Steve Jackson's Blog, page 325

January 3, 2017: Steal Hearts . . . For Munchkin

We know that, come February, most of you munchkins will be in need of some valentines. So, being who we are, we could only think of one thing to do. Hint: It's more about making Munchkin -themed stuff for you and less about romance. 



Munchkin Valentines  are hitting stores in January 2017! These are actual valentines. They come in packages of five cards with envelopes sized to fit. (Five is a decent number of shots at l'amour, right?) The card art is from original Munchkin illustrator John Kovalic.



Of course, they're not just any valentines – they're  Munchkin valentines . . . so they're also a way to give your friends that Munchkin love fever. Slip cards inside the valentines, and your recipients will be so intrigued, they'll fall for both you and Munchkin!



That's when you spring your real trap: a game of  Munchkin , supplemented by the 15 love-struck cards of Munchkin Love Shark Baby ! You clever so-and-so. 



Does that mean this item is more a Trojan Horse for Munchkin fandom, which we're hoping you'll deliver for us, than it is an honest set of valentines? Um. That's for you to decide. 



– Ariel Barkhurst



Warehouse 23 News: Tigorillas, Kangaroosters And Owligators . . . Oh, My!



The marvelous magician Moop is mashing up monsters for munchkins to fight in  Moop's Monster Mash-up ! Play as a stand-alone game or mix it with your favorite version of  Munchkin  for even more silliness. Enter the brawl with these mixed-up monstrosities on Warehouse 23 today!

January 2, 2017: New Year, New Guest Artist Editions

Some people say "Out with the old, in with the new" when it comes to the New Year, but I say: "Why not both?"



2016 gave us the Munchkin Guest Artist Edition line to help celebrate the 15th anniversary of Munchkin , and 2017 is bringing us even more. An anniversary that last two years? Munchkin doesn't play by anyone's rules! 



We're starting off with Munchkin Guest Artist Edition from Edwin Huang, shipping in March. Edwin is known for his art in the comic Skullkickers (and Munchkin Skullkickers ) as well as his various Street Fighter projects (you can find more details in this article). It answers the question: What if Munchkin looked like a fighting game? Edwin's style is dynamic, smooth, and action-oriented, so you get an entirely new delivery for the monsters and jokes. You can even get a taste of his art with this Munchkin Monster Box , which is available now. It's definitely a unique take on the setting, and we can't wait for its release.







But don't forget about your friendly neighborhood Super Munchkin ! Lar DeSouza gives us his Super Munchkin Guest Artist Edition later this year, with his own brand of pulp-hero comedy. We interviewed Lar about his process and his own work as a real-life superhero raising money for MS, so check that out. Lar was nice enough to sign some copies of the game, as well as various promos, which should be fun as giveaways on our social media pages closer to the release date. Following us there would be a good idea!



And that's not all! We have some more secrets and surprises to close out our 15th anniversary celebration on the way, so follow the Daily Illuminator and Munchkin News in 2017 for all of those announcements. Thanks for making 2016 an amazing year for Munchkin ; we're looking forward to even more amazement in the new year!



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: The King Requests Your Castle-Building Expertise



In  Castellan , two players work together to construct a castle by linking walls and towers to form courtyards. Finish a courtyard, and control it with a Keep. Claim the most courtyards to win! For castle-building fun for 3 or 4 players, add  Castellan (International Edition) . Get yours from Warehouse 23, and make your King proud!

January 1, 2017: SJ Games Kicking Off 2017 With PAX South!

We're starting off 2017 with a bang! We will be at PAX South January 27-29, at the newly renovated Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio, TX. Stop by our booth to say "Hi" to Andreas, Ariel, Guy, Hunter, Jimmy, Veronica, and me, check out our latest games, and get the scoop on new games releasing soon.



Munchkin fans will be able to get a look at Munchkin Pathfinder Guest Artist Edition and Munchkin Pathfinder: Truly Gobnoxious ! Ogre Sixth Edition , our classic game of armored combat, will rumble into PAX, crushing everything in its path. Learn to play at the show and you'll be ready for Ogre Organized Play, coming in February! If you're feeling villainous, then Batman: The Animated Series Dice Game is for you! Play Gotham City's greatest supervillains and get lots of loot, but watch out for the Caped Crusader! We'll also be offering a sneak peek at Ghosts Love Candy during the con. The players are ghosts trying to haunt kids and take their candy. Watch out, though – if you scare them, they'll run away and you'll lose points!



We will be playing demos on our most excellent giant-sized copy of Bill & Ted's Excellent Boardgame !   Fans of Simon's Cat can come by and check out Simon's Cat Card Game , the purrfect game of avoiding the mess. We will also be playing I Hate Zombies at our booth, so you can try to save humanity – or be a zombie and eat BRAAAAAIIIINNNSSS!



In addition, our MIB Demo Team will be helping us out by running even more demos in the gaming area. Learn how to #PlayMunchkin, Ogre: Objective 218 , or any of our other awesome games! The awesome PAX crew will also be running some cool events, like their Munchcathlon (their huge, multi-round Munchkin tournament, with awesome prizes). PAX will be running more tournaments for Ogre and other games. We'll be posting other news and events as we get closer to the convention. Keep an eye out for some of the sweet loot that will be up for grabs! 



It's going to be an excellent event; drop by and play some awesome games, and pick up copies of your favorites to take home. See you there!



– Al Griego



Warehouse 23 News: A Most Excellent Experience!



Is there a better use for a time machine than preparing a history report for class? That question's totally rhetorical, but the fun is real in  Bill & Ted's Excellent Boardgame . Get yours from Warehouse 23, and get ready to party on!

December 31, 2016: Munchkin Holiday Favorites Heading Back To The North Pole!

Hopefully, your holidays have been a blast, and you got everything you wanted from Santa. If you didn't, may I suggest some last minute gifts to yourself? Our Munchkin holiday lineup is heading back to the vault at the end of the year, so now is the perfect time to stop by your local game store to pick them up!



Munchkin Christmas Lite is not only Santa themed, it's a great core set for any gamer, especially people new to Munchkin . Once you've played it and want to expand, reach for Munchkin Holiday Surprise . This set collects many of our out-of-print holiday boosters into one expansion, plus it has cool accessories like dice and a special  Kill-O-Meter ! If you want to make your holiday set a bit more deluxe, add a board and player tokens with Munchkin Yule Log ! And, of course, we have extra-large dice with the Jolly Jumbo D6 . 



So swing by your FLGS and grab them now, because once they're gone, they won't be back until next holiday season!



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Ruining A Life Has Never Been So Fun



Your hapless heroes can delve too deep, lose their loot, and plummet down pits, all while being backstabbed in the  Munchkin  style we know and love. That may sound tragic, but in the  Munchkin Gloom  card game, that's a winning hand! See how bad you can make it for your character; snag a copy on Warehouse 23 today!

December 30, 2016: It's Been A Great Year For GURPS

With 2016 drawing to a close, I'm grateful that it's been such a good year to be a  GURPS  fan. On our digital end, we introduced four new series –  GURPS After the End , GURPS Disasters , GURPS Sorcery , and GURPS Steampunk  – along with a steady stream of new GURPS supplements and Pyramid issues.



But for a while now, customers and store owners had been asking us for more printed products, something they could hold and lend out. We listened, as we also grew in our knowledge of crowdfunding and printing options, until we felt that we could produce something that was both high-quality and profitable. The big one was our successful Kickstarter campaign for the Dungeon Fantasy Roleplaying Game , a beautiful box set with dice, maps, cardboard miniatures, and just the rules needed for a classic dungeon crawl. We also printed two fun licensed books for traditional distribution:  GURPS Mars Attacks and the stand-alone Discworld Roleplaying Game (Second Edition). And finally, we made three out-of-print books available via Amazon's CreateSpace: GURPS Magic , GURPS Thaumatology , and GURPS Ultra-Tech . With all of these options, I'm expecting many newcomers to GURPS over the next few years!



If you'd like even more details, along with hints about upcoming releases, I updated the GURPS News page just before our winter break. Happy holidays!



– PK



Warehouse 23 News: Munchkin: Now with more royalty!



Many children dream of being a fairy-tale princess when they get older.  Munchkin Princesses  proves you don't have to grow up to become royalty! This 15-card booster pack is the perfect addition to any  Munchkin  set. Get your very own Overly Helpful Woodland Creatures or Glass Sneakers from Warehouse 23 now!

December 29, 2016: GURPS: Mars Attacks Invades Your Store!

Where were you when the Martians attacked? Did you fight back? Maybe you were one of them, the invaders!



With GURPS Mars Attacks , you decide! Play as a conqueror from the Martian empire, looking to assimilate Earth into their dominion, or as a defender of humanity fighting against the aliens. Join one of the Earth factions, like Novas Vira, Tiger Corps, and the United Earth Alliance, or be a hapless civilian just trying to stay alive. Saucer pilots, soldiers, scientists, officers – all at your disposal in the pages of GURPS Mars Attacks !



And, of course, don't forget about the technology! Learn about weapons, gadget, vehicles, and more, for humanity and the Martians, as well as rules for creating your own. For even more invader tech, you can also check out GURPS Ultra-Tech , now available via print-on-demand through Amazon CreateSpace.



Find GURPS Mars Attacks at your friendly local probably-human game store. I mean, Martians aren't real, right? 



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Unleash Your Inner Munchkin Artist



Have you ever wanted to customize the cards in your  Munchkin  set? Then  Munchkin Sketch Edition  is for you! It's all the  Munchkin  goodness you love with the opportunity to make the cards your very own. You could be the next Rembrandt or Picasso!* . . . Be your own "guest" artist by getting your Munchkin Sketch Edition  from Warehouse 23 today!



*It's a slim chance, but it's still a chance!

December 28, 2016: Munchkin Comics #24 Out Now!

Superheroes rejoice, the day is here! Munchkin #24 from BOOM! Studios is out now at your local comic shop! This double dose of funny has stories featuring Super Munchkin Guest Artist Edition and . . . speed-dating?



Spyke and Flower try their hand at love in "You Meet at the Tavern . . .". Written by our own Munchkin Czar, Andrew Hackard, and drawn by Phil Murphy, we see the munchkins in their natural habitat: a tavern full of enemies . . . er, I mean, potential dates. Will Spyke survive his run-in with an ex-Ghoulfiend? Will Flower finally fall for an Insurance Salesman? Well, if I told you that, you wouldn't buy the comic, would you?



Art Baltazar enters the fray with "Super Munchkins," a super-powered story in his own style, just like his Guest Artist Edition! If you've ever wanted to know how to be a Super Munchkin , Art's guide is a great start. Learn your geometry; trajectory is important with your throwing shields!



Pick up issue #24 at your friendly local comic shop today! Check the back for a special rule, and for a code to get the BOOM! Bookmark bundle, plus a few promo cards, on Warehouse 23. 



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Mr. J Tested, Harley Quinn Approved



Based on the award-winning TV show,  Batman: The Animated Series™ Dice Game  lets you become a Super-Villain in a press-your-luck game for the whole family. Scheme your way to victory with your chosen Super-Villain's special abilities. Just make sure to complete your heist before Batman™ arrives! Order your very own copy from Warehouse 23 to see if you can outsmart the bat!

December 27, 2016: Announcements For April

April isn't just for showers – it's for curses! A new Munchkin booster is on the way this month, so don't be a fool and pass it up! Get it? April Fool. But this isn't a joke. (Well, that particular sentence was, but the upcoming release isn't. Oh, no, I must be suffering from the curse of being a terrible comedian!)

Munchkin Curses



It's chaos! It's madness! It's . . . Munchkin Curses!



Admit it. You love that moment when your enemy kicks down the door, and the card they draw is – a Curse (almost as much as you love playing Curses on your enemies yourself)! Whether it means losing items, skipping turns, or stumbling across a duck imbued with pure doom, a Curse always brings an element of gleeful mayhem.



That's why this booster contains 12 new Curses, two new monsters, and one Curse Reverse to shuffle into your Munchkin game!



This is an expansion for Munchkin. It is not a stand-alone game. This is NOT a collectible or randomized set. Every Munchkin Curses pack is the same as every other.



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Rock-Paper-Scissors . . . Zombies!



In  I Hate Zombies , the last survivors of humanity face off with dirty, brain-guzzling zombies in battles that will decide the fate of the world! Use your rock-paper-scissors skills to turn everyone into shambling hordes of undead or to become mankind's last hope. Get a copy of  I Hate Zombies  from Warehouse 23, and the survivors of your next shindig will never forget the time they had!

December 26, 2016: Flatten Your World With Discworld Roleplaying Game!

You've no doubt read the astounding and unique tales of Discworld from Terry Pratchett. Now you can live them, with Discworld Roleplaying Game Second Edition !



Man, is this book big! It has 400+ pages of Discworld content that has been carefully curated by Phil Masters. This lovingly crafted tome lets players and GMs use the Disc as their playground. Explore the notorious city of Ankh-Morpork, campaign for goblin rights, or flee from the angry Swamp Dragon. The world with the only turtle to form the basis for an entire branch of astrophysics is truly open to you in Discworld Roleplaying Game ! 



While it's compatible with GURPS Fourth Edition , this is a stand-alone book that can be played completely on its own. So even if you're new to GURPS , it's a perfect place to start!



Find your ride to the Disc at your friendly local game store today! Just remember, the world is round. And also flat. 



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Your Munchkin Needs A Boost . . .



Step up your game with a booster or two! Add any of our boosters to your favorite Munchkin set for even more fun . . . Find the best fit for your game now on Warehouse 23!  

December 25, 2016: Happy Holidays From SJ Games!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or a joyful any holiday you may be celebrating (or not), from the SJ Games family to yours!



This is my favorite day of the year, and I hope you are having a great season. Whether you're spending time with friends, family, both, or neither, we hope you are having a good time. Take the time to relax – and play games, of course! I may break out my ultimate Munchkin Christmas set, with tons of expansions, all housed in the Munchkin Christmas Monster Box . Oh, and all the holiday-themed playmats. (I may have a slight holiday addiction.) 



Have a safe and happy holiday!



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Add Some Christmas Cheer To Your Munchkin Game



Is your Munchkin game missing the holiday spirit? Check out all of our holiday-themed games and boosters! Place your order now on Warehouse 23!