Palladium Books® Weekly Update – June 26, 2014

By Kevin Siembieda

We are all working like crazy on all kinds of fronts: Megaverse® in Flames finishes, The Rifter® #67, Robotech® Expeditionary Force Marines, every aspect of Robotech® RPG Tactics™ (confirming manufacturing specs, approving manufacturing proofs, making arrangements for Customs, shipping and delivery – a lot of logistical details), assigning artwork, dealing with all aspects of Gen Con (spent a lot of time this week designing and building our Gen Con display), finding the right pallet step beams and new rack system for the Palladium warehouse (Alex has 10 quotes coming in so we can make radical changes in order to accommodate everything), as well as dealing with all the usual day-to-day stuff. All of us have been putting in 10-15 hours a day. Last Friday, Wayne was working at 1:00 AM. Yikes, my head is spinning just writing this all down. Details follow below.

Final Spring Cleaning Sale (50% off) — extended till Sunday, June 29, 2014

We have been so darn busy, we forgot to take the sale down at midnight last Sunday. Sales remained so strong the next two days, and all of you seem to be enjoying the sale so much, that Kathy Simmons encouraged us to keep it going for the rest of the week, through Sunday, June 29. So that’s exactly what we are going to do.

50% off – Spring Cleaning Sale – extended till SUNDAY, June 29, 2014. You have THREE more days left to take advantage of this 50% off sale. And then it’s over! Don’t miss out. Again, I want to thank all of you for your participation. These Spring Cleaning Sales really did help clear out the warehouse of inventory and put a smile on the faces of a great many gamers. We are glad so many of you have enjoyed the Spring Cleaning Sales. It was fun putting them all together. Please spread the word so everyone gets a shot at these great deals.

We are doing the sales because we need to rearrange the Palladium warehouse to make space for Robotech® RPG Tactics™, coming at the end of July. It’s now looking more like 6-8 semi-trailers worth of space, plus a staging area. And with several new books also being released, we want to create excitement about the entire Palladium Megaverse®. These sales have been a way to create buzz and clear space in the warehouse at the same time. You have 3 days left to make your purchases. Enjoy and have fun.

You can get the following Palladium game titles and products for half price until June 29, 2014, when the sale ENDS (for certain):

UPDATE: Robotech® RPG Tactics is being manufactured as you read this!

● The decal sheets are being printed (or about to begin).

● The faction dice are being manufactured and painted now.

● We approved and authorized the printing of the . . .

The physical proofs of all of the above arrived on Monday. Final dice samples arrived on Tuesday. All of which should go into manufacturing later this week very soon, along with the manufacturing of the actual game pieces/sprues, some of which have already been started. The many people who have stopped by the Palladium offices this week (there has been meeting after meeting) have all gone gaga over the printed proofs from China for the packaging, cards and other materials.

In addition, Wayne and I have been talking with Customs brokers, ocean freight forwarders and domestic freight companies for bringing the product in. There are a great many logistical elements, details and factors to consider and get into place. The other thing we have been working on is upgrading our shipping system to give it state of the art capabilities. That means meetings, phone calls and emails with several departments at UPS, Pitney Bowes, the US Post Office and common carriers, as well as details like determining the product count per cases and all sorts of things. Let me tell you, it has been a wild ride. We’ll keep you posted as everything progresses.

UPDATE: Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames

I continue to put in at least a few hours of writing, tweaks and editing every day. Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames™ is a truly fun book, jam-packed with source material and ideas for your gaming enjoyment. Work is going well, but the first three days of this week have largely been spent dealing with other time-sensitive matters. Fear not, a July release is a go.

UPDATE: Rifts® Northern Gun Two Hardcovers

The Rifts® Northern Gun™ Two HARDCOVER Editions just about finished shipping last Friday. Most of you should have received them by now. I think those of you getting artwork will be thrilled with the art you received. I think there are only FOUR that have not shipped. One is going to be picked up (looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks, Todd), two need address confirmations, and one I have been lax on contacting the person to make sure he wants us to ship it now and the exact address (sorry, Ben B, I’ll get an email to you soon). Otherwise, they are shipped out. Enjoy.

Point of notice. Unlike many hardcovers, the Rifts® Northern Gun™ Two hardcover editions did not require them being numbered, just signed by the Palladium staff, plus author Matthew Clements and artist Chuck Walton. Please be aware that there are only 176 TOTAL copies printed of both editions of the NG-2 hardcovers. That includes printer proofs! That makes this the lowest print run of a special edition Palladium has ever done. Even less than NG-1 and Lemuria. Talk about a collector’s edition. Enjoy.

UPDATE: Dead Reign: Graveyard Earth

Art has been assigned. Still shooting for a July release.

The Rifter® #67

Wayne is making his final selections this weekend. Art will be assigned this weekend too. End of July release!

UPDATE: Robotech®: Expeditionary Force Marines Sourcebook One

– Formerly titled ‘UEEF Marines’

Artwork is being assigned. Summer release. See the description later in this Update.

More issues of The Rifter® available on DriveThruRPG.com

Wayne will continue to add a couple issues of The Rifter® to the 90+ PDF products available on DriveThruRPG.com every week or two for your enjoyment. Amongst the 90+ Palladium RPG books already available are Splicers® RPG, the original Rifts® RPG, The Rifts® Coalition Wars®/Siege on Tolkeen series, the Rifts® Game Shield, the original Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms™ World Book, the original Beyond the Supernatural™ RPG, first edition rules and sourcebooks for the Palladium Fantasy RPG® and Heroes Unlimited™, The Rifter® issues 1-54 (with new ones being added starting this week) and many others. There are also FREE previews on DriveThruRPG.com for Rifts® Northern Gun™ One and Two, Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook, Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms™ (Revised Edition), Rifts® Black Market, Rifts® Lemuria, Dragons and Gods™, Dead Reign™ RPG, Endless Dead™ sourcebook and others, too. Plus there is special Game Master supplemental material by Carl Gleba and Julius Rosenstein (character sheets, tables, tips and more) and we plan to add more G.M. material and other sneak previews. COMING SOON: Fantasy paper miniatures designed and created by “Madman” Mike Leonard, so check out all the goodies on DriveThruRPG.com.

Palladium Collectibles Available in Kevin’s Online Toy & Collectibles Store

We have added some new collectibles and out of print titles to my online store, including a couple of printer proofs of Palladium Fantasy RPG® and Heroes Unlimited™ 30th Anniversary Hardcovers, and some other odds and ends. I still haven’t had time to dig out and select a few Chuck Walton original pencil illustrations and sketches to post in the store. Oh, and we have a new, unique item coming in a few weeks that we think collectors will enjoy. Meanwhile, we’ll keep adding items as supplies allow, and as I find other odds and ends as we do more spring cleaning and reorganization. As usual, there are out of print titles, redlined proofreader photocopies signed by me and the staff, signed manuscripts with editors’ corrections, some original art, hardcover books (including Rifts® Northern Gun™ One) and other items you’ll enjoy. There are also hundreds of toys and action figures. All items in the store are from my own personal archives and collection. Take a look every few days as new items are added. There may be some items that are perfect for upcoming birthdays and anniversaries.

http://stores.ebay.com/kevinstoys-artandcollectibles

UPDATE: Palladium Books at Gen Con Indy – Booth 1223

Gosh, Gen Con 2014 is coming up too fast. Crazy busy. I think it is really going to be something this year. Approximately 50 official Palladium role-playing game events scheduled, a big booth, new releases, Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Wave One, back stock items, original art, one-of-a-kind items, Palladium creators such as me (Kevin Siembieda), Wayne Smith, Carmen Bellaire, Matthew Clements, Carl Gleba, Brandon Aten, Nick Bradshaw, “Madman” Mike Leonard and Chuck Walton, and others! Come to meet us, get your books signed, enjoy demonstrations and some free RPG game events, and all kinds of fun at the Palladium Booth #1223.

John Park, you are missed

Palladium Books lost another long-time friend and supporter. Our tax and bookkeeping consultant, John Park died a couple weeks ago from injuries in a freak accident. I was so devastated that I couldn’t bring myself to write about it until now. We have lost so many close friends and family at Palladium Books over the last 10 years (along with everything else) that it was difficult to deal with another loss; especially such an unexpected one.

John Park was a great guy and more than our accountant. John was my friend, a business advisor and a confidant. I sought advice from him on business and even matters of health. We talked mostly by phone, but John would always make a point of driving over to the Palladium offices at least once or twice a year to visit. John could be cantankerous at times, but his heart was always in the right place and he always made time for me no matter what else was going on. I suspect he was like that with all of his clients. John was a pretty creative and fun-loving guy behind that suit coat or sweater. And he cared about people more than I think he would sometimes let on.

John Park was another one of the heroes who helped Palladium Books survive the Crisis of Treachery. As an accountant, he looked at our situation and was certain Palladium was done for. When I laid out our survival plan, John offered additional input and suggestions on downsizing. But what I thought was funny, and it gives you a glimpse into the good heart of Mr. Park, was that he was quite certain Palladium could not survive. For at least two years, every time John and I met or spoke, he’d ask, “Well, Kev, are you ready to call it quits yet?” HOWEVER, despite asking that question and pointing out all of the hurdles and pitfalls, John Park stood by us every step of the way. He continued to work with Palladium for 2-3 years even though we could not afford to pay him. Like so many friends, John worked on credit. As our bill to him went beyond $11,000, he still continued to help us. And remember, he didn’t think we could make it! If we went under, all that work would have been done pro bono.

When it finally became clear that Palladium was going to survive some years later, John told me that in his 30+ years of experience, he didn’t know a single client that could have survived the many challenges Palladium had to face. It made me feel proud. And I think John felt proud for helping us succeed. He should have, because I don’t know if we could have done it without his support. Thank you, John. I’m so glad to have been able to count you amongst my friends. I still can’t believe you’re gone.

Our sincere condolences to the Park family and the multitude of friends who all loved him so. God Bless.

And to all of you, the members our gaming family, enjoy the people you love while you have them. Make sure you tell them how much they matter. Try to make every minute count, because they could be gone tomorrow. My friend, John Park was healthy and happy and looking forward to travel and retirement in the years ahead. Then he fell from a great height . . . and is gone. Cherish your loved ones, my friends, and appreciate them while we share our lives. Take care, be safe and game on.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer and Game Designer

The Rifter #66

NEW! The Rifter® #66 – Available now

The Rifter® #66 is about people and exotic places. There are the space pirates of Phase World® and the Three Galaxies™; notable Rifts® Black Marketeers, some contraband goods and a Black Market trade town in Rifts® Black Market, Part Two; the Splicers Ranger O.C.C. and a host of genetically manipulated creatures in The Splicers® Bestiary; the villainous Snake Men gang in a Heroes Unlimited™ adventure; and travel from Lazlo to Atlantis in the Rifts® short story. Plus news, coming attractions, and more.

Every issue of The Rifter® is an idea factory for players and Game Masters to generate new ideas, and find new avenues of adventure. It provides useful, ready to go, source material you can just drop into your ongoing games. A doorway to new possibilities and numerous Palladium role-playing worlds. And the many new characters, O.C.C.s, powers, magic, weapons, villains, monsters, adventures and ideas for one setting can be easily adapted to any Palladium setting. Every issue has material for Rifts® and at least 2-3 other Palladium game lines. And don’t forget, most of the material can be easily adapted for use in ANY Palladium game setting.

The Rifter® Number 66 includes:

Rifts Northern Gun Two

NEW! Rifts® World Book 34: Northern Gun Two – Available now

Shipping right now. Order yours today. Rifts® Northern Gun™ Two is the biggest book of vehicles and equipment Palladium has ever produced. You get power armor galore, plus hovercycles, body armor, robot drones, amphibious vehicles, combat vehicles, ground vehicles, and other gear, plus gladiators of the Robodome and hints about things to come and NG’s relationship with the Coalition States. EXPANDED from 160 pages to 256 pages. Epic adventure. Available now.

Rifts Northern Gun One

HOT! Rifts® World Book 33: Northern Gun One – Available Now!

If you are getting NG-2 you’ll want NG-1, even though both titles stand alone. Rifts® Northern Gun™ One is the most tech-filled World Book Palladium has ever produced, and gamers are loving every page of new weapons, robots, power armor, vehicles and NG background.

Rifts Megaverse in Flames

NEW! Rifts® World Book 35: Megaverse® in Flames – Ships July

The Minion War spills across Rifts Earth, where demons and infernals hope to recruit allies and use the Rifts as gateways of destruction across the Megaverse. Their influence shakes things up all over the planet, especially at locations where demons and Deevils already have a strong presence. Demonic supernatural beings run rampant and wreak havoc across the world. Megaverse® in Flames™ is in final production and ships in July.

The Rifter #66

NEW! The Rifter® #67 – Ships July

Every issue of The Rifter® is an idea factory that helps players and Game Masters to generate new ideas and keep their games fresh. It provides useful, ready to go, source material gamers can just drop into their ongoing games. A doorway to new possibilities and numerous Palladium role-playing worlds. It offers new characters, O.C.C.s, powers, magic, weapons, adventure and ideas for your games. It presents new villains, monsters and dangers to battle, and new ideas to consider. Every issue has material for Rifts® and at least two or three other Palladium game lines.

The Rifter® #67 – July, 2014:

Dead Reign Graveyard Earth

NEW! Dead Reign Sourcebook 5: Graveyard Earth – Ships July

When the dead rise and communications and power grids collapse, nothing matters except your own survival. But what about the rest of the world? What’s happening in other places? Has any government survived? Is anyplace safe? Dead Reign™ Graveyard Earth™ tries to answer those questions and others. And in doing so, provides gamers and G.M.s with more fuel for adventure.

Robotech UEEF Marines Sourcebook One

NEW! Robotech®: Expeditionary Force Marines Sourcebook One

– Formerly titled ‘UEEF Marines’

Robotech®: Expeditionary Force Marines sourcebook is set in space with the UEEF (United Earth Expeditionary Force) led by Admiral Rick Hunter. This valiant force of mecha clad heroes travel across the galaxy liberating planets from the bondage of the Invid Regent, the Robotech Masters and other tyrants and monsters.

Chaos Earth Rise of Magic

Coming BACK IN PRINT – Rise of Magic

A Rifts® Chaos Earth® Sourcebook – Summer

Rescheduled for a summer release.

The return of magic has empowered humans with strange and wondrous powers, unlike anything quite yet seen (and different from most conventional types of magic). This only complicates things for Earth’s defenders as the line of distinction between “good guys” and “bad guys” begins to blur.

Heroes Unlimited 30th Anniversary Hardcover

Heroes Unlimited 30th Anniversary Hardcover Edition – only $40 while supplies last

Half of the Heroes Unlimited™ RPG Hardcovers are already sold. ONLY 200 copies remain. This HU2 30th Anniversary Edition is visibly different (and cool) than the original hardcover and cannot be confused with the earlier printing. We have kept the price an unprecedented, low $40 for a hardcover Gold Edition of this size. We want to give Heroes Unlimited™ fans a crack at purchasing one before the price skyrockets on the secondary collectors’ market. The original HU2 hardcover sold for $50 and has since become a collector’s item that sells for $200-$350 on the secondary market. Enjoy and game on!

Just a few notable Heroes Unlimited Sourcebooks:

Instantly expand your playing experience with these and other HU2 sourcebooks.

Palladium Fantasy RPG 30th Anniversary Hardcover

NEW! Palladium Fantasy RPG® 30th Anniversary Hardcover Edition – only $40 while supplies last

The Palladium Fantasy® Special 30th Anniversary Hardcover is selling even faster than the Heroes Unlimited hardcover. We sold 200 copies in half the time! Only 250 copies remain! This Palladium Fantasy® 30th Anniversary Edition is visibly different than the original hardcover and cannot be confused with the earlier printing. We have kept the price an unprecedented, low $40 for a hardcover Gold Edition of this size. We want to give Palladium Fantasy® fans a crack at purchasing one before the price skyrockets on the secondary collectors’ market. The original Crimson Edition sold for $50 and has since become a collector’s item that sells for $250-$400 on the secondary market.

To preserve the value of the “original” Palladium Fantasy RPG® Crimson Edition Hardcover, we have made the 30th Anniversary Edition as visibly different looking on the outside as possible. The material used for the cover is a brown leatherette imprinted with “Elemental Green” foil, different art on the cover, and the words “Special 30th Anniversary Edition.” Even the spine is different looking and the end sheets are without artwork. All the elements described above should make the Palladium Fantasy RPG® 30th Anniversary Hardcover impossible to mistake for the original signed and numbered HC edition.

Second Edition rules. Please note that this hardcover edition is the SECOND Edition rules, exactly the same as the current material in the softcover book. Enjoy and unleash those imaginations.

Robotech RPG Tactics

Robotech® RPG Tactics – Coming Summer 2014

This is the game Robotech® fans have wanted for decades.

Robotech® RPG Tactics™ is a fast-paced, tabletop combat game that captures the action and adventure of the Robotech® anime. Two or more players can engage in small squad skirmishes or scale up to massive battles. Relive the clashes of the First Robotech War, engage in stand-alone tactical games, or use the dynamic game pieces to enhance your Robotech® RPG experience. Or simply collect your favorite mecha from an expanding range of top-notch game pieces.

Mecha vs Mecha. Take command of the fighting forces of the United Earth Defense Force (UEDF) valiantly defending Earth from alien annihilation. Or lead the massive clone armies of the Zentraedi Armada to recover an alien artifact of immense power and enslave humankind.

Robotech® RPG Tactics – Coming Summer 2014

This is the game Robotech® fans have wanted for decades.

Robotech® RPG Tactics™ is a fast-paced, tabletop combat game that captures the action and adventure of the Robotech® anime. Two or more players can engage in small squad skirmishes or scale up to massive battles. Relive the clashes of the First Robotech War, engage in stand-alone tactical games, or use the dynamic game pieces to enhance your Robotech® RPG experience. Or simply collect your favorite mecha from an expanding range of top-notch game pieces.

Mecha vs Mecha. Take command of the fighting forces of the United Earth Defense Force (UEDF) valiantly defending Earth from alien annihilation. Or lead the massive clone armies of the Zentraedi Armada to recover an alien artifact of immense power and enslave humankind.

Robotech® RPG Tactics Box Set – Cat. No. 55100

The First Six Robotech® RPG Tactics Expansion Packs

The first six expansion packs will be available to retail at the same time as the main box game. Here are the “official” SKUs and retail prices.

UEDF Valkyrie Wing

UEDF Valkyrie Wing

Build your fleet of Earth defenders with the Valkyrie Veritech Fighter; six figures total.

UEDF Tomahawk/Defender Destroids

UEDF Tomahawk/Defender Destroids

Expand your Destroid squad with these formidable walking tanks; four figures total.

UEDF Spartan/Phalanx Destroids

UEDF Spartan/Phalanx Destroids

Add some long range power and up-close punch to your army with these valuable Destroids; four figures total.

Zentraedi Regult Battlepods

Zentraedi Regult Battlepods

Expand your Zentraedi forces with their main infantry battle mecha; six figures total.

Zentraedi Artillery Battlepods

Zentraedi Artillery Battlepods

Give your Zentraedi legion greater firepower with these artillery and support Battlepods; four figures total.

Zentraedi Glaug Command Pack

Zentraedi Glaug Command Pack

This diverse pack provides your Zentraedi forces with greater tactical capabilities; three figures total.

Robotech Macross Saga Sourcebook

Robotech® Macross® Saga Sourcebook – New 8½ x 11 size – Available now

All the famous mecha and action of Robotech® starts here with the Macross® Saga when an alien armada enters Earth orbit. They have come to reclaim a lost spacecraft that crash-landed on Earth 10 years earlier. A space fortress that Earth’s protectors have rebuilt into their own flagship against alien invasion. The resulting conflict gives birth to heroes and becomes the stuff of legend, but the Earth will never be the same. Robotech® The Macross® Saga Sourcebook is now available as an 8½ x 11 inch sourcebook.

Note: This is the setting for Robotech® RPG Tactics™, so if you’re looking for more information about the mecha, Earth’s defenders, the Zentraedi invaders, and Macross Saga setting, this is the book for you. Epic adventure awaits.

A Robotech® Role-Playing Game Sourcebook:

Gen Con Indy – August 14-17, 2014

Gen Con Indy is going to be the premier convention event for Palladium Books this year. A large booth, special display, a ton of product including Robotech® RPG Tactics™, and all our role-playing games and sourcebooks, art prints, original art, and all kinds of good stuff. There will also be many Palladium creators available at the booth throughout the convention to chat and sign autographs, including writers Brandon Aten, Matthew Clements, Carl Gleba, Carmen Bellaire, Mark Oberle (tentative), me (Kevin Siembieda), Palladium staffers like Wayne Smith and Jeff Burke, and artists including Nick Bradshaw, Mike Leonard, Chuck Walton, and others. And it looks like there will be 50+ Palladium Books RPG events in the official Gen Con program. My heartfelt thanks to the Megaversal Ambassadors spearheading this project, as well as the Game Masters volunteering to run so many events for our many game lines. Awesome.

Palladium Books Gen Con Highlights:

2015 Palladium Open House – May 14-17, 2015

The 2015 Palladium Open House is officially on! This is an event unlike any you have ever experienced. It is more like a family reunion than a gaming convention, with incredible access to Palladium creators (artists, writers, editors, etc.). We hope to see many of you next May in 2015! More information will be posted soon, but start planning for it now and reserve your hotel rooms as soon as possible.

$109.00 (plus tax) per room at the Comfort Inn, aka “Plymouth Clock Tower Hotel.” This is the hotel everyone knows and wants. You can start placing hotel reservations for the 2015 Palladium Open House right now, but make sure you tell them the Group Code “Palladium Books.” This is a must to get the superior group rate.

That’s $109 (plus tax) for a room with two queen beds or one king with a sofa that has a pull-out sleeper. ALL rooms have a micro-fridge, FREE high-speed wired/wireless Internet and there is a FREE hot breakfast from 6 A.M. to 10 A.M. near the lobby. The hotel also offers a heated indoor swimming pool, a fitness center (24 hours), and a coin operated laundry. And the large conference room is ours to use, around the clock for open gaming.

Comfort Inn

40455 Ann Arbor Road
Plymouth, MI 48170
Phone: 734-455-8100

Group Code: Palladium Books – you MUST request the Group Code “Palladium Books” at the time of booking to ensure the correct rate will be quoted and billed to you.

Dates of the 2015 Palladium Open House (POH): May 15-17 (May 14 is VIP Thursday), 2015.

If you know you are coming to the 2015 Palladium Open House, we recommend you reserve your room as soon as possible to get this superior rate. Call 734-455-8100 to make your reservation. The hotel does NOT charge your credit card until a few days before the event (next year!) and you can cancel up until May 10, 2015. So there is no reason to wait. Get your room(s) reserved right away. More information about the 2015 Palladium Open House is coming soon. Game on!

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:

© Copyright 2014 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®, Chaos Earth®, and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. RPG Tactics™, Beyond the Supernatural, 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.