Steve Jackson's Blog, page 366

November 20, 2015: It's Gonna Be A Gloomy Winter

We're big fans of Gloom , designed by Keith Baker and published by our friends at Atlas Games. It's rare to see a game that combines bloody-minded murder and madcap storytelling so seamlessly, and it's a perfect game for those long winter nights when everything seems bleak and barren.



In fact, we're such big fans that when they were looking for ways to expand the Gloom franchise, we worked with the Atlas crew on a couple of Munchkin items:



Munchkin Gloom crosses the dungeon-delving hilarity of Munchkin with the party-killing, um, hilarity? of Gloom . Whoever can find the most gruesome and depressing way to kill their characters wins the game! Designed by Keith Baker and illustrated by John Kovalic.


The Duck of Gloom is an adorable little goth duck plushie. It comes with two cards; one is a regular Munchkin card, and the other is a rare opaque Gloom card that can be used with any flavor of Gloom , including Munchkin Gloom . It also has a zipper compartment for storing your trinkets and baubles. (Yeah, we mean dice.)
If you haven't ever played Gloom , you're missing out. In addition to the original game and Munchkin Gloom , look for Fairy Tale Gloom and Cthulhu Gloom at a store near you!



– Andrew Hackard



Warehouse 23 News: It Takes A Village To Make A Disaster



The fantasy village of Tigley has rebuilt itself after disaster . . . but a myriad of secrets, threats, and self-induced complications threatens to cause its collapse permanently! A plethora of problems await the heroes in Village Backdrop: Tigley . It's a download away from Warehouse 23!

November 19, 2015: New Resources For Car Wars: The Card Game!

We've recently updated the page for Car Wars: The Card Game , adding some additional resources. You can now find a card list for the Third Edition and a downloadable PDF of the Third Edition rules. While we were there, we beautified and reorganized the page, to make all the info easier to find! Take a look and let us know what you think on the Car Wars forum!



Car Wars: The Card Game is available now at your Friendly Local Game Store and Barnes & Noble Booksellers!



– Anna Meade



Warehouse 23 News: Undersea Cyberpunk Excitement



Get ready, cyberpunks! You're about to board a sunken submarine to recover the mysterious Project 5. The depths of the ocean may not be the biggest threat the heroes face in Cyberpunk: The Bonin Horse . Get it today from Warehouse 23!

November 18, 2015: 2014 Report to the Stakeholders

Every year since 2003 there's been a "Report to the Stakeholders" to tell you how we're doing. 2014 was no different . . . wait, yes, it was different! The 2014 report was not written by me, but by our new CEO, Phil Reed. Who does not need to be reminded that it was late, so don't remind him. He's also doing the one for 2015, and it will not be late.



Read the new report here; to compare it with past years, scroll to the bottom of the page for links to all previous reports.



We keep doing this because it generates good feedback AND makes us think about our own performance, but writing it is harder than it looks. Thank you, Phil, for taking this off my plate, and for a very good year.



– Steve Jackson



Warehouse 23 News: Mythic Europe's Most Infuriating Creatures



In Brittany, there are tales of creatures that like to play tricks on all who pass their way. Ars Magica: Faerie Stories has all you need to add mischievous faeries to your adventures. Available in print or PDF from Warehouse 23.

November 17, 2015: USAopoly Talks: Designing Munchkin: The Nightmare Before Christmas

The USAopoly team shared some behind-the-scenes info with Steve Jackson Games on the game development process of Munchkin: The Nightmare Before Christmas , including game creation challenges, favorite game rules, and the importance of working together as a design team.



The USAopoly Design Team includes (from left to right):



Casey – Game Designer



Danny – Head Illustrator



Bonnie – Illustrator



Kami – Head of Content & Rule Creation



SJ Games: What was exciting about designing Munchkin: The Nightmare Before Christmas?



Danny: For me the most exciting part of this project was the fact that it was Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas ! I'm a huge fan of his work and I love every element of that movie. I had to capture the character illustrations just right to do right by the fans who love it.



Kami: As the content creator, I was excited (and terrified) to look for hidden nuggets from the film to showcase. Sometimes, it would drive the illustrators nuts because I'd base a card around something that was shown for less than 10 seconds in the whole movie.



SJ Games: How did you prepare for the game creation?



Kami: Watching the movie, repeatedly. I would fall asleep at night with the songs running through my head and would still be singing them the next morning. That was my inspiration for the Trap cards. I knew I had to incorporate those lyrics into the game.



Danny: I watched the movie probably 50 times and looked at as much concept art from the movie as I could – and drew a lot!



Casey: Definitely watching the movie repeatedly, looking at fan art and forums and, of course, playing Munchkin .



SJ Games: Were there any interesting design challenges with this game?



Kami: My biggest challenge was making my favorite characters from the movie into the monsters! I didn't want to have to fight against Zero as a monster, but what's a Munchkin: The Nightmare Before Christmas game without him? In my own mind, I compromised by making him a Monster but giving him a unique Bad Stuff effect. If a player can't beat Zero, the bad stuff is "zero," as in nothing; there is no bad stuff. But if a player can defeat Zero, the player has the option of taking the single Treasure or keeping Zero as an item. Personally, I always keep him!



Danny: My biggest challenge was the feeling I had big shoes to fill in terms of the illustrations. I had to keep the character design consistent and bounce back and forth between Christmas Town and Halloween Town characters and objects. It definitely kept me on my toes.



Bonnie: One challenge we had as illustrators was that some of the objects we illustrated were shown for maybe five seconds in the film and obscured by heavy shadows, so we had to use our imaginations and figure out how Tim Burton would have visualized it and illustrate from there.



Casey: One of my challenges was that most of the artwork, frames, backgrounds, etc. had to be created internally, and it all had to be made to feel like it belonged within the Nightmare world. We had to create diversity among each card type and make each set look unique with a dark color palette, but in the end I think we pulled it off.



SJ Games: What is one of your favorite rules that you created for this game?



Kami: One of my favorite cards is Making Christmas. Each player has to choose a hand item and pass it to the player on their left. [This card rule] felt true to the movie because sometimes players are gifted a card that doesn't help them.



SJ Games: What made working on Munchkin: The Nightmare Before Christmas special for you?



Danny: Kami did an amazing job of creating the content and pushing me to illustrate some of the most random or obscure things that add so much depth and detail into the game. My co-illustrator, Bonnie, is an amazing collaborator; she did an amazing job of bringing my designs to life, and her insights/ideas/suggestions were invaluable to me. And Casey's design sense, attention to detail, and crazy hard work tied everything together to create this beautiful game. I'm so thankful to get to work with such super talented, creative, insightful, and hardworking people on a daily basis.



SJ Games: What's your favorite part of the finished game?



Kami: The subtle humor and the beautiful illustrations. This game was so much fun to work on and bring to life. Hopefully, people will have as much fun playing it as we did making it.



Thanks to the USAopoly design team for answering all of our questions!



– Anna Meade



Warehouse 23 News: The Holidays Are Coming!



Fill your little munchkins' stockings with care . . . and Munchkin Stocking Stuffers ! This kit lets you deliver Munchkin cheer with five packs, each containing four new cards, plus five Munchkin -themed gift tags to let you label other seasonal loot. Available from Warehouse 23.

November 16, 2015: Super Art From Art's Super!

Working on the Munchkin Guest Artist Editions has been an absolute joy. Getting to see familiar cards reinterpreted by different artists is a real kick. Best of all, we've been able to work with some artists who are new to the SJ Games family.



One of those is Art Baltazar, who may be new to SJ Games and Munchkin but is definitely NOT unfamiliar to many comic readers. Among Art's many credits are Tiny Titans and Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam! for DC, as well as his own books The Big Amoeba and Patrick the Wolf Boy. Art graciously agreed to give us his take on Super Munchkin , and I can't wait until we can share all his work with you all.



In the meantime, I have picked one card to share in both the original John Kovalic and new Art Baltazar versions. While I could have chosen any of the great cards Art has drawn, there's one card in Super Munchkin that speaks to me on a very deep, personal level. I refer, of course, to that vilest of foes: The Punster.



Art Baltazar's Super Munchkin Guest Artist Edition will be out in the second half of 2016.



– Andrew Hackard



Warehouse 23 News: The Epic Struggle Of Feng Shui 2 Just Got More Epic!



The endless conflict of Feng Shui 2 comes alive like never before, with Feng Shui 2: Secrets of the Chi War . Discover mysteries, visit new realms, and fight like the world depends on it! Download this supplement today from Warehouse 23.

November 15, 2015: Sriracha!

We all need a little entertainment every now and then. For that reason, I'm pointing everyone at the Sriracha documentary. Yes, it's a short documentary about a condiment, but it's so artfully done and fun to watch that it's easy to find yourself completely lost in the narrative. The director, Griffin Hammond, assembled a great film!



If you're into how films (and hot sauce) are made then you'll also want to watch the director's commentary version; it's free on YouTube.



– Phil Reed



Warehouse 23 News: Take To The Streets With Cyberpunk



The mean streets of Cyberpunk 2020 come alive with Cyberpunk: Streetfighting . Equipment for players, encounters for GMs, and fun for all! Pick it up as a PDF or softcover today, from Warehouse 23!

November 14, 2015: Change Your Perspectives On GURPS!

From its beginnings nearly 30 years ago, GURPS changed people's perspectives on what was possible in an RPG. We continue that innovative spirit every month in the pages of Pyramid . . . and this month's issue takes things even further, with Pyramid #3/84: Perspectives !



This issue's supplement-length article from GURPS guru Sean Punch looks at the nature of time and space within a GURPS world. What special adjustments are required for long or short campaigns? What rule considerations are needed for a setting that takes place entirely in a tiny hamlet, or one that spans the entire multiverse? Fans of the best-selling How to Be a GURPS GM will love the ideas herein!



In addition, this issue includes a guide for translating individual heroes into GURPS Mass Combat units. Zooming in and out from the field of battle has never been easier! There's also an adventure from David L. Pulver for GURPS Horror and GURPS Monster Hunters , where everything is not as it seems in the case of the disappearance of the "good" Father Cohen. And that's still not all!



With Pyramid #3/84: Perspectives, your campaigns will push the boundaries of time and space, take your fights to new fields of battle, and uncover mysteries that could endanger the present or save the future. Download this issue individually, or subscribe to Pyramid today and shake up your perspectives on GURPS for months to come!



– Steven Marsh



Warehouse 23 News: Behold, The Magic Of Africa!



A whole new realm of adventure awaits heroes of Ars Magica , as Mythic Africa comes alive in the pages of Ars Magica: Between Sand & Sea . Pick it up as a hardcover or a PDF, from Warehouse 23!

November 13, 2015: Tonight: Play Munchkin: The Nightmare Before Christmas At These Wonderful Stores!

As we reported last week, 17 of your favorite local game stores are hosting Munchkin: The Nightmare Before Christmas events tonight! Check the store nearest you for details. If your local store isn't participating, you can always invite your friends over and run your own nightmarish party. 



Whether you're gaming at a store or at home, please share your photos with us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook using the hashtag #MunchkinNBC. Pics or it didn't happen!



Game Depot, Tempe, AZ 


The Guild House, Bellflower, CA 


Brookhurst Hobbies, Garden Grove, CA 


Adventurer's Quarter, Arvada, CO 


Gamer's Gambit, Danbury, CT 


Gatekeeper Hobbies, Topeka, KS 


COMICS 2 GAMES, Florence, KY 


Parker, Banner, Kent & Wayne Comics and Games, Cornelius, NC 


The Spot, Newton, NC 


Elite Battlegrounds, Green Brook Township, NJ 


Rainy Day Games, Aloha, OR 


Dragon's Lair Comics & Fantasy, Austin, TX 


Ettin Games & Hobbies, Humble, TX 


Heroes & Fantasies, San Antonio, TX 


Victory Comics, Falls Church, VA


Let's Play Cafe, Monroe, WA 


Scalliwag Toys, Belleville, Ontario, CANADA 
– Phil Reed



Warehouse 23 News: Such Shiny Treasures For GURPS Dungeon Fantasy!



Treasures come in an array of shapes and sizes, but at the end of the day, it's often money that sparks the heroes' interest. With GURPS Dungeon Fantasy Treasures 1: Glittering Prizes , you'll learn all about fascinating possibilities for currency and cash, including magic items, culture ideas, and more. Download it today from Warehouse 23; it's worth its weight in gold!

November 12, 2015: USAopoly Behind The Scenes: Munchkin: The Nightmare Before Christmas

USAopoly has shared an awesome behind-the-scenes post on their blog about creating  Munchkin: The Nightmare Before Christmas . It talks about some of the nitty-gritty work that goes into writing a Munchkin game and shows off some of the gorgeous card art, too!



Learn all the game's secrets straight from its designers, including details about the new Monsters, Rides, Curses, Citizenships, and Treasures . . . and more! The USAopoly crew had a lot of fun creating this Munchkin game, and it shows. Go read their blog and you'll get the real story before you can say "Oogie Boogie."



– Andrew Hackard



Warehouse 23 News: Echo? Echo! Echo...



More awesomeness for your 13th Age game is here, thanks to Echo & Gauntlet , the latest installment of the 13th Age Monthly subscription. Within its pages you'll discover a magical strike force, a supernatural landscape, and more. Get it individually, or as part of a subscription with months of game-building goodness – all just a download away from Warehouse 23!

November 11, 2015: Munchkin Oz Designer's Notes

Want to know more about  Munchkin Oz ? Check out the Munchkin Oz Designer's Notes written by Munchkin Czar Andrew Hackard. Find out how Andrew took inspiration from the 14 original Oz books by L. Frank Baum and wrote some new content for the game . . . learn all behind-the-scenes details behind the General Jinjur card and so much more, in the Designer's Notes!



If you missed the thoughts of  Munchkin   Oz  illustrator John Kovalic, check out his post on the Daily Illuminator.



Create your own adventure – pick up  Munchkin Oz , available only at Target!



– Anna Meade



Warehouse 23 News: More Dragons!!!



Everybody loves dragons, so we decided to give you more with Munchkin Dragon's Trike . With these cards, you might fall through a Wyrm Hole and fight the Bone Dragon to get his treasure. Available from Warehouse 23.