Steve Jackson's Blog, page 123

July 13, 2022: GURPS Bundle Of Holding Offers End Next Week

The GURPS 4E Essentials at Bundle of Holding offer comes to a close next Monday, leaving you very little time to take advantage of this incredible bundle of core GURPS titles. As if that isn't enough, though, there are also Fantasy and Space bundles that provide even more PDFs for your roleplaying library.

If you're new to GURPS , the bundles are an amazing introduction to the game. If you're someone who has only been adding the print titles to your collection (easier than ever with GURPS on Demand ), then the bundles are a great way to secure digital editions of several books as an unbeatable price.

Please visit Bundle of Holding to learn more about these and other RPG deals.

– Phil Reed

Warehouse 23 News: Darkness Falls On A New Nation

Colonial America faced many challenges to its formation as a nation, including . . . monsters and madness? GURPS Infinite Worlds: Nightreign is a campaign setting for GURPS Infinite Worlds that outlines the deviance from reality that brought horrors to the world. Load your muskets, stave off insanity with some salt, and download this guide from Warehouse 23!

July 12, 2022: Pathfinder Revolution Kickstarter Campaign Launches On Monday!

Next Monday, with your support, we're bringing the Revolution! boardgame, designed by Philip duBarry, back in a new edition. Unavailable for a few years now, Revolution! plays unlike anything else we have published. Rather than dice, cards, or other randomizers, the Revolution! game is driven by skill and your ability to read the table. With no individual turns, the action in the Revolution! boardgame resolves as every players' decisions are revealed at the same time.

For this newest edition of Revolution! , we've partnered with our friends at Paizo to bring the city of Korvosa to your tabletop in a way you've not experienced it before. Better still, this is a true new edition of Revolution . . . our development team worked from the existing Revolution! edition – and expansions! – to reconstruct the game from the ground up to refine the play and carry only our favorite mechanics into this new edition.

The Pathfinder Revolution! Kickstarter campaign has only a single stretch goal, but it is a big one: an integrated five to six player experience! If the goal is unlocked, then we will print the gameboard and bidding boards double-sided – and add the components necessary to support up to six players – making the game fully playable as either a three or four player game or a five or six player game. In the earlier edition of Revolution! , playing with five and six players required an expansion. IWe hope for enough support to simply include that option in the core game.

Your support can make this a success! Please follow the Pathfinder Revolution! Kickstarter page today and join us on Monday, July 18, when we open the project for funding.

– Phil Reed

Warehouse 23 News: Drive Like There's No Tomorrow!

What if heroes could get access to any number of interesting vehicles . . . in return for a few comments? GURPS Boardroom and Curia: Tomorrow Rides outlines just such an organization, including its history, details of this unusual arrangement, and options to include the company in different eras or campaign frameworks. Get behind the wheel (or yoke, or control panel), thanks to a download from Warehouse 23!

July 11, 2022: Votey McVoteface

And every so often, something happens that gives me hope for the world – like the prospective winner of the "I Voted" sticker contest in Ulster County, NY.

– Steve Jackson

Warehouse 23 News: Smash Faster!

Delvers to Grow: Strong Delvers starts with the Core Book and pumps it up! Make fighters, barbarians, holy warriors, and more for the Dungeon Fantasy Roleplaying Game, quicker and easier than ever before. Strengthen your game at Warehouse 23!

July 10, 2022: One Roll Quest, A Micro-RPG By Steve Jackson Now On Kickstarter!

Technically, you can grab One Roll Quest right now from our online store, Warehouse 23. We know many of you prefer to get as much in one shipment as possible these days (understandable, with the way postage rates keep climbing), so your best deal on this game at the moment is the $15 reward on the One Roll Chronicles Kickstarter campaign that comes to a close tomorrow.

What is One Roll Quest ? This tiny, fast-playing roleplaying game was designed by Steve Jackson and includes everything you need for the fastest RPG session you'll ever experience. Each player selects a character card and then the One Roll Quest six-sided die is tossed to generate all of the results necessary to run through an RPG adventure of your own design. The game's included prompts give you just enough guidance to trigger your imagination; all of the story details are made up by you and the others at the table after you resolve the dice roll.

One Roll Chronicles brings way more to the table. With this adventure, you'll roll the die more than once before the game comes to an end. Even with more rolling of the dice, the core rules remain the same: roll the die, read the results, and then spin a tale to fill in the gaps.

One Roll Quest is far from a serious roleplaying experience and One Roll Chronicles continues the silly, over-the-top joy of the original game. As an added bonus, the Kickstarter supporters have unlocked One Roll Pizza , One Roll Dragon , and the postcard-sized game, A Slumbering Dragon . 

Join the One Roll Chronicles Kickstarter campaign today! The project offers both PDF and print rewards, making it easy for almost every single one of you to participate in the tiniest, lightest, and quickest roleplaying game we've ever published.

– Phil Reed

Warehouse 23 News: This Issue Goes To 11!

Sometimes you need gaming excitement that goes a bit over the top. Pyramid #3/102: Epic adds all-out war to GURPS Dungeon Fantasy , cutting-edge technology to GURPS Spaceships , and more. Extreme excitement is just a download away from Warehouse 23!

July 9, 2022: Kickstarter, Survey Deadlines, And Refunds

Over the last few years, we've been developing our Kickstarter survey policy and continuing to refine the process as we gain crowdfunding experience. We set a deadline date – a day on which surveys must be completed – and issue refunds to accounts with incomplete surveys after that date. Why do we do this?We need to complete campaigns. Stragglers who don't complete their survey cause significant and stressful trouble for our team. I wish we were exaggerating, but to this day we sometimes see a survey completed for Munchkin Shakespeare or the Ogre Designer's Edition . Surveys coming in months and years late leave us trying to figure out how to even deal with the response. And open crowdfunding campaigns make it difficult to close the financial books on a project.Fulfillment becomes a challenge if we do not set survey deadline dates. By setting a deadline and dropping those backers who neglect to complete their survey to the 'No Reward' level, our team can handle the packing and shipping of rewards all at once. It may take days, weeks, or months to wrap up the fulfillment, but by setting deadline dates and removing incomplete backers from the process, we can minimize the chances of mistakes and delays.For those reasons, we set firm survey deadline dates. We often announce the deadline in a project update, and then post reminders at times as updates between the opening and close of the surveys. In our experience, we cannot post too many "finish your survey" updates, especially when we get close to the deadline date, because they mostly generate emails from those who have completed their surveys asking "Did I complete my survey?" This takes staff time and energy to say "Yes, you're fine" . . . but brings very little response from those who have neglected to complete their surveys at that time.

What does generate a response from those with incomplete surveys? Issuing the refund through Kickstarter . . . at which point it is too late . Once we make the refund through the Kickstarter system, the task is over. We issue an 85% refund to those backers who do not complete their surveys by the deadline. Why 85%? Kickstarter and credit card processing fees take approximately 10% of the funds, which we do not get back when we issue refunds, and the other 5% is to help cover our costs of resolving incomplete surveys.

We do not want to issue refunds and remove backers. In a perfect world, all surveys would be completed by the deadline date so we don't have to invest energy into processing refunds and dealing with the "but I want it" messages. But we've learned that we have to issue these refunds so we can move on with business.

We very much want your support when you spot a project you like, but part of that support must include following through and completing your survey by the deadline date. And if you back a campaign, please read the project updates. We announce survey deadlines in updates – and those updates exist to notify you of a project's status. 

Please follow us on Kickstarter – Steve Jackson Games and Warehouse 23 – to receive notice when we launch new campaigns.

– Phil Reed

NOTE: The below screenshot was captured after this Daily Illuminator post was written. The Kickstarter campaign closed on March 10, 2017 . . . and yes, this email was received in June 2022. Our survey deadline and refund policy is necessary, if only to maintain our own sanity.



Warehouse 23 News: Hire Heroes

It feels good to be a hero! And it feels even better when you're getting paid to do it. GURPS Action 7: Mercenaries adds insight and options for GURPS Action adventurers for whom heroism is a job. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

July 8, 2022: Roe v. Wade

I know I was not alone in my anger when the Supreme Court ignored precedent, decency, and the majority voice, and overturned Roe v. Wade.

From all indications, our other civil rights are in for an equally hard time under the theofascist minority in power. I'm worried. I mean, personally worried. I am white, male, reasonably well off, straight, and old, and I am threatened by this Supreme Court. I can only imagine how others less privileged must feel. What's next? A federal binary gender standard that just incidentally wipes out transgender treatment and gay marriage? Further criminalization of voter aid when the voters in question are minorities? A national tithe? Don't laugh. I've heard all these mooted by people far closer to power than they ought to be.

All I can do as a citizen is vote, encourage others to vote, and give money to honest politicians. I could write letters, but what's the use? I'm in Central Texas. My Congresscritter is doing the right thing already. My Governor, my Attorney General, and both my U.S. Senators are bought and paid for by the people who brought you Donald Trump and Fox News.

What I can do, with the support of the Board of Directors of Steve Jackson Games, is to try to help any of our staff who are affected by what is going down.

Note that this is NOT an announcement of a simplistic "we will pay to get abortion patients out of the state" policy. I think such policies are goodhearted but flawed. I don't believe that a woman's choices should be between herself, her doctor, and the personnel department.

What I am saying is that if and when our people or their families are hit by ANY manifestation of this new, bad, overreaching Supreme Court and the other power-grabbers that are threatening our country . . . we'll help. This might mean -Making it as easy as possible for someone to move out of state, or out of the country, and keep their job here. We already telecommute a lot; we can do it more.Helping someone affected by one of the mass shootings that the right, and the Court, seem to be fostering out of sheer vicious perversity.Helping someone accused under a bounty-hunter law.Helping someone accused of a "voting offense" just for trying to vote.And yes, helping someone travel to a decently rights-respecting jurisdiction for a personal reason. And I don't have to know the details myself; if someone can bring themselves to chat with any member of the Board, those details can stop right there.We are also making a donation to the Lilith Fund. And, because we are who we are, we're doing a T-shirt. Like the Ukraine shirt, it will be sold as a POD. All proceeds will go to the Lilith Fund. The shirt will feature Flower – she's our female face! – but it will not have Munchkin branding or a game rule. Details, like "how to buy it," will follow.

Wear it to demand freedom.

– Steve Jackson

Warehouse 23 News: One Page Of Battle!

Can you survive the Battle of the Bulge? This game started as a challenge to see if we could design a wargame and keep the rules down to a single page! Years later, it has been reproduced in all its glory, and you can pick up a copy of One-Page Bulge Pocket Box today at Warehouse 23!

July 7, 2022: Comunicado Aos Brasileiros! / Calling Brazil!

Douglas Cole, da Gaming Ballistic, está com uma campanha de financiamento coletivo para uma tradução em português brasileiro do seu livro de Combate Épico . Recebi informações de que algumas pessoas estavam questionando se este projeto é algo "de verdade". Ficamos felizes em saber que o público se importa em saber o que é ou não uma licença oficial, portanto: • Esta é uma licença oficial. O Doug é meu amigo e faz um bom trabalho. Deem uma olhada em algumas das outras coisas que ele já publicou no site www.gamingballistic.com. • A Gaming Ballistic, na verdade, é atualmente a ÚNICA empresa com licença GURPS . Sou bem exigente com relação a quem pode colocar nosso logo nas coisas. • Espero que essa campanha seja um sucesso, pois infelizmente a demanda do mercado Brasileiro não está sendo atendida. • E aqui está o link para um entrevista que o Douglas dará ao vivo em um podcast amanhã: https://fb.me/e/23GAp6n51 ---------

Douglas Cole's Gaming Ballistic is crowdfunding a Brazilian Portuguese version of his Fantastic Dungeon Grappling book. It has come to me that questions have been raised about whether this is "for real." We appreciate the concern about what is and is not an official license, so:

• This is an official license. Doug is a friend and does good work. Check out some of his past releases at www.gamingballistic.com.

• Gaming Ballistic is, in fact, the ONLY company right now to have a GURPS license. I am really picky about who gets to put our logo on things.

• I hope the campaign succeeds, because the Brazilian market is sadly underserved.

• And here's a link to a live podcast interview he is doing tomorrow: https://fb.me/e/23GAp6n51

– Steve Jackson 

 

Warehouse 23 News: Dare You Face The Doom Alone?

Dark Lord's Doom is a programmed adventure for The Fantasy Trip that pits a squad of heroes against an evil Lord. Get ready for danger, thanks to Warehouse 23!

July 6, 2022: Car Wars Featured On Penny Arcade

Penny Arcade recently invited us to join their Twitch stream to play Car Wars Sixth Edition , and we sent Will with some of our studio-painted material to show it off! Jerry and the gang took to the destruction quickly, and you can catch the replay on their Twitch channel. There was a bit of an internet hiccup about halfway through, so you can think of it as a two-part episode! Considering the amount of carnage on the board, it's not surprising the internet connection took a stray bullet in the crossfire. 

You can get your own copy of Car Wars Sixth Edition on Warehouse 23, including all the bells and whistles like additional weapon card packs, miniature sets, and the big, bad Double Ace box! 

– Hunter Shelburne  new Twitch.Player("twitch-embed", { video: "1516904434" });  new Twitch.Player("twitch-embed", { video: "1516976468" });

Warehouse 23 News: It's Full Of Stars ...

And Goblins! The Munchkin Starfinder I Want It All box has all you could want and more! Take to the stars and fight Space Goblins with your Shadowstaff. Order today on Warehouse 23!

July 5, 2022: Warehouse 23 Hot Summer Sale Ends Today!

The heat this year has been brutal, so we've been using that to our advantage with the Warehouse 23 HOT Summer Sale, ending today! This is your last day to take advantage of some awesome deals and get some cool swag for free with qualifying physical orders. Check out the list of all those freebies down below. Spend $250 or more (before tax and shipping), and you get it all!

 

 

Freebies! 

(Included in physical orders only. And they're cumulative, so a $250+* order gives you ALL the things! While supplies last.)Randomly-selected Dice Set (polybag) in all physical orders of $15* or more Randomly-selected Pocket Journal in all physical orders of $25* or more Munchkin Alphabet Coloring Book in all physical orders of $50* or more. Randomly-selected Dice Set (Blister Pack) in all physical orders of $75* or more Randomly-selected Munchkin Mini-Expansion in all physical orders of $100* or moreScarf-N-Barf in all physical orders of $150* or more Deadly Doodles 2 in all physical orders of $200* or more Dungeon Fantasy Roleplaying Game Box Set in all physical orders of $250* or more *Total before tax, shipping, and handling

Get these deals before they evaporate! 

– Hunter Shelburne

Warehouse 23 News: Fast Meets Fast!

Delvers to Grow: Fast Delvers expands on the options in the Core Book , letting you make thieves, swashbucklers, martial artists, and archers for the Dungeon Fantasy Roleplaying Game  quicker and easier than you ever thought possible. Get it fast from Warehouse 23!

July 4, 2022: SJ Games Office Closed For The Holiday

Our office is closed today, and we hope you are off, too, and get to do something fun! Try not to blow yourself up, and pay attention to burn notices (unlike the Joker). We'll be back to our regular bat-channel shortly! 

Also, make sure to check out our Warehouse 23 Hot Summer Sale, which ends tomorrow!

– Hunter Shelburne

Warehouse 23 News: The Thorsz Wants You!

The mighty Thorsz is hiring guards – but the test is a killer. You must make it through his labyrinth full of traps, monsters, and other would-be guards! The Fantasy Trip: Death Test and Death Test 2 can be played by a single player or a group of up to four. Order now on Warehouse 23!