Palladium Books® Weekly Update – Sept. 13, 2012

By Kevin Siembieda

I hope you’ll find this Weekly Update fun and exciting. We are continuing to move forward on all fronts. I also hope to have more surprises for you in the months to come.

Secret Revealed!

Rifts® Black Market Hardcover – “Gold Contraband” Edition – Available now!

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. I had a few hundred copies of Rifts® Black Market secretly printed as a very limited, Gold Hardcover Edition. A little item Matthew Clements dubbed the “Gold Contraband Edition.” I told nary a soul. Even the Palladium staff and contributing writers didn't know until I made the reveal this week. I wanted to surprise everybody. Only Wayne Smith was in on the secret.

I thought it would be something fun to do. There are a certain number of Palladium gamers who want hardcover editions and collectors who love the Limited Gold Editions, so I thought this was the perfect product to satisfy both. I didn’t want to announce it until we had the books in our hands, they were all signed by everybody and ready to ship (8 signatures including authors Matthew Clements, Carmen Bellaire, and me, plus Chuck Walton and the Palladium staff).

Rifts® Black Market HC is limited to 250 signed and numbered copies. That is the lowest number ever printed of a Gold Edition. Rifts® Machinations of Doom was our previous low number record holder at 400 copies, and, if I recall correctly, all but a handful sold out in a matter of months. 250 copies, 8 signatures and an awesome cover for $60. Order yours before they are all gone. Sold on a first come, first served basis, in the sequence by which they are ordered. And it looks gorgeous.

Note: In the past, Palladium Books would keep the first 100 copies for staff, investors and special PR, but this time, we are only keeping numbers 1-4 and a few dozen “Printer Proofs.” YOU get to purchase all the rest, starting with number 5 of 250. (The Printer Proofs will be saved for special promotions, sales, and prizes. #1-4 go to me and a couple contributing authors.)

UPDATE: Online Sales

This week started strong before weakening as the week went on, but for September, sales were not bad. Not bad at all.

UPDATE: The Rifter® #60

It is another excellent issue and coming along nicely. All the artwork has been assigned and Wayne is busy on final edits. I will be sending out contracts in a couple of days.

UPDATE: Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook

This book is morphing as I write it and contributors like Matthew Clements and Chris Kluge supply me with new ideas and text for my consideration. It’s all excellent, but I can only add so much. I don’t want to expand the book in size. Meanwhile, all or most of the artwork is in and it is excellent. As soon as I’m done working on Robotech® Genesis Pits Sourcebook I’m all over Vampires!

UPDATE: Robotech®

I’ve made some major moves regarding the Robotech® line. I had an exciting and fruitful discussion with the key person who we’ll probably be partnering up with on producing Robotech® RPG game pieces and a Robotech® Tactical Role-Playing Game. I can’t reveal details yet, but I can tell you we are extremely excited, and things should start moving fast now. Robotech® fans should go wild when I can start revealing details in a month or two.

UPDATE: Robotech® Genesis Pits Sourcebook

I’m still working on edits and tweaks of the Robotech® Genesis Pits Sourcebook, namely because my attention has been pulled away to deal with a number of other promising business matters. I should be done with it in a couple of days. It is another great book, packed with useful and fun source material, new insight, tables and adventure ideas.

UPDATE: Rifts® Northern Gun One and Two

Chuck Walton is coming by this evening to drop off some finished Northern Gun artwork and sign the 250 Rifts® Black Market hardcover books.

UPDATE: Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames

As I stated last week, I want all six books promised to be out by the end of the year, to actually come out by the end of the year. And that includes Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames. I will continue to assign art for this world-changing tome and can hardly wait till I’m in the saddle editing and tweaking it. This is an epic book that will provide ample new avenues of adventure and change the face of Rifts Earth and the Coalition States!

UPDATE: Back in Print

I have not yet determined what’s coming back into print next. Likely candidates are Rifts® Aftermath, Rifts® China Two, and I’m considering The Rifter® #50. Even though The Rifter® #50 is available as a PDF from DriveThruRPG.com, we get regular requests for it from fans.

UPDATE: Kevin’s Online Toy & Collectibles Store – selling like crazy

Alex and I will keep Palladium collectibles stocked in my online store as best we can. I have fewer Rifts® Lemuria Emerald Editions left than I thought (other than a few in the Palladium archives, I think there are a total of 4 earmarked for the store). Other items such as the Rifts® Machinations of Doom Gold hardcover, Rifts® RPG Silver hardcovers, BTS Gold, Rifts® Ultimate Gold, Erick Wujcik’s Amberzine #11, etc. are also in short supply. In most cases, I have only a dozen or less to offer. That’s why we continue to dole them out one at a time. Once they are sold out, of course, they are GONE! Other collectibles include first printings of books, signed books, “proofreader” copies of books (a couple more coming your way soon), original artwork, and other collectible odds and ends.

There are also a large number of collectible toys and action figures in my online store. All are from my personal collection. More toys and collectibles are added on a weekly basis.

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

Palladium Gaming Appearances

Palladium Books, me and/or some of the guys are participating in a number of upcoming game events. Several of which are taking place over the next 8 weeks. Please check out the Palladium Convention Calendar at the end of this Weekly Update for details.

That said, there is one unique event happening this Saturday that I want our local fans to know about. It is called BarbeCon 2012 and sounds truly unique and fun. Julius Rosenstein will be manning the Palladium dealer’s table with core titles and recent releases. Wayne Smith will be showing up in the afternoon, though he’s going there for the food as much as any other reason.

Food, you ask? Yes, BarbeCon will be offering BBQ from two, local, Clarkston, “award winning” barbecue restaurants. How cool is that?

BarbeCon 2012 – Saturday – September 15, from 8 AM to 8 PM

Independence Oaks Park – at the Twin Chimneys Pavillion – Clarkston, Michigan (northwest of Pontiac). www.quintecons.com

Palladium pal and Game Master, Bill Korsak, and his associate, Bill Lonskey, are the event coordinators and they and others will be running a host of games – card games, role-playing games, board games and more. Plus they are promising surprise guests and fun, fun, fun. This is the event’s first year and based on advance ticket sales ($20 if you order in advance. $25 at the event. All games and events are included for the price of admisison. BBQ is an additional cost.), they are expecting 100-200 people. Good luck and great success guys.

www.quintecons.com or call (248) 250-9957

ODDS & ENDS:

Another week has zoomed by. When I wasn’t writing one thing or another, I’ve been coordinating the signing and final prep for the Rifts® Black Market Gold Contraband Hardcover Edition (it takes time signing 250 books), coordinating everyone coming in to sign, going back to number them and juggling 20 other things, including convention appearances and various business matters. I made several telephone calls and had numerous email exchanges with Palladium freelancers and my agents at Surge Licensing. There’s nothing solid yet, but some things are at a boil. Unfortunately, all of it takes time.

I’m continuing to try to post daily Murmurs from the Megaverse® and Facebook comments. Some are short, others long. I hope all of the are interesting. People seem to be enjoying them quite a bit, so I will continue to post as frequently as possible. Enjoy the Rifts® Black Market Gold Contraband Edition, have a good weekend and keep those imaginations burning bright.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher

Rifts Black Market Gold Hardcover

Rifts® Black Market Hardcover

Gold 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.

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 Vampires Sourcebook

Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook – October Release

Unknown to most humans, deep within Mexico the vampires have established entire kingdoms. There they live like 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 restarting next week.

The Rifter #60

NEW! The Rifter® #60 – October Release

The Rifter® Number 60 is an action-packed issue that delves into adventure, magic, monsters and strange war machines. In production right now.

The Rifter® is an idea factory. The key to unlocking the unlimited resources of the imagination for numerous Palladium RPG world settings. It helps players and Game Masters to generate new ideas and keep their games fresh, and provides useful, ready to go, source material that gamers can just drop into their ongoing games.

Every issue of The Rifter® offers new monsters, villains, characters, O.C.C.s, powers, magic, weapons, adventure and ideas for your use in games and campaigns. There is usually source material for at least 2-3 Palladium game lines, often more.

The Rifter® #60 includes:

Robotech® Genesis Pits Sourcebook – October Release

An in-depth look at the Invid Genesis Pits, their purpose, function and the creatures they create. Many, many avenues of adventure and ideas to spice up your Robotech® campaign with unexpected menaces and intrigue. In production right now!

Rifts Northern Gun One

Rifts® World Book 33: Northern Gun One

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® 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.

What’s next?

The following are in development:

Recent Product Releases – available now

Rifts Dice Bag - Black

Rifts® Dice Bag

– Back in print – Available now

Everyone at Palladium has a Rifts® Dice Bag, shouldn’t you? It is a good size, sturdy, drawstring bag made of imitation black velvet emblazoned with the famous Rifts® logo in gold. 

Rifts Mystic Russia

BACK IN PRINT: Rifts® World Book 18: Mystic Russia

– Available now

Russian mythology and magic come to life in this fan favorite Rifts® World Book. The book includes all kinds of demons, monsters, new magic character classes (O.C.C.s), and nine different types of gypsies – some of whom are adventurers, others mystics and mages, some psychics and one is even a beguiling shape-shifter. Plus more background about Russia and the Sovietski.

Rifts Coalition Wars 1: Sedition

BACK IN PRINT: Rifts® Coalition Wars® One: Sedition

– Available now

Magic vs Technology. The infamous Coalition/Siege on Tolkeen story arc starts with this 160 page sourcebook. Not only does it lay the groundwork for the Coalition’s all-out siege on the kingdom of magic, but it includes a vast number of Techno-Wizard weapons and vehicles, powerful magic artifacts, demons, monsters, magic and a historic Crisis Time-Line from 12 P.A. to 106 P.A.

Rifts Coalition Wars 2: Coalition Overkill

BACK IN PRINT: Rifts® Coalition Wars® Two: Coalition Overkill

– Available now

The Siege on Tolkeen goes into full swing as the Coalition Army makes the first devastating attacks on Tolkeen. Coalition Generals, Special Forces squads, and strategies are presented with a wealth of adventure ideas.

Rifts Coalition Wars 4: Cyber-Knights

Rifts® Coalition Wars® Four: Cyber-Knights

– Available now

We didn’t want you to forget about this excellent sourcebook in the series. The Coalition’s siege on Tolkeen has had a devastating impact on people across North America. None have been more affected than the Cyber-Knights. This sourcebook reveals not only the history and secrets of the Cyber-Knights, but the schism the war has created among the fabled warriors.

Rifts Xiticix Invasion

Rifts® World Book 23: Xiticix Invasion

– Back in print – Available now

Earth is home to thousands of alien species from beyond the Rifts. One of the strangest and most dangerous is the Xiticix. A danger nobody seemed to realize until the sprawling Hivelands began to encroach on the territories of other people. Armed with new breeds of aggressive warriors, new weapons and legions of insectoids willing to fight to the death, people are beginning to wonder if they are the next threat to humanity.

Rifts Triax Two

Rifts® World Book 31: Triax Two

– Back in print – Available now

The war between the people of the New German Republic and the Gargoyle Empire rages on, but only the heroes of the NGR seem to be getting the upper hand. See where things stand in the year 109 P.A. and get a closer look at the NGR Army, government, society and people. This World Book also presents the latest weapons, combat vehicles, power armor and robots of the NGR as well as commercial vehicles, robot helpers, and more.

Rifts Sourcebook 2: The Mechanoids

Rifts® Sourcebook Two: The Mechanoids®

– Back in Print – Available now

Archie 3 and Hagan Lonovich are two of the most beloved villains (anti-heroes?) in the Rifts Earth setting. This sourcebook highlights their strange relationship, plots and blunders. One of which is inadvertently unleashing The Mechanoids® into the world!

The Mechanoids have one driving goal: To destroy all humanoid life! This book has it all. Source material, the Mechanoids, new equipment, monsters, adventure and cryptic prophecies.

Dead Reign Sourcebook 3: Endless Dead

Dead Reign Sourcebook 3: Endless Dead – Available now

Endless Dead™ is a new 96 page sourcebook that will send your Dead Reign™ campaign in new directions or add depth (and zombies). What are you waiting for? Order your copy today. And if you haven’t taken a look at the Dead Reign™ RPG yet, but love zombies, you need to give this dynamic game a try.

Other Recent Releases

New! Rifts® PencilCat. No. 2561 – 50 cents per each pencil. People love this item and often buy them in sets of 10. Enjoy.

New! Palladium Fantasy RPG® Coffee Mug – red on a black, 15.5 ounce mug – Cat. No. 2560 – $10.00.

New! Dead Reign™: “Survive or Die Trying” T-Shirt – Cat. No. 2556 – price varies with size: Medium: $18.95, Large: $18.95, XL: $18.95, 2XL: $20.95, 3XL: $22.95, 4XL: $24.95, 5XL: $26.95

New! Rifts® Wilk’s Laser Technologies™ Logo T-Shirt – Cat. No. 2557 – price varies with size: Medium: $18.95, Large: $18.95, XL: $18.95, 2XL: $20.95, 3XL: $22.95, 4XL: $24.95, 5XL: $26.95

New! Imagination Unleashed T-Shirt – black image on a red T-shirt – No. 2558 – price varies with size: Medium: $18.95, Large: $18.95, XL: $18.95, 2XL: $20.95, 3XL: $22.95, 4XL: $24.95, 5XL: $26.95

New! Rifts® Northern Gun™ Logo T-Shirt – Cat. No. 2559 – price varies with size: Medium: $18.95, Large: $18.95, XL: $18.95, 2XL: $20.95, 3XL: $22.95, 4XL: $24.95, 5XL: $26.95

Property of the Coalition™ T-Shirt – Cat. No. 2528 – price varies with size: Medium: $18.95, Large: $18.95, XL: $18.95, 2XL: $20.95, 3XL: $22.95, 4XL: $24.95, 5XL: $26.95

Back in Print – Available Now

New Rifts® Miniatures

The following new Rifts® miniatures have never before been released by Palladium Books.

MI8021 – Rifts® Shadow Beast – $12.00

MI8022 – Rifts® Mystic Knight – $6.00

MI8023 – Rifts® Lord Magus – $6.00

MI8024 – Rifts® High Magus – $6.00

MI8025 – Rifts® Coalition Psi-Stalker (new-style Dead Boy armor) – $6.00

MI8026 – Rifts® Coalition Dog Boy in DPM-D1 Armor – $6.00

MI8027 – Rifts® Coalition Dog Boy #2 (with energy rifle) – $6.00

MI8028 – Rifts® Coalition Dog Boy #3 (with rifle and Vibro-Knife) – $6.00

MI8029 – Rifts® Coalition Dog Boy #4 (German Shepherd with rifle and Vibro-Claws) – $6.00

MI8030 – Rifts® Coalition Dog Boy #5 (Bulldog with energy rifle and Vibro-Claws) – $6.00

Classic Rifts® Miniatures – Back in stock

The following favorite Rifts® miniatures are back in stock. Some, like the Glitter Boy, have sold on the collector’s market for as much as $50-$120. They are being re-released for the first time in a decade.

MI8031 – Rifts® Glitter Boy Power Armor – $20.00; this is a large, heavy figure.

MI8032 – Rifts® Glitter Boy Pilot – $6.00

MI8033 – Rifts® Kydian Overlord (Atlantis) – $20.00; this is a large, heavy figure.

MI8034 – Rifts® Dragonsaurus (Atlantis) – $10.00

MI8035 – Rifts® Slaver and Slave (Atlantis); 2 figs, no plastic bases – $10.00

MI8036 – Rifts® Crazy – $6.00

MI8037 – Rifts® Juicer #1 (with laser pistol) – $6.00

MI8038 – Rifts® Juicer #2 (with Vibro-Sword) – $6.00

MI8039 – Rifts® Cyborg #1 (with Rail Gun) – $12.00

MI8040 – Rifts® Cyborg #2 (with gun hands) – $12.00

MI8041 – Rifts® Cyborg #3 – $6.00

MI8042 – Rifts® Coalition Officer (old armor) – $6.00

MI8043 – Rifts® Coalition Grunt #1 (old armor) – $6.00

MI8044 – Rifts® Coalition Grunt #2 (old armor) – $6.00

MI8045 – Rifts® Coalition Grunt #3 (old armor) – $6.00

Palladium Convention Calendar

Over the next eight weeks, Palladium and various staff members will be making appearances and selling product at various gaming events. We sent out a special email early this week to let folks know about some of these events, but here’s a more complete listing. Come on over and join the fun.

BarbeCon 2012 Details

BarbeCon 2012

Saturday – September 15, from 8 AM to 8 PM

Independence Oaks Park – at the Twin Chimneys Pavilion – Clarkston, Michigan (northwest of Pontiac). www.quintecons.com

Palladium pal and Game Master, Bill Korsak, and his associate, Bill Lonskey, are hosting the first ever Gaming Convention and Barbeque (that we know of). And not just any barbeque. The event is being catered by two local, award winning barbeque restaurants! Yummo.

● Palladium Books will be there with a table and core RPG books and recent releases.

● Wayne Smith will be there.

● Julius Rosenstein will be there.

● I have another commitment that day, but I might try to make it out to BarbeCon for a couple of hours, too.

● What about you?

BarbeCon combines all of the fun elements of a traditional 1-day convention with amazing catered barbecue, the amenities of a stunning park backdrop, the exacting event planning precision of a seasoned professional and a few surprises.

Board games, card games, role-playing games, miniature games and surprise guests take place under two large tents – rain or shine – this Saturday, September 15, 2012.

They are looking forward to providing all attendees with a truly memorable experience. Additional details on BarbeCon can be found at www.quintecons.com.

Admission is $20.00 in advance. Includes ALL events.

$20.00 for Adults in advance, $25.00 day-of.

$17.00 for Children 12 and under in advance, $22.00 day of.

www.quintecons.com or call (248) 250-9957

The Quintessential Event Company is the BarbeCon coordinator – Proud producers of:

Alliance Open House – September 21-23 – Fort Wayne, Indiana

This is a retailer trade show sponsored by Palladium’s largest distributor, Alliance. We’ll only be onsite Saturday in the Exhibit Hall to chat with retailers, tell them about upcoming releases and sign autographs. Wayne Smith and I (Kevin Siembieda) will be manning the booth. It’s always a worthwhile experience.

ConGregate Game Convention – October 6, 2012 – Livonia, Michigan

Timothy Lutheran Church
8820 Wayne Road
Livonia, MI 48150
10:00 A.M to 11:00 P.M.

Julius Rosenstein and Palladium pal and G.M., Jim Cross, will be running Palladium gaming events. Jim is also the convention organizer. There will be all kinds of fun gaming events. I’m sure I’ll pop in at least briefly considering its just down the road from the Palladium Office.

YoumaCon – November 1-4 – Detroit, Michigan

www.youmacon.com

This a rapidly exploding anime convention that could have 15,000+ people this year. It includes a wide range of amazing costumes, guests, events, cosplay, gaming and multi-media fun.

Palladium Books will be exhibiting in the dealers’ room and we’ll have members of the Palladium staff and other maniacs at the booth, including me (Kevin Siembieda), Wayne Smith, Alex Marciniszyn, Julius Rosenstein, Chuck Walton and maybe a few other Palladium madmen. Artist Ben Rodriguez will be there too, but he’ll have his own booth. It all happens at Cobo Hall, downtown Detroit, near the waterfront. Join the fun.

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

Speaking of which, have I mentioned that I will be one of the guests at Anime North in Toronto next year? Well, I will. The event takes place Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26, 2013. This will be my first time back at a convention in Canada in something like 15 years. Too long. www.animenorth.com

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

Oh yeah, we can hardly wait for Gen Con next year. We may even need to expand the size of our booth.

Note: No Palladium Open House in 2013 and right now, there are no plans for one in 2014.

© Copyright 2012 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, Warpath, 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.