Happy Holidays from Palladium Books® – Weekly Update – December 24, 2024

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

BY KEVIN SIEMBIEDA

Happy Holidays from Palladium Books® – Weekly Update – December 24, 2024

My Dear Friends – Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, wishing a blessed Kwanzaa, and a day of peace and joy whether you celebrate something different or nothing at all. The holidays are upon us. Enjoy the special day and hold in your heart all that it means every day into the New Year. This year the holidays happen to all be clustered together. Perhaps a reminder that we are all more similar and precious than we sometimes let ourselves believe. Well, believe it.

It has become a Palladium Books tradition to keep this Weekly Update short and focused on holiday joy. That means no new sales nor much business talk. It does mean an expanded Fan Comments section taken from the Christmas Surprise Package orders we receive, AND the extension of the Surprise Package deal into the New Year (more about that and why, below).

We recorded a special holiday message from me to our YouTube channel, so check that out.

And without further ado, enjoy.

NEW! Valley of the Pharaohs RPG – 40th Anniversary Edition

Valley of the Pharaohs is back with 200 additional pages of material as a softcover and hardcover RPG. It is written by the original author Matthew Balent (Palladium Weapon series), and includes the original artwork and map by Kevin Siembieda, but this is NOT the Palladium game system. It’s an original game system designed by Matt.

The original Valley of the Pharaohs RPG is a rare, expensive collectible if you can even find it. But now you can get the super-expanded, 254 page, 40th Anniversary Edition softcover – or – the 274 page hardcover with bonus material, from Palladium Books. The new, 40th Anniversary Valley of Pharaohs is written and published by the original author, Matthew Balent (Weapons and Armor, Weapons & Castles, etc.). Like the original game, it uses its own, unique game rules – not the Palladium game system – but they, like the game world and text, are unique and fun.

This game is authorized by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books and includes many of Kevin’s original VotP RPG illustrations and maps.

If you are a Palladium Books collector or you love Egyptian mythology and historical fiction, this game is a must. It is likely as close as you’ll come to owning the original Valley of the Pharaohs. Besides, this is a vastly expanded and improved edition that includes all those original ideas and much of the artwork vastly expanded and improved. The original rule book was only 64 or 96 pages, plus maps; this is a 250+ page tome by the scholarly Matthew Balent and is an alternative reality, ancient Egypt that is epic and well written. It’s a fun read filled with ideas, magic, monsters, and characters you can, with a little work, convert to Palladium Fantasy, Rifts, or any RPG world.

• Play humans or Bird People, Crocodilian People, Dog People, Snake People, and more!

• Character Classes include: Priest, Thief, Military, Scholar, and more.

• 300+ magic spells inspired by Egyptian myth and classic fantasy.

• Many magic items, magic pictures and more.

• Dozens of monsters and supernatural beings like the mummy, sphinx, sand slug, and others drawn from or inspired by Egyptian mythology.

• Learn about Ka (magic), Maat (alignment and order), and Kismet.

• Clear and concise Egyptian lore, its society, and history.

• Game rules and writing by Matthew Balent.

• A complete RPG with unique rules. Note: Does not use the Palladium game rules.

• $40.00 retail – 254 page softcover – Cat. No. 2621 – complete RPG.

• $60.00 retail – 274 page hardcover with bonus material – Cat. No. 2621HC – complete RPG.

Surprise Package Deal – Extended into the New Year

Is this a Christmas miracle? A mistake? Utter lunacy?

None of the above. (Well, maybe that last one.) It has become tradition that I extend the Christmas Surprise Package Offer through the end of December and into the New Year! Yes, this means you can still snag one or two if you act quickly. The sale now ends January 15, 2025, and will NOT be extended further. Oh, and you can ship via the less expensive method of Media Mail again because you do not need it for a holiday deadline.

A Surprise Package is a nice way to start the New Year and is a great gift for birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, and any gift-giving occasion. Or start the New Year with a stack of RPGs or sourcebooks you have been meaning to try or that you need to fill holes in your collection, or replace battered well-loved books.

We extend the Surprise Package offer for those of you who have been so busy spending your time and money on your family and friends, that you have not had the opportunity or funds to treat yourself to a well-deserved Christmas Surprise Package. We know this happens and don’t want you to miss out.

We also extend it for those of you who cannot get enough of Palladium’s games and want to start the New Year off with a setting or source material to launch a new campaign. It’s also for those of you who can use a Surprise Package as the perfect gift for a birthday, anniversary, or special occasion coming up in January or February (Valentine’s Day?), so take advantage of this sale to get gifts for the special gamer(s) in your life.

This year it helps our friends in Canada who thought they missed getting a Surprise Package due to the Canada Post strike during the holidays. There’s still time.

The extension is also for you Johnny Come-Latelies who were meaning to get one, but how time flies during the holidays. It’s also a way for those of you struggling through financial issues to carry some gaming fun into the New Year to stay busy and distracted through the winter months. So please, spread the word about the extended Surprise Package sale period, and travel the Megaverse® from the warmth and safety of your home.

What is a Christmas Surprise Package?

Besides being the best deal in gaming – $100+ worth of goodies (often more) for $60 (plus shipping) – it’s a smile and a hug that comes in a box filled with signed game books from available Palladium staff and freelancers at PDF prices. 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, and other items. Some books may be slightly damaged (scuffs, scratches, dings, a crunched corner, etc.) so we can send you more. But time is running out. We can only extend the holiday season for so long. Get one while you still can.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Looks great matted or framed! Fits an 8x10 inch matt opening. Each neg is roughly 8 ½ x 11 inches.

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

Closing Thoughts

Thank you for being awesome

Fans often tell me how much my work and words mean to them. That they have brought them countless hours of role-playing enjoyment and inspiration, and in some cases, even changed their lives. I’m filled with joy whenever someone recounts how my games and my words have helped them through a difficult time, and/or provided escape, or hope and insight, or inspiration. To hear such things is beautiful and rewarding in ways I cannot even describe. It is also deeply humbling and warms my heart. The thought that our little games can bring such happiness and touch the lives of so many people in such a joyful and meaningful way — it astonishes us all. I feel blessed beyond belief. I think we all do. I know Sean does.

I want you to know that your openness, love, and support bolsters my own spirit on a nearly daily basis. It inspires me to push myself and create even more worlds of wonder to point your imaginations toward new heights. When times are tough (and there have been many difficult moments), you inspire me to press forward against all odds. Your kind words and support bolster my spirit and fuel my imagination. They make my heart sing and recognize that I am on the right path and doing good in our own small way. It’s beautiful. A miracle that I recognize and am humbled by. As I write this, I’m smiling and thankful for you, my extended Palladium friends and family. I appreciate you. You are special and I want you to know it.

Your words and support help me find the strength to never give up, not even when my own spirit is shattered and my heart is broken or breaking. Instead, you inspire me and fuel my spirit in ways that are magical. Thank you. Thank you for being part of my life, my family. Thank you for all you have given to me and Sean, and everyone at Palladium Books. Thank you for being awesome.

This year has been especially difficult and challenging for me, but you, my wonderful fan friends, have been there to help me survive and regain my footing. Whether you realized it or not, you have been there to help hold me up and give me hope and encouragement whenever I need it most. Thank you.

Life always has its challenges and difficulties, its moments of sorrow and fear, pain and struggle. Yet, even in the worst and darkest of times there is kindness, beauty, love, and wonder if you let yourself see it. I see you and I thank you for filling my life with all those good things, especially when I need them the most. I look back upon my dazzling life and I’m wowed. It has been amazing all because of you, the wonderful friends and fans, who have become an important part of my existence and motivation. Thank you, all of you.

Please continue to be the best person you can be. Be assured that every act of kindness and patience and caring, no matter how small, makes the world better and brighter. It touches people in ways that may never be voiced, but is welcomed and appreciated beyond measure, and often affects people in a quiet but profound way. Be the light. Be happy. Be kind to yourself and others. Enjoy the holidays and game on. Ho, ho, ho!

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

Surprise Package Comments from fans like you

Every year we like to post a selection of the comments we get from Surprise Package customers. It’s a nice acknowledgement and thank you to them (you know who you are) and you enjoy reading them. I read each and every comment that comes in the Surprise Packages, and they always brighten our day. We all appreciate your kind words, suggestions, and insights. In fact, the idea to do hardcover editions of core rule books came from fan comments in the Grab Bags. We get a lot so we can only 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 your day to day grind and worries. Use them to bring a little joy, laughter, and adventure to the holiday season and beyond.

Your comments and support mean the world to all of us. Thank you for making us smile and feel valued. As always, I have tried to write a short response [in brackets] to each comment. Happy holidays.

– Kevin Siembieda (and the Palladium Crew)

C.L. in Artesia, New Mexico, writes: Once again I must thank you for the many years of fun. I still haven’t gotten to run or play a game in a good long time, but will find players again, so thank you for all the worlds you have created that have inspired my imagination.

[The pleasure is all ours, C.L., glad you still enjoy reading our games and are planning to play again soon. Good luck and Merry Christmas. May it and the New Year be bright. – Kevin]

M.M. in New Braunfels, Texas, writes: I love the Christmas Surprise Package deal. I gift it to myself every year. I love the personal autographs. I can’t wait till the TMNT RPG books come out. They’re set to ship around my birthday. Merry Christmas to all of you at Palladium Books!

[Thank you M.M., Merry Christmas to you and yours. I could gush on and on about the TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG products, but I’ll simply say they are magnificent and you’ll love ‘em. Your first sign of things to come. – Kevin]

C.S. in Collierville, Tennessee, writes: Rifts® and Palladium Fantasy I’ve been playing since childhood. Palladium is the only company from my childhood I’m still supporting every year.

[Wow, thank you, C.S., we appreciate your support. Game on! – Kevin]

C.C. in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, writes: Favorites: Dead Reign. Thanks for all the memories.

[You are very welcome, C.C. Building beautiful memories is a wondrous thing. My years of creating and playing RPGs have given me a treasure trove of fond memories and precious friends. You may be glad to hear that we have many more memories in the making. Projects and publications we hope will continue to wow and inspire. Enjoy the Surprise Package and make a whole bunch more epic memories. – Kevin]

K.O. in Farmington, Missouri, writes (in part): Palladium has always been there for me. From the early days of a wide-eyed 8 year old finding a dog-eared copy of TMNT & Other Strangeness at a used bookstore and wondering what the heck it was, to the modern 45 year old sharing his love of the products with a younger crowd. You guys have been there to stoke the creative fires and provide wonderful worlds to love and experience. No matter what else may happen, this fan for life will always have room for you guys in his heart. Thank you so very much for being there and doing what you do.

[K.O., thank you from the bottom of my heart. We appreciate every fan who supports us in any way. We loved reading your fun comment. Fear not, we plan to continue to inspire for years to come. – Kevin]

E.C. in Wausau, Wisconsin, writes (in part): I almost didn’t place a Surprise Package order this year. But I could use the cheer and there are still a few items I wish for my collection ... can’t wait to receive my TMNT Redux books.

[Hey E.C., stay positive. I hope the Surprise Package brought you the good cheer you were hoping for. Oh, and the TMNT & Other Strangeness Redux books are nothing short of gorgeous. You will be delighted. Please don’t let life get you down. Things will get better. Hang tough and game on! Ho, ho, ho – Kevin]

M.F. in Lakeland, Minnesota, writes (in part): Favorites: Palladium Fantasy, maybe? Also Ninjas & Superspies and Mystic China. Rifts are also great. Maybe all of them! I have to mention the Glitterbois podcast ... I recently started listening to and really enjoying it. I like all the episodes and it’s interesting to hear other people’s perspective on Palladium material, games and gameplay outside of my own little group. I also enjoy Kevin’s appearances and hearing about the history and development as well as the stories behind things. I have to say it’s given me more interest in Palladium stuff in our group ... Happy holidays and thanks again.

[Thank you, M.F., for making us laugh. Glad you love all of our game settings. The Glitterbois podcast is fun, for certain. If you like it, you’ll enjoy the video history on the Palladium YouTube Channel as well as Sean’s and my appearances on Legion of Myth. In fact, we posted a special holiday messagea special holiday message to all our fans today (December 24). Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. – Kevin]

B.W. in Chandler, Arizona, writes: I’m back for more! I regret getting rid of my collection years ago, so it’s nice being able to take advantage of these great [Surprise Package] deals. It’s also great seeing you guys make more appearances on Legion of Myth to do more than talk about upcoming projects, and talk about how to run games. I’m really looking forward to watching more. Maybe one day I’ll come up with a good topic to have you guys back on for.

[B.W., the Surprise Package offer is, indeed, a great way to rebuild your collection, so come on back as often as you would like. Sean and I love to talk about gaming, G.M.ing, and creating and running RPGs, so you can count on hearing more on such subjects. We’ll be doing the same on the Palladium YouTube channel after we get through much of Palladium’s history, and check out the Glitterbois podcasts too. They are all fun. – Kevin]

D.A. in North Grafton, Massachusetts, writes: Favorites are Rifts®, TMNT and Beyond the Supernatural. This is the last Surprise Package for me this year, these packages have been great! I’m excited for your 2025 releases and hope everyone there is doing well. Happy holidays!

[Merry Christmas, D.A., and Happy New Year. We are doing well, thank you. Same to you. Glad you have enjoyed the Christmas Surprise Package offer so much. Enjoy your last one — though it doesn’t need to be the last. As usual, I have extended the offer into the first week or so of the New Year. Just saying. Have fun and game on. – Kevin]

D.T. in San Antonio, Texas, writes (in part): Looking forward to the TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG books coming soon ... Hope you and your families have an amazing Christmas. I’ve had to go through a holiday season after losing a very much loved one and I hope that it’s a good one for you. You are very much in people’s prayers. Thank you for all the hard work you and Sean do. Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you all.

[I’m sorry for your loss too, D.T. Losing a person you deeply care about is always difficult and makes life afterward bittersweet. I’ve lost a lot of people over the years, both parents, Erick, Keith, and others, but I’m happy to say I have wonderful friends and fans, like you D.T., to help me through it. Wayne and his lovely wife had me over for Thanksgiving. I must have made a good impression, because they have invited me over for Christmas too. Though I still experience good days and bad days, most are good and I’m getting through the holidays with warm memories of all those I’ve loved and lost. Prayers and warm thoughts are always welcome, thank you, everyone. All the TMNT & Other Strangeness products look amazing. Physical FanRoll test samples arrived for our inspection and approval last week and they are of impeccable quality. We just need a few tweaks done to the packaging. All TMNT fans will go wild over everything. I’m not a dice tower or tray guy but, wow, they look great! And the Shredder dice are super-cool. I could gush on about it all, so I better stop now. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. – Kevin]

J.S. in Shulerville, South Carolina, writes (in part): I played in a long-running campaign back when Rifts® was first released and loved it. Life kinda got in the way since then, but I never forgot and never got rid of that first Rifts® book. The cover is so iconic. I’m getting my son into it now and I am building a campaign to run for him and his friends ... this will be my second Surprise Package ... I’d like to let you know how much I appreciate how even after all of these years, the game that I remember is still here for me to enjoy. It hasn’t gone through 50 versions and Palladium hasn’t asked me to purchase all new books to stay up to date on new rules every couple of years. You guys are the best!

[Ahhh, shucks, J.S., we appreciate your kind words. I’m glad our games are there for you, waiting like an old, familiar friend. Good luck on that new campaign. I’m sure it will be a blast to play. – Kevin]

D.D. in Leavenworth, Kansas, writes: Sorry for your loss this year. I wish you the best life you can have after something like that. Looking forward to the TMNT & Other Strangeness Redux editions next year. I’m so happy to see something like this happening.

[I appreciate your kind sentiment, D.D. My life is beautiful and full of friends and joy. I’m grateful to have had such a kind and wonderful soul as Kathy in my life for so many years. She is missed, but I’m trying to live life to the fullest and find joy in every moment I can. Kathy would want that for us all. The TMNT books are epic, you’ll love ‘em. – Kevin]

P.S. in Manistee, Michigan, writes: I received a flyer for your books when I was a teenager and just reading the descriptions filled my mind with so many cool ideas and made my imagination run wild ... I’ve been immensely impressed at the creativity and art so far. Keep up the great work.

[Will do, P.S., will do. – Kevin]

M.J. in Godwin, North Carolina, writes (in part): Old school Rifts® and Beyond the Supernatural player. Upgrading to the newer editions. I have most Rifts® books in PDF format, but am trying to secure paper copies ... By the way, I spent the night after my wedding rehearsal dinner, in 1998, playing Rifts® with my groomsmen. I got my son and his friends playing Palladium games the past year. A few weekends ago, my son and his groomsmen played Palladium games after his wedding rehearsal dinner ... The circle is complete. Thank you Kevin and Company for many years of outstanding, imaginative fun.

[Awesome, M.J., thanks for sharing that fun story. I was introduced to the board game Risk at an all ages bachelor party to accommodate the groom’s younger brother and the others of us present who were at the legal drinking age. That game changed my life and brought me years of enjoyment. – Kevin]

C.D. in Hagerstown, Maryland, writes (in part): ... Table Top RPGs are an important part of me maintaining mental health ... I have played many systems and enjoyed lots of different genres and worlds, but nothing captivates me the way the world of Palladium Fantasy does. Kevin created an absolute masterpiece that always draws me back in, wanting to explore more and more. It has given me countless hours of deeply necessary joy over my lifetime and I eagerly await more sourcebooks to dive into ... I wish you all happy holidays and hope to see Palladium continue to grow.

[Wow, C.D., thank you for your humbling words of praise. I am thrilled my games, especially Palladium Fantasy, have brought you so much enjoyment. It has done the same for me. I know a lot of people use RPGs to find peace, camaraderie, laughter and adventure with friends to escape the challenges of our everyday world. That’s part of the magic of role-playing. I do it too, not just by playing RPGs, but when I write them. Creating worlds of fantastic adventure have helped me through many sorrows and tribulations. They are my joy, so I’m glad they are the source of joy for other people as well. Wonderful. Palladium Fantasy was the first game I designed and it remains a personal favorite. Thank you, C.D., and all of you, for joining me on these wondrous adventures across the infinite Megaverse. I hope these past 40+ years are only the beginning as a new generation of RPG gurus join me to continue the Palladium legacy for years to come. Happy holidays. – Kevin]

G.M. in Killeen, Texas, writes: You’ve made this Army veteran merry every Christmas. I can’t wait to see how you're gonna do it this year. Merry Christmas Kevin and Crew.

[Glad to know we are getting it right for you, G.M. Thank you for your military service, Merry Christmas, and enjoy that Surprise Package. – Kevin]

B.B.S. in Portland, Oregon, writes: Thank you so much. I love the Grab Bags and these books!

[Me too, B.B.S., We all love doing the Surprise Packages and making gamers happy. Which is why I try to extend the offer after Christmas and into the first 10-15 days of the New Year. Due to the recent Canadian postal worker strike, extending the offer may be especially important to our friends in Canada. Enjoy what you received and consider getting another to treat yourself, build a new campaign for the coming year, or as a gift for someone’s birthday or anniversary. A few new RPG sourcebooks or a new game is always a nice way to start the New Year off right. Game on. – Kevin]

J.T. in Athens, Alabama, writes: Merry Christmas, Palladium, and have a happy and prosperous New Year.

[Right back at you, J.T. Please enjoy the delights of the holidays and may the New Year be a happy and prosperous one for us all. – Kevin]

A.R. in McEwen, Tennessee, writes: Thanks and Merry Christmas.

[Thank you, A.R., and Merry Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/holidays to you and all our fans. I hope it’s a beautiful long weekend filled with love, laughter, good eats, and joy. Ho, ho, ho – Kevin]