Chaos Earth: a stand alone game?

[Dr. Doom III]

No.
Not in the slightest.
It is more of a Source Book for Rifts by far.

Let us compare Chaos Earth with the Rifts Main Book.

They are both set in the same world so the comparison is valid.

The Rifts main book has good guy, bad guy and indifferent character classes, psionics, magic and monsters (including a random demon generator.

Chaos Earth has NEMA.

Can you play a game with the Rifts main book alone?
Yep but not with Chaos Earth.

Is basically a source book with skills as filler to drive up page count/price.

This is no judgment on the book as a source book but don't be fooled. It is not a stand-alone game.

[Iron Bonny Shades]

yep, I thought it could have been better since it pretty much felt like a source book for rifts.

[Slag]

I'm waiting to see how things stack up when all three books are released, but in general it seems like it might be good for an adventure or two...not so much for longer campaigns.

It's prolly meant to be a "full RPG" in the long run (i.e. when all the books are released, assuming they don't "Land of the Damned" it), but they're releasing it incrementally 'cause they need the money right now.

[DustinFireblade]

I think it could be a stand alone game. Just as it is it reminds me greatly of TSR's (very)old Star Frontiers game. The only source book you would need is the Cont. Weapons Book.

It is possible to play a game without magic, psi powers or monsters. May not be as fun, but it is possible.

Now all that said, it will be better with additional books to support it. I thought it was a good book, just cut short. Throw in that random monster generator from the back of the RMB would have been good, a little more info on NA, and some guidelines for civilians(skills and what not)

As far as magic goes I doubt if I will get any CE magic book, as I have enough info from the Rifter and Rifts BoM for spells. Same goes for psi-powers. I may buy those NEMA Mission books described in the back of CE, and I did buy the Creatures of Chaos book, as that can also be used in Rifts.

[Omote]

Obviously CE was all a marketing scheme to sell books! I still like CE very much, but there is no doubt that it is only a sourcebook.

But, just because the people @ Palladium marketed the game one way, should detract from the great RPing that can be had in such a setting.

I personally think Chaos Earth can be a very strong setting, and almost unique on it's own.

My thought was that CE should have been marketed as a "slam-Bang" prequel to RIFTS. Up the hype on the prequel aspect, i think it might have sold better, and had better praise for doing so.

.......................Omote