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Official, it is!

Rifter 0.1 is alive and moving forward at great speed. We are accepting fresh contributions through February.

What sorts of things are you looking for?

Please forgive my public display of frustration... I will always have a warm spot in my heart for things Palladium. Away from home at my first Air Force Base in Blytheville, Arkansas, it was the first company I ever mail-ordered from (Palladium Fantasy). I loved it so much I wrote a letter to them and they took the time to personally reply. When RIFTS made its marketing debut in Dragon Magazine, I ordered it, too (the ads were just plain COOL). I was surprised to see that Blytheville, Arkansas was mentioned as one of the locations briefly highlighted in RIFTS. How neat! Anyway, over the years, I enjoyed all manner of Palladium products, including BTS, TMNT, After the Bomb, etc.

I was just very frustrated (first) that BTS2 took so long to be released. Then (second), no support. And finally (third)... the seeming lack of interest in Z's After Midnight project. I realize that Palladium has gone through a crisis, and is really lucky to still be in business. Looking back, they've had to SCRAMBLE to write the books that sell the most, ---just to make enough money to keep the business going, I'd imagine. Unfortunately for BTS fans, apparently BTS is not a big cash cow. Not only that, it takes MORE EFFORT to write for.

I can empathize and sympathize with that situation, and subsequently apologize for my frustration. There was just something that struck a nerve when they seemed to be ignoring Z by saying "We'll call you next week" that resulted in my mini-rant. When the company would not (or could not) support BTS2, and someone like Z was coordinating a fan-based kind-of support for the game, and that was seemingly ignored and/or casually dismissed, it struck a nerve. Anyhow...

I'll always enjoy BTS and BTS2, whether or not there is official support of the game. In the end, some of the best adventures are the ones we write for our own groups, and/or the ones we improvise. It's good to see support in the form of edited, printed text accompanied by SNAZZY HORRIFIC art, but home-brewed encounters, monsters, stories and campaigns have a certain magic to them as well.

And for what its worth G-man, the BTs project is not dead yet... stay tuned.

It is always great to hear from you guys. I understand, Gally-Man. I've gotten frustrated myself a few times over the last two years.

To answer you question, Cybermancer, we need nothing. Wayne's permission was all we needed. We want every. We want more artwork including cover art, we want audio recordings, we want materials from every game line (excepting Robotech & TMNT), and I want a new tabloid article to replace one that should be edited out.

So far, it looks like we have articles for BtS, Fantasy, Mechanoids, Rifts (Earth), and an article about the Megaversal Ambassadors.

I will NOT have my recording booth set up in time, so if someone else could record some audio, that would be awesome. Anything would work -- dramatic readings of short fictions, fake radio interviews, sound effects, etc.

I'm a former journalism major (before I switched to anthro. I'm still trying to decide if I made the wise choice). If there was need, I could do up some fake classifieds or advertisements.

Thanks, Hibik. Every bit helps.

You know what we could really use the most right now? A photograph of Alex M., perhaps from an Open House or another con. I would like to do something akin to the Where's Wayne scenario from Rifter 9 1/2, but this time to honor Alex.

Lord Z wrote:You know what we could really use the most right now? A photograph of Alex M., perhaps from an Open House or another con. I would like to do something akin to the Where's Wayne scenario from Rifter 9 1/2, but this time to honor Alex.

I would send a message to Wayne or Kevin, because I bet they have some real gems as far as pics of Alex. Great way to honor the guy, and right now especially.

One of the contributors has volunteered to look through Open House photos for the guy. Thanks for that, Prysus. If that fails, I think I will ask Wayne about it. I would prefer to not to tax Wayne nor Kevin's time if I can avoid it. That being said, it would be a minor request...

A request I think they would appreciate doing for ya. I think.

Lord Z wrote:Thanks, Hibik. Every bit helps.

You know what we could really use the most right now? A photograph of Alex M., perhaps from an Open House or another con. I would like to do something akin to the Where's Wayne scenario from Rifter 9 1/2, but this time to honor Alex.

I know there are some online because I have seen pictures of him. Sorry, I'm having a hard time finding one now though for some reason.

Hey Hibik, the tabloid we have now just has the ojne page of classified ads, and it'sthe last page of the document. Adding more at the end would actually be very easy, and I did think that it seemed a thin. What I am trying to say is this -- more fake classified ads is something we want.

Thanks for looking, Shawn. Prysus found a couple of photos with Alex in the background. We could use those in a pinch. I can also ask Wayne if he has any.

Easy. Curious though as to what you have already, just to make sure I don't do any redundants.

Off the top of my head, we already have an ad for the Lazlo Society, an ad for a fake radio talk show, a crystal skull for sale, a help wanted ad to join the domestc staff an an eccentric billionaire (that magician from 1st edition), and an add for a course to teach spellcasting (concept borrowed from Mephisto's HU article in Rifter). Expect a PM from me soon.

How would you feel about an 'in character' ad from Nemesis? For after midnight, that is.

That would be cool. Is the ad being bought by Nemesis or is someone else buying the ad to contact her?

Why choose between them when you can have them both?

Cybermancer & Mephisto, a very good start!

It looks good, Mephy! I'll try to keep from putting it in the romance section of the classifieds.

Attention all contributors! Do not forget to send me you Unsolicited Manuscript Forms.

Excellent addition, M-Bomb! I like it because there are so many ways a GM could go with this, yet it is not something out of place in a newspaper classified section.

Btw, I have not yet spliced these additions into the tabloid. I was putting off work on that until we got a photo of Alex M. Now we have one, so I am fresh out of excuses.