What’s been happening at Palladium -- Nov. 10, 2006

[Kevin]

What’s been happening at Palladium

I’m Christmas Grab Bag Crazy

I can’t seem to stop myself from packing Grab Bags with $75-$90 worth of goodies (sometimes more!!!). You have all been so kind to us at Palladium this year and helping us when we needed it most, that we’re packin’ the Grab Bags full. Good ol’ Mark Dudley donated more artwork to the cause (what a guy) and we’re working hard to make every bag a Christmas delight. Our way of saying thank you to the greatest fans on the planet! We’ve done more than 200 and counting!

Rifts Book of Magic sent in for reprint

Although we still have a couple hundred copies in the warehouse, we knew an impending book trade order would wipe us out of them, so I sent the Book of Magic in to be reprinted.

Coalition War Campaign and Chaos Earth RPG next

World Book 11: Coalition War Campaign and the Chaos Earth RPG will be headed for reprints next week along with Rifts® Ultimate Edition.

Reorganizing the warehouse

Thursday, November 9, 2006, was a day of Spring-like weather full of sunshine and warm temperatures. We’ve been seeing an unusually cold and wintery Fall, so I figured this was a good time to work in the warehouse without freezing. God knows we aren’t likely to see another 64 degree Fahrenheit day before Spring, 2007.

We are rearranging the warehouse to make way for upcoming RPG books and to best utilize our available space. We’re also setting up the “store area” and making other consideration for the 2007 Palladium Open House!

Meanwhile, we are already talking with freelancers and Megaversal Ambassadors about what kinda games and panel talks we should host at the Open House and other aspects of the event – like we’ve decided we will have a costume contest and encourage folks to dress up in costume for at least one day.

Like I said, we want next years three days of non-stop gaming to be
even better than 2006.

Btw, there are only something like 14 slots left for V.I.P. Friday.

Putting the names of fans into our game books

We’re wasting no time putting the 20 winners of the Palladium Character Name Contest in our RPG products. I hope to slip 3-6 into Rifts Sourcebook One Revised and Expanded, and I just gave Carl Gleba the green light to drop some into his Minion War: Armaggedon Unlimited for HU2 as well as other up-coming books.

Hey, don’t forget we will be randomly selecting another 10 winners at the end of November and another 10 at the end of December, so those of you who haven’t purchased a Heroes of the Megaverse Print to be eligible for being immortalized in a Palladium RPG product still have time. We are only at number 447 so the odds remain very good that you could see your name picked to become a Palladium character in 2007!

Those of you who have already made a purchase or two are still in the running for being picked, so keep your fingers crossed.

Henry Siembieda is back at work and doing fine

Thanks to all of you who continue to ask how my father is doing. All in all, my Dad is doing very well. His elbow remains a little achey, but Hank will NOT need surgery and, in fact, is doing so well that the Doctors don’t think he’ll even need therapy after all. Great news!

Hank has been back at the office packaging books for shipping, helping with X-Mas Grab Bags, signing books and doing light work. He’ll be 76 years old this December 14th and as much as he enjoys working at Palladium, he’d rather be retired. Regrettably, he's not in a position to do so (he has his entire savings invested in Palladium – another reason I need to get the company back on track). But like the rest of us, he’s feeling positive about Palladium’s future.

Legal stuff

Legal and business stuff has been stealing away a good bit of my time. The Robotech contract for one, doing some new NDAs was another, getting out a couple dozen contracts for writers and artists on upcoming books was another, as well as orchestrating our 2007 production schedule and the talent involved, [i]reviewing manuscripts and outlines, filling out copyright forms, talking with freelancers, trying to arrange a couple of business loans, and dealing other business matters.

Clearing my plate so I can write, write, write!

Ultimately, I’m trying to clear my schedule so I can sit down Monday and focus on writing – starting with Rifts® Sourcebook One, followed by Hades, D-Bees of North America, Rifter #37 and the new Robotech RPG. Thankfully, half of those I’m not writing from scratch, but tweaking, editing and rewriting. I want to see Rifts® Sourcebook One out by December with the other books to follow quickly in January, February and March 2007.

We have big plans for 2007 and once we get product rolling out, starting this December, we hope to see at least 1-2 new books coming out EVERY month of the new year. Really. Let’s pray 2007 is Palladium's big come back year! Thank you for staying with us through thick and thin. Keep those imaginations burning bright, and although it’s a little early . . .

Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Kevin Siembieda
Publisher, Game Designer, Writer, Artist and Junior Santa Claus
© November 10, 2006