Forums of the Megaverse®

"I’m also working on two titles that would be released in PDF form only(?), or before being released as a printed book. One is for Dead Reign® and one for Rifts®. I’m toying with possibly releasing them in chapters in PDF form and then as a compiled, complete PDF and printed book – or perhaps just leave it as a PDF title only. It’s a work in progress and the designs and release remain in motion; things may change. Fan suggestions are welcomed". - K.S.

Awesome. New material is always welcomed! Instant PDF material is cool too. I am one of those guys who has purchased from DriveThrou RPG and I like having books on my electric devises. However having said that I do hope to see a Print Version too. Call me nostalgic but I really like having a book in my hands.

Other than that I will be wondering what this new material could be?

Is there a frost warning in Hell?

Cuz I think it might be getting ready to freeze over.

Snark aside, I would NOT want to see chapters released prior to the completed work, mainly because PB's track record for timely release on anything other than the Rifter is well known. Not to mention that seldom are individual installments cheaper in the end for the consumer than the omnibus/final/etc.

I am looking forward to owning legit PDFs of several frequently used titles in the RIFTS collection as well as PFRPG 2nd ed. I'll ve preparing my wallet this for re-purchase of titles.

I'll also echo Fell's comment that I like having paper versions available. Upon legit PDFs availability, I'd get rid of 1/3-1/2 my paper collection due to space constraints. But some books I know would become/remain frequently used in our group. And while someone can look at my PDF while at my house, I can't lend it to them for character creation outside sessions.

All I have to say is, about freaking time!

-Chris

have to say, i'm rather surprised. didn't expect this to happen any time in the near future at all.

but i am definitely pleased to hear it. very pleased. it is very nice to have PDFs available, even if not everyone wants them

Great news!

Agreed. I'd like to see what'll be available.

Good news better late then never ever I suppose.

Kevin wrote:More PDF titles. Alex Marciniszyn has been put in charge of scanning the entire Palladium library of books for future release in PDF form. To insure high quality, Alex is scanning book pages from the original “paste-up” pages/keylines and digitally cleaning them. It’s a time consuming process, but the pages are flawless. This means a much wider range of PDFs will be made available in the months ahead from Palladium Books and DriveThruRPG.com. Will Palladium offer PDFs of new releases when they release print titles? We haven’t decided yet, but we’re considering it. And have a few ideas on related matters. For instance, I’m writing two titles that I want to see released in PDF form first or perhaps only(?), certainly before being released as a printed book. One is material for Dead Reign® and one for Rifts®. I’m toying with possibly releasing them in chapters in PDF form and then as a compiled, complete PDF and printed book – or perhaps just leave it as a PDF title only. It is a work in progress and the designs and method of release remain in motion; things may change. Fan suggestions are welcomed.

Given PB's track record on releasing series-style books and/or follow-up books, I'd rather just wait for PDFs to be released once it's completely done and not piecemeal.

Though I do have a question. Are the PDFs going to be just straight copies of the first printing of each book, or will they have the shadow updates and/or any sort of clarifications in them (like can species A take OCC B or Power X)?

The Beast wrote:

Kevin wrote:More PDF titles. Alex Marciniszyn has been put in charge of scanning the entire Palladium library of books for future release in PDF form. To insure high quality, Alex is scanning book pages from the original “paste-up” pages/keylines and digitally cleaning them. It’s a time consuming process, but the pages are flawless. This means a much wider range of PDFs will be made available in the months ahead from Palladium Books and DriveThruRPG.com. Will Palladium offer PDFs of new releases when they release print titles? We haven’t decided yet, but we’re considering it. And have a few ideas on related matters. For instance, I’m writing two titles that I want to see released in PDF form first or perhaps only(?), certainly before being released as a printed book. One is material for Dead Reign® and one for Rifts®. I’m toying with possibly releasing them in chapters in PDF form and then as a compiled, complete PDF and printed book – or perhaps just leave it as a PDF title only. It is a work in progress and the designs and method of release remain in motion; things may change. Fan suggestions are welcomed.

Given PB's track record on releasing series-style books and/or follow-up books, I'd rather just wait for PDFs to be released once it's completely done and not piecemeal.

Though I do have a question. Are the PDFs going to be just straight copies of the first printing of each book, or will they have the shadow updates and/or any sort of clarifications in them (like can species A take OCC B or Power X)?

not much point in taking the time to get high-quality scans if you're just going to change all the text, I would imagine.

He said at the POH that the Dead Reign book he was leaning towards PDF release

Fell wrote:"I’m also working on two titles that would be released in PDF form only(?), or before being released as a printed book. One is for Dead Reign® and one for Rifts®. I’m toying with possibly releasing them in chapters in PDF form and then as a compiled, complete PDF and printed book – or perhaps just leave it as a PDF title only. It’s a work in progress and the designs and release remain in motion; things may change. Fan suggestions are welcomed". - K.S.

I agree with the other posters here - I would much prefer they are not released in chapters as there may be delays between each one and they will feel incomplete. Wait until it is ready then give us the lot. Looking forward to these and other PDF material from Palladium!

Waiting nearly 3 years here for 4 to 7 new Splicers source books. Please consider taking Splicers straight to .pdf the game hasn't received a sourcebook or supplement beyond a handful of Rifter articles in over a decade since release.

It should be sold as PDF/POD. AKA, on DriveThru you can have the option to either buy the PDF or buy a Print on Demand and have your PDF printed on dead tree and sent to you. Then everybody can choose how they want to get their material.

These days, there's no reason not to offer both formats.

I also think that Palladiums book prices are out of whack with the industry. Example: $8 for old back issues of the Rifter that are over 10 years old.

Spinachcat wrote:It should be sold as PDF/POD. AKA, on DriveThru you can have the option to either buy the PDF or buy a Print on Demand and have your PDF printed on dead tree and sent to you. Then everybody can choose how they want to get their material.

These days, there's no reason not to offer both formats.

Agree fully. Many .pdfs are still not bookmarked, there is simply no excuse for this.

What are YOU hoping to see released as a PDF soon?

My fingers are crossed for the following to be released soon:

NG 1 - missed the limited release of this.
NG 2 - above.
Lone Star - my favorite book.
Revised FoM - another fav.
Megaverse in Flames!

All books eventually.

Fell wrote:What are YOU hoping to see released as a PDF soon?

My fingers are crossed for the following to be released soon:

NG 1 - missed the limited release of this.
NG 2 - above.
Lone Star - my favorite book.
Revised FoM - another fav.
Megaverse in Flames!

All books eventually.

You know - I'm at a loss on this. Palladium sold NG1, 2, and Lemuria on the statement that you wouldn't get the PDF's Ever if you didn't participate in the Insider.

Now I was a backer of NG1 and 2, just for the PDF Copy. To support Palladium on the realm that they need to do PDF's. But I also am a big stickler of people keeping their word. Especially with a company such as Palladium, where word of mouth about their products is extremely valuable.

So - I'm not sure where I stand on them releasing PDF's of their Megaversal Insiders to anyone other than their Insiders...

Tiree wrote:

Fell wrote:What are YOU hoping to see released as a PDF soon?

My fingers are crossed for the following to be released soon:

NG 1 - missed the limited release of this.
NG 2 - above.
Lone Star - my favorite book.
Revised FoM - another fav.
Megaverse in Flames!

All books eventually.

You know - I'm at a loss on this. Palladium sold NG1, 2, and Lemuria on the statement that you wouldn't get the PDF's Ever if you didn't participate in the Insider.

Now I was a backer of NG1 and 2, just for the PDF Copy. To support Palladium on the realm that they need to do PDF's. But I also am a big stickler of people keeping their word. Especially with a company such as Palladium, where word of mouth about their products is extremely valuable.

So - I'm not sure where I stand on them releasing PDF's of their Megaversal Insiders to anyone other than their Insiders...

I totally get that. Makes sense.
Short story, my job prevented me being able to be around when NG1+2 were originally released.
Really wish I could have been part of the Insider ..... I couldn't. But dang I'd like those books as PDF

Tiree wrote:

Fell wrote:What are YOU hoping to see released as a PDF soon?

My fingers are crossed for the following to be released soon:

NG 1 - missed the limited release of this.
NG 2 - above.
Lone Star - my favorite book.
Revised FoM - another fav.
Megaverse in Flames!

All books eventually.

You know - I'm at a loss on this. Palladium sold NG1, 2, and Lemuria on the statement that you wouldn't get the PDF's Ever if you didn't participate in the Insider.

Now I was a backer of NG1 and 2, just for the PDF Copy. To support Palladium on the realm that they need to do PDF's. But I also am a big stickler of people keeping their word. Especially with a company such as Palladium, where word of mouth about their products is extremely valuable.

So - I'm not sure where I stand on them releasing PDF's of their Megaversal Insiders to anyone other than their Insiders...

It is my understanding that the Insider PDFs have features like a clickable index page.
The PDFs being released currently dont have those features.
What if the PDF for the masses was a basic one, sans the features, leaving the enhanced PDF exclusive for the Insiders?

Well - they should be adding those features in their current PDF's that they are offering. Otherwise they are not providing a quality product.

So I'd still have an issue if they provided the book sans links and searchable text.

Tiree wrote:Well - they should be adding those features in their current PDF's that they are offering. Otherwise they are not providing a quality product.

So I'd still have an issue if they provided the book sans links and searchable text.

Seconded.

G'day.-
I've been playing PB games for 20+ years. Started with the 1st HU and TMNT. Got into the first release of Rifts.

Back in the day I would buy 10-20 books and get them shipped to Australia. The shipping was usually more than the cost of the books! As I've gotten older I have less discretionary income to spend on books (+ there are other RPGs competing for my attention) and I have less time (gone are the days of me spending a Saturday reading through hard cover copies...)

I have not bought a PB for at least a decade. Le fiancee is not a big fan of me taking over more rooms in our house for hobbies, so I try to go digital with most things. I use spotify, steam, netflix, GoG, Audible, Kindle. I'd love to have the entire PB collection in hard copy, but shipping fees to Oz are prohibitive and noone in my city sells PB stock.

I refuse to pirate RPG books; they are out there but if a game is worth my attention it is worth paying for.

I searched for this topic across the forums. There was a lot of snark and Monday experts; All I will say is this. As a long term fan, I would regularly buy PB PDFs via DriveThruRPG if they were available. So long as only hard copies for the core IP are available, I have no reason to reinvest with the Megaverse.

I do not really care about the new books or systems. Maybe if I get back into the Megaverse I'll pay more attention.

As for the arguments about business practices, pdf conversions etc, I'd comment that in a "past life" I worked in the copying industry and I have business experience. It is not rocket science; despite the life boat arguments about the reality of disruptive technologies, for me, it is this simple: I've moved to pdf versions as my main focus; and I will spend money with those companies that meet this need.

Looking forward to seeing more pdf books coming out. Good luck to all involved.

There are a bunch of Rifts titles now available!

Fell wrote:What are YOU hoping to see released as a PDF soon?

My fingers are crossed for the following to be released soon:

NG 1 - missed the limited release of this.
NG 2 - above.
Lone Star - my favorite book.
Revised FoM - another fav.
Megaverse in Flames!

All books eventually.

I would love to see more Fantasy books and also rest of The rifter books on PDF.