INTRODUCTION
I was pleasantly surprised to see the Palladium Books Christmas Grab Bag once again advertised and up on the Palladium Books website; as of the 11 October Palladium Weekly Update. A fan favourite and something Kevin and the gang have been doing for 26 years now, they bill this as “the best deal in gaming,” and I’m inclined to agree. The value you get, and the novelty of never exactly knowing what you are getting has a pleasantly popular appeal. I’ve done several of these and posted on them for the past 3 years, this being the fourth. So, let’s examine the Grab Bag and what Palladium Books has to offer.
DISCUSSION
Download the Details (The Fine Print). I recommend this each year. Take the wall of text on the PB site and copy it into a Word Document. Without touching any formatting, I was astounded to find it going for nine (9) pages, at mostly a 9-point font. There is a lot of data in there to absorb, so let’s go over it together, because there are a few options and points that bear some attention.
Hardcover Special Editions. We’re talking about the Gold and Red Foil Editions. These are priced at a relative premium, even compared to the hardcover versions; roughly double to triple the softcovers. Essentially requesting two of these Foil Editions will be the entirety of the Surprise Grab Bag. This is even more so in effect for foil covers or anything with limited print runs. Requesting these severely limits the scope for any remaining books to ‘grab’ for you. Note: Unless specifically mentioned, don’t expect this to be in your Grab Bag.
Multiple Grab Bags. Not unheard of, and definitely worth the time and effort for readers from the U.S. If you are requesting multiple Grab Bags, make sure you have two separate request lists, or you risk doubling up on titles. Does PB handle each request discretely (one at a time) or holistically by order? Unknown, but do yourself the favour and provide a unique list for each Grab Bag requested. They ask for 12-15 titles; I’ve certainly gotten away fine with just 10 suggestions, but I never ordered more than one at a time either.
Autographs. This is just a checkmark (Yes or No) and entirely up to you. Note this is the best way to get your books somewhat personalized.
Ideas for Special Wants. The VAST majority of the text is relegated to providing specific details on each game system and certain special books available. I’d recommend scribbling notes as you read through to isolate anything specific you may want to order; ensure you also mark the quoted value next to it (e.g. hardcover edition of game ‘X,’ ‘Y,’ or ‘Z’ are worth $50, $60, or $80 against the total). For items without a value, assume the MSRP or cover price from the website (check to see if currently on sale). It does a good job at helping direct buyers to titles they may be interested on themes within each game system
The Request Form. Essentially your ‘Wish List,’ you are asking for what you WANT, and not what you already have, as some have mistakenly done. The request is limited to product already in print, so don’t waste your time ordering TMNT, Rifts: Antartica, or others not yet at the printer. Limit yourself to items that are currently in stock (e.g. books, cups, art prints, book markers). Essentially, do a search of the details Kevin provided: if the book is listed, you can assume it is available. The specifics of the form, and some things to think about:
Wish List Box. Basically, where you can copy-paste your request. Simply type this up in Word (or similar) and copy it into the field. I suggest something similar to the following:
Note: As annoying as it may be, I include EVERY title I currently own, and double check to make sure the list is pasted properly into the field. Just a random example I threw together in Word below. This is the template I would Cut-and-Paste directly into the Wish List Box.
T-Shirt. This is a binary entry; either “no” or the size you would need.
Favorite Game. Just typing in your preferred Palladium Books game.
Autographs. This is just a checkmark (Yes or No) and entirely up to you. Note: This is the best way to get your books somewhat personalized.
Comments/Suggestions. Just a text box for you to enter whatever you would like. I can attest that Kevin and crew do certainly read and appreciate the positive commentary. I’d certainly appreciate a shout out, just to demonstrate some love for the blog (e.g. Scholarly Adventures Rifts Blog sent me here; or Scholarly Adventures Rifts Blog rocks!); no pressure, really. LOL
Final Note: As always, Kevin and his ‘elves’ may augment the order with some additional items not on the list. Typically, this means the occasional Rifts, art books or prints, card deck, bookmarks, etc. A true surprise!
Refine Request to Needs/Wants. For more targeted selections based on where you are looking to adventure, I developed a blog post to assist. With nearly 100 books just for Rifts alone, choosing the right books to stats from the overall list can be daunting. The suggestions simply help refine what I would consider Required, Recommended or Optional, based on where you are adventuring and what you hope to accomplish. To better inform your decision, each title links to a book review, providing a preview of what they contain.
International Shipping. This is really a bugbear for many, and typically the tipping point for whether someone orders directly from Palladium Books or not. There’s no sugarcoating the rampant craziness with international shipping. I’ll be honest, there have been several deals that I very much wanted, but passed because the shipping was as much or more than the books ordered. Add in conversion rate and things got crazy. This deal, however, allows us to get closer to a break-even point that makes it worth it. For Canadians, we are basically paying the cover price for the books, without paying taxes. It’s not as good a deal as our American cousins may be getting, but it’s certainly in the realm of acceptable.
Am I Ordering? In case you were wondering, yes, I will be making an order. Given personal finances and whatnot, I will probably limit myself to the single Grab Bag this year. I still have several books missing from a few of the games, and there are always some of the more esoteric options that draw some interest. I'll post up an unboxing post once I receive my order.
CONCLUSION
The reason for getting the Grab Bag is relatively self-explanatory, particularly for US residents. The value for what you order is tremendous. For overseas/international customers, it comes out closer to a zero-sum. It is certainly cheaper than ordering retail from their site directly; you get hit with the shipping, regardless. As a gift, filling holes in your collection, replacing worn out books, or trying a new setting, this is the deal I will always recommend. It is of particular value for a new GM looking for a starting package to launch your gaming group into Palladium Books games. I’m sure if you include this in your comments, this will garner Kevin’s attention.
So once again, if you are in the position to give a Christmas gift to yourself, gamer friends or family, the Palladium books Christmas Grab Bag is certainly an item that can give you that festive, holiday spirit and bit of a boost. It’s become something of an annual tradition for me, one I don’t plan on letting up so long and Palladium Books continues to offer it! So, what are you waiting for…. click the following link [Palladium Books Christmas Grab Bag] and get started!
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