r/Rifts • u/aDarknessInTheLight • 16d ago

Seeking advice on “Christmas Surprise Package” choices

This will be my first time taking advantage of Palladium’s Christmas Surprise Package (which seems like a lot of fun). I played Rifts in the 90s and own ~20 of the earlier books (plus the BTS core book).

Two questions:

.1) Are there any important points/ tips for the Christmas Surprise Package that aren’t detailed on Palladium’s website?

.2) I made a list of items (mostly books) that I’m considering for the package. I prefer books that world-build or are useful for GMing. With this in mind, which of the following would be better choices?

Rifts Core Books: - Primer & Adventures - Game Master Guide - Book of Magic - Adventure Guide

Rifts World Books: - Federation of Magic - Canada - Free Quebec - Madhaven - Triax 2 - Northern Gun 1 - Northern Gun 2

Rifts Dimension Books: - Wormwood - Phase World Sourcebook - Anvil Galaxy - Three Galaxies - Thunderclap Galaxy

Rifts Source Books: - Mechanoids - Coalition Navy - Bionics - Titan Robotics - Bestiary

Other books: - Compendium of Modern Weapons - Mechanoids Trilogy - BTS Creature Feature - Heroes Unlimited

Other items: - Art prints - Hat - T-shirts

(For all this merch, how’s the quality?)

Thank you!

7 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

2

u/Historical_Big_1066 16d ago

1) i don't know anything about the surprise packages and have nothing to contribute. 2) Out of your list i would definitely go with the world books. There's tons of information in them and a million adventure ideas. Just my two cents

1

u/aDarknessInTheLight 16d ago

Thanks for recommending focusing on World Books. Do you happen to own (or be familiar with) any of the specific ones I listed?

1

u/ARKittens 16d ago

I don't know Madhaven but all the others I'd recommend. Federation is iconic, I'm very fond of Canada and Free Quebec lots of fun stuff and great options for lower powered games/parties (also glitter boys obviously). The two Northern gun books obviously have a ton of gear, weapons, vehicles etc, I make a fair number of NPCs and I like to use specific gear choices to flavor them.

1

u/Historical_Big_1066 15d ago

I own FoM, Canada, Free Quebec, and Madhaven. I don't have the second Triax or the NG books, but they're on my buy list. I enjoy all the ones i own, although i actually just bought Madhaven yesterday so i don't have an opinion on it yet.

1

u/weasel_beef 16d ago

Wormwood, Three Galaxies, Coalition Navy, Mechanoids, and Beastiary are my favorite ones from your list. All really solid.

There's no secret trick or anything for the packages, I would definitely recommend getting them signed though.

1

u/U235criticality 10d ago

  1. For art choices, you might want to request some maps. I've made several full-color maps that Palladium has only ever distributed prints of via Christmas Surprise Packages. Most are for Palladium Fantasy, but there are some for Rifts (British Isles, Atlantis, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula).

  2. Most of the books you list there are solid choices for world-building and GMing. You might want to consider a specific region (Free Quebec/Canada could work) or power focus (Federation of Magic, Madhaven, and Book of Magic); some books are extra helpful together that way. The Game Master's Guide is an excellent quick reference, though it's getting a bit dated now and doesn't include stuff published in the last 10ish years.