Palladium Books® – Press Release – May 28, 2010

By Kevin Siembieda

Happy Memorial Day.

It’s been another busy week as we continue to explore new ideas and deal with business matters.

UPDATE: Triax™ 2 still selling strong. Rifts® fans seem to be excited about Triax™ 2 and other upcoming books. My problem with writing and editing has been being distracted and torn between a number of projects and business matters, but things are moving along.

Clarifying Rifts®/Colt® Heavy Metal® crossover release dates. The Rifts®/Colt® Heavy Metal® Magazine crossover comic appears in the September and November issues of Heavy Metal Magazine – on sale in July and September, respectively.

I want to apologize for any confusion I may have caused in the last Press Release when I said the comic will appear in the “July issue” of Heavy Metal®. I should have said: The two part Rifts®/Colt the Outlander® crossover comic strip appears in the September issue of Heavy Metal® Magazine “on sale” in July, and the November issue “on sale” in September.

Sorry, I forgot, magazines and comic books are sometimes dated a couple months in advance. This has led to some confusion as to which issue of Heavy Metal® Magazine the strip will debut in, especially since the current issue on sale right now says "July" on the cover! I also forgot that since Heavy Metal® Magazine has adult content, it is sealed in a plastic bag so you can’t flip through it on the newsstand to see what’s in it. Thus, unless you know which issues Rifts® is appearing in, you might buy the wrong ones. I know of at least one fan who bought the current issue and was disappointed because there was no Rifts® crossover in it. (Sorry, but thank you for bringing this discrepancy to my attention.) So to repeat, the Rifts® crossover comic starts in the September issue of Heavy Metal on sale in July!

UPDATE: Rifts®/Colt the Outlander® comic. I have been loving everything I’ve seen of the crossover. At this point that includes the story, layout/story boards and the artwork for a number of the finished pages. I approved page five earlier this week. This painted comic strip is looking great. I hope Rifts® fans everywhere take a peek when the issue comes out in July. I suspect these two issues could become collector’s items. I know I’ll be scooping up a half a dozen copies for my own personal archives.

Palladium Online Auction – starts Sunday, May 30. I have loaded up the first auction with a lot of items I think fans will love. It includes many first printing books with proofreader copies (all signed), rare and collectible limited edition hardcover books (including an original Rifts® Gold, an Ultimate Gold, a Palladium Crimson, a BTS-2 Gold, and more), plus a rare Glitter Boy miniature, some artwork and some fun, rare and one-of-a-kind items. The first auction is packed with 41 items in all – each signed by me and the Palladium crew, and in some cases by Erick Wujcik or the contributing artists and writers. To make the proofreader photocopies extra-special, whenever I could, I included the printed book as well, and in many cases that book is a FIRST printing. And while I can’t believe I’m doing it, I’m including my rather worn out, scribbled in, personal copy of Beyond the Supernatural, first edition, first printing. Yep, this is the book I used to run many a BTS game over the last two decades. I don’t know if that makes it truly special or silly junk, but it can be yours.

I already have many of the items selected for the second and third auctions set aside.

Mother Goose. In addition to the usual menagerie of birds, squirrels and varmints, the Palladium office (well, front yard) was visited last weekend by a family of geese, complete with five yellow goslings. They were hilarious to watch as they quickly waddled behind mother goose in procession. No sign of the "Guard Deer" this year.

Online Sales. Sales were strong last weekend, slumped the first couple days of the week, but bounced back up, making for an overall good week. Everything seems to be selling, from Triax 2 to T-shirts.

Breakfast with Dad. I had business issues to deal with, so I had to cut my weekly breakfast and visit with my father short this week. He and his roommate Arlene were in a chipper mood and the time we spent together was pleasant and lively.

Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend, drive safe, play nice, and keep those imaginations burning bright.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher

Available now:
Rifts® World Book 31: Triax Two

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.

  • 27 new Triax weapons plus new body armor and additional gear.
  • 10 new Triax giant robots including the Talon and Devastator Mk II.
  • 10 cars and commercial vehicles plus more than 50 special features.
  • 9 new robot drones including robot assistants, pets and Spy ‘Bots.
  • 6 new Triax power armor suits, including a flying Glitter Boy.
  • 5 new aircraft and other combat vehicles.
  • The New Luftwaffe – not what you are expecting.
  • Cybernetic airframes and Cyborg Combat Pilot O.C.C.
  • Drop ships, deployment pods and makeshift fortifications.
  • Mobile NGR forts, bases and plans for the future.
  • Zoom, Atomix Powder, Rat & other drinks that augment the user.
  • The New German Republic, its society, and key cities.
  • History of the NGR, the Gargoyle War and Gargoyle bounties.
  • History of Triax.
  • The VGN – German Black Market.
  • The latest on the Gargoyle War and Gargoyle Empire.
  • Update on the Gargoyle Empire and surrounding region.
  • More ideas for battles and adventure.
  • Cover by Scott Johnson.
  • Interior art by Michael Wilson, Allen Manning, Brian Manning, Mark Dudley, Kent Burles and Amy L. Ashbaugh.
  • Written by Taylor White, Brandon Aten and Kevin Siembieda.
  • 192 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 881. Available now.

    Rifts®/Phase World® Sourcebook:
    Heroes of the Megaverse® – Ships June

    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 Book of Heroes described.
  • The incredible magic powers the Book contains.
  • Notable heroes and the powers bestowed to player characters 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?
  • Cosmo-Knights revisited, with new details and information.
  • A couple new O.C.C.s who draw their powers from the Cosmic Forge.
  • A number of NPC heroes and some surprises.
  • 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. Some additional text by Braden Campbell.
  • 96 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 877. Ships June.

    The Rifter® #51
    – Ships July 9

    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.

  • Rifts® Triax 2™ Weapon Locker Brandon Aten is preparing new, official source material for the Triax™ 2 setting.
  • Rifts® Vehicle Construction Rules Part 2 – More construction rules for building and modifying vehicle by Greg Diaczyk.
  • Monsters, mutants and more to be selected.
  • The latest chapter of Hammer of the Forge™, fiction.
  • News, coming attractions and more.
  • Cover by Art Contest Winner Darren Quah.
  • $11.95 retail – 96 pages – Cat. No. 151. Ships July 9. In production.

    Armageddon Unlimited – for Heroes Unlimited
    – Ships July

    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™.

  • New super abilities and enchanted weapons.
  • The Demon Hunter power category.
  • Hellion monster creation table – NPC villain.
  • Crusader of Light power category and abilities.
  • Demon Weapons of Chaos.
  • Arcane orders and secret societies.
  • The Chaos Generator and the coming of Armageddon.
  • Notable people and places.
  • The Armageddon scenario and adventure ideas.
  • Written by Carl Gleba.
  • 160 pages – $20.95 retail – Cat. No. 527. Ships end of July.

    Coming:
    Rifts® Dimension Book 14: 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. Summer release.

    Coming:
    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. Summer release.

    Coming:
    Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook

    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.

  • Vampire protectors and guardians.
  • Vampire rogues, mercenaries and warlords.
  • Vampire operations away from the Kingdoms.
  • Vampire incursions along the southern borderlands.
  • New vampire hunters and human strongholds.
  • Vampire hunter “exterminators.”
  • Frightful revelations, secrets, and adventure ideas.
  • And much, much more.
  • Cover by Michael C. Hayes.
  • Written by Kevin Siembieda, Braden Campbell and Mark Dudley.
  • 128 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 884. Summer release.

    Coming:
    Rifts® World Book: Lemuria

    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 Lemurians, their race, history and society.
  • New O.C.C.s including the Serpent Hunter, Shriekers, Oceanic Guardsman, Aquatic Biomancer and others.
  • The Stone Guardians of Easter Island and other mysteries.
  • Biomancer Gardens and Aquatic Biomancy.
  • Bio-Armor, Bio-Weapons and Bio-Construct Symbiotes.
  • New psionic abilities.
  • Sea Serpents, monsters, adventure ideas, and more.
  • Written by Greg Diaczyk.
  • 160 pages – $20.95 retail – Cat. No. 885. Summer release. Final page count and price may be subject to expansion and increase.

    Coming:
    Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames

    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.

  • Soulmancer and Blood Magic.
  • The Seven Deadly Plagues.
  • The Demon Plagues across the globe.
  • Battleground: Earth – as demons and infernals amass their legions.
  • Rifts Calgary – also known as Hell’s Pit; the kingdom described.
  • Ciudad de Diablo, Harpies’ Island and other notable Hell holes on Earth.
  • Lord Doom, Pain and other demonic leaders.
  • Horune treachery, Dimension Stormers and other villains.
  • Global chaos and the places most dramatically affected by the Demon Plagues.
  • Notable demonic Generals, mercenaries, people and places.
  • Many adventure ideas.
  • Written by Carl Gleba.
  • 192 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 876. Summer release.

    Coming:
    Rifts® Chaos Earth Sourcebook: First Responders

    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.

  • Apocalypse Plagues: Strange diseases, symbiotes and mutations that transform, torment, harm and kill Earth’s survivors.
  • First Responder O.C.C.s, skills and special equipment.
  • Civilian O.C.C.s, skills and orientation.
  • Notable rescue vehicles, robot drones, and technology.
  • New weapons, vehicles, mecha and more.
  • Character modification and enhancement rules.
  • Creatures from the Rifts and adventure ideas galore.
  • Written by Jason Richards & Kevin Siembieda.
  • 96 to 128 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 665. Not yet scheduled.

    DriveThruRPG

    A way to try Palladium products
    PDF downloads from DriveThruRPG.com

    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.

    2010 Product Checklist

    - 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.

    Rifts® Logo – “Zipper” Hoodie
    – Available in sizes Medium to 3XL

    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.

    Rifts® Logo – “Pullover” Hoodie
    – 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.

    NEW! Vampire Kingdoms T-Shirt – Death is for the weak
    – 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.

    NEW! Game Master T-Shirt – Power Incarnate
    – 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.

    NEW! Rifts® 20 Year Anniversary T-Shirt – 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.

    NEW! 2010 Palladium Open House “Checklist” T-shirt
    – 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.

    NEW! Rifts® – 20 Year Anniversary Color Print
    – Available now

    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.

    The Queen of Ghouls offers Halloween fun year round

    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.
    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.