This is still and always will be a classic. Adding PDF copies of the book to my collection was a no brainer.

I had the old rule book long ago, and decided to get back into the game with this update. The main reason I see to get this one instead of the old one is the updated rule set, which is the last portion of the book. Rules for magic/psi have their own sections earlier in the book. The rules as written are still kind of clunky, but everything is there... except for the fact that there's still no rules (or guidance of examples) of how movement works during combat. However, there is a free Palladium fantasy Paper Miniatures PDF that does specify how to do that. So contained in this book is pretty much a core rule book for Palladium Games, including things that will probably never come up in RIFTS itself like human hit points and AR.

Changes appear to include the fact that SDC weapons can now damage MDC armor/structures given a huge amount of SDC. So MDC is now just a multiplier. I bet the difference won't come up very much and I suspect has something to do with a tank and a fairy. Also MDC armor is now a plot element instead of just a armor simplification. Attacks per melee for an untrained person appear to be 1.

The story is updated, but the only difference, far as I can tell, is that Tolkeen has fallen, and the coalition is more aggressive. Though there are pictures of the updated equipment, the stats are not in here. So just know that you will be playing the older time if you only have this book. Just ignore all the stuff about Tolkeen and you're good. In retrospect, one of the goals of the book is to know what the other books add to the game.

There is a new OCC called an elemental fusionist. This guys balances 2 opposing elemental forces. It is annoying the books says that some of the spells must be looked up in the RIFTS book of magic, but there's still a ton left to that OCC if you just ignore that paragraph. There is also some new background info on glitterboy pilots.

I'm guessing it's just rolling up all the little changes that crept up in the other books over time. Perhaps in the equipment listings, spiky things that do extra damage in later books do damage right up front. I can't confirm that but it would be nice if they made everything constant.

GREAT PDF of the original book. Nice to have it on computer/laptop for easy access.

Rifts is a terrific setting, unfortunately shackled to the godawful Palladium RPG system.

There are lots of wonderful creatures and concepts, and I own dozens of the various sourcebooks. The Coalition States are developed in this book, along with a smattering of other nations. The character classes are very diverse and entertaining. But it can be a challenge to balance a party around characters like the Glitter Boy (can shoot through buildings), or a Dragon Hatchling (actual dragon and inherently an MDC creature) and a Rogue Scholar, whose special power is literacy.

The basic tenants of the combat system, and power creep since the first edition, also lead to either a slow combat consisting of whittling down the opponent's hit points/armor, or an over-reliance on called shots. When normal players have hundreds of hitpoints, and boss monsters have thousands or tens of thousands of hitpoints, something seems a bit off-kilter.

Another example of the problems with the system is the Strength stat. There are 4 different types of strength: normal, augmented, robot and supernatural. Each one of them has its own lifting, carrying, and damage progressions.

The layout of the books is poor, with sections scattered about in no particular order. It is good that it start with the background and setting, because that is frankly the best part. Then there are some character classes, then some psionic powers and magic spells, then some more character classes, then some equipment lists. And only then do they get to the section on how to actually create a character.

I do recommend buying these books, but only as a sourcebook for other systems such as FATE, GURPS, or Hero with more rational mechanics.

Rifts is a fantastic setting, but unfortunately this book does not quite live up to its name.

The original Rifts main book was a thing of beauty - it brought you right into the topic of creating a character, by far the most difficult part of starting out with Rifts as a game in general. The intervening years have seen massive growth in the game world, and certainly the Ultimate Edition reflects that - many individual sections show small refinements, and there are definitely useful additions to the core classes and gear within.

The problem, however, is that in adding all of the extra material the authors have forsaken the character-first layout. The Ultimate Edition details nearly everything in the Rifts setting prior to discussing even the rolling of attributes. It has become incredibly difficult to navigate the book now, and finding the rules that govern actual play is nigh impossible.

I am not entirely sorry I purchased this book, if only for the extra material, but I don't think the Rifts newcomer should spend the extra money when the original main book is so much easier and more enjoyable to use.

I think it's a great book to have, if you're into the Palladium universe. It puts together things in a good way and it's updated. The character classes have been expanded a little bit and it's the one book you need in order to be able to run most things. When the group I play with got together, we have two copies of this book, but a third copy as digital copy really made A big difference.

Awesome thanks again. Good quality and keep up the good work.