Palladium Books® – Press Release – March 7, 2008

UPDATE:
Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles®
– Ships March 20 or sooner

Publisher, Kevin Siembieda, approved the proof copies of the cover and interior pages yesterday at the printer. He said they looked great. The RPG is on track to ship on March 20, just two weeks from now. In fact, the printer said that depending on scheduling, it might ship a couple of days sooner. We can hardly wait.

The Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® Role-Playing Game picks up where the DVD movie begins. The return of the Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF), the separation of the SDF-3 from the rest of the fleet, the battle of Reflex Point, space combat, treachery and everything else that is part of Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles®.

Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® is a NEW role-playing game, not a rehashed, retooled printing of the original RPG from the 1980s. Furthermore, the release of the Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® DVD Movie, the release of the Deluxe DVD, Shadow Chronicles® Art Book, and the announcement of a Robotech® Movie in development at Warner Bros. Pictures has ramped up interest and excitement for Robotech®.

  • This new RPG should appeal to role-players and Robotech® fans of all generations.
  • Human mecha include Alphas (various), Betas (various), Cyclones (various), Bioroid Interceptor, and the Condor, plus other equipment.
  • Quick roll character tables and M.O.S. skill sets make character creation possible in 15-20 minutes.
  • O.C.C.s include the Battloid Ace, Veritech Fighter Pilot, Military Specialist, and others.
  • Areas of Military Specialty – M.O.S. packages provide each O.C.C. with areas of special training.
  • New skills, O.C.C.s, mecha and action.
  • New text, art, information and character sheet.
  • Key Robotech® mecha statted out and illustrated.
  • Invid enemy statted out and illustrated.
  • The Haydonites, their mecha and more.
  • Adventure settings and ideas.
  • Fast playing RPG rules. Mega-Damage setting.
  • Cover by fan fave, Apollo Okamura. Great art throughout.
  • Written by Kevin Siembieda. Additional text by Jason Marker.
  • Manga size for easy portability (5x7½ inches).
  • 336 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 550.
  • March release date. At the printer.

    UPDATE
    Erick Wujcik

    Erick Wujcik is a fighter and hanging in there as best he can, but his health continues to slowly deteriorate. This terrible disease is a devastating one, and even the treatment keeping Erick alive is rough on his body.

    The recent passing of RPG legend, Gary Gygax, is a harsh reminder that we should express our thoughts and affections while the people we care about are still with us. Nobody knows how much time Erick has left. The fact that he has persevered this long is nothing short of a miracle (they only gave him 4-6 weeks December first). Let him see your warm regard for him and his work, NOW.

    You can do so by logging in at erickwujcik.com – a blog where hundreds upon hundreds of gamers have already posted fun, funny and touching tributes to Erick’s life and work in the game industry. Please add your fond memories and warm wishes for Erick to read and enjoy. Post as often as you’d like. Thank you.

    Gary Gygax
    – Gaming Legend Dies

    It is with the utmost respect and sorrow that we report Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons, has passed away at the age of 69.

    Gary Gygax not only co-created Dungeons and Dragons with David Arneson, but this singular game created an entire new genre of gaming and gave birth to the role-playing game industry.

    Without Mr. Gygax and Mr. Arneson, there would never have been a Palladium Books, TSR, Wizards of the Coast, Steve Jackson Games, White Wolf, Chaosium, AEG, Kenzer & Co., Green Ronin, or any other game company that has ever produced role-playing games. Role-playing games might not even be part of our gaming lexicon. Not only might there have never been games like Rifts®, D&D, GURPS, Traveller, Vampire the Masquerade, Champions, Call of Cthulu, Legends of the Five Rings, and countless others, but we might never have seen “role-playing games” evolve into the videogame and MMOG medium. Without D&D there might never have been an Everquest, World of Warcraft, City of Heroes, or any other MMORPGs. Hard to imagine, but very likely true.

    That is how profound an influence the creation of Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson’s Dungeons and Dragons has had on the world of gaming.

    Our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and fans of Mr. Gygax.

    Read Publisher and RPG Game Designer Kevin Siembieda’s Murmur from the Megaverse, A Legend Dies, for more thoughts about Gary Gygax and his passing.

    Erick Wujcik & Palladium Collectibles Auction #2
    – Ends tomorrow – Saturday March 8, 2008

    This will be the last auction for a while, as Palladium has to move and get a pile of new books to the printer. The next auction is not likely till the end of May or beginning of June, and many items are one-of-a-kind items or very limited in number.

    Erick Wujcik donated a hunk of his personal art collection, TMNT® RPG books and other role-playing game items for us to sell. One of Erick’s goals is to see Palladium get completely on its feet. We’re getting there, but he knows February through April are slow sales months and that Palladium will have big moving expenses in March. The incredible friend and wonderful person that he is, Erick is still doing whatever he can to help Palladium Books®.

    The current auction has a number of items available at reasonable (even low) prices. We are particularly surprised at how little original Robotech and Palladium artwork is going for. This is your chance to get some good deals.

    - First Printing TMNT Role-Playing Game, signed by Erick Wujcik and Kevin Siembieda.
    Ninja Turtles® RPG and Sourcebooks (including Transdimensional TMNT), each signed by Erick Wujcik and Kevin Siembieda
    - Transdimensional TMNT® – the rarest of the TMNT sourcebooks, signed by Wujcik & Siembieda.
    - Ninjas & Superspies, Mystic China & RECON®, each signed by Erick Wujcik and Kevin Siembieda.
    - After the Bomb® supplement set, each book signed by Erick.
    - Kevin Long ARTWORK for Ninjas & Superspies.
    - Kevin Long Robotech® art.
    - Kevin Long original art, other.
    - Michael Kucharski original art, from Weapons & Assassins.
    An old Kevin Siembieda fantasy print that even Kevin forgot ever existed.
    - A mixed set of Kevin Siembieda prints (including 4 dragons).
    - Palladium’s first Rifter® Swimsuit art portfolio (10 prints).
    - Note: All items that are from Erick’s collection come with a certificate of Origin and Authenticity that they are from his private collection.

    Our next auction will not be until May or June.

    Auction ENDS Saturday evening, March 8, 2008.

    Prepping for Palladium’s Big Move

    Teresa and Hanna Mead have come to town to help Palladium prep for the big move, as well as talk about sales and promotional strategies.

    The physical move will take place March 28, 29 and 30 (the last Friday, Saturday and Sunday of March), but we have, literally, tons of prep to do BEFORE the big move: Books to box, paintings to wrap, furniture and equipment to dismantle, skids to load, boxes and stuff to load on skids, and more.

    We’re looking for friendly local fan volunteers to give us a hand doing the prep work March 17-27. If you’re in the area and want to help, please contact us soon to let us know the days and hours you can come over.

    Helpers get . . .

  • 40% discount on available product.
  • First crack at buying an (autographed) copy of Robotech®.
  • A surprise gift (our way of saying thank you).
  • Our lasting gratitude.
  • We’ll also supply water, soda and snacks.

    - Pre-Move Prep Work – March 17-27
    - Palladium’s Big Move – March 28, 29 & 30

    Contact Palladium with your info:
    - Call (734) 946-1156 our order and help line.
    - Email us at rifter@palladiumbooks.com.
    - Or send Kevin a Private Message.
    Please include your name, telephone number, the days and times you can help, and other pertinent contact info. Thank you.

    A number of wonderful, crazy friends and fans volunteered a few months ago and they convinced us we should solicit fans living in the area to help us move. After thinking about it, we figured, why not? So come on down, but call to let us know first so we can coordinate teams at both places.

    Time is running out on the
    Super-Subscription offer to The Rifter®
    Offer ends March 31, 2008

    We only do a subscription special once a year, and this one is almost over!

    Right now you can get a subscription to The Rifter® at a special price and walk away with a FREE GIFT worth $22-$31 (and US subscribers, we’ll even pay the cost to ship your Rifter® to your doorstep)! So what are you waiting for? Subscribe!

  • If your subscription is ending soon (or has recently ended), this is a great time to renew.

  • If you’ve always thought about getting The Rifter® as a subscription, this is the time to do it.

  • If you have never subscribed before, this is the time to think about getting one. The Rifter® seems to be getting better with every issue.

  • If you’re looking for a way to help support Palladium, a subscription to The Rifter® is one way of doing so.

  • If you’re looking for fun reading material and source of ideas, check out The Rifter®.

  • Tell EVERYONE you know about this great deal and tell ‘em to subscribe today.

  • Offer ENDS March 31, 2008.

    The Next Few NEW Releases

    Robotech® the Shadow Chronicles® RPG
    – Ships March 20, or sooner

    Hotly anticipated. All new. All fun. See the description at the top of this Press Release.

  • Written by Kevin Siembieda. Additional text by Jason Marker.
  • Manga size for easy portability (5x7½ inches).
  • 336 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 550.
  • March release date. At the printer.

    The Rifter® #42
    – Ships April, 2008

    The Rifter® is your doorway to unlimited imagination and numerous Palladium role-playing worlds. It offers new heroes, powers, weapons, magic and adventure for your games. It presents new villains, monsters and dangers to battle, and new ideas to consider. It helps you unlock your imagination by showing you what other gamers, just like you, have created. That’s right, many of the articles and source material are written by ordinary gamers and fans like you.

  • Rifts® source material The Coalition™ Edge.
  • Rifts® Wormwood™ source material The Wormwood™ Addenda.
  • Nightbane® source material and adventure hooks Warlords of Boston.
  • Heroes Unlimited™ source material S.C.R.E.T.™ Around the World.
  • Rifts® and any RPG with Supernatural Beings Supernatural Leather Working (spookier and more gruesome than the title might imply).
  • The latest chapter of Hammer of the Forge™, fiction.
  • News, coming attractions and more.
  • $10.95 retail – 96 pages – Cat. No. 142.
  • Ships April. In production.

    Rifts® Dimension Book 11:
    Dyval, Hell Unleashed – Back in production

    Dyval™ is another dimension of Hell, the next book in the Minion War™ series, and is every bit as fantastic as the first, Hades.

    Dyval is a hellish dimension very different from Hades, but just as exotic, dangerous and horrible. The Deevil Host, evil monsters and minions, Deevil society, monstrous War Steeds, magic, adventure settings and more. Interest among Palladium fans is high.

  • The hellish dimension of Dyval mapped and described.
  • New Lesser and Greater Deevils along with all your old faves.
  • Inhuman minions who serve as the Host.
  • 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®.
  • Companion to Hades and the next chapter in the Minion War™.
  • Artwork by Nick Bradshaw, Mike Wilson, Mike Mumah, and others.
  • Cover painting by John Zeleznik.
  • Written by Carl Gleba and Kevin Siembieda.
  • 192 pages – Cat. No. 873 – $22.95 retail.
  • This book should go to the printer before we move, and ship in April.

    Dog Boys Playing Poker – A Rifts® Print

    The signed prints are available now and selling quickly.

  • Never before published!
  • Art by Mark Evans. The idea and art direction by Kevin Siembieda.
  • 300 signed and numbered, limited edition prints. Signed by artist, Mark Evans and Rifts® creator, Kevin Siembieda.
  • 11x14 inches with a 10x13 image area.
  • Printed on a matte, 100# paper stock, full color and suitable for framing.
  • Shipped rolled in a sturdy tube.
  • $15.00 plus shipping and handling. Cat. No. PR806.
  • Available now.

    Mysteries of Magic – A Palladium Fantasy RPG® Print

  • This witch casting dark magic will be the cover of the long-awaited Mysteries of Magic™ sourcebook for The Palladium Fantasty RPG®, coming out later this year (written by Mark Hall).
  • Never before published, but slated to be the cover of an upcoming Palladium Fantasy sourcebook.
  • Art by Chris Bourassa.
  • 220 limited edition prints comes with a signed certificate by artist, Chris Bourassa and Palladium Fantasy RPG® creator, Kevin Siembieda.
  • 11x17 inches with an approximate 10x16 image area. Printed on a matte, 100# paper stock. Full color and suitable for framing.
  • Shipped rolled in a sturdy tube.
  • $10.00 plus shipping and handling. Cat. No. PR807.
  • Available now.

    Coming Soon

    - Robotech®: The Shadow Chronicles® RPG – March, 2008. At the printer.
    - The Rifter® #42 – April, 2008.
    - Rifts® Dimension Book 11: Dyval™, Hell Unleashed – April release, 2008. In final production.
    - Rifts® Dimension Book 12: Dimensional Outbreak™ – April or May release. In production.
    - Heroes of the Megaverse® (Minion War™ – tentative) – May or June 2008.
    - Dead Reign™ RPG (Zombie RPG – tentative) – May or June, 2008.
    - A new Robotech® sourcebook (tentative) – Summer 2008.
    - The Rifter® #43 – July, 2008.
    Note: Additional titles may be added to the line up above.

    Robotech® and Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® are Registered Trademarks of Harmony Gold USA, Inc.

    © Copyright 2008 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.
    Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, Phase World®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Megaverse®, Nightbane®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Heroes Unlimited, Beyond the Supernatural, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.

    This press release may be reprinted, reposted, linked and shared for the sole purpose of advertising, promotion and sales solicitation.