Palladium Books® Weekly Update – April 25, 2013

By Kevin Siembieda

The Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Kickstarter is up, running, and doing excellent. I've done a few Kickstarter related interviews (including two with MTV Geek) and Wayne, Alex and I have been spending time on promoting the launch when not working on books. Meanwhile, we are pounding away on new book releases like The Rifter® #62 and Northern Gun One and Two, all of which are getting closer to launch. We’ve also done advertisements and have been prepping for Anime North which is just a few weeks away! The days are flying by at lightning speed. We’re dizzy from the long hours and raw excitement, but we’ll try to give you a full Weekly Update before we collapse in a heap.

Robotech RPG Tactics

UPDATE: Robotech® RPG Tactics

The launch of the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Kickstarter was exhilarating and scary at the same time. There was a ton of prep work. Thank goodness Ninja Division is handling 98% of that as well as managing the Kickstarter. Still, we had e-mailings to write and send, updates to make on the Palladium website, Facebook updates, approvals and input on the Kickstarter and continuing work on the game line, interviews, phone calls to dozens of other people, and so on. When the first day of launch blew past the $70,000 goal in the three hours, the congratulatory calls and emails started to pour in.

The BIG reveals! Numerous new game pieces have been revealed and made available. One of the most anticipated was the Mk.II Monster, and I think the Gnerl Fighter surprised and pleased a lot of people. Here’s a list of everything so far, with much more to come.

We still have 25 days to go and need you to continue to spread the word. The greater the success of the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Kickstarter, the more we can do to make the product line amazing, and get the boxed set and expansion packs out faster.

This helps Palladium in many other ways. The excitement and buzz of the Kickstarter brings more eyeballs to Palladium Books and increases awareness of ALL our games. That also increases sales across the board and attracts new gamers discovering our games for the very first time. A successful Kickstarter helps to ensure a successful retail launch later this year which will make Palladium stronger. Strong sales and increased resources will enable Palladium to do much more with the many role-playing game projects we want to get into your hands. You already know about many of them, some we’ve only hinted at, and others have been cloaked in secrecy.

Please support the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Kickstarter, even in small ways, and spread the word about it everywhere. But only spend what you can afford.

For those of you new to Kickstarters, you’ll want to check out the FAQ at the bottom of the page and the small Update tab at the top of the page for more info, insight and updates. Something NEW is added every day or few days, sometimes more than once per day – new stretch goals, new add-on items, new photos and information, etc. — so check back often, and again, spread the word. Thanks.

Interviews with Kevin Siembieda at MTV Geek

I have done a few Robotech® RPG Tactics™ interviews with MTV Geek. Part One of a new, long interview went up today, Part Two will appear tomorrow. Check ‘em out. Here’s the link: http://geek-news.mtv.com/2013/04/25/kevin-siembieda-robotech/

Interview with Kevin Siembieda at cravengames.com

I did a long, fun interview with Brant Polkowski at cravengames.com about Robotech® RPG Tactics™ a couple days before the Kickstarter launch. I was tired and running on pure adrenaline, so I was a bit hyper, I think, but everyone seems to enjoy it.

More interviews with me and perhaps some of the other guys behind the game are likely to be happening in the weeks to come. We’ll let you know as they happen. NOTE: I and others involved in the creation of Robotech® RPG Tactics™ are happy to do interviews, podcasts and such with any interested news and gaming venues. Just give the Palladium office a call to make arrangements (734-721-2903). We want to spread the word everywhere. Thanks.

Palladium at Anime North – May 24-26, 2013

Palladium Books and many of our creators will be invading Anime North, running games, selling product, signing autographs and having a blast. This will be my first time at a major convention in Canada (Toronto area) in something like 20 years. So please come on down and have some fun with the Palladium crew!

Palladium Related Anime North Highlights:

Anime North is a mixed media event that includes gaming, anime, cosplay, and fun. For more information go to http://www.animenorth.com

UPDATE: Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook – Available now!

Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook hits the sweet spot. People are enjoying it so much that fans and friends have been calling the office and sending emails and Private Messages to let us know just how much they like it. Thank you, we aim to please. I think you’ll have the same reaction to the two Rifts® Northern Gun books, coming very soon.

Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook Sneak Preview – available now on DriveThruRPG.com

Don’t forget, the FREE Sneak Preview of Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook is available on DriveThruRPG.com for your enjoyment. There are also previews available for Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms (Revised Edition), Rifts® Black Market, Rifts® Lemuria, Dead Reign™ RPG, Endless Dead™ sourcebook and others. The original Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms World Book is also available as a PDF on DriveThruRPG, for those of you who may be interested.

More than 90 other Palladium titles can be found on DriveThruRPG.com as PDFs, including Splicers®, Rifts® RPG (the edition before RUE), The Rifter® #1-52, and first edition rule books and sourcebooks for Palladium Fantasy RPG®, Heroes Unlimited™, The Mechanoid Invasion® Trilogy, Beyond the Supernatural™ and lots of other good titles. DriveThruRPG.com also offers the Rifts® and Palladium Fantasy® Game Master Kits ($5 each; both written by Carl Gleba and complete with maps, combat matrix, character sheets, spell list, and 20 pre-rolled characters created by Julius Rosenstein).

BACK IN PRINT: Palladium Fantasy®: Old Ones – Ships Wednesday

This ever popular Fantasy title contains nearly 50 different locations, each mapped and described, plus adventures, adventure ideas, O.C.C.s like the Monk, Illusionist, Witch and Chaos Priest, and the Old Ones. It is back in print as a special, short run printing. Written by Kevin Siembieda. 224 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 453. Back in stock and ready to ship Wednesday, May 1.

UPDATE: The Rifter® #62 will ship in May

This issue is truly epic and . . . um, late. This is only the second time in The Rifter’s 16 year history that an issue has missed its Month of release date. We did what we could, but the demands on Wayne’s time were such that we just couldn’t get the issue done. It is in final production right now, and ships around May 14.

The good news is, this issue of The Rifter® is soooo good that it should almost be a separate sourcebook all by itself. Wayne, Alex, the contributors and I, have been working overtime to make this issue truly spectacular. There are 20 pages of “official” Rifts® Vampires source material, new Necromancy spells that may also be official, a Northern Gun sneak peek, some Heroes Unlimited material and a castle with dozens of maps and detailed floor plans for your Palladium Fantasy® campaign (use it anywhere) or adapt it for use in any setting where a castle is appropriate. Plus the usual news and information. See the more complete description later is this update.

Why is this issue so special and so full of “official” source material? Because we are on fire when it comes to ideas and creativity. The ideas won’t stop coming and we want to share them with YOU. We had actually considered taking the vampire material and turning it into an additional adventure sourcebook for the Vampire Kingdoms, but that would have meant either putting it aside for 6-12 months or further delay a number of books that you have already been waiting for much too long (Northern Gun 1 & 2, Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames, and Robotech® UEEF Marines, to name just a few). Rather than make you wait, or delay books further, we thought we’d drop them into The Rifter® #62 so you can get the material NOW, should you want it. We thought the timing was perfect as The Rifter® #62 will be released only a few weeks after Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook and before Northern Gun One. And remember, The Rifter® costs less than most sourcebooks ($11.95, 96 pages), so it’s a good deal. That’s our logic, anyway. I hope you enjoy this issue.

UPDATE: Rifts® Northern Gun One and Two

With Chuck Walton working on NG art at the Palladium offices, EVERYONE who visits sees his art when they walk through the front door. Even business people not into games have been blown away. The most recent pair of non-gamers to visit exclaimed (and I’m not kidding), “What is this place!? What do you do here? This is amazing!”

Yeah, that’s how rockin’ the art and designs for Rifts® Northern Gun™ One are. And not just Chuck’s artwork, but every contributor. No promises, but I’m shooting to have the writing done and the book in layout stage two weeks from now. I want the book to the printer before we leave for Anime North and ready to ship as soon as we get back. Northern Gun™ Two is the book we dive into after that.

Pumping out books

Now that the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Kickstarter is off to a good start, we at Palladium are refocusing the bulk of our energy to getting role-playing game books into your hands. The Rifter® #62 will ship next month and so should Rifts® Northern Gun™ One. And we have many exciting role-playing game products in the pipeline. Meanwhile, please continue to help make the Robotech® Kickstarter a success. Thanks. Keep the faith and those imaginations burning bright. Great things are coming all year long.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer and Gamer

Rifts Vampires Sourcebook

Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook – Available Now

New secrets, new monsters and danger, new places to explore, new magic to wield, dark magic and forces to fear, new trouble and adventure in Mexico and the Yucatan. New conflicts between rival forces are brewing as Doc Reid prepares to take his private war with the vampires to a whole new level. Meanwhile, the vampires live like smug tyrants and gods, dominating an underclass of slaves and people used as cattle to feed upon. Learn more about the vampires, their rivals, allies and the humans who willingly serve them. A must-have guide for those who wish to travel deeper into the Vampire Kingdoms or play as vampires and their human minions.

Old Ones

BACK IN PRINT: Palladium Fantasy® Book Two: Old Ones

This is a massive adventure book, with maps and descriptions of more than 50 locations in the Timiro Kingdom. As if that were not enough to make this the ultimate adventure book, there is also information about the Old Ones and a few O.C.C.s.

Rifts Free Quebec

BACK IN PRINT: Rifts® World Book 22: Free Quebec

This World Book contains a wealth of information about Free Quebec, Glitter Boys and notable people and places.

The Rifter #62

The Rifter® #62 – Ships May 14, 2013

Sorry for the rare delay of this product, but this issue of The Rifter® is truly going to be spectacular with as many as 48 pages of “official” source material for Rifts® (20 pages of “official” Rifts® Vampires source material, new Necromancy spells, a Northern Gun mech, and the missing Rifts® Black Market experience tables!), detailed castle floor plans and descriptions that can be dropped into any Palladium Fantasy® campaign anywhere you need one, some epic Heroes Unlimited source material I may expand into a complete sourcebook in the future, plus news and information.

Since 2013 is the Palladium Fantasy® RPG’s 30 Year Anniversary, we are trying to include something special for the Fantasy RPG line in every issue. This issue has that detailed castle and many maps/floor plans, and the cover reprints the popular Kevin Long Palladium Fantasy RPG® cover from the 1980s. In fact, EVERY cover of The Rifter® in 2013 will be a fantasy illustration. Last issue was Amy L. Ashbaugh, this issue a classic Kevin Long, next issue’s cover will be by John Zeleznik and the October issue will be by Chuck Walton (we want to keep Charles working away on Northern Gun). Note: Writers & Game Masters, if you have some awesome Fantasy material (large or small) you’ve been thinking about sending in for The Rifter®, this is the time to do so. Thanks!

And The Rifter® is a bargain. Since this publication is a special product, it only costs $11.95 for a 96 page book. That’s less than what we charge for a 64 page sourcebook!

Each and 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 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® Number 62 includes:

Rifts Northern Gun One

Rifts® World Book 33: Northern Gun One

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.

Robotech RPG Tactics

Robotech® RPG Tactics

Robotech® RPG Tactics™ is a fast-paced, strategy battle game that expands on the popular Palladium role-playing system to enter new realms of adventure.

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.

Collect your favorites from an expanding range of world-class game pieces and relive the massive battles on your tabletop at home to enhance your Robotech® RPG adventures or as a stand-alone tactical game.

Robotech RPG Tactics

Notable Features:

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:

Dead Reign RPG

Dead Reign RPG – Back in print, and hot, hot, hot

Can you survive the zombie apocalypse?

Yes, you may think so. But there is only one way to find out for sure: Play the Dead Reign™ RPG. The core rule book is all you need to start playing. Rules are easy. Character creation is fast and fun. Combat, quick and deadly. Survival? Harder than you might think. Good luck.

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. Battle zombies, mad men and death cultists in a post-apocalyptic world where the last of humanity struggles to survive. Think you know zombies? Think again.

Civilization Gone Dark Places Endless Dead

Dead Reign Sourcebooks

Civilization Gone™: Dead Reign™ Sourcebook One. There is no army, no government, no help coming. You are on your own and things are only getting worse. Villains include madmen and pychopaths, bandits and raiders. Many random tables for encounters, houses, and survivor camp creation, and more. $12.95 – 64 pages. Cat. No. 231.

Dark Places™: Dead Reign™ Sourcebook Two. Using railroad tracks and subways, sewer tunnels, steam tunnels and other dark places to travel undetected by zombies. Many tables for random encounters, boxcar contents, zombies and more. Survival tips, new zombies like the Bug Boy, Sewer Crawler and Impersonator. $12.95 – 64 pages. Cat. No. 232.

Endless Dead™: Dead Reign™ Sourcebook Three. Zombie hordes grow in number and strangeness. Where is the military? What’s next for the living survivors? Many new types of zombies, new O.C.C.s like the Wheelman and Zombie Hunter, the military and random tables for military bases, police and other places. Plus weaponizing vehicles, vehicle combat, Survivor caravans, and more. $16.95 – 96 pages. Cat. No. 233.

Upcoming Appearances

Anime North – May 24-26, 2013 – Toronto, Canada – www.animenorth.com

Kevin Siembieda is one of the Guests of Honor, but several Palladium creators will be at Anime North in Toronto, Canada, to meet and game with you. 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 are bringing 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 by tomorrow, March 15 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.