Palladium Books® Weekly Update – Oct. 17, 2013

By Kevin Siembieda

We are hitting on all cylinders and flying high, so I’m going to jump right into things.

UPDATE: Rifts® Northern Gun One – Ships October 24 or SOONER

Rifts® Northern Gun™ One is at the printer and ships next week. Though scheduled to arrive at the Palladium warehouse on Thursday, October 24, after speaking to our printer, it sounds like we may get the book a few days early.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you have already pre-ordered Rifts® Northern Gun™ One, at any time, we HAVE YOUR ORDER ON FILE. Please do NOT reorder for fear we don’t have it or it is too old. Kathy Simmons has ALL orders in a file (she’s incredibly organized and efficient). If your credit card info has changed or the card has expired, Kathy or Alex will contact you by email or telephone. We have your back! Palladium Books cannot be held responsible if you have placed two or more duplicate orders. Don’t do that. ;)

Pre-orders will be shipped the day Rifts® Northern Gun™ One arrives at the Palladium warehouse. And the NG-1 softcover edition will definitely be available at Detroit Fanfare in Dearborn, Michigan, October 25-27. Creators Matthew Clements, Chuck Walton, Wayne Smith, Alex Marciniszyn, Julius Rosenstein, Mark Dudley, Carmen Bellaire (Saturday only), Ben Rodriguez and I will all be available to sign the book. (Plus we’ll also have the Max and Miriya convention special game pieces for Robotech® RPG Tactics™ available for sale, and Julius, me and others will be running gaming events at Detroit Fanfare over the weekend. I also have a panel talk.)

The NG-1 Hardcover editions (one with a color cover and one with a foil cover) should be done and ready to ship 2-4 weeks later, so early to mid-November. That’s when all the Megaverse Insider packages will ship.

UPDATE: The Rifter® #64 – October Release

The Rifter® #64 is in full-swing production. Articles have been selected, artwork assigned and editing underway. It has material for Rifts®, Dead Reign™, Nightbane®, Palladium Fantasy® and other good stuff. See the expanded description elsewhere in this Update. Should go into final typesetting and layout any day.

UPDATE: Dead Reign Sourcebook 4: Fear the Reaper – Oct./Nov. Release

Fear the Reaper™ is in full-swing production, simultaneous with The Rifter® #64. Artwork is finished and looks fantastic, and the book is undergoing final editing and tweaking. Author Matthew Clements has outdone himself, creating a heroic new sourcebook for the Dead Reign™ Series. So have the artists: Amy Ashbaugh, Nick Bradshaw, Jeff Burke, Brian and Allen Manning and Mike Mumah. See the complete description for it elsewhere in this Update. Should go into final typesetting and layout any day.

UPDATE: Rifts® Northern Gun Two – Nov./Dec. Release

Artists and I are plugging away on Rifts® Northern Gun™ Two in between everything else. NG-2 is even more of a toy chest than NG-1. See the full description for it later in this Update.

UPDATE: Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames

All of us can hardly wait for you to see Carl Gleba’s Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames™. Rifts Earth will never be the same. Still shooting for a 2013 release, though it may slip into 2014.

UPDATE: Robotech® UEEF Marines Sourcebook

The color sketch for the cover was approved earlier this week and is looking fabulous. We should get the finished art in a couple of weeks. Shooting for a December 2013 release, though it seems likely to slip into early 2014.

UPDATE: Robotech® RPG Tactics

The rule book is laid out and has gone through final proofreading and we’re waiting to get the final, corrected version from Ninja Division so we can get Harmony Gold’s approval. Likewise, the 130+ data cards are going through final editing and proofreading by Jeff Burke. Final packaging should be done soon and also sent to Harmony Gold for final approval. Everything is looking fantastic. Once everything is finalized, we send it in to Harmony Gold for their stamp of approval (and any changes). After Harmony Gold signs off, we send it all in to manufacturing! Can hardly wait.

Ship date remains undetermined pending the final manufacturing schedule. Though we’d love to see a December 2013, release, it is looking more and more like Robotech® RPG Tactics™ will not arrive at the Palladium warehouse until sometime in January, 2014.

Reminder: Palladium Books will be demonstrating the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ game all weekend at the Detroit Fanfare Convention in Dearborn, Michigan, October 25-27.

Convention Exclusive figures of Max and Miriya’s mecha (both in metal) will be available for sale at Detroit Fanfare – we have 100 of each. Sold on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last. These are the same Convention Exclusives sold at Gen Con only Miriya’s mecha is in white metal, not resin. The Harmony Gold Robotech® Tour is also taking place at this gaming and comic book convention, with special guest speakers and giveaways. Please, come on over to join the fun, chat with Palladium creators, meet one of the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ main game designers, Carmen Bellaire, and play in his demos (Saturday only), meet the Robotech® Tour special guest speaker as well as Palladium creators, ask questions, see the game rules and pick-up Palladium products.

Detroit Fanfare – Dearborn, Michigan – October 25-27, 2013

ALL GAMERS and ROBOTECH® FANS in and around Michigan, you are invited to join Palladium Books, Harmony Gold, and the convention organizers for a weekend of gaming, demos, good conversation, comic books and meeting all sorts of gaming, comic book and Robotech® creators at Detroit Fanfare – NEXT WEEKEND! Please spread the word and join the fun. Detroit Fanfare is a combination gaming, comic books, and media convention that draws more than 8,000 people every year.

This year the convention has invited Palladium Books to host a variety of games. There will be 20 specific Palladium role-playing game events plus Robotech® RPG Tactics™ demos ALL weekend long. Saturday from 9-4:30 those demos will be run by one of the main game designers, Carmen Bellaire. See the schedule below.

Palladium Books® will also have a nice-sized booth in the dealers’ area where we’ll be selling Robotech® RPG books, the Max and Miriya convention special mecha pieces, Rifts® Northern Gun One (hot off the presses), and we will be bringing nearly a dozen Palladium creators (see the list below).

Palladium Convention Highlights:

Detroit Fanfare also offers the following:

Click here for more information about Detroit Fanfare.

Palladium Gaming Schedule at Detroit Fanfare

Friday 6 PM – Robotech® RPG
Friday 7 PM – Dead Reign RPG
Note: Robotech® RPG Tactics™ demos take place at the Palladium booth in the dealers’ hall all weekend.

Saturday: Robotech® RPG Tactics™ “full scale” demos every half hour from 10:00 AM till 4:30 PM with game designer Carmen Bellaire who co-authored the rules. Note: Demos also take place at the Palladium booth all weekend.
Saturday 10:00 AM – Palladium Fantasy RPG
Saturday 11:00 AM – Dead Reign RPG
Saturday Noon – Panel talk with Kevin Siembieda
Saturday 1:00 PM – Palladium Fantasy RPG
Saturday 2:00 PM – Palladium Fantasy RPG: Lord DeSilca – G.M. Kevin Siembieda
Saturday 3:00 PM – Dead Reign RPG
Saturday 3:00 PM – Robotech® RPG
Saturday 4:00 PM – Beyond the Supernatural RPG
Saturday 7:00 PM – Dead Reign RPG
Note: Palladium founder and Lead Game Designer, Kevin Siembieda, may add another Palladium Fantasy RPG: Lord DeSilca game, if there is enough demand.

Sunday: 11:00 AM – Robotech® RPG
Sunday: 11:00 AM – Dead Reign RPG
Sunday: 11:00 AM – Beyond the Supernatural RPG
Sunday: Noon – Heroes Unlimited RPG
Sunday: 2:00 PM – Palladium Fantasy RPG
Sunday: 3 PM – Palladium Fantasy RPG
Note: Palladium founder and Lead Game Designer, Kevin Siembieda, may add a Palladium Fantasy RPG: Lord DeSilca game, if there is enough demand.

Robotech® RPG Tactics™ demos take place at the Palladium booth in the dealers’ room all weekend.

Other exciting stuff

All kinds of things are going on behind the scenes. Jeff and I are working with the four main MAs (Victor, Gary, Nate and NMI) on making the Megaversal Ambassador volunteer gaming program stronger, bigger and better. We had an excellent meeting and Skype conference call last Saturday. Bill Korsak and the MAs are working to make Gen Con Indy 2014 filled with dozens of “official” Palladium gaming events. If you are planning to attend Gen Con 2014 and want to run a game, CONTACT Palladium or the Megaversal Ambassadors (at 734-271-2900 or via the Megaversal Ambassadors at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to coordinate. If we get enough G.M.s, Palladium can get its own gaming area/room at Gen Con. We’ll also be looking for G.M.s to run Robotech® RPG Tactics™ demos, and we may need some helping hands at the Palladium booth. Deadline: first week of January, 2014! We NEED to have all of your game info and firm commitments to run games by the first week of January, 2014 to have a bank of “official” scheduled Palladium gaming events and get a Palladium room. Btw, that room would be available for around the clock gaming! Let’s make this a reality and wow gamers at Gen Con Indy with more than Robotech® RPG Tactics™. Let’s show them what role-playing is all about.

We are meeting with NMI on Saturday to discuss upcoming changes and improvements to the Palladium website and forums, as well as exploring all kinds of new possibilities for it and the company.

Other things are boiling too, like work on all kinds of new RPG titles, advertising and discussions about new types of products. I think the next several months are going to be a wild, fun ride for Palladium’s gaming community. Oh yeah, and lots of game products. Keep those imaginations burning bright.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer and Game Designer

Rifts Northern Gun One

Rifts® World Book 33: Northern Gun One – ships October 24 or SOONER!

Rifts® Northern Gun™ One is the most tech-filled World Book Palladium has ever produced. In addition to world information, background and O.C.C.s for the Northern Gun corporation and Ishpeming, there are 27 robots, 70+ weapons and all kinds of dynamic information and gaming resources. Courtesy of the largest arms dealer and independent manufacturer on the continent: Northern Gun™.

Northern Gun™ is the most famous arms manufacture 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.

The Rifter® #64 – Ships October/November, 2013

The Rifter® #64 presents optional source material for Rifts®, Dead Reign™ (zombies), Nightbane®, Palladium Fantasy RPG® and more. Each and every issue of The Rifter® is an idea factory that provides useful, ready to use, source material gamers can just drop into their ongoing games.

The Rifter® Number 64 includes:

Fear the Reaper

NEW! Dead Reign Sourcebook 4: Fear the Reaper – October/November Release

Join the legendary Road Reapers as the struggle for survival pits bikers against zombies out on the highways and streets of a world stalked by the walking dead. Like knights mounted on motorcycles, they travel the wasteland that Earth has become, searching for survivors, fighting zombies and waging war against the Death Cults that threaten all mankind.

Rifts Northern Gun Two

Rifts® World Book 34: Northern Gun Two

In production! Expanded to 192-224 pages and filled with all kinds of adventuring gear: New environmental body armor, power armor, hovercycles, robot drones, robot haulers, combat vehicles, other vehicles, robot gladiators and much more. More information about the weapons, vehicles and practices of Northern Gun, including the new rage of robot gladiatorial combat. Expanded page count. Epic adventure.

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.

Robotech® UEEF Marines Sourcebook One

This is another book that is guaranteed to wow and please Robotech® fans.

Robotech RPG Tactics

UPDATE: Robotech® RPG Tactics

The only product people are more excited about than the two Rifts® Northern Gun releases is Robotech® RPG Tactics™. Momentum is building to a fever pitch. Fans will not be disappointed. Demos at the Alliance Trade Show got nothing but big, toothy smiles and positive reviews. (You can demo it yourself at Detroit Fanfare, October 25-27, in Dearborn, Michigan). Here are some of the latest developments . . .

Flexible Date of Release: We are still hopeful for December, but its release may slip into January, 2014. Ninja Division’s original projections had product delivery at October or November. I fear we were all a bit too optimistic. In order to make this game line everything it can be, there have been delays. As a result, the game has yet to begin manufacturing. That said, 98% of the work is completed, the game pieces look incredible, and Ninja Division is wrapping up on final packaging, layout and tweaks. We expect to get final approval from licensor Harmony Gold in two or three weeks. At which point, Robotech® RPG Tactics™ goes into manufacturing. Factoring in manufacturing time, shipping from China and other factors, it is looking more and like a January 2014 release. We’ll see. Note: As stated in the past, we will ship product to the Kickstarter supporters before we ship to distributors.

Plastic game pieces. All of the 1/285th scale game pieces in the box set and expansion packs are plastic. (Special editions and limited releases for conventions and the Kickstarter may be in resin and/or metal.)

Expansions released in waves. Palladium plans to release Robotech® RPG Tactics™ products in waves. The core box game and first six expansion packs will be the initial release. 4-6 additional expansion packs of mecha game pieces will ship approximately every three months thereafter.

Robotech® RPG products – available now. Don’t forget that Robotech® RPG products are available now. They include the Robotech® Shadow Chronicles® core rule book available as a $30.95 hardcover (Cat. No. 550HC) and as a $16.95 manga-sized RPG paperback (Cat. No. 550), and the Macross® Saga Sourcebook (Cat. No. 551) which is the same setting as the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ game. Each book is a wealth of background information about Robotech® and fun to read and play. With excitement growing for Robotech® RPG Tactics™, there is renewed interest in the Robotech® role-playing game line.

New Robotech® RPG products coming in 2014. Palladium has three new Robotech® sourcebooks in development. UEEF Marines Sourcebook One, UEEF Marines Sourcebook Two and The Zentraedi Protectorate Sourcebook are all slated for release before Summer 2014. Additional Robotech® sourcebooks are on the drawing board.

● Palladium is working with Harmony Gold to expand the scope of its license to provide you with an even greater range of Robotech® products.

Robotech® RPG Tactics – Game Description

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

Robotech® RPG Tactics Box Set

The First Six Robotech® Expansion Packs

The initial expansion packs will also ship in January. All prices listed are likely, but still tentative. We want most packs to fall in the $25-$35 price range.

Robotech Macross Saga Sourcebook

Robotech® Macross® Saga Sourcebook – New Size

Available now – 8½ x 11 size

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 the Macross Saga setting, this is the book for you. Epic adventure awaits.

A Robotech® Role-Playing Game Sourcebook:

Rifts Ultimate Edition

BACK IN PRINT

Rifts® Ultimate Edition

Imagine a world setting that is Earth 300 years after an apocalypse that results in the return of magic. Now imagine a world where magic and super-science collide. Where cyborgs and men clad in power armor and giant robots clash with demons, dragons and sorcerers.

Now imagine lines of blue, magic energy rippling across the land. Where two or more of those lines cross, there is a tear in the fabric of space and time. A Rift to infinite worlds and realities that have unleashed an endless cavalcade of aliens, mutants and monsters into our world. Some are adventurers like you, others are invaders, some are slaves or prisoners, and still others are demonic nightmares and gods from ancient myths. All now make Earth their home or hunting ground. Welcome to Rifts®.

Rifts® combines the genres of science fiction, fantasy, horror and post-apocalypse (among others) in a plausible setting where adventure is limited only by your imagination and the possibilities are truly infinite.

Chi-Town Library Pencil

BACK IN PRINT: Chi-Town Pencil

Do Not Remove — Property of the Chi-Town Library

They’re fun and silly, and Rifts® gamers love them, so we pressed a new batch of Chi-Town Library pencils. They look great on the gaming table.

Villains Unlimited

BACK IN PRINT: Villains Unlimited

More than 80 villains with complete stats, background and motives for trouble. And lots of other epic source material.

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 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. RPG Tactics™, 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.