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The various media streams have been filled of late with the traditional warnings of the season. Drinking and driving is a very real concern, especially on nights where the holiday practically demands you stay up past your bedtime, imbibe the beverages of your choice, and then sleepily drive home. Don't DO that.
Our annual cautionary message remains the same: stay safe, and use those hours of watching the year tick down to play a game! Nanuk is perfect for large gatherings, particularly when there are casual gamers in the mix. Frag Gold Edition is a good choice for groups who want to play a few rounds and then wander off to check the snacks. Or heck, pull out that old Milton Bradley box from the closet!
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: e23: Pirating Is Good
Space pirating, anyway. Internet pirating a copy of GURPS Spaceships 3: Warships and Space Pirates would just make us all frowny. And we have a legion of fanatical demo teams at our beck and call stationed all over the planet. So, y'know . . . Choose wisely.
Zombie Dice will include 13 dice in a handy cup. As you can see, Alex's awesome illustration is featured front and center.
But not only is the cup attractive -- in an undead sort of way -- it's very functional. And the number one function of a dice cup, as any gamer knows, is making a cool sound when you shake a bunch of dice around. What does this cup sound like? Click here to listen to the WAV file.
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: e23: If You're Gonna Lie, Lie Big
GURPS Character Assistant does more than turn the arduous task of creating a GURPS character into a pleasant stroll through the countryside. It also cures the flu, does your taxes, predicts the future, gets 40 miles to the gallon, keeps you warm in the winter, keeps you cool in the summer, kills most household pests, creates puppies from thin air, and saves your soul from eternal damnation. Wow!
Is the CERN supercollider being sabotaged by the effects of its own success in the future? Holger Bech Nielsen and Masao Ninomiya have put forth the theory that the Higgs boson generated by a properly functioning supercollider would echo backward through time and prevent its own creation. You can read the NY Times article here. (If you speak theoretical physics, you can read the original papers here.)
Yes, it sounds crazy. It may make more sense when expressed mathematically, but it makes a great hook for a game . . .
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: e23: Moderation, Schmoderation
Some people will tell you that you can have too much of a good thing. These people are not to be listened to. Instead, push your combat to the outer edges of so-called "good sense" by using the rules found in GURPS Mass Combat. Remember, it's not a good time until 30,000 dudes with pointy sticks are shouting at each other from across a valley somewhere.
Because our Twitter account sometimes gets some questions that might be of general interest, or that might be hard to deal with usefully in 140 characters, or that the voices told us to answer here . . .
asks "Why do game designers keep on using red and green for color coding when r-g colorblindness is the most common type?" Good question for which I have at the moment three answers. (1) We're dumb. (2) We know that it is possible to have reds and greens that are distinguishable by most people, even if not as dramatically as by those with normal color vision. (3) For exactly the same reason they are used in so many other places: the cultural connection of red=danger and green=safe.
@spideyo asks when Fairy Dust will be reprinted. We've already ordered the reprint, but it won't be in your stores until March or April.
@DrSbaitso wonders when we are going to release an update to the Munchkin iPhone app. Hee! Done! Go look.
@sparky1499 asks whether the Fighting Fantasy titles for iPhone are coming soon. That would be a question for Puffin, their publisher, or maybe for the British Steve Jackson, who, with Ian Livingstone, created the series. Those weren't SJ Games products, so we know nothing about further plans for them. Yes, we intend to do more iPhone projects. Not saying what yet. But it might rhyme with Mombie Mice.
@Wikimancer asks if we're going to do another Fnordcast. Probably not. It was a lot of fun to do them, but we didn't get enough feedback to make us think it was a good use of our time. Our YouTube videos seem to be taking over that ecological niche. Now, things might change again, or we might do one just because we FELT like it, but don't hold your breath unless you really look good in blue.
@patchthehippie asks how to suggest a game/supplement idea. Talk to us on our forums! We typically have things in development a year or more out, so if it's a supplement to an existing line there's a good chance we've thought of it already fnord, but don't let that stop you from being creative. (If you had just thought of Mombie Mice but hadn't got around to suggesting it yet, well, that goes to show.)
From multiple people at various times in various ways: "What new Munchkin things are coming out, and when? How can we make card suggestions?" Second question first: we have a card suggestion page specifically for Munchkin, and another card suggestion page for Munchkin Quest. As for new releases: When we announce something, it's listed on the Upcoming Releases web page. We try very hard not to give truthful answers to questions about things we haven't announced yet.
From michaelk42: "Do you REALLY want to know what a bottom hat is?" No. No, we do not.
-- Steve Jackson
Warehouse 23 News: e23: The Best of Q4
So how is our final quarter like November? A book about spaceships sold really well! And it was GURPS Spaceships 5: Exploration and Colony Spacecraft, which is numerically similar to Spaceships 6. What a coincidence! (. . . Or is it?)
In 2008, our big GURPS hardcover release was GURPS Thaumatology, which expanded the possibilities and options of the GURPS magic system.
Of course, it always takes time for new options to be fully assimilated by our authors (and the fans!). So it's not surprising that a surge of supplements building off of GURPS Thaumatology arrived during 2009.
Here, then, are the four expansions from e23 that tie into GURPS Thaumatology:
- GURPS Thaumatology: Magical Styles -- Sean Punch's take on designing methods of magic used by guilds, schools, secret societies, etc. Discover Magic Perks available only to wizards!
- GURPS Thaumatology: Alchemical Baroque -- Phil Masters' setting that combines an age of exploration with fantastic fairy-tale trappings.
- GURPS Thaumatology: Urban Magics -- Bill Stoddard's exploration of the use and abuse of magic in cities. Discover mana-powered transport, urban divination, sacred architecture, and magical utilities!
- Pyramid #3/13: Thaumatology -- Containing a full treatment of fairy-tale magic, an alternate form of magical healing, the all-too-creepy rituals of Red Diabolism, and much more.
And because it was released back in 2008, we're not going to mention the pulp-magic superhero setting, GURPS Thaumatology: Age of Gold. (Whoops . . .)
-- Steven Marsh
Warehouse 23 News: e23: The Best of November
We have no idea what the best seller for December is. The month isn't over yet! (Also, the Chronotripper is in the shop with a busted samoflange converter.) But November? Oh yeah, we've got that month covered. And the best seller for that month was GURPS Spaceships 6: Mining and Industrial Spacecraft.
Our site was down for a bit over 24 hours. The problem proved to be a single port on a server switch, but it was a very important little port . . . and Jimmie was out of town, and attempts to troubleshoot remotely were not successful . . . We are, in theory, back now, and return you to the regularly scheduled Daily Illuminator, complete with picture of shiny dice.
Cthulhu Dice
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'm not even going to attempt to do this image justice. Just click on the little thumbnail, and take a look at these beautiful dice in larger-than-life detail.
You're looking at printer samples of Cthulhu Dice, which is scheduled to ship early next year. Each game will include one of these four colors. Don't worry, the colors will not be random -- each case will have the same number of each and the packaging will NOT be blind. You think we're going to make something this beautiful and not have it show in the package?
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: e23: RPG Countdown
Have you been listening to RPG Countdown? You should be! One of their recent shows mentioned a few products of ours. That was right neighborly of them, so we'd appreciate it if you'd send a little web traffic lovin' their way.
Today's Christmas here in Austin, and in many other parts of the world as well. Hope you got all the games you were wishing for, as well as an abundance of fine festive folks with which to play them.
And if you're in an area that boasts a true "White Christmas," throw a snowball for me. Today's the only day I miss the snow . . . but not the snow drifts, the white-outs, or the shoveling.
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: e23: Punch Some People in the Face (Not Really)
Our lawyers have informed us that we probably shouldn't encourage our customers to commit acts of violence. However, they said nothing about encouraging you folks toward pretending to deliver the occasional haymaker. So, to that end, here's Pyramid #3/14: Martial Arts.
Christmas Eve, for me, has always been a time of nervous energy balanced with satisfied relaxation. While there are attention-demanding boxes beneath the tree, the most stressful parts of the year are past. The time is right for lounging on the couch and watching movies.
Of course, if you're a bit obsessive about what could be in those brightly colored boxes, you may be looking for ways to peek inside before the morning. In my youth, I went so far as to carefully slice open the tape, unwrap the presents enough to ascertain the contents, then rewrap them.
It didn't work very well. I wasn't discovered, mind you, but it was a nerve-wracking breakfast!
-- Paul Chapman
(It's also Munchkin Czar Andrew Hackard's birthday. Don't tell him we told you!)
There's probably something profound to be said about the situation GURPS Dungeon Fantasy 8: Treasure Tables presents you with. After all, you're acquiring a real book with real money that's full of fake things for you to acquire. Art imitating life? Perhaps. We suggest you not dwell on it too long, however. That blessed sword that talks to itself ain't gonna get itself out of that chest. (Probably.)
These items are available to your friendly local game store for ordering, and may already be on their shelves. Go! It's not too late for Christmas presents!
Chez Goth
Angst. Nookie. Roommates. Just another Friday night at Chez Goth.
This stand-alone game puts a new spin on the award-winning (and all too realistic) Chez Geek. You're still living with a bunch of roommates . . . but now you're a Goth!
Work at your dreary job. Spend your hard-earned money and precious time to accumulate Slack points . . . or collect Gloom when life turns against you. As it will! You can earn Slack for buying Clothes, Shinies, and Booze . . . or you can just Cough, Complain, or even Faint Dramatically, especially if you have an audience. And if you get very lucky, there might be some Graveyard Nookie in your future.
The second edition features a larger, sturdier box and includes Slack and Gloom counters and a die.
Yes, you can combine these cards with Chez Geek and have a house full of Goths AND slackers. Fortunately, it's just a game . . . isn't it?
112 cards, die-cut tokens for Slack and Gloom, a six-sided die, and a rulesheet, in a box. Stock #1396, UPC 8-37654-32018-1. $19.95.
Nanuk
Winter is coming. All the hunters boasted of their prowess, but you boasted the loudest. Now you have to deliver . . .
In Nanuk, each player bids for how long he can stay on the trail and how much he will bring home. Each boast must be greater than the one before, until one hunter refuses to raise the bid, saying "You're doomed!" Then the hunt begins. Will the hunt leader make good on his boast, or will the doomers be right? Every player decides secretly to help . . . or to let it fail.
Beware Nanuk, the great polar bear, who can end any hunt in failure. If you find an inuksuk, it will protect you -- once. If the hunt is successful, the hunters share the animals collected. But if the hunt fails, the doomers score instead.
Nanuk is a fast-playing, highly social game of bidding and bluffing for 5 to 8 players.
6.25” x 9.25” x 1.75” box, with 100 cards, a mounted gameboard, 17 chipboard counters, and a rulesheet. Stock #1422, UPC 8-37654-32035-8. $27.99.
+6 Bag O' Munchkin Babes
Official Munchkin Plastic Bag!
Extra bonus: free Munchkins -- now in the sex of your choice!
That's right, now we've got both Munchkins and Munchkin Babes in six colors -- the four colors found in Munchkin Quest, plus the purple and orange from Munchkin Quest 2 -- Looking for Trouble. You can get six Munchkin pawns, like those found in the initial set, or six female Munchkin pawns (planned to appear in a 2010 Munchkin Quest supplement, but ready to bash monsters for you now!).
The obvious thing to do is to keep the Munchkin pawns around for the day one is lost, or throw the Munchkin Babes into your Munchkin Quest box and use the correct pawn for whatever sex your character happens to be at that moment.
But if you're truly evil -- and your friends let you get away with it -- you'll show the world just what a munchkin you really are by using these pawns in other games.
In Munchkin
Any time you are entitled to go up a level -- or when you do something that WOULD earn you a level if you weren't already Level 9 -- you may, instead, place a munchkin pawn in front of you. In any combat, you may discard it for a 1d6 bonus. You may only have one in front of you at a time. Unless, of course, you "lose" these rules and tell the other players that you're allowed to have more. Six is a good number.
In Other Games
Because you're a munchkin, you may claim a munchkin advantage for using these pawns in ANY game. For instance:
- In any roll-and-move game, if you use the munchkin as your pawn rather than one that came with the game, then once per game you may add or subtract 1 space to the move you roll.
- In any game in which you start with money, then if you use the munchkin as your pawn, you start with 10% extra. Round up, of course.
- In chess, a munchkin pawn can move forward two spaces at any time.
If you create your own official rules for using the Munchkin pawn in other games, please share your rules with us at the Steve Jackson Games forums.
Six plastic female Munchkin Quest pawns, in six different colors, polybagged with a punched header card. Stock #5505, UPC 8-37654-32033-4. $5.99.
Munchkin Kill-O-Meter
Munchkins love it when the cards start flying. The best combats are the ones where potions, monster enhancers, and other bonuses keep the effective levels bouncing up and down! But keeping count can cause your brain to explode (which is all messy). Now you'll never have to stop and recount again!
With the Munchkin Kill-O-Meter, whenever a card hits the table, you turn the dials to keep track of your new total. Fiendishly simple. You can use it with any flavor of Munchkin, including Munchkin Quest.
The Kill-O-Meter comes with two special bonus cards (one for Munchkin and one for Munchkin Quest) -- and since the dials can be read from either side, we put munchkins on one side and monsters on the other. (And would you believe that making it two-sided let us REDUCE the cost? Printers are funny!)
One two-sided combat counter. Stock #5506, UPC 8-37654-32034-1. $6.99.
-- Paul Chapman
And Lucifer. And Jordi and Lilith and Nybbas and Uriel and . . . Well, suffice it to say that the GM has a lot of roles to play in an In Nomine game. And that's just inside the game. They also have to play storyteller and referee. But fret not! The prophesied return of the In Nomine Game Master's Guide is upon us, and it shall deliver you from frustration.
Here's a Christmas present for all you Munchkin fans. Well, no, actually, it's only for those who bought the iPhone Level Counter app. We just updated it to include a virtual Kill-O-Meter (based on the REAL one that we just shipped and has sold so fast that we're about to run out*). Our testers really liked this new feature. It has one counter for the munchkins and one for the monsters, and it CLICKS! (Insert clicking noise here in your mind, since we don't have sound here on the Daily Illuminator. Yet.)
If you already own the app, the update is free. Download it, use it in your holiday Munchkin games, and with any luck, the Boon which the level counter grants you will help you win and make your friends horribly jealous. Which is the true meaning of Christmas if you're a munchkin . . . Well, that, and the PRESENTS. Which is where we came in!
If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch but don't yet have the app, it's still only $4.99. Buy it, use it, kill monsters, take their stuff. You know you love it. So do we. And we like you guys, too. Have a great holiday!
-- Steve Jackson
* Oh, how terrible!
Braaaiiiiins!
And while we're on the subject of digital projects, don't miss this animated holiday greeting from our favorite new zombie, the Zombie Dice mascot. After Justin finished the Zombie Dice Flash Demo last week Steve had no choice but to make things just a little harder for our Justin (animation) and Will (sounds). It was worth it, though, because now we can properly wish you a . . . braaaaiiiinns!
-- Phil Reed
Shrouded in the night and hidden away from the eyes of ignorant masses, Chez Goth is born again. From the shadowy black darkness it emerges, clad in dark shadowy blackness and seeking players to drag into dark black shadows. Its new components bring not joy and adulation as one might expect, but rather a dreary cloud of ennui that stains the soul a deep ebony. Such is its terrible curse! Woe! Woe!
Last week, we released a whopping three PDFs. That was so awesome that we decided to say, "What the heck, let's do it again!" And so we have. So what's on the menu this week?
Bam! GURPS Dungeon Fantasy 8: Treasure Tables. Herein shall you find all manner of items you might stumble over as you perform your violent evictions of the denizens of the underworld. If you haven't bought the GM in your life a gift yet, then giving this would create a sort of ideal symmetry that simply cannot be ignored.
Boom! Pyramid #3/14: Martial Arts. You may have seen this one coming, what with Pyramid being a monthly release and all. What you don't know is that this issue is fast as lightning. In fact, it's a little bit frightening. But it's cool, our contributors write with expert timing.
Bang! In Nomine: Game Master's Guide. Now there's an old friend we haven't seen in a while. Would that mean that now is an excellent time to drag out the In Nomine books and shows those philistines what they've been missing? Only one way to find out.
-- Fox Barrett
We're not here!
Today is the first day of our holiday vacation. As a result, no one is in the office. Feel free to leave a voice mail or shoot us an email, but we won't be reading or responding (or processing Warehouse 23 orders!) until Monday January 4, 2010. Happy holidays!
Warehouse 23 News: No Glass Ceiling in the Dungeon
Just a massive rocky slab, and it hangs above everyone's head. Yes, the dungeon is a place of equal opportunity, where both sexes are gleefully and ruthlessly exploited. And so, to complement our +6 Bag O' Munchkins, we now offer the +6 Bag O' Babes!
LAPP -- short for Light Art Performance Photography -- is a new art form which uses a single "click" of a camera and no computer manipulations to create the next step in light drawing. They're beautiful, ethereal, and just a little "Dr. Who."
My personal favorite is here. I don't know what the artist has titled it, but I call it "Time Warping Back 20 years to talk to myself."
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: The Important Part
Technically, the Munchkin Kill-O-Meter doesn't track your kills. Or kill your tracks, for that matter. It just keeps track of the combat strength for both sides. But such a counter! It'll make you feel awesome all the same.
Last Friday was the last Game Day of 2009, and it was a doozy! We had everything from Warmachine to Nanuk, from Castle Panic to [NAME NOT READY FOR RELEASE] which is still in early development!
Fred from PSI (our fulfillment house) and Ross from Canada joined us. Since we normally only get to see these two at conventions and trade shows -- where we're all busy as heck -- getting the chance to roll some dice with them was a rare treat.
The highlights of the day were:
- Alex winning Nanuk with 32 points. I don't think I've ever seen a score that high!
- Space Alert in my office. The last time I played this game, it was in a loud crowded room. Closing off the rest of the world helped hear the CD, and really heightened the tension. This was the favorite of nearly everyone who played it.
- Ren Faire. I picked this one up on a lark, but the new release from Atlas Games had us shouting "Huzzah!" Literally -- it's one of the challenges. This one would be great with casual players.
- Ben teaching Warmachine. Since Ben was running teaching demos, his games were less explosive than others, but I'm pretty sure he converted everyone who played. More lead pushers means bigger minis games in the future!
- Mocking Terminator 2 The Boardgame. Ben brought this in, and it was just as terrible as you'd expect from a franchise cash-in. But making fun of a bad game can be fun, too!
These, of course, weren't the only games we played. Aton, Cthulhu Dice, Tsuro, Small World, and many others that I didn't notice (being, you know, absorbed in a game at the time). A selection of non-incriminating photos can be found here.
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: e23: Keeping It Relevant To Our Interests
0one's Colorprints #9: Woodland Glades. Because let's be honest here, nobody cares about urban glades.
Braaaaaaaaiiiiiins! Zombie Dice is at the printer now, and should ship in March. We've gleefully given you all kinds of talk about what's in the game and how much fun it is to play. For an actual demo, however . . . well, you'd normally have to wait a few months for that.
But today, thanks to the Miracle of Technology, Justin has created a nifty little Flash demo. You'll learn how many dice to roll, what to look for, and why shotguns are bad. With vocals by the local zombie horde -- we included subtitles, since the undead don't enunciate very well -- you'll know how to play Zombie Dice in just minutes.
-- Paul Chapman
Reminder! Today is our last day in the office!
Not to panic anyone, but today is our last day in the office for 2009. We will endeavor to deal with every email and phone call we can, but as the afternoon wears on, more and more staffers will be slipping out for last-minute shopping, or to get a head start on the drive to Grandma's house.
Warehouse 23 News: e23: "Many Illuminators Likely Feature Stuff?"
We just got in a PDF called Cardstock Characters: MILFS. What does that stand for? "Mysteriously Intelligent Lemurs from Space?" "Mighty Internet Lurkers for Stalin?" "Mike Is Lame, Find Sheryl?" "Monsters in Lingerie Fighting Soldiers?" Nope. None of the above. Though that last one is pretty close.
Since tomorrow is the last day Warehouse 23 will be open in 2009 -- end of year inventory plus holidays equals no one around to process orders -- I'll take this opportunity to remind everyone of some of the "perfect for stocking stuffer" items we carry.
- Mini-Chibithulhus. These cute little guys look great peeking out over the top of a stocking, or snuggled in the boughs of the Christmas tree. And by "great," I mean "madness inducing, but in a good way."
- Kill-O-Meter. It's wide enough to cause some interesting bulges in the stocking, but light enough not to pull it off the mantle. Plus, it's for Munchkin!
- Bag O' Babes and Bag O' Munchkins. A stocking filled with little Munchkin Quest pawns? How can you go wrong?
- Munchkin Dice. Pretty things for Christmas? Perfect. As a bonus: the plastic packaging can be recycled into a ramp for remote controlled vehicles.
- Munchkin Christmas Coins. For just two bucks, you can put a little Munchkin jangle into the jingle-jingle-jingle of the holidays.
- Any of the Munchkin expansions. Let's face it: The person you're getting a stocking stuffer for likely has a Munchkin game. Get them the expansion! (Unless it's Munchkin Impossible or The Good, the Bad, and the Munchkin -- then get them Munchkin Blender.)
- EIP pins. With over 30 color patterns to chose from, you can promote your favorite gamer to the Illuminati department of your choice!
- Pyramid Mugs. Drinks taste better when the vessel is decorated with the eye in the pyramid. Although this may be a little heavy for the stocking proper, it still is perfect for a "little gift."
And don't forget the Munchkin Christmas Cards! We've got two different designs for all your munchkiny friends.
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: e23: It's Obvious, Really
The holidays are a time of ritual. Azagar's Book of Rituals is (as you probably suspect from the title) a book that's absolutely filled with rituals. The path before you is clear.
Retailers are gleefully reminding me that my traditional Yule procrastination has rendered me with less than two shopping weeks before the biggest gift exchanging date of the year. In order to share my stress, I pass said warnings along to you, the loyal readers of the Daily Illuminator. You may chose from the following responses:
- What? Where did this year go?
- Silly man, I finished my shopping weeks/months ago.
- Bah humbug! I'll hand out cans of store-brand diet soda like I do every year. That'll teach 'em!
If you're looking for a last minute gift, check out Warehouse 23's holiday page for ideas. Or just browse Warehouse 23 -- the Mini-Chibithulhus in particular make excellent stocking stuffers.
However, if you're reading this after December 18, a) you're really scrambling for a last-minute gift, and b) Warehouse 23 has already closed down for the year! Might I suggest hitting our GURPS bibliographies pages? They're all linked to Amazon for quick and easy purchasing of the reference and inspirational material the authors and editors used while working on the book. It's a great short-cut: "I know Toby likes GURPS Space; maybe he'd like Revelation Space."
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: e23: Maybe We Should Check Wikipedia?
The Noble Wild Holiday Bonus Pack says it's for the holidays - heck, it even has the word "holiday" in the title - but we're not sure what they're getting at. It's about stuff like reindeer and trees. We don't know what crazy, obscure holiday they're on about, but whatever. Skirmisher Publishing is good people, so we're willing to trust 'em on this one.
We've talked at length about the game of The Stars Are Right -- how demos have gone, the degree of "puzzle" in the "game/puzzle" mix, and its origins. We haven't spent much time on the actual components, however.
Now, thanks to a video camera and a bit of time from Will, Fox, and Jimmie, we've balanced the scales. In fact, if an image is worth a thousand words, we may have flipped the ratio completely over. Go to our YouTube channel and check out our newest unboxing video.
The Stars Are Right is currently available for purchase in fine game stores everywhere (including Warehouse 23).
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: e23: Maniac Mansion?
Close. The Cursed Chateau. It's one o' them canned adventures. A spoooooky one, too! And what luck, it's just in time for the holidays!
Busy week, last week. We released not one, not two, but three PDFs! First on the list is Car Wars City Blocks. Along with those counters and these rules, you ought to be able to put together a game of ol' Car Wars with just what's available on e23. But we have faith that you'll dutifully let us know what else you still need to play it. Ah, symbiosis.
Next stop for the PDF train is GURPS Traveller: Alien Races 2. I guess it's about aliens or something? Dunno. A title like that is so ambiguous.I really wish we were more specific about things. It would really help sell the book. Oh well.
And finally, we have In Nomine: Liber Canticorum. This bad boy has no less than nine authors, so you know it's gotta be good. I mean, more is better, right? Right. It also has just about every damned Song - and every heavenly one (ba-dum, tish!) - you could ever want for your In Nomine campaign. You know, the one you started running after we released Zadkiel a little while back.
-- Fox Barrett
Warehouse 23 News: e23: Even Spaceships?
Yup. e23 has everything. Even spaceships. See this new release called Future Armada: Lakota? That's a spaceship. Go on, try a harder one. Come again? "Sumerian pastry recipes?" Uh. We'll, um . . . we'll get back to you.
December 13, 2009: Illuminated Site of the Week: Something to Go On
"The toilet is a part of the history of human hygiene which is a critical chapter in the growth of human civilisation." So sayeth Bindeshwar Pathak, curator and founder of the Sulabh International Toilet Museum . . . and yet, creating an institution dedicated to that portion of our history would seem to be a step backward, wouldn't it? We'll skip the obvious jokes about the facilities available at the museum and simply hit some of the high points. One may read up on his paper on the topic (apparently there's more than one historical use for the phrase "bucket brigade"). He lists some of the highlights in the device's evolution (though really, does anything beat just having them around?). And then there's the unfortunately named Sulabh Movement (we just report, we don't judge), the books, the statistics.
-- Andy
Warehouse 23 News: e23: Not Every Alien Race Wants to Kill Us
Some just want our stuff! The rest, though? Yeah. They pretty much just want to kill us. But hey, look at it this way. If GURPS Traveller: Alien Races 2 didn't weave a grisly tapestry of war and conflict for us, the galaxy would be a pretty boring place, right?
Early in the development of Munchkin Quest, we recognized that the components were going to have a significant impact on the "feel" of the game. And while playtesting rules is part of our standard operating procedure, mockups were a rarity -- and usually they were limited to just the box, as part of a trade show display.
Then Richard came to the rescue! More specifically, the rescue was Richard wielding our laser cutting tool. Over the years, that laser has been used to create prototype components for Munchkin Quest, Nanuk, Revolution!, Munchkin Kill-O-Meter (shipping this week!), and a couple other games we haven't even announced yet. The picture to the left, for instance, features prototypes from an expansion we haven't announced yet, a new game we're still playtesting, and a game we just announced (Zombie Dice).
Dice? Yep! Turns out the laser was strong enough to etch the plastic surface of the blank dice. The engraving is subtle in this photo, as it's only a millimeter or so deep, but when it's held in the hand, the effect is dramatic. So much better than stickers!
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: e23: Put Your Car on Blocks!
Car Wars City Blocks, that is! These maps provide an entire town upon which you may push tiny cars around while you make "ka-ka-ka-ka-DOOSH-screeeeech-ka-ka-ka-fwsh-BADOOM" noises.
We're doing another of our notorious Game Days today. For us, that means a ton of games. We've even got celebrity guests -- well, Ross and Fred, anyway. Unlike Halloween Game Day, there won't be costumes, but I'll get some shots of the meeples and minis in play.
Today's not the best day to call or email us. We will deal with what you send, but we'll be much slower than normal. Warehouse 23 won't be processing orders, but e23's army of electron-sized monkeys will continue to deliver PDFs in their traditional nigh-instant fashion.
And as a reminder, the office -- including Warehouse 23 -- closes for the rest of the year on Friday, December 18. That's just one week from today. If you have any last-minute purchases you want to make, do it now!
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: e23: The Day the Music Lived
In Nomine: Liber Canticorum out of print? e23 laughs at your puny corporeal concept of limited existence! "Hah," it says! And then it offers up a shiny PDF while shouting "I've got your out-of-print right here, pal!" It's such a loose cannon. Please, come buy the PDF before it does something rash and we have to ask for its badge and gun.
December 10, 2009: Request For Proposal: Android Munchkin
So: We have the Munchkin Level Counter, and it's very spiffy indeed (and it will get even spiffier when we release the new upgrade, but we're going to let the testers play with it a bit first).
And now Android users are asking "When can we get this?" But it's written in Cocoa Touch, and we can't translate it ourselves.
So we would be happy to consider a proposal for translation of the existing app into Androidese. If you're an Android developer with a munchkiny bent, we'd like to hear from you. Write me at sj@sjgames.com and tell me:
• What experience you have. Ideally, we'd pick someone who has already published Android apps which received good reviews.
• How long you think it would take you to finish, and what you'd expect to be paid for the work . . . or, if you can't even start to say without more information, what information you need.
• Anything you want us to know about Android app creation, marketing, sales, or whatever. Nobody here owns an Android; feel free to educate us.
• Anything else you want to say under the general heading of "Pick me! Pick me!"
-- Steve Jackson
Warehouse 23 News: e23: 3-D 2-Day 4-U!
This clever bit of alphanumeric acrobatics is brought to you by the 3-D Counter Sets from Avalon Games. Represent your characters on the field of battle with this fine line of miniatures. They combine the cheap, abundant nature of paper with with all the depth you've come to expect from the third dimension.
The latest in our series of unboxing videos has been uploaded to our YouTube channel. This installment features Nanuk, the game of boasting and dooming we've been talking about quite a bit lately. (By the way, a container of the game arrived in our warehouse last week, so Nanuk will be hitting the shelves of your friendly local game store before the end of the month.)
What's an unboxing video? The idea came from the tech industry, where early adopters -- you know, the guys who stand in line for hours to grab the newest cell phone/music player/AR widget -- open their new toys and show all of YouTube what's in the box. It works for boardgames too. Let's face it: Having a ton of cool components can get you off the fence on some games, but you can't see them all on the store shelves. Our unboxing videos can't put the pieces in your hands, but they can give you a better idea of what's inside that shiny box.
For Nanuk, we sat Will down with a copy and had him talk about each component. Then we edited out the extraneous babble (Will likes to talk -- makes him a great demo guy, but brevity? Not really), added some stills, and now you can see it here.
Nanuk is shipping from our warehouse now, but if you can't wait, it's available on Warehouse 23.
-- Paul Chapman
Why settle for just any musty old base when you could have The Ultimate Base? You deserve the best, gosh darn it! (Or maybe you don't. We honestly don't know. We're trying to appeal to your sense of consumer entitlement in order to get you to buy a book from us. It worked, though, right?)
If you're like me, you've waited until the calendar page turns to December before shopping for the holidays. If you continue in this "like me" vein, you'll be looking for a quick way to find gifts that are relevant to the season.
Tada! The Warehouse 23 Holiday page lists all our in-stock items with a Christmas theme. Get ornaments for your tree, shirts for wearing to the office party, and greeting cards for sending to your long-distance relatives. Click your way into a full shopping cart, and take care of your gift-giving needs all on one page.
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: e23: Fill in the Blank
Did you know that the big blank space on your character sheet is intended for you to draw a graphic representation of your character? It's true! You can see some examples for yourself in the Character Portraits line from Avalon Games.
A-heh, heh-heh? No? Okay, confession time. As I sat down to write this little piece about GURPS WWII: Red Tide, something occurred to me. I don't actually know that much about the USSR. I know they have awesome hats, lots of bears, and an unnatural affinity for the color red. Other than that, I seem to have this gigantic Soviet-shaped hole in my brain. And so it was that I made a lame Yakov Smirnoff joke.
But hey, I can still turn this around! See, Red Tide is wall-to-wall facts about Soviet Russia. (Or page-to-page, I guess. Whatever.) If you, like me, couldn't write a joke about the USSR to save your career from the deadly precipice it now teeters on, then this book is the perfect place to start mining for comedy gold! Here, I'll just open up a page and show you.
Okay, here we go. "Some 665,000 troops either died or joined the millions of Soviet captives that the Germans were starving to death." Oh. Uh. Hm. Nevermind. Uh. Enjoy the book! It's very informative!
-- Fox Barrett
Warehouse 23 News: e23: Play Furry Pirates
Why Furry Pirates? Because why the heck not?
We've done Munchkin Silver Pieces for several years now, and the response has always been "Shiny!" This Christmas, we've tried something a little different.
Now, don't worry: the usual Munchkin 2010 Silver Piece will be available through the normal channels next month. But for those who want to get a head start, we offer the Munchkin Christmas Coins.
These are the 2010 Silver Pieces, done in festive red and green, complete with special holiday rules. Get one of each exclusively from Warehouse 23, for just $1.99. We have limited quantities, so order soon. (Plus W23 will be closing for the year on December 18, so if you want a set for Christmas, order even sooner!)
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: They Don't Play Around, So You Can
When Atlas Games wants you to read about a character, they don't mess around. The people featured in Magi of Hermes aren't some paltry stat blocks with a few lines of backstory. No, sir! These are people, fully rendered and realized in every detail. In fact, we're not entirely convinced that they're fictional. Atlas Games may just have swiped our X-31 D-Hopper and gone on a little trip through time and space. Again.
Today, December 5, is a unique holiday, in that "stealth" is a major part of the celebration. Some call it "International Creep Like a Ninja Day;" others refer to it as "Sneak Like a Ninja Day."
We'll always know it as the Annual Day of the Ninja.
So don your mask, creep from the shadows, and show those Talk Like a Pirate Day yahoos what a real made-up holiday looks like. If you're not in the mood for stealth kills or smoke bombs, how about Ninja Burger Secret Death Touch Edition? Delivering burgers might not be the first ninja activity you think of, but it's on the list -- believe me, I checked.
(And if you fear your enemies will use the cards as deadly weapons, may I suggest the soothing digital files of e23's Ninja Burger RPG offerings?)
Of course, if your tastes run to the more passive entertainment, I understand ninjas are making an appearance at your local cinema. Alex reports "it's a good ninja movie."
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: e23: Communist Laundry?
No. GURPS WWII: Red Tide is, in fact, about Soviet involvement in World War II. Good guess, though.
We went to BoardGameGeekCon 2009, and now we have the video to prove it. You can see the evidence for yourself on YouTube.
Jimmie and I caught games of Revolution!, The Stars Are Right, Munchkin Quest, and Nanuk in action, as well as chatter from attending staff. We were, as convention tradition requires, having too much fun with too little sleep, so prepare yourself for a bit of goofiness.
You may note that we mention Geek Chic quite a bit. I'll admit, the entire crew is quite infatuated with the idea of replacing the current conference room table with something that acts as a normal table, but conceals game boards or miniatures terrain for more entertaining use after hours.
And no one's sick of games yet, so we're bringing a little of the BGG experience home to the office, next Friday December 11 (aka our next Games Day). Answering phones and email will not be our top priority, so please schedule all emergencies accordingly
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: e23: Go Here, Stab This
You'd think that'd be all the guiding a player would need. That books like The Great City: Player's Guide exist seems to prove that this is not the case. But that's okay. The end result (bad guys are stabbed) is still the same. That's all that's important.
After a print run is completed, the first couple of cases are traditionally air-freighted direct from the printer to our office, so we can show them off, provide review samples, or whatever else we can think of. With Nanuk, we sent a dozen out to a hand-selected group of our volunteers, the MIBs. And now they're running pre-release demos!
Unlike the MIBs of legend, these fine guys and gals aren't hard to find. In fact, here's a list of where some of them will be found over the next few weeks!
Nanuk starts shipping from our warehouse next week, so it may arrive in your FLGS before the end of the year. Until then, watch the MIB Demo forum for events in your area.
-- Paul Chapman
Like high adventure? How about roleplaying? Then brother, do we have the game for you. It's called High Adventure Role Playing, and it has both high adventure and roleplaying written all over it.
The year is nigh gone, and the last month is always the busiest. With that in mind, here's our schedule for this holiday season.
- Game Day. On the 11th, we'll be breaking out the dice and cards for some more games. Thanks to guests from the Great White North and the Land of Peaches, this Game Day will be extra special. This is NOT a good day to phone us, or to expect quick answers to e-mail, because we'll be playing games.
- Last Day of Shipping. December 18th will be our last shipping day; if you want something from Warehouse 23, order it before then! (e23 will, of course, continue to process orders with the cool steel determination of a machine.)
- Christmas Break. We're leaving the office on December 18 (technically we'll be open normal business hours that day, but don't bet on too many folks being around), and we won't be back until Monday, January 4. As usual, there will be some holdouts who can't stand to be away that long, but they'll be busy with specific tasks; they won't be answering the phones or emails.
Don't worry, we'll alert you again when these very important dates happen. Like we'd be able to contain our glee over staying home and playing games . . .
-- Paul Chapman
December is National Goodman Games Products Are on Sale Month. Or "NGGPAoSM." Which, upon reflection, is not something we recommend you say in polite company. In any event, Goodman's books are marked down 30% right now. Come 'n getcha some.
I have a question. Okay, so the newly released GURPS Thaumatology: Urban Magics is all about magic in cities, wizards playing with magic in cities, how cities affect magic, how magic affects cities, what magical entities live in cities, and just a whole big mess of neat city-related magic stuff. It's about all the neat magical adventures you can have away from all those scary trees and caves. It is a decidedly above-ground experience.
So if that's the case . . . does that mean all the Dungeon Fantasy books are about suburban magics?
(Please feel free to send all angry e-mails, court orders, and ticking packages to Paul! He makes me write these, so in a way it's all his fault, right?)
-- Fox Barrett
Warehouse 23 News: That Would Be Telling
We'd like to take a moment to draw your attention to the GURPS WWII line. Why? Oh, no particular reason. Just wanted to make sure you remembered that it was around. That's all. Really. Yup.
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