Steve Jackson's Blog, page 305

August 5, 2017: See The Perseids And . . . A Sturgeon?!

This time of summer is perfect to start looking up at night; the stargazing is amazing! We've got a few celestial events happening that are worth breaking out the telescope for (but don't worry - no telescope is required!). 



The Perseid Meteor Shower is visible from July 17 to August 24 this year, with its peak August 12. This will be the prime time to catch the shower, but if you can't catch it on that night, it's still a sight to behold. Space.com has a great feature about the shower (and it makes them so cool). Just make sure to get away from the city lights! 



Space.com also wrote an article about the Full Sturgeon Moon, occurring Monday, August 7.The history behind the name is intriguing. An August full moon is called a Sturgeon Moon because the fish is caught at that time of the year. For us in the United States, this will be a fairly standard full moon, which is pretty neat. But many of our international readers will be treated with a partial lunar eclipse! 



So look toward the skies in the coming days!



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Plan Your Visit To The Disc



With the Discworld Roleplaying Game , Sir Terry Pratchett's world comes to life. This complete game is available as either a massive hardcover or a convenient PDF. Get your copy today, from Warehouse 23!

August 4, 2017: Gift Certificates Available On Warehouse 23

Give the gift of game with Warehouse 23 gift certificates! These have been highly requested by fans, so after a trial period, we've decided to unveil them to the public.



Warehouse 23 gift certificates are the perfect surprise for the gamer in your life who seems to have everything. Don't know which version of Munchkin , which GURPS book, or what accessory to get them? Give a gift certificate and let them figure it out! It's perfect for birthdays, holidays, bar mitzvahs, good report cards, particularly good Tuesdays . . . or anything in between. 



Plus, by shopping on Warehouse 23, your giftee will be able to get all the cool exclusives and hard-to-find items! They can find stuff like our past  Munchkin Tavern swag, which is normally only available at Gen Con. Or maybe they're an RPG fan, in which case the countless back issues of Pyramid or innumerable GURPS digital supplements are more their speed. Any way you slice it, whoever the fan, there's something for them on Warehouse 23. 



Get a Warehouse 23 gift certificate today, and give the gift that is certified to satisfy!



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Travel To The Past, Digitally!



The early days of gaming come alive with Space Gamer Bundle #27-76. This digital collection of 50 issues runs from 1980 through 1985, with articles, reviews, advertisements, and more - at a savings of 50% over buying the issues individually! Download it today, only from Warehouse 23.

August 3, 2017: New Releases For July

Remember July? It wasn't that long ago. Summer has a way of slipping by when you're having a blast playing July's ridiculously fun releases and reprints. Take a look at these new titles, returning favorites, and specials from Warehouse 23 – all available now! 
Munchkin Deadpool – Just Deadpool
The Merc with a Mouth adds party-crashing to his resume in this hysterial new expansion!
 
Munchkin Deadpool – Just Deadpool throws in katanas, kittens, explosions, and more to Munchkin: X-Men Edition . With 35 new cards, Marvel's quirkiest anti-hero joins the monster-killing, treasure-snatching, role-playing action of Munchkin . If you like some humor mixed in with your adventure, you're all set!
Munchkin Oz Guest Artist Edition


Follow the Yellow Brick Road . . . to loot! 


 


With the Tin Woodsman and that funny fella made of hay near your side, you're set to dupe your friends and throw down with King Krewl. Featuring art by the amazing Katie Cook ( Munchkin Spell Skool , Munchkin Love Shark Baby ), Munchkin Oz Guest Artist Edition gives the land of L. Frank Baum's Oz an adorable facelift. 


 


Remember to mix Munchkin Oz Guest Artist Edition with other Munchkin sets for a mash-up so fun even a Wicked Witch can't resist playing. 
Zombie Dice Horde Edition
Eat brains. Don't get shotgunned. Now with expansions!
 
It's Zombie Dice and two expansions – in a single scrumptious, cerebrum-filled package! You are a zombie. You want brains . . . more brains than your zombie chums.
 
Zombie Dice  is a quick and easy game for gamers and non-gamers alike. The 13 custom dice represent hapless victims. Push your luck to devour the gray matter inside their noggins, but stop rolling before the shotgun blasts end your turn!
 
This box includes:
 
• Zombie Dice , the classic game.
• Zombie Dice 2 – Double Feature . Add the Hunk and Hottie dice to up the stakes. Or toss in Santa's die for gifts no refined zombie can resist.
• Zombie Dice 3 – School Bus . The living folks call it the School Bus. The zombies call it a rolling brain buffet. With this massive die, you get 12 sides of unadulterated chaos.
• A drawstring dice bag and a score pad.
Pyramind #3/105: Cinematic Magic
When the lights dim, magic's glow is undeniable.
 
There's magic so mind-blowing, explosive, and transcendent, you could swear it was launching from the screen straight into your mind. This issue of Pyramid, the PDF magazine for roleplayers, provides new magical choices for cinematic universes.
 
Use the power of GURPS Thaumatology: Sorcery in your super-heroic settings. Revel in David L. Pulver's guide to tapping the might of a dead god to make the impossible a reality. With this issue, you've joined the ranks of a summer blockbuster (just take out a small loan for some candy and a soda)!
Munchkin Halloween Monster Box



It's scary how well this monster-sized box can hold all your Munchkin loot . . .



. . . yet the box art by Len Peralta is somehow even scarier! The  Munchkin Halloween Monster Box features zombie-Spyke amid a host of characters drawn from Halloween-themed Munchkin card sets. It holds over 2,000 Munchkin cards, as well as other swag like Dungeons, Seals, and a Level Playing Field .

Bonus: The Munchkin Halloween Monster Box comes with 12 holiday-themed Munchkin cards that shuffle into any game! So store your stuff and show off your love of all things  Munchkin  with this spooky container!



-- Andrew McMillian



Warehouse 23 News: Kings. Queens. Rooks. And Tiles … Of Course!

Tile Chess breaks the age-old game free from boards and borders. The tiles are the chess pieces. Place the tiles to create the board. It can be played almost anywhere by up to four players! (Of course, knowing how to play chess is crucial.) Don't be square - buy one today on Warehouse 23.

August 2, 2017: Retailers – With This Kit, Your Gamers Can Play Munchkin Like A Pirate!

Ahoy! Avast, ye scurvy dogs!



. . . Oh, hello. I was just practicing my pirate speak, since Talk Like A Pirate Day is less than two months away (September 19).



To celebrate that venerable holiday, Steve Jackson Games is looking for retailers to host "Play Munchkin Like A Pirate" Game Days during the week of September 15-22!



The featured game is Munchkin Booty Guest Artist Edition , illustrated by Tom Siddell. Your store has two options to participate: 



First, you can simply pick up an event kit on Warehouse 23 for just $5 plus shipping. The kit contains a demo copy of the deluxe-sized game, plus 30 promo bookmarks, over 50 promo cards, a stack of Munchkin posters, and two John Kovalic-illustrated dice. (If the link to the kit doesn't work for you, it means you're not logged into a retailer's Warehouse 23 account. Email retailers@sjgames.com to get your account.) 



But if you need the games to sell, pick up the Play Munchkin Like A Pirate Bundle . It has the same promo-packed kit, plus 5 copies of Munchkin Booty Guest Artist Edition  and 3 copies of the Munchkin Booty: Fish & Ships booster. And remember, Warehouse 23 orders over $100 get free shipping, so if you get this bundle and one other small item, we'll ship it free.



As the event week draws closer, we'll post a Daily Illuminator listing the names and locations of all the stores hosting a "Play Munchkin Like A Pirate" Game Day, and we'll promote the event on social media. We'll put social-media graphics, a printable flyer, and poster graphics in the Retailer Portal a few weeks before the game week, as well.



And, of course, during the week of September 15-22, we'll run the usual #PlayMunchkin social-media contest.



So climb aboard! We promise not to make anyone walk the plank. 



--Ariel Barkhurst



Warehouse 23 News: Time To Call For Reinforcements!

Fortify your fight against that futuristic giant robot tank known as the Ogre. Ogre Reinforcements  adds new units to both sides, fresh scenarios, and more map overlays! Available right now on Warehouse 23.

August 1, 2017: Every Hero Loves Powering Up

It's no accident that most  GURPS Dungeon Fantasy  books focus on character creation and advancement. While interesting plots and dangerous foes are integral to a good dungeon-crawling campaign, the only thing that gets players more excited than creating an amazing adventurer is finding new ways to power that hero up! Because of this, we've released dozens of official power-ups in  Pyramid articles and GURPS books (particularly GURPS Dungeon Fantasy 11: Power-Ups ) - but there's no reason to limit yourself to those.



One of the easiest ways for the GM to keep a delving game fresh and exciting is to create new, custom power-ups. What sort of things do the players love doing? If the bard always uses her Diplomacy to pump bar patrons for rumors, make that into a technique and let her buy it up! What restrictions do the players find annoying? If the scholar's Wild Talent feels unimpressive compared to his regular skills, take a peek in GURPS Powers to see if there's a way to beef it up!



If the GM doesn't feel up to composing new crunchy bits, he can draw on the knowledge of others, from rules-savvy players to members of our forums. For example, in the Dungeon Fantasy game I'm playing, the GM regularly takes advantage of my Games skill to help create new power-ups, lenses, and more - both for our PCs and for his own NPCs. I've posted these on my LiveJournal for anyone who wants to use them; hopefully, they'll inspire you to create (and share) your own unique creations!



– PK



Warehouse 23 News: Master's Tumultuous Temperament Needs Taming!

How about a cheerleading competition? Be the foreminion to scale the most amazing tower of war-mongering minions, and win Master's heart. Make Three Cheers for Master  your own now at Warehouse 23!

July 31, 2017: What's New At Gen Con?

Gen Con is almost upon us - our grandest show of the year! It's always a huge convention, but this year is Gen Con's 50th anniversary, so it's bigger than ever, and selling out fast. With all the hubbub, Steve Jackson Games must be bringing some pretty cool stuff to the show, right? Of course we are! Whether you're looking for early releases, sneak peeks, or just generally awesome loot, booth 1413 (and our organized-play area in Hall E) is the place for you! 



Port Royal drops anchor, literally, right before the convention, so we aim to have early-release copies of this push-your-luck game set in the age of piracy! Trade with merchant ships and recruit the best crew to build the biggest and best port! Copies will be limited, so make sure you get yours early. Muertoons is also getting an early start to Dia de los Muertos with some early copies at our booth. We'll also be running demos of both at the booth, if you want to try before you buy. 

We're celebrating the 40th anniversary of Ogre in a big way this year, with the release of Ogre Sixth Edition, Reinforcements, and more on the way, like the Ogre video game by Auroch Digital. You can catch a sneak peek at all this and more, including a preview trailer for the video game, an up-close look at Ogre Miniatures Set 1 (coming later this year), and even a free scenario, just for coming by! That's right, an entire Ogre scenario, with counters, all on one sheet, that you can take with you around the convention and play anywhere. Plus, if you want to test your mettle against fellow Ogre veterans, check out our tournaments in the organized-play area. Take home some exclusive swag, like acrylic command posts! 



You'll have your first chance to play the highly anticipated Dungeon Fantasy RPG at our booth! Dive in and get a feel for combat in this streamlined fantasy system. The pregenerated characters even give you a taste of the level of customization this system offers. If you have just a little time, check out our dice-game events, like Batman: The Animated Series Dice Game tournaments, for a chance to win a hard-to-find playmat. There's even a few spots left in our Zombie Dice tournaments, if brains are what you crave!



I think that's it. Oh, wait - we can't leave out Munchkin! Gen Con will be the first time fans can get their stage-hands on Munchkin Shakespeare. (We'll have demos at the con, but it won't be for sale until we've delivered to our Kickstarter backers later this year.) There will be a ton of previews of upcoming sets, plus you can demo the Walgreens exclusive, Munchkin Spell Skool, and a variety of other Munchkin games. If you want a chance to win some awesome loot, like a Munchkin Messenger Bag, sign up for a tournament. And for the promo collectors, we'll have swag on hand like always.



There's a whole host of fun surprises for fans who visit our Munchkin Tavern, including announcements, exclusive Tavern loot, and signings! Swing by August 17-19 for a chance to pick up a limited-edition Tavern Take-Home Box, and get your loot signed by special guests like Andrew Hackard, John Kovalic, and Steve Jackson. Plus, you get a full Munchkin-themed menu to enjoy for dinner. It's all happening at Tavern On South from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. each night. 



That's a lot of stuff! We're happy to go big to help celebrate Gen Con's 50th birthday, and we invite you to join us at the party. Come out, play some games, see the previews, and get some new and exclusive loot to take home! See you at the show! 



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: A Buffet Of Brains!

Zombie Dice is the perfect fast-playing party game for gamers and non-gamers alike! It's simple - roll the 13 custom dice and eat more brains than your buddies, But don't get greedy; stop rolling before the shotgun blasts end your turn. The new Zombie Dice Horde Edition has the original game plus both the Double Feature and School Bus expansions and a unique dice bag, all in one convenient box. Order right now on Warehouse 23 and get chomping!

July 30, 2017: One Step Closer To Real Ogres

According to this report from edgylabs.com, Kalashnikov is building a gun mount with a neural network. It's designed to be at least partially autonomous. Definitely a proto-Ogre development.



The report makes the point that full machine autonomy on the battlefield is not necessarily a bad thing. A neural network could learn to distinguish civilians much more accurately than soldiers in combat can be expected to do. For a fictional take on that development, see "Malak," by Peter Watts.



– Steve Jackson



Warehouse 23 News: Which Side Of The Invasion Are You On?



The Martians are attacking Earth . . . and the fate of the solar system hangs in the balance! GURPS Mars Attacks brings the world of the Topps Mars Attacks trading cards to your GURPS gaming table, with history, rules, campaign ideas, and more. Pick up your copy - in hardcover or PDF - today from Warehouse 23!

July 29, 2017: FAQ Update

When you've had an online presence as long as we have, the older web pages can get a bit moldy, and that definitely includes the Frequently Asked Questions file. But we try to revisit it every year or two. You can read the updated FAQ here if you have any frequent questions . . . or just want a quick overview of what we're about.



If you have comments or further queries, I'll be checking the forum comments for this entry – see below for the link!



– Steve Jackson



Warehouse 23 News: Plan Your Trip To The 19th Century!



Tap the power of steam with GURPS Steampunk 1: Settings and Style . Unleash the possibilities of various campaign motifs, from raygun Gothic to anime-flavored steampunk. The future of yesterday is a download away . . . only from Warehouse 23!

July 28, 2017: Zombie Dice Horde Edition Shambles Into Stores

It can be tough being a lone zombie, trying to find brains and avoid getting shotgunned. That's why it's good to join a horde!

Introducing Zombie Dice Horde Edition. This new boxed version includes the original classic Zombie Dice along with both sequels! Plus, you get a swanky dice bag and a score pad to keep track of all those tasty brains. Zombie Dice 2 – Double Feature adds three new dice, including Santa Claus, The Hunk, and The Hottie! Each die has different faces that can change your game. Will Santa give you a protective football helmet, or will the Hunk double-shotgun you? But maybe you're into giant, yellow dice: Zombie Dice 3 – School Bus is just the expansion for you. This chunky die has tons of new options. Some are really great, like double brains, and some really bad, like double-shotguns! 



You can find this horde of dice at your local game store or on Warehouse 23! Use your brain - while you have it - and get it today! 



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Fortress, Sweet Fortress!



"Keep" up with the Joneses - by making your very own keep! With the digital version of the classic Cardboard Heroes Castles: The Keep, you can download, print, and construct your own mini-fortress. This set stands alone, but is perfect to add to the Walls and Towers set. Download them today, only from Warehouse 23!

July 27, 2017: GURPS At Your Favorite Local Game Store!

You may remember that, not too long ago, we ran a special bundle of  GURPS books as a pre-order at Warehouse 23. (Ten books with just one buy button? Sweet!) Well, our partners at Alliance noticed and asked us one question: Can we join in on the fun?



Good news, everybody! Alliance offered the same pre-order GURPS bundle to their retailers, so we can happily report that the recent GURPS print-on-demand softcovers will find their way into dozens of stores. This means a larger GURPS library at those stores, which should help generate some renewed interest in GURPS as we grow closer to the release of the Dungeon Fantasy box set this fall.



Thank you to Alliance for stepping up and working with us to get these bundles into retailers' hands. We appreciate the support and look forward to collaborating on more bundles shortly.



– Phil Reed



Warehouse 23 News: A New Take On The Brick Road … The Yellow One.

Can you believe Munchkin is celebrating 15 years? What better way to honor this milestone than with guest artist Katie Cook's magical artwork. Follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City. While you're there, take a minute to pre-order Munchkin Oz Guest Artist Edition at Warehouse 23!