Steve Jackson's Blog, page 395

February 3, 2015: Welcome Susan!

"I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn, and a king." (Frank Sinatra, "That's Life") Just kidding. I ran into a few, um, problems when I tried to be the king. I'm still dealing with those "And don't ever come back to this palace!" feelings of rejection. Being a pirate is really cool, though.



The advent of 2015 found me in a new job in a new city. I had been living in Miami (and other, even more southern, places) for more than 20 years, mainly teaching English and Math and doing private tutoring. I grew up in Houston, though, and actually spent my freshman year at UT Austin. Last century. So . . . Austin is a wee bit colder than Miami right now, but I'm still excited to be here. My background is not in gaming – it runs more toward the editing side of things. My task here is to make Things run more smoothly for Phil while he does Important Stuff. There's never a dull moment, and sometimes I get to do Stuff, too!



When I'm not at Steve Jackson Games, I can be found reading, playing Words with Friends (and occasionally with Complete Strangers), throwing random toys at for my dog and cat, baking double chocolate brownies, eating double chocolate brownies, and spending quality time with The Last Kid I Still Have At Home



– Susan Bueno



Warehouse 23 News: Monsters! Minotaurs! Maelstroms!



The latest sets of printable paper miniatures from Arion Games is here! Get ice-dwelling monsters, minotaurs, and Templars . . . or go old school and download minis that perfectly complement the Maelstrom Domesday RPG . All of these are just a click away, from Warehouse 23!

February 2, 2015: Three Questions With Katie Cook

We got a chance to ask Katie Cook, illustrator for Munchkin Love Shark Baby , some questions. Here's what she had to say!



Who are you, and what do you do?



I'm Katie Cook! I'm a comic artist and writer . . . lately I've been really involved with the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic comic for IDW (as the writer for over 2 years!) and I've also done work for Marvel, The Jim Henson Company and more. I also have my own line of books ( Gronk: A Monster's Story ) through Action Lab. It's a blast.



What was your role on Munchkin Love Shark Baby?



I did all that there purdy artwork.



What's your favorite card in Munchkin Love Shark Baby and why?



Probably the Romanticore or the shark with the hearts in his eyes. I love drawing animals!



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: Who Is Quandos Vorn?



Sure, everyone knows Quandos Vorn is an interplanetary criminal mastermind. But the specifics of what he did to the heroes and why they're sworn to kill him? That's up to you all at the gaming table. Adventure awaits, with The Gaean Reach , the Roleplaying Game of Interstellar Vengeance. Based on the science fiction classics of Jack Vance, this standalone game is waiting for you to download from Warehouse 23. Get it before Quandos Vorn gets you!

January 31, 2015: Munchkin Loot Letter In Target

Look what was spotted in the wild!



We've talked a bit in the past about why it's important for Munchkin , Zombie Dice , and our other games to appear in big retail stores: big stores means a bigger audience, and a bigger audience leads to more new stuff from us.



But what's important about Munchkin Loot Letter appearing in Target is that this is a licensed game. This is a game AEG made, using the Munchkin license. This is, of course, good for them in the same way that our games appearing in such stores is good for us. But it's also good for us because it starts to show people that Munchkin is a lot bigger than just the card game. This is the kind of thing that could lead to others picking up the license, and that leads to all kinds of other cool Munchkin games right alongside Loot Letter , Munchkin Panic , Munchkin Adventure Time , and the bevy of third-party Munchkin stuff coming out in the next year or two.



It's really exciting to see this new phase of Munchkin 's existence taking off like this!



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: New Ways To Slack!



Chez Geek has leaped into the digital age with Chez Geek: Slack to the Future . This brand-new expansion contains 56 cards that add activities, people, jobs, food, and more from the digital revolution.



Get your slack on at Warehouse 23 .

February 1, 2015: Upgraded Templates For Transhuman Space? How Bazaar!

Transhuman Space: Changing Times brought the fantastic world of Transhuman Space to GURPS Fourth Edition, with rules, guidelines, and setting insight. The upgrade mission continued with Transhuman Space: Shell-Tech , with Fourth Edition info for cybershells and bioshells. Now, Transhuman Space: Bioroid Bazaar performs the same upgrade on the biotechnological side of Transhuman Space , with updated templates for human upgrades, parahumans, bioroids, and uplifted animals.



Written by Transhuman Space Line Editor Phil Masters, this supplement also provides a few new designs, including the disturbing Leonardo bioroid, the tragic J7-S53 "upgrade," and others. Finally, it offers intel on advantages and disadvantages, quirks and perks, and more of interest to biotechnologists. In the future, updating your body is easier than ever . . . just like updating your Transhuman Space campaign has never been simpler, thanks to a visit to the Bioroid Bazaar . Download your copy today, from Warehouse 23!



– Steven Marsh



Warehouse 23 News: Hit The Jackpot, With GURPS!



We've got a lot of loot! Pyramid #3/75: Hero's Jackpot is a trove of heroic rewards for all kinds of campaigns: GURPS Dungeon Fantasy boons from Sean Punch, new GURPS options for magic familiars, science-fiction rewards from David L. Pulver, and much more. Download this issue separately or as the first installment of the trove you get from a subscription – only from Warehouse 23!

January 30, 2015: Greetings From Prague!

I arrived in Prague Tuesday afternoon, exhausted and excited and ready for anything. After reaching the hotel I met with our printer rep from Grand Prix, David, and immediately set out to explore the city as we talked shop. Prague is wonderful, a maze of twisting roads that stretch on forever. My very first thought as we walked the city was that I needed a car so I could play out the car chase scene from The Bourne Identity . . . but I played it smart and instead kept walking and talking.



David and I focused most of our attention on Munchkin 2015 and 2016 plans (including licensee projects), and after running through the scheduled list of releases we both have a better idea of what steps to take next to guarantee that these games and expansions ship on time. Finding solutions to one-off cards for our licensees was also on the list; we didn't find the perfect fix to the slight timing headache we're dealing with, but we do have an idea of what step to take next and hope we can get more special cards out into the world.



After Munchkin , David and I spent time on  Car Wars , talking both about the new edition and support for Car Wars Classic , and I'll deny it if anyone says the words "plastic" and "miniatures" came up during our Car Wars discussion.



We plan to take time to actually go out and play tourist a little before we leave for Nuremberg. Our walk over the Charles Bridge early this morning was fantastic – it's great to get out of the U.S. and see landmarks that have existed for centuries – but I think I need to get some real sightseeing in before the overwhelming business of Nuremberg Toy Fair consumes me and beats my brain down into a lump of meat.



– Phil Reed



Warehouse 23 News: Journey In Mythic Africa



Everyone knows Egypt, but what about west of Egypt? Ars Magica: Between Sand & Sea - Mythic Africa is a sourcebook that provides cultural and magical details for the lands west of Egypt, but not including Egypt. The ruins of Rome and Carthage still await a brave explorer, and the plains of Tell are home to nomads and raiders. Will you journey to Mythic Africa and find magical secrets? Available from Warehouse 23 .

January 28, 2015: The Munchkin Comic Is On Stands TODAY!

We are very pleased to announce that the first issue of the Munchkin comic book, published by Boom! Studios, is on comic shelves today. The first printing of each issue includes a new Munchkin card . . . and the first printing of Munchkin #1 sold out immediately, so don't put off buying this issue if you want the card! (In fact, while you're at the store, add Munchkin to your pull list!)



Boom! has been fantastic to work with, and we're very proud of the writing and art on the comic. We're sure Munchkin fans everywhere will enjoy it, too!



– Andrew Hackard



Warehouse 23 News: The Latest In Squishy Innovations For Transhuman Space



Bring your Transhuman Space game up to date with Transhuman Space: Bioroid Bazaar – a collection of classic templates, updated for GURPS Fourth Edition. The future is just a download away, and only from Warehouse 23!

January 29, 2015: The Winning T-Shirt Designs Are Up!

Remember that Munchkin t-shirt design contest from welovefine? Well, the winners have been posted, and boy are they great! Go check them out, and get ready to buy some sweet shirts! I know I will.



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: They're Back!



Munchkin Game Changers brings back cards from  Munchkinomicon , Fairy Dust , Reloaded , and Monster Enhancers , but wait! There's more! It also comes with level counters and a pair of giant sparkly pink dice!



Get one from Warehouse 23 today!

January 26, 2015: Reminder: Steve's New Jersey Tour

A reminder that on February 12 (a few short weeks from now!), Steve Jackson will be visiting three New Jersey stores. Stop on by!



4:00-5:30 p.m.: Elite Battlegrounds. 299 Rt. 22 East, Green Brook , NJ 08812.



6:00-7:30 p.m.: The Only Game In Town. 211 West Main Street, Somerville, NJ 08876.



8:00-9:30 p.m.: The Fallout Shelter Comics, Games, and Collectibles. 320 Raritan Avenue, Highland Park, NJ 08904.



And a new announcement: Andrew Hackard will be signing all your Munchkin swag on the evening of Thursday, February 12, at the Compleat Strategist, 11 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016!



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: Omens? Oh, No!



A comet in the sky may be an omen of trouble, or a sign of something more dangerous. Gather some brave friends and untangle the mysteries of Dungeon Crawl Classics #77.5: The Tower Out of Time . Adventure's just a download away, thanks to Warehouse 23!

January 27, 2015: A Peek Inside The Munchkin Comic

If you're interested in the Munchkin comic from Boom!, but are not sure yet whether or not it's for you, this article from CBR is a good place to get some information on what to expect inside. It's even got some pages to read!



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: Harrowing Trouble – Or Heroing Trouble?



Your patron's temple is under attack – and only you can save him! A harrowing adventure awaits within the pages of Dungeon Crawl Classics #80.5: Glipkerio's Gambit . Download it today, from Warehouse 23!

January 25, 2015: And With My LEGO Geek Hat On:

I should have gone to ComicCon last year . . . this was one of the exclusive giveaways.



So if anybody out there picked it up, and now would rather have some games, we can talk !



Does not have to be in sealed package because I'm going to play with it  :)



– Steve Jackson



Warehouse 23 News: See? Monster!



When the heroes are safe at sea in search of adventure, that's a perfect time to strike . . . Age of Cthulhu: Transatlantic Terror is a short tale that can be added to a Call of Cthulhu campaign. Get it now, from Warehouse 23!