Palladium Books® Weekly Update – April 18, 2013

By Kevin Siembieda

Palladium Books® and Ninja Division (the creative minds behind Soda Pop Miniatures and Cipher Studios, makers of Super Dungeon™ Explore, Relic Knights™, Helldorado™ and Anima Tactics™) are proud to announce the launch of the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Kickstarter.

Discover the Robotech^® gaming experience

Robotech® RPG Tactics™ brings you an array of beautifully sculpted Robotech® game pieces, suitable for collecting, in a fast-paced, strategy battle game that brings the epic combat of Robotech® to your tabletop.

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. Relive the massive battles on your tabletop, engage in stand-alone tactical games or use the dynamic game pieces to enhance your Robotech® RPG experience. Collect your favorite mecha from an expanding range of world-class game pieces. Whether you are familiar with Robotech® or not, this game is fun.

Why should you care?

The Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Kickstarter helps Palladium to fund the launch of a compelling and expanding game line designed specifically for Robotech® fans and gamers.

Six months of product development has produced nearly two dozen gorgeous sculptures (with more to come), a mountain of artwork, and game rules that have been play-tested by more than 100 Robotech fans and gamers to ensure we make Robotech® RPG Tactics™ everything you could want.

Once the Kickstarter reaches our funding goal, we have a host of fantastic upgrades, additional game pieces and new unit add-ons to unlock! Every Destroid. More Zentraedi mecha. More fun!

And because so much is DONE, this project should go into manufacturing within 45 days after the Kickstarter! That’s fast.

Please support this ambitious Robotech® project

This is just the beginning. Palladium Books plans to bring you the mecha and adventure of each and every era of Robotech®. And you have the chance to get in on the ground floor. Your support of this Kickstarter is vital to the successful funding of this massive undertaking. Please take a look and consider supporting us. Also please spread the word and help us create some excitement. Thank you so much for your time, consideration and support.

Robotech^® RPG Sale

Ever consider playing the Robotech® role-playing game? This is the time to check it out.

To introduce even more gamers to Robotech®, Palladium will be offering ALL Robotech® role-playing game titles at a 20% discount. This is a limited time sale for the next few weeks only.

Each Robotech® RPG book contains a wealth of information, artwork and sometimes never-before-revealed stats and information about the mecha, vehicles, weapons, characters and settings you love. The four core books – Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® Role-Playing Game, the Macross Saga™ Sourcebook, the Masters Saga™ and New Generation™ – are worth owning just to have the reference they provide, even if you never play the game. An inexpensive way to try a new setting, and all titles are available now.

Other News and Happenings at Palladium

Needless to say, the big news this week is the launch of the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Kickstarter. As such, it is the focus of this Update. We are extremely excited about it and hope you are too.

Meanwhile, we have all been working away on various projects with most of our focus on the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Kickstarter, The Rifter® #62 and Northern Gun™ 1 & 2. Chuck Walton continues to come to the Palladium offices to work on the NG art, and the contributions of all other artists are finished. The Rifter #62 is epic, and the feedback coming in about Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook show people are raving about it. Like I keep saying, creatively, we are on fire right now, and the books coming out are all going to blow you away, one after the other.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer and Gamer

UPDATE: Robotech^® RPG Tactics^™

Go to the Kickstarter and see for yourself. You’ll like it.

Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Boxed Game Highlights.

• Full color, 90+ page, softcover rulebook.
• 24 Battle Dice.
• 40 color game cards (unit cards, etc.).
• 4x VF-1A Valkyries (in Fighter, Guardian, and Battloid modes).
• 1x VF-1J "Officer" in all three modes.
• 2x Destroids (includes parts to make them Tomahawks, Defenders, or one of each).
• 12x Regult Zentraedi Battlepods.
• 1x Glaug Officer's Battlepod.
• 1/285th scale, high quality, multi-pose plastic game pieces. Most pieces range from 40-70mm tall.

And once the Kickstarter reaches our funding goal, you’ll have the opportunity to acquire a range of additional game pieces and upgrades.

Kickstarter exclusive prints! We thought it would be a nice gesture for Palladium role-players to offer a couple of print sets. One features the never-before-seen full wraparound cover painting for the original Robotech® RPG cover (1986) and the wraparound cover of the RDF Manual (1987). Each is 17 x 11 inches and signed by Kevin Siembieda. The other set contains five, 8½ x 11 inch prints from various Robotech RPG titles from the 1990s and represent the Three Robotech Wars; plus a Certificate of Authenticity, signed and numbered by Kevin Siembieda. It brought back a lot of memories for us, and it seemed appropriate to have a little bit of history in this exciting new era of Robotech® gaming.

Rifts^® Vampires Sourcebook^™ – Available Now

Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook™ is a hit. Gamers are going wild over it just as we hoped. You can get a peek at the contents and some material in the FREE Sneak Preview available on DriveThruRPG.com. I am so pleased that everyone is enjoying the book so much. Every contributor rocked this book.

New secrets, new monsters and danger, new places to explore, new magic to wield, dark magic and forces to fear, new trouble and adventure in Mexico and the Yucatan. New conflicts between rival forces are brewing as Doc Reid prepares to take his private war with the vampires to a whole new level. Meanwhile, the vampires live like smug tyrants and gods, dominating an underclass of slaves and people used as cattle to feed upon. Learn more about the vampires, their rivals, allies and the humans who willingly serve them. A must-have guide for those who wish to travel deeper into the Vampire Kingdoms or play as vampires and their human minions.

• Vampire Hunter weapons and equipment.
• Techno-Wizard weapons and special gear.
• Lemurian gifts to better fight vampires.
• The horror of Soulcrafting and Dark Weapons.
• New types of Vampire Hunters, strategies and tactics.
• Hero Necromancers and their role in fighting vampires.
• Fort Reid, an entire city devoted to hunting the undead.
• The history and stats for Doc Reid, his top leaders and Reid’s Rangers.
• Deathspike – the vampires’ own high-tech answer to Vampire Hunters.
• The Yucatan Peninsula and its many monsters and mysteries.
• Animated dead, mummies and zombies used to fight vampires.
• O.C.C.s include the Mage Vampire Hunters, D-Bee Vampire Hunters, Bandit Vampire Hunters, and other slayers of the undead.
• Werejaguar Vampire Hunters and other werebeasts.
• Firefighting robots, hover firetrucks and more anti-vampire gear.
• Tampico Military Protectorate expanded with much more detail.
• The human strongholds such as Tampico, Monterrey, Silver City, the Crystal Caves, Acapulco, Ocotlan and others.
• The Mayan god Camazotz, Lord of Bats and Darkness.
• Desert Survival rules and more. Yes, more!
• Cover by Michael C. Hayes.
• Art by Amy L. Ashbaugh, Nick Bradshaw, Kent Burles, Mark Dudley, Kevin Long, Allen and Brian Manning, Mike Mumah and Chuck Walton.
• Written by Kevin Siembieda, Matthew Clements, Christopher Kluge and Braden Campbell.
• 176 pages – $20.95 – Cat. No. 884. Available now. Place your order.
• Check out the free Sneak Preview on DriveThruRPG.com!

The Rifter^® #62 – Ships April 29

This issue of The Rifter® is truly going to be spectacular, with as many as 48 pages of “official” source material for Rifts® (20 pages of “official” Rifts® Vampires source material, new Necromancy spells, a Northern Gun mech, and the missing Rifts® Black Market experience tables!), plus detailed castle floor plans and descriptions that can be dropped into any Palladium Fantasy® campaign anywhere you need one, plus some epic Heroes Unlimited source material I may expand into a complete sourcebook in the future, news and information.

Since 2013 is the Palladium Fantasy RPG’s 30 Year Anniversary, we are trying to include something special for the Fantasy RPG line in every issue. This issue has that detailed castle and many maps/floor plans and the cover reprints the popular Kevin Long Palladium Fantasy RPG® cover from the 1980s. In fact, EVERY cover of The Rifter® in 2013 will be a fantasy illustration. Last issue was Amy L. Ashbaugh, this issue a classic Kevin Long, next issue’s cover will be by Chuck Walton. Still trying to decide who will do the October issue. Note: Writers & Game Masters, if you have some awesome Fantasy material (large or small) you’ve been thinking about sending in for The Rifter®, this is the time to do so. Thanks!

And The Rifter® is a bargain. Since this publication is a special product, it only costs $11.95 for a 96 page book. That’s less than what we charge for a 64 page sourcebook!

Each and every issue of The Rifter® is an idea factory that helps players and Game Masters to generate new ideas and keep their games fresh. It provides useful, ready to go, source material gamers can just drop into their ongoing games. A doorway to new possibilities and numerous Palladium role-playing worlds. It offers new monsters, villains, characters, O.C.C.s, powers, magic, weapons, adventure and ideas for your games. It presents new villains, monsters and dangers to battle, and new ideas to consider. Every issue has material for Rifts® and at least two or three other Palladium game lines.

The Rifter® Number 62 includes:

• Rifts® – OFFICIAL Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook Bonus Material – by Kevin Siembieda and Matthew Clements. Awesome, fun stuff we cut from the sourcebook due to page count considerations. Heck, we had already increased the Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook from 96 pages to 128, and then to 160. The book finally topped out at 176 pages and we still had source material and ideas that Kevin Siembieda finished up for inclusion in this issue of The Rifter®.
  - More about the secret Vampire Special Forces Organization, Deathspike.
  - More Deathspike O.C.C.s including Werewolf Agents.
  - Two notable Deathspike leaders.
  - The vampires’ Top Ten Enemies List.
  - Vampire Harvesters and their “Meat Wagons.”
  - Some additional vampire fighting gear.
  - 11 Hook, Line and Sinker Adventures.
• Rifts® – OFFICIAL Black Market O.C.C. Experience Tables – by Kevin Siembieda. Please note that the Experience Tables will also be made available online for free in the next week or so. Please make sure people who purchased Rifts® Black Market know about that.
• Rifts® – OFFICIAL Necromancy and Bone Magic spells. What else is there to say other than more magic and darkness for your Necromancers (and the African Witch).
• Rifts® Northern Gun™ Sneak Preview. Kevin is selecting one of the NG Robots and artwork to give you another taste of what’s coming in May. Also see the more expansive, FREE Rifts® Northern Gun™ Advance Preview that has been available on DriveThruRPG.com.
• Palladium Fantasy® source material. A very detailed presentation of a castle with dozens of maps and floor plans, plus a general description.
• Heroes Unlimited™ source material for making your heroes international police. It is an idea that Kevin Siembieda thought was so perfect for a setting with superhumans that he is thinking about expanding this material into an entire sourcebook.
• Other source material.
• News, coming attractions, product descriptions and more.
• 96 pages – Still only $11.95 retail – Cat. No. 162. Ships end of April, 2013.

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

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 and its business operations.
• Ishpeming, the face and people of Northern Gun.
• Northern Gun 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 O.C.C.s and enforcers.
• The NG Mercenary army and police.
• The NG Bounty Board, the largest collection of bounties and mercenary contracts anywhere on Rifts® Earth.
• 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.
• 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 – May release.
• Check out the free Advance Preview on DriveThruRPG.com!

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 body armor; new and old.
• Bionic and cybernetic services.
• 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.
• 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 – June release.

BACK IN PRINT: Rifts^® World Book 22: Free Quebec^™

This World Book contains a wealth of information about Free Quebec, Glitter Boys and notable people and places.

• Overview of Free Quebec and its military.
• 6 Quebec Military O.C.C.s including variant Glitter Boy Pilots.
• 6 types of Glitter Boys plus the Glitter Boy Sidekick.
• Pale Death SAMAS and other Quebec power armor.
• Free Quebec’s Navy, Cyborgs and technology.
• Notable places, including Old Bones and various combat groups.
• Many adventure ideas and more.
• Written by Kevin Siembieda and Francois DesRochers.
• 192 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 837. Available now.

More Palladium news and updates next week. Game on and enjoy Palladium’s very first Kickstarter funding campaign.

© 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. RPG Tactics™, 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.