Palladium Books® – Press Release – February 26, 2010
By Kevin Siembieda
Gosh, what a hectic week. At least we accomplished a lot.
I’ve been working non-stop on a zillion different things. Did a Distributor press release and solicitation form (orders for upcoming books are already coming in). Did a new write-up for upcoming releases as a flyer to be slipped into our catalog. Art directed tweaks and changes to the Rifter Number Fifty cover, the Triax 2 cover, and interior art for several other books. Took care of some tax and business issues, paid bills (ick), bought some office supplies, ordered some things we need for the Open House, and talked a great deal to a great number of people: my agent, my daughter, Maryann, Kay Kozora, Kathy Simmons, and countless freelancers on the phone or via email, including Carmen Bellaire, Braden Campbell, Jeffry Scott Hansen, Mike Leonard, Brandon Aten, E.M. Gist, Nick Bradshaw, Mark Dudley, Kent Burles, Mike Mumah, Chuck Walton, Mark Evans and a few others. I did a half dozen contracts and have a dozen to go. I shoveled a lot of snow this week too. Still need to call John Zeleznik and few other freelancers. No wonder I was here at the office working till after midnight last night.
Online Sales: Sales were up and down all week. One day good, the next not so good. Thursday sales were in the toilet, and this morning (Friday sales) were weak. Overall, this week’s sales were disappointing; down about 30% compared to last week. However, there were a fair number of pre-orders for upcoming books and a couple of small distributor restock orders came in. Staying positive and working hard on the next six books.
UPDATE: Rifts® Dimensional Outbreak™ ships next week Friday (March 5) or the following Monday (March 8). The printer is shooting for March 5th. I approved the printer’s pre-press proof copy of the interior pages and covers this Monday. Man oh man, this book is gorgeous. As I have said before, we’re all proud of this book and think you’ll love it.
UPDATE: Triax™ Two. I’ve more thoroughly skimmed through Rifts® Triax™ Two, made some edits, notes and a few rewrites, as I continue to assign artwork for it. This is going to be another great book. EVERYTHING you could want from Triax™ Two. The writing has its rough spots here and there, but overall it is pretty darn good. Lots of great ideas. Lots of great new Triax robots, power armor, weapons and gear. Mike Wilson will be doing the lion’s share of the artwork. We just got his first batch of concept sketches and they blew us away. This book is going to be amazing. I hope to bring the Manning Brothers and a couple other artists in to work on it too.
UPDATE: Rifts® Heroes of the Megaverse® is coming along nicely, but a bit slower than I’d like, namely because I’ve been pulled away to handle so many other aspects of pre-production on other books. I’m working on the writing and editing of two and coordinating work on FOUR others. Yikes.
UPDATE: The Rifter® #50. This issue is shaping up nicely. There’s a good range of material. Chuck Walton submitted the cover and it’s probably his best cover work to date. I’m having him make some tweaks and changes, but it’s nice, moody and evocative. I’ll be assigning the artwork to this issue over the weekend and Wayne and Alex have started their editing. I think we’re only waiting for submissions from two contributors.
UPDATE: Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms™. The cover to this book by E.M. Gist is amazing. I approved the sketch this week and can hardly wait to see the finished painting. The new interior art is looking good too (some of the art will be from the original book, other illustrations will be new).
UPDATE: Rifts® Vampire Sourcebook. The writing by contributors to this book is coming along and I’ve made notes on things I want to do. Due to other commitments, E.M. Gist had to bow out of doing this cover, but he’s hooked us up with another fine artist to step in. Thanks Erik. (Like I said, very hectic, but productive week.)
UPDATE: Open House. The economy remains tough for a lot of people and pre-registration attendance is down 42% compared to last year. I’ve heard from a number of people disappointed that they can’t afford to make it this year, and I’ve spoken with many other people who have to wait till the last minute to decide if they can afford to come. What a shame, because this could be our last Open House for a while, and we have big plans for big fun. I still say we will try to make this a rip-snorting good time and one heck of a celebration. Besides, a lot of folks may come at the last minute. Note: If you can, please pre-register and book your hotel room (credit cards are not charged by the hotel till date of the event). It helps us plan for the Open House if we have a good idea of who and how many gamers are coming, and we get comp rooms and special privileges depending on how many rooms get booked. Which all helps Palladium. Thanks. And please don’t feel bad if you can’t make it, and certainly don’t overextend yourselves financially just to come and game with us.
I’ve also been plotting and planning aspects of the Palladium Open House with Wayne, Julius and Kathy, as well as new non-book products to debut at the Open House, like a couple of fun new T-shirts, one or two styles of hoodies (if we can afford to produce them), a couple of prints, and a bunch of other stuff is under consideration. We’re open to suggestions.
UPDATE: New media and licensing. I spoke to my agent and he and a couple other people are repping various projects. There seems to be some interest in Nightbane® for film, but nothing concrete to report yet. It’s all talk and pitches at this point. There are the beginnings of a couple of other things that could turn into something fun too, but again, nothing to report yet.
UPDATE: Dad. Had a nice visit with my Dad on Wednesday. He continues to be in great spirits. Spent half a day filling out paperwork for my Dad to apply for a military pension.
FYI: It’s a best kept secret, but if your parent or grandparent served in the military any time from World War One to the Korean War (ended in 1953) they are eligible for a military pension. (I don’t think it applies to Vietnam vets, but it might. Look into it.) There is $3 billion dollars in this fund, but most people who served don’t know about it! If a person served even one day during this time period, they are eligible for a pension of $1000-$2000 a month! For most retirees that’s a fortune! The person did not have to serve in the war itself, just during that time period, and they do not have to have been disabled in wartime (or at all) to get the pension. The forms are a confusing mess that includes several categories (disabled vet, POW, etc.) in addition to applying for a military pension, which only confuses things even more, but it is worth the hassle and you vets deserves this pension. The money is there waiting!
We’re excited about upcoming books. Palladium staffers and freelance writers and artists are all working hard to present the most gorgeous, fun and spine-tingling games and sourcebooks on the market. Keep those imaginations burning bright and game on.
– Kevin Siembieda, Writer & Publisher
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The Rifter® Super-Subscription Offer
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Savings off the retail price ($8.95 an issue).
Free shipping in the USA.
Delivered right to your door.
A Megaverse® of Adventure and Fun.
Make sure you get the special issue #50.
And a FREE gift worth $13-$40.
Offer ends in March.
Is your subscription recently lapsed? Have you been thinking about getting a subscription to The Rifter®, but haven’t gotten around to it or made that final choice? Is your subscription ending later this year? Then it’s time to subscribe or re-subscribe, right now.
Each issue of The Rifter® presents unofficial and/or official adventures, characters, powers, weapons, equipment and fiction for Rifts®, Heroes Unlimited™, Palladium Fantasy RPG®, Chaos Earth™, Splicers®, Nightbane®, Beyond the Supernatural™, Dead Reign™, and/or any variety of other Palladium games and world settings. It’s also a place to get the latest news, product release info, and see new games, like Warpath: Urban Jungle™, showcased. The Rifter® is more than a magazine or sourcebook, it is a forum for new talent.
In short, if you’re into one or more of Palladium’s role-playing games and like to explore new realms of possibility, then The Rifter® is for you. Check it out and order yours today. And tell a friend! Tell lots and lots of friends!!
Rifts® Dimension Book™ 12: Dimensional Outbreak™
– Ships March 5
Dimensional Outbreak™ is done and at the printer. The printer is shooting to deliver the book on March 5 (next Friday! Or the following Monday, March 8).
Space opera at its best, Dimensional Outbreak™ is full of new weapons, new spacecraft, new demons and aliens, new magic, and a wealth of information about Phase World, the Prometheans, the Three Galaxies, the Minion War, deception and betrayal. There are enough adventure ideas, turmoil and information to run a campaign in the Three Galaxies for years! The eruption of the Minion War in the Three Galaxies is more mind boggling than anyone has imagined. Virtually every civilization gets caught up in the demons’ scheme and the Deevils’ revenge in one way or another. Can’t say more without giving away too many plot elements, but you will be surprised.
Dimensional Outbreak™ is an exciting and surprise filled book in the Minion War™ series as 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 United Worlds of Warlock, the Splugorth and Naruni Enterprises are reeling from it. The story hooks are endless.
An overview of Phase World’s Center Levels 1-20. Have you always wondered about Center? Many of your questions are likely to be answered.
Four levels of Center mapped with descriptions of notable locations, shops and people, including Center Defenses, Center Security, Gateland, SpaceTown, Central Station, the Spaceports, Free Trade Zone/Naruni Enterprises, the Warlock Market, Splugorth Trading Post, Wonder World, The Manors, notable merchants and places of business, and much more. It is a nice overview.
60+ Demon Magic spells and rituals.
New Demons include: Demon Knights, Phase Demons, Plasma Demons, Star Slayers, demonic legions and more.
“Living” demonic spaceships, magic weapons and new horrors.
The demons’ plans for conquest, their bases and troops.
Deevil spaceships, bases and defenses.
New minion races serving Deevils and demons.
Historical time-line of Center leading up to the Minion War.
The Battle for Center and the Demons’ Invasion of the Three Galaxies.
Maps of Center Levels 1-4, and key people.
Chaos and war across the Three Galaxies, a campaign of conquest, adventure ideas and more.
A stand-alone Dimension Book that is also the third step in an epic, six book crossover series that races across the Palladium Megaverse®, including Heroes of the Megaverse® (any setting), Heroes Unlimited™ (Armageddon Unlimited™), and Rifts® (Megaverse® in Flames).
Artwork by Bradshaw, Burles, Dudley, Majestic, Maradin & Mumah.
John Zeleznik cover painting.
Written by Carl Gleba.
192 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 875. Ships around March 5. (We’re waiting for an exact ship day from the printer.)
Rifts®/Phase World® Sourcebook:
Heroes of the Megaverse® – ships March 24
The Book of Heroes is said to be one of the greatest magic artifacts in the Megaverse. Only one copy is known to exist, and everyone wants to get their hands on it – Demons, Deevils, the Splugorth, the Dominators, the Kreeghor, the United Worlds of Warlock and everyone in between. For it is said that he who wields the “Power of the 2000” can rule the universe.
Once protected by the Cosmo-Knights, the book has gone missing. No one knows its fate or the true power contained within its List of Heroes. No one except YOU – the new keepers of this legendary Rune book.
The Book of Heroes described.
The incredible magic powers the Book contains.
Notable heroes and the powers bestowed when their names are invoked.
The dangers of the Book of Heroes, and why it must never fall into the hands of any Lord of Hell.
The protectors of the Book of Heroes, and the adventure setting around keeping it safe. Has the book chosen you to defend it?
Minion War tie-in adventure sourcebook or stand-alone sourcebook for Rifts® or Phase World®/The Three Galaxies.
Contains the names of 2000 real life gamers who purchased the special print during Palladium’s Crisis of Treachery (and other heroes).
Cover by Apollo Okamura. Art by Mumah, Dudley and others.
Written by Kevin Siembieda.
96 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 877. Ships end of March. In production.
The Rifter® #50
Special Anniversary Issue – April 8
Note: Increased cover price of $14.95 and increased page count to 128 pages for this special issue only.
The Rifter® Number 50 celebrates twelve and a half years of publication as well as the Rifts® RPG’s Twentieth Anniversary, by presenting an issue filled with official and unofficial source material and adventures from a list of Palladium guest writers that fans know and love.
Loaded with official source material.
Contributors include Brandon K. Aten, Carmen Bellaire, Braden Campbell, Carl Gleba, Irvin Jackson, Jason Richards, Kevin Siembieda, Taylor White and others.
The latest chapter of Hammer of the Forge™, fiction.
News, coming attractions and more.
Cover by Charles Walton II.
$14.95 retail (higher price due to increased page count and official source material) – 128 pages – Cat. No. 150. In final production. Ships April 8.
Rifts® World Book 31: Triax™ Two
– Ships April 23
Triax™ Two is the long awaited and hotly anticipated sequel to the hugely popular Rifts® World Book 5: Triax™ & The NGR (more than 100,000 copies sold). Fans want this book badly, and it is going to be a hot selling item. A ton of new weapons, vehicles, power armor, giant robots and much more makes this a toy box Rifts fans will not be able to resist.
New information about the New German Republic and its society.
New information about the New German Republic’s military.
New Triax weapons and equipment.
New Triax vehicles, war machines and artillery.
New Triax power armor and robots.
New Triax robot drones and cyborgs.
Update on the Gargoyle Empire and surrounding region.
More ideas for battles and adventure.
Cover by Scott Johnson.
Interior art by Michael Wilson and others.
Written by Taylor White and Brandon Aten.
192 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 881. Ships April 23. In final production.
Rifts® Dimension Book™: Thundercloud Galaxy™
The Thundercloud Galaxy™ is the perfect companion to Rifts® Dimensional Outbreak™ to expand one’s gaming Megaverse in the Three Galaxies. History, aliens, weapons, spacecraft, and adventure in a galaxy far, far away.
The galaxy described; history and time-line.
16 new alien R.C.C.s, plus notes on the Exiles and Dominators.
6 new O.C.C.s.
Monster and Animal Creation Tables.
Guidelines for Magic Weapon Making.
Notable weapons and technology.
Notable organizations and secret societies.
The Trensik Mercenaries.
The Vortex Region.
The Splugorth Kingdom of Desslyth and many other notable worlds.
New worlds of adventure.
Written by Braden Campbell.
160 pages – $20.95 retail – Cat. No. 883. Ships in April or May, 2010.
Robotech®
Expeditionary Force Marines™
An in-depth look at the Expeditionary Force Marines, their history, strategies and tactics, M.O.S. skill packages, operations and missions.
UEEF Marine Corps O.C.C. and M.O.S. skills.
New weapons.
New Mecha.
New Marine ground vehicles.
New Marine aircraft.
New Marine specific spacecraft.
History, training, and organization of the UEEF Marines.
Written by Jason Marker. Additional text by Kevin Siembieda.
Cat. No. 553, manga size & format – final page count not yet determined, but we are thinking 128-192 pages, $14.95 retail.
Vampire Kingdoms™ – The Original – Available now
Why wait? A special printing of the original Rifts® World Book One: Vampire Kingdoms™ is available exclusively from Palladium Books.
Rifts Vampires described in detail, including their origins, strengths, weaknesses and powers.
The Vampire Kingdoms of Mexico.
The City of El Paso described.
Ciudad Juarez, a vampire haven, mapped and described.
Reid’s Rangers, Vampire Hunters (and madmen).
Techno-Wizard vampire slaying devices and other weapons.
Freak Shows, Circuses, and Traveling Shows.
The mystery of the Yucatan Peninsula and were-beasts.
Monsters, D-Bees, and adventure ideas galore.
Art by Tim Truman, Kevin Long, Siembieda and others.
Written by Kevin Siembieda.
176 pages – $20.95 retail – Cat. No. 802. Available now.
Rifts® World Book One:
Vampire Kingdoms™, Expanded & Updated
Kevin Siembieda is reorganizing, tweaking, expanding and updating one of the most popular Rifts® World Books ever published: Vampire Kingdoms™. This will include some new artwork and an expanded page count. The book will be updated and expanded in much the same way as Kevin did with Rifts® Sourcebook One a couple years ago. Best of all, it’s just the prelude to a Rifts® Vampire Sourcebook that will follow a month or two later.
Vampires: Their strengths, weaknesses and powers.
The Vampire Kingdoms expanded.
Vampire strategies and plans for conquest.
Vampire hunters and Techno-Wizard slayer devices (new and old).
Key locations including Juarez and El Paso.
The mystery of the Yucatan Peninsula.
Traveling Shows, Freak Shows and Circuses.
Monsters, D-Bees, and adventure ideas galore.
Updated and revised to 110 P.A.
Cover by E.M. Gist.
Written by Kevin Siembieda.
192 to 224 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 802-E.
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Also Coming in 2010
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Rifts® World Book: Lemuria™: The underwater realm of Lemuria. The people and history of Lemuria, new magic, sea herbs and healing, monsters, the New Navy, and much, much more. Written by Greg Diaczyk. 160 pages – $20.95 retail – Cat. No. 885.
Armageddon Unlimited™ – for Heroes Unlimited™: Demons and Deevils are trying to turn Earth into one of their playgrounds, only it’s worse than you think. The plan is to bring about Armageddon. A stand-alone adventure setting for Heroes Unlimited™, new super abilities, hero categories, demonic weapons, adventure and more. Cover by Mark Evans. Written by Carl Gleba. 160 pages – $20.95 retail – Cat. No. 527.
Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames™: Battleground Earth. The Minion War spills across Rifts Earth, Soulmancer and Blood Magic, the Demon Plagues across the globe. Rifts Calgary and much, much more. Written by Carl Gleba. 192 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 876.
Robotech® New Generation™ Sourcebook: The Robotech® core sourcebook you’ve been waiting for . . . only it’s going to be more than you imagine. Written by Kevin Siembieda and Irvin Jackson. 224+ pages – manga size – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 554.
Rifts® Chaos Earth™ Sourcebook: First Responders™: Data about the chaos and madness of the early days of the Great Apocalypse, and the brave men and women who tried to stem the tide of destruction and save lives, the First Responders. Written by Jason Richards & Kevin Siembieda. 96 to 128 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 665.
Other books in development:
- Robotech® New Generation™ Freedom Fighters Sourcebook (and others)
- More Rifts® Chaos Earth™ sourcebooks
- More Rifts® sourcebooks
- More Phase World®/Three Galaxies™ sourcebooks
- Nightbane® Sourcebook Six
- Mysteries of Magic™ Two & Three
- Dead Reign™ Sourcebook Three
- The Rifter® Number 51 & 52
- Warpath™ Urban Jungle™ and more . . .
Out of print titles
available as PDFs at DriveThruRPG.com
Palladium has made several out of print titles and the first 40 issues of The Rifter® available as PDF digital downloads from DriveThruRPG.com. We are regularly asked if out of print titles such as Nightbane® Book Four: Shadows of Light™, the original Mechanoids® RPGs, Boxed Nightmares™, BTS First Edition, etc. are available, and they are, at DriveThruRPG.com. Check ‘em out.
The Queen of Ghouls™
Kathy Simmons continues to add to her listings of life-sized Halloween props at the Queen of Ghouls™ Ebay store. She is now offering Halloween signs, and we understand a Leprechaun, more witches and other “ghouls” will be added every week or two.
Kathy makes and sells one of a kind, life-sized Halloween props. You know, vampires, werewolves, witches, wizards, zombies and monsters for display on your front lawn. If you think the photos online look good, you should see them in person. A typical “ghoul,” as she calls her creations, costs $89-$150. You can see some of her work (available off-season at lower prices) at her Queen of Ghouls™ Ebay store – queenofghouls.com.
2010 Palladium Open House
Make your reservations today – Only 9 weeks away
The Open House is only nine weeks away!
Join us from morning to midnight in losing yourself in fun and games. Play games till you drop, meet and chat with Palladium staff, writers, and artists. The crew and I are there ALL day long. Enjoy panel talks, ask questions, and enjoy the Saturday Costume Contest; better yet, come in costume and participate in the contest. Meet fellow gamers from around the world and have a blast.
Come for one day or the whole weekend, but do it. Do it because you, and all of us, need to forget our troubles and remember what life is all about: friends, laughter and gaming.
POH Friday is gaming and panel talks all day long, from 9:00 AM to midnight (with more gaming going on at the hotel).
POH Saturday is more gaming and panel talks, plus the live auction and the Costume Contest (it was awesome last year). 9:00 AM to midnight.
POH Sunday is more gaming, but it is a short day; 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or so.
3 Day Weekend: $40 per person (Friday thru Sunday).
Friday Only: $16 per person.
Saturday Only: $16 per person.
Sunday Only: $12 per person.
VIP Night: Sold out.
Online: Click the links above.
By Telephone: Call (734) 721-2903 – have your credit card information ready.
Remember, the Palladium Open House is not an annual event. We host it when we can. There are no current plans to host one next year (just as there wasn’t one in 2008), and we are limited to about 300 or so people. If we max out, we may have to turn people away, so pre-register as soon as possible to secure your place at the party.
Rifts® 20th Birthday celebration.
100+ gaming events!
Open gaming area.
Panel talks. Many this year, all weekend.
Meet 40+ Palladium creators – the largest gathering of Palladium creators in the world!
Chat and get autographs from all the Palladium creators.
Open access to the writers, artists and creators all three days.
Costume Contest (Saturday evening) – Come as a Palladium character and maybe you will win.
Live auction (Saturday evening) with rare out of print books, books from the Erick Wujcik collection, original artwork, proofreader copies of manuscripts, collectibles and more.
And much, much, more.
ALL EVENTS are covered by the cost of admission.
2010 Palladium Open House – April 29, 30, May 1 & 2, 2010.
For more information and to pre-register, click here.
POH Game Masters and games needed. Please let us know if you are running, how many games you are running, etc. – the sooner the better, so we can put together and post online a schedule of events by the end of February. Thanks.
Palladium Creators who will be at the 2010 POH: The Palladium Staff: Kevin Siembieda, Wayne Smith, Kathy Simmons, Julius Rosenstein, Alex Marciniszyn. Plus, Amy Ashbaugh, Brandon Aten, Carmen Bellaire, Nick Bradshaw, Kent Burles, Braden Campbell (tentative), Randi Cartier, Roger Cartier, Stephen Dawes, Matthew Daye, Greg Diazyck, Mark Dudley, Carl Gleba, Jeffry Scott Hansen, Mike Leonard, Allen Manning, Brian Manning, Mike Mumah, Apollo Okamura, Mark Oberle, Charles Walton, and other artists, writers and creators.
It helps Palladium plan and organize when we know how many gamers are coming to the 2010 Palladium Open House (POH), so please pre-register as soon as possible. We want to make sure to schedule enough games for EVERYONE. Thank you.
© Copyright 2010 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. Beyond the Supernatural™, Dead Reign, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Minion War, Mysteries of Magic, The Three Galaxies, Warpath, 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.