Palladium Books® – Weekly Update – January 7, 2021

One game system – every genre – countless worlds – endless adventure

By Kevin Siembieda

It is the New Year and there is a lot to happening at Palladium Books to talk about. Overall we are feeling positive and hopeful. Enjoy the conversation, news, Updates, and Surprise Package fan comments that follow.

So you cannot miss it, let me remind you the Surprise Package offer ENDS next Tuesday, so time is running out. The offer has been extended only to January 12, 2021, and will not be extended further. These are your last 5 days to order one until next Christmas season, so keep ‘em pouring in!

Our apology if we panicked anyone with the ill chosen headline of our Monday reminder, which read: Palladium Books® – Surprise Package Ending – January 5, 2021, which if you only read the email subject or the headline, it sounded like the offer was ending that day, January 5th. Sorry, neither Wayne nor I realized this until after it was sent. If you read the opening paragraph you would know otherwise, but I fear we may have scared some of you, and that was not our intention. See more details about the Surprise Package, ending Tuesday, January 12, below and in the online store.

Still waiting for your order? Give it time

I am delighted to say the overwhelming majority of holiday orders, which were plenty, arrived in good time. However, we know there are a number of you who have been waiting for weeks now. Guess what? You are a different sort of victim of Covid-19. Thanks to the pandemic and record amounts of holiday mail nationwide – people ordering all manner of products online rather than venturing into stores – the United States Postal Service (USPS) continues to be overwhelmed and buried in packages waiting to be shipped. The pandemic has played havoc with the USPS and they have fallen down on the job this holiday season.

I personally inquired about the dozen packages that I know left our warehouse (because I picked, packed, and was often the one handing them off to the USPS individual making the daily pickup) but have not yet arrived at their destination. Worse yet, when you look up the tracking number, the message basically says: “there is no information available for this package.”

This is frustrating as hell for you and for us. When I inquired from USPS about these packages in limbo, I was told by the local Postal Service representative that they remain overwhelmed and are slogging through mountains of packages piled up at their facility, and that many Post Offices across the country are in the same boat. Uh, please note those were NOT the Post Office rep’s exact words, those are my own frustrated words to explain the situation, but that was the gist. In addition, they are dealing with new mail arriving every day, which remains at elevated levels due to Christmas returns and the continuing demands on the mail system due to the pandemic. Moreover, Media Mail is a low priority mail service that is attended to after Priority and First-Class mail. She told me to ask you to be patient, and assured me you will get your packages. She seemed sincere and confident on this matter.

Of course, if you have already been waiting 3-6 weeks, or if this was a Christmas gift, your patience is wearing thin, as is mine. Unfortunately, there is little you or I can do about it. Your package is beyond Palladium’s control and in the hands of an overwhelmed and understaffed federal government agency.

I appreciate your understanding in this matter and I do ask you to please wait and try to be patient. The typical Surprise Package that we know is in USPS limbo contains product in the range of $102 to $116 dollars. Product you SHOULD get once the Post Office digs out from under their overload during the next several weeks.

Please Note: This USPS problem is not limited to Media Mail, though it and other low priority mail are the most heavily impacted. A long-time Palladium customer in the state of New York called us with astonishment to report he received his Priority Mail package that had left the Palladium Warehouse December 2, and arrived last Sunday, January 3, 2021. Sunday! The US Post Office does not usually make deliveries on Sunday. That’s how backed up and desperate some of these regional Post Offices are that they are working and delivering mail on Sundays. That Priority Package should have arrived in 3-5 days, but took FIVE WEEKS! (By the way Thomas, thank you for letting us know about this. It was very helpful.) A national magazine I get wrote in its Editor’s Letter: “... Covid-19 is also causing unfortunate delays in mailings nationwide. We appreciate your patience while some issues might arrive later in your mailbox.” Indeed, I received the previous month’s magazine (which I thought had been lost in the mail) two days after I received the current issue. The mail is just a mess right now, but the USPS is trying to make things right.

I want you to know these examples are the exceptions, not the rule. And who falls victim is a matter of pure misfortune. As those of you who have received them know, there are Media Mail packages that shipped in mid- and late-December that arrived at their destination in 3-10 days, while others that shipped at the same time or earlier remain in limbo. If your order shipped between November 15 and December 24, you may be one of those folks stuck in limbo, while the majority are happy recipients of your orders. Hang tight and give it more time. That’s all I can ask.

WARNING about ALL orders shipped via Media Mail

As explained above, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is overwhelmed and struggling. Media Mail is a low priority service and though usually quite reliable, as you know, it has proven not to be so good during the holiday season and into January.

If you choose to ship via Media Mail you do so at your OWN RISK and may (or may not) have to wait much longer – weeks rather than days – to receive your order via this service. FURTHERMORE: If a Media Mail package is lost or damaged, Palladium Books will NOT replace the contents. Use Media Mail at your own risk and expense now until March 1, 2021.

Palladium Books has NO control over the United States Postal Service. Once that package is placed in their hands, there is little else we can do to get it to you. That said, the vast majority of customers using Media Mail have not had a problem. I would say less than 1% of our customers are seeing a long delay in delivery or their package lost in limbo for weeks. HOWEVER, in some cases, we are definitely seeing long delays and an inability to track Media Mail packages, so use this method of shipping at your own risk. Moreover, we expect this to continue to be the case well into February. I would not recommend using Media Mail until March 1, 2021, unless you don’t mind the risk or having to wait to get your package.

UPS Ground has been astonishingly fast and accurate. In addition, each UPS package is automatically insured for up to $100 if lost or damaged. UPS packages are also easily and accurately tracked, and generally reach their destination in the contiguous United States within 3-5 days. The down side is you pay double or triple what you would expect to pay via Media Mail to guarantee this speed and accuracy of delivery. Currently, UPS or Priority Mail may be your more expensive and better options. Sorry. Now on to something new and more fun.

Happy New Year!

Indeed, I don’t know anyone who is sad to see this past year go into the record books. Of course, that’s the tricky thing about the future, we don’t know what the New Year will hold. We are assuming it will be better for us all than the last, but will it? Let us hope so.

With the slower than anticipated rollout of the vaccine, I am already glad I rescheduled the Palladium Open House for April, 2022. And though they are hopeful, I wonder if there will be a Gen Con 2021. Time will tell.

2020 presented its share of challenges. Here at Palladium we faced a few unexpected and scary moments both personally and professionally, but we survived and we are foolishly optimistic about 2021. Really optimistic.

Now that the holiday sales season is slowing down (btw, THANK YOU for your much welcomed and needed support all year long!), I have had a chance to talk with a number of freelancers, friends and acquaintances. I can tell you that some people are doing just fine financially, while others are hurting and worried. I think the Palladium crew is, overall, doing better than most and I hope you are as well, but no one I have spoken with is doing great. And some have suffered illness and the loss of loved ones. All we can do is hang tough, make what feels like smart moves, and with any luck things will improve for the better in the months ahead.

I can tell you, I am sick and tired of wearing a mask, washing my hands, and wiping down surfaces all the damn time. I am constantly knocking my glasses off or knocking them out of whack with the straps of my masks. I am also sick and tired of social isolation and hunkering down, but we do it. We all stridently follow suggested safety guidelines. It is the smart thing to do. With the vaccine so close, I don’t want any of us taken down by Covid-19 now!

Freelance writer and dear friend Matthew Clements came home for Christmas from California. I had the privilege to hang with him at the Palladium warehouse on two separate occasions. It was nice to see another human being from the outside world, especially someone who is such a good friend. Apparently Matt was quite impressed with our safety precautions because he mentioned it to a mutual friend when he got back to California. I scanned his temperature with a temp gun, required a mask worn by all parties, and asked him to wear clean latex gloves while visiting. We met in the warehouse clad in our masks and gloves when nobody else was around, because I thought the open space of the warehouse was safest, and we observed social distancing even though we were dying to give each other a big hug hello and goodbye.

The Palladium Talent Pool is deep

Matthew Clements is part of the equation in Palladium’s plans to release a plethora of new titles this year (2021). So are Mark Oberle, Steven Dawes, Glen Evans, and a few others. That may include some new Rifts® novels in the future.

Likewise, you’ll be seeing a host of new and old faces on the art front. Fan fave Ramon K. Perez is expected to return to do some art for Palladium as is Mike Majestic and a few others. You can also expect to see Palladium’s usual stable of rockin’ artists, including “Jazzy” John Zeleznik, Charles “Chuck” Walton II, Amy L. Ashbaugh, Mike “Big Daddy” Mumah, Steven Cummings, Nick “the Brick” Bradshaw, Tanya Ramsey, Sires Jan Black, Ben Rodriguez, and others. Yeah, I have been a busy boy behind the scenes.

I wish I could say Carmen Bellaire would be part of our writing crew, but he is unable to participate on that level at this time. However, Carmen is helping out by allowing Palladium Books to release the miniatures he had commissioned the talented Ben Calvert-Lee to create for him. This is the gent who did the sculpt for the new Glitter Boy, so we are beyond excited to be allowed to release them even if it is on a small scale. We’ll also be looking at re-releasing some of the old fan favorites like the old Glitter Boy, CS troops and others.

The New Year is starting strong for Palladium

Sales remain strong. Not just for the Surprise Package offer that ends January 12, but for regular orders of titles across the board. Though everything is selling well, Rifts® and Palladium Fantasy® are what have been super-hot. Followed by Heroes Unlimited and the horror titles (Nightbane®, Dead Reign®, and Beyond the Supernatural) and the recent spate of novels released. There is a lot of excitement for the upcoming releases in all those areas, so if we can pound out books like we plan, we hope to keep you all happy and see strong sales all year long.

Products Coming Soon in 2021

I will get into more details about tentative product release dates and specific titles in upcoming Weekly Updates. As usual, I have a very ambitious and optimistic release schedule in mind, however, I’m going to try to hold off on announcing releases until books are nearing completion and should not be delayed. Below are my reasonable expectations for the first two quarters of 2021. Others may be added.

Property of the Coalition States Mug is back – available now!
NEW! Gamer Mug – available now and looks cool. It is sitting on my desk right now as I write this.
Rifts® CS Manhunters – January or February release. I have been burning with ideas and writing about it all day long.
BTS Creature Feature – February, you’ll enjoy it.
Rifts® Miniatures – 2-4 new figures – February.
Rifts® Titan Robotics – March or April.
Rifts® Miniatures – 2-4 new figures – March or April.
Rifts® Antarctica – May – got art being done for it now.
Rifts® Bestiary Volume Two – Summer.
Palladium Fantasy: Land of the Damned 3: The Bleakness – Summer.

Note: Just because a book is not listed does not mean it is off the schedule, it means I’m trying not to over-promise. We want to release a whole bunch of other titles you have been wanting for the Palladium Fantasy RPG®, Chaos Earth®, BTS and others. Plus there will be new stuff coming to DriveThruRPG. In fact, new items are already arriving! Take a look at the cool, new, Gamer Mug and the return of the Property of the Coalition States Mug, back due to popular demand. And I do mean demand. Both hold 16 ounces and are suitable for hot or cold beverages. Sounds like time to unleash your inner nerd and get one of these or one of the other 4 mugs. See details below and in the online store.

5 days left to order yourself a Surprise Package

The extended Christmas Surprise Package offer comes to an end next Tuesday, January 12, so time is running out fast. If you want to get one, do it soon, because it will not be extended further. Remember, a Surprise Package makes a nice treat for yourself, a way to try a new setting, replace old, worn out books, or fill holes in your collection, and makes a nice gift for upcoming birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, and any gift-giving occasion. See more details below and in the online store.

What is a Christmas Surprise Package? Ends Tuesday – January 12, 2021

A smile and a hug that comes in a box filled with signed game books from available Palladium staff and freelancers. And God knows this year has been so crazy, we need something fun like the Christmas Surprise Package to bring a little joy and laughter into our lives. With so many people suffering from Covid-19 related doldrums, frustration, and in some cases, money issues, they need to escape to realms of role-playing adventures. Not to mention the huge savings and autographs, if you want them, available via a Palladium Christmas Surprise Package.

A Surprise Package is your way to get physical books (and autographs if you want them) for PDF prices! $95-$100+ worth of Palladium products for only $50 (plus shipping and handling)! That can nab you four or more items when these days one core rule book can cost you that alone.

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

Truly the best deal in gaming, Palladium's 23rd Annual Christmas Surprise Package gets you $95-$105, sometimes MORE, worth of product for ONLY $50 (plus shipping and handling), as gifts for others or for yourself. That’s physical books at PDF prices. And if you want them signed we will sign each and every one of them. Plus we have some original art by Chuck Walton and maybe a few others you may request. But don’t count on it, still provide us with a juicy Wish List. Art is donated by the artists and very limited.

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

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

Your “Wish List” is vital – the Palladium Surprise Packages are designed to simulate the joy and surprise of the Christmas Season of Giving. To do this, you submit a list of 10-15 Palladium products (or more) FOR EACH Surprise Package you order. This list of 10-15 items for EACH Grab Bag is critical, because you will not know which items we will select to send you. That makes it just like a Christmas gift because it’s a surprise. Plus, Santa Kevin, who personally hand-picks every item for every Grab Bag, may toss in something extra like a limited edition print, or a negative or similar collector’s item, or an issue of The Rifter®, or something else he thinks you’ll enjoy.

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

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

First-timers are always nervous until they see the great value in their first Surprise Package. A typical Grab Bag has $95-$105 worth of product, sometimes more! Yes, sometimes more, for only $50 plus shipping and handling. Many people order 2-3. Some order 4-6, and some maniacs order even more! It makes sense, because it is a great way to fill holes in your own collection, treat yourself, get autographs, try new games and settings, rebuild your collection, replace worn out books, and get your gaming pals gifts. PLEASE spread the word about this great offer.

To those of you outside the USA, the X-Mas Surprise Package is a way to get books and circumvent the damn high cost of shipping from the United States, since you are getting $95-$100 (often more) worth of product and only paying $50 plus a small handling charge. Shipping via Priority Mail International (required for packages weighing more than four pounds) to most locations in Europe, Canada and many other countries is around $50-$60 US dollars. HOWEVER, because the cost of the product is so low, that’s the equivalent of paying retail for the products and only $0-$30 for shipping. A very good deal. Plus you get autographs if you want them! X-Mas Surprise Packages are the way to go for those of you outside the USA. Please take advantage of it to get all those products you’ve wished you could get except the shipping was too prohibitive. We feel your pain. Game on!

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

This offer ENDS Tuesday, January 12, 2021

**NEW! Gamer 16 Ounce Mug – available now**

Whether you drink coffee, hot cocoa, soda-pop, or whatever your beverage of choice may be, this fun mug reminds you of your favorite pastime and that new possibilities exist with every roll of the dice.

The new, large, 16 ounce Gamer mug presents the word “Gamer” in a box with dice cascading down from above. The design appears on both sides of the mug. Created by Wayne Smith and Freddie Williams II (art directed by Kevin Siembieda). The mug has an orange interior to add a nice splash of color.

A must for every proud gamer!
Dice and the word “Gamer” highlighted in a box.
Glossy black exterior with an orange interior.
Art and words are located on both sides of the mug.
16 ounce ceramic mug.
Dishwasher and microwave safe.
$10.99 retail – Cat. No. 2596 – available now.

**BACK IN STOCK! Property of the Coalition States 16 Ounce Mug – available now**

Back due to popular demand! The iconic Property of the Coalition States and notorious CS Death’s Head insignia printed white on a glossy black, 16 ounce coffee mug, with a blood red interior for a splash of color. The design appears on both sides of the mug. Created by Wayne Smith and Kevin Long (art directed by Kevin Siembieda).

The infamous words “Property of the Coalition States” and the notorious Death’s Head logo and lightning bolts (indicating CS special forces) in white.
Glossy black exterior with a blood red interior color.
Art and words are located on both sides of the mug.
16 ounce ceramic mug.
Dishwasher and microwave safe.
$10.99 retail – Cat. No. 2588 – available now.

Other Mugs Available Now

Everyone loves these mugs. Isn’t it time you started your collection? I like to use them to as a secret code to reflect my mood to those around me. To my thinking the Gamer mug means I’m feeling playful. Rifts® Property of the Coalition States: I’m a soldier in the trenches and working hard. Dead Reign®: Back off or I will eat you alive. Fantasy Dragon: My imagination is on fire. Rifts Logo: Feeling the infinite possibilities. Rifts® Titan Robotics: I’m feeling mighty. Of course, they represent something else to each of you or just represent one of your favorite games, like a normal person.

Rifts® Titan Robotics™ Mug – A dynamic Titan robot and the Rifts® logo. Art by Steven Cummings. White on a glossy black, 16 ounce ceramic mug with a blue interior. Dishwasher and microwave safe. $10.99 retail – Cat. No. 2595 – available now.
Rifts® Logo Coffee Mug – The famous Rifts® logo in white on a glossy black, 16 ounce ceramic mug with a blue interior. Logo by Kevin Long. Dishwasher and microwave safe. $10.99 retail – Cat. No. 2587 – available now.
Palladium Fantasy RPG® Dragon Mug – The famous red on black 3-headed hydra battling a knight from the iconic original Palladium Fantasy RPG cover. Art by Kevin Siembieda. Red on a glossy black, 16 ounce ceramic mug with an attractive orange interior. Dishwasher and microwave safe. $10.99 retail – Cat. No. 2589 – available now.
Dead Reign® (Zombie Attack) Mug – A trio of hungry zombies and the Dead Reign® logo in white on a glossy black, 16 ounce ceramic mug with a blood red interior for a splash of color. Art by Steven Cummings. Dishwasher and microwave safe. $10.99 retail – Cat. No. 2594 – available now.

Nearly sold out – Land of the Damned^™ 3: The Bleakness^™ Raw Preview

Fair warning, as I write this there are only 13 copies of LotD 3: The Bleakness Raw Preview available in stock. I recommend ordering yours sooner than later if you know you want one before they are all gone. The final, mass market LotD 3: The Bleakness is expected to see release sometime this summer.

Rifts^® Lazlo Raw Preview is super-hot!

The Rifts® Lazlo Raw Preview sold half of its 350 collector copies in just the first five or six weeks of its release, making it the fastest selling Raw Preview ever. There remain 100+ copies available even with those set aside for the categories of Rifts® Bestiary, Volume 2 Megaverse Insiders guaranteed to receive one with their Bestiary Vol 2, so no need to panic. Still, if you know you want one, I would not wait two or three months to order it.

2021 Palladium Open House has been rescheduled for April 2022

As announced a few weeks ago, the 2021 Palladium Open House has been rescheduled for April 2022 – details to follow in the months ahead. It was the only way to insure everyone who attends will be safe. This delay is another reason to be angry about the stinking pandemic, but why waste the energy? Be happy that the POH will be next year when, hopefully, we’ll all have been vaccinated and the bug is a fading memory.

Besides, not only will we try to make the 2022 Open House even bigger and more fun, but we are looking into the possibility of hosting a small, online game event in April 2021. Again, we will keep you posted.

If you cannot reschedule to attend the 2022 Palladium Open House Palladium Books can give you store credit or send you a check for a full refund. Just let us know via the Help Desk or call the Palladium office at 734-721-2903. Thanks.

More details and updates to follow. Right now we are focused on releasing products.

Rifts^® Ultimate Edition – Cat. No. 800HC – Available now

This big, 376 page role-playing game is everything you need to start playing Rifts®. Just add some dice, some players, and a heaping helping of imagination and you are ready to go.

If you have never played the rich, unpredictable, genre-melding Rifts® setting, you are missing epic adventure that never grows old, because anything is possible. No other RPG blends science fiction, fantasy, horror, and post-apocalyptic adventure with demons and aliens, robots and cyborgs, magic and the supernatural in such a plausible and dynamic way. A setting that lets you play any type and style of game you can imagine. With characters like Dragon Hatchlings, Cyber-Knights, Glitter Boys, Ley Line Walkers, Techno-Wizards, and Juicers that challenge the imagination. And those are just a tiny handful of the O.C.C.s you can play in Rifts®. Not to mention hundreds of different alien, supernatural, magical, and other beings available as player characters. All of it set on an Earth that is both familiar and as alien as a thousand different planets. So check it out, build your character, start a campaign, and watch your characters become legends.

30+ player characters to choose from; tech, magic, or psychic.
Cyborgs, robot and power armor pilots, Scout, Assassin, and more.
140+ magic spells, plus Techno-Wizards, Shifters, and more.
90 psionic powers and psychic characters.
Sourcebooks offer hundreds of different alien, supernatural beings, creatures of magic, and other beings, many available as player characters.
There has never been another RPG quite like Rifts®.
376 page hardcover, some color – $41.99 retail – Cat. No. 800HC – available now.

UPDATE: Rifts^® CS Manhunters^™ – A Secrets of the Coalition States^™ Sourcebook

Some books come easy. Some books don’t. The writing of Rifts CS Manhunters came to me in furious fits of writing followed by long dry spells or writing that I found unsatisfactory and required rewrites. Then came Surprise Package season which demands a lot of my time and attention, as did other personal and business matters, and plotting and setting up work for upcoming books. All in the distracting cascade of the pandemic and political unrest. But every dark cloud has a silver lining. In this case, not being able to do much writing over the past few months has allowed ideas for CS Manhunters, Rifts® Antarctica and Rifts® Bestiary 2 to percolate and develop in my head. As the demands of the Surprise Packages and holidays subside, I am hungry and ready to write and finish these books. Lots of other books too.

Rifts® CS Manhunters™ is packed with intrigue, multiple applications of the Manhunter characters, and ideas. There are something like 50 new psionic abilities, secrets and insight about the Coalition States, its army and Psi-Battalion, the Prophecy of the Seven Dangers, Dog Boys, Killhounds, and lots of other fun ideas that should give both players and Game Masters plenty to work with. All of it building toward something epic.

Who watches the watchmen? CS Manhunters. A secret division within the Coalition’s Psi-Battalion who not only hunt the most dangerous spies, fugitives, and enemies of the Coalition States, but also protect the Emperor and hunt down traitors within the Coalition States. This elite force of psychics, Kill Hounds, Dog Boys, and CS soldiers follow orders without question and kill without hesitation. Expert hunters of men and cold-blooded killing machines who use psionic abilities as part of their arsenal.

New Coalition Psychic O.C.C.s.
New psionic abilities and revisits of some favorites.
CS Manhunter Divner and Precog.
CS Manhunter Psi-Interrogator and Psi-Enforcer.
CS Manhunter Bursters and Zappers.
CS Manhunter Psi-Healers and CS Slayers.
CS Manhunter Killhound and Dog Boy O.C.C.s.
CS Manhunter Mind Melters, the deadliest of them all.
CS Manhunter squads and special operations.
Insight on the Coalition’s infamous Psi-Battalion.
The impact of the demon plagues from the Minion War.
Non-Player Characters, background info, adventure ideas, and more.
96-128 pages – $17.99 retail – Cat. No. 894 – In production and nearing completion.

UPDATE: Creature Feature^™, a Beyond the Supernatural^™ sourcebook

This is going to be another fun adventure sourcebook. The manuscript will go into editing and rewrites as soon as I finish CS Manhunters and most of the artwork is done. Though I may add a few illustrations and already have artists lined up. Creature Feature™ builds on material that has appeared in various issues of The Rifter® but there is a ton of new material and information useful to both Game Masters and players.

A gallery of supernatural creatures. Some new. Some familiar, updated and expanded. All terrifying.
Rules clarifications and errata.
Game Master source material and advice on rules, psychic abilities, proximity and threat levels, I.S.P. multipliers, and more.
Advice about running modern horror RPGs and using supernatural creatures in your games.
Lots of adventure ideas, including an updated and expanded full adventure, “The Squatter.”
New background and setting information for the BTS setting and a few surprises.
Written by Steven Dawes, Kevin Siembieda, and others.
Art by Steven Cummings, Nick Bradshaw and others.
160-192 pages – $22.99 or $26.99 depending on final size – Cat. No. 704.

UPDATE: Rifts^® Titan Robotics^™

I am as excited for this sourcebook and high-tech toy box as you are, and it will be coming this spring. There are many new types of sleek Titan Robotics power armors, giant robots, vehicles, weapons, and gear. But as fun as these tech toys are, Rifts® Titan Robotics™ is much more. Revealing the secret operation of ARCHIE-3 and his program to monitor and manipulate the outside world. Learn about Archie’s androids that run Titan Robotics and his current schemes and plans for the future. All of which provides fodder for adventure.

We are also giving the book a new cover. More on it in a few weeks. Rifts® Titan Robotics™ is probably a 160 page World Book, but may expand to 192 pages.

New Giant Robots.
New Power Armor, equipment and accessories.
30+ power armors and robots, plus other equipment.
New weapons, gear and vehicles.
Titan Robotics Corporation and structure.
Archie’s secret kingdom and plans for the future.
New O.C.C.s and key Non-Player Characters (NPCs).
Android executives, security and much more.
Wellington Industries, campaign prompts and more.
Art by Walton, Cummings, Atkins, and others.
Written by Matthew Clements and Kevin Siembieda. Cover by Mike Majestic.
160-192 pages (tentative) – $22.99 retail (or $26.99) – Cat. No. 899.

UPDATE: Rifts^® Bestiary^™ Volume Two

The second big, “monster book” reference for Rifts® of what we anticipate to be three volumes in the series, more if we decide to make ghosts, spirits and Entities and/or Creatures of Magic part of the Bestiary series. Much like Volume One, Rifts® Bestiary™ Volume Two collects 70-100 monsters and animals plus 12-24 new beasts found across Rifts North America. The anticipated page count is 224-256 pages.

All volumes of the Rifts® Bestiary™ series are a great resource for players and Game Masters alike. Each description is updated, expanded, and highly detailed to present players with exotic and alien creatures as pets, guardians and riding animals, as well as slobbering monsters to battle and fierce beasts for Game Masters to throw at their players. Designed to offer adventure ideas, offers notes on young, adult, male and female creatures, and all provide plenty of ways to enhance your characters and spice up adventures. Each is accompanied by a map that shows at a glance where the beast can be encountered. Ah, but in the presence of Rifts and magic means any of the creatures may appear anywhere in the world, so be on your toes.

Monsters and animals of Rifts North America organized into big, easy to use sourcebooks.
Updated and expanded descriptions and information for each existing monster.
Updated and uniform stat blocks.
New exotic creatures – predators, exotic riding animals, beasts of burden, alien horrors, giant insects, and more.
A map for every creature showing where it is found.
Easily adapted to any Palladium setting – Palladium Fantasy®, Chaos Earth®, Splicers®, Phase World®, the Three Galaxies™, The Mechanoids®, Heroes Unlimited™/Aliens Unlimited™, and others.
Basic S.D.C. stats included with each creature description.
Fully illustrated, with art by Charles Walton II, Ramon Perez, Robert Atkins, and many others. Written by Kevin Siembieda.
256 pages each volume – $26.99 – Cat. No. 897 (Volume Two).

AND MORE – Fantasy, Beyond the Supernatural^™, Rifts^® and others

For the time being, this and other Weekly Updates will focus on the titles that we are working hard to get into your hands now through spring time. I am trying to curb my enthusiasm and not over-promise, like I usually do. I am hopeful to surprise and please you with much more. Including titles like The Disavowed™, Rifts® CS Arsenal™, Chaos Earth® First Responders™, Land of the Damned™ 3, Rifts® Living Nowhere™, Beyond the Supernatural™ sourcebooks, more Fantasy sourcebooks and other titles.

For example, I currently have two artists working on Rifts® Antarctica, so when I get to the editing and additions I can hit the ground running. I am doing the same thing with several other titles, but I do not want to disclose which ones because I don’t want to get your hopes up.

Coming to DriveThruRPG.com soon – Garden of the Gods

We are still swamped, but anticipate another Rifts® novel, Duty’s Edge to be made available on DriveThruRPG by the end of January and Garden of the Gods for Palladium Fantasy RPG® in February.

In the meanwhile, please enjoy recent releases such as the two Hammer of the Forge novels: The Cosmo-Knight and The Reckoning (Phase World®, the Three Galaxies, and Cosmo-Knights), the Rifts® trilogy of novels: Sonic Boom, Deception’s Web, and Treacherous Awakenings, as well as the Rifts® Anthology: Tales of the Chi-Town ‘Burbs (11 authors), Machinations of Doom (graphic novel by Ramon K. Perez), and Path of the Storm (a proposed Rifts® movie script) and 300+ other Palladium Books RPG Titles.

Also available: Free Garden of the Gods™ (Fantasy) and Rifts® Bestiary™ Volume One Sneak Previews, and the Palladium Fantasy RPG® Interactive Character Sheet: A Microsoft Excel-based character management system. Packed with features and data collected from every official Palladium Fantasy sourcebook to enable you to create Fantasy characters quickly (25 minutes!) and help you to update and manage them for years to come.

Dead Reign® Paper Miniatures Volume Three: Zombies, Dead Reign® Paper Miniatures Volume Two: Civilians and Dead Reign® Paper Miniatures Volume One: Survivors. There are also paper miniatures for Heroes Unlimited™, Palladium Fantasy® and Rifts®. A new, up-to-date, PDF Palladium Books Catalog. Nightbane® Dark Designs™ sourcebook with 60 new Common Talents, 38 new Elite Talents, 18 new Morphus Tables, all other Morphus Tables collected and more. Systems Failure™ RPG, a 160 page RPG that deals with alien invasion and a post-apocalypse setting that is fun and dynamic. Civilization is on the verge of collapse when the so-called "bugs" invade and turn humans into zombie-like slaves. Monsters, heroes and fun. A complete RPG and setting. Rifts® World Book 34: Northern Gun™ Two: 256 pages of technology and fun. 30+ power armors, 30+ body armors, 15 combat vehicles, 45 vehicles (hovercycles, etc.), 10 robot haulers, the Robodome and more. Bizantium and the Northern Islands™: the northernmost part of the Known World, the Cold Born, Necromancy ships made from dead sea serpents, 15 creatures, Random Sea Monster Generator, and more. Rifts® Northern Gun™ One. This fan favorite might be thought of as the big book of giant robots – an in-depth look at Northern Gun, 70+ weapons, 27 robots, NG O.C.C.s, key people and places, and much more. Mysteries of Magic™ Book One: The Heart of Magic™ with Wizards, their Apprentices, nearly 60 new magic spells and remember, magic and monsters in the Fantasy RPG are easily adapted to Rifts®, Chaos Earth®, HU2 and other settings. Wolfen Empire™ Fantasy sourcebook, the Great Northern Wilderness and Killer Winters, 12 Wolfen Tribes, Wolfen military and society, 15+ creatures, 5 full adventures, 101 adventure ideas, random encounter tables, notable people, places, plus FREE Sneak Previews of The Rifter® #80, The Rifter® #81, The Rifter® #82, and more on DriveThruRPG.com.

Rifts® is a genre-bending setting that combines science fiction, fantasy, horror, post-apocalypse survival, magic, and endless possibilities for adventure. Imagine a near perfect world of advanced technology 100 years in the future. Then imagine that world crashing down overnight in an apocalyptic upheaval not seen since the formation of the planet. A Great Cataclysm caused by the explosive return of magic. Now fast forward 300 years into the future where magic, dragons, and mythic gods coexist with cyborgs, giant robots and super-science rediscovered from humanity's Golden Age as humans rise from a lengthy Dark Age. But they must contend with countless alien life forms, monsters, and supernatural horrors from beyond the Rifts.
Rifts® core titles we would suggest: Rifts® Ultimate Edition, Rifts® Game Master Guide, Rifts® Book of Magic, Rifts® Adventure Guide, D-Bees of North America™, Rifts® World Book 11: Coalition War Campaign and Rifts® Sourcebook One. Note: The Rifts® RPG, 1st Edition and Rifts® Ultimate, 2nd Edition are both available.
80+ Rifts® supplements, most of them available as PDFs with more coming. Where to start? Wherever sounds fun.
Rifts® Dimension Books™: Travel to alien worlds and dimensions via the Rifts for off-world adventure and intrigue.
Rifts® Chaos Earth® RPG and sourcebook series (all). Live through the Great Cataclysm and the Coming of the Rifts. Rifts® Chaos Earth® RPG, Creatures of Chaos™, Rise of Magic™, and Chaos Earth® Resurrection™ are all available.
FREE Sneak Previews for Nightbane® Dark Designs™, Rifts® Secrets of the Atlanteans™, Rifts® CS Heroes of Humanity, and many other previews as well as free and low cost items that we make available. All of it adds to the growing list of Rifts and other Palladium RPG game titles available as PDF books, cards and support. A new title should be added every week or two, so keep watching for them.
The Rifter® #1-84, ALL issues of The Rifter®. Each issue is a wealth of source material and ideas for 3-6 different Palladium game lines. Most are easily adapted to ANY Palladium game setting. Each issue a gem. 8,500 pages of source material and ideas for heroes, villains, monsters, magic, gear, and adventure.
Splicers® RPG is like Iron Man meets Game of Thrones with elements of Terminator – except this army of Iron Men are clad in living body armor and wield living, organic weapons and devices. Created in 2004 by writer and game designer Carmen Bellaire, Splicers® was nominated for an Inquest Gamer Magazine Fan Awards Game of the Year, and has since developed a rabid fan base. Science fiction and horror where humans are forced to use genetically engineered, living weapons and organic war machines to battle an insane Artificial Intelligence and her robot legions. Unlike anything you have ever played before!
Splicers®: I Am Legion™ Adventure Sourcebook: 6 new Great Houses, 4 new Host Armors, 6 new War Mounts, 19 new Bio-Weapons, 15 new killer machines, new Bio-Enhancements, Amalgam creation tables, Legion and a series of adventures that build into a small campaign, and more.
Palladium Fantasy RPG®, 1st Edition Rules and sourcebooks. A unique world of magic, monsters and heroes. Dozens of nonhuman player characters including Wolfen, Bearmen, Ogres, Orcs and more. 100,000 years of history.
Palladium Fantasy RPG®, 2nd Edition Rules and many sourcebooks. The expanded world of high fantasy, magic, mystery and heroes of every variety. Includes the Mind Mage and psychic abilities, mages and spells, magic circles and symbols, men-at-arms, scoundrels and a wide range of inhuman player characters including Wolfen, Bearmen, Ogres, Orcs and many more. 100,000 years of history.
Heroes Unlimited™ RPG first edition rule book and sourcebooks.
Heroes Unlimited™ RPG Second Edition rule book and sourcebooks. Create any type of superhuman you can desire and bring comic book adventures to life.
Dead Reign® RPG (Zombie Apocalypse). The dead have risen. It is the battle for survival in the zombie apocalypse, but this setting is much more than your typical zombie game. Play ordinary people or special characters better equipped to survive and hunt zombies. Many unusual types of zombies.
Dead Reign® Sourcebooks: 6 sourcebooks from Civilization Gone™ to Hell Followed™ (the latter features stats for 23 disasters, masked lunatics, 11 new zombies, 7 apocalyptic character classes, and more) are available.
Beyond the Supernatural™ RPG, 1st Edition Rules. Supernatural horror in the modern world. Play ordinary people, psychics, paranormal investigators or for something different: Victim Characters!
Beyond the Supernatural™ RPG, 2nd Edition: The complete, revised core game, 14 character classes and 42 occupations for "ordinary people," 100+ psychic abilities, 16 monsters, the Lazlo Agency, world setting and rules.
Nightbane® RPG and sourcebooks. An RPG setting we call superhero horror. Dark conspiracy, a secret, demon invasion starting with world leaders and law enforcement, and it is spreading. The player characters are the Nightbane®, reluctant superhumans who must turn into monsters themselves to unleash their powers and battle the evil that is clear only to them. A dark, sinister and challenging world of horror.
After the Bomb® RPG and sourcebooks. Planet of the Apes meets the X-Men! Animal creations, powers and more. Create any type of intelligent mutant animal you can imagine as friend or foe.
Ninjas & Superspies™ RPG and the Mystic China™ sourcebook. James Bond meets Enter the Dragon. 41 types of martial arts, ninjas, and super-spies with gadgets, gizmos and advanced weapons.
The Mechanoid Invasion® Trilogy RPG is a long time, cult favorite with a fatalistic world-view of humans vs aliens with superior technology.
The Palladium Weapon Series of real world weapons, armor and castles throughout history. Designed for use with ANY game system.
200+ Palladium titles in all, plus G.M. kits, paper miniatures and more.
Heroes Unlimited™ Paper Miniatures – Two sets are now available!
Palladium Fantasy RPG® Paper Miniatures – Volumes #1-6 are available now. More are coming in the weeks ahead.
Rifts® Paper Miniatures: Men at Arms – $2.99
Rifts® Paper Miniatures: Coalition Dead Boys – $2.99
Rifts® Paper Miniatures: Adventurers – $2.99
Rifts® Paper Miniatures: Practitioners of Magic (new) – $2.99
Rifts® Paper Miniatures: Extras (new) – $2.99
And more to come in the weeks ahead.

Palladium Collectibles, Negatives, Artwork, other Collectibles and Toys are always available in Kevin’s Online Toy & Collectibles eBay Store along with other good things

My eBay store is one of the few places where you can find original artwork by Charles "Chuck" Walton, Kevin Long, and others, as well as one-of-a-kind negatives from classic Rifts® and other Palladium RPG books (they look awesome framed!), rare Palladium collector hardcovers, signed books, other Palladium memorabilia, toys from my personal collection and other collectibles. Check every couple of weeks because we often post new stuff or offer a new sale. There is a sale on negatives starting today, in fact.

Other one-of-a-kind original artwork available by me (Kevin Siembieda), Kevin Long, Charles Walton II (money goes to the artist), other artists, as well as collectible negatives, prints, limited edition hardcovers, proofreader copies, out of print items, Star Wars toys, Marvel toys and many other toys and collectibles from my personal collection. Alex and I will keep adding items as our busy schedules allow, but we have a lot of fun collectibles available now and coming soon. Hundreds of items. Take a look every weekend for new additions.

Available now: One-of-a-kind book negatives. Negatives were very popular items at the Palladium Open House and people went crazy over them at Gen Con – including actor Joe Manganiello who scooped up a pile of TMNT negatives, while Palladium's own Mark Oberle, Carmen Bellaire, Brandon Aten and a whole lot of Palladium gamers went for negatives from Rifts® New West, Lone Star and Free Quebec. Fun.

Negatives are unique and attractive, one-of-a-kind (on rare occasions two-of-a-kind if a page was replaced or a second edition was made) works of art that resemble woodcut art and are very dynamic conversation pieces. Before digital printing, pages of a book were laid out by hand on a board, and each page was photographed. The plastic film negatives were then "ganged" on a massive sheet of Mylar 16 pages per big sheet, and the printing plates were made from the negatives – everything white, printing black.

When our printer, McNaughton and Gunn, went completely digital, they asked if Palladium Books wanted the negs, otherwise they would be destroyed. Regrettably, I let a few dozen be destroyed, but the negatives of many books were sent to Palladium. They have sat in our warehouse for years until I started to offer them for sale. I have also started signing the negatives in silver and each comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. Each negative comes on a white board inside a plastic magazine bag and looks fabulous framed! Fits in an 8x10 inch matt opening in a frame (each neg is roughly 8½ x 11 inches).

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

Closing Thoughts – We are feeling hopeful

Please try to stay positive. Do not let the political upheaval and civil unrest throw you. Be concerned but stay calm and cool headed.

I wrote in my first Murmur from the Megaverse® of the New Year that I am full of optimism and high hope for the new year. Maybe it is my imagination, but I feel a bubbling vitality and excitement in the air.

Oh, there is still plenty of frustration and weariness regarding the pandemic and our inability to enjoy direct social interaction, but I am also feeling a lot of hope. I’m feeling that hope from freelance writers and artists as well as from fans and friends. Hope about overcoming the coronavirus. Hope about our economy and the world at large. And hope about new Palladium game releases.

Maybe I am feeling this way because so many of you remain staunch supporters of Palladium Books while many others have rediscovered Palladium RPGs over the last year. Or maybe I am feeling positive because a whole new generation of gamers are discovering the Palladium Megaverse® for the first time! And they are loving it. So please, continue to talk up Palladium’s games and spread the word.

On the other hand, maybe it is just me? My imagination and hope fueled by the encouraging words and excitement that a multitude of you have sent and shared with us over these many past months. There is also an infectious excitement about recent and upcoming releases. You should be excited, because we are working on really fun and exciting new games and sourcebooks as well as some fun secondary products like miniatures and mugs.

Whatever the reason, I am feeling hopeful, motivated, and ready to write. My goal is to fuel your imaginations with one new, fun release after another this year. Some of them originally scheduled for 2020. Some long awaited, and a few might surprise you, but they will all thrill and enthrall you. At least that’s the plan. And it is not just me. I have a bunch of hungry artists and writers anxious to contribute, so with any luck, we will be able to keep your hearts pounding and imaginations burning with a host of new titles that will enchant and inspire you.

Here is wishing us all a better New Year than the last one. Hang tough. You are braver and stronger than you may think. Keep those beautiful and vibrant imaginations burning and enjoy the creativity and fun that RPGs and other games have to offer. In the meanwhile, Palladium will do everything it can to keep your minds busy with horizons for adventure across the Megaverse!

- Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer, Friend

Surprise Package comments from fans like you

Every year there is a section where the customer can offer comments and suggestions with his or her Surprise Package order. Every year, in acknowledgment of our fans, and because they are fun to read, we offer a sampling in the Weekly Updates. Our heartfelt thanks to all of you who have stuck with Palladium through thick and thin and now these new strange days. Please help use our games to find escape from the pandemic and to bring a little joy, laughter, and adventure to the holiday season.

I want you to know that your comments and support mean the world to all of us. Everyone at Palladium enjoys reading your brief comments and they always brighten our day. Thank you for making us smile and feel useful. As always, I have tried to write a short response [in brackets] to each.

T.S. in Anderson, Indiana, writes (in part): I am a veteran introduced to Rifts® at our local game store and so far people are having a blast because it is so different than the usual RPG that they are used to right now. It has been a blast! Have a happy New Year.

[Keep having a blast, T.S., and Happy New Year. – KS]

D.Y. in Lake Stevens, Washington, writes: Rifts® and Palladium game player of nearly 20 years. My library is large and extensive. Haven’t purchased a Grab Bag in a couple of years, but it’s time to pick up some missing pieces and newer books again. This sale is such a treat and I have been pleased with what I have received every time.

[Glad to have you back D.Y., you will enjoy your Surprise Package. – KS]

D.M. in Fort Morgan, Colorado, writes (in part): This is my 5th Surprise Package of the season. You guys have been incredible to me and my gaming group this year. Thank you so much ... we started playing TMNT as a goof and it really took off with my group more than any other game we have tried.

[I am not surprised, D.M., Palladium’s TMNT RPG was epic, awesome, and total fun whether played straight or silly. To those of you reading this, please note that Palladium has not had the TMNT license for nearly 2 decades, but the After the Bomb® RPG and sourcebooks enable you to create all those exact same mutant animal characters. Used copies of the TMNT RPG are available on Ebay and worth the purchase. Game on! – KS]

F.M. in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, writes (in part): Favorite game: Palladium Fantasy RPG®. This [Surprise Package] is for my father. The man who got me into role-playing games almost 20 years ago. He has been the best Game Master I have ever had ... and I’d love to have something special for the guy who has brought me and friends into this wonderful pastime that I will share with my kids, when the time comes!

[Nice, F.M. I tried to make your Dad’s Surprise Package super-special, so I hope he dug it. I love to hear stories like this. Please stay safe and keep all of those imaginations burning bright for generations to come. I am truly humbled and honored. – KS]

J.O. in Milan, Illinois, writes: Favorites? All of them. Thank you for all the years of gaming. My daughter and her friends have started to play. I am enjoying spending an extra 6-8 hours [a week] gaming with her.

[My pleasure, J.O. It warms my heart to see all these new generations of gamers discovering our games. And so many girls/women, too. Awesome, because role-playing is fun regardless of gender or age. Keep those imaginations burning bright and game on! – KS]

D.T. in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, writes (in part): Third time’s the charm! My crew sends a big hello back to you and your crew, although [my players] are not to happy with all the new resource material I now have to draw upon. <chuckle> ... Anyway, all of our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your crew from all of us here. I’m still looking forward to the Palladium Open House in 2022 ... Life is fleeting, so stay positive, stay healthy, and of course, “Game on!”

[Warm regards and prayers are always appreciated, D.T. Right back at you and your crew. Glad you can make it to the Palladium Open House rescheduled for 2022. It should be a blast. You guys all stay positive and healthy too. – KS]

M.M.P. in Virginia Beach, Virginia, writes: I love this deal. I have been filling in many holes in my collection. You guys are great for doing this.

[I don’t know about “great,” M.M.P., but I am delighted you enjoy the Surprise Package so much. Game on! – KS]

P.W. in Kirkland, Washington, writes (in part): It has been a few years but I’m back setting up a game or two with a friend from high school ... Robotech® was my very first RPG and I’ve enjoyed the Palladium Megaverse ever since.

[It is good to have you back, P.W. Enjoy those games and keep exploring new Palladium RPG worlds/settings. – KS]

J.K. in Aurora, Colorado, writes: I have enjoyed your games since I was 8 (39 now!). My Palladium Books collection is extensive. It has been a few years since I ordered the X-Mas Grab Bag, so this year I am gonna splurge on 2! Keep up the good work y’all.

[I’m glad you could splurge on two this year, J.K. I hope you enjoyed the goodies I selected for you. May the New Year be good to you. – KS]

C.O. in Billings, Montana, writes: Played and G.M.ed Rifts® and Robotech®. Looking into Palladium Fantasy® and Beyond the Supernatural™. Really looking forward to the new books in the pipeline. Thanks so much for the words of encouragement over this crazy year. I hope you and your staff stay well and keep strong.

[First, C.O., I think you will enjoy both Palladium Fantasy® and Beyond the Supernatural™. Second, I’m looking forward to releasing the very cool books we have in the pipeline as well. Third, hey, we are in this together. I’m just glad my words of encouragement have seemed to help so many in the Palladium family. I am humbled. Lastly, we are doing our best to stay well and we are feeling strong as we enter into the New Year. You do the same. – KS]

V.D. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, writes: I have played them all. Been running Rifts® since it came out. I love the setting, but I have been running Savage Rifts® for my daughter and it is also a blast. I bought her the card decks and she loved them. Thank you for the wonderful worlds you have created. Playing your games has helped me through hard times and now I get to share my love of Rifts® with my daughter. Thank you and game on.

[Ditto, V.D., you game on as well. Yeah, those two Rifts® Poker Decks are pretty sweet, glad she liked them. Thanks for hanging with Palladium for so many years. We appreciate your support. Have fun. – KS]

J.W. in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, writes (in part): Favorites: Rifts® and Palladium Fantasy RPG® ... I very much look forward to reading your latest books, and need a temporary escape from this year, 2020, that your products can offer. Your latest Rifts® books are just what the doctor ordered. Here’s hoping that 2021 will be a better year for all of us ...

[Amen to that, J.W. Here’s to a healthier, happier, safer 2021 for us all. Happy New Year! – KS]

S.K. in Albuquerque, New Mexico, writes: Rifts® is by far, my favorite, [but also] Robotech®, After the Bomb® and TMNT®. I have been an avid Palladium fan since the late 1980s and still remember waiting for Rifts® to come out so I could buy it at Wargames West. This is an awesome thing you are doing with this Christmas Surprise Package.

[I am glad you think so, S.K., and glad you can enjoy it. Wargames West, that’s a blast from the past. Game on S.K. and thanks for the decades of support. – KS]

J.G. in Olathe, Kansas, writes (in part): TMNT® as it was my first RPG so I have a special place in my heart for it and always will. My first character? A mutated turkey who was loaded up with firearms! Curious about Systems Failure and RECON® ... I have never been disappointed in a Grab Bag, and after paying more bills (yay), I’m spreading a bit of the stimulus money your way to help with your bills!

[Thank you, J.G., for your sincere support and for making me chuckle. You know you can use the After the Bomb® RPG and sourcebooks to continue to make fun, whacked out mutant animals. Keep that imagination burning. I think you will enjoy your Surprise Package. Ho, ho, ho. – KS]

J.K. in Collinsville, Illinois, writes: I have loved the Megaverse® that you have created for over 30 years after discovering Rifts® in my local comic shop. I have always anticipated each new book in all of your game lines because not only are they fun to play, they are so well written that I just read them for fun. I just wish you had the Clone spell so we could get books faster. Thank you and to the many more years of fun to come.

[Thank you J.K. Hah, I wish we had that Clone spell too! I will be working my tail off to get you all a lot of new books in 2021. – KS]

J.M. in Glenns Ferry, Idaho, writes (in part): Favorites: Palladium Fantasy RPG®, Heroes Unlimited and Rifts®. I want to thank all the Palladium staff, past and present, for all you do and shining a light in a sometimes dark and troubled world ... [After going through a rough stretch] I decided I needed to read to get my mind on something else ... A few months earlier I had bought a used copy of The Rifter® #9½ ... My family was shocked when they heard laughter coming from my room. I continued to read the entire issue and when I was done, I felt great ... So again, thank you Palladium Books and especially you Kevin for creating so many great worlds I can retreat to when times are tough.

[Wow, J.M., thank you for sharing your story with me. Glad The Rifter® 9½ was able to help at a critical moment. Awesome. We cannot promise such wonderful results, but role-playing games bring laughter and fun and imagining characters and adventures that make us smile and laugh, and spawn adventures that can provide momentary escape from our daily troubles or concerns. Ultimately, laughter and friendship are a great cure for many of the things that may plague our minds. And The Rifter® 9½ is hilarious. So says Percy Ferkelberger! Stay well and game on! – KS]

M.E. in Silverton, Oregon, writes (in part): I own almost all the role-playing books you have released ... I love your work, but it drives me nuts waiting so long for [certain] products to be released, especially after you tease it for [in some cases] years. Thank you for staying safe. We need your good work and I am sorry for your recent loss.

[Thank you M.E., her birthday would have been January 5, so the loss still hurts. It may not seem like it, but it drives me crazy having to wait so long for certain product too. There are a lot of reasons for delays and rescheduling. Last year due to the coronavirus, being shorthanded, and unexpected personal health issues. Other times it is a matter of a troubled manuscript, other demanding matters, or creativity. Unfortunately, creativity cannot be turned on like a light switch. Some books just take longer than anticipated and screw up the entire schedule. We have high hopes of making you and a lot of people – ourselves included – very happy this year. – KS]

T.A. in Seattle, Washington, writes: Favorites: Rifts® and Heroes Unlimited™. Love the imagination and creativity that comes with the Surprise Package. I have ordered in the past and am always happy with the surprise you send. Thanks.

[Our pleasure, T.A., I hope you enjoyed this one as much as years past. – KS]

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

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