The Palladium Books booth.
The Palladium Books booth.
Gen Con was fun but tiring.
We were so tired by the time we arrived at the show to set up that Gen Con Indy 2005 seemed more exhausting than usual. That put a little damper on the convention for us, personally, but the show was a great success.
Why were we so tired?
Kevin with the Rifts Ultimate Edition display. On the right, Palladium friend Doug Lamberson holds up his copy of Rifts Ultimate Gold.
Because of you and Rifts®. We wanted to live up to our promise of shipping out the new Rifts® RPG Ultimate Edition to fans who pre-ordered and distributors as soon as we got it, BEFORE we left for Gen Con. Getting the new Rifts® RPG Ultimate Edition when we did, meant gluing signature cards into 1500 books (and that involved a lot of lifting, unpacking and repacking cases of books), shipping several thousand copies to distributors (a handful of whom have placed reorders with Palladium just a few days after receiving their initial shipments!), packaging and mailing about 550 copies of the book, getting ready for the convention, loading up the truck, driving down, unloading, setting up the booth and standing on our feet for eight hours chatting with fans and signing autographs. Some of us, including myself and Carmen Bellaire, also ran games after the Exhibitor Hall closed, making for fun, but extremely long days starting around 8 A.M. and ending sometime after midnight.
The two games I ran were fun. I had around 14 players in each. I squeezed in a nap (gosh, does that mean I am getting old?) before the Fantasy game, and I felt I was a bit sharper running that game than BTS the night before (although it was pretty epic too). I usually avoid running games at big conventions because I don’t feel I’m Game Mastering at my best, but everyone in both games insisted they had a blast. I know I did.
Carmen Bellaire runs a game at Gen Con.
I lucked out and had superb players (and team players) in both games. I’m always impressed when I have a group of (mostly) strangers who work so smoothly as a group. A lot of laughs and good role-playing. Inhae (forgive me if I butchered the spelling of your name) offered one of the best portrayals of a Goblin player character I have ever had the pleasure to witness (oddly enough, it was almost exactly the way I play Goblins as the G.M.). Everyone really played wonderfully. Both games were a joy for me to run and time seemed to fly. It was great.
Palladium Game Masters James Brown and Carmen Bellaire are pumped up. On the right, also Game Masters, Kevin Siembieda and Carl Gleba.
From what I heard (literally at times), gaming madman, Carmen Bellaire, ran several wild, fun games (as usual), and I was told by some of the players that games run by Carl Gleba, Todd Yoho, Roger Cartier, Levi Johnstone and Peter Hartman, were also great fun.
From left to right, author Todd Yoho, and Palladium friends and contributors Roger and Randi Cartier.
This year’s Gen Con had 53 Palladium gaming events (the most ever at any game convention) and we hope to surpass that record at Gen Con Indy 2006. That means all of you Palladium G.M.s planning to attend should start thinking about running next year’s games.
Gen Con seemed to have more people than ever, although the crowds often seemed larger outside the Exhibitor’s Hall than inside it. Gaming events and tournaments were everywhere and the thronging multitude spilled into the streets, especially at lunchtime and in the evenings.
Palladium’s best day of sales was Thursday, when we were deluged by Rifts fans scrambling to get the new Rifts® Ultimate Edition and the signed and numbered, Rifts® Ultimate Gold. I think we all signed more books than ever before throughout the convention.
On the left, Palladium supporter Chuck Knackal helps a happy customer. On the right, Carmen explains what's new in Rifts Ultimate Edition.
As usual, I had the most fun talking with Palladium gamers. I must have talked to and shook hands with at least 300 people, probably twice that. I sure signed a gazillion books. A number of people thanked me and the Palladium crew for being so “accessible and friendly.” Hey, I’ve said this a million times: Role-players are the best fans in the world – smart, imaginative, polite, kind and appreciative. Consequently, it was a pleasure chatting with each and every one of you whether it was for only a couple minutes or much longer. Thank you for all your comments, suggestions and support.
Artists Scott Johnson and Apollo Okamura sold prints and did character sketches. Soon-to-be Palladium author Jason Richards was also on hand to run some games.
Spending time with fans and running games meant I did not get a chance to chat with many fellow industry types, or even trade product for piles of swag. (My apologies to the folks at Lance & Lasers and Kenzer & Co., I really meant to come and trade product for all kinds of goodies, but I got wrapped up in other things and forgot. Sorry. Maybe next year.)
We at Palladium really love Kenzer & Co.'s Jolly Blackburn; Kevin more than most. On the right, Kevin poses with "Nokia PR Girl" Wini Wong.
The Nokia booth, where lucky gamers got a peek at Rifts: Promise of Power and other games.
I did have some fun with the Nokia people (Wini Wong is simply awesome, and it was nice meeting Janice and putting a face to the voice), but my game schedule conflicted with Nokia’s plans, and I missed out on a Friday night dinner. Arg. That’s okay, the game was awesome (Palladium Fantasy) and I’ll have plenty of time to chat and pal around during the European Press Tour to hype Rifts® Promise of Power for the N-Gage and Rifts® Ultimate Edition. That happens in just a couple of weeks (September 5-14th).
Kevin and Kathy.
It was my girlfriend, Kathy's, first Gen Con. When asked what she thought, she smiled and said, “I knew all of you were crazy before I came to Gen Con, but now I know to what degree.” She enjoyed meeting gamers, people watching and the costume parade.
My personal favorite purchase of the convention wasn’t a game, it was a Lightsaber! Oh yeah, this baby lights up, makes delicious Lightsaber noises/sound effects that change on impact and is FANTASTIC! I’ve been waving it around and pretending to be a Jedi ever since. Ah, now my life is complete. Kevin Siembieda, Jedi Master – with Lightsaber. Oops, sorry, my Star Wars geek-side slipped out there for a moment. :)
Artist Apollo Okamura misses a deadline.
If I have any complaint about the convention (besides not having a little air conditioning on Wednesday while exhibitors are setting up their displays), I think that it's the diversification of Gen Con. For decades, Gen Con was predominantly (as in 80%-90%) role-playing games. Gen Con was the ONLY convention devoted to “role-playing games” and, personally, I liked that. There are plenty of other conventions – Origins, Dragon*Con, and countless small, regional conventions – that cater to a wide range of games, but for a looooong time, Gen Con was a role-players’ secret haven and ultimate destination.
Today, Gen Con offers a large range of gaming experiences, role-playing games, board games, card games, miniature games, collectible card games, computer and videogames, along with others. I understand the business logic and broad appeal of hosting ALL types of gaming, but I still miss the days when Gen Con was once the “role-player’s Mecca” not a place where role-playing gaming was a third of a larger venue. There was just something special and cool about it. Alas, everything changes, and in the long run, it’s probably for the better.
Phil Brady, Chuck Knackal, Kevin, and Paul Deckert. On the right is Wayne Smith, wearing our fashionable, new, Lazlo Society T-shirt.
You can count on Palladium returning to Gen Con Indy in 2006, so start making your plans now. We hope to see even more of you Palladium-philes there than ever before. In the meantime, keep those imaginations burning bright.
– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer & Jedi
The overwhelming majority of Rifts® gamers are giving Rifts® Ultimate Edition “two thumbs up” and a lot of comments starting with “Awesome.”
A host of fans and freelancers stopped by the Palladium booth at Gen Con to give us their thoughts on what they had read and liked so far.
The most frequent props went to the revamped magic-casting rules, the additions and special abilities given to O.C.C.s (particularly Adventurer and Scholar characters), Techno-Wizard construction rules, more character background, the new O.C.C.s, attribute penalties, new dragons, and the (apparently unexpected) refinements throughout the entire book, as well as the cover, the interior color artwork, the CS insignias, more pages but (comparatively) low price, and the general presentation, organization and appearance.
Those purchasing the Rifts® Ultimate Gold Edition seemed pleased with the number of signatures. It took extra time, money and planning in sending the signature cards from coast to coast to get different creators autographs, but it was worth the effort.
Sales are strong and a few distributors have already placed reorders for more copies only a day or two after their initial shipment. One distributor commented that he thought Rifts® was shaping up to be the RPG hit of the Summer. A few others called to make sure we won’t run out any time soon. We think we pressed enough to meet demand and we’ll work to keep the new Rifts® RPG in print without any dry spells. If Palladium should fail to keep up with demand, Rifts® Ultimate Edition should not be out of print for more than 3-5 weeks. We’ll certainly try to keep it available throughout the Fall and Christmas seasons.
Spread the word, Rifts® Ultimate Edition appears to be a bona fide hit. Get yours today.
We pressed 1500 copies and approx 1100 copies are GONE!
Okay, let me qualify that. We sent distributors/retailers the tail end of the numbers and we’ve sold the first 400+, leaving signed numbers ranging from about #442 to #850 available for purchase (available while supplies last). We’re keeping about 100 for PR and X-Mas Grab Bags, and some numbers in the 500's (sold at Gen Con) are missing from the mix, so there’s really only something like 400 copies left for purchase.
Don’t wait too long to order yours, especially if you’re thinking of giving it away as a Christmas present. At the rate they are selling, we suspect we’ll be sold out before Christmas.
And to you maniacs already trying to sell the Rifts® Ultimate Gold on eBay for a profit . . . I think you’ll need to wait 4-6 months until Palladium sells out. Why would someone pay more than 70 bucks now, when they can still get the item from Palladium Books at the 70 dollar price tag? Unless they don’t know they can still get it from Palladium.
Nokia has invited Kevin Siembieda to join Shane Neville, Trent Ward and a few others on a whirlwind Press Tour of Europe. England, Italy, France, Germany, and Spain are on the schedule.
Kevin is looking forward to talking about the new Rifts® RPG Ultimate Edition and sharing his thoughts about Rifts® Promise of Power, the videogame for the N-Gage. “I’m looking forward to the experience,” said Kevin. “I so enjoy working with the people from Nokia and Backbone that the trip will have to be fun on several different levels.”
This might knock a few of Palladium’s products off schedule by a week or two, but otherwise we’re on track for the rest of the year.
A fun companion to the other recent merc books (Rifts® MercTown and Rifts® Merc Ops). It offers a few new character classes, some background data and adventure outlines.
More dinosaurs, only stranger and more dangerous than you can imagine. More world information and adventure ideas.
The usual fun, optional source-material for numerous Palladium RPG lines, news and fiction gamers love. October always has a horror theme.
100 new super abilities, random tables and other super-stuff. ‘Nuff said.
A book of horror, demons, and monsters that are unique to Beyond the Supernatural™ and which will bring that world to dynamic life.
This sourcebook will take an in-depth look at magic and introduce a new approach to using magic as well as new magic character classes, mystical artifacts, cursed items and more.
Rifts® Arzno™ – Vampires and mercenaries. Final size and price yet to be determined. Probably $17.95 – 160 pages.
Splicers™ Sourcebook One – One of the Great Houses of human defenders (Splicers), new organic weaponry, and adventure ideas. Final size and price yet to be determined.
Rifts® Chaos Earth™: NEMA™ Mission Book One.
Copyright 2005 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.
Rifts®, Megaverse® and Palladium Books® are registered trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. and Kevin Siembieda. Rifts® Promise of Power, Heroes Unlimited, Powers Unlimited, Beyond the Supernatural, Tome Grotesque, Beyond Arcanum, Splicers, MercTown, Merc Ops, Dinosaur Swamp, Chaos Earth, NEMA and all other titles and names are trademarks of Palladium Books.