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

By Kevin Siembieda and Sean Owen Roberson

 

* NEW SALE! Half price on almost all art prints. As you know, Palladium Books has some of the best artwork in the industry and we know how much you love to collect them and decorate your game rooms with our prints. Most of them are now on sale at half price. Enjoy.

 

* NEW! The Cyberworks Collection – available now – This book is epic and a must even for those who own every book it collects into one, big, 384 page Archie extravaganza. Why? 1. Everything Archie is at your fingertips. 2. The remastered art and layout is gorgeous. 3. The original Kevin Long cover and Mechanoid end sheets.

The Cyberworks Collection includes the Expanded Rifts® Sourcebook One (with the Republican/NEMA gear and info), Rifts® Sourcebook 2: The Mechanoids®, Rifts® Shemarrian Nation™ Sourcebook plus key Archie, Hagan, Titan, and Shemarrian information from Rifts® Aftermath. Chock full of robots, weapons, and gear. And when we say remastered we mean high res artwork plus updated layout, editing, and tidbits of surprise material. This book is beautiful. See the full description elsewhere.

 

* UPDATE: We have been moving many projects forward: Yin-Sloth™ Expeditions, Rifts® Bestiary Volume 2, Rifts® Antarctica, the Rifts® Titan Robotics™ and Cyberworks Collection Savage Worlds conversion PDFs, and more. That includes our Top Secret big project and some opportunities that have come our way these past several months.

 

* UPDATE: Titan Robotics™ and Yin-Sloth Jungles™ Expanded and Revised continue to sell like crazy. Thank you and enjoy. You can see FREE Sneak Previews of Yin-Sloth Jungles, Rifts® Coalition Manhunters, Dead Reign® and Creature Feature on DriveThruRPG right now! We will also post Sneak Previews for Rifts® Titan Robotics™ and Nightbane® RPG in the coming weeks.

 

* What’s hot from Palladium at the moment: All things Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy RPG®, Dead Reign® RPG, Nightbane® (Urban Fantasy/Horror), and all of a sudden, Heroes Unlimited™ (awesome, it’s one of my faves). Oh, and hardcover editions are selling like crazy. Must have seen 20 ship out this week, all different titles too; Fantasy, Heroes Unlimited, Dead Reign®, Nightbane®, Ninjas & Superspies, Chaos Earth®, Rifts® G.M. Guide, Rifts® Book of Magic, Rifts® Adventure Guide, and ... well, everything hardcover. We wonder if this is a result of gamers seeing how nice these hardcovers look at Gen Con and spreading the word.

 

* New opportunities with old friends. I met with Palladium writer/researcher Matthew Balent (Weapons & Armor, Weapons & Castles, Valley of the Pharaohs, etc.) to discuss a couple of possible new projects for the future. Sean and I have been working closely with Mike Majestic on two exciting projects. Yesterday, I spoke with Mike Gustovich and today or tomorrow we’ll be chatting with Freddie Williams II. And those are just some of the people we’ve been working with or lining up for various projects. [There are other big names we can’t announce quite yet. – Sean]

 

* Is it fate? It seems like everywhere we go we find a new great artist or two. We encountered a number of professional artists and several promising newcomers at Gen Con. There’s nothing strange about that because artists are everywhere at Gen Con. However, we are stumbling across them everywhere we go.

So there we were in a food line at the Michigan Renaissance Festival last Saturday. Sean’s daughter and I were in one line, Sean in another. I noticed Sean speaking with the person behind him and getting quite animated. After we get our food we walk over to join Sean and he introduces us to the man he’s been chatting with – a local artist. A fabulous one, at that! What are the odds? It feels like things continue to fall into place with our plans to astonish you with future products.

 

* WARNING: COMING SOON! Palladium’s next Kickstarter will start in October, so please watch for it. This will be the secret project we’ve been quietly putting together for quite some time. You will be thrilled and will not want to miss it.

 

NEW! Art Print SALE – Half price – Limited time offer

Snag yourself one or many Palladium art prints; color and black and white. Prints were a big attraction at our Gen Con booth, so I thought we’d offer a sale on most of our prints. Only those which are limited and we have very few left are not included. Enjoy iconic artwork from your favorite Palladium worlds. Prints make nice gifts for the gamers in your life too.

 

Titan Robotics Kickstarter Update – By Sean Owen Roberson

As noted in past Updates, we processed shipping and associated fees via BackerKit and all Titan Robotics physical rewards were shipped in July. That process took a few weeks, with the last few packages leaving the Palladium warehouse at the end of July, including those bound for our foreign backers.

If you are a domestic USA backer you should have received your package. In fact, many of you have posted or messaged us saying how delighted you are with the quality of packing and the condition of items within. We're glad you are so pleased!

If you are a foreign backer (including Canada) your items are currently on a boat heading to our fulfillment partners at Spiral Galaxy in the UK. To clarify things for our Canadian fans, in order to match our quoted shipping prices we shipped your packages through Spiral Galaxy – it takes a little longer, but is a fraction of the cost of traditional shipping.

Here is the message we received from Spiral Galaxy: "...the vehicle that came to collect this container to take to port broke down and by the time a replacement vehicle came we had lost our slot on the sailing. I've been waiting for confirmation of collection, loading and sailing before coming back to you. I can now confirm that your shipment is on a vessel that has sailed and is expected to dock into the UK on 30/08/2023. That puts delivery to us sometime around the 2nd week of September, assuming no delays."

To be clear, this is one of those weird delays with an intermediate shipping contractor that is outside of our direct control, or the direct control of Spiral Galaxy in the UK. Updates like this can be frustrating, so I wanted to let y’all know as soon as we had concrete information for you. Also, please keep in mind that low-cost shipping comes with the trade-off of waiting for boats to cross the seven seas – that is the nature of the beast. Once Spiral Galaxy has received and processed your orders in the next few weeks, you will be receiving an email from them with shipping and tracking details for the final leg of your package's journey. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Palladium via BackerKit, or Spiral Galaxy once they email you.

Savage Worlds Conversions: I'm currently doing final editing and layout of the Titan Robotics and Cyberworks Collection conversion documents for Savage Worlds. I'd hoped to finish before Gen Con, but wasn't able to. Compared to just converting Titan Robotics, the scope of the combined documents (four books!) covers a massive amount of gear, robots, and characters with bonus content like playable Aberrant Mechanoids, so I appreciate your patience as I finish the task and make sure it is done right.

Thanks again for all the glowing feedback on Rifts® Titan Robotics, the Cyberworks card deck, and the Cyberworks Collection hardcover which is definitely a hidden gem with lots of updated material for old-school fans - especially those who never got Sourcebook One Revised and Expanded or Rifts Aftermath - plus some small extras I slipped in. – Sean Owen Roberson

 

NEW! Rifts^® The Cyberworks^™ Collection Hardcover – Available now

This beautifully re-mastered collection includes the Expanded Rifts® Sourcebook One (with the Republican/NEMA gear and info), Rifts® Sourcebook 2: The Mechanoids® (and Seven Dangers Prophecy), Rifts® Shemarrian Nation Sourcebook, plus key Archie, Hagan, Titan, and Shemarrian information from Rifts® Aftermath.

• The Cyberworks Collection features must-have ARCHIE-Three™ source material gathered into one, big, easy-to-use hardcover edition.
• “Re-mastered” means new, cleaned-up artwork, layout, editing, and tidbits of surprise material.
• Much of the artwork feels like new. Looks great.
• Chock full of robots, weapons, gear, and monsters.
• Rifts® Sourcebook One, Revised & Expanded.
• Rifts® Sourcebook Two: The Mechanoids®.
• Rifts® Shemarrian Nation™ Sourcebook.
• Rifts® Aftermath Archie-Three™ source material.
• 5 page index in the back of the book.
• Color end sheets. Fan favorite Kevin Long cover.
• 384 pages – $49.99 retail – color cover hardcover – Cat. No. 900 – available now.

 

Rifts^® Titan Robotics^™ Sourcebook – AVAILABLE NOW!

Shrouded in secrecy and rumor, the true story of Titan Robotics™ is finally revealed. Part a high-tech toy box, part Secrets of Archie Three, part adventure book with whole new ways to play, and filled with new types of Titan Robotics power armors, giant robots, vehicles, weapons, and gear. Join a Titan Robotics Courier Team and delve into the company’s many secrets, including ARCHIE-3’s plans and program to monitor and manipulate the outside world.

• Visit the gleaming steel and metal of a Titan Robotics™ showroom, and test-drive their newest models.
• 18 giant robots.
• 12 power armors.
• Weapons, gear and notable vehicles.
• Gunny’s Depots – arms dealer and part of Titan’s hidden network.
• Play a Syntharoid sentient human replica android.
• Play a Titan Dispatcher and join a Titan Robotics Courier Team.
• Discover ARCHIE and Hagan’s hidden agendas and secret operations.
• Explore Titan’s shadowy web of informants and how it prospers and grows.
• Explore alternative time lines, campaign prompts, adventure outlines, intrigue, espionage, and more.
• Art by Steven Cummings, Charles Walton, and others.
• Written by Sean Owen Roberson and Matthew Clements.
• 192 pages – $26.99 retail – Cat. No. 899 – Softcover.

 

Cyberworks^™ Poker Deck – AVAILABLE NOW!

The cover art from the original Rifts® Sourcebook One is featured on the back of each card. Color throughout. Attractive and durable.

• 52 cards, plus red and black Jokers.
• Face cards feature iconic Rifts® Cyberworks/Archie 3 artwork (Spades: Cyberworks, Hearts: Shemarrians, Clubs: Mechanoids, Diamonds: Titan Robotics).
• Number cards feature a color energy swirl in the suit and a circuit board pattern.
• Textured linen cards for a nice touch and durability.
• Professional quality playing cards.
• 52 cards plus two Jokers – $14.99 per deck – Cat. No. 2609 – available now!

 

Yin-Sloth Jungles^™ Expanded and Revised – AVAILABLE NOW

It is at the printer and we are told should arrive July 28, just in time for Gen Con – ships July 28. Yin-Sloth Jungles™ presents a setting unlike any other Fantasy RPG and it’s all fun. It opens with an overview and history of the region, followed by nuts and bolts, like skills, poison, and weapons. Players will drool over the 15 truly unique O.C.C.s ideal for jungle adventures and beyond. Players and Game Masters will love the lavishly detailed jungle people and monsters. Then you get a little taste of what’s to follow in Yin-Sloth Expeditions, making it a bit of a player’s guide and bestiary. Ah, but there is magic and strangeness, and your first hints of wild adventures across the sprawling jungle.

• 15 O.C.C.s, all updated and expanded, making them seem brand new: Beastmaster, Holy Crusader, Jungle Fighter, Man-Catcher, the unique Tezcat and Pygmy Shamans, Spy, Undead Hunter, and Witch Hunter, among others.
• 18 Jungle People and monsters updated and expanded, plus a few additions, also expanded so they feel like new.
• New and expanded Shaman Chant magic.
• New and unique Pygmy Shaman Chant magic.
• New and expanded history of the Yin-Sloth Jungles.
• Expanded and clarified weapons, jungle armor, poisons, & more.
• The Orcish Empire and a few notable cities.
• All new maps by Phil Stone.
• Comprehensive double-page map (grayscale) by Will Erwin.
• Deluxe color map of the region by Will Erwin to be made available separately.
• Filled with great artwork by Peterson (ROG) and Mike Mumah.
• Written by Kevin Siembieda, John Klinkel, and Patrick Nowak.
• 160 pages – $24.99 retail – Cat. No. 459.

 

COMING SOON for Fantasy! Yin-Sloth Expeditions

In depth world information, villains, monsters, strange gods, a lost city, ancient civilizations, dark magic, several fully fleshed out adventures and ideas for a zillion more. Ideal for players and Game Masters alike. There is no place that offers the same range of adventures as the Yin-Sloth Jungles. August or September release.

The Yin-Sloth Jungles are a hostile wilderness filled with the ruins of lost civilizations, forgotten magic, and strange creatures found nowhere else in the world. And it’s all waiting for you to explore!

Expeditions provides more details about the Yin-Sloth Jungles and notable cities, their people, NPCs, hidden dangers, and opportunities for bold adventurers. Discover strange places and exotic beings, unravel mysteries, expose conspiracies, battle unspeakable evil, recover magic artifacts, or champion one of many human and non-human fledgling kingdoms across the jungles.

The original Yin-Sloth Jungles material has all been updated, expanded, and re-mastered from start to finish with additional text, adventures, details, art, and loads of maps (all new). I had forgotten how many exotic locations and great adventures were in the original book, plus ideas for a zillion more. All re-mastered, updated, and expanded for the delight of new and long-time Palladium Fantasy® fans alike.

• Villains, NPCs, magic items, adventures, and fun galore.
• Find adventure or become a hired mercenary in the Orcish Empire.
• Delve into cities like Mishala and others.
• Retrieve relics from an ancient catacomb of Dragonwright.
• Stop rebellion and save the city of Terellia.
• Explore the Lost City of Kor.
• Brave the madness at Shaldon’s Keep and save a village.
• Confirm rumors of a kingdom of monsters forming at the Great Fire Bog.
• Discover what evil lurks in the tomb of Gavin.
• Investigate a sect of Sea Giants restoring the city of Freedara.
• Unearth ancient secrets, face eldritch evil, battle the undead, fight giants and monsters, stand against a wicked dragon, and face all manner of beasts and challenges.
• 10 adventures and countless ideas for more.
• 30+ new maps by Phil Stone and dynamic artwork throughout.
• Written by Kevin Siembieda, John Klinkel, and Patrick Nowak.
• 160-192 pages – final size and price yet to be determined – Cat. No. 460 – in final editing. Goes into layout soon.

 

BACK in STOCK! “Original” Palladium Fantasy RPG^® “Bonus” Edition Commemorative Hardcover, 1st Edition – Available now

The ever popular Original Palladium Fantasy RPG® Commemorative Bonus Hardcover (first edition rules) is back in print. It is a deluxe, foil stamped edition that presents the original, First Edition Fantasy rules, expanded with the inclusion of the long out-of-print Arms of Nargash-Tor adventure sourcebook and Tombs of Gersidi.

• The complete, original RPG – the game that started Palladium Books.
• First Edition rules are easily adaptable to current Fantasy titles.
• Includes The Tombs of Gersidi adventure and setting.
• The Arms of Nargash-Tor adventure sourcebook is included as “bonus” material back in print for the first time in 35 years.
• Easily adapted to all 2nd Edition rules and sourcebooks.
• Deluxe hardcover edition. Probably limited to fewer than 1,000 copies.
• 320 pages total with “bonus” material – $55 retail – Cat. No. 449HC – available now!

 

List of Palladium Books^® RPG Hardcovers Available Now

• NEW! “Original” Beyond the Supernatural RPG® Commemorative “Bonus” Foil Hardcover (1st Edition rules) – This is the original 1st Edition rules (1988) in a deluxe hardcover format. The first time ever as a hardcover and includes the original O.C.C.s, monsters, and magic. 28 monsters, adventures, G.M. tips, Erick Wujcik’s infamous “victim character” rules, and 32 bonus pages of adventure material for BTS-2. The cover is a blood red foil image, imprinted on black faux leatherette. 288 pages – $55 retail – Cat. No. 699HC – Available now!
• Beyond the Supernatural™ RPG, 2nd Edition Hardcover – 224 pages – $36.99 – Cat. No. 700HC.
• BACK IN STOCK! “Original” Palladium Fantasy RPG® Commemorative “Bonus” Foil Hardcover (1st Edition rules) – Holiday demand cleaned the shelves of this fan favorite hardcover, but it is back in stock. This is the original 1st Edition Rules RPG including Tombs of Gersidi and the first Fantasy sourcebook: The Arms of Nargash-Tor. The cover is a classy crimson foil image, imprinted on black faux leatherette to replicate the original red and black RPG fans love. 320 pages – $55 retail – Cat. No. 449HC – available now.
• Palladium Fantasy RPG®, 2nd Edition Hardcover – 336 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 450HC – Our second best selling new hardcover after the Rifts® 30th Anniversary edition.
• “Original” Rifts® RPG 30th Anniversary Commemorative Hardcover – available now! This collector’s item sports the original Parkinson cover, an additional 32 page color section, history of Rifts®, unpublished concept art, gallery of all Rifts® covers through 2020, and more. Can be used with ALL Rifts® supplements – 288 pages – $49.99 – Cat. No. 800HC30 – Available now.
• Rifts® Ultimate Edition RPG Hardcover – 376 pages – $44.99 – Cat. No. 800HC – epic.
• Rifts® Ultimate Edition “Softcover” is a new format. RUE has only ever been available as a hardcover, and it still is, but it is now also available as a softcover – 376 pages – $34.99 – Cat. No. 800SE.
• Rifts® Game Master Guide Hardcover – 352 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 845HC.
• Rifts® Book of Magic Hardcover – available now – BACK in stock – 352 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 848HC – available now.
• Rifts® Adventure Guide Hardcover – 192 pages – $36.99 – Cat. No. 849HC.
• Chaos Earth® RPG “Bonus” Edition Hardcover – 192 pages – $36.99 – Cat. No. 660HC – 30 extra pages of bonus material – available now!
• Heroes Unlimited™ RPG, 2nd Edition Hardcover – 352 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 500HC.
• Ninjas & Superspies™ RPG “Bonus” Hardcover – available now – BACK in stock – 224 pages – $36.99 – Cat. No. 525HC – includes bonus material – available now.
• After the Bomb® RPG “Bonus” Hardcover – available now – BACK in stock – 296 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 503HC – includes bonus material – available now.
• Nightbane® RPG “Bonus” Edition Hardcover – available now – 304 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 730HC – 60 extra pages of bonus material – available now.
• Dead Reign® RPG (Zombie Apocalypse) Hardcover – available now – BACK in stock – 224 pages – $36.99 – Cat. No. 230HC – available now.
• Splicers® RPG “Bonus” Edition Hardcover – The Splicers® RPG plus 50 pages of extra material gathered from The Rifter®. 280 pages – $44.99 – Cat. No. 200HC – available now.

 

DriveThruRPG – 300+ RPG products – a dozen unique world settings – one game system to bring you endless adventure

NEW! FREE sneak preview of Yin-Sloth Jungles Expanded is available on DriveThru for your viewing enjoyment. A fantasy setting, heroes and creatures unlike any other.

 

Discover the Palladium Megaverse^® ...

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.

 

FUN Podcast Adventures

These fun podcasts are created by Palladium fans like you.

 

Heroes Unlimited™ Christmas Special and the Cozy Caverns Beyond the Supernatural RPG adventure podcasts from the creative minds at www.realplaygamespod.com.

Coming this summer from Real Play Games Podcast: A dozen plus episodes of After the Bomb®: Purrsuit of the Heart, with other good stuff in development like a new story arc for the Beyond the Supernatural inspired Cozy Cavern Mysteries, and more.

 

Rifts® Live Play Podcast is available for your viewing enjoyment – Rifts®: Ghost in the Machine. It is produced and Game Mastered by none other than long-time Palladium freelance artist, Mark Dudley. You can find the first several episodes on Imaginos TV. Click on the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9OKt2SBYwybo_sV8zmdOBSQ1eaJP3rj9

 

Palladium Collectibles – at Kevin’s Online Toy & Collectibles eBay Store

Original art – My Ebay store is one of the few places where you can find original artwork by me (Kevin Siembieda), Kevin Long, Charles Walton, and others, as well as one-of-a-kind negatives from classic Palladium books (they look awesome framed), and other Palladium memorabilia.

Collectibles include Palladium limited edition hardcovers, out of print items, signed books, one-of-a-kind proofreader copies, art prints, posters, comic books, Star Wars toys, superhero action figures, and many other toys and items from my personal collection. Yeah, I used to be a crazy toy and art collector. Hundreds of items. Take a look every weekend or two for new additions.

One-of-a-kind Palladium Books negatives (special and rare collectibles). Negatives are always very popular items at the Palladium Open House, Gen Con, and conventions, and are catching on as rare collectibles, unique in and of themselves. Before digital printing, pages of a book were laid out by hand on a board, and each page was photographed. The plastic film negatives were then “ganged” on a massive sheet of Mylar, 16 pages per big sheet, and the printing plates were made from the negatives – everything white, printing black. We have been cutting them loose and making them available to you. I am only keeping a few dozen pages of negatives and a few complete books for myself, the rest are all being slowly offered to you, in no particular order.

• Each negative is truly unique and resembles woodcut art.
• It is a piece of Palladium Books and RPG history you will treasure.
• Each was used to print the very book you may have in your collection (1981-2004).
• Each signed in silver ink by Kevin Siembieda, the founder and owner of Palladium Books.
• Each signed negative comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
• A one-of-a-kind work of art and a dynamic conversation piece.
• Each signed negative is on a white board inside a clear plastic bag.
• Negatives looks fabulous matted or framed! Fits in an 8x10 inch matt opening. Each neg is roughly 8½ x 11 inches.
• Prices vary depending on the title, the art, and quality of the negative. Note: Many have scratches, or blemishes, and/or an opaque medium on the negative, but still look awesome matted or framed.

http://stores.ebay.com/kevinstoys-artandcollectibles

 

Closing Thoughts – I Love Artwork

I love artwork. All kinds of artwork. One of our quiet, behind the scenes plans is to begin producing full-color books in the future. Not just “color” for the sake of color, but epic, amazing full color books with impressive paintings and color art that will make your eyes pop and mouth water. Of course, we’ll continue to publish books with great black and white art, but color and hardcovers are in our future.

That has meant Sean and myself talking to, and lining up, a lot of great artists. Some are experienced and will be names known to you. Others are new to gaming art, while some are experienced but unknown to the RPG Tabletop and card game industry. All are talented and driven creators. Together we’re going to wow and impress you as Palladium enters into a new era of unfettered creativity.

While other companies are talking about embracing AI generated art and text, Palladium is embracing creative people. To become a place where fellow human beings can showcase their imaginations and talents to your delight and amazement. Well, that’s our goal, anyway, and it has been a thrill finding and working with talented artists.

These days, I’m best known as a writer, world builder, and game designer, but my first love is, and always will be, creating artwork. Sean has a similar deep appreciation for art. I loved creating borders and some of the art for the BTS Creature Feature sourcebook; and that art was damn good if I say so myself. Sean is insisting, and others are agreeing, that I need to create at least one piece of artwork for every new Palladium title, even if it’s something small or simple. That’s a far cry from the early days when I was doing much of the artwork for many of our books, or more recent years when I art direct but don’t do any of the art. I do love making art, so maybe I’ll take up Sean’s mandate and contribute a little art to every book. It will be fun. [You don’t have a choice, Kevin! – Sean]

I hope you don’t mind me sharing my thoughts about one of the goals we are working toward behind the scenes. Please, enjoy our new releases, Yin-Sloth Jungles™ Expanded, Titan Robotics™, and the collected and remastered source material gathered into the Rifts® Cyberworks Collection. And speaking of artwork, please enjoy our Art Print Sale. You cannot beat a 50% discount for some of the best art in the business. Enjoy a nice weekend and game on.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, writer, and friend

 

© 2023 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.

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.; Beyond the Supernatural, Coalition States, Garden of the Gods, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Minion War, Mysteries of Magic, Psychic Scream, 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.

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

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

By Kevin Siembieda and Sean Owen Roberson

In case you missed it, here are Gen Con highlights and some additional details and photos.

* The event was awesome. We understand Gen Con had a record breaking 80,000+ attendees. It sure felt like it when trying to navigate the aisles of the exhibitor hall. Unfortunately, Wayne and a number of our helpers caught a bug. As I write this Update Thursday morning, Wayne is still out sick, two weeks later, though he is feeling better. We expect him back next week.

* New releases – Titan Robotics™ and Yin-Sloth Jungles™ (Cat. No. 459) and the newish Rifts Coalition Manhunters™ (Cat. No. 894 and epic), as well as the Original Palladium Fantasy RPG hardcover (Cat. No. 449) and other hardcovers – sold well at Gen Con and back at the office. Of course, there was interest in all our game lines, but Nightbane® and Dead Reign® were especially hot.

* A lot of gamers are discovering and loving the Dead Reign® RPG series – Palladium’s unique approach to zombies and the Zombie Apocalypse. I find that interesting because a few podcasters, YouTubers, and distributors have recently mentioned increased interest in Dead Reign® as well. If you haven’t given it a look, you should. I can tell you it is one of my personal favorites to run.

* There was an unexpected rush on the Collected Mechanoid Invasion® Trilogy (Cat. No. 400) the first two days that caught us by surprise. Rifts® novels and all things Rifts® sold well too.

* We discovered Palladium satisfies yet another genre, the Urban Fantasy category, with the entire Nightbane® series. It sold very well. Nightbane®, Dead Reign®, and Rifts® seemed to be attracting the attention of new gamers.

* We had at least two dozen Rifts® gamers come up to us to tell us that New West (or the western trilogy of Lone Star, New West, and Spirit West) was one of their favorite World Books. Was this pure coincidence or was it because the Legion of Myth guys recently criticized Rifts® New West for not being a true World Book? (Sean and I disagreed. It’s a great World Book.) Funny.

* Cosplay is popular at Gen Con and we enjoyed some of that fun at the Palladium booth. Mike Leonard’s son and daughter dressed as a Juicer and Mystic the first day, and as Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch a day or so later. There were plenty of other cosplayers with great costumes wandering around the convention halls the entire event.

* Sean and I spoke with an astonishing array of talented artists and creators we hope to work with in the future. We are happy to see so many women being recognized for their stellar work in the field of illustration.

* When not at the booth chatting with fans and signing books (and we did plenty of that), Sean and I were busy networking and discussing business opportunities with writers, artists, and fellow game companies.

* New opportunities with old friends. For the past several months, we have been reconnecting with old friends and creators. More of that took place at Gen Con and continued when we got back home. What does that mean?

Well, it is too soon to reveal specific plans just yet, but I can say we have been connecting with such individuals as Carmen Bellaire, Carl Gleba, Matthew Balent, Phil Reid, Mike Pondsmith, Frank at Studio 2, Ryan McDaniel, and artists Scott Johnson, Mark Evans, Ramon Perez, Freddie Williams II, Mike Gustovich, and Jim Steranko, among others. Of course, we have never stopped talking or working with gents like Matthew Clements, Mark Oberle, Glen Evans, Stephen Cummings, Mark Dudley, Nick Bradshaw, Mike Mumah, Mike Majestic, John Zeleznik, and others.

You’ll get an inkling of what we have been working on behind the scenes in the months ahead. We hope you’ll be as excited and thrilled as we are as various projects get announced closer to their release over the coming months and years. We are working hard to bring you a lot of gaming fun.

* Palladium gamers are the best. Many individuals and groups of gamers came by the Palladium booth to say hello, get autographs, have photos taken with us, and to share how much our games mean to them. It was touching and appreciated. One group reported playing a 25 year long Heroes Unlimited campaign with the same players. Another, a long running TMNT/After the Bomb® campaign, and many reported Rifts® campaigns; some spanning the Megaverse®. Others told us how they are now introducing their children to our RPGs. Still others were new to the Megaverse® having only discovered our games recently.

I’ve said it a million times, but I’ll say it again, Palladium’s role-players are the greatest fans in the world. I mean it. Thank you, everyone, who stopped by to shake hands, chat, pick up the latest releases, back stock, or prints. Your kind words, feedback, suggestions, and smiles mean the world to us. You helped make the 2023 Gen Con fun and special. Thank you and game on.

What else is going on in Palladiumville? Plenty. In addition to recovering from Gen Con, email follow-ups, coordinating various creative projects, and dealing with business matters, we continue to work on upcoming releases such as Yin-Sloth Expeditions, Rifts® Bestiary Volume Two, Rifts® Antarctica™, and The Rifter®.

More Updates and information in the next Weekly Update. Please keep spreading the word about Rifts® Titan Robotics™ (Cat. No. 899), Yin-Sloth Jungles™ EXPANDED Fantasy sourcebook (Cat. No. 459), the upcoming Cyberworks™ Collection (we’re awaiting the second half of this printing), the Cyberworks™ poker deck, and other good stuff. We are delighted everyone is enjoying these releases so much.

Oh, and take a peek at the FREE sneak preview of Yin-Sloth Jungles Expanded available on DriveThru.

Rifts^® Titan Robotics^™ Sourcebook – AVAILABLE NOW!

Shrouded in secrecy and rumor, the true story of Titan Robotics™ is finally revealed. Part a high-tech toy box, part Secrets of Archie Three, part adventure book with whole new ways to play, and filled with new types of Titan Robotics power armors, giant robots, vehicles, weapons, and gear. Join a Titan Robotics Courier Team and delve into the company’s many secrets, including ARCHIE-3’s plans and program to monitor and manipulate the outside world.

• Visit the gleaming steel and metal of a Titan Robotics™ showroom, and test-drive their newest models.
• 18 giant robots.
• 12 power armors.
• Weapons, gear and notable vehicles.
• Gunny’s Depots – arms dealer and part of Titan’s hidden network.
• Play a Syntharoid sentient human replica android.
• Play a Titan Dispatcher and join a Titan Robotics Courier Team.
• Discover ARCHIE and Hagan’s hidden agendas and secret operations.
• Explore Titan’s shadowy web of informants and how it prospers and grows.
• Explore alternative time lines, campaign prompts, adventure outlines, intrigue, espionage, and more.
• Art by Steven Cummings, Charles Walton, and others.
• Written by Sean Owen Roberson and Matthew Clements.
• 192 pages – $26.99 retail – Cat. No. 899 – Softcover.

Cyberworks^™ Poker Deck – AVAILABLE NOW!

The cover art from the original Rifts® Sourcebook One is featured on the back of each card. Color throughout. Attractive and durable.

• 52 cards, plus red and black Jokers.
• Face cards feature iconic Rifts® Cyberworks/Archie 3 artwork (Spades: Cyberworks, Hearts: Shemarrians, Clubs: Mechanoids, Diamonds: Titan Robotics).
• Number cards feature a color energy swirl in the suit and a circuit board pattern.
• Textured linen cards for a nice touch and durability.
• Professional quality playing cards.
• 52 cards plus two Jokers – $14.99 per deck – Cat. No. 2609 – available now!

Yin-Sloth Jungles^™ Expanded and Revised – AVAILABLE NOW

It is at the printer and we are told should arrive July 28, just in time for Gen Con – ships July 28. Yin-Sloth Jungles™ presents a setting unlike any other Fantasy RPG and it’s all fun. It opens with an overview and history of the region, followed by nuts and bolts, like skills, poison, and weapons. Players will drool over the 15 truly unique O.C.C.s ideal for jungle adventures and beyond. Players and Game Masters will love the lavishly detailed jungle people and monsters. Then you get a little taste of what’s to follow in Yin-Sloth Expeditions, making it a bit of a player’s guide and bestiary. Ah, but there is magic and strangeness, and your first hints of wild adventures across the sprawling jungle.

• 15 O.C.C.s, all updated and expanded, making them seem brand new: Beastmaster, Holy Crusader, Jungle Fighter, Man-Catcher, the unique Tezcat and Pygmy Shamans, Spy, Undead Hunter, and Witch Hunter, among others.
• 18 Jungle People and monsters updated and expanded, plus a few additions, also expanded so they feel like new.
• New and expanded Shaman Chant magic.
• New and unique Pygmy Shaman Chant magic.
• New and expanded history of the Yin-Sloth Jungles.
• Expanded and clarified weapons, jungle armor, poisons, & more.
• The Orcish Empire and a few notable cities.
• All new maps by Phil Stone.
• Comprehensive double-page map (grayscale) by Will Erwin.
• Deluxe color map of the region by Will Erwin to be made available separately.
• Filled with great artwork by Peterson (ROG) and Mike Mumah.
• Written by Kevin Siembieda, John Klinkel, and Patrick Nowak.
• 160 pages – $24.99 retail – Cat. No. 459.

COMING SOON! The Cyberworks^™ Collection Hardcover

Featuring must-have ARCHIE-Three™ source material gathered into one, big, attractive hardcover edition. It contains:

• Rifts® Sourcebook One, Revised & Expanded.
• Rifts® Sourcebook Two: The Mechanoids®.
• Rifts® Shemarrian Nation™ Sourcebook.
• Rifts® Aftermath Archie-Three™ source material.
• 5 page index in the back of the book.
• Color end sheets.
• 384 pages – $49.99 retail – color cover hardcover – Cat. No. 900. Coming soon.

COMING SOON for Fantasy! Yin-Sloth Expeditions

In depth world information, villains, monsters, strange gods, a lost city, ancient civilizations, dark magic, several fully fleshed out adventures and ideas for a zillion more. Ideal for players and Game Masters alike. There is no place that offers the same range of adventures as the Yin-Sloth Jungles. August or September release.

The Yin-Sloth Jungles are a hostile wilderness filled with the ruins of lost civilizations, forgotten magic, and strange creatures found nowhere else in the world. And it’s all waiting for you to explore!

Expeditions provides more details about the Yin-Sloth Jungles and notable cities, their people, NPCs, hidden dangers, and opportunities for bold adventurers. Discover strange places and exotic beings, unravel mysteries, expose conspiracies, battle unspeakable evil, recover magic artifacts, or champion one of many human and non-human fledgling kingdoms across the jungles.

The original Yin-Sloth Jungles material has all been updated, expanded, and re-mastered from start to finish with additional text, adventures, details, art, and loads of maps (all new). I had forgotten how many exotic locations and great adventures were in the original book, plus ideas for a zillion more. All re-mastered, updated, and expanded for the delight of new and long-time Palladium Fantasy® fans alike.

• Villains, NPCs, magic items, adventures, and fun galore.
• Find adventure or become a hired mercenary in the Orcish Empire.
• Delve into cities like Mishala and others.
• Retrieve relics from an ancient catacomb of Dragonwright.
• Stop rebellion and save the city of Terellia.
• Explore the Lost City of Kor.
• Brave the madness at Shaldon’s Keep and save a village.
• Confirm rumors of a kingdom of monsters forming at the Great Fire Bog.
• Discover what evil lurks in the tomb of Gavin.
• Investigate a sect of Sea Giants restoring the city of Freedara.
• Unearth ancient secrets, face eldritch evil, battle the undead, fight giants and monsters, stand against a wicked dragon, and face all manner of beasts and challenges.
• 10 adventures and countless ideas for more.
• 30+ new maps by Phil Stone and dynamic artwork throughout.
• Written by Kevin Siembieda, John Klinkel, and Patrick Nowak.
• 160-192 pages – final size and price yet to be determined – Cat. No. 460 – in final editing. Goes into layout soon.

BACK in STOCK! “Original” Palladium Fantasy RPG^® “Bonus” Edition Commemorative Hardcover, 1st Edition – Available now

The ever popular Original Palladium Fantasy RPG® Commemorative Bonus Hardcover (first edition rules) is back in print. It is a deluxe, foil stamped edition that presents the original, First Edition Fantasy rules, expanded with the inclusion of the long out-of-print Arms of Nargash-Tor adventure sourcebook and Tombs of Gersidi.

• The complete, original RPG – the game that started Palladium Books.
• First Edition rules are easily adaptable to current Fantasy titles.
• Includes The Tombs of Gersidi adventure and setting.
• The Arms of Nargash-Tor adventure sourcebook is included as “bonus” material back in print for the first time in 35 years.
• Easily adapted to all 2nd Edition rules and sourcebooks.
• Deluxe hardcover edition. Probably limited to fewer than 1,000 copies.
• 320 pages total with “bonus” material – $55 retail – Cat. No. 449HC – available now!

List of Palladium Books^® RPG Hardcovers Available Now

• NEW! “Original” Beyond the Supernatural RPG® Commemorative “Bonus” Foil Hardcover (1st Edition rules) – This is the original 1st Edition rules (1988) in a deluxe hardcover format. The first time ever as a hardcover and includes the original O.C.C.s, monsters, and magic. 28 monsters, adventures, G.M. tips, Erick Wujcik’s infamous “victim character” rules, and 32 bonus pages of adventure material for BTS-2. The cover is a blood red foil image, imprinted on black faux leatherette. 288 pages – $55 retail – Cat. No. 699HC – Available now!
• Beyond the Supernatural™ RPG, 2nd Edition Hardcover – 224 pages – $36.99 – Cat. No. 700HC.
• BACK IN STOCK! “Original” Palladium Fantasy RPG® Commemorative “Bonus” Foil Hardcover (1st Edition rules) – Holiday demand cleaned the shelves of this fan favorite hardcover, but it is back in stock. This is the original 1st Edition Rules RPG including Tombs of Gersidi and the first Fantasy sourcebook: The Arms of Nargash-Tor. The cover is a classy crimson foil image, imprinted on black faux leatherette to replicate the original red and black RPG fans love. 320 pages – $55 retail – Cat. No. 449HC – available now.
• Palladium Fantasy RPG®, 2nd Edition Hardcover – 336 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 450HC – Our second best selling new hardcover after the Rifts® 30th Anniversary edition.
• “Original” Rifts® RPG 30th Anniversary Commemorative Hardcover – available now! This collector’s item sports the original Parkinson cover, an additional 32 page color section, history of Rifts®, unpublished concept art, gallery of all Rifts® covers through 2020, and more. Can be used with ALL Rifts® supplements – 288 pages – $49.99 – Cat. No. 800HC30 – Available now.
• Rifts® Ultimate Edition RPG Hardcover – 376 pages – $44.99 – Cat. No. 800HC – epic.
• Rifts® Ultimate Edition “Softcover” is a new format. RUE has only ever been available as a hardcover, and it still is, but it is now also available as a softcover – 376 pages – $34.99 – Cat. No. 800SE.
• Rifts® Game Master Guide Hardcover – 352 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 845HC.
• Rifts® Book of Magic Hardcover – available now – BACK in stock – 352 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 848HC – available now.
• Rifts® Adventure Guide Hardcover – 192 pages – $36.99 – Cat. No. 849HC.
• Chaos Earth® RPG “Bonus” Edition Hardcover – 192 pages – $36.99 – Cat. No. 660HC – 30 extra pages of bonus material – available now!
• Heroes Unlimited™ RPG, 2nd Edition Hardcover – 352 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 500HC.
• Ninjas & Superspies™ RPG “Bonus” Hardcover – available now – BACK in stock – 224 pages – $36.99 – Cat. No. 525HC – includes bonus material – available now.
• After the Bomb® RPG “Bonus” Hardcover – available now – BACK in stock – 296 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 503HC – includes bonus material – available now.
• Nightbane® RPG “Bonus” Edition Hardcover – available now – 304 pages – $39.99 – Cat. No. 730HC – 60 extra pages of bonus material – available now.
• Dead Reign® RPG (Zombie Apocalypse) Hardcover – available now – BACK in stock – 224 pages – $36.99 – Cat. No. 230HC – available now.
• Splicers® RPG “Bonus” Edition Hardcover – The Splicers® RPG plus 50 pages of extra material gathered from The Rifter®. 280 pages – $44.99 – Cat. No. 200HC – available now.

DriveThruRPG – 300+ RPG products – a dozen unique world settings – one game system to bring you endless adventure

NEW! FREE sneak preview of Yin-Sloth Jungles Expanded is available on DriveThru for your viewing enjoyment. A fantasy setting, heroes and creatures unlike any other.

Discover the Palladium Megaverse^® ...

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.

FUN Podcast Adventures

These fun podcasts are created by Palladium fans like you.

Heroes Unlimited™ Christmas Special and the Cozy Caverns Beyond the Supernatural RPG adventure podcasts from the creative minds at www.realplaygamespod.com.

Coming this summer from Real Play Games Podcast: A dozen plus episodes of After the Bomb®: Purrsuit of the Heart, with other good stuff in development like a new story arc for the Beyond the Supernatural inspired Cozy Cavern Mysteries, and more.

Rifts® Live Play Podcast is available for your viewing enjoyment – Rifts®: Ghost in the Machine. It is produced and Game Mastered by none other than long-time Palladium freelance artist, Mark Dudley. You can find the first several episodes on Imaginos TV. Click on the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9OKt2SBYwybo_sV8zmdOBSQ1eaJP3rj9

Palladium Collectibles – at Kevin’s Online Toy & Collectibles eBay Store

Original art – My Ebay store is one of the few places where you can find original artwork by me (Kevin Siembieda), Kevin Long, Charles Walton, and others, as well as one-of-a-kind negatives from classic Palladium books (they look awesome framed), and other Palladium memorabilia.

Collectibles include Palladium limited edition hardcovers, out of print items, signed books, one-of-a-kind proofreader copies, art prints, posters, comic books, Star Wars toys, superhero action figures, and many other toys and items from my personal collection. Yeah, I used to be a crazy toy and art collector. Hundreds of items. Take a look every weekend or two for new additions.

One-of-a-kind Palladium Books negatives (special and rare collectibles). Negatives are always very popular items at the Palladium Open House, Gen Con, and conventions, and are catching on as rare collectibles, unique in and of themselves. Before digital printing, pages of a book were laid out by hand on a board, and each page was photographed. The plastic film negatives were then “ganged” on a massive sheet of Mylar, 16 pages per big sheet, and the printing plates were made from the negatives – everything white, printing black. We have been cutting them loose and making them available to you. I am only keeping a few dozen pages of negatives and a few complete books for myself, the rest are all being slowly offered to you, in no particular order.

• Each negative is truly unique and resembles woodcut art.
• It is a piece of Palladium Books and RPG history you will treasure.
• Each was used to print the very book you may have in your collection (1981-2004).
• Each signed in silver ink by Kevin Siembieda, the founder and owner of Palladium Books.
• Each signed negative comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
• A one-of-a-kind work of art and a dynamic conversation piece.
• Each signed negative is on a white board inside a clear plastic bag.
• Negatives looks fabulous matted or framed! Fits in an 8x10 inch matt opening. Each neg is roughly 8½ x 11 inches.
• Prices vary depending on the title, the art, and quality of the negative. Note: Many have scratches, or blemishes, and/or an opaque medium on the negative, but still look awesome matted or framed.

http://stores.ebay.com/kevinstoys-artandcollectibles

Closing Thoughts – Connection

Reconnecting with fans, friends, and fellow creators at Gen Con and in recent months has reminded me how blessed and rich my life has been. Oh, sure there have been struggles, loss, and sorrow, but the good and joyful far outweighs the bad. I have lived a good life touched by an array of amazing, kind, talented people. And I continue to meet and befriend new ones. It is astonishing. Humbling and beautiful.

I was reminded of this at Gen Con when Sean would get excited to meet some of my old pals like Jolly Blackburn, Mike Pondsmith, Mike Stackpole, and others. Legendary figures in the industry we all love. When I think about the legends I have had the honor and pleasure of working with or meeting, or have the great privilege to call friends, it is mind boggling to me. I mean, I even met Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Stan Lee! I was buddies with Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, and many of the Mirage Studio guys, and was a close friend to Keith Parkinson, Erick Wujcik, and a whole bunch of other legendary folk. Heck, I can pick up the phone right now and call Kevin Eastman, Jim Steranko, Larry Elmore, Joe Manganiello, or Rawson Marshall Thurber. It’s freakin’ amazing and awesome!

I mention this to remind myself and you that people and our experiences with them are more precious than gold. We need to appreciate the time we have with these individuals and enjoy them while we can. We’re all getting older. With age comes fragility, illness, and worse. Some of my dear friends have struggled with illness, and while their spark and creativity remain, their bodies show the passage of time and the trials they have survived. In addition, there are those close to me who are no longer with us. I carry them in my heart where they continue to inspire and make me smile when I call up fond memories of our exploits together. Bittersweet memories of our special times together.

It’s why I am thrilled to be working with valued friends, dear acquaintances, and talents, new and old, whom I admire and enjoy. It’s why I make time for friends and fans alike, because none of us know how much more time we may have to give. Plenty I hope, but none of us knows what tomorrow brings.

So please, live in the moment, enjoy the family, friends, and hobbies you love and whatever brings you joy. Go to events to meet the people you admire. Take photos. Get autographs. Cherish the moment. Most of all, let those people know what they mean to you. They’ll appreciate it and you’ll be glad you seized the opportunity when they are gone.

I can tell you from personal experience that it matters more than you might realize. I, for one, appreciate every handshake, hug, kind word, autograph request, photo op, and squeal of excitement I received from you at Gen Con (and other events). Not because they stroke my ego, but from seeing how much my work has touched your lives and how you touch mine in return. I love that my work – our work – has brought happiness and joy, created lasting friendships, and inspired many to follow their own dreams. It’s amazing, touching, and beautiful. I can’t believe I’m part of something so wonderful. There were a few times at Gen Con and the last Palladium Open House that I was so moved by an act of kindness or something someone said or shared with me that I teared up.

Thank you, my extended Palladium family, for your support, kindness, and love. Thank you for being awesome. You bring so much warmth and joy into my life – all of our lives. I hope we give it right back to you.

Now call your Mom, Dad, sibling, or that friend you haven’t spoken to in a long while and keep the wheel of connection and love turning. Cherish them and the fond memories you share, and game on.

Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, writer, and friend

© 2023 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.

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.; Beyond the Supernatural, Coalition States, Garden of the Gods, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Minion War, Mysteries of Magic, Psychic Scream, 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.

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