Quote from: Bloodwolf;836264I think I'm one of the few people who like mega-damage.

When I first heard about MDC, I thought of every powergamer I had ever met rolled up into one horrible cliche.  

Then I saw it in action.  One competent GM ran Robotech.  Another incredibly smart GM ran Rifts at a convention.  Both of them used the mechanics in ways that created fun games.  The mechanics themselves justify big stompy robots being in the same place as squishy humanoids.

I grew to like it, too.

Count me in as one of those people who likes MDC.

I've actually never played any of the MDC games so all I hear is disparagement for the most part. I'm more a N&SS or HU type.  Never gave a squirt of piss about Rifts or Robotech. How does MDC work? Isn't it 100 SDC = 1 MDC?

Quote from: Matt;836704I've actually never played any of the MDC games so all I hear is disparagement for the most part. I'm more a N&SS or HU type.  Never gave a squirt of piss about Rifts or Robotech. How does MDC work? Isn't it 100 SDC = 1 MDC?

Basically.

Quote from: Matt;836704I've actually never played any of the MDC games so all I hear is disparagement for the most part. I'm more a N&SS or HU type.  Never gave a squirt of piss about Rifts or Robotech. How does MDC work? Isn't it 100 SDC = 1 MDC?

Not quite.  The conceit is that yes, 100 S.D.C. does equate 1 M.D.C. but the difference is that non-MDC weapons will not scratch an MDC object.

So an SDC rocket launcher can do MILLIONS of points of damage, but it won't harm an object that has a single point of MDC.  Supposedly.

All I know about Palladium's RPGs is that they use perfect binding for their books. And I'm a huge fan of perfect binding. I wish SJGames had gone that route for all their GURPS sourcebooks.

I like MDC and honestly there is always something meaner and nastier to throw at your players.

I also like the whole XP system of the Pallaoium which is about solving problems, using skills and overcome obstacles and the fact that a level 6 PC is rather high leveled (My highest leveled PC was 5 and I had a blast with him).

Honestly, I think that the bad rep of Palladium comes from Kevin's shenanigans like his  oover the top protectiveness of his IPs, his legendary lateness (Mechanoid Space, anyone ?) which might be see as a part of his charm (or not).

The original corebook of Rifts, the first 2 world books, the mechaniod sourcebook and the frist 2 Phase world books are like gems to me and they are the pinnacle of what Palladium can produce (The first 4 Nightbane books are excellent too and I am not familiar with Palladium Fantasy).

Quote from: Shawn Driscoll;836736All I know about Palladium's RPGs is that they use perfect binding for their books. And I'm a huge fan of perfect binding. I wish SJGames had gone that route for all their GURPS sourcebooks.

Is that the term for it?  The binding on Palladium's books are outstanding.  I've never encountered soft cover bindings that were more durable than the ones they use.  The only other stitched softcover I can think of is the new Savage Worlds Deluxe Explorer's Edition.  

The covers on Palladium's books will probably de-laminate, but that binding will not fail. Why other companies have not hunted down the print shop they use and get them to produce books is beyond me.  There's nothing worse than a game book to disintegrate while using.

Seriously, Palladium's books are the Glocks of the rpg book world.

Quote from: Christopher Brady;836733Not quite.  The conceit is that yes, 100 S.D.C. does equate 1 M.D.C. but the difference is that non-MDC weapons will not scratch an MDC object.

So an SDC rocket launcher can do MILLIONS of points of damage, but it won't harm an object that has a single point of MDC.  Supposedly.

Not quite. Any single attack that does over 100 SD in one instance will do 1 MD. A stream of bullets wouldn't work, but that rocket would. Are there even SD rocket launchers in MDC games?

Quote from: AxesnOrcs;836772Are there even SD rocket launchers in MDC games?

The Mercenaries book has a section (Golden Age Weaponsmiths (I think)) which explains that one can use an older SD rocket launcher to fire modified MD ammunition.  The damage is like 1d4x5 or something similar.

It also explains that the few tanks from the present can be modified with MD armor, but are not themselves initially MD.

So, I guess if the weaponry exists, the original SD ammunition must exist as well.

Quote from: AxesnOrcs;836772Not quite. Any single attack that does over 100 SD in one instance will do 1 MD. A stream of bullets wouldn't work, but that rocket would. Are there even SD rocket launchers in MDC games?

Not sure. The core rulebook lists a pre-Rifts, 20th Century rocket launcher's damage as "1D4 x 100 SDC or 1D4 MD" so make of that what you will.

Me, I'm on the fence about MDC. I used to live it but now I wonder whether Rifts wouldn't be better off if MDC was restricted to really big mecha and monsters, or done away with altogether.

If you are Palladium fan, I suggest checking out Splicers. It's their Biotech vs. Terminators RPG which has great chargen and exciting ideas, but as reviews have noted, there is a lot of work for the GM to do to create the setting for their campaign. If that playstyle is up your alley, Splicers delivers a great deal of gonzo fun.

SPLICERS (check out the images)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splicers

PB Page
http://palladium-store.com/1001/product/200-Splicers-RPG.html

DriveThru
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/64205/Splicers

Quote from: The Butcher;836824Not sure. The core rulebook lists a pre-Rifts, 20th Century rocket launcher's damage as "1D4 x 100 SDC or 1D4 MD" so make of that what you will.

The concept is even if you do 99 SDC damage, it only scratches the paint on an MDC item (no damage). Only when you tick over the hundred mark (or multiples of 100), will SDC weapons harm MDC items.

(i.e. a dozen guys fire rocket launchers at a single Coalition trooper in standard Deadboy armor (50 MDC); barring criticals (or the blasts throwing the soldier off a roof or something), the max damage will be 4800 SDC, or 48 MDC. Coalition soldier stands back up, and proceeds to murder the squad with his MDC laser pistol (1d6 MD, or rather 1d6x100 SDC damage).

...and that's why I use a 1:10 ratio instead.

Quote from: Christopher Brady;836733Not quite.  The conceit is that yes, 100 S.D.C. does equate 1 M.D.C. but the difference is that non-MDC weapons will not scratch an MDC object.

So an SDC rocket launcher can do MILLIONS of points of damage, but it won't harm an object that has a single point of MDC.  Supposedly.

Not true. The original rule book lists SDC rocket launchers as doing 1d4 and 1d6 x 100 SDC, or 1d4/1d6 MDC with a hit.

In fact, there are several weapons throughout the many books that are listed as both SD and MD due to the high amount of SDC inflicted.

If an SDC attack does over 100 damage in a single hit, it inflicts MD. The point of MDC is to prevent someone attacking a tank or giant robot by throwing a baseball at it and inflicting damage, because that would be silly.

If you want to gripe about damage within the combat system, look at an ICBM with a nuke; 3d6x10 MD with a blast radius of 50 feet.

The real problem with MDC and "modern combat" in Palladium's system is that it was written to be more gritty and "realistic," (in Kevin Siembieda's words) than the actual setting, which is over the top and ridiculous (in mostly a good way).

What Palladium got right? I've always been fond of the melee hand to hand combat system from Ninja's and Superspies, specifically. I like being able to make specific attacks and defend against them in like manner.