RPG Design Patterns

Alignment, Class, Game Master, Generalized Contest, Hit Points, Last Man Standing, Level, Race, Random Attribute, Skill

RIFTS characters have 8 primary attributes of “Intelligence Quotient,” “Mental Endurance,” “Mental Affinity,” “Physical Strength,” “Physical Prowess,” “Physical Endurance,” “Physical Beauty,” and “Speed.” Each attribute is generated by rolling 3d6 and summing the values. If the result is a 16, 17, or 18, another d6 is rolled and the result is added to the total.

All items have a hit points-ish resource known as “Structural Damage Capacity” (SDC) indicating how much damage is needed to break it. The SDC of a living creature must be taken down to zero before its “Hit Points” are affected. “Hit Points” fits the definition of the term used in this book. When hit points drop to zero, the character begins dying. The game has a list of 125 skills partitioned into the various categories of “Communications,” “Domestic,” “Electrical,” “Espionage,” “Mechanical,” “Medical,” “Military,” “Physical,” “Pilot,” “Pilot Related,” “Rogue,” “Science,” “Technical,” “Weapon Proficiencies,” and “Wilderness.” RIFTS also has 22 “Occupational Character Classes,” including “Borgs,” “Headhunters,” “Vagabonds,” “Techno-Wizards,” and the like. Each class has attribute requirements that characters must satisfy to select it. Once taken, the class bestows certain skills on the character. Classes also provide lists of additional skills from which the player chooses for his character as he gains levels.

Players must choose from among three alignment categories of “Good,” “Selfish,” and “Evil” for his character. In each category there are sub-types. From the Good category a player may choose “Principled” or “Scrupulous.” From the Selfish category, he may select “Unprincipled,” or “Anarchist.” From the Evil category, he has the options of “Miscreant,” “Aberrant,” and “Diabolic.” The alignment system has no effect on the game other than to serve as a general guide on what kinds of actions are appropriate when role-playing a character.

RIFTS resolves all combat conflicts using d20s. If a player attempts a special action, such as a “Death Blow” or “Knockout/Stun,” he must declare his intention before rolling. Rolls are adjusted by various factors. These include “Aimed Shots,” “Automatic Weapon Bursts,” “Shooting Wild,” whether the combatant has superior training in hand-to-hand combat, his level, etc. If the adjusted roll is 4 or less, the attack misses. Any value between 5 and the target’s Armor Rating (AR) indicates the attack hits, but only does damage to the opponent’s armor. Any adjusted roll greater than the Armor Rating indicates the attack delivers damage directly to the target’s SDC and hit points. If a hit is successful, the target has a choice of attempting to parry, dodge, or entangle the attack (Roll another d20 and beat the attack roll). If the defense is successful, the attack misses.

If an attack successfully lands, it delivers damage according to the type of weapon used. For example, a “Human Fist” delivers 1d4 damage while a “Bull Whip” inflicts 1d8 points of damage. High-tech weapons deliver “Mega-Capacity Damage.” The game equates each point of Mega-Capacity Damage to 100 points of normal damage. A Short Range Missile with a Light High-Explosive Warhead delivers 1d4x10 Mega-Damage. In other words, it delivers 1000 to 4000 damage. If damage is delivered via a blunt attack, the target can attempt to “Roll With The Punch” (Roll yet another d20 and beat the attack roll). If successful, this has the effect of reducing the amount of damage inflicted on the target.

Conflicts involving “Skills” are handled differently, with each skill specifying the formula to use in determining the character’s chances in using the skill. This formula is listed as a “Base Skill” rating plus 5% per level. For example, the “Disguise” skill has a chance of “25% + 5% per level of experience.” The “Base Skill” is an apparently arbitrary base percentage, presumably based on the inherent difficulty of performing the skill. So, proficiency in skills cannot be raised as individual ranks, but they do increase in effectiveness as a character gains experience levels.

Characters performing “Sneak Attacks” or “Long Range Attacks” always go first. Otherwise, initiative is determined by having both sides in a conflict roll d20s. The side with the higher result goes first. Ties are re-rolled. The winning side goes and then the losing side goes. If either or both sides have multiple attacks every round, attacks are exchanged one at a time back and forth until all attacks are complete on both sides.

The game rewards characters with experience points for overcoming foes and “good role-play.” A character’s level is based off of the number of experience points he has accumulated. Levels are gained at different rates based on experience point tables provided for each character class.