I've never used any of their products, and don't know the historic details that people have mentioned over at TMP, but it all sounds extremely suspicious to me.

If it was WWG that was in trouble, and Denny asked us for help, I feel I know Denny's work ethics and level of profesionalism enough to know that it would be an honest appeal, and as I feel invested in the company (to an extent) I would certainly do what I could to help keep it going.

I don't have those same feeling about Palladium, and looking at this whole this as somewhat of an outsider, it feels a lot like a scam of some kind.

Just my opinion. If it is all genuine, then this is a brave thing for the company owner to do, and I really hope he succeeds in saving the company.

Arabin

The only thing I've played of theirs is the Rifts CCG. Without actually seeing the print I can't say whether or not I'll buy it. I find it kind of stupid that people are buying (multiple) copies without even seeing it.

Now, if they wanted to sell me some Rifts CCG booster boxes or other products on the cheap I might bite.

My one actual encounter with Mr. Sembieda was at a con in the late eighties/early nineties - when I heard him tell a fan (who had some problems with the balance issues in PFRP) that his system was perfect, and that the fan was playing it wrong... when another person entered the conversation to support the first fan Mr. Sembieda covered his ears and walked away. I decided then and there to never have anything to do with Palladium games. I have seen nothing since to change my mind.

The weird thing is that I gather Mr. Sembieda is a nice guy, unless people try to talk to him about problems with his system, his products, or gods help you, his editing. (well, also that he has some odd views in regards to anyone doing anything with his games - he has been known to sue the owners of fan sites...)

The Auld Grump

This certainly looks odd, but there's nothing wrong with asking fans to buy more product so the company doesn't go bankrupt. And I'm all for companies not going bankrupt, since bankruptcy is constantly used as a way to not pay authors but still keep their work and have someone make money off of it.

If all goes through one forum member will be lost - Shatteredragon. He is a long time player of their games and has a crew that is also into the system. Me, I feel that it will be a loss to the gaming world - becasue like GURPS, Palladium has great and inspiring sourcebooks.

If it goes the way of TSR and others I truly hope that the talent that made Palladium what it is will be snapped up by others.

Last night and this morning I have been on a AEon Trinity kick - glening out psi-sexiness will all that bio-tech. My next move will be to go through all my Rifts stuff. Old games that I feel the systems are not for me still have great usefulness.

I hope Palladium will allow its books to be put forth as pdf's - if the worst happens. Nothing is more crimal than losing all that creative energy because of bad economics. As the rpg world evolves and systems get smarter interfaces that allow porting of fluff easily it would be a crying shame to see it go.

After saying that - I am not giving money to a company that I don't use the core system of. Nothing personal or ill-meant but my money is devoted to other channels, like WWG.


Lord Abaddon of Wormwood

To keep it civil, I will not throw in my two cents about the founder, except to say that when I had two encounters with Kevin in two different instances, I was neither impressed or pleased with him. In both instances, he used profanity, insults and actually went out of his way to push someone down (a fan asking for him to sign something) when he was upset in the second encounter. As part of the security detail, I personally had to walk him out of a convention, and suffered some verbal abuse from him in the process. He lacks professional skills and manners. I do not wish him ill-will, but I do not support Palladium because I do not feel the need to prop him up.

I feel bad for the other writers, though, since I have played Rifts a time or two and had a lot of fun with the premise of the game. Too bad some people take others down with them when things don't go well. I suspected something was up when Palladium didn't show up on the DragonCon roster for this year.

Either way, I don't exactly feel the same way or have the same impression that Shatter does about Palladium potentially going bankrupt. I'm almost certain that if it does, someone will buy out the liscense. And I know maybe two people out of 400 RPG'ers that I meet yearly that play anything Palladium based (or started on Palladium, etc), so I'm not sure it will hurt the gaming community that much. Things rebound all the time, and it's never more true than the RPG community, who continuously takes beatings from MMOs and the like.

Like I said, I can't express my true feelings about this, because I have a personal dislike for Mr. Sembieda through personal experience.

I'm curious, but doesn't the company own the rights to all of the game systems, not the author? If that is the case, then doesn't declaring bankrupcy mean you have to sell off all your assets to pay your debts?

I remember when 3DO (computer games company) died and they had to sell off chunks. I was tempted to put in a bid on a couple of the items as the starting prices were really cheap... but the end result is they had no choice but to sell off things like Heroes of Might and Magic, and as a result, there is a new game coming out.

From all accounts, it sound like you are right about selling the licenses not being something Kevin would willingly do... but if bankrupcy is declared, I think he will have no choice.

Arabin

Ok I might get flamed for this but Savaged Rifts would be a joy to behold... after the fall that is.

I'm not wishing him ill or anything but if he had losen his hold on setting material he/the company would have sold alot more book just for plunder sake - plunder that could be place on the web for others to enjoy. And by that I mean only the core stats not the fluff, if you want the fluff get the book. I really think it was a bad move to try and control the IP like he/they did.

Anyways we shall all see in the up and coming future.

btw does anyone know if the new Rift is any different then the older version. Is there any real shift like there was from AD&D to D20? Were the changes better or worse for the game etc.

Lord Abaddon of Wormwood