My overview of Dimensional Outbreak

[Kevin]

My overview of Dimensional Outbreak

Rifts Dimensional Outbreak is done, at the printer and moving forward. There seems to be a lot of excitement for this, as there should be.

The book is packed with a diverse range of source material that should appeal to a wide range of people. Outbreak is just one of those complete packages that I think is going to leave people satisfied and hungry for more.

I think you will LOVE the story too. While it is a meta-plot, it is designed in such a way that if you already have adventures going on in the Three Galaxies™, it does not shake up everything that has come before it (unless you want it to!). The story also takes the Minion War™ to the next level where it becomes a powerful and compelling engine of adventure across the Megaverse. I can hardly wait for the next chapter!

Someone asked me what I, personally, thought was the best part of the book. I could not pick just one thing. Personally, I had a blast writing the Demon Magic. Carl had the initial concept and presented about 15-20 spells (my favorite being Death by 1,000 Cuts, oh baby). For me, however, it wasn’t enough and I didn’t think he took the concept far enough, so my imagination went into hyper-drive and I added another 40-45 spells, and spruced up some of what Carl had written. Part of that included adding blood sacrifices which lowered the P.P.E. cost and added some nice gruesome elements to some of the spells. Of course, they are all designed as things that Demons would do or want to share or insist upon to corrupt mortals. Alex, always the concerned editor, was relieved the Demon Magic spells weren’t too gruesome. (You should see some of the stuff that makes it into my own games ... even I shudder sometimes.) I was also glad that Alex and Julius also found the Demon Magic to be scary and the kind of stuff you'd expect from Demons, and more to the point, dark mages, Demon Priests and evildoers who practice dark magic. So, I think, I’d have to say I liked working on that part of the book most – then again, I enjoyed working on a lot of this book.

I love the Center/Phase World® Time-line and the Forge War™. Part of what I love about it is that what starts out as an interesting history of Phase World and the Three Galaxies, builds and builds in such a way that, by the time you get to Six Months Ago your mind is racing, your heart is pounding and you can hardly wait to read what comes next. Carl did a great job on paring down his original version of the Time-Line and hitting the high notes. Then, you get to The Present and you think “holy sh ...” and you realize that much of the data in the Time-line has a direct correlation to what’s happening with the Minion War and all Hell breaking loose right now! And what are your characters going to do about it?! Huh? Nice.

I hesitate to mention this next part because I don’t want to give too much away, but . . . then comes . . . gaaaahh! I can’t do say it! But it’s epic, and there are all kinds of twists and turns and wild cards that you are going to want to be part of the action. Man, a sourcebook doesn’t get better than that. Hmmmm, actually it does get better.

Not only is the epic story artfully woven into the history, people and current events at Center, Phase World® and the Three Galaxies, there is a ton of source material. The overview and highlights of Center are worth the price of the book all by themselves, at least for fans of Phase World® and the Three Galaxies. There are new glimpses of the Prometheans that are fun too. However, this is a 192 page Palladium Dimension Book so the part on Center is only a third of the book, there is also the aforementioned Demon Magic and . . .
- New spaceships.
- New weapons.
- New Demons.
- New Minion/Alien Races (all very unique and, um, alien).
- The Forge War.
- The Minion War.
- The Demons’ brazen plans of the Three Galaxies.
- The Deevils’ retaliation.
- Where that leaves everyone else.
- The Demon General.
- The Deevil Mastermind.
- The Promethean traitor.
- Demon Stars, Demon Planets, Demon bases, and Demon Knights.
- Magic schools on Center
- Lord Kylnncryth and other notable characters
. . . and I know I’m forgetting stuff!

You’ll just have to get the book to see for yourselves.

I think Plasma Demons and Sparklits are my two favorite monsters, though I also enjoyed the Demon Knights and Mercurials, and Phase Demons are just plain weird.

Oh, and I love the role we have Deevils taking (Naruni Enterprises too).

Anyway, those are my thoughts about Rifts Dimensional Outbreak. I have to agree with Alex, this book is worth the wait. Personally, I think it is the best book Carl Gleba has ever written. I'd like to think my fine tuning and additions helped take it to the next level.

It’s funny, for a writer and publisher, every book is like his child, and special, but some just stand out above the others. Some sing. Maybe I’m just excited, because this is the latest addition to the family, but I think this is one Hell of a book (pun intended).

I’ve already started work on Rifts® Heroes of the Megaverse®. I like where it’s going and I think it’s going to be fun for me to write.

Keep those imaginations burning bright and game on.

Sincerely,
Kevin Siembieda
Publisher, Writer & Proud Uncle of Bouncing Baby Dimensional Outbreak
Palladium Books, 29 years of publishing role-playing games

© Copyright February 19, 2010 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.

Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, Phase World®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Megaverse®, Nightbane®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Heroes Unlimited™, Beyond the Supernatural, Dead Reign, Warpath, Shemarrian Nation, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.

Robotech® and Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® are Registered Trademarks of Harmony Gold USA, Inc.