Palladium Weekly Update Feb 12 2015

[Jaymz]

So here we are, another week, thus another commentary.

While I know some here do not agree with what I say, frankly, I don't care. If you don't like what is said, then don't read it unless you intend to actually discuss what is said rather than just inciting those in this group.

That said, here we go my little palladiumites...

www.palladiumbooks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=768:palladium-booksr-weekly-update-february-12-2015&catid=52:weekly-updates&Itemid=183

"It has been an inspired work week at the Palladium offices"

Great maybe we will see some actual forward progress like something being released...no? ok same ole same ole then.

"as we survive a little more snow, some freezing rain and plunging temperatures. It will be six below zero Saturday and Sunday morning. Heck, today’s high was only 13 degrees Fahrenheit. "

I woke up to -14F this morning before any wind chills. Suck. It. Up.

"A good week to stay indoors and get books finished and to the printer."

Should this not be EVERY week considering what your company DOES to stay in business?

"UPDATE: 2 weeks left for The Rifter® Super-Subscription Drive – ends the weekend of February 28, 2015"

Excellent deal for the Americans of this group to look into.

"UPDATE: Chaos Earth® Rise of Magic™ – Ships February 24, 2015"

It is always good to get titles back in stock and available.

"I bet you forgot all about this one, didn’t you? I sure forgot to mention it coming back in stock in the last Weekly Update or two."

Actually no we didn't and no you didn't.

"What’s Next for Chaos Earth®?

At least two new sourcebooks in 2015: Chaos Earth® Resurrection by Taylor White (Spring) and Chaos Earth® First Responders by Jason Richards (Spring or Summer)."

A book I hadn't even heard of until the last month or so which is bumping a book you've had the completed manuscript for, for almost two years now? I'd prefer you do older stuff, you've had sitting for a while done, than new stuff that just came along bumping said older stuff. I don't think I am alone in that.

"UPDATE: Bizantium and the Northern Islands™ – Getting close"

I still say April, due to "reasons" that will delay things another month or so.

"I have to admit, I’ve been on fire working on this book. Jeff Burke said he hates disturbing me, because every time he walks into my room I look “intense, focused and typing like mad. Like a man possessed.” Fellow writer, Matthew Clements, said everything he has read from me “is inspired” and “inspiring.” Chuck Walton concurs, “Kevin,” he told me, “this writing inspires me.” I love it."

Here we go again....quotes from fellow writers/freelancers/artists essentially saying "ZOMG".

" I expect to be done by the end of next week."

Well February won't be hit for that release date then will it? Sigh.

"UPDATE: The Rifter® #69 – February Release"

Is it going to the Printer today? No? Then it won't be a February Release.

"UPDATE: Robotech®: Expeditionary Force Marines™ Sourcebook"

Should be out by now but has been pushed back by two other books so far in the last year. If you honestly think this will be out in 8-10 weeks you are bloody well delusional.

"UPDATE: Chaos Earth® Resurrection™ sourcebook – Spring release"

I am still not happy this is pushing back First Responders which you have had on your desk for some time now.

"UPDATE: Robotech® RPG Tactics™"
"For the moment, I have left work on Robotech® RPG Tactics™ in the capable hands of Wayne Smith, Jeff Burke and others."

Considering you have no clue about mini gaming by your own admittance, should it now have ALWAYS been in their capable hands? I honestly think things would have run VERY much smoother had you just kept your hands off of it and let your people do their damned jobs.

"In an ironic moment earlier this week, the two ships with the containers holding Kickstarter backer rewards heading to the European Union and Australia (each going opposite directions) passed within a couple miles of each other off the coast of North Carolina. "

Oddly enough had you just shipped the Euro packages on your own as you did with the Australian ones, instead of going the route you did by teaming with Battlefoam, those Euro backers would likely have their stuff already....that is not irony by the way, it is sad.

Futher RRT note - why has their been ZERO mention of the otherbackers like those in Mexico, Japan, South America and such who are STILL waiting?

"UPDATE: AdeptiCon – March 19-22, 2015, Chicago – www.adepticon.org"

I am still supportive of PB going to major cons like this. Keep doing it.

"Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Tournament at AdeptiCon – www.adepticon.org"

I hope the tournament does very well.

"UPDATE: DriveThruRPG.com – FREE Robotech® RPG Tactics™ color guides and more"

My opinion on their use of this potential revenue stream (pdf) and resource to players (online content) is well known. Get off your asses and DO something with it like your competitors do (and this includes other "small" shops no bigger than yourselves). The time of "discussing" it is well passed.

"UPDATE: 2015 Palladium Open House (POH) – May 15-17, 2015 – at the Palladium warehouse in Westland, Michigan"

Day trip still planned though I am sure there are few who do NOT want to meet me LOL

"Gen Con Indy – July 30 to August 2, 2015"

This is THE con they have to attend so yes I am all for this.

"Happy Valentine’s Day"

And to you and yours as well. I may be critical but I do not wish ill upon any of you there. Take the weekend and spend it with those closest to you. Work can wait, and I have never said you do not work hard enough, just not smart enough (or efficient enough as it were).

Cheers all until next week.

[MacrossMike]

"It has been an inspired work week at the Palladium offices as we survive a little more snow, some freezing rain and plunging temperatures. It will be six below zero Saturday and Sunday morning. Heck, today’s high was only 13 degrees Fahrenheit. Brrr. A good week to stay indoors and get books finished and to the printer." - Kevin Siembieda

Kevin, if sub-freezing temperatures and the more unpleasant forms of precipitation are what it takes to force your staff to actually do their jobs, then I strongly recommend you relocate your operations to Siberia at the earliest opportunity.  I'm sure if you solicit donations to that effect, there will be quite a response.



"Time is running out to take advantage of the unique and fun selection of FREE gift items available during this once a year special offer. And this year’s gift selections are the most unique and enticing ever. Why? Because I want YOU to discover the value and fun every issue of The Rifter® has to offer."

Yes, yes... time is running out to subscribe to the Palladium Books blooper reel.  We get it.  Update your rag's bloody layout to something from this millennium, and print your content in color on glossy paper and we'll talk.  'course, since Palladium can't print anything in the Rifter for the Robotech RPG, my interest in it is essentially nil at the best of times.



"UPDATE: Chaos Earth® Rise of Magic™ – Ships February 24, 2015



I bet you forgot all about this one, didn’t you?"

It's bad form to start talking to yourself in the middle of an update, Kevin.



"What’s Next for Chaos Earth®?



At least two new sourcebooks in 2015"

So much for your New Year's resolution, Kevin... I thought you were going to stop making promises you couldn't keep?



"UPDATE: Bizantium and the Northern Islands™ – Getting close



This is the beast I have been pounding away on with fierce intensity."

Instead of working on all the other overdue shit that people have been waiting on for a year or more?

Also, taking into consideration your usual attitude toward trivialities like your announced release dates, I have a somewhat difficult time believing "fierce intensity" has figured into any part of your workday besides nap time.  From the announcements relating to the UEEF Marines book alone, one could be forgiven for concluding that a typical Palladium work day is "full of sound and fury, achieving nothing"... which is still one up on Harmony Gold, who have all the same sound and fury, but achieve a result not dissimilar from eating Taco Bell three meals a day.



"The Iceborn are hate-filled nomadic savages who call upon the dark powers of Necromancy and Witchcraft given to them by an ancient evil."

So... all you've done is plagiarize the Norscans from Warhammer Fantasy then, Kevin?  

Seriously though... generic "ancient evil" is practically paint-by-numbers as far as game development goes.  Try using your imagination once in a while, maybe make your ancient evils a little more personable.  There aren't many ways to make ancient evil less interesting and engaging than to make it an impersonal and wholly character-less nemesis.  An engaging ancient evil is something that has a name, an agenda, and some character to it... like the four Chaos Gods in Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000's various games, the incarnations of madness in Soul Eater, or even scenery-chewing blue-and-orange morality dark gods like Yawgmoth or Tevesh Szat from the Magic: the Gathering franchise.  Too many of the Rifts books already read like they were written for no purpose other than to check off an arbitrary checklist of RPG cliches, with zero investment in the setting.



"UPDATE: Robotech®: Expeditionary Force Marines™ Sourcebook



The second I’m done with Bizantium I am all over Robotech® Marines. I want this book out in March. April at the latest."

Kevin... Kevin... nobody's buying it, Kevin.  You promised you wouldn't lie like this anymore, Kevin.  You've been "assigning art" for this book for over a year now, and Harmony Gold supposedly hasn't even seen the final manuscript yet for approvals.  I could maybe believe you if you said the books would be ready, at the latest, about March or April of 2016.

[Sci-Fi]

Yeah gotta agree. Noone's buying it.