Life in the fast lane ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. The past couple of weeks I’ve been so busy with business matters I have not been able to work on writing any books. On the other hand, I’ve spent a fair amount of time communicating with freelancers to keep new books moving along toward publication. As for writing, I plan to get back to writing this weekend! In fact, I’m anxious to give vent to my creative energies.
UPDATE: Triax™ 2 hits the spot. Rifts® fans seem delighted with Triax™ 2 and are clamoring for more exciting books like it. We aim to please with more crowd pleasing titles all year long, starting with Heroes of the Megaverse® and followed by the updated and expanded Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms™, Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook, Rifts® Lemuria, Armageddon Unlimited™ for Heroes Unlimited™ (a Minion War™ crossover), Thundercloud Galaxy™, Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames, Rifts® Chaos Earth™ First Responders™ sourcebook, new Robotech® sourcebooks and more! Um, not necessarily in that exact order. In fact, we have so much going on that I may have forgotten some game books in development and their omission should NOT be construed as being taken off the schedule.
New Projects Getting Underway. I have Carl Gleba and Mike Leonard working on a fun secret project. When Carl is done with it, he is likely to start work on another big 4-5 RPG sourcebook series of an interrelated theme. He’s mentioned it off and on over the last year or two, and talked about it at the Open House. However, until he actually starts work on it, we’ll leave it at that. And no, it’s not the new Mechanoid series (though he and I want to tackle that too sometime soon). I’ve also greenlit projects with other writers, like Chris Diaczyk’s Rifts® Underseas 2, Braden Campbell’s United Worlds of Warlock™, and a couple of Palladium Fantasy RPG® projects in addition to Mysteries of Magic™, as well as a few other projects still under wraps. I also have an unsolicited manuscript for a Rifts® Psi-Stalkers book I’ve yet to look at. And could there be a Heroes Unlimited™ Hardware sourcebook in the future? Hmm, time will tell.
Freelance Writers Note: I’m looking for a couple of good Heroes Unlimited™, Nightbane® and Dead Reign™ manuscript submissions. Small, 64 page, and medium-sized, 96-128 page books are fine. And we are ALWAYS looking for short 7-20 page articles for ALL Palladium RPG settings for publishing consideration in The Rifter®. All manuscripts, articles and proposals are done entirely on speculation, and remember, before you write an entire manuscript, submit an outline and a 10-20 written sample from the book for our review and approval.
Online Sales: Sales have dropped from the highs of previous weeks, but remain strong. If you recall, the global economy was in free fall this time last year and we saw sales plummet. So far, 2010 sales have been much better than the same time last year. Whew, that’s a relief. Of course, we still need your continued support and hope you are enjoying the new products, from Triax™ 2 to hoodies, T-shirts and prints.
Palladium Collectibles Auction. I’m gathering rare and collectible items out of my personal collection and archives to sell in 2-3 online auctions.
Some notable items include: A Palladium Fantasy RPG® Crimson Edition hardcover, an original Rifts® Gold (#34), other limited editions, out of print book titles, first printings, Erick Wujcik’s first game, Sector 57, books signed by Erick Wujcik, a rare Glitter Boy miniature, rare promo items like our 20th anniversary canvas book bag, original artwork, proofreader photocopies of our books, digital printer proofs, collectibles and more. The first auction starts on May 29, 2010. Don’t miss out. The next is likely to start June 19, 2010.
Rifts® “Zipper” Hoodie. The zipper hoodies are back in stock. Sizes Medium through 3XL are available. (Sorry, no small, and 3XL is as large as we can get).
Dad. My father, Henry, remains in good spirits and was silly and playful during this week’s breakfast and visit. There has been no change in the condition of his roommate, Arlene, but her condition remains under control and she too was in good spirits.
Other things are going on, but for now we’re trying to stay focused on getting new product to the printer. Keep those imaginations burning bright, start up those RPG campaigns and thank you for your continued support.
– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher
If you are a fan of Triax and the New German Republic, you need this book. If not, and you like robots, weapons and technology, this book is still for you. It’s packed with a ton of stuff that can be used in ANY Rifts® campaign.
Heroes of the Megaverse® presents numerous NPC heroes, new details about the Cosmo-Knights and all kinds of fun with a magic artifact known as the Book of Heroes. This magic artifact is said to bestow incredible power upon those who use it. It can also guide and empower current day heroes and unleash forces that could have a profound impact on the Minion War. Only one copy is known to exist, and everyone wants to get their hands on it – good guys and bad (demons, Deevils, the Splugorth, the Dominators, the Kreeghor, etc.). According to legend, he who controls the Book of Heroes and wields the “Power of the 2000,” can rule the universe. Once protected by the Cosmo-Knights, the book has gone missing for millennia. 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 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.
Demons and Deevils are trying to turn Earth into one of their playgrounds. It’s worse than you think. The plan is to bring about Armageddon to unleash a powerful force that could change the tide of the Minion War™. Only Earth’s greatest superheroes (that’s your characters) stand in their way. Can be played as a Minion War™ crossover bringing in heroes from across the Megaverse, or as a stand-alone adventure setting for Heroes Unlimited™.
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.
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.
Trouble is stirring in the Vampire Kingdoms as ambitious vampire lords, ladies and misanthropes seek to expand their power to dominate more mortal life forms.
Written by Kevin Siembieda and a handpicked selection of other writers, this sourcebook explores the vampires of Mexico and their kingdoms in ways you never imagined. Tons of new data, adventure ideas and revelations.
At last, 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.
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. More details to follow, but for now, ‘nuff said.
Data about the chaos and madness of the early days of the Great Cataclysm, and the brave men and women who tried to stem the tide of destruction and save lives, the First Responders.
Palladium has 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.
- Splicers® RPG
- Beyond the Supernatural, First Edition Rules.
- Boxed Nightmares™ for BTS, First Edition Rules.
- Nightbane® Book Four: Shadows of Light™.
- The Mechanoids® RPG and The Mechanoid Invasion® RPG Trilogy.
- Palladium Fantasy RPG®, First Edition Rules and select 1st edition sourcebooks.
- After the Bomb® sourcebooks.
- The Rifter® issues 1-40.
- The Best of The Rifter®
- Deluxe Revised RECON® RPG and the Advanced RECON® sourcebook.
- And more – go to DriveThruRPG.com and check ‘em out.
- The Rifter® #49 – Now available.
- The Rifter® #50 (special anniversary issue) – Now available.
- Rifts® Dimension Book™ 12: Dimensional Outbreak™ – Now available.
- Rifts® Hoodie (2 styles, zipper and pullover) – Now available.
- Rifts® World Book 31: Triax™ Two – Now available.
- Rifts® 20 Year Celebration T-Shirt – Now available.
- Rifts® 20 Year Celebration Color Print – Now available.
- Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms – “Death is for the Weak” T-Shirt – Now available.
- Palladium Books® – Game Master T-Shirt – Now available.
- Palladium Open House “Checklist” T-Shirt – Now available.
- Rifts®/Phase World® Sourcebook: Heroes of the Megaverse® – June.
- The Rifter® #51 – July.
- Armageddon Unlimited™ – July.
Not Yet Scheduled:
- Rifts® Dimension Book™: Thundercloud Galaxy™ – Summer.
- Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook™ – Summer.
- Rifts® World Book One: Vampire Kingdoms™, Expanded/Updated – Summer.
- Rifts® World Book: Lemuria – Summer.
- Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames – Summer or Fall.
- Robotech® New Generation™ Sourcebook – Fall.
- Rifts® Chaos Earth™ – First Responders Sourcebook – Summer or Fall.
- Plus more Robotech® sourcebooks, more Mysteries of Magic™ sourcebooks, more Nightbane® sourcebooks, more Dead Reign™ sourcebooks, Warpath™ and other good stuff.
These shirts are awesome. White imprint of the Rifts® Logo on a black zipper hoodie. The famous Rifts® Logo appears front and back; a small logo over the left breast and a large logo printed on the back.
Type: 50/50 cotton polyester blend; full zipper.
Sizes: Medium to 3XL; back in stock.
Color: White logo on a black zipper hoodie.
Cost: $32.95 for Medium, Large and XL. $34.95 for 2XL. $36.95 for 3XL; plus shipping (approximately $6 to most places in the USA).
Cat. No. 2546. Available now.
A white imprint of a large Rifts® Logo on the front of a pullover hoodie. Nothing on the back.
Type: 50/50 cotton polyester blend; pullover.
Sizes: Medium to 2XL. (Sorry, 3XL is currently sold out.)
Color: White logo on a black pullover hoodie.
Cost: $28.95 for Medium, Large and XL. $30.95 for 2XL, and $32.95 for 3XL; plus shipping (approximately $6 to most places in the USA).
Cat. No. 2547. Available now.
Another great shirt. White image on a black T-shirt featuring a snarling vampire and the slogan: Death is for the weak™. This was popular at the Open House.
Type: 50/50 cotton polyester blend.
Sizes: Small to 5XL.
Color: White art and text on a black T-shirt.
Art by: Mike Mumah.
Cost: $18.95 for Small, Medium, Large and XL. $20.95 for 2XL, $22.95 for 3XL, $24.95 for 4XL and $26.95 for 5XL. Plus shipping (approximately $5 to most places in the USA).
Cat. No. 2548. Available now.
The perfect gift for your favorite Game Master. White image on a black T-shirt featuring a powerful cyborg. Above the cyborg art are the words Palladium Books Game Master, and below the art it reads: Power Incarnate. This was a big hit at the Open House.
Type: 50/50 cotton polyester blend.
Sizes: Small to 5XL.
Color: White art and text on a black T-shirt.
Art by: Freddie Williams II.
Cost: $18.95 for Small, Medium, Large and XL. $20.95 for 2XL, $22.95 for 3XL, $24.95 for 4XL and $26.95 for 5XL. Plus shipping (approximately $5 to most places in the USA).
Cat. No. 2549. Available now.
Celebrate 20 years of Rifts® with this dynamic, action-packed T-Shirt. White image on a black T-shirt featuring a gathering of Rifts® heroes, from a Glitter Boy and a Juicer to a Rogue Scholar and a dragon.
Type: 50/50 cotton polyester blend.
Sizes: Small to 5XL.
Color: White art and text on a black T-shirt.
Art by: Mike Mumah.
Cost: $18.95 for Small, Medium, Large and XL. $20.95 for 2XL, $22.95 for 3XL, $24.95 for 4XL and $26.95 for 5XL. Plus shipping (approximately $5 to most places in the USA).
Cat. No. 2550. Available now.
Even if you were not actually at the POH, this is a fun T-shirt to wear. Get ‘em while supplies last. This “special commemorative” shirt will NOT be reprinted. Around 30 shirts are currently available.
White text and image on a black T-shirt featuring a checklist of things that might have happened to you at the Open House (like being chased by zombies or your character killed by Carmen Bellaire). Fun and funny.
Type: 50/50 cotton polyester blend.
Sizes: Small to 2XL (and only a few 2XL are available).
Color: White art and text on a black T-shirt.
Concept by: Julius Rosenstein.
Cost: $18.95 for Small, Medium, Large and XL. $20.95 for 2XL. Plus shipping (approximately $5 to most places in the USA).
Cat. No. 2551. Available now while supplies last. Collector’s item.
Another way to celebrate 20 years of Rifts®. Full color art by Mike Mumah, signed by Kevin Siembieda and Mike Mumah. Suitable for framing.
Type: Full color printed on a sturdy card stock.
Limited: 350 copies. Not numbered.
Signed By: Kevin Siembieda (Rifts® creator) and Mike Mumah (artist).
Size: Approximately 19 x 9 1/4 inches.
Full Color Art by: Mike Mumah.
Cost: $10.00, plus shipping.
Cat. No. PR808. Available now.
All-weather, life-sized Halloween props by Palladium’s very own Kathy Simmons. “Ghouls” include scarecrows, killer clowns, wizards, witches, devils, grave ghouls, executioners, mad doctors, vampires, werebeasts, monsters, zombies and a new styling for zombies that look even more life-like. Kathy’s also now offering an array of hand-painted Halloween signs, signs with heads and bodies hanging from them, witch’s brewing pots and more. Best of all, her high quality creations are much more affordable and imaginative than most competitors. Affordable Halloween fun.
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.
© Copyright 2010 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.
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.
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.