Rifts and Gates:
Rifts and Gates are similar yet different. So are Rifting and Gating.
Rifts and Rifting:
A Rift is a portal between two Planes in which anyone can pass through. Example: in 596 ER, due to the actions of Malcolm and the Brotherhood of the Scorpion, a Rift to the plane of Chaos opened in the center of Ashbury, a Duchy of Evendarr. Since the Rift existed on both Tyrra and the plane of chaos, the Elementals and their undead soldiers stepped through the Rift and brought Chaos, Disorder, and Anarchy to the lands. The Rift was closed almost 6 months later by brave and stout adventurers.
Some Creatures and magic items can open a Rift between two Planes.
Rifting is a travel method between two planes that one individual may perform, though that one individual may take others. Example: in order to save the adventurers from certain death at the hands of Necromancers, the Order Elemental Rifted himself and the entire group from the swamps of Jhivantane to the Plane of Order.
If a creature has the ability to Rift 3 times per day, they could Rift himself and several others onto the battlefield (1), then Rift himself back to there plane (2) and if then Rift back to the battlefield (3 after being healed on their own plane. The creature would not have the ability to rift out again. Gate and Gating:
Gates and Gating:
A Gate is a portal between two Places on the same plane that anyone can pass through. Example: The adventuring party from the Duchy of Tyrangel in the Kingdom of Evendarr stepped through the Gate into Valerheim, the capitol city of the Neridian Duchies.
Some Creatures and Magic Items can open a gate between two places.
Gating is a travel method between two points on the same plane that one individual may perform, though that one person may take others. Example: The Liche Gated himself and his undead monstrosities into the wooded area just outside the small City of Don Wise, in the Duchy of Therendry, in the Kingdom of Evendarr.
If a creature has the ability to Gate 3 times per day it can Gate from the battle field to behind the Healers guild (1). The Creature could then Gate out from Healers Guild and Gate into the Mages Guild (2) and it could use their third Gate to gate out from the Mages Guild to anywhere on the same plane (3).