Book Two: Old Ones is one of the most misunderstood books in Palladium Fantasy Second Edition. It looks like a monster book, but it isn’t. In this episode of The Summoner’s Circle Podcast, Vince digs into what the Old Ones really are, not bosses to be fought, but consequences that shape regions, magic, cults, and entire campaigns.
In this episode of the Summoner’s Circle, you get a straight, usable guide to making characters in Palladium Fantasy. Vince walks you through a better order than the one in the book on page 14. You start with the world overview on page 282 so you actually know where your character lives. Then you pick your race before you roll attributes, because races use different dice pools. That step alone saves mistakes and rerolls later.
Summoners make terrible fair fights.
And that’s exactly why they make some of the best villains in Palladium Fantasy Second Edition.
Most boss encounters in fantasy games are built around stats. Big numbers. Big attacks. Big hit point pools. You walk into a room, roll initiative, and see who drops first. Palladium can do that, sure, but it shines when the fight starts long before anyone draws a weapon. Summoners live in that space. They prepare. They choose the ground. They don’t fight alone. When players finally confront one, they’re not just fighting a character, they’re fighting a situation that’s been waiting for them.
Stop treating travel like a loading screen in your Palladium Fantasy games.
I used to be that GM. You know the one. You leave town, maybe fight a stray goblin, and then boom; you are at the dungeon. It was boring filler. But then I actually read the sourcebooks like Northern Hinterlands and Baalgor Wastelands. Palladium does not want travel to be easy.
While I run my own podcast about Palladium Fantasy, called the Summoner's Circle, I have discovered this podcast on Spotify, called "Death Head Taco Truck" -- going as far back as 2022! This podcast is exactly what any Palladium fan needs to hear. Its just two guys, sitting around discussing all things Palladium. Episode are anywhere from a quick 5 minutes to over an hour. I have some catching up to do here!
While my podcast focuses on Palladium Fantasy 2e, these guys tackle it all. From Rifters to the very books themselves.
I believe they are actually recording in a truck? I am not sure. Some might be turned off by the, what sounds like put their phone down and hit record style, I assure you, I am not. Its exactly what I love about it.
Its just two fans, showing their passion. There is no political commentary (like another palladium podcast), there is no judgement, just material with a clear focus by two guys who have been playing the game for years.
While I've provided a link above, here is the latest episode, listed as episode 71 -
Vince just dropped the fourth installment of the show. You can find this new episode on Apple & Spotofy Podcasts. It is a solo session where Vince gets into the complex side of magic.
I want to be clear about where the podcast is headed in 2026.
Yes, I want it to continue. The show is not ending. What is changing is how it runs.
This video reviews Monsters & Animals, one of the most useful books for Palladium Fantasy Second Edition campaigns. The focus is not on throwing random enemies at the party. The book exists to make the world feel dangerous, grounded, and consistent. It expands far beyond the core rulebook by covering common animals, regional wildlife, and deadly monsters, while also explaining how creatures behave in natural ways. Encounters feel earned because the creatures belong where they appear.
The review also highlights how Monsters & Animals supports campaign design. The Horror Factor rules reinforce that fear can matter before combat even begins. Creatures are tied to geography, climate, and behavior, which helps Game Masters build encounters that fit the setting instead of interrupting it. Every monster becomes part of the ongoing story rather than a disposable obstacle. This book is a strong tool for GMs who want consistency, tension, and believable danger in their Palladium Fantasy games.
This video review takes a hard look at Land of the Damned Two: Eternal Torment, one of the darkest books ever released for Palladium Fantasy. This setting is not about heroes saving the day. It is about the aftermath of war and the lasting punishment of those who earned it. The land is filled with curses, restless undead who remember their former lives, and souls trapped in an endless state of suffering. Every location reinforces the idea that justice here is permanent and mercy is rare.
Rather than breaking down rules, the review focuses on tone and intent. Eternal Torment shifts the goal from simple survival, as seen in Chaos Lands, to enduring consequences that never truly end. Victory often comes at a cost, and success can feel like another form of punishment. The book gives Game Masters a powerful setting where player choices matter, morality is uncomfortable, and death does not always mean escape. This is a campaign space for groups ready to face long-term consequences and live with the weight of their actions.
In this video, I review Land of the Damned: Chaos Lands, Book 14 of Palladium Fantasy, released in 2001. The book is framed as a GM weapon. It is designed to apply constant pressure on both players and Game Masters. The setting presents the Land of the Damned as the most dangerous region in the Palladium world, functioning as a vast prison filled with demons, monsters, and corrupted races left behind after the chaos wars. The book is clear about its intent. Careless characters are meant to die. Survival is the real victory, while treasure and power come second.
The book opens with deep historical and mythological material covering the chaos wars, then moves into a harsh geographical breakdown that emphasizes environmental threats such as brutal cold and avalanches. A large section focuses on monsters built to wipe out unprepared parties. A rumor system feeds players false or incomplete information to keep them uncertain. The book also explores hell territory, introducing demons and infernal politics that connect directly to the wider Palladium megaverse. The final section centers on adventure design, encouraging GMs to remove safe havens, friendly towns, and guaranteed escape routes. This is an endgame setting for experienced groups who accept character death as a real outcome and want danger with lasting consequences.
