By Kevin Siembieda

Gen Con 2016 was amazing for us. We are back and full of energy and excitement about the array of product coming your way from us in the months ahead and over the next year.

I don’t know if it was the atmosphere at Gen Con itself or the energy generated by talking with a wide array of gamers about our plans for Robotech®, Robotech® RPG Tactics™, Rifts® and other projects, or a combination of the two, but we all came back from Gen Con brimming with enthusiasm. Even the drive to and from Gen Con was an adrenaline rush of ideas and brainstorming. I was so pumped up on Tuesday (we got back late Monday afternoon), that I got to the office early and posted a note on my door that read: “Can’t talk. Hot writing!” I didn’t emerge from my office until 6 hours later to eat lunch and discuss the many ideas and plans I had been jotting down.

I want to thank the many fans with whom we confided, and who shared their ideas, experiences and suggestions. Your feedback and input were inspiring and helpful, as always.

UPDATE: Heroes of Humanity is selling fast and furious

Rifts® CS Heroes of Humanity was a hot seller at Gen Con and continues to be our Number One selling sourcebook online and in stores, and that’s according to Palladium’s distributors. That’s great, because Rifts® Heroes of Humanity — along with CS Arsenal and The Disavowed — are setting up something truly huge for Rifts® that happens next year.

Read more: Palladium Books® Weekly Update – Aug. 12, 2016

 

By Kevin Siembieda

A lot of things are in motion and looking very promising. We placed the order for the two decks of Rifts® poker cards. The proof samples of both decks came in and look absolutely fantastic. One person who saw them said she was ordering 10 decks as gifts. Pre-orders for the Rifts® Poker Decks are coming in at a nice pace. Wayne has updated the store description to show the box they come in when you order directly from us, as well as images of all the cards. We will have 120 of each deck at Gen Con, available on a first come, first served basis, with more on the way to fulfill all requests. Heck, we already have some people inquiring about future Rifts® poker decks. Awesome. Both decks are very fun products.

Both the new, larger, Robotech® The Masters Saga™ Sourcebook in the 8½ x 11 format and The Rifter® #74 arrived at the Palladium warehouse yesterday (Thursday, July 28). Pre-orders and subscriber copies are shipping out today. Some went out yesterday. The Raw Preview Editions of Rifts® Sovietski™ and Secrets of the Atlanteans™ also arrived today. There has also been a lot of discussion about Robotech® RPG Tactics™ (RRT) and all the things we will be doing for it in the weeks ahead.

As you might expect, much of our focus this week has been on Gen Con Indy. I spent a good amount of time working out the complete layout of our booth. We set up the entire booth up in the warehouse complete with display materials, and selected the product we are taking with us (most of our catalog) – mainly books and RRT products, as well as a thick pile of original artwork by Chuck Walton II. It takes a lot more time figuring out the booth configuration, which products to bring, how to best present them all, the quantities to bring, and other details than you might think.

We especially want to make sure we have a good supply of everything due to the Gen Con Coupon Book offer that Rifts® and Robotech® fans are going to find awesome. If you are attending, you do not want to miss it! Oh, and we are doing it all in 90+ degree heat. I waited a week because of the heatwave, but it was pointless. Hot as Hades back there, even with fans going. It is definitely a team effort. My thanks to Julius and Alex for all their help and hard work. After that, it is boxing it all up and getting everything ready to put on the truck next Tuesday.

In between, I have been making appointments for meetings at Gen Con, finalizing and confirming arrangements, getting a little writing in, and taking care of other business. Oh, and one more July sale.

Rifts^® Mega-Damage Steel Sale – 4 days only – July 28-31, 2016

A selection of Rifts® titles filled with armored vehicles, robots, cyborgs, power armor, weapons and other machines of war. Plus a few select Rifts® metal miniatures. Enjoy.

Read more: Palladium Books® Weekly Update – July 29, 2016