The Inside Scoop on Gaming

First of all, let me get something straight. I think War sucks. Period. Finally, let me tell you a little something about rifts.

Okay, question, what is the most original Science Fiction RPG ever created? Was it Blue Planet? Rifts? Or something else? To me it's Rifts.

Why? Because no one would ever come up with a world like Rifts and call it "science fiction" other than Kevin Siembeida. You know, he's right because Rifts isn't Fantasy, it isn't Horror, it isn't Western, it isn't all this . . . but it combines all these things to make an alien universe to play in. And Rifts Earth is alien.

Anyway, the game mechanics of Rifts could stand for improvement. The concept of Mega-Damage and Structural Damage stands as a great controversy among players of the Palladium sytem to day. That and the fact that the Palladium system hearkens back to a basement where a certain game was produced 26 years ago by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. Other than that, the people at Palladium have really great ideas.

Thus we come to the War between the Coalition: a nation of Humanity that believes that Technology is superior to magic; and Tolkeen: a nation that believes that Magic is superior to technology. However, it is not these two ideologies that make the two powers clash in Rifts North America, it's Geography!

In the Campaign Series we also get Kevin's vision of the War. No, Rifts fans, the War isn't Black and White like World War II, its gray. Who is on the right? No one. The scenario is more like World War One with two Noble Nations: France and Germany, vying over ideological differences. The Coalition is like Germany, and Tolkeen is like France.

Both leaders of both countries are the same. And both leaders of both countries are willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING just because one is too close to the other.

This War between Tolkeen and the Coalition sucks because they are recreating World War I. And World War I sucks because nothing really got resolved after the war.

So we are dealing with a Campaign where the Player Characters are either members of either military or they are caught up in the middle of a stupid conflict over geography and ideologies.

Sounds stupid doesn't it?

WHAT IS IN SEIGE ON TOLKEEN?

There is an overview of the war with two epistles told by Caolition soldiers telling us about their experiences in the war. Then an essay on Magic vs. Technology and the Ideologies of both powers.

Then the Coalition has some neat gadgets to control mages and such. From bodily mutilation to psychic devices and implants that are designed to cow a mage or psychic.

However Tolkeen has some neat stuff two. Magical artifacts, spells of legend, ley line magic and lots of techno-wizardry of war from dinky freezing grenades to giant behemoths of elemental power.

Next there is a history of the War. From the Federation of Magic (an Evil Kingdom) who was really the perpetrator of the war, to Karl Prosek's annunciation as Emperor, to the declaration of All out War on Tolkeen.

The book is packed through with information for the GM to start his own campaign during the war. All of it is very good and the players and GM could have potential fun playing this.

HOWEVER

It is missing some full blown adventures that are set in the war. But you can only pack so much in a book. But the Interior Art isn't enough to really grab you and gross you out on the horrors of war. And some art in the book isn't really evocative enough.

But we do see a campaign series that the GM can work with and run with it. This book provides you with an overview of the war and some adventure hooks to get you started, but you need books 2-3 to really understand what is going on.

And remember, the War is useless, stupid, and utterly moronic. can your player characters change the course of history and try and stop the war before millions of people die?

I give this a rating of 7/10, 4 for style and 3 for substance. And remember, this campaign isn't for the faint of heart.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 3 (Average)

Rifts: Coalition Wars: Seige on Tolkeen -- Chapter One: Sedition
Author: Kevin Seimbeida and Bill Coffin Category: game Company/Publisher: Palladium Books Line: Rifts (Coalition Wars 6 part Campaign) Cost: 16.95 Page count: 155 ISBN: 157457-045-5 SKU: 839 Capsule Review by Elton Robb on 07/30/00. Genre tags: Fantasy Science fiction Modern day Historical Horror Far Future Espionage Conspiracy Post-apocalypse Old West Gothic Superhero Generic	First of all, let me get something straight. I think War sucks. Period. Finally, let me tell you a little something about rifts. Okay, question, what is the most original Science Fiction RPG ever created? Was it Blue Planet? Rifts? Or something else? To me it's Rifts. Why? Because no one would ever come up with a world like Rifts and call it "science fiction" other than Kevin Siembeida. You know, he's right because Rifts isn't Fantasy, it isn't Horror, it isn't Western, it isn't all this . . . but it combines all these things to make an alien universe to play in. And Rifts Earth is alien. Anyway, the game mechanics of Rifts could stand for improvement. The concept of Mega-Damage and Structural Damage stands as a great controversy among players of the Palladium sytem to day. That and the fact that the Palladium system hearkens back to a basement where a certain game was produced 26 years ago by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. Other than that, the people at Palladium have really great ideas. Thus we come to the War between the Coalition: a nation of Humanity that believes that Technology is superior to magic; and Tolkeen: a nation that believes that Magic is superior to technology. However, it is not these two ideologies that make the two powers clash in Rifts North America, it's Geography! In the Campaign Series we also get Kevin's vision of the War. No, Rifts fans, the War isn't Black and White like World War II, its gray. Who is on the right? No one. The scenario is more like World War One with two Noble Nations: France and Germany, vying over ideological differences. The Coalition is like Germany, and Tolkeen is like France. Both leaders of both countries are the same. And both leaders of both countries are willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING just because one is too close to the other. This War between Tolkeen and the Coalition sucks because they are recreating World War I. And World War I sucks because nothing really got resolved after the war. So we are dealing with a Campaign where the Player Characters are either members of either military or they are caught up in the middle of a stupid conflict over geography and ideologies. Sounds stupid doesn't it? WHAT IS IN SEIGE ON TOLKEEN? There is an overview of the war with two epistles told by Caolition soldiers telling us about their experiences in the war. Then an essay on Magic vs. Technology and the Ideologies of both powers. Then the Coalition has some neat gadgets to control mages and such. From bodily mutilation to psychic devices and implants that are designed to cow a mage or psychic. However Tolkeen has some neat stuff two. Magical artifacts, spells of legend, ley line magic and lots of techno-wizardry of war from dinky freezing grenades to giant behemoths of elemental power. Next there is a history of the War. From the Federation of Magic (an Evil Kingdom) who was really the perpetrator of the war, to Karl Prosek's annunciation as Emperor, to the declaration of All out War on Tolkeen. The book is packed through with information for the GM to start his own campaign during the war. All of it is very good and the players and GM could have potential fun playing this. HOWEVER It is missing some full blown adventures that are set in the war. But you can only pack so much in a book. But the Interior Art isn't enough to really grab you and gross you out on the horrors of war. And some art in the book isn't really evocative enough. But we do see a campaign series that the GM can work with and run with it. This book provides you with an overview of the war and some adventure hooks to get you started, but you need books 2-3 to really understand what is going on. And remember, the War is useless, stupid, and utterly moronic. can your player characters change the course of history and try and stop the war before millions of people die? I give this a rating of 7/10, 4 for style and 3 for substance. And remember, this campaign isn't for the faint of heart. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 3 (Average)

Rifts: Coalition Wars: Seige on Tolkeen -- Chapter One: Sedition