Section Contents A Introduction A Riftech Chronology B Starting Points for a Riftech Campaign B Creating the Riftech Character B Riftech Psionics B O.C.C.s & R.C.C.s Available by Campaign Era B Robotech NPCs modified for Riftech C Mecha, Robot & Power Armor Availability C Mecha, Robot & Power Armor Modifications for Riftech C Body Armor & Weapon Type Availability D-?? New (and modified) Mecha ? Rank Tables ? Geopolitical Overview - Riftech Earth ? O.C.C. Conversion Notes ? Appendices
The table of contents will be altered as each section comes on-line, and
What if the events of the middle part of the Macross segment of Robotech (episodes #13-26) happened (on the average) six weeks earlier than they did in the series, culminating in Dolza's attack taking place on the Summer Solstice of 2011? What if such an attack triggered the eruption of ley lines and rifts on the Robotech Earth?
The resulting planet would be far different from both ancestral RPGs worlds, yet retain certain elements of both. In fact, the post-apocalyptic nature of both RPGs makes their combination even seem natural. The following work is a result of this combination.
Note: I mean no infringement on the rights of Palladium Books by the creation of this rules supplement. In fact, one must have most of the Robotech and Rifts books, as well as the basic books for the Palladium Fantasy RPG (2nd edition), Nightbane, Beyond the Supernatural, Ninjas & Superspies, and either Heroes Unlimited or TMNT in order to run a fully-implemented Riftech campaign, which means that many users of this supplement will have to buy more Palladium products, increasing the profits of Palladium.
I dedicate this work to Kevin Siembieda, whom I accidentally acquired my copy of Robotech RPG Book One from at Marcon 23, and to Miles, David, Danny, Brian G. and Brian K., my Riftech Guinea pigs.
Early June, 2011*: Max and Miriya's duel and marriage (Episodes #24-25).
Late June, 2011*: Breetai sends Exedore as an emissary to the SDF-1 (Episode #26). Dolza's fleet arrives, and bombards the planet on the Summer Solstice. Ironically, the Zentraedi used landmarks as aiming points, and one of the first objects destroyed is the Gateway Arch in St. Louis; this prevents the rifts that later occur there from bonding with it(and becoming permanent}. Many other monolithic sites are also hit, and much Protoculture-originated energy is pumped into the Earth's ley line network, along with the P.P.E. of the 5 billion persons killed by the bombardment. The ley lines flare, causing further natural disasters that kill half of the remaining population.
At least 10 Zentraedi ships are downed not by Grand Cannon fire, as would be first thought (it hadn't opened fire yet), but by other-dimensional Nazcans, on a pilgrimage to their ancestral home, and in a perfect position to take advantage of the line surges to activate ALL of the Nazca line creatures!
At the same time as the first attacks began hitting Earth, scientists in the Robotech Research labs at Hiroshima were activating an experiment, based off data returned to Earth by their colleague Emil Lang. The project was an attempt to teleport an object point-to-point inside a planetary gravity well. Instead, all of southern Honshu (from Kobe south to the strait between Honshu & Kyushu) and the island of Shikoku "disappear". Actually, the land masses end up in the astral plane, replaced by other-dimensional counterparts from a parallel Earth, which were already lifeless (later dimensional investigation proved it to be from the Macross: Do You Remember Love? universe, which had been wiped out by Zentraedi forces in late 2009). The cities are stranded in the astral plane, bordering their previous location, but with time passing 1/1000 as fast as in the real world. None of the cities are actually hit by the attacks.
At the Grand Cannon, the power readings go off the scale, and this power is put to immediate use against the fleet, until damage causes it to shut down. Unlike its "normal" Robotech counterpart, the complex survives, but radiation leaks cause it to be abandoned, along with a mistaken belief that the cannon triggered the ley lines, held by many for years afterward. The cannon personnel evacuate to the deepest levels, and are rescued by Skull Squadron after the battle. The Cannon is more effective than the original history's Cannon (due to the energy influx), setting the stage for a more decisive victory over the remnants of Dolza's fleet by the combined forces of Breetai and the SDF-1. After the battle, 98% of the Zentraedi are dead, and most of the 2 billion survivors were either crewmen aboard the surviving ships or elite mecha pilots. Even so, only 5 Zentraedi ships were left that were completely space worthy. The SDF-1 was severely damaged, and it sets down in a blast crater along the US/Canada border, while the surviving 50,000 Zentraedi ships were corralled at Lagrange Point Five. The crew of most were pulled off and placed aboard those ships still capable of planetary landing. Those 5000 ships were landed in the Southlands; most would never fly again. Those left in space were stripped of useful equipment, and were landed by skeleton crews around the SDF-2's lunar construction site.
July-August 2011*: To help end the worldwide famine, one of the first acts of the post-attack RDF is to send technical teams to the moon to retrieve the nutrient processors from the downed ships. This, combined with the micronization of all non-essential Zentraedi personnel (those not serving as Fighter Pod, Officers Pod or Power Armor pilots, and doubling as construction workers), most of the remaining human populace survives. A planetary census reports a population of 3.3 billion, 60% of which are Zentraedi.
Dr. Lang and Exedore discover that those ships that landed on ley lines (at this point, still known only as "those mysterious blue energy bands") are using only about 50% of the Protoculture than normal. Further research confirms that the ley line energy is identical to Protoculture energy.
The Incan Gods return to Earth, and set up the new Empire of the Sun to aid the descendants of their original worshipers.
September 2011*: Reports from Mexico indicate that the Yucatan Peninsula has disappeared, yet is still accessible by land only. Other reports come in concerning the return of Atlantis - from where, no one knows, as the island continent's contours bear no resemblance to the pre-attack sea bottom. Only passing surveys are made of the continent, as more pressing concerns are present than studying a lifeless continent.
Miriya Sterling becomes ill at a party, discovers that she is pregnant.
On the Autumnal Equinox, the first rifts open, bringing both mages (mostly shifters) and demons. Some of the mages actually contact authorities, but most of the things that come through the rifts are hostile. Hundreds of civilian lives are lost in the next few days, mostly in New Detroit, where several rifts open inside the city limits. Two ley line walkers and a shifter aid the RDF in the subdual of a demon horde at a rift in the Calgary ruins, north of New Macross, and learn of Earth's inexperience in dealing with magic and psionics. The ley line walkers remain to instruct others in the use of magic, while the shifter goes for reinforcements.
In November, two-month-old reports from the Yucatan reach New Macross, hinting at the existence of vampires, which is generally dismissed by the RDF.
October 2011*: More mages and psychics arrive, act mostly as advisors for the RDF. Those Zentraedi having the hardest time adapting to Terran society are offered clemency in exchange for joining a demon containment force. Azonia, who was becoming disenchanted with Micronian lifestyles, is given command of these forces, which boosts her morale considerably. Eventually, she even convinces Khyron to join her group, as they plan on leading their forces through a rift to conquer whatever lies there, and couldn't care less what happens to the Earth afterward.
December 2011*: Zentraedi capture and hold part of Atlantis from the Splugorth forces, who had been in the process of invading when discovered on the Winter Solstice. Over two million Zentraedi are killed in the process, compared to ten million Kydian and Kittani soldiers. Florida, Cuba and Puerto Rico are occupied by the Zentraedi in order to keep a constant watch over the Bermuda Triangle area, as the Bahamas and Bermuda were rendered uninhabitable by the Triangle's dangers.
March 2012*: The Zentraedi launch an assault of over 40 million troops (with mecha and ten air-capable Salan Scout ships) through the Atlantean rifts on the Vernal Equinox. They are never heard from again. Either they were defeated by what lay beyond the rift (believed to be a Kydian home world), they reached the wrong destination and couldn't come back, or Khyron & Azonia led them to the world they were looking to conquer, leaving the Earth to care for itself. The Zentraedi they left behind (including the wounded that didn't make it to the rifts) were not privy to Azonia's plan, so they cannot support any of the theories.
At the same time that the Zentraedi were attacking Atlantis, vampires from the Yucatan attack the UEG forces in south Mexico, trying to drive into and gain a foothold in the drier parts of Mexico. They are beaten back, thanks to a series of magical rainstorms, but at a great cost. Two million persons are killed, and no wounded are to be found on the field when dawn breaks.
May 2012*: Dana Sterling is born in New Macross. Rick Hunter and Lisa Hayes are married, followed shortly thereafter by Kyle and Minmei. The first Zentraedi nations are founded, consisting of communities in the wastes that sprang up as anti-demon units around major ley line nexus points located in hostile environments.
New Tokyo is founded on the shores of New Tokyo Bay, which had resulted from the combined force of the Zentraedi attack and the natural disasters resulting from it.
June 2012*: More mages arrive, setting up Earth's first school of magic (for the military). Over half the students are Zentraedi, since they were already prone to believing in magic. Zentraedi mages tend to be Techno-wizards.
Mages identify the Invid Flower of Life as a ancient Terran magical life form, created to serve as a living P.P.E. battery in magic-low areas. However, the presence of "free" P.P.E. (ley line energy) within 100 miles inhibits its growth.
September 2012*: Dimensional Beings(D-Bees) continue to arrive in larger numbers each time the rifts open. Some are hostile, some are helpful; but most are indifferent, seeking only a new home. Chief among these are the Amaki, who settle in the remnants of Argentina.
October 2012: The Zentraedi of Florida take advantage of the reappearance of Mesozoic life forms in their nation and, after some culinary experimentation, begin commercial ranching of dinosaurs for their meat and skins. By 2016, the majority of the ranches' sales are out of state.
December 2012*: Another major vampire offensive succeeds in cutting off travel through Central America. All roads through southern Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador are destroyed, and the vampires have full night-time control of the area.
A shifter on maneuvers with the RDF in the southern Honshu wastelands accidentally blunders into the displaced Hiroshima. After discovering that only 12 hours had passed for the city between the Zentraedi attack and his arrival, he quickly contacts the acting government and tells them he would go for help. They don't believe him at first, but his disappearance from his jail cell gives them hope someone will free them from the void. By the time he escapes, it is April 2013; three hours in Hiroshima had been 4 months in the real world.
June 2013*: Roy Hunter is born. The first true space missions in two years are launched. Ley lines are discovered on the moon, Mars and Venus, but nowhere near as active or widespread as on Earth. Even ley lines in space are discovered, linking each planet and major moon (1500km or more diameter) to the sun; these lines cause the planetary alignment ley line energy surges. Plans are made to harness the other planets' magic for Terraforming projects.
Breetai takes Earth's only space worthy Zentraedi flagship and leads a mission to capture a Robotech Factory Satellite. He returns victorious, not having to fire a shot, having used mages, psychics and baby Dana Sterling to show "his" control over Protoculture. The Satellite is put into Earth orbit, where Techno-wizards and Robotech scientists begin repairs and renovation of the entire vessel. Commander Reno and his men are relocated to Brazil for reeducation and assignment to the demon containment forces.
The shifter who had discovered Hiroshima, having formulated a plan with the help of several hundred other mages (most of the RDF mages, as well their instructors and an extended family of True Atlantean mages who came to Earth just for the mission), implements the plan on the summer solstice, bringing the "missing" sections of Japan back onto their true world. However, the stress of the ritual kills 60 of the mages involved, and 20 more are displaced into the Macross Movie universe with the land that returned there. After a week of negotiation, Japan joins the UEG.
December 2013*: A vampire assault on Mexico City results in the death of Seloy Deperra Leonard. Obsessed with the death of Seloy and the near-death of his son Hirano, Anatole Leonard organizes the Armies of the Southern Cross, an independent military force. Unlike the Robotech RPG ASC, this force welcomes Zentraedi, D-Bees, psychics and mages, as its purpose is fighting the supernatural forces from the rifts.
March 2014*: A ley line walker on tour of the SDF-1 engine room senses the presence of the Protoculture Matrix, which is soon recovered. With it, several Pollinators emerge from the nooks and crannies of the ship as well.
The New Slavic Republic secedes from the UEG, claiming that body concentrates too much on the Western Hemisphere's supernatural problems and not enough on the problems of Eurasia and Africa. At first, the move seems counter-productive; but it is soon revealed that the NSR is receiving technological assistance from another dimension(the Federation from the TMNT Guide to the Universe) via a rift. Eventually, the NSR's technology surpasses that of their benefactors. Following the lead of the NSR, the Confederation of Patagonia secedes as well. Patagonia is made up of the nations of Santiago, Patagonia (the areas called Cordoba & Achilles in Rifts, only without the mutant animals; they come about later), the Amaki nation of New Babylon, and the Southern Federation (a federation of Humans whose cities were displaced here from other Earths).
June 2014*: Terraforming begins on Mars and Venus, with the first step being the linking of the two planets atmospheres' via multiple rifts. The result is both planets have a higher atmospheric pressure than Earth, but the air is still toxic. The heat from the air rifted in from Venus melts the ice in Mars' polar caps, boosting Mars environment even more. The areas already made semi-habitable by Mars ley line nexus points are unaffected by these events, much to the surprise of those involved in the project. To speed things along, Mars Base Langdon is set up in one of these areas, allowing the base to function without the atmospheric regulation required years earlier by Sara Base. As part of the plan, engines from the junked ships on the moon are taken to the outer solar system, where they are mounted on ice planetoids. These will provide the water for the two new planets, mostly Venus.
Traditionalist Japanese (who blame the disasters of 2011 on technology) flock to the Kyoto area, and set up the New Japanese Empire, after Amaterasu appears at the Millennium Tree there, and drops off a child said to be the true heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne. The Empire secedes on good terms from the Republic of Japan, with the only hard feelings being over technology use. Another group, calling themselves the Ichto Province, also secede, on only slightly less good terms. The primary problems the people of Ichto had with the Republic and the UEG was their acceptance of aliens and D-Bees. Still, many residents of the Republic and Ichto crossed the border in their daily commutes, with the major dissent being on the political, not personal, level.
The last few remaining native inhabitants of Hokkaido wake up the morning of the Solstice to find themselves (and their belongings) in one of the "treehouses" of the Kyoto Millennium Tree, with notice that the Japanese gods now claimed that island for their home.
July 2014*: The ASC is officially recognized by the UEG as a sanctioned non-political military force for combating the supernatural, based out of Mexico City. However, all military assaults versus the vampires so far have been at best draws, as the Yucatan Peninsula is unreachable by air or sea and the military's casualties often end up as reinforcements for the undead.
Oni attacks on Honshu increase, and the last of the coastal settlements of mainland China fall to demon attacks. In a strange parallel of 1948, the Chinese who escaped from the demon offensive flee to Taiwan/Formosa, which had been totally depopulated by the events of 2011. A few inland kingdoms survive in China, defended by mystical warriors and martial artists. However, none of these kingdoms choose to participate in world affairs.
August 2014*: The first chunks of ice bound for Mars arrive and are broken up in the atmosphere. Upon completion of the ice bombardment in October, the planet is seeded with simple life forms, followed by the Flower of Life in March of 2015. The Flower of Life is used due to its fast maturation rate and its amazing soil rejuvenation capabilities, paving the way for total ecosystem implantation in 2017.
September 2014*: Whole ice asteroids are slammed into Venus at high velocities at angles designed to speed up the planet's rotation. After the bombardment is completed in December, the engines that had brought the ice to Venus(which were removed before the chunks were hurled at the planet) and those from the Mars ice project were relocated and set on the surface and turned on maximum power, having been oriented during placement to further speed up the planet's rotation. These would run until their fuel supply was exhausted a year later, by which time the planet's rotation period was 60 hours, albeit still in the opposite direction from the rest of the solar system's planets.
The SDF-2 is finally launched, having been extensively modified from its original specifications. It leaves for Tyrol under the command of Captain Claudia Grant, accompanied by Breetai and his flagship. Henry Gloval, now retired, is aboard the SDF-2 as an ambassador, while the SDF-1 "Bridge Bunnies" and their Zentraedi husbands double as both the SDF-2's bridge crew and part of the diplomatic mission. Prior to the launch ceremonies, Rick and Lisa Hunter are promoted to Brigadier General and Rear Admiral respectively upon Gloval's departure/retirement, and are left in charge of the Earth RDF. (Note: in this universe, the REF will never exist as such.)
April 2015: First post-Rifts sighting of the Pucarans in South America.
June 2015: The Hunters, now having received a full report on the "mirror universe" (that of Macross: DYRL) discovered in the Japan "recovery" operation, initiate diplomatic contact with the other universe's counterpart of Gloval, who recalls that universe's SDF-2 Megaroad. Negotiations begin to eventually relocate all the humans, Zentran and Meltran from that world to the Hunters', as the other universe had its ecosystem totally destroyed by the Bodolza fleet, and was only barely being restored. The move would be for the best interest of the evacuees, in terms of habitat, as well as removal from dangers from further Zentran attack. Some personnel stay behind (or rotate in and out), to supervise the reconditioning of the planet (the hard way, as the Flower of Life will not grow there, and magic is very weak), or to try to contact the remaining fleets and tell them of the rediscovery of culture. The Macross of that universe is used as the sole habitat for those that remain behind.
August 2015: Magic use increases among Earth's populace, and the number of evil mages increases as well. A conflict between the ASC and the necromancer Lazlo Zand results in the destruction of Monument City by hordes of demons. Zand is believed to have died in the destruction, along with his mercenary ally T.R. Edwards, but no bodies were recovered.
The first openly hostile magocracy, the Ohio Valley Federation of Magi, is formed in New Evansville, and its first action is to declare war on its xenophobic neighbor, the independent Duchy of York. York, located around Cincinnati, is ruled by a person who claims to be Prince Harold, son of the late King Charles of England, who was on a tour of the US when the Zentraedi attack occurred. York's wealth is in its technology, and its military equipment salvaged from nearby Wright-Patterson AFB and Fort Knox, Kentucky. The war, viewed by many as symbolizing Earth's struggle versus the supernatural, ends in a stalemate in late 2016, with both sides agreeing to a truce similar to the one between the pre-Global-War states of North and South Korea. However, the fierce debate on whether one side or the other should receive assistance from the UEG cripples that governing body. (In the end, neither side was assisted).
January 2016*: The Flower of Life is introduced on Venus.
Rick and Lisa Hunter have their second child; a girl, named Andrea after Lisa's mother. Lisa's father, who had resigned as a result of the debacle that led to Earth's attack, dies two days later.
Dana Sterling is found to be psionic. She is the first known master psionic to be born on Earth of parents native to the Riftech dimension.
April 2016*: The first psi-stalkers born to Earth-native parents are identified as such. At first looked upon as abominations, they soon become highly prized by the ASC and other forces that combat the supernatural. In fact, in 2018 the ASC would institute an adoption program for psionic children of all types, which would raise the psionic children to become ASC operatives upon reaching their mid-teens.
In North America, the Native American tribes (and buffalo) return from the protection of the Nunnehi.
November 2016: The first reports of an insectoid race living in the Rockies come in, followed shortly thereafter by a bloody conflict that "ended" in December, only to be repeated every year or so as the creatures decided to attack New Macross again.
The ASC contracts ZMI (Zentraedi Military Industries), a group of Zentraedi operators (as the Rifts O.C.C.) and Techno-wizards based on the Factory Satellite, to design light and heavy ground mecha, ground unit power armor and flight-capable power armor for its forces. The first field units were shipped to the ASC in July 2017.
February 2017*: The UEG, torn apart by the infighting over the OVFM/York war, ceases to exist as a planetary government, and reorganizes to function similar to the old United Nations, while remaining trustee for the as-yet unreclaimed wasteland areas and the space colonies. For procedural purposes, the RDF and ASC are each given a seat in the new body, with the RDF's role being defined as the UEG-s space defense force and law enforcement arm, while the ASC would be the Earthbound anti-demon military force.
April 2017*: Final atmospheric modifications are made on the terraformed planets, and 1000 of the ships that had landed on Earth six years before are repaired enough to travel to either Mars or Venus, in order to plant higher life forms (plant and animal). Half the crew was micronized, while the other half remained full-sized in order to plant adult trees, but were micronized upon completion of this task. Mars is stocked with temperate and subarctic life forms, while Venus is done in rain forest, savanna and desert ecosystems. Despite this, the most common higher life form is still the Flower of Life.
January 2018*: 400 of the ships from the Mars mission return to pick up permanent colonists. The ships were subsectioned to carry about 250,000 Micronian-sized passengers each. Once the ships returned to Mars, they were unloaded, shut down and cannibalized. Another 50 of the ships had already been done this way, to prepare the colony ships. The remaining 50 ships were kept as a planetary defense fleet. The planetary population was around 100 million, 60% of which are Zentraedi, and 0.5% are D-Bees.
The Patagonian Arcology of the Southern Federation (a city that was rifted in from a much higher-tech Earth) introduces Cybernetic, Bionic, Juicer and M.O.M. technology to Riftech Earth. This is hailed by some, condemned by others (such as the RDF and ASC). They do not become common in South America until 2020, and aren't licensed to Japan and the NSR for study until 2023 (characters with these OCCs can start play in those areas in 2025). It takes until 2030 for these systems to become commonplace in areas outside these three areas, and they are illegal in most UEG nations (other than Japan) and areas policed by the RDF & ASC.
July 2018*: Venus is colonized in much the same manner as Mars, except that dinosaurs were brought along and given free reign on one continent.
February 2019: The first report from the Tyrol expedition comes in. The fold trip took 4.5 years, and the Robotech Masters had already left for Earth. Over the next nine months, contact is made with the other Inner Sphere worlds.
Larhold numbers become a real threat (previously only a nuisance) to the Patagonian Confederacy. Disputes on how to handle the Larhold result in the hardliners in Santiago pulling their nation out of the Confederacy, in order to implement their more violent measures (which only escalates the fighting).
November 2019: Breetai reports that Optera has been abandoned, and warns Earth that the Invid were probably on their way as well.
January 2020: The Invid arrive and take over Venus, killing a third of the population and enslaving another third. The remainder of the population retreats into the jungle and begins using guerilla tactics against the Regent's forces. The Regis seems to be more interested in studying humanity than killing it, and instead primarily enslaves and experiments on humanity. The UEG decides not to immediately attack Venus, as it would jeopardize the slaves, and Earth was overmatched as well. Both Earth and Mars begin a military buildup, but Earth has to divert its attention to a rash of dimensional invasions that begin in March.
June 2020: The Dakir settle their Megaversal Legion in a remote Andes valley, allowing the Legion to contact the UEG only once, to let them know that trespassers would be shot.
February 2023: The Achilles Project is exposed. Many of he mutant animals settle in Patagonia, but the mutant cats disappear into the jungle.
April 2024: The Otomo Shogunate, having armed itself on the open market, declares its independence from the UEG, which had helped in its original settlement in 2012. The Shogunate (and its weapons company H-Brand), become a thorn in the side of the RDF, the rest of Japan, and the Southern Cross from their environmental and sales practices.
September 2025: The Tyrol Expedition returns with representatives from Tyrol (Cabell and Rem) as well as the other worlds of the Inner Sphere (the Sentinels listed in the Sentinels RPG). Cabell, Lang and a team of scientists and Techno-wizards begin work on developing a better fold system.
The Regent, having sensed a fold into the system for the first time since his own arrival, sends raiding parties against Earth and Mars every few months. Slowly but surely, losses on both human planets mount, as the Invid can replace their losses much more quickly than their foes, and the Invid, having a hive mentality, are much more suicidal, with many of the human ships being lost to kamikaze attacks. By 2029, only the SDF-2, Breetai's flagship and two scout ships remain over Earth, while Mars forces have been reduced to six landing ships and three scouts.
The Regis, having studied human specimens over the last five years, begins sending simulagents to the other two planets to study how normal humanity functions. The Mars simulagents are usually discovered quickly, but several of the Earth simulagents are not. Unfortunately for the Regis, they usually stop reporting after 2-5 reports, and eventually even the best agents stop reporting after six months. Very little changes in the space war, until 2030.
October 2028: The Republic of Japan, having made intensive studies of Zentraedi cloning technology, announces the perfection of its medical clone system. The system allows the cloning of a body from any existing DNA (such as the genetic material of a borg's brain), and the transfer of a mind's knowledge into the clone's brain. This technology, which could be used to correct DNA flaws in the sample before cloning, made most hereditary diseases curable, not to mention the implications for reversal of cyborg and juicer conversion. However, (officially) the Japanese refuse to augment persons by adding psychic powers (that weren't already present) or increasing attributes other than what would be possessed by a healthy body.
December 2030: The Robotech Masters arrive, and the Invid rise from Venus to meet them. A massive space battle ensues, and two of the Masters' ships are destroyed, as well as all of the Invid heavy ships. The Regent's forces limp back to Venus, while the remaining four of the Masters ships deplete over 90% of their Protoculture reserves in the battle. Three of the ships make it to Mars, push their way past the defense ships and land outside Langdon; they then took the base by force. The fourth Tyrolean ship, the Masters' own, limps to Earth, crashing in Alaska. None would ever fly again.
Down the Road: In the 2030 world of Riftech, few things are certain. However, a few questions will be asked by the players and astute GMs. These date/group matters will be up to the GM to play with.
When will the Naruni open up shop on Riftech Earth? I suggest 2025, but the RDF and SC aren't interested in buying from interdimensional aliens.
When will the Megaversal Legion revolt against their masters? In Riftech, it happens in late 2030. However, the Legion's humans feel too altered to fit in with the people of the Earth they now reside on, and will rarely interact with the outside world, unless attacked. A few may venture out, but not with their vehicles or PA. Instead, they will stay on the market in other dimensions as mercenaries, hoping to find their way home.
When will the Archons arrive? I suggest 2035 for the first wave, with part of the fleet (about 1/3, as per the Rifts SA 2 entry) bounced forward another 20 to 40 years before folding in (GM's call as to the exact time, and he'll have to create the ships' stats).
And the things from Underseas? The Tico and her escorts are completed for the SC Sea Squad/Navy in 2028. by this time, the SS will have lost several of her other ships to activity from the monsters in Underseas. Tritonia is founded in 2020, and is part of the Sea Squad. The Sea Titans are transformed in 2030, and will include Nemo, the Captain's son.
The Achilles Neo-Humans won't reach adulthood until 2040. The Amphibs are Achilles creations as well.
See the notes in the Riftech Earth Overview for Mindwerks ideas.
And, for all of the twisted villains from Rifts, such as Archie, The Horsemen, Myrrln, and many others, I leave it to you sadistic basta- I mean, kind-hearted game masters, to exploit.
Within 4-6 months, however, the group should encounter RDF forces, possibly in a fight with a common enemy, and rejoin civilization. Note that a GM that wants to really challenge his players might opt for the camping option, and make the PCs salvage and repair EVERYTHING they need to survive, from transportation out of the wilderness to weapons and Destroids. Using their survival and repair skills would be earning experience the hard way, but in a more deserving way than just straight combat.
January 2014 - December 2019: This is the era of the Riftech SC's birth, along with the introduction of many of the Rifts races and O.C.C.s. Prior to 2017, RDF and SC forces won't be serving together on a regular basis, but it is quite possible for a Rifts-type O.C.C. to be assigned to an RDF or SC team as an advisor on the supernatural or a magical reinforcement. It is also quite acceptable for the humanoid D-Bee races to join either military, especially the SC, but there's no reason why you can't have an Elven Veritech Pilot or a Dwarven Mechanical Engineer. Demon fighting is a staple of this era of play.
January 2020 - August 2025: The arrival of the Invid on Venus and the sharp increase in demon invasions on Earth shake things up a bit. On Earth, mixed RDF/SC teams are now possible, as the two forces responsibilities begin to overlap more. On Venus, it is possible to play freedom fighters/anti-Invid guerrillas, not all of which will be military O.C.C.s. However, note that only mecha made between 2011 and 2019 will be available on Venus, as only Dimensional Teleport & Dimensional Portal spells have a chance of reaching Venus surface from Earth, and this form of transport is made even more dangerous by the two planets counter-rotation. The results of an unsuccessful transfer (either direction: as Teleport-Superior at -50%} are as follows:
01-75: Appear at wrong destination. 3D6x100 miles off course in a random direction.
76-85: Teleport is high by 6D6 feet. Persons teleported/walking through portal fall, taking 1 S.D.C. per foot for fall (roll for ½). Vehicles and mecha take 1 M.D. per ton per 12 feet fallen (round up), unless flying or using hover jets during transport.
86-95: Teleporter(s) arrive (or portal's other side moving) at a speed of Mach 2 in relation to the ground (the difference in the planets' contra-rotational speeds). Objects arriving take 2D4x10 M.D. (killing most PC types outright), but do get a chance to roll with the impact. Aircraft capable of Mach speeds (in its current mode, if a VT) can make a piloting check at -30% to avoid all damage if arriving in flight, taking ½ damage on a failure. If the aircraft is not capable of exceeding Mach 1 (not just going it), then it takes lD4x10 M.D. and the pilot needs to make a piloting check at -50% to remain airborne as the craft slows down. REGARDLESS of emergence circumstances, the occupants of body armor, mecha or vehicles that take damage in this manner take 1 S.D.C. damage for each point of M.D. their armor or vehicle takes, except in the case of vehicle & mecha occupants wearing body armor inside the vehicle. These people take ½ the normal amount.
96-00: Teleport into an object; instant death. If a portal, the portal's exit is underground (96-99) or underwater (00). In the case of an underground portal, the portal is simply blocked. If the portal opens underwater, the water comes pouring through the portal, at a rate of 20 cubic yards/meters per second. In a room, this could be deadly.
Note that the caster of a Dimensional Portal and anyone else planning to use it SHOULD be able to tell before entering that the conditions of failed locations 76-99 exist on the other side, unless they are moving too fast or aren't paying attention when they approach it to enter.
September 2025 - November 2030: Venusian campaigns remain as above, while Terran campaigns can now incorporate the alien races from the Robotech II: The Sentinels RPG. Note that a Dimensional Teleport or Portal can be used to go to the worlds of the former Tyrolean Empire, but at a -60% unless the caster has been to the destination world (several shifters went with the SDF-2 and beat the mission back. This is the first era in which a (teen-aged) native Terran psionic can be played (see Psionics), and rogue Invid Simulagents can be played as well (a real challenge for a role-player - trying to keep the character's race a secret. Even changelings have a better reputation!).
December 2030 - : Now, Martian Freedom Fighters can fight the Robotech Masters, and can use any equipment they can get their hands on. Teleporting to Mars still requires Dimensional Teleport/Portal spells, but use the Teleport-Superior success chart at no penalty. Depending on how the potential conflict works out, its population could become potential ally or a most deadly enemy, since Mars is rich with the Flower of Life, and the plant is now common in some areas of Earth. It is even conceivable that the Masters could ally themselves with demons. It is also quite possible to play a highly modified version of the Robotech Southern Cross story arc in this setting. Eventually, Tyrolean PCs may be allowed. This is the only period for playing adult Native-Terran Psionic PCs.