Palladium Books® Weekly Update – October 4, 2019
By Kevin Siembieda
One game system – every genre – countless worlds – endless adventure
The first wave of 2021 Palladium Open House tickets are available NOW. The Second Wave will probably be in February or March 2020, the third is not yet determined, but probably August 2020.
I am beginning to suspect the 2021 Palladium Open House (POH), Palladium Books’ 40th Anniversary – April 22-25, 2021 – is going to be the largest, most attended ever, and at some point, we may actually have to turn people away. We can only accommodate about 300 attendees plus Palladium creators, so the number of attendees is limited. I base this on the fact that all summer, but especially since Gen Con, numerous people have been asking for the date of the POH, and when the admission tickets will be made available because they don’t want to miss it. Not only that, but several gaming friends from England, Germany, South America, and Canada have already told me they will attend. Likewise, numerous Palladium creators have confirmed they will be in attendance and running games. That’s how excited people are about the 2021 POH. Wow! Awesome. Is it because it’s also Palladium’s milestone 40th Anniversary? I don’t know.
If you want to attend, I highly recommend you order your admissions sooner than later to guarantee your place there. Yes, you must pay now to reserve your ticket, but any hotel reservations you make are not charged to credit cards until the date of the event. More details below and in the online store.
I spent a lot of time this week on the Palladium Open House, figuring out the best dates for the event, speaking to hotels, writing the description, etc. In addition, I plotted out several DriveThru sales, made printing schedules for new books and reprints, sent in several titles for reprint, and dealt with a number of other pressing (a couple exciting) business matters.
Wayne and I also spent time on putting together what I hope will be a pleasant surprise, the Raw Preview Edition of Land of the Damned™ 3: The Bleakness™. Yep, at long last, LotD-3 featuring the Bleakness and the Citadel is in final manuscript development. Targeted for a summer 2020 release. The Raw Preview Edition is at the printer and will be ready to ship in a couple weeks. I also need to reach out to map-making master, Will Erwin, so we can get color maps for Palladium Fantasy RPG® and Rifts® made available for download on DriveThruRPG.
New on DriveThruRPG.com is the Explore Alien Worlds PDF SALE. The first of a half dozen sales coming your way designed to help you discover and explore the Megaverse® that is Palladium Books. Our first offering presents alien landscapes and civilizations. All with aliens, monsters, and technology that can be adapted to most science fiction and super-hero settings. See details later in this update in the DriveThruRPG Update section.
I’m glad so many of you enjoyed and took advantage of the Art Prints and Gold Edition sale that ended yesterday. I tried to draw a dragon head sketch in most of the hardcover books ordered.
These exciting activities precluded us from finishing and sending The Rifter® #84 to the printer this week, but we’ll get back on that pronto. The Garden of the Gods™ sourcebook is also in final production and should go to the printer soon. In the Face of Death™ and Rifts® Titan Robotics™ after it. Chuck Walton and I worked on concept details for Titan Robotics™ yesterday, as well as made some notes for Land of the Damned™ Three. Ideas are flowing.
Did you catch the descriptions for Titan Robotics™ and Rifts® Antarctica™ in last Weekly Update? Our apologies for a Saturday posting and emailing, but that’s how busy we have been working on book releases and other projects. Good stuff is coming.
A few slightly damaged Rifts® Bestiary™ Crimson and Color Cover Hardcover Collector Editions are available from my Ebay store at marked down prices. Alex and I have also added one-of-a-kind negatives to my online store from World Book 4: Rifts® Africa, including the first ever depiction of Erin Tarn and Sir Thorpe, and the ONLY depiction of Victor Lazlo (all art by Kevin Long), as well as the Four Horsemen and other cool images from Rifts® Africa and Rifts® Mindwerks™. There are also negatives from Cyber-Knights™, Rifts® Index Vol. 2, Vampire Kingdoms™, Rifts® Sourcebook One, and New West™, but we have stuff coming from Rifts® Mercenaries, Phase World®, Phase World® Sourcebook, Dark Conversions and other good stuff from Palladium collectibles, original art and toys! Check ‘em all out at http://stores.ebay.com/kevinstoys-artandcollectibles
NEW! Land of the Damned™ Three: The Bleakness™ – Raw Preview Limited Edition – at the printer – ships around October 18, 2019
The “Raw Preview Edition” of LotD-3: The Bleakness™, for Palladium Fantasy RPG®, is an advance copy of the unedited, unillustrated, working manuscript for this new Fantasy World Book. You get to see the unfinished book months before the final title is released. A rare look at the raw manuscript before final edit, rewrites and publication. Limited to a total of 200 copies.
This epic sourcebook presents the forbidden Land of the Damned in all its brutal glory. Includes information about the ancient and forgotten eldritch races, the Minotaur legions, dark magic, the Citadel, countless adventure hooks and ideas, and much, much more. The long awaited final book in the Land of the Damned series, with connections to the Garden of the Gods™ and the upcoming Lopan Fantasy World Book.
Note: The finished book is anticipated to ship in the summer of 2020, but you can see what it’s all about right now and even start playing with this special Preview Edition!
- Limited collector’s edition – only 200 collector copies.
- Sold on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last.
- A rare glimpse at the virgin manuscript and a work in progress.
- Written by Matthew Clements, based on ideas by Kevin Siembieda.
- 96 pages – Limited Edition – $20.99 – Cat. No. 470-RAW – at the printer!
- The Raw Edition ships around October 18, possibly sooner. Taking orders now. Do not miss out.
2021 Palladium Open House (POH) – April 22-25, 2021 – Reserve your Admission Tickets NOW in the 1st batch of 3 to be offered – limited attendance
Game at the Palladium Books warehouse with the people who create the games you enjoy! There is nothing really quite like the Palladium Open House (POH). An intimate setting and unprecedented access to 40+ Palladium creators – writers, artists, editors, freelancers, staff – available to you for almost the entire event. Many of them – Kevin Siembieda, Julius Rosenstein, Carl Gleba, Greg Diaczyk, Carmen Bellaire, Brandon Aten, Steve Dawes, Paul “Herbie” Herbert, Ian Herbert, Hendrik Härterich, James Brown and many others – running games or participating in events.
The POH is not a convention. It is a gathering of friends and gamers in a celebratory family reunion atmosphere. Three days (four with VIP night) of gaming, fun, and laughter. We are told on a regular basis how the Palladium Open House is unlike any event they have ever attended. That’s probably why we get gamers from across the globe. Not just the USA and Canada, but from England, Germany, Spain, South America and as far away as Australia!
The 2021 POH will be extra special because it will be Palladium’s landmark 40th Anniversary. That means we’ll try to bring in even more guests and host more events than ever before. More details will follow in the months ahead, but below are the key points you need to know now.
* Space is limited. We can only safely accommodate 300 or so people at the Palladium warehouse, so admissions tickets are LIMITED. Once we fill up we will have to turn people away. We don’t anticipate that ... but it might happen based on initial excitement levels. We highly recommend ordering your admission tickets as soon as possible.
* To ensure everyone has a chance to attend, we offer admissions in three waves. This is the first. The second will probably be in February or March. The third in August.
* Your credit card will be charged and funds withdrawn NOW, to guarantee your place for the April 2021 POH 40th Anniversary event. Refund details will be presented in the more expansive Online Store Description to come.
* VIP Thursday – April 22, 2019 (special): 1:00 PM doors open and you get first crack at limited editions, original art, new products, specialty items, and to meet Palladium staff and creators – 6:00 PM dinner – 7:00 PM Opening Ceremonies – 8:00 PM the evening’s games begin. Cost of VIP night is $117 (dinner included). Limited to about 100-120 people. Note: VIP Thursday always sells out fast, so we offer around 60% of the tickets now, and the remainder at a later date.
- VIP Thursday Cost: $117 (Thursday only)
- Weekend Pass: $60 (Friday, Saturday & Sunday)
- Friday (only): $30
- Saturday (only): $30
- Sunday (only): $10
Highlights:
- Intimate setting, unlike big conventions.
- Family reunion and party atmosphere for the entire event.
- Join the fun and make memories to last a lifetime.
- Price of admission covers all RPG events.
- Limited to only 300 attendees! May sell out.
- Inexpensive hotels minutes away ($50-$130). 15 minutes from Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Near major highways.
- Three days of gaming (4 for those attending VIP night), plus panel talks and more.
- Many events run by the writers, artists, and creators who make the games!
- Saturday Live Hosted Auction (original art, out of print items and oddities).
- Held at the Palladium warehouse and office where your favorite games are made. 39074 Webb Court, Westland, Michigan 48185.
- Typically 30+ Palladium creators are present to chat, sign books, sell prints and original art, and for our 40th Anniversary we’re expecting even more.
- Get original artwork, character sketches, books, T-shirts, and more.
- A POH only happens every 2-4 years, and our 40th Anniversary only happens once in a lifetime. So please spread the word and start planning to join the fun April 22-25, 2021, for an incredible experience.
Hotels are still being finalized but will probably be the same as the last POH.
We try to find nice, clean, inexpensive hotels for you. So far we have the Red Roof Inn confirmed and may be going back to the Comfort Inn down the street rather than the Hampton Inn, but we’ll find you nice places to stay.
Red Roof Inn, $49.95 plus tax per night for two double beds – or – one king. You must request TWO double beds to insure that’s what you get.
$55 for a Superior King with mini-fridge, microwave, desk and space for one or two sleeping bags or air mattresses you can bring with you for additional roommates. This also makes a decent room for gaming.
The Red Roof Inn is only 3 miles away from the warehouse and right off I-275 and Ann Arbor Road. Make sure you tell them you want the Palladium Books Open House Block and request two beds if that’s what you need. Located in Plymouth, Michigan.
Complete POH details and developing hotel information will be posted in the Palladium online store as we nail them down. Likewise, a long store description will be posted in a week or two.
NEW! Rifts® Underseas™ Color Print – available now
We unearthed 7 of this sold out fan favorite print. Get ‘em while you can. Sorry, not part of the print sale.
- Cover to the Rifts® Underseas™ World Book.
- 11 x 14 inches in size – 10 x 13 image.
- Suitable for framing.
- Artist John Zeleznik.
- $15.00 retail – Full color – Cat. No. PR825.
NEW! Rifts® Psyscape™ Color Print – available now
We unearthed 7 of this sold out fan favorite print. Get ‘em while you can. Sorry, not part of the print sale.
- Cover to the Rifts® Psyscape™ World Book.
- 11 x 14 inches in size – 10 x 13 image.
- Suitable for framing.
- Artist John Zeleznik.
- $15.00 retail – Full color – Cat. No. PR826.
NEW! Garden of the Gods™ Color Print – available now
The cover to Garden of the Gods™ is both beautiful and evocative, and is part of our print sale.
- Cover to the Garden of the Gods™ sourcebook for the Palladium Fantasy RPG®.
- 8½ x 11 inches in size – 8 x 10½ image area.
- Suitable for framing.
- Artists Charles Walton Jr. And Eduardo Dominguez S.
- $10.00 retail – Full color – Cat. No. PR827.
NEW! Rifts® Bestiary™ Crimson and Color Cover Hardcovers (super limited) – available now only while supplies last
We thought it would be fun to make a few of the Megaverse® Insider Rifts® Bestiary™ Hardcover Editions – Crimson and Color Hardcover editions – available to those of you who might have missed the Insider offer. Each is gorgeous and limited to 150 total copies, or less. These are printer proofs signed by the Palladium crew with one of Kevin Siembieda’s large Dragon Head sketches in the front of the book. These two, rare collector editions are in high demand and will only increase in value over time, especially after Volume Two is released. As a result, the price is higher than the Insider cost per book. Available only at palladiumbooks.com.
80+ creatures, 18 or so new, plus all other monsters tweaked, updated and expanded. This book is packed with monstrous goodness, cool creatures for use by players, adventure ideas for Game Masters, and monsters to shake things up.
Rifts® Bestiary™ Crimson Hardcover “Printer Proof” – available now
- 4 copies available – 138 total copies were printed, most are already sold! Available on a first-come, first served basis.
- 80+ creatures of Rifts North America described in detail.
- Same contents as the softcover edition.
- Easily adapted to any Palladium setting; basic S.D.C. stats included for each creature description.
- 256 pages – $99.00 retail – Cat. No. 896HC-Crimson.
- Shipping now on a first come, first served basis while super-limited supply lasts!
Rifts® Bestiary™ Color Cover Hardcover “Printer Proof” – available now
- 8 copies available – 150 total copies were printed, most are already sold! Available on a first-come, first served basis.
- 80+ creatures of Rifts North America described in detail.
- Same contents as the softcover edition.
- Easily adapted to any Palladium setting; basic S.D.C. stats included for each creature description.
- 256 pages – $65.00 retail – Cat. No. 896HC-CC.
- Shipping now on a first come, first served basis while super-limited supply lasts!
Note: A few slightly damaged or defective copies of both hardcovers are also available at lower prices from Kevin’s Ebay store at http://stores.ebay.com/kevinstoys-artandcollectibles
UPDATE: The Rifter® #84 – in final production
An amazing final issue with source material for Rifts®, Fantasy RPG®, Heroes Unlimited™, Nightbane® and more! Zeleznik cover. This issue focuses on dark places, monsters, magic, and the supernatural just in time for the Halloween season.
UPDATE: Garden of the Gods™ (Fantasy) – in final production
Epic! Expansive. 40+ Forgotten Gods, 50+ Curses. 80+ Blessings, plus Holy Weapons, magic artifacts, an overview of the Garden of the Gods, visions, miracles, Knightly protectors, Champions of the Gods, Faerie Folk, the Black Pit, five Greatest Rune Weapons of the Old Ones, mystery, secrets, and more! If this book doesn’t get players and Game Masters excited, nothing will. Garden of the Gods™ also helps to set up several other Palladium Fantasy titles in the works or done and waiting for final edit and tweaking.
UPDATE: Dead Reign®: In the Face of Death™
I can’t wait to finish writing this book, but need to get The Rifter® #84 and Garden of the Gods done first. Soon! Probably a November release.
UPDATE: Rifts® Titan Robotics™ – Fall release
Every time I look at the artwork for this book I just think, wow. One of many titles that will excite and tantalize your imaginations. A ton of toys for players and ideas for Game Masters. Robots and power armor galore, but also the inner workings of Titan Robotics and Archie Three’s schemes. I think 80% of the artwork is done. I continue to make notes and we are all pumped up about this power armor, robot, and weapon filled sourcebook.
Rifts® Titan Robotics™ is another high-tech toy box presenting new types of armor, sleek power armor, giant robots, vehicles, and weapons sold by Titan Robotics. Ah, but Titan Robotics is much more than just another weapons manufacturer, it is the secret operation of ARCHIE-3 and all part of his plan to monitor and manipulate the outside world. Learn about Archie’s androids that run Titan Robotics, his current schemes and plans for the future. Probably a 160 page World Book around $22.99 retail, but may expand into 192 pages.
- New Giant Robots.
- New Power Armor, equipment and accessories.
- 30+ power armors and robots, plus other equipment.
- New weapons, gear and vehicles.
- Titan Robotics Corporation and structure.
- Archie’s secret kingdom and plans for the future.
- New O.C.C.s and key Non-Player Characters (NPCs).
- Android executives, security and much more.
- Wellington Industries, Campaign prompts and more.
- Art by Zeleznik, Walton, Cummings, Atkins, and others.
- Written by Matthew Clements and Kevin Siembieda. Cover by Zeleznik.
- 160-192 pages (tentative) – $22.99 retail (or $26.99) – Cat. No. 899. Fall 2019 or winter (tentative).
A Fall surprise or two
If things go well, I may slip in a Raw Edition and a surprise release before Christmas. The surprise is a little something that has been eating away at me and that I’ve been working on here and there. No more details until I know it’s coming out.
UPDATE: Rifts® Chaos Earth® – Psychic Scream™ – Winter release
You will love Psychic Scream™, though I think I’m going to slot in Rifts® Titan Robotics™ ahead of it since so much more of that book is finished, art and all. If the description for Psychic Scream™ doesn’t get your heart pumping, I don’t know what will! Making notes and adding ideas that will blow your minds.
UPDATE: Rifts® Antarctica™ – Winter release
I am bursting with ideas and had to stop and make all kinds of notes. I think Rifts® Antarctica™ is going to surprise and delight a lot of people. It is also a great example of the fun you can have with the Raw Editions. The sold out Rifts® Antarctica Raw Edition is a far cry from what the finished book is going to be. Those of you who bought the Raw Edition get a glimpse at Palladium’s creative process. When you compare the two, you’ll see what we kept, what we eliminated, what we added, and how we embellished the material to reach the creative finale of the finished book coming this fall or winter. Fun and educational for those of you who aspire to be writers yourself or just like to have the inside track at Palladium. And true of all Raw Editions vs the finished book. Probably a fall or winter release.
Rifts® Antarctica is a truly compelling and exotic land beyond what anyone expects. A frozen continent transformed by the power of magic and alien wildlife. Long isolated from the rest of the world, Rifts, D-Shifting events and the threat of war have now brought the distant South Pole within reach. Probably a 160 page World Book around $22.99 retail.
- New alien monsters and D-Bees.
- Strange new weapons and vehicles. Some left over from the Golden Age of Humanity, others completely alien.
- The Splugorth’s secret outpost. More than it would seem.
- A Splugorth zoo and place of secret Bio-Wizard experiments.
- Snow and Ice Golems created specifically for the cold environment.
- An ancient city of stone that predates human history and which even the Splugorth fear, let alone their minions! Ask yourself, what could possibly scare the Splugorth? Find out.
- Danger from Elements, Ice Witches, Icecraft, and other horrors.
- Vostok City, a city of magic carved from the ice itself.
- Cold-weather skills, technology and survival techniques.
- Ancient danger and dark secrets.
- Written by Matthew Clements, Carmen Bellaire, and Kevin Siembieda.
- 160 pages (tentative) – $22.99 retail – Cat. No. 898. Winter or spring release.
UPDATE: Rifts® Bestiary™, Volume Two – Winter release
Nothing new on this front, but we all want it to be released as quickly as possible. Looking at a winter release.
UPDATE: The Disavowed™, Living Nowhere™, Beyond the Supernatural™ sourcebooks, and other titles
These titles and several others are NOT forgotten and are in various stages of active production or waiting for production. As always, just because a book is not specifically listed in every Weekly Update, it does not mean it is discontinued or in limbo, it means there are more immediate things to talk about or there’s no substantive news to report. We are anxious to put as many of the books you’ve been waiting for into your hands as possible over the next 18 months. That includes Rifts® Disavowed™, Chaos Earth® First Responders™, Rifts® Antarctica, Rifts® CS Arsenal™, Rifts® Living Nowhere™, Beyond the Supernatural™ sourcebooks, more Fantasy sourcebooks and other titles. So if a book you are waiting for is not mentioned in an Update, it means there is nothing new to report, but it should still be in the pipeline and news for it will be coming in the weeks or months ahead. Right now, we are focused on releases for the next six months, which by our count is 6-7 titles. And many of them are in various stages of production or development.
UPDATE: New on DriveThruRPG.com: Explore Alien Worlds PDF SALE – now through October 9, 2019
This is the first of a half dozen sales coming your way designed to help you explore the Megaverse® that is Palladium Books. Our first offering are the selection of RPGs and books that explore alien worlds and civilizations. All with aliens, monsters, and technology that can be adapted to most science fiction and super-hero settings.
- The Mechanoid Invasion® Trilogy RPG
- Rifts® RPG, 1st Edition
- Rifts® Dimension Book 1: Wormwood™
- Rifts® Dimension Book 2: Phase World®
- Rifts® Dimension Book 3: Phase World® Sourcebook
- Splicers® RPG
- Splicers® Sourcebook: I am Legion
- Aliens Unlimited™ HU2 Sourcebook
- Aliens Unlimited™ Galaxy Guide™ HU2 Sourcebook
Recent releases: Free Rifts® Bestiary™ Volume One Sneak Preview; The Rifter® #81: A big 112 page issue filled with “official” source material and Wolfen Vampire adventure for Palladium Fantasy RPG® (20+ NPCs), Gnomes of the Ophid’s Grasslands), Rifts® Chaos Earth® Nebraska Part 2, Heroes Unlimited™ (Super Sleuth), and more. Palladium Fantasy RPG® Interactive Character Sheet: A Microsoft Excel-based character management system. Packed with features and data collected from every official Palladium Fantasy sourcebook to enable you to create Fantasy characters quickly (25 minutes!) and help you to update and manage them for years to come. Rifts® Dimension Book™ 15: Secrets of the Atlanteans™ (True Atlanteans, their tribes, goals, and history, more about the Sunaj, new Magic Tattoos, new Shadow Magic™, new Shadow monsters, maps and descriptions of Atlantean Stone Pyramids, and more about the wicked Sunaj’s secret agenda. An awesome resource and fun read). The Rifter® #80: A big 112 page issue filled with “official” source material for Palladium Fantasy RPG®, Rifts®, Chaos Earth® (setting and monsters), Splicers® (desert setting), Heroes Unlimited™ (villains), and more. The Rifter® #79 (Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy®, Heroes Unlimited™, Gaming through History, G.M., and more), The Rifter® #78 (the Modern Necromancer, Palladium Fantasy®, Rifts®, Splicers®, more); Rifts® Heroes of Humanity™, the Coalition’s response to the escalating Minion War™ crisis, Psi-Battalion, CS Demon Hunter, special training and more).
Dead Reign® Paper Miniatures Volume Three: Zombies, Dead Reign® Paper Miniatures Volume Two: Civilians and Dead Reign® Paper Miniatures Volume One: Survivors. There are also paper miniatures for Heroes Unlimited™, Palladium Fantasy® and Rifts®. A new, up-to-date, PDF Palladium Books Catalog. Nightbane® Dark Designs™ sourcebook with 60 new Common Talents, 38 new Elite Talents, 18 new Morphus Tables, all other Morphus Tables collected and more. Systems Failure™ RPG, a 160 page RPG that deals with alien invasion and a post-apocalypse setting that is fun and dynamic. Civilization is on the verge of collapse when the so-called "bugs" invade and turn humans into zombie-like slaves. Monsters, heroes and fun. A complete RPG and setting. Rifts® World Book 34: Northern Gun™ Two: 256 pages of technology and fun. 30+ power armors, 30+ body armors, 15 combat vehicles, 45 vehicles (hovercycles, etc.), 10 robot haulers, the Robodome and more. Bizantium and the Northern Islands™: the northernmost part of the Known World, the Cold Born, Necromancy ships made from dead sea serpents, 15 creatures, Random Sea Monster Generator, and more. Rifts® Northern Gun™ One. This fan favorite might be thought of as the big book of giant robots – an in-depth look at Northern Gun, 70+ weapons, 27 robots, NG O.C.C.s, key people and places, and much more. Mysteries of Magic™ Book One: The Heart of Magic™ with Wizards, their Apprentices, nearly 60 new magic spells and remember, magic and monsters in the Fantasy RPG are easily adapted to Rifts®, Chaos Earth®, HU2 and other settings. Wolfen Empire™ Fantasy sourcebook, the Great Northern Wilderness and Killer Winters, 12 Wolfen Tribes, Wolfen military and society, 15+ creatures, 5 full adventures, 101 adventure ideas, random encounter tables, notable people, places, plus FREE Sneak Previews of The Rifter® #80, The Rifter® #81, The Rifter® #82, and more on DriveThruRPG.com.