Palladium Books® – Weekly Update – January 5, 2023

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

By Kevin Siembieda

Our thanks to those of you who made our recent Rifts® Bundles of Holding the most successful ever! It was nice to ring in the New Year by breaking previous sales records for Palladium bundles. It was also nice that the charitable contributions went to the Diana Jones Award Emerging Designer Program that helps young game designers. Awesome.

The Christmas Surprise Packages – the best deal in gaming – are coming to an end! There are less THAN 2 weeks left to get a Surprise Package. The offer ENDS Tuesday, January 17 and it will not be extended further. This will be your last chance to get physical books at PDF prices – $96-$100+ worth of physical products for only $58 plus shipping. And we’ll sign each book if you request it. For many this is the only way to get an autographed book. No other game company in the world offers a deal like this. Order yours before you miss out and please spread the word so other gamers can enjoy this incredible deal.

I don’t know about you, but for me the holidays were hectic but pleasant. Despite the tragic loss of dear Julius Rosenstein, both Christmas and New Year’s felt intimate and full of love and promise. There are a couple of friends Sean and I want to visit over the next weekend or two, but other than that, I got everything done that needed to get done by the end of December. That included wrapping and shipping a zillion gifts, pulling and signing grab bags, and a host of other duties. See my Closing Thoughts for the year in review and what you can expect in the New Year.

LAST 2 Days to participate in the Savage Rifts® Double Feature crowdfunder by Pinnacle Entertainment which offers new Rifts® maps, “pawns” (premium cardboard minis), adventures, and an official, updated time line for South America with the Land of a Thousand Islands world book. Plus, adventure in the New West with the Terror on the Dark Frontier campaign box set. It is truly great stuff with a ton of new source material suitable for use by Palladium Rifts® gamers as well as Savage Worlds players. Stuff that brings these locations up into the 109 P.A. time line and offers plenty of adventure. But you need to act soon, because this crowdfunder ENDS tomorrow, January 6, 2023.

Check out the NEW Heroes Unlimited Christmas Special and the recent Cozy Caverns Beyond the Supernatural RPG adventure podcasts from the creative minds at www.realplaygamespod.com. These fun podcasts are created by Palladium fans like you!

Christmas Surprise Package offer – Extended to January 17, 2023

Physical books at PDF prices – $96-$100+ worth of physical products for only $58 plus shipping. And we’ll sign each book if you request it. For many this is the only way to get an autographed book. No other game company in the world offers a deal like this.

Are you looking to build your collection of physical books or looking to try new world settings on the cheap? This is your chance to try Rifts®, Chaos Earth®, Palladium Fantasy RPG®, Heroes Unlimited, Dead Reign® (zombies), Nightbane® (super-hero horror), After the Bomb® (mutant animals), The Mechanoid Invasion® Trilogy (science fiction), Beyond the Supernatural, and other worlds of adventure via a Surprise Package.

It has become tradition to extend the Christmas Surprise Package Offer through the end of December and into the New Year for those of you who were too busy with Christmas to get one or two for yourself, can’t afford one until after Christmas, or you’re just a Johnny-Come-Lately (it’s okay). The Surprise Package offer now ends January 17, 2023, and will NOT be extended further. Oh, and you can ship via the less expensive method of Media Mail because you do not need it for a deadline.

You can “request” anything Palladium sells on your Wish List, but it doesn’t mean you’ll get it, so make sure we get a nice, long Wish List of 12-15 items (or more), and not just all hardcovers either. Remember, hardcovers that normally cost $34-$40 each have a $50 value when requested in the Surprise Package. Get complete Christmas Surprise Package details at PalladiumBooks.com and enjoy.

A Surprise Package is a nice way to start the New Year. They also make a great gift for birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, and any gift-giving occasion. Let’s talk more, later, in the Weekly Update. Till then, stay merry even if you’re stuck at work like us. Ho, ho, ho.

List of Palladium Books RPG Hardcovers Available Now

Chaos Earth® RPG “Bonus” Edition Hardcover – 192 pages – $36.99 – Cat. No. 660HC – 30 extra pages of bonus material – available now!
NEW! Splicers® RPG “Bonus” Edition Hardcover – The Splicers® RPG plus 50 pages of extra material gathered from The Rifter®. 280 pages – $44.99 – Cat. No. 200HC – available now.
“Original” Rifts® RPG 30th Anniversary Commemorative Hardcover – available now! This collector’s item sports the original Parkinson cover, additional 32 page color section, history of Rifts®, unpublished concept art, gallery of all Rifts® covers through 2020, and more. Can be used with ALL Rifts® supplements – 288 pages – $49.99 – Cat. No. 800HC30 – Available now.
Ninjas & Superspies™ RPG “Bonus” Hardcover – available now – BACK in stock – 224 pages – $36.99 – Cat. No. 525HC – includes bonus material – available now.
After the Bomb® RPG “Bonus” Hardcover – available now– BACK in stock – 296 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 503HC – includes bonus material – available now.
Rifts® Book of Magic Hardcover – available now – BACK in stock – 352 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 848HC – available now.
Nightbane® RPG “Bonus” Edition Hardcover – available now – 304 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 730HC – 60 extra pages of bonus material – available now.
Dead Reign® RPG (Zombie Apocalypse) Hardcover – available now – BACK in stock – 224 pages – $36.99 – Cat. No. 230HC – available now.
Beyond the Supernatural™ RPG, 2nd Edition Hardcover – 224 pages – $36.99 – Cat. No. 700HC.
Palladium Fantasy RPG®, 2nd Edition Hardcover – 336 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 450HC – Our second best selling new hardcover after the Rifts® 30th Anniversary edition.
Heroes Unlimited™ RPG, 2nd Edition Hardcover – 352 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 500HC.
Rifts® Ultimate Edition RPG Hardcover – 376 pages – $44.99 – Cat. No. 800HC – epic.
Rifts® Ultimate Edition “Softcover” is a new format. RUE has only ever been available as a hardcover, and it still is, but it is now also available as a softcover – 376 pages – $34.99 – Cat. No. 800SE.
Rifts® Game Master Guide Hardcover – 352 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 845HC.
Rifts® Adventure Guide Hardcover – 192 pages – $36.99 – Cat. No. 849HC.
COMING! “Original” Palladium Fantasy RPG® Commemorative “Bonus” Foil Hardcover (1st Edition rules) – Holiday demand cleaned the shelves of this fan favorite hardcover. Luckily we anticipated demand and had sent it to the printer. We are now told they will be available to ship on January 19. This is the original 1st Edition Rules RPG including Tombs of Gersidi and the first Fantasy sourcebook: The Arms of Nargash-Tor. The cover is a classy crimson foil image, imprinted on black faux leatherette to replicate the original red and black RPG fans love. 320 pages – $55 retail – Cat. No. 449HC – Note: Expected to ship January 19.
COMING! “Original” Beyond the Supernatural RPG® Commemorative “Bonus” Foil Hardcover (1st Edition rules) – This is the original 1st Edition rules (1988) in a deluxe hardcover format. The first time ever as a hardcover and includes the original O.C.C.s, monsters, and magic. 28 monsters, adventures, G.M. tips, Erick Wujcik’s infamous “victim character” rules, and 32 bonus pages of adventure material for BTS-2. The cover is a blood red foil image, imprinted on black faux leatherette. 288 pages – $55 retail – Cat. No. 699HC – Note: Expected to ship January 19.

**Palladium Books^® Check List of 2022 Releases – all available now**

Creature Feature, a Beyond the Supernatural™ Sourcebook – 15 new creatures, rules clarifications, player and Game Master tips, adventure and more – 192 pages – $26.99 retail – Cat. No. 704 – available now.
Rifts® Coalition Manhunters™ Sourcebook – 224 pages of Coalition data to blow your mind. 80+ new psionic abilities, 9 Manhunter psychic assassins, Psi-Ops thought police, Dog Boys, Kill Hounds, Coalition secrets, and more – 224 pages – Cat. No. 894.
The Rifter® #85 Annual – Rifts®, Fantasy, and many RPG settings – Cat. No. 185 – Also available as a bookmarked PDF book on DriveThruRPG where it has made the Top 10 Best Sellers List.
European Castles – 40+ real world castles from across Europe and their actual floor plans whenever available – for use with ANY game system – 48 pages – $10.99 – Cat. No. 410 – available now.
Exotic Weapons – 100+ strange and exotic weapons from around the globe – for use with ANY game system – 48 pages – $10.99 – Cat. No. 409 – available now.
The Compendium of Modern Weapons – 450+ real world weapons from around the globe – for use with ANY game system – 176 pages – Cat. No. 415.
Defilers Fantasy Print – 10 x 8.5 inches – signed – Cat. No. PR834.
Defilers Deluxe Fantasy Print – 17 x 11 inches – signed – Cat. No. PR835.
Lopan™ (Fantasy) Raw Preview – Cat. No. 476-RAW.
Land of the South Winds™ (Fantasy) Raw Preview – Cat. No. 477-RAW.
Palladium 40th Anniversary Commemorative Print, signed – Cat. No. PR833.
Rifts® “Explore the Megaverse®” Pen – Red & Gold, black ink – Cat. No. 2604.
Palladium Books® “40 Years of Adventure” Pen – Black & Gold, black ink – Cat. No. 2605.
32 mm Rifts® miniature – CS Missile Launcher Dead Boy – kneeling with missile launcher – Cat. No. MI8049.
32 mm Rifts® miniature – Coalition Officer – dynamic – Cat. No. MI8050.
32 mm Rifts® miniature – Ley Line Walker – incredible detail – best ever! Cat. No. MI8051.
32 mm Rifts® miniature – Triax Cyborg with rail gun; think Red ‘Borg – powerful and fun – Cat. No. MI8052.
32 mm Rifts® miniatures – Chainsaw Glitter Boy & Pilot Set – both figures wield combat chainsaws plus a custom base. Truly stunning. Cat. No. MI8053.
Property of the Coalition States T-shirt – Cat. No. 2528.
Rifts® Splugorth Slaver T-shirt – Commemorating the Rifts® 30th Anniversary – Cat. No. 2606.
Rifts® Red ‘Borg GAME MASTER T-shirt – Cat. No. 2607.
Adventure Boldly Fantasy T-shirt – Cat. No. 2608.

NEW on DriveThruRPG.com – Free Sneak Preview of Creature Feature and much more.

FREE Creature Feature™ Preview provides you a glimpse of what you will find in this epic book. There also FREE Sneak Previews of Rifts® Coalition Manhunters, Northern Gun 1 & 2, Hell Followed, and select other titles. Those are just some of the 300+ Palladium RPG titles available as PDF books.

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

DriveThruRPG offers most of our 300+ Palladium RPG titles as PDF books, making it easy and inexpensive to try out one of our many games. Also check out the FREE Sneak Previews of Rifts® Coalition Manhunters, Northern Gun 1 & 2, Hell Followed, and select other titles.

Closing Thoughts – Happy New Year

Holy crow! It’s 2023. Happy New Year! If you thought 2022 was an exciting year for Palladium Books, wait till you see what unfolds throughout the New Year. Sean and I have many irons in the fire as we lay the groundwork for Palladium’s future. There are many projects and improvements being put into place. Some will be very obvious, others invisible, but all are positive steps toward the future, and boy, oh boy, are we excited about it. Everyone here is working hard to make our bold future a reality, including our freelancers. Everyone is passionate about the projects they’re involved with and giving us their very best. It feels magical at times and should enable us to give you products that you’ll love.

The Christmas Surprise Package offer – the best deal in gaming – is coming to an end! So place those final orders soon because after January 17 you’ll have to wait till next Christmas to get one. The offer ENDS in less than two weeks – Tuesday, January 17, and it will not be extended further. This will be your last chance to get physical books at PDF prices – $96-$100+ worth of physical products for only $58 plus shipping. And we’ll sign each book if you request it. For many this is the only way to get an autographed book. Order yours before you miss out. And please, spread the word so other gamers can enjoy this incredible deal. Thanks.

The hot items selling this Surprise Package season have been, as you might imagine, everything Rifts®, particularly Rifts® Coalition Manhunters (one of my favorite books ever), Rifts® Ultimate Edition RPG, and Rifts® 30th Anniversary Hardcover RPG, as were new releases like The Rifter® #85, Creature Feature and Beyond the Supernatural, Lopan Raw Preview, and Land of the South Winds Raw Preview. We also saw a whole lot of interest in Palladium Fantasy® and Dead Reign® and the Palladium Weapon Series (Weapons & Armor, Weapons & Castles, Exotic Weapons, European Castles, Compendium of Modern Weapons, etc.; all historically accurate). Honestly, we sold a lot of everything from Rifts® Dimension Books and Heroes Unlimited to Nightbane® and miniatures, art prints, and T-shirts to After the Bomb® books. Everything seemed to be in demand.

It has been delightful to see so many gamers returning to the hobby after a hiatus of 15-20 years, usually time spent to raise a family or explore career opportunities. We also saw a lot of people getting their children into role-playing which always warms our hearts.

2022 saw our landmark return to Kickstarter. Gamer support for the Titan Robotics Kickstarter which also offered a few different hardcovers, including the Cyberworks Collection Hardcovers, a poker deck and art prints, was strong. This was Sean’s pet project and he did a great job. He and Wayne are working on setting up the BackerKit Pledge Manager (it should be available in a couple weeks) and are working on nailing down the important details of pledge fulfilment and shipping outside the USA. We’ve also gotten a proof copy of the Titan Robotics Poker Deck for color approval and some card samples that look great. We want to wow our backers with quality Titan Robotics products. Sean will continue to keep you posted as things solidify.

2022 also saw our 10th Palladium Open House. It was a great event with a lot of happy participants. The love from everyone who attended was palpable and amazing. It kept us all inspired and energized for months. The passing of Julius Rosenstein, who ran seven gaming events at the POH, attaches more sentiment to the 2022 gathering because it would turn out to be his last. We still can’t believe Julius is gone. He was a kind and loveable fixture here for most of Palladium’s existence, and the guy who introduced me to role-playing games and Erick Wujcik. He was part of the Detroit Gaming Center, a dear, loyal friend, a great employee, a true character, and a huge part of my life for nearly 50 years. He is missed but remains loved in our hearts.

Our return to Gen Con in 2022 was also a fun and exciting event. The Gen Con staff made us, me in particular, feel welcomed and appreciated by their kind words and warm reception. Our booth location was stellar and our interaction with fans was a joy. It was a memorable and fun event, and we look forward to Gen Con 2023.

We still have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but right now we feel Palladium’s future has never looked brighter. We turned down an offer to sell to a big video game company because we have different plans. Sean and I are rebuilding Palladium’s foundation and are focused on what we know best and love most, role-playing games. Our new policy regarding talking about our plans and upcoming releases prudently prevents me from telling you what is in the works, but it’s a lot and it’s gonna be great. I can tell you that Sean is on top of seeing that the Titan Robotics Kickstarter products roll out in a timely manner and we are all doing everything we can to make sure they are high quality. I’ve already started work on my contributions to Rifts® Bestiary Volume Two, and reviewing a few Palladium Fantasy RPG® projects, but my next big writing project is finishing up Rifts® Antarctica. It is another Rifts® book co-authored by the brilliant Matthew Clements. Of course, there are other big projects that we’ve been quietly shepherding along that you’ll learn about soon enough, and a few small projects that will be slipped in to Palladium’s release schedule to keep you happy and on your toes. Things like the release of the fan requested Original Beyond the Supernatural RPG as a deluxe crimson foil edition. We had hoped we’d have that one in time for Christmas, but it was not meant to be. We are assured we’ll be able to ship it around January 19. It’s a beauty and we can’t wait to put it in your hands in a few weeks.

Don’t forget about Rifts® products produced under license by Pinnacle. The Rifts® Savage Worlds books, maps, adventures, and gorgeous, full-color cardboard miniatures (what they call “Pawns”) are all suitable for use with your Palladium-based Rifts® campaigns, so take advantage of these assets. The current crowdfunding campaign ends tomorrow, and the material they’ve done for it is very impressive. Remember, I have to approve all of it and it’s excellent. The writing and artwork for Savage Rifts® Double Feature, which includes material for Rifts® South America and Terror on the Dark Frontier (New West), is outstanding. For those of you looking for adventure hooks, take a look at this offering. You can easily drop your classic Rifts® characters into any of these many adventures and updated settings. But you only have today and tomorrow to do so before it ends!

That’s it for this Update. Check out the Savage Rifts® crowdfunder and/or snag a Surprise Package before time runs out. More importantly, be positive about the future and stand strong against adversity. When it comes to RPG fun, we’ve got your back. Don’t forget, when you need to escape the real world for a while to catch your breath, there’s a whole Megaverse® of adventure and heroism waiting for you. Use your gamer skills to be a survivor in this crazy world of ours. In fact, read the fan comments below to nab yourself some fuzzy feelings and smiles. From all of us at Palladium Books, we wish you a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year. Hang tough and game on.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Friend, & Surrogate Santa Claus

Surprise Package comments from fans like you

Every year there is a section where our Surprise Package customers can offer comments and suggestions with their order. We do so because we want to know what you think, and what you want, and we appreciate your suggestions and insights. The idea to do hardcover editions of core books came from fan comments in the Grab Bags.

Every year, in acknowledgment of our fans, and because they are fun to read, we offer a sampling of these comments 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 times. Please use our games to find escape from the pandemic and other worries. Use them 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 comment. Happy holidays.

M.L. in Killeen, Texas, writes (in part): Favorites: 1. Rifts®. 2. Palladium Fantasy®. 3. Heroes Unlimited. 4. Dead Reign®. Thank you for keeping the Christmas Wish List event going on.

[You’re very welcome, M.L., it helps a lot of people get and try new products. Keep trying new things and game on. – Kevin]

R.N. in Kawkawlin, Michigan, writes: Trying to expand my meager collection. I am very excited about Rifts® since my visit to Palladium Books’ office a few months back. You guys rock!

[Thanks, R.N., we enjoyed your visit and we’re pumped up about Rifts® too. Game on. – Kevin]

W.M.C. in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, writes: Merry Christmas! I enjoyed my last 3 packages so much, I’m buying a 4th. Shipping may be crazy expensive, but this deal makes it worthwhile, indeed.

[Ugh, the shipping is insane, W.M.C., which is why we always try to load up Surprise Packages sent to Canada and other countries outside the USA. Glad you and so many others recognize the value and take advantage of this great deal. Happy New Year. – Kevin]

A.T. in Denver, Pennsylvania, writes: Just played my first game of Rifts®. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for some more books.

[Glad to hear it A.T. I think the books in your Surprise Package should provide many hours of inspiration and adventure. Game on. – Kevin]

T.S. in Hope, Michigan, writes: Enjoyed the first Surprise Package so much, decided to go for round two! Thanks for everything in the first box. I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday and may Palladium have a fantastic 2023!

[T.S., I hope you enjoy your second Grab Bag as much as the first. I have to say 2023 is off to a great start, so everyone, please keep those well wishes and prayers for us going. They are much appreciated. Happy New Year! – Kevin]

V.D.S. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, writes: Been a huge fan for many years. Love your products and your company. Love the direction you are heading and I look forward to the future.

[Thanks for the words of approval, V.D.S., and vote of confidence. You’ll be seeing us trying and doing a lot of new things. Some will succeed, others may fail, but they will all be fun, interesting, and lead to more quality product releases. And that means a stronger, bolder, Palladium Books. – Kevin]

J.B. in Bartow, Florida, writes (in part): Just wanted to say thank you to Palladium Books for the many years of great gaming and fun. I’m ordering this for my husband who has been G.M.ing for 30+ years. He even took your books with him into the army ... Thanks for a great game. Favorites: Rifts® and Dead Reign®.

[J.B., we hope the Surprise Package meets your expectations and helps you to keep the RPG magic alive for another 30 years! – Kevin]

T.B. in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, writes: Favorites: Rifts® and Heroes Unlimited. Palladium has always been a pleasure to deal with and I appreciate offers like these, especially being in Canada.

[T.B., as a Detroiter, Canada has always held a special place in my heart as the friendly, foreign land next door. I have spent many a fun day, weekend and vacation in Canada; honeymooned in Toronto. So I’m happy your experience with us has been positive. Game on, eh. – Kevin]

J.S. in San Francisco, California, writes: I’ve been a Rifts® collector for over 20 years ... I love the signatures and they are a big reason I’m so excited about getting new books [via this offer].

[Game on J.S., and enjoy the signatures in your books. We know how much they mean to fans and that’s why we are happy to do them. – Kevin]

R.K. in Virginia Beach, Virginia, writes (after requesting Rifts® Underseas, Lemuria, and other aquatic based titles): Sneaking in my second order before Christmas. The first order? MINDBLOWING value! I think it’s time to finally dive into a new ocean of content. Wait, are puns allowed in the comments?

[Hey R.K., the titles in your second Surprise Package will enable you to take a deep dive into new realms of adventure. Yes, puns are allowed. Hee, hee, hee. – Kevin]

S.R. in Polson, Montana, writes: I’m glad you guys still do the Surprise Packages. I’ve been playing Palladium Fantasy for the last 25 years and G.M. for 20 of them now. The Grab Bag helps me fill in gaps in my collection. Also makes great gifts to my new G.M.s that have decided to take up the mantle. May we continue on this ride for another 25 years at least! Happy Holidays.

[Sounds like a great plan to me S.R. Happy New Year and here’s to another 25 years of gaming bliss. – Kevin]

G.O.L. in Inverness, Illinois, writes (in part): ... happily backed the Titan Robotics Kickstarter. Can’t wait.

[You won’t be disappointed, G.O.L. Thanks for the support. – Kevin]

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.