Palladium Books® – Press Release – June 27, 2008

Palladium holds line on retail prices

It seems like the price of everything is going up these days. The cost of paper is no exception. Paper prices went up in February and are going up again in July. This raises the cost of printing, but Palladium has no plans to raise the price of its books. Out of print titles at old prices are simply being brought in line with the modest price increases we instituted a year or two ago.

At Palladium Books we understand that, like most people in the world, gamers are suffering from the rising cost of gasoline, food prices, and other economic woes. We don’t want to add to people’s cash crunch, so Palladium will hold the line on the retail price of our products for as long as we can. Keep those imaginations burning bright and play Palladium.

Project X

Palladium is always looking for new places and means to spread the Palladium Megaverse®, and this is going to be one of them.

Project X began in the Fall of 2007. It started out as a question and quickly began to take hold of our imaginations. Erick Wujcik was consulted before and after he became ill and it has been one of the big secrets that have kept us busy behind the scenes.

I can’t say anything more, now, without giving away too much, but this is going to be big, exciting, fun and a lot of hard work, but man oh man, it will be epic.

We will make the “official” announcement and reveal what Project X is at Gen Con Indy.

Murmurs from the Megaverse® give you insight

This is your avenue to the inside track at Palladium Books®. Behind the scenes insight, info, and hints of things to come.

For those of you who haven’t heard about it, Murmurs From the Megaverse® is a sort of online blog in which I, Publisher and Game Designer, Kevin Siembieda, present my personal thoughts, views and musings about products and events transpiring at Palladium Books. The Murmurs often provide an advanced or inside look at new products, upcoming projects, special events, and the thoughts, feelings, musings and opinions going through my mind.

The Palladium website (www.palladiumbooks.com) also offers many message boards, chat rooms, recent (often weekly) Press Releases and product updates, and a chance to meet and even game with Palladium fans around the globe.

Have you gotten your Rifter® Number Zero?

The Rifter® Number Zero is Palladium’s first entirely digital product, available only for purchase online at www.palladiumbooks.com, and only costs three bucks. It went up online early in June and is an instant hit with several hundred downloads.

Have you gotten your digital copy yet? If you have, and you enjoyed it, spread the word. If you haven’t, what are you waiting for? Available only as a digital download! A must for ALL fans of The Rifter®.

  • Spells of the Arch Mage – a big hunk of magic source material for Rifts® and other Palladium RPGs.
  • Santa Claus – described and statted out by Josh Hilden.
  • Bio-Enhancements and Weapons for Splicers®, by Chris Kluge.
  • Seven Years on Cerebus – for Splicers®.
  • A Megaverse® of skills. ‘Nuff said.
  • Known Worlds of the Three Galaxies, and more.
  • Cover by Adam Kass. Compiled and produced by Matthew Daye.
  • $3.00 retail – available only as a digital download from Palladium Books – Cat. No. E000. Available now.

    Note: The way our store is set up, you have to order it like you would a book, using a credit card. It may take up to 48 hours for the order to be processed and made available to you for download.

    The Rifter® #43 – Ships July 15 – At the printer
    Swimsuit Pinup Issue & Tribute to Erick Wujcik

    This is arguably the best Swimsuit Issue yet. And a wonderful tribute to Erick Wujcik. At the printer!

    Twenty-three femme fatales illustrated by popular Palladium artists and statted out by Palladium writers, each one easy to drop into any ongoing campaign.

    As a tribute to Erick Wujcik, Kevin Siembieda and 17 other artists say goodbye and good gaming by drawing inspiration for their pinup pages from the many RPG settings created by Erick. Each femme fatale is statted out for various Palladium RPG settings by one of Palladium’s many freelance authors.

    The Rifter® is your doorway to unlimited imagination and numerous Palladium role-playing worlds. It offers new heroes, powers, weapons, magic and adventure for your games. It presents new villains, monsters and dangers to battle, and new ideas to consider.

  • 23 femme fatales from across the Megaverse®.
  • A special tribute to Erick Wujcik.
  • Art by Larry Elmore, Apollo Okamura, Mike Wilson, Brian Manning, Allen Manning, Nick Bradshaw, Kent Burles, Mike Mumah, Mark Evans, Mark Dudley, Chuck Walton, Mike Dubisch, Kevin Siembieda and other artists.
  • Written by Kevin Siembieda, Jason Marker, Josh Sinsapaugh, Jason Richards, Carl Gleba, Josh Hilden, Brandon Aten, Taylor White, Mark Oberle, Erin Lindsey and other favorite freelance writers.
  • The latest chapter of Hammer of the Forge™, fiction.
  • News, conventions, coming attractions and more.
  • Cover by Mark Evans. Special farewell by Kevin Siembieda.
  • $10.95 retail – 96 pages – Cat. No. 143.
  • Ships July 15, 2008. At the printer.


    Coming Soon


    Tales of the Chi-Town ‘Burbs
    A book of short stories for Rifts®

    In final production.

    This is a book of new and original short stories by Kevin Siembieda and a cavalcade of other Palladium writers. Each story delves into the life of a person who lives in the shadowy no-man’s land of the Chi-Town ‘Burbs. Some of these characters are heroes, some are villains, others are adventurers, and some innocent bystanders, but all are interesting.

    The ‘Burbs are a collection of people waiting for admission into one of the fortified city havens of the Coalition States. The Chi-Town ‘Burbs are the most famous of these shanty towns, tent cities and sprawling megalopolises that do not officially exist, and therefore have no formal government or laws. Refugees, D-Bees, fugitives, adventurers, outlaws and dreamers of every stripe make their home in the ‘Burbs or visit to sell their wares, get a little R&R, or cause some trouble. This also attracts opportunists and criminals who prey upon the innocent and the gullible.

  • Trade paperback size (6 x 9 inches).
  • Written by Kevin Siembieda, Jason Marker, Braden Campbell, Carl Gleba, Josh Hilden, Jeffry Scott Hansen, Josh Sinsapaugh, John Philpott, Brandon Aten, Taylor White and other fan favorite Palladium authors.
  • $12.95 retail – 224 pages (tentative) – Cat. No. 304.
  • July, 2008. If sales are strong (and we think they will be), this is likely to be the first of a series of new Rifts® novels and anthology books.

    Robotech®: The Shadow Chronicles® RPG
    8½ x 11 Deluxe Hardcover Edition

    At the printers. This sharp book is a full-size 8½ x 11 hardcover edition of the Robotech®: The Shadow Chronicles® RPG. It has been completely redone and laid out as of it were a new title to best suit the larger size.

    The Deluxe Edition is filled with additional artwork throughout, offers superior reproduction of toned artwork, better paper stock, larger type-face, and the addition if some additional text, including two Haydonite spaceships, three UEEF ships, space combat rules and a few additional vehicles. Some of you requested a larger, hardcover edition of the core rule book and we’re happy to comply.

  • New, large illustrations throughout.
  • Some additional text for a few new weapons and vehicles.
  • New, text on Haydonite and UEEF spacecraft.
  • Spaceship combat rules.
  • Veritech Fighters, Cyclones, Bioroid Interceptor and more.
  • Invid mecha and adventure ideas.
  • Haydonites, the Wraith, Infiltrator and spaceships.
  • Fast character creation, skills and options.
  • Superior quality paper and reproduction.
  • A complete role-playing game. Everything you need to play.
  • 8½ x 11 full book size, hardcover, core rules.
  • 224 pages – $30.95 retail – Cat. No. 550HC.
  • Early August release. At the printer.

    Robotech®: The Shadow Chronicles® RPG
    Deluxe Gold Limited Edition

    Pre-orders are coming in fast!

    A number of gamers asked us to give Robotech® the “Gold Edition” treatment, so we are. There has never been any kind of special collector’s edition for a Robotech® RPG before, which made doing one seem all the more important.

    This is a very limited edition of 500 signed and numbered, hardcover, “Gold” editions of Robotech®: The Shadow Chronicles® RPG. Past Palladium Gold Editions typically have press runs of 600-700 copies, and Rifts® Ultimate Gold had a massive 1,500 copies pressed, so 500 copies for Robotech®: The Shadow Chronicles® RPG – Gold Limited Edition is a very low number almost guaranteed to become a collector’s item. Note: All previous Palladium “limited editions” have become collector items selling for $100-$500.

    The text and art in the book is exactly the same as the $30.95 mass market edition hardcover, but it is signed, numbered, has a special, gold foil stamped cover and an exclusive signature card designed and signed by Tommy Yune, as well as Kevin Siembieda, Jason Marker, and other Palladium staff.

  • Limited to 500 signed and numbered copies.
  • Special tip-in sheet signed by Tommy Yune, Kevin Siembieda, Jason Marker, Wayne Smith, Alex Marciniszyn and others.
  • Black leatherette cover with gold foil printing.
  • 8½ x 11 inches, full book size, hardcover of the core rules.
  • 224 pages – $70.00 retail – Cat. No. 5500HC.
  • Available only from Palladium Books®. Sold on a first come, first served basis.
  • Early August release. At the printer.

    Robotech®: The Shadow Chronicles® RPG
    – Manga-Sized Edition – Available now

    Don’t let the release of the large-book format fool you, gamers love the manga-sized RPG for its easy portability and quality. Some folks even asked us if we’d consider doing other RPG releases in the manga size! Future Robotech® titles are all planned to be manga-size.

    Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® is the fun, hot selling RPG you’ve been hearing about for the past few months. It is packed with valuable information, new artwork, character sheets, new data, new character creation rules, character stats, M.O.S. skills, adventure and fun. Appeals to Robotech® fans and role-players of all generations. Robotech® campaigns are popping up all over the place, and with the release of The Macross Saga™ and The Masters Saga™ sourcebooks coming soon, Robotech® fever is sure to intensify! The adventure is just beginning.

  • A complete role-playing game. Everything you need to play.
  • Uses the Mega-Damage game system.
  • Written by Kevin Siembieda and Jason Marker.
  • Cover by Apollo Okamura.
  • Manga size for easy portability (5x7½ inches).
  • 336 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 550. Available now!

    Robotech®: Macross Saga Sourcebook

    The mecha, vehicles, weapons and characters that made Robotech® famous. Packed with giant mecha, weapons, heroes, villains and fun.

  • Veritech Fighters.
  • Destroids.
  • Spaceships and more.
  • Zentraedi enemy mecha and spacecraft.
  • Detailed illustrations, comprehensive stats and information.
  • Manga size for easy portability (5x7½ inches).
  • Written by Kevin Siembieda and Jason Marker.
  • Cover by Apollo Okamura.
  • Interior art by Brian & Allen Manning.
  • 192 pages – $15.95 retail – Cat. No. 551.
  • August release.

    Robotech®: The Masters Saga Sourcebook

    In-depth coverage and updated information with fresh new artwork, including never-before-published mecha designs. Veteran RPG contributor Jason Marker has half of this sourcebook written!

  • The Armies of the Southern Cross – Earth’s defenders.
  • Hovertanks, AJAX, Logan and other human mecha.
  • Revealed for the first time: The Mecha of the Southern Cross.
  • Additional vehicles and weapons.
  • The Robotech Masters, Bioroids, spaceships and weapons.
  • Manga size for easy portability (5x7½ inches).
  • Written by Jason Marker.
  • Cover by Apollo Okamura.
  • Interior art by Brian and Allen Manning.
  • 192 pages – $15.95 retail – Cat. No. 552.
  • September release (tentative).

    Dead Reign RPG
    – The Zombie Apocalypse – October, 2008

    You got your first look of Dead Reign™ in The Rifter® #40 – that’s only a glimpse of what’s to come. Bear in mind that this article was just a look at part of the proposed story and setting, with suggestions for using existing rules to play now. The final RPG will provide a rich, detailed post-apocalyptic world and the heroes who have managed to survive.

    Dead Reign™ is a game of survival, rescue and revenge. Player characters are both the hunted and the hunters as they battle the creeping doom and pray for salvation.

  • S.D.C. setting.
  • Zombies have taken over the world.
  • Zombies control the cities. Humans hide in remote wilderness areas.
  • Zombies capture, keep and breed humans in food pens.
  • Player characters are ordinary people fighting for their very existence or bent on revenge.
  • Different types of Zombies.
  • Humankind fights to rescue those they can, and destroy as many of the zombie abominations as they can.
  • Is this the end of the world as we know it? Can Earth be reclaimed by humanity? Pick up a copy of Dead Reign™ and find out.
  • Cover by E.M. Gist.
  • Art by Nick Bradshaw and Amy L. Ashbaugh.
  • Written by Josh Hilden and Joshua Sanford. Additional text, rules and ideas by Kevin Siembieda. Coming this Fall.
  • Exact size, price and catalog number yet to be determined. Probably around 224-256 pages, $22.95 to $24.95 price range.

    The Rifter® #44
    Monster Spectacular – October

    The Rifter® #44 is going to be a pinup issue of a different type, as Palladium artists and writers conspire to create the best (as in most gruesome and dangerous) monsters for your gaming enjoyment. It will be similar to the Swimsuit Issue except the “pinups” will be horrible, hellspawn monsters from across the Megaverse®.

    The Rifter® is your doorway to unlimited imagination and numerous Palladium role-playing worlds. It offers new heroes, powers, weapons, magic and adventure for your games. It presents new villains, monsters and dangers to battle, and new ideas to consider.

  • A gallery of MONSTERS from across the Megaverse®.
  • Zombies, demons and other horrors.
  • Art by Palladium fan favorite artists.
  • Written by Palladium fan favorite writers.
  • The latest chapter of Hammer of the Forge™, fiction.
  • News, coming attractions and more.
  • $10.95 retail – 96 pages – Cat. No. 144.
  • Ships October, 2008. In development right now.

    Rifts® Dimension Book 11: Dyval, Hell Unleashed

    Kevin Siembieda and Jason Marker will soon get back to finishing Dyval™ and Dimensional Outbreak™ for Fall release.

    Dyval™, a place as dangerous Hades and a whole lot stranger. It is the second book in the Minion War™ series, and is every bit as fantastic as Hades. The Deevil Host, evil monsters and minions, Deevil society, monstrous War Steeds, magic, adventure settings and more will make this another welcomed addition to the Palladium Megaverse®. Suitable for use with The Palladium Fantasy RPG®, HU2, Nightbane®, BTS-2, Phase World® and Rifts®.

  • The hellish dimension of Dyval mapped and described.
  • New Lesser and Greater Deevils along with all your old faves.
  • Inhuman minions who serve as the Host.
  • Magic weapons and horrific war beasts.
  • World information and adventure ideas.
  • A stand-alone Dimension Book that is also the second step in an epic, five book adventure that spills across the Palladium Megaverse®.
  • Companion to Hades and the next chapter in the Minion War™.
  • Artwork by Nick Bradshaw, Mike Wilson, Mike Mumah, and others.
  • Cover painting by John Zeleznik.
  • Written by Carl Gleba and Kevin Siembieda.
  • 192 pages – Cat. No. 873 – $22.95 retail. A Fall release.

    Rifts® Dimension Book 12: Dimensional Outbreak

    The Minion War™ spills into Phase World®, the city of Center and the Three Galaxies™. The epic scale of the Minion War just got bigger and even the Worlds of Warlock, the Splugorth and Naruni are involved.

  • Phase World’s Center described and mapped. Four new levels, including the Gateland, Central Station, the Spaceport, Repo-Yards, Free Trade Zone, Warlock Market, notable merchants and places of business, and much more.
  • Demon Knights, Star Slayers, demonic legions and more.
  • Demonic spaceships, magic weapons and new horrors.
  • Deevil fortifications and defenses.
  • Space spell magic (new).
  • Spaceships, power armor and other gear.
  • The plot for conquering the Three Galaxies.
  • A stand-alone Dimension Book that is also the third step in an epic, five book crossover that spills across the Palladium Megaverse®.
  • Artwork by Apollo Okamura, Mike Mumah, and others.
  • John Zeleznik cover painting.
  • Written by Carl Gleba.
  • 192 pages – Cat. No. 875 – $22.95 retail. A Fall, 2008 release.

    New Release Checklist

    Rifts® Anthology: Tales of the Chi-Town ‘Burbs™ – July
    The Rifter® #43 – Swimsuit & Wujcik Tribute Issue – July
    Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® RPG “Deluxe Edition” – August
    Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® RPG “Deluxe Gold Edition” – August
    Robotech® The Macross Saga™ sourcebook – August
    Robotech® The Masters Saga™ sourcebook – September
    The Rifter® #44 – Monster Spectacular – October
    Dead Reign™ (Zombie) RPG – October
    Rifts® Dimension Book™ 11: Dyval™, Hell Unleashed (Minion War™) – Fall (Sept./Oct.)
    Rifts® Dimension Book™ 12: Dimensional Outbreak™ (Minion War™) – Fall (Nov.)
    Rifts® Heroes of the Megaverse® (Minion War™) – Fall
    Heroes Unlimited™/Rifts®: Armageddon Unlimited™ (Minion War™) – Fall or Winter
    Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames™ – Winter
    Mysteries of Magic™ – Fall or Winter
    Nightbane® Sourcebook – Fall or Winter
    Warpath™: Urban Jungle RPG (modern combat) – Fall or Winter
    And More . . .

    Back in Print

    Powers Unlimited™ One – More than 160 super abilities. Written by Carmen Bellaire. Cat. No. 521. $14.95 retail and available now.

    Rifts® Dimension Book™ 8: Naruni™ Wave Two – Out of this world weapons, power armor, robot vehicles, hovercycles, tanks, aircraft and more. Perfect for mercenary campaigns. $14.95 retail and available now.

    Rifts® World Book 10: Juicer Uprising™ – A dozen different types of Juicers, Juicer armor, the city of Kingsdale, New Town, and Fort El Dorado, Coalition treachery, adventure and insight into Juicer characters and their culture of death. $18.95 retail and available now.

    Don’t forget about these cool products

    Dog Boys Playing Poker – Print

    A quiet night of playing (and cheating at) cards at a Coalition Army barracks. A Psi-Stalker Pack Leader brings a bone and can of dog food. A poster of Emperor Prosek hangs from the wall. Epic. Funny. And if screenwriter Rawson Thurber has his way, a scene that will appear in the Rifts® movie (if there is one).

  • Never before published!
  • Art by Mark Evans. Concept and art direction by Kevin Siembieda.
  • Only 300 signed and numbered limited edition prints. Signed by artist, Mark Evans and Rifts® creator, Kevin Siembieda.
  • 11x14 inches with a 10x13 image area.
  • Printed on a matte, 100# paper stock, full color and suitable for framing.
  • Shipped rolled in a sturdy tube.
  • $15.00 plus shipping and handling. Cat. No. PR806.
  • Available now.

    Mysteries of Magic – Print

    A witch casts dark magic in the confines of her inner sanctum, but can any of us be safe from her and her conjuring? This will be the cover to the Mysteries of Magic™ sourcebook for The Palladium Fantasty RPG®, coming out later this year (written by Mark Hall).

  • Never before published, but slated to be the cover of an upcoming Palladium Fantasy sourcebook.
  • Art by Chris Bourassa.
  • Only 220 limited edition prints. Comes with a signed certificate by artist, Chris Bourassa and Palladium Fantasy RPG® creator, Kevin Siembieda.
  • 11x17 inches with an approximate 10x16 image area. Printed on a matte, 100# paper stock. Full color and suitable for framing.
  • Shipped rolled in a sturdy tube.
  • $10.00 plus shipping and handling. Cat. No. PR807.
  • Available now.

    Rifts® and the Megaverse®
    The Art of John Zeleznik

    A big, juicy collection of virtually all of Johnny Z’s color work and more in a slick, beautiful book.

  • Soft cover edition Cat. No. 2510 – $22.95 retail.
  • Hardcover edition – comes with a tip-in sheet signed by John Zeleznik and Kevin Siembieda. Cat. No. 2510-HC – $50.00 retail. Available only from Palladium Books.
  • “Masterwork” Hardcover Edition – comes with a “signed” original piece of concept artwork by Zeleznik that was actually used to create one of the works depicted inside the art book itself. This has never been done by ANY publisher! Limited to 198 total copies (less than 80 left) – numbered and signed by Zeleznik and Siembieda. Super-collectible. Cat. No. 2510-CML – $125.00 retail. Available only from Palladium Books.
  • Available now.

    Triax Logo T-Shirt

    Yellow/gold triangle with the word Triax in red on a black T-shirt. The first in a series of shirts that will offer company logos. (Naruni Enterprises, Northern Gun, Wilk’s, and others will be coming.)

  • All sizes available from Small to 5X Large.
  • Cat. No. 2529.

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

    © Copyright 2008 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, 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.