I Murmured earlier this week that I’ve been feeling kinda down the last couple of weeks. Well, I’m done feeling blue and I’m writing up a storm. The year 2010 is almost over. It’s been a tumultuous one for many reasons, but the Palladium crew and I are busy working to make 2011 a year to remember. We have soooo many great books lined up for next year. Not just the books delayed from this year, but many others. I’m not going to talk about them yet, but be prepared to be wowed in the months to come.
From all accounts, Thanksgiving was nice for everyone. I did a lot of shopping over the weekend, so did the guys. I think I’m done, but I don’t think any of us are ready for Christmas. We can’t believe it’s only three weeks away! How did that happen? Where did the year go?
The Palladium Books Facebook Page continues to grow and be enjoyed by a great many fans. Check it out, spread the word and join the fun. I’ll be popping on over the weekend.
Online Sales have been up, down and weird the past few months. September, a traditional slow month was strong thanks to the release of Heroes of the Megaverse® (which is also the number one requested item in Christmas Surprise Packages, with Triax™ 2 and Dead Reign™ hot on its heels). October, traditionally a strong month, was down. November ended up being down by only a little, and December is starting out with a bang as Christmas rapidly approaches and people rush to take advantage of the spectacular deal that is the Christmas Surprise Package.
Christmas is only THREE weeks away – and really you only have 2 weeks to get orders shipped in time for the holidays. Yikes, I can’t believe Christmas is so close. Then again it has been a wild year for us and many of you.
Please note that we can only guarantee delivery before Christmas via UPS Ground when you order before December 15, 2010. Priority Mail by December 14. First Class or Parcel post by December 13. Media Mail? It is anyone’s guess and we do not recommend it at this point. Media Mail is the slowest and most unreliable method of shipping and cannot be traced. If you NEED a package before Christmas we do not recommend its use from this point forward. Keep those orders coming.
UPDATE: The Palladium hawk. Haven’t seen the hawks in a while, but we know they are around because the other birds disappear for long stretches of time despite a full bird feeder.
UPDATE: Armageddon Unlimited™. This is a great book. Editing continues. I’m thinking about posting a sneak preview or two . . . provided we can find the time.
UPDATE: Thundercloud Galaxy™. Mike Mumah keeps turning in one exciting and dynamic piece of artwork after another, and has done 95% of the art in the book. His last three: Space Race, Space Pirates and Plant the Flag were outstanding. Thundercloud is next with hopes of seeing it released by the end of January.
UPDATE: The Rifter® #53. Wayne is working on it right now. I’ll be assigning art this weekend.
My thanks. I want to, again, thank the multitude of people who have sent cards, Private Messages, emails and written in the comment section of the Surprise Packages, for your kind words of support and encouragement. Though I can only print a few of them in every Weekly Update of the Holiday Season, I want ALL of you to know you and your words are appreciated.
– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher
This is the best bargain anywhere: great games, books, and other Palladium products at low prices, plus autographs and surprises!
PLEASE make sure you provide a “wish list” of 8-12 currently available items (RPGs, sourcebooks, T-shirts, coffee mugs, prints, original artwork, and other stuff) or you may be disappointed.
PLEASE list only items you want. Do NOT list items you already have because it may cause confusion and you could be sent items you own instead of items you want.
A Palladium tradition! We’ve been doing the Christmas Surprise Package for 12 or 13 years now. It’s our way of saying thank you to our fans and making gamers around the world smile. Offer ends December 23, 2010. Spread the word. Let your gaming buddies know, and take advantage of this great deal. Word of mouth is the main source of advertising for this great holiday gift offer.
Click here for more information and to place an order.
Palladium always works hard to get out orders fast and in time for Christmas and will ship right up through December 22, 2010. However, despite rumors to the contrary, we are only human (well mostly), and we are reliant on the various delivery systems at our disposal. This means you NEED allow about one week – five business days (or more) – to get your gift orders, be they individual books or Surprise Packages, in time for Christmas!
Here are the key dates for the various modes of delivery:
UPS Ground – December 15, 2010. Guaranteed. We must have your order in our hands by December 15, 2010. This applies to UPS orders being sent ANYWHERE in the United States.
UPS Note: Those of you living east of the Mississippi River will get regular UPS Ground in “3 days” and can wait till December 17 and still get a UPS package in time for Christmas. West of the Mississippi River takes 4-5 days, and the West Coast takes 5 days. That’s “business” days; do not include weekends.
UPS 3-Day – December 17, 2010. Guaranteed. This applies to UPS orders being sent ANYWHERE in the United States.
UPS 2-Day – December 20, 2010. Guaranteed. Get us the order and, barring any confusion or problems, we’ll ship it out the next day and you’ll see it arrive on Christmas Eve. To be completely safe, order by December 16 to have the order ship Monday, December 20.
Express Mail – December 20. Guaranteed. This is next day delivery, but it may take us a day to pull, process, pack and ship the order.
Priority Mail – December 20. It takes 2-3 days to locations in the United States, but with the holidays could take a day longer. No guarantee.
First Class or Parcel Post – December 13. It takes 3-7 days to arrive at most locations in the United States. No guarantee.
Media Mail. From today forward, we cannot guarantee orders shipped via Media Mail will arrive by Christmas. Media Mail is the slowest and most unreliable method of shipping. We do NOT recommend it’s use. The US Postal Service says Media Mail takes 5-14 days to deliver, but our experience at holiday time has seen packages sent via Media Mail take 7-40 days. Order via Media Mail at YOUR OWN RISK. Media Mail orders that go missing will not be replaced by Palladium Books.
Overseas & Canada: International Priority Mail – December 8. It takes 7-14 days, so any orders placed by December 8 should arrive by Christmas, but we cannot guarantee it. Orders sent after December 8 may or may not arrive in time for Christmas.
C.H. in Tecumseh, Michigan, writes: I am a Rifts® junky. I got my start in the late 80's when a friend gave me two Heroes Unlimited™ books. My collection has only grown since.
S.J. in Loves Park, Illinois, writes: This [Surprise Package] is for my 12 year old niece. She has come to game night on several occasions with her dad, and really enjoys herself. I’d love for her to learn more about the game, core rules and role-playing in general. She will literally be a second generation gamer, as my brothers and I have been playing Palladium games now for 20+ years and enjoy them immensely! It’s time to pass it down to the next generation and this Christmas gift will certainly help with that.
T.C. in Ottawa, Canada, writes: I am looking forward to getting this package. I am a long time Palladium G.M., having been with the company since the beginning! ... Keep up the good work guys, and my condolences to you on the loss or your Dad. My fiancé just lost her Dad, and it is a difficult time to have to go through. Stay strong. Take care and my holiday best to you and your whole team.
M.L. in Chicago, Illinois, writes: Enjoyed your games for nearly 22 years.
W.R. in Ketchikan, Alaska, writes: Hello from the Great White North (Alaska). One day I hope to visit the Palladium offices and see how things are done first hand. Until then, I’ll keep playing Rifts . . .
G.M. in Junction City, Kansas, writes: As one of the 2000 Heroes of the Megaverse® and a collector/player since the TMNT® days, I’d just like to extend my personal sympathies for your loss along with my heartfelt appreciation for all the hard work you and the Palladium team have put in over the years.
J.K. in San Jose, California, writes: Thank you for all your work and efforts. I have enjoyed reading the books and playing Palladium games for many years and look forward to many more enjoyable years to come.
C.A. in Eagle River, Arkansas, writes: To all the staff of Palladium Books, past, present and future, thank you for the years of fun and entertainment your imaginations and enthusiasm have provided to countless gamers. Good fortune to you all, and have a great new year.
R.B. in Colorado Springs, Colorado, writes: In a world where chaos and despair constantly hammer at humanity’s sanity, it’s energizing to visit a world where Hell has repeatedly vomited forth and heroes – even the most unlikely of people – stand to face it. I’ve played from almost the first day of Rifts® being on the market and it quickly took the place as my favorite game universe. Thank you so much for your hard work, even in these most trying of years.
If you have a hankering to fight zombies, but also enjoy stories of human survival and triumph in a post-apocalyptic world, then you want to play Dead Reign™.
Dead Reign™ captures the fun and horror of the zombie apocalypse exactly the way you love it. The dead have risen, civilization has crumbled, and brave human survivors refuse to lie down and die! They battle the walking dead on all fronts, watch each other’s backs, struggle to forge safe havens away from the zombie infested cities, rescue other survivors, and fight without respite.
This sourcebook explores what happens when civilization is literally gone overnight, and the sole survivors are you and a few billion zombies!
When there is no place to hide and the dead are everywhere, where do you go? Who can you turn to? What happens next? What lurks in dark places?
It’s Autumn and time for a warm hoodie on cool a day. A white imprint of the Rifts® Logo on a black zipper hoodie. The famous, full Rifts® Logo appears front and back; a small logo over the left breast on the front and a large logo printed on the back.
Type: 50/50 cotton polyester blend; full zipper.
Sizes: Medium to 3XL.
Color: White logo on a black zipper hoodie.
Cost: $32.95 for Medium, Large and XL, $34.95 for 2XL, and $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 black pullover hoodie.
Type: 50/50 cotton polyester blend; pullover.
Sizes: Medium to 3XL.
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.
White art on a black T-shirt featuring a classic Kevin Long SAMAS, blue Rifts® logo, and a snappy saying, “Accept No Imitations.” This is a dynamic and powerful shirt.
Type: 50/50 cotton polyester blend.
Sizes: Medium to 5XL.
Color: White art, blue Rifts® logo on a black T-shirt.
Art by: Kevin Long.
Cost: $18.95 for 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. 2552. Available now.
White on black T-shirt featuring a gathering of Rifts characters, from a Glitter Boy and Juicer to a Rogue Scholar.
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.
White on black T-shirt featuring a snarling vampire and the slogan: Death is for the weak™.
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.
Only you can save the world!
Armageddon Unlimited™ is the ultimate good vs evil setting and adventure. The fate of the world hangs in the balance and only you can stop its destruction.
The bad guys? Super-villain maniacs being manipulated by supernatural evil straight from Hell.
If evil triumphs, the world is destroyed and your heroes and billions of innocent people die.
The world-saving scenario in this book can be repeated in any setting and game environment from Nightbane® or Ninjas & Superspies™ to Palladium Fantasy RPG®, Rifts® and Phase World®. Only the details of the location, the heroes and their powers change. The villains remain the Deevils (or alternately, the demons) as they continue their bloodthirsty war to destroy each other. The worlds of mortals are their battlefields and mortals little more than pawns, henchmen and collateral damage.
Stop the madness before it is too late! If you can.
But that’s not all. Armageddon Unlimited™ is an epic sourcebook with tons of new powers, magic, weapons and Power Categories that can be incorporated into any Heroes Unlimited campaign.
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 few years ago. Best of all, it will be accompanied by the 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.
The Rifter® #53 will contain more fan-generated optional source material, adventure and fun.
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.
We’re hoping to squeak this Robotech® sourcebook out in time for Christmas, otherwise it will be an early 2011 release.
At last, the underwater realm of Lemuria. The people and history of Lemuria, new magic, sea herbs and healing, sea monsters, and 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.
The Rifter® #52 is our annual horror issue. It is packed with dark, forgotten magic, Tattoo Magic, Rune Weapons and more!
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:
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?
The New German Republic splinters the Gargoyle Empire and battles to crush them once and for all.
The epic scale of the Minion War just got bigger and even the United Worlds of Warlock, the Splugorth and Naruni Enterprises are reeling from it. The story hooks are endless.
We will be adding issues 41-44 of The Rifter® to the list of available titles from DriveThruRPG.com and maybe a few other books over the next couple of months.
This is a great resource for getting out of print Palladium titles and other select books. We’ve 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.
Halloween may be over, but you can still purchase life-sized (most are 6 feet or taller) Halloween props from the Queen of Ghouls – Palladium’s very own Kathy Simmons.
Christmas ghouls . . . er . . . props will also be popping up in the next few weeks. Santa and Mrs. Claus and much more to put you into the holiday spirit.
These are all-weather, life-sized figures that can handle rain and snow. 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, witch’s 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.
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®, 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.