One game system – every genre – countless worlds – endless adventure

By Kevin Siembieda and Sean Owen Roberson

It has been non-stop activity here in Palladiumville. We shipped out the last of the Surprise Package orders – thank you everyone – and you can read more comments from fans like you at the end of this Weekly Update. Otherwise, we have been dealing with crazy weather, sending temporarily-out-of-print titles to various printers (After the Bomb RPG, Rifts Book of Magic, and Coalition War Campaign, among them), and juggling all sorts of work. There’s also a lot of physical reorganization and strategic restructuring and coordination taking place to make room for new employees, bringing on more freelancers, and to clear our plates so we can make new books!

UPDATE: Rifts® Bestiary Volume 2 – Sean is plotting the book’s design and layout. Then he and first-time father, Matthew Clements, with input and writing from me, will see this hotly anticipated title finished and sent to the printer. No release date just yet. These updated collections with new text, new editing, new maps, and layout are more work than you might imagine.

UPDATE: Yin-Sloth Expeditions (Fantasy) – This updated and expanded edition from the original Yin-Sloth Jungles book is epic, and contains something like 30 redrawn maps, new details, new adventures, and new information. This is the project I dive back into next week.

UPDATE: Island at the Edge of the World, 2nd Edition (Fantasy) – The remastered and reedited edition is coming sometime in 2024. This fan favorite, off-beat adventure world book is not a complete redo like Yin-Sloth Jungles 2nd Edition, which was so expanded and updated that it needed a second book, Yin-Sloth Expeditions, to complete it.

UPDATE: Rifts® Antarctica – This the next Rifts® title I will be finishing up. Written by Matthew Clements and Kevin Siembieda, it is not what you are expecting.

UPDATE: TMNT and other Strangeness Backerkit Pledge Manager – Wayne has been working to put it all together and get it ready to launch. It goes live early February.

UPDATE: TMNT and other Strangeness RPG Kickstarter – Everything is moving along and heading toward manufacturing.

UPDATE: Other 2024 RPG releases – Reminder, it is Palladium’s new policy to no longer estimate release dates for upcoming releases nor talk about our plans for books until they are completed and heading to the printer, but we have a lot we would like to accomplish. I can tell you that Sean and I share the goal of trying to surprise you with the number of 2024 titles we would like to see released. More to come in the months ahead.

News! Congratulations to Matthew Clements! Matthew and his lovely wife, Stephanie, welcomed their first child into the world yesterday. All of us at Palladium Books are so delighted for them. Congratulations on your new, bouncing, baby gamer. Or is that game designer, or writer, or movie director, or all of the above ... or whatever destiny has in store; may it be glorious and blessed.

Palladium Game Masters Wanted

We need G.M.s to run games at Gen Con. If you were planning or thinking about running games at Gen Con, please coordinate with Palladium Books in order to get a dedicated room and other perks like a discount on your purchase at the Palladium Books Booth!

We are hoping to get our usual crew of Gen Con Game Masters to run Palladium game events again. This can be any Palladium setting:

• Rifts (Palladium or Savage Worlds)
• Chaos Earth
• Palladium Fantasy RPG
• Heroes Unlimited
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• After the Bomb
• Ninjas & Superspies
• Nightbane
• Dead Reign
• Beyond the Supernatural and any of our other settings.

We need your commitment, game description and info by February 28. Send to Jeff Ruiz, aka NMI, via email at nmi {at} thedeificnmi.com

Palladium is always looking for NEW Game Masters who would like to run events. As long as you are confident running 6 players at conventions and have experience running good convention games, Palladium Wants YOU!

Run 4 or more games (with 6 or more players in each game) and your Gen Con Admission is free. Plus, Palladium gives its G.M.s a discount on books at our booth!

Game Masters and Game Event Descriptions NEEDED by February 28, 2024. (See Gen Con’s website for details about the info needed for each game listing; G.M.’s name, number of players, length of time, name of game, difficulty level, etc.) This enables us to coordinate and submit them as a batch to Gen Con and guarantees to have your event listed in the onsite Gen Con Program Book. Being listed onsite is very important to have full attendance for your event. This date gives us enough time to compile and send Gen Con everything they need.

Prospective Game Masters, please contact Jeff Ruiz, aka NMI, via email at nmi {at} thedeificnmi.com

2024 is Heroes Unlimited RPG’s 40th Anniversary

We have hit another landmark with Heroes Unlimited’s 40th anniversary. We have a few ideas on how we might celebrate this rare achievement, but we would LOVE to hear your ideas. Please submit them to Palladium via our Help Desk as well as chat about it online. Thanks!

NEW on DriveThruRPG.com – Newly UPDATED Rifts^® Automated Character Sheet AND Creature Feature^™ sourcebook for Beyond the Supernatural^™ are now available

UPDATED Rifts® Automated Character Sheet now available. Three updates, in fact. This EXCEL template provides automation to your Rifts® character creation process. Done in Microsoft Excel, this character template will allow you to build your character with substantial ease and speed. Ideal for the new gamer who doesn’t know all of the Palladium Books® rules just yet, it’s also a highly effective tool for Game Masters and advanced players alike who make multiple characters, NPCs, or just like to min/max or theory craft characters between games. Note: If you already purchased this item, you can download the updated version for free. Enjoy.

NEW! Creature Feature™ PDF book on DriveThruRPG.com – due to popular request, this epic Beyond the Supernatural(BTS) sourcebook is now available on DriveThru for your digital enjoyment.

Creature Feature is for players and Game Masters alike and a fun read for anyone.

• 15 detailed and expansive supernatural horrors unlike any you see in most other horror games.
• Creature encounter tables.
• Tips on making (and playing) better creatures.
• Rules clarifications (lots of them).
• Player and G.M. tips.
• BTS world information.
• One full adventure and numerous adventure hooks.
• Dynamic art by Steven Cummings, Phil Stone, and Siembieda.

Also available on DriveThru: The 1st and 2nd Edition Beyond the Supernatural RPG, and Boxed Nightmares sourcebook; not to mention Dead Reign® (zombies) and Nightbane® (Urban Fantasy/superhero horror). All these books, including BTS 2nd Edition (softcover and hardcover), BTS RPG 1st Edition hardcover, and the Boxed Nightmares™ (1st edition rules) are available as physical books from PalladiumBooks.com offering a Megaverse® of adventure.

NEW! FREE Nightbane® RPG digital Sneak Preview on DriveThruRPG.com – Have you been wondering what the buzz is all about for Nightbane® and Urban Fantasy? Well, now you can see for yourself with this fun Preview of the core rule book. There are also free Sneak Previews of Creature Feature™, Dead Reign®, BTS, and numerous Rifts® books and other titles, including Rifts® Manhunters™, Titan Robotics™, Northern Gun™ One and Two, Lemuria, and more.

300+ RPG titles from Palladium Books

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

• Rifts® titles. Rifts® is the ultimate setting in which you can combine any number of genres and play any style of gaming you may desire: science fiction, fantasy, supernatural horror, heroic adventure, dimensional travel, modern knights, cyborgs, giant robots, dinosaur taming, sleuthing, magic, monsters, heroes and legends. Or combine them all. There has never been a game quite like Rifts®.
• Rifts® Chaos Earth® titles. Live through the Great Cataclysm and the Coming of the Rifts. Rifts® Chaos Earth® RPG, Creatures of Chaos™, Rise of Magic™, and Chaos Earth® Resurrection™ are all available.
• The Rifter® #1-85. Each issue is a wealth of source material for Rifts® and 3-5 other Palladium game settings. More than 8,600 pages of source material and counting. Most issues are only available in digital form.
• Palladium Fantasy RPG® titles. A rich, original setting in which you can play humans or any number of nonhuman species of people in a world of magic, heroes and wonder. All of it epic.
• Dead Reign® RPG and sourcebooks. The Zombie Apocalypse unleashed. A great introductory RPG that is surprisingly uplifting, fun, fast, and easy to learn.
• Heroes Unlimited™ RPG Second Edition titles. Create any type of superhuman you can imagine to build your own super-hero universe.
• After the Bomb® RPG and sourcebooks. Play anthropomorphic, intelligent, mutant animals as crime-fighting mutants and super-heroes or survivors of a crumbling post-apocalyptic Earth.
• Ninjas & Superspies™ RPG and the Mystic China™ sourcebook. 41 types of martial arts, ninjas, super-spies, gizmos, mystic powers, and magic in the main book, plus even more in Mystic China.
• Nightbane® RPG and sourcebooks – Urban Fantasy. Only you know the truth. Only you can see the Nightlords and their demonic minions, and you have the power to stop them. But you must transform into a monster yourself in order to use your powers. Trust no one.
• Beyond the Supernatural™ RPG and sourcebooks. Modern horror; 14 character classes, 42 occupations for “ordinary people,” 100+ psychic abilities, 16 monsters, and more.
• 300+ Palladium titles in all, plus G.M. kits, paper miniatures and more. Palladium Books has settings for every genre: Fantasy RPG, science fiction (Rifts®, Splicers®, and The Mechanoids®), super-heroes (Heroes Unlimited and After the Bomb), superhero horror (Nightbane®), modern horror (Beyond the Supernatural), zombies (Dead Reign®), The Rifter® sourcebook series, novels, paper minis, and more.

Closing Thoughts – Farewell Jennell Jaquays

It struck me hard when I learned video game designer, artist, and role-playing game designer Jennell Jaquays passed away on January 10, 2024. In an alternate dimension somewhere, she and I are partners in the video game business.

Though we had lost touch over the years I have only the fondest memories of her. Jennell was an outstanding human being and my very first, true friend in the RPG industry. I met her when I became a freelance artist for Judges Guild in 1979. Judges Guild was, I believe, the very first official licensee for Dungeons & Dragons. The company released a vast number of cheaply produced Advanced D&D sourcebooks and many issues of Dungeoneer Magazine. Jennell was already making herself a name at Judges Guild as a dynamic illustrator and brilliant, up and coming writer/game designer. She created a ton of artwork for many Judges Guild publications as well as articles and illustrations for Dungeoneer Magazine. Her two breakout publications at Judges Guild were popular adventure sourcebooks for Advanced D&D – Caverns of Thracia (1979) and Dark Tower (1980).

I want to say it was only a month after I started working for Judges Guild that Jennell tracked down my phone number and gave me a call. We had a lot in common: We were the same age, we were more than illustrators with had aspirations to write and design gams, we were facing many of the same challenges, and we became instant friends. We both immediately recognized each other’s talents and supported each other’s efforts as visual artists, writers, and game creators. We encouraged each other to push ourselves and to follow our dreams. At one point Judges Guild owner, Robert “Bob” Bledsaw, told us that we shouldn’t be talking to each other at all, and that he felt like we were colluding against him because we both asked for raises and more creative control in the same week. A funny coincidence as I had no idea Jennell was reaching out to Bob. We both also quit the company around the same time to follow our hearts, though I believe Jennell continued to do some freelance work for Bob.

Jennell would go on to do work for a number of notable RPG companies of the day before getting into video game development. Meanwhile, I started my own game company, Palladium Books. She rose quickly within the burgeoning video game industry at Coleco – a toy company (Cabbage Patch Kids) and video game pioneer; remember ColecoVision? In 1984, Jennel had become Coleco’s Director of Game Design and was putting together an art and design team. She offered me a job as head game designer and concept guy. She said I’d be her main go-to-guy and there was a lot of room for advancement. The pay (for 1984/1985) was staggering, and included a $10,000 signing bonus/moving stipend. I thought long and hard about that offer, but turned it down. A month or two later Jennell appeared at my Gen Con table in person to repeat the offer and encourage me to take it. Though very tempting, especially to a poor kid from Detroit and owner of a three year old start-up company, I remember waving my arms and saying, “What, and give up all of this?” I had a whopping six or seven products, including my latest release, the Heroes Unlimited RPG. Jennell sweetly smiled and said, “Kev, think about it. Talk to your wife. It’s a great opportunity and think of what we can do working together. I need to know your decision by the end of the month.”

I often wonder how different my life – heck, everyone I know, including you, our fans – would have been if I had taken that generous offer. Would I have become a pioneering video game designer? Would I have had to shut down the fledgling Palladium Books? I think so. Would I have discovered and licensed TMNT and Robotech and turned them into popular role-playing games? Probably not. There would have been no Ninjas & Superspies, Beyond the Supernatural or Rifts®, either! My whole life would have taken a very different turn. I would have moved from Detroit, Michigan, to Connecticut, and away from the Detroit Gaming Center, Alex M, Erick Wujcik, Julius Rosenstein, Matthew Balent, Kevin Long, Randy McCall, and other friends and family, as well as a host of influential people I was yet to meet, and experiences I was yet to have. Friends and moments in time that would help motivate, shape me, and encourage me along the path that I did take. It’s kinda wild to think about.

Jennell would go on to become an activist for transgender rights and do many important things in that arena. Like I said, Jennell Jaquays was an outstanding human being, and just one of the many incredible people who have touched my life over these past 67 years.

As for my choice to turn down the job at Coleco (as well as a job with comic book legend, Jim Steranko), I have no regrets. As Erick Wujcik would say, it’s all good. I love the path my life took, even with the ups and downs, twists and turns, tragedies and losses. I wouldn’t change a thing.

And just wait till you see all the exciting changes and products Sean and I have planned for Palladium’s future. Great stuff that will make you squeal with delight like a happy child on Christmas morning. You’ll start to see some of those plans and books manifesting throughout 2024. We thank you for your support and we’re glad to have you – our extended family and friends – with us for Palladium’s wonderful new journey. It’s gonna be a blast.

Enjoy this week’s Comments from Fans Like You, continue spreading the word about Palladium’s games, and keep those orders coming in. In the meantime, we’ll keep our imaginations burning bright if you promise to do the same. Take care.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Game Designer, Friend

Surprise Package comments from fans like you

Every year there is a section where our Surprise Package customers can offer comments and suggestions with their order. We do that because we want to know what you think, and what you want, and we appreciate your suggestions and insights. In fact, the idea to do hardcover editions of core books came from fan comments in the Grab Bags.

Every year, in acknowledgment of our fans, and because they are fun to read, we 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.

I want you to know that your comments and support mean the world to all of us. Everyone at Palladium enjoys reading your brief comments, especially me and Sean, and they always brighten our day. 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.

R.B. in Spokane, Washington, writes (in part): Hello. A long time ago I was a huge Rifts® fan. Then I went through life and didn’t get any chance to play. Ended up losing all my books, got married, had kids, became an author, life just moved Palladium away from me. Then I found out there was this crazy Christmas deal and I had to jump on it!

[Welcome back to the Megaverse, R.B., please enjoy. – Kevin]

G.M. in Killeen, Texas, writes (in part): Keep up the good work. I hope one day to be able to come to your Open House and meet you crazy people.

[We hope you can make it to an Open House someday too, G.M. If you are ever in the area, you must drop by for a visit. Hey, who told you we’re crazy?! Oh darn, it’s probably obvious, isn’t it? Game on. – Kevin]

C.B. in Paxton, Nebraska, writes: Always enjoy sitting down with my friends and spending hours lost in adventures.

[Awesome, C.B., us too, and we’ll be bringing you a lot of new adventures to enjoy throughout the new year and beyond. – Kevin]

D.T. in Auburn, California, writes: Legion of Myth and Glitterbois are my favorite podcast streamers, and Kevin and Sean’s interviews are my favorite.

[We enjoy doing interviews, D.T., and those two are excellent at it. We expect to do many more throughout the year, so watch for ‘em. – Kevin]

B.S. in Killeen Texas, writes: Really just doing this to send love to Palladium. You guys got me through my awkward teens.

[Thank you, B.S., by the way, I was an awkward teen as well, but came through alright. – Kevin]

D.C. in Oxford, Georgia, writes (in part): Thanks for all the hard work y’all are putting in. I’m super-juiced for Antarctica and the Bestiary 2.

[We are happy to work hard and deliver quality books, D.C., and you are gonna love Rifts® Antarctica and Bestiary Volume 2. And we appreciated all your comments. Game on! – Kevin]

D.L. in Killeen, Texas, writes (in part): Long time fan ... I’m looking forward to spending my retirement adventuring in the Palladium Megaverse®. A special shout out to Sean ... God bless you both and thank you so much for holding the line in this crazy business.

[It is a crazy business, but we’ll continue to hold the line. We love what we do, D.L. Thank you for your kind words and support. – Kevin]

C.H.K. in Casselberry, Florida, writes (in part): Every year you surprise me ... and you keep pumping out the fun and imagination like no one else! Your interviews this year have really blown me away. Not just on Legion of Myth’s channels, but I found another on Through Gamer Goggles. I love it because I get to see how you interact with one another and get some glimpses into what life in Palladium is like.

... I miss folks like Erick Wujcik and Julius Rosenstein. You sent me pictures of them years ago and I see them every day in my living room. And “Stan” the Alien! You are friends I’ve never met. How cosmic is that? Stephen King says that writing is telepathy, in his wonderful book On Writing: Memoirs and of the Craft. Via telepathy, I’ve gotten literally decades of fun from the amount of love, dedication and pure imagination you put into each of your books ... I’m glad to call you friends.

[I love the way you think, C.H.K., and we feel the same about the many fans who write to us, make Surprise Package comments, meet at conventions, or interact with us online. That’s why I refer to all of you as Palladium’s extended family. And it is “cosmic,” indeed.

We too miss Erick and Julius, among others, but when it comes to those two and my Dad, I assure you, they are all here with us in spirit. By the way, I have that same signed photo in my office and love looking at it every day. And I too highly recommend Stephen King’s On Writing, it is excellent. {I love and recommend the book too, especially the audio book. It’s voiced by Stephen King, so it’s like having a conversation about writing with the man himself. – Sean}

Thank you C.H.K., for all everything you shared in this year’s comment section of the Surprise Package. It was nice to get to know you a little better and you made us all smile and feel positive for the holidays. Though we have never met ... your friend, Kevin]

B.M. in Baltimore, writes: Returning to Rifts® with some childhood friends after about 20 years away from the hobby. I’m super-excited to read about the Federation of Magic.

[It’s a fun book to read, B.M., enjoy it and the other books. – Kevin]

J.B. in Jackson, Michigan, writes: I had a fantastic time touring the offices last year and getting to hang out with you guys for a while.

[Anytime, J.B., our pleasure. Game on. – Kevin]

S.R. in Seattle, Washington, writes (in part): Started with Robotech®. Grew into Rifts®! Looking forward to the return of Turtles, and have definitely read Heroes Unlimited cover to cover, loving Bio-Ghosts and intangibility (just discovered Psi-Ghosts).

[Sounds like you’ve been plumbing the Megaverse® for a long while now. I’ll be reaching out to you privately in regard to your other question. – Kevin]

C.R. in Provo, Utah, writes: Keep up the great work. I’ve been a Palladium fan since TMNT hit the shelves.

[Awesome, C.R., and you can count it. Game on! – Kevin]

S.W. in Belleville, Illinois, writes: I love the works you have all put together. Thank you all for a great game system.

[Glad you enjoy it so much S.W., the best is yet to come. – Kevin]

B.H. in Pardeeville, Wisconsin, writes: Keep making cool stuff!

[Will do, B.H., I promise. – Kevin]

Bear the Gen-X GM who posts on the YouTube channel The Society of Role-Playing Gamers, wrote (in part): Hey gents! ... Side note, the Surprise Package box arrived! I am BLOWN away! Outstanding stuff gents, really impressive. Unboxing video on my channel — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7ogb9fwnmk — Thanks again, and I've said it before and I'll say it again, I would never have predicted 2024 would be the year I got into Palladium! Happy New Year! Peace, love, geek.

[You are very welcome, Bear, we hope you enjoy the books. We also said we’d plug your upcoming crowdfunding project. Looks like fans of Heroes Unlimited might enjoy your Heroic the Role-Playing Game. Cool and best of luck. I like the artwork. Remind us when it goes live and we’ll help spread the word further. For those of you interested, here is the link to the advance preview page. - Kevin]

https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/bcec219f-b5f6-4e8e-bbf0-f2cdf8457471/landing

© 2024 Palladium Books Inc. All Rights Reserved. Palladium Books®, Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Dead Reign®, Chaos Earth®, The Mechanoids®, Megaverse®, Nightbane®, Powers Unlimited®, Splicers®, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, After the Bomb®, and all related titles, names and slogans are trademarks of Palladium Books.

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