The Lost Ones

[Fenris2020]

An interesting race, not well developed, is The Lost Ones.
Are they all Mind Melters, or can they be any Psychic OCC? The latter makes a bit more sense, I'd think.

[Mlp7029]

No real info in the write up. I would say yes any Master Psychic but use the ISP listed with the Dreamer.

[drewkitty ~..~]

An interesting race, not well developed, is The Lost Ones.
Are they all Mind Melters, or can they be any Psychic OCC? The latter makes a bit more sense, I'd think.

What book are they in?

[Curbludgeon]

The book says equivalent to Mind Melter, and I reckon most psychic choices are less diversified than that, so can't imagine most people whom include Lost Ones in a game would restrict it. I suppose someone could cheese out a Mind Mage gaining Conversion Book bonuses to get a little something over on a Mind Melter, and if so congratulations, they min/maxed a Palladium game.

I'd argue that classes described as being based on mutations such as Psi-Stalker and Psi-Ghost get cut if anything does, and esoteric classes like Astral Lord and Dream Maker make a little more narrative sense than, say, Burster.

[ShadowLogan]

RE: OP's question
No I do not think they can pick an OCC, this is specifically called out as an RCC with no indication you can take other OCCs. If fact the Level of Experience is specifically called out as "9th Level Lost One", further suggesting this is supposed to be an RCC (given it is equivalent to a Mind Melter I'd say that is how you would pick the skills and do power progression, though ISP is addressed). She is even called out to be a supernatural creature, which IINM would further points to being confined to being just a Mind Melter.

An interesting race, not well developed, is The Lost Ones.
Are they all Mind Melters, or can they be any Psychic OCC? The latter makes a bit more sense, I'd think.

What book are they in?

Rifts Mercenaries (1st book pg49-50)

[Warshield73]

No real info in the write up. I would say yes any Master Psychic but use the ISP listed with the Dreamer.

RE: OP's question
No I do not think they can pick an OCC, this is specifically called out as an RCC with no indication you can take other OCCs. If fact the Level of Experience is specifically called out as "9th Level Lost One", further suggesting this is supposed to be an RCC (given it is equivalent to a Mind Melter I'd say that is how you would pick the skills and do power progression, though ISP is addressed). She is even called out to be a supernatural creature, which IINM would further points to being confined to being just a Mind Melter.

In theory they could be some other master psionic but after reviewing a RUE and Psyscape I really don't see any that would fit the OCC so I am forced to agree with ShadowLogan that it would only be mind melter.

A bigger problem I found is what Experience point table to use. It says they are equivalent to mind melters but if you let a what is in effect at least a demi-god and moving towards godling advance that easily then there would be little reason to play a regular mortal mind melter.

They are a cool character concept though, wish they did more with them not to mention so many other great characters from the Merc book.

[Fenris2020]

No real info in the write up. I would say yes any Master Psychic but use the ISP listed with the Dreamer.

RE: OP's question
No I do not think they can pick an OCC, this is specifically called out as an RCC with no indication you can take other OCCs. If fact the Level of Experience is specifically called out as "9th Level Lost One", further suggesting this is supposed to be an RCC (given it is equivalent to a Mind Melter I'd say that is how you would pick the skills and do power progression, though ISP is addressed). She is even called out to be a supernatural creature, which IINM would further points to being confined to being just a Mind Melter.

In theory they could be some other master psionic but after reviewing a RUE and Psyscape I really don't see any that would fit the OCC so I am forced to agree with ShadowLogan that it would only be mind melter.

A bigger problem I found is what Experience point table to use. It says they are equivalent to mind melters but if you let a what is in effect at least a demi-god and moving towards godling advance that easily then there would be little reason to play a regular mortal mind melter.

They are a cool character concept though, wish they did more with them not to mention so many other great characters from the Merc book.

Hmm, more likely the Lost Ones would use the Servant of the Gods race xp table in Pantheons, rather than demi-god... an actual demi-god is quite a bit more powerful.
I do think it's a pity the race wasn't developed just a BIT more, though...

[Warshield73]

No real info in the write up. I would say yes any Master Psychic but use the ISP listed with the Dreamer.

RE: OP's question
No I do not think they can pick an OCC, this is specifically called out as an RCC with no indication you can take other OCCs. If fact the Level of Experience is specifically called out as "9th Level Lost One", further suggesting this is supposed to be an RCC (given it is equivalent to a Mind Melter I'd say that is how you would pick the skills and do power progression, though ISP is addressed). She is even called out to be a supernatural creature, which IINM would further points to being confined to being just a Mind Melter.

In theory they could be some other master psionic but after reviewing a RUE and Psyscape I really don't see any that would fit the OCC so I am forced to agree with ShadowLogan that it would only be mind melter.

A bigger problem I found is what Experience point table to use. It says they are equivalent to mind melters but if you let a what is in effect at least a demi-god and moving towards godling advance that easily then there would be little reason to play a regular mortal mind melter.

They are a cool character concept though, wish they did more with them not to mention so many other great characters from the Merc book.

Hmm, more likely the Lost Ones would use the Servant of the Gods race xp table in Pantheons, rather than demi-god... an actual demi-god is quite a bit more powerful.
I do think it's a pity the race wasn't developed just a BIT more, though...

Demi-gods are marginally more powerful being able to select a power and an OCC but I think either table would work.

I have always wished that PB just had a set 10 to 12 standard XP charts that went from easiest to hardest so these things could be better evaluated and even simplified.

Another great place for this RCC is BTS or even HU but BTS really suits this as an NPC RCC, not a PC.

[Curbludgeon]

Using a dozen experience charts doesn't make it easier to pad books, so instead the audience gets hundreds of... formulae? Is that what they are?

In my headcanon, the Lost Ones are the descendants of Achilles Neo-Humans and Sea Titans born sometime in an alternate Rifts Earth's future. A mutant capybara* ritual led by a rogue Promethian Time Master gone awry, through some sort of sympathetic transdimensional resonance with the energies of the Janus Experiment, both caused the strange rift whose energies led to the creation of the Sea Titans and stranded a number of only-then Lost Ones in the main Rifts Earth's prehistory.

*There's some sort of rodents on an exercise wheel/time loop joke here which I haven't nailed down.

[Warshield73]

Using a dozen experience charts doesn't make it easier to pad books, so instead the audience gets hundreds of... formulae? Is that what they are?

In reality most of the "new" XP charts repeat old ones but it would be a lot easier to compare relative advancement if there was a set number labeled easiest to hardest and then each OCC simply says use chart A or chart K and you know that one OCC advances slower or faster.

In my headcanon, the Lost Ones are the descendants of Achilles Neo-Humans and Sea Titans born sometime in an alternate Rifts Earth's future. A mutant capybara* ritual led by a rogue Promethian Time Master gone awry, through some sort of sympathetic transdimensional resonance with the energies of the Janus Experiment, both caused the strange rift whose energies led to the creation of the Sea Titans and stranded a number of only-then Lost Ones in the main Rifts Earth's prehistory.

*There's some sort of rodents on an exercise wheel/time loop joke here which I haven't nailed down.

That is certainly unique even for head canon. As they are now they just make for a great mystery.

[Curbludgeon]

Maybe the particular shenanigans are a bit contrived, and throwing in Sea Titans is just for fun, but the basic similarity of psychic powers and extended lifespan stood out to me for the two notions by the same writer being possibly related.

[Fenris2020]

No real info in the write up. I would say yes any Master Psychic but use the ISP listed with the Dreamer.

RE: OP's question
No I do not think they can pick an OCC, this is specifically called out as an RCC with no indication you can take other OCCs. If fact the Level of Experience is specifically called out as "9th Level Lost One", further suggesting this is supposed to be an RCC (given it is equivalent to a Mind Melter I'd say that is how you would pick the skills and do power progression, though ISP is addressed). She is even called out to be a supernatural creature, which IINM would further points to being confined to being just a Mind Melter.

In theory they could be some other master psionic but after reviewing a RUE and Psyscape I really don't see any that would fit the OCC so I am forced to agree with ShadowLogan that it would only be mind melter.

A bigger problem I found is what Experience point table to use. It says they are equivalent to mind melters but if you let a what is in effect at least a demi-god and moving towards godling advance that easily then there would be little reason to play a regular mortal mind melter.

They are a cool character concept though, wish they did more with them not to mention so many other great characters from the Merc book.

Hmm, more likely the Lost Ones would use the Servant of the Gods race xp table in Pantheons, rather than demi-god... an actual demi-god is quite a bit more powerful.
I do think it's a pity the race wasn't developed just a BIT more, though...

Demi-gods are marginally more powerful being able to select a power and an OCC but I think either table would work.

I have always wished that PB just had a set 10 to 12 standard XP charts that went from easiest to hardest so these things could be better evaluated and even simplified.

Another great place for this RCC is BTS or even HU but BTS really suits this as an NPC RCC, not a PC.

You and I have very different views on "marginal".
A demi-god gains a special power, gains MDC per level, and is fire and cold resistant.

[Warshield73]

No real info in the write up. I would say yes any Master Psychic but use the ISP listed with the Dreamer.

RE: OP's question
No I do not think they can pick an OCC, this is specifically called out as an RCC with no indication you can take other OCCs. If fact the Level of Experience is specifically called out as "9th Level Lost One", further suggesting this is supposed to be an RCC (given it is equivalent to a Mind Melter I'd say that is how you would pick the skills and do power progression, though ISP is addressed). She is even called out to be a supernatural creature, which IINM would further points to being confined to being just a Mind Melter.

In theory they could be some other master psionic but after reviewing a RUE and Psyscape I really don't see any that would fit the OCC so I am forced to agree with ShadowLogan that it would only be mind melter.

A bigger problem I found is what Experience point table to use. It says they are equivalent to mind melters but if you let a what is in effect at least a demi-god and moving towards godling advance that easily then there would be little reason to play a regular mortal mind melter.

They are a cool character concept though, wish they did more with them not to mention so many other great characters from the Merc book.

Hmm, more likely the Lost Ones would use the Servant of the Gods race xp table in Pantheons, rather than demi-god... an actual demi-god is quite a bit more powerful.
I do think it's a pity the race wasn't developed just a BIT more, though...

Demi-gods are marginally more powerful being able to select a power and an OCC but I think either table would work.

I have always wished that PB just had a set 10 to 12 standard XP charts that went from easiest to hardest so these things could be better evaluated and even simplified.

Another great place for this RCC is BTS or even HU but BTS really suits this as an NPC RCC, not a PC.

You and I have very different views on "marginal".
A demi-god gains a special power, gains MDC per level, and is fire and cold resistant.

I see your point, all I was really saying is the power difference between a mortal mind melter and a lost one is FARRRRR greater than the difference between a lost one and a demi-god. When you compare the lost one to a demi-god is some attributes the lost one comes out ahead in others the demi-god is better. The demi-god does have additional powers but the lost one is really close to it.

[thorr-kan]

RE: OP's question
No I do not think they can pick an OCC, this is specifically called out as an RCC with no indication you can take other OCCs. If fact the Level of Experience is specifically called out as "9th Level Lost One", further suggesting this is supposed to be an RCC (given it is equivalent to a Mind Melter I'd say that is how you would pick the skills and do power progression, though ISP is addressed). She is even called out to be a supernatural creature, which IINM would further points to being confined to being just a Mind Melter.

I'd agree.

Though if you want to choose another master psychic, Mind Mage from Fantasy would work, as would Mind Master from Nightbane's Between the Shadows.

[SolCannibal]

You and I have very different views on "marginal".
A demi-god gains a special power, gains MDC per level, and is fire and cold resistant.

I see your point, all I was really saying is the power difference between a mortal mind melter and a lost one is FARRRRR greater than the difference between a lost one and a demi-god. When you compare the lost one to a demi-god is some attributes the lost one comes out ahead in others the demi-god is better. The demi-god does have additional powers but the lost one is really close to it.

I would have to compare them to be sure, but i suspect the mortal mind melter and a lost one power difference might be much closer to that between the average mystic and the Cernun Mystics in Rifts: England.
Even if not quite, probably a better jumping off point to extrapolate and tinker with into tooling the Lost Ones in a fully functional OCC, i guess.