Steve Jackson's Blog, page 425

March 30, 2014: Fantasy, No Assembly Required

The recent release of GURPS Magical Styles: Dungeon Magic – a collection of colorful, ready-to-go wizardly orders and guilds – reminded me of something that crossed my mind a few weeks ago. While browsing a well-known RPG forum, I saw people brushing off GURPS as a serious option for fantasy gaming, describing it as a toolkit that doesn't offer much ready-to-use content. Since I have a few minutes free right now, I'd like to clear things up!



Let's start with fantastic abilities. While it is true that GURPS offers toolkits for this stuff, it supports them with plenty of worked examples. For instance, GURPS Powers might be all lumber, nails, hammers, and saws . . . but GURPS Powers: Divine Favor spares you the hard work of building a complete clerical magic system, GURPS Thaumatology: Chinese Elemental Powers hands you all the abilities you need for Chinese-themed heroes, and GURPS Psionic Powers delivers a complete standalone system that's sure to please if your personal vision of fantasy includes psi. That Dungeon Magic supplement I mentioned does something similar for GURPS Thaumatology: Magical Styles , using the tools for defining magical schools to craft seven detailed examples to drop into your campaign "as is."



How about fantastic backdrops? The GURPS Locations series provides, whether you need a dangerous metropolis perched at Hell's edge ( Hellsgate ), a sedate university town for budding magic-users ( Worminghall ), or perhaps something smaller like a wizard's tower ( The Tower of Octavius ) or a medieval cathedral ( St. George's Cathedral ). Then there are the fantasy drinking establishments of GURPS Dungeon Fantasy 10: Taverns and the ready-to-explore locales of GURPS Dungeon Fantasy Adventure 1: Mirror of the Fire Demon . And since this is GURPS , it all works together – it isn't exactly rocket science to put a tavern or a cathedral in a town! It is more of trick to adapt a historical setting from the GURPS Hot Spots series to fantasy, but why not?



You'll probably want fantastic critters to battle powered-up heroes in those interesting locations, so check out GURPS Dungeon Fantasy Monsters 1 , in which complete creature stats are accompanied by a wealth of ideas on how to use the monsters. When the fight's over, the loot doesn't have to be generic; take a look at GURPS Dungeon Fantasy 6: 40 Artifacts . Indeed, the entire GURPS Dungeon Fantasy series exists to spare you hours spent worrying about abilities, creatures, items, and rules . . . it lops off the stuff you don't need and does all the construction work for you.



Oh, and if you prefer "serious" fantasy – the sort that's about more than killing and looting – then be sure to check out the full-length GURPS Banestorm setting. Of course, the supporting supplement GURPS Banestorm: Abydos describes a creepy city of necromancy that would work equally well in a hack 'n' slash game. Another follow-up, GURPS Martial Arts: Yrth Fighting Styles , saves you the trouble of wading through GURPS Martial Arts to develop fighting arts for elves, reptile men, werewolves, etc.; that sounds like it would suit over-the-top fantasy, too. Such mixing and matching is the real power of GURPS .



So take a look! You might be surprised at what you find.



– Sean Punch



Warehouse 23 News: Build For Control.



In Castellan , two players build a castle using walls and tower pieces to form courtyards.



Whoever finishes a courtyard can claim it with a Keep.



Combine the Red & Blue set with the Green & Yellow set for four-player action.



Available at Warehouse 23 .

March 29, 2014: We Have People Everywhere

From Dairy Country, Horse Country, and Wine Country to England, Holland, and the Holy Land, our MIBs operate all over the world. If you want to learn about our games, you may find them doing demos at a local convention, game store, or board game meetup.



Luckily for you, they don't work (entirely) in secret; we keep tabs on our operatives, or something like that. You can check our MIB Demo Events forum page anytime to see if there's a demo happening near you!



– Andreas Stein



Warehouse 23 News: Do You Dare Enter...



...the deadly Vault of the Fiends ?



Long abandoned by the twisted mage that created it to contain his heinous experiments, the vault's integrity has finally failed. Now those experiments have broken free and are wreaking havoc on the countryside.



Dungeoneer: Vault of the Fiends is available from Warehouse 23 .

March 28, 2014: The Devil's In The Details

As a long-time roleplaying game editor, I've seen a lot of adventures and setting source material come across my desk. One of the things that I enjoy reading the most when I'm working on these projects are those quirky details that writers come up with while molding their words into something that supports their vision of what makes for a fun product. Specifically, I'm talking about what you might consider set dressing or tiny bits of world-building that a player or game master or both might snag and make into a much bigger thing than ever anticipated.



So, what DO I love to see specifically?



That particular list goes well beyond the scope of this article, so instead I'll present you with a table of examples. Roll a d10 or pick something that suits your fancy – or that works for your chosen setting.



d10 Result



Three cats are swatting at a golden wind-up creature of a sort you've never seen before.


The person you are talking to has a piece of straw in his or her hair. As you converse, it makes its way down one strand of hair, migrates around the back of the person's head, and ends up back up on top of the person's head. (Is it REALLY a piece of straw?)


That coil of rope you want to use is covered in some form of slime. Upon closer inspection, you can see shimmering worms gliding through the ooze.


The five fist-sized chunks of obsidian on a shelf in front of you are talking to each other in your native tongue.


A black velvet pouch contains five iridescent purple eggs. Are they actually eggs or simply stones?


A heavy tome has been opened to a page with an illustration of a creature out of legend. You could swear the creature moves when you look at it out of the corner of your eye.


The plate in front of you contains the usual fare you'd expect in this part of the world – except that the plate is balanced on the back of a turtle.


The metal door that blocks your way has a single word on it: Mine.


Hidden within the folds of the cloak is a soggy handkerchief wrapped around a tiny speckled frog. The decoration on the handkerchief indicates it belongs to someone with the initials "AES."


A crystal pocket watch ticks away the time. At the half-hour mark, a single tone (C#) rings out from it. On the hour, it rings out in a glissando from C# up to G. You see no visible way to prevent the watch from sounding out.
In short, I love whimsy and I adore hints of mystery. See what happens when you add little touches like this to your own roleplaying game session!



(For more articles like this, you can also visit the Kobold Press website, where Miranda writes regular columns that contain a collection of curiosities for your game. One of her more recent columns contains things you might find in a garden.)



– Miranda Horner



Warehouse 23 News: Quest With 6!



Add Munchkin Quest 2: Looking for Trouble to your copy of Munchkin Quest for more backstabbing fun!



It comes with pawns and dice for two more players as well as more rooms, monsters, and more.



Available from Warehouse 23 .

March 27, 2014: T.A.B.L.E. This Weekend!

I will be at the T.A.B.L.E. gaming event this weekend. If you're anywhere near Dallas, and haven't already made plans to attend, you really ought to come. It's going to be fun.



This started out as a Kickstarter project from Tiffany Franzoni, who runs the Roll2Play game store in Coppell. It got lots of support . . . and since then there's been a lot of local media interest and the event keeps growing. The latest good news is that Rick Loomis of Flying Buffalo will be there. Rick is a great guy, and one of the very first people I worked with when I got my start as a game editor/developer.



Also: Keith Baker. Also: Kevin Nunn. Also: both Justin and Anne-Marie De Witt from Fireside Games. And yes, you'll be able to see their upcoming Munchkin Panic game!



The goody bag for attendees is going to be especially sweet. And there will be an Ogre auction – Tiffany is contributing an Ogre 6th Edition set, but she doesn't know (until she reads this) that I'm going to be bringing a lot of special STUFF to add to the auction. So if you're an Ogre fan – especially if you did not make it ot the launch party - I'm just saying you really want to come.



– Steve Jackson



Warehouse 23 News: Can You Become A True Master Of The Art Of Magic?



The Grand Tribunal  happens every 33 years - and that 33rd year is this year.



Now you have a chance to show off your magical prowess and hopefully become the new Archmage.



Grab a copy from Warehouse 23 today!

March 26, 2014: GURPS Gamers, Get Great Gonzo Goodies!

A huge number of GURPS fans are inveterate tinkerers, always seeking to push the system to new and interesting frontiers. This month's Pyramid is devoted to those intrepid souls who want more character-creation options, new ways to work together, and alternate ideas of skills and abilities. Pyramid #3/65: Alternate GURPS III is a toolkit of bite-sized temptations, featuring the most articles we've ever had in this era of Pyramid!



This issue features new looks at GURPS character creation and spending points, with articles from Sean Punch and David L. Pulver. This Pyramid also includes: a complete overhaul of the Guns skill from GURPS Tactical Shooting mastermind Hans-Christian Vortisch; new powers, abilities, and rules to team up and work together; and a bold new way to define innate abilities such as dragon's breath, hammer hands, and ultra-sharp claws.



But that's not all! Revel in William H. Stoddard's detailed examination of "everyman skills." Explore a new variant for those times where default skills are too powerful. Tinker with the thought-provoking idea of "diceless" GURPS . And that's still not all!



Don't think of these as "house rules" so much as "rock-the-house rules." Get your workshop prepped with new possibilities by picking up Pyramid #3/65: Alternate GURPS III individually, or start your subscription today for many more months of the bleeding edge of GURPS awesomeness.



– Steven Marsh



Warehouse 23 News: Winter Is Coming...



The hunters sit around a fire boasting of the hunt tomorrow.



Will you make the biggest boast or call Doom upon the hunters?



Grab a copy of Nanuk from Warehouse 23 .

March 25, 2014: Super Robots Giant Monsters In Lowell, Massachusetts On Saturday

Are you in the Massachusetts area and free this weekend? If so you may want to stop by the Super Robots Giant Monsters event where I'll be participating in my role as a toy geek. I'll be with my friends from Onell Design, and while most of the day will be spent talking toys and art, I expect to get a little time for gaming. I'll have the not-yet-announced Mars Attacks – The Dice Game in my messenger bag, several Munchkin promos, and I'm very likely to be carrying a few other surprises, so find me if you'd like to chat, play a game, or simply say "hi." 



While I'm in the area I'll also visit our partners at Grand Prix International to go over upcoming manufacturing projects. Which projects? That would be telling.



– Phil Reed



Warehouse 23 News: Will You Make A Stand?



Supervillains keep popping up, and the latest is a group that calls itself The Coalition.



The members of this group are robbing banks, breaking out of jail, and taking hostages.



Dystopia is a Champions adventure designed for four to eight heroes from 250 to 300 points.



Get your copy from Warehouse 23 .

March 24, 2014: International TableTop Day Is Almost Upon Us!

Bring your friends, your neighbors, your cousin, your little brother, and even your grandma down to the nearest Friendly Local Game Store, Library, or Gaming Meetup for International TableTop Day!



Our intrepid Men in Black demo team will be showing off the latest and greatest of the Steve Jackson Games line, from Munchkin , Zombie Dice , and Ogre to Castellan , Chupacabra , Revolution! , and many others. They will surely have something fun for everyone who comes along!



And remember: This is an international event and we have MIBs all over the world, so no matter where you are, you should check this forum thread to see if one of our MIBs is running an International TableTop Day event near you!



– Andreas Stein



Warehouse 23 News: Take Your Ogre With You!



With the Ogre Canvas Bag , you can!



This custom tote bag is big enough to carry... well, a lot, to say the least.



It has two handles and a shoulder strap, and it features the Ogre logo on both sides.



Available exclusively from Warehouse 23 .

March 22, 2014: The LEGO Movie

It's been a very long time since LEGO bricks were just for children. It's fitting, then, that The LEGO Movie caters to all ages. A lighthearted romp through a beautifully rendered LEGO world, the film still manages to touch strongly on the themes of individuality and change versus stagnation.



The voice cast is filled with stars, from the hilarious performance of Allison Brie as Unikitty, to the bi-polar (with reason) acting of Liam Neeson as Good Cop/Bad Cop. A number of brief voice cameos surprise and delight, but the villainous Lord Business, none other than Will Ferrell himself, steals every scene he's in.



The plot follows Emmet, a generic construction worker, as he goes through his daily life. He tries to do as he's told and follow "The Instructions," but through no fault of his own finds himself thrust into opposition of Lord Business's plans to remove chaos and change from the world. He meets up with colorful and hilarious characters while fleeing from the relentless pursuit of the chair-kicking Bad Cop.







While the majority of the movie is computer generated, it is still filmed in a stop motion style, so the entire bustling LEGO world looks fantastic and believable. The charming way everyone moves and reacts just like the minifigs, including bending, spinning their heads around, and, in some cases, going completely to bits, is used to excellent comedic effect.



It doesn't matter how young or old you are, whether you like building meticulously planned LEGO masterpieces or just randomly making things, or even (gasp) not playing with them at all, this movie will entertain. I highly recommend making time in your schedule to see this film.



As someone who has spent far too much money on LEGO sets, I couldn't help but buy the biggest play set they released from the movie. The piece is Metalbeard's ship, Sea Cow, pictured in this post. 



– Devin Lewis



Warehouse 23 News: Get Ready For Revolution!



Bribe, threaten, or blackmail the townsfolk for help and take over as much territory as you can.



Will you go for the harbor or tavern next?



Start your Revolution! at Warehouse 23 .

March 23, 2014: Summer Reprints

This summer, we're reprinting a bunch of  Munchkin  goodness that's been out of print for a little while. Specifically:



Munchkin Fu


Munchkin Fu 2 – Monkey Business


Munchkin Impossible


Munchkin Booty 2 – Jump The Shark


Munchkin Quest
Enjoy them again for the first time!



– Brian Engard



 



Warehouse 23 News: *NEW* Ars Magica: Hooks



As wondrous as Mythic Europe is, Magi still sit in their libraries and laboratories oblivious to the world around them.



Get their attention with Ars Magica: Hooks . In it, you'll find eight scenarios for Ars Magica Fitfh Edition that can be played in a single session or used as a springboard for a saga arc.



Get yours today from Warehouse 23 .

March 21, 2014: Crowdfunding Focus: Tiger Stripes

Game design skill must be genetic! Isabel duBarry, daughter of Revolution! designer Philip duBarry, is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for her new math-themed game, Tiger Stripes . It only has a couple of days left, and could use some help crossing the finish line. Please take a look.



– Andrew Hackard



Warehouse 23 News: Hermetic Covenants Thrive In The Alps!



For hundreds of years, the magi of the Greater Alpine Tribunal have maintained Hermetic peace.



In Ars Magica: Sanctuary of Ice , you will find Covenants that knew the voices of the Founders nurture ancient magi here – magi whose powers caress the edges of the possible.



Available at Warehouse 23.