Steve Jackson's Blog, page 393

February 25, 2015: Munchkin #2 Is On Its Way!

The second issue of the Munchkin comic drops very soon! We got our copies, and boy are they pretty. Check out the pic if you don't believe us.



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: Something Fishy?



Richard Kerr has done it again – this time with  Arp Fish , which is one of the more extreme examples of gene-manipulation. These creatures more closely resemble monotreme mammals than fish with the ability to roam the land as well as the sea. Grab a Lobster Knight or get some Command Groupers to lead your attack. Available from Warehouse 23 .

February 23, 2015: Retailers, Join Us In Vegas!

The GAMA Trade Show is next month in Las Vegas, and I'll be attending the show with Ross and talking deals, working secrets, and generally doing my best to remain hidden and productive. I've found the show to be most useful when I focus most of my energy on talking with other publishers, but there's no way that we could not take a little time to chat with the retailers and share our plans for the rest of the year.



With that in mind, I'm asking that if you're a retailer you join me on Tuesday, March 17 at 2pm or 4pm for the Steve Jackson Games retailer presentation. I'm planning to talk Munchkin , Car Wars , and maybe even let a few secrets escape into the wild. I'll be joined by John Kovalic for both presentations, and maybe we can talk John into spending a little time telling us about his work on the upcoming Munchkin Gloom game.



I hope to see many of you at the show!



– Phil Reed



Warehouse 23 News: A Classic Returns...



In the form of a T-shirt! Draw everyone's eye at your local gamestore or con with the Car Wars Classic T-Shirt . But don't just wear the shirt, play the game too. Car Wars Classic is also available from Warehouse 23 . Grab a copy and start your engines!

February 22, 2015: Crowdfunding Focus: Pencil Dice

If there are two things that gamers need to play RPGs, it's pencils and dice. This Kickstarter has cleverly combined these two things into a single multi-purpose item: a pencil with die pips on each side, so that you can roll the pencil and get a d6 result. They've even got some limited edition pencil bags, and you can get one of these pencils for as little as $2!



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: The Storm Returns!



They still tell the tale of how years ago a group of adventurers became heroes by defeating the Stormrider, but nothing lasts forever.  He has returned and is unleashing his fury upon the land once more. Ars Magica: Return of the Stormrider is a Jump Start Kit for Ars Magica Fourth Edition and has everything you need to get started, including pre-generated characters and rules for play. Available in print or PDF from Warehouse 23 .

February 21, 2015: Steve Jackson Games At PAX East

We'll be there! Will you? Stacy, Bridget, and Rhea will all be at PAX East from March 6-8, holding down the fort at booth C605. Come play games and talk to us about new stuff that's coming out!



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: Can You Summon An Old One?



In The Stars Are Right , you can find out. Invoke minor creatures to align the stars to summon Lovecraftian horrors, and if you're lucky or unlucky enough, you will summon a great Old One and win! Available from Warehouse 23.

February 20, 2015: A Wholly Unexpected Pleasure

I'm about to make a surprise appearance. A SURPRISE TO ME, TOO! I am in Seattle right now, all by my lonesome, for REDACTED and some quick meetings with Not Available At Your Clearance . It was a seven-hour trip from Austin; I left the house about 5 in the morning. Much of the flight has already mercifully slipped from my mind. It's better that way.



I wanted to put a gamer meet-and-greet on the schedule, but dropped it, because this was thrown together rather quickly and everybody who would normally help set up an event is recovering from Toy Fair. Yet . . .



As I was walking to my hotel room, I saw a big shiny banner and some people who looked very much like they were, well, OUR people. As in, US. I said "You're putting on a con?" They said that indeed they were. We talked. So: Mythicworlds is a new event with a heavy focus on music, art, and fantastic masquerade, and the chairman, Robert Gould, was kind enough to invite me to check out his show. I will!



Impressive guest list, including Brom and Laurie Lee Brom . . . which makes me happy because I'm a Brom fan and wish we had more chances to use his wonderful stuff.



If you're in Seattle, and this sounds good to you . . . well, I'm here, and it hasn't even started yet and already looks good to me. I do not expect to have any events, nor did I bring so much as a bowler hat. (Thought about packing it, and was overcome by sanity. It passed quickly, but not quickly enough.) But I digress. If you see someone here who looks like me, well, it probably is.



So . . . not only can I not escape geekdom, but it somehow knows where I will be and gets there before I do. What could be cooler?



– Steve Jackson



Warehouse 23 News: The Snakes Of Wrath?



Starting out as simple pets and pests, these snakes have been genetically altered to perform menial tasks and hard labor. Because of their ancestry, they are treated horribly by their human masters. Is it any wonder why they rebelled and struck out against their human masters? Off the Wall Armies presents Snakes of Wrath , sculpted by Steve Jackson Games' own Richard Kerr . These anthropomorphic creatures can be used in any "furry" campaign or added as a weird new encounter in any miniature game you're playing. Get these and other Off the Wall Armies miniatures from Warehouse 23.

February 19, 2015: Illuminated Site of the Week: Delicious, Nutritious, Overtly Vicious

Freddie Wong and Brandon Laatsch's video studio Rocket Jump is responsible for some memorable content. For example, remember commercials from the 90s? Here's betting you don't recall them quite like this. (And if you don't want the kids recalling them in the middle of the night for the next week, steer them away from it.)
– Suggested by Scott Slemmons



Warehouse 23 News: A Storm Is Coming...



And with it comes the Stormrider. Some say he is a man possessed, others say he is one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The Magus Gringroth insists he is an elemental. Just beware of his anger when he comes to earth to wreak havoc and leaves behind only flaming hoof prints. Ars Magica: The Stormrider is a Jump Start Kit for Ars Magica 3rd Edition and it comes with rules briefings and characters. Available in print or PDF from Warehouse 23.

February 18, 2015: The Latest In Loot For GURPS!

When fighting the forces of evil, there's often one burning question for those locked in mortal combat: "What do I get out of this if I survive?" The latest issue of Pyramid offers some answers in that regard, with the collection of rewards contained within Pyramid #3/75: Hero's Jackpot . It's dedicated to a myriad of genres, from fantasy to space opera to horror and more.



This issue's feature mini-supplement is "Just Rewards," a guide to new and different abilities a hero might receive in a GURPS Dungeon Fantasy campaign from that series' architect, Sean Punch. Gain a dragon sigil, undergo a psychic awakening, become a saint of the city, or receive one of dozens of new boons.



This issue also features a guide to expanding and enhancing the options for familiars in any GURPS magical milieu, a look at space opera rewards from one of David L. Pulver's campaigns, a guide to adding the world-altering abilities of GURPS Power-Ups 5: Impulse Buys to a setting without permanently disrupting things, and much more.



We think gamers should treat themselves, and Pyramid #3/75: Hero's Jackpot is perhaps the most distilled example of this notion yet. Get its goodies individually, or subscribe to Pyramid today and receive your just (or unjust) rewards for months to come. No matter how you get this issue of Pyramid, you're sure to hit the jackpot!



– Steven Marsh



Warehouse 23 News: Cute, Cuddly, And Cannibalistic!



Need some help in Munchkin Zombies ? Grab a Zombie Chibithulhu ! This 10" plushie features huge, adorable dead eyes and a juicy pink brain on its chest. Available from Warehouse 23.

February 16, 2015: In Nomine For Storium

Those of you who backed the Kickstarter for Storium a while back might remember that they announced a stretch goal that we'd create a Storium world based on In Nomine . You might also remember that that stretch goal was funded.



Well, a little while ago I got a chance to look at the draft for the In Nomine Storium world, and it looks really good! There's still some work to be done on it, but I think you're going to like the way these two streams have crossed.



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: Begin An Journey To The 13th Age



The Shadows of Eldolan takes the fledgling 13th Age heroes to a town of intrigue, where – if they're not careful – their adventuring career may end before it begins. Start your tale today with a download from Warehouse 23!

February 17, 2015: The Next Release Of Nightfall

We are thrilled to announce the next release of Ogre Designer's Edition Nightfall counter sheets into the wild!



Okay, so maybe these sponsored counter sheets' sleek black designs and faintly menacing look make us a little nervous about what they're up to… but we are still thrilled to let our players know you can now purchase these distinctly gorgeous and deadly Ogres at Warehouse 23!



You can find all our sponsored counter sheets here!



– Jennifer Atkinson



Warehouse 23 News: The War To End All Wars... In More Ways Than One?



The Great War (as World War I was known before we knew there'd be a sequel) was a time of horrors the likes of which the world had never seen. And now it's even worse, with Trail of Cthulhu: Dulce et Decorum Est , a collection of adventures for Trail of Cthulhu that takes the heroes to the worst of the war zones – all a download away, from Warehouse 23.

February 15, 2015: Announcements For June

We have a bunch of reprints coming out in June of various Munchkin expansion packs, as well as some new stuff. A thing to note about all of the expansion reprints: they have updated colors! Yay!

Munchkin 2: Unnatural Axe





(reprint)



112 more cards for the game of killing monsters and taking their stuff. Play a new race: Orcs! Face foes like the Hydrant and the Tentacle Demon. Equip yourself with dread armor like the Spiked Codpiece. Recruit allies like the Shoulder Dragon. Wield mighty weapons like Druid Fluid, the Slug Thrower and, of course, the terrifying Unnatural Axe . . . and show them who's the greatest munchkin of all.



Munchkin 2 – Unnatural Axe is a supplement to Munchkin ; you will need the original game to play. Or you could add it to any of the other Munchkin game sets instead. It'll work, and it'll be silly, and that's what we all want here.

Munchkin 3: Clerical Errors





(reprint)



Another 112 cards for the best-selling game of killing monsters and taking their stuff. Play a new Race: Gnomes! Try on the Bard Class. Face the Tequila Mockingbird, the Bad Ass, and the dreaded Auntie Paladin! Equip yourself with amazing items like the Chainmail Bikini and the Stab-A-Matic . . . and show them who's the mightiest, munchkinest dungeon delver of them all.



And this set has a special treat. We asked five of our favorite Comic Guys to do one card each. Inside you'll find:



Phil Foglio's Magnificent Hat


Pete Abrams' Perfectly Ordinary Bunny Rabbit


Tom Ricket's Stick Figure


Jon Rosenberg's Fowl Fiend


and Randy Milholland's Redneck Tree!
Munchkin 4: The Need for Steed







(reprint)



Munchkin 4 – The Need for Steed is an expansion for the original Munchkin – 112 more cards for killing monsters, stealing treasure, and backstabbing your fellow players. This set introduces Steeds, the trusty mounts of legend . . . Oh, wait – this is Munchkin ! So these Steeds include not just the Dragon and the Tiger, but the Giant Mutant Gerbil (drawn by guest artist Shaenon K. Garrity of Skin Horse), the Chicken, and Big Joe, who might be a Steed or might be a Hireling. It's hard to tell.



Hireling? Yes indeed, The Need for Steed has lots and lots of Hirelings! Add these valuable characters to your retinue, use their special abilities, and sacrifice them to save your own skin!



Feel the need . . . The Need for Steed ! (Now with full-color art!)

Munchkin 5: De-Ranged







(reprint)



More of the twisted humor of Steve Jackson and John Kovalic in a 112-card supplement for Munchkin !



De-Ranged has everything you love about http://www.worldofmunchkin.com/"... Munchkin , including:



A new Class! Rangers can tame monsters and ride them!


Treasure! Track down the Philosopher's Scone, put Racing Stripes on your Steed, and fill your Canteen of Spleen with Carbonated Holy Water!


Monsters! Beware the Telemarketer, the Poultrygeist, and the Undead Clowns.


And imported monsters! That's right – this set includes unique monsters created by the European Munchkin publishers, available for the first time in English. Quake in fear at the Brothers Grimm and the Snerks! Or just kill them and take their stuff. Your choice.
Munchkin 5 – De-Ranged . All the munchkin-ism of a prestige class, with none of that annoying roleplaying stuff.

Star Munchkin 2: The Clown Wars







(reprint)



The Munchkins take to the stars – again!



Star Munchkin took the rules-bending, power-gaming, dungeon-crawling insanity of the original Munchkin and put the whole thing in space, where the monsters are more alien, the weapons more zappy, and the treasure – well, there's still piles of treasure. Now Star Munchkin 2 brings the epic saga of The Clown Wars to life, except with better acting . . .



Strap on the Sprayser or X-Rayser and go ray-gunning for new monsters like the Nerds of Prey! Play a new race (the Bugs) or class (Space Ranger!), and do it all with Ralph, the Wonder Dog, by your side. This set also introduces a new card type: Rooms. Just open the door, and . . . "oh, noooooooooo . . .!"



The Clown Wars is a supplement; you will need Star Munchkin to play. Or you could add it to a game of Munchkin (or any of the Munchkin family!) instead, or mix them all together for a Munchkin-fest of truly mind-bending proportions!

Star Munchkin 3: Diplomatic Impunity







More Sci-Fi Hijinks!



After far too long, your favorite space-faring munchkins are BACK! This expansion includes Ships your characters can use to explore the cosmos; a new Class, Ambassador, that can commandeer Ships from other players; and a new Race, Veggie, because even munchkins need fiber. Plus plenty of new monsters, Traps, and Treasures. (Yes, of course there are more Lasers. PEW PEW!)



Star Munchkin 3 – Diplomatic Impunity . . . in space, no one can hear you squee!



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: The Devolution Will Be Televised?



You are part of a paranormal investigation television show; it's no question of if things will go horribly wrong, but when. Learn the answers on a remote Scottish isle in a building no one has entered in seven years, yet which is definitely not empty. Dare you unlock the secrets of The Seventh Circle ? This adventure for Fear Itself and Trail of Cthulhu is a download away, from Warehouse 23.