that have this ability are the </font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Druids</b><font color="#000000"> (all types, from </font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">PFRPG</b><font color="#000000"> to those in England on </font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Rifts Earth</b><font color="#000000">), </font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Biomancers</b><font color="#000000">, </font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Earth Warlocks</b><font color="#000000">, and </font><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Plant Shamans</b><font color="#000000">. These men of magic that are closer to nature than most people and as such can draw P.P.E. from trees, plants, flowers, even the grass. This is a delicate operation that can severely upset the balance of nature. Mages can draw a total of 3 P.P.E. points per level of experience the area effected by the mage's drain is a ten foot/level diameter circle based around the mage drawing the energy. This area can be drawn from only once per day as the plants are severely weakened by this draw. PPE drawn from plants cannot be saved or combined with PPE drawn from animals and must be used in an immediate casting.</font><br/><font color="#000000"><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/e776e3e0-8d26-4079-8491-9daf2ce1a63f/0f31d0a9-7d79-4606-883f-b572ec8abd54/b493a7ce-94f2-48f7-907c-019cd42c4ed1.gif" width="25"/>Certain selfish or evil mages make a special study of this and can instead get 6 points per level. However, the area of effect (as described above) has now become a charred and blackened patch of earth that will not longer support plant life for at least ten years, as all the Potential Energy was drawn out of it. </font></li></ul><div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br/></span></div><ul style="orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2;"><li style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><u>Drawing ambient energy from ley lines.</u> These rules can be found in any Palladium Books game that deals with ley line energy and P.P.E. </span></li></ul></div><div style="font-family:gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;"><br/></div>
NEMA Rankshttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/nema-ranks2020-07-05T20:25:40.005000Z2017-01-04T20:50:04ZAndy Fundinger<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.625rem; padding: 0px; list-style-type: none;"><div><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Determining</span><span style="font-size: 17px;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 17px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> your Rank</span></span></div><ol><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Decide if you are an officer or not</span></div></li><ul><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">An officer is responsible and accountable </span></div></li><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">An officer is educated in military subjects (history, tactics, ettiquette)</span></div></li><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">An officer commands</span></div></li><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Enlisted troops serve</span></div></li><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Enlisted troops are practical</span></div></li><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Enlisted troops may not be planning to make a career of their service in NEMA</span></div></li></ul><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Decide when you joined </span></div></li><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">I</span>f you joined since the cataclysm you are a private 3rd class or private 2nd class, you may be promoted to Private First Class for meritorious service </div></li><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Consult the chart below for a basic idea of your rank</span></div></li></ol><div><br /></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Other Factors</span></div><ul><li><div>Civilian Education may increase your enlisted rank</div></li><ul><li><div>Undergraduate College graduates start with a rank of Private First Class </div></li><li><div>Holders of advanced degrees will usually start as Corporals, but occasionally Sergeants</div></li><li><div>Highly trained specialists in particular demand such as Doctors may be given the rank of Lieutenant</div></li></ul><li><div>Commissioned intel-agents and military specialists are generally one rank higher than indicated</div></li><ul><li><div>for intel-agents follow normal progression after captain, intelligence officers above major are managerial or command normal/mixed forces </div></li><li><div>for commandos follow the normal progression after major, military specialists commandant and higher rarely see action personally </div></li></ul><li><div>Enlisted power armor pilots, robot pilots, Intelligence officers and military specialists are generally one rank higher than indicated</div></li><ul><li><div>Power armor pilots take almost a full year of training and thus are Private First class at level 1, but promote normally from there</div></li><li><div>Robot vehicle pilots take even more training and start as Lance Corporals, they will then become Corporals and about 6 months, an interim rank of Senior Corporal will be awarded 2.5 years later before promoting normally.</div></li><li><div>for intel-agents follow normal progression after staff sergeant</div></li><li><div>for military specialists follow the normal progression after Master Sergeant</div></li></ul><li><div>Quality of service may affect promotion</div></li><ul><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Excellent service in any grade may allow promotion up to a year early, usually this will not happen in successive ranks</span></div></li><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Subpar service in any grade may delay promotion for up to a year or strand you almost permanantly at that rank.</span></div></li><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Officers not promoted for more than one year after the "normal" time are unlikely to ever be promoted</span></div></li><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Quality of Service is increasingly more critical for the ranks from Major to Colonel and from Sergeant up</span></div></li><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">General Officer ranks are selected as a political exercise. Technically NEMA has no General Officers, instead the General Officers are promoted by their own countries, then requested by NEMA and loaned for service.</span></div></li></ul><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">There are a few other notations that can be made to ranks in various cases:</span></div></li><ul><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Command - may be noted to the most senior Enlisted man in a unit who has only unit-wide responsibilities to support his or her unit.</span></div></li><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Senior - For the grades with very long time in grade sometimes the notation of "senior" is awarded either officially, by their home nation, or unofficially by their unit</span></div></li><li><div><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Promotable - The soldier has been reviewed and found to have a suitable quality of service, they need only time and perhaps some mandatory training</span></div></li></ul></ul></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Enlisted Troops</span></div><table style="table-layout: fixed; border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%;"><colgroup><col style="width: 254px;" /><col style="width: 254px;" /><col style="width: 254px;" /></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;">Rank</span></div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;">Average Time in service for Promotion</span></div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;">NATO Equivalent</span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>Private Third Class </div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>None - Entry Grade</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>E-1</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Private Second Class </span></div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>6 months</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>E-2</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Private First Class</span></div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>1 year</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>E-3</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div><span style="box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-style: normal;">Lance Corporal</span></div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>18 months</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>E-4</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Corporal</span></div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>26 months</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>E-4</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>Sergeant</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>5 years</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>E-5</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>Technical Sergeant</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>7.5 years</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>E-6</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>Staff Sergeant</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>10 years</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>E-6</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>Gunnery Sergeant</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>15 years</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>E-7</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>Sergeant First Class</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>20 years</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>E-7</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>Master Sergeant</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>25 years</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>E-8</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>First Sergeant</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>30 years</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>E-8</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>Sergeant Major</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>35 years</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>E-9</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>Master Gunnery Sergeant</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>40 years</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 254px; padding: 8px;"><div>E-9</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>
<div><br /></div>
<div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Officers</span></div><table style="table-layout: fixed; border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%;-evernote-table:true;"><colgroup><col style="width: 348px;" /><col style="width: 348px;" /><col style="width: 348px;" /></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;">Rank</span></div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;">Normal Service Time to Promotion</span></div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;">NATO Equivalent</span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>Third Lieutenant</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>None - Cadet Grade</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>O-1</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>Second Lieutenant</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>6 months</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>O-1</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>First Lieutenant</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>2 years</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>O-2</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>Captain</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>8 years</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>O-3</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>Major</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>14 years</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>O-4</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>Commandant</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>20 years</div>
<div>(Generally including a tour with their national military) </div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>O-4</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>Lieutenant Commander</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>26 years</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>O-5</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>Commander</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>32 years</div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">(Generally including a jointness tour with their national military) </span></div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>O-5</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>Lieutenant Colonel</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>36 years</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>O-6</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>Colonel</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>40 years</div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">(Generally including a command tour with their national military) </span></div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>O-6</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>Brigadier General</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div><br /></div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>O-7</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>Major General</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div><br /></div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>O-8</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>Lieutenant General</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div><br /></div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>O-9</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>General</div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div><br /></div></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(211, 211, 211); width: 348px; padding: 8px;"><div>O-10</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>
<div>References</div><ul><li><div><a href="https://www.thebalance.com/enlisted-promotions-made-simple-3331909">https://www.thebalance.com/enlisted-promotions-made-simple-3331909</a></div></li><li><div><a href="https://www.thebalance.com/military-commissioned-officer-promotions-4055887">https://www.thebalance.com/military-commissioned-officer-promotions-4055887</a></div></li><li><div><a href="http://www.army-portal.com/pay-promotions/officer-promotions.html">http://www.army-portal.com/pay-promotions/officer-promotions.html</a></div></li><li><div><a href="https://www.thebalance.com/advanced-paygrade-rank-enlistment-programs-3344738">https://www.thebalance.com/advanced-paygrade-rank-enlistment-programs-3344738</a></div></li><li><div><a href="https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090424071314AAkE6ZD">https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090424071314AAkE6ZD</a></div></li></ul><div><br /></div>
Perception in Practicehttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/perception-in-practice2020-07-19T20:19:35.175000Z2016-12-31T23:42:34ZAndy Fundinger<div>One of our players asked for a review of our perception rules, so this post will replace the earlier post about the perception, but there is no change in rules here, though the movement speed option is newer.</div>
<div><br /></div><h2>Calculating your current perception</h2><div><br /></div>
<div>All our perception for Chaos Earth is passive, each player will calculate their current perception and then I will roll for the group when there is something to notice. To calculate your current perception:</div><ol><li><div>Decide what your character is watching for. This means deciding on a skill to use, you may pick any skill even one you don't have or one that doesn't exist. Divide your skill percentage by 30% <i>Perception is now 0-3</i></div></li><li><div>Add +1 for a minor affinity and +2 for a major affinity to this skill. <i>Perception is now 0-5</i></div></li><li><div>Decide how alert your character is AKA paranoia, this can be 0 +1 or +2. <i>Perception is now 0-7</i></div></li><li><div>If you have a perception bonus add it, I don't think any current characters do. <i>Perception is now 0-7</i></div></li><li><div>If your character is moving at 1/2 or 1/3 speed multiply perception by 2 or 3. <i>Perception is now 0-21</i></div></li></ol><div><br /></div><h2>Checking Perception</h2><div>Let's look at an example of some perception rolls using just three players in a NEMA trailer.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>An easy check of 5 would represent something that most people would notice most of the time but *might* be overlooked. For example a disturbance in a crowd. We'll consider that as our example.</div>
<div><br /></div><ol><li><div>As game master I decide there is a disturbance either as a plot element or randomly. Let's say someone is walking through running into people hard enough to injure them.</div></li><li><div>I decide on a difficulty of 5 for the perception roll. Probably this will be noticed. <a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/800HC-Rifts-Ultimate-Edition.html" rev="en_rl_none"><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);">Rifts® Ultimate Edition™</span></a><span style="color:rgb(33, 132, 193);"> </span>Page 367 has a list of example perception difficulties.</div></li><li><div>I roll a d20 for the party behind the screen, you don't know that I did this, let's say I got a 2.</div></li><li><div>I check the displayed perceptions:</div></li><ul><li><div>The highest number is a 5(total 7), so I ask that player what skill they are using, they're using mechanical engineering and 4 points of their bonus are from skill and affinity. This means they're focused on the vehicle itself so they are not going to notice this, probably I'd treat them as a 1 or a 0--they're looking at the wrong thing.</div></li><li><div>Next there is someone with a 4(total 6), so I ask that player what skill they are using, they're using read sensory equipment with and 2 points from skill and two points from alertness they are close, if they needed a 4 they would have made the check.</div></li><li><div>The last player has a 3(total 5), they're using streetwise, so everything applies. I tell them they see the disturbance. Since they were using streetwise I would say "because you are watching with streetwise you notice an over-important person charging through the crowd, perhaps some sort of local criminal or bully boy, he seems to be shoving people aside faster than they can move out of the way" To actually find out about this person they should make a streetwise skill roll.</div></li></ul></ol><div><br /></div>
<div>As in this example, perception will often determine which character will see something and how they perceive it as much as whether something is observed at all. </div>
Element Unlockinghttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/element-unlocking2020-07-05T20:25:52.759000Z2016-12-31T23:32:25ZAndy Fundinger<div>As a form of feedback and direction to our campaign I will hand out "unlock gems." These will let the players indicate what they would like to see more of in the campaign. </div>
<div><br /></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">Each session, each player will get the following unlock gems</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">1 for being present (to give away) </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">1 for being on time (3pm)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">1 for being first to arrive</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">1 for bringing food</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">1 for holding a child (including furbabies) when we start</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">1 to give away after returning from a long break</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">2 for writing or illustrating part of the story</span></span></div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>You must give at least one gem to another player, generally to thank them for adding to your enjoyment of the game. </div>
<div><br clear="none" style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;" /></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">60g of gems unlocks an advancement in:</span></div><ul><li><div><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">magic</span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">technology</span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">psionics</span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">creatures</span></div></li><ul><li><div> dinosaurs </div></li></ul><li><div>main plot</div></li><li><div><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">or extra supplies</span></div></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;">Sub or alternate categories will be created on request</span></span></div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>I'll work in the new element depending on how the plot is otherwise intended to run, but generally. </div>
<div>Level 1 unlock a brush with the subject. For example an encounter with a sorceror.</div>
<div>Level 2 unlock a recurring character for example a powerful psychic starts hunting the party</div>
<div>Level 3 unlock new playable classes or options for player characters.</div>
Misc House Rules (Revised 3-6-2021)https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/misc-house-rules2021-03-06T21:38:46.003000Z2016-12-31T23:22:21ZAndy Fundinger<div><h1><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;">Attribute Checks</span></h1></div>
<div><b><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><span style="color:#34495e;"><span style="--en-markholder:true;"><br /></span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><span style="color:#34495e;">In the event that an attribute check is needed we will roll 2d6+a bonus based on the relevant attribute as seen on the chart below. Attribute checks are done only when the skill is done in such a way that no skill could be relevant--see </span><a href="https://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/using-missing-or-unknown-skills" rev="en_rl_none">missing and unknown skills</a><span style="color:#34495e;"> for details on missing skills.</span></span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><span style="color:#34495e;">A total >= 7 will indicate a success with complications >= 10 will indicate an unmitigated success. This mechanic is adopted from Dungeon World. </span></span></span></div>
<div><br /></div><table width="199px" style="width:199px;border-collapse:collapse;"><colgroup><col style="width: 100px;" /><col style="width: 99px;" /></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="background-color:rgb(250, 250, 250);color:rgb(58, 58, 58);"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Score</span></span></b></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="background-color:rgb(250, 250, 250);color:rgb(58, 58, 58);"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Bonus</span></span></b></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="background-color:rgb(250, 250, 250);color:rgb(58, 58, 58);"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">1-4</span></span></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="background-color:rgb(250, 250, 250);color:rgb(58, 58, 58);"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">-2</span></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>5-7</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="background-color:rgb(250, 250, 250);color:rgb(58, 58, 58);"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">-1</span></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="background-color:rgb(250, 250, 250);color:rgb(58, 58, 58);"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">8-12</span></span></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="background-color:rgb(250, 250, 250);color:rgb(58, 58, 58);"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">0</span></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="background-color:rgb(250, 250, 250);color:rgb(58, 58, 58);"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">13-15</span></span></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="background-color:rgb(250, 250, 250);color:rgb(58, 58, 58);"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">+1</span></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="background-color:rgb(250, 250, 250);color:rgb(58, 58, 58);"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">16-18</span></span></div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="background-color:rgb(250, 250, 250);color:rgb(58, 58, 58);"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">+2</span></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>19-21</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div style="background-color:rgb(250, 250, 250);color:rgb(58, 58, 58);"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">+3 </span></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>22-24</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>+4</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>25-27</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>+5</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>28-30</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>+6</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>31-33</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>+7</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>34-36</div></td><td style="border-color:#ccc;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;padding:10px;"><div>+8</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div>You can see the relevant probabilities in <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://anydice.com/program/1fa59&sa=D&source=hangouts&ust=1609631907247000&usg=AFQjCNFIFcD4mzs-2ycIpPOm-FkBhanN-w" rev="en_rl_none">Anydice</a>. 0 indicates a failure, 1 indicates partial success, and 2 indicates a total success. </div>
<div><br /></div><h1><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;">d10s</span><b><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);"> </span></span></span></b></h1><div><br /></div>
<div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">The 0 side on a d10 is a zero, weapons with a d10 damage have a chance of doing no damage at all. </span></span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">Hand to hand strikes doing d10 damage may optionally be done as d8</span></span></span></div>
<div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align:start;"><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;">Skill Rolls</span></h1><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">Rolling your skill exactly is a success rolling 00-0 (100%) is a failure</span></span></span></div>
<div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align:start;background-color:rgb(236, 240, 241);"><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">If there is a situation where a skill is relevant then one of a few things may happen:</span></span></span></div><ol><li><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">You may notice it yourself, in this case you should roll, and call out the skill, 1st roll, your percent for the skill, and any affinity.</span></span></span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">You may want to do something and discuss with the party before rolling. If amongst the party there are multiple characters or skills considered you might get some sense of relative difficulty (by asking the GM)</span></span></span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">The GM may ask if anyone has a particular skill and then ask for rolls on it, or even just provide extra details without needing a roll.</span></span></span></div></li></ol><div style="text-align:start;background-color:rgb(236, 240, 241);"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align:start;background-color:rgb(236, 240, 241);"><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">Depending on how successful your roll is the GM will tell you whether you succeeded or failed, it may or may not be accurate unless the skill is totally irrelevant you'll receive 25xp.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:start;background-color:rgb(236, 240, 241);"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align:start;"><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;">Rules precedence</span></h1><ol><li><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">GM ruling (based on common sense)</span></span></span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">House Rules</span></span></span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">Chaos Earth™ books in reverse order of publication</span></span></span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">Rifts® GM Guide</span></span></span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">Rifts® Book of Magic</span></span></span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">Rifts® Ultimate Edition</span></span></span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">Other Rifts® books</span></span><span style="font-size: 19px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">in reverse order of publication</span></span></span></div></li></ol><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);"><span style="--en-markholder:true;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><h2><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;">Unavailable Rules</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;">In the interest of smooth play I will quickly resort to a ruling for the current session rather than dig up a proper rule. Please do not get too caught up in the details of any rule or ruling.</span></div><h2><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;">Rules or ruling complaints</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;">Please address any concerns about a rule or ruling outside of or between sessions if at all possible. </span></div><h1 style="text-align:start;">E-Clip Recharging</h1><div style="text-align:start;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align:start;background-color:rgb(236, 240, 241);"><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">Eclips can be recharged rather easily, but but after the first recharge they need constant attention from a trained operator. This is not complex but is a matter of assigning someone to watch the charge for 15 minutes while it charges. You may expect that any e-clip can be charged only once without attention.</span></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:start;background-color:rgb(236, 240, 241);"><span style="font-family: lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color:rgb(52, 73, 94);">"Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, Phase World®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Megaverse®, Nightbane®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Heroes Unlimited, Beyond the Supernatural, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. and Kevin Siembieda.</span></span></span></div>
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Character Creationhttps://steelandchaos.postach.io/post/character-creation2020-07-18T14:19:15.861000Z2016-12-31T23:19:26ZAndy Fundinger<div><b><span style="font-size: 18px;">Genetic Engineering</span></b></div>
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<div>A small degree of genetic engineering is commonly available and socially acceptable. Either:</div><ul><li><div>use the chart on page 26 of the Chaos Earth Main book. You may pick one of the items and then roll from there.</div></li><li><div>our house rules:</div></li><ul><li><div>Pick one attribute to increase by two points and another to increase by one these may not be the same attribute</div></li><li><div>Optionally you may pick up to another two attributes to increase(or the same), one by upto 2 and another by 1, but for the additional increase you must pick two other attributes to subtract from by the same amounts. </div></li><li><div>These adjustments done before determining whether to roll the bonus die at 16+ when rolling initial stats. </div></li></ul></ul><div><br /></div>
<div><b><span style="font-size: 18px;">Non-Heroic Characters </span></b></div>
<div>If you roll more than one stat below 9 or any stat below 3 you do not need to and probably should not play this character. Send me your stats and start rolling again. I'll probably use them for something else.</div>
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<div><b><span style="font-size: 18px;">Skill Affinity</span></b></div>
<div>for each affinity category roll 1d20</div>
<div>1 Major Affinity - probably formative in your character's life, possibly avoided intentionally </div>
<div>2-3 Major Affinity - penalties less than 10% ignored most other penalties halved</div>
<div>4-5 Minor Affinity - penalties less than 10% ignored</div>
<div>6-7 Unrecognized Minor Affinity - Your character has not conciously noticed this affinity, but has the same benefits</div>
<div>8-15 No Affinity, no aversion</div>
<div>16-18 Minor Aversions - no penalty, but your character has always been aware that other people are better at these skills than they are and has had to work harder to learn them.</div>
<div>19-20 Major Aversion - no penalty, but your character has never felt comfortable with this category of skills. They have always had a hard time learning them compared to other subjects</div>
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<div>Affinity Categories: Psionics, Luck, Strange, Communications, Domestic, Electrical, I Espionage, Horsemanship, Mechanical, Medical, Military, Physical, Pilot, Pilot Related, Rogue, Science, Technical, Ancient Weapons, Modern Weapons, Wilderness</div>
<div>You may pick any skill from a category where you have an affinity as one of your secondary skills</div>
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<div><b>Two Special Affinities</b></div>
<div><b>Luck</b> - do unlikely but possible things happen to you? </div>
<div>Major Affinity to Luck - 1 in a 100 odds seem to happen to you half the time</div>
<div>Minor Affinity to Luck - 1 in 10 odds seem to happen to you half the time</div>
<div>Minor Aversion to Luck - luck good or bad is just not common, you might win raffles occasionally or have the cards fall against you, but nothing major is the result of luck.</div>
<div>Major Aversion to Luck - your life seems, to you, almost deterministic good and bad happens, but luck is not an observable part of it </div>
<div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Also applies as an affinity for Gambling. </span></span></div>
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<div><b>Strange Affinity</b> - do impossible things happen to you? Alien/supernatural encounters before the cataclysm</div>
<div>Major Affinity to Strange - you have been abducted by aliens, lived in a haunted home, etc.</div>
<div>Minor Affinity to Strange - you have seen ghosts, seen fairies or felt fairy rings </div>
<div>Unknown Minor Affinity to Strange - Strange things have happened but you have dismissed them either as normal or just don't believe them. They are well enough documented that it is a matter of belief against fact.</div>
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<div><b>Psionics</b></div>
<div>1 Major Psychic - You should consider a Psychic OCC from Rifter #50</div>
<div>2-3 Major Psychic</div>
<div>4-5 Minor Minor Psychic</div>
<div>6-7 Psychics use Latent Psychic rules from Rifter #50</div>
<div>8-15 No Affinity, no aversion</div>
<div>17-19 Minor Aversion - your character considers psychic powers quite impossible until/unless proven elsewise.</div>
<div>20 Major Aversion - it is possible to play a psi-nullifier or nega-psychic from Psyscape if willing and desired.</div>
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<div>The rules for picking psionics are as in the Chaos Earth main book and Rifter #50, the psychic powers available are in Rifter #50 and the Rifts Ultimate Edition Book. </div>
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<div><b>Campaign starts Spring 2099</b></div>
<div>Maximum character age is 49, life expectancy at birth was 150 years due to advanced medicine </div>
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<div><span style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">if you are over 40 you will have an extra secondary skill</span></span></div>
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<div>Decide your character's history in 3 eras:</div>
<div>1. The golden age of technology 2028-2088</div>
<div>2. The New Cold war 2088-2098</div>
<div>3. The Great Cataclysm December 22nd, 2098 - March 2099 </div>
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<div><b>Starting Characters</b></div><ul><li><div>At some point you must have at least joined NEMA(North American Military) as at least support staff or a refuge. Consider that the military will generally issue orders in a rational fashion (no you can't change military assignment when all hell breaks loose) You may want to be an officer, if so, let me know.</div></li><li><div>If you had a previous career pick an extra MOS, if you have not changed careers you will receive advanced rank, equipment, and starting xp(5000)</div></li></ul><div><b><span style="--en-markholder:true;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<div><b><span style="font-size: 18px;">Alignments</span></b></div>
<div>pick your character's attitude in the following categories</div>
<div>1. Keeping your word</div>
<div>2. Lying and cheating</div>
<div>3. Attacking or killing unarmed foe</div>
<div>4. Harming or killing an innocent (also who is an innocent)</div>
<div>5. Torture to extract information or for pleasure</div>
<div>6. Killing for pleasure</div>
<div>7. Helping others in need</div>
<div>8. Working within the law</div>
<div>9. Breaking the law</div>
<div>10. Respecting authority, self discipline, and honor</div>
<div>11. Working within a group for the sake of the group</div>
<div>12. Accepting bribery, dirty or dishonest money</div>
<div>13. Betraying a friend</div>
<div>14. Respecting life and freedom</div>
<div>15. Attitude to good an evil? Do you consider yourself a good person?</div>
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<div>Write as much or as little of your starting equipment on your character sheet as seems reasonable, feel free to add incidental items and request other items</div>
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<div>Skills are X+Y/level meaning that at level 1 your skill is x+y at level 3 it will be x+3y. The max skill for any skill roll after bonuses and penalties is 98%</div>
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