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 warboss wrote:
Yeah, I just read the non-update. I'd could gloat about calling the extension of the grab bag but it's just simple pattern recognition; they do it every time they have a big offer. Also, there is the long part about mental illness in the post that I can't help but think that it is there at least partially to elicit sympathy for Palladium. Now, I won't make light of the actual content because it is a serious issue but I can honestly say that I think so little of the company that I really was expecting a "so cheer yourself up by picking up a grab bag this season!" at the end. For once in 2015, Palladium exceeded my very low expectations and didn't include a tacky sales pitch within the same paragraph at least; they instead put in one or two carriage returns before continuing the hard sell on the next RPG book.

While they didn't put the sales pitch into the mental illness article, I do find it a little tone deaf to talk mental illness, put it at the very bottom of the newsletter (but as you point out, above the copypasta advertisements) instead of a place of prominence, directly below the two full pages of textual fellatio from fans, and to have the second bold headline of the page use a term that makes light of mental illness (UPDATE: We’ve been shipping like madmen). Sure, it's a minor quibble, I'm not clutching pearls and shouting "Won't somebody think of the children!" but these people are supposed to be professional communicators. They SHOULD know better. But three years of following this campaign, we know they don't.

But that's not to say the extension of the sales pitch isn't without funny. Of course it's not about them needing more money. Or even about wanting to give the fans more time. It's about their fans being so selfless and awesome that PB are being selfless and awesome by extending the sale. They also make mention of people who didn't know, or just forgot. Which is particularly funny to me, given how often he mentions it, over and over again across every Update they have. I specifically like the way he inserted the Grab Bag store URL into that entry four separate times, using four separate tags (this amazing offer, Palladium Surprise Package, Christmas Surprise Package, and Click here).

To me, he's Mona Lisa Saperstein (Parks and Recreation), and his fans are the long suffering Dr Saperstein. MONEY PLEASE!

I just found the whole mention distasteful. Why drag it into a commercial email? It's neither here nor there, which pretty much describe every bloody PB product I can think of.

They have extended the grab bags sale every year.

Well, it should be said: Merry Christmas to you all!

May we get a Wave 2 present one of these years.
I appreciate this twisted form of therapy we perform in this forum.
The cast of characters here I have grown to appreciate.
Hopefully the moderators can hesitate a little longer before a lock... this kickstarter may take a while to finish if at all.

Well, maybe Rick got his Christmas gift from PB, we can always look on the bright side to his $120 and some measure of closure to his rants (it could not have been good for him).

I really should have sent that lump of coal to PB... ah the regrets, Rick may be right about that apathy thing.
There is always next year, or I can borrow a page from PB and do Christmas in July!

Maybe I will spread Christmas cheer and buy that one lonely, long dusty, RRT box at my local hobby shop, just to do them a favor.

Bye all.

Well lets forget about PB for a little while

Merry Xmas evryone and hoping ypu and yours have a wonderful time

Merry Christmas. Kevin bless us, everyone.


That out of the way, if you are in the US and you have some leftover Valkyrie bits you don't want, please let me know. I'm mostly looking for the fighter and guardian sprue spare heads, forearms and extra missiles. I can't really justify paying much more than shipping, but I can trade stuff. Anyone interested?

If nobody else can hook you up, let me know. I'm in the frozen north, but sending some spare bits wouldn't be particularly expensive.

 Forar wrote:
If nobody else can hook you up, let me know. I'm in the frozen north, but sending some spare bits wouldn't be particularly expensive.

Thanks! I appreciate the offer.

Well it's finally official confirmation to what a lot of people have suspected over the years, Uncle Kev isn't quite right in the head.

Not going to bag on it as it's a serious condition, but manic depression bipolar disorder does explain a lot.

Uh huh. Conveniently whipped out as a shield as more and more people get tired of his crap.

How shocking.

Disgusting, really.

I actually have less sympathy for PB now.

wait Kev is manic/depressive bipolar? whered this come from?

ok did some more tweaks on my Lancer 2's my version 7's are on the right while version 8 is on the left, also the VHT cannon is new new version to clear up some issues, your thoughts ?




Also my latest Cat's Eye painted up:

chaos0xomega wrote:
wait Kev is manic/depressive bipolar? whered this come from?

I'm not sure if that is the condition he has had to deal with or if people are making armchair diagnoses, but he admits to having depression and participating in therapy (and I can't fault him for that, it's important to get help if you're struggling) in the latest PBWU.

Below his carnival barker Giftbag whatsit, and all the accolades from fans, and above the cut and paste catalogue.

chaos0xomega wrote:
wait Kev is manic/depressive bipolar? whered this come from?

People have been stating for years that his actions are a bit erratic and tend to swing in extremes, which is often an indicator of those disorders.

Then in the latest PB slop pile:

http://www.palladiumbooks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=822%3Apalladium-booksr-weekly-update-december-23-2015&catid=52%3Aweekly-updates&Itemid=183

Surviving Depression, especially at Christmas time

The holiday season is a time of joy for most people, but for some it is a time of spiraling darkness that threatens to consume everything.

I’m writing this for you: The people lost to depression. Please don’t give up. I have had my own struggles with depression. I was able to find my way out, but I know many people – dear people – still engulfed by depression. A few seem lost in it and I worry for them. Others fight a difficult and debilitating ongoing battle with it.

Part of the problem is our loved ones don’t understand depression or they are scared by it – or more to the point, seeing their loved ones change before their eyes. Fading away into the shadows and silence.

I think the average person thinks of depression as feeling sad and down, or angry. I mean, we’ve all felt depressed, right? We know what that feels like. Except that’s not “clinical depression.” For one thing, you don’t snap out it after a few hours or a bad day or two.

Depression is more like despair. I’ve heard depression described as being paralyzed, but that is not really accurate. You feel numb and disconnected. You have a sense of what’s going on around you. You know you should be doing something, but you are helpless to do anything about it. You can’t deal with it. You are there as a spectator to your own, slow motion 100 car pile-up that you cannot seem to avoid. So you do nothing, because you can’t do anything else. And that makes you more angry and sad. More despondent and overwhelmed. It is as if someone has stolen your joy. The spark that motivates you and makes life worth living.

Before long, you lose yourself inside your despair and problems – you shut yourself off to the world around you and the people you love. You don’t call. You don’t visit. They think it is because you don’t care, when it’s really you care too much. You feel worthless and you don’t want to burden them. Besides, you don’t know what help is available exactly, or what to do. And when you sink farther into the darkness, or a loved one tries to help, you get angry at them. You may snap at them, call them names, yell, or just snarl or moan and say, “I’m fine. Please, leave me alone.” Or “I can’t deal with this right now.” Before crawling back into some corner where you just want to be left alone.

Isolation is bad. Don’t close yourself off. Try to talk to someone. Anyone who cares. They love you. They need you. Try to find your joy. Anything that brings you joy. (NOT drugs or booze! That’s not joy.) And do NOT think this is the end. Don’t you dare give up. Seek help. You may need professional help. It is very, very difficult to snap yourself out of depression and come to functioning terms with it. In many cases, it’s impossible without professional help – especially if your depression is the result of a chemical imbalance inside of you or emotional trauma.

Please do not be ashamed of needing help. If you had the flu or broke your arm, you would see a doctor. THIS IS NO DIFFERENT. Even today there remains a stigma about seeing a therapist and/or psychiatrist. The first talks and helps you come to understand what you are going through and ways to deal with it. The second is a medical doctor who prescribes medication. Don’t make excuses for not getting help, that’s the depression tightening its grip on you. Fight it. No, money is not an excuse either. Find a free clinic, talk to a friend, a family member, a priest, your flippin’ family doctor, anyone who can help you – who can toss you that life line. Do it. And if you are feeling suicidal, call the free programs. Call a loved one. Life is precious. YOU are precious. Help is there.

Tens of millions of people (probably more) suffer from mental illness. Oh, there is that ugly, ugly, word, “mental illness.” You may be thinking, “I don’t want mental illness.” Well, you don’t want cancer either, but if you had it, you would go to the doctor, get treatment and fight like the dickens to beat it. This is no different. If the word is too horrible and embarrassing, call it something else, something with less of a stigma, but please get help for it.

Maybe this will help you: I, Kevin Siembieda, have seen a therapist off and on for years; Rob Justice, a great guy. We even became friends. He helped me beyond measure to get through some very difficult times: My divorce, the Crisis of Treachery and other things. Before that, my son, Adam, was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder and we saw a family counselor who helped. Erick Wujcik battled manic depression his entire life. His periods of depression, usually lasting 2-3 years at a time, were terrible for him, but he fought through it. Never gave up. Found what gave him joy and kept him going. Erick is the one who introduced me to Rob. Palladium editor, Alex Marciniszyn, has managed his anxiety and depression for more than 30 years now. You can too. Trust me. Trust us on this, you can make your life better.

The hustle and bustle of Christmas, the stress of family, the joy all around you that is somehow eluding YOU, can push you into despair and suicidal thoughts. Please, don’t. Please, seek help. Please, turn to the people who love you, as well as seek professional guidance. People care. I care or I wouldn’t be putting myself out there and writing this. You are not alone. Things can get better. It might not be easy, but it is worth the fight. You don’t need to be strong. You don’t need to hide your secret depression (just the opposite), but you do need to fight it and find help. To find joy again.

Hang in there and may the holidays bring you joy and hope and love. Merry Christmas and a better New Year.

– With Love and Concern, Kevin Siembieda

Asterios wrote:
ok did some more tweaks on my Lancer 2's my version 7's are on the right while version 8 is on the left, also the VHT cannon is new new version to clear up some issues, your thoughts ?

My thoughts would be that this belongs in the Dakka P&M Blog section.

~Eric

Yeah, the depression card is a bit of a half attempt.
He points to the various events as his problem rather than something he may have from within.
Papa Kevin is concerned for the rest of his challenged fan/friends.

It is so nice to point out the problems others are having and he is so concerned when most of those problems may have been caused by Kevin, still thinking he is a Narcissist, these other conditions just do not wash.
He went to see a family counselor after finding out his kid has ADHD... my eldest does, you just need to learn some new teaching techniques and see what can be done to mitigate his challenges.
Just a different way of thinking, at least it is an understandable "condition", a fully functioning way of life, just different from the norm.

I am sure as things get under pressure for him we will see the great wall of text and it may be a "poor me" session until he feels confident enough to blame someone for the troubles.

I just want wave 2. I don't really care for his situation at all. Normally, I would but in all honesty, the stuff that PB has done under Kevin has made me not give a damn.

He really has dug his own grave. When he talks about working hmself to death, its not on things that are creative, they are standard business side things. He NEEDS to recognize he's no longer advancing the company, he's just doing day-to-day, and he's overwhelmed and overworked. Delegation is the only thing that will get his company back on track, but he's too much about himself he will never do that, and the company will continue to shrivel, and eventually die with him.

Just checking in, can I assume wave 2 is inbound on the same boat as plastic battle sisters and WHF 9th starter sets?

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Just checking in, can I assume wave 2 is inbound on the same boat as plastic battle sisters and WHF 9th starter sets?

Yes, it's all on the Eldridge.

Joyboozer wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Just checking in, can I assume wave 2 is inbound on the same boat as plastic battle sisters and WHF 9th starter sets?

Yes, it's all on the Eldridge.

I had to google that.

Kudos.

How hard is it really to run that business?

I almost found myself listing all the menial tasks.
It is all no big deal, just a bigger version of your own finances.

The only time it gets stressful, just like in your own life, is when money is tight.

They do not advertise.
They do not innovate.
They do not broaden their IP product base beyond RPG (RRT is almost an exception but it is treated like the black sheep).
They do not expand their staff with new skill sets (or they do not last long).
They do not handle criticism in a professional way (respond with a viewpoint, accept and take action...).

The company has problems because it is run as a dysfunctional person would run his own life.

So neighbor Kevin had a great idea for some thingy's he wanted to make, we wanted some too and gave him some money with the understanding we get some.
He got distracted by something shiny and was also very happy to have some money on-hand so was in no hurry to finish his project.
So he is busy trying to not make eye contact or run into the house every time we go out to mow the lawn.
At some point he will have to do something but he is hoping we will forget.

I just get upset when people try to make things seem harder than they really are to justify their own inflated opinion of themselves or at least their "image".
Usually when someone has a grip on a company that tight is because they do not want to be discovered of how much of a sham they really are.

Anyway... yes, wave 2 talk would be very nice.

So, wild ass guesses welcomed. Think we'd get anything concrete for the first possible update in 2016? It's coming up in 2 days.

Still grab bag season. Nothing else is getting done.

 Lynx7725 wrote:
So, wild ass guesses welcomed. Think we'd get anything concrete for the first possible update in 2016? It's coming up in 2 days.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA

I haven't laughed that much since they had the vote to sell at Gencon, then missed it by a mile, thanks.

He's really hit 'rock bottom' if he's trying to hide behind a legitimate serious illness.

It is rather despicable to attempt to do this too as depression is something that affects many, many people.

Which is not to say that he doesn't suffer from it, but it is more than a stretch to bring it up now, after...how many days since the last meaningful Wave 2 update and after how many broken promises?

 Talizvar wrote:
How hard is it really to run that business?

Actually, as some one who runs a business, yeah it can be pretty hard.

However, he needs to say something about Wave 2.

 Alpharius wrote:
He's really hit 'rock bottom' if he's trying to hide behind a legitimate serious illness.

It is rather despicable to attempt to do this too as depression is something that affects many, many people.

Which is not to say that he doesn't suffer from it, but it is more than a stretch to bring it up now, after...how many days since the last meaningful Wave 2 update and after how many broken promises?

Sounds like a reason to check the scoreboard!

Days since Wayne said he'd give us a full breakdown on the status of all the pieces: **175**
Days since the last substantial Wave 2 info: 305
Days since the campaign ended: 955

Days until the end of Q2 2016: 183 (current "ideal")
Days until Gencon 2016: 216
Days until the end of 2016: 367

Usual caveats and addendums apply (CNY etc).

Nearly six months since we were supposed to get a rundown of the project, and 10 months since they showed us anything substantial. That's not a coincidence or an accident, they don't want to show us something. I don't buy for a second they could both put a year and a half of hard hours into this (yes yes, I'm aware of the breaks for Gencon and grab bags and stuff, point stands) and simultaneously have nothing tangible to share.

 Easy E wrote:

 Talizvar wrote:
How hard is it really to run that business?

Actually, as some one who runs a business, yeah it can be pretty hard.

However, he needs to say something about Wave 2.

Oh, running a business is surely a lot of work.

But when a company constantly brings up how many decades they've been at it, presumably they've refined most of the day to day stuff down. They don't get to bank on that experience and then hide behind 'omg this is just soooo haaaaard you guyyyyyyys'.

And let's be real, they release like half a dozen books a year (including the Rifters, which are submitted material), it's not like they're writing and editing a prodigious (or even particularly impressive) amount of material week to week.

Yup, most of us are ending 2015 just like we did 2014... waiting and wondering about the Robotech wave 2 rewards. The only new thing this year is wondering if the year end weekly update will contain a public service message about the importance of yearly prostate exams for males after age 40 (Palladium's demographic) bookended by sales pitches for grab bags and the next rifter issue.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Forar wrote:

Sounds like a reason to check the scoreboard!

Days since Wayne said he'd give us a full breakdown on the status of all the pieces: **175**
Days since the last substantial Wave 2 info: 305
Days since the campaign ended: 955

Days until the end of Q2 2016: 183 (current "ideal")

So many pathetic tipping points and milestones that we're about to reach. For instance, we're approaching 1,000 days since we pledged but yet only have about half the sculpts that we were promised. We're also just 4 days away from reaching the equilibrium between the days they'll have left to fully deliver wave 2 in their current sham schedule and the number of days since they promised to give us a meaningful update on all the pieces.