Steve Jackson's Blog, page 384

May 29, 2015: Munchkin Adventure Time 2 Hits Stores!

Oh. My. Glob.



Did you enjoy Munchkin Adventure Time ? Do you want dungeons in your game? Then you should head on out to your local game store and pick up Munchkin Adventure Time 2 – It's a Dungeon Crawl!  We've just gotten word from USAopoly that it's in stores now, and ready for you to add to your game!





Munchkin Adventure Time 2 – It's a Dungeon Crawl!



Your quest for victory in the Land of Ooo just turned into a dungeon crawl, complete with new monsters, treasures, curses, and special portals. Munchkin Adventure Time 2 – It's a Dungeon Crawl! adds 90 cards and 12 special oversized Dungeon cards to the original Munchkin Adventure Time .



* Munchkin Adventure Time 2 – It's a Dungeon Crawl! is not a stand-alone game. Munchkin Adventure Time is required to play.



Check out the press release for more information!



– Brian Engard



 



Warehouse 23 News: You Say You Want A Revolution! Well, You Know...



We all want to change the world. But it's so much work. For those of us who don't want to sit on the sidelines, but who are too lazy to do any of the work, there's Chez Guevara . You do what you must to stay in the Great Leader's favor while getting others to do your work. Sounds perfect, right? Grab a copy from Warehouse 23 today!

May 25, 2015: These Custom Car Wars Pieces Will Blow Your Mind!

Lots of folks like to play Car Wars with 3-D playing pieces. But finding that commercial toy car that looks like it was designed just for your game is not easy. So some people – people way more talented than me – customize. They chop, they rebuild, they accessorize, they paint, and the results are amazing.



Which brings me to Dave Taylor. I can't heap enough praise on his amazing work. Check it out.



– Scott Haring



Warehouse 23 News: Two New Villages To Visit



Two new ready-to-use villages are here from Raging Swan Press. Village Backdrop: Aubade has a town with a secret that compels its inhabitants to remain holed up during the day and be active at night, while Village Backdrop: Saint Fiacre shows a region on the brink of disaster. Download both of these flavorful fantasy villages today, from Warehouse 23!

May 24, 2015: Potholes No More!

One of the biggest problems we have in creating the Car Wars universe is figuring out to handle roads. There's really no good way to maintain them in a post-apocalyptic setting. Keeping the existing highway infrastructure today is a daunting task, costing billions of dollars a year just to deal with everyday wear and tear – to say nothing of the additional damage caused by mines, grenades, and the occasional stray bomb or cruise missile.



Except now, where a Dutch scientist may have solved the problem. Check it out.



– Scott Haring



Warehouse 23 News: A Family Of Magic! The Magic Of Family!



The fun of the 13th Age Monthly subscription continues! Liven up your game with six new memorable magic items, thanks to Candles, Clay & Dancing Shoes . Then take up the mantle of heredity with Children of the Icons as you explore the blessing and curse of having iconic parents. Download those individually from Warehouse 23, or encounter them (and much more) as part of your subscription!

May 23, 2015: The 100 Games Project

Our very dear friend Amber Cook has launched The 100 Games Project, a blog devoted to playing through Mike Selinker's 100 Games You Absolutely, Positively Must Know How to Play. Mike's a game design genius (no, really), and this list of 100 games should go on any gamer's bucket list. I know I'm doing myself a disservice by not printing a list of Mike's 100 chosen games and slowly crossing off titles. Unfortunately, with all of the other projects and responsibilities eating my time, I don't want to bury myself in something new. Maybe later. Much later. Very likely long after Amber plays all 100 games.



Good luck, Amber! I'll be watching your 100 Games Project unfold. Maybe if I'm lucky you'll grab me one day when we're at a convention and trick me into playing one of the games on the list. 



– Phil Reed



Warehouse 23 News: A Classic RPG Reborn . . . And Bursting Through A Wall!



The original Feng Shui is a classic RPG of Hong Kong-inspired cinematic action. And now (cue ominous music) it's back. Yes, Feng Shui 2 is more fast, more furious, and more fun than ever. And the adventure of a lifetime begins with a download from Warehouse 23!

May 13, 2015: Illuminated Site of the Week: Your Daily Dose Of Vitamin ET

UFOs being as important as they are, it's vital we get updates as often as possible. UFO Sightings Daily is a good start. And what is the latest? President Obama's pilot saw a UFO back in the 80s, Mexican volcanoes are hosting alien flybys, and a craft spotted "near" the sun mirrors an image from Egyptian hieroglyphics. Tomorrow's shaping up to be a heckuva day.
 
– Andy



Warehouse 23 News: Cold-Blooded Action Is The New Hotness!



The 13th Age Monthly subscription has begun! Learn how to take to the skies with Dragon Riding , or face murderous amphibians with Temples of the Frog Folk . You can download these individually from Warehouse 23, or get them as part of your subscription!

May 14, 2015: Tour Of Ronald McDonald House Charities - Central Texas

Brian and I had a fun adventure yesterday dropping off games at the Ronald McDonald House Charities – Central Texas here in Austin. If you're not familar with them, this organization provides a place to stay for families with children in hospitals. While there, they were gracious enough to show us around!








For 30 years Ronald McDonald House Charities – Central Texas has provided housing for families with hospitalized children. From a place to stay, to groceries, to laundry, they provide everything a family needs to stay close to their child.








The facilities were very nice and, more importantly, we felt welcomed by the staff as soon as we walked in the door. We hope these guys are around for another 30 years and then some!








– Rhea Friesen



Warehouse 23 News: Thrilling Music, On Cue!



Provide an epic soundtrack to your 13th Age game – or other fantasy RPG – with the 13th Age Soundtrack , a collection of over 20 musical compositions to add excitement and interest to your game. An aural adventure is a download away, from Warehouse 23!

May 15, 2015: Announcing GURPS Mars Attacks

If you've played Mars Attacks: The Dice Game , or are a fan of Topps' trading cards (they're doing a Kickstarter for a new run of Mars Attacks cards), and want some Mars Attacks in your GURPS , boy have we got you covered!

GURPS Mars Attacks



Earth Is Under Attack!



The Martians descended upon Earth without warning. Saucers filled the skies. Blaster-wielding soldiers, giant insects, and unstoppable robots slaughtered the human defenders on the ground. It could have been the end of humanity – if not for the brave scientists of the Novas Vira, the only ones who saw the invasion coming! Now the fate of Earth hangs in the balance as both sides turn to science, desperately inventing new weapons and defenses in the hope of finding the one that wins the war.



GURPS Mars Attacks contains everything you need to join the fight and make a difference:



Choose your side. Are you among the conquerors here to grant Earth the honor of being added to the Martian Empire? Or are you fighting to save your planet – either on your own or as part of the Novas Vira, Tiger Corps, or United Earth Alliance?


Set the scope. Play unprepared civilians stepping up to face Martian raiders, bold saucer pilots defending troops from waves of human jets, high-level officers making decisions that impact the entire war, or anyone else you can imagine!


Lock and load. It'll take spirit to win this war, sure, but also technology. Learn about the weapons, defenses, vehicles, and strange inventions of both sides – and take advantage of streamlined rules to make new ones.
GURPS Mars Attacks requires the GURPS Basic Set, Fourth Edition. The detailed setting and descriptions of Martian society and technology can be used with any game system.



Check out the press release for more information!



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: The Gaming Spirit Of '76



Are you looking for a classic wargame and articles, variants, and reviews from the golden age of tabletop strategy? Then check out JagdPanther Magazine #13 , a downloadable "reprint" of the 1976 original. To get it, just fire up your tank and roll over to Warehouse 23!

May 16, 2015: Announcements For July And August 2015

This month, we'd like to let you know about two important reprints, a new edition of a blast from the past, and something new coming later this year. First, Car Wars Classic will be back in print in July. Also in July is our new edition of Car Wars: The Card Game . We talked about this a little bit over at the Car Wars Arenas Kickstarter, but now we're announcing it officially! Then, in August, we're reprinting the Munchkin Dragons booster. To go along with this, you'll get a brand new booster: Munchkin Dragon's Trike !


Car Wars Classic (reprint)
Drive Offensively!



He triggered the rear guns once more. A direct hit! The blue car skidded as the driver lost control – then flipped and caught fire.



That would teach him not to tailgate . . .



Drive the freeways of the future – where the right of way goes to the biggest guns. Players choose their vehicles – complete with weapons, armor, power plants, suspension, and even body style. Then they take them out on the road . . . to come home as "aces," or to crash and burn. If a driver survives, his abilities improve, and he can earn money to buy bigger and better cars. Advanced rules let players design their own customized cars, trucks, and cycles.



Playing time 30 minutes and up, for players 10 and older. Any number can play . . . games with 2 to 8 are best.



Game components include:



103 full-color game counters and separate Turning Key.


64-page rulebook, plus extra tables and record sheets.


2-sided game map, with autoduel arena and raceway.


Car Wars: The Card Game (3rd Edition)



Welcome to the sport of the future – autoduelling! Killer cars battle with machine guns, missiles, autocannons, and flamethrowers. You're behind the wheel . . . and the last survivor wins.



This fast, fun game, based on Steve Jackson Games' award-winning Car Wars , includes six full-color car cards, 150 full-color playing cards, and short, easy rules.



Munchkin Dragons (reprint)
Here There Be Dragons!



Dragons are fearsome! Dragons are cool! Dragons have LOTS of treasure for munchkins to loot! Munchkin Dragons has 15 new cards. The treasures are wondrous indeed . . . but first, you've got some dragons to slay. Good luck.



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



Munchkin Dragon's Trike



Now You've Done It!



You stirred up the nest and now Dragons are everywhere! Big ones, tiny ones, even undead ones. Munchkin Dragon's Trike has 15 new cards. Kill enough Dragons and you might even be able to start your own treasure hoard . . .



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: Weapons And Armor And Bots!



Arm your Metamorphosis Alpha games with 150 new pieces of combat equipment, thanks to The Warden Armory . This ultra-tech addition to a classic game is available for download on Warehouse 23!

May 17, 2015: Crowdfunding Focus: The Planet Mercenary Roleplaying Game

As seen . . . RIGHT HERE.



It is unusual for me to plug a game that I have not played. I'm making an exception here because:



(a) I am a fan of Howard Tayler and his Schlock Mercenary universe, and I trust Howard's gaming and quality-control instincts, and



(b) The description and updates tell me that either he and lead designer Alan Bahr are very, vary familiar with where the RPG hobby has been and needs to go, OR they are amazingly good at reinventing the wheel. Either way will do for me. For instance, I see echoes of one of the prime features of Toon (Failure is FUN!!) and Paranoia (You die, you come right back as someone with similar, but not necessarily identical, skills and attitudes). There is also some interesting use of cards, and what I would call a "karma" mechanic. Read the updates; you will spot some more. Like I said, these guys have done their homework, or they are so innovative that they don't NEED no stinkin' homework, and I'm good with both sides of the coin.



The next thing for you to know is that this project is about to end. Like, 1pm CDT Monday. If you act fast you BARELY have time to go support it RIGHT NOW, so don't think about it. Officer is shouting GO GO GO!  So do it. You snoozeth, you loseth.



I supported at the $100 level, which gets me a hardcopy of the game, defaced personally by its creators, and a lot of goodies. You can get PDF goodness for a whole lot less if that's your budget or if you are just post-dead-tree in your gaming. I like hardcopies and l like personal defacing.



Whether I ever play in this system or not (and I intend to give it a try if the opportunity appears, like at LibertyCon maybe, hint hint), I know I will spend a lot of happy time reading the book. It's a worldbook for the Schlock universe, and Howard has made the tough and IMHO correct decision to illustrate it NOT in the style of the comic itself - which after all IS a comic - but as though it were images from the real world(s) on which the comic is based. In this way he makes it less of a "cartoon" game and more of a "whatever level of realism you want!!" game.



As I type this, the project is juuuuust short of its final, $300K, goal, which is "take some risky chances." I think we alll want to see what will happen when Howard Tayler, supported by his fans, takes risky chances. It will PROBABLY hit that goal before you read this post. SUPPORT IT ANYWAY. The more extra funding, the more interesting chances Howard will take.



Do it NOW. Time is short. You'll be happy with what you get.



– Steve Jackson



Warehouse 23 News: Leave Paris?! In Your Dreams!
Explore the Dreamlands and uncover the truth about reality – or go mad trying – with Trail of Cthulhu: Dreamhounds of Paris , the new campaign guide from Robin D. Laws (with help from Kenneth Hite). Download it individually from Warehouse 23 or get it as part of a bundle which includes another fun in-game supplement!

May 18, 2015: Ogre Scenario Contest Is Live!

We're excited to announce the release of Mark-O-Polo, the first of 14 new scenarios for Ogre Designer's Edition . These scenarios were written by Kickstarter backers for Ogre fans everywhere, and we look forward to hearing your feedback on the scenarios as they're released.



To make sure we all get plenty of time to play each scenario, we'll be releasing one approximately each week; this started on May 14.



After each release, head over to the Ogre forums on our website and let us know what you think. Each scenario will have its own thread, and we'll be taking feedback on each scenario for 60 days after release. After 60 days, we'll close the individual thread so we can look at the feedback and incorporate it as needed.



Once all 14 scenarios have been released, and after we've looked at the feedback and done any necessary editing, we'll assemble them all in a good-looking PDF available from Warehouse 23.



We're looking forward to your thoughts on the new scenarios, and we're grateful to everyone who has taken time to contribute to this game!



– Jennifer Atkinson



Warehouse 23 News: Federation & Empire And Articles And Fun!



Get all the Federation & Empire articles from Captain's Log #41-50 in one (big) easy-to-use supplement, thanks to Federation & Empire Compendium Part 3 . (And if you haven't picked up the first two parts, you can download those both from Warehouse 23 as well!)