Episode 6: RIFTS Enter the Odd Squad 1 of 2

Back on March 19th, 2016 the SavageCast got together with Sean Patrick Fannon, his better half Carinn Seabolt, and a crew of RIFTS veterans but Savage Worlds initiates John Ross and Toby Carpenter, hosted by the first lady of gaming herself Wendy Reischl to play in Enter the Odd Squad, a Savage Worlds - RIFTS mashup adventure which ports characters from half a dozen existing Savage Worlds settings into the world of RIFTS, recasting them as iconic roles familiar to that world.

Because this epic adventure takes advantage of the possibility -- but not necessity -- to bring in other Savage Worlds properties to RIFTS, the powers that be at Pinnacle asked us to hold off releasing our actual play until the end of the Kickstarter as not to give people the wrong first impression of what Savage Worlds RIFTS was necessarily about.

As there is now a pure Savage Worlds RIFTS as written actual play out there which highlights 100% RIFTS fluff on top of Savage Worlds crunch, we're free to share with you this fun adventure which also brings in Savage Worlds properties into the picture as well.  We understand that PEG didn't want to freak out the RIFTS purists, but we think that once they see that they can have all of the RIFTS flavor they want, that listening to SPF's Enter the Odd Squad adventure just might lure them to experience other SW product lines as well.

The RIFTS veterans who played certainly felt like they got all the RIFTS style action they wanted, and Savage Mommy and Bull agreed that this was Savage Worlds turned up to 12.  Our hostess Wendy and her German-speaking horse had some of the most epic moments of the day and poor Carinn's priestess showed just how lethal a RIFTS game can be while she wasn't obliterating enemies with her divine smite.

The Cast of Characters, provided by Sean Patrick Fannon:

* Christmas Carson, a Harrowed Texas Ranger with a robot mustang horse. [Deadlands], Played by Wendy Reischl
About Deadlands -
Pinnacle’s flagship product is Deadlands, a horrific journey into the “Weird West.” Mysterious beings called the Reckoners have given life to monsters and magic, causing history to divert from July 4th, 1863 forward. The South has won its independence, California has shattered into a labyrinth of flooded sea-canyons, and a mysterious super-fuel called “ghost rock” has spawned as much war and strife as it has “steampunk” devices.

Players are steely-eyed gunfighters, card-slinging sorcerers called hucksters, mysterious shamans, savage braves, mad scientists, and more who battle against evil and attempt to prevent the “Reckoning.”
* Rupert the Wise, a clever metal-and-stone Golem Techno-Wizard [Accursed], Played by John Ross
About Accursed -
This tale begins with a world of dark fantasy and perilous adventure, where the forces of evil have triumphed.

In such a world, those who remain uncorrupted by wickedness must rely upon monsters to fight against the darkness. Witches have ruled the land since the last battles of conquest, but their Grand Coven has been sundered, leaving behind remnants of a once-mighty army. The remnants of the horde include captured citizens of the conquered nations that fought as the Witches’ shock troops.

These are the Accursed—the Witchmarks burned into their flesh and souls transformed these men and women into monstrous forms. Now, unable to return to their former lives, the Accursed wander the land, giving aid to those in need in an attempt to atone for past sins. Some have joined the Order of the Penitent, an organization devoted to ridding the world of the Witches and their evil influence. Others offer their skills as warriors, alchemists, and spies to the highest bidder. Yet others have succumbed to corruption, greed, or insanity.

Light has failed, darkness is ascendant—only those bearing the forms of monsters can stand against the tide of the Witches’ evil. The Accursed are this world’s only hope—they must learn to embrace their curse or ...

Back on March 19th, 2016 the SavageCast got together with Sean Patrick Fannon, his better half Carinn Seabolt, and a crew of RIFTS veterans but Savage Worlds initiates John Ross and Toby Carpenter, hosted by the first lady of gaming herself Wendy Reischl to play in Enter the Odd Squad, a Savage Worlds – RIFTS mashup adventure which ports characters from half a dozen existing Savage Worlds settings into the world of RIFTS, recasting them as iconic roles familiar to that world.

Because this epic adventure takes advantage of the possibility — but not necessity — to bring in other Savage Worlds properties to RIFTS, the powers that be at Pinnacle asked us to hold off releasing our actual play until the end of the Kickstarter as not to give people the wrong first impression of what Savage Worlds RIFTS was necessarily about.

As there is now a pure Savage Worlds RIFTS as written actual play out there which highlights 100% RIFTS fluff on top of Savage Worlds crunch, we’re free to share with you this fun adventure which also brings in Savage Worlds properties into the picture as well.  We understand that PEG didn’t want to freak out the RIFTS purists, but we think that once they see that they can have all of the RIFTS flavor they want, that listening to SPF’s Enter the Odd Squad adventure just might lure them to experience other SW product lines as well.

The RIFTS veterans who played certainly felt like they got all the RIFTS style action they wanted, and Savage Mommy and Bull agreed that this was Savage Worlds turned up to 12.  Our hostess Wendy and her German-speaking horse had some of the most epic moments of the day and poor Carinn’s priestess showed just how lethal a RIFTS game can be while she wasn’t obliterating enemies with her divine smite.

The Cast of Characters, provided by Sean Patrick Fannon:

* Christmas Carson, a Harrowed Texas Ranger with a robot mustang horse. [Deadlands], Played by Wendy Reischl

About Deadlands –

Pinnacle’s flagship product is Deadlands, a horrific journey into the “Weird West.” Mysterious beings called the Reckoners have given life to monsters and magic, causing history to divert from July 4th, 1863 forward. The South has won its independence, California has shattered into a labyrinth of flooded sea-canyons, and a mysterious super-fuel called “ghost rock” has spawned as much war and strife as it has “steampunk” devices.

Players are steely-eyed gunfighters, card-slinging sorcerers called hucksters, mysterious shamans, savage braves, mad scientists, and more who battle against evil and attempt to prevent the “Reckoning.”

* Rupert the Wise, a clever metal-and-stone Golem Techno-Wizard [Accursed], Played by John Ross

About Accursed –

This tale begins with a world of dark fantasy and perilous adventure, where the forces of evil have triumphed.

In such a world, those who remain uncorrupted by wickedness must rely upon monsters to fight against the darkness. Witches have ruled the land since the last battles of conquest, but their Grand Coven has been sundered, leaving behind remnants of a once-mighty army. The remnants of the horde include captured citizens of the conquered nations that fought as the Witches’ shock troops.

These are the Accursed—the Witchmarks burned into their flesh and souls transformed these men and women into monstrous forms. Now, unable to return to their former lives, the Accursed wander the land, giving aid to those in need in an attempt to atone for past sins. Some have joined the Order of the Penitent, an organization devoted to ridding the world of the Witches and their evil influence. Others offer their skills as warriors, alchemists, and spies to the highest bidder. Yet others have succumbed to corruption, greed, or insanity.

Light has failed, darkness is ascendant—only those bearing the forms of monsters can stand against the tide of the Witches’ evil. The Accursed are this world’s only hope—they must learn to embrace their curse or to fight against it, and find some way to free themselves forever of their Witchmark.

This is the world of Accursed.

* The Avalonian, a Rippertech-enhanced Masked Crusader Juicer [Rippers], Played by Chris Fuchs

About Rippers –

Do you believe in monsters? Well you better, because they’re out there and they mean business!

In Rippers, the Cabal of evil formed under the leadership of the monstrous Jack the Ripper had the Victorian world on its knees, and your team fought back. Using Rippertech pulled from the creatures of hell and implanted into yourselves, you are called once again to save the world for Queen and country!

* Quintus Pompeius Magnus, a Roman Triari Centurio who has taken up the path of a Cyber-Knight. [Weird Wars Rome], Played by Christopher Landauer

About Weird Wars Rome –

Her legions strode forth from the center of civilization—west to England, east to Asia, north to Germany, south to Egypt—and conquered most of the known world. In their travels, the Legions found things that would be disbelieved by slave, citizen, and senator alike. War elephants, wild dervishes, and creatures beyond description met them at every turn.

The glory of the Empire spread to the corners of the earth, but its shadow found even darker places—and things—that defied record.

Join the forces of Rome and battle through the ages against her enemies. Discover the terrible secrets left out of the history books. Save your shieldmates. Save the Empire.

* Rock-and-Roll, a reformed villain with the powers of a very strong (but not very bright) earth elemental. [Necessary Evil], Played by Toby Carpenter

About Necessary Evil –

When all the super heroes of the world are blown to kingdom come by an army of invading aliens, who will save the day? Evil…

The only forces left to take on the alien menace are the crafty and self serving super villains!

Note that this particular character has definitely taken up the mantle of “hero” now.

* Kellindia, an aevakar Priestess of Light, fully embracing the Mystic path. [Shaintar], Played by Carinn Seabolt

About Shaintar –

“It’s Like Lord of the Rings Meets Die Hard.”

Every great tale has a beginning, and yours begins here, in the realm of Shaintar (Pronounced “Shine-tar”). At once familiar and alien, you will come to know it as a place you understand completely, while still being perplexed and dazzled by its mysteries. As you seek out the answers to those mysteries, all the while doing battle with villains and monsters both archetypal and alien, you will come to understand a primal truth: Shaintar, this world with thousands of years of history behind it, stands on the brink of dramatic, possibly catastrophic change. How this change ultimately manifests, what damage it will wreak, or what growth it will engender, will depend entirely upon you.

During the first hour of our RIFTS actual play, Sean Patrick Fannon dropped a lot of details about the mechanics and features of the upcoming setting, which I’ve outlined here for those of you looking for more crunch and details about Savage RIFTS:

00:04:30 – Introduction

00:05:30 – Traditional Rifts: Post-Post-Apocalypse Super Heroes

00:06:30 – Iconic Frameworks

00:07:30 – MARS: Mercenaries, Adventurers, Rogues and Scholars

00:09:00 – Character Descriptions:

00:14:00 – Juicer Death Arc, Burn Rating

00:16:30 – Blaze of Glory

00:20:30 – PPE, ISP, Power Points

00:21:00 – Mega Damage

00:23:00 – Character Sheet Walk-through

00:26:20 – The Horse talks, Armor Piercing in Savage Worlds

00:28:00 – Raises in Savage Worlds

00:32:40 – The Hero’s Journey

00:35:40 – Rifts Timeline, Xiticix, 3 Core Books of the Kickstarter

00:42:00 – Project Glitter Juice

00:47:00 – Boom Gun

00:52:33 – Scenario Background, Tomorrow Legion

01:01:00 – The Mission

01:03:30 – First Dice Rolled… it’s on!

Look for Part 2 of 2, tomorrow!

Appearing: Chris Fuchs, Christopher Landauer, Sean Patrick Fannon, Carinn Seabolt, Wendy Reischl, John Ross, Toby Carpenter

Intro: Derek Johnson

Music: Jib

Editing: Landauer