Rifters and canon

[Kagashi]

Okay, so we all know Rifters are by default non-canon. Additionally, some official text appears in Rifters when things get cut from a book and PB still wants it to see print (like Bio Borgs in Rifter 9), but it specifically states it is Official, making it canon.

But my question is, why in Rifter 62 p 37 is the Dark Magic article listed as "Official"? Why the quotes? That seems to indicate that is really isn't official. But then why even mention it if it really isn't canon since everything by default is non-canon?

So, do we have new official Necromancy spells or not?

[jaymz]

Call it a tying error that wasn't caught. If it says official, regardless of "" I;d call it canon.

[Mack]

I wouldn't read too much into a pair of quote marks. I doubt it was intended to convey a specific, but unspecified, meaning.

[The Beast]

Okay, so we all know Rifters are by default non-canon. Additionally, some official text appears in Rifters when things get cut from a book and PB still wants it to see print (like Bio Borgs in Rifter 9), but it specifically states it is Official, making it canon.

But my question is, why in Rifter 62 p 37 is the Dark Magic article listed as "Official"? Why the quotes? That seems to indicate that is really isn't official. But then why even mention it if it really isn't canon since everything by default is non-canon?

So, do we have new official Necromancy spells or not?

Because Palladium has to ensure that every subject they write about has something in it that either contradicts itself, isn't exactly clear, doesn't work right when used in conjunction with something else, or just plain doesn't make sense.

[Eclipse]

Call it a tying error that wasn't caught. If it says official, regardless of "" I;d call it canon.

Nice response Presumably your typing errors are deliberate

[jaymz]

Call it a tying error that wasn't caught. If it says official, regardless of "" I;d call it canon.

Nice response Presumably your typing errors are deliberate

Nope not deliberate but I think I was on my phone when I typed it

[Eclipse]

Ah, I thought you were being ironic

[Tor]

I think using "Official" instead of official is just so that the label stands out.

[MaxxSterling]

Even though it might not be "official" or official, my stance was always, if a company is going to publish a periodical with content for their own games, whether it is free-lance or not, it is canon...

To say otherwise is simply moronic. By stating that "Rifters" are not canon, that is placing their publication on the same playing field as these forums and any random website or house rules that you hear about. Since someone has to approve these articles and rules options before print, then someone is saying, "I approve this to be used in my game." And if that approval of use, is not "official" or official, then what the heck is?

That is of course my opinion, but I feel a very valid one. So, I treat them all as canon, even the stupid ones.

[Nightmask]

Well they do make distinctions between what they consider canon material and just fanon, but certainly if it says it's what Palladium considers official just like they treat Rifts: Japan as official then if one is all about making those distinctions then one really has to accept what Palladium says is official updated material whether it's in a Rifter or a different book.

[Killer Cyborg]

why in Rifter 62 p 37 is the Dark Magic article listed as "Official"? Why the quotes?

Just to mess with your "head."

[CyCo]

And Kev "tends" to like to "over use" "quotation marks" to "stress" when things are "important" even "when" they're "not important". It's either "that", or "he" uses italics.


8p

[Levi]

I don't really understand all of the hang up on whether anything printed anywhere in a game book, Rifter, these forums, or any fan site is canon or not comes from. I treat it all the same, if I like, I use it my games. If I don't like I don't use it. Or, I tweak it so it will work for me and my group. I honestly tweak, ignore, and modify pretty much everything that is canon anyway.

Why does it really matter if it is canon or not?

[Nightmask]

I don't really understand all of the hang up on whether anything printed anywhere in a game book, Rifter, these forums, or any fan site is canon or not comes from. I treat it all the same, if I like, I use it my games. If I don't like I don't use it. Or, I tweak it so it will work for me and my group. I honestly tweak, ignore, and modify pretty much everything that is canon anyway.

Why does it really matter if it is canon or not?

Some people are very rigid and think that for some reason they have to adhere to every single word but only if it's 'official', i.e. Word Of God. If it's not God's word then it's somehow wrong (perhaps because you aren't playing the game how they feel the writer/creator intended it to be played) so they relentlessly scrutinize things and the first thing they want to know is if something is canon as they dismiss and reject non-canon stuff without consideration.

[drewkitty ~..~]

By default Rifter stuff is "Optional" canon. (There are three levels: non-canon, optional canon, and canon)

In the ealyer Rifters there are Q&A sections which are in the book are unmarked as Official, but have been changed to "Official" with in the Rifter Index in the Rifter forum.

(R62) The "" are probibly a "attention" "getter" for those that tend to skim things.

Because Palladium has to ensure that every subject they write about has something in it that either contradicts itself, isn't exactly clear, doesn't work right when used in conjunction with something else, or just plain doesn't make sense.

PB checking things to see if new rules conflict with other rules....*:lol: & shakes head* Things slip through...a lot. These slip ups cause a lot of arguments.

[ShadowLogan]

I don't really understand all of the hang up on whether anything printed anywhere in a game book, Rifter, these forums, or any fan site is canon or not comes from. I treat it all the same, if I like, I use it my games. If I don't like I don't use it. Or, I tweak it so it will work for me and my group. I honestly tweak, ignore, and modify pretty much everything that is canon anyway.

Why does it really matter if it is canon or not?

What is and is not canon though can make discussions on a given topic easier, if everyone is on the same page so to speak in discussions. Individuals may have their own respective "canon", but for interaction with others it does help to have that common frame of reference.

[eliakon]

I don't really understand all of the hang up on whether anything printed anywhere in a game book, Rifter, these forums, or any fan site is canon or not comes from. I treat it all the same, if I like, I use it my games. If I don't like I don't use it. Or, I tweak it so it will work for me and my group. I honestly tweak, ignore, and modify pretty much everything that is canon anyway.

Why does it really matter if it is canon or not?

What is and is not canon though can make discussions on a given topic easier, if everyone is on the same page so to speak in discussions. Individuals may have their own respective "canon", but for interaction with others it does help to have that common frame of reference.

THIS a hundred percent. It allows the question of 'Can X do Y' to be asked. If everyone is using the same rules to make the conclusions (canon) then they can all come to a similar answer (or not ). This eliminates confusion about stuff like
"hey can I do this"
"sure you can my house rule says sure"
"uhhh but the books say no"
"..."

[flatline]

Outside of convention games and some forum discussions, what does it matter if something is canon?

It has always been my experience that players and GMs bring in what they like and ignore material they don't like.

--flatline

[Kagashi]

I don't really understand all of the hang up on whether anything printed anywhere in a game book, Rifter, these forums, or any fan site is canon or not comes from. I treat it all the same, if I like, I use it my games. If I don't like I don't use it. Or, I tweak it so it will work for me and my group. I honestly tweak, ignore, and modify pretty much everything that is canon anyway.

Why does it really matter if it is canon or not?

Canon is very important because it provides a common reference, especially in a modern setting where games are played not at physical tables rolling physical dice anymore, but on the internet in chat rooms, message boards, and email inboxes. Canon allows the GM to *know* that others playing on the same field; in an environment where the GM's book with his scribbles and notes on what he likes and what he doesnt is not necessarily the same book his player on the other side of the world is using. Canon provides a common reference point that GMs and players alike can build a relationship from, as opposed to that traditional group of gamers who meet every Saturday to play 8-12 hours a weekend for the past 10 years since high school and have altered the rules over time. Lets face it, rarely do online games last as long as traditional gamer groups do/did. Canon is the reset button when you form a new group. Without having to rewrite an entirely new rule book, a GM can simply decree that all canon material is the final authority. If the GM needs to make exceptions from there, he can, but with minimal writing, instead of rewriting all the material everybody paid money for already.

Additionally, I find your example as a cop out. Please understand this is simply a reply to why canon matters (to me). I understand that others have different points of view. This one is just mine. I view the "if you like it, use it; if you dont like it, change it" train of thought to be a lazy answer from the authors; It shows lack of commitment, lack of attention to detail, and lack of continuity.

Also, I shouldn't have to tweak things to make them work. They should just work.

[Mech-Viper Prime]

I don't really understand all of the hang up on whether anything printed anywhere in a game book, Rifter, these forums, or any fan site is canon or not comes from. I treat it all the same, if I like, I use it my games. If I don't like I don't use it. Or, I tweak it so it will work for me and my group. I honestly tweak, ignore, and modify pretty much everything that is canon anyway.

Why does it really matter if it is canon or not?

This,

[Colonel_Tetsuya]

Canon is very important because it provides a common reference, especially in a modern setting where games are played not at physical tables rolling physical dice anymore, but on the internet in chat rooms, message boards, and email inboxes. Canon allows the GM to *know* that others playing on the same field; in an environment where the GM's book with his scribbles and notes on what he likes and what he doesnt is not necessarily the same book his player on the other side of the world is using. Canon provides a common reference point that GMs and players alike can build a relationship from, as opposed to that traditional group of gamers who meet every Saturday to play 8-12 hours a weekend for the past 10 years since high school and have altered the rules over time. Lets face it, rarely do online games last as long as traditional gamer groups do/did. Canon is the reset button when you form a new group. Without having to rewrite an entirely new rule book, a GM can simply decree that all canon material is the final authority. If the GM needs to make exceptions from there, he can, but with minimal writing, instead of rewriting all the material everybody paid money for already.

Additionally, I find your example as a cop out. Please understand this is simply a reply to why canon matters (to me). I understand that others have different points of view. This one is just mine. I view the "if you like it, use it; if you dont like it, change it" train of thought to be a lazy answer from the authors; It shows lack of commitment, lack of attention to detail, and lack of continuity.

Also, I shouldn't have to tweak things to make them work. They should just work.

Particularly the underlined. If i have to re-write everything you've done - why am i buying your product? You should sell me a working product, not bad, poorly edited drek that constantly contradicts itself because there's no writers bible and no real editing process.

[flatline]

If i have to re-write everything you've done - why am i buying your product?

I buy them for the ideas. The system is almost irrelevant to me except as point of reference to try to infer the author's intent.

--flatline