The Glitter Boy Codex is coming soon!
This is the first Rifts sourcebook dedicated to the most recognizable power armor in the Megaverse.
Written by Will Erwin, with additional text by Johnny Roccia, and Sean Owen Roberson as Lead Designer.
Hello! My name is Sean Owen Roberson. I’m the Creative Director at Palladium Books and business partners with its founder, Kevin Siembieda. Thank you for checking out this crowdfunding campaign, which I’m super excited to share with you because it has so much to offer fans of role-playing games and post-apocalyptic science fantasy.
The highlight of this campaign is the highly anticipated 128-page Rifts® role-playing game sourcebook, the Glitter Boy Codex. To commemorate the 45th anniversary of Palladium Books, it also includes the return of the game that started it all in 1981: the Mechanoids Role-Playing Game.
In addition, we are offering high quality physical rewards including a new generation of Rifts themed dice sets, game master screen, game mat, regional map, flag, and more!
Live at Launch Thank you for all who joined us LIVE on 10/20 for our two launch day events. For those who missed them, you can find them on our YouTube channel.
In a dark post-apocalyptic future, humanity needs heroes.
In the technologically advanced future, our world was shattered in atomic Armageddon, breaking the boundaries of reality to bring magic crashing back into our universe through tears in space and time.
Rifts now connect to innumerable strange dimensions and have transformed Earth into an alien landscape filled with magic and super-science, men and monsters, demons and robots, all vying for power.
After the centuries long New Dark Age following the Great Cataclysm, humankind battles to rekindle the light of civilization and retake the wasteland from invaders and renegades.
A river of magical energy – a ley line – seen at night by adventurers. Painting by Kevin Long.
Rifts is the premier post-apocalyptic science fantasy role-playing game. Originally released in 1990, the heroes of Rifts must wield advanced technology, arcane spells, psychic powers, cybernetics, and more against cosmic horrors and cataclysmic threats to protect a compelling new Earth filled with deep stories and a cast of unforgettable heroes, villains, and survivors.
Interior illustration - art by Steven Cummings with color by Mike Majestic.
The Glitter Boy Codex
This 128 page sourcebook expands the options for the USA-G10 Glitter Boy and drives into all-new territory. Chapter 1: The Glitter Boy Pilot
New Pilot Options: Besides the classic Descended pilot, some are chosen for the role due to their natural talent as marksmen, psychics, mechanics, magic users, and more. Others are upstarts that come from interesting new backgrounds including salvagers, "war criminals" wanted by the Coalition, and even NEMA Rookies awakened from cryogenic sleep! With so many new options, no two Glitter Boy pilots in a campaign together should feel the same.
Chapter 2: The Glitter Boy Suit
Expanded Technical Readout: Expanded USA-G10 technical statistics with new information detailing the suit's internal systems including the power core, anti-theft array, self-destruct mechanism, and the importance of the mysterious Chromium Codex – a supercomputer incompatible with any of the various Glitter Boy variants.
Chromium Codex: The history of this unique quantum date core – a relic of the Golden Age of Technology – and how it helped shape the emerging heroes now known as the Glitter Boy Brotherhood.
The CHUCK: How this piece of heavy duty equipment is integral to Glitter Boy pilots and their allies, allowing them to repair and rebuild damaged chromium armor.
Glitter Boy Equipment: New weapons, auxiliary gear, specialty ammunition, and hardware system accessories for the USA-G10.
Glitter Boy Hot-Rodding: Major overhauls for armor, weapons, and other systems proven to work with the USA-G10 powersuit.
Famous Glitter Boys: Explore a gallery of suits that over time have become legends in their own right across generations of pilots and warfare.
Chapter 3: Glitter Boy Lore
Glitter Boy History: Learn the history of the suit from the the Pre-Rifts Golden Age of Technology to the Post-Apocalypse circa 110 PA.
Glitter Boy Culture: Discover Chromium Bounties and the four major factions of the loosely associated Glitter Boy Brotherhood, including why they get along ... most of the time ... and yet choose to stand apart unless the need is great.
Chapter 4: Adventure Episodes
Ready to Run Adventures: Enjoy eight Glitter Boy themed Adventure Episodes just waiting to be fill your evening or convention table with hours of adventure.
Chapter 5: The Glitter Boy Resurgence
A Three Act Story: Battle a demonic invasion in this Adventure Season featuring over a dozen critical decision points, flash points, and epic battles featuring mysterious allies and the support of the full Glitter Boy Brotherhood – all wrapped up with a satisfying epilogue.
Chapter 6: Rogues Gallery
Ready to Use Stat Entries: This includes the unique Legendary Glitter Boy Suits and typical pilots of various experience, as well as the enemies and allies from the Adventure Episodes and the Adventure Season featured in this book.
The Rifts® Glitter Boy Codex sourcebook, cover art by Kevin Long with color by Mike Majestic. Foil cover art by Kevin Long with foil stamp details by Kevin Siembieda.
Written by Will Erwin, with additional text by Johnny Roccia, and developed from start to finish by Sean Owen Roberson as Lead Designer, the Glitter Boy Codex is brought to you by experienced and dedicated Rifts authors.
Standard Perfect Bound Edition
The classic Palladium perfect-bound format with a stunning cover painting featuring dynamic lines by legendary artist Kevin Long, brought to life with painterly colors by Mike Majestic. Packed inside cover to cover are crisp black-and-white illustrations by the phenomenal Steven Cummings. Perfect for travel and passing around at a game table.
Premium Hardcover Edition
The same 128-page content, but every single interior illustration is painted in full-color by Mike Majestic. This is the first Rifts sourcebook ever offered in a premium hardcover with full-color interiors. If you want the Glitter Boy to truly shine on your shelf and at the table, this is the edition to get.
Black and White art by Steven Cummings, side-by-side with colors in-progress by Mike Majestic.
Back by popular demand – after the popularity of the Savage Rifts conversion PDF for Titan Robotics, we decided to do one for the Glitter Boy Codex as well.
I initially got professionally involved with Rifts writing material for the Savage Worlds RPG rules, which a ton of fans enjoy. As a special offer, backers of this project will get access to a Savage Rifts® rules conversion PDF digital download for all of the new playable character options and gear featured in the Glitter Boy Codex.
The cover of Sean's first book, painting by Aaron J Riley.
The Mechanoids® Redux Edition: The Complete RPG Collection
Art by Newton Ewell and Kevin Siembieda, colors by Luis Antonio Delgado.
Before The Terminator. Before The Matrix. Before Rifts, Phase World, or Aliens Unlimited.
There was The Mechanoids.
The Mechanoids is a dark science-fiction setting with a cast of characters, massive universe, and horrific threats that were ahead of their time.
The Original Palladium Books Role-Playing Game Returns
The Mechanoids® Redux Edition: The Complete RPG Collection commemorates Palladium’s 45th Anniversary!
– back in style, remastered into a deluxe full color hardcover Redux edition, a complete Mechanoids universe collection with revised rules, expanded material, and more
This massive 320+ page deluxe, full-color hardcover gathers together decades of history to create the defining collection of the Mechanoids® setting, including the following content:
The Mechanoid Invasion® (1981)
The Journey (1982)
Homeworld (1983)
The long-forgotten The Mechanoids® RPG (1985) integrated into the new edition with over 100 pages of additional source material, artwork, characters, vehicles, weapons, gear, and more – out of print for over 35 years, most fans didn't even know all this extra content even existed!
An all new Mechanoid, anall new Hunter-Killer Drone, and more first introduced in the spinoff comic series by Caliber Press. This expanded content will feature new art and is being written by me (Sean) with input by my friend and the original creator of the Mechanoids, Kevin Siembieda.
The new generation of Mechanoids and their schism from their aberrant progenitors as seen in Rifts® Sourcebook Two: The Mechanoids® (1992).
Join Kevin and I as we return to the beginning to bring the Mechanoids back in style, remastered into a Redux edition – the complete Mechanoids universe collected and integrated together with clarified rules, expanded content, fresh new layout, and more all in glorious full color.
Balrog Destroyer illustration by Kevin Siembieda, color by Luis Antonio Delgado.
The Mechanoids Redux Edition Highlights
Written by Kevin Siembieda, with an adventure series by Erick Wujcik.
Redux design, layout, remaster, and updates by Sean Owen Roberson.
Rules Upgrade. The original Mechanoids, Palladium’s first RPG, was a rough prototype of what was to come. Now the popular Redux edition rules upgrade the Mechanoids experience to the classic Palladium Megaversal RPG system – revised, clarified, and easier than ever to use at your table.
Expanded vehicle combat rules, including the comprehensive Redux rules for land, sea, and aerospace combat – first featured in TMNT Transdimensional Adventures.
Artwork remastered for modern printing, scanned from the original production boards, this is a huge visual upgrade over what was possible in the early 1980s.
Approximately 80% of the artwork is by Kevin Siembieda, including material many fans are unaware of from the 1985 RPG and additional never-before-seen artwork created by Kevin back in the day.
Additional artwork by classic Palladium Books artists like William Messner-Loebs, Newton Ewell, Kevin Long, Mike Gustovich, and James A. Osten.
For the first time, this classic artwork is being brought to life in full color by Luis Antonio Delgado, renowned colorist of the New York Times bestselling graphic novel The Last Ronin, among many other books.
320+ pages. Deluxe hardcover. Full color.
Art by Kevin Siembieda, color by Luis Antonio Delgado.
Would you like some extra items in addition to your pledge level? To get Add-Ons, select the "Add-Ons" column button then choose what you want, which will increase your pledge by that amount.
For details, see the description text when you go to add the item.
After the campaign ends you will be able to add more of these options through our pledge manager and pay for shipping.
This crowdfunder is focused on bringing the core books to fans as quickly as possible with your help. Stretch Goals and gimmicks that are too elaborate can push a project into the red on the creator’s side, risk introducing creative breakdown, or overextend production goals.
With this in mind, we are limiting this crowdfunding campaign to a few important milestones we can meet without delaying or over-complicating production of the Rifts Glitter Boy Codex and associated items.
Stretch Goals - SHARE THE WORD TO UNLOCK MORE
!!UNLOCKED!! - MILESTONE 1 - $75,000
Digital Wallpaper Pack
A digital wallpaper pack featuring key Glitter Boy Codex and Mechanoids Redux art will be immediately available for Download to all backers of the project who pledge at the Glitter Boy Recruit level or above!
!!UNLOCKED!! - MILESTONE 2 - $125,000
Bonus Art Print A bonus 8.5"×11" color art print will be added to each physical pledge level that includes art prints.
!!UNLOCKED!! - MILESTONE 3 - $200,000
Mechanoids Introductory Adventure A ready-to-play adventure written by Sean Owen Roberson and Kevin Siembieda with pre-generated characters will be available for all reward-level backers via PDF digital download.
+ A Bonus Reward - Savage Worlds Rules Conversion PDFs for the Titan Robotics & Cyberworks Collection have been added to their corresponding Add-ons.
**LOCKED** - MILESTONE 4 - $250,000
Double Feature: Art Print + New Mechanoids Material added to the Mechanoids Redux Collection
Bonus Art Print A bonus 8.5"×11" color art print will be added to each physical pledge level that includes art prints.
BRAND NEWMechanoids Material Additional newly developed material to be added to the Mechanoids Redux Collection, expanding this premium collection even further.
Creator of the Mechanoids, Rifts, and other Palladium Role-Playing Games Palladium Books was established in 1981 by visionary game designer Kevin Siembieda, renowned for his world-building. Kevin has authored or co-authored over 200 tabletop role-playing game books. Rifts is Palladium’s bestselling RPG of all time. Other popular Palladium RPGs include: TMNT & Other Strangeness, Robotech, Palladium Fantasy RPG, Nightbane, Heroes Unlimited, Dead Reign, Beyond the Supernatural, and more.
Sean Owen Roberson
Palladium Books — Creative Director and Business Partner Lead Designer on the TMNT Redux Edition, Mechanoids Redux, and Glitter Boy Codex Sean has a decade of experience in the tabletop role-playing game industry, is a US Air Force veteran, and has been playing Palladium RPGs since the late 1980s. As line editor for Pinnacle Entertainment Group, he designed the second edition of Rifts for the Savage Worlds RPG system and created new titles including Empires of Humanity, Atlantis and the Demon Seas, and Terror on the Dark Frontier. Since joining Palladium as Kevin's business partner, he brought Rifts: Titan Robotics to fans, and helmed the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness Redux Edition campaign.
Will Erwin
Freelance Writer & Creative
Will Erwin has been writing and creating maps for Palladium Books and its fans since 2015. A US Army veteran, inventor, and nuclear engineer, Will has spent years nerding out over the history, technology, and lore of Rifts' most iconic war machine.
Author, cover, and interior artist, Rifts: Duty's Edge
Map artist, Yin-Sloth Jungles, 2nd Edition
Interior map artist, Bizantium and the Northern Islands
Contributing author, The Rifter #69 and The Rifter #85
Johnny Roccia
Freelance Writer & Games Designer
Johnny Roccia is a massive Rifts fan and Glitter Boy enthusiast. When not creating content for games, he's usually running them. Johnny first met Kevin in a charity game in the early 2000s, and met Sean during playtesting of the second edition of Rifts for Savage Worlds, which he would go on to contribute to directly. His contributing credits include:
Land of a Thousand Islands - Rifts for Savage Worlds
Europa - Rifts for Savage Worlds
Savage Foes of Europa - Rifts for Savage Worlds
The Rifter #85 - Palladium Books
Steven Cummings
Artist & Comic Creator Steven currently works from his secret lair somewhere in the Kanto region of Japan. He has worked for numerous comic book companies including Marvel, DC, Image, and Udon Entertainment as well as smart phone game app art, projects for video game giant Capcom. Steven's recent comics projects include the Ahsoka series for the Marvel Comics Star Wars line, plus the Mandalorian, Crimson Reign miniseries, and its sequel Hidden Empire. Image Comics hosted the series he co-created with Jim Zub, called Wayward. When not slammed with comic art, Steven enjoy working with Palladium Books on many titles including Beyond the Supernatural: Creature Feature, Rifts: Titan Robotics, and other books in development – most notably the interior art for the Glitter Boy Codex.
Mike Majestic
Artist & Concept Designer Mike Majestic is an illustrator, concept designer, colorist, and IP world builder inspired by old school anime, manga, Metal Hurlant, art nouveau, and art deco. Mike has worked with high profile clients including Dreamwave Productions, Ubisoft UK, Animal Logic Sydney, and of course Palladium Books. In his 20+ years of freelance work he's contributed to comics, games, and Hollywood animation projects – including 3 classic 80s's IPs: Transformers, Robotech, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Mike also produces a significant amount of original work under his studio banner Vulne Pro, an indy production/concept design studio endeavor. Mike has years of experience working closely with Palladium Books, providing interior illustrations, cover paintings, and serving as the primary colorist for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness Redux Edition.
Luis Antonio Delgado
Artist & Colorist
Luis Antonio Delgado is a New York Times Bestseller comic book artist and colorist for the fan favorite series The Last Ronin. Born in Mexico City, he has been making a name for himself in the comic book industry with his vibrant colors and unique artistic touch. He began his career in 2007 coloring a story for IDW Comics and has since contributed his talents to several iconic comic book series and publishers such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters, Star Wars, Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Transformers, My Little Pony, GI Joe, and D&D among others, becoming a sought-after colorist and, more recently, a cover artist.
I’ve been part of a crowdfunding campaign for every book I’ve written, and I love how the platform lets me interact with you, the fans, to make sure that what we produce is the best project possible.
Palladium Books is blessed to have a loyal fanbase built over generations, but it can still be difficult for a small company like ours to get the word out.
Crowdfunding is a wonderful way to share our big projects with as many fans as possible and show off all the exciting rewards.
Costs are continually rising, and we are doing our best to keep our prices down in these difficult times. Your pledge and support in sharing the project with friends and acquaintances will help us to bring these fantastic books to print at a reasonable price since the more books printed at once the less expensive each book becomes.
In other words, crowdfunding helps keep our books inexpensive and allows us to do cool stuff like collector's editions, custom dice, and more!
We love game stores and sell to them through our website and through traditional distribution. However, we know many of our fans don't have a store nearby, or your local store may not carry our games – this campaign is for you.
For those of you who aren't interested in any of the crowdfunding exclusives and have an awesome local store who you prefer to support, THAT IS GREAT! You can order the print version of the books from your Friendly Local Gaming Store. Please let them know about this campaign, as we have a Retailer pledge level for discounted versions of the primary rewards which often ship out several weeks before our items show up in traditional distribution chains.
If you're a retailer, please contact the Palladium Books helpdesk if you have any questions, suggestions, or for information about our retailer program.
Illustration by Ron Root with colors by Mike Majestic.
Click on the Pledge Levels tab and select the reward level you want. If you want to add specific extras to your pledge, select the Add-Ons tab and select what you want, which will increase your pledge by that amount.
During the BackerKit campaign, you can change your pledge at any time. After the BackerKit ends you can increase your pledge level and add more extras via pledge manager page, but you can't downgrade or cancel.
Digital Rewards
We deliver PDF materials through DriveThruRPG.com.
Any digital rewards from Stretch Goals will be delivered by PDF.
Art by Daniel Redus, in-progress color by Mike Majestic.
Shipping Estimates
After the campaign is complete we will charge shipping and relevant taxes via the pledge manager only when production is finished and fulfillment is about to begin. We won't charge shipping earlier than that as shipping rates have been fluctuating due to global supply chain disruptions.
We do not have direct control over shipping rates, but we have teamed up with fulfillment partners known for their affordable global shipping rates to handle physical delivery and successful fulfillment for international customers.
Projected shipping prices will be based on estimated final weights at each pledge level tier and will be posted as soon as they are available.
Sorry for any inconvenience, we will not be shipping to the following locations: Belarus, Iran, Iraq, Russia, Syria, Ukraine, China, Hong Kong, North Korea, South America, and Africa.
Progress
Our team is extremely experienced at bringing books to print – over 300 so far – and we will print these books no matter what, but we need your help to make it a success and give you the premium extras we all love.
The Rifts Glitter Boy Codex: The cover painting, majority of interior art, and manuscript for the Glitter Boy Codex are already complete. The book is in editing and proofreading, preparing for layout.
The Mechanoids Redux Edition - The Complete RPG Collection: The core text and art for these classic books were finished decades ago. The upgraded Redux edition rules are already complete, and a hit with fans. The new cover painting and interior color upgrade is in progress, with the remaster well underway.
We anticipate delivery of the main PDFs about three months after BackerKit funds are collected, and delivery of the physical products six months after that depending on printer availability, material logistics, and shipping.
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