Palladium Books® Weekly Update – February 7, 2013

By Kevin Siembieda

Getting a lot done. Writing up a storm, created a new advertisement, reviewing and approving Robotech® game pieces and other content, engaging in telephone conferences, and keeping the art and development on several projects continuing to move forward on all fronts. Whew. On top of that, as current books in the pipeline draw closer to completion, the excitement is electric. We are loving where things are heading and believe you are going to be very pleased with the final products.

The item I want to lead off with is that the Rifter® Super-Subscription offer ends soon. Those of you who wait for this – once a year – offer to re-subscribe have less than two weeks left to do so. Offer ends February 20, 2013, and we do NOT extend it. Time is running out.

Thinking about subscribing for the first time? This is the time to do it, when you get a FREE gift worth $20 or more. Every issue of The Rifter® offers a wealth of material for specific settings, but most of it can be easily adapted to any world setting and provides ideas for adventures, villains and fun. A 96 page sourcebook for only $9.95, delivered to your door at no additional cost – in the USA only (you pay shipping to other countries). That’s a deal nobody can beat. Plus you get a free gift!! What are you waiting for? Order today.

Can you survive the zombie apocalypse?

Yes, you think so?

There is only one way to find out: Play the Dead Reign™ RPG. The core rule book is all you need to start gaming. Rules are easy. Character creation is fast and fun. Combat, quick and deadly. Survivial? Harder than you may think. I know this isn’t a new product, but it’s one we are excited about and gamers are loving. And with the second half of the new season of the Walking Dead TV show starting on Sunday, zombies and survival are on the minds of zombie fans everywhere. This game is tons of fun and it’s about more than destroying zombies. Check it out, you won’t be sorry.

A reckoning is coming . . .

Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook will bring it on. I’ve been filled with an array of emotions as I write this book. Shock and excitement over the Doc Reid introduction, fear when I think about how the vampires will respond. Confidence and smiles as I update Reid’s Rangers and present new Vampire Hunter O.C.C.s. Giddiness over all the new toys (magic, weapons, armor, gear) and hope for the fictional people of Mexico (and for the future of Palladium Books). But mostly, I’m filled with excitement and joy as the book gets closer to completion. I can hardly wait to get it and the next four books into your hands.

I have made a lot of headway on Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook this week and over the weekend. I’m so pumped up that I can’t help but to feel it’s pretty awesome. It presents a lot of new material that should give gamers goose bumps, make them cheer and, at times, leave them thinking, “Oh my gosh” or “yeow.” I have finished the sections on werebeasts and new Vampire Hunter O.C.C.s (which includes Mage Vampire Hunters, Werecat Vampire Hunters, Bandit Vampire Hunters, and notes on D-Bees, Necromancers and Native American heroes), as well as the new magic, weapons and characters that have sprung from the imagination of Chris Kluge (Hunting Magic, the Metamorphic Bone Weapons and Bone Jaguars, along with Soulcraft magic, Dark Weapons, Dark Armor, Iron Zombies and the Iron Guard). I’ve also finished writing the opening to the book featuring Doc Reid, and if it doesn’t get your heart pumping, I don’t know what will. I want Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook to blow people away and I think this book will do just that.

Rifts® World Book 13: Rifts® Lone Star – Coming back in print next week

Rifts® Lone Star has been out of print for only a few weeks. That last run of Grab Bags wiped out the remaining inventory. As promised, this fan favorite will be available as a short printing by Wednesday, February 13th. This is a pivotal and fun world book that lays the groundwork about the fabled Coalition Genetics Laboratories where Dog Boys are created, grown and trained. You also get insight into the mind of Doctor Bradford, the mastermind behind the operation. (More is revealed in the Rifts® Machinations of Doom sourcebook and graphic novel.) So there is all kinds of detailed info about Dog Boys as well as other types of mutant experiments, plus the State of Lone Star and some notable people and places. Lots of adventure ideas. See the full description elsewhere.

Rifts® World Book 25: Rifts® China 2 – Available now

Rifts® China 2 arrived from the printer on and will be available as a short printing by Wednesday, February 6th. This is another fun world book with a wide range of source material by the late, great, Erick Wujcik. There are martial arts and dozens of Martial Arts Powers, magic weapons, the Celestial Court, the high-tech Geofront, and a wide range of unique O.C.C.s like the Demon Queller, Enlightened Demon (yes, as a player character), Goblin Wrangler, Blind Mystic, Soothsayer, Chi-Gun Seng Ren Monk, and other goodies. I’m glad this book is back in print. It was one of the last things Erick wrote for Palladium and is outstanding. See the full description elsewhere.

Rifts® Aftermath – Available now

Rifts® Aftermath has been available for a couple weeks now. Rifts® Aftermath is packed with setting information and adventure ideas for Rifts North America and Rifts Earth in general. See the full description elsewhere.

UPDATE: More Titles Are Coming Back in Print

We’ll be making a number of other out of print titles available in the months to come, including Adventures on the High Seas™ for Palladium Fantasy®, Chaos Earth™: Rise of Magic™ and others.

UPDATE: Dead Reign RPG and The Rifter® #61 Sneak Previews are now available on DriveThruRPG.com

I’m not ready to give you a sneak preview of Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook (maybe in another week or so), but we are happy to give you a FREE sneak preview of the Dead Reign™ RPG as well as the preview of The Rifter® #61 available now. In fact, you can enjoy a FREE Sneak Preview of a growing number of popular Palladium titles including Rifts® Black Market, Rifts® Lemuria, Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms™, Thundercloud Galaxy™, Endless Dead™, and more.

DriveThruRPG.com is also your place to get PDFs of older products. Many back issues of The Rifter® are available on DriveThruRPG.com (issues #1-52), as are more than 90 out of print titles such as Rifts®, BTS™ and Palladium Fantasy® first edition rule books and sourcebooks. There are some currently available titles too, like the Splicers® RPG, The Mechanoid Invasion® Trilogy and other good stuff. And we have not forgotten about the PDF only editions of The Rifter® #0.1 and The Rifter® #0.2 – both are big, juicy digital editions of new, fan created material for the Palladium Megaverse® of games.

DriveThruRPG.com also offers the Rifts® and Palladium Fantasy® Game Master Kits ($5 each; both written by Carl Gleba and complete with maps, combat matrix, character sheets, spell list, and 20 pre-rolled characters created by Julius Rosenstein), and lots of other good things. ALL available as PDF downloads at reasonable prices. And there is MORE to come.

UPDATE: Northern Gun One

I’m meeting with author Matthew Clements to get him to tweak and finish a few things. Meanwhile, Chuck Walton and, now, other artists, continue to design new robots, vehicles and equipment. The two Northern Gun books are going to be epic. Some of the O.C.C. art continues to come in as well.

UPDATE: Robotech® UEEF Marines Sourcebook One

The book is almost done. The preliminary draft for our perusal has been submitted and I’ll get the author’s final draft next week. Boy is this book good. More on it later.

UPDATE: Robotech® RPG Tactics

We had a fantastic, 2½ hour, multi-person conference call last Friday with the core members of the design team. Wayne, Alex and I participated on Palladium’s end and there were four folks on the other end. We saw a new, excellent cover concept drawing, several new 3D models for mecha and we discussed the many aspects of the project, milestones and play-testing, among other things. Robotech® RPG Tactics™: Defense of Macross Island™ and the initial release of expansion sets are going to be outstanding. As I’ve said, all the key people involved on this project are, themselves, Robotech® fans and it shows in the quality that is being produced. We want to make a beautiful and fun game and pieces that will thrill Robotech® fans everywhere. From RPG players to wargamers, to Robotech® fans who don’t give a hoot about the game and just want figures to put on their shelf or desk.

Matthew Clements will be dropping in for a meeting and a bit of brainstorming, then it is back to writing Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook. Keep those imaginations burning bright and game on.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer and Gamer

The Rifter Super-Subscription

The Rifter® – Super-Subscription Offer

Free gift

Free shipping of each issue in the USA

Each fun issue delivered to your doorstep

Each issue a sourcebook for the Palladium Megaverse® written by fans and freelancers. Looking for fresh, bold ideas, adventures, new places to visit, new people and monsters to encounter, new weapons or powers to attain, and other new source material for your games? Then The Rifter® is for you.

Super-Subscription Offer: The cover price of The Rifter® is $11.95 – a steal for 96 pages of RPG source material and adventures – but a subscription gets you The Rifter® delivered to your doorstep and you can select a free gift worth $20.95-$25.90 (available only during this special offer, for the cost of shipping and handling). All prices are in U.S. dollars. Offer ends February 20, 2013.

Note: Please indicate if the gift item is NOT wanted. You may decline the gift and get your subscription for the regular price of $39.80 (USA), $61.80 (Canada) or $75.80 (other countries).

A FREE gift worth $20.95 to $25.90

You pay only the cost of shipping and handling ($6.00 in the USA, $9.00 Canada, and $18.00 overseas).

Gift choice #1: Best of The Rifter® and Tales of the Chi-Town ‘Burbs™; two books ($25.90 value).

Gift choice #2: The Rifter® #14 and The Rifter® #16; two books ($23.90 value).

Gift choice #3: Rifts® Chaos Earth™ RPG; core rule book ($20.95 value); this is the Coming of the Rifts!

Gift choice #4: Palladium Fantasy® Sourcebook 13: Northern Hinterlands ($24.95 value) – O.C.C.s, R.C.C.s, monsters, places and more.

Gift choice #5: Rifts® Coalition Wars® 6: Final Siege ($24.95 value) – City of Tolkeen mapped and described, City of Freehold (the domain of dragons) described, 40+ NPCs, plus monsters, dragons, TW vehicles, magic weapons, and adventure ideas.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please include shipping and handling to receive your FREE gift: $6.00 in the USA, $9.00 Canada, $18.00 overseas. Thank you. You can decline the free gift and pay only the subscription price if you wish.

PLEASE indicate what issue number you’d like your new subscription to start at: #60 (last issue), #61 (the current issue), #62 (next issue, April 2013), or the issue when your current subscription ends (please give the number if you know it).

Click here to order. Offer ends February 20, 2013.

The Rifter #61

The Rifter® #61 – Available Now

The Rifter® is an idea factory that helps players and Game Masters to generate new ideas and keep their games fresh. The Rifter® #61 is an extravaganza of source material that deals with a wide range of fun and diverse people, places, mutants, magic, gadgets, equipment and abilities. All certain to provide ideas for new villains and adventures. Many different Palladium RPG settings are represented. This issue includes:

Rifts China 2

Rifts® World Book 25: Rifts® China 2 – Available now

Back in print and available now. This book has it all! Martial arts, wondrous mystic martial art powers, Chi channeling, Chi powers, Chi weapons, magic items, and a lot of special abilities and powers that will blow your mind! Plus, great warriors, demon hunters and their tricks of the trade, blind mystics, fortune tellers, Spirit Hosts (half-man and half-animal spirit), Enlightened Demons (as player characters!), and heroes, powers and special abilities galore.

For you high-tech junkies, there are wonders from Geofront with things like Demon Skin body armor, the Gun Dragon, Black Tiger power armor, high-powered weapons, select vehicles, the Demon Eater and Assault Geo-Borgs, and the incomparable Gun Master. Rifts® China One set the stage and presented the nefarious Yama Kings and their demonic henchmen. Rifts® China Two presents the heroes out to stop them.

Rifts Aftermath

Rifts® Aftermath – Back in Print – Available now

This world-spanning sourcebook examines the changing landscape of North America and the rest of the planet in the aftermath of the Coalition’s Siege on Tolkeen. Somehow, North America seems to be more dangerous than ever before, and things are about to get worse.

The Coalition Army continues its occupation of Tolkeen, the fallen Kingdom of Magic, bulldozing the cities, flushing out resistance fighters and capturing its secrets. The CS intends to wipe the Kingdom of Tolkeen from existence, and use its secrets of magic as bait to lure out other enemy forces and destroy other enemies of the CS. However, the Coalition’s war has stretched the nation thin, and the CS must worry about other rivals and adversaries.

Rifts Lone Star

Rifts® Lone Star – Coming back in print – February 13

This fan favorite will be available as a short printing by Wednesday, February 13, 2013.

Rifts® Lone Star is part of the Coalition State’s dark underbelly. Though the entire state of Texas is claimed by the CS, it mainly controls one small corner. That corner includes the pre-Rifts Lone Star Genetics Complex. The birthplace of the Psi-Hounds better known as Dog Boys. The rest of Texas is a wild badland claimed by bandits and D-Bees known as the Pecos Empire.

Dead Reign RPG

Dead Reign RPG – Back in print, and hot, hot, hot

Can you survive the zombie apocalypse?

Yes, you may think so. But there is only one way to find out for sure: Play the Dead Reign™ RPG. The core rule book is all you need to start playing. Rules are easy. Character creation is fast and fun. Combat, quick and deadly. Survival? Harder than you might think. Good luck.

Dead Reign™ RPG is the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse. Civilization is gone, the dead reign, and the living fight to survive against impossible odds. Battle zombies, mad men and death cultists in a post-apocalyptic world where the last of humanity struggles to survive. Think you know zombies? Think again.

Dead Reign™ Sourcebooks

Civilization Gone™: Dead Reign™ Sourcebook One. There is no army, no government, no help coming. You are on your own and things are only getting worse. Villains include madmen and psychopaths, bandits and raiders. Many random tables for encounters, houses, and survivor camp creation, and more. $12.95 – 64 pages. Cat. No. 231.

Dark Places™: Dead Reign™ Sourcebook Two. Using railroad tracks and subways, sewer tunnels, steam tunnels and other dark places to travel undetected by zombies. Many tables for random encounters, boxcar contents, zombies and more. Survival tips, new zombies like the Bug Boy, Sewer Crawler and Impersonator. $12.95 – 64 pages. Cat. No. 232.

Endless Dead™: Dead Reign™ Sourcebook Three. Zombie hordes grow in number and strangeness. Where is the military? What’s next for the living survivors? Many new types of zombies, new O.C.C.s like the Wheelman and Zombie Hunter, the military and random tables for military bases, police and other places. Plus weaponizing vehicles, vehicle combat, Survivor caravans, and more. $16.95 – 96 pages. Cat. No. 233.

Rifts Vampires Sourcebook

Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook – In final production

In final production and looking outstanding. It should go to the printer soon and ship mid-February.

New secrets, magic and monsters of Mexico and the Yucatan. New conflicts between rival forces are brewing as Doc Reid prepares to take his private war on vampires to a whole new level. Meanwhile, the vampires live like smug tyrants and gods, dominating an underclass of cattle people used as slaves and food stock. Learn more about the vampires, their rivals, allies and the humans who willingly serve their supernatural masters for a chance to join the undead. A must-have guide for those who wish to travel deeper into the Vampire Kingdoms or play as vampires and their human minions. In final production right now, with art and text coming in and final editing and writing in progress.

Rifts Northern Gun One

Rifts® World Book 33: Northern Gun One

The long-awaited Rifts® Northern Gun™ One nears completion.

Northern Gun™ is the largest independent manufacturer of high-tech weapons, robots and vehicles in North America. Outside of the Coalition States, one could argue, no other kingdom is as powerful or influential, at least when it comes to technology and weapons. The manufacture and sale of Northern Gun weapons and vehicles has given virtually every kingdom, town, colony of settlers and adventurer group a chance to survive and prosper. Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, NG has been the premier outfitter of mercenaries, adventurers and upstart kingdoms for generations. Now, for the first time ever, learn Northern Gun’s history, goals and plans for the future. Of course, that means new weapons, robots, power armor, vehicles and gear.

Rifts Northern Gun Two

Rifts® World Book 34: Northern Gun Two

More information about the weapons, vehicles and practices of Northern Gun, including the new rage of robot gladiatorial combat.

Rifts Megaverse in Flames

Rifts® World Book 35: Megaverse® in Flames

The Minion War spills across Rifts Earth, where demons and infernals hope to recruit allies and use the Rifts as gateways of destruction. Their influence shakes things up across the planet, especially at locations where demons and Deevils already have a strong presence. Demons, Deevils and supernatural beings run rampant and wreak havoc across the world.

DriveThruRPG

PDF downloads from DriveThruRPG.com

This is a great resource for getting out of print Palladium titles and other select books. We’ve made 90 titles available as PDF digital downloads from DriveThruRPG.com. This is a great way to try Palladium products and get access to out of print RPG source material. Some notable titles include:

Don’t forget about these recent releases

Robotech Genesis Pits Sourcebook

Robotech® Genesis Pits Sourcebook – Available now

This is a truly epic sourcebook that takes an in-depth look at the Invid Genesis Pits, their purpose, function, the mutants and monsters they unleash and the dangers they pose for non-Invid. It is jam-packed with never before seen source material, mutations, mutation tables (so you can generate your own Genesis Pit monsters and characters) and more. Robotech® fans have been loving this book.

Rifts Black Market

Rifts® Black Market – Softcover Edition – Available now

See what everyone is talking about and order yours today. Rifts® Black Market™ is an epic, 192 page sourcebook that contains a wealth of information about the inner workings of the Black Market, the Five Factions, new Bandito Arms/Black Market weapons and gear, how to make any O.C.C. a Black Marketeer, special abilities of the Black Marketeer, criminal enterprises, Black Market loans, merc and crime jobs, and much more. This book has it all. AND best of all, a lot of it can be easily adapted to just about any world setting, not just Rifts Earth.

Rifts Black Market Gold Hardcover

Rifts® Black Market HardcoverGold Contraband Edition – Available now

Everything you want to know about the Black Market of Rifts® North America presented inside a pair of gorgeous black leatherette covers. Gold foil embossing on front cover and spine. Historically, gold collector editions only increase in value on the collector’s market, and often quickly. This is the lowest number of a Collector’s Gold Edition that Palladium has ever printed.

Endless Dead

Endless Dead – Dead Reign Sourcebook Three

The zombie hordes grow in number and strangeness. Can humankind survive? Where is the military?

Back in Print and Great Gift Ideas

The Rifter #50

The Rifter® #50, Anniversary Special – back in print due to popular demand

You might think of The Rifter® #50 as a special “all-star” anniversary issue with official source material for Rifts®, Heroes Unlimited™, Nightbane® and many other Palladium RPG settings.

The Rifter® #50 includes:

Rifts Logo T-Shirt

BACK IN PRINT: Rifts® Logo T-Shirts in most sizes

We’ve been asked over and over again to re-issue the popular Rifts® Logo T-shirt in sizes other than XL. We heard your requests, and here you go. Order yours today.

● The full Rifts® logo as created by artist Kevin Long, printed in white on a black T-shirt.

● Sizes Small to 5XL.

● 100% cotton – our usual quality T-shirt.

● Prices vary according to size:
Small: $18.95
Medium: $18.95
Large: $18.95
X-Large: $18.95
2XL: $20.95
3XL: $22.95
4XL: $24.95
5XL: $26.95

● Cat. No. TS804

● And don’t forget other fun T-shirt designs like . . .

Upcoming Appearances

Anime North – May 24-26, 2013 – Toronto, Canada

I am one of the guests at Anime North in Toronto, Canada. The event takes place Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26, 2013. Wayne Smith and one or two other Palladium creators will also be present to chat and sign autographs. We also hope to bring a pile of books, prints and other goodies to sell in the dealers’ room. www.animenorth.com

Gen Con® Indy – August 15-18, 2013 – Indianapolis, Indiana

We can hardly wait for Gen Con this year as we hope to have advance copies of Robotech® RPG Tactics™: Defense of Macross Island™ there. Not to mention a stock of new releases from throughout the year. We may even need to expand the size of our booth. Hope to see many of you there.

Game Masters, submit your events now to get into the Gen Con program book! See http://www.gencon.com/host/eo-gm for more details.

Note: There will be no Palladium Open House in 2013 or 2014.

© Copyright 2013 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.

Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Phase World®, Nightbane®, Megaverse®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Beyond the Supernatural™, Chaos Earth, Coalition States, Dead Reign, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Minion War, Mysteries of Magic, SAMAS, Thundercloud Galaxy, Three Galaxies, Vampire Kingdoms, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.

Robotech® and Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® are Registered Trademarks of Harmony Gold USA, Inc.

This press release may be reprinted, reposted, linked and shared for the sole purpose of advertising, promotion and sales solicitation.