Palladium Books® Weekly Update – March 3, 2016

By Kevin Siembieda

It’s strange sometimes writing the Weekly Updates. On one hand there’s a lot going on, but on the other hand, there are things I just can’t yet reveal. A good example is Savage Rifts® using the Savage Worlds rules. Things are moving along nicely and we have seen some exciting material (writing, rules, artwork), but I really can’t reveal much beyond that, at least at this time. Likewise, I’d like to say more about our plans for Robotech® RPG Tactics™, but until we have a number of things nailed down and concrete I just can’t do so. We also have all kinds of things in development for Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy RPG®, and Splicers®, some you already know about and some you don’t. So a lot is going on behind the scenes. Here’s some of it.

UPDATE: The Rifter® Super-Subscription Drive is over

My thanks to the multitude of you who renewed your subscriptions. A cheerful welcome to new subscribers; I think you will enjoy the issues coming your way quite a lot. Reminder, The Rifter® #1-66 are available as PDFs at DriveThruRPG.com.

UPDATE: The Rifter® #73 – Available now

The Rifter® #73 is available now and fans of Palladium Fantasy RPG® may want to snag it, as there is a good amount of Fantasy material (easily modified for use in Rifts®, etc.). I hope you enjoy this “all official” source material issue, as it was something we were all happy to do. We wanted to make The Rifter® #73 even more special than usual with all official source material for Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy RPG®, Splicers® and Dead Reign®. See the FREE preview on DriveThruRPG.com for a glimpse at several of the articles.

UPDATE: Coalition States: Heroes of Humanity Sourcebook

I think I’m doing some of my best writing ever on this book. Or maybe I’m just enjoying the heck out of writing more back-story and details about the Coalition States, their culture, ideals and inner operations. I’m certainly enjoying creating a setting in which the CS and other characters that are usually enemies on opposing sides can be played together, as a team. That’s the case with both Heroes of Humanity™ and The Disavowed.

In Heroes of Humanity™ the Minion War is raging and the CS has to mobilize troops fast. Basic training is just that, “basic.” To counter that, the CS has turned to creating a lot more augmented troops, Juicers and Combat Cyborgs in particular. Some of the new weapons, gear and ideas are going to make gamers very happy. And don’t you worry, we haven’t forgotten about the Coalition’s secret weapon: psychics.

UPDATE: Rifts® The Disavowed

As I have noted in the past, Heroes of Humanity™ and The Disavowed (and Haunted Tech, for that matter) are each stand-alone products but related by theme, time-line and interlocking characters and events. As a result, I have been making notes and writing bits for The Disavowed while working on HoH. The Disavowed is dark ops and as such, a bit more sinister and mysterious, but every bit as fun.

UPDATE: Secrets of the Atlanteans

I need to assign the cover and artwork.

UPDATE: Rifts® “Extreme” Reporter’s Bag – available now

The “Extreme” Rifts® Reporter’s Bag is back in stock and those of you who had standing orders for them, have shipped. Enjoy. Please keep the orders coming for the two different Rifts® Reporter’s Bags and Rifts® Embroidered Baseball Caps, and other good stuff.

We are planning to make more of the sold out Palladium Fantasy® coffee mugs and either “Property of the Coalition States” or a new mug for Rifts® or one of the other game lines. We are open to suggestions.

Rifts® World Book PDFs on DriveThruRPG.com

Rifts® World Book 16: Federation of Magic and Rifts® World Book 17: Warlords of Russia are available as PDFs right now on DriveThruRPG.com. Rifts® World Book 18: Mystic Russia will be available tonight at midnight.

They join last week’s PDF postings of Rifts® World Book 15: Spirit West, Rifts® World Book 14: New West™, The Rifter® #65 and The Rifter® #66. More titles on the way. There are also previews of The Rifter® #73, Northern Gun 1 & 2, Lemuria, Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms, Bizantium and many other Palladium titles. Things remain in place to see 2-3 new PDFs of Rifts® World Books and other titles added every week. You wanted PDFs, you’ve got ‘em.

In addition to the titles listed above, The Minion War™ series of books, the Rifts® Coalition Wars®/Tolkeen series, Chaos Earth® Resurrection, all of the Dead Reign® (Zombie Apocalypse) titles, Splicers® RPG and most issues of The Rifter® are available NOW! So are first edition rules of the Heroes Unlimited™ RPG and sourcebooks, Palladium Fantasy RPG® and sourcebooks, The Mechanoids®, and much more, available on DriveThruRPG.com.

Available right now:

Palladium Collectibles Available in Kevin’s Online Toy & Collectibles Store

I found 10 of my old Defiler prints (11x17 inches, black and white). This is a super-limited and rare print as fewer than 50 were ever even printed. Originally only people who ever made played in my three and a half year long campaign got one. It is one of my favorite illustrations of all time and I am putting one or two up for sale in my store.

We’re adding a number of other Palladium collectibles, hardcovers, out of print titles, original artwork, and toys and items from my personal collection to on my ebay store. We add items on a regular basis and offer sales, so check it out from time to time. Includes one-of-a-kind original artwork, prints, Rifts® and Robotech® artwork by Kevin Long, me and others. There is also a range of limited editions, rare book titles and limited edition hardcovers, toys and more available with frequent new items added. Items include original art, out of print titles, redlined proofreader photocopies signed by me and the staff, signed manuscripts with editors’ corrections, some original art, hardcover books (including Rifts® Lemuria, Northern Gun™ One, Northern Gun™ Two, Megaverse® in Flames™, Beyond the Supernatural™ Gold, Rifts® Machinations of Doom™ Gold and Rifts® Ultimate Gold), hundreds of toys and action figures, all from my personal archives and collection. Take a look every weekend or two for new items added.

http://stores.ebay.com/kevinstoys-artandcollectibles

UPDATE: Conventions – AdeptiCon (March 31-April 3) and Anime North (May).

AdeptiCon is later this month and Anime North is Memorial Day Weekend in May. We’ve been planning and prepping for both. Gen Con too. Hope to see a lot of you at all these events.

Staying on target ...

We have a lot of balls in the air — irons in the fire — whatever idiom you want to use, we have a lot going on. A dozen new books in the pipeline, conventions coming up (and they are always so much more work than you might expect), behind the scenes projects, etc. Right now, I’m trying to stay focused on finishing the next couple of books. It’s a cold, but sunny, beautiful day after the latest winter storm that hit us, and I’m in the writing zone, so I’m going to get back to it. Keep those imaginations burning bright.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer, Game Designer

The Rifter #73

NEW! The Rifter® #73 – Available now!

For the first time ever, the entire issue of The Rifter® #73 is “official” source material for Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy RPG®, Splicers® and Dead Reign®, plus news, coming attractions and more. It is a great way to kickoff Palladium’s 35 Year Anniversary.

Every issue of The Rifter® is an idea factory for players and Game Masters to generate new ideas and find new avenues of adventure. It provides useful, ready-to-go source material you can just drop into your ongoing games. A doorway to new possibilities and numerous Palladium role-playing worlds. And the many new characters, O.C.C.s, powers, magic, weapons, villains, monsters, adventures and ideas for one setting can be easily adapted to any Palladium setting. Every issue has material for Rifts® and at least 2-3 other Palladium game lines. And don’t forget, most of the material can be easily adapted for use in ANY Palladium game setting.

Rifter® #73 Highlights:

Coalition States Heroes of Humanity

NEW! Rifts® The Coalition States: Heroes of Humanity – March

In final production. The events unfolding in World Book 35: Megaverse® in Flames threaten to change the entire landscape of Rifts® Earth, as the demonic minions of Hades and Dyval seek to bring Hell on Earth and turn the planet into a dimensional gateway to Armageddon!

The Coalition States, along with Northern Gun and Lazlo, take the lead in the defense of North America. Heroes of Humanity explores the good and bad in the Coalition’s efforts to save humanity and send this new threat back to the pits of Hell.

Rifts The Disavowed

Rifts® Secrets of the Coalition States: The Disavowed™ – Spring

“Desperate times require desperate measures. War has nothing to do with morality or justice. It’s all about winning or dying. We cannot bind our hands with high ideals, even our own, or worry about the laws of renegade nations or the rights of alien people. We must fight fire with fire. And you are the match.” – Colonel Lyboc addressing a Disavowed team

The Disavowed are so Top Secret that their existence is known only to a handful of the Coalition States’ most elite, top echelon, with Joseph Prosek II the mastermind behind the Disavowed operation, and Colonel Lyboc its shadowy face. Find out who these men and women are. How the Disavowed get away with using magic, traveling to other parts of Rifts Earth and even to other dimensions in pursuit of enemies and strategic information that cannot be had through conventional means. Learn about the secret parameters in which these hard-boiled warriors, secretly hand-picked by Joseph Prosek II, operate, why almost every mission is considered a suicide mission, and why they must forever be the Disavowed.

NEW! Rifts® Secrets of the Atlanteans – Spring

True Atlanteans are descendants from Earth’s past. The survivors of the sinking of Atlantis (really a dimensional mishap) and travelers of the Megaverse, wielders of Tattoo Magic and other lost mystic arts. Most people regard them as heroes, but are they? The Sunaj Assassins are mythic villains feared by all, yet they too are True Atlanteans who serve dark forces.

For the first time, much of the story behind True Atlanteans and their secrets are revealed.

Rifts® Haunted Tech – Spring or Summer

Faced with the imminent threat of the Minion War and ensuing demon plagues across Rifts® North America, heroes and nations rise! Archie Three is taking none of it lying down. The insane machine-god is obsessed with sending the demons back to hell and saving “his” world.

The Rifter #73

BACK IN PRINT: Island at the Edge of the World

A Palladium Fantasy RPG® Sourcebook – available now

Island at the Edge of the World™ is back in print as a short run, special printing. This is the original Palladium RPG® sourcebook VI that utilizes First Edition rules. That said, it is very easy to adapt for use with Second Edition rules.

Island at the Edge of the World™ reveals some of the little known history of the Palladium World, the Time of a Thousand Magicks, the Changeling Inquisition, and dark secrets that could threaten the world. Learn about forgotten Crystal Magic (as powerful as Rune Weapons), the Church of Scar, the legendary Circle of Absolute Elemental Power and frightening prophecies about the end of the world.

Garden of the Gods – a Palladium Fantasy RPG® Sourcebook – Spring

This has been a secret project of Kevin Siembieda’s that he has been plotting and writing in what little spare time he has. The Garden of the Gods is said to be a holy place watched over and even frequented by the avatars of the gods. According to legend, the god may visit heroes and followers in dreams or in person by an avatar of the god, to be given guidance, inspiration, heroic quests, and gifts of knowledge and magic. More details about this title will follow.

Hell Followed – A Dead Reign® Zombie Apocalypse Sourcebook

At 160 pages, Hell Followed™ is the largest Dead Reign® sourcebook yet. Spring or Summer release. Can you survive the Zombie Apocalypse? Find out by playing Dead Reign®. The results may surprise you.

Rifts® Chaos Earth® Sourcebook: First Responders – Summer

The Great Cataclysm has devastated civilization, but humanity fights for survival. The struggles of civilian law enforcement, fire and rescue, and everyday men and women are some of the most epic tales to be told in a world gone to hell. They fight monsters, aliens, the paranormal, the elements, and each other, all with the hope of reclaiming their lives from the Chaos.

Robotech RPG Tactics

Robotech® RPG Tactics Wave Two is coming ...

– but you can get started with the core box set and Wave One expansions right now

If you love Robotech®, you want to take a look at this game. Beautifully detailed game pieces of your favorite Robotech® mecha, and fast playing rules that capture the Robotech® experience in a new, exciting way. And this is just the beginning. We have so much more planned for the years ahead.

Robotech® RPG Tactics™ "Starter Box" (Main Box Game) – Cat. No. 55100 – $99.95 retail price. This is the game Robotech® fans have wanted for decades. Robotech® RPG Tactics™ is a fast-paced, tabletop combat game that captures the action and adventure of the Robotech® anime. Two or more players can engage in small squad skirmishes or scale up to massive battles. Relive the clashes of the First Robotech War, engage in stand-alone tactical games, or use the dynamic game pieces to enhance your Robotech® RPG experience. Or simply collect your favorite mecha from an expanding range of top-notch game pieces. Get yours now, so you can build your armies and have them ready when Wave Two is released.

The First Six Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Expansion Packs are available to retail along with the main box game. Here are the SKUs and retail prices:

DriveThruRPG

Palladium PDF Books – download from DriveThruRPG.com

This is a great resource for getting out of print Palladium titles and other select books. We’ve made more than 100 PDF products available for digital download from DriveThruRPG.com, as well as Fantasy Paper Miniatures, Game Master resources and other good things with more to come. This is a great way to try Palladium products and get access to out of print RPG source material. Some notable titles include:

Schedule of 2016 Releases for the First 6 months

Also coming:

Upcoming Palladium Books® Convention Events

Palladium Books does not have to be an exhibitor at a convention or be counted among the guests to support that convention. We are happy to support events running Palladium games with prizes for best players, other swag, and donations to charity auctions. If you are a Game Master running Palladium gaming events, or a convention hosting them, PLEASE contact Palladium Books via the Help Desk or the Megaversal Ambassadors, or call the Palladium offices to get our support. Just give us plenty of advance notice so we can confirm the conventions and the Palladium gaming events, determine the swag and ship it out. Plus we are glad to promote conventions and gaming events right here in the Weekly Updates. Below are just some of the conventions hosting Palladium game events this year.

Kevin Siembieda and Charles Walton II are guests at the 2016 Anime North. A few other Canadian Palladium creators may also be in attendance at the Palladium booth in the gaming hall. Anime North is one of the largest and longest running anime conventions in North America, with 26,000+ in attendance in 2016. The range of special guests, voice talent and cosplay is amazing. If you are attending Anime North, please drop by the booth to say hello or sit in on any of Kevin’s panel talks about game design, licensing and Hollywood, writing, world building and others. We love this event and highly recommend it. Tickets sell out fast, so order yours and book a hotel room immediately.

© Copyright 2016 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.

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

Robotech® and Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® are Registered Trademarks of Harmony Gold USA, Inc.

This press release may be reprinted, reposted, linked and shared for the sole purpose of advertising, promotion and sales solicitation.