A terrible day
In recent weeks, game designer Carmen Bellaire began talking online about the Rifts® board game he has been developing under license. His planned upcoming Kickstarter will launch it and his own company.
On Friday morning he came here, to the RRT Kickstarter comments pages, and made what he had intended to be a post to drum up support from backers of our Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Kickstarter project. It didn’t go well, to say the least.
Carmen’s awkward words might have seemed out of context and harsh. They were fueled by comments and accusations people had been directing at him here and elsewhere for a while now. Somehow, he thought he was helping by coming here to speak to people directly.
I don’t know why Carmen Bellaire said what he said, in the way that he did. I know he has been pushing himself much too hard, and was emotionally drained and physically exhausted when he made those posts. That might explain some of it. He can also be the proverbial bull in the china shop, and has a bad habit of not choosing his words carefully. A lot of his comments and observations about Robotech® RPG Tactics and Palladium Books were from an outsider’s perspective, and often incorrect or not clearly presented. Carmen’s viewpoint, like many of yours, is that of a concerned outsider looking in.
He had not been around Palladium Books much the past 3-4 years, because he was busy creating games for his own fledgling company, Rogue Heroes LLC, which he has hopes to launch in spectacular fashion with the Rifts® Board Game as his first release. This would be done via a Kickstarter campaign in April, 2017. In addition to this endeavor, Carmen works a full-time, 9-5 job, as well as doing freelance game design for Upper Deck. A lot of work for Upper Deck. It is my understanding that the many games he has designed for that company have yet to see release, but they have been keeping him busy and several are in the pipeline for release. Doing board games right takes time. I’ve learned that the hard way. Carmen is also doing work for at least two other game companies under a veil of secrecy. He cannot speak about them or identify the companies due to NDAs and the wishes of those companies. I’m not even sure if I’m supposed to mention Upper Deck. I have been doing so rather shamelessly, because I’m very proud of my friend Carmen, and I figured the folks at Upper Deck will be okay with it coming from me.
Carmen is a passionate person who feels things deeply. He has a heart of gold and a truly brilliant mind for games. The launch of Rogue Heroes LLC and the Rifts® Board Game is the culmination of his lifelong dream and a five or six year journey to make that dream a reality. He has made a lot of sacrifices, invested a lot of money, and worked his tail off to get here. He was excited beyond measure as he prepared to launch his Kickstarter for the game. And if it panned out, he had big plans for the future.
Carmen and I have not talked about him “fixing” Wave Two, as he put it. We at Palladium, and many others, believe the RRT rules are solid. That while they could use some clarification, expansion and tweaking, they are really quite excellent and damn fun to play. What Carmen and I have talked about is Carmen’s hope and dream that if the Rifts® Board Game Kickstarter is a big success, he can quit his 9-5 job and dedicate himself exclusively to creating games. It is a lifelong dream I have heard about since the first day I met Carmen 12, 15 years ago. A dream he saw finally becoming a reality. A dream he has put his heart and soul into making come true. So no, Rogue Heroes, LLC is not a front or shell company for Palladium Books, as some have suggested; it is 100% Carmen Bellaire.
His terrible opening post and further discussion about Robotech® RPG Tactics™ and Wave Two on the RRT Kickstarter board was fueled by his passion and hopes. If the Rifts® board game was a big success, and he really could quit his 9-5 job, he planned to help Palladium get RRT back on track, doing whatever he could to help. Carmen has all kinds of ideas for advanced RRT rules, new factions and new waves of product that we would love to see happen. But for the moment, he was still buried with other work commitments and needed to stay focused on the Rifts® board game and its Kickstarter.
What Carmen was trying to say and why
Carmen didn’t intend to challenge, threaten or blackmail anyone for support of his impending Rifts® board game Kickstarter. He was, in his own lame and awkward way, trying to say that his success with it would be good for the future of RRT, because he could be more involved and hopefully help make things happen faster in the future. He was trying to say, please don’t undermine his Rifts® Board Game Kickstarter, because his success would actually help RRT in the long run.
I know this is what he meant, because he called me Friday, early afternoon, very upset by the reaction of some people on the RRT boards. He apologized to me over and over again for upsetting people and fueling the vitriol when all he was trying to do was help. Help me. Help his upcoming Kickstarter. Help the fans. Help his family. Help everyone. And doing it by creating a fun Rifts® board game to be followed by many other games from his company, not just based on Palladium’s I.P., but many of his own brilliant ideas.
I understand why people are upset about RRT. What I cannot understand is the absolute hate and bloodlust of some, to destroy us, when we are trying to deliver the game they backed. Even more puzzling is attacking and destroying anyone who is affiliated with Palladium even in the slightest way, and shouting down and condemning others who don’t agree with their point of view.
What you need to know
Carmen Bellaire has put his heart and soul, and every dime he has, into the creation of HIS company, Rogue Heroes LLC, and HIS Rifts® board game. I say “his” Rifts® game because while it is Palladium’s I.P., it is ALL Carmen’s genius, money and blood, sweat and tears.
Vicious words of hate shocked and overwhelmed him.
Twisting the truth and twisting his, admittedly poorly chosen words, cut him to pieces. Carmen was never an employee of Palladium. He was a freelancer who worked off site, like all of our freelancers. He submitted the occasional book or contribution to a product like RRT. Carmen has never deliberately held back from making RRT great. Carmen was not trying to blackmail you to support his game. All he wanted to do was help, and he saw the Rift® board game as his way to start doing that. He wanted you to understand this. That your support for his Kickstarter – or at least not trying to undermine it – would enable him to help you and RRT, because he would finally have the time to devote to it, if he could quit his day job. He even shared his dream of being able to do a lot more work on RRT, Wave Two and future RRT releases, among other things. Carmen had a lot of big dreams and good intentions.
Crushed and shell-shocked by your heated words and promises to do everything in your power to ruin his Kickstarter, Carmen’s dreams were shattered. And why? Because he was friends with Kevin Siembieda and had done freelance work for Palladium Books off and on over the years.
He took your words to heart. Carmen believed you hated him. Believed you would work to destroy everything he had spent years building for himself, his family and for you.
In a telephone call on Friday, he had told me he had never experienced this kind of hate and venom. He was clearly reeling from it. He said it was beyond anything he could imagine. He apologized, saying that all he wanted to do was help. Instead he had ruined everything.
A short time later, at 2:07 PM, Friday afternoon, Carmen emailed me to say how much I have meant to him. That he was sorry he ruined everything by posting on the RRT board and stirring up unfathomable hate. He felt there was no way to undo the damage he had done. That he had ruined any chance for a successful Rifts board game Kickstarter and the launch of his company. That he had let his family down and every single person who was working so hard to make the Rifts board game and his company a reality. “I can’t take it, man ... I am so so so sorry. Good bye.”
Carmen tried to kill himself moments later.
It is only by the grace of God that his wife, a nurse, entered the room in time, that Carmen is alive. He is in the hospital, but in a bad way. He is a mess. The fate of the board game, his company, his dreams ... and most importantly, his life, are unknown. His family and all of us who know and love him are still in shock and praying to God that he will be okay.
Words can kill
On Friday, words on this board – cruel, vicious, condemning words – successfully crushed a man’s hopes and dreams and sent him spiraling into despair. Those words pushed him to the point of trying to take his own life. I would hate to think anyone may take pride in that.
I’m posting this, with the permission of Carmen’s family, because you need to know that words of hate, spite, cruelty and intolerance, pushed a good man – a husband – a father – a friend – to attempt suicide on Friday. A simple gaming geek like every one of us, Carmen worked hard to support his family, found joy in gaming, and dared to pour his heart into making his dream come true for the betterment of everyone.
Please realize that your words and tone may hurt another person as much as a bullet to the heart. Please, try to stop and think about what you say. Remember that human beings are fragile creatures. Try to find compassion and support for others, not tear them down. Try not to assume the worst or cast your assumptions and accusations against someone who does not deserve them. Not everyone is a bad guy. Not everyone is an enemy to be hated, attacked and ridiculed. Words matter. Lives matter. Kindness and tolerance matter. Perhaps more than ever before.
A friend asked me if Carmen will be okay. We don’t know. Carmen will be in the hospital for a while. We don’t know for how long. We don’t know if he will ever be the same. We don’t know whether he’ll return to game design and try to launch his company or the Rifts® board game in which he has invested everything. If not, that’s a tragedy of another sort, because Carmen has so much to offer. Before his suicide attempt, Carmen regarded game design as pure joy and tackled it with a childlike sense of wonder. All he wanted to do was to make games. After this, I don’t know.
I’m afraid this is not my most eloquent post. I am still shaken. I’m scared for him. Terrified. And saddened beyond words.
Please pray for Carmen’s swift recovery, emotionally and physically, and that Carmen is able to find the strength to once again follow his dreams and dare to try to make them come true. I want that not just for Carmen, but because he has a treasure trove of wonderful games locked in his imagination waiting to come out. Games that will bring joy and laughter to all of us.
I hope and pray there is a happy ending coming. Our love to Carmen and his family.
Kevin Siembieda
President, Palladium Books
There is no Wave 2 ! ! ! just now
Well congratulations Kevin you have destroyed Carmen's future in gaming and most other things, word of his attempted suicide has spread fart and wide over the internet even into places that have nothing to do with RPG gaming or even Robotech, now when people do a search for Carmen it will pop up about his attempted Suicide and such and he will be deemed a risk, you should have never done this post.
Forar 38 minutes ago
@Ronald: it's probably/hopefully intended as a sign of support. I wouldn't think too much about it. Facebook has long driven users to 'like' many things, even awful things, as a supportive sign. Some might be ironic, some might be heartfelt, it's best not to sweat that little number. Hell, some probably liked it because they knew it'd annoy other people.
That said, "Don't give the prick the satisfaction" is pretty good. Awful and tragic as this situation has become recently, it has led some to share their own battles, and I thank you for doing so. We all battle our demons in the privacy of our own heads, which is also often lonely and dark.
Ronald Ledwon about 1 hour ago
I HAVE MAJOR RANT RIGHT NOW! WHY IS THERE 66 LIKE ON THIS UPDATE! This sad what happen Carmen I'am NOT happy or would I put like on this update. Now Kevin have told the whole world what happen Carmen that he try kill him self ,now his future is in doubt because everyone in world knows. That going to hard to recover from. Kevin what were you thinking he was your friend now you have ruin him for life. I would at side helping him and his family not telling the whole world about it. WHAT THE HELL IS WITH LIKES are you people crazy. OK NOW DONE p.s. Carmen I hope you make it . I to came close to killing my self long long time ago a voice in head told me " Don't give the prick the satisfaction"
Robert "Nanobadger" Dixon about 1 hour ago
How about the real possibility that some of the 5342 backers may have died between the time this project was "funded" to now? How should we feel about that" How should KS respond it?
James Edwards about 1 hour ago
@Matthew Kevin and Carmen live in an echo chamber where only fan friends and true believers are allowed to be heard so I imagine the reality of how people feel towards them because of RTT came as quite a shock to the both of them.
Jason Scott about 1 hour ago
The possible loss of a life is never a good thing, but its a bit rich to claim that the comments on here were the cause for him to attempt to take his life, as who can truly know what was going through his mind, it might have been another factor that triggered him to attempt it. As someone commented as well, why come in and kick the hornets nest, and expect it to go well.
Blame should rest squarely on PB and KS, if it was fulfilled in a timely manner the game and community would have a more positive vibe or if he just admitted they stuffed it up and that they were trying to get a plan in place and have open and honest communication then things would be different.
Also he should have not made any comment about his KS in this one at all and let it run on its own merits.
Mike Barnstorf about 2 hours ago
@Brett
I cannot be in the interest of Carmen Bellaire, that his health situation is made public.
This is not some dumb NDA, this is a very seriuos matter.
@Carmen,
Hope you will recover soon.
Matthew S. Tomczak about 2 hours ago
First and foremost I want to express my sincere wishes to Carmen and to his family in the hopes of a speedy recovery...
With that said Mr. Siembieda, you should not have addressed this in the manner you chose. Regardless of the permission of Mr. Belleaire's family, this does not change the underlying issues that the Robotech Tactics KS has been mired in for so long. Another KS, for a different Palladium IP, will NOT solve the underlying mismanagement and poor planning that has prevented backers of this KS from receiving their product.
We have sat through multiple promises that Wave 2 is in-bound, that we will receive our product with no indication of what we were receiving or when we would be receiving it. There has been no communication of substance. Just a lot of empty promises while newsletters from Palladium remarks 'no news at this time' or 'we promise great things coming in 2017 for Robotech Tactics: Wave 2.
Does is surprise you that collectively we're upset, disillusioned, and bitter? Does it surprise you that we collectively would rather not be led about on broken promises and spend our funds on other projects with better communication and better track records?
There is enough blame going around to walk from here to the moon. However the name on the box is Palladium, not Ninja Division or Harmony Gold. Enough finger pointing. Step up, own the mistake and own fixing it. Stop finding blame elsewhere when the blame rests solely on the shoulders of your company.
Respectfully,
Matt Tomczak
David Moffatt about 2 hours ago
I still remember what absolute confidence I had when I backed this KS, because I thought of Palladium Books as the RPG company that wrote the amazing books I grew up with. Now all I can of is that Palladium Books orchestrated the most amazing train wreck I've been a part of, and now I can add that it actual drove a man to take his own life. That's quite a story, but not somewhere I would likely put my money again.
Brett about 2 hours ago
@TINW2. I'd rather the post stick around. Removing the evidence of someone's foul action does no good. Maybe they will see it every once in a while and feel shame or regret. I doubt it, but maybe.
Brett about 2 hours ago
@Forar, Oh, I know that there was probably a better way to present myself and there are other courses of action. The lack of value that some people have for human life just set me off a bit.
There is no Wave 2 ! ! ! about 2 hours ago
@ Brett by the way when I was threatened one of the things I did was what Forar suggested to you and reported him and his post, it was removed.
Forar about 2 hours ago
@Brett: I'm not saying you're thin skinned, or that you aren't allowed to vent.
I'm saying that there is a more productive manner of handling things, should you want it.
If you don't want to report people, cool. It wasn't just aimed at you, that was information for the handful of people who have shared similar sentiments here.
There is no Wave 2 ! ! ! about 2 hours ago
@Brett, yes that comment is in poor taste, but then again I once had a backer threaten my life on these forums too and that was a fan friend of Kevin's.
Nate Nieman about 3 hours ago
Very poor taste and judgment to post about someone's attempted suicide on the internet in a place where you knew it would generate churn and controversy. Even worse to attempt to turn it into a political point over plastic toys.
I'd suggest you use this forum for its intended purpose - RRT updates. Not advertising for other products, not personal issues, and most certainly not the medical condition or employment status of people you know.
daniel shchyokin about 3 hours ago
Kevin Siembada, I hope you realize that this is 100% your fault. You reap what you sow
Jorel Levenson about 3 hours ago
I predicted people were gonna go there on the facebook yesterday...pretty sad state when the ire against a man like Kevin makes people say things so dark....
Brett about 3 hours ago
@Forar, I know very well that we can't control what others say or do. And its not that I am thin skinned or sensitive. I am merely venting my personal disdain for comments that I feel are completely unwarranted
Brett about 3 hours ago
@TINW2 about 8 hours ago "Matt" said "You're a con artist and a fraud. Give us back our money and go show your 'friend' the right way to kill himself."
That. That is the stuff I have a problem with.
Forar about 3 hours ago
@Brett: problem is that we users cannot control what other people post. Yes, there's some selfish or short sighted comments, but I think much of that is fueled by frustration with the campaign and indignation at this ill conceived 'update'.
If you feel anyone has gone particularly out of line (myself included), here is the link where you can report a campaign or user for misbehaving; support@kickstarter.com
Provide the pertinent information (their name/profile link, the comments they've made that are inappropriate, when they were made, etc).
There is no Wave 2 ! ! ! about 3 hours ago
@Brett woah who said for Kevin to show his friend how to kill himself the right way?
Alex Clarke about 3 hours ago
Yea....
Kevin writes a 4000 character "all 5500 of you are to blame" letter and WE are the self centered assholes. LOL
Hold on while i cancel my cable sub, this is entertainment enough.
Brett about 3 hours ago
@James Edwards If you think the lack of toys, Loss of money, PB lying, being ripped off or any of that stuff is more important than a Man's life, then yes, I most certainly am holier than thou because you simply have no grasp of the difference between right and wrong. However, if you don't feel that way then my comment was not directed at you nor was it directed at anyone who disagrees with PB or Kevin or even those who gave Carmen a hard time.
Like I said- Kevin's post was not warranted. Carmen's post was a bad idea. The grief he got here wasn't that bad and I can see how people took his words (right or wrong) as a threat. HOWEVER, all of that and everything that has happened in this Kickstarter pales in comparison to some of the comments. Specifically the ones like "Help your friend learn how to kill himself the right way" and "I don't care about Carmen, where is wave 2" and the like. That's what I have an issue with.
Forar about 3 hours ago
I suspect many of the 'likes' are intended as sympathetic, especially with the heart there.
It's a stupid element of the user interface that I don't think they can shut off.
Probably best not to worry too much about it.
There is no Wave 2 ! ! ! about 3 hours ago
@James unfortunately Kevin has a following of rabid followers that they like anything he posts, without reading it, if he said that he was going to blow up the world they would like it, that is the Cult of Kevin.
Robert "Nanobadger" Dixon about 3 hours ago
@Michael Campbell
First off, this post by Kevin is unwarranted and unacceptable.
Second off, Carmen's posting on Robotech reads like a blackmail request and should never have been posted.
Thirdly, My mother is a gentle soul.
James Edwards about 3 hours ago
Why did 62 people "Like" this update?
Did you not read it?
Did you think, ohh cool, someone tried to commit suicide, gotta like that?
Someone is in a hospital in serious condition. There is nothing to like about that.
There is no Wave 2 ! ! ! about 4 hours ago
@Michael Campbell before you go jumping on people you might want to read the posts made by Carmen first., you might see things in a different light.
Eric Johnson about 4 hours ago
Kevin, come on, did you expect anyone to take your side in this? Really? Great way to use a tragic event to plug your company and your products. Way to go Palladium Games, way to use things to make folks feel like it's their fault, kind of like our last POTUS using kids to say guns are bad, way to go.
Michael Campbell about 4 hours ago
Wow people.
This community really is full of massive self centred assholes.
The fact that this happened is bad enough.
But this reaction? Man, fuck you people.
Eric Johnson about 4 hours ago
I feel bad when anyone attempts suicide, but for Kevin or anyone to blame us the backers of RRT...Come on. Really? We joined this Kickstarter as away to support Robotech, not Palladium's rebirth. We gave our money for a project that we wanted to see happen and yet after barley getting Wave One we have gotten nothing but excuses and bullshit. Every update had promised the moon and we never got of the ground. All we hear about is Rifts or how they are having issues etc...So yes folks are pissed off and tired. I am sorry that someone took the complaints so badly that it caused them to question their existence, but I am pretty sure there is more to the story then we know and for Kevin or anyone to try and Lay blame on us is pushing the grounds of libale and treading thin ice. Clearly Palladium has gotten in over their heads. And with past issues of employees stealing from them etc...They may want check their closets before tossing out crap. Also Kevin's little rant was nothing more then a plug for the Rifts board game and if anyone needs to man up and stop trying to manipulate folks it's Kevin. Provide the promised items and stop with Ponzi scheme.
And for those saying we the backers are at fault, shame on you. Over 10 times Kevin mention or LINKS Carmen's project in the damn update, and keeps point out how great said project was would or could, and then at the end of the rant, he goes off on us the backers, the ones who are sitting here going what the hell...if anyone needs blame and told to stop it is Kevin, HE is using this to further his company and to get us to feel sorry for Kevin and how tragic it is and how hard it can be to run a gaming company.
Tragic this is, but a lot of it would not be happening if Kevin and company had kept their promises and made good on things or admitted they got in over their heads, brought in others to help and gone from there, instead all we are bullshit promises and plugs for other PB games and systems, clearly Kevin and company do not have Robotech as a flagship system at PB and are doing it only to bring in money when they need cash fix.
And we are hating the player, because Kevin is playing us, he knew that Robotech would be jumped on, that folks would give money freely to see the game made, and boom off he goes with it. And looking at things in a critical way doesn't get us anything but more BS from a crapped out bull.
Where is Wave 2?!? about 4 hours ago
I hope you get well soon both physically and mentally, Carmen. Out of respect to you as a fellow gamer, I won't comment for now further on this update and the person who wrote it.
tv2112 about 4 hours ago
First off speedy recovery to Carmen. Second is, this a massive breach of HIPPA. I WOULD NEVER give written consent to have a "friend" post my private health information for the world to read.
Bill Briggs about 4 hours ago
Wow.
Having gone back and read the exchange (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rrpgt/robotech-rpg-tacticstm/comments…; thank you, Steven Labus and Forar), I have to agree with the general consensus: if this occurred as depicted, this is a tragic result of severe mental illness, probably undiagnosed, but obviously untreated.
The exchange started out in a negative light as Carmen, out of the gate, was aggressive and offensive. The only person in that exchange who should really be ashamed of anything that was stated was Carmen. Once he gets the treatment he needs, he should be able to see that as well. The exchange simply wasn’t that nasty.
As for blaming the backers, I, too, find this egregiously offensive. I must also agree with the general consensus that all of the blame must fall on your shoulders, Kevin. Your well-known penchant for spinning falsehoods and general martyr complex reduces anything you say to, at best, the views of an unreliable narrator. This, unfortunately, does cast the entirety of this “update” in the light of the possibility of being a fabrication, or that you’re only high-lighting salient bits of the actual event that can be used to try to evoke sympathy for you and your company while not providing us with the full situation that paints a complete picture. The possibility that this is a complete fabrication is also not outside of the realm of the possible, and you’re simply looking for sympathy. All of this is exacerbated if one reads the exchange and realizes that your words, in this update, are a flagrant falsehood about the vitriol that was aimed at Carmen.
If any of this is true then I hope Carmen makes a healthful recovery and is able to finally get the help and care he desperately needs.
Additionally, shame on you Kevin. I did not think you could sink any lower than you had. I am shocked and appalled that I could be proven so incredibly wrong.
Mike H
Superbacker
about 4 hours ago
I was not part of this exchange, however tragic the circumstances are about Carmen, the failure of Kevin to accept any responsibility for being the individual creating the current atmosphere is borderline sociopath behavior. Your endless weekly no news updates, and consistent misinformation is absolutely responsible for the mood hear, and certainly takes away all credibility. You treat Kickstarter like your own private investment fund, but you fail to share with us the truth, or any of the process.. If you bothered to spend 20 minutes looking at other projects even from large companies as to what they share with their backers, or the correct process in the nearly 4 years since you took our money you would understand what a complete and total shill you look like.
I had been very much a support of PB and you, but this last email is to far, I hope others like me report you, 4 years, you made a partial delivery true, 4 years and not one model from wave 2.. no pictures.. 4 Years, no honest open communications, 4 years, 1.4 mill well invested could have netted about $160K of compounded interest. 4 years and there is no sign you plan to deliver what you owe.
Then you write an email to all of us that was the result of 15-20 peoples comments, implying that the majority of us had anything to do with it? How dare you.
I think it's time the 5000 of us that have stayed silent, and quietly accepted your bullshit updates and clear failure to deliver on your commitments mobilize, this was the straw the broke the camels back Kevin, and you've woken the sleeping dragon. I'm going to report you, I'm going to urge others to report you, I'm going to file mail fraud charges with my local state, I'm going to urge others to, You've had $1,200 of my money for 4 years, you've made a small partial delivery, I have no proof that you have any intent of delivering any more of the 75% of the product you owe.
Had you taken any responsibility, it might have been different, but to place and put your misplaced sociopathic crap in my email inbox.. I'm done being silent.
Peter Hunt about 5 hours ago
Kevin, did you have the gentleman's permission to disclose the events? Even if you did, do you think he is able at the moment to make an informed decision?
Scarlet about 5 hours ago
@woodchuck
I strongly disagree, suicide shaming like that is part of the reason why it's hard for people to get help. It's not a selfish act (unless maybe you're Andrew Ryan and other people doing things you disagree with is "selfish").
Suicide is the result of one of two things: a compulsion that's beyond a person's ability to handle (mental illness) or a rational act based on circumstances (terminal illness, situations people find themselves in during war, etc). Neither of those things is selfish.
What is selfish is using someone's tragedy to try to sit on a high horse about how much better you are (hint hint Kevin).
Brian about 5 hours ago
This whole thing is a bunch of horseshit. "Words can kill"? Such crap. I read the comments. Nothing there would drive a person to suicide. This is just Kevin blaming the people who paid for RRT for wanting him to deliver on it.
"Why are you guys so mean, look you drove poor Carmen to this..." Shift the blame, buddy. Shift the blame.
bustapc about 5 hours ago
https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint
woodchuck about 5 hours ago
I'm going to have to put on my asshole hat and point out that suicide is both a stupid and selfish act. Carmen showed very little regard for his family and friends by trying to take his own life. I hope he gets the help he needs and if you're thinking of taking of suicide please seek help.
John stiening about 5 hours ago
Kevin,
This update is incredibly inappropriate. I do not appreciate the implication that I am somehow an accomplice to your friends suicide attempt due to my backing of your product. Most of your backers don't post here. I don't know what transpired, but you need to knock off this charade.
I hope your friend recovers. I hope you go out of business.
There is no Wave 2 ! ! ! about 5 hours ago
@Graham Bailey I don't think its a lack of Enpathy, its more about most of them don't know who he is, and are wondering why this update even existed here, this is something that should have been on PB's forums not here.
and then to compound on that is how Carmen did make his presence known with his comments of a couple days ago.
Ben Balestra about 6 hours ago
These words would carry a great deal more meaning if they were coming from anyone other then Kevin Siembieda, or any of his inner circle. Because I have been receiving end of nearly the identical situation described here, from KS, his staff, and his every shrinking circle of Sycophants. With out spending a large about of time describing the action of his Ex-Wife (who was free to act in any manner she wished on their boards), his moderator NMI, and other on their board. I was banded for a week for saying, in the sound off section of their board "That is because some MBA wanted to raise is profit margin"! Why was i band because it was declared a Racists statement! No I am not joking, that was there mods (MAC) actual though, because he felt that the word MBA could be replaced with Black, Woman, Gay, it make the statement Racists!!! Yes, and to this day I do no see how the statement is "racists" after the noun is replaced, but I am sure that if a statement can be such after changing the noun make is such, make the original statement racists, I could find thousand of such statements tough out Palladium books products!
But that was far from the end of it. A short time later (in March of 2008), I was band complete from the Palladium Boards. Why, because I quoted Kevin Siembieda! Kevin make a statement on a Podcast, and I quoted it in the Sound Off section again. Apparently this was something he said that he should not have, but rather then take personal responsible for it, they used me as a scapegoat! That is something I will not stand for. That got me band from Sound Off, but I ask about this rather then answer the questions, NMI would send my email back spell corrected (even when it no need to be), when I finally said "JUST ANSWER THE QUESTIONS, RATHER THEN ACT LIKE A THREE YEAR OLD", he says I insulted him (despite that fact that my doing was in was doing was an insult to me!!!) and band me from the entire board.
Maryann's, NMI's, and I suspect Wayne's actions were because the quote let some truth out of the bag, that KS and staff do not want to world/their fans to know. It not a hard conclusion to come to (especially with other publicly know evidence), and it proves they have been lying to their fans for years. I can't prove that, so I can't say what is it, but yet it is a very poor way to treat one fans.
But it did not end there, he "fans" (i.e. Sycophants) and Freelancers proceeded to disrupt the podcast I was part of. Ruining an event that was held on the podcast (and that was never ran again because of their actions), And in many was that is what led to there not being a 2008 Ennie Ward for Best Podcast. I would like to note that the Podcast I was part of, when on two win that award the next two years.
All that being said, it had lead me to another conclusion: KS is insulated from his fan for the most part, by NMI and Wayne (Maryann is no longer with the company, but maintain a presents on their boards, which her actions there also contributes to many of Palladium Books issues), and most of the rest of the Palladium Books Staff. I have some serious droughts that KS even wrote the above statement, that would mean he is direction involved in internet presents of Palladium Books, something that most of his staff claim does not occur.
Now if anyone is wondering why I was involved in this kickstarter after everything that happened between Palladium/KS/NMI/Maryann/Wayne and myself, because I was a Robotech Fan and really wanted the minis!
Also, I am sorry, but if an individual tried to commit suicide after an post exchange on an internet board, they had some serious mental issues long before coming to this comment room. Trying to make people feel bad for statement about their opinion of the situation they are currently in on this kickstarter, it just being a dick to your fans.
Forar about 6 hours ago
I see a lot of people saying "I haven't read the comments, but..."
No. Stop. Why are you expressing definitive opinions on something you've only gotten second hand info about from a notoriously unreliable narrator?
This link takes you to Carmen's original post: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rrpgt/robotech-rpg-tacticstm/comments…
Click "Show Newer Comments" and it'll cover the majority of the exchange, a mere 60 or so comments, many of them from Carmen himself. Yes, I have a comment in there as well. Judge it as you will.
Then decide if the 15 or so backers that he engaged with were hurling hateful vitriol and unacceptable invective, as Kevin seems interested in painting us all.
I hope Carmen receives the support and medical/psychological assistance he requires to make his recovery. But I am appalled by Kevin's attempt to emotionally manipulate the broad swathe of the entire backer base with this tragedy. Even accounting for a hefty influx of people checking things out as they progressed that day, I think we can safely say 95%+ of the backers had no knowledge of this even happening. This 'update' likely does more damage to Carmen's future career than anything else.
This is a new low in a campaign full of new lows.
I hope Carmen recovers and goes on to fulfill his dream.
And I hope Kevin manages to do a little introspection, unlikely as that may be. Yes, a heated exchange occurred. I wonder why that was?
Fleshharrower about 6 hours ago
Thanks for the the wonderful comment Jimmy Two Times.
HFBPereira
Superbacker
about 6 hours ago
Kevin Siembieda
Please, put your responsibilities where they belong, in your hands.
Your actions and irresponsibilities put your "friend" in a bad situation. Don't blame the Backers, we are victims, like Carmen, from your behavior with this project.
You are a terrible person, and to prove my statment you announce this horrible event in form to promote yourself and make us the villains.
Grow up, take responsibilit for you choices and actions.
By the way, my feelings to Carmen and your family, one more victim of this KS.
Graham Bailey about 6 hours ago
As disappointed and frustrated with KS & PB at the moment, and as inappropriate or ill-advised as some of the comments from KS & CB were there has really been no call for the total lack of empathy and genuine humanity from a number of assholes here in the comments.
You people should be ashamed of yourselves.
Graham Bailey about 6 hours ago
As disappointed and frustrated with KS & PB at the moment, and as inappropriate or ill-advised as some of the comments from KS & CB were there has really been no call for the total lack of empathy and genuine humanity from a number of assholes here in the comments.
You people should be ashamed of yourselves.
James Edwards about 6 hours ago
@Brett welcome to the forums Mr. Holier then Thou.
Fact is this isn't about "toys" because most of us figured out there aren't going to be any toys several years ago.
Its about one man & his company lying to supporters for over 3 years.
Its about one man & his company stealing from his supporters.
Its about one man blaming backers for his failures.
Its about one man using a friends tragedy for his own personal gain.
Its about one man never accepting any responsibility for his action or inaction.
Kevin came here and made this all about him.
Don't Back Palladium Books! about 6 hours ago
So, I should feel bad because your misdeeds spilled over onto another person's project and drove him to do something horrible?
As a survivor of suicide, one with bipolar and PTSD, screw you Kevin. I feel horrible about Carmen, but not because of your words. All they did was make me detest you more. All you know how to do is extort people and manipulate.
Your attempted use of this tragedy to silence the dissenters here is vulgar.