Palladium Books® Weekly Update – Dec. 19, 2013

By Kevin Siembieda

X-Mas Grab Bags

With Christmas next week, I think the focus of this Weekly Update has to be the holidays and the Christmas Surprise Packages. That offer ends Christmas Eve, 2013, so you still have time to order one for yourself.

At this point, only Priority Mail, Express Mail, 2nd Day UPS and Next Day UPS will arrive in time for Christmas. I would hope those of you purchasing a Surprise Package for the holidays have already done so. We certainly did everything we could on this end to get the Christmas Surprise Packages out as fast as humanly possible. Once in the mail, it’s out of our hands.

Ah, but the beauty of the Surprise Packages is that they aren't just for Christmas. You can purchase one or more as gifts for any upcoming occasion (birthday, anniversary, Happy New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, graduation, and so on), or as a treat for yourself. A Surprise Package is also a great way to fill holes in your collection, try new world settings, get back issues of The Rifter®, get autographed books and specialty items like the Zeleznik art book, prints, original art, bookmarks, T-shirts, coffee mugs, and other non-book items.

Each Christmas Surprise Package is handpicked and packed with appreciation and warm holiday wishes. We do the Surprise Package as our way of saying thank you for your patronage and support, as well as a way to spread holiday cheer to the Palladium gaming community. So please, order as many as you’d like, enjoy and happy holidays.

There is still time to get a Surprise Package for Christmas, but you’ll need to do it TODAY or over the weekend and pay for expedited shipping.

Get those orders in NOW to get Surprise Packages in time for Christmas without having to pay an arm and a leg for shipping! Order this weekend and Monday, and you can get your Surprise Package in time for Christmas by just using UPS Ground (1-3 days to deliver east of the Mississippi River, 4-5 days west of the Mississippi). UPS Ground is awesome and not too expensive and it can be tracked. Priority Mail is also a fast method of shipping guaranteed to arrive before Christmas if you place your order with Palladium Books by December 18.

Revised shipping guidelines for Christmas delivery:

Note: We will try to process and pack orders as quickly as possible. Please make our job easy by giving us plenty of clear choices in your Wish List and make certain your Address is Correct. Palladium will do everything in its power to make sure you get your expedited package in time for Christmas.

If you do NOT need the Surprise Package for Christmas . . . ALL OTHER methods of shipping are available to you. The order will arrive AFTER Christmas, but so what, right? That means you can use UPS Ground or Media Mail to get your “Post-Christmas” Surprise Package.

What is the Christmas Surprise Package offer? It’s a way to get a boat load of Palladium RPG product on the cheap ($80-$95 worth for $40 plus shipping and handling), and get autographs and Erick Wujcik Keepsakes, too. And if you’re into it, you can request a number of limited edition prints and even original artwork (limited as all art is donated by the artists). The perfect holiday gift for the gamer in your life. Or maybe for yourself. The Surprise Package is a great way to try new RPGs and plug holes in your collection. Have you tried Dead Reign™? Splicers®? Nightbane®? Rifts®? Robotech®? Here’s your chance.

Click here to get more details and to place your order.

UPDATE: Phone call from Kevin Siembieda to Top NG-1 Insiders

I don’t know if I’ll have time to call before Christmas, but I will be calling. I owe the top 16 NG-1 Megaverse® Insiders a 20 minute telephone call. You are NOT forgotten.

QUESTION: Would you like a Heroes Unlimited Hardcover?

2014 is the 30th Anniversary of the Heroes Unlimited RPG (originally released in June 1984). We’re almost out of the current print run, so we’ll be sending it in for reprinting. But I’m thinking, it might be cool to print 300-400 copies of a Thirtieth Anniversary “Hardcover Edition” of Heroes Unlimited RPG, 2nd Edition (i.e. the current rules). And to celebrate the Anniversary, offer it at a low, reasonable price of $40 available only from Palladium Books; while supplies last. The content of the book would be the same as the current softcover except for the blue cloth hardcover (a different blue than the old hardcover) and gold foil printing. Signed and numbered by the Palladium staff.

The question is: Is this a good idea? Is an HU2 Hardcover something you would want? Please let us know. We need to make that decision over the next week or two. Think it would be fun. Personally, I love hardcover books.

UPDATE: Mark Dudley – iMAGiNOs PLUS Kickstarter – 2 days left!

Congratulations, Mark and Company, you have met your minimum Kickstarter goal! And with two days still left, exceeding that goal means you’ll be able to do a lot more with iMAGiNOs and possibly future comic book plans. Awesome. I would like to think Palladium’s efforts had something to do with that. And not just spreading the word. I think everyone at Palladium put in at least a $10 pledge. It was our Christmas gift to Mark and his crew.

It’s cool to see that a pledge as small as $5-$10 by enough people can make the difference. Way to go, Mark!

The iMAGiNOs Kickstarter is the brainchild of Palladium’s very own Mark Dudley and friends. Mark’s artwork has graced the pages of dozens of Palladium RPG titles including Rifts® Ultimate Edition, Heroes Unlimited™, Rifts® New West™, Rifts® China 2, Shemarrian Nation™ Sourcebook, Northern Gun™ One and many, many others. So you know Mark Dudley as an artist, but you don’t know Mark Dudley the comic book storyteller and innovator. And boy is he great at both. Check out this Kickstarter and get a glimpse. Support the iMAGiNOs Plus Kickstarter, and you’ll be part of his first step into the beginning of something outstanding and potentially big. And all it will cost you is FIVE DOLLARS.

iMAGiNOs Plus is an anthology comic that presents several dynamic comic stories that Mark and company hope to expand into full-fledged comic book series. One of them, Candy Coated™, was inspired by Mark’s Heroes Unlimited™ campaign that has run for years. Part of the “plus” in iMAGiNOs Plus is one of Palladium Books’ own secret projects: The Adventures of Erin Tarn™ as a Girl. Yeah, a sort of ongoing origin story. The project has been shelved, but we still hope to bring this and other Palladium IP based comic book titles to life – and this is your first look at the initial 6-8 pages of one such project. Spread the word.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1854358647/imaginos-plus-the-imaginos-workshop-anthology

Behind the scenes at Palladium

Whew, it has been another crazy, hectic week that has zoomed by like lightning. Over the weekend we saw 7-8 inches of snow and cold. We remained in the deep-freeze for the first half of the week and got another 3 inches of snow. But today it’s supposed to hit 40 degrees Fahrenheit and stay just above freezing during the day through the weekend. After the last few weeks of colder than usual temperatures well below freezing, this will seem like Springtime.

This week included time spent wrapping and shipping out a multitude of Christmas presents, telephone calls with freelancers, meetings and calls with volunteers, Gen Con and convention discussions (yes, we are already planning for Gen Con, GAMA and Origins!), a talk with my agent at Surge Licensing, numerous exchanges with Ninja Division about Robotech® RPG Tactics™, as well as meetings with volunteers and setting up plans for the future. Tonight, Matthew, Wayne and I will be dining with a Hollywood gaming pal; always a good time with this gent. And, of course, there has been lots and lots of signing of books, packing and shipping for Christmas Surprise Packages. I’m glad people are enjoying them so much.

Have a Wonderful Christmas! I plan to post some Murmurs from the Megaverse before Christmas and even make some calls to people, but I want to wish you a joyous and happy holiday. Now, I’m going to let the positive and warm words we get in the comment section of many of our Surprise Packages fill the rest of the new portion of this Weekly Update. May you and your loved ones have a delightful Christmas.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher & 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’ve started putting in my own brief responses, as we’ve gotten positive feedback about it. Enjoy.

J.M.C. in College Place, Washington, writes: Thank you very much for doing the Grab Bags again. I love that I can lure more of my friends into your system with all of the product you send. Christmas is such a breeze with you guys around!

[Glad to help, J.M.C., enjoy. And thanks for introducing others to our games. – Kevin Siembieda]

A.J in Sachse, Texas, writes: I love the Grab Bags! Merry X-Mas to everyone at Palladium. KS, you've created my favorite RPG of all time [Rifts®]. I hope to be playing it until the end of my days.

[Thanks for the high praise, A.J. I hope those days of gaming run for decades. Keep that imagination burning bright. - KS]

J.S. in Minneapolis, Minnesota, writes: Keep up the great work! Can’t wait to see what 2014 brings! Hopefully, more Beyond the Supernatural and Palladium Fantasy!

[Count on both, J.S. I plan to come out with several, long-awaited titles for both game lines. – KS]

C.S. in Minneapolis, Minnesota, writes: Love the material. Have for years.

[Nice to hear, C.S. – KS]

L.S. in Garden City, Kansas, writes: Love you guys and this game [Rifts®]. Been playing since I started gaming 26 years ago.

[Fantastic, and you can count on many more years of fun product to come. – KS]

J.S. in Turlock, California, writes: Look forward to the X-Mas Special every year. Thanks again.

[Awesome, J.S., enjoy. – KS]

S.S. in Welland, Ontario, Canada, writes (in part): I love you guys! The first RPG I ever purchased was Rifts®, in 1992, and I still have my incredibly worn and much loved copy. I have been hooked on the Palladium style ever since. Last year I received the pleasant surprise of a copy of Heroes Unlimited™ in my Grab Bag, and I’m hooked. It’s amazing how well it generates the superhero feel I get when reading comics. Keep up the good work.

[Thanks for the kind words, S.S. As for Heroes Unlimited, after collecting, reading and, for a long while, wanting to write and draw comic books, I would hope I know comic books pretty well. Still, capturing that feel in a game can be tricky. Glad you think we succeeded. – KS]

J.S. in Versailles, Kentucky, writes: This [Palladium Fantasy®] is one of my favorite RPGs. I hope you guys keep on making great games.

[You’ve got it, J.S., more great game products coming your way. Hey, what’s with all these names ending in ‘S’? This is actually the way I’ve been pulling them out of the stack. Funny. – KS]

D.J. in Englewood, Colorado, writes: I have loved your games since you first came out, and I still have all your original Robotech® books.

[Hi D.J., thanks for the years of support. I’m thrilled you have enjoyed Robotech®, Rifts® and other Palladium game lines for so many years. Game on. - KS]

K.R. in Saint Paul, Minnesota, writes: My friends and I have been playing Palladium games for the last 20+ years and we are looking forward to all the new product that’s to be released in the next year.

[Us too, K.R. Too few products have been coming out the last few years, and we want to really bang out a lot of great new titles in 2014 and 2015. Including several that people have been waiting for. - KS]

J.B. in Newark, Delaware, writes: Keep those Rifts® books coming.

[You can count on it, J.B. - KS]

C.M. in Marshall, Wisconsin, writes (in part): I have always enjoyed Palladium’s attention to art and writing. Heck, I’ve gone years without being in a game and I still love to see and read your books. I look forward to seeing what you guys get out next year. Happy Holidays.

[Hey C.M., I’m happy to see that you and so many other folks are so excited about releases coming in 2014. We are too! - KS]

J.B. in Middletown, New York, writes: Happy Holidays! I hope 2014 brings a lot of long-awaited publications, particularly Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames.

[It will, J.B. The plan is to release Northern Gun™ 2, Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames, and Robotech® Expeditionary Force Marines (UEEF Marines) all in the first quarter of the New Year. Then later in the year, I want to release the two BTS sourcebooks, some Palladium titles, Chaos Earth® and other good stuff. – KS]

N.C. in Utica, New York, writes: Carl Gleba insists you will be able to take care of me right [with the Grab Bag]. Keep up the good work and may Palladium last for tens of years longer.

[Thanks, N.C., I hope we did your Grab Bag right. Enjoy. - KS]

C.S. in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, writes: Love the system! Keep up the good work!

[Awesome! We will try our best to make upcoming RPG titles epic. - KS]

M.H. in Cedar Hill, Missouri, writes (in part): Guys, this is my second Surprise Package this year! Great deal. Loved the first one, especially the [Brian and Allen Manning] propaganda posters! Thanks for the awesomeness.

[Hey M.H., yeah, I love the Mannings’ propaganda posters too. Happy Holidays. - KS]

L.B. in Victoria, Canada, writes (in part): I love the endless energy you guys put into every book. I would really enjoy seeing more graphic novels of the Rifts® world. Merry Christmas and thanks for the decades of awesome gaming!

[Ah shucks, L.B. Thank you for such high praise. I’m glad you enjoy our games and books so much. Your wish for a Rifts® graphic novel may be in the future. - KS]

T.F. in Stuart, Florida, writes: I love this every year. The Surprise Package allows me to get some items that have been on my wish list and get some key books my players have been wanting for themselves. Thanks, Palladium!

[You are very welcome, T.F. Game on! - KS]

R.B. in Santee, California, writes: Thank you, as always, for what you do. I’ve been a fan for well over 20 years. Your Christmas specials have helped me when I was in the military and overseas. And it’s been fun to introduce your games to friends and family for the first time. Thanks again to everyone at Palladium.

[I’m glad you enjoy our games so much, R.B. Happy Holidays to you and your family. - KS]

Northern Gun One Print

NEW! Northern Gun™ One signed & numbered “print” – available now

The first 50+ prints went to a select number of the Megaverse Insiders, but starting with Number 55, you too can get a signed and numbered Northern Gun™ Print. It is the striking Charles Walton, wrap-around cover without any text or logo to obscure the artwork. Limited to a total of 180 copies.

Rifts Northern Gun One

Rifts® World Book 33: Northern Gun™ One – Available Now!

This book rocks! Rifts® Northern Gun™ One is the most tech-filled World Book Palladium has ever produced and gamers are loving every page of new weapons, robots, power armor, vehicles and NG background.

Fear the Reaper

NEW! Dead Reign™ Sourcebook 4: Fear the Reaper™ – Available now

Like knights mounted on motorcycles, the Road Reapers travel the wasteland that Earth has become, searching for survivors, fighting zombies and waging war against the Death Cults that threaten all mankind.

This epic sourcebook explores the nature of heroes and heroism in the Zombie Apocalypse. It contains the secrets of the fabled Road Reapers, their structure, leadership, missions and purpose, as well as gear and combat notes. Plus a horrifying new zombie known as the Terror Zombie, plus Floaters (zombies in water) and which zombies can swim. Survival is one thing. Can you keep your humanity and be a hero?

The Rifter #64

NEW! The Rifter® #64 – Available now

The Rifter® #64 is our annual horror issue. This one presents chills and monsters for Beyond the Supernatural™, Dead Reign™, Nightbane® and even for the Palladium Fantasy RPG®. There is a ‘Giant’ adventure (as in an adventure about Giants) for Palladium Fantasy®, and The Black-Malice Legacy, Part Two, with more details about the Coalition States’ Psi-Division. Plus, stories, news, coming attractions, and more.

Every issue of 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 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® Number 64 includes:

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

Robotech®: Expeditionary Force Marines Sourcebook One

Spotlight on the valiant Marine Corps of the United Earth Expeditionary Force (UEEF). New character classes, mecha and gear for new realms of adventure.

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. Here are some details.

● Flexible Date of Release: An exact release date is yet to be determined, but it is looking like sometime in February, 2014. Ninja Division’s original projections had product delivery at October or November, but 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 be sent into 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 February 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 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 at the same time as the main box game. 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.