Steve Jackson's Blog, page 35

November 19, 2024: Fight Freely With Ogre Print-And-Play

It's never been easier to enter the world of Ogre 's tactical combat – thanks to the rumbling arrival of the Ogre Print-and-Play kit.

What digital delights are contained within this mighty Zip file? It houses many PDF files that have been available for years: rules, counters, maps, scenarios, and more. But two new aspects of this make it a true print-and-play experience:

• A "readme" file that explains what all the different files are and how to use them.

• The maps and counters have new versions that are easier to bring to print at home.

Best of all, this download is completely free!

Sure, we're hoping that, once you partake of the Ogre experience, you'll find yourself drawn to purchase other goodies to add to your fledgling collection. But, honestly, if your can-do spirit creates a kit for your own enjoyment that you have fun with, we're fine with that as well. Surviving is hard nowadays; why not make it harder but more diverting with rumbling asymmetrical cybernetic warfare?

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 18, 2024: 30 Munchkin Shadowrun In-Store Events Coming Soon!

Steve Jackson Games, in collaboration with Double Exposure, will host 30 special in-store events to showcase Munchkin Shadowrun on November 30th and December 1st!   Munchkin Shadowrun is based on Shadowrun , the TTRPG classic from Catalyst Game Labs. This newest standalone Munchkin game includes 193 cards, a gameboard, one custom d6, six character tokens, and six standies with plastic stands. Introduced in this version are Matrix cards, which offer players an additional exciting challenge and an opportunity to win the game in a whole new way. Hope you're ready to 'Run!The Guild House - Bellflower, CA, 562-461-2729Game Empire - San Diego, CA, 858-576-1525Les Cartes de Sports Check-Swing Sportscards - Quebec, Canada 450-443-5555Imperial Gaming & Collectibles - Meriden, CT, 860-426-0033Nerdy Needs - Brandon, FL, 813-324-9250Tyche's Games - Athens, GA, 706-354-4500The Armchair Adventurer - Honolulu, HI, 808-843-1250Nerd HQ - Davenport, IA, 563-888-1852Tempest Games LLC - Cedar Rapids, IA, 319-390-6441Dark Vassal Gaming - Cedar Falls, IA, 319-252-0784Safari Pearl Comics - Moscow, ID, 208-882-9499Gaming Adventures - New Plymouth, ID, 208-649-4244Snakes & Lattes Chicago - Chicago, IL, 872-310-3999Pink Elephant Games and Cafe - Wichita, KS, 316-867-4411Card N All Gaming & Repair - Louisville, KY, 502-795-2469Barnes & Noble - Lexington, KY, 859-402-9209Games4Life - Lake Orion, MI, 248-929-8121Chaos Games LLC - Minot, ND, 701-240-6021C & L Baseball Cards - Beatrice, NE, 402-228-2280Boardgame Bounty Hunters - New Windsor, NY, 845-787-4676Whirlwind Games, LLC - Chesapeake, OH, 740-307-3282Freedom Hobby and Gaming - North Canton, OH, 330-880-5010Toledo Game Room - Toledo, OH, 419-475-3775Guardian Games - Aloha, OR, 503-642-4100Dragon's Lair - Houston, TX, 832-761-0072Tower of Games - Newport News, VA, 757-420-8008Raygun Lounge - Seattle, WA, 206-812-2521Pegasus Games - Madison, WI, 608-833-4263The Gryphon's Nest - Bridgeport, WV, 304-629-7590Four Horsemen Comics and Gaming - Morgantown, WV, 304-581-4461Stop by if you see your FLGS on your list, then grab a copy of Munchkin Shadowrun to show your support. We hope to see you there!

– Michelle Richardson

 

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 17, 2024: Please Burp The Cosmos When It's Done Eating

Scientists have discovered a black hole that seems to be eating stuff 40 times faster than the theoretical limit. I'm not astronomy-minded enough to decipher the article, but it sounds like a great hook for a spacefaring RPG to investigate . . .

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 16, 2024: Art, My Friends, Is The Noise A Seal Makes

The only thing that could make this better is if it was made out of Lego.

– Steve Jackson

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 15, 2024: PAX Unplugged 2024 Preview

PAX Unplugged is less than a month away! The convention takes place Friday, December 6th - Sunday, December 8th, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Steve Jackson Games will be in attendance, and you can visit us at booth 2645! We'll have demos set up so you can learn more about games that are making their PAX Unplugged debut: Express , the  Car Wars Starter Set: Orange/Purple , Hack & Slash Deluxe , and Munchkin Shadowrun .  We'll also have a large selection of games and accessories for purchase. You'll find favorites like Munchkin (in many varieties, including just-released expansions), Zombie Dice , and Deadly Doodles . We Love Cats is back, and we're bringing even more copies this year. Groo: The Game will be there, along with Tabloids , and the six all-new Car Wars Sixth Edition Expansion Packs. Love pins? We do too! That's why we'll have more than 15 different styles for you to choose from. If you're going to PAX Unplugged this year, stop by and see us. 

– Michelle Richardson

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 14, 2024: Final Hours For One-Page Bulge 2nd Edition Kickstarter

If you haven't made your pledge for One-Page Bulge 2nd Edition , don't delay! The Kickstarter is in its final hours, so now is the time to lend your support and help this unique project come to life.  One-Page Bulge 2nd Edition is a collaboration between Steve Jackson and wargame designer Dana Lombardy. This updated version of the classic Pocket Box game will feature new Random Event cards, a full-color map, and other high-quality components. (We wrote about the Kickstarter back on November 4, so check out that post to learn a little bit more about the history of this unique title.) If you're a fan of wargaming, WWII history, or strategy games, you'll want to add this to your collection. The project ends TODAY at 8:30 PM Eastern, so head over to Kickstarter to back this game and reserve your copy. Don't miss out!

– Katie Duffy

 

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 13, 2024: Trivia Question: Alpha?

I recently asked the question about which Steve Jackson Games product and game is last alphabetically, which we answered here. In that earlier question, I alluded to the other question. Namely:

• What is the first item alphabetically that is currently available for sale, and . . .

• What is the first item alphabetically that is a complete game and currently available for sale?

This one is trickier for a couple of reasons. As Magesmiley noted on the forums when talking about the "Omega" question, somewhat of a software-sorting question hides here. There's also a bit of an oddity in the second question we're asking today that makes this more challenging. Still, let's see if we can't muddle toward an answer . . .

. . . Which we'll divulge sometime soon. As ever, feel free to share your answers on the forums!

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 12, 2024: Please Stay In Touch

SJ Games strives to keep good records, but during our 44 years in business, we've survived technological change (we've come a long way from WordStar, XyWrite, Ventura Publisher, and the golden age of fax), moving house, floods, and even a government raid. As a result, we've lost track of some contracts – and some creators!

If you've ever had a contract – physical or digital – to write a game supplement longer than an article for us, we invite you to write to us at hr@sjgames.com with your name, up-to-date contact info, and a list of projects with contract dates. Please help us fill holes in our records so that no credits or royalties slip between the cracks. And if we haven't been in touch recently, please tell us what you've been up to!

– Sean Punch

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 11, 2024: Big Bad Con

We are back from Big Bad Con in San Francisco. It was fun! Lots of nice people, playing games. What's not to like?

It was also a professionally useful event. We met with a variety of talented people. Exchanged ideas, exchanged business cards. I devoutly hope to put some of these folks to work, doing what they do best.

The organizers worked hard and with great enthusiasm. Communication was good. Event signage was good.

And many of the games were held in sleeping rooms, which meant one game per room, which is so, so good.

Finally . . . they required vaccination proof, tests, and masks. This isn't popular with conventions these days, and it should be. Yeah, it's a little hassle. SO WORTH IT.

– Steve Jackson

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 10, 2024: The Reality Of Tariffs In Tabletop Gaming

Over the next few weeks and months, you'll see social media posts discussing how companies cannot offer holiday bonuses or will have to cut employees due to Trump's tariffs (proposed or enacted).

 

Some of these stories may be fiction or cautionary tales that illustrate the price the average American pays for a politician's decision.

 

But I can 100% tell you this is a reality many business owners in the manufacturing sector now face.

 

If you aren't aware of how tariffs work, it's relatively simple. The company importing the goods from a foreign country pays the fee. If a company has to pay 20%, 60%, or 200% more to bring that item into the United States, who ultimately bears that cost? The American people.

 

Over the last few days, I have been talking at length with my factory representatives, figuring out how much of an item I need to order now to offset any expanded costs later. In addition, we are looking at where we can move manufacturing to outside of China (hard mode, not a lot of places outside of China or Europe produce boardgame components at the scale our industry uses).

 

I've been speaking with my shipping representatives about the increasing freight costs we expect to see with a rise in tariffs. We're already paying extreme freight prices, which will only go up as demand increases. The last time tariffs were levied on Chinese manufactured goods, freight costs went up.

 

Now I am in a position that forces me to examine how much we may need to raise prices if the most extreme of the proposed tariffs goes into effect.

 

I'm also trying to do right by my staff. But I can only do so much, you know? How long can business owners incur these costs, protect our staff, and not have consumers pay through the nose? Can I accept breaking even for the time being to keep my people employed and our games affordable? But what happens when the company starts losing money?

 

Many CEOs and business owners are staring down this reality right now. This isn't just a theoretical exercise. We have to plan for the worst.

 

So, what do I plan to do about this? I will be even more present in my local and state business associations that have direct links to policy makers in D.C. I will take every opportunity to speak directly to those who have a say in this new administration about why this isn't good for the economy. I'm just a tiny player in the world of manufacturing. But I do know the power of my voice. And more importantly, I know the power your voice holds as well.

 

You can start putting pressure on your elected (or newly elected) officials by writing, calling, or contacting them through their open channels (many of them love social media). Tell them you do not want these proposed tariffs, and let them know how these cost increases will impact you. Hold them to their promises. Make your voice heard. 

We are all in this together. 

– Meredith Placko

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!