My Life As A Gamer: Palladium Re-Releases "Palladium Fantasy" 1st Edition

The following came via the email newsletter:

This deluxe, foil stamped edition is at the printer, and has been for awhile now. With any luck it will be available sometime in November. We are offering it due to popular demand. It is the original, First Edition rules, expanded with the inclusion of the Arms of Nargash-Tor adventure sourcebook. The original edition also includes Erick Wujcik’s popular Tombs of Gersidi adventure left out of the 2nd Edition rule book. The cover is a recreation of the original, famous red and black cover of the original RPG. We sold more than 120,000 copies of the first edition rule book back in the day, so we know a lot of people have fond memories of it. Hence, the request for Palladium to offer it in some form. We hope you enjoy the deluxe hardcover. It sure brought back memories for many of us.

• The complete, original RPG – the game that started Palladium Books.
• First Edition rules are easily adaptable to current Fantasy titles.
• Includes the Tombs of Gersidi adventure and setting (ancient vampires and dark magic) written by Erick Wujcik. Maps by Erick Wujcik. Easily adapted to current rules.
• Depictions of Eastern, Western, Northern, and Old Kingdom coins.
• Fan favorite artwork by Kevin Siembieda and Michael Kucharski.
• The Arms of Nargash-Tor adventure sourcebook included as “bonus” material appears in print for the first time in 35 years.
• Deluxe hardcover edition. Probably limited to fewer than 1,000 copies.
• Recreation of the original cover with red foil stamping into a black faux leatherette hardcover. It should look beautiful.
• 320 pages total with “bonus” material – $55.00 retail – Cat. No. 449HC – at the printer. Release date not yet confirmed by the printer. Hopefully in time for Christmas.

The image above is the original cover. Click on the image to order a copy while you can. I don't think you can include one in the XMas Grab Bag.

The first edition of the game very clearly shows its roots in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, 1st Edition, and the older versions of many supplements are likewise artifacts of that design paradigm. It's getting harder to find 1st Edition Palladium Fantasy these days, but I'm sure Captain Harlock can hook you up if you ask nicely and otherwise it's a matter of sniping used product sales in the usual places.

It's hardly flawless--this is Palladium--but it is fun. I wouldn't recommend buying this unless you're already a fan, but I would recommend giving the game itself a try; borrow a friend's copy, or get a PDF.