Palladium Books® Press Release - June 12, 2007
I wrote this opening section for my From the Desk of Kevin Siembieda for The Rifter® #39 and thought I should post it here, as part of this press release.
There is no denying that with the help of our fans, we have accomplished the impossible. Palladium has survived the equivalent of a nuclear strike or Katrina Hurricane level devastation. Survived it and been busy rebuilding at lightning speed. The efforts and the result have been nothing short of miraculous.
Our battle is not yet done
There’s no denying Palladium is stronger than it was one year ago. We are holding our own and we are full of ideas. Our problem is we are feeling a bit worn out and struggling with insufficient funds to do everything we need to do to get completely back up and running at 100%.
That’s reasonable, it’s only been one year, but we need to keep pressing forward.
Being worn out means there are weeks at a time where the Palladium staff and I (and even freelancers) are dragging, working slower than we would normally. That’s complicated by all of us having to deal with numerous jobs, issues and distractions. That translates into missed deadlines and results in cash flow problems which can have a domino effect on several levels. We can overcome this, and most of the time we are brimming with enthusiasm.
In many ways, Palladium’s formula for success and survival is a simple equation: New product = new sales. The more product the greater the sales. New product generates the sale of back stock titles. New product generates excitement and buzz, and attracts new customers which results in growth. We are doing all of that, only not as quickly as we need to.
The trick is banging out high quality product, because nobody is going to buy second rate stuff. Nobody. That’s okay, because Palladium has a great crew of artists and writers.
The other trick is getting people to buy the new books and products. That involves advertising, press releases, online efforts and convention and store game demos, etc. Much of this has been fun and relatively easy for Palladium, because we are creating RPGs and sourcebooks that gamers want, that are exciting, different and fun, and products that generate buzz. Our strong online community helps immensely in this area, and so will the return of old favorites with new twists and material like Robotech®.
However, this effort is hampered by the fact that there are virtually no consumer magazines to advertise in anymore and the economy in many places makes cash tight. Many gamers who want Palladium products must make the hard choices of waiting till they have the cash or choosing a few books out of the several they want. That’s why, even in this crisis and facing rising printing costs, Palladium strives to keep its prices low and offer more bang for your buck!
Palladium is at a Crossroad
We are at a crossroad. Palladium has borrowed money and pumped it into numerous recent and upcoming books and products. We need these products to sell well or we will be in trouble. These include D-Bees of North America, Machinations of Doom, Rifts® and the Megaverse®: The Art of John Zeleznik (gorgeous book), the upcoming Minion War/Hell series (Hades, Dyval™, Dimensional Outbreak™, Armageddon Unlimited™ and Megaverse® in Flames™), and reacquiring the Robotech® license. We’re including more dynamic artwork, writing our best, and striving to make all these sourcebooks and games exciting, challenging and fun.
Please, if you find these titles appealing and fun, buy them. Also, talk about them. Spread the word. Tell other gamers about them and encourage them to give the books a try. In the last month, sales have spiked for the Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game. That has to be from word of mouth, because we haven’t done anything new to push that line. People are discovering it or coming back to it, or both! Meanwhile, Rifts®, Chaos Earth™, Heroes Unlimited™, and Ninjas & Superspies™ sales remain strong. Nightbane® should pick up with the release of new sourcebooks starting this fall.
Palladium is doing well, but not yet well enough
You can help by purchasing the books and products you desire. Also help by spreading the word. Never underestimate the power of word of mouth. Tell fellow gamers, post positive comments online on the Palladium web site and in chat rooms – but also at web sites other than Palladium’s! Tell the manager of your favorite hobby store, run games at your local hobby store, run a game at local conventions; all of which show newcomers how much fun Palladium games are to play.
Palladium needs to do more than be able to pay its bills. We need to have the cash flow and resources to create new books, reprint old favorites and experiment a little. This can be accomplished by spreading the word.
I guess you can consider this Phase Two: “The Spread the Word” campaign. We need to let other gamers and newcomers know about the availability, joy and fun of role-playing games, and Palladium’s RPGs in particular. Can you help?
Here’s why we need YOU to help spread the word
Like most businesses, especially during downturns like the role-playing industry has been experiencing for the last few years, distributors and retailers are afraid to take risks. That’s understandable to a point, but they sometimes take their caution to the extreme. Get a load of these three examples:
Rifts® Sourcebook One, Revised and Expanded: Online, fans were in a frenzy, especially after the Nightmares of a Tin Man™ postings. At Palladium, and online, we know this is one of the most hotly anticipated Rifts® books in years. Yet, for some reason, Palladium’s third largest distributor decides, a) it’s just a reprint (which it’s NOT), and b) it’s an old book that’s been out of print for a long time, which means nobody wants it. The result: They order six copies. SIX. Not 160, which they should have ordered. SIX (6). It’s crazy.
I finally manage to convince them to take 72 copies. They sell out in days and order another 48. That sells out in a week and they continue to order more copies. They are surprised and happy with the sales.
Rifts® & the Megaverse®: The Art of John Zeleznik: I am terrified about this magnificent book. Hobby distributors have had poor success with the sale of “art books” over the years. For every one that sells, there are 20 that don’t. Thus, most (as in 98%) have decided Palladium’s art book will not sell either. Instead of having 1000 or 1200 copies pre-ordered, we have less than 200 ordered by distributors. Likewise, sellers of “art books” won’t buy, because in their experience, “art books based on RPGs don’t sell.” Grrrr.
They ignore the following facts:
1. This book isn’t just an art book, it is a Palladium & Rifts® art book in which each and every page provides Palladium fans with memories of their favorite books, campaigns, characters and adventures! It’s practically a photo album of memories.
2. It is a labor of love on the part of John Zeleznik, and one of the most gorgeous and interesting art books I have ever seen. And I know what I’m talking about, as an artist myself, I must own 200-300 art books, and this one is one of the best I have ever seen – beautiful, full page reproduction, color concept pieces, pencil sketches, all artfully laid out. A beauty.
3. I know this is something Palladium fans will like, want and enjoy. More than just pretty pictures, it has scores and scores of pencil sketches, plus (often funny) commentary throughout by John Zeleznik, plus a foreword by me and an introduction by John. All of it provides insight and fun facts about Palladium Books that fans will enjoy and smile at.
4. This is some of John Zeleznik’s best work and represents 15 years of his life’s work at Palladium. Plus John has zillions of fans.
5. The color reproduction, paper and production quality are top notch, much better than many art books out there. (I’m always surprised at the number of “art books” with poor reproduction and lousy paper quality).
6. At $22.95 the price is lower than most comparable art books.
I believe in John Zeleznik and this art book so much, that I pushed ahead with it despite the fact that distributors are afraid to touch it. I’m trusting that the fans will find it, want it and purchase it – directly from Palladium/online/mail order if necessary – and/or by pestering their store and telling them they want this book!
I’m hoping that once the distributors see the book they’ll order more. I’m also hoping the book trade will want this beautiful book, but they’ll need to see it first too and it could be months (X-Mas season) before they order.
A color book of this quality is expensive. We’ll need to sell as many as possible, as quickly as possible, direct to fans at full retail, ideally 400 copies, just to make back HALF our printing cost. Then we need to get distributors to order an additional 900 copies to break even.
Robotech®. Here’s the big one you are not going to believe. Hobby distributors seem to have decided Robotech® is old, forgotten and unwanted. As a result, pre-orders are HALF of what they would order for a typical Palladium product. More madness and fear.
Robotech® is the RPG line we get requested more than any other! I’ve had hundreds of gamers tell me, personally, they can hardly wait for the release of new books. Plus, there is renewed interest in it from long time fans who miss it and new fans who have recently discovered it on DVD! The distribs should be ordering double their usual numbers, not half!
We are confident fans want Robotech® and believe we will sell truck loads of the new RPG and sourcebooks. But . . . arrrrrgh, it makes you want to tear your hair out sometimes.
You can see why we need
YOUR help to spread the word
This is why we need YOU to help spread the word through the fandom grapevine. We need your voices to express your genuine interest in these products. We need you to tell other gamers and fans about Palladium’s many wonderful games and new, dynamic products. Help us create a buzz and point them to the Palladium web site for more information or to make a purchase if they can’t find our products in the stores. We hope our distributors and retailers see the light (they’re doing a good job with other Palladium lines and are ordering 20% more of the Minion War books!), but we can’t count on them alone.
We need to raise our voices and shout to the world that Palladium Books is alive, releasing powerful new RPG products, and kicking . . . um, you know what.
As always, thank you for your support and efforts. Keep the faith and spread the word.
– Kevin Siembieda, June 12, 2007
Coming Summer 2007
The Rifter® #39 – July 6, 2007
– Summer Swimsuit Special
Palladium’s second annual Swimsuit Issue is in final production and will go to the printer by the beginning of next week.
Each bathing beauty is a femme fatale – a dangerous and deadly female heroine, villainess or monster statted out by Kevin Siembieda and a dozen freelance writers for various Palladium game lines – Rifts®, Heroes Unlimited™, Nightbane®, Ninjas and Superspies™, Palladium Fantasy RPG®, Chaos Earth™, and others).
Each pinup has value as RPG source material.
Eye-popping David Martin cover.
20 femme fatale pinups, each by a different Palladium artist.
Game stats for each femme fatale by Palladium’s top writers.
Source material from various authors and artists.
Written by Kevin Siembieda, Carl Gleba, Jason Richards, Jason Marker, Brandon Aten, Taylor White, and others.
News and coming attractions.
96 pages – Cat. No. 139 – $10.95 U.S. retail.
Ships July, 2007. This book is in final production.
Rifts® Dimension Book 10:
Hades, Pits of Hell™ – July 16
My apologies, but my insane work schedule has caused all the Minion War books to be bumped back a month. Hades is coming along wonderfully, and I know you’ll love the book. Coming July 2007.
– Kevin Siembieda, 2007
The concept behind the Minion War™ is simple. Hades and Dyval are two different Hell dimensions that have been rivals for countless millennia. Hades invades Dyval to conquer and enslave it. Dyval fights back and the war spills into the Megaverse®, where humans and other races are caught in the middle.
Dimension Book 10 launches the Minion War™ series by describing Hades, its demonic hordes, war mounts, new monsters, notable locations and kingdoms, and Hades’ plans for dimensional conquest of rival Hell, Dyval. As a sourcebook, dimensional travelers and bold adventurers can literally go to Hell to explore the very pits of Hades! Or they can battle the demons and devils spilling out across the Megaverse®.
The hellish dimension of Hades mapped and described.
Demons and monsters galore.
Magic weapons and demonic riding beasts.
World information and adventure ideas.
A stand-alone Dimension Book that is also the first step in an epic, five book adventure that is the Minion War™.
Breathtaking artwork by Russell, Burles, and others.
John Zeleznik cover painting.
Written by Carl Gleba. Additional text by Kevin Siembieda.
224 pages – Cat. No. 872 – $22.95 retail.
Ships July 2007. We are now shooting for a July 16 release date (give or take a week). This book is in final production.
Rifts® and the Megaverse®
The Art of John Zeleznik
– at the printer – Ships July 20
On one level it is a beautiful art book to be looked at and enjoyed on an aesthetic level. Page after page of color covers, plus scores of drawings and images provide a look at the behind the scenes process of creating each cover. The reader gets a unique view of the artistry you seldom get to see from a painter, his drawings, ideas and designs.
For Palladium fans, the book provides a window into the inner workings at Palladium Books and the artist’s mind by showing dozens and dozens of concept sketches, alternative designs, color roughs and brief notes and comments by John Zeleznik. Fun, informative and often funny.
Furthermore, Palladium fans will find it to be a photo album of memories. One glimpse of a favorite Zeleznik cover and the memories of that book and the adventures that may have sprung from it come flooding back to put a smile on your face. That might be the best reason of all to buy this wonderful book of memories. 15 years of John Zeleznik’s work for Palladium Books® in one beautiful package.
Kevin has already approved the proof copy. We were all blown away by the quality reproduction. This is going to be an impressive book.
Paintings, artwork, design and layout by John Zeleznik.
Color throughout. More than 200 different art images.
Softbound, 8 ½ x 11 inches. Color cover, glossy paper stock.
128 pages of full color – Cat. No. 2510 – $22.95 retail. Also see the Collector’s Masterwork Limited Edition.
Ships July 20, 2007. At the printer.
Collector’s “Masterwork” Edition
Rifts® and the Megaverse®:
The Art of John Zeleznik – Ships July 20
To our knowledge, no artist has ever included an actual pencil sketch used in the creation of one of the works of art depicted in the art book. But that’s exactly what John Zeleznik is doing. One of his sketches, used in the creation of one of his many paintings, will be hand glued, by Kevin Siembieda, into each copy of the signed and numbered, Masterwork edition. You will actually own one of the pieces of artwork used to create one of the paintings inside this beautiful art book.
A truly one of kind collectible for fans of Rifts, Palladium Books, and John Zeleznik. A perfect birthday or Christmas gift for serious collectors and fans.
Limited to 100-180 copies, depending on the availability of artwork to be tipped in.
Color cover, different than the mass market hardcover.
Numbered and signed by John Zeleznik and Kevin Siembieda.
128 pages of full color – Cat. No. 2510-CML – available only from Palladium Books and only while supplies last.
$125.00 each, plus $15 for shipping in the USA, $20 to Canada, and $35 to all other countries for shipping. MUST be sent UPS, Priority Mail/Certified or some other way it can be tracked and is insured to arrive.
Available on a first come, first served basis.
Ships July 20, 2007. At the printer.
Rifts® Dimension Book 11:
Dyval™, Hell Unleashed™ – August 10
The Hell known as Dyval and all its evil residents and secrets are revealed at last, as these monsters clash with the demons of Hades in trans-dimensional war! All artwork is done and the manuscript is finished.
The hellish dimension of Dyval mapped and described.
Deevils and monsters galore.
Magic weapons and horrific war beasts.
World information and adventure ideas.
A stand-alone Dimension Book that is also the second step in an
epic, five book adventure that spills across the Palladium Megaverse®.
Artwork by Nick Bradshaw, Mike Mumah, and others.
Cover painting by John Zeleznik.
Written by Carl Gleba.
192 pages – Cat. No. 873 – $22.95 retail.
Ships August 10, 2007.
Rifts® Dimension Book 12:
Dimensional Outbreak™ – Ships September 17
The Minion War spills into Phase World®, the city of Center and the Three Galaxies™. The epic scale of the Minion War just got bigger and even the Worlds of Warlock, the Splugorth and Naruni are involved.
Phase World’s Center described and mapped. Four new levels, including the Gateland, Central Station, the Spaceport, Repo-Yards, Free Trade Zone, Warlock Market, notable merchants and places of business, and much more.
Demon Knights, Star Slayers, demonic legions and more.
Demonic spaceships, magic weapons and new horrors.
Deevil fortifications and defenses.
Space spell magic (new).
Spaceships, power armor and other gear.
The plot for conquering the Three Galaxies.
A stand-alone Dimension Book that is also the third step in an epic, five book crossover that spills across the Palladium Megaverse®.
Artwork by Apollo Okamura, Mike Mumah, and others.
John Zeleznik cover painting.
Written by Carl Gleba.
192 pages – Cat. No. 875 – $22.95 retail.
Ships September 17, 2007.
Armageddon Unlimited™
The Minion War™ in the Heroes Unlimited™ setting
The Minion War has rolled into countless dimensions with a roar, but not on Heroes Unlimited Earth™. Here, the monsters of Dyval are working covertly behind the scenes causing chaos and mayhem, and have brought Earth to the brink of global war. However, the demons’ dimensional incursions have alerted super-heroes around the globe to their sinister presences and the heroes are mounting their own response. Can the heroes of Earth stop the demons’ plans to plunge our world into Armageddon?!
Superheroes vs demons!
New Powers and Super Abilities.
New Super Classes like the Heroic Hellion and the Demon Hunter, and variations on old classes like the Mystically Bestowed, Enchanted Weapon and Enchanted Object only with a demonic twist!
Notable Magic Guilds and their knowledge of the Minion War
The Deevils’ plans to cause global Armageddon and create their own hellish version of Rifts Earth under their control.
Notable Deevils, Anarchy Teams, and their henchmen.
The Deevil Super Fortress mapped out and described, and the hellish minions who guard it.
The Demons’ response and their rival incursion into Earth.
The Heroes’ response – specific heroes locked in the greatest battle against evil the world has ever known.
An optional, detailed time-line of events that has brought Earth to the brink of global annihilation. Game Masters can use the time-line to weave a long-term campaign or use it as background in their current games.
The First Heroes of the Megaverse will make their grand appearance in the battle to save Earth!
Written by the Head Minion Carl Gleba
160 pages – Cat. No. 527 – $18.95 retail.
October 2007 release.
Rifts®/Phase World® Sourcebook:
Heroes of the Megaverse® – Coming 2007
War factions from the Hells, Hades and Dyval, have discovered the existence of a great mystic artifact that has been hidden and protected by the Cosmo-Knights of the Three Galaxies. And both sides want it.
The artifact is an ancient Rune Book that contains the names of the 2000 greatest heroes the Megaverse® has ever known. But it is more than a historical document, it is a magic item of unparalleled power.
According to legend, the tome has many great powers. One such power is to read the name of any one person inscribed, while evoking the proper magic, to give the reader the knowledge and power of that great hero. And many are the powers of the 2000.
The artifact also has its dangers. It is said if the List of Heroes™ is wrested from the Cosmo-Knights and kept locked in the pits of Hell, then the Knights and all heroes of the Three Galaxies will lose hope and flounder. If the book is destroyed, it is said, the Cosmo-Knights will cease to exist within a generation and the forces of Chaos shall reign. Needless to say, the Lords of Hell, the Splugorth and many others who serve Chaos would do anything to get their hands on the List of Heroes.
Rumor also suggests that the artifact may hold clues to the location of the Cosmic Forge, perhaps in some sort of code or the memories of the heroes who can be evoked. And there are many other tales of cosmic power, healing and knowledge all associated with the book and the ghosts of the heroes named on its pages.
As circumstance would have it, the List of Heroes has fallen into the possession of the Player Characters. The question is, can they keep it safe from the forces of two Hells until it can be returned to the safekeeping of the Cosmo-Knights? Or will they misuse it for their own, personal gain? How will this scenario unfold? Who is on that list? Buy a copy, play out the scenario and find out.
Note: This is the Adventure Sourcebook that prints the names of everyone who purchased the A Megaverse United™ limited edition print. It is also likely to include the names of some winners from the Heroes of the Megaverse® character contest as fully statted out characters (heroes and villains).
Minion War tie-in book.
Written by Kevin Siembieda.
Illustrated by various Palladium heroes.
64 to 96 pages – Cat. No. 877 – $11.95 or $14.95 retail (final size not yet determined).
Not yet scheduled. Shooting for a Summer or Fall, 2007, release.
Rifts® Adventure Sourcebook:
The Shemarrian Nation™ – Coming 2007
The Shemarrians, the phantom right arm of Archie-Three and a force to be reckoned with in the wild woods beyond the Eastern Wall (the Allegheny Mountains). An in-depth look at the fabricated femme fatales, their false society, and the schemes and dreams that Archie and Hagan have in store for them.
The Shemarrians and their place in the Eastern Wilderness. How the regional factions and power blocs view the warrior women and how the Shemarrians (and Archie) view them.
Shemarrian history, society, and culture - the fabrications of Archie-Three.
Over a dozen android and robot minions of Archie-Three, including the Avian Spy, Shemarrian Pariah, and the so-called R'Mar Alien.
Shemarrian Mounts and Weaponry.
Shemarrians as Optional Player Characters.
Written by Josh Sinsapaugh.
64 pages – Cat. No. 878 – $11.95 retail.
Not yet scheduled. Shooting for a Summer or September release.
Rifts® Adventure Sourcebook:
The Lyboc™ Saga – Coming 2007
The many schemes, illegal operations and skullduggery of Colonel Lyboc in the post-Siege on Tolkeen era (109 P.A.). Guaranteed to surprise and provide hours of gaming.
Colonel Lyboc’s stats, history and current exploits.
Other notable Coalition States soldiers, henchmen and agents.
Mark Evans cover painting.
Written by Kevin Siembieda.
48 or 64 pages (final size not yet determined) – Cat. No. 879 – $9.95 or $11.95 retail depending on the final size.
Not yet scheduled. Shooting for a Summer or Fall, 2007, release.
Chaos Earth™ Sourcebook:
First Responders™ – Coming 2007
The Great Cataclysm has devastated civilization, but humanity fights for survival. The struggles of civilian law enforcement, fire and rescue, and everyday men and women are some of the most epic tales to be told in a world gone to hell. They fight monsters, aliens, the paranormal, the elements, and each other, all with the hope of reclaiming their lives from the Chaos.
New D-Bees and monsters from the Rifts.
New "average citizen" Occupational Character Classes (O.C.C.s).
New equipment for NEMA "Roscoes" and other emergency personnel.
Source information and stats for common Golden Age technology (weapons, vehicles, medical tech, etc.).
Apocalypse Plagues brought from other worlds to Chaos Earth.
Adventure ideas and more.
Written by Jason Richards.
Final size not yet determined; 64-96 pages – $11.95 or 14.95 retail.
Coming Summer or Fall 2007.
Palladium’s New Color Catalog
We found a printer who can do our 40 page catalog in full color and on glossy paper for the same price as our black and white catalog! Thus, the 2007 Summer Catalog should be full color and look fantastic! Should be available in July.
Palladium Collectibles & Art Auction #1
Recent outlays of cash have drained Palladium’s cash reserves to painfully low levels.
This auction will raise money to help make sure Palladium doesn’t stall in its recovery. Case in point, we don’t have the $10,000 to print 30,000 copies of our new Summer Catalog, nor the money to reprint a dozen books. This auction and 1-3 others to follow will help our cash flow.
Half the auction will be signed books published by Palladium as well as prints, posters and related products, and the other half will be artwork and animation cels.
Some art is Palladium items by the likes of Kevin Siembieda, Kevin Long and Vince Martin, including a couple paintings, while others are comic book art and animation. Some items are inexpensive, others a couple hundred dollars, and a few are premium collectibles worth several thousand dollars like a John Cullen Murphy Prince Valiant Sunday Page and the cover painting to Robotech® Southern Cross.
Books include out of print titles like The Rifter® #34, Justice Machine and others, and collectibles like a Palladium Crimson Hardcover, Rifts® Ultimate Gold, and others.
Oddball items include a signed Rifts® Promise of Power game for the N-Gage along with two luggage tags and a PR flyer, another is the signed Rifts® CCG poster and PR pamphlet, print sets by Kevin Siembieda, prints by other artists like Larry Elmore and Frank Frazetta, stickers, prototypes and more. Most items are from Kevin Siembieda’s personal archives and collection.
We will post a notice and a link to the E-Bay Auction when it goes up. Note: Auction date has changed to this Sunday, June 17, 2007.
Take a look and spread the word.
© copyright 2007 Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
This Press Release may be used and portions reprinted with Palladium's permission for the purpose of news and promotion. Rifts®, The Rifter®, Splicers®, Nightbane®, Megaverse® and Palladium Books® are registered trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. and Kevin Siembieda. Heroes Unlimited, Powers Unlimited, Beyond the Supernatural, Tome Grotesque, Beyond Arcanum, Chaos Earth, NEMA, Minion War, Dyval, and all other titles and names are trademarks of Palladium Books.