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Palladium Weekly Update – September 19, 2024

Written by pb_addy on . Posted in Weekly Updates.

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

Written by pb_addy on . Posted in Weekly Updates.

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 — August 29, 2024

Written by pb_addy on . Posted in Weekly Updates.

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 — July 11, 2024

Written by pb_addy on . Posted in Weekly Updates.

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

Gen Con * Progress * Cost of Books * Back In Stock * Coming Soon

Happy Thursday, Palladium Fans!


Greetings Gamers Everywhere —

Gen Con is Coming!


At Palladium we are pounding away on several projects as we also prepare for Gen Con, just 3 weeks away! (Make that more like 2 weeks as we head out a few days before to take care of early set-up.) We’ve been figuring out the layout of the booth with our life-size Leonardo (still under construction) as well as convention promotions, convention specials (After the Bomb seems like a no brainer) and other good stuff.


Advancing Projects

Meanwhile, Sean and I are focused on our two respective projects. The TMNT Redux books are Sean’s main project – the clarifications and layout are outstanding.


For me it is Yin-Sloth Expeditions. I forgot what a great book Yin-Sloth Jungles was. This expanded setting and adventure companion is truly epic. There are 30 maps and many unique locations that work as oases of civilization (or brewing trouble and danger). Most have one or more fully fleshed out adventures or several adventure hooks. Oh my gosh, are you going to love this book. I have finished my tweaks and additions to the multi-part adventure that is the City-State of Terellia (a wild ride), Kor, Dunkirk, and Shaldon’s Keep, with much more to come (like Sea Giants and an arcane demon). This book is packed with ideas and old and new NPCs, villains, and adventure ideas. If we are to have any chance of having the book at Gen Con, I need to finish it over the weekend. Our printer is on standby. We’ll have to wait and see, but I have cleared my schedule and pushing hard to get Expeditions done!



Holding the down the cost of books.


We are doing our best to continue to hold the line on the cost of books. Most Palladium titles are 20-30% less than the majority of our competitors. Not sure how long we can maintain that as the cost of printing, manufacturing, and shipping all continue to rise. Get ‘em while you can. [Kev isn’t kidding, act now! – Sean]

Back in Stock Now!

🐘 After the Bomb Hardcover with bonus material – Cat. No. 503HC

🔮 Rifts® Book of Magic Hardcover (700+ spells and more) – Cat. No. 848

🎎 Rifts® Japan (dragon cyborgs and more!) – Cat. No. 818

🧟 Civilization Gone, Dead Reign Sourcebook– Cat. No. 231

🐅 Yin-Sloth Jungles Expanded (a great book!) – Cat. No. 459


Back in stock in a week or two (before Gen Con):


➡️ Rifts® Index Vol. One – Cat. No. 823

➡️ Exotic Weapons – Cat. No. 409

➡️ European Castles – Cat. No. 410


I have now sent 30 titles to the printer for reprint. Many are not yet out of print, like Splynn Dimensional Market, Rifts® China 1 & 2, Mutants in Orbit, Dead Reign RPG, Hell Followed (DR), and In the Face of Death (DR), among others, but we have fewer than 10-20 copies in stock, thanks to recent distributor orders. I’m always surprised by the popularity of Dead Reign the Zombie Apocalypse. I don’t know why I’m surprised, it is a great game and dynamic setting with many unique zombies and game elements. Can you survive the Zombie Apocalypse?


Old is new again


Due to popular demand and frequent requests from fans, Palladium is considering reprinting select, out of print issues of The Rifter. These Rifter re-releases will have the words Archival Edition in a yellow box to differentiate them from the original printings, which are collector items. Most will have the price of $20.99 retail, more than the original cover price, but much less than the $40-$80 these titles are selling for on the collector’s market. We’ll try three much desired issues to test the market. They are The Rifter #48, #58, and #65. If these sell well, we’ll begin to reprint more Archival Edition Rifters. These are exactly the same book just with Archival Edition on the cover. Special thanks to Palladium fan, Joseph Sousa, for his helpful input and suggestion.


COMING! Art Prints Back in Stock and New – Next Week


13 full color art prints are also being printed for your enjoyment. All should be in stock by the middle of next week. More details in the next Weekly Update.

New at the 8 ½ x 11 inch size for the first time (fits 8×10 mat or frame):

🖼️ Rifts Japan cover

🖼️ Rifts Psyscape cover

🖼️ Rifts Coalition War Campaign – That’s in addition to numerous other fan favorites like Rifts Mercenaries: Crimes Against the Coalition, the Red Borg, and Ley Line Walker and …

🖼️ CS Strike Force (CS troops on patrol; Kevin Long art; 17 x 11 inch size)

🖼️ Ley Line Scene (Kevin Long art; 17 x 11 inch size).


What’s hot at Palladium this week.


Rifts® titles as usual, and the Rifts® 30th Anniversary Edition hardcover remains hot, but this week we saw a lot of Dead Reign and Nightbane sales along with Rifts and Palladium Fantasy. We’re not sure why there was a sudden surge in horror titles, but we are happy to see it. Thank you for your support!

Find us at Gen Con


Gen Con – Palladium Books Booth #607 – near Chaosium


Palladium Books will at Gen Con as usual, though in a different location, booth #607. This year we are situated near our pals at Chaosium (Booth #511) and between Paizo and Asmodee near the first hall entrance.


Come on over to booth 607 to meet, chat with, and get autographs from me (Kevin Siembieda), Sean Owen Roberson (Creative Director and author), Wayne Smith (editor), Mark Oberle (author), Glen Evans (author), John Klinkel (author), Mike Leonard (artist and author), Caleb Nelson (Palladium staff), and others. We’ll have Yin-Sloth Expeditions and maybe a few other new releases, a large back stock selection of RPG books, playing cards, some original art, art prints, and collectibles for your enjoyment. We are also happy to sign any books you bring with you.


Enjoy a photo op with a life-size Ninja Turtle!


We have a talented sculptor working away on creating a life-sized statue of Leonardo. It’s shaping up beautifully, so swing by the booth to check it out and get a photo with Leo as well as notable Palladium Books creators.


Two panel talks with Kevin and Sean.


Tickets are still available for both.

🤖🌌RIFTS and the Future of Palladium – JW Marriott 203 – Fri 5pm EDT
Join Kevin Siembieda and Sean Owen Roberson to talk about all things Palladium, especially RIFTS!
https://www.gencon.com/events/257512

🐢🥋Palladium Talks Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – JW Marriott 203 – Sat 4pm EDT
Kevin and Sean discuss the wildly successful Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness REDUX edition and future plans.
https://www.gencon.com/events/257514

There are also something like 16 or 20 Palladium Books based RPG game events being run this year at Gen Con, including some by writers John Klinkel and Glen Evans, among others. Check ‘em out!


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

CLOSING THOUGHTS

I Love RPGs and World Building


It’s no secret that I love role-playing games and storytelling. It brings me joy to bring you worlds of adventure. Everything gives me ideas. Everything. Sean’s like that too. So was Erick Wujcik. But I’m starting to think I’m a natural born storyteller. That writing and world building is part of my DNA. Here’s why.


I have been seeing a grief counselor to help me through the loss of my best friend and life partner, Kathy Simmons. From all accounts, I’m handling it pretty well, but there are good days and bad days. You never know what will cause crushing grief to swell up inside of you. Sometimes it’s a poignant reminder and sometimes it’s something insignificant or silly. You can never tell what will hit you in your heart.


Well, I found something that was one of the very last things Kathy had done for me on March 22. She died the morning of March 24th. The grief counselor said considering what it was, he wasn’t surprised that it hit me with heavy grief for the next 3-4 days. What did surprise him was when I said, “Yeah, it was heavy and difficult, but I still managed to go to work and was writing really well.”


“You were still able to write?! And write well?” Apparently he thought this was rare and amazing, and he asked me how I did it.


That was a tough question. I had to think about it for a minute.


The words that came out of my mouth were, “I think I’m a natural born storyteller.” I’ve always loved stories in every form – children’s picture books, comic books, novels, history books, movies, television, animation, anime, live theater, spoken word, role-playing games, works of art, songs, comedy and everything – my entire life. I love stories and the art of storytelling. I love the structure and methods of writing and storytelling, and by extension, world building and game design. I thrive on the act of creation whether it’s in words or pictures, or both.


Being creative is my escape. My happy place. My world within worlds. I lose myself in the worlds, heroes, and villains I’m creating or taking on new adventures. The very act of it all brings me joy. The frosting on the cake, for me anyway, is knowing that my creations will bring joy to generations of gamers who read and play my works. As I’m writing I actually think things like, “The players will love this,” or “The Game Master will have fun with that.”


So thank you for helping me through my grief, because you are my inspiration, my muses, and part of my joy. You are part of my creative process as I create new worlds of wonder and build upon existing ones.


I also know Kathy would want me to continue to bring you these worlds. She loved me and the fans so much, and she worked so hard to keep Palladium strong through the good and the bad times. So I’m doing this for her, you, me, for all of us. I hope you continue to enjoy all the things we have planned for the next several years. We put our hearts and souls into everything we do. And I need to get back to one of them right now!


Enjoy the books and art prints back in print and please stop by Booth #607 – we hope to see a lot of you at Gen Con in a few weeks. Dare to dream and keep those beautiful imaginations burning bright.


– Kevin Siembieda, Your Storytelling Friend

Palladium Weekly Update — June 21, 2024

Written by pb_addy on . Posted in Weekly Updates.

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

Sold Out! * Honored at Origins * TMNT pledge manager Closing

Happy Friday, Palladium Fans!

Showing the Love!


By the gods of Dragonwright, you folks loved that Fantastic Fantasy and Hardcovers sale. I was considering extending the offer another week, but we actually sold out of a few key Palladium Fantasy titles, and many others are too few to extend the sale, Yin-Sloth Jungles among them. That’s what we love to see. This feels appropriate to me because I’m working hard to finish Yin-Sloth Expeditions in time to have it available at Gen Con (Booth #607) along with the reprinted Yin-Sloth Jungles hot off the press.


We’ve already gotten a lot of positive feedback from the Legion of Myth live chat that took place last Sunday. Sean and I talked about the loss of Kathy, the TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux editions, Yin-Sloth Expeditions, Rifts® Bestiary, Rifts® Antarctica (the full lowdown), Beyond the Supernatural, and other topics, as well as a long discussion about Game Mastering and storytelling. We got so caught up in all the fun topics that I believe our conversation went over 4 hours! Check it out when they make it available online. More about happenings at Palladium Books in my Closing Thoughts.


What’s Hot at Palladium this Week?


The Fantastic Fantasy sales made Palladium Fantasy titles super-hot. So hot we sold out of some titles and others are running low. We also saw a ton of hardcover sales across the board, especially the Rifts® 30th Anniversary hardcover (original Rifts 1st edition rules, Parkinson cover, plus the making of color section in the back complete with every Rifts cover to date). Other Rifts, Heroes Unlimited, and After the Bomb titles were also in high demand.


Weekly Updates are now posted on the Palladium website. A technical issue prevented us from being able to post our Weekly Updates on the Palladium website. That problem has been solved and you can get caught up on the last several updates as you may desire; Some had cool art and other info you might enjoy.

Honored at Origins

One of the highlights of the Redux campaign for TMNT&OS is the renewed interest and appreciation for the incomparable game design magic of Erick Wujcik — Origins Lifetime Achievement Award 2008, Hall of Fame Inductee 2011.

The Origins Game Fair is going on now through the 23rd in Columbus, Ohio.

TMNT&OS pledge manager Closing SOON!

It’s NOT too late for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness backers to add the campaign-exclusive Heroes and Villains Miniatures or Kevin Eastman variant cover to their orders, but time IS running out.

We’re closing the BackerKit pledge manager for the campaign at the end of this month, next Friday June 28th!  And cards for any add-ons will be charged the following week on July 3rd.

These collector’s items will NOT be available at retail or through Palladium after the campaign manager closes, so grab them now!

Find us at Gen Con


Gen Con – Palladium Books Booth #607 – near Chaosium


Palladium Books will at Gen Con as usual, though in a different location, booth #607. This year we’re located close to our pals at Chaosium (Booth #511) and between Paizo and Asmodee near the first hall entrance.


Come on over to booth 607 to meet, chat with, and get autographs from Kevin Siembieda (Founder), Sean Owen Roberson (Creative Director and writer), Wayne Smith (editor), Mark Oberle (author), Glen Evans (author), John Klinkel (author), Mike Leonard (artist and author), Caleb Nelson (Palladium staff), and others. We’ll have Yin-Sloth Expeditions and maybe a few other new releases, a large back stock selection of RPG books, playing cards, some original art, art prints, and collectibles for your enjoyment. We are also happy to sign any books you bring with you.


This year Kevin and Sean are hosting TWO panel talks for you to bring your questions and find out about the exciting future plans we have in store for you and all things Palladium, so grab your tickets now:

🤖🌌RIFTS and the Future of Palladium – JW Marriott 203 – Fri 5pm EDT
Join Kevin Siembieda and Sean Owen Roberson to talk about all things Palladium, especially RIFTS!
https://www.gencon.com/events/257512

🐢🥋Palladium Talks Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – JW Marriott 203 – Sat 4pm EDT
Kevin and Sean discuss the wildly successful Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness REDUX edition and future plans.
https://www.gencon.com/events/257514

There are also something like 16 or 20 Palladium Books based RPG game events being run this year at Gen Con, including some by writers John Klinkel and Glen Evans, among others. Check ‘em out!


Palladium offers more than 300 of our books in PDF format via DriveThruRPG

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Feel the Magic


It feels good to have so much in production and going on behind the scenes. The Redux TMNT RPG is magnificent. Everyone loves the written remembrances and art tributes – some are touching, some are beautiful, some are funny, all are worth reading. Many of you will be able to relate to one or more of them and will enjoy reading all of them. The list of writers range from film writer/director Rawson Marshall Thurber and TV producer Ciro Nieli to comic book and RPG creators like Jim Lawson, Sophie Campbell, Freddie E. Williams II, Louis Antonio Delgado, Kevin Long, and many others, as well as notable friends of Erick Wujcik.  


Sean Owen Roberson has been breathing new life into the redux books and all the TMNT & OS Kickstarter items. Everything is looking beautiful and reading well. He’s been lovingly rediscovering and working on Erick Wujcik’s original game materials. What a joyful project! Gamers worldwide are going to love these RPGs more than ever.


Note: Kickstarter Backers, remember the pledge manager WILL close at the end of June, so please fill in your Backerkit survey if you haven’t done so already, and think about adding Exclusives now, while you still can because that capability ENDS when the BackerKit pledge manager closes in a week. When we say Kickstarer exclusive we mean it!


Wayne and Alex are working to keep many projects moving along, including sending in something like 20 books for reprint. Our cheerful warehouse guy, Caleb, is excited to be shipping so many books to gamers and distributors. Me and Sean too!


As for me, I’m swept up in a whirlwind of activity. I’m deep into Yin-Sloth Expeditions and writing up a storm. I love this book. I’m even doing a few new pieces of art for it.


When I’m not writing, planning, or handling business, I have been doing a series of video chats with JM DeFoggi covering, in depth, the history of Palladium Books. This will be expansive and pointed discussions to eventually appear on Palladium Books’ YouTube channel in various forms and segments. This idea is the result of our fans asking me to write an autobiography or history of Palladium Books. I would like to except I have a zillion game books to write that people want even more. Besides, it’s more fun to hear and see the person talk about their creative journey. These chats are inspired, in part, by videos with the Glitterbois and Legion of Myth, among others, and the clear fan interest in these subjects and the history of gaming. I don’t know about you, but I would love to be able to watch videos with industry iluminaries like Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson, Greg Stafford, Erick Wujcik, Keith Parkinson, and others, but they’re no longer with us and no such video archive exists. The recent loss of Kathy Simmons and Julius Rosenstein have made this feel all the more imperative to both me and Sean, who has insisted on comprehensively documenting these memories.


I think JM and I have 15 subjects in our chronological outline, and we may add a few more as I remember additional fun stories and Sean keeps suggesting subjects we should include. It has been fun and I hope you’ll enjoy watching them as much as JM and I are enjoying making them. By the way, I intend to continue a similar series of interviews with the Glitterbois. Why? Because they are approaching the subject from a different point of view, ask different questions, have a different audience, and I like chatting with them. Plus there are so many details and events to talk about that I could do a hundred interviews and still touch on different subjects within them.


On a personal note, everyday I’m trying to be my best self and celebrate Kathy’s beautiful life as best I can. I’m trying to be the light. Meaning, I’m trying to embrace the beauty and magic life has to offer. Life is hard and it can get ugly at times. I’m choosing to embrace the light. To focus on fun, kindness, and goodness and to pay it forward. So please, try not to let day-to-day strife, worry, and hardships get you down. Don’t lose hope. Remember that role-playing games are a wonderful, fun way to escape your everyday stress with friends and fellow gamers – even if it’s only for a few hours.


Kathy is my renewed inspiration. I have come to realize she created beauty, joy, and real world magic without even realizing she was doing so. I know this from the endless stories by neighbors and people we knew. And from complete strangers.


I have had a cavalcade of strangers – people who don’t know Kathy has passed – who will see me in the front yard and walk over to tell me how much they loved our Halloween display, or how much they liked to stop and chat with Kathy on their way to the nature trail at the end of our street. Others have told me how they enjoyed Kathy’s lovely landscaping and especially how much they enjoy the menagerie of wildlife attracted to our home and to her.


Just yesterday morning, the water meter reader waved and motioned to me as he made a detour down the driveway toward the house. I was worried there was problem, but he smiled and said he had been doing this work in our area for the last three years, and our house is always his favorite. He explained he always enjoys seeing the dozens of squirrels and wide variety of colorful birds, and sometimes a deer or other wildlife in our yard. It was magical, he said, and always made him feel happy. He then commented on the beautiful white cat he saw trot across the yard. Just one of the 9 feral cats Kathy had neutered, spayed, and fed daily. She cared about and fed everyone and everything. Her gentle, inner beauty just spilled out into the world and made our home a magical paradise in the middle of the city. There are so many enchanting moments that feel like a scene are from Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.


I hope I can keep the magic going as well as she did, and be the light that helps to show people that there is magic in the world and in our books. I encourage you to be the light in your part of the world and game on.


– Kevin Siembieda, Game designer, writer, friend


Palladium Books – Weekly Update – May 30, 2024

Written by pb_addy on . Posted in Weekly Updates.

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

Happy Thursday, Palladium Fans!

OPENING THOUGHTS

What’s Selling?


Welcome, fellow gamers.

Though TMNT & Other Strangeness is getting a lot of well-deserved attention (the Redux editions are incredible), we have a number of books in the pipeline, with Rifts and Palladium Fantasy at the top of the list.


Right now, please take advantage of the three huge sales that are soon coming to an end. A Palladium sale of physical Rifts books that include ALL core rule books, most Rifts World Books, most sourcebooks, and some hardcovers at 20-30% off, and two Mega-Rifts Bundles of Holding at an epic 75% discount, plus you support a worthy charity. This is the biggest offering of physical Rifts titles this year! And I believe the two Rifts Mega-Bundles of Holding offer the largest selection of Rifts titles ever! But time is running out – this is the last weekend to order! Sale ends next Wednesday, June 5, so please spread the word and get your orders in before you miss out. I’ve even been randomly signing books too.


Get physical books as gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, or as a treat for yourself. Get the incredible collections of PDF titles via the two massive Bundles of Holding to build your Rifts digital library and to have versions of books that are easy to search and reference.  


What’s selling at Palladium this week? With the Rifts sale you’d think it would be Rifts – and you’d be right – but we are also seeing a lot of orders for the Palladium Fantasy RPG series, Ninjas & Superspies, Heroes Unlimited, After the Bomb, the Weapons & Armor series, and a little bit of everything else. Hardcover core rule books also remain hot, particularly the classics: The Rifts 30th Anniversary edition, RUE core rule books, Palladium Fantasy (both editions), Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, and Nightbane. Keep those orders coming and we’ll keep ‘em shipping as fast as we can.

– Kevin Siembieda, that Publisher Guy

From the Fans

Courtesy Michael Nauta, published with permission.

Four ways to Save BIG
with TWO Bundles of Holding

Proceeds support the Diana Jones Award Emerging Designer Program. Each year, the Diana Jones Award for Excellence in Gaming, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, amplifies the voices of up-and-coming game designers by featuring them during an expenses-paid visit to Gen Con.

Expand Your RIFTS CORE Savings!

Rifts Sourcebook One, Book of Magic, Bestiary, Black Market, Bionics Sourcebook, 3 Rifts Conversion Books and 3 more Rifts Sourcebooks

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Getting Work Done


I hope you are enjoying beautiful spring weather and had a fun Memorial Day long weekend. Sean and I did a lot of work around the office and tried to get caught up a bit. He and I did manage to slip out to see the new Mad Max movie and enjoyed it.


I’m happy to report that though I still grieve for my beautiful Kathy Simmons, I’m finally feeling more like my old self. I have been reorganizing spaces, randomly signing books ordered, and getting work done at an improved pace. In fact, we’re all feeling positive and getting increasingly productive. We have a lot of irons in the fire regarding books of all sorts. We are finally getting the fan favorite mugs and T-shirts to the printer along with a Heroes Unlimited mug and logo T-shirt to celebrate HU’s 40th anniversary. My how time flies.


You’ll continue to see the fruits of our labors in the months ahead and should be quite excited about what’s heading your way.


As for the Redux TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG books and products, wow, just wow. Kevin Eastman’s impressive, new cover painting finally arrived and it’s awesome. We were also thrilled that Kevin Eastman, Kevin Long, Paramount, Michelle Ivey, and everyone who sees the color art, page layout, miniatures, and Mutagen Green dice all love them. The art, color, and production standards are all top notch. If you have not yet finalized your pledge, please do so. Any Kickstarter Backers thinking about getting more, do so soon, because we will be shutting down the Pledge Manager in a few weeks. If you missed the Kickstarter you can pre-order at a superior price, and should consider it.


I have a ton of work waiting for me so I need to run. Be excited, be positive and keep those beautiful imaginations burning bright.

– Kevin Siembieda, Writer, gamer and friend

Palladium Books – Weekly Update – May 17, 2024

Written by pb_addy on . Posted in Weekly Updates.

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

Happy Friday, Palladium Fans!

NEW RELEASES IN PRINT

Yin-Sloth Jungles™ Expanded and Revised

Rifts® Titan Robotics™ Sourcebook

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Joining the Team


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

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


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

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


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

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

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

– Christopher Landauer, RPG force multiplier

Palladium Books – Weekly Update – May 10, 2024

Written by pb_addy on . Posted in Weekly Updates.

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

Happy Friday, Palladium Fans!

Join us for a TMNT Party

NEW RELEASES IN PRINT

Yin-Sloth Jungles™ Expanded and Revised

Rifts® Titan Robotics™ Sourcebook

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Life and Friendship


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


– Kevin Siembieda, Game Designer, writer, and friend

Palladium Books – Weekly Update – May 7, 2024

Written by pb_addy on . Posted in Weekly Updates.

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

Huge savings with the two epic, Bundles of Holding end Monday evening.
Do not miss out on this massive 70% savings!

Hello Palladium Fans!

Channeling the Love


Today would have been Kathy’s birthday. I’m channeling her love for me and Palladium into another productive day of writing. She’d want to see new releases coming your way, so I’m on it. Then this evening, Sean and I will be visiting with our friend Rick Meints, President of Chaosium, and going to dinner. We hope you all enjoy a nice weekend — after you place your order for one or both Rifts Bundles of Holdings.


I’m back to writing the Weekly Updates with assistance from Chris Landauer. Sean has his head down pounding away on TMNT. Enjoy the sales, news, updates and Closing Thoughts that follow.


Kevin Eastman

Kevin Siembieda, art – Mike Majestic, colors

Ciro Nieli


Kevin Siembieda, art – Sophie Campbell, colors

Kevin Siembieda – art, Sophie Campbell – colors

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness RPG Kickstarter Update


Many aspects of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness Kickstarter are now in the final design and layout stages or in final approvals.

  • All artwork and colors for the books are done and look beautiful. Even some of the old art has been digitally remastered to look like new!


  • The 30 pages of full color tribute artwork is amazing.


  • The 30+ written remembrances are touching or funny, or both.


  • The history and behind the scenes material are written.


  • Erick Wujcik is fondly remembered.


  • Eastman and Laird are honored. We love them both.


  • The handful of additional mutant animals are illustrated.


  • A few more new, mutant animals are being solicited.

  • Kevin Eastman’s new, original painting for the variant RPG cover is completed. As you would expect from this maestro, it is bold, dynamic, and stylish. As are the new Eastman and Laird Mutagen Green Foil variant covers

  • The Mutagen Green Dice prototype has been unanimously approved and adored by all who see them.


  • The two sets of miniatures and their packaging is likewise approved. Everyone who has seen the 3D printed prototypes is blown away.


  • The Black, White and Red edition is as mind-blowing as the color edition books.


  • Sean Owen Roberson is fast at work with final remastering and layout, plus little tweaks and additions that will please all, such as a movement table, color coded headlines, a rear index, and more.


Notable outsiders’ reactions to TMNT & Other Strangeness


Michele Ivey of Cowabunga Corner fame is a TMNT expert. She and her sister Miki Ivey, a top sculptor who has worked with Disney Imagineers, both visited the Palladium offices – or as Sean likes to call them, the Palladium studios. Sean and I spent an hour showing them just the color art, colored comic strip pages (30+ pages of comics between the two hardcovers), and RPG book layout. They loved it, with Michele stating, and Miki agreeing, that these are going to be some of the most impressive TMNT books ever published by anyone. They also loved the miniatures and Mutagen Green dice, and were surprised by the unique and powerful gray scale and red art for the Black, White, and Red edition hardcovers.


“Nobody’s expecting this,” said Michele. “Turtle fans are going to go crazy over all of this. I think Kevin Eastman’s variant cover is one of his best paintings.”


Artist Mark Dudley and two of his associates, Jeff and Nick, visited Palladium last Saturday to discuss the future of their own passion project for Palladium. It was a positive visit and they, like everyone else, went wild over the color work on the old art, the new tribute art, and the vast amount of impressive art and fun products for the TMNT & Other Strangeness Kickstarter. They too loved the Mutagen Green Dice and the dynamic poses and detail of the miniatures.


Everything about the TMNT & Other Strangeness Kickstarter has been a passion project. We are big fans like you and we want to wow you with everything we are offering.


Speaking of which, Backers can still add to your pledges. You do not want to miss out on anything. But DO SO SOON, because the Pledge Manager will be closing in a few weeks!


Likewise, any of you who missed the Kickstarter can place pre-orders for the non-exclusive TMNT & Other Strangeness products such as the two main hardcovers, the Black, White and Red edition hardcovers, Game Master Screen, and Mutagen Green Dice (boy, everyone goes nuts over them), at prices below final retail.




Unbeatable Savings at Bundle of Holding
ENDS MONDAY!


Something else you might enjoy. Since most of you are Palladium fans and adding to or rebuilding your collections, you should look at the two Rifts® Mega-Bundles of Holding sale. This is a way to get core Rifts rule books and a pile of key Rifts sourcebooks as searchable titles on the cheap. Plus a portion of your purchase helps a worthy charity. There is more information below or you can go direct to Bundle of Holding.


But you need to hurry, because this cost saving special offer ends Monday evening, June 10, 2024.


Enjoy!

The RIFTS CORE MEGA BUNDLE OF HOLDING
https://bundleofholding.com/presents/MegaRifts2024


Rifts® Ultimate Edition, 3 Rifts Guides and Kits, Index and Adventures V1-2, Rifts Sourcebook One, Book of Magic, Bestiary, Black Market, Bionics Sourcebook, 3 Rifts Conversion Books and 3 more Rifts Sourcebooks


The RIFTS COALITION WARS BUNDLE OF HOLDING
https://bundleofholding.com/presents/RiftsCoalition


Coalition War Campaign, Coalition Navy, 4 Rifts mercenary sourcebooks, Secrets of the Coalition States


Coalition Manhunters, Siege on Tolkeen – 7 adventures

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Is everything about the TMNT game, now?


We know some of you are thinking that, but it’s not. We are working on and plotting all kinds of books and products we know you will enjoy.


Some coming in the months ahead and some a ways off – all of them exciting and things we know you’ll enjoy.


Remember, Palladium’s new policy is to not talk about projects until they are getting close to going to the printer. That means I can’t name or talk about a couple of the first draft manuscripts that recently arrived for our review. Let’s face it, the unexpected death of Kathy Simmons threw a monkey-wrench into everything. She was loved by all and played such an important role at Palladium that her untimely death affected each and everyone of us in a deep and profound way – me most of all. I think even we ourselves forget we are only human. I like to think we are all super-heroes, but we’re not. As anyone who has suffered a profound loss knows, grief affects your ability to concentrate, focus, be efficient, and kills your imagination. It’s hard to get anything done, let alone be creative. In addition to the grief, you have to take action and learn to adjust to the loss and the new normal. But we are all finding our ways back to being productive and getting everything back on track.


A great many things other than TMNT are being quietly handled behind the scenes. I’m in the throes of finishing Yin-Sloth Expeditions right now, and it is epic. There is one unique location to visit after another. Each with an adventure as well as other notable NPCs, intrigue, and brewing trouble for players and Game Masters to build upon. In addition to fun encounters and experiences for players, there are relics, magic, and items of value to be acquired to empower and grow your characters. Contributing writer John Klinkel and I had a blast making the Yin-Sloth region revised and very expanded, and bigger and better than ever. Oh, and there’s something like 30 new maps and clean, new layout.


I’m also fooling around with a personal side project to celebrate Heroes Unlimited’s 40th Anniversary. That’s in addition to a new HU logo mug and T-shirt. Not sure yet if I can swing it, but fingers crossed. By the way, nobody at the office knows about it yet, not even Sean. So mum’s the word. I’m not supposed to announce anything until it’s really close to release and I’m not even sure I can squeeze it in with all my other responsibilities, but I’m trying hard. (No, it’s not a new edition of the RPG nor a special edition reprint of the first edition RPG. You’ll have to wait and see. – Sneaky, Kevin)


Then there are Rifts® Bestiary Volume 2 and Rifts® Antarctica both scheduled for a 2024 release, and that’s not all, there’s … um … gosh, I’ve already said too much. More in upcoming updates. I just want you to know that we will be supporting Palladium’s many other game lines. In fact, we have a few surprises coming over the next year and a half. Game on and check out my Closing Thoughts!


– Kevin Siembieda, That Publisher Guy

Palladium Books – Weekly Update – May 03, 2024

Written by pb_addy on . Posted in Weekly Updates.

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

Happy Friday, Palladium Fans!

🧟 WAKE THE DEAD SALE 🧛‍♀️

Undead rise from the earth like spring flowers. Pray you have the courage to stop them! Rescue the innocent from vampires, zombies, and other unspeakable horrors found in the pages of the RPGs and sourcebooks in this sale. Limited offer — up to 40% savings. SALE ENDS Wednesday May 8!

Hardcover books 20% off – Softcover books 30% off – Merchandise 40% off

Horror-filled PDFs up to 40% off at DriveThruRPG.com

I MISSED THE CAMPAIGN, BUT I WANT THOSE DICE!

NEW RELEASES IN PRINT

Yin-Sloth Jungles™ Expanded and Revised

Get it at PalladiumBooks

Rifts® Titan Robotics™ Sourcebook

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Filled with Wonder and Excitement


Hey everyone,


I hope you are all doing well, enjoying lovely spring weather, and are excited about our new, horrifyingly fun sale on physical books and PDFs.


We continue to receive cards and condolences from our many fans and friends regarding the loss of Kathy Simmons, as well as inquiries about how I am doing. Thank you for caring so much. We appreciate your concern and words of love and compassion. All of you in our extended Palladium family of fans are so kind and downright awesome.


I won’t pretend the unexpected death of my sweetheart hasn’t been brutal – it has. She was a special person and loved deeply by me and countless others. We are getting through it as best we can and carry our many fond memories of Kathy in our hearts daily. And always will.


Life continues and it is filled with wonder and excitement. It was fun meeting and hanging out with the TransPerfect guys last week. The 3D printed TMNT & Other Strangeness miniature mock-ups they brought with them made my heart jump with joy. It was amazing to hold Doc Feral, Karl, Igor, the Terror Bears, the Turtles, Shredder and all the rest in my hands. They look beyond amazing. I was moved that they thought to present me a special, five inch tall Leonardo for my desk; I love it. I love all of the miniatures and the people responsible for their creation. I cannot recommend the two Kickstarter miniature sets enough. Wow. Mind-blowing. I have been pulling out various minis to randomly examine and enjoy all week. Today they were Casey Jones, Splinter, and the Triceraton. Dang, they are all so good.


I cannot stop playing with the Mutagen Green dice sample either! On Sunday, a visiting friend went bonkers over the dice. Sean worked with our manufacturer to create something unique and fun with these Mutagen Green dice. They feel good in your hand, roll nice, and look like dice containing active, mutagenic green ooze. Heck, I’m in my sixties, but all the miniatures, the dice, and seeing the finished color artwork going into final layout makes me feel like a teenager again. The fan boy in me is cheering and giddy with excitement every single day.


Speaking of art, I’m happy that Nickelodeon is approving the new illustrations I’ve done and that I get such positive feedback from them and people like Sophie Campbell. I did two tribute pages. One is a massive T-Rex menacing the Turtles (colored by Sophie). Sophie also enjoyed my latest tribute page featuring the four TMNT fighting Doctor Feral and his henchmen, including the fully human Otto Rattus appearing in an illustration for the first time ever! Her favorite part of it is Raphael punching out Otto, which made my heart sing. Every part of the TMNT & Other Strangeness Redux has been a labor of love.


I had a really nice time at Chaosium Con too – we love those guys. The event reminded Sean and I of our own Palladium Open House. There have been other business and personal moments that have brought me joy and remind me that life is beautiful, and that Kathy would want me and all of us to revel in every moment. In fact, I can’t wait for Free Comic Book Day this Saturday! Oops, there’s the little kid in me coming out again.


I’ve talked a lot about the TMNT project, but we have so much more happening behind the scenes and planned for the future. New books for Rifts, Palladium Fantasy, Beyond the Supernatural, and … well, I better not say too much just yet, but you’ll be doing a happy dance when we reveal them. In fact, I’m getting a hankering to sit down and do some writing right now. So I will bid you a fond goodbye for now. So much to do, plus Gen Con is right around the corner. We hope many of you will swing by the Palladium booth to say hello.


– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer, and Friend