Weekly Updates 2

Palladium Books’ Future – Special Report – January 10, 2025

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

BY KEVIN SIEMBIEDA

Palladium Books’ Future – Special Report – January 10, 2025

It’s the time of year when many companies talk about the past year and plans for the New Year. That’s the focus of this Special Report, except I only briefly touch upon the past year in order to share with you some of what is going on behind the scenes and coming in the New Year. It’s exciting and we want you, our extended Palladium family, to be in the loop. I hope I manage to answer many of your questions.

2024 was a strange year for everyone at Palladium. The unexpected loss of our dear Kathy Simmons had us all reeling. I was devastated and grief stricken. Unable to summon my creative energy to write books, somehow I was still able to function at conventions, do interviews, write the Weekly Updates, and participate in business matters and strategic planning. It all felt like a hazy dream, but I managed to survive. We all did. Best of all, my head continues to clear, my spirit continues to rise, and though brokenhearted, it too continues to heal a little bit every day. Moreover, I am happy to report my creative energy has returned and I am anxious to get back to writing books.

Even in our shared grief, we managed to keep the wheels on the bus and move forward on many fronts. Sean has remained heavily focused on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness RPG Redux editions. The full color redux editions as well as the Black, White and Red editions are gorgeous. Heck, all the Kickstarter items look amazing: The Game Master Screen, Mutagen Green Dice, Kickstarter exclusive edition books, miniatures, FanRoll dice and dice bags, poker decks, and all the rest – coming in 2025. We have pulled out all the stops for these TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux books and Kickstarter exclusives. Sean and I both believe all are destined to become instant, beloved collector items.

Sean and I have also been championing a number of other projects and making moves to rebuild and fortify Palladium Books from the ground up. All while preserving the legacy that has come before. This has required a lot of work spent on research, planning, recruiting, and foundational restructuring. Our goal is to make Palladium Books stronger than it has ever been, clearly mapping out the formula for our secret sauce, and preserving the company you know and love as we grow and expand. In short, setting the groundwork for the next 40 years. No easy task, but it has been fun and creative in its own way.

New and Existing Partners

– Moving forward with a little help from our friends and associates

We are looking at a wide spectrum of opportunities when it comes to new products, marketing, and growth. Palladium Books is making moves with new and existing partners on many fronts to help grow our market share and carry Palladium Books to new heights. Here are some of the things we have put into place, are working on, or are considering.

- NEW! An exciting product in a new market category with an old friend! Palladium RPG Audio Books! Studio 2 is a dynamic company that has its fingers in everything from publishing to warehousing and distribution and a lot of other ventures. Their newest exploit is RPG audio books complete with sound effects and voice actors. I looked into doing audio books for RPGs 5-6 years ago, so when the President of Studio 2 asked if we’d like to give it a try, Sean and I jumped at the opportunity. You can expect the first Palladium Books RPG audio books to appear in 2025, starting with our Horror/Urban Fantasy RPG series: Nightbane®, coming soon.

Why Nightbane® first? Because horror seems to be heating up, Nightbane® is one of the few (only?!) Urban Fantasy RPGs on the market, and we thought it offered wide appeal to our existing fan-base and a potentially new RPG audience. We will notify you in an upcoming Weekly Update when the Nightbane® audio book Backerkit crowdfunder goes live (soon). And if it does well, you can expect many other Palladium RPG lines adapted into thrilling audio books. Note: Studio 2 is one of Palladium’s long-time distributors, so they have been an existing partner with an expanding presence behind the scenes for years.

- NEW Ancillary Products. Role-playing games and sourcebooks will always be Palladium’s primary focus, but we recognize that many of our fans also want related RPG products. Even more since the TMNT & Other Strangeness Kickstarter we’ve been fielding questions if we might do more Game Master screens, game line specific dice sets, dice bags, dice trays, character sheets, cards, miniatures, novels, digital playing aids, and even videogames, toys, and ... well, you name it, we’ve probably been asked about it.

Let me say this without giving anything away: EVERYTHING is on the table. The sky is the limit as we move forward. We will consider anything and everything, provided it makes good sense and we know you want it. We listen to you, our fans and customers. We hear you and appreciate your valuable suggestions and feedback. Nothing is off the table in this new era of Palladium Books, just don’t expect it to happen overnight. We aren’t rushing into anything. Whatever we undertake, we intend to do it correctly with the right business partners. That means quality products that build upon the existing Palladium Megaverse®. To that end we have been talking with a number of new potential business associates. FanRoll, Studio 2, Pinnacle, and Paramount/Nickelodeon are just a few examples that you already know about.

All of the above notwithstanding, Palladium’s top priorities are building a strong foundation, making the right alliances with business and creative forces, and releasing many long-awaited sourcebooks. See 2025 Releases below for more details about upcoming sourcebooks.

- NEW Marketplaces. We have been exploring additional ways to reach and sell our products to gamers. Selling through distributors is one way and increasing direct sales to retailers is another. Selling direct to the consumer via the Palladium online store (www.palladiumbooks.com) is yet another, as are conventions and shows like the GAMA and Alliance Trade Shows. But what about an official Palladium Books Amazon Store and other market avenues? We’re looking into a number of options and will keep you informed in these Weekly Updates as things develop.

- NEW Partnership! Palladium at GAMA Trade Show – February 24-27. Yep, we’ve joined GAMA and will be present at the GAMA Trade Show. We’ve heard nothing but great things about this Louisville, Kentucky event. It’s our first time attending this new show, so we only have one, small booth (#1176) toward the back, across from Wet Ink Games and next to Monte Cook Games. Note: We have no plans to attend Origins this year, but maybe in the future.

- Expanding Partnership! Gen Con Indy – July 31-August 3. With the anticipated springtime release of the TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux editions, Kickstarter exclusives, and other new Palladium releases, we expect to have a larger presence at Gen Con this year. By the way, we always need volunteer Game Masters to run game events at Gen Con. If you are interested, please commit and submit your games to us in January so we can get you free Game Master admission badges. Sean and I will try to do at least a couple of panel talks, and maybe a few other things.

- Expanding Partnership! Alliance Distribution and Alliance Open House/Trade Show – September 4-6. Alliance is one of Palladium’s oldest allies and largest distributor. We expect to expand our relationship with them with article contributions to GTM (Game Trade Monthly) magazine, special promos, and our attendance at their September Open House for retailers, etc.

- Expanding Partnership! Granite State Comic Con – September 19-21. Sean and I were impressed when we attended as guests last year, so we are expanding our involvement with this convention. Sean and I will be back, but this time he and I will be more involved in events and Palladium Books will have a larger presence. Of course, we’ll have piles of TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux books, and more. Those of you on the East Coast, start planning now because we’d love to see you.

- Expanding Palladium Open House (POH)? Perhaps. There have been numerous inquiries about the next Palladium Open House (the last one being in 2022). Traditionally, the POH is a gathering of a few hundred super-fans at the Palladium Warehouse for a nonstop weekend of Palladium gaming plus a lot of Palladium creator guests. It’s a ton of fun, but also a ton of work. With the passing of Kathy and Julius who contributed so much to this event, we aren’t sure if or when we may host a new one. We are considering 2026 or 2027, but we have not yet decided. We’re also not sure whether we would host it at the Palladium warehouse (part of the charm) or off-site (a hotel or other location). Sean has suggested we turn the POH into a mini-convention away from the office. Like so much else, we are exploring our options and considering every possibility. That said, our focus for 2025 is on building a strong foundation, improved marketing, and the release of new products.

- Expanded Crowdfunding! You can expect to see more crowdfunding opportunities and events on both Backerkit and Kickstarter.

- NEW! A Palladium Operations Manager. We have been quietly working with a gentleman who is an experienced, top professional when it comes to operations management. He also knows Palladium’s games and is very passionate about the company’s future, its games, and its continuing legacy. After a number of considerations for this position, Sean and I are increasingly convinced he is the right person for the job. The three of us have been working and strategizing for a while now. We anticipate he will relocate to Michigan and join the Palladium core team sometime this spring. Just one more piece to make Palladium more productive and efficient.

- Expanding Partnership! Caleb the Palladium warehouse guy. This is a relatively new and expanding relationship. Caleb came onboard in March last year and has proven to be an excellent addition to the Palladium family in ways that go beyond warehouse operations. Caleb is doing a great job and quickly becoming an invaluable asset. We love him, you should too.

- Expanding Partnership! J-M DeFoggi, videographer (and more). J-M was recommended to us by Christopher Landauer and is another person who has quickly become a friend and asset to Palladium Books. J-M is spearheading the Palladium Books YouTube video series memorializing the history of Palladium. He asks the questions, does the editing, and sets the scheduling. A writer and game designer in his own right, don’t be surprised if you see J-M contribute in other ways. For now, our focus is on creating a vast array of interviews and chats about Palladium’s history and the people behind it as well as subjects pertaining to running games, game design, writing, etc. A shout-out to Molly for all she does behind the camera.

- Other Business Partners. Palladium has wide range of industry friends and associates such as Steve Jackson, Phil Reed, Rick Meintz (Chaosium), Jason Masherah (Upper Deck), Doug Shute (GAMA/Granite State Comic Con), and countless others from retailers and distributors to you, our fans and customers. There are also a number of new partners on both the creative and business ends of Palladium operations. People and companies we don’t want to reveal here for strategic reasons. All of whom are quick to share tips and information, offer advice and suggestions, and even lend a direct hand. Our aspirations are high and we want to give you the RPG books and related products you want, but we need to do so without stretching ourselves thin or sacrificing quality, so give us a few years.

Palladium’s increasing Social Media Presence

We have been dramatically increasing our social media presence and will continue to do more. Here’s what is in place at the moment. We’ll be improving and expanding all of them in the months ahead. These are the platforms in which we are most involved, but there are many other gaming and Palladium fan sites.

- Palladium Books website and Online Store – www.palladiumbooks.com  we’ve teased about a new website coming, so watch for it. Also, if you have order questions, call the Palladium office (734-721-2900). For less urgent matters, use the Help Desk.

- Palladium Books® Weekly Update – Whether you give it a quick scan or devour every word, you should check out the Weekly Update on a regular basis to learn about new product releases, sneak previews, promotions and sales, crowdfunding events, podcasts, convention appearances, news, and our thoughts on life and various gaming subjects. Palladium’s Weekly Update is emailed to 15,000+ Palladium fans as well as posted on the Palladium Books Website. Please encourage your fellow gamers to join up, especially if they enjoy our games.

Palladium Books® YouTube Channel – I am currently doing a comprehensive ongoing series hosted by the affable J-M DeFoggi on the Official History of Palladium Books. A new episode posts every other week, plus the occasional bonus episode. It is being presented in rough chronological order and includes Secret Stories of the Defilers. The Defilers are my legendary, first campaign at the Detroit Gaming Center (DGC) where I ran 26 regular players for 12 hours every Saturday night for three and a half years. The DGC is also where I met folks like Erick Wujcik, Matthew Balent, Julius Rosenstein, my first wife Maryann, and developed concepts and play-tested many Palladium rules and RPGs. We will also be sliding into topics about running games, writing, game design, character and monster creation, and lots of other themes as well as interviewing other people such as Matthew Balent, Ramon K. Perez, Freddie E. Williams II, etc., and a host of Palladium staff and creators. Please don’t hesitate to offer topic suggestions to any of the social media outlets listed here.

- Legion of Myth YouTube Channel – Always fun and insightful, but the appearances by me (Kevin Siembieda) and Sean Owen Roberson, Palladium Creative Director and my business partner, are “must see.” Sean and I have been trying to do one chat a month. The range of subjects span all things Palladium role-playing, Game Mastering, player tips, using alignments, wilderness travel, running a horror game, and similar; all from our personal perspective. You can expect more fun in the year ahead.

- Glitterbois Podcast – Numerous discussions about role-playing and Palladium's many game settings and book titles by the hosts, as well as an ongoing series of chats about the history of Palladium Books with me (Kevin Siembieda, the guy who started the company and has written or co-written 200+ RPG books). These are a blast and sometimes digress to include our views on various aspects of role-playing and Game Mastering. Lots of fun and stories.

- RealPlayGames Podcast – These talented fans have been creating radio-play style podcasts based on various Palladium RPG worlds for years. Their audience is growing. They are currently at the tail end of their Season One Palladium Fantasy series: Surviving Love. It sees a bunch of sexy dating show singles from the real world flung into the Palladium Fantasy world. The reception to it has been reported as nothing short of fantastic; their biggest and, by a large margin, best-performing podcast release to date! Check it out. They also plan to release their second season of Cozy Caverns Mysteries, based on Beyond the Supernatural 2E, in February, and have plans for other projects in development. Meanwhile, previous podcasts based on After the Bomb, Heroes Unlimited, and BTS remain available for your listening enjoyment.

- Other Social Media – Palladium also has a modest presence on Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms, and we hope to do much more with them in the future. And as noted, we’ll be doing more crowdfunding on Backerkit and Kickstarter. Of course, there is an ever-growing number of fun fan websites, podcasts, and YouTube channels dedicated to Palladium Books and our games. We appreciate the efforts of everyone who spreads the love and word about Palladium Books and our RPG worlds, just please make sure to give us credit, send your audience to our website (www.palladiumbooks.com), and let us know about your existence.

2025 RPG Release Overview

Valley of the Pharaohs 40th Anniversary

Available now! Valley of the Pharaohs RPG – 40th Anniversary Edition. A big, 200+ page book written by the original author, Matthew Balent (the guy behind the Palladium Weapons series) with more magic, new characters, expanded setting, and new rules and ideas. Available as a hardcover with bonus material and as a softcover. This does not use Palladium’s rules but builds on Palladium’s original 1985 box edition of Valley of the Pharaohs RPG.

The Rifter #81 Archive Edition

Available now! New! The Rifter® #81 Archival Edition. One of my favorite issues that I contributed a lot to. I wrote a big Wolfen vampire adventure and various other contributions. In addition, I love Hendrik Härterich’s Gnome source material, and enjoy the other material for Chaos Earth, Heroes Unlimited Sleuth, and G.M. advice on navigating game power levels. More Rifter® Archival Editions will be released throughout 2025.

New Releases Coming in 2025 – in no particular order:

  • Yin-Sloth Expeditions (Fantasy) – 30+ maps, many places to explore, 6+ full adventures, NPCs, and adventure ideas.

  • Rifts® Bestiary Volume 2 – More Rifts® monsters and animals.

  • Rifts® Antarctica – Epic and strange people and places for adventures, ancient secrets, magic, monsters, and more.

  • TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux Editions – Cowabunga (see more below).

  • Additional Rifter® Archival Editions will be released throughout 2025.

  • And more! Our policy is not to announce plans for other intended 2025 releases until they are nearly done and about to go to the printer. We hope to add a number of long-awaited titles to the release schedule this year.

TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux editions! Wow, talk about a phenomenon. The Kickstarter was huge. We knew the TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG was one of the most beloved RPGs of all time, but even we didn’t realize the magnitude of that love and passion for Erick Wujcik’s masterpiece. We do now, and we want to create books worthy of the sentiment. Anticipation for them by gamers and TMNT fans of all kinds is at a fever-pitch, and well deserved. The books, the color, the clarifications, the remastering and layout, the remembrances, 30 pages of brand new tribute art, behind the scenes stories, new mutants and quality are nothing short of top-shelf. The books are beautiful, clean, clear, and fun. We have tried to make the RPG books and Kickstarter exclusives something truly special that fans will love and cherish forever.

By the way, TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux was one of Palladium’s many projects kept quiet until we were ready to make the reveal. That’s how we are running things now. No chatter about a project until the title is ready.

Are the Black, White & Red TMNT Redux Editions really that different and impressive? Yes! They are gorgeous and capture a different, moodier feel that hearkens back to the original black and white comics and all red masks of the Turtles. It’s mind blowing how different and cool they look. A noir version, if you will. Most pieces of artwork are given the same black, white and red treatment as the two black, white and red covers. Sean and I were blown away, and you will be too.

Will there be new TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG books and game aids AFTER the Redux editions? I think it is safe for me to say that all parties want to see this happen, but I cannot say anything more at this time. I trust you understand.

NOTE: You can still pre-order select TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux books, Game Screen, and Mutagen Green Dice Set at the lower Kickstarter prices and save money. But not for very much longer, so please spread the word that folks need to preorder to save money soon. We will probably close the Preorder Store at the end of February. Spring 2025 is the anticipated release period.

Closing Thoughts

About Sean Owen Roberson

You’ll notice that I didn’t talk much about the Palladium staff. Come on, Alex and Wayne are Heroes of the Megaverse and as dedicated to the company as ever. So are our many freelance writers and artists. ‘Nuff said.

As for Sean Owen Roberson, my business partner and Palladium’s Creative Director, I think he has proved his mettle to everyone by this point. For those of you still on the fence, he will win you over with the magnificent TMNT & Other Strangeness Redux editions and Kickstarter exclusives.

What you may not know, is that Sean and I are twin creative powerhouses who work together like hand in glove. We see eye-to-eye on Palladium’s legacy, game design, the company’s future and our shared commitment to the fans. We are constantly inspiring each other and improving the other guy’s ideas. There’s no ego, only teamwork to create the best products. It should be no surprise then, for you to learn that he and I are best friends. Two peas in a pod, as my Mother might have said. What that means for you is a dynamic team of creators who want to push the envelope, blow your minds over and over again, and give you long-promised books and new products that will ignite your imaginations and bring you hours of RPG fun.

I can say with confidence that Palladium Books is in good hands with Sean, and that he will continue delivering the kind of games and sourcebooks you expect from Palladium Books long after I’m gone. Which, God willing, will not be anytime soon. I have no desire to retire. In fact, Sean and I are trying to make it so I can focus on what I do and love best, creating epic RPGs and sourcebooks.

Nor do Sean and I have any desire to sell the company, and we’ve had plenty of offers. Palladium Books will remain a privately held company run by people passionate about games, the Palladium Megaverse, and our awesome fan-base. I wish we could tell you about all our exciting plans for books, but we have wisely adopted a policy of not revealing such information until the project is nearing completion and its release is imminent. Suffice it to say that we hope to make the next 20 years even more exciting than Palladium’s first 20 years, and that’s saying something.

That plan started when Sean agreed to join the company and we caught people’s attention with the TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux Kickstarter. What else is coming? It’s too soon to reveal. Just remember, we hear you and listen to your comments, hopes and dreams for Palladium. We know what you’d like to see from us and we aim to deliver.

Reminder, these are the final few days to snag a 2024 Palladium Surprise Package. The sale ends Wednesday, January 15. They are a fun way to save 40-50% off cover price and get autographs from available staff should you want them. This deal will not be extended further, so get ‘em now or you’ll have to wait till next Christmas season. Besides, it’s a delightful way to start the New Year.

Keep those beautiful imaginations burning bright and find refuge and adventure in the many RPG worlds of Palladium Books whenever you can. May the New Year be a glorious one for us all.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Game Designer, and Friend

Sale Last Days – Palladium Books® – Mini-Update – January 8, 2025

Weekly Update

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

BY KEVIN SIEMBIEDA

Sale Last Days – Palladium Books® – Mini-Update – January 8, 2025

Hi, everyone. We are in the New Year and with it comes a new sense of excitement here at Palladium. In the next day or two, we’ll be issuing a Special Report on the Future of Palladium Books. You are part of our extended family and we want you to know what’s going on behind the scenes and share some of our plans for the future without getting into the weeds with too much detail. Please watch for it Thursday or Friday.

This mini-update covers some immediate topics of the week and offers more fan comments. First and foremost …

- The annual Palladium Christmas Surprise Package Sale ends in 7 days. The Surprise Package is NOT just for Christmas. It is a great opportunity to get RPG books at a steep discount that averages out to between a 40-52% discount. Plus we happily sign your books if you’d like us to do so and it’s a fun surprise because you don’t know exactly what you are going to get! This is a great way to try new world settings, fill holes in your collection, get ideas for new campaigns, replace worn out copies of favorite books, treat yourself, and buy gifts for birthdays, anniversaries and any upcoming gift-giving occasion. This sale will NOT be extended again. Miss out and you’ll have to wait till the Christmas season. Surprise Package sale ENDS in 7 days.

See complete details below or click on the button to get yours.

- Shipping to Canada has resumed. We’ve already seen several Canadians place orders. There is still time to get a late Christmas Surprise Package for those of you living in Canada.

- What’s selling this week at Palladium? Dead Reign® (the Zombie Apocalypse with fun twists), Palladium Fantasy RPG, and Heroes Unlimited (and by extension After the Bomb®) are blazing hot and blowing out the door. Rifts® also, but Rifts® is always hugely popular (thank goodness) and a strong seller. Oh, and the Valley of the Pharaohs Expanded 40th Anniversary RPG.

- BACK IN STOCK! Valley of the Pharaohs Expanded 40th Anniversary Edition RPG was selling so well, we nearly sold out in something like 2 weeks and had to order more hardcovers from the author/publisher Matthew Balent. Stock has been replenished and both the hardcover and softcover are available now. See the RPG description elsewhere in this update and in the online store.

The Rifter #81 Archive Edition

- NEW! The Rifter® #81 Archival Edition – available now. Due to popular demand, Palladium Books is testing the viability of re-releasing fan-fave out of print issues of The Rifter® that sell on the secondary collector’s market for $50-$100 dollars. The Rifter #81 is the latest Archival release. It is filled with official Fantasy RPG source material including a full adventure featuring Wolfen Vampires written by Kevin Siembieda, Fantasy Gnomes by Hendrik Härterich, and source material for Heroes Unlimited, Chaos Earth®, and Rifts®. 96 pages – $20.99 retail – Cat. No. 181 – available now.

 

Other Rifter® Archival Editions:

The Rifter #48

The Rifter #58

The Rifter #65

More Archival Editions are likely to follow in the months ahead.

Note: All issues of The Rifter® are available on DriveThruRPG.com as PDF books.

- Check out the growing number of videos on the Palladium Books YouTube channel. J-M DeFoggi and I (Kevin Siembieda) are doing a series about the history of Palladium Books before we expand into other subjects.The history of Palladium is just the beginning.

Christmas Surprise Packages

Last chance – 7 days left to get Surprise Package deal – will not be extended further

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.

Surprise Packages are a great way to build your collection, try new settings, and replace battered old favorite titles as well as make the perfect gamer gift for birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, or any gift-giving occasion. And remember, if you request autographs from available staff we happily sign each book!

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. We can only extend the holiday season for so long. Get one while you still can – the Surprise Package offer ENDS January 15, 2025.

Valley of the Pharaohs 40th Anniversary

Back in Stock – NEW! Valley of the Pharaohs RPG – 40th Anniversary Edition Hardcover – Also available as softcover

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.

Closing Thoughts

A Promising New Year

Like I said, I’m keeping this mini-update short. The Special Report on the Future of Palladium Books will shed light on what’s been going on behind the scenes and what you can expect in 2025. It’s all very positive. Spread the word that it is coming and watch for it.

Do likewise about the Surprise Package sale because it ends in 7 days and won’t be back till next Christmas season. It’s a phenomenal deal and we’d like as many gamers as possible to partake in the fun and savings. Now on to a bunch of new comments from fans like you. Enjoy and Happy New Year.

– 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)

A.W. in Mountain Grove, Missouri, writes (in part): ... I have purchased 6 of these Surprise Packages to date and they are an amazing value! The retail cost of the books I’ve received, not counting shipping, is an average of $124 per package. That’s over double the actual $60! Meaning I was able to get all those books for 52% off on new, autographed, books for less than used book prices! For that I’d like to extend a truly heartfelt thank you to everyone at Palladium Books for all you do for us fans ... I wish you a happy and prosperous 2025.

[You are very welcome A.W., and you send great Wish Lists. As I have said many times, 1. I love Christmas and the spirit of giving. 2. I love you, our fans, you are the best in the entire world, and I mean that with my whole heart. 3. The Surprise Package is our way of saying thank you to our fans and giving back some of the love you show us all year long. So thank you, A.W., for being one of Palladium’s many wonderful fans. Happy New Year. May it be filled with good health, prosperity, and joy for us all. – Kevin]

 

R.S. in Tucson, Arizona, writes: [The Surprise Package is] always a treat for myself this time of year.

[Awesome, R.S., enjoy. – Kevin]

 

B.A. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, writes: Favorites: Palladium Fantasy RPG mostly with hybridized characters from Rifts®. Love them all. We have 70 books! We’re ready for the new Fantasy sourcebooks.

[Hey, B.A., that Fantasy/Rifts® combo sounds fun. Glad you enjoy our games so much. New Fantasy sourcebooks are coming, B.A. Keep an eye out for them and keep that imagination burning bright. – Kevin]

 

J.N. in Springfield, Missouri, writes: Old school Palladium and quickly becoming a huge fan of the Dead Reign® series. Fan of everything Palladium Books.

[J.N., we are happy, flattered and humbled by such high regard for our work. Thank you and Happy New Year. – Kevin]

 

C.F. in Conway, Arizona, writes: I got back into Palladium Books a few years ago because of Legion of Myth. They’ve inspired me to collect all Rifters®, in and out of print.

[As you are discovering, C.F., The Rifter® issues are a fun and useful resource and offer a wealth of ideas whether the articles and source material are official or not. Enjoy them and welcome back to the Megaverse®. – Kevin]

 

A.C. in Ronkonkoma, New York, writes: I used to play a lot, a long time ago. The late 1980s and early 1990s were filled with all-night gaming sessions with my best buds. I’m the last of us, sadly, but I saw someone post about the Surprise Package thing and it brought back so many good memories. This will make a nice gift for myself.

[Reading your comment made me smile, A.C., and brought back memories of my own all-night gaming sessions, throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s. Great times. Great friends. Great memories. I hope you enjoyed your Surprise Package. Here’s to new memories. – Kevin]

 

I.X.S. in Rumford, Rhode Island, writes: Always look forward to Palladium’s X-Mas Grab Bag! Gives me a chance to fill any holes in my collections. Keep up the good work guys.

[Will do I.X.S., it was great seeing you at Granite State Comic Con. – Kevin]

 

M.C. in Casper, Wyoming, writes (in part): You have been my favorite gaming company since I discovered Ninjas & Superspies way back in 1988! Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

[May the New Year be a great one for us all, M.C. Ninjas & Superspies is a pretty cool game so I can see how it hooked you. Wow, you’ve been playing our games for most of our existence. Nice. Game on, M.C., please, game on. – Kevin]

 

J.N. in Springfield, Missouri, writes: Thank you for making the Christmas sale available every year. It means a lot that you take the time and care to sign and send copies of our favorite gaming books.

[I love the Christmas season, J.N., and our fans, so it is our honor and pleasure to do so. Enjoy and stay awesome. – Kevin]

 

C.H.K. in Casselberry, Florida, writes (in part): ... The Magic of Palladium Books you guys sent me in my last package was a thrilling surprise. Great ideas within and quite a contrast to The Rifter® Annual 85 that accompanied it! What a blast. Dead Reign® is quite a trip ... As always, you guys just really bring so much into my gaming life. Ever will gaming be a part of me – just like Palladium.

[That’s beautiful, C.H.K., keep your spirit and imagination burning bright. – Kevin]

 

D.H. in Central City, Nebraska, writes: Play them all, sometimes all combined.

[D.H., I’m happy you are traversing the entire Megaverse. Game on. – Kevin]

 

D.L. in Killeen, Texas, writes (in part): Hi Guys, I just got another friend hooked on Palladium, so I’m sending him a Christmas Surprise Package as a gift ... I rediscovered my love for all things Palladium watching Legion of Myth on YouTube ... Thank you for your service, Sean, even though you were Air Force, all of us grunts still love you guys and the sound of fast-movers overhead during a firefight is as sweet as the sound of angels singing!

[Thanks for your service and kind words, D.L., you made us smile with your comments about the Air Force. Yeah, Legion of Myth, Glitterbois podcast, Palladium’s own YouTube chats, and many other YouTube shows and podcasts, large and small, like RealPlayGames and the Death Head Taco Truck podcasts, are spreading the fun about Palladium Books’ RPG worlds and making gamers smile. I love it. – Kevin]

Last 2 Weekends of Sale – Palladium Books® – Weekly Update – January 3, 2025

Weekly Update

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

BY KEVIN SIEMBIEDA

Last 2 Weekends of Sale – Palladium Books® – Weekly Update – January 3, 2025

Happy New Year. We hope it will be a great one for us all. This is another mini-update so you don’t miss getting a Surprise Package (time is running out!) and to share more fun, fan comments at the end of this email.

 

Last 2 Weekends to get yourself a Surprise Package – Offer ENDS January 15, 2025

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.

Surprise Packages are a great way to build your collection, try new settings, and replace battered old favorite titles as well as make the perfect gamer gift for birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, or any gift-giving occasion. And remember, if you request autographs from available staff we happily sign each book!

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. We can only extend the holiday season for so long. Get one while you still can – the Surprise Package offer ENDS January 15, 2025.

Valley of the Pharaohs 40th Anniversary

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.

Christmas Surprise Packages

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)

S.M. in Shabbona, Illinois, writes: I never knew this [Surprise Package deal] existed. Wish I had found out sooner and I hope some good things are left. I’ve loved your games since the 1990s.

[I hope you enjoyed the Surprise Package S.M., I tried to “surprise” you. – Kevin]

 

B.W. in Grover Beach, California, writes: The Surprise Package is the best deal in gaming. I have always been pleasantly surprised. Introducing three new players to Palladium’s games in a campaign that will start in Beyond the Supernatural and break out into Chaos Earth®.

[I must say, B.W., the Surprise Package really is the best deal in gaming. No other company does anything like it and never has. We’re happy to put a smile on your face every single year. Your game sounds fun and I’m happy to hear you are introducing Palladium’s worlds to new players. Awesome. Thanks and keep up the good work. Btw, I was tempted to send you a lump of coal as a joke, followed by your real order a day or two later, but thought better of it. Happy New Year and keep the RPG magic alive. – Kevin]

 

T.D. in Deep River, Connecticut, writes: Best Game system out there!

[Shucks, T.D., you’re making us blush. We’d like to think we’re one of the best of the best. Game on. – Kevin]

 

R.L. in Mobile, Alabama writes (in part): Another year, another Surprise Package. Thank you for providing joy and entertainment through the years. Here’s to 2025, may it be a fruitful and productive year for you and Palladium.

[Amen to that, R.L. Sean and I have some ambitious plans for the New Year, but you’ll just have to wait and see if we can pull it off. Yin-Sloth Expeditions (Fantasy), Rifts® Bestiary Vol. 2, Rifts® Antarctica and, of course, TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG Redux products are all on deck. Stay tuned to see what else we can pull off this year. – Kevin]

 

L.L. in Salem, Oregon, writes: I’ve been getting the Christmas Surprise Package for over 20 years. It’s a great way to get new books. Thank you!

[Wow, L.L., sounds like you’ve been getting these Grab Bags since their inception. Awesome. Game on, my friend, game on. And thanks for your decades of patronage. Happy New Year. – Kevin]

 

S.M. in Xenia, Ohio, writes (in part): Back in the late 1980s I picked up a copy of the Robotech® RPG. I totally fell in love with the system. Then I noticed the TMNT RPG and loved that as well – I am a Backer of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness Redux Edition Kickstarter. Then I got the Rifts® RPG for Christmas 1990 and I have never looked back. I have spent thousands of hours playing Rifts®, and am currently running a Rifts® campaign right now.

[Awesome, S.M., keep that imagination burning and that Rifts® game going. I love it. – Kevin]

 

C.O. in Chicago, Illinois, writes: Thank you for sending Rifts® Arzno in my first Christmas package this year. I’ve read it cover to cover and it immediately became one of my favorite books alongside New West. Your game is amazing and will be sure to bring decades more fun, especially as I introduce it to my kids. Thanks.

[We love hearing things like this C.O., so happy you enjoy our games so much. Happy New Year. – Kevin]

 

W.D. in McClure, Pennsylvania, writes: I’ve really enjoyed the Surprise Packages that I’ve received so far, and I want to thank Kevin for the Dragon Sketch. Palladium is the best and no other company comes close. Rifts® will always be my favorite, but I want to try Palladium Fantasy. It’s been on my radar and I’ve got my chance to run it.

[Thank you, W.D., for the high praise. You are very welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed the sketch and I think you’ll like Palladium Fantasy. It’s my go-to game. – Kevin]

 

M.C. in Forney, Texas, writes (in part): What can I say about Palladium’s games? Awesome! Light-years ahead of any other system. I’ve played table top RPGs since the 1990s and nothing I have ever found compares to Palladium’s rich Megaverse® of capability, customization, and wonder! Looking forward to more books in the New Year.

[Wow. Thank you for the dizzying praise, M.C. I think you’ll like the new books coming out in 2025 and beyond. Many big and fun things are coming from Palladium. Happy New Year and game on! – Kevin]

 

D.H. in Walla Walla, Washington, writes: Currently trying to build up core books for hosting game nights. Been trying them all. Currently on Palladium Fantasy and Dead Reign.

[Hi D.H., back for more, I see. Awesome, because that means you’ve been enjoying what you’ve gotten. Cool. Game on and Happy New Year! – Kevin]

 

D.D.F. in Raymond, New Hampshire, writes (in part): Always love the X-Mas Surprise Package. Been doing it off and on for a number of years now and it never disappoints. As you can tell I’m a Rifts® fan and always love your work ... I have most of the products for Rifts, but always find there is still more ... looking forward to getting the Bestiary Volume 2 special cover and Rifts® Antarctica.

[Thanks for the kind words, D.D.F., and your understanding. If you’re getting a special cover then you backed our Megaversal Insider crowdfunder before the Pandemic. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Getting Bestiary 2 out in 2025 is a top priority, so is Rifts® Antarctica, Yin-Sloth Expeditions and a few other long-awaited books. If all goes well, 2025 will be an epic year for Palladium and its fans. – Kevin]

 

B.C. in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada, writes (in part): Been playing Rifts® and Heroes Unlimited since 1988 and love how the whole Megaverse® can be converted to Rifts® like TMNT®, Robotech®, Nightbane®, and others. My collection is nearing completion ... It’s exciting to think I’ve been collecting and playing Palladium RPGs for 36 years and wouldn’t change a thing. Nothing else needed than a great story, some friends, some dice, and time to create lots of fun and memorable moments over the years. Super-excited to see what comes this year ... wish you all the best in 2025.

[Awesome, B.C., I love your positivity and love for role-playing. I couldn’t agree more about great stories, friends, dice, and time. Thanks for your kind words. We have a lot of great products in the pipeline and big plans for the future. You’ll be seeing some of them soon. Cowabunga, Dude! Um ... I can say that, right? I am an official licensee. Game on! – Kevin]

 

A.P. in Rowlett, Texas, writes: Favorites are Rifts® and Palladium Fantasy. Love watching the interviews with Kevin and Sean on Legion of Myth.

[Glad to hear it, A.P., we love doing those interviews. You should also check out Palladium’s YouTube channel for interviews with me about the history of Palladium Books and other subjects and the Glitterbois podcast too. More news about 2025 plans in the next Weekly Update. Ho, ho, ho – Kevin]

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Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Powers Unlimited®, Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Phase World®, Nightbane®, Megaverse®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars®, Chaos Earth®, Dead Reign®, and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. RPG Tactics™, Beyond the Supernatural, Coalition States, 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.

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