Savage Brainstorming: Rifts Tattoo Magic
Arcane Background (T-Man)
Requirements: Novice, Human or Ogre, Spirit d6+, Vigor d6+
Arcane Skill: Tattoo Activation (Spirit)
Starting PPE: 15
Starting Powers: Summon Ally or Summon Weapon and two others
Available Powers: Armor*, Blind, Bolt, Boost Trait*, Damage Field*, Darksight*, Deflection*, Detect Arcana, Elemental Manipulation (air and fire only), Environmental Protection*, Farsight*, Fly*, Greater Healing, Healing, Quickness*, Smite*, Speak Language*, Speed*, Summon Ally**, Summon Weapon**, Warrior's Gift*
*Self only
**See below
Tattoo magic traces its origins to the now nearly extinct Chiang-Ku dragons, who in turn taught it to the True Atlanteans. Since then, its secrets have been acquired by the Splurgorth, who use it for the enhancement of slave warriors. Unless indoctrinated from an early age, most T-Men chafe under such bondage and will escape if and when the opportunity presents itself. Therefore, rogue T-Men aren't especially unusual.
Tattoo magic works in the standard fashion for Arcane Backgrounds. However, it is necessary to directly touch the tattoo to activate it. This means that most forms of worn armor will interfere with the use of tattoo magic (but see Inner Focus below). A T-Man's Armor power does not get in the way. The Armor power from other Arcane Backgrounds may or may not depending on the trappings. A tattoo that is currently activated cannot be activated a second time while it is active (this is especially important regarding the Summon Ally and Summon Weapon powers).
Old Twinge: If a one is rolled on the Tattoo Activation roll (regardless of the Wild Die result), the pain from receiving the tattoo flares up. The T-Man becomes Shaken, which can cause a Wound.
Finding someone to apply new tattoos can be a tricky proposition. The only place where such services are readily available is Atlantis. Should the T-Man be an escaped slave, this could bring up some complications. Even if this isn't an issue, unless there is a monstrous being to vouch for him, the T-Man should expect to pay through the nose. The only other option is to attempt to locate a True Atlantean alchemist, typically in a sizable magic community like Lazlo.
Getting a magic tattoo hurts a lot more than a regular tattoo. When receiving modification to the Summon Ally and Summon Weapon powers (see power descriptions for details), the T-Man takes a level of Fatigue. This is automatically recovered after a full day of rest. Otherwise, a successful Vigor roll at the end of the day is needed, with a -2 being applied if the T-Man engaged in any heavy exertion. Receiving any other power results in a Wound. Any skill roll made to immediately treat the Wound have an additional -1 applied.
New and Modified Powers
Summon Ally
This works identically to the power from the Savage Worlds Core Book, but with the following modifications. The power is restricted to non-sentient creatures, both normal animals and more monstrous creatures. The creature summoned is actually an ectoplasmic construct, which gets the Construct and Fearless abilities in addition to its normal abilities. When this power is first taken, the T-Man has six points to spend in determining what creatures he has tattooed on himself and can therefore bring forth. Each animal costs one point while each monster (defined as a non-sentient creatures that wasn't known to exist on Earth during the Time of Man) costs two points. Multiple tattoos of the same creature cannot be taken. The Mega Power variant is called Summon Greater Ally. For an additional three PPE, the summoned creature is a Wild Card.
The following table determines how much PPE and what rank is needed to acquire a creature as a tattoo (monsters cost an additional point of PPE to activate):
Cost
Rank
Type
3
Novice
Human-sized or smaller
4
Seasoned
Up to Size +3
5
Veteran
Up to Size +5
6
Heroic
Up to Size +8
7
Legendary
Up to Size +10
Summon Weapon
Rank: Novice
Power Points: 1+Edges
Range: Self
Duration: 3/1 per round
When activated, the weapon depicted in the tattoo appears in the T-Man's hand. The type of weapons that can be summoned are restricted to melee weapons that rely on muscle power to inflict damage (no vibroblades or neural maces). When this power is first taken, the T-Man has six points to spend in determining what weapons he has tattooed on himself and can therefore bring forth. Each weapon costs one point. For an additional point, a weapon will provide a Combat Edge appropriate for the weapon for the wielder, with a maximum of three to a weapon. In the case of tiered Edges, the base Edge must be applied first to take the Improved version. A T-Man cannot have two completely identical weapons. For instance, he couldn't have two short swords with Improved Frenzy and Block, but could have a short sword with Improved Frenzy and Block and another short sword with Improved Frenzy and First Strike. The Mega Power variant is called Summon Magic Weapon. For an additional two PPE, the weapon will inflict Mega Damage.
T-Man Edges
Hardened Skin
Requirements: Novice, Vigor d8+
The magic energies which infuse your tattoos have enhanced the durability of your skin. You have two points of M.D.C. Armor, which stacks with other armor.
Improved Hardened Skin
Requirements: Seasoned, Hardened Skin
As above, but you have four points of M.D.C. Armor.
Inner Focus
Requirements: Veteran, Spirit d8+
The T-Man is so in tune with the mystic energies of his tattoos that he no longer needs to touch them to activate them.
More Critters
Requirements: Novice
You get four more points to spend on additional creatures to summon with your Summon Ally power. This Edge can be taken multiple times.
More Weapons
Requirements: Novice
You get four more points to spend on additional weapons and Edges for your Summon Weapon power. This Edge can be taken multiple times.
Quick Summon
Requirements: Novice, Summon Weapon power
If you get a raise on the Tattoo Activation roll when summoning a weapon, it counts as a Free Action.
Requirements: Novice, Human or Ogre, Spirit d6+, Vigor d6+
Arcane Skill: Tattoo Activation (Spirit)
Starting PPE: 15
Starting Powers: Summon Ally or Summon Weapon and two others
Available Powers: Armor*, Blind, Bolt, Boost Trait*, Damage Field*, Darksight*, Deflection*, Detect Arcana, Elemental Manipulation (air and fire only), Environmental Protection*, Farsight*, Fly*, Greater Healing, Healing, Quickness*, Smite*, Speak Language*, Speed*, Summon Ally**, Summon Weapon**, Warrior's Gift*
*Self only
**See below
Tattoo magic traces its origins to the now nearly extinct Chiang-Ku dragons, who in turn taught it to the True Atlanteans. Since then, its secrets have been acquired by the Splurgorth, who use it for the enhancement of slave warriors. Unless indoctrinated from an early age, most T-Men chafe under such bondage and will escape if and when the opportunity presents itself. Therefore, rogue T-Men aren't especially unusual.
Tattoo magic works in the standard fashion for Arcane Backgrounds. However, it is necessary to directly touch the tattoo to activate it. This means that most forms of worn armor will interfere with the use of tattoo magic (but see Inner Focus below). A T-Man's Armor power does not get in the way. The Armor power from other Arcane Backgrounds may or may not depending on the trappings. A tattoo that is currently activated cannot be activated a second time while it is active (this is especially important regarding the Summon Ally and Summon Weapon powers).
Old Twinge: If a one is rolled on the Tattoo Activation roll (regardless of the Wild Die result), the pain from receiving the tattoo flares up. The T-Man becomes Shaken, which can cause a Wound.
Finding someone to apply new tattoos can be a tricky proposition. The only place where such services are readily available is Atlantis. Should the T-Man be an escaped slave, this could bring up some complications. Even if this isn't an issue, unless there is a monstrous being to vouch for him, the T-Man should expect to pay through the nose. The only other option is to attempt to locate a True Atlantean alchemist, typically in a sizable magic community like Lazlo.
Getting a magic tattoo hurts a lot more than a regular tattoo. When receiving modification to the Summon Ally and Summon Weapon powers (see power descriptions for details), the T-Man takes a level of Fatigue. This is automatically recovered after a full day of rest. Otherwise, a successful Vigor roll at the end of the day is needed, with a -2 being applied if the T-Man engaged in any heavy exertion. Receiving any other power results in a Wound. Any skill roll made to immediately treat the Wound have an additional -1 applied.
New and Modified Powers
Summon Ally
This works identically to the power from the Savage Worlds Core Book, but with the following modifications. The power is restricted to non-sentient creatures, both normal animals and more monstrous creatures. The creature summoned is actually an ectoplasmic construct, which gets the Construct and Fearless abilities in addition to its normal abilities. When this power is first taken, the T-Man has six points to spend in determining what creatures he has tattooed on himself and can therefore bring forth. Each animal costs one point while each monster (defined as a non-sentient creatures that wasn't known to exist on Earth during the Time of Man) costs two points. Multiple tattoos of the same creature cannot be taken. The Mega Power variant is called Summon Greater Ally. For an additional three PPE, the summoned creature is a Wild Card.
The following table determines how much PPE and what rank is needed to acquire a creature as a tattoo (monsters cost an additional point of PPE to activate):
Cost
Rank
Type
3
Novice
Human-sized or smaller
4
Seasoned
Up to Size +3
5
Veteran
Up to Size +5
6
Heroic
Up to Size +8
7
Legendary
Up to Size +10
Summon Weapon
Rank: Novice
Power Points: 1+Edges
Range: Self
Duration: 3/1 per round
When activated, the weapon depicted in the tattoo appears in the T-Man's hand. The type of weapons that can be summoned are restricted to melee weapons that rely on muscle power to inflict damage (no vibroblades or neural maces). When this power is first taken, the T-Man has six points to spend in determining what weapons he has tattooed on himself and can therefore bring forth. Each weapon costs one point. For an additional point, a weapon will provide a Combat Edge appropriate for the weapon for the wielder, with a maximum of three to a weapon. In the case of tiered Edges, the base Edge must be applied first to take the Improved version. A T-Man cannot have two completely identical weapons. For instance, he couldn't have two short swords with Improved Frenzy and Block, but could have a short sword with Improved Frenzy and Block and another short sword with Improved Frenzy and First Strike. The Mega Power variant is called Summon Magic Weapon. For an additional two PPE, the weapon will inflict Mega Damage.
T-Man Edges
Hardened Skin
Requirements: Novice, Vigor d8+
The magic energies which infuse your tattoos have enhanced the durability of your skin. You have two points of M.D.C. Armor, which stacks with other armor.
Improved Hardened Skin
Requirements: Seasoned, Hardened Skin
As above, but you have four points of M.D.C. Armor.
Inner Focus
Requirements: Veteran, Spirit d8+
The T-Man is so in tune with the mystic energies of his tattoos that he no longer needs to touch them to activate them.
More Critters
Requirements: Novice
You get four more points to spend on additional creatures to summon with your Summon Ally power. This Edge can be taken multiple times.
More Weapons
Requirements: Novice
You get four more points to spend on additional weapons and Edges for your Summon Weapon power. This Edge can be taken multiple times.
Quick Summon
Requirements: Novice, Summon Weapon power
If you get a raise on the Tattoo Activation roll when summoning a weapon, it counts as a Free Action.