Coalition Wars: Shadows of War

Hello everyone, I am still rather new to Roll20, but a long time Rifts and Palladium GM/Player. I would like to try and gather a group of other players and a GM, for a Rifts Coalition Wars campaign.  I have wanted to play a group of Coalition Troopers, starting with their time in boot camp and then through the events with the Juicer Uprising all the way to the current timeline & beyond.  I can help coordinate the game, but would rather be a player than be the GM (mostly because I almost all ways get stuck GM when playing Rifts).  Needless to say this will be a long term game. I am personally free most afternoon evenings from 4 pm est till about 9 pm est.  The only exception currently is Sundays when I have an in person gaming group to attend.  That being said, discussion can start below!

What are the communication requirements? That being text, voice, voice & video?

I'd be interested in playing....my days available are mondsys....weds...fridays...all day..(est)...I can do voice...be an effort do do video...but could swing it.. Got Discord already too...

Would love to join, but won't have free time till the 18th.

Only need voice, I have Discord set up with a server for games already.

Nice...very interested....leme know what day of the week you want to play....I am USA EST btw.

Seems we have enough players for a small group...just needa DM. Lol

If we can wait till the 18th I can GM. Would prefer Skype though, Discord is nothing but problems on my end 

That's cool with me about the 18th....although I am just the opposite....Skype gives me issues and Discord works fine....and I like that we can post stuff on discord easily...rather than on Roll20 chat. 

I have both Discord and Skype, however, Skype is always a bit finicky.

And someone apparently knows nothing of tactics, counter measures or the size of the CS Army. Instead of being an obvious troll, just don't post here jackwagon.

I would be interested in playing. Is it going to be human CS soldiers only, or are Psi-Stalkers and Dog boys an option? Weekday evenings are best for me, I'm in EST. 

If I run it, Psi-Stalkers and Dog Boys will be allowed. Hell I'd prefer to run a Disavowed campaign if the book comes out any time soon.

There you go it's  done  but it doesnt change the fact that what i stated is true.

Disavowed would be cool, but I believe that would be slightly later in a character's career.  Plus, Palladium is notorious for having long release times... I am personally still waiting on Beyond the Arcane and Tome Grotesque, for Beyond the Supernatural.  But those have been on pre order for two years (roughly) now...  As to party size, that would be up to the GM, but the smallest coalition squad size (if I remember correctly, would have to look it up) is six members.  And that's a reconnaissance squad / long range patrol or guerilla squad.

I like the books you mention and the premise...it'd be tough for a very diverse group to play up past boot camp though...if we each take specilised traing afterwords...like if one is a dog boy..( we woul'nt meet till assignment)  .or a new juicer..test subject...that the Coalition is ..trying out...or a Cyborg Strike Tooper...Nautical Specialist or a "Fly Boy"  now if we were all met there......and happened to be "Assigned" to this Station. .....or duty roster....later...idk...are any and all O.O.C.s from the books mentioned  open for discussions? 

If I was running the game, I would not limit any CS OCCs.  And then would have it so you meet up originally in basic training before "picking" your MOS.  Then for some reason or another everyone gets assigned to same unit or post.  Rereading book #11, it's amazing how flexible the unit structures are!  You could be a RPA ace and can still be assigned to a regular unit, you just might not have access to your machine at all times.  Plus it opens up a lot of RP on why we would all be so vastly diverse in training, yet put together as a unit, instead of being assigned to troop company A or Amored division C.  But again this all depends on who is running game and as of right now, Unfortunate Son is the only one showing interest in doing so.  Also, I tend to lean toward the more "honorable" alignments... But that's just me. 😝

I'm interested if there's a settled day/time, and a slot open of course. I'm partial to a bot pilot or a CSN Infantry (RLT) or Battlecat

Also, when I am talking about basic training or boot camp, I am thinking of something similar to the stuff down in Merctown.  It's an actual adventure path where characters go through basic training run by the Tennessee Headhunters.  You get xp and bonuses depending on your performance. 

If I end up running it it will most likely end a game based around Special Forces first teams or something similar and focus on Unconventional Warfare. But I am notorious for bending the rules for my players.

Well...I have played home brewed versions of Palladium Fantasy RPG.   But, that was ages ago...and even though I have a decent collection of Rifts books.....I would be more comfortable having a more experienced GM runing my first Rifts game....as for characters  O.C.C.'s and R.C.C.'s....I was hoping I could play a Psi-Tech....The books says that the Coalition uses them to gain access to lost tech from the golden age and also decifer the uses and operations of alien tech...my characters abilities would be, for the most part,  unknown to him u til tested in boot camp.....also someone mentioned armors and bots....I believe my characters abilities would open up a diverse amount of assignments for the unit to explore...just puting it out there....if we can agree on a play times...days...really hoping it can all come together...this would be my first Rifts game and I like the ideas for the premise so far. 😁

Hey, me again. So the game has perked my interest, and I've played the system before although never this particular module, although my only real question is how do you feel about A.I. Characters or Robotic characters? I've got one that I've been conceptualizing for quite some time now called C.A.S. and one of his versions is even posted here on the forums. If the GM or OP can take a look at that and get back to me I'd appreciate it. As for my schedule I have college starting up again soon (around the 20th) so my best days really are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday although I could maybe pull later in the weekdays after 7pm?

That is a touchy subject with the CS... I am sure they would be more interested in studying a character such as that.  Plus, all character decisions would be up to the GM.  Once we decide on a GM, I think everyone should talk privately with them and make your characters (or get them approved if you have one made up already).  I have always run things on the honor system when rolling up characters, I am a bit trusting like that though. As to time and day of the week, its still up for negotiation.  I lean towards Monday nights, due to being off on Tuesday and would not have to worry if we ran a little late.  As to start time I was thinking somewhere around 5 or 6 pm est.  That way we could run till about 9 or 10 pm.

they are purposely set up framed around  Natzi's just saying...and theres no way the warcampaign goes down like it says in those books 9maybe an alternate dimensoin that ignores every book before world book 11 and the mercenaries book which clearly has the larsons brigade in it and the c.s. starts mass cloning to triple thier numbers from  107 p.a. to 11 p.a. and finds every scrap of uranium  on the planet for all those nucleur power plants)(which means triax gives up everything etc. etc...)

Such as what Winter? You did'nt specify which ...if you are refering to R.C.C. suggestion....I am only going on what the books state......and Mondays would be a perfect fit for me...but, I am flexible...if we have a  GM.....I am ready and willing to assist in anyway I can.

Oh. And if the GM wants to oitline books in and books out....O.C.C.s in and R.C.C.s out that'd be appreciated as well. Thnx. 

And he comes the troll Kane again. Don't you have something better to do then complain about a game you have no intention to join? Christ on a stick, get a life dude.

Oh so trolling is stating the facts got you.

Well Monday 5-6 EST works for me. For the training part, it could be the squad was put together as a trial to see how the different branches work together or something. 

Ok, so my last post was about the A.I. character concept.  Tomorrow morning I will post OCCs and RCCs that I personally would allow if I was GMing. I am in no rush to get this game started, as I would rather get a good game together, than rush it and have it fall apart during the first or second session. As to Kane, the coalition states can be portrayed several different ways and yes one way is similar to nazi Germany.  But you have to look at all the background information for the CS.  They have very good reasons to not trust non-humans and magic.  Most games use them as "bad guys" due to the policies placed into being by their fears & the corrupt upper ecilon of the government and a lot of players wanting to play non-humans or magic based OCCs.  That being said, you can have them play a number of different roles in your games, from being the "bad guys", to just another kingdom, to even being "good guys".  Not to mention you have to look at the fact that most CS grunts think they are doing what is right and are protecting family and country.

You are posting in a game you have no intention of joining  to shit on it. Ignoring the facts while you're at it. Like fusion uses water. And that the CS invaded Tolkien with an army larger then their POPULATION. 

I like the idea of setting up our characters privately...adds more suprises to the story...and everyone gets to open up individually what they want about there characters...I'm not so much worried about what the book says people (players) should think about the C.S.....What will mater is what the characters and GM that drive the story thinks...and it's always subject to change at any point in the story.. The books are just an outline for what we "Can" use....not written in stone what we "must" do or believe as a character or DM.......we can use what parts we want...and leave out what we dont.....right?..add or subtract..what we want...it's OUR story...to create how we want...and it will flow and grow how it is meant to.....at least that is my opinion....I hope we can all try to get along and build our "Squad" into a cohesive unit....And if monday is the day to play...you can count me in every week...bi-week....or month...how ever we decide...like was said already...we do not need to be in a hurry...lets do it right...and make it fun for us sll. B)

Ok, so... OCCs and RCCs that are common to the CS military: Main Book - Coalition Grunt (aka Dead Boy) Coalition RPA Elite/SAMAS Pilot CS Military Specialist CS Technical Officer CS Psi-Hound/Dog Boy ( Can be broken down further in the Lone Star book,  see below) CS Psi-Stalker Burster Mind Melter World Book 11: Coalition Wars - CS Cyborg Strike Trooper CS Commando CS EOD Specialist CS Juicer CS Nautical Specialist CS Ranger CS RCSG Scientist CS RPA "Fly Boy" Ace CS Special Forces World Book 12: Psyscape Zapper World Book 13: Lone Star - CS Navy Sea Dog CS K-9 "Sniffer" CS Kill Hound  Rifts Source Book 4: Coalition Navy CS Merchant Marine CS Navy Sailor CS Naval Infantryman CS Nautical Commando Specialist (Seal) Rarer OCCs and RCCs (ones I would have to think about and/or have a good story point for): Psi-Nullifier Psi-Tech CS Battle Cats CS Kill Cats CS Mutant Rats CS Mutant Bats CS Monkey Boys (both Soldier and Techs) Am I forgetting any CS OCCs?  I know there is an Ice based version of the Burster/Zapper in one of the Rifters and I would allow that too, but I don't know which Rifter it is in (or if I have that Rifter). Also I am free all this week, if anyone interested in playing this game would like to chat, send me a message and I will give out my Discord info.

The current Ice Master psychic is the Cold born from the Sovietski RPE book. While I do own it, I'm saddly not allowed to share. The other Ice Master is in Rifter 19, in the article titled We Not All Mind Readers

Also, I'll throw my hat into the ring as a GM, but I'd probably want to run every to weeks so I can give this game the attention it deserves and so it doesn't detract from my current games. The life of a GM is one of ceaseless toil.

I would throw my hat in the GM ring also, but I know I don't have the time to do it properly and wouldn't ruin it for everyone. As a player, every second week is cool.

So some people have offered to GM, how are we deciding who is going to? Or are we going to make multiple games if there are enough GMs and players?

I can GM, but would rather play. Sadly if we mix the OCCs one BCT class wouldn't make sense.

I want to learn how to GM the proper way by playing with a knowledgeable group.....when I GM'd Palladium Fantasy RPG..( about 30 years ago) We played home rules and played more on RP than any real focus on rules...So this will be a learning experience for me...no matter which of you decide to take the helm.

Ok, we have 5 interested players (including myself) for this game and are now looking for a GM.  Or if Unfortunate wants to run we can try and get another player or two.  Either way I think I will create the game and post it for looking for one more, which could either be a GM or Player.  Once I have it created, I will send out invites to it for Unfortunate Son, D.W.G., Conor T., and Jason C..  I will set the Game for Monday September 4th at 6pm est, for now, we can change it once we decide on a permanent time and date.  It will be up later this evening.

I would also like to toss my hat in too....But,  for a FUTURE game of Palladium Fantasy RPG....DEPENDING....on how well I learn the RIFTS game and proper rules of play.... I have ALL of the books ( except the Rifters books) for that "Realm of High Fantasy"...Which is to the best of my knowledge...where it all started..at least it did for me and my kin.....so,.....we would have every option for  O.C.C.s and R.C.C.s for that Realm....Just something to think about down the line....if we ever decide to take a break from the Coalition....

 I know that there are plenty of C.s. people that are decent people but they aren't the second they pull the trigger on  innocent dbee's especially the infirm and children they cease having a "we're the good guys" status. The other fact is all the things that outright are ignored to carry the plot through.. when you ignore  half the source material to make you plot work and triple the population of one side and ignore the inability to manufacture that side. The war campaign happens. for the rest it has to be some optional  material thats not cannon to rifts.

Funny, cause PB staffers disagree with you, military historians disagree with you. The might of the CS disagrees with you. Hell, Tolkien's manufacturing is more expensive and no where near the power of the CS. Again, if only wish to shit on a game you have no intention of joining, take your troll ass elsewhere. You're worse then the doorknocker folks.

Once again Kane, you need to go back and reread things... More importantly, reread page 230 of Rifts: Ultimate Edition!  In the CORE BOOK for Rifts, the CREATOR of the system and setting would disagree with you.

Ah i see Your confusing R.U.E. as being a core book.

It’s the only  core book. Previous editions of  Rifts  have been supplanted by the Ultimate Edition, which is now presented to players as the definitive book defining the core setting. Every other book is optional. So says Kevin Siembieda. To quote page 371 of the Ultimate Edition: The Core Book Rifts® Role-Playing Game (the rule book) is, of course, a necessity. You can’t play without it. That’s what you're holding in your hands right now. If you haven’t bought it yet, I must recommend that you do so, but as Rifts® creator I’m a little biased. The Ultimate Edition is the latest version of this very popular game. ‘Nuff said.

Well...regardless of an individuals opinion...the creator says that the game and it's source materials are there as an outline for how it "could" be played ...nothing is set in stone....and as we have not started a game yet...then the arguments are moot....until we settle on a DM and "he/she" decides how the characters will interact and be interacted with in the story....lets focus on getting a game started before we see how the characters want to act in game....then we can see how the characters behavior in game and will effect the world around them...The CS scouts are said to sometimes group with non CS characters in times of need...also...we are forming a small tactical unit ...not building a whole platoon...so the options are unlimted...

Hi,  I am not able to play this game, yet I have been reading all the replies.  I'm really amazed at reading from people putting down this campaign idea.  Sounds fun.  I'm sure you all can have a blast.  All games succeed or fail by the individuals playing.  If the mix of people are right, the game will be as well.  Some of the detractors seem unable to comprehend that any game can make the plot or history different then published, or with a focus on one area or the other.  There is nothing wrong with that.  Happy gaming 😊

we'll as much as kane's a freind i must disagree with him here, I do wish you the best luck with this, its not my cup o'tea personally, but i suport all's right to play as they see fit. kudos, winterpaw.

Hey, are there Roll20 character sheets for us to use? Palladium/Rifts... Or is that something we will need to use pen and paper for? Just wondering....I have a character generation addiction that needs feeding. Lol.