God Machine R.C.C.

Created by Ragnar

[ Return to Main Page ]

Note: I copied this R.C.C. from the e-mailing list because I really liked the idea. It reminded me of an Akira-like ability to control machines (I've never read the comics that Ragnar is referring to). Please note that there are small things in the original post that I edited to make more sense. Also, GMs should note the inordinate M.D.C.^tm and P.P.E.^tm for these characters and modify if they seem too high. They do to me, and I would suggest P.E.x10 in M.D.C.^tm plus 3d6 per level and 1d4x10 P.P.E.^tm. These beings might also benefit from a few more psionic powers and natural abilities. The stats for the mechanical manipulation ability listed under my ability heading are the ones that I created. I thought they would be more in-depth and playable. Still, this R.C.C. is a really cool idea. Wish I'd had the inspiration to create it...

A Note from Ragnar: My thanks to those answering my question about the Nightspawn in Rifts®. Here is another conversion that I use in my Rifts game, the God Machine. It is based on a Hong Kong comic book character. I have put a twist on this character, making it a R.C.C. (normally, it would be too powerful to seriously consider, unless munchkining) The God Machine is a TM of Magnum Consultants, LTD. All Rifts references, including M.D.C.^tm, and all other character components, are TM of Palladium Books.

In a time of domination and tyranny in another dimension, the God Machines rose up to stem the madness brought upon the world by a group of unearthly marauders. Their final act was to form the Ultimate Machine, a mechanical beast created by the God Machines awesome powers. Though triumphant, the destruction of the enemy also separated the God Machines, reducing their powers, and scattering them throughout the Megaverse. A few have made their way to Rifts earth, where most fight for the Forces of Light, the Outcasts are wandering creatures of destruction, either fighting solo, or allying with dark forces.

Special Abilities:

1. Mechanical Manipulation: Ragnar Style: Through the expenditure of I.S.P.^tm, the character can either bond pieces together or restart a broken item as. follows:
Minor repair/at least 90% parts scrounged together: 30 I.S.P.^tm
Major Repair/Minor Construction/70% parts: 70 I.S.P.^tm
Major Construction: 120 I.S.P.^tm
GM's are free to flesh out how they define each level of the manipulation and adjust accordingly for the level of technology/intricacy involved. Anything created lasts for 2d6 days per level of character, at which time it will fall apart. Ammuntion (e-clips or otherwise) must be obtained normally, character cannot recharge spent e-clips.

Brett Hegr Style: This strange power is half telekinesis and half telemechanics. A truly amazing power, the posessor of it can construct electronic devices out of random pieces of electronic and mechanical parts. Any missing/needed parts are made up for using psychic energy to fill in any gaps. This is the editor's contribution, not the writer's. If you have questions about the above statistics e-mail Ragnar and if you have questions about mine, email me.

Range: 25ft +5ft per level of experience.
Duration: Ten minutes per level for half I.S.P.^tm cost, or 1d4 days per level of experience for standard I.S.P.^tm usage.

Missing Parts: Depending on the relative amount of missing pieces, increase the I.S.P.^tm creation cost by the same amount of parts that aren't present (i.e. if 20% of the neccessary parts are missing, increase the I.S.P.^tm cost to create by 20%). In all cases, the GM can assume 1d6+9% of the needed parts are not present/broken.

Device Creation: To devise a simple electronic system (like a blender, nightvision goggles, or hand-held computer), the character needs the pieces from an equivalent total weight of electronics. The range is equal to the best range from among the used devices, or equal to 100ft per level. Such devices require the expenditure of 15 I.S.P.^tm, +10 more for a sensory device, +15 more if it is a complex machine such as a computer or mechanical limb, and +20 more for devices like anti-gravity belts and force fields. Power can be derived in the same way as the source devices or from an e-clip (use rule below). A God Machine requires one melee to assemble a device.

Firearm Creation: The God Machine will require the scrap from two or three such weapons. The constructed device will have a range equal to the longest range of the weapons used (or 60ft +5ft per level for projectile weapons and 200ft +10ft per level for energy weapons). A non-energy projectile weapon can be created for only 10 I.S.P.^tm, but projectiles (bullets) for it are required. An energy weapon's base payload is 5 shots (+1 shot per odd level of exp. posessed) per e-clip. Additional e-clip ports can be added to a weapon. Projectile weapons cost 10 I.S.P.^tm to build and energy weapons require 20 I.S.P.^tm, +5 I.S.P.^tm per die of damage, +5 for rifles, +10 for a heavy energy weapon, and +5 per additional e-clip port. Three attacks are needed to create a firearm.

Transportation Creation: This ability requires the use of 15 I.S.P.^tm and one melee per 500 pounds of approximate weight the finished machine will possess. There must be some power source avaliable to be integrated into the vehicle. Power armor and robots also fall into this category. Weapons and other devices can be integrated into transportation devices according to the requirements above. The construction of a complete machine can take a lot of energy (machines are heavy, and 15 I.S.P.^tm per 500 lbs is a lot!) but it of course can be done in phases.

Sabotage Machinery: The God Machine need only focus his thoughts, choose a target, and expend 25% of the I.S.P.^tm required to assemble an equivalent machine. Normally an object ceases to function properly within a few hours of the God Machine's use of it. With this ability, the object will become inoperative within one melee. This ability has a base chance of success of 50% +5% per level.

Permanent Creation: To create a permanent machine, a God Machine must have the avaliable psychic energy to infuse a machine with double it's creation cost at one time. To do this a God Machine can draw on I.S.P.^tm energy from a Psi Resivoir, via a ritual (each point of P.P.E.^tm can be converted into 2 I.S.P.^tm), or through collaboration with other God Machines. This permanency can be instilled at or after the time of creation. Note that any machine the God Machine has made can be modified at a later time at the standard I.S.P.^tm costs.

2. Other Psionic Powers: Levitation, Telekinesis, Mind Block, and Electrokinesis for starters. These psychic creatures also have a special affinity for energy and technology, so they clearly possess the powers of Telemechanics, Machine Ghost (see Psyscape^tm), and Sense Energy (see this file). The character saves as a master psionic.

At level one, the character can also select another three minor psychic abilities from a single category. At level two and three, the character may select either another three minor psychic abilities (from one category) or another super psionic level Telemechanic discipline (see Psyscape^tm again). At level four and every even- numbered level after that, select any two minor psionic powers or one new super psionic power (will mostly be kinesis powers, Telemechanics powers, and energy powers like Impervious to Energy and Psi Resivoir as found in this file. If the character acquires Psychokinesis he can choose Spontaneous Detonation at some point in the future!

3. I.S.P.^tm: The character begins with 1d6x10+90 plus the M.E. attribute. Add another 1d6+9 per each additional level of experience.

4. Other Bonuses: Add +4 to save vs Horror Factor, +1 on perception, and +1 to strike to any tech weapon they have created themselves.

5. Special Note: These characters cannot use any machinery made by any being besides themselves or another of their kind. Any attempt will cause the machinery to malfunction (!), there are no exceptions, and magic cannot help this situation. This means weapons, vehicles, computers, anything that is working, the God Machines infuse their power upon a non- working object, group of parts to make it work. They can use this to their advantage by sabotaging equipment. It takes about an hour to repair disrupted machinery by a normal technician, but a God Machine can give it their 'personal' touch and have it working in a minute!

Alignment: Any, but generally good or unprincipled.
Attributes: I.Q.: 3d6+3, M.E.: 4d6, M.A.: 3d6, P.S.: 4d6+10, P.P.: 4d6, P.E.: 3d6+10, P.B.: 3d6+6, (never less than 14), Spd.: 5d6+10, strength and endurance considered supernatural.
M.D.C.^tm: 3d4x10 plus body armor, gains 1d4x10 M.D.C.^tm per level.
P.P.E.^tm: 3d4x10
Horror Factor: 12 when enraged.
Weight: 200 to 300 pounds.
Size: 6 to 7 1/2 feet tall.

Natural Abilities: Nightvision 120 ft., keen senses (about 50% better than humans), mechanical manipulation (described above) and other psionic powers, does not need to eat, drink or breathe (survives on radiation common to planetary environments).

Natural Bonuses: Impervious to all types of possession and a vampire's bite. +3 initiative, and +3 strike, parry and dodge.

Damage: Supernatural strength, as per page 22 of the Rifts Conversion Book I^tm.

Magic: None. Ever.

R.C.C. Skills of note: Mechanical engineer (of own creations) 60% +5% per level, instinctive Electrical Engineer at 50% +5% per level, pilot (or operate, if computers or sensory devices) their own creations at 70% +3% per level, literate and speak their own language and two others at 98%, Wilderness Survival (basically for making shelter) 65%, two weapon proficiences of choice. These skills are in addition to any O.C.C. skills.

O.C.C.'s: Basically, any "physical" O.C.C., vagabond, city rat, headhunter, etc., except for Coalition/any other human supremacist government occupation, and Glitter Boy (but the character makes their own suit during a campaign).

These characters clearly make excellent Operators, pilots, and engineers, but about 70% focus on 'action' oriented character classes. Magic classes are not an option.

Appearance: A muscular male/female with slightly elven features (pointed ears and no facial hair). Their eyes are a solid red or blue that glow softly in darkness/shade, brightly when they are angry.

Allies/Enemies: None yet. The God Machines are fairly new to Rifts® earth.

Cybernetics/Bionics: These must be created by the God Machine himself in order for them to function. Most God Machines wouldn't consider amputating a limb to have a cybernetic one instead, but in the event they are mauled in some way they can easily construct cybernetics and bionics to restore normal functioning.

Starting Equipment: Simple survival gear including a tent, some eating utensils, canteen, sunglasses, knife, a few sets of clothing suitable for travel, sturdy leather boots, mirror, and personal items. Starting equipment will not include any functioning machinery - it must all be created from scrounged parts during adventures!