Palladium Books® Weekly Update – June 25, 2010

By Kevin Siembieda

Now that we are focused on getting new books finished, morale has been high. There is a lot of excitement among the Palladium staff as well as our writers and artists. Ideas are flying left and right and we have five books in various stages of production!

Man oh man, have things been popping at Palladium. I can’t go into details at this point, but exciting opportunities seem to be coming Palladium’s way. One may be with a local Michigan filmmaker. Another is with the Aradio Brothers. Our move to do Facebook games continues, and much, much more is percolating. All are fun. Challenging. Promising. And hopefully, very profitable.

As I’ve said recently, I think 2010 is going to be Palladium’s big comeback (or turnaround) year. And we have the feeling this is just the beginning. We’re looking at getting games developed in all kinds of new mediums and expanding into a variety of different markets along with our usual pen and paper games.

Why is this happening now? In large part because we’ve been working toward all of this for YEARS. You need to have a plan and stick to it. It’s just slow going sometimes, and you need to be understanding and patient. In fact, I have a great appreciation for why patience is truly a virtue.

Another reason is we never quit at Palladium Books. We never give up. Palladium has had more than its fair share of hardship and struggles these past several years, but we’ve tried to stay positive, keep pressing forward no matter how difficult and dark things became, and never skimped on the quality work that has made us famous. It was a challenge (and still is) at times, but that tenacity, hard work and YOUR continuing love and support have kept us going. Well, that faith and effort may finally be starting to pay off!

It’s all about building momentum. Sometimes it takes time to build momentum. When everything came crashing down around us, it took time to rebuild. That’s a tough job when you’ve suffered the losses Palladium did. It crushes your spirit and it not only stops you dead in your tracks, but drops you down a deep, dark hole. A hole you have to crawl out of before you can even start to rebuild. That takes time, smarts, hard work and patience. All of which is starting to pay off and momentum is building.

New books are coming, starting next month!

UPDATE: The Rifter® #51. Wayne and the artists are putting the finishing touches of The Rifter® together right now and through the weekend. Wayne should start layout on Monday. The book should ship mid-July. Of course, it’s another fun issue. If you don’t subscribe, what are you waiting for?

UPDATE: Rifts® Heroes of the Megaverse®. The artwork is done and I’m writing away, but legal matters and new opportunities have prevented me from writing as much as I’d like. I still expect to have it done and to the printer in a couple weeks. I also think it will surprise and please the multitude of you waiting for this book.

UPDATE: Armageddon Unlimited™ (for Heroes Unlimited™ and ties into the Minion War™) is next on my plate. The cover sketch by Mark Evans came in and looks great! I expect to be assigning the interior artwork in the next week or two.

UPDATE: Rifts® Thundercloud Galaxy™. John Zeleznik is anxiously waiting for the cover description (sorry for the delay John), and I need to get more art descriptions out for illustration. Not enough hours in a day or days in the week.

UPDATE: Rifts® Lemuria. Work on this title continues to move forward. Johnny Z wants to do the cover of this book too, but I don’t know if we want to delay its release to accommodate John’s schedule. We’ll see.

UPDATE: Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms™. We should get the finished cover from E.M. Gist the end of next week and it is amazing. Then I finish up my rewrite and additions and send the book to the printer.

UPDATE: Rifts® Vampire Sourcebook™. I’ve had more discussion about content with some of the other contributors and I’m dying to write my portions of this book and the new, updated and expanded Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms™. Yahoo, it’s one nonstop project after another.

As I said last week, the above is just some of the many projects currently underway. As Erick Wujcik would say, it’s all good.

My Dad was in good spirits when I saw him this Wednesday. He was particularly frisky and silly, teasing the waitress at breakfast and joking around. Gosh I love that guy. We find out about his latest bladder biopsy this Monday. Fingers crossed that the cancer is still gone. He had “crystals” or stones and some “suspicious tissue,” all of which were removed. Praying none of it is cancer. The crystals may be from not drinking sufficient amounts of water. I’ll let you know what the doctor says in the next Weekly Update.

Intern Matthew Clements has been a help around the office. He’s done some cleaning, helped in the warehouse, offered his thoughts on a couple of submissions, done some research and is working on developing an idea for a possible Rifts® World Book. And he has ideas for much more. Matthew, you see, is a budding writer. Screenwriter to be exact, and he’s pretty darn good. He won my attention.

Kathy Simmons’ Halloween Props. June through August is the Halloween busy season (really!) and Kathy (aka the Queen of Ghouls) is busy creating more of her one-of-a-kind, life-size Halloween props. I’m sure more will go up on her online store (queenofghouls.com) over the weekend. She’s also prepping for an upcoming outdoors presentation. I hope she sells a bunch of her creations at that event. Check out her crazed butcher, crawling zombie, other zombies, butler, wizards, witches, and Guardian of Hell. Killer Clowns, more zombies, scarecrows, monsters and madmen are coming. I helped her tatter up a couple of zombies (one was a special order) just last weekend. Fun.

Palladium Auction #2. Be one of the people who walk away with some amazing deals in the current auction. Due to the economy, many items are selling for half their true value, so there are plenty of deals to be had. Btw, that’s true of most art and collectible markets. If you have money this is the time to buy. Likewise, if you find an item you’ve been trying to find at a low price, snap it up before prices rebound. Palladium Auction #2 ends Sunday, June 27, 2010, at 6:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time. Proceeds help cover legal and other expenses.

This auction is focused on: Robotech® items, out of print issues of The Rifter®, and other goodies. Includes Heroes Unlimited Gold #40 (a very low number!). All auction items are described elsewhere in this Weekly Update.

Last, but not least, it’s CHRISTMAS IN JULY! For only 3 weeks in July, Palladium is offering a special Christmas Surprise Package deal. Get autographs and piles of books, prints, T-shirts and other good stuff at a great low price. Think gifts for birthdays, anniversaries and, well, Christmas. Fill holes in your collection, or get that item you’ve been thinking about but been waiting. If that doesn’t put a smile on your faces this weekend, I don’t know what will.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher and Writer

They said what!?

It’s public information within the documents of the Rifts® Trademark lawsuit. Trion Worlds says the Rifts® RPG is:

“... an outdated pen and paper game that might have been popular in the early 1990s ...”
And,
“As time has gone on, Palladium Books’ games have become less relevant...

Well, I think we need to demonstrate just how relevant Rifts®, Palladium and its fan base really are, don’t you?

Be part of the good fight to show that Palladium IS relevant and continues to produce great products that its fans want.

You can start by ordering a Christmas in July Grab Bag. They are similar to the “typical” annual Christmas Grab Bags, only a little smaller, but at an even more affordable price. Place those orders NOW. Details below.

Also see Palladium’s online auctions. And keep an eye peeled for new product releases in the pipeline.

Christmas in July Grab Bags
– 3 Weeks only!

  • $28.00 (plus shipping) gets you $55-$65+ worth of Palladium product.

  • Autographs by Kevin Siembieda, the Palladium Staff and other creators.

  • More bang for your buck so you can game all Summer.

  • THREE (3) WEEKS ONLY. Offer ends July 25, 2010.

    Yep, it’s Christmas in July, but you’d better act quick because the offer is super-limited: THREE WEEKS. From July 1 to July 25, 2010. There will be no extension of this offer. It ends in three weeks on July 25th. Note: Sorry, we will not hold orders for Heroes of the Megaverse®, which should ship at the end of July.

    What is a Palladium Christmas Surprise Package?

    $55-$65 (sometimes more!) worth of Palladium Books product for only $28 plus shipping! If you want them signed, Kevin and staff will sign each book.

    When can you order?

    Right now!

    What can you get?

    Any combination of the items below (just suggestions) and more.

  • The 20 year commemorative Rifts® poster by Michael Mumah (nice!)

  • Any of the Rifts® and other art prints (Dog Boys™ Playing Poker, Fantasy Witch print, Zeleznik Rifts® covers, etc.).

  • The last Christmas Grab Bag print set (each of the five prints signed by the artist – Kevin Siembieda, Nick Bradshaw, Mark Dudley, Mike Mumah; $40 value); only about 100 copies left.

  • Rifts® & the Megaverse® art book and/or Rifts® Machinations of Doom sourcebook (includes a 60+ page Ramon Perez comic stip).

  • Rifts® 20 Years and Counting T-shirt.

  • Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms™ T-Shirt (“Death is for the weak”).

  • Other T-shirts. (Sorry, Hoodies cost too much to include in the Grab Bag offer. We hope you understand.)

  • The Rifter® #50 – a truly great, extra large issue full of “official” source material and Rifts® anniversary issue.

  • The Rifter® #51 – hot off the presses (may delay shipping).

  • Rifts® Sourcebook One.

  • Rifts® Conversion Book One.

  • Rifts® Book of Magic (slightly damaged).

  • Rifts® Game Master Guide (temporarily out of print!) – but a few slightly damaged copies are available.

  • Rifts® Adventure Guide and any other sourcebook that’s in print, from any and all of Palladium’s game lines.

  • Get RPGs like Rifts®, Splicers®, Heroes Unlimited™, Dead Reign™, Nightbane®, and others you’ve been meaning to try.

  • Any Sourcebooks that look intriguing to you, including titles like Rifts® Fleets of the Three Galaxies™, Dimensional Outbreak™ (epic), Triax 2 (epic), other Minion War™ titles, Mysteries of Magic One, Western Empire, the After the Bomb® sourcebooks and whatever else might be in stock. Or the Rifts® Chi-Town ‘Burbs anthology book or Rifts® novels, etc.

  • Back issues of The Rifter®, no promise you’ll get them, but you can even ask for issues dating as far back as Number One. Please note that “out of print” issues of The Rifter® are NOT available (they include issues #4, #8, #21, #22-26, #28, #29, #30, #32-35 and others).

    It’s a surprise package because you never know exactly what you’re going to get or who will sign your books.

    YOU send us a want list of 8-10 items (things you know are in stock) and we try to include many of the items on your “wish list,” but we’ll also surprise you with an item(s) you are not expecting. Things like a special print(s), or issues of The Rifter®, or a Palladium RPG or sourcebook(s) or other items that we think you might enjoy. Plus you can ask for unusual items like a signed photograph of Kevin Siembieda and the staff (includes Henry Siembieda, Wayne Smith, Julius Rosenstein and Alex Marciniszyn), or T-shirts and art prints.

    Autographs. For many of you, this is the only way to get autographs!

    Build your collection. This is a great chance to try games and sourcebooks that have caught your eye, but you haven’t decided to try yet. It’s also a great way to start a collection or fill holes in your collection. (Also see the Palladium auctions taking place this summer and fall.)

    Great gifts. Think ahead and start getting some of those Christmas gifts now. These items also make great gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, house warmings, summer parties and other celebrations.

    Treat yourself. Times are tough. Money’s tight. This Christmas in July lets you get some of the games and non-game items you’ve been wanting (prints, T-shirts, coffee mugs, etc.) at a low price and autographed too.

    Please, spread the word. The Christmas in July Surprise Package is only being publicized by word of mouth on Palladium's Web Site and only lasts till July 25 (three weeks), so tell your friends. Let’s make July 2010 the season to have fun, game on and help each other out.

    Click here to order your Christmas in July Grab Bag.

    Palladium Auction #2: June 20-June 27, 2010

    More rip-snorting deals, collector items and fun.

    Thirty-one new items are in Palladium’s latest auction. The focus of this auction is on old Robotech® books and collectibles, The Rifter® and original artwork (Perez, Long, Siembieda & Wilson). But it ALL ends Sunday, June 27, 2010, so get your bids in NOW.

    All items are sold in “as is” condition, which typically range from good to mint condition. All but one or two items are signed by me, Kevin Siembieda, the Palladium staff and in a few cases, various other creators and freelancers.

    Here’s the rundown:

    1. Heroes Unlimited™ “Gold” Hardcover #40 – Autographs. This is the limited edition hardcover collector’s item – only 500 copies were printed. Signed & numbered by creator Kevin Siembieda and artist Ramon Perez, as well as the Palladium Staff. Note: Numbers under 100 were made available only to Palladium staff, creators, friends, investors and for special promotion. To get a number below 100 is super-rare.

    2. Heroes Unlimited™ Second Printing (1985) – “First Edition Rules” – Autographs. Heroes Unlimited™ was first published by Palladium Books in 1984. This is the 2nd printing of the first edition rule book; soft-cover. Signed by creator Kevin Siembieda and the Palladium staff.

    3. Century Station™ “Proofreader copy” 1990. Straight out of the Palladium archives is the “proofreader photocopy” of Century Station – a sourcebook for Heroes Unlimited™. A one-of-a-kind item! Signed by Kevin Siembieda and staff.

    4. Robotech® RPG – 9th Printing (1992) – First Edition Rules (1986) – Autographs. This is a copy of the iconic Robotech® first edition rules first released in 1986. Palladium produced Robotech® RPGs and sourcebooks for the next 15 years, and renewed its license a few years ago to produce new Robotech® RPG books. Art by Kevin Long. Signed by author Kevin Siembieda and the Palladium staff.

    5. Robotech® RDF Manual – 2nd Printing (1988) – First Edition Rules – Autographs. This is a copy of the iconic Robotech® RDF (Robotech Defense Force) Sourcebook; first edition rules, 2nd printing, 1988. Includes floor plans for the Prometheus and Daedelus, and lots of other good stuff. Art by Kevin Long; wraparound cover. Signed by author Kevin Siembieda and the Palladium staff.

    6. Robotech® Zentraedi Sourcebook – 1st Printing (1987) – First Edition Rules – Autographs. This is a copy of the iconic Robotech® Zentraedi Sourcebook; first edition rules and first printing 1987. It includes more data about the Zentraedi with a focus on their spaceships, complete with ship deck plans. Signed by author Kevin Siembieda and the Palladium staff.

    7. Robotech® RDF Accelerated Training Progam Sourcebook – 1st Printing (1988) – First Edition Rules – Autographs. A first printing, it includes new gear, adventures and boot camp to improve the abilities of the player characters. Signed by author Kevin Siembieda and the Palladium staff.

    8. Robotech® Ghost Ship Sourcebook – 2nd Printing (1988) – First Edition Rules – Autographs. This copy of Robotech® Ghost Ship adventure/sourcebook is in near mint condition. It includes Zentraedi ship deck plans and adventure around a “derelict” spacecraft. Plus gear, random tables and more. Signed by author Kevin Siembieda and the Palladium staff.

    9. Robotech II® The Sentinels RPG – “Proofreader copy” from 1989 – First Edition Rules – Autographs. A gem from the Palladium archives is the one and only “proofreader photocopy” of the original Robotech II® The Sentinels Role-Playing Game. It has sat in Palladium’s files for 21 years! Now it can be yours. A one-of-a-kind item! Signed by Kevin Siembieda and staff. Sold in “as is” condition. The paper of the xerox copy shows some signs of age and there are some corrections in red.

    10. Robotech II® The Sentinels RPG – First Printing (1989) – First Edition Rules – Autographs. This is a copy of the rare Robotech® Sentinels RPG, and a first printing to boot. It includes more first edition rules stats, art and diagrams for the REF (Robotech Expeditionary Force) for all the next generation REF mecha and spaceships, as well as weapons, vehicles, aliens and other data. Fun and easy to adapt to Second Edition Robotech books. Signed by author Kevin Siembieda and the Palladium staff.

    11. Macross II®: Deck Plans Volume One – “Proofreader copy” from 1994 – First Edition Rules – Autographs. Another gem from the Palladium archives is the one and only “proofreader photocopy” of Macross II® Deck Plans Volume One. It has sat in Palladium’s files for 16 years! Now it can be yours. A one-of-a-kind item! Signed by Kevin Siembieda and staff. Sold in “as is” condition. The paper of the xerox copy shows some signs of age and there are some corrections in red.

    12. Macross II®: Deck Plans Volume One (book; 1stm printing 1994) – First Edition Rules – Autographs. The actual book – first printing – Macross II® Deck Plans Volume One. Packed with floor plans for Macross spaceships. Rare. Signed by Kevin Siembieda and staff.

    13. Robotech® Sourcebook: New World Order (1995) – First Edition Rules – Autographs. This is the “proofreader photocopy” of the rare adventure/sourcebook Robotech® Sourcebook: New World Order. It includes data on Zentraedi rebels, adventures and adventure ideas, and other good stuff. It has sat in Palladium’s files for 15 years! Now it can be yours. A one-of-a-kind item! Signed by Kevin Siembieda and staff. All items sold in “as is” condition. The paper of the xerox copy shows some signs of age and there are some corrections in red.

    14. Robotech® VHS Box Color Art Proof (1990) – Kevin Fales – Matted – Signed by Siembieda. T-Rex and Cyclones, how can you go wrong? This is a color proof file copy of the artwork done for the Robotech New Generation VHS videotape, Volume Three, by artist, Kevin Fales. Matted and bagged. Size: 4 1/2 x 7 3/4 inch image, 9 x 12 inches in matte. Nice. Signed by publisher and Robotech RPG creator, Kevin Siembieda. It is the larger of two color proof prints. Sold in “as is” condition.

    15. Robotech II® The Sentinels – Original Animation Cel (1989) Purchased from Harmony Gold – Framed. This is one of the actual animation cels used in the animated feature, Robotech® II: The Sentinels; rare. It features a pair of Bioroid Pilots on hover sleds. Nice. Framed. Size: 9 x 7 inch image, 12 x 10 inch in frame. Rare. Sold in “as is” condition, which we grade as mint.

    16. Mike Wilson – Robotech® “Invid Scout” Original Art (2008). This original artwork by Mike Wilson is from the new Robotech® RPG (2008). It depicts an Invid Scout. It is a pen and ink illustration with many small dabs of white out (not visible from a distance). Size: 8 1/2 x 11 inches and suitable for framing. One-of-a-kind original artwork.

    17. Mike Wilson – Robotech® “Invid Overlord” Original Art (2008). This original artwork by Mike Wilson is from the new Robotech® RPG (2008). It depicts an Invid Overlord. It is a pen and ink illustration of excellent quality. Size: 6 x 10 inch image on an 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet of Bristol board and suitable for framing. One-of-a-kind original artwork.

    18. The Rifter® 1-15 “Out of Print” Set – All books are autographed. Issues #1 thru #15 are no longer available, but we have them here, including issue #9 1/2 – but missing out of print issues #4 and #8 (rare); 14 issues total. Each book is signed by Kevin Siembieda and staff. Note: MISSING issues #4 and #8. Sold in “as is” condition, which we’d classify as excellent to mint.

    19. The Rifter® #16-Present Set – All books are autographed. 20 issues total ranging from #16 to present. Each book is signed by Kevin Siembieda and the Palladium staff. Each issue signed by Kevin Siembieda and the Palladium staff. Note: MISSING many out of print issues including #21, 26, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 35, and others; 20 issues total. Sold in “as is” condition, which we’d classify as excellent to mint.

    20. The Rifter® #28 “Out of Print” – Signed. A coveted out of print issue of The Rifter®. Articles include Rifts® Shadow Realms, Rifts® China: Geo-Front expanded, Dinosaur Swamp, Rune Arrows, the Soul Tree for BTS, HU2 material, fiction, news and more. Signed by Kevin Siembieda and staff.

    21. The Rifter® #31 – Signed. Articles include new aliens and monsters for Heroes Unlimited, Phase World® Sunhammer Consolidated Freightways, Triax & NGR adventure and weapons, Fantasy Adventure: Quest for Castlerake Part, One, fiction, news and more. Signed by Kevin Siembieda and staff.

    22. The Rifter® #32 “Out of Print” – Signed. A coveted out of print issue of The Rifter®. Articles include new gear and adventures for Splicers®, Preparing Mega-Damage Food, Fantasy Adventure: Quest for Castlerake Part Two, fiction, news and more. Signed by Kevin Siembieda and staff.

    23. The Rifter® #33 – Signed. A coveted out of print issue of The Rifter®. Articles include Legacy of Blood/Blood Magic for Palladium Fantasy®, Rifts® D-Bees, Rifts® aircraft combat rules (optional), SCRET’s origin, operations and adventures for HU2, fiction, news and more. Signed by Kevin Siembieda and staff.

    24. The Rifter® #37 – Signed. Articles include Rifts® Fort Larado, the Devil’s Gate and Abernathy Pass (a New West boomtown), a story set in the New West, Splicers® official source material, HU2 Mega-Hero expanded, fiction, news and more. Signed by Kevin Siembieda and staff.

    25. The Rifter® #50 – Three Items – ALL signed – The Rifter® 50 proofreader copy, The Rifter® 50 printer’s digital proof, The Rifter® 50 book. A unique set of items, all signed, that presents two different proof copies and the actual printed book; all signed. The book has 18 autographs and a little sketch by Nick Bradshaw.

    26. Kevin Siembieda – Fantasy “Detroit Gaming Center” Poster (1980) – Rare – Fewer than 50 posters were ever made (1980) – Signed. This is one of Kevin Siembieda’s first professional illustrations. It is a poster created for Erick Wujcik to advertise the Detroit Gaming Center’s FIRST Octoberfest, an annual mini-convention event. The monsters depicted are the villains from Kevin Siembieda’s famous Lord De Silca tournament that he’s run off and on for 30 years! Only a few dozen posters were made and MOST were hung up in stores and on college campuses to advertise the event. When it was over, the posters were torn down and thrown away! Kevin didn’t even know any existed until he discovered SIX in mint condition packed away. That’s about as rare as you can get. This is one of them.
    A piece of Erick Wujcik/Kevin Siembieda, Detroit and gaming history. Framed. Black, white and red printing on a heavy paper stock. Size: 12 x 15 framed. One of six-of-a-kind printed posters from 1980. Sold in “as is” condition, which is near mint or mint!

    27. Kevin Siembieda – Lord De Silca Print with Pencil Sketch – Rare – Fewer than 100 prints were ever made (1980) – Signed. The DGC allowed Kevin Siembieda to make a limited run of 100 prints from the art used in the Detroit Gaming Center (DGC) poster advertising the FIRST DGC Octoberfest, an annual mini-convention event. The monsters depicted are Lord DeSilca and his evil henchmen from Kevin Siembieda’s well known Lord De Silca tournament, which he’s run off and on for 30 years! Only 100 prints were made (not numbered), and Kevin has only one or two dozen copies of this print left.
    This one is made more special by the original sketch added to the gang monster horde, penciled by Kevin Siembieda special for this auction. This is the first time he’s ever done something like this.
    Black and white print on a heavy paper stock. Size: 9 1/2 x 12 1/2 poster, suitable for framing. One-of-a-kind sketch on a limited edition print from 1980. Signed by Kevin Siembieda. Mint condition.

    28. Kevin Siembieda – Fantasy “Winged Woman” Original Art (1980) – Published by Judges Guild for D&D adventures. This original artwork by Palladium founder Kevin Siembieda was an illustration done during Kevin’s freelance days and published by the legendary Judges Guild company for Dungeons and Dragons sourcebooks and adventures. It is an elegant illustration depicting a winged woman taking flight. It is a black and white ink illustration inked with a brush. Size: 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of Bristol board and suitable for framing. There is not much Kevin Siembieda original artwork on the market and even rarer is the are he created for Judges Guild and D&D. Signed. One-of-a-kind original artwork.

    29. Ramon Perez – Rifts® “Coalition Navy” Original Art (2008). This is original artwork by fan favorite artist Ramon Perez from the Rifts® Coalition Navy Sourcebook. It depicts a Coalition Navy Seal on an underwater sled. Gorgeous. It is a pen and ink illustration of excellent quality. Size: 13 3/4 x 10 inches on Bristol board and suitable for framing. There is not much Ramon Perez artwork on the market these days. One-of-a-kind original artwork.

    30. Mike Wilson – Rifts® “Tolkeen Street Scene” Original Art (2008). This original artwork by Mike Wilson is from the Rifts® Coalition War® series/Siege on Tolkeen™. It depicts an adventurer looking at a Techno-Wizard Iron Juggernaut. It is a pen and ink illustration of excellent quality. Size: 4 1/2 x 10 inch image on an 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet of Bristol board and suitable for framing. One-of-a-kind original artwork.

    31. Kevin Long – Weapons & Armor Original Art (2000). This original artwork by fan fave Kevin Long is from the Compendium of Weapons, Armor & Castles. Image area is 5 1/2 x 10 1/4 inches on a sheet of Duo-Shade board; suitable for framing. Kevin Long artwork is rare, and this is a beauty. One-of-a-kind original artwork.

    32. Kevin Long – Weapons & Armor Original Art (2000). This original artwork of an Egyptian warrior by fan fave Kevin Long is from the Compendium of Weapons, Armor & Castles. Image area is 6 x 9 1/2 inches on a sheet of Duo-Shade board; suitable for framing. Kevin Long artwork is rare, and this is a beauty. One-of-a-kind original artwork.

    This auction ENDS June 27.

    Our next auction should start July 4, 2010, and will be packed with rare stuff, art and bargain books. Enjoy these old titles while you wait for the many new books and products coming in 2010. Lots of them. Game on!

    Available now

    - The Rifter® #49 – Now available.
    - The Rifter® #50 (special anniversary issue) – Now available.
    - Rifts® Dimension Book™ 12: Dimensional Outbreak™ – Now available.
    - Rifts® Logo Hoodies (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. Suitable for framing.
    - 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.

    Coming

    - The Rifter® #51 – July – 96 pages of ideas and fun.
    - Rifts®/Phase World®: Heroes of the Megaverse® – July (tentative).
    - Armageddon Unlimited™
    - Rifts® World Book One: Vampire Kingdoms™, Expanded/Updated
    - Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook™
    - Rifts® World Book: Lemuria
    - Rifts® Dimension Book™: Thundercloud Galaxy™
    - Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames
    - Robotech® New Generation™ Sourcebook
    - Rifts® Chaos Earth™ – First Responders Sourcebook
    - Plus more Robotech® sourcebooks, more Mysteries of Magic™ sourcebooks, more Nightbane® sourcebooks, more Dead Reign™ sourcebooks, Warpath™ and other good stuff. Note: Order of release, as listed, may be altered.

    The Rifter® #51
    – Ships July 12

    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 has prepared new, official source material for the Triax™ 2 setting.
  • Rifts® Vehicle Construction Rules Part 2 – More construction rules for building and modifying vehicles by Greg Diaczyk.
  • The Metamorph and Swarm Lord – Two awesome new O.C.C.s for Splicers® by Chuck Walton and Chris Kluge.
  • The latest chapter of Hammer of the Forge™, fiction.
  • News, coming attractions and much more.
  • Cover by Art Contest Winner Darren Quah.
  • $11.95 retail – 96 pages – Cat. No. 151. Ships July 12. In production.

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

    July release is the plan.

    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 July (tentative).

    Coming:
    Armageddon Unlimited – for Heroes Unlimited™

    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.

    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 will be accompanied by the Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook that will also come out this summer.

  • 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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    Coming:
    Rifts® World Book: Lemuria

    At last, the underwater realm of Lemuria. The people and history of Lemuria, new magic, sea herbs and healing, sea monsters, and 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. Final page count and price may be subject to expansion and increase.

    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.

    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™ RPG, 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® RPG and sourcebooks.
    - The Rifter®The Rifter® issues 1-40.
    - The Best of The Rifter®
    - Deluxe Revised RECON® RPG and Advanced RECON® Sourcebook.
    - And more – go to DriveThruRPG.com and check ‘em out.

    The Queen of Ghouls
    Halloween fun year round

    Kathy has sold SIX of her creations in just the last week, and if the sales follow last year’s pattern, she’ll be selling like hot cakes in the months of July and August. If you see something you want, you’d better buy sooner than later. Remember, these are one-of-a-kind work of art.

    Palladium’s very own Kathy Simmons makes and sells all-weather, life-sized Halloween props. Each is a one-of-a-kind work of art. Each looks frighteningly “real.” All come apart for easy storage. All come with the lawn stake to stand them up in your front yard. Indoor stand sold separately.

    Types of “Ghouls” include: a wild-eye butcher, a ghoulish butler, killer clowns, wizards, witches, devils, grave ghouls, scarecrows, crawling zombies, staggering zombies, all kinds of zombies, executioners, mad doctors, vampires, werewolves, monsters, grave ghouls, and more. 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 or mass produced items in a store, making them 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 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.