Palladium Books® Weekly Update – September 10, 2010
By Kevin Siembieda
My dear friends. Things are not going so well with my father and I can’t find the energy or spirit to write a peppy Weekly Update this week. I’m going to keep it short. I hope you don’t mind.
UPDATE: Henry Siembieda. My 79 year old father, Henry, has been fighting bladder cancer for a couple of years now. The doctors decided it was best to remove his bladder and prostate while the cancer was contained there. The initial surgery went as well as one could hope for, and my Dad was doing well. Then, there were some unexpected complications over the holiday weekend. Dad was sent back to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and we had quite the scare. He was doing better on Wednesday, and much better yesterday (Thursday, September 9). He was sitting up, talking, eating soft foods, got a little therapy and was moved out of the ICU. It was a welcomed relief. Then, this morning, I get the call that something new is wrong. He’s back in ICU, back on the respirator, and undergoing a battery of tests. We’re all worried. Fingers crossed. Trying to stay positive.
A personal aside: I hope you don’t mind the updates about my father. It’s my impression the vast majority of you like to know about the goings on at Palladium Books, including those involving my Dad. After all, we’ve become rather like a big extended family of gamers. However, I’ve heard a few people have made some negative comments about it elsewhere. Please let me know if you’d rather I don’t talk about such things, and I’ll stop doing so. I don’t want to offend anybody.
UPDATE: Heroes of the Megaverse®! Ships September 13. The book looks great and is scheduled to ship on Monday. I approved the printer’s proof copy Tuesday, and we are right on schedule. Pre-orders for the book have been strong. Get your orders in.
UPDATE: The Rifter® #52. Work continues on The Rifter® #52 with artwork coming in and Wayne and Alex busy with editing. We expect the issue will go to the printer in 2-3 weeks and be available the first week of October.
UPDATE: Armageddon Unlimited™ (for Heroes Unlimited™ and the Minion War™) is next on my plate. I’ve assigned out all or most of the art at this point with some of it already starting to come in. I thought I’d have dived into the editing and rewrite by now, but I’ve been a bit distracted and very busy with matters concerning my Dad.
UPDATE: Rifts® Thundercloud Galaxy™. John Zeleznik is posting the progress of the cover art in his blog. Mike Mumah is almost finished with the interior artwork. Nice. End of October or November release.
REMINDER: Heavy Metal® Magazine with the Rifts®/Colt the Outlander™ crossover is on store shelves. The magazine is out and the Rifts® crossover comic strip looks fantastic. It is in the stores and waiting for you to add to your collection. This comic is too cool to miss! On sale at bookstores everywhere, right now.
Scary, realistic, life-sized Halloween props, Kathy Simmons makes the best. And you might get a Kevin Siembieda original work of art in the process. As I mentioned before, I paint of most of the hands and masks used on Kathy’s “ghouls.” I also help with her zombies. Not that Kathy needs my help, her creations are masterpieces. If you want something truly unique and scary, check out her monstrous props. You will not be disappointed. Zombies, Dark Jester, Mad Doctor and his Nurse Assistant, witches, wizards, and more continue to roll out of Kathy Simmons’ garage. Kathy makes one of a kind, life-sized Halloween props for sale in her online store at queenofghouls.com. She’s got a new crawling zombie, a standing zombie, a walking zombie, jester and more available in her online store right now. If you are looking for scary and fun, life-size Halloween props for your Halloween party or yard display, take a look at queenofghouls.com. They are awesome.
UPDATE: Sales. Online sales remain sluggish, but they usually are in the month of September. I think the release of exciting new product will change that fast.
I’m happy to report there seems to be a great deal of anticipation for our many upcoming titles. Please note that we’re still focused on releasing a lot of new titles by the end of the year.
Coming from Palladium in the next few weeks:
We remain positive, motivated and driven to release a number of new products over the next four months – starting next week.
Rifts® Heroes of the Megaverse® – September 13, 2010
The Rifter® #52 – October 8, 2010
Armageddon Unlimited™ – October 22, 2010
Followed by . . .
Rifts® Dimension Book 14: Thundercloud Galaxy™
Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms™, Revised and Expanded
Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook™
Dead Reign™ Sourcebook Three
And with a little luck, Robotech® New Generation™ Sourcebook and/or Rifts® Lemuria.
Note: Not necessarily listed in the order of release. Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames and Chaos Earth™: First Responders, among others, will be early 2011 releases.
Keep those imaginations burning bright and game on.
– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher and Writer
Heroes of the Megaverse®
A sourcebook for Rifts®, Phase World®, the Three Galaxies™,
Heroes Unlimited™ RPG and the Palladium Fantasy RPG®
At the printer. Looks great. Ships Monday – September 13, 2010.
The Book of Heroes is an ancient magic tome that empowers those with the potential for greatness. (Your player character?) In times of fear and darkness the Book is said to appear to make sure the forces of evil don’t get the upper hand. The Minion War™ is such a dark time, as the forces of Hell ripple across the Megaverse bringing death and destruction. Are the legends true? Is there a magic book that inspires and empowers new heroes to rise up and make a difference when they are needed most?
Heroes of the Megaverse™ presents the Book of Heroes, its powers and influence. It also lists the names of 2,000 of the greatest champions the Megaverse has ever known and offers rules for turning them into legendary Heroes of the Megaverse. This magic artifact is said to be a hero maker, able to find beings with the spirit of a hero and bestow upon them incredible power to do battle against evil. Only one copy of the book 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 Two Thousand” can rule the universe. The book has been missing for millennia. No one knows its fate or the true power contained within its List of Heroes. No one except YOU – the current keepers of this legendary Rune book.
The legend and magic of the Book of Heroes.
The powers of the book itself.
The ability to empower and turn worthy heroes into superhumans.
101 detailed super abilities (not reprints from other books).
Hero Avatars, Hero Mentors, and their powers.
Quick roll creation tables and ways to turn the 2,000 named in the book into Heroes of the Megaverse® for your campaigns.
Why the book must never fall into the hands of any Lord of Hell.
Nearly a dozen NPC heroes and surprises.
For use with Rifts® and Phase World®/the Three Galaxies™, as well as Heroes Unlimited™, Palladium Fantasy RPG® and other S.D.C. settings. Includes stats and conversions for M.D. and S.D.C. settings.
Contains the names of nearly 2,000 real life gamers who purchased the special print during Palladium’s Crisis of Treachery (and other heroes).
Cover by Apollo Okamura.
Art by Mike Mumah, Mark Dudley, Nick Bradshaw and others.
Written by Kevin Siembieda.
96 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 877. Ships September 13.
The Rifter® #52
Horror Issue – Ships October 8, 2010
The Rifter® #52 is our annual horror issue. It is in the final stages of production right now and it is packed with magic, magic items, and scary stuff.
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.
Issue #52 Presents:
Rifts®: The Crusaders & The Black Crusade™ – Source material for Rifts® based on a pair of interrelated short stories that appear this issue. Source material includes 35 new Magic Tattoos, a dozen new pieces of equipment and weapons, new variant Sunaj O.C.C.s and more.
For the Palladium Fantasy RPG®: Cannibal Magic. Perfect material for our horror issue.
For the Palladium Fantasy RPG®: From Ruins to Runes (easily adaptable to Rifts® and other other settings). Several completely new types of super-rare Rune Weapons from the Elf-Dwarf War.
The latest chapter of Hammer of the Forge™, fiction.
News, coming attractions and much more.
$11.95 retail – 96 pages – Cat. No. 152. Ships October 8.
Armageddon Unlimited™
For Heroes Unlimited™ – Ships October 22, 2010
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™.
A dozen new super abilities.
Enchanted and Demonic Weapons.
Demon Hunter Power Category and abilities.
Demonic Immortal Power Category and abilities.
Crusader of Light Power Category and abilities.
Magically Bestowed Variant Power Categories and abilities.
Hellion monster creation table – NPC villains.
Arcane orders, secret societies, and magic guilds.
The Chaos Generator and the coming of Armageddon.
Notable villains, people and places.
The Armageddon scenario and adventure ideas.
Written by Carl Gleba.
160 pages – $20.95 retail – Cat. No. 527. Ships October 22 (tentative).
Coming:
Rifts® Dimension Book™ 14: Thundercloud Galaxy™
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. November.
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.
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.
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® 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.
Robotech® New Generation™ Sourcebook
We’re hoping to squeak this Robotech® sourcebook out in time for Christmas, otherwise it will be an early 2011 release.
The heroes and mecha of New Generation.
Freedom Fighters and salvaged mecha.
Mecha from all four eras of the Robotech saga, adventures, and more.
Written by Irvin Jackson and Kevin Siembieda.
A “manga” size sourcebook.
192-256 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 554. Final page count and price may be subject to change.
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® 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: Life-Sized Halloween Props
Scary. Life sized (most are 6 feet or taller). Unique. 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.” Can survive all types of weather. All come apart and fold down to slightly larger than a king-size pillow for easy storage. Come with easy instructions, a storage bag, and the lawn stake to stand them up in your front yard. Indoor stand sold separately.
Types of “Ghouls” include: Zombies (all kinds!), killer clowns, wizards, witches, devils, grave ghouls, scarecrows, executioners, mad doctors, deadly nurses, vampires, werewolves, and more. Kathy’s also now offering an array of hand-painted Halloween signs, signs with heads and bodies hanging from them, witches’ brewing pots, Halloween centerpieces 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®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Phase World®, Nightbane®, Megaverse®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Beyond the Supernatural™, Chaos Earth, Coalition States, Dead Reign, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Minion War, Mysteries of Magic, SAMAS, Thundercloud Galaxy, Three Galaxies, Vampire Kingdoms, 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.