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Palladium Books® – Flash Sale & Weekly Update – March 27, 2025

Weekly Update

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

BY KEVIN SIEMBIEDA

Palladium Books® – Flash Sale & Weekly Update – March 27, 2025

You still have time to get in on the Flash Sale offering unprecedented discounts. It is inspired by the National Reading Month of March which encourages and celebrates the joy of reading. Consider this sale part of the celebration! RPG sourcebooks 70% and 50% off, and part of our joy about all the good things happening behind the scenes and coming your way in the months ahead.


With this mind-blowing sale, there’s not much more to talk about except, please join the live chat with me (Kevin Siembieda) and Sean Owen Roberson on Legion of Myth at 2:00 PM Sunday, March 30. We are happy to answer your questions, but the main theme of this chat will be using Palladium rules as a framework and kit-bashing two games/settings. Always fun.


Oh, and take a look at Closing Thoughts for what I hope are words of encouragement.


FLASH SALE – Super-Savings 70% and 50% discounts – 6 days only – Sale ends Monday, March 31, 2025.

Palladium has NEVER offered a sale with savings like this (and may never do so again!), but we have a lot to celebrate and we want to share our excitement with you via this sale. These books make a wonderful birthday present or surprise Easter gift for kids and teens who like to read. Spread the word and enjoy.

Most After the Bomb Sourcebooks – because you know you want them! The perfect accessory for After the Bomb RPG, Heroes Unlimited, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness and TMNT Transdimensional Adventures (both coming soon).

● Road Hogs – After the Bomb Sourcebook, Cat. No. 505 – $4.20 – 70% off (save $9.79)!

● Mutants Down Under – After the Bomb Sourcebook, Cat. No. 507 – $4.20 – 70% off (save $9.79)!

● Mutants of the Yucatan – After the Sourcebook, Cat. No. 511 – $4.20 – 70% off (save $9.79)!

● Mutants in Avalon – After the Bomb Sourcebook, Cat. No. 513 – $5.00 – 70% off (save $11.99)!

● Rifts World Book 10: Juicer Uprising (Sean’s choice for a fun read), Cat. No. 820 – $7.50 – 70% off (save $17.49)!

● Rifts Siege on Tolkeen: Final Siege (Kevin’s choice for a fun read), Cat. No. 844 – $8.00 – 70% off (save $18.99)! 40+ NPCs you can use anywhere in Rifts, the city of Tolkeen mapped and described, plus weapons, monsters, and adventures in an often overlooked masterpiece.

● Rifts Machinations of Doom, Sourcebook & Graphic Novel by Ramon K. Perez (Caleb’s choice for a fun read), Cat. No. 871 – $6.90 – 70% off (save $16.09)! Watch for the Perez interview coming.

● The Rifter #85 (Wayne’s choice for a fun read because it spans the Megaverse), Cat. No. 185 – $8.00 – 70% off (save $18.99)! And yes, more annuals are on the horizon.

● Rifts Novel #2: Deception’s Web (part 2 in a trilogy), Cat. No. 302 – $2.99 – 70% off (save $6.96)!

● Rifts Chi-Town Burbs (Short Stories, various authors), Cat. No. 304 – $3.90 – 70% off (save $9.05)!

● Rifts & the Megaverse Art Book (gorgeous Zeleznik art), Cat. No. 2510 – $6.88 – 70% off (save $16.07)!

● Future Visions Art Book (Chuck Walton; fun to color), Cat. No. 2562 – $4.18 – 70% off (save $9.77)!

● Rifts Coloring Book (fun for all ages), Cat. No. 870 – $2.98 – 50% off (save $2.97)!

● Land of the Damned One (Palladium Fantasy), Cat. No. 468 – $13.50 – 50% off (save $13.49)!

● Creature Feature for Beyond the Supernatural (Alex’s choice for a frightfully fun read), Cat. No. 704 – $13.50 – 50% off (save $13.49)! And yes, BTS sourcebooks are coming.

● Graveyard Earth for Dead Reign (Matthew’s choice for a fun read), Cat. No. 235 – $8.50 – 50% off (save $8.49)! The dead shall continue to walk.

The Official History of Palladium Books on YouTube


Please continue to enjoy and spread the word about the Official History of Palladium Books on the Palladium YouTube channel. Every YouTube episode is fun, candid, and offers insight and behind the scenes information from the publisher/creator of your favorite Palladium role-playing games, Kevin Siembieda. Hear fun stories, details and thought processes you probably never heard before. We are now getting into some of our most famous and beloved games: Palladium Fantasy RPG and Secrets of the Defilers have been a big hit. Behind the scenes of Heroes Unlimited RPG is the most recent episode, followed by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness RPG releasing today. Did you know that TMNT & Other Strangeness was Mirage Studio’s very first license, or that Kevin introduced Eastman and Laird to licensing agent Mark Freedman who helped take the Turtles mainstream? Get the behind the scenes story straight from the guy who was there.

New Episodes coming on the Official History of Palladium Books with Kevin Siembieda & J-M DeFoggi. Behind the scenes insight into the making of one Palladium blockbuster RPG of the 1980s and 1990s after another.

  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness RPG – today, March 27th.

  • Secrets of the Defilers, Part 4: Battle through Hades – April 10th.

  • Robotech – April 24th.

  • Ramon K. Perez interview – fan favorite comic book and game artist Ramon K. Perez – May 8th.

  • Watch for a new episode every other week and enjoy.

Live chat with Kevin Siembieda and Sean on Legion of Myth, Sunday, March 30th, 2:00 PM Eastern Time.


Sean is back and we are kicking everything into high gear. We’ll talk a bit about the latest at Palladium and answer some questions, but the subject of this Sunday’s chat is using Palladium rules as a framework for any setting and kit-bashing two (or more) games/settings like Nightbane and Palladium Fantasy into something truly unique. Which is so fun. Spread the word and join the conversation.

Glitterbois Chats are back starting April


More Glitterbois Chats with Kevin Siembieda are starting up again in April. Keep your

ears open for them.


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness Kickstarter Backers


You, and you alone, can still add to your selection of Kickstarter Exclusives and upgrade to higher pledge levels to get limited edition exclusives. But you must do so soon, before the Pledge Manager is closed! The Kickstarter Exclusives are freakin’ awesome and many are super-limited, especially the variant covers. For example, the two Mutagen Green Editions sport brand new artwork by Kevin Eastman AND Peter Laird created specially for these two collector’s editions. A rare and triumphant collaboration by the two legendary Ninja Turtle creators that TMNT super-fans will desire for years to come – if they can even find one on the secondary collector’s market – because they will be so limited and rare! But Backers can still order them for another few weeks. Backers, use your unique position and do NOT miss out on what are certain to become high-priced collector items. You’ll be glad you did whether they become a cherished part of your collection or you sell them later for a profit. Also remember, the exclusive print sets and poker deck are only available for the higher pledge tiers.

Game Masters Needed to Run Palladium Gen Con Game Events – we need YOU

Palladium is looking for experienced Game Masters to run Palladium RPG events at Gen Con. That can be any of our game worlds using our rules as well as Rifts® for Savage Worlds. If you were thinking about running games at Gen Con or want to help out Palladium, please coordinate with Palladium Books in order to get a dedicated room and other perks like a free Game Master badge, and discounts on your purchases at the Palladium Books booth.


To earn a free GM badge, all you need to do is run 4 games with 6 or more players in each game, 4 hours each. This will earn you enough credits with Gen Con to earn a GM badge – $155 value!


We hope to add to our usual crew of Gen Con Game Masters to run Palladium game events for any Palladium setting:

  • Rifts®

  • Rifts® for Savage Worlds

  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles® & Other Strangeness

  • After the Bomb®

  • Chaos Earth®

  • Palladium Fantasy RPG®

  • Heroes Unlimited

  • Ninjas & Superspies

  • Nightbane®

  • Dead Reign®

  • Beyond the Supernatural and any of our other settings.


We need your commitment, game description and info by March 28. Send to Jeff Ruiz, aka NMI, via email at nmi {at} thedeificnmi.com


Game Masters and Game Event Descriptions NEEDED by March 28, 2025.


(See Gen Con’s website for details about the info needed for each game listing; G.M.’s name, number of players, length of time, name of game, difficulty level, etc.) Submitting your games to us enables Palladium to coordinate and submit them as a batch to Gen Con and guarantees to have your event listed in the onsite Gen Con Program Book. Being listed onsite is very important to have full attendance for your event. This date gives us enough time to compile and send Gen Con everything they need. Thank you!


Prospective Game Masters, please contact Jeff Ruiz, aka NMI, via email at nmi {at} thedeificnmi.com

Now Available!

Palladium Spring-Summer 2025 Catalog

NEW! Catalog of Palladium Books®, Spring/Summer 2025 – Folks are loving Palladium’s new, printed, color catalog. There’s just something about holding a physical catalog in your hand, especially one as fun and colorful as this one. Due to popular request, we’ve made it available for purchase. The price is what it cost Palladium to print them. Enjoy.

  • Full color, 8½ x 11 inch (magazine size), glossy paper stock, beautiful color.

  • The 48 page catalog describes and shows nearly the entire RPG library and features the TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux Edition on the cover and the first few pages.

  • $2.50 retail – 48 pages – Cat. No. C2025-1

BACK in Stock: Yin-Sloth Jungles, Updated and Expanded, 2nd Edition Rules – The epic jungle adventure book is back. 15 O.C.C.s (like the Beastmaster, Holy Crusader, Undead Hunter, and Witch Hunter), 18 jungle people and monsters, new and expanded Shamans and their magic, the Battle of the Gods, setting overview, and more. $24.99 retail – 160 pages – Cat. No. 459. Note: Yin-Sloth Adventures with 30+ maps, notable locations and a lot of adventures and adventure hooks is coming soon.

Rifts Vampire Kingdoms

BACK in Stock: Rifts Vampire Kingdoms – Everything you need to know about Rifts vampires, variant types, vampire abilities, combat notes and henchmen, plus the Hero Vampire, Deluded Vampire, Vampire Hunters, vampire slaying weapons, monsters, town creation rules, the cities of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, and more. $26.99 retail – 224 pages – Cat. No. 802-E.

Nightbane Dark Designs

BACK in Stock: Nightbane® Dark Designs – This Nightbane focused book collects and expands upon Nightbane Morphus Tables (18 in all), plus offers 60 new Common Talents, 38 new Elite Talents, Talent creation and conversion rules, Ancient Nightbane, and more. $24.99 retail – 160 pages – Cat. No. 736.

300+ RPG products on DriveThru – a dozen unique world settings – one game system – endless possibilities. No other game company offers game worlds for so many different genres. Best of all, learn to play one Palladium RPG and you can play them all, because each uses the same basic core rules and combat. There are differences, but the fundamentals are the same. This also means you can bring characters, villains, monsters, powers, magic, weapons, gear, and adventure ideas from one setting into another or mash them together!


In addition to PDF titles for entire game lines like Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy®, Heroes Unlimited™, Ninjas & Superspies™, After the Bomb®, Beyond the Supernatural™, Dead Reign® (zombies), Nightbane® (Urban Fantasy), Rifts Chaos Earth®, Systems Failure™, Splicers®, RECON®, The Rifter® #1-85, and others, there are Game Master and player aids, character generators, paper minis, map packs, and FREE Previews of books like Creature Feature™, Dead Reign, Coalition Manhunters, Titan Robotics™, Rifts Bestiary Volume One, World Books, Dimension Books, and more to give you a glimpse of what’s in the book. Enjoy endless adventures across the Megaverse®.

Palladium Collectibles – at Kevin’s Online Toy & Collectibles eBay Store

I am adding new collectibles of all kinds to my Ebay store every few weeks. Some are Palladium negatives, rare and out of print books, original Palladium artwork, prints, posters, as well as other collectible toys, action figures, Nightmare Before Christmas items, one-of-a-kind proofreader copies, books, and other good stuff – including Erick Wujcik’s rare and sought after Amberzine #12-15. Check in every week or so to see what’s new. All items come from Kevin Siembieda’s personal collection.


One-of-a-kind Palladium Books negatives (special and rare collectibles). Negatives are always very popular items at the Palladium Open House, Gen Con, and conventions, and are catching on as rare collectibles, unique in and of themselves. Before digital printing, pages of a book were laid out by hand on a board, and each page was photographed.

  • Each negative is truly unique, attractive, and fun to have.

  • Own a piece of Palladium Books and RPG history you will treasure.

  • Each was used to print the very book you may have in your collection (1981-2004).

  • Each is signed in silver ink by Kevin Siembieda and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

  • Each negative is a one-of-a-kind work of art (on rare occasions, two-of-a-kind if a page or section of pages were replaced or a second edition was made).

  • Looks great matted or framed! Fits an 8×10 inch matt opening. Each neg is roughly 8 ½ x 11 inches.

  • Prices vary depending on the title, the art, and quality of the negative. Note: Many have scratches, or blemishes, and/or an opaque medium on the negative. Still, they look great and are a piece of RPG history. We recommend you carefully examine the photographs of each item to avoid disappointment. The negatives of many books are sold out or were never available.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

You are not alone


I talk with many people of all ages and every walk of life. It disturbs me that so many feel lost and afraid, especially those who despair and fear for the future of our world. Please don’t despair. I promise you the human spirit is more resilient and stronger than you imagine. The majority of people I see are good and caring. Please don’t let political rhetoric, greed, and fear-mongering isolate you or make you fret. Though the media might suggest otherwise, the good outweighs the bad and the ugly, especially if you, yourself, seek out beauty and joy.


Here’s a secret: You, yes you, hold the power to change the world. I mean it. Do so by example. By being the change you want to see.


Be the light. Be the kinder, better, more caring person you wish for the world. Wear a smile, be empathetic, be patient and just. Win one person over at a time by your good example. You can make a difference by striving to be the best you can be. You don’t have to get up on a soapbox, preach, protest, or say a word. All you need to do is be your best you and try to be appreciative, respectful and empathetic toward others. Kindness and compassion are contagious and breed reciprocal positivity.


Does that sound too simple or naive? It’s not. We and the world around us are what we make them. I knew a woman who transformed her Michigan backyard into a tropical paradise every spring and brought boundless joy to thousands of children and adults throughout the month of October. She did it by being true to herself and letting her light shine via quiet acts of kindness and generous creativity. This one, unassuming person touched and inspired friends, family, and complete strangers with simple words and actions that made the people around her feel seen and appreciated. She gifted them with joyful moments they’ll carry always.


She wasn’t a politician, educator, doctor, or inventor. In fact, she would have told you that she was nobody. At least not anybody important. And yet, there’s an army of people to whom she was very important.


I speak of Kathy Simmons, who passed away one year ago. No matter how grim or dire her situation – and she had plenty of them throughout her life – she found a way to laugh and survive without harming a soul. Mom, Dad, Erick Wujcik, and Julius Rosenstein were the same way. They never let hardship crush their spirit. Somehow, they always managed to find and embrace joy in life’s simplest pleasures no matter how dark or threatening the storm clouds.


Kathy and these other amazing “nobodies” – who were everything to me – taught me how to live, love, hold joy and laughter in my heart, and keep going no matter what. I use my memories of them and lessons learned through their example to fuel the courage to try to be my best self.


If we can do it, you can do it too. I know you can. Please don’t let the stress of life and the pettiness, cruelty, and unfairness that can sometimes accompany it, dampen your spirit and take away your joy. Hold close to you the people and things that bring you happiness. Never let anyone convince you that they aren’t important. Never believe the things that light up your imagination and bring you joy and camaraderie are stupid and worthless. Lose yourself in those stupid games that make you laugh and your heart sing. Hold on to the precious friends and the memories of wondrous adventures they have brought into your life.


And never forget that you are not nobody. Know that you are, indeed, special and important in the universe. Which is how one person can make a profound difference, whether that difference affects a single soul or millions.


– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Game Designer, Writer and Friend

Copyright © 2025 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.


Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Powers Unlimited®, Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Phase World®, Nightbane®, Megaverse®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars®, Chaos Earth®, Dead Reign®, and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc.; Beyond the Supernatural, Coalition States, Garden of the Gods, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Minion War, Mysteries of Magic, Psychic Scream, SAMAS, Thundercloud Galaxy, Three Galaxies, Vampire Kingdoms, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.

TMNT © 2025 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nickelodeon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and all related titles, logos, and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

Palladium Books® – Weekly Update – February 6, 2025

Weekly Update

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

BY KEVIN SIEMBIEDA

Palladium Books® – Weekly Update – February 6, 2025

If you act fast enough, you still have a last chance to take advantage of the Nightbane® sale on the Palladium website (PalladiumBooks.com) and PDF sale on DriveThruRPG.com – both sales end after midnight today, February 6.

Nightbane RPG Sale

The fun Nightbane®: Dark Designs Audiobook crowdfunder ends today at 1:00 PM Eastern Time, February 6th. Our thanks to everyone who supported the offering. We were all blown away by the quality and how it makes the books sound brand new and fun. This is just the beginning of the RPG audiobook revolution. If our experiments into this medium go well, you can expect to see many more Palladium RPGs and sourcebooks made into audiobooks.

NEWS! Legion of Myth live chat with Kevin Siembieda – Sunday, February 16, 2025. I believe our chat will revolve around using Palladium’s Hook, Line and Sinker adventure outlines and designing and running adventures. Sean is out of the country on business, so it will be just me, MaxLiao, Heathdog, and the many of you who tune in live to ask questions. Please join the fun. The chat starts at 2:00 PM till about 4:00 PM but the show will be recorded and made available after the live broadcast.

NEWS! What’s hot this week at Palladium? Nightbane® and its sourcebooks are all on sale (but that sale ends after midnight, tonight, so act quickly). Other hot selling game lines this week are Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy, and After the Bomb®.

NEWS! Retailers, visit Palladium Books at the GAMA Trade Show, Booth #1176, to get more information about TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux edition, and see samples, ask questions, and place orders. Of course, you can place orders right now by going to the TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Pre-Order Store and get superior savings. Retailer Packages are located at the bottom of the page. You must be able to prove you are a brick and mortar store to qualify.

Nightbane RPG Sale

UPDATE! TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux nears completion. The remastering and layout of the RPG and Transdimensional Adventures hardcovers by Sean Owen Roberson are complete and look incredible. The core rule book topped out at 272 pages. Yes, that’s 16 additional bonus pages in the RPG. Transdimensional Adventures hit its anticipated 252 page target size. Between the two books there are:

  • 20 new mutant animals.

  • 3 new animal powers, plus special abilities under some mutant animal descriptions.

  • New and expanded tables for mutant animal creation, speed, and others.

  • A brand new mutant NPC.

  • Stats for Karai. (New art by Kevin Eastman!)

  • Stats for the Fugitoid. (First time ever!)

  • Rules clarifications galore and every page remastered with new typesetting and layout.

  • 20 additional vehicles, vehicle creation tables and rules for land, water, air and space vehicles.

  • Expanded vehicle combat and chase rules.

  • 3 TMNT comic strips (28 pages total) that were originally created exclusively for the TMNT RPG and the first two sourcebooks, and seldom reprinted elsewhere.

  • 32 pages of tribute art by comic book and gaming luminaries.

  • Dozens of written remembrances.

  • Never before and seldom seen concept artwork and notes from Peter Laird from back in the 1980s.

  • The history and behind the scenes story of the making of the TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG.

  • Index and more.

  • All in glorious full color by top professionals that include Sophie Campbell, Jeremy Colwell, Luis Antonio Delgado, and Mike Majestic. Moreover, many of the Tribute artists such as Ciro Nieli, Fero Pe, Ramon K. Perez, David Peterson, Eric Talbot, and others colored their own art to their exact specifications.

  • We pulled out all the stops to make these books something every TMNT fan will love and cherish.

  • And don’t even get me started on the Black, White and Red Edition Hardcovers with grayscale tones and reds by Jeremy Colwell. I found these renditions to be jaw dropping. They harken back to the original black and white Mirage Studio comic books in a dynamic and beautiful way. And yes, all 4 Turtles wear red masks just as they did in those early comics.

  • Meanwhile, Sean is putting the finishing touches on the poker decks, print sets, miniatures, and other Kickstarter exclusives. The same goes for Fan Roll. We are very close to sending everything to the printer and manufacturers.

TMNT & Other Strangeness Backers – You can expect a Kickstarter Update with additional art and information soon. If you have not yet updated or filled out your BackerKit Survey – which informs us of exactly which products you want, your current address, and offers the soon to end opportunity to change and upgrade your pledge – please do so now. Thank you. By the way, when a few recent visitors at the Palladium Studio dropped by and saw some of the samples, finished pages, and tribute art, they decided they needed to add several more Kickstarter Exclusives like the variant book cover editions (very limited), dice tower, the dice tray, and the Shredder dice (I love those too), while they still could. Follow their lead, because everything is gorgeous, high quality, and certain to become instant collector items, especially the variant covers, dice, and miniatures.

NEWS! A new Kickstarter Campaign you might find interesting – Dead Flesh RPG. It is a zombie game written by Palladium Books freelance writer Dan Frederick with art by Big Nick Bradshaw (Dead Reign® RPG series). As the name suggests, this is an RPG that deals with the zombie apocalypse. It sounds fun so check it out. Palladium gamers who already play Dead Reign® may find additional zombies, resources, and adventure ideas to fuel their current Dead Reign campaign.

Nightbane RPG Sale

FINAL Hours – Nightbane® SALE – ENDS after midnight, today, February 6 – Save 20-30% on physical books

FINAL Hours – Nightbane® PDF SALE on DriveThruRPG.com – ENDS tonight after midnight, February 6

The PDFs of the Nightbane® titles listed above are on sale at DriveThruRPG.com for a limited time. Both sales end with the two week crowdfunding campaign for the Nightbane® audiobook.

NEW! Nightbane® Automated Character Sheet


Now available on DriveThruRPG.com – The Nightbane Automated Character Sheet follows a similar format as the popular Rifts® Automated Character Sheet designed by Greg Diaczyk.

  • Microsoft Excel-based system for creating, updating, and tracking your Nightbane RPG characters quickly and easily. Once you know the system, you can have characters up and ready in 10-15 minutes!

  • Create your human Facade and Nightbane Morphus in minutes.

  • Offers a vast range of Morphus choices.

  • Select from scores of Common and Elite Nightbane Talents.

  • Spells, psionics, and more.

  • $5.00 – Available now on DriveThruRPG.com and coming soon on PalladiumBooks.com – Created by Greg Diaczyk.

300+ RPG products on DriveThru – a dozen unique world settings – one game system – endless possibilities. No other game company offers game worlds for so many different genres. Best of all, learn to play one Palladium RPG and you can play them all, because each uses the same basic core rules and combat. There are differences, but the fundamentals are the same. This also means you can bring characters, villains, monsters, powers, magic, weapons, gear, and adventure ideas from one setting into another or mash them together!


In addition to PDF titles for entire game lines like Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy®, Heroes Unlimited™, Ninjas & Superspies™, After the Bomb®, Beyond the Supernatural™, Dead Reign® (zombies), Nightbane® (Urban Fantasy), Rifts Chaos Earth®, Systems Failure™, Splicers®, RECON®, The Rifter® #1-85, and others, there are Game Master and player aids, character generators, paper minis, map packs, and FREE Previews of books like Creature Feature™, Dead Reign, Coalition Manhunters, Titan Robotics™, Rifts Bestiary Volume One, World Books, Dimension Books, and more to give you a glimpse of what’s in the book. Enjoy endless adventures across the Megaverse®.

Palladium Collectibles – at Kevin’s Online Toy & Collectibles eBay Store

I am adding new collectibles of all kinds to my Ebay store in time for the holiday season. Some are Palladium negatives, rare and out of print books, original Palladium artwork, prints, posters, as well as other collectible toys, action figures, Nightmare Before Christmas items, one-of-a-kind proofreader copies, books, and other good stuff – including Erick Wujcik’s rare and sought after Amberzine #12-15. Check in every week or so to see what’s new. All items come from Kevin Siembieda’s personal collection.


One-of-a-kind Palladium Books negatives (special and rare collectibles). Negatives are always very popular items at the Palladium Open House, Gen Con, and conventions, and are catching on as rare collectibles, unique in and of themselves. Before digital printing, pages of a book were laid out by hand on a board, and each page was photographed.

  • Each negative is truly unique, attractive, and fun to have.

  • Own a piece of Palladium Books and RPG history you will treasure.

  • Each was used to print the very book you may have in your collection (1981-2004).

  • Each is signed in silver ink by Kevin Siembieda and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

  • Each negative is a one-of-a-kind work of art (on rare occasions, two-of-a-kind if a page or section of pages were replaced or a second edition was made).

  • Looks great matted or framed! Fits an 8×10 inch matt opening. Each neg is roughly 8 ½ x 11 inches.

  • Prices vary depending on the title, the art, and quality of the negative. Note: Many have scratches, or blemishes, and/or an opaque medium on the negative. Still, they look great and are a piece of RPG history. We recommend you carefully examine the photographs of each item to avoid disappointment. The negatives of many books are sold out or were never available.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Back on Track


Grief is a crazy thing. The late, great Julius Rosenstein’s brother, Dave, dropped by to visit me at the Palladium Studio this week. It has been two years and a couple months since Julius died, and he said he is still deeply grieving the loss of his brother. The two were very close and had lived together for many years, so everything in the house reminds him of Julius. I know the feeling. However, I’m pleased to say that while I think about Kathy often every day, and miss her mightily, I am feeling much more like my old self and not locked in debilitating grief. Best of all, I’m feeling the urge to write. Not just an urge, I can’t wait to finish books like Yin-Sloth Expeditions and start new ones! I even took a bit of time over the weekend to make some notes and write an opening to an upcoming book when the ideas came to me in a rush of inspiration. I look forward to diving back into writing and bringing you new books, but I have to deal with some important business matters first. Grrrrr. Soon.


Doing the Palladium YouTube videos and various podcasts are getting me geared up for writing books as they have been quite inspirational. J-M DeFoggi and I did our first gaming discussion video this week. The fundamentals of designing an RPG campaign for you and your players and game design for a book are very much the same. So we talked about how to get started, where to find ideas, and a number of other aspects of campaign/adventure building. It was a blast and I think folks will enjoy this series of conversations. Not sure when they’ll go live. It may be quite some time. Note that many of our monthly chats with the gents at Legion of Myth involve game play and game mastering, many based on questions from viewers. My next live chat with LoM is Sunday, February 16th. More coming from the Glitterbois podcast too.


There’s a lot going on here in Palladiumville as we close in on sending the TMNT & Other Strangeness Redux titles and Kickstarter Exclusives to manufacturing. Plus we have a vast number of other exciting projects and business propositions going on behind the scenes. I’ll talk more about them when I can. New product releases should start appearing in March.


I hope to see some of you at the GAMA Trade Show (February 24-28) and a lot more of you at Gen Con (yes, we are already dealing with Gen Con prep; July 31-August 3), and Granite State Comic Con (mid-September where gamers, TMNT fans, and comic book fans gather in great numbers).


That’s it for now. Keep your imagination burning bright and orders coming in.


– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Game Designer, Writer and Friend

Sales, News & More – Palladium Books® – Weekly Update – January 30, 2025

Weekly Update

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

BY KEVIN SIEMBIEDA

Sales, News & More – Palladium Books® – Weekly Update – January 30, 2025

Get in on the ground floor of RPG (and Palladium) history by purchasing Palladium’s first RPG audiobook. That’s right, you’ll have the bragging rights of saying you bought the very first Palladium RPG audiobook and that it was Nightbane®: Dark Designs. That you were there at the onset of the RPG audiobook revolution with Palladium Books and Audio RPG, because this is just the beginning. I am still amazed at how the professional narration makes Nightbane: Dark Designs feel brand new. It’s fun and exciting.


The Nightbane®: Dark Designs Audiobook crowdfunder is only a short 2 week campaign that ENDs next week, February 6, so please spread the word and make your pledge. If the Nightbane® audiobook series does well, we will do audiobooks for Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy, Dead Reign®, BTS, Heroes Unlimited, and all of our games. Say yes to RPG audiobooks! One week left to get yours. Oh, and don’t miss the Nightbane SALE of physical books (including the hardcover RPG) in the Palladium Books online store and PDFs via DriveThruRPG.com. Spread the word about it all. Thank you for your support.

Nightbane RPG Sale

Nightbane®: Dark Designs Audiobook

An RPG audiobook may sound crazy, but it won’t after you listen to the sample presented in this Nightbane: Dark Designs Audiobook crowdfunder taking place on Backerkit by one of Palladium’s new licensing partners. It sounds amazing! We were all blown away by the quality.

  • Fun to listen to.

  • Relaxing game prep.

  • Professional narration.

  • Convenient for the busy G.M.

  • Hearing the words spoken by a professional narrator makes the book come to life in a whole new way and feel brand new.

  • Hearing it also makes you notice game and adventure details you may have missed reading it yourself.

  • EVERYONE at Palladium endorses this product 100%. Go to the page and listen for yourself. You’ll be as pleased as we are.

  • Dive into the thrilling Urban Fantasy world of Nightbane® with Nightbane: Dark Designs.

  • Your Next RPG Adventure starts here when you experience the Nightbane: Dark Designs sourcebook in a whole new way with a professionally narrated audiobook. Packed with new Morphus tables, Talents, and tools for players and GMs.

  • Perfect for enhancing your Nightbane campaign or exploring its lore on the go.

  • Nightbane: Dark Designs audiobook takes you through new Morphus tables, Talents, and insights into Nightbane. Perfect for GMs and players, this audiobook transforms your rulebook into a listening experience you’ll love.

  • The project is crowdfunding on Backerkit now!

Nightbane RPG Sale

Nightbane® SALE – Save 20-30% on physical books – limited time offer

Nightbane® RPG Softcover – Cat. No. 730 – $20.29 (normally $28.99 retail) – 240 pages. Urban Fantasy! Nightbane creation rules, Talents, and powers, but to use their powers, the young Nightbane must turn into monsters themselves. Includes inhuman factions, magic, psychic abilities, sorcery, dozens of monsters, world info, and a gallery of enemies and monsters. Nightlords, Vampires, Lightbringers, Hunters, Hounds, and Hollow Men are just some of the bizarre beings your tragic heroes will encounter on their journey of self-discovery and heroism. Join the secret war against a demonic invasion most people do not even know has taken place. The shapeshifting Nightlords, their evil Dopplegangers and other demonic minions are quietly taking over the world, starting with the most powerful nations. You know it is happening because you are the Nightbane. And only you can stop it.


Nightbane® RPG “Bonus” Edition Hardcover – Cat. No. 730HC – $ 31.99 (normally $44.99 retail) – 304 pages – 60 extra pages of bonus material. Urban Fantasy! Your teenage or young adult Nightbane characters face dark magic, vampires, demons, monsters and conspiracy, but that won’t stop them! Join the secret war against a demonic invasion most people do not even know has taken place. You see the truth and know what is happening because that is one of the many Nightbane gifts. You can see the true demonic forms of these invaders and you can destroy them. The only wrinkle is you must reveal your monstrous supernatural form – your Morphus – to call upon your superhuman and magical powers. Oh, and the government is controlled by the Nightlords and their shape-changing demonic minions who fear and hunt all Nightbane. Available while supplies last.


Nightbane®: Between the Shadows™ – Cat. No. 731 – $17.49 (normally $24.99 retail) – 144 pages. Psychic agents, more monsters, navigating the Dreamscape and the Astral Plane, the vampire conspiracy, and more.


Nightbane®: Nightlands™ – Cat. No. 732 – $17.49 (normally $24.99 retail) – 144 pages. 12+ monsters, 12+ demonic and mystical villains, the twisted mirror-dimension of Earth that is the Nightlands described, and more.


Nightbane®: Through the Glass Darkly™ – Cat. No. 733 – $17.49 (normally $24.99 retail) – 152 pages. New types of magic including Fleshsculptor, Cybermage, Mirrormage, Nemesis, Living Pathways, and 50 magic spells, plus talismans, magic artifacts, three new full adventures, dozens of adventure hooks, and other source material to make you cringe with delight.


Nightbane® Shadows of Light – Cat. No. 734 – $17.49 (normally $24.99 retail) – 160 pages. new insights to the world of the Nightbane, new dangers and strange beings, Fallen Guardians, a vampire conspiracy, the city of Pittsburgh outlined, and more.


Nightbane® Survival Guide – Cat. No. 735 – $17.49 (normally $24.99 retail) – 160 pages. Everything you want to know about Nightbane but were afraid to ask. How to unleash your potential as a Nightbane®, many new Morphus tables, many new powers, new magic and new dangers. A complete adventure plus adventure ideas, Nightbane creation guidelines, Nightbane history, psychology and more.


Nightbane®: Dark Designs™ – Cat. No. 736 – $17.49 (normally $24.99 retail) – 160 pages. The ultimate guide to creating the Nightbane and a sourcebook for players and Game Masters alike. 18 new and comprehensive Morphus Tables. 60 new Common Talents, 38 new Elite Talents, Transformation Transition Table, Talent creation and conversion rules, Appendix of 23 Morphus Tables, Appendix of 53 Talents gathered from the Nightbane® RPG and Sourcebooks, Ancient Nightbane R.C.C. and more. Available while supplies last.


The Rifter® #82 – Cat. No. 182 – $10.49 (normally $14.99 retail) – 96 pages. Chaos Earth® Nebraska Conclusion, the Pyromancer O.C.C., 50+ new Pyromancy spells; Nightbane® age tables, and more.


The Rifter® #84 – Cat. No. 184 – $10.49 (normally $14.99 retail) – 96 pages. BTS: Monster and adventure, NIghtbane® Spellbound O.C.C., Golems, an Elven Kingdom, HU2: City of Cascade, and more.


The Rifter® #85 – Cat. No. 185 – $18.89 (normally $24.99 retail) – 224 pages. The largest printed issue of The Rifter® ever. Filled with fun across the Megaverse®. Glitter Boy upgrades, weapons, and variants; a Rifts® Story with Skelebots, dinosaurs, and innocent people in the way; the Rifts State of Rapid City; Fantasy Elven Empire, Fantasy Colony of Gonarn and adventure; 3 Heroes Unlimited Hardware O.C.C.s, an HU tribute by Freddie E. Williams; Phase World®; 25 Dead Reign® vehicle encounter tables and adventure; BTS story and adventure plot hooks; the Nightbane® Redeemer, and more.

Nightbane® PDF SALE on DriveThruRPG.com – limited time offer

The PDFs of the Nightbane® titles listed above are on sale at DriveThruRPG.com for a limited time. Both sales end with the two week crowdfunding campaign for the Nightbane® audiobook.

History of Palladium Books on YouTube

Palladium Books® YouTube Channel

I am currently doing a comprehensive ongoing series hosted by the affable J-M DeFoggi on the Official History of Palladium Books. A new episode posts every other week, plus the occasional bonus episode. It is being presented in rough chronological order and includes Secret Stories of the Defilers. The Defilers are my legendary, first campaign at the Detroit Gaming Center (DGC) where I ran 26 regular players for 12 hours every Saturday night for three and a half years. The DGC is also where I met folks like Erick Wujcik, Matthew Balent, Julius Rosenstein, and my first wife Maryann, and developed concepts and play-tested many Palladium rules and RPGs. We will also be sliding into topics about running games, writing, game design, character and monster creation, and lots of other themes as well as interviewing other people such as Matthew Balent, Ramon K. Perez, Freddie E. Williams II, etc., and a host of Palladium staff and creators. Please don’t hesitate to offer topic suggestions to any of the social media outlets listed here.


Here are some of the episodes currently available:


Coming YouTube Videos: Stories behind the creation of Heroes Unlimited, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness, Robotech®, Robotech® VHS tapes, Ninjas & Superspies, Beyond the Supernatural, Rifts® (a few episodes), Dead Reign®, and more, including Games that Almost Happened (but didn’t), and Close Encounters (with Hollywood and videogames).


A new episode goes up every other week with the occasional bonus episode in between. Many more chats are coming. Each one a friendly and candid conversation that gamers are enjoying. J-M Defoggi and I, Kevin Siembieda, reveal the origin stories behind your favorite Palladium role-playing games and sourcebooks. We will eventually switch to topics about running RPGs, designing adventures, Game Master and player tips, alignments, magic, writing RPGs, and others.

Legion of Myth chats with Kevin and Sean

Last week’s live chat on Legion of Myth was fun. It is now available for your listening enjoyment anytime. More will follow as we try to do a new RPG discussion at least once a month. The next one (tentatively) is February 16, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Sean will still be out of the country on business, so you’ll have to put up with just me, again. Please spread the word and join the fun.

Glitterbois and RealPlayGames Podcasts

I will be returning to do more interviews with the ever popular Glitterbois in February. Meanwhile, there are numerous discussions about role-playing and Palladium’s many game settings and book titles by the hosts, as well as an ongoing series of chats about the history of Palladium Books with me (Kevin Siembieda, the guy who started the company and has written or co-written 200+ RPG books). These are a blast and sometimes digress to include our views on various aspects of role-playing and Game Mastering. Lots of fun and stories.

– RealPlayGames Podcast – These talented fans have been creating radio-play style podcasts based on various Palladium RPG worlds for years. Their audience is growing. They are currently at the tail end of their Season One Palladium Fantasy series: Surviving Love. It sees a bunch of sexy dating show singles from the real world flung into the Palladium Fantasy world. The reception to it has been reported as nothing short of fantastic; their biggest and, by a large margin, best-performing podcast release to date! Check it out. They also plan to release their second season of Cozy Caverns Mysteries, based on Beyond the Supernatural 2E, in February, and have plans for other projects in development. Meanwhile, previous podcasts based on After the Bomb, Heroes Unlimited, and BTS remain available for your listening enjoyment.

Valley of the Pharaohs RPG Expanded 40th Anniversary Edition – available for a limited time

Waaaay back when, Palladium Books published the Valley of Pharaohs RPG as a box game. Well, 40 years later, I gave the author, my pal, Matthew Balent (best known for Weapons & Armour, Weapons & Castles, Weapons & Castles of the Orient, etc.), permission to reuse my artwork in a new, vastly expanded redux edition of the original game. It is a big 200+ page RPG. (The original was only 64 or 96 pages plus a dozen maps and diagrams.) The game rules are Matthew’s own creation with some unique ideas and mechanics you may find interesting, Meanwhile, the spells, characters, and ideas can be adapted to the Palladium game system with a little work. The lore, history, and writing is outstanding, so if you love Egyptian mythology, this is a must have item. Likewise, Palladium collectors may want one because the original 1985 box game is super-rare and expensive, but this authorized expanded 40th Anniversary edition is affordable and a good read. Available from Palladium Books for a limited time. Thank you for supporting the hard work of my friend, Matthew Balent, who played an important role in the early days of Palladium Books.

254 page softcover – $40 retail – Cat. No. 2621

274 page hardcover with bonus material – $60 retail – Cat. No. 2621HC

NEW! Nightbane® Automated Character Sheet


Now available on DriveThruRPG.com – The Nightbane Automated Character Sheet follows a similar format as the popular Rifts® Automated Character Sheet designed by Greg Diaczyk.

  • Microsoft Excel-based system for creating, updating, and tracking your Nightbane RPG characters quickly and easily. Once you know the system, you can have characters up and ready in 10-15 minutes!

  • Create your human Facade and Nightbane Morphus in minutes.

  • Offers a vast range of Morphus choices.

  • Select from scores of Common and Elite Nightbane Talents.

  • Spells, psionics, and more.

  • $5.00 – Available now on DriveThruRPG.com and coming soon on PalladiumBooks.com – Created by Greg Diaczyk.

300+ RPG products on DriveThru – a dozen unique world settings – one game system – endless possibilities. No other game company offers game worlds for so many different genres. Best of all, learn to play one Palladium RPG and you can play them all, because each uses the same basic core rules and combat. There are differences, but the fundamentals are the same. This also means you can bring characters, villains, monsters, powers, magic, weapons, gear, and adventure ideas from one setting into another or mash them together!


In addition to PDF titles for entire game lines like Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy®, Heroes Unlimited™, Ninjas & Superspies™, After the Bomb®, Beyond the Supernatural™, Dead Reign® (zombies), Nightbane® (Urban Fantasy), Rifts Chaos Earth®, Systems Failure™, Splicers®, RECON®, The Rifter® #1-85, and others, there are Game Master and player aids, character generators, paper minis, map packs, and FREE Previews of books like Creature Feature™, Dead Reign, Coalition Manhunters, Titan Robotics™, Rifts Bestiary Volume One, World Books, Dimension Books, and more to give you a glimpse of what’s in the book. Enjoy endless adventures across the Megaverse®.

Palladium Collectibles – at Kevin’s Online Toy & Collectibles eBay Store

I am adding new collectibles of all kinds to my Ebay store in time for the holiday season. Some are Palladium negatives, rare and out of print books, original Palladium artwork, prints, posters, as well as other collectible toys, action figures, Nightmare Before Christmas items, one-of-a-kind proofreader copies, books, and other good stuff – including Erick Wujcik’s rare and sought after Amberzine #12-15. Check in every week or so to see what’s new. All items come from Kevin Siembieda’s personal collection.


One-of-a-kind Palladium Books negatives (special and rare collectibles). Negatives are always very popular items at the Palladium Open House, Gen Con, and conventions, and are catching on as rare collectibles, unique in and of themselves. Before digital printing, pages of a book were laid out by hand on a board, and each page was photographed.

  • Each negative is truly unique, attractive, and fun to have.

  • Own a piece of Palladium Books and RPG history you will treasure.

  • Each was used to print the very book you may have in your collection (1981-2004).

  • Each is signed in silver ink by Kevin Siembieda and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

  • Each negative is a one-of-a-kind work of art (on rare occasions, two-of-a-kind if a page or section of pages were replaced or a second edition was made).

  • Looks great matted or framed! Fits an 8×10 inch matt opening. Each neg is roughly 8 ½ x 11 inches.

  • Prices vary depending on the title, the art, and quality of the negative. Note: Many have scratches, or blemishes, and/or an opaque medium on the negative. Still, they look great and are a piece of RPG history. We recommend you carefully examine the photographs of each item to avoid disappointment. The negatives of many books are sold out or were never available.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

News Briefs


– Enjoy the last batch of Surprise Package comments from fans like you at the end of this Weekly Update. Our thanks to all our fans for your support and kind words. Keep your imaginations burning bright and game on.


TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux is magnificent. Even though Sean has been working remotely in a faraway land and battling a bug, he has made tremendous progress on the TMNT Redux books as they near completion. I’ve seen the finished layout for the Redux RPG and Transdimensional Adventures hardcovers and … wow, they look amazing. Gorgeous. Inspired. Sean outdid himself with layout and design. Gamers and TMNT fans of every stripe will love these attractive tomes filled with beautiful, full color artwork and bonus material galore. There will be a Kickstarter update coming soon, but I can tell you that the RPG Redux has topped out at 272 pages – that’s 16 bonus pages. Plus there are extra mutants, tables, bonus rules, written remembrances, and tribute art (30+ full page illustrations between the two books) that are sure to delight. In fact, we just added Eric Talbot to the list of notable comic book and gaming artists doing these splash page tributes. More details to come soon.


– TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux editions are one of the featured games in the February Game Trade Magazine, issue #300. There is an article in it by Sean, and a special TMNT giveaway in the back. Awesome.


– GAMA Trade Show – February 23-27, 2025 – Retailers and store personnel, please visit the Palladium Books Booth #1176 near Monte Cook Games and Wet Ink Games toward the back of the exhibitor’s hall. We will have some TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux samples to show you, can provide more information about it, Rifts, and other Palladium game lines, provide autographs, and help you to discover the growing Megaverse® of Palladium products. We might even have some fun giveaways (while supplies last).


Palladium YouTube channel. J-M DeFoggi and Molly’s visit to the Palladium Studio was a blast, and we even had Rick Meints from Chaosium join us for dinner. J-M and I outlined the next year’s worth of videos (in addition to the 30 already recorded), so you can expect plenty more fun and insightful videos as we continue the Palladium history followed by RPG tips for Game Masters and players, discussions on campaign design, writing games, and more.


– Join the RPG audiobook revolution! I really believe this is the beginning of something fun and big. We’re glad to be part of it and you can too! Snag Palladium’s first audio RPG title, Nightbane®: Dark Designs Audiobook, being crowdfunded right now on Backerkit by the Audio RPG company, under license. The quality is excellent and the new medium brings games to life like I never imagined. You are going to love these audiobooks, especially if you already listen to novels as audiobooks. This is just the first of many. Please check it out!


Nightbane® Book SALE. Save 30% on most Nightbane® titles. The Nightbane® RPG, its sourcebooks and a few select issues of The Rifter® are on sale till February 6 at the Palladium online store, and Nightbane PDF titles are on sale on DriveThruRPG.com – enjoy.


Valley of the Pharaohs 40th Anniversary Edition is a unique collectible being made available for a very limited time. Get yours while you still can. Available as both a softcover and bonus hardcover edition. A fun collectable with fun new characters, spells and magic items.


– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Game Designer, Writer and Friend

Surprise Package Comments from fans like you

Yes, Christmas has come and gone, the 2024 Surprise Package deal has come to an end, and the New Year is upon us. Yet, I still like to share with you some of the fun and interesting fan comments we receive in the Christmas Surprise Packages till the end of January. Our thanks for all the kind words, great suggestions, and love that you all send our way. Enjoy and let us try to keep the spirit and joy of Christmas in our hearts every day throughout the year. A tall order, but let’s try.


– Kevin Siembieda (and the Palladium Crew)

J.O. in Niagara Falls, New York, writes (in part): I played Rifts® back in the 1990s, want to get back into it. I also pre-ordered the new TMNT books … D&D is cool, but I enjoyed the world of Rifts and would love to share that with new players.


[Welcome back, J.O.! Sounds like a plan. You’re going to love the TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG books, they are beautiful and fun. You’re smart to pre-order at the lower Kickstarter prices. Game on. – Kevin]

D.S. in Webster, New York, writes (in part): Continuing collecting just about anything I can from Palladium …


[Glad to hear it, D.S., we appreciate your years of fierce support. I hope you enjoyed the Surprise Package. Didn’t know what else to send. – Kevin]



E.A. in Olympia, Washington, writes (in part): Hello Kevin, Sean, and Everyone at Palladium Books. Thank you for doing the YouTube videos. The Palladium ones have been educational and emotional. I have not been able to meet either of you in person yet, so the videos, for me, are a means to hear your stories, and learn your insights. I have learned so much from you, Kevin. The interview that dealt with the Palladium Weapon Series blew my mind … Blessings to each of you and yours …


[Hi E.A., I’m sure we’ll meet some day, but until then, please continue to enjoy the videos. A new Palladium one is posted every other week on our YouTube channel, and I think they only get better and better. I hope folks enjoy the Secret Stories of the Defilers too. That’s my original game group at the Detroit Gaming Center; talk about crazy adventures. We’ll also start to talk about creating and running game campaigns, GMing, and more. Also check out the Glitterbois podcasts and Legion of Myth for more historical insight and game chats. – Kevin]



Q.J. in Evansville, Indiana, writes (in part): I would like to thank everyone at Palladium for not giving up and sacrificing so much, working hard and diligently to provide me and millions of others with such rich and delicious worlds to play in.


Kevin, thank you for … showing some of us that no matter what you are going through, even if the world is falling apart around you, that as long as you keep at it, your dreams are invincible …


[Wow, Q.J., you are an inspirational writer. Thank you for your heartfelt comments, they mean the world to me. We appreciate you recognizing our dedication to our audience and our dreams. It would be wonderful if the handling of our own trials and tribulations manages to help others get through theirs as well. Life is hard and challenging. Sometimes it’s full of pain and grief. Sometimes you feel like you can’t go on and should just give up, but that’s never the answer. Life is also filled with kindness, beauty, with sweet surprises like your touching comments. Thank you. We should never give up, no matter what, because the bad and the sorrowful will be replaced with beauty and joy, friends and love. Tears and sorrow get replaced with laughter and fun. I always try to see the good and the beautiful. And over the years, I’ve learned to never underestimate the human spirit. We need to count our blessings and be thankful for what we have while we can. I’m thankful for you and all our fans. Take care and stay awesome, all of you. – Kevin]



G.W. in Salem, Oregon, writes (in part): … the last couple of years when I have done a Surprise Package it has been wonderful. Thank you for all that the Palladium team does and has done. Everyone there is awesome!


[G.W., I don’t know about everyone here being awesome – just kidding! I work with some of the most wonderful and generous people in the world. I am very blessed, G.W., to have such great individuals and such wonderful fans at my side. Thank you. – Kevin]



D.T. in San Antonio, Texas, writes (in part): Looking forward to the TMNT & Other Strangeness Redux books coming soon and hope for Island at the Edge of the World Second Edition … you’re very much in people’s prayers … Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you all.


[Thank you for your personal message, D.T., it was very appreciated. I hope your Christmas was a joyful one and we appreciate every prayer and well wish sent our way. You know the TMNT books are coming this year and with a little luck, that other title too. Ho, ho, ho and happy New Year. – Kevin]



D.R. in Germantown, Maryland, writes (in part): … I’m doing a Mercenary Campaign set back East around Washington D.C. and the Shemarrians …


[Any game involving Archie-3 should be a blast, D.R. Keep your imagination burning bright. – Kevin]



S.S. in Atascocita, Texas, writes (in part): … I have used the Surprise Package over the last 5 years to rebuild my collection and I’m thrilled to say I’m starting up a Rifts® group for several people that have never played …


[I’m glad we could help, S.S., and I hope your Rifts® campaign with the newbies goes well. It sounds fun. – Kevin]



J.T. in Harlingen, Texas, writes (in part): … See you all again next holiday season. Nothing but love for all of you.


[Ditto J.T., the Surprise Package deal will return next holiday season. All those books in the five Grab Bags you ordered should keep you busy till then. Ho, ho, ho and happy New Year to all. – Kevin]

Nightbane® Sales & More – Palladium Books® – Weekly Update – January 23, 2025

Weekly Update

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

BY KEVIN SIEMBIEDA

Nightbane® Sales & More – Palladium Books® – Weekly Update – January 23, 2025

This week Nightbane® is the center of attention! The Nightbane: Dark Designs audiobook crowdfunding campaign starts today, January 23, 2025. Plus there are two related Nightbane® sales. Be part of this historic event: Palladium’s first audiobook. Of course, if the Nightbane® audiobook series does well, we will do audiobooks for Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy, Dead Reign®, BTS, Heroes Unlimited, and all of our games. Thank you for your support. Say yes to RPG audiobooks! The crowdfunder lasts only two weeks.

Nightbane RPG Sale

Nightbane®: Dark Designs Audiobook

An RPG audiobook may sound crazy, but it won’t after you listen to the sample presented in this Nightbane: Dark Designs Audiobook crowdfunder taking place on Backerkit by one of Palladium’s new licensing partners. It sounds amazing! We were all blown away by the quality.

  • Fun to listen to.

  • Relaxing game prep.

  • Professional narration.

  • Convenient for the busy G.M.

  • Hearing the words spoken by a professional narrator makes the book come to life in a whole new way and feel brand new.

  • Hearing it also makes you notice game and adventure details you may have missed reading it yourself.

  • EVERYONE at Palladium endorses this product 100%. Go to the page and listen for yourself. You’ll be as pleased as we are.

  • Dive into the thrilling Urban Fantasy world of Nightbane® with Nightbane: Dark Designs.

  • Your Next RPG Adventure starts here when you experience the Nightbane: Dark Designs sourcebook in a whole new way with a professionally narrated audiobook. Packed with new Morphus tables, Talents, and tools for players and GMs.

  • Perfect for enhancing your Nightbane campaign or exploring its lore on the go.

  • Nightbane: Dark Designs audiobook takes you through new Morphus tables, Talents, and insights into Nightbane. Perfect for GMs and players, this audiobook transforms your rulebook into a listening experience you’ll love.

  • The project is crowdfunding on Backerkit now!

Nightbane RPG Sale

Nightbane® SALE – Save 20-30% on physical books – limited time offer

Nightbane® RPG Softcover – Cat. No. 730 – $20.29 (normally $28.99 retail) – 240 pages. Urban Fantasy! Nightbane creation rules, Talents, and powers, but to use their powers, the young Nightbane must turn into monsters themselves. Includes inhuman factions, magic, psychic abilities, sorcery, dozens of monsters, world info, and a gallery of enemies and monsters. Nightlords, Vampires, Lightbringers, Hunters, Hounds, and Hollow Men are just some of the bizarre beings your tragic heroes will encounter on their journey of self-discovery and heroism. Join the secret war against a demonic invasion most people do not even know has taken place. The shapeshifting Nightlords, their evil Dopplegangers and other demonic minions are quietly taking over the world, starting with the most powerful nations. You know it is happening because you are the Nightbane. And only you can stop it.


Nightbane® RPG “Bonus” Edition Hardcover – Cat. No. 730HC – $ 31.99 (normally $44.99 retail) – 304 pages – 60 extra pages of bonus material. Urban Fantasy! Your teenage or young adult Nightbane characters face dark magic, vampires, demons, monsters and conspiracy, but that won’t stop them! Join the secret war against a demonic invasion most people do not even know has taken place. You see the truth and know what is happening because that is one of the many Nightbane gifts. You can see the true demonic forms of these invaders and you can destroy them. The only wrinkle is you must reveal your monstrous supernatural form – your Morphus – to call upon your superhuman and magical powers. Oh, and the government is controlled by the Nightlords and their shape-changing demonic minions who fear and hunt all Nightbane. Available while supplies last.


Nightbane®: Between the Shadows™ – Cat. No. 731 – $17.49 (normally $24.99 retail) – 144 pages. Psychic agents, more monsters, navigating the Dreamscape and the Astral Plane, the vampire conspiracy, and more.


Nightbane®: Nightlands™ – Cat. No. 732 – $17.49 (normally $24.99 retail) – 144 pages. 12+ monsters, 12+ demonic and mystical villains, the twisted mirror-dimension of Earth that is the Nightlands described, and more.


Nightbane®: Through the Glass Darkly™ – Cat. No. 733 – $17.49 (normally $24.99 retail) – 152 pages. New types of magic including Fleshsculptor, Cybermage, Mirrormage, Nemesis, Living Pathways, and 50 magic spells, plus talismans, magic artifacts, three new full adventures, dozens of adventure hooks, and other source material to make you cringe with delight.


Nightbane® Shadows of Light – Cat. No. 734 – $17.49 (normally $24.99 retail) – 160 pages. new insights to the world of the Nightbane, new dangers and strange beings, Fallen Guardians, a vampire conspiracy, the city of Pittsburgh outlined, and more.


Nightbane® Survival Guide – Cat. No. 735 – $17.49 (normally $24.99 retail) – 160 pages. Everything you want to know about Nightbane but were afraid to ask. How to unleash your potential as a Nightbane®, many new Morphus tables, many new powers, new magic and new dangers. A complete adventure plus adventure ideas, Nightbane creation guidelines, Nightbane history, psychology and more.


Nightbane®: Dark Designs™ – Cat. No. 736 – $17.49 (normally $24.99 retail) – 160 pages. The ultimate guide to creating the Nightbane and a sourcebook for players and Game Masters alike. 18 new and comprehensive Morphus Tables. 60 new Common Talents, 38 new Elite Talents, Transformation Transition Table, Talent creation and conversion rules, Appendix of 23 Morphus Tables, Appendix of 53 Talents gathered from the Nightbane® RPG and Sourcebooks, Ancient Nightbane R.C.C. and more. Available while supplies last.


The Rifter® #82 – Cat. No. 182 – $10.49 (normally $14.99 retail) – 96 pages. Chaos Earth® Nebraska Conclusion, the Pyromancer O.C.C., 50+ new Pyromancy spells; Nightbane® age tables, and more.


The Rifter® #84 – Cat. No. 184 – $10.49 (normally $14.99 retail) – 96 pages. BTS: Monster and adventure, NIghtbane® Spellbound O.C.C., Golems, an Elven Kingdom, HU2: City of Cascade, and more.


The Rifter® #85 – Cat. No. 185 – $18.89 (normally $24.99 retail) – 224 pages. The largest printed issue of The Rifter® ever. Filled with fun across the Megaverse®. Glitter Boy upgrades, weapons, and variants; a Rifts® Story with Skelebots, dinosaurs, and innocent people in the way; the Rifts State of Rapid City; Fantasy Elven Empire, Fantasy Colony of Gonarn and adventure; 3 Heroes Unlimited Hardware O.C.C.s, an HU tribute by Freddie E. Williams; Phase World®; 25 Dead Reign® vehicle encounter tables and adventure; BTS story and adventure plot hooks; the Nightbane® Redeemer, and more.

Nightbane® PDF SALE on DriveThruRPG.com – limited time offer

The PDFs of the Nightbane® titles listed above are on sale at DriveThruRPG.com for a limited time. Both sales end with the two week crowdfunding campaign for the Nightbane® audiobook.

History of Palladium Books on YouTube

Palladium Books® YouTube Channel

I am currently doing a comprehensive ongoing series hosted by the affable J-M DeFoggi on the Official History of Palladium Books. A new episode posts every other week, plus the occasional bonus episode. It is being presented in rough chronological order and includes Secret Stories of the Defilers. The Defilers are my legendary, first campaign at the Detroit Gaming Center (DGC) where I ran 26 regular players for 12 hours every Saturday night for three and a half years. The DGC is also where I met folks like Erick Wujcik, Matthew Balent, Julius Rosenstein, and my first wife Maryann, and developed concepts and play-tested many Palladium rules and RPGs. We will also be sliding into topics about running games, writing, game design, character and monster creation, and lots of other themes as well as interviewing other people such as Matthew Balent, Ramon K. Perez, Freddie E. Williams II, etc., and a host of Palladium staff and creators. Please don’t hesitate to offer topic suggestions to any of the social media outlets listed here.


Here are some of the episodes currently available:


Coming YouTube Videos: Stories behind the creation of Heroes Unlimited, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness, Robotech®, Robotech® VHS tapes, Ninjas & Superspies, Beyond the Supernatural, Rifts® (a few episodes), Dead Reign®, and more, including Games that Almost Happened (but didn’t), and Close Encounters (with Hollywood and videogames).


A new episode goes up every other week with the occasional bonus episode in between. Many more chats are coming. Each one a friendly and candid conversation that gamers are enjoying. J-M Defoggi and I, Kevin Siembieda, reveal the origin stories behind your favorite Palladium role-playing games and sourcebooks. We will eventually switch to topics about running RPGs, designing adventures, Game Master and player tips, alignments, magic, writing RPGs, and others.

Legion of Myth live chat with Kevin Siembieda – Sunday, January 26, 2025

Sean is out of the country on business, so you’ll have to put up with just me, MaxLiao, and Heathdog. Silliness, fun, and information are almost a guarantee. The chat with me starts at 2:00 PM till about 4:00 PM but the show will be recorded and made available after the live broadcast. We’ll touch on what’s happening at Palladium a bit and then engage in some role-playing game topics like risk/reward in combat and more. Please spread the word and join the fun.

Glitterbois and RealPlayGames Podcasts

I will be returning to do more interviews with the ever popular Glitterbois in February. Meanwhile, there are numerous discussions about role-playing and Palladium’s many game settings and book titles by the hosts, as well as an ongoing series of chats about the history of Palladium Books with me (Kevin Siembieda, the guy who started the company and has written or co-written 200+ RPG books). These are a blast and sometimes digress to include our views on various aspects of role-playing and Game Mastering. Lots of fun and stories.

– RealPlayGames Podcast – These talented fans have been creating radio-play style podcasts based on various Palladium RPG worlds for years. Their audience is growing. They are currently at the tail end of their Season One Palladium Fantasy series: Surviving Love. It sees a bunch of sexy dating show singles from the real world flung into the Palladium Fantasy world. The reception to it has been reported as nothing short of fantastic; their biggest and, by a large margin, best-performing podcast release to date! Check it out. They also plan to release their second season of Cozy Caverns Mysteries, based on Beyond the Supernatural 2E, in February, and have plans for other projects in development. Meanwhile, previous podcasts based on After the Bomb, Heroes Unlimited, and BTS remain available for your listening enjoyment.

Valley of the Pharaohs RPG Expanded 40th Anniversary Edition – available for a limited time

Waaaay back when, Palladium Books published the Valley of Pharaohs RPG as a box game. Well, 40 years later, I gave the author, my pal, Matthew Balent (best known for Weapons & Armour, Weapons & Castles, Weapons & Castles of the Orient, etc.), permission to reuse my artwork in a new, vastly expanded redux edition of the original game. It is a big 200+ page RPG. (The original was only 64 or 96 pages plus a dozen maps and diagrams.) The game rules are Matthew’s own creation with some unique ideas and mechanics you may find interesting, Meanwhile, the spells, characters, and ideas can be adapted to the Palladium game system with a little work. The lore, history, and writing is outstanding, so if you love Egyptian mythology, this is a must have item. Likewise, Palladium collectors may want one because the original 1985 box game is super-rare and expensive, but this authorized expanded 40th Anniversary edition is affordable and a good read. Available from Palladium Books for a limited time. Thank you for supporting the hard work of my friend, Matthew Balent, who played an important role in the early days of Palladium Books.

254 page softcover – $40 retail – Cat. No. 2621

274 page hardcover with bonus material – $60 retail – Cat. No. 2621HC

NEW! Nightbane® Automated Character Sheet


Now available on DriveThruRPG.com – The Nightbane Automated Character Sheet follows a similar format as the popular Rifts® Automated Character Sheet designed by Greg Diaczyk.

  • Microsoft Excel-based system for creating, updating, and tracking your Nightbane RPG characters quickly and easily. Once you know the system, you can have characters up and ready in 10-15 minutes!

  • Create your human Facade and Nightbane Morphus in minutes.

  • Offers a vast range of Morphus choices.

  • Select from scores of Common and Elite Nightbane Talents.

  • Spells, psionics, and more.

  • $5.00 – Available now on DriveThruRPG.com and coming soon on PalladiumBooks.com – Created by Greg Diaczyk.

300+ RPG products on DriveThru – a dozen unique world settings – one game system – endless possibilities. No other game company offers game worlds for so many different genres. Best of all, learn to play one Palladium RPG and you can play them all, because each uses the same basic core rules and combat. There are differences, but the fundamentals are the same. This also means you can bring characters, villains, monsters, powers, magic, weapons, gear, and adventure ideas from one setting into another or mash them together!


In addition to PDF titles for entire game lines like Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy®, Heroes Unlimited™, Ninjas & Superspies™, After the Bomb®, Beyond the Supernatural™, Dead Reign® (zombies), Nightbane® (Urban Fantasy), Rifts Chaos Earth®, Systems Failure™, Splicers®, RECON®, The Rifter® #1-85, and others, there are Game Master and player aids, character generators, paper minis, map packs, and FREE Previews of books like Creature Feature™, Dead Reign, Coalition Manhunters, Titan Robotics™, Rifts Bestiary Volume One, World Books, Dimension Books, and more to give you a glimpse of what’s in the book. Enjoy endless adventures across the Megaverse®.

Palladium Collectibles – at Kevin’s Online Toy & Collectibles eBay Store

I am adding new collectibles of all kinds to my Ebay store in time for the holiday season. Some are Palladium negatives, rare and out of print books, original Palladium artwork, prints, posters, as well as other collectible toys, action figures, Nightmare Before Christmas items, one-of-a-kind proofreader copies, books, and other good stuff – including Erick Wujcik’s rare and sought after Amberzine #12-15. Check in every week or so to see what’s new. All items come from Kevin Siembieda’s personal collection.


One-of-a-kind Palladium Books negatives (special and rare collectibles). Negatives are always very popular items at the Palladium Open House, Gen Con, and conventions, and are catching on as rare collectibles, unique in and of themselves. Before digital printing, pages of a book were laid out by hand on a board, and each page was photographed.

  • Each negative is truly unique, attractive, and fun to have.

  • Own a piece of Palladium Books and RPG history you will treasure.

  • Each was used to print the very book you may have in your collection (1981-2004).

  • Each is signed in silver ink by Kevin Siembieda and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

  • Each negative is a one-of-a-kind work of art (on rare occasions, two-of-a-kind if a page or section of pages were replaced or a second edition was made).

  • Looks great matted or framed! Fits an 8×10 inch matt opening. Each neg is roughly 8 ½ x 11 inches.

  • Prices vary depending on the title, the art, and quality of the negative. Note: Many have scratches, or blemishes, and/or an opaque medium on the negative. Still, they look great and are a piece of RPG history. We recommend you carefully examine the photographs of each item to avoid disappointment. The negatives of many books are sold out or were never available.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Back among the living


Gah. I have a killer head cold or bug of some kind, but it’s the fever that I hate. It has had me out of commission all week and part of last. I think I might have had it beaten because I was feeling great Saturday and Sunday until I overdid it working and staying up late. Monday morning the bug had returned with a vengeance. I’m finally feeling better, but now I’m coughing and look and feel worn out, so my apologies in advance if I’m not in top form on Legion of Myth this Sunday afternoon (2:00 PM Eastern Time, please join us) or in a DeFoggi interview or two. Sheesh. Still it’s good to be back among the living (mostly), after a very zombie-like Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.


Despite my being ill, we actually made a lot of headway on several fronts. TMNT & Other Strangeness being one of them (everything looks so good) and GAMA Trade Show (February 23-27) preparations being another that I’m at liberty to talk about.


The infamous J-M DeFoggi (and Molly) will be braving the Plague Zone here at the

office with a highly anticipated visit to the Palladium Books studio. Though we met in person at last year’s Chaosium Con in 2024, J-M and his pal Molly have never been onsite at Palladium and they are looking forward to it. By the way, Sean thinks we should refer to the offices/warehouse/Palladium HQ as the Palladium Books Studio, because we really are more of a “studio” than an office. I mean, this is where the books are conceived, designed, and laid out, there is original art and prints, games, and life-sized statues (Leonardo, Storm Trooper, Stan Winston Alien, and numerous Halloween props) all over the place, so definitely NOT your typical office environment. It very much has a playful studio vibe. I also like the “studio” designation, so that’s what we’ll be transitioning over to calling Palladium H.Q. – the Palladium Books Studio. Sean and I just need to remember to do so consistently.


Say yes to RPG audiobooks! It may sound crazy, but you MUST check out the Nightbane: Dark Designs audiobook being crowdfunded right now on Backerkit. It sounds amazing. I always thought making RPG audiobooks was a good idea, but we were all blown away by the quality. You are going to love these, especially if you already listen to novels as audiobooks. It makes the books come alive in a different way. The publisher has chosen to start with the sourcebooks to lead into the grand finale of the core rule book to build excitement and anticipation for the RPG. Please check it out!


Nightbane SALE. We thought we’d offer the Nightbane RPG and sourcebooks on sale while the crowdfunder was going to help spur excitement. You can find books on sale at the Palladium online store and PDF titles on sale on DriveThruRPG.com – enjoy.


– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Game Designer, Writer and Friend

Surprise Package Comments from fans like you

Yes, Christmas has come and gone, the 2024 Surprise Package deal has come to an end, and the New Year is upon us. Yet, I still like to share with you some of the fun and interesting fan comments we receive in the Christmas Surprise Packages till the end of January. Our thanks for all the kind words, great suggestions, and love that you all send our way. Enjoy and let us try to keep the spirit and joy of Christmas in our hearts every day throughout the year. A tall order, but let’s try.


– Kevin Siembieda (and the Palladium Crew)

T.C. in Corvallis, Oregon, writes (in part): … I just want to give you folks money. Love your stuff. What a lovely list of great memories with my best friends you folks have given me.


[Glad to hear it T.C., the important things in life are the great memories and friendships. Here’s to many more years of RPG fun. Oh, and please feel free to give us money any time. Ha, ha, ha. – Kevin]



M.G. in Old Bridge, New Jersey, writes (in part): Thank you guys for everything and keep at it. Been loving the podcasts on Glitterbois and getting all the history and mind set of the development of this vast world. Thank you for not selling out and [for] working so hard to keep it in house and so pure …


[The Glitterbois podcasts, Legion of Myth, and Palladium Books YouTube channel chats have been a blast to do, M.G., with much more to come. Rest assured there are no plans to “sell out.” We’ve had plenty of offers, but we love keeping it real and pure. Sean and other people joining our ranks understand what Palladium is all about. So you should expect more of the same for years to come. – Kevin]



J.O.L. in East Moline, Illinois, writes (in part): I have always enjoyed the Palladium game system. I just wish there were more new books coming out …


[With any luck, J.O.L., you’ll begin to see a lot more new releases, starting this year. Game on! – Kevin]



L.M. in Christchurch, New Zealand, writes: Rifts® has been really fun to G.M. and the lore is still keeping me interested.


[Glad to hear it, L.M., thanks for the years of support. Game on! – Kevin]



J.F. in Reston, Virginia, writes (in part): … this is for my husband. He loves your material. You should see his bookshelf. In fact, you should listen to his one-man game, Dying Psi podcast.


[I hope he enjoyed the Surprise Package J.F. I’m so busy I don’t have much time to listen to many new podcasts, but I’ll try to remember. Meanwhile, maybe others will discover his podcast with this mention. – Kevin]



D.C. Jr., in Oxford, Georgia, writes (in part): … Thanks for all of y’all’s amazing hard work. I really enjoy the shows you do with the Legion of Myth, and Kevin, I’m deeply saddened for the loss of your life partner. Let her loving memory be your inspiration.


[Thank you, D.C., we enjoy doing the shows with the Legion of Myth, the Glitterbois, and others. In fact, I will be on the Legion of Myth, Sunday, January 26, and back on Glitterbois in February I think. Sean and I are so happy so many thousands of fans enjoy them so much. My memories of Kathy warm my heart and are, indeed, my inspiration to keep going and to be the best person I can be. – Kevin]



S.D. in Omaha, Nebraska, writes (in part): I’ve recently realized that come this month (January, 2025), I’ve been playing various Palladium Books games for 35 years! Here’s hoping that I get to for 35 more!


[Amen, S.D., good health and a long, happy life to you. I’ve brought in Sean and others to help ensure that Palladium Books grows and gets stronger so it keeps on going for generations to come. Game on, my friend. – Kevin]



J.D. in Odessa, Texas, writes: Just like to say thank you for years of enjoyment. I purchased my first Palladium RPG back in the late 1980s and you guys have always been my favorite. I’m looking forward to the TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux books and everything else you offer. All the best in the future. Take care.


[Thank you J.D., same to you. You’ll love those books. And folks can still pre-order them at the lower Kickstarter price, but not for very much longer. – Kevin]

J.N. in Martinez, California, writes (in part): I’ve been playing Rifts® since 1991, when I was in 6th grade … I started an online game during the pandemic … and been playing the same characters ever since … Thank you for keeping Rifts® going. It’s given me over 30 years of joy and friendships.


[I love stories like these J.N., and it’s what I love about RPGs. It’s not just about cooperative gaming and weaving of epic stories, but the friendships that are formed. Game on! – Kevin]



C.A. in Crystal Lake, Illinois, writes: Love this company and the game system.


[Thanks, C.A., and we love and appreciate you. – Kevin]

Palladium Books® Weekly Update – October 31, 2024

Weekly Update

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

Palladium Books® Weekly Update

October 31, 2024

Happy Halloween! Be safe out there when trick or treating with the kids or going to parties tonight and over the weekend. There’s a lot of news and updates. Enjoy.


SALE FINAL Hours – DriveThruRPG.com Halloween Horror Sale. This is your last chance to stock up on thousands of horror RPG products as PDF books from Palladium and many other companies. Beyond the Supernatural, Dead Reign®, Nightbane®, and other Palladium titles across the Megaverse® with an element of horror are all part of the sale. And it’s not just haunting Palladium PDF titles, but those of Chaosium, Pinnacle, and dozens of other RPG companies to get your scare on. Check it out before it’s too late. Sale ends 10:00 AM Eastern Time Friday morning, November 1.

Also available on DriveThruRPG.com – The Nightbane® Automated Character Sheet! It follows a similar format as the popular Rifts® Automated Character Sheet designed by Greg Diaczyk. There’s also a Palladium Fantasy Interactive Character Sheet and NPC Sheet. See more details below or on DriveThruRPG.

SALE! The best deal in gamingPalladium Christmas Surprise Package – $100+ in product for $60 plus shipping – available now! But don’t take our word for it.


A.W. in Mountain Grove, Missouri, had this to say (in part): “This will be my second Surprise Package this year! The first one arrived so soon after ordering, I wasn’t expecting it. Which makes it one of the best birthday gifts I’ve ever received … I will definitely be buying a few more of these before the year is out.”


W.M.C. in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, said (in part): “Wow. Is it that time of year already? Love these Christmas packages. With the godawful exchange and shipping rates to Canada, this is the best way to acquire new (and rare) Palladium book titles.


R.M. in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, writes: “Second year ordering the Grab Bag. It’s a fantastic deal I now look forward to. Thank you and happy holidays!”


A typical Surprise Package nets you 4-6 books, signed by Kevin Siembieda and available staff if you request it. That’s 4-6 books for what you’d usually pay for ONE core rule book! The Surprise Package is the perfect gamer gift for the holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries; something special and all on the cheap! You can also treat yourself with books you’ve been wanting, or try new game settings, or replace battered old books. Don’t limit yourself to just books either, everything in the Palladium store can be considered for your Surprise Package – miniatures, poker decks, art prints, bookmarks, coffee mugs, greeting cards, and other products. See more details by clicking the link below and learn why the Christmas Surprise Package has been a fan favorite for 26 years. No other game company does anything like this. Limited time offer.

News! Join Kevin Siembieda and Sean Owen Roberson for a “live chat” about magic and psionics on Legion of Myth – Sunday, November 3, at 3:00 PM Eastern Time. Join the fun. Do we need to say more?

News! Glitterbois podcast – Rifts® Part One and Two coming soon. We believe the Rifts® Part One podcast with Kevin Siembieda and the guys has been made available or will be posted soon (this weekend?). Meanwhile, Kevin and the Glitterbois have already recorded Rifts® Part Two so it should go live in a week or two. We’re delighted you are enjoying these podcasts, as well as the chats on Legion of Myth and Palladium’s YouTube video history of Palladium Books with Kevin Siembieda and J-M DeFoggi.

History of Palladium Books on YouTube

News! Palladium Books® YouTube Channel offers the Official History of Palladium Books. Two episodes are available now with many more coming every other week (20+ are in the can). These friendly and candid conversations are already a hit with fans, which makes us all very happy, especially Kevin and J-M.


The first 24 or so episodes recount the history of Palladium Books in loose chronological order by game line. Watch for more fun in the months ahead including Tales of the Defilers and interviews with notable Palladium Books creators like Sean Owen Roberson, Matthew Clements, Matthew Balent, Ramon K. Perez, Freddie E. Williams II, and others. Please offer suggestions about topics of discussion for our future consideration. Thank you.

News! What’s hot at Palladium this week – Palladium Fantasy® remains crazy hot this week along with all things Rifts® and Dead Reign®. Among Surprise Packages we are seeing requests for all our game lines across the board, but particularly Rifts®, Chaos Earth®, Palladium Fantasy, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Systems Failure, Dead Reign® and Nightbane®. Thank you for your support and keep the orders coming.

Rifts for Savage Worlds: Europa Kickstarter

News! Coming November 12, 2024 – Rifts® for Savage Worlds: Europa Kickstarter by Pinnacle Entertainment – Even if you don’t use the Savage Worlds game system you may want to check it out. Why? Because it fills in the blanks about Rifts® Europe (Italy, Germany, France, England, etc.) as of 109 PA. This is ALL “official” world and source material authorized and approved by Palladium Books (specifically Sean Roberson and Kevin Siembieda). Which means you can easily adapt the world information, gear, maps, adventures, and more into your Palladium Rifts campaign or start a new one. Learn more by clicking the link below to see the Rifts® Europa Kickstarter preview page. Game on and enjoy.

Xmas Grab Bags are back!

Christmas Surprise Package – Now Shipping

Huge savings, surprises, and autographs (if you request them) that thrill the purchaser. This is the 26th year we are offering this fan favorite Christmas season bargain because we love doing it as much as you love getting them.


What is a Christmas Surprise Package?


A smile and a hug that comes in a box filled with signed game books from available Palladium staff and freelancers. It is a way for you to get physical books (and autographs if you want them) at PDF prices! $100+ worth of Palladium products for only $60 (plus shipping)! That can nab you four or more items when these days one core rule book can cost you that alone.


These Christmas Surprise Packages are our way of saying thank you for your support and showing you our love and appreciation. It’s a surprise because you never know exactly what you’re going to get or who will sign your books, because we pick from your Wish List and may surprise you with stuff you are not expecting. Extra items may include other RPGs, sourcebooks, issues of the Rifter®, novels, miniatures, prints, art books, greeting cards, T-shirts, negatives, and other items. Some books may be slightly damaged (scuffs, scratches, dings, a bent or crunched corner, etc.) so we can send you more.


No other RPG company on the planet has an offer like this. Truly the best deal in gaming to get unique and special holiday gifts for the gamers in your life, or for yourself.


Christmas Surprise Packages are not just for Christmas. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or the Winter Solstice, or you are looking for that special gift for a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or any special occasion that falls between now and the end of the year, a Surprise Package may be the ideal way to go. You get a ton of stuff on the cheap, you can get a bunch of autographs (if you want ‘em), and you look like you spent a fortune.


This is also a great way to try that game setting you’ve wondered about – Splicers®, Dead Reign®, Chaos Earth®, Palladium Fantasy®, Nightbane®, Beyond the Supernatural, Rifts®, RECON, After the Bomb®, etc. – or to get something for your favorite Game Master. Or perhaps, to get your player group to consider a new game or setting.


Your “Wish List” is vital – the Palladium Surprise Packages are designed to simulate the joy and surprise of the Christmas Season of Giving. To do this, you submit a list of 12-15 Palladium products (or more) FOR EACH Surprise Package you order. This list of 12-15 items for EACH Grab Bag is critical, because you will not know which items we will select to send you. That makes it just like a Christmas gift because it’s a surprise. Plus, Surrogate Santa Kevin, who personally hand-picks every item for every Grab Bag, may toss in something extra like a limited edition print, or a negative or similar collector’s item, or an issue of The Rifter®, or something else he thinks you’ll enjoy.


Autographed books. For those of you who want them (which are most people), available members of the Palladium staff, and any freelancers we can lasso at the time, are happy to autograph each and every book in your Surprise Package. This is the only way many fans across the country and overseas can ever get signed books.


Send us your brief comments. There is a special form and format to fill out for Christmas Surprise Packages, including a place where you can offer your brief comments, suggestions, greetings and salutations.


First-timers are always nervous until they see the great value in their first Surprise Package. A typical Grab Bag has $100+ worth of product. Yes, often more, for only $60 plus shipping. Many people order 2-3. Some order 4-6, and some maniacs order even more! It makes sense, because it is a great way to fill holes in your own collection, treat yourself, get autographs, try new games and settings, rebuild your collection, replace worn out books, and get your gaming pals gifts. Only from PalladiumBooks.com – happy holidays. PLEASE spread the word about this great offer. Note: Search online for Palladium Surprise Package box opening videos to get an idea of what you can expect to receive. I know the Legion of Myth, among others, has such videos.


To those of you outside the USA, the X-Mas Surprise Package is a way to get books and circumvent the damn high cost of shipping from the United States, since you are getting $110 (often more) worth of product and only paying $60 plus shipping. Shipping via Priority Mail International (required for packages weighing more than four pounds) to most locations in Europe, Canada and many other countries is around $70-80 US dollars. HOWEVER, because the cost of the product is so low, that’s the equivalent of paying retail for the products and only $20-$40 for shipping. A very good deal. Plus you get autographs if you want them! X-Mas Surprise Packages are the way to go for those of you outside the USA. Please take advantage of it to get all those products you’ve wished you could get except the shipping was too prohibitive. We feel your pain. Game on!


Please spread the word. The Christmas Surprise Package is only publicized by word of mouth, on Palladium’s website, and social media, so please tell everyone you know. Buy one for every gamer you know. They make astonishing gifts for every occasion. Only from PalladiumBooks.com – happy holidays.

GiveSendGo Fundraising for BRIC needs our help

Some of you have supported this good cause before. It is a charity close to the heart of me and Sean, and every dollar goes direct to the people who need it, which makes a HUGE difference in saving lives in the Congo. Even a small donation is greatly appreciated, so please give if you can. Thank you so very much for your past financial support of RIGHT’s efforts to feed and protect the people rescued and sustained by the lifesaving BRIC project.


Through your donations, BRIC has been able to install an armored security gate, build enclosure walls, construct a building for offices and classrooms, and an enlarge a stage where students perform the creative, self-help exercises learned through BRIC seminars, as well as music and dance performances that inform and uplift the community. Most recently, they have built a small structure with a toilet and shower, as well as installed basic electricity to the compound. All of this is in addition to rescuing and rehabilitating those once forced into service as child soldiers and worse by rogue warlords and bandits.


These life sustaining improvements could not happen without your prayers and financial assistance since 2022, but our crusade to save and improve the lives of the people in the region is far from complete.


Feuding rebel warlords dangerously close to the homes of the people of Goma continue to control many roads, disrupt and block food supply lines, and harass the people. This has forced many citizens of Goma to turn to BRIC for help. Without that help, they must resort to foraging for food in the rebel-filled forest where they risk their lives or capture. Children left alone while parents forage for food are at great risk of being kidnapped and trafficked. BRIC allows fathers and mothers to drop their children at the enclosure. At this safe haven the children are fed with limited supplies of food, given school lessons, and provided other help as needed.


The Democratic Republic of Congo is currently facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. People are displaced, starving, and homeless. Making safe havens like BRIC necessary for survival. Please join me (Kevin Siembieda) and Sean Owen Roberson by helping in any way you can. Your donations, small or large, will save lives. Thank you.

AVAILABLE NOW!

Yin-Sloth Jungles cover

BACK IN STOCK!

Yin-Sloth Jungles, 2nd Edition, Revised and Expanded!


The Yin-Sloth Jungles™ is a savage and unexplored wilderness filled with exotic people, strange creatures, ancient ruins, dark gods, and ancient secrets waiting to be unearthed.


– 15 O.C.C.s, all updated and expanded, making them seem brand new: Beastmaster, Holy Crusader, Jungle Fighter, Man-Catcher, the unique Tezcat and Pygmy Shamans, Spy, Undead Hunter, and Witch Hunter, among others.

– 18 Jungle People and monsters updated and expanded to feel like new, plus a few additions.

– New and expanded Shaman Chant magic.

– New and unique Pygmy Shaman Chant magic.

– New and expanded history of the Yin-Sloth Jungles.

– Expanded and clarified weapons, jungle armor, poisons, & more.

– The Orcish Empire and a few notable cities.

– Filled with great artwork by Peterson (ROG) and Mike Mumah.

– Written by Kevin Siembieda, John Klinkel, and Patrick Nowak.

– 160 pages – $24.99 retail – Cat. No. 459 – available now.

– COMING SOON! Yin-Sloth Expeditions setting and adventure book.

Now on DriveThruRPG!

NEW! Yin-Sloth Jungles, 2nd Edition Revised and Expanded PDF on DriveThruRPG.com


Yin-Sloth Jungles, 2nd Edition is now available as a PDF book on DriveThruRPG.com – and so is the original 1st Edition book. Get one or both to compare or have in your PDF reference library.

DriveThruRPG.com Halloween Horror Sale offers all kinds of horror RPGs and sourcebooks as PDF books from Palladium and many other companies. Palladium’s Halloween Sale may be over (Or is it? Use the Surprise Package to get all the spooky books you want!) but the DriveThruRPG Halloween Sale has only just begun. And it’s not just haunting Palladium PDF titles on sale but those of Chaosium, Pinnacle, and dozens of other RPG companies. Thousands of titles to get your scare on. Check it out.


NEW! Nightbane® Automated Character Sheet


Now available on DriveThruRPG.com – The Nightbane Automated Character Sheet follows a similar format as the popular Rifts® Automated Character Sheet designed by Greg Diaczyk.

  • Microsoft Excel-based system for creating, updating, and tracking your Nightbane RPG characters quickly and easily. Once you know the system, you can have characters up and ready in 10-15 minutes!

  • Create your human Facade and Nightbane Morphus in minutes.

  • Offers a vast range of Morphus choices.

  • Select from scores of Common and Elite Nightbane Talents.

  • Spells, psionics, and more.

  • $5.00 – Available now on DriveThruRPG.com and coming soon on PalladiumBooks.com – Created by Greg Diaczyk.

300+ RPG products on DriveThru – a dozen unique world settings – one game system – endless possibilities. No other game company offers game worlds for so many different genres. Best of all, learn to play one Palladium RPG and you can play them all, because each uses the same basic core rules and combat. There are differences, but the fundamentals are the same. This also means you can bring characters, villains, monsters, powers, magic, weapons, gear, and adventure ideas from one setting into another or mash them together!


In addition to PDF titles for entire game lines like Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy®, Heroes Unlimited™, Ninjas & Superspies™, After the Bomb®, Beyond the Supernatural™, Dead Reign® (zombies), Nightbane® (Urban Fantasy), Rifts Chaos Earth®, Systems Failure™, Splicers®, RECON®, The Rifter® #1-85, and others, there are Game Master and player aids, character generators, paper minis, map packs, and FREE Previews of books like Creature Feature™, Dead Reign, Coalition Manhunters, Titan Robotics™, Rifts Bestiary Volume One, World Books, Dimension Books, and more to give you a glimpse of what’s in the book. Enjoy endless adventures across the Megaverse®.

Palladium Collectibles – at Kevin’s Online Toy & Collectibles eBay Store

I am adding new collectibles of all kinds to my Ebay store in time for the holiday season. Some are Palladium negatives, rare and out of print books, original Palladium artwork, prints, posters, as well as other collectible toys, action figures, Nightmare Before Christmas items, one-of-a-kind proofreader copies, books, and other good stuff – including Erick Wujcik’s rare and sought after Amberzine #12-15. Check in every week or so to see what’s new. All items come from Kevin Siembieda’s personal collection.


One-of-a-kind Palladium Books negatives (special and rare collectibles). Negatives are always very popular items at the Palladium Open House, Gen Con, and conventions, and are catching on as rare collectibles, unique in and of themselves. Before digital printing, pages of a book were laid out by hand on a board, and each page was photographed.

  • Each negative is truly unique, attractive, and fun to have.

  • Own a piece of Palladium Books and RPG history you will treasure.

  • Each was used to print the very book you may have in your collection (1981-2004).

  • Each is signed in silver ink by Kevin Siembieda and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

  • Each negative is a one-of-a-kind work of art (on rare occasions, two-of-a-kind if a page or section of pages were replaced or a second edition was made).

  • Looks great matted or framed! Fits an 8×10 inch matt opening. Each neg is roughly 8 ½ x 11 inches.

  • Prices vary depending on the title, the art, and quality of the negative. Note: Many have scratches, or blemishes, and/or an opaque medium on the negative. Still, they look great and are a piece of RPG history. We recommend you carefully examine the photographs of each item to avoid disappointment. The negatives of many books are sold out or were never available.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Scary Stuff


Gonna keep this one short. There’s a lot of scary and worrisome things going on in the world, but try not to let them bring you down. Instead, focus on gaming and good things like friends and family, and gaming. (Did I mention gaming?) Games, especially role-playing games, are an amazing escape from everyday worries. Sean and I were just gushing and recounting each of our favorite past games with friends involving demonic swords. We both got animated and excited retelling these adventures like a couple of nerdy fan boys. But you know what, we were laughing and having a good time just talking about our past games. This is why we love role-playing games so much. There’s nothing like them and the joyful memories and friendships last a lifetime.


I haven’t mentioned it much in these Updates lately, but the TMNT and Other Strangeness RPG Redux editions and related items are moving along. The books look amazing. How amazing? A visiting Westland Fire Department Captain expressed interest in the project, so Sean showed him the finished layout pages on his computer. This gentleman is not even an active gamer, but he went nuts over what he saw. He loved the art and layout and kept saying how these books are “going to kill” when they hit the stores. He went wild over the miniatures, too. He even wants to buy the books just to have and read. And this is from a non-gamer. Looking great. Sean is pulling out all the stops.


As for the election next week, if your preferred candidate loses, it is not the end of the world. Things will be okay. Stay frosty and hopeful. Drown your misery in a Palladium Surprise Package. Game on.


– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Game Designer, Friend, and Surrogate Santa

Palladium Weekly Update – September 19, 2024

Weekly Update

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

Hi, everyone. Are you enjoying wonderful weather where you live? This is the warmest and driest September on record in Michigan. Sixties in the mornings, 78-84 Fahrenheit in the afternoon; beautiful, dry, and sunny. It has been gorgeous here.


We were pleased to see so many people enjoy our RPG Back to School Sale. It’s hard to pass up a 20-70% off sale.


What’s hot at Palladium this week – all things Rifts® plus notepads, pens, Heroes Unlimited RPG and sourcebooks, Ninjas & Superspies RPG, and most Hardcover titles are smoking hot this week, due in part to the very popular sale that just ended. Keep the love and orders coming.

TMNT Convention Appearance – Granite State Comic Con! By the time you read this, Sean and I will be on our way to Manchester, New Hampshire for a cool comic con. We hope to spread the word about the TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux Editions, the Black, White & Red Editions, the G.M. Screen, and Mutagen Green Dice Set (I love these dice), and that you can still pre-order most of these items and save money! For example, the main TMNT & OS RPG and Transdimensional Adventures are at $50 each in the pre-order store, but will retail for $60 each when released in stores first quarter 2025.

Manchester, New Hampshire is the birthplace of the original TMNT comic books that started it all, and was home to Kevin, Peter, and many of the Mirage Studios creators. So the convention is very TMNT-centric with lots and lots of Ninja Turtles creators present. This is our first time attending so we are traveling light. We sent only one big box of books to display and sell at the Palladium Books table. Mostly After the Bomb sourcebooks, Rifts, and a smattering of other titles. We’re flying in so no, we are not bringing the life-sized Leo with us. Ah, but we’ll have flyers, a sneak peek of pages from the finished books, and stories to share. As always, we are happy to sign books and chat, so please drop by our table to say hello.


Granite Con is our last convention of 2024. Our next event will probably be the GAMA Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky, February 2025.


No Palladium Open House in 2025. Maybe one in 2026 as a combination POH and 70th Birthday party for me (Kevin), but even that is a big question mark. 2026 is tempting, but we have so many books and surprise products we want to put in your hands that we may not have the time or bandwidth to host an Open House for a few more years. We hope you understand.

TMNT Film Kickstarter – an epic TMNT documentary – get yours now

We want to let you know about this very unique Kickstarter because it sounds amazing to us. A 4 hour DVD packed with history and interviews with Eastman, Laird, Mirage Studios creators, Freedman, Siembieda, and others. Plus lots of inside reveals regarding never released art, toys and other prototypes and experimentation. It’s a must-have item for me and I think it should be for most TMNT fans. I know I’m going to get the DVD. Check it out and spread the word!


The Kickstarter is called TMNT: Evolution, Mutation, and Reboot – a new documentary from Definitive Film that says it delves into the complete history of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — one of pop culture’s most beloved franchises. This Kickstarter campaign offers a 4 hour, feature-length film packed with interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, art, and images, and personal stories from creators Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, and many others (including Palladium’s very own Kevin Siembieda). We don’t want Turtles fans to miss out on what sounds like a fun and comprehensive documentary about the TMNT from its origins till today. Don’t miss out and tell ‘em Palladium sent you.

History of Palladium Books Podcast

The Glitterbois’ Beyond the Supernatural podcast is available now! I believe the Robotech podcast will be made available this coming Sunday. Both are part of our ongoing History of Palladium Books podcast series in which we talk about Palladium Books’ many role-playing games lines. WARNING: We sometimes digress into fun topics about game mechanics, Game Mastering, personal RPG experiences and the many talented people who helped me create these iconic games. Always fun. The first of what may be a few Rifts chats are coming in October.


Kevin Siembieda and Sean Owen Roberson will be on Legion of Myth – Sunday, October 6 to talk about gaming and wilderness adventures from Rifts to Palladium Fantasy. A fun time for all. Oh, and we take fan questions on the subject so tune in 2:00 PM Eastern Time.

Art by Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, and Freddie Williams II

UPDATE: TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux Kickstarter

To the few hundred Backers who have not yet registered in Backerkit, please do so as soon as possible! Without your mailing address and other contact info we can NOT send out the rewards you have paid for. We do not want anyone to miss out on these amazing products; especially the super-limited Kickstarter Exclusive items such as variant cover edition books, foil editions, dice, miniature sets, print sets, etc. All exclusives are being made specific to your orders and will NOT be available to the public.


You must fill out what is called a Backerkit survey. This survey is how you provide Palladium with your full contact and shipping info and any upgrades to your pledge. We cannot ship your product without this survey information. Please help us, help you.


FYI: We are concerned that those of you who use AppleID emails (“[email protected]”) on Kickstarter and thus in BackerKit have missed our many emails sent via BackerKit and MailChimp, and messages through Kickstarter, because they are NOT being delivered to your inbox. If you used a private relay Apple ID email on Kickstarter – or – you have still not filled out your BackerKit survey, please reach out to us at [email protected] or call the Palladium office (734-721-2900) to update your email address. Thank you.


You can recover a link to your survey using the form here: https://teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-and-other-strangeness.backerkit.com/


NOTE: Upgrades you made to your pledge in BackerKit do not reflect on your Kickstarter account. Nor does changing your address on Kickstarter automatically update it with BackerKit. Since we are using BackerKit for fulfillment, you must verify your pledge and address via  Backerkit. You will have the opportunity to update your address at any time there and verify it before shipping starts (current estimate March 2025) when you will pay for shipping.


Our thanks to the thousands of Backers who have already provided this information.

AVAILABLE NOW!

The Rifter #48 Archival Edition – Available now!

We have gotten so many requests to reprint select, out of print Rifters that we have decided to give it a try. Other than the Archival Edition in a gold box on the spine and the front and back covers, these are exactly the same book printed years ago, including old news and ads. Enjoy.


– Rifts® Return to N.O.R.A.D., expansive material & adventure.

– Palladium Fantasy RPG look at variant clergy

– Nightbane® Questions and Answers.

– Scared Spitless – expanded Horror Factor rules.

– Dead Reign® impersonator Zombie.

– Old news, announcements and ads.

– 96 pages – $20.99 retail – Cat. No 148

The Rifter #58 Archival Edition – Available now!

– Rifts® Lenuria “official” source material, O.C.C.s, monsters and animals; expansive.

– Rifts® Lazlo – Unofficial, fun and expansive.

– Rifts® and Phase World – The Kezel super-powered mutants.

– Nightbane® short story.

– Old news, announcements and ads.

– 96 pages – $20.99 retail – Cat. No 158

The Rifter #65 Archival Edition – Available now!

– Rifts® Black Market source material.

– Rifts®, Fantasy, & Others – 60 new Necromancy spells + magic items.

– Rifts® Chaos Earth short story.

– Heroes Unlimited – Bionics, robots, and more.

– Heroes Unlimited – A super-hero team and adventure ideas.

– Beyond the Supernatural Hollow Road adventure, part one.

– Old news, announcements and ads.

– 96 pages – $20.99 retail – Cat. No 165

BACK IN STOCK!  

Yin-Sloth Jungles, 2nd Edition, Revised and Expanded!


The Yin-Sloth Jungles™ is a savage and unexplored wilderness filled with exotic people, strange creatures, ancient ruins, dark gods, and ancient secrets waiting to be unearthed.


– 15 O.C.C.s, all updated and expanded, making them seem brand new: Beastmaster, Holy Crusader, Jungle Fighter, Man-Catcher, the unique Tezcat and Pygmy Shamans, Spy, Undead Hunter, and Witch Hunter, among others.

– 18 Jungle People and monsters updated and expanded to feel like new, plus a few additions.

– New and expanded Shaman Chant magic.

– New and unique Pygmy Shaman Chant magic.

– New and expanded history of the Yin-Sloth Jungles.

– Expanded and clarified weapons, jungle armor, poisons, & more.

– The Orcish Empire and a few notable cities.

– Filled with great artwork by Peterson (ROG) and Mike Mumah.

– Written by Kevin Siembieda, John Klinkel, and Patrick Nowak.

– 160 pages – $24.99 retail – Cat. No. 459 – available now.

– COMING SOON! Yin-Sloth Expeditions setting and adventure book.

BACK IN STOCK!

After the Bomb® RPG “Bonus” Edition Hardcover – Available now


Create any type of intelligent, mutant animal from a turtle or raccoon to a lion or an elephant. The RPG presents stats for 100+ mutant animals, plus rules for creating any mutant animal you can imagine. Suitable for use with Heroes Unlimited™, Ninjas & Superspies™, Rifts®, Chaos Earth®, Phase World® and Palladium Fantasy®. Whatever the setting, playing anthropomorphic animal characters is a blast.


– 100+ mutant animal stats included.

– Mutant animal creation rules to mutate ANY animal.

– 52 Mutant Animal Powers.

– 33 Mutant Animal Psionic Powers.

– New Animal Chimeras and their abilities.

– New back story to the After the Bomb® world of mutants.

– The post-apocalyptic Earth setting of “After the Bomb” is just one use for your mutant animal heroes.

– A complete RPG written by Erick Wujcik.

72 pages of “bonus” material includes the original After the Bomb® sourcebook and Yucatan Adventures from the old Game Shield.

296 pages (72 bonus pages) – $44.99 retail – Cat. No. 503HC – now shipping. Also available as a 224 page softcover book ($26.99 retail – Cat. No. 503). Note: After the Bomb sourcebooks provide additional mutant animal stats and settings.

BACK IN STOCK!

Rifts® Book of Magic Hardcover


A compendium of magic from across Rifts Earth. Hundreds of magic spells plus magic weapons and devices from across the Megaverse.


– 900+ magic spells, Elemental Magic, Ley Line Magic.

– Necromancy, Nature Magic, Cloud Magic, Ocean Magic, Biomancy.

– Tattoo magic, Temporal magic, Whalesongs, Conjuring, Nazca Lines.

– Techno-Wizard devices, Rune Weapons, Holy Weapons, fetishes.

– Bio-Wizard Weapons, the Bio-Borg, symbiotes, and herbs.

– Magic stones, talismans, staves, wands, and more.

– $39.99 – 352 pages of pure magic – Cat. No. 848HC – available now. Also available in softcover ($31.99 retail, Cat. No. 848).

Palladium offers more than 300 of our books, every issue of The Rifter, sneak previews, and more in PDF format via DriveThruRPG

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Spread the Word


I have been enjoying attending conventions, chatting with gamers, retailers, and fellow game designers, and doing podcasts with the Glitterbois as well as video chats with JM DeFoggi for Palladium’s own YouTube channel. The Palladium YouTube chats should start to drop in October. The Glitterbois podcasts are ongoing with new episodes now appearing. We’ll also continue to make appearances on Legion of Myth and other YouTube programs. We would appreciate it if you could spread the word to other fans who would enjoy these chats and interviews. That goes for awareness about the TMNT pre-order store, sales, and upcoming book releases too.


It’s easy to think gamers are tuned in to every Update and bit of news, but you might be surprised. People are busy and there is so much happening in our lives that it is easy to miss all kinds of events and news we’d love to know about. Palladium’s TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Kickstarter had all kinds of coverage and ads. So much so, that it’s easy to think everyone must have heard about it, but it’s not true. Half the retailers we spoke with at the Alliance Trade Show didn’t know a thing about it! They were thrilled to hear that the TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG was coming back as a remastered, deluxe, full color edition, but it was the first they were hearing of it. The same was true at Gen Con. A lot of gamers knew about and even backed the Kickstarter, but for many it was exciting news reaching them for the very first time.


So please help us out by spreading the word about new releases, sales, and special events and videos, because your gaming friends may not know about it. This helps much more than you might imagine. Thank you, we appreciate your support on all levels.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Game Designer, and Friend

Palladium Weekly Update — September 13, 2024

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

RPG Back to School Sale – up to 70% off!

Happy Friday the 13th!

Hello, fellow gamers! The big news this Update is Palladium’s RPG Back to School Sale offering hardcover RPGs, select sourcebooks, and other items ranging from 20% to 70% discounts. See complete details below.


What’s hot at Palladium this week – Rifts®, The Rifter®, After the Bomb®, and Palladium Fantasy® titles remain hot this week.

The Glitterbois’ podcast on the History of Palladium Books: My chats with the Glitterbois continue, and our recent Beyond the Supernatural episode is available now. We also had a very lively two hour conversation about the original Robotech RPG series this past Sunday that should go live in a week or two. We’re having a blast with these conversations. The Glitterbois ask great questions and we try not to veer off topic too much (but it happens).


Legion of Myth – Sean and I will be appearing on Legion of Myth, Sunday, October 6 to talk about gaming and wilderness adventures.


Convention Appearance – Granite State Comic Con in New Hampshire, the weekend of September 20th. It’s a TMNT-centric comic convention where Kevin Eastman, Jim Lawson, many of the Mirage Studios crew, and many other notable comic book artists attend. This will be the first time Sean and I attend this convention and we are looking forward to it.

RPG Back to School SALE – 20-70% savings


With summer drawing to a close and the school year starting, some people seem down in the dumps, so to cheer you up, we’re offering an insane sale of select books and items – including many hardcover editions, the Living the Fantasy T-Shirt, pens, and more. Most are 30-50% off, a couple at a 70% discount, and a few at 20% off. Smile and get ‘em while you can! These steep discounts mean this sale is very limited. 6 days only, while supplies last.

RECOMMENDED READING

MORE SAVINGS!


A sale of similar PDF titles is available on DriveThruRPG.com – many RPG book titles, novels, G.M. aids, character generators, and Rifts, HU, and Fantasy paper minis to help you build your PDF library for quick searchable references.

Line art and colors by Fero Pe

UPDATE: TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux Kickstarter


Backers, please see the newest update filled with artwork and updates. The books are looking amazing as we enter into the final layout and approvals phase. We anticipate shipping to Backers sometime in the first quarter of 2025.


Speaking of which, there are a few hundred of you who have yet to register in Backerkit and provide us with your addresses and contact information. Without this data we can NOT send out your rewards and we do not want anyone to miss out on these amazing products; especially the super-limited Kickstarter Exclusive items such as variant cover edition books, foil editions, dice, miniature sets, print sets, etc. All exclusives are being made specific to your orders. YOU will not get your rewards unless you get us your address and rewards and upgrade requests. Stragglers, please get us this information as soon as possible.


To provide us with your shipping address and other important info, you must fill out what is called a Backerkit survey. This survey is how you provide Palladium with your full contact and shipping info and any upgrades to your pledge. We cannot ship your product without this survey information. Time is running out. Please help us, help you.


FYI: We are concerned that those of you who use AppleID emails (“[email protected]”) on Kickstarter and thus in BackerKit have missed our many emails sent via BackerKit and MailChimp, and messages through Kickstarter, because they are NOT being delivered to your inbox. If you used a private relay Apple ID email on Kickstarter – or – you have still not filled out your BackerKit survey, please reach out to us at [email protected] or call the Palladium office (734-721-2900) to update your email address. Thank you.


You can recover a link to your survey using the form here: https://teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-and-other-strangeness.backerkit.com/


NOTE: Upgrades you made to your pledge in BackerKit do not reflect on your Kickstarter account. Nor does changing your address on Kickstarter automatically update it with BackerKit. Since we are using BackerKit for fulfillment, you must verify your pledge and address via  Backerkit. You will have the opportunity to update your address at any time there and verify it before shipping starts (current estimate March 2025) when you will pay for shipping.


Our thanks to the thousands of Backers who have already provided this information.

Another TMNT Kickstarter you might enjoy – a TMNT documentary – launches Saturday, September 14, 2024


This sounds fascinating to us, but we’re super-TMNT fans. Check out this Kickstarter to decide if you might be interested in its offerings for yourselves. It’s called TMNT: Evolution, Mutation, and Reboot, a new documentary from Definitive Film that says it delves into the complete history of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — one of pop culture’s most beloved franchises. This Kickstarter campaign offers a 4 hour, feature-length film packed with interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, art, and images, and personal stories from creators Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, and many others (including Palladium’s very own Kevin Siembieda). We didn’t want Turtles fans to miss out on what sounds like an epic and expansive documentary filled with fun and revealing history and new details and information.

The Rifter #48 Archival Edition – Available now!

We have gotten so many requests to reprint select, out of print Rifters that we have decided to give it a try. Other than the Archival Edition in a gold box on the spine and the front and back covers, these are exactly the same book printed years ago, including old news and ads. Enjoy.


– Rifts® Return to N.O.R.A.D., expansive material & adventure.

– Palladium Fantasy RPG look at variant clergy

– Nightbane® Questions and Answers.

– Scared Spitless – expanded Horror Factor rules.

– Dead Reign® impersonator Zombie.

– Old news, announcements and ads.

– 96 pages – $20.99 Retail – Cat. No 148

The Rifter #58 Archival Edition – Available now!

– Rifts® Lenuria “official” source material, O.C.C.s, monsters and animals; expansive.

– Rifts® Lazlo – Unofficial, fun and expansive.

– Rifts® and Phase World – The Kezel super-powered mutants.

– Nightbane® short story.

– Old news, announcements and ads.

– 96 pages – $20.99 Retail – Cat. No 158

The Rifter #65 Archival Edition – Available now!

– Rifts® Black Market source material.

– Rifts®, Fantasy, & Others – 60 new Necromancy spells + magic items.

– Rifts® Chaos Earth short story.

– Heroes Unlimited – Bionics, robots, and more.

– Heroes Unlimited – A super-hero team and adventure ideas.

– Beyond the Supernatural Hollow Road adventure, part one.

– Old news, announcements and ads.

– 96 pages – $20.99 Retail – Cat. No 165

BACK IN STOCK!  

Yin-Sloth Jungles, 2nd Edition, Revised and Expanded!


The Yin-Sloth Jungles™ is a savage and unexplored wilderness filled with exotic people, strange creatures, ancient ruins, dark gods, and ancient secrets waiting to be unearthed.


📕 15 O.C.C.s, all updated and expanded, making them seem brand new: Beastmaster, Holy Crusader, Jungle Fighter, Man-Catcher, the unique Tezcat and Pygmy Shamans, Spy, Undead Hunter, and Witch Hunter, among others.

📕 18 Jungle People and monsters updated and expanded to feel like new, plus a few additions.

📕 New and expanded Shaman Chant magic.

📕 New and unique Pygmy Shaman Chant magic.

📕 New and expanded history of the Yin-Sloth Jungles.

📕 Expanded and clarified weapons, jungle armor, poisons, & more.

📕 The Orcish Empire and a few notable cities.

📕 Filled with great artwork by Peterson (ROG) and Mike Mumah.

📕 Written by Kevin Siembieda, John Klinkel, and Patrick Nowak.

📕 160 pages – $24.99 retail – Cat. No. 459 – available now.

📕 COMING SOON! Yin-Sloth Expeditions setting and adventure book.

BACK IN STOCK!

After the Bomb® RPG “Bonus” Edition Hardcover – Available now


Create any type of intelligent, mutant animal from a turtle or raccoon to a lion or an elephant. The RPG presents stats for 100+ mutant animals, plus rules for creating any mutant animal you can imagine. Suitable for use with Heroes Unlimited™, Ninjas & Superspies™, Rifts®, Chaos Earth®, Phase World® and Palladium Fantasy®. Whatever the setting, playing anthropomorphic animal characters is a blast.


📙 100+ mutant animal stats included.

📙 Mutant animal creation rules to mutate ANY animal.

📙 52 Mutant Animal Powers.

📙 33 Mutant Animal Psionic Powers.

📙 New Animal Chimeras and their abilities.

📙 New back story to the After the Bomb® world of mutants.

📙 The post-apocalyptic Earth setting of “After the Bomb” is just one use for your mutant animal heroes.

📙 A complete RPG written by Erick Wujcik.

📙 72 pages of “bonus” material includes the original After the Bomb® sourcebook and Yucatan Adventures from the old Game Shield.

📙 296 pages (72 bonus pages) – $44.99 retail – Cat. No. 503HC – now shipping. Also available as a 224 page softcover book ($26.99 retail – Cat. No. 503). Note: After the Bomb sourcebooks provide additional mutant animal stats and settings.

BACK IN STOCK!

Rifts® Book of Magic Hardcover


A compendium of magic from across Rifts Earth. Hundreds of magic spells plus magic weapons and devices from across the Megaverse.


📔 900+ magic spells, Elemental Magic, Ley Line Magic.

📔 Necromancy, Nature Magic, Cloud Magic, Ocean Magic, Biomancy.

📔 Tattoo magic, Temporal magic, Whalesongs, Conjuring, Nazca Lines.

📔 Techno-Wizard devices, Rune Weapons, Holy Weapons, fetishes.

📔 Bio-Wizard Weapons, the Bio-Borg, symbiotes, and herbs.

📔 Magic stones, talismans, staves, wands, and more.

📔 $39.99 – 352 pages of pure magic – Cat. No. 848HC – available now. Also available in softcover ($31.99 retail, Cat. No. 848).

Palladium offers more than 300 of our books, every issue of The Rifter, sneak previews, and more in PDF format via DriveThruRPG

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Life, the universe and everything


Have you been feeling down lately?


I don’t know what it is, but I have been down or in a malaise for too much of the last few weeks. I perked up during the Alliance Open House (fun and informative), but otherwise, I had been feeling low. Not sad per se, but blah. Low ebb. Some of that is continuing grief over the loss of Kathy Simmons, but it seems like there’s something in the air affecting not just me, but a lot of people.


I’ve spoken to a large number of folks who have been feeling down, blasé, and grumpy. Sometimes it’s over money woes, other times health concerns, or work, or politics, or other worries. Life may have its challenges and frustrations, but life is also beautiful and joyful. Try to never lose sight of that. Enjoy your life, friends, family, and gaming.


A few days ago, I caught the old George Pal movie, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964). It’s a little corny and the special-effects are dated by today’s standards, but it mesmerized me when I was an eight-year-old child and remains a sentimental favorite. The movie ends with wise and magical Doctor Lao disappearing into a dust devil with a voiceover that says, in part, “… every time you stop and think, ‘I’m alive, and being alive is fantastic,’ every time such a thing happens, you are part of the [magical] circus of Doctor Lao.”


Translation: You realize that life is fantastic, magical, and full of joyful wonder and adventure if you look for it and let it in.


I always try to see and let the magic in. Watching the movie made me smile. It reminded me that even in my personal time of sorrow, life really is fantastic. I’m happy to be alive and loving every moment of it. I am blessed to have so many wonderful people – past and present – in my fantastic life. Those thoughts snapped me out of my malaise and energized me. I have been working fast and furious on multiple projects and business matters ever since.


To give you a little boost and something to feel good about, I have created a sale with some steep discounts and a few items I hope will surprise and please you. A similar sale is also on DriveThruRPG.com. Remember, RPGs are a portal to fun, adventure, laughter, and camaraderie like no other games can provide. Use RPGs to escape from your worries and have a little fun with friends and family. Heck, I’m always surprised by how much fun it is to even reread a favorite RPG or sourcebook. Every time, I seem to find parts that I have completely forgotten or that inspire me and give me new ideas.


Enjoy the sale and please be kind to yourself and others. Have a little fun this weekend and keep those beautiful imaginations burning bright. Live long and prosper.


– Kevin Siembieda, Game Designer, Writer, Friend

Palladium Weekly Update — September 05, 2024

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

Line art by Dan Berger, colors by Steve Lavigne

Alliance Open House * Granite State Comic Con * History of Palladium Books

Happy Thursday, Palladium Friends!

Convention Appearances

Happy Thursday, Everyone.

By the time you read this, Wayne, Caleb and I will be on our way to the
Alliance Open House. It’s a trade show and meet and greet event with retailers and their managers hosted by our largest distributor. It is always an insightful event where we can showcase product and chat with store owners. If you are attending the event, please stop by our booth to chat and get books signed. Sean has elected to stay behind to work on the TMNT & Other Strangeness Redux edition through the weekend.


Our next (last) convention of the year will be Granite State Comic Con in New Hampshire, the weekend of September 20th. It’s a TMNT-centric comic convention where Kevin Eastman, Jim Lawson, many of the Mirage Studio crew, and many other notable comic book artists attend. This will be our first time attending this convention and we are looking forward to it. There’s a Canadian convention happening in London, Ontario, Canada, where Kevin Eastman is appearing … I think the weekend of the 13th that we’d like to attend (it’s only 2-3 hours away), but we have so much other stuff to do.


Thanks for your support of the Explore the Megaverse Sale. We’re happy to see so many of you enjoying it. Thanks to you we saw
Rifters and After the Bomb titles flying out the door! Enjoy.

What’s Hot at Palladium this Week


The Rifter® and After the Bomb® titles were hot due to the sale, as well as the Archival Editions of The Rifter® #48, 58, and 65 that weren’t on sale. Otherwise, it was the usual suspects in demand: Rifts, Palladium Fantasy, and a smattering of game lines and products.


The Glitterbois’ History of Palladium Books continues with a new conversation to get posted soon. (This weekend?)  We spoke about Beyond the Supernatural and modern horror RPGs and had a great time. My only disappointment was that I failed to talk about the Creature Feature BTS Sourcebook which is a great book filled with cool monsters (15 of ‘em), rules clarifications, an adventure and adventure hooks. I think I keep forgetting to mention it because we are doing game lines in loose chronological order and Creature Feature came out in 2022 while the BTS RPG was released in 1988. It’s a fun chat that includes BTS 1 and 2, Boxed Nightmares, and working with legendary artists like Richard Corben and Stephen Bissette. I think this conversation may go live this weekend or next. You’ll want to check it out. By the way, don’t forget that BTS 1st RPG with the Operation Minotaur adventure as bonus material is available as a deluxe red foil edition hardcover (Cat. No. 699HC) . Likewise, Beyond the Supernatural 2nd Edition (hardcover and softcover), Boxed Nightmares and Creature Feature (epic) are all in stock.  


My next conversation with the Glitterbois will be about the original Robotech RPG (1986), and I imagine, Robotech II: The Sentinels.


I want to thank the dozens of you who stopped by the Palladium Gen Con booth to tell us how much you are enjoying my conversations with the Glitterbois and Legion of Myth. We’re glad, because there are a lot of conversations with the Glitterbois yet to come. And we’ll continue to drop in on Legion of Myth as well as offer history and fun on Palladium’s own YouTube channel in the months ahead.


The Rifter #48 Archival Edition – Available now!

We have gotten so many requests to reprint select, out of print Rifters that we have decided to give it a try. Other than the Archival Edition in a gold box on the spine and the front and back covers, these are exactly the same book printed years ago, including old news and ads. Enjoy.


– Rifts® Return to N.O.R.A.D., expansive material & adventure.

– Palladium Fantasy RPG look at variant clergy

– Nightbane® Questions and Answers.

– Scared Spitless – expanded Horror Factor rules.

– Dead Reign® impersonator Zombie.

– Old news, announcements and ads.

– 96 pages – $20.99 Retail – Cat. No 148

The Rifter #58 Archival Edition – Available now!

– Rifts® Lenuria “official” source material, O.C.C.s, monsters and animals; expansive.

– Rifts® Lazlo – Unofficial, fun and expansive.

– Rifts® and Phase World – The Kezel super-powered mutants.

– Nightbane® short story.

– Old news, announcements and ads.

– 96 pages – $20.99 Retail – Cat. No 158

The Rifter #65 Archival Edition – Available now!

– Rifts® Black Market source material.

– Rifts®, Fantasy, & Others – 60 new Necromancy spells + magic items.

– Rifts® Chaos Earth short story.

– Heroes Unlimited – Bionics, robots, and more.

– Heroes Unlimited – A super-hero team and adventure ideas.

– Beyond the Supernatural Hollow Road adventure, part one.

– Old news, announcements and ads.

– 96 pages – $20.99 Retail – Cat. No 165

BACK IN STOCK!  

Yin-Sloth Jungles, 2nd Edition, Revised and Expanded!


The Yin-Sloth Jungles™ is a savage and unexplored wilderness filled with exotic people, strange creatures, ancient ruins, dark gods, and ancient secrets waiting to be unearthed.


📕 15 O.C.C.s, all updated and expanded, making them seem brand new: Beastmaster, Holy Crusader, Jungle Fighter, Man-Catcher, the unique Tezcat and Pygmy Shamans, Spy, Undead Hunter, and Witch Hunter, among others.

📕 18 Jungle People and monsters updated and expanded to feel like new, plus a few additions.

📕 New and expanded Shaman Chant magic.

📕 New and unique Pygmy Shaman Chant magic.

📕 New and expanded history of the Yin-Sloth Jungles.

📕 Expanded and clarified weapons, jungle armor, poisons, & more.

📕 The Orcish Empire and a few notable cities.

📕 Filled with great artwork by Peterson (ROG) and Mike Mumah.

📕 Written by Kevin Siembieda, John Klinkel, and Patrick Nowak.

📕 160 pages – $24.99 retail – Cat. No. 459 – available now.

📕 COMING SOON! Yin-Sloth Expeditions setting and adventure book.

BACK IN STOCK!

After the Bomb® RPG “Bonus” Edition Hardcover – Available now


Create any type of intelligent, mutant animal from a turtle or raccoon to a lion or an elephant. The RPG presents stats for 100+ mutant animals, plus rules for creating any mutant animal you can imagine. Suitable for use with Heroes Unlimited™, Ninjas & Superspies™, Rifts®, Chaos Earth®, Phase World® and Palladium Fantasy®. Whatever the setting, playing anthropomorphic animal characters is a blast.


📙 100+ mutant animal stats included.

📙 Mutant animal creation rules to mutate ANY animal.

📙 52 Mutant Animal Powers.

📙 33 Mutant Animal Psionic Powers.

📙 New Animal Chimeras and their abilities.

📙 New back story to the After the Bomb® world of mutants.

📙 The post-apocalyptic Earth setting of “After the Bomb” is just one use for your mutant animal heroes.

📙 A complete RPG written by Erick Wujcik.

📙 72 pages of “bonus” material includes the original After the Bomb® sourcebook and Yucatan Adventures from the old Game Shield.

📙 296 pages (72 bonus pages) – $44.99 retail – Cat. No. 503HC – now shipping. Also available as a 224 page softcover book ($26.99 retail – Cat. No. 503). Note: After the Bomb sourcebooks provide additional mutant animal stats and settings.

BACK IN STOCK!

Rifts® Book of Magic Hardcover


A compendium of magic from across Rifts Earth. Hundreds of magic spells plus magic weapons and devices from across the Megaverse.


📔 900+ magic spells, Elemental Magic, Ley Line Magic.

📔 Necromancy, Nature Magic, Cloud Magic, Ocean Magic, Biomancy.

📔 Tattoo magic, Temporal magic, Whalesongs, Conjuring, Nazca Lines.

📔 Techno-Wizard devices, Rune Weapons, Holy Weapons, fetishes.

📔 Bio-Wizard Weapons, the Bio-Borg, symbiotes, and herbs.

📔 Magic stones, talismans, staves, wands, and more.

📔 $39.99 – 352 pages of pure magic – Cat. No. 848HC – available now. Also available in softcover ($31.99 retail, Cat. No. 848).

Palladium offers more than 300 of our books, every issue of The Rifter, sneak previews, and more in PDF format via DriveThruRPG

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Yin-Sloth Expeditions Playtest


Over the Labor Day weekend, I playtested one of the brand new adventures appearing in the Yin-Sloth Expeditions sourcebook. Sean, Autumn, and Caleb were my victims … um, I mean, players. It was a blast. I thought their characters might be dead meat because they all rolled up first-level characters, none of which were very physically powerful, and there were only three of them: a first level Thief, Man-Catcher/Bounty Hunter, and Druid. They used their actual dice rolls and skills to build their attributes and select a character class. Coincidentally, all three had high I.Q.s, but were not particularly physically powerful nor built for deadly combat. The foes they faced were not pushovers and they, potentially, held the fate of the world in their hands.


I wondered if I would need to dial down the level of difficulty, but they played great. They were smart, strategic, worked together as a team, used their skills and weapons very wisely (especially Sean), and had a few very lucky, critical rolls; one of which I could hardly believe!


We  all had so much fun. The game ran about three and a half hours, they saved the world, and as a result of their unbelievable success, leap-frogged to second level. I mean, they saved the world from … oops, sorry … I can’t say more because it would be a spoiler. I guess you’ll just have to buy
Yin-Sloth Expeditionsto see for yourselves. It should be a fall release.


I think this adventure, amongst others in the book, very nicely set the stage for life and jungle adventures in this ancient land of mystery and its dark, brutal past (and present). G.M.s should be able to build on all of these jungle locations, villains, monsters, magic artifacts, and ideas. Players will have fun and come out with unique experiences you cannot find in any other part of the world, as well as get some cool weapons, magic items, and plenty of fond memories. This was the first game I have run since Kathy’s passing, so I was a little worried, but I was glad to see I still had my chops as a writer and Game Master. There were so many – “gosh, this is why I love role-playing games”  – moments. RPGs, there ain’t nothin’ like em.


Alright, that’s it for this Weekly Update. Remember, playing RPGs brings you escape, visceral excitement and fun with friends and family, so whip out those game books and throw together your own game. You’ll be glad you did.



– Kevin Siembieda, Game Designer, Writer, Friend

Palladium Weekly Update — August 29, 2024

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

Tribute art for TMNT&OS by Freddie Williams

LABOR DAY SALE!

Happy Thursday, Palladium Friends!

Labor Day Sale!

Palladium’s Explore the Megaverse Sale continues through Labor Day. The Rifter at a 30% discount and all After the Bomb sourcebooks at 50% discount, plus you get the original, out of print, AtB sourcebook filled with Peter Laird artwork FREE when you order the After the Bomb RPG or any AtB sourcebook. Don’t worry, we added 50 copies to the original 100 so nobody misses out on this unique free gift. Gamers have gone wild over this sale but time is running out. This is the final weekend for the sale through Labor Day. Make your purchase before your long weekend of summer fun so you don’t forget. There is a similar sale for PDF books on DriveThruRPG.com thru Labor Day as well.

What’s Hot at Palladium this Week


The Rifter and After the Bomb titles remain smoking hot thanks to the sale, and that includes the Archival Editions of The Rifter® #48, 58, and 65 not on sale. Art prints, pens, logo coffee mugs, T-shirts and Fantasy sales also remain strong, and we’ve seen an uptick in Heroes Unlimited and Ninjas & Superspies sales this week. Please continue to spread the word about this fun sale before it ends; it runs thru Labor Day. Thank you. Note: A similar sale is taking place on DriveThruRPG.com for PDF books.


Upcoming Appearances!


Kevin Siembieda and Sean Roberson will both attend the Alliance Open House (September 5-6) and they are guests at Granite State Comic Con (September 20-21). If you are attending either event, please come by to chat and get books signed. Alliance is a trade show for retailers while Granite Con in New Hampshire is a TMNT-centric comic convention. Kevin Eastman, Jim Lawson and a bunch of the Mirage Studio guys, attend along with Freddie E. Williams and many other notable comic book artists. This will be our first time attending Granite State, and it is the last convention of the year for us.


Video History of Palladium Books


I have been making videos talking about the history and game settings of Palladium Books, the thought process behind them, the people, books and movies that may have inspired elements that appear in them, as well as fun behind the scenes stories about their creation and the people who contributed to them. This video history should begin to appear on the Palladium Books YouTube channel in the months ahead – October perhaps. I hope you like them. We try to keep them loose and fun.


I will also continue a series of similarly themed conversations with
The Glitterbois. You might think this to be a bit redundant, but though we may cover some of the same ground, the questions and the people asking them are different, so the answers vary and may include new and different details. Doing these interviews reminds me of how much I have done over the years. The people I have met and worked with over the years are many and incredible. There are a lot of stories and details that do not get covered in every interview, and the questions asked may jog different memories. Besides, you can hear my conversations on the Glitterbois Podcast sooner than the series of interviews I’m doing for Palladium’s YouTube presentations.


A lot of people at Gen Con told us how much they have been enjoying my conversations with the Glitterbois as well as Sean and my appearances on Legion of Myth. In fact, just last Friday, Sean joined a panel of game publishers on Legion of Myth to discuss the ins and outs of getting started as an RPG creator and running crowdfunding campaigns. The listeners and panelists were so energetic about the topic that the anticipated 3 hour streaming event went on for 5 hours. Pretty cool. I know Sean enjoyed it immensely and hopes it helps a lot of startups navigate Kickstarter and other crowdfunding platforms. We hope to do more social media in the months ahead, both on our own outlets and others.

NEWS BITS:

Karai by Kevin Eastman for TMNT&OS Redux

Update: TMNT & Other Strangeness Redux Edition


Kevin Eastman turned in his original drawing of Karai – a Kickstarter stretch goal – last week. It looks great, of course, and digital painter Mike Majestic has already applied the colors. I think Sean has written up her stats already too [yep, already submitted to Paramount/Nickelodeon for their review. ~Sean].


The rest of the Redux Editions are going well. The small handful of people who have seen the finished pages (editors and a few fan insiders, not to mention Paramounts’ approval people) have LOVED everything they have seen from art, to text and rules clarifications, to layout. These books are beautiful and fun.


We are also squeezing in a few last minute written remembrances by notable creators such as comic book writer Tom Waltz (Last Ronin, etc.) and celebrity cake artist Ralph Attanasia (Cake Boss, Buddy vs. Duffy), among others.  We want to make these books a treat you will enjoy and cherish for years.



Update: Yin-Sloth Expeditions (Fantasy)


I have been pulled in a million directions this week (some of the things happening behind the scenes will blow your minds when we are able to announce them), so I am not as far along as I had hoped, but I’m slowly getting there. It will be a fall release. I’m also hoping to have a fun little surprise release this fall as well.


In the Weekly Update before Gen Con I said when we came back we would offer a sale similar to our Gen Con coupon special. Well, here it is and it’s a doozy; similar but different so everyone can find a little something to fill out their collection.

After the Bomb RPG Hardcover – 20% off

Includes the original After the Bomb sourcebook and Yucatan Adventures as bonus material; 296 pages.

FREE! The first 100 orders purchasing any After the Bomb books

get a FREE copy of the out of print, original After the Bomb sourcebook, 7th Printing. Wrap-around cover and interior artwork by Peter Laird.

DriveThruRPG.com Explore the Megaverse® PDF Book Sale!

The pen is an instrument of discovery!


Unleash your power, Live the Fantasy, or Explore the Megaverse with these new branded pens!

NEW! Available TODAY! Due to popular demand:
Archival Edition reprints of The Rifter®


Because you’ve asked for it, Palladium is testing doing reprints of select issues of The Rifter. Many out of print Rifters sell for $30-$90 on the collector’s market, if they can be found at all. We have decided to offer reprints of some of the most popular and rarest issues available as Archival Editions.


The words “Archival Edition” are emblazoned on the spine, front and back covers. We are testing the market with The Rifter #48, #58, and #65 – all of which sell for $70+ dollars on the collector’s market. Each is $20.99 retail – 96 pages – and is an exact reprint, ads, news and all, making it a bit of a time capsule of that period. See details in the descriptions below and in Palladium’s online store. Special thanks to Palladium fan, Joseph Sousa, for his helpful input and suggestions.  Note: ALL issues of The Rifter are available as PDF books from DriveThruRPG.com.

The Rifter #48 Archival Edition – Available now!

– Rifts® Return to N.O.R.A.D., expansive material & adventure.

– Palladium Fantasy RPG look at variant clergy

– Nightbane® Questions and Answers.

– Scared Spitless – expanded Horror Factor rules.

– Dead Reign® impersonator Zombie.

– Old news, announcements and ads.

– 96 pages – $20.99 Retail – Cat. No 148

The Rifter #58 Archival Edition – Available now!

– Rifts® Lenuria “official” source material, O.C.C.s, monsters and animals; expansive.

– Rifts® Lazlo – Unofficial, fun and expansive.

– Rifts® and Phase World – The Kezel super-powered mutants.

– Nightbane® short story.

– Old news, announcements and ads.

– 96 pages – $20.99 Retail – Cat. No 158

The Rifter #65 Archival Edition – Available now!

– Rifts® Black Market source material.

– Rifts®, Fantasy, & Others – 60 new Necromancy spells + magic items.

– Rifts® Chaos Earth short story.

– Heroes Unlimited – Bionics, robots, and more.

– Heroes Unlimited – A super-hero team and adventure ideas.

– Beyond the Supernatural Hollow Road adventure, part one.

– Old news, announcements and ads.

– 96 pages – $20.99 Retail – Cat. No 165

Everyone looks good in these stylish black t-shirts!

We made the shirts available before Gen Con and they are selling like crazy. The Rifts logo T-shirt (which had been out of print in most sizes for years) is just flying off the shelves. In fact, we nearly sold out of what we took to Gen Con; returning with only three shirts. The Heroes Unlimited T-Shirt (a personal favorite of mine – Kevin) and the ever-popular Fantasy T-shirt (red 3-headed hydra and red print, another fave) are also selling well. Don’t miss out!


New! Rifts® Logo T-shirt


This evocative, iconic Kevin Long logo design is back on a T-shirt for the first time in years! I have no idea why we waited so long because we’ve sold thousands of this shirt in the past. A fan favorite and mine. Ideal for any occasion! (Well, maybe not any occasion. – Kevin Siembieda). See the matching, 16 ounce coffee mug.


👕 White print on a black T-shirt.

👕 50/50 blend. Machine washable (follow instructions on the shirt).

👕 Art is the iconic Rifts® logo – art and design by Kevin Long.

👕 Available in sizes Small to 5XL while supplies last.

👕 Cat. No. 2611 – $19.99 retail for sizes small, medium, large, and XL. Larger sizes cost more, see store for complete details. Available now.

NEW! Heroes Unlimited Logo T-shirt

Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of Heroes Unlimited


We’ve never done a Heroes Unlimited logo T-Shirt before, but I’m glad we did, because that lightning bolt logo looks great – powerful in its simplicity. Get yours and feel like a superhero. And just in time for Heroes Unlimited’s 40th Anniversary! Also see the matching 16 ounce coffee mug.


🦸
White print on a black T-shirt.

🦸 Art is the iconic lightning bold logo.

🦸 50/50 blend. Machine washable (follow instructions on the shirt).

🦸 Available in select sizes Small to 5XL, while supplies last.

🦸 Cat. No. 2610 – $19.99 retail for sizes small, medium, large, and XL. Larger sizes cost more, see store for complete details.

Back in Stock! Palladium Fantasy RPG – Red Dragon – Living the Fantasy T-shirt


The famous Red Dragon from the cover of the original Palladium Fantasy RPG and the words Living the Fantasy printed in red on a black T-shirts. Another fan favorite we’ve reprinted many times. I think I’ve worn out 3 of them, myself, over the years – Kevin. See the matching, 16 ounce coffee mug.


👚 Red print on a black T-shirt.

👚 Art is the iconic dragon by artist Kevin Siembieda.

👚 50/50 blend. Machine washable (follow instructions on the shirt).

👚 Available in select sizes Small to 5XL, while supplies last.

👚 Cat. No. 2571 – $19.99 retail for sizes small, medium, large, and XL. Larger sizes cost more, see store for complete details. Available now.

Everything tastes better in a fancy new mug!

New! Rifts Logo Coffee Mug


A large, 16 ounce coffee mug featuring Kevin Long’s iconic Rifts® Logo printed white on a classy, black satin mug, with a ley line blue glossy interior to add a little magic to your morning or game time beverage. New style of mug. See the matching logo T-Shirt.

☕ The Rifts® logo appears on both sides of the mug. White print on a black mug. Very dynamic.

☕ Art is the iconic Kevin Long logo displaying technology and magic.

☕ Satin black exterior with a playful ley line blue glossy interior.

☕ 16 ounce ceramic mug.

☕ Dishwasher and microwave safe.

☕ $10.99 retail – Cat. No. 2612.

New! Heroes Unlimited Logo Coffee Mug


A large, 16 ounce coffee mug with a white logo on a classy, black satin mug. Art is the iconic Heroes Unlimited logo, and a yellow glossy interior to add an electric splash of color to your morning or game time beverage. New style of mug. See the matching logo T-Shirt.


⛾ The Heroes Unlimited logo appears on both sides of the mug. White print on a black mug.

⛾ Art is the iconic lightning bolt logo, powerful in its simplicity.

⛾ Satin black exterior with a warm yellow glossy interior.

⛾ 16 ounce ceramic mug.

⛾ Dishwasher and microwave safe.

⛾ $10.99 retail – Cat. No. 2613.

New! Palladium Fantasy RPG Coffee Mug


A large, 16 ounce coffee mug with a classy, satin black finish. Red art and logo. Art is by the game’s creator, Kevin Siembieda, and the mug has a color interior to add a nice splash of color to your morning or game time beverage. New style of mug. See the matching T-Shirt.


🍵 Art is the iconic dragon of the original RPG cover by Kevin Siembieda on one side, the words “The Palladium Fantasy RPG” on the other side. Red on black.

🍵 Satin black exterior with a deep red glossy interior. Red printing.

🍵 16 ounce ceramic mug.

🍵 Dishwasher and microwave safe.

🍵 $10.99 retail – Cat. No. 2614.

SALE! SALE! SALE!
Dead Reign® (Zombie attack) Coffee Mug – ONLY $6


A nice, large, 16 ounce coffee mug with artwork by Marvel Comics artist Steven Cummings on both sides of the mug, and the mug has a color interior, adding a splash of color to your morning or game time beverage. The old style, glossy black mug is a different style than the three new mugs, above, but pretty cool.


♨️ The Dead Reign® logo with three hungry zombies ready to attack. Art designed specifically for this mug by artist Steven Cummings of comic book renown (Wayward®, Star Wars, and various Marvel Comics). White image on a black mug.

♨️ Art and logo is located on the front and back of the mug.

♨️ Glossy black exterior with a blood red interior.

♨️ 16 ounce ceramic mug.

♨️ Dishwasher and microwave safe.

♨️ SALE price $6.00 while supplies last (was $10.99) – Cat. No. 2594.

BACK IN STOCK!  

Exotic Weapons


100+ strange and deadly weapons from around the world throughout history.

🪃 Axes of all kinds – Bullova, Hurlbats.

🪃 Knives like the Tjaluk, Katar, Kukri, Kris, bracelet Dagger, Bagh Nakh/Tiger Claws, and more.

🪃 Swords like the Beheading Sword, Shotel, Sickle Swords, Lantern Sword, Boarsword, and more.

🪃 Throwing irons like the Chakram, Kangaroo Rat, Shaken, Piau, and others.

🪃 Throwing sticks like the boomerang and Eskimo and African throwing sticks.

🪃 War clubs like the Nunchaku, Tonfa, Maquahuilt, Kotiate and others.

🪃 Polearms from Pike and Runka to the Roman Pilum and Fuscina trident.  🪃 Staves and sword staves, spear shields, flails, blowpipes, and fighting whips.

🪃 All real world weapons from around the globe and throughout history.  Easily adaptable to ANY role-playing game regardless of the company. Completely compatible with all Palladium Books RPGs from Palladium Fantasy RPG® and Heroes Unlimited™ to Dead Reign® and Rifts®.

🪃 48 pages – $10.99 retail – Cat. No. 409 – available now.

BACK IN STOCK!  

European Castles


40 notable European castles with artwork and their actual floor plans.

🏰 Glossary of terms regarding the parts of the castle.            

🏰 Cutaway of a traditional square keep and wall ratings.

🏰 40 European castles by country, like Karlstein castle (Czechoslovakia), Bolton Castle (England), Dover Castle (England), Ludlow Castle (England), Chateau De Chillon (France), Tarasco Castle (France), Ortenberg Castle (Germany), Ferrara Castellow D’este (Italy), the Kremlin (Russia), Borthwick Castle (Scotland), Belmonte Castel (Spain), Margat Castle (Syria), Chepstow Castle (Wales), and others.

🏰 56 floor plans.

🏰 Artwork and floor plans by comic book creator Mike Gustovich.

🏰 All real world castles from across Europe. An excellent reference and starting place for ideas to build your own fantasy castles for Palladium Fantasy®, Dungeons & Dragons®, Pathfinder® and any fantasy role-playing game setting.

🏰 Easily adaptable to ANY role-playing game system.

🏰 48 pages – $10.99 retail – Cat. No. 410 – available now.

BACK IN STOCK!  

Civilization Gone, Dead Reign Sourcebook


There is so much packed into this sourcebook no wonder it is a fan favorite.

📖 A few additional zombies.

📖 12 madmen and psychopaths including the Zombie Lover and Zombie Master, plus Bandits, Raiders, and street gangs.

📖 Random house encounter and resource tables

📖 Survivor camp creation tables and more.

📖 Written by Kevin Siembieda. Cover by master of horror, E.M. Gist.

📖 $16.99 retail – 64 pages – Cat. No. 231 – Available now.

BACK IN STOCK!  

Yin-Sloth Jungles, 2nd Edition, Revised and Expanded!


The Yin-Sloth Jungles™ is a savage and unexplored wilderness filled with exotic people, strange creatures, ancient ruins, dark gods, and ancient secrets waiting to be unearthed.


📕 15 O.C.C.s, all updated and expanded, making them seem brand new: Beastmaster, Holy Crusader, Jungle Fighter, Man-Catcher, the unique Tezcat and Pygmy Shamans, Spy, Undead Hunter, and Witch Hunter, among others.

📕 18 Jungle People and monsters updated and expanded to feel like new, plus a few additions.

📕 New and expanded Shaman Chant magic.

📕 New and unique Pygmy Shaman Chant magic.

📕 New and expanded history of the Yin-Sloth Jungles.

📕 Expanded and clarified weapons, jungle armor, poisons, & more.

📕 The Orcish Empire and a few notable cities.

📕 Filled with great artwork by Peterson (ROG) and Mike Mumah.

📕 Written by Kevin Siembieda, John Klinkel, and Patrick Nowak.

📕 160 pages – $24.99 retail – Cat. No. 459 – available now.

📕 COMING SOON! Yin-Sloth Expeditions setting and adventure book.

BACK IN STOCK!

After the Bomb® RPG “Bonus” Edition Hardcover – Available now


Create any type of intelligent, mutant animal from a turtle or raccoon to a lion or an elephant. The RPG presents stats for 100+ mutant animals, plus rules for creating any mutant animal you can imagine. Suitable for use with Heroes Unlimited™, Ninjas & Superspies™, Rifts®, Chaos Earth®, Phase World® and Palladium Fantasy®. Whatever the setting, playing anthropomorphic animal characters is a blast.


📙 100+ mutant animal stats included.

📙 Mutant animal creation rules to mutate ANY animal.

📙 52 Mutant Animal Powers.

📙 33 Mutant Animal Psionic Powers.

📙 New Animal Chimeras and their abilities.

📙 New back story to the After the Bomb® world of mutants.

📙 The post-apocalyptic Earth setting of “After the Bomb” is just one use for your mutant animal heroes.

📙 A complete RPG written by Erick Wujcik.

📙 72 pages of “bonus” material includes the original After the Bomb® sourcebook and Yucatan Adventures from the old Game Shield.

📙 296 pages (72 bonus pages) – $44.99 retail – Cat. No. 503HC – now shipping. Also available as a 224 page softcover book ($26.99 retail – Cat. No. 503). Note: After the Bomb sourcebooks provide additional mutant animal stats and settings.

BACK IN STOCK!

Rifts® Book of Magic Hardcover


A compendium of magic from across Rifts Earth. Hundreds of magic spells plus magic weapons and devices from across the Megaverse.


📔 900+ magic spells, Elemental Magic, Ley Line Magic.

📔 Necromancy, Nature Magic, Cloud Magic, Ocean Magic, Biomancy.

📔 Tattoo magic, Temporal magic, Whalesongs, Conjuring, Nazca Lines.

📔 Techno-Wizard devices, Rune Weapons, Holy Weapons, fetishes.

📔 Bio-Wizard Weapons, the Bio-Borg, symbiotes, and herbs.

📔 Magic stones, talismans, staves, wands, and more.

📔 $39.99 – 352 pages of pure magic – Cat. No. 848HC – available now. Also available in softcover ($31.99 retail, Cat. No. 848).

BACK IN STOCK!

Rifts® Index & Adventures™ Vol. One


This sourcebook offers adventures and an index. Back in print after being unavailable for a year (and 15+ years before that!), it presents more than 40 pages of adventures and offers a ton of Hook, Line & Sinker™ adventures. Many involving the Army of the Coalition States. Plus an Index for Rifts® World Books 1-6, Sourcebooks 1 and 3, Rifts® Conversion Books 1 & 2, Rifts® Mercenaries, Dimension Books 1 and 2, and the original Rifts® RPG, First Edition rules. Worth it for the 30 plus adventure hooks alone.


📘 A must for Rifts® collectors.

📘 40+ pages of adventures: Five adventures and NPCs.

📘 20+ Hook, Line and Sinker™ adventures.

📘 An index of early Rifts® titles.

📘 96 pages – $20.99 retail – Cat. No. 823 – Available now.

BACK IN STOCK!

Rifts® World Book 8: Japan


There are few places on Rifts Earth as divided with magic and the supernatural vs technology. All sorts of technological wonders await including Japanese dragons, demons, and goblins, plus Glitter Boys, Cyber-Samurai and other suits of power armor, Dragon-Cyborgs, Ninja Crazies, Ninja Juicers, Cyberoids, weapons, Rune Swords, demons and more.


📗 Dragon cyborgs and living Japanese dragons.

📗 Ninja Cyborg and Mystic Ninja.

📗 Ninja Juicer, Tech-Ninja, Fighting Monks, Ronins, and more.

📗 Cyber-Samurai and Traditional Samurai; 20 O.C.C.s in all.

📗 The living Samurai Sword and the supernatural.

📗 SAMAS Samurai, Glitter Boys, weapons, and gear.

📗 Martial arts, mystic powers, and magic items.

📗 Pre-Rifts city, super-science, Glitter Boys, and more.

📗 216 pages – $26.99 retail – Cat. No. 818 – Available now.

BACK IN PRINT!

Rifts® China One


Everything you could want for a World Book set in China. Here are the bad guys, and Chinese myths and legends brought to life.


🐼 The Yama Kings and their 11 Kingdoms of Hell on Earth.

🐼 34 Chinese demons and ghosts.

🐼 20+ curses

🐼 The return of the First Emperor and the Terra Cotta Warriors,

🐼 Overview of China and the Yama Kings.

🐼 Dragon Lands, Demon Villages, and more.

🐼 Written by Erick Wujcik and Kevin Siembieda.

🐼 $24.99 retail – 160 pages – Cat. No. 857 – available now.

BACK IN STOCK!

Rifts® China Two


Heroes of the Celestial Court – it is time for China’s greatest heroes to rise and fight the darkness. Heroes, magic, and technology that will blow your mind.


Both Rifts China World Books are great companions to Rifts Japan, Warlords of Russia, Rifts Mystic Russia and The Minion War series. Characters, magic and concepts can be ported over to Ninjas & Superspies, Heroes Unlimited and the Redux TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG.


🧧 12 Mystic Martial Arts.

🧧 12 Mythic Heroes including the Enlightened Demon.

🧧 The hidden army of Geo-Front, the Gun Master and Lightning Warrior.

🧧 Chi Weapons, Chi Powers, Chi Sight, and magic.

🧧 Demon Queller and magical demon-binding items.

🧧 Demon Skin, Gun Dragon, Black Tiger power armor.

🧧 Geo-Front cyborgs, weapons, technology, and more.

🧧 Written by Erick Wujcik.

🧧 $24.99 retail – 160 pages – Cat. No. 858 – available now.

Palladium offers more than 300 of our books, every issue of The Rifter, sneak previews, and more in PDF format via DriveThruRPG

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend


Labor Day is a holiday in the US and Canada that provides a long weekend for people to enjoy one last summer blast – a barbecue, a trip to the cottage, a swim at the beach, family get-togethers, etc. Be safe and have fun!


I recommend you start the fun by taking advantage of our Explore the Megaverse Sale to get some RPG sourcebooks and issues of The Rifter at big savings. Fun that will carry you into the fall and winter by providing all kinds of adventure ideas across the Megaverse. A similar sale is taking place on DriveThruRPG.com for PDF books.

Then party and play all weekend long with friends and family. Or just lay around the house and enjoy (hopefully) beautiful weather..


That’s it for this update. Enjoy the last days of summer and game on.



– Kevin Siembieda, Game Designer, Writer, Friend

Palladium Weekly Update — August 15, 2024

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

After the Bomb up to 50% Off * The Rifter 30% Off

Happy Thursday, Palladium Fans!

We’re Busy!

It has been another busy week in Palladiumville. Lots of distributor orders and a good number of mail orders have been keeping us so busy, we still haven’t caught up with Gen Con follow-ups. Awesome, please keep the orders coming.


What’s Hot at Palladium this Week!


The initial response to the three, new Archival Editions of The Rifter® #48, 58, and 65 (reprints of those original Rifters) has been strong, now let’s see if sales remain steady enough to warrant Archival Editions of other long-out-of-print Rifters. If the demand is there, we will do more. To help that along, we are putting a number of Rifters on sale; see details below.


The three new pens are a surprise hit, at least they’re a surprise to me. You good folks have been snapping them up like crazy. They are attractive and nice to have. I grabbed two of each for myself. Otherwise, Palladium Fantasy, Nightbane, and Rifts® have been hot items this week, and hardcovers also remain in demand.


In the Weekly Update before Gen Con I said when we came back we would offer a sale similar to our Gen Con coupon special. Well, here it is and it’s a doozy; similar but different so everyone can find a little something to fill out their collection.

After the Bomb RPG Hardcover – 20% off

Includes the original After the Bomb sourcebook and Yucatan Adventures as bonus material; 296 pages.

FREE! The first 100 orders purchasing any After the Bomb books

get a FREE copy of the out of print, original After the Bomb sourcebook, 7th Printing. Wrap-around cover and interior artwork by Peter Laird.

DriveThruRPG.com Explore the Megaverse® PDF Book Sale!

**Note** the DTRPG sale might not be live when this newsletter first goes out on Thursday, but keep checking, it will be soon!

The pen is an instrument of discovery!


Unleash your power, Live the Fantasy, or Explore the Megaverse with these new branded pens!

NEW! Available TODAY! Due to popular demand:
Archival Edition reprints of The Rifter®


Because you’ve asked for it, Palladium is testing doing reprints of select issues of The Rifter. Many out of print Rifters sell for $30-$90 on the collector’s market, if they can be found at all. We have decided to offer reprints of some of the most popular and rarest issues available as Archival Editions.


The words “Archival Edition” are emblazoned on the spine, front and back covers. We are testing the market with The Rifter #48, #58, and #65 – all of which sell for $70+ dollars on the collector’s market. Each is $20.99 retail – 96 pages – and is an exact reprint, ads, news and all, making it a bit of a time capsule of that period. See details in the descriptions below and in Palladium’s online store. Special thanks to Palladium fan, Joseph Sousa, for his helpful input and suggestions.  Note: ALL issues of The Rifter are available as PDF books from DriveThruRPG.com.

The Rifter #48 Archival Edition – Available now!

– Rifts® Return to N.O.R.A.D., expansive material & adventure.

– Palladium Fantasy RPG look at variant clergy

– Nightbane® Questions and Answers.

– Scared Spitless – expanded Horror Factor rules.

– Dead Reign® impersonator Zombie.

– Old news, announcements and ads.

– 96 pages – $20.99 Retail – Cat. No 148

The Rifter #58 Archival Edition – Available now!

– Rifts® Lenuria “official” source material, O.C.C.s, monsters and animals; expansive.

– Rifts® Lazlo – Unofficial, fun and expansive.

– Rifts® and Phase World – The Kezel super-powered mutants.

– Nightbane® short story.

– Old news, announcements and ads.

– 96 pages – $20.99 Retail – Cat. No 158

The Rifter #65 Archival Edition – Available now!

– Rifts® Black Market source material.

– Rifts®, Fantasy, & Others – 60 new Necromancy spells + magic items.

– Rifts® Chaos Earth short story.

– Heroes Unlimited – Bionics, robots, and more.

– Heroes Unlimited – A super-hero team and adventure ideas.

– Beyond the Supernatural Hollow Road adventure, part one.

– Old news, announcements and ads.

– 96 pages – $20.99 Retail – Cat. No 165

Everyone looks good in these stylish black t-shirts!

We made the shirts available before Gen Con and they are selling like crazy. The Rifts logo T-shirt (which had been out of print in most sizes for years) is just flying off the shelves. In fact, we nearly sold out of what we took to Gen Con; returning with only three shirts. The Heroes Unlimited T-Shirt (a personal favorite of mine – Kevin) and the ever-popular Fantasy T-shirt (red 3-headed hydra and red print, another fave) are also selling well. Don’t miss out!


New! Rifts® Logo T-shirt


This evocative, iconic Kevin Long logo design is back on a T-shirt for the first time in years! I have no idea why we waited so long because we’ve sold thousands of this shirt in the past. A fan favorite and mine. Ideal for any occasion! (Well, maybe not any occasion. – Kevin Siembieda). See the matching, 16 ounce coffee mug.


👕 White print on a black T-shirt.

👕 50/50 blend. Machine washable (follow instructions on the shirt).

👕 Art is the iconic Rifts® logo – art and design by Kevin Long.

👕 Available in sizes Small to 5XL while supplies last.

👕 Cat. No. 2611 – $19.99 retail for sizes small, medium, large, and XL. Larger sizes cost more, see store for complete details. Available now.

NEW! Heroes Unlimited Logo T-shirt

Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of Heroes Unlimited


We’ve never done a Heroes Unlimited logo T-Shirt before, but I’m glad we did, because that lightning bolt logo looks great – powerful in its simplicity. Get yours and feel like a superhero. And just in time for Heroes Unlimited’s 40th Anniversary! Also see the matching 16 ounce coffee mug.


🦸
White print on a black T-shirt.

🦸 Art is the iconic lightning bold logo.

🦸 50/50 blend. Machine washable (follow instructions on the shirt).

🦸 Available in select sizes Small to 5XL, while supplies last.

🦸 Cat. No. 2610 – $19.99 retail for sizes small, medium, large, and XL. Larger sizes cost more, see store for complete details.

Back in Stock! Palladium Fantasy RPG – Red Dragon – Living the Fantasy T-shirt


The famous Red Dragon from the cover of the original Palladium Fantasy RPG and the words Living the Fantasy printed in red on a black T-shirts. Another fan favorite we’ve reprinted many times. I think I’ve worn out 3 of them, myself, over the years – Kevin. See the matching, 16 ounce coffee mug.


👚 Red print on a black T-shirt.

👚 Art is the iconic dragon by artist Kevin Siembieda.

👚 50/50 blend. Machine washable (follow instructions on the shirt).

👚 Available in select sizes Small to 5XL, while supplies last.

👚 Cat. No. 2571 – $19.99 retail for sizes small, medium, large, and XL. Larger sizes cost more, see store for complete details. Available now.

Everything tastes better in a fancy new mug!

New! Rifts Logo Coffee Mug


A large, 16 ounce coffee mug featuring Kevin Long’s iconic Rifts® Logo printed white on a classy, black satin mug, with a ley line blue glossy interior to add a little magic to your morning or game time beverage. New style of mug. See the matching logo T-Shirt.

☕ The Rifts® logo appears on both sides of the mug. White print on a black mug. Very dynamic.

☕ Art is the iconic Kevin Long logo displaying technology and magic.

☕ Satin black exterior with a playful ley line blue glossy interior.

☕ 16 ounce ceramic mug.

☕ Dishwasher and microwave safe.

☕ $10.99 retail – Cat. No. 2612.

New! Heroes Unlimited Logo Coffee Mug


A large, 16 ounce coffee mug with a white logo on a classy, black satin mug. Art is the iconic Heroes Unlimited logo, and a yellow glossy interior to add an electric splash of color to your morning or game time beverage. New style of mug. See the matching logo T-Shirt.


⛾ The Heroes Unlimited logo appears on both sides of the mug. White print on a black mug.

⛾ Art is the iconic lightning bolt logo, powerful in its simplicity.

⛾ Satin black exterior with a warm yellow glossy interior.

⛾ 16 ounce ceramic mug.

⛾ Dishwasher and microwave safe.

⛾ $10.99 retail – Cat. No. 2613.

New! Palladium Fantasy RPG Coffee Mug


A large, 16 ounce coffee mug with a classy, satin black finish. Red art and logo. Art is by the game’s creator, Kevin Siembieda, and the mug has a color interior to add a nice splash of color to your morning or game time beverage. New style of mug. See the matching T-Shirt.


🍵 Art is the iconic dragon of the original RPG cover by Kevin Siembieda on one side, the words “The Palladium Fantasy RPG” on the other side. Red on black.

🍵 Satin black exterior with a deep red glossy interior. Red printing.

🍵 16 ounce ceramic mug.

🍵 Dishwasher and microwave safe.

🍵 $10.99 retail – Cat. No. 2614.

SALE! SALE! SALE!
Dead Reign® (Zombie attack) Coffee Mug – ONLY $6


A nice, large, 16 ounce coffee mug with artwork by Marvel Comics artist Steven Cummings on both sides of the mug, and the mug has a color interior, adding a splash of color to your morning or game time beverage. The old style, glossy black mug is a different style than the three new mugs, above, but pretty cool.


♨️ The Dead Reign® logo with three hungry zombies ready to attack. Art designed specifically for this mug by artist Steven Cummings of comic book renown (Wayward®, Star Wars, and various Marvel Comics). White image on a black mug.

♨️ Art and logo is located on the front and back of the mug.

♨️ Glossy black exterior with a blood red interior.

♨️ 16 ounce ceramic mug.

♨️ Dishwasher and microwave safe.

♨️ SALE price $6.00 while supplies last (was $10.99) – Cat. No. 2594.

BACK IN STOCK!  

Exotic Weapons


100+ strange and deadly weapons from around the world throughout history.

🪃 Axes of all kinds – Bullova, Hurlbats.

🪃 Knives like the Tjaluk, Katar, Kukri, Kris, bracelet Dagger, Bagh Nakh/Tiger Claws, and more.

🪃 Swords like the Beheading Sword, Shotel, Sickle Swords, Lantern Sword, Boarsword, and more.

🪃 Throwing irons like the Chakram, Kangaroo Rat, Shaken, Piau, and others.

🪃 Throwing sticks like the boomerang and Eskimo and African throwing sticks.

🪃 War clubs like the Nunchaku, Tonfa, Maquahuilt, Kotiate and others.

🪃 Polearms from Pike and Runka to the Roman Pilum and Fuscina trident.  🪃 Staves and sword staves, spear shields, flails, blowpipes, and fighting whips.

🪃 All real world weapons from around the globe and throughout history.  Easily adaptable to ANY role-playing game regardless of the company. Completely compatible with all Palladium Books RPGs from Palladium Fantasy RPG® and Heroes Unlimited™ to Dead Reign® and Rifts®.

🪃 48 pages – $10.99 retail – Cat. No. 409 – available now.

BACK IN STOCK!  

European Castles


40 notable European castles with artwork and their actual floor plans.

🏰 Glossary of terms regarding the parts of the castle.            

🏰 Cutaway of a traditional square keep and wall ratings.

🏰 40 European castles by country, like Karlstein castle (Czechoslovakia), Bolton Castle (England), Dover Castle (England), Ludlow Castle (England), Chateau De Chillon (France), Tarasco Castle (France), Ortenberg Castle (Germany), Ferrara Castellow D’este (Italy), the Kremlin (Russia), Borthwick Castle (Scotland), Belmonte Castel (Spain), Margat Castle (Syria), Chepstow Castle (Wales), and others.

🏰 56 floor plans.

🏰 Artwork and floor plans by comic book creator Mike Gustovich.

🏰 All real world castles from across Europe. An excellent reference and starting place for ideas to build your own fantasy castles for Palladium Fantasy®, Dungeons & Dragons®, Pathfinder® and any fantasy role-playing game setting.

🏰 Easily adaptable to ANY role-playing game system.

🏰 48 pages – $10.99 retail – Cat. No. 410 – available now.

BACK IN STOCK!  

Civilization Gone, Dead Reign Sourcebook


There is so much packed into this sourcebook no wonder it is a fan favorite.

📖 A few additional zombies.

📖 12 madmen and psychopaths including the Zombie Lover and Zombie Master, plus Bandits, Raiders, and street gangs.

📖 Random house encounter and resource tables

📖 Survivor camp creation tables and more.

📖 Written by Kevin Siembieda. Cover by master of horror, E.M. Gist.

📖 $16.99 retail – 64 pages – Cat. No. 231 – Available now.

BACK IN STOCK!  

Yin-Sloth Jungles, 2nd Edition, Revised and Expanded!


The Yin-Sloth Jungles™ is a savage and unexplored wilderness filled with exotic people, strange creatures, ancient ruins, dark gods, and ancient secrets waiting to be unearthed.


📕 15 O.C.C.s, all updated and expanded, making them seem brand new: Beastmaster, Holy Crusader, Jungle Fighter, Man-Catcher, the unique Tezcat and Pygmy Shamans, Spy, Undead Hunter, and Witch Hunter, among others.

📕 18 Jungle People and monsters updated and expanded to feel like new, plus a few additions.

📕 New and expanded Shaman Chant magic.

📕 New and unique Pygmy Shaman Chant magic.

📕 New and expanded history of the Yin-Sloth Jungles.

📕 Expanded and clarified weapons, jungle armor, poisons, & more.

📕 The Orcish Empire and a few notable cities.

📕 Filled with great artwork by Peterson (ROG) and Mike Mumah.

📕 Written by Kevin Siembieda, John Klinkel, and Patrick Nowak.

📕 160 pages – $24.99 retail – Cat. No. 459 – available now.

📕 COMING SOON! Yin-Sloth Expeditions setting and adventure book.

BACK IN STOCK!

After the Bomb® RPG “Bonus” Edition Hardcover – Available now


Create any type of intelligent, mutant animal from a turtle or raccoon to a lion or an elephant. The RPG presents stats for 100+ mutant animals, plus rules for creating any mutant animal you can imagine. Suitable for use with Heroes Unlimited™, Ninjas & Superspies™, Rifts®, Chaos Earth®, Phase World® and Palladium Fantasy®. Whatever the setting, playing anthropomorphic animal characters is a blast.


📙 100+ mutant animal stats included.

📙 Mutant animal creation rules to mutate ANY animal.

📙 52 Mutant Animal Powers.

📙 33 Mutant Animal Psionic Powers.

📙 New Animal Chimeras and their abilities.

📙 New back story to the After the Bomb® world of mutants.

📙 The post-apocalyptic Earth setting of “After the Bomb” is just one use for your mutant animal heroes.

📙 A complete RPG written by Erick Wujcik.

📙 72 pages of “bonus” material includes the original After the Bomb® sourcebook and Yucatan Adventures from the old Game Shield.

📙 296 pages (72 bonus pages) – $44.99 retail – Cat. No. 503HC – now shipping. Also available as a 224 page softcover book ($26.99 retail – Cat. No. 503). Note: After the Bomb sourcebooks provide additional mutant animal stats and settings.

BACK IN STOCK!

Rifts® Book of Magic Hardcover


A compendium of magic from across Rifts Earth. Hundreds of magic spells plus magic weapons and devices from across the Megaverse.


📔 900+ magic spells, Elemental Magic, Ley Line Magic.

📔 Necromancy, Nature Magic, Cloud Magic, Ocean Magic, Biomancy.

📔 Tattoo magic, Temporal magic, Whalesongs, Conjuring, Nazca Lines.

📔 Techno-Wizard devices, Rune Weapons, Holy Weapons, fetishes.

📔 Bio-Wizard Weapons, the Bio-Borg, symbiotes, and herbs.

📔 Magic stones, talismans, staves, wands, and more.

📔 $39.99 – 352 pages of pure magic – Cat. No. 848HC – available now. Also available in softcover ($31.99 retail, Cat. No. 848).

BACK IN STOCK!

Rifts® Index & Adventures™ Vol. One


This sourcebook offers adventures and an index. Back in print after being unavailable for a year (and 15+ years before that!), it presents more than 40 pages of adventures and offers a ton of Hook, Line & Sinker™ adventures. Many involving the Army of the Coalition States. Plus an Index for Rifts® World Books 1-6, Sourcebooks 1 and 3, Rifts® Conversion Books 1 & 2, Rifts® Mercenaries, Dimension Books 1 and 2, and the original Rifts® RPG, First Edition rules. Worth it for the 30 plus adventure hooks alone.


📘 A must for Rifts® collectors.

📘 40+ pages of adventures: Five adventures and NPCs.

📘 20+ Hook, Line and Sinker™ adventures.

📘 An index of early Rifts® titles.

📘 96 pages – $20.99 retail – Cat. No. 823 – Available now.

BACK IN STOCK!

Rifts® World Book 8: Japan


There are few places on Rifts Earth as divided with magic and the supernatural vs technology. All sorts of technological wonders await including Japanese dragons, demons, and goblins, plus Glitter Boys, Cyber-Samurai and other suits of power armor, Dragon-Cyborgs, Ninja Crazies, Ninja Juicers, Cyberoids, weapons, Rune Swords, demons and more.


📗 Dragon cyborgs and living Japanese dragons.

📗 Ninja Cyborg and Mystic Ninja.

📗 Ninja Juicer, Tech-Ninja, Fighting Monks, Ronins, and more.

📗 Cyber-Samurai and Traditional Samurai; 20 O.C.C.s in all.

📗 The living Samurai Sword and the supernatural.

📗 SAMAS Samurai, Glitter Boys, weapons, and gear.

📗 Martial arts, mystic powers, and magic items.

📗 Pre-Rifts city, super-science, Glitter Boys, and more.

📗 216 pages – $26.99 retail – Cat. No. 818 – Available now.

BACK IN PRINT!

Rifts® China One


Everything you could want for a World Book set in China. Here are the bad guys, and Chinese myths and legends brought to life.


🐼 The Yama Kings and their 11 Kingdoms of Hell on Earth.

🐼 34 Chinese demons and ghosts.

🐼 20+ curses

🐼 The return of the First Emperor and the Terra Cotta Warriors,

🐼 Overview of China and the Yama Kings.

🐼 Dragon Lands, Demon Villages, and more.

🐼 Written by Erick Wujcik and Kevin Siembieda.

🐼 $24.99 retail – 160 pages – Cat. No. 857 – available now.

BACK IN STOCK!

Rifts® China Two


Heroes of the Celestial Court – it is time for China’s greatest heroes to rise and fight the darkness. Heroes, magic, and technology that will blow your mind.


Both Rifts China World Books are great companions to Rifts Japan, Warlords of Russia, Rifts Mystic Russia and The Minion War series. Characters, magic and concepts can be ported over to Ninjas & Superspies, Heroes Unlimited and the Redux TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG.


🧧 12 Mystic Martial Arts.

🧧 12 Mythic Heroes including the Enlightened Demon.

🧧 The hidden army of Geo-Front, the Gun Master and Lightning Warrior.

🧧 Chi Weapons, Chi Powers, Chi Sight, and magic.

🧧 Demon Queller and magical demon-binding items.

🧧 Demon Skin, Gun Dragon, Black Tiger power armor.

🧧 Geo-Front cyborgs, weapons, technology, and more.

🧧 Written by Erick Wujcik.

🧧 $24.99 retail – 160 pages – Cat. No. 858 – available now.

Palladium offers more than 300 of our books, every issue of The Rifter, sneak previews, and more in PDF format via DriveThruRPG

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Hope


Life is a challenge filled with ups and downs. Good and bad – and sometimes tragedy and profound sorrow. But as bad as things may get, please continue to seek and find hope. Try to continue to see the goodness and the beauty all around you. (It is there.) Recognize that you have friends and loved ones who care about you. Cling fiercely onto hope, even if it’s only a shred of hope, and the promise that things will get better. And take care of yourself. That means forcing yourself to eat when you don’t feel like it, getting sleep and forcing yourself to go out and do things, and be around people.


It’s okay to feel sad and cry or to be angry and want to be left alone, but don’t give in to it. Fight for yourself by finding moments of joy and camaraderie even if they are fleeting – and even when you hurt so bad it’s hard to breathe and you feel like giving up.


Don’t give up on yourself or give in to the dark emotions of sorrow and hopelessness that, in the moment, may somehow seem reasonable or comforting. They are neither. Things will get better. Focus on your tiny accomplishments and little triumphs. It’s hard as hell, but keep finding the way, whatever it may be for you.


In the initial weeks that I was grieving for Kathy but had finally come back to work, there were many a day where I barely accomplished one task. Rather than beat myself up for doing so little I chose to see each as an accomplishment. One thing off my list of many things to do.  Under the circumstances, each one thing was an accomplishment. Little triumphs that grew in number with every passing day.


I also made myself go out and do things. Not just shopping and going to work, but going out with friends, going to a movie or dinner, going to Chaosium Con and to the Ann Arbor Library event when all I wanted to do was curl up into a ball at home and cry. I did a host of similar little things. Each one a tiny accomplishment. Each one helping me to find a few moments of joy and camaraderie and connection to the world around me.


I want to share this with you as I work through my own grief and loss, because I know there are others going through the same thing. And though I wish no one ever had to feel the deep loss of a spouse, child, parent, or loved one, you will. It’s inevitable. When that time comes, I hope you’ll realize you are not alone, and that my words of hope may encourage and guide you through your own sorrow.


My grief is easing a bit. I find myself laughing and having fun without forcing myself to do so. I still struggle with the loss of Kathy, and my grief is still a beast that attacks when I least expect it. I still have bad days. In fact the past weekend was brutal. Everything reminded me of Kathy. I was flooded with memories that came in pounding waves. There were moments when I felt like I was drowning in my grief and sorrow, but there were also memories that made me smile or chuckle even as tears streamed down my cheeks. I focused on the smiles because they are a big accomplishment. I had feared I’d never be able to think of Kathy without tears or sadness, but there it was: genuine emotions of happiness – some accompanied by tears and some without.


I was blessed to have Kathy in my life for any length of time at all. We were best friends and more. I’ve been blessed to have incredible people come and go throughout my life. My challenge now is moving forward toward happiness and a life without my beautiful Kathy. That’s a big challenge, but I’ll get there no matter how long it may take. I’m already beginning to slowly travel down that path. I got there by hanging on to a sliver of hope even as I felt hopeless, by achieving a thousand tiny accomplishments, and with help from my friends. And that’s how I’ll continue down this path.


If I can do it, so can you. To quote the movie Galaxy Quest – “Never give up. Never surrender!” Not even when you feel like you have nothing left to give and can’t go on. You can. You will. You must. And you’ll be glad you did; and so will all the people who care about you. Life is hard. It can be horrible and agonizing at times, but it’s also good and wonderful. A true adventure in which you are the one going through the hero’s journey. A journey filled with love and loss, triumph and failure. That’s all okay, because that’s what life is all about.


I hope I didn’t get too philosophical on you. Life is beautiful. Smell the roses, delight in your friends, enjoy the good times, revel in your triumphs, and game on.  Today, I saw a deer and her fawn and I was able to smile and enjoy the joyful moment. As Erick would say, it’s all good.  



– Kevin Siembieda, Game Designer, Writer, Friend