Steve Jackson's Blog, page 78

September 30, 2023: Game Stores In All Sizes

I recently realized one aspect that's pretty special about the tabletop gaming industry: neat, cool, game stores can be found in pretty much every size. I've been in palatial stores that offered myriad options and gaming areas. I've also found amazing treasures sitting on the shelves of tiny shops tucked into a bustling downtown. I recently saw a plethora of places, because my kiddo's need for driving hours to earn his license meant we visited pretty nearly every game store within a two-hour drive.

This ability to surprise at any size contrasts with walking into a tiny hardware store (for example); my first thought isn't, "Oh! Maybe they have those out-of-print nails I've been looking for!"

If you want new places to visit, one helpful resource is the Store Finder on this humble site. And if you have a favorite store in your area that isn't in this database, please let them know about this service and provide the URL the next time you go in to discover your own table treasure . . . big or small.

– 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!

September 29, 2023: Steve Jackson Interview With Cigar Nerds

Dragon Con is over, but the folks at Cigar Nerds Podcast have posted their wrap-up shows, and the most recent episode caught our own Steve Jackson as a guest. The "Nerds" in the name of the podcast is accurate beyond cigars, as the topics of this episode range from science, futurism, and games to Demolition Man. You can find Steve's section at 1:23:00, but the entire episode is chock-full of nerdy goodness. Rarely do I hear a discussion of Stallone movies in the same breath as one about NASA! 

Thanks again to Cigar Nerds for the feature! 

– Hunter Shelburne

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!

September 28, 2023: Today's Illuminated Musing

The other day I sang the praises of USBs, noting the first version of this long-lived format hit the market in general popularity in August 1998 – over 25 years ago.

As I was posting this to the Daily Illuminator, I realized something really cool that was even older than that: the Daily Illuminator itself.

The first posts were in November 1994 (November 16, to be precise). As far as we know (and trumpet on the archive page), it's the oldest continuously running blog on the net. And, if my math is right, its 30 anniversary should be coming up next year.

Now I need to check with the folks in IT about uploading a cake to celebrate the occasion . . .

– 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!

September 27, 2023: Music To Game To: Hole Dweller

Say what you will about Spotify, but its algorithm has an amazing way of taking you on unexpected musical journeys. I started on one of those journeys a couple of years ago when a song popped up on my Discover Weekly playlist called "The Dwarven Caravan of Rushock Bog," by an act called Hole Dweller. I was immediately intrigued. The piece sounded like music from a lost 90s PC game, right down to the sound effects that were integrated into the background. I assumed that the song was part of a collection of early video game music, but the truth was far more interesting. Hole Dweller is a project created by Tim Rowland, a musician from Athens, Georgia, whose first release came out in 2019. Rowland is heavily inspired by Lord of the Rings; a majority of his releases are concept albums focused on Jamwine, a hobbit who ventures forth in search of adventure and excitement. One notable exception is "The Elven Door," which was written for a YouTube series created by Finland's Ruokangas Guitars. Unlike the synth-heavy work of the Jamwine albums, "The Elven Door" is an orchestral piece that pays homage to Howard Shore's masterful compositions for the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Keen listeners will even hear some spoken Elvish in the background! Hole Dweller's latest album, Crossroads, was released on July 14, 2023. You can explore the complete Hole Dweller discography and purchase digital downloads and physical copies of his work via Bandcamp.

– 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!

September 26, 2023: In Praise Of USBs

I was cleaning out a box of adapters and computer parts the other day, and I came across myriad USB cables from bygone eras. Curious, I plugged one unusual device in . . . and it worked. If I wanted an IDE-to-USB adapter to muck with any ancient hard drives, I now have a decent prospect.

It got me thinking how amazing the humble USB port is. The USB 1.1 specification that sparked off the widely adopted USB era came out in August 1998, so the technology is just over a quarter-century old. And it's remarkably robust; if I needed to use a decades-old USB keyboard, printer, or memory card, the same rectangular port that enabled the gear to work last millennium still works fine (or, at most, is an adapter away). Any such device almost certainly won't be fast, but it has better-than-average odds of the computer going, "Ahh, I haven't seen one of these since the Y2K era . . . but I still know what to do with it." Then the computer gets nostalgic. And you get nostalgic, and start digging around the office junk drawer for that Tamagotchi you last remembered seeing there a few years back. (And by "you," I 100% mean "me.")

The decades-old intercompatibility of USB triumphs over the earlier years of the computer era, where every new ecosystem seemed to proliferate a new wave of cables and devices that were quite probably not going to play well with your old stuff.

Perhaps even more amazing is the fact that USB has become a near-universal power specification, recharging and giving life to any number of gadgets and gizmos. This miracle stands in stark contrast to the other box of mystery power bricks and adapters I've accumulated over the years.

USB is not without its quirks; for example, the inability for any human to insert a standard rectangular USB cable in the correct orientation on the first try is basically a cliché at this point. But it's certainly refreshing to rediscover some bit of once-loved gear in my closet collection coming back to life with the insert of a humble plug.

– 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!

September 25, 2023: What Makes A Good Headline?

Writing a headline should be easy, right? It's just a few words that summarize a story so people can decide whether they want to read more. How hard can it be? Actually, a good headline can be just as challenging as writing a full article, if not more so. The best headlines need to convey a lot of information in a small space, and they have to do so while being intriguing and (if possible) exciting. You've probably had practice writing headlines if you've ever worked for a print or digital publication, but if you haven't, here are some tips: Seek to summarize: Whether a news story is simple or complicated, your job as a headline writer is to tell people what's going on in the fewest words possible. For example, say you stumble across a juicy scoop: A naval officer working for a project that maps the sea floor stumbles upon a man-made structure at the bottom of the ocean. The building is clearly new and is covered in strange symbols; a consultant explains that these are meant to trap and hold an evil entity of great power. After conducting some research, the naval officer discovers that a billionaire who dabbles in the arcane has been trying to rid the world of evil the only way they know how. What's the headline? NAVY CLAIMS BILLIONAIRE HAS SATAN
 Avoid confusion: Brevity is the soul of wit, and simplicity is the heart of a headline. The goal with any headline is to make sure that people will understand the gist of your story, even if they only have time to glance at your paper as they're walking by. Got a story about lycanthropic espionage agents that were caught spreading false apocalyptic predictions in star charts because they wanted to incite panic? Make it easy for commuters to stay informed with this headline: WEREWOLF SPIES ADMIT ASTROLOGY TERROR SCANDAL
 Prioritize important details: While MAN BITES DOG is often used as an example of an interesting headline, it actually leaves a bit to be desired. Who is the man? Why did he bite the dog? People are always intrigued by famous names and active words, so be sure to include them. For example: A story about a person attempting to steal something isn't very intriguing. However, what if they were a member of a famous American political dynasty? What if the object they were trying to obtain was based on top secret technology? Suddenly, GOVERNMENT THWARTS ATTEMPTED THEFT becomes KENNEDY TRIES TO SNATCH TIME WEAPON. Hopefully these three tips will help you create headlines of your own. Remember – practice makes perfect! 

– 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!

September 24, 2023: One Weird Trick To Play More Games

I'm an introvert who fights with my own brain a fair bit of the time. Here's a "life hack" that's worked well for me which might prove beneficial to some of you.

My little family likes to play games. However, whenever we have some free time, we're often vapor-locked by being overwhelmed by our choices. Too often, that precious free time either evaporates, or we gravitate toward one or two "standbys" that we pick because we know them. (Those "default" games are often loads of fun, but they're also not making use of our extensive library . . .)

Here's the trick we've found to broaden our horizons: Schedule something specific ahead of time. Don't simply say, "We'll play a game Saturday morning." Add to your calendar, "We're playing GreedQuest Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m." (replacing GreedQuest with any game of your choice, of course).

This method helps us in a few ways. First, it speeds up that Saturday-morning process. We know when to get together and what we're going to do — playi  GreedQuest ! Second, it allows us to prioritize time beforehand to do any prep work. Have we not played our chosen game before, or do we need a rules refresher? Deciding on the game earlier in the week gives us a chance to read the rules, sleeve cards if the game needs it, or otherwise prepare for gaming.

Brains are funny, and each one works a bit differently. However, we've been happy to find this trick that greatly improves our odds of successful gaming time. Hopefully it inspires you and helps you play more games!

– 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!

September 23, 2023: Leave Yourself Notes

Let's say you have a game that you figured out a house rule or solution for something to make the game more fun for your group. As a pro-tip: Write it down. Leave yourself future notes. Even if it's jotted on the back of a fast-food napkin with a ballpoint pen, write it down. You can even do it during the game, while you're waiting for the other players to finish their turns.

"But, Steven," you say, "I had the perfect solution! I will surely remember it." Maybe you will. Speaking for myself, for years I had such conviction in my own memory. The hubris of my past self has come back to haunt me on more than one game night, as we've cobbled together new (seemingly less-effective) solutions that Past Us had definitively solved ages ago but failed to document..

Write it down. Tuck it in the box. Your future self will either ignore your efforts (because they did, in fact, remember), or they will appreciate your thoughtfulness. Be the time traveler you desperately need tomorrow. Write it down today.

– 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!

September 22, 2023: Recommending Recommendations

My first experience with GURPS was likely seeing a copy of GURPS Wild Cards on the games-and-geekery shelf of a Waldenbooks. (I believe I have just enough references in that previous sentence to date me like the rings of a tree . . .) I recall flipping through that book while thinking, "Huh, that's interesting," and putting it back. My second memorable encounter was with a friend in college who said, "You've got to try GURPS ; it's the best game!" The friend then explained why: the many sourcebooks, its universal nature, etc. So, I picked up some books, ended up running a years-long supers campaign we all enjoyed, and – long story short – here I am today.

The point of this trip down memory lane is to note that the impetus of my eventual exposure to GURPS began with the recommendation of a friend. Even in this quasi-cyberpunk world of omnipresent advertisements and micro-targeted media, the word of someone whose opinion they trust carries a great deal of weight for folks.

So if you're enjoying a game, tell your friends! This doesn't need to be in-depth or exhaustive. It can be something as simple as an online post along the lines of: "Last night we played [X], and it's a fun frolic. Highly recommended! If I can answer any questions, let me know." Of course, if you are the more-verbose type [looks around nervously], then more in-depth reviews can give additional insight to help others decide whether to become a fan. My own journey to a game I love began a few decades ago when someone recommended I check out GURPS . . . and I'm still grateful.

– 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!

September 21, 2023: FLGS Spotlight: Giga-Bites Café In Marietta, GA

Earlier this month, when Steve and Jean were in town for Dragon Con, we got to sneak away for a couple hours and visit one of my favorite places on Earth.   If you're a gamer in the Metro Atlanta area, you probably already know and love Giga-Bites Café. If not, allow me to introduce you! Giga-Bites has a dizzying selection of boardgames, miniatures, roleplaying games, painting & hobbying supplies, dice, plushies, and anything else a gamer geek could possibly want. But in addition to being an excellent place to shop, it's an unbeatable gaming spot. There are events going on daily, organized by store staff as well as the enthusiastic and welcoming community. And there's food . . . so when you set up for an epic battle in your favorite wargame, you can do it with a burger, panini, latte, or even a local craft beer. My favorite spot is probably the hobbying station; it's cozily tucked away next to the RPGs, with fancy magnifying ring lights and a few drawers of paints, hobbying tools, glues, and basing materials. It's all free to use, ready to start you on your miniatures journey – or to provide emergency first aid to your armless Space Marine.   Some extra highlights:TONS of indie and small press TTRPGsAn impressive SJ Games shelfMore Kickstarter games than you've EVER seen in a brick-and-mortar storeA packed shelf of demo boardgames for customers to playThemed monthly food specials with terrible inventive puns that any Munchkin fan would enjoyFull disclosure: I'm ridiculously biased. I worked at Giga for nearly two years, and I wouldn't be at SJ Games without the support and opportunities I got there during that time. It's an awesome place, the team are great people, and you should go give them your money. Giga-Bites is just Northwest of the Atlanta perimeter, located in Marietta off I-75. And even if you're not in the area, check out their webstore – it's a great place to find KS exclusives, especially after the campaign has closed!

– 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!