Palladium Books® Weekly Update – Dec. 7, 2018

By Kevin Siembieda

One game system – every genre – countless worlds – endless adventure

Hanukkah is already here, so Happy Hanukkah to those of you who celebrate that blessed holiday. Christmas and winter are on the wind and getting closer every day.

The Christmas holiday season is special to me for many reasons, but especially the wonderful people in my life, including you. We have been pounding out and filling up Christmas Surprise Packages like crazy. We know we’re doing a good job and making you all quite happy, because many of you have been telling us so or ordering your second or third Surprise Package. Awesome. That’s the whole idea, making people smile and delivering Christmas joy to as many people as possible.

Two new things: A new digital Palladium Catalog is now available for your perusal. It should be a helpful resource and good for selecting items for the Wish List of your Surprise Package. Palladium Gift Certificates are also now available, because you requested them. Enjoy.

Otherwise, my focus has been three things, 1) spreading Christmas cheer every way I can (to you that’s the Surprise Packages and other sales), 2) finishing the Rifts® Bestiary, and 3) getting the next several other books into production (mainly assigning artwork and wrangling freelance writers).

I’m happy that people are digging the release of BTS Sourcebook Boxed Nightmares™, Nightbane® Sourcebook 4: Shadows of Light™ and the alien invasion Systems Failure™ RPG. I’m also thrilled that The Rifter® #82 shipped last Friday because it’s a great issue on the heels of several great issues. Some folks are understandably disappointed that The Rifter® will be going on an indefinite hiatus after issue #84, but we have some great stuff planned for #83 and #84. And a hiatus does not mean forever. And let’s not forget, as I stated in our Rifter® announcement, we are doing this in order to get a lot more new books into your hands. And boy oh boy, do we have some great sourcebooks and welcomed surprises in store for you. To make them a reality, we need to focus.

I hope you know the Palladium staff and I are more dedicated than ever to bringing you great games, mind-bending sourcebooks and epic adventure for another three decades, God willing. So are the growing number of freelance artists and writers. To accelerate that process, we have to put The Rifter® aside for awhile. We love what we do and have so many new, bold ideas for products we can’t wait to share with you.

I will talk about our plans for the future (all good) in the New Year. For now, let us focus on the fun and joy of the holiday season. I know people grumble about the commercialization of the holiday season, but as someone who grew up poor and who has lost too many loved ones, I cherish my friends and love to buy and make them things for the holidays. I love to surprise them and make them smile. I love sharing what little time I seem to have these days, just talking and goofing around. You should too. Time is too short, and we never know when that special someone will no longer be with us. In the past couple of months I’ve had two dear friends suffer heart attacks. Both guys are in good health and only in their forties. Thankfully, both survived and are doing well. I also recently reconnected with one of my old Defilers. A great guy and wonderful player. About five years ago he nearly died and still faces challenges in the aftermath of that cataclysmic event. (Hang tough, my friend!)

The point is, show those you care about how much they mean to you. Not necessarily with a physical gift, but with a card, short letter, email, text, or better yet, a telephone call or a visit. Nothing beats hearing each other’s voice or being face to face. Reconnect and call to say, “Hello, been thinking of you.” I was thrilled to hear from my old Defiler friend. A sweet guy who was sort of the young Luke Skywalker of the gaming group and of the Defilers, and of whom I have only the fondest memories. I’m having lunch with another friend today and will enjoy a party at the neighbors later this evening. Kathy and I live on a street that’s like something out of the movie It’s a Wonderful Life, where everyone knows each other’s name, smiles, waves and stops to chat. It’s very nice and very different than the world I grew up in as a child. And this is the time of year to let the good people in your life know they matter. A phone call may be one of the most welcomed gifts of the season.

So with that sentiment, I’m going to focus on good cheer and the positive. Our warm regards to every one of you from me and all of us at Palladium Books. We appreciate and value our extended Palladium family. (By the way, that’s you, in case you didn’t know.) Which is why I always post more of the comments from the Surprise Packages through the holidays. Everyone seems to enjoy reading them and we like to give a little shout out to some of our fans by sharing their comments and kind words.

NEWS: Updated Digital Catalog

It has been long overdue, but we finally have a current PDF Catalog of Palladium Books® products available here on the Palladium Website and on DriveThruRPG.com. A big thanks to Rex Bardoll and Wayne Smith for making this possible, and to Scott Gibbons for planting the seeds to do so in the first place.

NEWS: Palladium Gift Certificates now available

You asked for them, so due to popular request, you can now purchase Palladium Gift Certificates for your gaming friends and loved ones who are difficult to buy for. The prompts should be pretty self-explanatory. You purchase the desired amount, fill out the email info of that person along with an optional gift message, and that individual gets an email with info on how to redeem the Gift Certificate and you get a confirmation email. Simple. Another big thanks to Rex Bardoll and Wayne Smith for doing the work to make Gift Certificates available in the Palladium online store and to Chuck Walton for his frequent reminders to get it done.

Christmas Grab Bags

Only 10 days to order and get your Palladium Christmas Surprise Package guaranteed in time for Christmas!

– Less than 3 Weeks till Christmas – order today

What is a Palladium Christmas Surprise Package? A way to get $95-$100 or more worth of gaming product for ONLY $46 (plus shipping and handling) as gifts for others or for yourself. And each book signed if you should want autographs. It is our way of saying thank you to our many fans for their support. You are appreciated more than you may realize.

The best deal of the holidays! You are likely to pay $50 or more for a for just a single core rule book, but for $45 plus shipping, you can get 4-6 books in a Palladium Surprise Package, depending on their retail value. Or you can get that core rule book and 2-4 sourcebooks. And we will sign the books if you request it. How do you beat that? It simply is the best deal in gaming! Our way of giving back to the fans and making the holidays special for you. A 20 year tradition of which gamers cannot get enough.

Your “Wish List” is vital – The Palladium Surprise Packages are designed to simulate the joy and surprise of the Christmas Season of Giving. To do this, you submit a list of 12-15 Palladium products (or more) FOR EACH Surprise Package you order. This list of 12-15 items for EACH Grab Bag is critical, because you will not know which items we will select to send you. That makes it just like a Christmas gift because it’s a surprise. Plus, Santa Kevin, who personally hand-picks every item for every Grab Bag, may toss in something extra like a limited edition print, or color maps, or T-shirt, or issue of The Rifter®, or something else he thinks you’ll enjoy.

Send us your brief comments. There is a special form and format to fill out for Christmas Surprise Packages, including a place where you can offer your brief comments, suggestions, greetings and salutations.

Please spread the word to gamers everywhere. People only learn about the Palladium Christmas Surprise Package offer by word of mouth, The Rifter® and our website, so please post and spread the word everywhere.

To those of you outside the USA, the X-Mas Surprise Package is a way to get books and circumvent the damn high cost of shipping from the United States. Since you are getting $90-$100 worth of product and only paying $46 plus a small handling charge, shipping via Priority Mail International (required for packages weighing more than four pounds) to most locations in Europe, Canada and many other countries is around $50-$60 US dollars. HOWEVER, because the cost of the product is so low, that’s the equivalent of paying retail for the products and only $0-$30 for shipping. A very good deal. Plus you get autographs if you want them! X-Mas Surprise Packages are the way to go for those of you outside the USA. Please take advantage of it to get all those products you’ve wished you could get except the shipping was too prohibitive. We feel your pain.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The X-Mas Surprise Package is a Grab Bag. As such, while we always try to send you items from your Wish List, you may NOT get everything you ask for and you are likely to get one or more items NOT on your list, like The Rifter®, or other item(s) we think you should enjoy. PLEASE give us a long Wish List and fill out other questions (favorite Palladium games, would like to try X, and so on) because it helps us to make your Surprise Package special. If you need or want specific items, do NOT use the Surprise Package; place a regular order at full retail to guarantee you get the books you want. Offer ends December 24, 2018. Also note: There are no Digital Surprise Packages this year.

Click here to get all the details or to place a Surprise Package order.

Shipping Guidelines for Christmas delivery – 2 weeks till Christmas weekend

IF YOU WANT YOUR ORDER or SURPRISE PACKAGE IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS, YOU NEED TO ORDER OVER THE NEXT 10 DAYS! For most of you in the USA, placing an order over the next 10 days guarantees you get your Christmas Surprise Packages in time for Christmas without any concern. And without having to pay for a faster more expensive method of shipping! That gives you till December 17 to place orders in time for Christmas. The only exception is Media Mail, as it is slower and less reliable. If shipping by Media Mail, place your order BEFORE December 11 – and even then there is no guarantee whenever you use Media Mail. Note: When you place your order now and over the next 10 days, you avoid the Christmas rush and reduce the chance of your package getting lost or delayed in the mail!

Shipping Considerations: When ordering, you need to factor in time for Palladium to process those orders (usually 24 hours, not counting weekends) and the actual transit time of shipping itself, generally 3-5 business days in the USA depending on where you live. 7-15 days in Canada. Do NOT include Saturday or Sunday as shipping days, because they are not. Get those orders in NOW to get your order or Surprise Packages guaranteed in time for Christmas without having to pay an arm and a leg for expedited shipping!

Please make sure your address is complete and includes your Apartment Number. You help us and yourself by sending a long Wish List and making your order clear.

- Media Mail: Least expensive but risky. Place your order via Media Mail by December 11 and you should get your Surprise Package by Christmas. HOWEVER, Palladium will NOT guarantee any package shipped via Media Mail to arrive before Christmas. Use this method at your own risk. Note: Media Mail, which applies only to paper goods, is the least expensive method of shipping, BUT also the slowest and least reliable method. The USPS will tell you 4-7 days for delivery, HOWEVER, experience has shown us that delivery time is more like 8-21 days during the Christmas season. Ship via Media Mail at your own risk. Note: If you want your 2018 Surprise Package quickly, DO NOT ship via Media Mail; use UPS or Priority Mail instead. Rare books and one-of-a-kind items like original art, numbered prints and gold editions CANNOT be replaced if lost or damaged in the mail. The risk and the loss is YOURS and the items, even books, will NOT be replaced if you ship via Media Mail.

- UPS Ground in the USA is 3-5 days delivery to almost all locations other than Alaska and Hawaii. However, there can be delays due to weather, accidents and sheer volume. Place your order by December 15 to guarantee Christmas delivery. Those of you who live east of the Mississippi River may have till December 17. Since Christmas is on Tuesday, those of you east of the Mississippi should get your order in time, as UPS Ground ships to most locations in the east in 2-3 days, but it is a small gamble. Those of you living west of the Mississippi need to get orders to us no later than December 13 to absolutely guarantee delivery by Monday, December 24 or sooner. Barring unexpected weather or accidents, of course.

- Priority Mail in the USA – Place your order by December 13 (should be a bit cheaper than UPS 3-Day Select). Priority mail orders placed as late as December 16 should arrive in time for Christmas, but cannot be guaranteed.

Express Shipping Methods:

- UPS 3-Day Select in the USA – Place your order by December 17 for guaranteed Christmas delivery.

- UPS 2nd Day Air in the USA – Place your order by December 18.

- UPS Next Day Air in the USA – Place your order by December 20 to receive the package on Saturday or Monday (Christmas Eve).

- Express Mail in the USA – Place your order by December 17.

- Parcel Post in the USA – NOT ADVISED. Placing an order by December 13 means you MAY get your order in time for Christmas, but probably not. There is only a 33% chance. We CANNOT guarantee a Christmas delivery using Parcel Post at this time.

- December 6 – to our friends in Canada and overseas – We suggest ordering no later than December 6, but sooner is better as we cannot guarantee delivery in time for Christmas. Your package should arrive in time, but if there are delays at Customs, work strike, bad weather, etc., it might miss. Order sooner rather than later. Happy Holidays, one and all!

Remember: 1. Palladium needs a day or two to process and pack orders, and we cannot ship on the weekends. As Christmas gets near, we will work our hardest to turn orders around as fast as possible. Order on Sunday, it should go out on Monday ... but maybe Tuesday depending on volume.

2. Surprise Package mitigates overseas shipping costs – take advantage of this while you can. The low cost of the Surprise Package mitigates the cost of shipping. It is, in effect, the equivalent of getting the books you want at retail, plus autographs, and paying the equivalent of only $5-$20 for overseas shipping! MANY overseas customers take advantage of the Surprise Packages for this reason! And it is likely the ONLY way for you to get autographs. Give it a try, we don’t think you will be disappointed.

3. Palladium Books has NO control over the shipping service once it leaves our warehouse, nor over the cost of shipping/postage, or the brokerage fees, Customs charges, taxes or any other related fees charged by other countries. Within the USA, Media Mail is the least expensive method of shipping, but also the least reliable and slowest. To our Canadian customers, we have no idea why it costs so much to mail books and product to you. So much for NAFTA making things easier. Game on.

Systems Failure RPG Shadows of Light Boxed Nightmares

AVAILABLE NOW – Just for the Holidays – Back in stock for the first time in decades!

Just for the holidays, Palladium is doing a limited short-run of three out-of-print titles that have been out of print for years. Two of them have been out of print for decades! We are printing enough that they should be available now thru December, and probably into January – available only while supplies last – so order ‘em while you can. All are available in Palladium’s online store and will be considered as requests in Christmas Surprise Packages while supplies last. We expect to print enough to get us through the holiday season. Enjoy. Ho, ho, ho.

The Rifter Number 82

UPDATE: The Rifter® #82 – Available now

This 112 page issue of The Rifter® #82 shipped last Friday and should be hitting store shelves next week. Of course, it is available right now from Palladium Books. Snag yourself a copy along with one of the re-releases (Boxed Nightmares™, Nightbane® Shadows of Light™ and Systems Failure™ RPG). This is a great issue, packed with source material plus Erick Wujcik remembered.

The Rifter® #82 is epic. Most of it is “official” source material and fun as can be: the reprinted Wujcik gaming advice, the Pyromancer O.C.C., the 50+ Pyromancy spells, the HU2 and Nightbane material, the preview monsters from Rifts® Bestiary, it’s all top-notch and fodder for adventure. Numerous people who have seen the proofreader’s copy have said the Erick Wujcik Remembrance is wonderful. Some said part of it brought tears to their eyes, while other parts made them chuckle and smile. All of it is a celebration of life and imagination. So I highly recommend The Rifter® #82 to everyone. The preview is up and available on DriveThruRPG.

The Rifter® #82 contains official source material for the Rifts® Bestiary™ Volume One (a sneak preview of just a few old and new monsters and animals), official source material for Rifts® Chaos Earth® (Pyromancer, 50+ Pyromancer spells, the Zone Twister, notable characters, and adventure ideas), official source material for Nightbane® (age modifiers and tables for selecting skills based on a Nightbane’s age, and more), an expanded revisit of the Physical Training character for Heroes Unlimited™, gaming advice from Erick Wujcik, a historically significant, fun and touching Remembrance of Erick Wujcik, 10 years after his death, some cool photos too, plus news and more.

In Production ...

The Rifts® Bestiary Volume One, In the Face of Death™ for Dead Reign®, The Rifts® Bestiary™ Volume Two, Garden of the Gods™, Chaos Earth® Psychic Scream™, Rifts® Antarctica, The Rifter® #83 and #84, The Disavowed and much more is in the pipeline and being worked on. Plus a couple of surprises.

New on DriveThruRPG.com – Dead Reign® Paper Miniatures Volume Three: Zombies AND the new Catalog of Palladium Books

New: Dead Reign® Paper Miniatures Volume Three: Zombies, provides a set of recently turned zombies – mostly Slouchers. Paper miniatures by Michael Leonard. Dead Reign® Paper Miniatures Volume Two: Civilians and Dead Reign® Paper Miniatures Volume One: Survivors are available now. There are also paper miniatures for Heroes Unlimited™, Palladium Fantasy® and Rifts®. Also new is a PDF of the Palladium Books Catalog. And take a look at some of the free Sneak Previews of various titles. The latest being The Rifter® #82 with the Pyromancer O.C.C. and Pyromancy magic, some Rifts® Bestiary monsters, HU heroes, bad guys, Nightbane®, and Erick Wujcik remembered.

Recent PDF additions include Nightbane® Dark Designs™ sourcebook with 60 new Common Talents, 38 new Elite Talents, 18 new Morphus Tables, all other Morphus Tables collected and more. Systems Failure™ RPG, a 160 page RPG that deals with alien invasion and a post-apocalypse setting that is fun and dynamic. Civilization is on the verge of collapse when the so-called “bugs” invade and turn humans into zombie-like slaves. Monsters, heroes and fun. A complete RPG and setting. Rifts® World Book 34: Northern Gun™ Two: 256 pages of technology and fun. 30+ power armors, 30+ body armors, 15 combat vehicles, 45 vehicles (hovercycles, etc.), 10 robot haulers, the Robodome and more. Bizantium and the Northern Islands™: the northernmost part of the Known World, the Cold Born, Necromancy ships made from dead sea serpents, 15 creatures, Random Sea Monster Generator, and more. Rifts® Northern Gun™ One. This fan favorite might be thought of as the big book of giant robots – an in-depth look at Northern Gun, 70+ weapons, 27 robots, NG O.C.C.s, key people and places, and much more. Mysteries of Magic™ Book One: The Heart of Magic™ with Wizards, their Apprentices, nearly 60 new magic spells and remember, magic and monsters in the Fantasy RPG are easily adapted to Rifts®, Chaos Earth®, HU2 and other settings. Wolfen Empire™ Fantasy sourcebook, the Great Northern Wilderness and Killer Winters, 12 Wolfen Tribes, Wolfen military and society, 15+ creatures, 5 full adventures, 101 adventure ideas, random encounter tables, notable people, places, plus FREE Sneak Previews of The Rifter® #80 & The Rifter® #81, and more on DriveThruRPG.com.

Charles Walton II Artwork, Toys and Collectibles “on sale” now in Kevin’s Online Toy & Collectibles eBay Store along with other good things

For the first time ever, Charles “Chuck” Walton has decided to offer a dozen or two dozen pieces of original artwork via my online store. All money goes to the artist. Includes original art from Rifts® Sovietski, Secrets of the Atlanteans, Rifts® Chaos Earth® Resurrection and others. This is a fun and unique opportunity to get some of Chuck’s art other than having to attend one of the few conventions where Chuck is a guest. He sold a good number at Gen Con and was wondering how he might make his art more available to people. I suggested trying my online store. Most prices range from $50-150, with a few more expensive pieces. Artwork make a great gift for the hard to surprise gamer. Enjoy. Chuck says thanks.

Other one-of-a-kind original artwork available by me (Kevin Siembieda), Kevin Long, Mark Evans (money goes to the artist), as well as prints, limited edition hardcovers, proofreader copies, out of print items, Star Wars toys, Marvel toys and many other toys and collectibles from my personal collection. Alex and I will keep adding items as our busy schedules allow, but we have a lot of fun collectibles available now and coming soon. Hundreds of items. Take a look every weekend for new additions.

Available now: One-of-a-kind book negatives. Negatives were very popular items at the Palladium Open House and people went crazy over them at Gen Con – including actor Joe Manganiello who scooped up a pile of TMNT negatives, while Palladium’s own Mark Oberle, Carmen Bellaire, Brandon Aten and a whole lot of Palladium gamers went for negatives from Rifts® New West, Lone Star and Free Quebec. Fun.

Negatives are unique and attractive, one-of-a-kind (on rare occasions two-of-a-kind if a page was replaced or a second edition was made) works of art that resemble woodcut art and are very dynamic conversation pieces. Before digital printing, pages of a book were laid out by hand on a board, and each page was photographed. The plastic film negatives were then “ganged” on a massive sheet of Mylar 16 pages per big sheet, and the printing plates were made from the negatives – everything white, printing black.

When our printer, McNaughton and Gunn, went completely digital, they asked if Palladium Books wanted the negs, otherwise they would be destroyed. Regrettably, I let a few dozen be destroyed, but the negatives of many books were sent to Palladium. They have sat in our warehouse for years until I started to offer them for sale. I have also started signing the negatives in silver and each comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. Each negative comes on a white board inside a plastic magazine bag and looks fabulous framed! Fits in an 8x10 inch matt opening in a frame (each neg is roughly 8½ x 11 inches).

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

Closing Thoughts

The holiday season is always bonkers for us. We have all been putting in long hours on many fronts and will continue to do so, especially when it comes to trying to make every Christmas Surprise Package special. But it is also a joy. Something we are happy to do for you, so get ‘em while you can. Spread the joy of Palladium gaming to your friends and loved ones or get those sourcebooks you’ve been wanting, or try that new game setting you’ve been wondering about. But whatever you do, enjoy this time of love and giving with the people in your lives who matter most. May this holiday season be nothing short of wonderful, filled with laughter and joy. Ho, ho, ho.

– Kevin Siembieda, Writer, Game Designer & Surrogate Santa

Surprise Package comments from fans like you

Every year there is a section where the customer can offer comments and suggestions with his or her Surprise Package order. Every year, in acknowledgment of our fans, and because they are fun to read, we offer a sampling in the Weekly Updates. Our heartfelt thanks to all of you who have stuck with Palladium through thick and thin. Keep those imaginations burning bright, have a joyous holiday season, and game on.

You have no idea how much your comments and support mean to all of us. Everyone at Palladium enjoys reading your brief comments. They always brighten our day. Thank you. I have tried to write a short response [in brackets] to each.

B.B. in Haltom City, Texas, writes, in part: Shalom and good fortune to you... your books give me a refreshing escape unlike any movie or video game. I’ll gladly take a personalized collection over any modern console.

[Shalom and good fortune right back at you, B.B. I enjoy video games and love movies, but I completely agree that there is nothing like the traditional RPG experience. It’s the greatest. Happy Hanukkah and game on! – KS]

R.K. in Sault St. Marie, Michigan, writes: Thanks in advance. Great picks so far. Thanks for the great drawings in the Splicers® RPG you sent in the last Surprise Package. Was very cool.

[You’re welcome R.K., we try to make every Surprise Package special. Happy Holidays. – KS]

J.M. in South Hadley, Massachusetts, writes: We already bought a Christmas Grab Bag this year and loved it so much we needed another one.

[Awesome, J.M., I aim to please. Hope you enjoyed the second one just as much. Game on. – KS]

S.S. in Benson, Minnesota, writes: Generating this Wish List was TOUGH! Went to youtube for inspiration and found unboxings. That’s where I saw the maps! This won’t be my last Surprise Package. Thanks.

[That’s a smart idea S.S., glad it helped. I’m happy you enjoy these Surprise Packages so much. Keep ‘em coming. Ho, ho, ho. – KS]

P.D. in Tucson, Arizona, writes: I love Palladium games going back to TMNT® and Robotech® in the early 1990s. Thanks for making games I love.

[You are very welcome, P.D. We’ll try to keep making games you love for another several decades. Happy Holidays. – KS]

C.F. in West Palm Beach, Florida, writes: Great stuff! Love this deal. Try to get one every year.

[Thank you, C.F., I hope you enjoy this Surprise Package just as much. Happy Holidays. – KS]

P.M. in Commerce Township, Michigan, writes, in part: I’ve been playing Rifts® for a long time. Unfortunately, I fell out of the game for the last 8-10 years and trying to get back into it with my brothers and sons. Looking forward to introducing it to a new generation of players and having some creative fun... Excited to start up a regular group again!

[Welcome back, P.M.! Good luck with your new campaign. I hope the Surprise Package helped to launch new fun adventures for everyone. Please keep your eyes peeled because we have some BIG plans for Rifts® and ... aaarggh, that’s all I can say at this time. But you’ll like it. Hey, you and your crew must come to the 2021 Palladium Open House here in Westland, Michigan! Start planning now. – KS]

W.K. in New York, New York, writes: I have almost every Rifts® book (they’re so good, yay!), and I’m now completing my collection of Palladium Fantasy books.

[Smart, W.K. Those are two of my favorite game lines, though all of our game settings have a special place for me. You know, like a proud papa. Collect and game on! – KS]

J.H. in Cadillac, Michigan, writes: Love the books. I have one suggestion doing the Rifts® Bestiaries™, why not do a similar book for O.C.C.s, men at arms, men of magic, etc.? Keep up the great work.

[Hmmm, we’ll give that idea some thought J.H., thanks. – KS]

H.B. in Orem, Utah, writes, in part: ... been a fan since 1986. Thank you for being part of my life and my son’s too.

[The honor is all mine, H.B. Thank you for the decades of support. I’m thrilled you and your son have enjoyed our hard work so very much all these years. This is why I love my job. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours. – KS]

D.N. in Northwood, North Dakota, writes, in part: I’m really looking forward to the 2021 Palladium Open House and the big 4-0h then. I hope to bring my brother-in-law with me to have all the fun we have there. Have a great Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

[D.N., I hope to see you there! Start planning now. I hope your holidays and the New Year are filled with nothing but fun, laughter and prosperity. Till 2021 – KS]

J.M. in Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada, writes, in part: ... Is the Titan Robotics™ book combined with Haunted Tech™? ... Thank you for the X-Mas Packages and 30+ years of inspiring my imagination. Keep up the great job!

[Hey, J.M., thanks for the kind words. Always happy to fuel the imagination. No, Titan Robotics™ is separate from Haunted Tech™. There is an important reason H.T. has been rescheduled with other things coming out first. Titan Robotics™, however, will see release in 2019 along with Rifts® The Disavowed, and others. Keep that imagination burning bright. – KS]

E.H. in Filer, Idaho, writes: I am super excited to dig into the new Nightbane® and Rifts® books I got the other day from DriveThruRPG. Can’t wait till more come out. Thank you guys for creating such interesting books.

[Happy to do it, E.H. Glad you are enjoying them. – KS]

K.B. in Westminster, California, writes, in part: I love Rifts®. Trying to rebuild my collection. I’m going with a Coalition theme Wish List this year. Keep Truckin’. ... If you had a slogan I’d end my comments with it, but I’ll just say, Palladium rules!

[Thank you for the high praise, K.B. Coalition it is. We’ll do our best to keep on truckin’ for many years to come, and you do the same. Enjoy the holidays and thanks for making me laugh (too bad I can’t repeat it). – KS]

C.T. in Sante Fe, New Mexico, writes, in part: Thank you so much for another great year of gaming, and for once again making the Christmas Surprise Packages available again! I really look forward to this time of year thanks to you!

[That’s Santa Kevin’s job, C.T., to spread holiday joy to gamers everywhere. As long as I’m running Palladium, you can count on our annual Surprise Package offer being available. Happy holidays and game on! – KS]

The Rifter Number 82

The Rifter® #82 – Available now

The Rifter® #82 is all about discovery and unleashing the power inside of you. That’s true whether you are playing a Chaos Earth® Pyromancer™ learning to survive and save lives after the Great Cataclysm; or a newly awakened Nightbane® seeking his or her purpose in a dark world of conspiracy and demons; or a Heroes Unlimited™ vigilante trained to the height of physical perfection in a war against evil; or an RPG gamer like you and me, unleashing our imaginations to create wonderful new characters and epic adventures. This issue of The Rifter® also lovingly celebrates a master of unleashed imagination and big thinking, Erick Wujcik, ten years after his untimely passing. Bits of Palladium history and heartfelt sentiments revealed along the way. Enjoy.

Rifter® #82 Highlights:

Systems Failure RPG

Systems Failure RPG

– Back in Stock – just for the Holidays

When the cities fell, and the world went "off-line," all seemed lost. Anarchy reigned.

On an alternate Earth, all that is left are the Survivalists, Nature-Lovers, Farmers, Gun Bunnies, Eggheads and backwoods wackos living on the fringe. Either people found in remote regions or those who were prepared for the Y2K Bug and the collapse of civilization.

Oh, and there are “bugs” alright. Alien, bug-like things that feed on energy and turn humans into zombie-like slaves. Things are worse than anyone could have imagined, even for those who were prepared. But these survivors are not ready to give up. America (and then the world) will be free! And they mean business. Play the unlikely heroes fighting to save the world in a post-holocaust environment.

This is an action-packed, post-holocaust role-playing game that can be played straight and serious, or with a touch of satire and humor. Back in 1999, this RPG was inspired by fears of the Y2K Bug and possible end of the world as we knew it. So THIS game is an alternate Earth where Y2K was a real event and worse than anyone could imagine. Enjoy the wild characters and setting, and destroy some Bugs!

Boxed Nightmares

Boxed Nightmares – Adventure Sourcebook for Beyond the Supernatural

– Back in Stock – just for the Holidays

Boxed Nightmares™ is exactly what the title suggests, ordinary people coming face to face with supernatural nightmares. The adventures are designed to give players and Game Masters a better idea of the variety and scope of adventures one can explore in the world of modern horror. Some adventures are short, others long. Some are monster stomping action, while others require investigation, cunning, and the uncovering of clues.

The newspaper portion is in the back of the book. It is one of those sensational, check-out counter tabloids that boasts headlines like Woman marries Big Foot, or Elvis’s clone living in Tampa. However, this tabloid is tied to the adventure portion of the sourcebook in several different ways. First, it contains clues and information for the actual adventures inside the sourcebook. Second, the publishers of the paper often hire psychics and parapsychologists to investigate strange phenomena, so your characters could be working for the tabloid company. And third, it may give you ideas for additional adventures.

Shadows of Light

Shadows of Light – A Nightbane® Sourcebook

– Back in Stock – just for the Holidays

The forces of Light and Darkness clash as never before in the modern setting of the Nightbane® RPG.

Rifts Bestiary

New! Rifts® Bestiary: North America, Vol. One

A series of books that collects all the notable monsters, dinosaurs and creepy crawlers and creatures of Rifts® North America (US, Canada and Mexico) into two juicy volumes with a number of new creatures. Each volume includes maps and new creatures, large and small, to help or plague player characters. Between them, these two volumes compile all the beasts of Rifts North America (unintelligent monsters, predators, notable animals and intelligent beings that are monstrous or animal-like in appearance or behavior) from all current World Books and Sourcebooks. In addition, Kevin Siembieda, Chuck Walton and Greg Diaczyk are adding some new monsters to make life in the wilderness interesting. Presented in alphabetical order, with maps showing their range and location, in two big books.

Winter releases, both volumes are being worked on simultaneously, right now, so that Volume Two will quickly follow Volume One within 4-6 weeks. Other volumes, like a Bestiary of Spirits and the Supernatural, are likely to follow.

Future volumes will include spirits, ghosts and entities, another on dragons, other volumes on creatures in other parts of Rifts Earth, and so on.

NEW! Rifts® Bestiary Volume Two – ships December

More of notorious Rifts® monsters and animals, old and new, everything updated and expanded.

In the Face of Death

COMING: In the Face of Death – A Dead Reign® Sourcebook

“People will tell you no one can survive in the big cities. They are wrong.” – Brad Ashley, Leader of the Road Reapers in the Zombie Apocalypse.

This sourcebook is all about inner city survival. Survivor colonies finding a way to live and prosper in the big city. The conventional wisdom is that living in the big population centers is impossible. These survivors prove otherwise.

UPDATE: Garden of the Gods – A Palladium Fantasy® Sourcebook

Matthew Clements is still adding to his considerable contributions to Garden of the Gods before turning it in to Palladium. Matthew has started work on another Fantasy sourcebook and other projects.

The Garden of the Gods is said to be a holy place watched over and even frequented by the avatars of the gods. According to legend, the god may visit heroes and followers in dreams or in person by an avatar of the god, to be given guidance, inspiration, heroic quests, and gifts of knowledge and magic. More details about this title will follow.

Beyond the Supernatural

Back in Stock – Beyond the Supernatural RPG – available now

Beyond the Supernatural™ RPG is supernatural horror in the modern world. A plausible modern horror setting that makes sense and will have you wondering if this stuff could be for real. Play ordinary people, psychics or paranormal investigators.

Rifts Mystic Russia

Back in Stock – Rifts® World Book 18: Mystic Russia – available now

Rifts® Mystic Russia™ – setting information, key people and places, demons, monsters, gypsies and magic galore.

Rifts Game Master Guide

Back in Stock – Rifts® Game Master Guide – Available now

The Rifts® Game Master Guide™ is a massive 352 page reference book with short stats and description on every Rifts® robot, power armor, body armor, vehicle, weapon, gadget, skill, experience table, and map that appears in Rifts® World Books 1-23 and Sourcebooks 1-4, plus a bionics index, an O.C.C.s and R.C.C. index, rules clarifications, combat examples, advice on how to run a game and more.

Other core Rifts® titles to remember:

Fun and Notable Podcasts and Sites that feature Palladium Books

If you are doing a Palladium fan-based website, podcasts, YouTube programming, etc., please let us know so we can take a look at what you are doing and so we can give you a shout out. We do not have the staff and resources to do everything we want to do, so we appreciate the fan sites that feature Palladium Books’ games and settings and promote the RPG hobby. Awesome. We are happy to support you when we can.

What’s Coming (in production or development):

Copyright 2018 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.

Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Powers Unlimited®, Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Phase World®, Nightbane®, Megaverse®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars®, Chaos Earth®, Dead Reign®, and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc.; Beyond the Supernatural, Coalition States, 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.

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