What's wrong with Palladium?

[Lord Mhoram]

If he got hungry, I suspect he would change his mind. If not, it would be a self-correcting issue.

From things I've read about how he does cut and paste, and rewrites books that freelancers have written (some horror stories over at RPGnet about that), I get the impressions that he is a real control freak. When he said he wouldn't ever let Rifts, Palladium Fantasy or Heroes Unlimited go to anyone else fits perfectly with everything else I know about that man. Look at how hard he goes after any website with any conversion from Palladium system.

[Sketchpad]

Look at how hard he goes after any website with any conversion from Palladium system.

I believe that's more due from the Nightspawn/Nightbane incident, isn't it? I think it's kind of funny and sad that he throws a stink when fans try and build their favorite characters in Palladium (or when people use other systems to emulate Palladium settings). Be honest, I'm surprised that Good Ole Kev (tm) hasn't dropped the hammer down on the various Rifts Hero attempts like he did to d20 back when 3e first came out.

[Lord Mhoram]

I believe that's more due from the Nightspawn/Nightbane incident, isn't it? I think it's kind of funny and sad that he throws a stink when fans try and build their favorite characters in Palladium (or when people use other systems to emulate Palladium settings). Be honest, I'm surprised that Good Ole Kev (tm) hasn't dropped the hammer down on the various Rifts Hero attempts like he did to d20 back when 3e first came out.

That could be some of the genesis for it.

[sinanju]

From things I've read about how he does cut and paste, and rewrites books that freelancers have written (some horror stories over at RPGnet about that), I get the impressions that he is a real control freak. When he said he wouldn't ever let Rifts, Palladium Fantasy or Heroes Unlimited go to anyone else fits perfectly with everything else I know about that man. Look at how hard he goes after any website with any conversion from Palladium system.

Yeah, his tantrum when The Primal Order book included conversion notes for the Palladium system many years ago is when I discovered what an unmitigated ***hole he is. Not that I've played the Palladium system, or ever will. But that incident assured that I'll never, ever spend a penny for anything he's ever published--and I'll joyfully blacken his name every chance I get.

[Dholcrist]

Keep in mind that Palladium was my first RPG exposure but I have moved quite beyond that since I was 14.

It was mine, too. Bought the Robotech main rulebook (purely because I loved Robotech more than anything) when I was 13, thinking it was a tabletop war game. Previous to Robotech, I'd never heard of a pen and paper RPG, and had only played Warhammer 40k with my friends. So I thought Robotech was the same thing.

How wrong I was. Because we'd never played anything, my group fell in love with it. But as soon as we started playing Cyberpunk, D6 Star Wars, and D&D we realized how awful the system was.

I really wish Robotech would get a D20 line...

Speaking of which, though, has anyone seen or played the recent Robotech release? I really want to pick it up for old time's sake, but naturally I'm rather hesitant.

[The Main Man]

I had the same thing going here.

I loved the games that I played with Palladium rules until I played other games and developed an eye for design flaws.

[Lord Mhoram]

Yeah, his tantrum when The Primal Order book included conversion notes for the Palladium system many years ago is when I discovered what an unmitigated ***hole he is. Not that I've played the Palladium system, or ever will. But that incident assured that I'll never, ever spend a penny for anything he's ever published--and I'll joyfully blacken his name every chance I get.

The Bill Coffin written stuff for Heroes unlimited (the superprison, and the city near it) are very well done, and make for a great Iron Age kind of setting. I use those in my champs games.

[The Main Man]

I liked the Gramercy Island book myself but I have not checked out Century Station.

While Gramercy Island is decent I can't help but feel like many of the characters are rather uninspired and look like they were randomly generated as per the system except for where it would be convenient for concept.

IOW, it and most Palladium NPC's expose the system's flaws.

[csyphrett]

The story is Bill Coffin designed the Gramercy Island npcs but they didn't hold up to an NPC inspection. Essentially he houseruled his npcs and then they were published as resources.

Personally I like Palladium better than Hero as a system. I just don't always agree with the posters at the Palladium board because I don't always get what their problems are.

I can't handle invulnerabilty, Can paired weapons be used to block and hit at the same time, What do you mean Page 74 is optional for GMs who don't know what they are doing?


CES

[incrdbil]

It was mine, too. Bought the Robotech main rulebook (purely because I loved Robotech more than anything) when I was 13, thinking it was a tabletop war game. Previous to Robotech, I'd never heard of a pen and paper RPG, and had only played Warhammer 40k with my friends. So I thought Robotech was the same thing.

IIRC, one of the features..or lack thereof, was a useful way to do Mecha combat. The game had descriptions of top speeds, theoretical weapons ranges..but really no system for 'Mecha combat.


I think the first printing had armor descriptions for Mecha by hit location--but no hit location charts, until another book came out. I could be wrong about that, but I do recall that..among the million other problems.

We actually quit playing and closed the rulebook during our first game of the Palladium superhero rules. It was just that bad. I think we were doing a basic combat, someone was trying to break down a door..and we just finally had enough of the built in stupidity.

[Lord Liaden]

Be honest, I'm surprised that Good Ole Kev (tm) hasn't dropped the hammer down on the various Rifts Hero attempts like he did to d20 back when 3e first came out.

I suspect it's because the HERO stuff is low-profile compared to the D20 juggernaut, and has just escaped his notice to date.

Whenever I refer to those fan HERO conversions on a more heavily trafficked forum, like RPGnet, I always avoid posting any links for fear that Siembieda or his cronies would notice and bring down their wrath, potentially depriving us of a fine resource. I simply post to imply that someone interested in converting RIFTS to HERO who contacts me privately might find something interesting.

[csyphrett]

We actually quit playing and closed the rulebook during our first game of the Palladium superhero rules. It was just that bad. I think we were doing a basic combat, someone was trying to break down a door..and we just finally had enough of the built in stupidity.

That's what I was talking about right there. How do you knock down a door?
You roll a 20, apply damage unless the door dodged, and get a description of what happened. A lot of people have a problem with that. I just don't know why.
CES

[csyphrett]

I suspect it's because the HERO stuff is low-profile compared to the D20 juggernaut, and has just escaped his notice to date.

Whenever I refer to those fan HERO conversions on a more heavily trafficked forum, like RPGnet, I always avoid posting any links for fear that Siembieda or his cronies would notice and bring down their wrath, potentially depriving us of a fine resource. I simply post to imply that someone interested in converting RIFTS to HERO who contacts me privately might find something interesting.

They have a fair use thing that can be put on Palladium stuff but I don't know if it will cover conversions to other systems.
CES

[bubba smith]

That's what I was talking about right there. How do you knock down a door?
You roll a 20, apply damage unless the door dodged, and get a description of what happened. A lot of people have a problem with that. I just don't know why.
CES

the only way a door"dodges" is via the old cartoon gag of someone on the other side opening it when you're about to knock it down

[Vondy]

That's what I was talking about right there. How do you knock down a door?
You roll a 20, apply damage unless the door dodged, and get a description of what happened. A lot of people have a problem with that. I just don't know why.
CES

If a door aborts to dodge during a game I'm going to assume my drink was spiked.