Palladium Books® Weekly Update – March 10, 2011

By Kevin Siembieda

We’ve been riding the whirlwind all week.

Wayne keeps muttering, “Too much going on,” and he’s right. I think Wayne and I have been at the office till 10:00 PM every day working like mad on multiple projects and dealing with the demands of the business. That means I’ve been coordinating and directing efforts on several fronts. Everything from day to day stuff, to filing copyright forms, preparing contracts, sending out art assignments for The Rifter® #54, lining up artists for upcoming and future books, talking to freelancers, talking to my attorney, prepping for the Creators Conference, working on Thundercloud Galaxy™, getting the next batch of out of print books lined up for reprinting, as well as putting into motion a number of still secret projects and dealing with things behind the scenes. It is all very exciting, but holy moley!

UPDATE: Palladium Web Site. The new Palladium web site has been a big part of what we’ve been working on this week. There are a lot of decisions to be made, from program choices and costs, to design features and a thousand little details (ease of use, legibility of text, font styles, titles for buttons and pull downs, choice of artwork, and a zillion other things). And that’s just our end of things, our web designer Rex Barkdoll is doing most of the heavy lifting. Emails and telephone discussions between me, Wayne Smith, Thom Bartold, and Rex have been flying fast and furious (with additional input from Alex, Julius, Kathy, Matthew and a few fans). There are also all kinds of content changes and updates to be made.

So what do I think of the new Palladium web site design? Personally, I love it, and think most of you will too. It is a vast improvement over the current site: cleaner, easier to use, slick and fun. Everyone working on it is putting their heart and soul into the project. Of course, our funds and time are limited, so we can only do so much, but we’re definitely working hard to make it as cool as we can.

When will it launch? We’re hoping by the end of March, but it might be April. Trust me, you’ll know it when you see it. ;)

UPDATE: Creators Conference. I have been locked in numerous meetings and discussions about the Creators Conference. It should be exciting, but it’s not just fun and games. There has been a lot of planning and thought about various topics to be discussed and workshops to be considered. I’ve also been talking with some key people about a number of the projects and plans I intend to reveal at the Conference. I’ve been in frequent discussion with Mark Dudley as he’ll be heading up a new division within Palladium Books. Freelancer Note: Reserve your hotel room. You have till March 16, 2011 before the Palladium rate is invalid and the price for a room goes up $20 a night.

UPDATE: Secrets. Movies, television, videogame development, comic books, and a range of other projects based on Palladium’s intellectual properties (IPs) are being explored. There have been rumblings on several fronts, but when you are dealing with third parties and potential licensees (especially those in big business like Hollywood), you are pretty much a leaf at the mercy of the wind. That’s one reason we have not been revealing any details on these fronts, as we don’t want to get your hopes up. We’ll see a flurry of interest or activity about a Palladium IP, then nothing, or the interest wanes, or you are on hold for weeks or months, and even years. Case in point, it has been 9 years since we signed the Rifts movie option. Will there ever be a Rifts movie? Maybe, maybe not. Will it be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Films? Maybe, maybe not, but I do remain hopeful. It’s maddening sometimes even when you understand and appreciate the reason for the delay or hesitation to move forward. Of course, it’s not a simple decision like, “lets make a movie.” I wish. Meanwhile, we’ve been trying to make moves in some of these areas ourselves.

UPDATE: Colt the Outlander™/Rifts® Crossover Part Two. After an unexpected delay, the Colt/Rifts® comic crossover in Heavy Metal® Magazine is finished and approved. It’s a pulse pounding finish with great art and strong story. We’ll let you know what issue it will appear in as soon as we know, but it should be soon. The Rifts® story will also appear in an upcoming Colt the Outlander™ Collection from Heavy Metal.

Back in Stock: Rifts® Baseball Cap. Spring and baseball season fast approach, so I figured Palladium better stock up on the popular Rifts® Baseball Cap. A khaki color hat with black trim and a black Rifts® logo. Should be back in stock and ready to ship by March 24, 2011.

UPDATE: The Rifter® #54. As reported in the last Weekly Update, this is the landmark final chapter of the long running, Hammer of the Forge™ by James M.G. Cannon. Thus, it only seemed fitting that we dedicate the cover to the series. Mike Leonard is working on the cover even as you read this. Other articles include the weapons and gizmos of the Fortress City of New Chillicothe in Rifts®, creatures from across the Megaverse®, superheroes, Nightbane® fiction and more.

Question: Should we collect the Hammer of the Forge™ and present it as a novelization with a game section that presents the stats for key characters, aliens, weapons, and other elements from the Forge series? It’s an idea Wayne Smith and some fans have suggested and I’m thinking about. Is this a product you would buy?

UPDATE: Rifts® Dimension Book 14: Thundercloud Galaxy™. I’ve done a minimal amount of work on the book this week, but I vow it will go to press before the end of March and it will be another great book. I expect to dive back into it full force this weekend.

UPDATE: Rifts® Lemuria. John Zeleznik is fast at work on the cover and I need to assign interior artwork. Nick Bradshaw and a few others keep asking to work on this book, so I need to get cracking.

UPDATE: Robotech® New Generation™ Sourcebook. Apollo Okamura should be working on the cover, and I need to get author, Irvin Jackson working on the next Robotech® sourcebook.

UPDATE: Kathy Simmons is feeling better and hopes to be working on her ghouls for queenofghouls.com this weekend.

UPDATE: Alex Marciniszyn. Alex and family are hanging tough.

UPDATE: Online Sales. This week’s sales have been poor. Between winter doldrums and the delay of Thundercloud Galaxy™, sales have dropped off significantly. In fact, we went from an incredible week of sales with people subscribing to The Rifter® to a dismal week. It’s to be expected.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher

2011 Releases

Available Now & Back in Print

- Armageddon Unlimited™ – New – Available now!
- The Rifter® #53 – New – Available now!
- Rifts® World Book 20: Canada Back in print – Available now
- Rifts® Dark Conversions Back in print – Available now
- Palladium Fantasy RPG® Back in print – Available now
- Rifts® Game Master Guide Back in print – Available now
- Rifts® World Book 5: Triax & The NGR Back in print – Available now
- Rifts® Bionics Sourcebook Back in print – Available now
- Rifts® China One Back in print – Available now
- Rifts® Megaverse® Builder Back in print – Available now

March 2011 Releases

Note: All items listed below should be available by March 24.
BACK IN STOCK – Rifts® Baseball Cap (Khaki cap with black Rifts® logo and trim).
BACK IN PRINT – Rifts® Dimension Book™ 6: Three Galaxies™
BACK IN PRINT – Rifts® Black Vault™
BACK IN PRINT – Rifts® Mercenaries™
BACK IN PRINT – Aliens Unlimited™ – A Heroes Unlimited™ sourcebook

April 2011 Releases

- Rifts® Dimension Book™ 14: Thundercloud Galaxy™ – New – April 12
- The Rifter® #54 – New – April 12.
– Additional titles back in print.

May 2011 Releases

- Robotech® New Generation™ Sourcebook (tentative)
- Rifts® WB One: Vampire Kingdoms™, Expanded & Updated
- Rifts® Book of Magic (back in print)

June 2011 Releases

- Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook™ – New
- Rifts® World Book™: Lemuria – New

July 2011 Releases

- The Rifter® #55 – New
- Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames (Minion War™ crossover) – New

New Releases Coming Soon (tentative)

- Rifts® Chaos Earth™: First Responders Sourcebook (as soon as we can slot it in)
- Dead Reign™ Sourcebook Three

In the Pipeline

- Robotech® UEEF Marines and other Robotech® sourcebooks.
- Rifts® sourcebooks
- Rifts® Chaos Earth™ sourcebooks
- Palladium Fantasy®: Mysteries of Magic™ Two & Three
- Palladium Fantasy® other sourcebooks
- Warpath™ Urban Jungle RPG
- And other good stuff. Lots of other good stuff!

NEW! Rifts® Dimension Book 14: Thundercloud Galaxy
– Ships April 12, 2011 – in final production

The Thundercloud Galaxy™ is a place of unparalleled adventure. It is where the Dominators once thrived and where the godlike beings were (mostly) destroyed. The people of the Thundercloud have suffered great adversity and more than one mass extinction, yet somehow the galaxy seems to have more habitable planets and diverse life forms than anywhere else in the Three Galaxies. Strange beings like the feline Shing, insectoid CheDive, and Whetu, who defy description, and monsters like the devouring Yboor are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to life in this galaxy. It is also home to the Bushi Federation and the Splugorth Kingdom of Desslyth, and is a playground for space pirates, raiders, the mysterious Exiles and the dark forces of the Minion War.

As the civilizations of the Anvil and Corkscrew Galaxies scramble to colonize the Thundercloud Galaxy in a mad rush to grab as much as they can, they are beginning to realize the galaxy holds more riches, beauty, horrors and secrets than anyone has ever imagined, making it a place of exploration, discovery, adventure and treachery like no other.

Thundercloud Galaxy™ is a perfect companion to the rest of the Phase World®/Three Galaxies™ based Dimension Books as well as the Minion War™ series. Players can be pirates, raiders, brigands or hired guns, or they may be explorers, adventurers, Spacers, or any number of heroes trying to protect the colonists or the indigenous people of countless worlds and colonies. The possibilities are truly limited only by your imagination.

Publisher Kevin Siembieda vows the book will go to the printer by the end of March, which means a mid-April ship date. We apologize for the delay, but as is Palladium’s policy, we will not release a book until we think it is worthy of our audience, and that means epic source material, adventure and fun.

  • An overview of the Thundercloud Galaxy, bits of history, new insights and many avenues of adventure.
  • 16 new alien R.C.C.s, plus notes on the Dominators, Elder Races and Gene-Tech.
  • Monsters plus Monster and Animal Creation Tables.
  • Colony Creation Tables.
  • Guidelines for making Magic Weapons.
  • Some notable weapons and technology.
  • Notable organizations and secret societies.
  • The Trensik Mercenaries, Bushi Federation, Dominators and more.
  • The Exiles and other mysterious people.
  • The Splugorth Kingdom of Desslyth and other notable worlds.
  • Any type of space opera and science fiction scenario you can imagine can be played out in the Thundercloud Galaxy.
  • Written by Braden Campbell and Kevin Siembieda. Art by Michael Mumah.
  • 160 pages – $20.95 retail – Cat. No. 883. April, 2011.

    NEW! The Rifter® #54
    – Ships April 12, 2011

    This is going to be another landmark issue of The Rifter® filled with epic source material, exotic places, strange critters, adventure settings and ideas.

    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.

    The Rifter® #54 includes:

  • The Final Chapter of The Hammer of the Forge™, by James M.G. Cannon. At last, the pulse pounding conclusion of this epic tale. Will it be a happy ending or a tragic one? We guess you’ll have to wait and find out.
  • Dawn of a New Era, Part Two by Corey Livermore. The conclusion to the adventure in a setting for Heroes Unlimited™ in which mutants and aliens are being forced to “register” with global governments, or else.
  • Megaversal Menagerie, by Aaron Corley. A collection of sentient beings and strange animals from the Palladium Fantasy® world and across the Megaverse®.
  • The fortress city of New Chillicothe, Missouri. Optional Rifts® source material by Matthew Olfson, with an emphasis on technology, weapons, electronics, equipment and an array of gizmos produced and available at the city.
  • Dark Day™ Chronicles Volume 2. A Nightbane® short story by Jeremy Hutchins.
  • News and coming attractions.
  • Cover by Michael Leonard in honor of The Hammer of the Forge™.
  • $11.95 retail – 96 pages – Cat. No. 154 – Ships April 12.

    NEW! 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 few years ago. Best of all, it will be accompanied by the Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook™.

  • The observations of Doc Reid.
  • 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. Interior art by various artists.
  • Written by Kevin Siembieda.
  • 192 to 224 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 802-E. Spring 2011.

    NEW! Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook
    All new source material

    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. Interior art by various artists.
  • Written by Kevin Siembieda, Braden Campbell and Mark Dudley.
  • 128 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 884. Spring 2011 release.

    NEW! Robotech® New Generation Sourcebook

    This Robotech® sourcebook will be an early 2011 release.

  • Rules for using mecha, power armor and technology from all four eras of Robotech.
  • Kit-bashed mecha and rules for jury-rigging and combining parts from different generations of mecha.
  • Freedom Fighter O.C.C.s and resistance organizations.
  • Rogues and misfits from the three Robotech Wars.
  • New weapons, vehicles, mecha and more.
  • Villains, traitors, bandits, Invid henchmen, adventure and adventure ideas galore.
  • Written by Kevin Siembieda and Irvin Jackson.
  • A “manga” size sourcebook.
  • 192-256 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 554. Final page count and price may be subject to change. Spring 2011 release.

    NEW! 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. Spring 2011.

    NEW! 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. July 2011.

    NEW! 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. Coming in 2011.

    Armageddon Unlimited

    for Heroes Unlimited and the Minion War – Available now

    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 as demons and Deevils fight for control of the Earth and bringing about the end of life as we know it.

    Armageddon Unlimited™ is more than an epic world-saving adventure, it is also a sourcebook jam-packed with new powers, magic, weapons and Power Categories that can be incorporated into any Heroes Unlimited™ campaign. This book can be used as a standalone adventure sourcebook for Heroes Unlimited™ or as a pivotal plot in an expansive Minion War™ campaign. Get a free sneak preview of the book from DriveThruRPG.com.

  • 7 new Minor and 14 Major Super Abilities.
  • Deevil and Demon magical Chaos Weapons.
  • Enchanted Weapons of Order and a few Enchanted Objects.
  • Demon Hunter Power Category and abilities.
  • Crusader of Light Power Category and abilities.
  • Heroic Hellion Power Category – play a “reformed demon.”
  • Hellion monster creation table.
  • Magically Bestowed Variant Power Categories and abilities let you wield weapons that empower good and destroy evil.
  • Doctor Vilde, the mastermind behind the Armageddon plot.
  • The secret island base of Doctor Vilde and 16 maps.
  • More than a dozen NPC villains.
  • The Church of Unity and its role in bringing about Armageddon.
  • The Chaos Generators – the key to stopping Armageddon.
  • A menagerie of evil villains, people and places.
  • The Armageddon scenario, adventure ideas and Minion War™ on Earth.
  • Written by Carl Gleba. Additional text by Kevin Siembieda.
  • Cover by John Zeleznik.
  • 160 pages – $20.95 retail – Cat. No. 527. Available now.

    **************************
    Back in print in March
    **************************

    New – “Rifts® Logo” Baseball Cap

    Back by popular demand. A black Rifts® Logo on a khaki baseball cap with black trim. Looks great and fans love it! Makes a great gift.

  • Cotton cloth fabric, khaki color with black trim and black Rifts logo.
  • Cloth Velcro strap for size adjustment. A nice cap.
  • $14.95 per cap – Cat. No. 2544 – Available March 24, 2011.

    Don’t forget about the “Rifts® Logo” Dice Bag

    Gold print on a rich black, faux velvet material. Looks gorgeous, a sturdy and well made, drawstring bag. A big 7x9 inches, can hold a lot of dice.

  • Black Dice Bag: $8.00 per bag – Cat. No. 2539 – Available now.

    Rifts® Dimension Book 6: Three Galaxies

  • 160 pages – $20.95 retail – Cat. No. 851 – Ships March 24, 2011.

    Rifts® Adventure Sourcebook: The Black Vault

  • 48 pages – $9.95 retail – Cat. No. 855 – Ships March 24, 2011.

    Rifts® Mercenaries

  • 160 pages – $20.95 retail – Cat. No. 813 – Ships March 24, 2011.

    Aliens Unlimited – A Heroes Unlimited sourcebook

  • 192 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 515 – Ships March 24, 2011.

    ********************************
    Also recently Back in Print
    ********************************

    Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®

  • 336 pages – $26.95 retail – Cat. No. 450.

    Rifts® World Book 20: Rifts® Canada

  • 192 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 835.

    Rifts® Dark Conversions

  • 192 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 852.

    Rifts® Game Master Guide

  • 352 pages – $26.95 retail – Cat. No. 845.

    Rifts® Bionics Sourcebook

  • 112 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 850.

    Rifts® World Book Five: Triax and the NGR

  • 224 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 810.

    Rifts® World Book 24: Rifts® China One

  • 160 pages – $20.95 retail – Cat. No. 857.

    Rifts® Dimension Book 7: Megaverse® Builder

  • 96 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 859.

    DriveThruRPG

    PDF downloads from DriveThruRPG.com

    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 1-48.
    - 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

    Start planning for Halloween early as Palladium’s very own Kathy Simmons will start to offer her 2011 selection of life-sized Halloween props (most are 6 feet or taller) that are to die for.

    Each is an all-weather, life-sized Halloween prop that can handle rain and snow, and is a one-of-a-kind work of art (no two are exactly the same). Each looks frighteningly “real.” All come apart and fold down to slightly larger than a king-size pillow for easy storage. Comes with easy instructions, a plastic storage bag, and the lawn stake to stand it 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 $129-$259. You can see some of her work at her Queen of Ghouls™ Ebay store – queenofghouls.com.

    © Copyright 2011 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.