Allow me too officially declare Hawkins open for pre-game connections if anyone wants to be pre-game connected to a Bionic Marine.

If you know him well enough you may even get to know his first name...

This is the first time out in the wider world for Jennifer, while not totally naïve (knows to find cover if the CS turn up), curiosity and exploration are the name of the game for the character.  However if someone wishes to have a pre game connection then can work on that.

Hey so latest addition. Whoam (pronounced guturally like you're trying to make the sound of a giant's footsteps) is a Rocky Mountains, Mountain Giant. They're big, generally violent and hostile to humans, Whoam is gentler than most, but still quite strong and not a pacifist by any stretch. The degree of pacifism Whoam displays is he uses the least amount of force he feels safe using.

Mountain Giants love dogs of all types including Dog Boys, and children/babies regardless of species.

Working on solidifying how he met with the group. One plan calls for having helped out a dog out by rescuing their human leading him to meet the group. Not sure if any of you plan to have been in the New West area prior. But having a George to his Lennie (Of Mice and Men) could work. He isn't exactly Lennie Small but close enough for a metaphor.

A suitable George needs to have spent time in northern New West, and somehow have evoked Whoam's love such as by being a dog, having a companion dog, rescuing a dog, or rescuing a child. (I suppose having beena child could also work but that's significant backstory entanglement)

I am open to extending love of dogs to other suitable animals and animal people preferably fuzzy. @Jennifer let me know if you'd like to be seen as "good-kitty", to be clear this 'relationship' is like a slightly over the top dog lover seeing literally any dog and not being bothered that said dog can talk to them. It's exploitable but not a sure fire thing, it means getting a bunch of attention, but is definitely totally platonic.

Dog & Child abuse are rage button issues for Whoam, he also wants to protect baby animals but is less upset if you show hostility towards those because sometimes it's hard to tell if you're dealing with a baby godzilla. He doesn't like people entering his "lair" which is whatever room he sleeps in including a tent/cave (except dogs and children)

Sidney set up in the 'Burbs about 3 years ago, and has been scraping himself together as a no-questions fixer for hire who leaves no scars. If I have a connection, that might be a good angle.
Or I was dealing some juicer drugs like Rush or Juice.

Edit: also, is there any particular reasons why you guys chose to jump into a game?

Mine is fairly simple. In Ontario, we have recently faced renewed government lockdown measures due to Corona that keep me from gaming irl. Couple that withe working as an essencial military subcontractor, I don't just get time off like others, so I get the worst parts of working AND having to stay home.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:22, Sat 17 Apr 2021.

If nobody else wants it I think I can manage a sort of interpreter or face for Whoam, which might also simplify getting you hired if that was part of your trouble integrating into the group.

I wasn't specifically planning time in the New West, but there isn't any reason I couldn't.

Well hopefully getting that IQ of 4 increased, not that it makes any mechanical difference. He speaks American, not great but if you talk at a normal speed and avoid talking about quantum flux trapping, and substrate oxidation, he should be fine. But yeah if you tell him you need a SQuID¹ to make an MRI² he'll wonder if you mean the sea creature and want to turn people into eyes.

Sounds like it could work. Originally I was thinking a dog but it occurs to me if you rescue a child, get in trouble the child can't rescue you from. He find the child and the child gets him to rescue you, you get the child home together, then he's got it in his head you're good people and will gladly stick with a good friend. Provided you're good with not disliking children or dogs.

---

¹ Superconducting Quantum Interference Device
² Magnetic Resonance Image machine (not: them are eye)

I was thinking the dog path would work reasonably well, I tend to ignore the entire concept of children in RPGs, as that just tends to get people confused.

And there are significant differences in lower attributes, you will find those On page 282 of the Rifts Ultimate Edition.  A 4 IQ is potentially interesting, but it would probably be best to try and swap that roll around or get it up to an 8 somehow.

Hey! I'm also in Ontario! Great White North Solidarity Fist-bump!

I joined because I love Rifts and games are pretty rare here on Rpol. And I find that the majority of Rifts games that do pop up are heavily (or even exclusively) focused on military operations. Small tactical special forces units, or guarding a given space under attack or the like. I generally don't do well in those kinds of games. So it's a very rare occasion I get to apply to a Rifts game that centres on interpersonal interaction and Weird Shit^TM.

As far as connections go, I'd love to whip some up between other PC's. Sunyi is actually not from Rifts Earth. He'd be vague about his background, but he's been sort of stranded here on purpose as some kind of test or trial, and he doesn't get to 'go home' until he's proved himself by learning everything he can about the universe. He's been wandering Rifts earth for some time. He doesn't like to say how long, but it's at least one human lifetime.

Anyone who knows him well might might know that he has several magical tattoos and can change both his appearance and his shape (and, in fact, he thinks of his current body and gender as no more important than someone might a set of clothes).

So he'd be very interested in anyone who either IS uncommon and interesting or who KNOWS something uncommon or interesting.

Ah well that's interesting...

So with 16 RCC, 4 related, and 1 secondary those penalties would be
-8 RCC, -(0-3) related and +(0-3) secondary and -1 at 4 8 10 and 12th level. Net -8 skills average. That'd be manageable but unpleasant.
Bonus my god-son is 4 years old so real life experience whee.

at 5-6 it's -4 RCC, -2 Related, +1d4+2 secondary and lose skill bonuses which is net -1.5 skills average. (and other penalties)

7+ is no penalty.

He's also kinda an ugly brute PB 6 which is slightly below average for his race (3d4: 7.5avg)

Which means he's apparently suppose to be compensated for his weak attributes.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:38, Sat 17 Apr 2021.

As a fellow Dog lover and violent protector of children (it's in the Marine rules) Hawkins would love being friends with Whoam. It would also give him someone to share his crayons with.

characters are looking really cool. for those of you who has a stat of 9 or less use the following guidelines for those stats.

2-4 add 1d4+4
5-7 add 1d4+2
8-9 add 1d4

hit me up with any question.

And we went from dim-wit the G&T kid who never went to school.

Um PB ended up at a 9 after the bump. Am I supposed to bump again or leave it. Personally I don't real care how physically attractive the mountain giant I'm playing is. He's beauty is definitely not a priority for him to my mind and 9 is average.

sorry, i didn't mention that, just one roll per low stat. so if it is still under a 9 i am sorry, but just one roll please. thanks for asking.

besides no one will be arbitrarily targeted by the GM for being a non-comformist class, well except for anyone playing mutant, cyborg, alien, rifted entity, displaced human, spell caster, psion, or non-coalition citizen. everyone else is perfectly safe.

Hmmm, I tick off three of those....

So I'm seeing RUE rules for supernatural strength with basic punches. (RUE 286) Anyone know where to find information on what the impact on say damage from the wrestling skill?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:46, Sat 17 Apr 2021.

Most of the time, when it based on anything at all, damage for maneuvers is based on basic punch damage.

Thank you Mr GM, for the under 9 bonuses, it helped.

As for pre game connections I'm up for it. Maybe one of you in the Burbs could have shown Pyro around since she's just moved there from Pecos. She's lived there less than a year, so any help you give her would be appreciated.

Mei has only been in the Burbs a few months, as well. She's been working as a bodyguard and muscle at a local bar. While she's new, she also stands out enough that a few words may have gotten out about her- magic swords, low grasp of American, and a deep unwillingness to learn how a credit works. That said, Rifts Earth is full of weirdos, so...

In reply to Hideyori Mei (msg # 46):

How did she get from Japan to the Burbs? It could be that Sunyi was in Japan hanging around and they knew each other there and/or arrived together. I get a pile of languages and can take Japanese no problem.

intro post up, its dry but a start.

think about the fact that it is in the burbs, so any large equipment or large amounts of equipment will be considered stored safely in a location of your choosing like a storage facility, short term apartment, in a vehicle kept in a secure garage etc.

consider that you will be getting a steady paycheck from Weller Group too. How much are you worth. Their flyer said wages began a 5,000 credits per month, but wages were negotiable and that Weller Group offered the best benefits package to contract explorers in all North America.

I realized, while composing an answer to this, that Mei is basically Samurai Jack. So. Yeah. Know that.

Mei showed up after intentionally charging through a portal/Rift that it was her family's duty to guard. So she definitely didn't arrive with Sunyi. But she'd definitely dig someone being around to speak Japanese with. If you really want to go for coincidence, they could be re-encountering each other. Mei's family definitely would've hosted a strange traveler from Hiroshima (where they would've assumed anyone with advanced technology came from).

Man, actually, one of my best stories. Went out to a ramen place with a friend who taught English in Japan for a few years. The owner of the place (a hole in the wall in New England) comes and asks us how everything is. He's this old man. My friend answers with the traditional Japanese compliments for a chef. The chef pauses, answers in some Japanese. And my friend answers, in Japanese. And this look of relief on this guy's face is just... Unforgetable. They spend 15 or 20 minutes speaking Japanese together while it's obvious he's supposed to be running this restaurant.

One of my best friends, no longer with us, taught English in Japan for a couple of years. He came back with some great stories.

In reply to Hideyori Mei (msg # 49):

Yeah, maybe they'd known each other back in Japan. Sunyi's parents are crazy-powerful spellcasters, so it's possible her parents hosted them for that reason.

 I've loved L5R for years, and greatly miss the two long-running games of it I was in here (The Price of Peace and Rebellion Cast in Shadow). Also, I'm hopefully your new dog boy - no petting - general purpose mercenary sort.

 Haven't tried fifth edition yet though. Maybe I'll give it a look, but I do adore the old mechanic.

In reply to Killian (msg # 52):

I'm so happy we have a Dog Boy. They're great to have around no matter what you're doing.