My 2018 Christmas in July Palladium Surprise Package Arrived!

Last Christmas I hyped the Palladium X-Mas Surprise Package heavily. If you recall, I lamented how I hadn't ordered one in years. I also, ahem, missed out and didn't order a Surprise Package for another Christmas once again...

Every now and then, Palladium will do a Christmas in July Surprise Package. Sporadically. Not an annual event by any means. When I ordered Surprise Packages regularly, they didn't offer autographs for the July special. Autographs are the primary reason I order them.

Well, this year, they offered the Christmas in July Surprise Package - and there were autographs. Honestly, I wasn't going to order. Took advantage of the Drive Thru RPG deal (topic of a later blog - maybe?); but it wasn't until literally the midnight hour I made my decision.

Ordered my first Surprise Package in YEARS.

A handful of days later, I arrive home and there it is. Waiting for me.

Took pictures of course. Including the autographed page. They're a little blurry
...

Palladium Fantasy is my favorite setting. Wouldn't normally order the mouse pad. Hey, look at that! The Old Ones cover mouse pad. Will have to try my new mouse pad out some time!

 The latest book for the setting. Love the 'Ice and Fury' sig!

Plus, I received the longest-held contender for newest Palladium Fantasy title. Didn't get it the last time I ordered. Years ago.

Second most recent issue of the Rifter. Been years since my last Rifter. Don't recall the issue.

A grab bag wouldn't be complete without a couple Rifts books. One detailing the Coaltion States defending Rifts Earth against hordes of the Minion War (Think demons and devils) and a book containing a script for a Rifts movie (and stats).

Not bad for roughly $100 worth of product plus autographs for half the price!

This was blogged via smartphone.

Happy Gaming!

Next time.

Robotech RPG Tactics Unboxing Part Two: Unboxing Snapshots

Friday, I blogged about receiving my copy of the now-defunct Robotech RPG Tactics from Palladium Books and my liberation of the box from the parcel from which it arrived in. At the time, I wasn't sure when I'd blog the snapshots of the unboxing.

For posterity sake and so folks could see what the inside of pristine box looks like.

Saturday night I could resist no longer.

The inner box has artwork!

The rulebook both front and back including a base for something I have no clue yet.

What the box looked like when I opened the box. They weren't kidding about assembly needed!

The RDF 

Zentraedi

Other odds and ends.

Must confess I have no clue when I will assemble the figures. Ever.

My hobby as a modeler ended once I moved from snap on models to those requiring glue. Any models I helped create either required assistance or looked off.

However, never say never. Perhaps one day they'll be assembled! Probably not this year though...

Does this rule out my playing a game of Robotech RPG Tactics (RRT)? Not quite. I can use the bases provided as stand ins like when uses dice and other objects instead of minis while playing a table-top role-playing game. Furthermore, I am unlikely to acquire any of Wave One not included within the set nor the never released Wave Two. Yet I can play with those factions.

How so? Well, Palladium released the stats for the Wave Two mecha along paper minis for free. Before Palladium pulled them from Drive Thru RPG, I "ordered" the freebies. While I haven't downloaded any of the faction cards and paper minis from Drive Thru yet, past experience with expired license products is that purchases remain available to you. Fingers crossed, that'll hold true as well once I check...

So yes, one day, I will play a game of RRT whether it be with paper minis or with imagined mecha. You can understand why  if the latter why no pics will be provided in any future blog entries...

Thus ends my unboxing (via snapshots) of Robotech RPG Tactics!

Happy Gaming!

Next time.



Robotech RPG Tactics Unboxing Part One: Out of the Parcel

Last month, I blogged about receiving the remaining lot of the now defunct post-2000 version of Palladium Books's Robotech RPG. Genesis Pits is the book that got away. At the time, I was undecided about ordering Robotech RPG Tactics.

About that. As March ended, I decided on the spur of the moment my longstanding reluctance would cease.

I ordered a copy.

How can a Robotech fan can say no to what may be the only Robotech miniatures game ever?

A week ago my package arrived.

Since I waited this long to acquire it, why not savor the unboxing? So yesterday, I took it out of the box and took pictures.

For posterity sake of course:

In the box:

Side shots:

Front side:

Back Side:

There you have it. Snapshots of what is now gaming history.

There will be an actual unboxing... 

Maybe not next time...

Happy Gaming!

My First Order from Palladium in YEARS Part 2

Three nights ago I blogged about placing my first order from Palladium Books in years. If not a decade. As a Robotech fan, I desired to acquire all the new wave of Robotech RPG books before the license expired at month's end. Plus, books being liquidated at 40 - 50% off helps quite a bit too. Since Genesis Pits was sold out and Palladium mentioned New Generation Sourcebook was nearing sell out status, I wasn't quite sure the latter book would still be available when they processed the order.

As of this morning my jitters were place to rest as my package was delivered. With a little too much fanfare for my liking but everything seems fine.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I took pics!



The cover for the deluxe Gold Edition of Shadow Chronicles. Looks pretty.

As Palladium normally doesn't produce hardcovers, this inlet is quite the sight!

Palladium stated less than 50 copies were available so this being the 457th out of 500 is extra special.

Here's the Masters Sourcebook (Southern Cross) and the UEEF (or UEF) Marines Sourcebook (from flipping through the pages it looks like an updated Sentinels book)

Macross Sourcebook and New Generation Sourcebook. The website states New Generation is sold out now. Lucked out.

Needless to say I am quite pleased everything I ordered arrived and intact sooner than expected. Expect reviews in the future. Would be cool if I could play a game too...

Haven't decided whether or not to order a copy of Robotech RPG Tactics or not. Buying a copy of RRT at 40% is awfully tempting as a Robotech fan. However, I am less likely to play that and fret of any thud damaging the contents inside. Won't be able to replace any damaged contents...

Next time.

My First Order From Palladium Books in YEARS Part One

Tonight, I did something I have not done in years. About a decade, I believe.


Remember back in December when I blogged about the very first Digital Palladium Books Digital Christmas Grab Bag? Well, there were other sales occurring as well. Among those sales were half off on Robotech RPG books (the post 2000s). Missed the Robotech sale. Oh well, maybe next sale. After all, the books were published years ago. Not like I was playing the RPG anyway. Then, would miss both the physical and digital Christmas Grab Bag because I couldn't remember my how to log into my old store account. Weirdly enough I could log into the message boards...


Flash forward to the beginning of the month and the news began to trickle in. Robotech RPG Tactics didn't go the way everyone thought it would. Doubted I did. But I thought it would just be typical Palladium delays. Not the cluster it actually became. However, the sordid tale of Robotech RPG Tactics is best told by others. What's even worse was that once again Palladium Books lost the rights to Robotech.


Robotech is among my favorite anime. Okay, Americanized anime. Big fan of the old line of RPG books Palladium released years ago (late 80s to mid 90s). During New Year, New Game on Drive Thru RPG, I purchased PDFs of all the old Robotech RPG books despite having access to the physical copies.


With the news the Robotech license expires at the end of the month and Palladium liquidating the Robotech RPGs books of the relaunch, the time to buy was now.


So I visit the site and suddenly my old log in pops into my mind. Yes, the same log in that eluded me back during the X-Mas grab bag. Eluded me for hours before giving. The very same log in dawns on me in a Eureka moment and I am greeted by a familiar account name.


Yes, after years. Maybe a decade. Not since I ordered the manga edition of the Robotech: Shadow Chronicles RPG and a couple years of grab bags, did I place an order with Palladium Books. Whatever Robotech RPG (not Tactics - still too rich for me) book from the relaunch (pretty much all of them) I ordered.


Overall, Palladium's "new" storefront is much more intuitive than the old one. Although, it appears everything needs to be manually re-entered with each order like the old store front. Won't know until I order again.


Since today's order is my first order from Palladium Books in years, it feels like I am ordering for the first time. As such I dub this part one. Will blog about how everything works out.


Next time.

Not Quite 12 Days of Blogging: My Decision on Digital Palladium Christmas Surprise Package

Time for my fifth installment of my Not Quite 12 Days of Blogging. Not going to do a song format this time as it really doesn't apply. If you haven't read the previous entries, here are: Day One, Day Two, Day Three, and Day Four. Today's entry concerns my decision regarding Palladium Book's first ever Digital Christmas Surprise Package.


If you didn't see an earlier entry I made this month, the digital surprise package is submitting a wish list of Palladium Book RPG sourcebooks available as PDFs (and maybe EPUB too) on Drive Thru RPG. The surprise package would be a great way for me to get books I already own in print form. Plus, for games I don't actively play, I'm moving toward digital books as opposed to physical ones. So unless the book is extra spiffy, digital is my preferred.


Well, the deadline for the digital surprise package is midnight the 24th. So time zone-wise, you may still have time.


As I blog this, I am mere minutes away.


Unfortunately, I have not ordered anything from Palladium Books in years. During that time, they changed their storefront. While my log in works for the megaversal forums, it does not for the storefront. I don't know if they have an old email address or if I would need to recreate my account from scratch.


I am not troubling myself to create an account - complete with mailing address - for digital books. I already have an account with Drive Thru. If I could fill out a wish list through Drive Thru, I would be regaling you all with my wish list right now.


Therefore, I won't be participating in the first Digital Christmas Surprise Package from Palladium Books this year. I am actually flummoxed.


Suppose I shouldn't have waited until the very last hour before trying my old account.


That being said, I may very well order a traditional surprise package with the new year. I consider that worthy of creating a new account.


So maybe next year I will participate in the second.


Regardless, Happy Gaming!


Next time.

Been A Long Time Since My Last Palladium X-Mas Grab Bag And They're Digital Now Too!

Christmas time rapidly approaches. Meaning snow, Santa, holiday cheer, various religious customs, and presents await! Another tradition going, at, or more than a decade is also underway. What tradition is that you may ask? Why Palladium Books X-Mas Grab Bag, of course!


For those unfamiliar, Palladium Books had a universal role-playing long before the d20 system roared upon the scene. From Fantasy to Rifts to Dead Reign to licensed properties such as Robotech and the defunct TMNT & Other Strangeness, Palladium adapted its rules system to cover a swath of genres. The company is very mom and pop, which strives to give back to its fans.


I'd describe the Palladium Books X-Mas Grab Bag; but Santa Kev (the owner of the company) explains so much better than I can. The ad copy is this.


Once upon a time, I would semi-regularly ask for or purchase a Palladium X-Mas Grab Bag. My budding Palladium collection grew in size. Most of the time, I ordered after Christmas. Another unspoken tradition is Palladium usually decides to extend the special past Christmas. Plus, the autographs were cool too! Unfortunately, with my time away from RPGs, the luster of ordering an annual grab bag faded. Didn't really seem practical either.


This year is different. This year marks a regular year for gaming. My interest in table-top rpgs has increased. Old games and companies are on my radar once more. Would be a nice blast of Christmas past if I were to acquire or ask for an X-Mas Grab Bag from Palladium.


On the other hand, the Palladium Megaversal System is a rules set I rarely play. Doubt I would find a group that would want to play it either or our schedules would mesh. Furthermore, I own boxes and boxes of unused books bearing the logo Palladium Books. While the nostalgia is nice, storage is an issue. In fact, my most recent purchases from Palladium has been the ebook variety from Drivethru RPG.


I should fret not. For Santa Kevin is on the case! The year 2017 marks the very first Digital X-Mas Surprise Package. INSERT ad copy. Palladium has steadily increased its digital offerings so there's quite a bit to choose from. Bonus: I need to worry duplicating what I already have! Digital back-ups would be nice... Been thinking of expanding my Palladium ebook library anyway...


Although all this talk of digital books aside, browsing through Palladium's catalog, there's a quite a bit of limited hardcovers that are more within my price range than a decade ago. But, I digress. Well, maybe not, they could be grab bag wants from the physical Surprise X-mas Grab Bag...


In any case, time isn't quite of the essence. I will decide all in due time. If I do, you can be sure I will blog about it.


Happy Gaming!


Next time.

Halloween 2017: All Hallows' Eve

Might as well cut to the chase:


Happy Halloween!


Must confess I didn't do too much Halloween-related today. Not trick-or-treating. Didn't eat any candy. Was going to read the DC House of Horror one-shot after watching tonight's episode of DC's Legends of Tomorrow set during Halloween but after fast-forwarding through the episode (yeah, I know shouldn't do that) I discovered next week's episode is set during the Victorian era and may feature vampires. So I figured I will watch that episode later.


As for the DC comic, I may read it tomorrow. Speaking of comics, while I didn't attend Halloween Comicfest, I did pick up some of the comics when I played Shadowrun Missions yesterday. They are: The Friendly Ghost Casper, Donald Duck's Halloween Scream, Shiver, Ghostbusters: Happy Halloween, and Hellboy and the BPRD 1953 The Witch Tree and Rawhead and Bloody Bones. With any luck, I'll be able to spend a huge chunk of Halloween day 2 (ie All Saints Day) reading comics!


What I did do was take advantage of One Book Shelf's Halloween sales and bundles. Discovered that the Barovia modules for Adventurers League (AL04) were cheaper via the bundle (@ 40% off) and thus the better option. While I was at it, I picked up the Mummy: the Curse (nWOD) bundle and a Monster comics bundle (has the Doctor Mirage trade from Valiant). Then I realized I could pick up the core book and all five supplements for Palladium Book's Dead Reign much cheaper than normal. For those unfamiliar with Dead Reign, it is Palladium Book's post-zombie apocalypse setting. While I already own a copy of the core book, I don't have easy access to it and watching The Walking Dead puts me in a zombie apocalypse mood. Don't know if I would ever run it though.


Then I check out some Halloween-related links:


The pumpkin genome has been sequenced.


Here's a quick history of pumpkins. Fun fact: Europeans had never seen them before coming to North America.


The pumpkin produces a compound that is a natural disinfectant!


I must confess I haven't seen the newest version of the movie IT. Here's how Stephen King's work such IT parallel the Cthhulhu Mythos.


Viking zombies and the means of dispatching them can be read about here.


Now, I think I am going to watch some Halloween movies!


Next time.

Another Round of Links

Since its Monday, I figured I provide another round to various interesting things on web. Hopefully, later today I'll get around to posting a session overview of my first Serenity session.

10 under-rated Classic Who Stories - what the title says. A neat read.

Doctor Who Series 5 Spoiler - links to a bunch of photo stills although this page does provide the major spoiler. If true, Series 5 will have a much different tone than I thought. Hint: the initials R.S.

Matt Smith in Doctor Who Costume - definately not the goth look I thought it was going to be. Like the nice old/young man contrast.

The Comic Book Database - describes itself.

The last three posts of RPGBlog II's Palladium Week Coverage:
Robotech - as mentioned by Jason Marker whose contributing to practically the entire line.
Bill Coffin: Palladium Alumnus
A Look Back

First 3 Days of RPG Blog II Palladium Coverage

In celebration of both another Tuesday Night Rifts session and more Palladium content on the blogosphere, I figured I'd provide links to the first three days worth of Palladium coverage on RPG Blog II. Haven't read them yet. When I do I may provide my comments.

Mega-Interview with Kevin Siembieda - a recent, as in July-ish, interview with the main man at Palladium.

Being a Palladium Freelancer - Interview with Jason Richards - contains a nice summation of Chaos Earth among other things.

Into the Fire: Tips for Running Rifts - title says it all. I do have an opinion on some of the tips...

Another Rifts Blog

I want to thank Outsyder Gaming for pointing out another Rifts related blog. Like author of said blog, I probably wouldn't read said blog since I'm only monolingual. However, the Outsyder Gaming blog pointed out that there's a translate it feature at the top of the blog. Again, like said author, I wasn't aware of such a feature. Now I am able to read that blog.

At last, here is another Palladium, albeit Rifts, related blog. In english, its called Featherfall squad. I think this might be the link for the english translation...

Edit: as it turns out that link just takes you to Google translate. Here is the link: Escamot Featherfall

If you can't read the language like me just scroll to translate it feature. Guess there's no short cut for it.

Rifts UE: Wild Shots should be more common

Recently, I realized something about combat in Palladium's modern games. The last Rifts game that I attended (wasn't able to make yesterday's) a concern was brought up. That concern was that why wouldn't a character be covered head-to-toe in MDC armor? Otherwise, an opponent makes a called shot to the exposed area ... and game over. I could go on but that tangential can serve as fodder for a future post.

In a nutshell, Rifts UE ranged combat rules need prevalent wild shots. Why? To address the concern above. Wild shots hinder called shots. Heck, by the rules, they make them impossible. Can't make called shot if the shot is wild.

When would that occur? Look up what conditions cause a wild shot. Hmm. Those conditions should be very common during combat. For example, movement and panic cause a shot to become wild.

Unlikely to attend next Rifts session

There were several things I was planning on commenting on. However, I think I probably should get this out of the way. Looking at my work schedule it appears that is very unlikely I'll attend the next Rifts session. Which is a bummer as I planning on doing a bunch of stuff with my character, Dirk the Mystic.

It ought to be interesting to find out what happens. Suffice if to say Dirk will follow along with both horse and mule in tow. May even lead to some interesting role-playing when/if certain events occur.

As an aside, I plan to comment on last night's Rifts session once Mike updates his blog.

A possible two weeks without a RPG'ing awaits me. Oh well.

This post makes me want to play After the Bomb

Actually, the blog post in question doesn't refer to After the Bomb RPG. Although, it does refer to a post-apocalyptic world that includes mutant animals. Over at the blog Grognardia, there's a retrospective on 1E Gamma World. As the title implies, I am in a mood to play Gamma World. However, I don't own a copy of Gamma World. Heck, I have never played it. Now, a retro-clone called Mutant Future exists and available as a free download. Perhaps one day I'll download it. The thing is that I already own a game set in a post-apocalyptic world that has mutant animals. That game is After the Bomb. I own both editions of that game. As a bonus everyone I currently game with is, or in the process of becoming, familiar with Palladium Books system. Hence, why I'm in the mood to play some After the Bomb.

I would also like to do some hybrid games too. Elements of AtB, Nightbane, and Heroes Unlimited mixed into the world of Palladium Fantasy would lead to very different play experience.

Rifts highlight from 4/7/09

I'm really late posting this but I wanted to share what I consider to be the highlights from Mike's Rifts game from two weeks ago.

1) When my character, Dirk, intoned while meditating "I don't care if there are no guards and that danger is coming cause I have sixth sense."

2) Surprising the GM when we left Alliance completely. Everything our characters learned told us that the town had no chance. We also didn't have any motivation nor concern. So off we went. Caught Mike off guard.

3) MDC vs SDC combat. A rarity that should be more common in the world of Rifts. Granted, not all the time...

Gaming: End of March sales events

Readers of this blog may recall my excitement over two end-of-march sales. Those two were the Rifter Super Subscription and Paizo's half off Dragon/Dungeon/Polyhedron magazines. Well, as March ended another event was brought to my attention, the Lulu author contest. Namely, the Fight On! hardcover compilation and a handfull of Old-School gaming gooodies.

Of those three events the only one I participated in was the Rifter Super Subscription special. Self fulfilling prophecy reared its head such that I hadn't figured out which magazine issues I wanted from the Paizo deal. Combined with being overwhelmed from options such as the Lulu stuff, I decided not to order from Paizo. Likewise, I didn't order from Lulu due to last-minute pressure and fear of shipping costs.

Yesterday, I received a shipment from Palladium. Based on the packaging, I thought it was an issue of the Rifter. As I opened the package, I wondered when the free gift would arrive. As it turns out, it was the free gift. A copy of Rifts: Tales of the Chi-Town Burbs Anthology. And it was signed!. Now I wonder which issue of the Rifter I'll receive. The one that came out when my subscription ended or the "April" issue.

Thoughts on the last two Tuesday Game nights

As of right now, I have no idea on whether or not James's 1E game is happening tonight due to the weather. Regardless, I figure I might as well provide my comments on the previous two sessions, 1E and Rifts.

I'll start with the last week's session which was supposed to be Rifts. Alas, two players weren't there. One of them had the crucial skill needed for the GM's plot to continue. At that point the game broke down as why continue if the GM has nothing planned? On the bright side, James finished his Crazy whom should be joining the group sometime next session. Hopefully, Mike figures out how as our characters are secluded at the moment.

James's 1E game resumed two weeks ago. The group wasn't evicted out of Homlet despite seemingly impossible odds. Then, with the aid of truthstone, one of "leaders" of the village learned the group's story from Twidorek. Hopefully, our little band of PCs benefit. Last but not least, Friar Pudge's days as a PC are now numbered. Unless things change during the next session, I probably won't be playing him anymore. My biggest disappointment is that it seems we are just spinning in circles. I'm doubting whether or not we'll actually complete the village of homlet adventure. In and of itself that isn't so bad. The problem is that no one among our merry band of PCs wants to leave. So right now the game is peetering toward an ending.

Clariftications on the Rifts XP issue

First, I want to say that my comments in my previous post trouble me. I don't want this blog to contain negative, whiny rants.

Second, I don't plan to comment on game sessions unless one of two criteria are met. I must either have ran that session or must have the burning desire to write about.

On to the subject matter at hand, I rambled once I started commented about the experience awarded after the last Rifts session. Afterwards, I realized that I never gave a basis for my rant. In a nutshell, all characters got 1000 xp as a base. One thousand experience points is a significant amount for first level characters to receive for one session. Active participants received 200 xp as a bonus.

Honestly, the whole matter of experience awards deserve its own space. Otherwise, any comments I make about a game session regarding experience points will just devolve into a whiny rant that just spin around in circles. A post for another time.

Mishler game Tuesday?/Game commentary

Heard yesterday that James Mishler might actually make an appearance at Tuesday's game session. I have been looking forward to playing Friar Pudge and Twidorek again in his Gary's Greyhawk campaign. In addition, the other players really want to play Traveller. So I'd have to make a character. Not sure how much I want to when character creation takes longer than Palladium. If I could use Mongoose Traveller (MT) instead of Classic, I wouldn't mind. As I own a copy of MT, I could make a character on my own at my leisure. Granted that's all based on hearsay. In all likelihood we will play Mike's Rifts game unless James shows up and is prepared to run a game.

Which leads me to my commentary on the two pick up games that have occured on Tuesday in lieu of one Mishler's games.

Jayson's 3.5 D&D campaign
Honestly, I don't feel fully comfortable offering my thoughts on the campaign as whole as I have basically joined during the middle of it. Therefore, my comments would be a little unfair as I don't have the "full story". I will comment that I enjoyed last week's session. Even though my character only had one big moment which, in itself, is a bit minor. Basically, my dwarf fighter, Ebert, was disgusted by the lack of both beer and ale at a party. He decided to forgo alcohol for water because of his disgust. Other than that all three players were involved in the session.

Mike's Rifts game
And this is why my commentary has been delayed...

I really enjoyed the two sessions of the Rifts campaign that I played in. It felt like Rifts to me. Despite the lack of combat, Mike has woven two entertaining game sessions using the Rifts RPG. My problem is that I would have to write the rambling blog essay about several key points without sounding negative. No problem. But then I couldn't figure out how to write to those essays. Then I came upon the idea of the mammoth entry. I hit upon doing a likes/dislikes bit. Unfortunately, right around that time, I realized something. I was willing to forgo this Tuesday's Rifts session in order to watch the Watchmen movie. Watching Watchmen wound up not being a problem at all.

But still the idea nagged me.

Mike's Rifts game is a pick up game intended to run with little preparation. Many of the faults I find with the game stem from that. Alas, that is not the problem. Because I know that not much prep time is going into the game, I can accept that. Heck, I consider those faults to have little consequence as I enjoy the game despite them. I am sure I'd like the game even if our characters left Alliance and wondered aimlessly...

Now I understand what bothers me. Its not the game. I enjoyed both sessions. Heck, it was only after the last session that I began to have negative feelings. After the session two weeks ago. As in when experience was awarded. From my history with RPG's, experience awards are vital to long-term games. So what was my problem with the experience award?

A player that barely played received two hundred less experience points than those that actively participated. Now, that wouldn't be too much of a problem except that thePalladium system experience awards correlates with involvement. The more involved a PC is the more likely that character will receive more xp. Or at least that's my interpretation. So one PC received two hundred less xp than my character. I played my character in such a way that it made sense that he, Dirk, was involved. Dirk had no motivation to actually do anything. Let alone with the other PCs. I had to figure out that motivation myself. In the process, my character, Dirk, helped move things along. Otherwise, our characters would have left Alliance. What then? Don't know. Would there be a future for the game? Maybe.

That in a nutshell is my problem with Mike's game. If XP won't be commensurate with the contributions, then I have no motivation to be involved. That's a problem with a character with Anarchist as an alignment. They are hard to involve. Since the character is a Mystic, combat alone won't cut it. So experience points are deciding factor on whether or not I continue to play. In a Palladium game, Experience based on individual merits matter to me especially when one player doesn't do much of anything.

Sorry Mike.

Found out why I haven't received the latest Rifter

After coming home and discovering that once more that I haven't received the latest Rifter, issue 45, I was very frustrated. So I check Palladium message board and sit. By all indications, people have received their copies. Maybe something happened to my copy in the mail? I don't recall receiving four issues. In order to ease my fears I decide to check my email. I'm one of those people that maintain a huge archive of old email. However, I do delete email from time to time. Fortunately, I still had the email confirmation from the last super-subscription sale. Upon reviewing it, the start issue was issue 41. Which means the subscription lapsed with issue 44... That explains why I haven't received issue 45 then. Guess I'll have to take advantage of the latest subscription special sooner than later. As for the extra 'gift', I'm leaning towards the Tales of the Chi-Town Burbs anthology. I already own Mutants of the Yucatan. Although I really do want a copy of Mutants in Avalon. Maybe I'll combine the two.