Palladium Books® Weekly Update – February 21, 2013

By Kevin Siembieda

I only have one word for Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook as it nears completion – epic. Truly epic. Making progress on the Rifts® Northern Gun™ books as well. We are working like madmen to get all kinds of product finished and into your hands. Wayne, Alex and I all worked through the weekend, as did some of our freelancers like Carmen Bellaire, Jeff Burke, Chuck Walton and Mark Dudley. Everything is moving forward, but we are focusing on one particular project with this Update. Please read this entire opening because it has information you will want to know about.

Start Spreading the Word

The big news of this Update is Palladium is about to launch its biggest, boldest product line in more than a decade. We will need your help with a real Kickstarter to make a strong, bright future for Palladium Books a reality.

For most companies, an opportunity like this happens only a once or twice in a lifetime, if at all. An opportunity to make and build upon something that you, yourself, love as a fan. The privilege to make something that you know other fans of that property will love as well.

Robotech® RPG Tactics™ is such an opportunity.

We are especially fortunate, because this is the fourth time Palladium will have had an opportunity of such significance with a licensed property. The first was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles® RPG game line (1985). The second was with the original Robotech® RPG game line (1986). The third was bringing fans the rest of the Robotech® TV series on VHS tape for the very first time (1989) – Southern Cross/Masters, New Generation, and Robotech® II: The Sentinels – uncut and unabridged, and proving there was a market for anime in North America. Each one of those events was a milestone for that Intellectual Property and for Palladium Books. Each one was a fan-pleaser and a bestseller, because we knew what the fans wanted and gave it to them. Each one helped grow Palladium Books® and enable us to make the games you love.

Robotech® RPG Tactics™ is a product Robotech® fans have been wanting for more than 25 years! A gaming experience that expands into making game pieces of all your favorite mecha and provides rules for mass combat battles that capture the flavor and fun of the Robotech® TV show and role-playing games.

Our partner in this venture is Ninja Division which brings together the design talents of Soda Pop Miniatures and Cipher Studios, makers of the popular and fun Super Dungeon™ Explore, Relic Knights™, Helldorado™ and Anima Tactics™. Together we are working to bring you the best quality game pieces, design and rules for Robotech® RPG Tactics™. Anyone who knows miniatures and table-top gaming knows these guys are all about quality.

Every one of these Robotech® mecha has been sculpted with painstaking attention to capture not only the accuracy and detail of these iconic Robotech® war machines, but to capture their power and movement as well. Every aspect of the product line has been created with Robotech® fans in mind. They are designed to appeal to wargamers, role-players and Robotech® fans of all ages and gaming preferences.

We have brought in talented sculptors, artists, game designers and writers from around the world for the creation of this expanding realm of Robotech®! We have drawn upon the top caliber talents and creative minds of Soda Pop Miniatures and Cipher Studios via Ninja Division, as well as Palladium Books® and Harmony Gold®! The tactical rules have been play-tested again and again, examined under a microscope, tweaked and improved, play-tested again, and tweaked some more to capture the Robotech® experience.

For the first time ever, we plan to bring you ALL eras of Robotech® mecha in one consistent scale – 1/285th scale. If the market wants it, we’ll produce a secondary line of game pieces at a larger size, such as Cyclones at 28 mm.

In the end, we want to release a product line that will delight Robotech® fans and gamers, and even appeal to people who have never heard of Robotech® or played RPGs or tactical games. I think we have accomplished that. I hope you will agree.

Why this? Why now?

Some Palladium fans have questioned why we have been spending so much time and resources on expanding the Robotech® game line, especially when we are so behind on book releases.

Three reasons:

1. As noted earlier, Robotech® RPG Tactics™ is a rare and precious opportunity to make something epic for fans like us.

2. Robotech® RPG Tactics™ gives us a chance to work with the wonderful talent pool at Ninja Division (the creative wizards of Soda Pop Miniatures and Cipher Studios). Again, you don’t pass up an opportunity to work with talent of this caliber.

3. The success of Robotech® RPG Tactics™ could be huge for Palladium Books as a company. A successful launch of Robotech® RPG Tactics™ is the final piece of the puzzle to make Palladium Books® strong again. A successful launch will enable us to eliminate debt and give Palladium the resources to hire more staff and more freelance talent and do so much more for ALL our game lines. I already have a dream team of creators lined up to bring on board. They can hardly wait. The excitement is electric.

Please be assured that Palladium is a role-playing game company, first and foremost. RPGs shall always remain our primary business. In fact, the success of Robotech® RPG Tactics™ will enable us to do more of the role-playing game releases you love. There is a reason I’ve been designing and writing role-playing games for 32 years: I love them more than anything. For business and marketing reasons, I cannot reveal to you our every plan months or years in advance. I can tell you we have big plans and dozens of RPG products in the pipeline and on the drawing board. Plans that I believe can carry role-playing to new heights and new markets. In fact, I have plans to do things with role-playing games others may have not yet considered. And that’s why we can’t talk about all our plans for new systems of play, RPG products and marketing ideas. They have to remain top secret until we have the resources to make them a reality. The release of a greater number of RPG books and bold new ventures like Robotech® RPG Tactics™ will enable us to make that happen.

March Kickstarter to Launch Robotech^® RPG Tactics^™

We will need to do a real Kickstarter to make Robotech® RPG Tactics a reality. We already have distributors lined up to carry the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ product line. Heck, I think some of them are as excited about this game as we are. One distributor who I confided in back at Gen Con last year was so excited he hugged me and said it was the best news he had heard all year.

However, to do Robotech® RPG Tactics™ right, to manufacture the box set and expansion packs at the awesome level they should be, will cost a lot more money than Palladium has available to it. Enter Kickstarter. If we can get gamers and Robotech® fans to participate in our Kickstarter, we should be able to garner the funds we need to make this game epic. If we exceed our goals in a big way . . . we can do so much for it and all our product lines. The possibilities will be incredible. One is to make all Palladium Robotech® products available to fans and gamers around the world.

Be the first. Don’t forget, your participation in the Kickstarter will get you a wide range of game pieces, product and cool collectibles before any of it ever hits store shelves. And let me say, Robotech fans, there will be a lot of things you will want. I know, because I want them. We are working with Ninja Division, right now, to figure out all the cool swag you’ll be able to get in this offer.

We need you. PLEASE start to spread the word about Robotech® RPG Tactics™ and its Kickstarter coming next month; probably mid- or late-March! We want role-players, wargamers, Robotech® fans and collectors to know about this exciting Kickstarter opportunity coming their way. We want those of you who may be interested in the game line to be prepared for the Kickstarter to get all the goodies you may want. Heck, as a Robotech® fan, I’m geeked just to be able to get the game pieces to display on my shelf, let alone the different game applications.

We don’t want to reveal too much before the Kickstarter, because we want it to blow you away. But I will try to sneak you more information over the next four weeks and even some photos of a couple of Robotech® game pieces. Man oh man, they are looking sweet.

Again, together, we can make dreams come true. Help us make this become a reality and make Palladium a juggernaut in games for a new generation. Thank you so much.

Closing Thoughts

Be excited. We are. The expanding Robotech® product line means so much to Palladium’s future. Its success will affect and advance all our plans for role-playing releases and other fun products. As always, thank you for your support.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer and Gamer

Robotech^® RPG Tactics^™

Prepare for invasion! Robotech® RPG Tactics™ is a fast-paced, strategy battle game that expands on the popular Palladium role-playing system to enter new realms of adventure.

Mecha vs Mecha. Take command of the fighting forces of the United Earth Defense Force (UEDF) valiantly defending Earth from alien annihilation. Or lead the massive clone armies of the Zentraedi Armada to recover an alien artifact of immense power and enslave humankind.

● Collect your favorites from an expanding range of world-class game pieces and relive the massive battles on your tabletop at home to enhance your Robotech® RPG adventures or as a stand-alone tactical game.

● 1/285th scale game pieces with detail and power.

● Robotech® RPG Tactics™ is designed in partnership with Ninja Division. Ninja Division brings together the design talents of Soda Pop Miniatures and Cipher Studios, makers of Super Dungeon™ Explore, Relic Knights™, Helldorado™ and Anima Tactics™, to bring you the best quality game pieces, design and rules for Robotech® RPG Tactics™ and all of your Robotech® adventures.

● Stay tuned for news about the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Kickstarter Campaign, coming this March! Support our goals to bring you this exciting product and an expansive range of quality game pieces.

● Palladium Books and Ninja Division will showcase the game pieces and reveal all with the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Kickstarter Campaign; tentatively scheduled to launch next month; probably mid- or late-March. This is a product line Robotech® fans have wanted for decades! If you are one of those people, please spread the word and support this upcoming Kickstarter.

● The final details and cost of the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ box set and expansion kits are still morphing and changing at this time. They will conform to industry standards for pricing and packaging.

The Rifter^® #61 – Available now

The Rifter® is an idea factory that helps players and Game Masters to generate new ideas and keep their games fresh. Many different Palladium RPG settings are represented and most material can be adapted to any setting.

• Rifts®, Phase World® and the Three Galaxies™ – Vergence is a dimension created and inhabited by True Atlanteans; new Magic Tattoos, a new O.C.C., Stone Magic, magic staves, adventure ideas and more.
• Rifts® City of Charter™ – The City of Charter, its history, people, places and purpose.
• After the Bomb® and Heroes Unlimited™ – A host of new Mutant Animals of Britain.
• Heroes Unlimited™ – A British anti-supervillain organization, its agents, super-weapons, super-vehicles and adventure ideas.
• Palladium Fantasy®, Short Story – The Heart Taker is a tale of horror and adventure that will leave you breathless.
• ALL Game Settings – Charm & Impress, the Key to Success offers optional rules and guidelines for using Physical Beauty.
• News, plus coming attractions, product descriptions and more.
• 96 pages – Still only $11.95 retail – Cat. No. 161. Available now.

Rifts^® World Book 25: Rifts^® China 2^™ – Available now

Back in print and available now. This book has it all! Martial arts, wondrous mystic martial art powers, Chi channeling, Chi powers, Chi weapons, magic items, and a lot of special abilities and powers that will blow your mind! Plus, great warriors, demon hunters and their tricks of the trade, blind mystics, fortune tellers, Spirit Hosts (half-man and half-animal spirit), Enlightened Demons (as player characters!), and heroes, powers and special abilities galore.

And for you high-tech junkies, there are wonders from Geofront with things like Demon Skin body armor, the Gun Dragon, Black Tiger power armor, high-powered weapons, select vehicles, the Demon Eater and Assault Geo-Borgs, and the incomparable Gun Master. Rifts® China One set the stage and presented the nefarious Yama Kings and their demonic henchmen. Rifts® China Two presents the heroes out to stop them.

• 12 Mystic Martial Art Powers – fighting arts in and of themselves, plus sub-powers.
• 10 Mystical or Martial Arts O.C.C.s, P.C.C.s and the Enlightened Demon R.C.C. – Celestial Warriors, Fighting Monks, Soothsayers, the Great Demon Catching Hero, Goblin Wrangler, Blind Mystic, Spirit Host, Gun Master, and more. Many with an array of special powers and abilities in addition to Martial Arts.
• 9 Geofront O.C.C.s including the Gun Master, Geo-Borg, Metal Warrior and others.
• Channeling and using Chi, Chi Weapons, Chi Sight and many other powers.
• Demon Queller weapons and magical demon-binding items.
• Geofront: China’s secret high-tech nation and their plans to battle the Yama Kings.
• Geofront weapons, power armor, gear, and Military O.C.C.s; including the Gun Master.
• Written by Erick Wujcik. Additional text and ideas by Siembieda.
• 160 pages – $20.95 – Cat. No. 858. Available now.

Rifts^® Aftermath – Back in Print – Available now

This world-spanning sourcebook examines the changing landscape of North America and the rest of the planet in the aftermath of the Coalition’s Siege on Tolkeen. Somehow, North America seems to be more dangerous than ever before, and things are about to get worse.

The Coalition Army continues its occupation of Tolkeen, the fallen Kingdom of Magic, bulldozing the cities, flushing out resistance fighters and capturing its secrets. The CS intends to wipe the Kingdom of Tolkeen from existence, and use its secrets of magic as bait to lure out other enemy forces and destroy other enemies of the CS. However, the Coalition’s war has stretched the nation thin, and the CS must worry about other rivals and adversaries.

• A sweeping overview of North America and the world, 109 P.A., after the fall of Tolkeen.
• The Coalition’s plans for domination and its war on magic.
• Coalition Magic Recovery Teams and the race for magic and secrets.
• Coalition bounties on war criminals and the fate of refugees.
• Tolkeen Resistance Fighters, their strategies and rescue operations.
• The Second Juicer Uprising!
• Demons, monsters and Iron Juggernauts run amok.
• Archie Three, the Federation of Magic, the Dark Woods and beyond.
• Written by Kevin Siembieda. Art by Wilson, Williams, Perez and others.
• 208 pages – $24.95 – Cat. No. 846. Available now.

Rifts^® Lone Star – Back in Print – Available now

Rifts® Lone Star is part of the Coalition State’s dark underbelly. Though the entire state of Texas is claimed by the CS, it mainly controls one small corner. That corner includes the pre-Rifts Lone Star Genetics Complex. The birthplace of the Psi-Hounds better known as Dog Boys. The rest of Texas is a wild badland claimed by bandits and D-Bees known as the Pecos Empire.

• In-depth information about the creation and training of Dog Boys.
• Different Breeds and types of Dog Boys, including “Free Born Dog Boys,” Navy Sea Dogs, K-9 Sniffers and Kill Hounds.
• Dog Boy weapons and gear.
• Experimental CS mutants and mistakes: Ursa-Warrior, Battle Cats, Kill Cats, Monkey Boys, Xiticix Killer, Mutant Rats and others.
• CS Death Wing, hovercycles and other equipment.
• Doctor Desmond Bradford, the mad genius behind it all, and other notable CS characters, soldiers and hunters.
• The Pecos Empire overview, bandits, raiders and notable leaders.
• Art by Ramon Perez, Scott Johnson, Wayne Breaux Jr., Mark Dudley and others.
• Written by Kevin Siembieda.
• 176 pages – $20.95 – Cat. No. 825. Available now. NOTE: For more about Doctor Bradford and the mutants and monsters of the Lone Star Complex, see the Rifts® Machinations of Doom sourcebook and graphic novel.

Dead Reign^™ RPG – Back in print, and hot, hot, hot

Can you survive the zombie apocalypse?

Yes, you may think so. But there is only one way to find out for sure: Play the Dead Reign™ RPG. The core rule book is all you need to start playing. Rules are easy. Character creation is fast and fun. Combat, quick and deadly. Survival? Harder than you might think. Good luck.

Dead Reign™ RPG is the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse. Civilization is gone, the dead reign, and the living fight to survive against impossible odds. Battle zombies, mad men and death cultists in a post-apocalyptic world where the last of humanity struggles to survive. Think you know zombies? Think again.

• Easy to learn, easy to play, and fast paced.
• Clean, simple rules and quick character generation, and a depth of information and setting.
• 7 different types of zombies.
• Zombie combat and survival tips.
• 6 Apocalyptic Character Classes & Ordinary People. 40+ occupations to choose from.
• 101 Random Scenarios, Encounters and Settings.
• 100 Random Corpse Searches and other tables.
• Weapons, vehicles, and places of note.
• Death Cults, their Priests, power over zombies and goals.
• Quick Roll Character Creation tables (10 minutes).
• A complete role-playing game.
• Written by Kevin Siembieda, Josh Hilden and Joshua Sanford.
• $22.95 retail – 224 pages – Cat. No. 230. Available now.

Dead Reign™ Sourcebooks

Civilization Gone™: Dead Reign™ Sourcebook One. There is no army, no government, no help coming. You are on your own and things are only getting worse. Villains include madmen and psychopaths, bandits and raiders. Many random tables for encounters, houses, and survivor camp creation, and more. $12.95 – 64 pages. Cat. No. 231.

Dark Places™: Dead Reign™ Sourcebook Two. Using railroad tracks and subways, sewer tunnels, steam tunnels and other dark places to travel undetected by zombies. Many tables for random encounters, boxcar contents, zombies and more. Survival tips, new zombies like the Bug Boy, Sewer Crawler and Impersonator. $12.95 – 64 pages. Cat. No. 232.

Endless Dead™: Dead Reign™ Sourcebook Three. Zombie hordes grow in number and strangeness. Where is the military? What’s next for the living survivors? Many new types of zombies, new O.C.C.s like the Wheelman and Zombie Hunter, the military and random tables for military bases, police and other places. Plus weaponizing vehicles, vehicle combat, Survivor caravans, and more. $16.95 – 96 pages. Cat. No. 233.

Rifts^® Vampires Sourcebook^™ – In final production

We are nearing completion of this epic book. Even we can’t believe how much source material we’ve crammed into it. It should go to the printer very soon.

New secrets, magic and monsters of Mexico and the Yucatan. New conflicts between rival forces are brewing as Doc Reid prepares to take his private war on vampires to a whole new level. Meanwhile, the vampires live like smug tyrants and gods, dominating an underclass of cattle people used as slaves and food stock. Learn more about the vampires, their rivals, allies and the humans who willingly serve their supernatural masters for a chance to join the undead. A must-have guide for those who wish to travel deeper into the Vampire Kingdoms or play as vampires and their human minions. In final production right now, with art and text coming in and final editing and writing in progress.

• Updated data on Doc Reid, Reid’s Rangers and new weapons, gear, and strategies for fighting vampire.
• Fort Reid, an entire city devoted to hunting the undead.
• New O.C.C.s like the Bloodwatch Vampire Operative, Silver Swords Militia, Werejaguar Vampire Hunter and the Vampire ‘Borg.
• Vampire Hunter Mages and using Necromancy against vampires.
• Techno-Wizard anti-vampire weapons and magical devices.
• The dark arts of Soulcrafting and the dreaded Soul Forge.
• Firefighting robots, hover firetrucks and more anti-vampire gear.
• More human kingdoms within Mexico like the Tampico Military Protectorate and Durango, the Silver City.
• The Bloodwatch, a secret vampire intelligence agency that tracks down and exterminates Vampire Hunters.
• The Yucatan Peninsula, a mysterious dimensional pocket overrun by strange demons known as Xibalbans.
• The return of the Mayan god Camazotz, Lord of Bats and Darkness.
• The werebeasts of Mexico and Central America; those who assist the vampires and those who fight against them.
• Cover by Michael C. Hayes. Interior art by various artists.
• Written by Kevin Siembieda, Matthew Clements, Christopher Kluge and Braden Campbell.
• 128 pages – $16.95 – Cat. No. 884. Will go to the printer in February, 2013.

Rifts^® World Book 33: Northern Gun^™ One

The long-awaited Rifts® Northern Gun™ One nears completion.

Northern Gun™ is the largest independent manufacturer of high-tech weapons, robots and vehicles in North America. Outside of the Coalition States, one could argue, no other kingdom is as powerful or influential, at least when it comes to technology and weapons. The manufacture and sale of Northern Gun weapons and vehicles has given virtually every kingdom, town, colony of settlers and adventurer group a chance to survive and prosper. Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, NG has been the premier outfitter of mercenaries, adventurers and upstart kingdoms for generations. Now, for the first time ever, learn Northern Gun’s history, goals and plans for the future. Of course, that means new weapons, robots, power armor, vehicles and gear.

• In-depth look at Northern Gun: its business operations and its community.
• Bionic and cybernetic services.
• Weapons and combat gear; new and old.
• Northern Gun robot drones; new and old.
• Northern Gun giant combat robots; new and old.
• Northern Gun freighters and hover trains.
• Northern Gun character classes and more.
• 109 P.A. catalog of Northern Gun products!
• Key locations, people and sales outlets in and around Northern Gun.
• Northern Gun’s relationship with the Coalition States, Triax Industries, the Black Market and others.
• The Kingdom of Ishpeming, a puppet-state propped up by NG.
• The Ishpeming military and more.
• Written by Matthew Clements and Kevin Siembieda.
• Interior Artwork by Chuck Walton, Nick Bradshaw, and others.
• Wraparound cover by Chuck Walton.
• 160 pages – $20.95 retail – Cat. No. 887 – March release.

Rifts^® World Book 34: Northern Gun^™ Two

More information about the weapons, vehicles and practices of Northern Gun, including the new rage of robot gladiatorial combat.

• Northern Gun power armors; new and old.
• Northern Gun hovercycles & land vehicles; new and old.
• Northern Gun aircraft; new and old.
• Northern Gun boats, ships and submarines; new and old.
• Northern Gun Robot Gladiatorial Arena; new!
• Robot Gladiator O.C.C. and robot gladiators.
• The NG Bounty Board, the largest collection of bounties and mercenary contracts anywhere on Rifts® Earth.
• Mercenaries, pirates and more.
• Written by Matthew Clements and Kevin Siembieda.
• Interior Artwork by Chuck Walton, Nick Bradshaw, and others.
• Wraparound cover by John Zeleznik.
• 160 pages – $20.95 retail – Cat. No. 888 – April release.

Rifts^® World Book 35: Megaverse^® in Flames^™

The Minion War spills across Rifts Earth, where demons and infernals hope to recruit allies and use the Rifts as gateways of destruction. Their influence shakes things up across the planet, especially at locations where demons and Deevils already have a strong presence. Demons, Deevils and supernatural beings run rampant and wreak havoc across the world.

• Demon plagues and mystic blights.
• Soulmancy and Blood Magic revealed.
• Magical and demonic weapons and war machines.
• Demonic armies, strongholds and places of evil.
• Hell Pits and Rune Forges.
• Many Demon Lords, their minions and plans.
• Calgary, the Kingdom of Monsters; in detail.
• Ciudad de Diablo, Harpies’ Island and other notable Hell holes on Earth.
• Lord Doom, Pain and other demonic leaders.
• Horune treachery, Dimension Stormers and other villains.
• Notable demonic generals, mercenaries, people and places.
• Battleground: Earth – as demons and infernals amass their legions.
• Global chaos and the places most dramatically affected by the Demon Plagues.
• Epic battles and adventure ideas galore.
• Written by Carl Gleba. Part of the Minion War “Crossover” series.
• 192 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 876. Early 2013 release.

PDF downloads from DriveThruRPG.com

This is a great resource for getting out of print Palladium titles and other select books. We’ve made 90 titles available as PDF digital downloads from DriveThruRPG.com. This is a great way to try Palladium products and get access to out of print RPG source material. Some notable titles include:

• The Rifter® #49-52 recently added – available now.
• Splicers® RPG.
• Beyond the Supernatural™ RPG, First Edition Rules.
• Boxed Nightmares™ for BTS, First Edition Rules.
• Nightbane® Book Four: Shadows of Light™.
• The Mechanoids® RPG and The Mechanoid Invasion® RPG Trilogy.
• Palladium Fantasy RPG®, First Edition Rules and select 1st Edition sourcebooks.
• After the Bomb® RPG and sourcebooks.
• The Rifter® issues 1-52.
• The Best of The Rifter®.
• Deluxe Revised RECON® RPG and Advanced RECON® Sourcebook.
• And more – go to DriveThruRPG.com and check ‘em out.

Don’t forget about these recent releases

Robotech^® Genesis Pits^™ Sourcebook – Available now

This is a truly epic sourcebook that takes an in-depth look at the Invid Genesis Pits, their purpose, function, the mutants and monsters they unleash and the dangers they pose for non-Invid. It is jam-packed with never before seen source material, mutations, mutation tables (so you can generate your own Genesis Pit monsters and characters) and more. Robotech® fans have been loving this book.

• Inorganics and other war machines of the Invid Regent.
• Gura-Invid – monstrous mutant Invid that do not leave when the Regess and her Invid legions depart Earth.
• Bioroid and Zentraedi mutants, Simulagents and more.
• Different types of Genesis Pits from across the galaxy.
• Tables for creating Genesis Pit Mutants and Monsters as player characters and NPC villains.
• Secrets of the Invid and notable Genesis Pits of Earth.
• Genesis Pit mutations, monsters and dinosaurs.
• Artwork by Apollo Okamura, Allen Manning, Brian Manning, Mike Mumah, Ben Rodriguez, Mike Wilson, Nick Bradshaw, and others.
• Written by Irvin Jackson. 8½ x 11 inch book format. Available only in the USA and Canada.
• $16.95 – 112 pages. Cat. No. 555 – Available now.

Rifts^® Black Market^™ – Softcover Edition – Available now

See what everyone is talking about and order yours today. Rifts® Black Market™ is an epic, 192 page sourcebook that contains a wealth of information about the inner workings of the Black Market, the Five Factions, new Bandito Arms/Black Market weapons and gear, how to make any O.C.C. a Black Marketeer, special abilities of the Black Marketeer, criminal enterprises, Black Market loans, merc and crime jobs, and much more. This book has it all. AND best of all, a lot of it can be easily adapted to just about any world setting, not just Rifts Earth.

• Rules to make any O.C.C. (or R.C.C.) a Black Marketeer.
• Special abilities and benefits of the Black Marketeer.
• Specialized O.C.C.s of the Black Market.
• Criminal enterprises, jobs, and inner workings of the Black Market.
• The Five Black Market Factions that wield the greatest power in North America: Bandito Arms, The Chicago Network, The Immaterial Hand, El Oculta, and Le Marche Noir.
• Black Market internal operations and security.
• Black Market services, products, practices and customers.
• New weapons and equipment of Bandito Arms/Black Market.
• A wide range of BigBore weapons and other merc weapons.
• New power armor, vehicles and robot riding animals.
• Black Market criminal assignments, jobs and mercenary bounties.
• Major Black Market smuggling corridors and routes.
• Smuggling methods, both magical and conventional.
• Traveling Shows: Freak Shows, Medicine Shows and Circuses.
• Traveling Shows as fronts for the Black Market.
• Black Market Merchants, Market Towns and Market Outlets.
• Written by Matthew Clements, Kevin Siembieda, Carmen Bellaire, Taylor White, Julius Rosenstein and Alex Marciniszyn.
• 192 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 886. Available now.

Rifts^® Black Market Hardcover – Gold Contraband Edition – Available now

Everything you want to know about the Black Market of Rifts® North America presented inside a pair of gorgeous black leatherette covers. Gold foil embossing on front cover and spine. Historically, gold collector editions only increase in value on the collector’s market, and often quickly. This is the lowest number of a Collector’s Gold Edition that Palladium has ever printed.

• Striking Black leatherette cover with gold foil embossing.
• Limited “Collector’s Edition” – only 250 signed and numbered copies were made available. About half have already sold.
• 8 signatures, including main authors Kevin Siembieda, Matthew Clements and Carmen Bellaire, plus Chuck Walton and the Palladium staff.
• Exactly the same content as the softcover book described below.
• Cover art by Chuck Walton.
• Written by Matthew Clements, Kevin Siembieda, Carmen Bellaire, Taylor White, Julius Rosenstein and Alex Marciniszyn.
• 192 pages – $60.00 retail – Cat. No. 886HC. Available now. Sold ONLY from Palladium Books via our online store, or call the office order line (734-721-2903) weekdays from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Eastern time.

Endless Dead^™ – Dead Reign^™ Sourcebook Three

The zombie hordes grow in number and strangeness. Can humankind survive? Where is the military?

• New types of zombies like Fused Zombies and Walking Mass Graves.
• New O.C.C.s including Wheelman, Zombie Hunter & Zombie Researcher.
• Info & tables for weaponizing vehicles and vehicle combat rules.
• Random encounter tables for military bases, police stations, gun stores, buildings, suburbs, industrial parks, small towns, farmland and wilderness.
• Tables for creating Survivor caravans, hideouts, Safe Havens & more.
• Timetable for setting zombie campaigns and many adventure ideas.
• Written by Kevin Siembieda and Matthew Clements.
• $16.95 retail – 96 pages – Cat. No. 233. Available now.

Back in Print and Great Gift Ideas

The Rifter^® #50, Anniversary Special – back in print due to popular demand

You might think of The Rifter® #50 as a special “all-star” anniversary issue with official source material for Rifts®, Heroes Unlimited™, Nightbane® and many other Palladium RPG settings.

The Rifter® #50 includes:

• Chaos Earth™ – Official source material that includes psionics and three new psychic O.C.C.s: Charismatic O.C.C., Reactionary O.C.C. and Teke Freak O.C.C. Written by Jason Richards. Art by Allen and Brian Manning.
• Heroes Unlimited™ – Official source material about fame, glory and infamy for heroes and the legacy they create. Written by Mark Oberle. Art by Mark Dudley.
• Nightbane® – Official source material on the new O.C.C. known as the Mortificant or Death Caller. Written by Irvin Jackson. Art by Kent Burles.
• Ninjas & Superspies™ – Optional rules about combat, combat moves, modifiers and more. Written by Taylor White. Art by Nick Bradshaw.
• Palladium Fantasy RPG® – Official source material that includes the Elven magic of the Zodiac Mage O.C.C. and Star Mage O.C.C. by Carl Gleba. Art by Amy L. Ashbaugh.
• Phase World® – Official source material that includes a look at the Free World Council (FWC). Written by Braden Campbell. Art by Apollo Okamura.
• Rifts® – Optional vehicle construction rules for the Rifts® Operator O.C.C. Written by Greg Diaczyk. Art by Nick Bradshaw.
• Rifts® Comic Strip written and illustrated by Michael Leonard.
• Splicers® – Official source material that includes three new O.C.C.s: The Geneticist O.C.C., Tormentor O.C.C., and the Gardener O.C.C., and more. Written by Brandon Aten and Matthew Orr. Art by Chuck Walton.
• And more! 128 pages – $14.95 retail – Cat. No. 150. Available now.

BACK IN PRINT: Rifts^® Logo T-Shirts in most sizes

We’ve been asked over and over again to re-issue the popular Rifts® Logo T-shirt in sizes other than XL. We heard your requests, and here you go. Order yours today.

● The full Rifts® logo as created by artist Kevin Long, printed in white on a black T-shirt.

● Sizes Small to 5XL.

● 100% cotton – our usual quality T-shirt.

● Prices vary according to size:
Small: $18.95
Medium: $18.95
Large: $18.95
X-Large: $18.95
2XL: $20.95
3XL: $22.95
4XL: $24.95
5XL: $26.95

● Cat. No. TS804

● And don’t forget other fun T-shirt designs like . . .

• Property of the Coalition States – Cat. No. 2528
• Coalition Christmas – Cat. No. 2553
• Vampire Kingdoms – Cat. No. 2548
• Wilk’s Logo – Cat. No. 2557
• Northern Gun – Cat. No. 2559
• Dead Reign™ “It’s not like it’s the end of the world” (art by Amy Ashbaugh; printing on front and back) – Cat. No. 2531
• Dead Reign™ “Survive” (art by Nick Bradshaw) – Cat. No. 2556
• Gamer – Cat. No. 2532
• And others.

Upcoming Appearances

Anime North – May 24-26, 2013 – Toronto, Canada

I am one of the guests at Anime North in Toronto, Canada. The event takes place Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26, 2013. Wayne Smith and one or two other Palladium creators will also be present to chat and sign autographs. We also hope to bring a pile of books, prints and other goodies to sell in the dealers’ room. www.animenorth.com

Gen Con^® Indy – August 15-18, 2013 – Indianapolis, Indiana

We can hardly wait for Gen Con this year as we hope to have advance copies of Robotech® RPG Tactics™: Defense of Macross Island™ there. Not to mention a stock of new releases from throughout the year. We may even need to expand the size of our booth. Hope to see many of you there.

Game Masters, submit your events now to get into the Gen Con program book! See http://www.gencon.com/host/eo-gm for more details.

Note: There will be no Palladium Open House in 2013 or 2014.

© Copyright 2013 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.

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

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

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