Fresh Off the Rift (Iconic MARS Edge)

[Freemage]

We've occasionally discussed the pros and cons of characters from other published settings. The current standard, I believe, is that you can pick (with GM approval) an Edge or Race at creation that's from another setting, but once here you can only take TLPG and SWD edges, as normal. This is for characters who are a little more attuned to their old world....


Fresh Off the Rift [Iconic Background Edge]
Prerequisites: MARS, Special (see below)
So, you're from... someplace else. Someplace that creates heroes and villains. Maybe you were a cheerleader trying to stave off the Convergence; maybe you were a scientist seeking to extract the power of monsters to better fight them; maybe you were from a flooded world of pirates and sea hags; maybe you were gunslinger in a haunted and horrific version of the Old West. Wherever it was, you fought, you adventured, you triumphed gloriously or fell catastrophically. And then... a Rift opened, and you came here. And discovered that your grand adventures were just one tale on a much, much larger stage than you'd ever imagined.
This Edge MUST be taken at character creation, and not with the MARS Advances. Select a published Savage Worlds Setting (your GM must approve the selection) that your character is from. When you pick this Edge, you may take any Edge from that setting that you qualify for (Born a Hero applies normally). In addition, going forward, you can take other Edges from that setting that you qualify for as part of normal Advances.
There is a downside, however--you automatically have the Clueless Hindrance (with no extra points gained), as Rifts Earth is far outside anything you'd even considered, and you just have no frame of reference to comprehend what you're dealing with. You can "go native" by buying off the Hindrance with an Advance, but when you do, you cease to be able to take new Edges from your old home--you've adapted too fully to this world.
Special Note: You should choose your MARS package sensibly. City Rats and Headhunters, for instance, should not come from worlds without cybernetics, and Psi-Operators can't come from worlds where no one has Psionics. Vagabonds, Rogue Scholars and Personal Concept Options can come from anyplace. If there's a sufficiently obvious analog, you can negotiate with the GM (for instance, Rippers could possibly substitute Rippertech implants and lore for cybernetic equivalents). Likewise, you can be of any Race from that setting, but cannot choose those that are specific to Rifts Earth; if you selected a Race that is visibly non-human, take the appropriate level of Obvious D-Bee and negotiate with your GM for a suitable balancing boost.

[Venatus Vinco]

Approved.

[High Command]

I don't disagree in concept with this. In fact I think it's quite appropriate, but this is more of GM-Player compact than a hard fast rule. But perhaps we can include it as an option to pursue with the GM during the concept phase. But one that's approved by a GM on a case by case basis - based solely on Concept and GM buy in

[Freemage]

And I've been persuaded that this is better as a 'possible starting point for GM/player discussion' than an actual site-wide House Rule. Withdrawn.