Palladium Books® Weekly Update – January 17, 2013

By Kevin Siembieda

It has been another busy week with progress on all fronts: Writing, art and design for several upcoming product releases.

The week started out with a deluge of last minute 2012 Christmas Surprise Packages. Around 100 or so of them came in over the weekend and we were buried. Plus there were a good number of regular orders (awesome!). It took Julius and Alex until yesterday (Wednesday) to get them all shipped out. Sales have remained strong since the Surprise Package ended on Monday, and we remain positive and energized about upcoming new releases and Palladium’s future.

The Rifter® Super-Subscription Drive – Low Price – Free Gift

I imagine the news that’s most immediate for many of you is that The Rifter® Super-Subscription Drive has begun. We make this offer once a year, for a limited time only, so you have only till February 20, 2013, to renew your subscription – or to start one – at a superior discount and get a FREE gift too. See the full description elsewhere in this Update and in the online store.

Personally, I think The Rifter® is an awesome resource for all Palladium gamers. Ideas, powers, monsters, characters, adventures, etc., even if presented for a setting that you may not normally play in, can be used in just about any campaign in most settings. The beauty of the Palladium Megaversal Game System is that you can easily modify characters, gear and such for ANY world setting, and in many cases, the material can be dropped right in without any work whatsoever. That means a monster from Palladium Fantasy® can be easily used as a monster, mutant or alien in Heroes Unlimited™, After the Bomb®, a creature from a Robotech® Genesis Pit or the denizen of an alien planet. It can be used in Rifts® or Chaos Earth™ as well (perhaps just changing Hit Points/S.D.C. and damage to Mega-Damage), and so on. Similarly, Heroes Unlimited™ and After the Bomb® mutants and super beings can be aliens, mutants, and monsters in other settings. Likewise, adventures and adventure ideas can be tweaked to fit most settings, as can optional rule ideas. And over the years, Wayne has honed The Rifter® into a consistently high caliber sourcebook series. Take advantage of this special offer to get The Rifter® delivered right to your doorstep.

UPDATE: The Rifter® #61

I approved the printer proofs on Monday and the book is scheduled to ships, on time, January 23, 2013. The Rifter® #61 is another great issue, filled with a wealth of source material that can be used in a wide range of world settings, including Heroes Unlimited™, After the Bomb®, Rifts®, Phase World® and the Three Galaxies™, and others. See the full description elsewhere in this Update.

UPDATE: Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook

I have remained hot writing the Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook, though other demands on my time have prevented me from working on the writing as much as I would like. I expect to do nothing but writing on it the rest of today and through the weekend and into next week until I’m done. As I’ve been saying, I think Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook is gonna blow people away. I hope you Game Masters and gamers are ready for some high-powered adventure, because you’re going to want to go vampire slaying after reading this book. See the full description elsewhere in this Update.

UPDATE: Northern Gun One

I’m assigning the rest of the art to my intrepid crew of dynamic artists and can hardly wait till I can dive into final edits. As soon as I’m finished with Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook, I dive full-force into this puppy.

UPDATE: Northern Gun Two

Pretty much the same as above. Artwork for it is already being done.

UPDATE: Titles back in print

Dead Reign™ RPG came back in print last week when we were down to the last half box of books. Palladium is also looking to get Rifts® Aftermath, Rifts® China 2 and Chaos Earth™: Rise of Magic™, among other titles, back in print in the weeks ahead.

UPDATE: Robotech® UEEF Marines Sourcebook One

No news on this front. I’m expecting to get the finished manuscript for it by the end of January. This is another book I want in your hands by Spring.

UPDATE: Robotech® RPG Tactics

Robotech® RPG Tactics™: Defense of Macross Island™ – things are moving forward for this box game that will launch a line of 1/285th game pieces for all eras of Robotech® mecha and spaceships. The rules are being hammered out, sculptors and artists are working away and I believe there is even some play-testing going on. I expect to have a telephone conference call with the heads of our development team later this week and/or early next week. One of the things to be addressed is what we can start revealing, and when, since those in the loop, like us and Tom Roache, are super-excited. You will be too. More details to come, when I can reveal them. The Rifter® #61 has a bit more information (perhaps even some details I should not have yet revealed, so another reason to get this publication). ;)

UPDATE: More Sneak Previews to be made available on DriveThruRPG.com

As soon as it is possible, we’ll be posting the FREE Sneak Preview of Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook and maybe The Rifter® #61 in the next week or two. There are already a number of Sneak Previews of other popular books including Rifts® Black Market and Rifts® Lemuria, among others.

DriveThruRPG.com is also your place to get PDFs of older product and sneak previews of upcoming books. 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. A sneak preview of Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook should also be coming soon. 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 (both written by Carl Gleba and complete with maps, combat matrix, character sheets, spell list, and 20 pre-rolled characters created by Julius Rosenstein; $5 each). Of course, there are FREE Sneak Previews of Endless Dead™, Rifts® Lemuria, Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms™, and Thundercloud Galaxy™, as well as 90+ out of print titles, including back issues of The Rifter®, and first edition rule books for Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy RPG®, Heroes Unlimited, The Mechanoid Invasion® Trilogy, and lots of other good things. ALL available as PDF downloads at reasonable prices. And there is MORE to come.

UPDATE: Mike Mumah

It’s our understanding that Mike had a bit of a setback last week, but is back doing physical therapy at a rehab facility. We’ve also heard a rumor there will be one or more fundraisers coming up to help Mike handle expenses and medical bills while unable to work. Palladium just sent a stack of items for one. We’ll let you know about them as we learn more ourselves.

Read on for more fun and information.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer and Gamer

X-Mas Grab Bags

Final words from 2012 Christmas Surprise Packages

The 2012 Christmas Surprise Package offer is at an end. Now it’s time for us to focus on new product releases and making 2013 the best year for Palladium in a decade. I know people enjoy reading the comments from the Grab Bags and those who make comments get a kick seeing them posted, so here is one last round of them. Enjoy and thank you, one and all. Happy New Year.

B.G. in Milford, Connecticut, writes: What a way to ring in the New Year! [With the Surprise Package extended offer.]

J.S. in Stockon, California, writes: To Kevin, Alex, Wayne, Julius, Kathy and all the Palladium greats, thank you SO much for continuing to make PB a wonderful collection of games for all of us diehards to love! Happy New Year.

N.B. in Louisville, Colorado, writes: You make my favorite games. Your game system and the human aspect of your company are truly special. Keep it up!

G.C. in Holiday, Florida, writes: Keep making great games so I can continue to give you money into the future!

J.W. in Virginia Beach, Virgina, writes: I loved the first package I got. You can even quote this if you’d like, “I ordered this Grab Bag and got some amazing things and I had to order AGAIN!” Thank you, Kevin S. and the rest of the Palladium team, for your hard work and the great books and games with which to enjoy a wild night of adventuring!

K.S. in Billings, Montana, writes: I’ve been playing for nearly 20 years now (as GM for most of it), and I just wanted to take a second to thank you guys for keeping it together and continuing the best RPG ever made, Rifts®.

Z.M. in Tulsa, Oklahoma, writes (in part): I have been a gamer for 24 years. Palladium has been the only game system that seems to grow with me through all these years. Every other game seems to go through drastic changes every few years. Thank you so much for the consistency of rules and new products. Bravo! And my best wishes to you, your personal family, and your Palladium family for the next year.

G.G. in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, writes (in part): I’ve been playing this game for 10 or so years. Anywhere from watching my step-dad play and laugh, to actually playing a Ley Line Walker and now as GM. Thank you for chasing your dreams and in so doing allowing me and my friends to live ours.

M.S. in Lawrenceville, Georgia, writes: Thanks so much for your hard work and dedication. You have given my gaming group years of entertainment and a delightful distraction from the real world.

J.H. in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, writes: Expand into table top. Rifts® could totally stomp 40K with a good game system. Could start with a skirmish system and expand into big armies after a few years.

S.R. in Columbus, Ohio, writes: Thank you very much for this great offer year upon year. You all at Palladium are fantastic and hopefully continue to have remarkable success.

B.L. in Las Vegas, Nevada, writes (in part): Thank you for the Grab Bag each year and extending the time frame. I also love the crowdfunding idea for new books. It’s an awesome idea and I was glad we could join in for Rifts® Lemuria. You are truly a company that takes the fans and the love of gaming to heart. Thank you and keep it up!! :)

B.S. in Provo, Utah, writes: These Grab Bags aren’t actually for me. There’s a student run Science Fiction and Fantasy Club at my Alma Mater that relies on donations to run and give out prizes, so these books will be donated to the club. I want other people to have as much fun with Palladium as I have over the years.

C.T. in Jackson, Michigan, writes: Kevin, I enjoyed speaking with you at Youmacon. Our conversation set the course for the events currently happening in my Rifts® campaign. I look forward to all the great things Palladium has in the pipeline and I’m glad to have the opportunity to support such a great company.

T.M. in Richmond, Kentucky, writes (in part): Thanks for making such great games which have given me so many wonderful memories over the years. I can honestly say there is so little I would change.

S.B., in the Military, writes: I am Retired Navy living outside of Tokyo, Japan. Originally from just outside Detroit, Michigan. I have been buying and playing Palladium’s games since the late 1980s. From my family to yours, Happy Holidays to the entire Palladium team.

J.Z. in Suffolk, Virginia, writes (in part): Thank you Palladium crew for all the great times you have given me over the years. I held gaming groups in Iraq and Afghanistan while deployed, and have been playing since junior high school! Through good times and bad, Rifts® has always been a big part of my pass-time and hobbies. A special thanks to Kevin for holding this whole thing together.

R.R. in Jacksonville, Florida, writes (in part): Mr. Siembieda, WE WANT MECHANOID SPACE TO COME OUT! Okay, now that I have gotten that out, I’ve been collecting and playing Rifts®, Phase World®, Nightbane® and now, recently, Dead Reign™ for more than 7 years. I love what you guys did with Rifts® Sourcebook 4: Coalition Navy™. I know what type of research that must have went on to do that, and the submarine parts are “scary accurate.” I just want to say thank you for what you guys do.

J.R. in Kamloops, Canada, writes (in part): It’s been great getting all these products. I expect to be ordering more in the coming year as you have tons of great products in the works; when don’t you? I hope Mike Mumah gets better soon. Please tell him he’s got an army of fans pulling for him. Until next time, make mine Palladium. ;)

J.B. in Caldwell, Idaho, writes (in part): Thanks again, Santa Kev. My wife and I have said some prayers for Mike Mumah . . . Please let him know we are praying for him and can understand what he is going through. Also, many thanks to my extended family there at Palladium. May this year be even more prosperous for you all.

R.F. in Farmington, Missouri, writes (in part): I am glad to see Pally is getting on its feet and I appreciate all the hours of fun your products have given friends, family and I. My heartfelt prayers will continue for all the staff, Kevin, and especially Mike Mumah.

J.M. in Montgomery, Illinois, writes (in part): Take a couple of days off when you get the last Grab Bags packed and know that your work, creativity, and passion are appreciated as we go into the New Year. I’m pulling for Mike Mumah as well – good thoughts and best wishes for his speedy recovery.

J.T. in Garrison, North Dakota, writes (in part): Thanks Kevin, despite Palladium’s own financial issues, you still keep your products affordable to your fans, and in this economy, that means a lot to us. This is how you keep customers for life. This is why so many customers feel like friends. Here’s hoping for many more years of Palladium Books, the little RPG company that could.

M.H. in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, writes: You guys are amazing and I love all the content in your books. Keep up the great work.

J.K. in Collinsville, Illinois, writes: Your games have been enjoyed by my friends and I for more than 20 years. Live long and prosper.

Comments from Siembieda and Crew: Thanks again for the many kind words, encouragement and support. We love reading the many brief comments in the Christmas Surprise Packages. Also thank you for the well wishes sent to Mike Mumah. J.M., I’d love to take a few days off, but I think I need to bang out the Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook first. J.T., thank you for recognizing that our fans are important to us and that we see them as part of Palladium’s extended family. J.H., I like the way you think. B.L., more crowdfunding opportunities will be coming in 2013, and yes, we love our work in gaming and our fans. All of you, keep those imaginations burning bright and game on. – Kevin Siembieda & Company

The Rifter #61

The Rifter® #61 – Ships Next Wednesday, January 23, 2013

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 monsters, villains, 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® #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:

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.

$39.80 – USA. That’s only $9.95 each, a savings of $8.00, and Palladium pays the shipping! Plus you get to select a FREE subscriber’s gift worth $20.95-$25.90 (please include $6.00 to cover shipping and handling). That’s $45.80 total including shipping and handling for the free gift. Note: This rate is limited to subscribers in the USA only. Sorry.

$61.80 – Canada. That’s $15.45 for each issue of The Rifter®, plus you get to select the FREE subscriber’s gift (please include $9.00 to cover shipping and handling). That’s $70.80 including the gift item. That’s still not a bad price for a 96 page sourcebook. Our apologies on the higher cost, but Palladium Books can not cover the cost of postage to other countries. We hope you understand.

$75.80 – Overseas. That’s $18.95 for each 96 page issue, plus you get to select a FREE subscriber’s gift (please include $18.00 to cover shipping and handling). That’s $93.80 including the gift item. We are only passing along the additional postage cost, but it is hefty. Our apologies. Postal rates are out of our hands. Likewise, the purchaser is responsible for any duty or customs fee.

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 The 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: Final Siege: Rifts® Coalition Wars® 6 ($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 enclose 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 (this current issue), #62 (next issue, April 2011), 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

Dead Reign RPG

Dead Reign RPG – Back in print

Okay, we never quite ran out. We were down to our last case of books when the third printing arrived from our printer.

Can you survive in a world where the dead have risen and feed upon the living? Battle zombies, mad men and death cultists in a post-apocalyptic world where the last of humanity struggles to survive.

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. Tales of zombies, human survival and horror as a fast-paced, easy to learn game and sourcebooks. Think you know zombies? Think again.

Rifts Vampires Sourcebook

Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook – Coming Next!

In final production and looking outstanding. It should go to the printer in January 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.