ONE GAME SYSTEM – EVERY GENRE – COUNTLESS WORLDS – ENDLESS ADVENTURE

Happy Friday, Palladium Fans!

NEW RELEASES IN PRINT

Yin-Sloth Jungles™ Expanded and Revised

Rifts® Titan Robotics™ Sourcebook

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Joining the Team

The last few months have been filled with adrenaline for me given all the exciting projects we have in the works here at Palladium. I want to thank the community for the warm welcome and I’m eager to serve as a force multiplier for all your enthusiasm, passion, and loyalty for the many games and worlds Palladium creates.

When I saw the announcement for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness on the eve of the campaign, I had a feeling that it would really explode and offered to help out in any capacity Palladium needed. Having worked with Sean at Pinnacle and meeting Kevin doing some promo streams for Rifts® for Savage Worlds and Palladium events, it was an easy offer to send. Help good people make good games.

I was introduced to RPGs with AD&D in the early 90s; but my gaming mentor, Reese Gregory, had great taste and was a confirmed Palladium aficionado. I remember vividly the evocative covers of his many Rifts® tomes: they were unlike anything else I had seen in the hobby. Bold, graphic, sexy, dangerous. For a new player, they seemed both enticing and intimidating in equal measure; where to begin with what must clearly be a detailed and rich world, and one without a training-wheels cartoon show to get into the plot like the Dungeons & Dragons and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons offered. So when I found TMNT&OS among Reese’s library, I demanded we play.

”Oh, it’s based on the comics, so it’s even better than the show!” he exclaimed, and I was hooked. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness is the RPG that showed me how much broader the hobby’s horizons are than the medieval fantasy core. The content, the tone, art, and game design broadened both my knowledge and appreciation for what the hobby really could be.

I never would have imagined that three decades later my enjoyment of that foundational experience would come full circle and that I could play a small part in bringing Turtles back into print.

Kevin, Sean, Wayne, Alex, and Caleb were a pleasure to work with during the campaign, and I’m honored that they’ve welcomed me on to the team to help craft and deliver the next chapter in the Palladium story. To me, marketing is not about writing the best copy or placing the optimal advertisement, it’s about amplifying and sharing the passion of the fan community.

To that end, don’t hesitate to reach out with your own Palladium memories or thoughts on what makes you most excited for what’s coming next: we might even feature your letters, with permission, in future Closing Thoughts. And if you’re at Chupacabracon, GenCon, or Game Hole Con this year, come say hello!

– Christopher Landauer, RPG force multiplier

ONE GAME SYSTEM – EVERY GENRE – COUNTLESS WORLDS – ENDLESS ADVENTURE

Happy Friday, Palladium Fans!

Join us for a TMNT Party

NEW RELEASES IN PRINT

Yin-Sloth Jungles™ Expanded and Revised

Rifts® Titan Robotics™ Sourcebook

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Life and Friendship

I’ve done a lot of introspection since the loss of Kathy. About how I have met and known so many amazing people in my life. People who seem to show up when I need them most. That started with my Mom and Dad, both astonishing and wonderful in their own special way, and my dear, little (six foot, four) brother.

Over the years, I’ve talked a lot about Erick Wujcik, in part because he too has passed away, and in part because he was one of those larger than life people, a brilliant game designer in his own right. He and I were co-conspirators and cheerleaders in each other’s lives for decades from the day we met; true friends and creative soulmates to the end. But there has been a multitude of other people who have had a profound impact on my life and work.

Kathy, of course, in more ways than you can imagine, dear sweet Julius Rosenstein (also passed), Matthew Balent, Robin Korona, William Messner-Loebs, the lovely Francis Loebs, Jim Domborski, Jim Osten, Kay Kozora, Larry Jordan, Cheryl Corey, Maryann Donald, my two kids, Kevin Long, Randy McCall, Roger and Randy Cartier, Mary Parkinson, Keith Parkinson, Rita Smolinski, Teresa Mead, Jim Steranko, Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, Mark Freedman, Stephen Bissette, Ramon K. Perez, Freddie Williams II, Tyler Walpole, Larry Elmore, Steven Cummings, Jolly Blackburn, Brandon Aten, Shawn Hall, Richard Burke, Richard Cook, the Brown Family, Joe Bergmans, Doug Lamberson, Dennis Hughes, Jeff Hansen, Chris Guertin, Paul Deckert, Mark Oberle, Mike Leonard, John Zeleznik, Carl Gleba, Carmen Bellaire, Steven Dawes, Mark Dudley, Chuck Walton, Bill Coffin, Nick Bradshaw, Mike Mumah, Mike Wilson, Mike Majestic, Marc Moore, Ryan McDaniels, Nick Kay,  Matthew Clements, John Klinkel, Chris Landauer, Wayne Smith, Sean Roberson (my new creative soulmate and crazy business partner) and the entire Roberson/Nelson clan, each and every single Defiler, especially the Bartolds, and a freakin’ army of other people! Far too many to list them all by name. Plus the greatest fans on the planet. Wow. It’s incredible to me.

Most of these people (and you) have impacted my life in the most wonderful and beautiful of ways, making me a better human being. Even when things sometimes turned sour, it becomes a learning experience that helps me grow in new ways. Some of these people were in my life for a short time, others for a lifetime, but always significant. It astonishes me to be so truly blessed.

There is one person who bears special acknowledgement. A gentle soul who has been an integral part of my existence for most of my life. He is quiet and gentle, quirky and kind, brilliant and creative, and a stalwart friend who has shared every – and I mean every – up and down, good and bad moment, triumph and loss, hope and dream. He was my first and dearest creative partner and the bestest of best friends for 56 years and counting, the unassuming Alex Marciniszyn. You know him as a Palladium editor and staff member, but he is so much more to me. We are as close as brothers – closer. Alex was my first publishing partner (Megaton Publishing), fellow artist and writer on a couple of fanzines in our teens and five issues of A+Plus, an alternative comic book, published during our college days. Alex is one of the Defilers, a sounding board for my ideas, researcher, concept guy, first Palladium employee and the helper behind the scenes at Palladium since day one before I could even afford to pay him. He was the best man at my wedding, an uncle to my children, and a kindred spirit throughout my life. Our love, friendship, and support for each other has never wavered, no matter the circumstance to this very day. In our youth, Alex and I were so inseparable, like the two Musketeers, that my Dad used to introduce him to others as, “and this is Alex, my other son.” Friends like that are truly rare and precious. Thank you, Alex for being such a great friend and vital part of my existence. May we share many new adventures in the decades ahead.

I hope you don’t mind me sharing like this. As I said, the loss of Kathy has made me introspective and all the more appreciative of my wonderful life and the multitude of awesome people in it. I see you, our fans, as our extended Palladium family and that puts you among those awesome people in my life. As such, I feel like I can share my inner thoughts and feelings with you. These Closing Thoughts have never been just about business. Palladium is a different kind of company. We really are a family by choice, and you are part of that family. I love it.

For those of you who may also be suffering a profound loss, I share your pain, and though you may not believe it now, things will get better. I promise, even as I struggle with that very notion myself. Be kind and patient with yourself. It’s okay to feel that deep loss and sorrow and to cry. I cried like a baby this past Monday and I have no idea what triggered it. It sucks, but it’s also okay, and things will get better. You’ll get better. Lean on your friends and gaming and whatever else brings you joy and happiness. A friend who lost his wife a few years ago said his weekly games were one of the few things that brought him joy and helped him through his time of grief and pain. Whether you too are grieving or happy as a clam, I want to reiterate Erick Wujcik’s final words to me, before he died: “In the end, all that matters is the people you love and whatever brings you joy. Find your joy and hold it close.” Amen. Have a great weekend, find joy, and game on.

– Kevin Siembieda, Game Designer, writer, and friend

ONE GAME SYSTEM – EVERY GENRE – COUNTLESS WORLDS – ENDLESS ADVENTURE

Happy Friday, Palladium Fans!

A VISIT FROM OUR PARTNERS AT TRANSPERFECT GAMING

FROM THE FANS

Rebuilding My Collection

Hey Palladium,

I wanted to let you know these books I received are some of the finest quality I have ever been sent in orders from stores, Amazon, or directly from other game companies.

In the early days of the War on Terror, I was set to enter the military but my then fiancée and I needed some funds.  At the time I needed to sell what had been an impressive collection, many of which were Palladium books (I did keep the Robotech ones, The Sentinels and Invid Invasion weren’t going anywhere, although I did lose the out-of-print TMNT core book.)

My Rifts collection of over 20 books was sold as part of that, a particular favorite game as Robotech and Rifts were my first RPGs and later during his time writing South America and Underseas, C.J. Carella had written to me on a pair of occasions, I believe it was on AOL at the time!

A friend last year informed me all of those books were still in print and I could buy them off the official Palladium site, which led to this purchase, however post-service I am clinically OCD and the quality of a book purchased new is something I am EXTREMELY sensitive to (Amazon hates me as they handle things so poorly I return about 1 in 4 to 1 in 5 books).

I really want to call out the EXCEPTIONAL quality of the books you sent me and as this was a trial run to find out what that quality would be if I ordered from Palladium, I can assure you in the very near future I will continue to be re-purchasing my collection, probably starting with Mutants in Orbit. (When I was an early teenager and that book came out, I was actually living with my family at a now-closed Air Force Base, where my father was an instructor at Undergraduate Space Training and many of his fellow officers were gamers, so I was able to enjoy that book along with people who literally operated military satellites).

Anyway, I want to say Thank You once more for doing such an amazing job with these books you and Palladium have sent in helping me restore my collection.

Thank you for all your time in this.

Sincerely,                        

– A Palladium Fan

NEW RELEASES IN PRINT

Yin-Sloth Jungles™ Expanded and Revised

Rifts® Titan Robotics™ Sourcebook

CLOSING THOUGHTS

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round

Howdy Y’all

Things are going pretty well here at Palladium. Kevin is back in the office more days than not, and the rest of the team is taking care of business and getting their jobs done. It’s a good thing to see.

This past weekend Kevin and I took up Rick’s invitation to attend Chaosium Con, held just 20 minutes down the road from the Palladium Books studio on the way to Ann Arbor. Rick Meints is the President of Chaosium, and we had a grand time hanging out with a bunch of the Chaosium dudes and chatting with talented creators including J.M. DeFoggi as well as artist Tom Sullivan. Tom does art for Call of Cthulhu, and also happens to be the guy that did the special effects on Evil Dead 2 — yes, I got to hold the actual Necronomicon! Overall a very positive experience, and it’s always enlightening to chat with Rick, compare notes, and swap some friendly business advice.

On Tuesday we had a VIP delegation visit from TransPerfect Gaming. Our trusted friend and their local marketing guy Ryan McDaniel was joined by his boss Alex (in charge of sales and outreach) as well as Nicholas Kay (global art director). They brought some 3D printed prototypes of the TMNT miniatures, including a massive Leonardo which you can see in a photo at the top of this newsletter. We chatted about strategic stuff they are helping us with and multiple exciting future projects that I can’t divulge anything about yet, but Kevin isn’t joking when he says we have big plans cooking behind the scenes.

As for me, I’ve been cranking away on the TMNT & Other Strangeness redux edition editing work, and I can already tell you that you’re getting a few more bonus mutant animals than we officially announced — I know, I know, you can thank me later.

This is a pretty simple update without any core uplifting message except to let you know that we are hard at work making the things that you, our loyal fans, have asked us for to come true. That really is the core of our business and always will be, because we are gamers just like all of you. Thanks again for tuning in.

– Sean Owen Roberson, Writer, Designer, Adventurer

ONE GAME SYSTEM – EVERY GENRE – COUNTLESS WORLDS – ENDLESS ADVENTURE

Happy Friday, Palladium Fans!

NEW RELEASES IN PRINT

Yin-Sloth Jungles™ Expanded and Revised

Rifts® Titan Robotics™ Sourcebook

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Keep On Truckin’

I just wanted to share a short message with you this week. As you know, Kevin is grieving the loss of his love and partner of 20 years, Kathy. He is doing well, and appreciates the outpouring of support and care from all of you.

Her loss and his absence hasn’t been fun or easy for the rest of us here at Palladium, primarily because we worked with Kathy and adored her, but also because we are all concerned for Kevin. But, the pain is no longer fresh for us, and lessens a little each week. Each day is a bit easier to get through, and I’m proud of how the team has come together.

I mention this because sometimes when you are in the midst of troubles and their accompanying sorrows, it can feel like the whole world is collapsing on top of you and your situation will never change. While your world may never be the same, it will get better and you will adjust to a new paradigm, a new daily rhythm. There are always new things to smile about, to appreciate, and to be proud of.

As I continue working on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness redux edition, I see so much beauty and positivity created by so many talented folks. We truly are blessed to be working on such a special project — dreamed up and requested by you, our fans. So I guess the message is to focus on the positive and keep plugging away until you get to the other side of tough times… in other words, “keep on truckin.”

– Sean Owen Roberson, Writer, Designer, Adventurer

ONE GAME SYSTEM – EVERY GENRE – COUNTLESS WORLDS – ENDLESS ADVENTURE

Hello Palladium Fans!

NEW RELEASES

Yin-Sloth Jungles™ Expanded and Revised

Rifts® Titan Robotics™ Sourcebook

CLOSING THOUGHTS

I’m Back – Mini Kevin Update

This is my first week back at the Palladium office since the unexpected death of my beautiful Kathy Simmons. I had popped in to the office here and there for a few minutes at a time, checked in every day, and I had continued to work on artwork for TMNT & Other Strangeness books at home, but that was it. I’m far from 100%, but I am back at work and trying to catch up with everything piled on my desk.

Thank you for the many cards, notes, emails, text messages, online posts, and calls of condolence. I appreciate them all very much. Kathy meant the world to me. Not just me, but many of you as well. She was a special lady who was loved and respected by all who met her. She is so missed.

This one has been rough, but I’m feeling a little better with every passing day. As it is with the loss of a loved one, the grief comes in waves. One minute you’re doing fine — great even — the next you’re feeling blue or crying. I was doing pretty well the last few days until I came upon a mountain of Halloween photos (our favorite holiday together) and a bookmark with a touching saying on it. I know it reflected Kathy’s feelings for me and vice versa. Kathy and I were the very best of best friends. The Inscription read:

A best friend stands by you when no one else cares,

understands you when no one else tries,

and believes in you when no one else does.

I’m very lucky to have a friend like you.

The floodgates opened and I sobbed and sobbed. It was good to let it out. I’ve lost a lot of people and have found grief affects you in different ways depending on the person and your relationship to them. Kathy’s death has been more profound than others, yet when I speak of her, there is often a mix of sadness and humor. We laughed a lot.

I want you to know I’m doing as well as can be expected. I have a legion of amazing friends who make sure I’m doing okay, as well as an army of fans who I know share my broken heart and wish me and Kathy’s family well.

Moreover, I can hardly wait to get back to writing books again. Very soon, I think. I’m already getting ideas for ways to improve and finish Yin-Sloth Expeditions as well as longing to do work on Rifts® Antarctica. Actually, all sorts of ideas are starting to boil. Palladium’s future is bright. There are many exciting plans and projects happening behind the scenes and just wait until books start to hit store shelves. Awesomeness is coming.

Please note, I (Kevin) will be at the Ann Arbor Game Con sponsored by and held at the Main Public Library in downtown Ann Arbor, 11 AM to 5 PM, Saturday, April 13. Sean Owen Roberson and Ryan McDaniel will be in attendance as well. Sean and I had a blast last year and we are bringing even more books and items to sell this year. As always, we are happy to chat and sign books. We look forward to seeing some of you there. For those of you who can’t attend, please enjoy our print sale and TMNT updates.

Four new color art prints have been added to Palladium’s online store. All are $10 each, 8 1/2 x 11 in size, and suitable for framing. Much more is coming. Game on.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer, Friend