Steve Jackson's Blog, page 130

May 6, 2022: Pre-Order Steve Jackson's Munchkin Presents Batman Today!

If you missed the Kickstarter campaign, you have until May 19, 2022, to pre-order the Kickstarter edition of the game – at the Kickstarter price – at BackerKit. The shipment has left the factory and is slowly crossing the world to the fulfillment warehouse where games will be packed and shipped out to Kickstarter backers and everyone who pre-ordered at BackerKit!

Pre-orders for the Kickstarter edition are still priced at the Kickstarter price: $50. Once we close pre-orders, any remaining copies of the Kickstarter edition will be released through Warehouse 23 for $64.95. The retail edition of the game, which includes the same game minus extra accessories, is scheduled for release later this year.

Pre-orders are open to the U.S., Canada, EU, and UK. We are only shipping the Kickstarter edition of the game to those areas and no others.

You can pre-order at BackerKit right now!

– Phil Reed

Warehouse 23 News: Conan Versus A Traitor!

GURPS Classic: Conan - Moon of Blood is a solo adventure that lets you take the role of the legendary Cimmerian as he faces the shaman Zogar Sag . . . as well as the threat of a traitor within the Aquilonian forces! How this adventure unfolds is up to you . . . after you download it from Warehouse 23!

May 5, 2022: FnordCon Wrap-Up

FnordCon 5 came and went in a whirlwind and now that we've taken a breath, it's a chance to reflect on the convention and the fun that was had. First off, thanks to all the fans who made the trek to see us! It's been a long time since we've had an in-person event, and you made it all worth it. We not only had the opportunity to play games, but we previewed upcoming releases and even playtested secret Car Wars scenarios! A quick note since, everyone may not have heard my announcement: Your badge actually doubles as a flash drive and is full of even more bonus content! If you need help popping out the drive, check out Phil's quick video where he demos how to use the card. 

We are also super grateful for our special guests who ran their own events, booths, and panels. John Kovalic hosted signings and his own panel talking about art, his history in games, and he sketched some of that history for the fans. He even handed out custom-drawn prize tickets to a few lucky attendees! Turbo Dork not only had a booth in the painting area with Ben, but they participated in a panel and helped judge the painting competition. Doug from Gaming Ballistic brought the brand-new Nordlond Bestiary for  Dungeon Fantasy and held his epic games on our custom terrain sets. Fireside Games shared their industry insight during their panel as well. Thank you all so much for sharing your time and energy. A special shout-out to our MIB volunteer team who demoed games, ran tournaments, and generally kept the gears turning. And of course, huge thanks to our staff who helped prepare in the office, remotely, and in the warehouse for this event. 

Some fun facts: Our Munchkin tournament was won by Meghan, who played her first game of Munchkin at the very first FnordCon; how cool is that? We ended up with many entries for the painting contest and were particularly impressed with how many of the kids joined in – and how great their crabmen looked! And of course, Steve won all his "Steve Against The World" Ogre games, but did mention that the dice gods blessed him. This makes sense, as it is his game!

Returning to a live convention was definitely challenging, and we hope everyone had as much fun as we did. See you next FnordCon!

– Hunter Shelburne

Warehouse 23 News: Free-Form Magic . . . Or Free-Fun Magic?

GURPS Thaumatology: Ritual Path Magic is a powerful magical system that lets you come up with effects on the fly. If unfathomable power is something you'd like a little more guidance on, How to Be a GURPS GM: Ritual Path Magic has the insight you need. Download them both today from Warehouse 23!

May 4, 2022: Zombie Dice On Tabletop . . . One Decade Later!

How has it been a decade since the episode of Tabletop featuring Zombie Dice first went live? Ten years gone in a flash, but at least we can still enjoy those older episodes of Tabletop thanks to the power of YouTube and video streaming. A lot has changed in the last decade – in the world of gaming and the larger world in general – but at least we consistently continue seeing Zombie Dice in our annual top ten sellers list. That's a remarkable achievement for any title, and we are thankful each month when new players are introduced to this fast-playing dice game.

If you've never seen the Tabletop episode featuring Zombie Dice , or if you simply want to relive this classic gaming touchstone, check out the video! Then, if you want a second look at how to play Zombie Dice , don't miss this recent video by Watch it Played.

– Phil Reed

Warehouse 23 News: Mash Monsters

You're a champion who fights against the forces of darkness. But how do you do what you do? GURPS Monster Hunters 2: The Mission is here to help. It covers high-octane combat, a clue-based investigation system, various quick-and-easy systems to keep the game focused, insight into running a GURPS Monster Hunters campaign, and more. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

May 3, 2022: Last Day! Pirate D6 Dice Set Funding Ends Tomorrow

After a little over a week of funding, we're happy to report that the new Pirate d6 Dice Set project is scheduled to close successfully on Indiegogo tomorrow. This blister pack of six new dice is on track for release late this year, with the Indiegogo backers the first to receive the new dice . . . and the new Munchkin bookmark that works alongside these custom six-sided dice.

In addition to the Pirate d6 Dice Set , the Indiegogo campaign is also offering One Roll Quest , a new fast-playing game by Steve Jackson, as well as a chance as the Munchkin Booty boxed game.

Retailers, there's even a perk for those of you who want to stock the new dice and One Roll Quest in your brick-and-mortar store.

Please join the project before it comes to an end! And if you missed this, please keep an eye on Warehouse 23 later this year; we will open these for wider release once we finish shipping the Indiegogo perks.

– Phil Reed

Warehouse 23 News: Perhaps It's A Novelventure?

Is it a story? Is it an adventure? Or . . . is it both? (Spoiler: It's both.)  GURPS Classic: Deadlands Dime Novel 2 – Wanted: Undead or Alive starts with a story set in the Weird West, and then adds GURPS Deadlands information to run that tale at your gaming table. Who can stop Sean Bailey's revenge from beyond the grave? Find out with a download from Warehouse 23!

May 2, 2022: Jerry Corrick

On of my earliest convention memories with Steve Jackson Games was the kindness, humor, and generosity of Jerry Corrick. For many years, Jerry and the Adventure Retail team managed the bulk of our convention sales – especially at all of the biggest shows – and conventions were always more fun when Jerry was there exhibiting his love of gaming and gamers. From the exact change dance to tirelessly working behind the scenes to make every convention run as smoothly as possible, Jerry was an unstoppable force in game sales and always did his best to make everyone's con experience just a little bit brighter.

Last week, we learned that Jerry is no longer with us. This is a terrible loss to the industry, and those of us who worked with, gamed with, and had fantastic post-con dinners with Jerry are left with a hole that cannot be filled. Thank you, Jerry, for all you did and for your unwavering willingness to give us the benefit of your incredible experience and unending friendship.

– Phil Reed

Warehouse 23 News: Fight Monsters; Look Cool

Vampires, mummies, werewolves . . . must be a Monday. Become the hero the world needs to keep critters at bay, with GURPS Monster Hunters 1: Champions . Full templates for these mighty defenders make it quick and easy to get your GURPS game going. The download is from Warehouse 23; the garlic is up to you.

May 1, 2022: Giant Munchkin Level Dice Now Available

Last year, we created and released a one-pound Munchkin level die. Yes, a one-pound die. It is a monster and was a popular item with those who believe that excessive and ridiculous dice are an important part of any game. The red ten-sided die looked so incredible, and received such a wonderful response, that we've now released three more of these giant dice. Colossal Munchkin Level Die (Black) Colossal Munchkin Level Die (Blue) Colossal Munchkin Level Die (Green)We also slightly modified the package, including new Munchkin game cards with the giant level die. The red die didn't include these cards; only the three new colors come with these new Munchkin game cards that work directly with the oversized level die.

Our first shipment of these giant dice has arrived and we've listed them for sale at our online store, Warehouse 23. There's another shipment expected later this summer, and we will make sure to offer them in the upcoming Munchkin polyhedral dice Kickstarter campaign. We've not yet announced the Munchkin polyhedral dice project, though, so please keep that under your hat. It's a secret.

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

– Phil Reed

Warehouse 23 News: Fix The World

What's a post-apocalyptic world without things to do? GURPS After the End 2: The New World makes the "rules" part of gaming in the uncertain tomorrow easy, with fast-paced GURPS options for survival, fixing equipment, and various dangers to overcome. Getting it done begins with a download from Warehouse 23!

April 30, 2022: Hang Out With Us At FnordCon 5!

FnordCon 5 is in full swing, and we're packed with events and games from morning till midnight! And we're not just playing games; we're hosting secret playtests, making announcements, teasing upcoming releases, and more. If you aren't able to make it out, though, don't worry; you'll still get to check out some of these cool announcements!

Steve and Phil will be hosting their now-traditional What's New panel, where we talk about upcoming games and accessories, and we'll be recording this to post on YouTube later. You can also join us on the FnordCon Discord and hang out with fellow gamers during the convention. We won't have our normal host of digital events, but it's a great way to meet people who enjoy the games you like to play as well! It's a good idea to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, because we'll be sharing pics from the convention, which may include some secret stuff that we'll be announcing soon.

FNORD!

– Hunter Shelburne

Warehouse 23 News: There's No Devil Like Snow Devil

How dangerous could something named "Snow Devil Pass" be? . . . oh. Really? That dangerous? Huh. What if I'm the legendary barbarian, Conan of Cimmeria? Oooh, now that sounds interesting. GURPS Classic: Conan the Wyrmslayer is a solo adventure that pits you against a fearsome foe. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

April 29, 2022: FnordCon 5 Sale On Warehouse 23

Today marks the opening of FnordCon 5, our first in-person FnordCon in over 2 years! While we're enjoying the convention, we know a lot of folks can't be here in person, but we wanted to give you the feeling of the convention floor deals with a Warehouse 23 sale. And of course, there's SWAG!(If you're close to Austin, there's still time to drop by the convention!) This sale includes select items from our catalog, including special savings on several gaming zines in PDF: Pyramid Space Gamer Fantasy Gamer Autoduel Quarterly Click through to the sale to see the deals!The Free Stuff!(It's cumulative, so if you spend $125 or more on physical items, you'll get it all!)Print purchases of $30 or more include one free Zombie Dice score pad or Z-Shot score pad. (Random choice.)Print purchases of $50 or more* include a free The Fantasy Trip Dice Bag.Print purchases of $75 or more* include a free copy of Texas Roll 'Em .Print purchases of $100 or more* include a free copy of Scarf-N-Barf .Print purchases of $125 or more* include a free copy of Z-Shot .*Total of order (for physical items) before taxes, shipping, and all other fees.

– Hunter Shelburne

Warehouse 23 News: It's A Tale With Details!

It's a deadly game of cat and mouse, with the heroes trying to figure out the truth – or die trying! GURPS Classic: Deadlands Dime Novel 1 – Aces and Eights combines fiction set in the Weird West with game information for GURPS Deadlands . It also includes info for converting the original Deadlands tabletop game to GURPS Deadlands ! Your ticket to adventure is a download away from Warehouse 23!

April 28, 2022: Indiegogo Projects Update, April 2022

Since last month's Indiegogo report, we've delivered the two campaigns that were open at that time, launched and closed the Mystery Box project, and have a new dice set –  Pirate d6 Dice Set  – now in funding. We're finding that Indiegogo works great for smaller crowdfunding projects, which is especially useful for backers who often ask, "May I back multiple times?" With Indigogo, the answer is yes!

Steve Jackson Games' Pirate d6 Dice SetWhy did it take us so long to tackle this theme? I honestly have no idea, but we're now ready and this is your chance to join in the campaign to get your hands on these dice and a new Munchkin bookmark. There are also perks that include other games  – One Roll Quest and Munchkin Booty  – and even a retailer reward for those stores that want to add these dice and copies of One Roll Quest to their selection. Hurry, though, because the project ends on May 4!Steve Jackson Games' 2022 Mystery BoxThis was a much bigger project than we had expected, unlocking several stretch goals and packing an amazing number of goodies into every box. The boxes are currently being printed and we'll start the assembly stage next month. At the moment, everything is on schedule.And that is it for our active Indiegogo campaigns at the moment. Crowdfunding is an incredible tool, giving us the chance to experiment with different ideas, and we like to use these regular Daily Illuminator posts to highlight our open projects. Compiling the Indiegogo news in one place also helps our team; not everyone in the office is directly involved in managing projects, so these posts are as beneficial to many of our staff as they are the greater world.

– Phil Reed

Warehouse 23 News: Be Your Best Self Once The World Blows Up

Prepare for the world after the world's end, with GURPS After the End 1: Wastelanders . This supplement lets you create GURPS adventurers for a post-apocalyptic setting, with templates and assumptions to make it easy. Tomorrow awaits your download from Warehouse 23!

April 27, 2022: Global Challenges Continue To Impact Game Publishing

Although international freight prices and times have stabilized a bit, the world is not yet through the pandemic and the complications brought on over the last few years continue to plague game publishers of all sizes. And it's not just international shipping that is problematic; our own GURPS Girl Genius hardcover books took roughly a month to travel from New York to Georgia, a lengthy and aggravating time that would have been unheard of pre-pandemic.

As every publisher struggles with the pandemic, some are being forced to make hard decisions that dramatically affect their operations. Often these decisions are not made in public and not widely shared, which made El Dorado Games' recent YouTube video capture my attention: I hate to see any game publisher in this position, but I applaud their transparency in sharing the numbers with the world. Better still, it sounds as if they were very protective of their Kickstarter funds, and despite the personal hardships they face, El Dorado Games is doing everything within their power to deliver their promised games to backers. I've never met the El Dorado team, but I am impressed with their openness and dedication to their Kickstarter backers and I wish them well.

Watch the video and then consider helping them out by visiting Gamefound and grabbing the promo pack they've created to help offset their unexpected costs. Good luck to the El Dorado Games team; I hope that they get through this and that they can continue to make and publish new games for many years to come.

– Phil Reed

Warehouse 23 News: Action Awaits; Heroes Needed

Quick Quest 4: The Caravan Raiders provides a short and sweet adventure for The Fantasy Trip , with opportunities to fight, think, maneuver, and – if things go south – run. Your adventure awaits at Warehouse 23!