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RIFTS Lore...where we at?

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2024 11:36 am
by Kryzbyn
Has there been any major lore or story developments since Aftermath?

Re: RIFTS Lore...where we at?

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2024 1:06 pm
by Grazzik
Well... since Aftermath first came out in 2002... you have every book (and there are many) that came out in the last 20 years, including the lore in RUE that was retconned. Like the fact that Psi Stalkers can now turn MDC (as of RUE) and the CS is seemingly okay with that, but still shoots on sight anyone who conjures up a loaf of bread and jug of milk?

Big developments would be the Minion War and all the stuff in the NGR, China, Sovietski, Northern Gun, Arzno, etc.

The Splugorth is still there. Naruni Enterprise came back. CS still hatemongering. Xiticix still kicking around.

So what do you define as major lore? What are you looking for specifically?

Re: RIFTS Lore...where we at?

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2024 1:42 pm
by darthauthor
I don't know about Kryzbyn but I would like an ending to the minion war or at least a book about the next five years of it.

I'm talking about PA calendar 110 to 120.

Re: RIFTS Lore...where we at?

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2024 3:19 pm
by Kryzbyn
20 years of books could be a lot of books, or a few, depending on release schedule...
I backed the Titan book, so that's the most recent one I have, but it only really covers Titan Robotics, ARCHIE and a few other more local areas (Ishpeming, Manistique, etc). I avoided the megaversal books, so I'm sure I'm missing some stuff there, too.
I guess I was looking for a kind of snapshot of where RIFTS earth is at atm, but it seems that large events really haven't shifted the status quo that much?
I realize that I think the intention is that any change is up to the players, but we got an update at 109 PA, story wise. Is that still the current year?
Sorry if the thread seems too open ended of a question, I'm a sucker for lore.

Re: RIFTS Lore...where we at?

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2024 5:18 pm
by Grazzik
Kryzbyn wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 3:19 pm 20 years of books could be a lot of books, or a few, depending on release schedule...
I backed the Titan book, so that's the most recent one I have, but it only really covers Titan Robotics, ARCHIE and a few other more local areas (Ishpeming, Manistique, etc). I avoided the megaversal books, so I'm sure I'm missing some stuff there, too.
I guess I was looking for a kind of snapshot of where RIFTS earth is at atm, but it seems that large events really haven't shifted the status quo that much?
I realize that I think the intention is that any change is up to the players, but we got an update at 109 PA, story wise. Is that still the current year?
Sorry if the thread seems too open ended of a question, I'm a sucker for lore.
I hear you. I'm a big lore junkie myself. Teasing out what could be the next big game-changer detail out of obscure references. I find more stuff pointing back to the Golden Age (lots of tidbits in WB36 Sovietski for that) than advancing the timeline forward. Though these backward looking details are helpful when running a Chaos Earth game.

Well, since 2002, there have been 20+ books specific for Rifts, so lots has gone on in the setting. Rifts Earth is a big place... the size of a planet or so people say. I don't have Titan, but Manhunters refers to "circa 109 and 110 PA" (pg 181). So, in the whole Rifts canon, things have only covered 10 years. In the grand scheme of things 10 years is practically nothing.
darthauthor wrote:I don't know about Kryzbyn but I would like an ending to the minion war or at least a book about the next five years of it.

I'm talking about PA calendar 110 to 120.
Since RMB started the timeline at "circa 100 PA" (pg 137), it may be another 30 years before we get to 120 PA... :roll:
My guess is that it would be easier to just make a jump to 300 PA and start afresh with whole new doodads and factions, while keeping some of the fan favs. Handwavium could explain why the Splugorth are gone, the CS are liberal hippies and Gargoyles are now technophiles.

The Minion War is only a background element in my games and it was written to be open-ended for GMs to resolve it themselves, so I'm not so keen on waiting for that particular book when there are so many other more deserving ones.

Re: RIFTS Lore...where we at?

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2024 5:32 pm
by Kryzbyn
I may have to pick up Manhunters. I need to see what the great Coalition States are up to!
EDIT: Reminds me to ask, are all titles up on DriveThruRPG?

Re: RIFTS Lore...where we at?

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2024 6:10 pm
by Grazzik
Kryzbyn wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 5:32 pm EDIT: Reminds me to ask, are all titles up on DriveThruRPG?
Just gave it a glance and it looks like it.