Steve Jackson's Blog, page 401

December 5, 2014: Steve Jackson Games LIVE: #SuperSecretShow #SJGamesLIVE

While our servers are down for scheduled maintenance we are bringing you a non-stop, live look into Steve Jackson Games ! Tune in for prizes, games, and interviews from 11am to 6pm, Friday, December 5 (today). Hosted by me, Rhea Friesen!



Before, during, and after the event we invite you to post your questions and comments. Type #SJGamesLIVE and your question or comment into Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr or the comments of this video. If you have questions on a specific segment, please also use the associated hashtag listed in the schedule below. Some segments are offering prizes for questions! I like prizes . . . and aliens, but that's beside the point.



Oh, and before I forget, if you see something you like during the show, then try your Friendly Local Game Store (FLGS)! No luck? Visit Warehouse 23 when we're back online and they'll get you all taken care of.



 



Schedule in CST:



11am - 12pm Rhea and Stacy play Castellan



Stacy and I are talking about two of my favorite things: conventions and boardgames! All while building our castle.



 



12pm - 1pm Introducing Randy our Retail Liaison - Mars Attacks



Randy shares his experiences here including his involvement with Mars Attacks .



Ask questions using #SJGamesLIVE #MarsAttacks and enter to win a free copy of Mars Attacks – The Dice Game .



Once we're back online, register your store in our store finder.



 



1pm - 2pm Introducing Sean and GURPS



Sean, line editor for GURPS , tells us about some of his favorite GM moments.



Sean answers GURPS rules questions everyday on the forums and shares behind-the-scenes action of GURPS development every Friday.



 



2pm – 3pm Introducing Devin: Munchkin and Playtesting



Devin is on our Munchkin team and also handles a lot of our playtesting for games. Let's hear his story and maybe pull out some Munchkin Loot Letter for fun.



 



3pm - 4pm Brian and Andreas present Knightmare Chess and Hipster Dice



Hipster Dice makes both these games too mainstream to talk about here.



Ask questions using #SJGamesLIVE #KnightmareChess and enter to win a free copy of Knightmare Chess .



Also join our elite team of MIBs, after the site is back up, of course.



 



4pm - 5pm Jen and her affinity for Ogre



Jen is one of the newest member of our team and she's got a hankering to share her love of Ogre .



Ask questions using #SJGamesLIVE #Ogre and enter to win a free copy of Car Wars Classic .



 



5pm - 6pm Scott Haring, Line Editor for Car Wars



Scott has some protoypes for the new edition of Car Wars .



Ask questions using #SJGamesLIVE #CarWars and enter to win a free copy of Car Wars Classic .



When our site is live once again, visit the forums for inside access to Car Wars updates and information.



 



Thank you for watching and participating!



– Rhea Friesen



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 4, 2014: Munchkin World NYC Approaches!

We're drawing ever closer to Munchkin World NYC! As a reminder,  Munchkin  World NYC is a pop-up store that we're opening in New York City on Valentine's Day weekend, February 13-15, 2015.



You'll be able to get all the  Munchkin goodies you expect (and some early releases), as well as play some games, participate in a  Munchkin  Invitational, and get your stuff signed by Steve Jackson, Andrew Hackard, and John Kovalic!



Munchkin World NYC will be at 353 West 46th Street, New York, NY. For more information, check out the press release.



We hope to see you all there!



-- 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 1, 2014: Procrastination, Paranoia, And Railroads

These things are related, but not the way you think. The Computer knows what you're thinking, and this is not it. But I digress.



I'm a procrastinator. You think I have admitted my flaw there, but trust me . . . I have more.



In particular, I put off writing. Sometimes I think the only way that I get anything written at all is to write something instead of what I'm supposed to be writing. During November, which has just ended, I was supposed to write a couple of Illuminators that I did not, in fact, get written in November. This is both of them. Thus the title.



Paranoia. You know what that is, right? That's when you think that the railroads are out to get you because you put things off.



Well, actually, no. Paranoia is a game in which you get railroaded. Okay, no, that's not where I was going either. I am trying to get to the point, but I keep putting it off.



The point is that Paranoia , which is one of my very favorite RPGs, is going into a new and improved edition. Of COURSE it is improved. The Computer is always right. The progress of The Computer is always forward. The Kickstarter is going into its final couple of days , and it is massively oversupported already, but you want to support it anyway, right now. Trust me, you do. The Computer is watching, and it knows who's sending money and who is just standing around, procrastinating, until it's over.



The lead designer is the disturbingly brilliant James Wallis, whom we have to thank for, among other things, Once Upon a Time and The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen . He will be assisted by the creators of Paranoia , Eric Goldberg and Greg Costikyan. The new edition has hit all kinds of stretch goals and will include all kinds of Stuff, which as loyal servants of The Computer you will need in order to battle against the terrorists that are everywhere, threatening our lives, our homes, our very way of life, insidiously working themselves into the fabric of our society in order to destroy it from within. The traitors! Also, there are mutants! MUTANTS! Aaaaaaaaah! Mutant terrorists! Mutant Commie terrorists! Everywhere!



Citizen, if you find yourself manifesting a mutation of any variety, it is your duty to immediately submit Form 0000000001, Confession. Remember to fully implicate any other mutants you may know or suspect. Be sure to complete Attachment A, naming all terrorists, Commies, and other varieties of traitor with whom you may be acquainted. Feel free to accuse pretty much anyone who has annoyed you, because they are almost certainly guilty of something, and The Computer will find out what.



And go support that Kickstarter now . Do not procrastinate.



So what's all this about railroads, then? Simple. November was National Model Railroad Month. Model railroads are excellent things. (They're simulations, after all.) And Lego model railroads are, not to put too fine a point on it, AWESOME. So, had I gotten this written any time during November, I would have mentioned the National Model Railroad Association, as well as Railbricks , the forum and magazine for Lego model railroaders. And I would have put in a plug for my own club, the Texas Brick Railroad, just in case any of you out there are closet Lego RR fans who happen to live in Texas. You never know!



Alas, I didn't write that. In my heart, of course, every month is Model Railroad Month. But, even if we stick to the calendar, another November will come around.



So get those trains ready. November will be here before you know it. Don't procrastinate!



– Steve Jackson



Warehouse 23 News: Delve Into Al Amarja!



Over the Edge: At Your Service is a sourcebook of Al Amarjan locations for Over the Edge , the classic roleplaying game of surreal danger. It features over three dozen locations from around the Edge and its environs for you to explore. Use any of these locations in a current game or start out in one of the many locals. Available from Warehouse 23 in hardcopy or downloadable PDF.

December 2, 2014: Now Available: Glowing Munchkin Vinyl Figure!

Need someone to take the blame when you stab your buddy in the back?



Look no further! The new Munchkin Vinyl Figure from Funko will keep all the orcs at bay, ruin miniatures gaming, and probably won't spontaneously combust! Huzzah!



Includes a new exclusive Munchkin card!



This one glows in the dark, and it's only available on Warehouse 23!



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: We See What You Did There...



Moving objects? Reading thoughts? Setting things on fire? It's easy when you put your mind to it! GURPS Psionic Powers is the easy-to-use guide to all manner of mind-over-matter matters. Get the softcover or the PDF today, from the masterminds at Warehouse 23!

December 3, 2014: My Latest Book About Toys Now On Kickstarter

I've made no secret of my fascination with the toy industry, and especially the toys of the eighties, so it should come as no shock that I've written a new book about action figures of the eighties. Specifically, I've written a new book about the marketing tricks used to promote action figures during the eighties. With image contributions from others, as well as material from my own collection and too many years reading books and absorbing the toy scene, this new book – titled Each Sold Separately – came together beautifully and is now on Kickstarter. I've got a small team of fellow toy bloggers reviewing the text and offering suggestions, and thanks to the support of so many action figure fans the book has met its funding goal. Yay!



The next step is to wait for the project to close (on December 12), and then finalize the last details before shipping the files to the printer.



I don't get enough time for personal projects, so it's quite rewarding (and exciting) to take another idea from concept to the finish line.



Now it's time I get back to work on next year's new games.



– Phil Reed



Warehouse 23 News: The Dragon Has Returned!



The northern reaches of the Derideth Swamp were once plagued by a rampaging dragon named Storamere. He was defeated long ago by the monks of the Order of St. Chausle, but he cursed them with his dying breath, claiming that he was invincible in his lair. Now he has returned, and your party of adventurers is the only thing standing in his way.  Penumbra: Beyond the Veil is a d20 System adventure designed for characters of 9th level and up. Available in hardcopy or downloadable PDF from Warehouse 23 .

November 30, 2014: Ogre: Legacy Of Heroics

I'm not quite a month into my new position here and my head is still spinning a bit. I'm learning more and more, and each day it seems there's still so much I don't know. Well, okay, there is so much I don't know, but I'm amazed at the patience and generosity shown by denizens of the Ogreverse.



I wish I could say "This! This One Thing has been my biggest challenge!" but I can't. Not really.



There's just the sheer size of the Ogre legacy. This isn't a new game. Quite the opposite in fact! This is a game with scores of loyal fans, a rich history, and lots and lots and LOTS of smart folks who have spent a great deal of time and attention on the very fabric of the game.



So, with that said, a lot of my time has been spent reading and learning-- about how rules have been interpreted, what's important to the players, both those who have played since they can remember (hi honey!) and those who are newer (oh hey, that's me!), what bogs down a game, and how heroics work in the world of Ogre .



Oh, heroics! That's another thing I've been sorting out. Heroics in Ogre aren't really like those in any other game I've played. There's not a five-man-band, where there is the hero or the leader, the lancer, the smart plucky sidekick, the big dumb guy, and the heart of the party. In Ogre , we have the heroics of the hard choices – making the choice between the forces that live and die, even if they are just counters on a map, because the legacy I mentioned before gives the game weight. Those counters, those chipboard cutouts, and that bunch of paper in an old plastic bag have a bit more oomph because of the time and energy poured into the game over the years, by its creator and by its fans, and it's made me rethink my idea of heroics and what goes into a "simple" game.



I want to honor that energy, that devotion to this game and its legacy, so I'm learning. Thank you all for teaching me.



– Jennifer Atkinson



Warehouse 23 News: The Fright Stuff



If you find the winter winds scary, we've got even bigger chills for you! GURPS Horror – written by arcane architect Kenneth Hite – is your one-stop guide to all kinds of horror. Get the hardcover or downloadable PDF from Warehouse 23!

November 27, 2014: Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Turkey Day, everyone! Steve Jackson Games will be closed today and tomorrow, so we can spend time with our loved ones. We hope you get to do the same!



Gobble gobble!



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: Welcome To A Land Where Two Cultures Collide!



From the fertile Nile River Valley to the lofty mountains of Asia Minor, there is a land of contrasts and conflict.  Ars Magica: Blood and Sand is the guide to the Hermetic tribunal of the Levant, and it gives details of how the Crusades and Islam has shaped the area. This book provides everything you need for a saga set in this most volatile of Hermetic tribunals. Available in hardcopy or PDF from Warehouse 23 .

November 28, 2014: Munchkin Stocking Stuffers In Books-A-Million

Do you want to get your hands on Munchkin Stocking Stuffers so you can give it to your little munchkin this holiday season? Well, it'll be easier to find now that it's being sold in select Books-a-Million and 2nd & Charles stores!



Check out the full list of stores carrying it so you can see if there's one near you!



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: When All Else Fails, Hit It With A Sword



Get weapons, armor, vehicles, and more from the Age of Sail and before, with GURPS Fourth Edition: Low-Tech . This indispensable catalog of pre-gunpowder gear is ideal for dungeon-crawlers, swashbucklers, Roman legionaries, prehistoric fantasy dinosaur hunters, and more. Get the classic hardcover tome or high-tech downloadable PDF from Warehouse 23.

November 29, 2014: Zombie Dice Deluxe Running Out!

We've now shipped the last copies of Zombie Dice Deluxe from our primary warehouse in Georgia, meaning that what is out in distributor warehouses and on retailer shelves is all that remains of this edition of the game. At the moment we have no plans to reprint Zombie Dice Deluxe . The Zombie Dice Brain Case is still available, so if you're still looking for a new dice cup you can find that at your favorite local retailer.



And, as always, the Zombie Dice game itself is in stores and ready to help you and your friends to "eat brains, don't get shotgunned." It feels good to finally be ahead of the demand on the game; with any luck we've got our forecasting methods perfected and the days of "Oh no, Zombie Dice is gone again!" are over. (Please let those days be behind us.)



– Phil Reed



Warehouse 23 News: Recess Is Over!



Now the real fight begins with the long-anticipated sequel to Lunch Money !  This 110-card game takes the fight to the next level with weapons such as a Beer Bottle or a Knuckle Sammitch, defenses like Suck It Up, and specialty cards including Pound of Flesh and Pile Driver. Grab a copy of Beer Money from Warehouse 23 today!

November 26, 2014: Scheduled Website Downtime, Dec 3-5

In our ongoing effort to improve our websites, we're going to have some scheduled maintenance time in early December.



On Thursday December 4, warehouse23.com will be down. You won't be able to buy anything during that time, unfortunately, but fear not! Warehouse 23 will return.



On Friday December 5, warehouse 23.com, sjgames.com, and worldofmunchkin.com will all be either down or intermittent throughout the day. They should be back online by about 6 or 7 pm Central Time that day, though.



And certainly, by December 6, everything should be back up.



Thank you for your patience while we perform this maintenance. We really appreciate it.



– Brian Engard



Warehouse 23 News: The Zombie Health Plan



Running is great for your well-being – especially if you're fleeing zombie hordes! The definitive guide to the restless dead can be found within the pages of GURPS Zombies . Buy the hardcover or PDF version today, from Warehouse 23!