Steve Jackson's Blog, page 67

January 17, 2024: Munchkin Night At Mother's Basement Games

To start at the beginning: I was looking for a new place to have brunch a couple of years ago and I came across a small restaurant in Taylor, Texas. (Taylor is about 30-40 minutes northeast of Austin.) One of the neatest things about this restaurant (besides the food, which is awesome) is that it is in what used to be the band hall of the old Taylor High School! As a former marching band kid, the flute and clarinet lamps, the tuba and baritone hanging on the wall, and the bassoon reclining jauntily on the windowsill made me smile. 

A couple of weeks ago, I was trolling for Cool Things To Do, and I came across a game store (yes, Mother's Basement!) that was in the same area. Turns out there's a whole retail mall in Old Taylor High, and you can read about it here!

But I digress. Back to the Basement! They were advertising their first-ever Game Night this Thursday, and they are going to feature (Ta-da!) Munchkin Deluxe ! So our Marketing Manager, Katie, and I reached out to them to learn the story. Turns out Mother's Basement started as a pop-up vendor a couple of years ago, but they opened a permanent space in December. The owners are husband and wife team Amy and Brian. Amy tells me that she loved playing Munchkin in college. She might have played even more than she studied! So she says the decision to highlight Munchkin as their first Game Night offering was a "no-brainer"! 

Mother's Basement sells boardgames, RPGs, accessories, and anime collectibles. They also offer classes and events, and Brian has a small studio in the store for hand-painting collectibles. You can find more info on their events and their social media on their website.

We always encourage folks to support their FLGS. We try to do that as well. As Amy explained, "We wanted to create a fun, inclusive space for people to be their full (nerdy) selves." That's what you'll find at your FLGS!

If you're in Austin, go meet Amy and Brian this Thursday, January 18, at 7:00. You can even RSVP right on their Facebook page! They'll start with a how-to-play tutorial, and then the kicking down of doors will begin! And if you aren't in Austin, well, have you checked out your FLGS lately? Encourage them to rotate one of our new or classic titles into their Game Night festivities, and tell us about it on the forums!

– Susan Bueno

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!

January 16, 2024: Jennell Jaquays Memorial Game Jam

In memory of Jennell Jaquays, TTRPG creators are coming together to create Return to Perinthos, a crowdsourced megadungeon book inspired by Jennell's legendary Caverns of Thracia. The Jennell Jaquays Memorial Game Jam, hosted on itch.io by Violet Ballard, will accept submissions through the end of the month for inclusion in the book.

After the jam, there will be a Crowdfundr campaign for a print run of the physical book. Profits from the Crowdfundr will be donated to Jennell's family to help with her medical and funeral expenses. Profit from further sales of the book will be donated to Trans Lifeline.

The jam accepts submissions in the form of a map illustration, a manuscript for a map key, or a full spread laid out with both a map illustration and a map key. Submissions can use rules for any game system, and contributors are encouraged to "go wild and have fun" with their entries. Volunteers will finish entries that are not submitted as complete spreads. You can find more information on how to submit to the book, or volunteer for editing and layout, on the jam page.

I never knew Jennell personally, but in the RPG community, I am constantly surrounded by people who did and were better for it. This book will be a monument to her legacy, both as a creative and as an activist. If you'd like to be a part of that, consider submitting work, volunteering with final production, or supporting the Crowdfundr when it launches.

– Irene Zielinski

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!

January 15, 2024: The Joys Of Vinyl

My husband and I first bonded over our shared love of music, so I suppose it was only a matter of time before we started collecting vinyl. One of the first things we did after we got married was attend Record Store Day together. We picked up a few vinyl albums to show our support, despite the fact that we didn't own a record player. But after several years and a growing collection of "can't pass it up" purchases, we decided that we'd need to add a turntable to our audio setup. We're now the proud owners of an audio-technica turntable that has allowed us to listen to Nina Simone, Rory Gallagher, Roxy Music, and many more of our favorite artists. One thing I've found particularly striking about playing vinyl records as opposed to CDs or streaming is that it demands that you slow down. There's something soothing about that gentle background hiss, and watching the needle drift ever closer to the center of the record is an unobtrusive reminder that time is slowly passing. It's made my work days even more pleasant! I'm not sure if we'll ever be serious collectors – cost and space limitations see to that – but I do look forward to our next visit to our local store to look for new treasures. It's a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, if nothing else.

– 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!

January 14, 2024: Hnefatafl

When people think of Vikings, they usually picture boats, swords, raids, and (occasionally) 70s rock anthems. But perhaps it's time for more people to consider another facet of this legendary culture. Because in between raiding monastaries and establishing settlements in the British Isles, these warriors spent a good amount of time playing tabletop games. One of their favorites was Hnefatafl , a board game in which the defender must get their king piece to safety while facing off against the attacker. The defender has fewer pieces than the attacker, making for an exciting challenge. I've had a passing interest in historic games since trying my hand at Senet during 2020's virtual Gen Con, but I didn't become aware of Hnefatafl until I read Thud!, the Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett. I was surprised to learn that the in-universe game Hnaflbaflsniflwhifltafl was based on an ancient Viking game. I assumed that the rules of this original game were lost and that Pratchett had devised his own mechanics for it. Imagine my surprise when I learned that this was not the case! While I could have purchased my own version of Hnaflbaflsniflwhifltafl (also known as Thud ), I was more interested in learning more about Hnefatafl – what was it about this game that had inspired one of my favorite authors? I finally got the chance to find out over the holidays when my friends all chipped in and purchased me a Hnefatafl set. (And not just any set – a premium version!) It didn't take long for me to understand why this game was beloved across the Viking world, as well as numerous other regions in northern Europe. The mechanics are simpler than chess, but it still relies deeply on strategy. My husband and I played two rounds so we could each get a feel for the attacker and defender roles, and the gameplay was surprisingly balanced despite the attacker having more pieces to work with. Afterward, he and I discussed whether the game could be made more challenging by introducing dice rolls that limited how far you could move during each turn. We plan on trying this the next time we sit down to play. If you're interested in trying out Hnefatafl for yourself, there are numerous versions available including digital ones. I highly encourage you to give it a go!

– 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!

January 13, 2024: And Then There's The "Save" Icon . . .

I saw a conversation online recently (part of the "discourse," as they say) about someone asking if phone booths were real things, or just plot contrivances made up for movies. The thread had lots of helpful people – with photos and anecdotes – explaining how they were, indeed, real. It was a surprisingly sweet thread.

It got me thinking about how many elements of life and gaming are just . . . history. We were playing Artbox recently with the extended family, and I "drew" a classical (pre-cellular) phone: box, cradle-line across the top, cups on the ends of the receiver. All the adults knew what it was; the kiddos did not. Which makes sense; a "pick up the receiver and push mechanical buttons on a box attached to a wall"-style phone doesn't exist to them.

It's curious what other aspects of gaming and geeky life are like this, and – perhaps – what elements I don't even realize are evaporating into the time stream: The connection between crayons and dice. How a printer can form the genesis of accordion snakes. Why some Dungeons & Dragons adventures came with markers. I'm sure there are others, so chime in with your own bits of near-forgotten gamerly goodness over on the forums.

– 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!

January 12, 2024: Munchkin Madness – Taking Your Game To The Next Level

You've killed the monsters. You've stolen the treasure. You've stabbed your buddies. Now it's time to elevate your Munchkin experience.  Did you know that on our online store, Warehouse 23, there are over 35 different Munchkin games and countless expansions? Whatever you like: zombies, outer space, kittens, Wonderland, Cthulhu, the Wild West, superheroes – there's a version for you! Expansions and stand-alone games are not the only way to enjoy this mega-hit game, either. On Warehouse 23 you'll also find some amazing accessories and enhancements. Count your level with the Munchkin Mat of Mayhem or with a Colossal Munchkin Level Die , which measures 80mm across. We also have a HUGE assortment of special Munchkin -themed dice in various colors and designs! And keep your favorite dice from being lost with one of our several different Munchkin Dice Bags . Keep your drink from ruining your cards with Munchkin Coasters  and decorate your favorite jacket with the Munchkin Uniduck Pin and the Munchkin Head Pinny Arcade Pin , featuring everyone's favorite munchkin – Spyke! Now it's time for freebies! If 10 levels (or 11 in Munchkin Bites ) aren't enough, download the FREE 16-page PDF for Epic Munchkin and take your game all the way to level 20. It includes instructions for all Munchkin core sets and supplements that were created up to September 2015. Another great FREE item in our shop, and perhaps the most hilarious and unique, is the printable Munchkin Mask . Wear it during your next game to avoid a trap or curse by loudly yelling "Mighty Mask of the Munchkin, I call upon your Power!" For those with kiddos, grab the FREE download of The Munchkin Alphabet Coloring Book . As we approach our 25th anniversary, we promise to create even more amazing stand-alones and expansions so you'll always have something new to play!

– 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!

January 11, 2024: Jennell Jaquays

I first met Jennell Jaquays during the Metagaming days – she did the iconic illustrations for Chitin: I. And she only got better from there. Jennell was a creative engine for more than 40 years. We lost her yesterday morning. Tom Smith posted this on Facebook; it's from the heart, and I reprint it here with his kind permission. –SJ

Devastating news – we have lost a goddess of the gaming industry, and I have lost a friend. Only a few hours ago, after a very rough month of illness, Jennell Jaquays passed away.

Jennell was a creative powerhouse. Starting in the 1970s with The Dungeoneer magazine and the Judges Guild, she created and co-created fantastic adventuring material for both AD&D and RuneQuest (including Dark Tower, Caverns of Thracia, Duck Tower, and what I consider to be the finest campaign book ever, Griffin Mountain ), as well as the seminal Central Casting: Heroes of Legend . She led the teams converting Donkey Kong and other games to Colecovision; she was a level designer for Quake II, Quake III Arena , and Quake III Team Arena, and an artist on Age of Empires III and Halo Wars . She was an excellent artist, illustrating most of her own TTRPG projects. She had recently finished a first draft to a huge overhaul of Central Casting . (For more complete credits, see her Wikipedia page.)

She was a huge, smiling presence, encouraging and mentoring artists and game designers, and vocally supportive of others in the trans community.

I knew her very casually, really only meeting up with her a few times over forty years, but those occasions were always special, especially the last two, when I also met her wife, fellow game designer Rebecca Heineman. She was as kind, funny, and smart as anyone you could hope to meet, and I counted her and Rebecca as friends.

Just over a month ago, Jennell suddenly took ill. The eventual diagnosis was Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition in which a person's own immune system attacks the nerves. She never really got better, and had several crises along the way. Last night was the final one, and she passed only a few hours ago as I write this.

Condolences and love go out to her wife Rebecca and their family. It's been especially harrowing for Rebecca, who was at her side this whole past month. I'm sure the accolades will start pouring in from the gaming industry, the community of gamers, and the LGBT+ communities, and they will all be deserved. She was a remarkable talent, and just a very good person I was proud to have known at least a little. Rest well, dear lady, my friend, and thanks for everything. You were and are loved, and you will be missed.

– Tom Smith

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!

January 10, 2024: Removable Tape!

Yes, it deserves an exclamation point!

I don't know who needs to hear this, but Scotch makes removable tape. Basically, envision . . . err . . . regular Scotch tape, but with the tackiness and removability of a Post-it Note. So it's basically harmless to most surfaces.

Admittedly, I wouldn't go slapping it on particularly fragile, thin, or newsprint-y items (don't experiment with your copy of Amazing Fantasy #15), but I've never had a problem with any of the cardboard boxes or game elements I've stuck it on. The tape is available at Amazon, but I've seen it at office supply stores as well. 

Where it really shines is that – by applying it – you can then use the new surface for NON-removable stickers. For example, let's say you have a nice cardboard box that you keep your Munchkin cards in. You'd like to indicate that it contains five sets, and you even have a label printed that lists the sets . . . but you don't want to damage the box. Simply put down a layer of removable tape on the box that's a smidge larger than the label, then put the label on the tape. If you want to get really fancy, you can put the removable tape on the label first – sticky side of the tape not touching the sticky part of the label – and then trim away any excess tape. Either way, you have an easily removable label; when you need to swap it, it'll just pull away the removable tape and leave the box intact.

As another usage example, if one has an "I'll see you in Hades" attitude toward permanently defacing legacy-type games, removable tape goes a long way toward letting you revert a set close to its original state. This magical tape has other applications that I'll leave to your creativity. Please feel free to share any clever uses you come up with on the forums.

– 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!

January 9, 2024: Unwinding With Fiber Arts

Long before I joined the crew at Steve Jackson Games, I had a brief stint at All Music Guide as a writer for their pop music department. It was a place that bubbled with creativity even on the slowest days, and many people who worked there performed in bands, created art, and otherwise let their muses run free. One of my co-workers wore bright, beautiful scarves that she made with a knitting loom, and she encouraged me to take up the hobby. I had some trepidation about trying it at first, but she assured me that the process was easy to learn. Her encouragement, combined with a punk rock DIY pep-talk from my boyfriend (now husband) convinced me to give it a go. I haven't looked back since. My love of loom knitting eventually led me to try out crochet. It has become one of my favorite hobbies. At the risk of sounding twee, there's something magical about transforming yarn into a scarf, cowl, hat, or blanket. It's a tangible and practical achievement, and one that brings joy to both the creator and the recipient of the piece. Fiber arts are also a great way to unwind – even the frustrations of a confusing pattern or tangled yarn are far better for my mental state than idly doomscrolling on social media. And that's not just anecdotal! Numerous studies, including this one, have shown that participating in fiber arts such as knitting, quilting, crochet and needlework can have a positive effect on your overall mental health. While I do enjoy making gifts for family and friends, people can only use so many hats and scarves. That's why most of my projects end up going to charities that work with low income or houseless individuals that need help staying warm during the winter months. I've sent scarves to groups assisting Ukrainian refugees in the past, and this year I hope to send items to East Kentucky Mutual Aid, Re-Member, and Knit The Rainbow. I like to hope that these handmade items can bring comfort to people who need it most.

– 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!

January 8, 2024: Underrated Pleasures?

If you're reading this, you're probably a fan of games – hopefully ours! There are certain pleasures that are near-universal in gamedom: the excitement of winning, the joy of camaraderie, the thrill of a great card draw, the never-gets-old hijinks of pretending you're a walrus via pretzel rods tucked in your cheeks. But do you have any gaming goodness that may not be universal, yet you find particularly satisfying?

Speaking for myself (let me swallow these pretzel rods first), I love helping other players. "Did you notice you could do X, Y, or Z?" "Did you take advantage of that once-per-turn ability this go-around?" And so on. Even if it puts me at a disadvantage, I have no problem "rewinding" to let a player do something smarter or cooler, so long as it doesn't assume future knowledge they couldn't have known about before they failed to do something. I figure we're all there to have fun, y'know? I want to win because of my own brilliance and/or luck, rather than another player making a mistake.

Of course, I fully understand that not all tables enjoy this style of play. Some people don't like outside help. For others, a win's a win no matter how it comes. I respect that! And if another player has trounced me for the past seven games – not naming names, Matt – I may be less than forthcoming in pointing out lapses in strategy. Otherwise, it gives me warm fuzzies to help out and is one of the elements of competitive gaming I genuinely enjoy.

And what about you? If you have some underrated element of our hobby that may not be commonplace, but still warms the cockles of your hobbyist heart? If so, I'd love to hear about 'em on the forums.

– 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!