Steve Jackson's Blog, page 49

July 5, 2024: Bats!

I've mentioned before about our household's penchant for taking walks. One of the neat aspects about our usual route is that we'll occasionally see signs of wildlife: wild bunnies, a fox family, we saw an opossum once. And some of the neater critters we see every so often – like the other day – are bats.

They're rare, and the weather needs to be right, with just enough dusk so we can see them but dark enough that they'll come out. But we love our bats.

Now, if I were using this blog for purely mercantile purposes, I might link to some bat-themed bit of Steve Jackson Games gaming goodness, but I'm not that crass. Mostly, I just want the bats to know I love them. And, Bats? If you're read this post, please come out and visit us on our next walk!

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

July 4, 2024: Going Down The Rabbit Hole

Today, July 4th, is Independence Day in the United States. But we'd also like to recognize another event: Alice in Wonderland Day! First introduced in 2015 on the 150th anniversary of the publishing of the novel, Alice in Wonderland Day aims to celebrate Lewis Carroll and his classic work of art, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Here are a few fun facts you might not know about everyone's favorite trip down the rabbit hole.  Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has been translated from the original English into over 150 other languages and has never been out of print.The novel has been adapted into three films: an animated version in 1951 by Walt Disney Productions, one by Tim Burton starring Johnny Depp as the Hatter, and another by short film director Jan Švankmajer.Psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane's famous song White Rabbit was directly inspired by the book and includes references to the Red Queen, White Knight, the Caterpillar, and of course, Alice herself.The Hatter was inspired by the phrase "mad as a hatter," a term used in the 19th century which referred to someone who suffered from severe mercury poisoning. If you're looking for even more Alice fun, check out Munchkin Wonderland . One of the best features of the game is that it is suited for players aged 6 and up and can introduce younger kids to the Munchkin fandom! Unlike classic Munchkin , which requires 3-6 players, this version can accommodate 2-6 people. With cards like the "Drink Me" Bottle, "Eat Me" Cake, Stolen Tarts, and Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast, players of all ages can enjoy Wonderland fun! Happy Alice Day, and we hope you all have a safe and happy 4th of July! 

– Michelle Richardson

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

July 3, 2024: You Never Meta Book Like GURPS Meta-Tech!

In many GURPS campaigns, it's perfectly permissable to buy cool stuff if your hero has the money. But it can be challenging to figure out what new gear should cost in  GURPS dollars; if an alchemical concoction, exoskeleton, or personal time machine doesn't come with a price or stats in a catalog, deciding a fair price often relies on sweat and guesswork.

No more! From the nigh-infinite imagination of Christopher R. Rice comes GURPS Meta-Tech . With this supplement, you can create any item you like, using the power of the GURPS Fourth Edition ability system . . . and then turn that device built with character points into a device with a cash-value cost.

Your newly crafted tech can have just about any origin you can envision: magical, high-tech, cosmic, nanites, steam-tech, necromantic, just plain weirdness – and beyond! Regardless of the campaign type, you can turn any idea into stuff you can wear, wield, drive, eat, shoot . . . and, most importantly, buy. And to spur your creativity, an appendix offers cool examples from across myriad genres to get you started.

Unleash your inner inventor with GURPS Meta-Tech , available to buy as a softcover or download from the mad mercantile geniuses at Warehouse 23!

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

July 2, 2024: We're Up All Night To Get Stuffies

At stately Vrtis-Marsh Manor, we have quite the menagerie of stuffed animals (and gelatinous cubes, and Cthulhus . . .), which we lovingly call "stuffies." I've had my own collection of various plush pals for decades, and the assortment has only gotten bigger over the years.

One technique I remember from some of my tabletop RPG sessions – especially those with heavy social elements – is recruiting from my critter collection to fill in seats. It sounds silly, but a lot of players (and me, as the GM) sometimes benefit from knowing who's where and having an actual "face" they can address. Sure, the stuffed shark may not look exactly like Count von Destructo, but he's a face the players can turn to when they're making their witty counterpoints in front of the GM (acting as Queen Equilibria). And it's not any less ludicrous than actors in CGI-heavy films addressing a painted tennis ball.

Feel free to experiment from your own staff of stuffies, if you have one. (Three of our most-devious-but-cute associates were eager to volunteer for a photo.) If you're looking to recruit, I know of at least one Halloween Chibithulhu Plush who'd happily sit in on a gaming session or two . . .

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

July 1, 2024: Christmas Is Coming!

Okay, true, Christmas (and other December-y holidays) are not coming terribly soon . . . but it's still good to plan ahead. Why, you might ask (or I, Steven Marsh, might ask, as a cheap rhetorical device)?

Well, for me, the holidays are always kind of a rough time, gift-wise, because it often feels perfunctory. Like, "Oh, hey, remember how on December 23 you mentioned that thing you wanted for Christmas? Well, guess what's under the tree!!!" Where's the excitement in that?

Conversely, if one starts putting out feelers in the summer for what someone might like – or even starts being observent around them – then it's quite possible to come across a great gift idea that the recipient won't even remember mentioning in five or more months.

This most often comes up for our household at Gen Con, where there are so many shiny and interesting things, not all of which our household can afford or justify getting at the show itself. But by taking note of cool stuff and buying it later (or sneaking off to buy it at the show and then hiding it in the closet for half a year), we can get ahead of the holidays.

If you go this route, I also recommend leaving a note to yourself – as the gift shoppper – on your calendar, along with a reminder where in the house any previously purchased items are. Unless, of course, you want to start a robust Groundhog's Day gift-giving tradition. (Not that I'm speaking 100% from personal experience . . .)

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

June 30, 2024: Radiooooo

One thing that's always fascinated me about music is how it can't be confined to national or cultural borders. Whether by radio waves, mixtapes, or even contraband recordings, music finds a way to migrate. And as it does, it takes on new qualities that draw upon traditional sounds or new technologies (such as synthesizers). Ethnomusicologists dedicate their lives to studying this phenomenon, but if you're a dabbler like me, you probably lack the time and money to pursue every sonic rabbit hole that piques your interest.  Fortunately, Radiooooo is here to help. This unique Internet radio station features a curated selection of songs from around the world and broadly categorizes them based on country, decade, and three styles – Fast, Slow, and Weird. Paid access to the service opens up more features, including Islands, which focus on specific artists and genres, and Taxi Mode, which allows you to shuffle multiple countries and decades for a musical tour. The latter is especially fun for creating a specific atmosphere or learning how a particular decade sounded in different countries. (For example, you can use Taxi Mode to listen to music Allied troops may have heard during World War II.) It's a fascinating experience no matter what genres you may prefer. I'll be the first to admit that Radiooooo lacks a lot of the basic functions of the big streaming services – you can't look up specific artists, nor can you listen to complete albums. But if the thought of a magical mystery musical tour appeals, you'll love what this site has to offer. You may even find a new favorite artist from a place you'd never expect. 

– Katie Duffy

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

June 29, 2024: Munchkin Big Box Backerkit – Super-Duper Last Chance!

Hey, folks! Did you miss the record-setting Munchkin Big Box campaign in May? Did you miss the late-pledge option that was supposed to end last Thursday?

If you're reading this, there's still time!! Maybe. Hopefully. The link for last-minute pledges is somehow still working! And I've confirmed that, indeed, if you give us your contact and payment info, we'll still send you cool stuff!

I'm taking a big chance coming from the past to give you this information. (And by "coming from the past," I mean "furiously typing the afternoon before this posted . . .") But the risks to myself and the timestream are worth it if I can give even one more fan the chance to hop aboard the Big Box bandwagon!

Backstabbing your friends at the last moment is easy for a Munchkin fan. But backstabbing our own pre-order system with a last-second sneak attack? That's a mighty munchkin-ly move – one we encourage you to explore!

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

June 28, 2024: Make Today Cooler Than Ever With Pyramid #4/5: Modern/Action II!

It may be hot in the summer, but Pyramid remains as cool as it's ever been. For those who missed the super-successful Kickstarter a while back and have been weeping at opportunities missed in bygone days, we have good news: Pyramid #4/5: Modern/Action II is now available outside that crowdfunding campaign!

Jam-packed with a dozen articles, this issue includes fascinating fodder for GURPS Action , ready-to-use adventure ideas for GURPS Monster Hunters , insight into realistic careers suitable for adventuring, a steampunk setting – even a mad-scientist's airship with map!

With Pyramid #4/5: Modern/Action II , your recent-era adventures just got cooler, spookier, and more dangerous than ever. Download it today, only from Warehouse 23!

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

June 27, 2024: Horsing Around With Munchkin Pony Excess

Giddy up, ya'll, and get ready to "stirrup" some trouble!

Every Munchkin fan knows that the game is packed full of puns, and Munchkin Pony Excess is no exception. This expansion features 56 never-before-seen, hay-larious cards which can be easily shuffled into any fantasy-themed Munchkin deck.

Munchkin 4  –  The Need for Steed first introduced steeds into play, and now you can add a whole herd of newbies to your deck while saddling up on your Centaur of Attention. Plus you'll find tons of unique Items, curses, and of course, equine-themed monsters – including the musical Rocking Horse.

Stop stall-ing and rein in your copy today. Pre-order now on Warehouse 23, or have your Friendly Local Game Store order it for you!

Munchkin Pony Excess will be the mane event of the summer. Will you be playing? Yay . . .  or neigh?

– Michelle Richardson

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

June 26, 2024: Living Healthy To Avoid Paragraph 14

It went uncommented at the time in these pages, but January 1 of this year saw the sad death of James Herbert Brennan, author of the Grailquest series of gamebooks (among many others). Even as voracious a reader of the entire paragraph-quest-book genre as I was, the Grailquest series was among my absolute favorites, combining earnestness, adventure, and whimsy in seemingly equal parts. (I'm fairly certain that book series is what taught me how to fold an origami boat . . . which I can still do to this day from memory.)

One element I was always amused by in the Grailquest series – which consisted of eight books – is that paragraph 14 was the "death" paragraph. That is, whenever and however you died in the adventure, you'd go to paragraph 14. The series itself started treating it as a metatextual element, along the lines of (to paraphrase), "You pay the two coppers to the skeletal cloaked figure in the boat, and he rows you across the abyssal river to 14 . . . no, wait. 41 (Whew!)"

I've always been curious about trying to adapt that strange aspect in my own games in some fashion. Not necessarily in a direct "death = paragraph 14" kind of way, but more in the sense of some random element that players are always looking out for. One idea I have for a tabletop RPG – especially one with a set dice system (such as the three six-siders of  GURPS  , or the standard d20 of one or two other games out there) – is to just declare that a certain random roll other than maximum or minimum is always something interesting.

Maybe in the game universe, the number 14 is associated with the forces of chaos, and any roll of a 14 – regardless of anything else – is treated as something particularly random: a plot complication, unexpected development, etc. It might be good for the heroes; it might be bad. But it'll be chaotic and memorable.

I envision players always being invested in every roll. Even if it's a near-certain "preordained" success being rolled or "no hope on Earth" super-low-odds attempt, the possibility of that 14 coming up can still shake up the play.

Of course, the number 14 doesn't need to be used, but it's the one that I most associate with "unexpected but anticipated," in honor of the Grailquest series. I'm not sure how well this idea would work, but it seems like a neat possibility . . . and if anyone tries it (or has done something similar), I'd love to hear about it.

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!