Steve Jackson's Blog, page 400

December 15, 2014: SJ Games: Closed For The Holidays

Like many of you, we're going to be closing down so we can visit our families over the holiday season.



Steve Jackson Games will be closed from December 20 to January 4; our last shipping day for the year will be December 19, so get your Warehouse 23 orders in before then!



Steve Jackson Games (and Warehouse 23) will reopen January 5, 2015. Have a great holiday!



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: Get Games You'll Love For Less – Today Only!



12/15 only: Use the code MOREGAMES4FUN to get 25% off any order of Steve Jackson Games products equaling $200 or more!

December 14, 2014: In The Age Of Dragons, Dragons Are Entirely Optional

But awesome. For serious.



I've been playing Dragon Age: Inquisition a lot lately (where "a lot" means "more than 50 hours in the last two weeks"), and I can sum up my experience with the game thusly: go buy it.



Okay, I'll go into a bit more detail. Inquistion takes a lot of what was good about the last two games – interesting characters, great dialog, complex narrative, fun combat, lots of character customization – and adds a big dose of exploration to the mix. That's really Inquisition's greatest contribution to the series: you're free to explore a gigantic world at your leisure, engaging in the parts that you enjoy as you prefer.



The games approach to dragon fights is representative of this, actually. 50 hours in, I haven't run into any dragon fights that are mandatory. If you want to fight a dragon, you have to seek that dragon out and fight it on its home territory. It's a high risk, high reward scenario, and it's entirely optional. There are ten of these dragons that you can hunt and slay, and let me just tell you: you want to. The fights are exciting, dynamic, challenging, and rewarding.



And that's what Inquisition is all about: serving you the trademark BioWare story and characters, but also giving you a huge amount of optional content that you can engage in if you want, and most of it is very, very good.



Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go attend a royal ball in Orlais. I'll be back in 70 hours or so.



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: We Pulled Strings To Get You More Illuminati – Today Only!



12/14 only: Use the code ILLUMINATIY2K to get Y2K and BFD at 50% off when you buy a copy of Illuminati !

December 13, 2014: Prepare For A Monstrous Holiday Season

It's that wonderfully chilly time of year when you gather with friends, sip eggnog, make lists and check them twice, then slay the ravenous unholy monsters that threaten humanity. The current issue of Pyramid is dedicated to taking the fight against the forces of evil, with Pyramid #3/73: Monster Hunters II .



This fearless issue features Hans-Christian Vortisch's expansion of GURPS Tactical Shooting with three new shootist styles (and armament suggestions) specifically designed for monster hunters. It also includes a GURPS Monster Hunters campaign framework – with a new perk, power, Ritual Path spells, and Enemies for GURPS – that sets the heroes as part of a secret government agency designed to protect the world.



The installment also reaches out in new domains, with a cyberpunk organization and guide to taking the fight to the not-to-distant future (complete with GURPS details on typical agents). It also highlights the dangers of venturing too close to the other side with a group of darker hunters, with GURPS stats. And there's more in this issue that we're too scared to mention.



The nights may be longer, but you're ready for action. Get this game-changing grimoire individually, or subscribe to Pyramid today and get this issue along with more months of monstrously good fun!



– Steven Marsh



Warehouse 23 News: A Legendary Munchkin Legends Promotion – Today Only!



12/13 only: Use the code 1EPICNESSIII when you buy Munchkin Legends Deluxe to get Legends 3 free!

December 11, 2014: Congratulations, Sam!

At the company Christmas dinner a few nights ago (I had a burger and liked it) we announced to staff that our Production Manager, Samuel Mitschke, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. After spending almost seven years in this role I can report that Sam will be busy; the day-to-day operations of Steve Jackson Games (just like any company) includes a constant stream of new problems to solve. Sam, if you need any help at all, I am always available.



Except for next week, when I'm on vacation.



– Phil Reed



(Oh, yes – Steve has kindly promoted me to Chief Executive Officer. Thank you, Steve, for the promotion and the trust. I will do my best.)



Warehouse 23 News: Get More Castellan Without Any Hasslin' – Today Only!



12/11 only: Use the code 9CASTLEWALLS when you buy blue/red Castellan and get green/yellow Castellan free!

December 12, 2014: Deluxe Disorderly Driving In A Digital Download? Delightful!

To date, the best-selling digital Car Wars item of all time has been the Car Wars Compendium , a collection of all the classic Car Wars rules in one brimming supplement. However, way back when (last millennium?), the Compendium was also offered as part of a boxed set. We're happy to offer that complete set as a PDF download for the first time, on Warehouse 23.



Car Wars – Deluxe Edition includes the aforementioned Car Wars Compendium , a comprehensive 144-page PDF that takes you through building, driving, and crashing your deadly dream machines. It also provides a quick-start guide, hundreds of full-color counters, a huge map of the fortress town of Midville, a map of a rough-and-tumble truck stop, a ready-to-use arena map, and more. In short, it's everything you need to for print-and-go classic Car Wars mayhem.



However, if you're one of the scads of people who bought the Compendium but want all the extra goodies that come with the Deluxe Edition , we've got you covered! The Car Wars Compendium upgrade edition includes everything in the Deluxe Edition except the Compendium ! Upgrading to the "deluxe experience" has never been easier – it's all only a download away, and only from Warehouse 23!



– Steven Marsh



Warehouse 23 News: Get GURPS Digital Goodies For Less Gold – Today Only!



12/12 only: Use the code GURPS42HOOK when you buy $50 of GURPS PDFs (no Pyramid subscriptions) and get 10% off!

December 8, 2014: Blue Santa: The Totals Are In!

The results for our Blue Santa promotion are in! Because of you, we're donating the following games to Blue Santa:



126 Pocket Ogre


5 Munchkin Impossible


9 Munchkin Fu


15 Star Munchkin


6 Super Munchkin


18 Dino Hunt Dice


9 Trophy Buck


14 Castellan


12 Castellan International Edition


46 Knightmare Chess


59 Cthulhu Dice in various colors
We're extremely gratified that you're helping us send so many games to kids who deserve them. Thank you.



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: It's Not Rocket Science! (Or Is It?)



Bring the excitement of realistic science-fiction movies to your gaming table, with GURPS Space . It covers all aspects of making alien races, other worlds, and much more. Get the EMP-proof softcover or the techno-convenient PDF from Warehouse 23!

December 9, 2014: Deluxe-ify Your Star Munchkin

Do you already own  Star Munchkin , and want to deluxe-ify it? If so, we'll have a limited number of  Star Munchkin Accessory Packs  available in April 2015; these will include the board and standees for  Star Munchkin Deluxe .



And speaking of  Star Munchkin Deluxe , it comes out in March 2015! So if you don't already own  Star Munchkin , now's a great time to check it out!



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: On The Edge Gear!



Show everyone that you know what lurks in the dark in Al Amarja with the Surviving on the Edge T-Shirt . It features cover art from On the Edge: Surviving on the Edge . Get yours before they're gone; available from Warehouse 23 .

December 10, 2014: Help Us Test Promo Codes, Get Great Deals

One of the changes that you'll see to Warehouse 23 now that we're done with our server migration is the fact that the site now supports promo codes. This expands the variety of deals we can offer you.



There's just one problem: we haven't tested it yet.



That's where you come in! In order to test it, starting today and running until Monday the 15th, we'll be making a different promo code available. You'll find the promo codes in the Warehouse 23 News Queue (which is attached to each DI when it runs), and you'll also see the deals on Twitter and Facebook. In addition, each of those days from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central time, we'll be offering flash sales (which you'll find out about on Twitter, Facebook, and in our forums).



Remember, this is a test of the system. That means that if something doesn't work, the most helpful thing you can do is go report the bug.



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: Free Dinos When You Hunt Deer – Today Only!



12/10 only: Use the code HUNTINGSEASON23 when you buy Trophy Buck , get a free copy of Dino Hunt Dice !

December 7, 2014: Knit Fast, Die Warm

I'm a geek and I knit.  I mentioned it in my first DI, I think, but with the holidays coming, it's starting to take over my life as I try to catch up on all those knitting projects I thought would be great holiday presents.  I mean, they WILL be, as long as some of my family and friends are okay with Christmas in June.  Maybe I'll send the presents as Very Merry UnChristmas surprises or something, because unless I suffer from some sort of mutant-knitting-superpower-incident, it ain't happening.






















With that in mind, I'm still looking through the internet and finding SO many cool, geeky, fabulous patterns that are calling my name.  (They're mostly drowned out by the sound of my husband telling me I don't need more yarn, but some days it's a close call.) If you're a geeky knitter, or happen to know one, a geektastic pattern or book might be a great gift idea. Here are a few I'm putting on my Christmas list!



Knitted Star Wars!



Knits for Nerds! Oh, man, I neeeeeed this, mainly because I need to have SOMETHING to do while waiting for The Force Awakens to get to theaters.



An Rd-D2 beanie!



Wise you will be, if knit this you will.



For the Whovians out there:



It's bigger on the inside!  A gorgeous Tardis scarf pattern with the ubiquitous blue Police Box.



The Dr. Who scarf, with season-specific links!



EXTERMINKNIT!



Just plain COOL:



It's a fish hat, but it's up to you whether it's a live fish or a dead fish.



A dark mark scarf from the Harry Potter universe.



Or maybe I'll brush up on my colorwork with this Wonder Woman sweater!  I would SO WEAR THIS.  Now I just have to get good enough to make it.  


I could knit up an Old One!  


 


Or maybe find a dragon to train!


 


Or we could aim to misbehave?


 


Perhaps a Death of Rats for that special someone on Hogswatchnight?


 


I could spend all day digging up more patterns!  But I'll leave you to you own devices and a link to the Ravelry search page.




Enjoy, and remember "Knit fast, die warm!"



– Jennifer Atkinson




 



 




Warehouse 23 News: On The Edge Gear!



Show everyone that you know what lurks in the dark in Al Amarja with the Surviving on the Edge T-Shirt . It features cover art from On the Edge: Surviving on the Edge . Get yours before they're gone; available from Warehouse 23 .

December 6, 2014: Phil To Visit Compleat Strategist

Our intrepid and ever-moving COO, Phil Reed, will be visiting The Compleat Strategist in New York City on December 15th. He'll be there between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., and boy does he have some great stuff planned! In addition to the variety of Munchkin promos he'll be carrying with him (like some sort of gamer sherpa*), he's also going to be demoing Mars Attacks: The Dice Game while he's there.



And as if that wasn't enough, he's going to have a super secret unannounced game with him, and if you ask him nicely he might demo that too!



– Brian Engard



(*Wait, I'm a pen? – Phil)



Warehouse 23 News: On The Edge Gear!



Show everyone that you know what lurks in the dark in Al Amarja with the Surviving on the Edge T-Shirt . It features cover art from On the Edge: Surviving on the Edge . Get yours before they're gone; available from Warehouse 23 .