June 27, 2026: GURPS Ring Of Fire Podcast Interview

I talked with Mitch Reed of No Dice, No Glory about Ring of Fire. Well, that was where we started. We talked about a LOT of things. It was a good interview. Guest co-host was Doug Glover of the Lead Pursuit podcast. Enough fun was had that we ran over time . . . sorry, sorry! (Actually not sorry.)

The Ring of Fire BackerKit campaign is almost over, and if it all sounds interesting, you can get the book by supporting here.

-- Steve Jackson

June 26, 2026: Evil Plans For Gen Con 2026!

The team from Steve Jackson Games is headed to Gen Con next month, and you can visit us at booth 1401! 

At our booth, you can pick fan favorites like Car Wars, Wanderhome, and Munchkin, plus newer releases like Brigand's Bluff and Purrfect Potions. We'll even have custom cat ears (FREE!) that you can wear to show your love for the feline-friendly game.

Gen Con will also be your first chance to secure a copy of Munchkin Second Edition in person. We'll have a limited supply, so be sure to stop by early to get yours.

If you haven't signed up yet, there are still tickets available for our gaming events. You can join a pirate crew in Brigand's Bluff, attempt to take the Last Shot, eat imaginary cheese dip with Groo, and compete to be the Ultimate Munchkin in the Year of the Munchkin Championship.  Click here to buy your event tickets. We can't wait to see you!

-- Michelle Richardso . . . [more]

June 25, 2026: Generative AI? A Hard No!

I have just revised our illustration contract with a flat prohibition against the use of generative AI. I'll work on our writing contracts next. The problem is carving out a clear exception for those old-school spelling and grammar checkers which don't try to write the next dozen words for you. (I have accepted, with angst, that some truly fine writers will never learn to spell, and they need this.)

Anyway: No generative AI. If that's not blunt enough: This company will not knowingly publish AI slop (except, perhaps, to mock it), and any "creator" who tries to foist it on us will be rejected, blacklisted, and quite possibly named and shamed. Don't do it.

-- Steve Jackson

June 24, 2026: Call For Playtesters: GURPS Armor Design

Do you like to contemplate your plate? Do you love email about scale? Are you a fannish inspector of weapon deflectors? Then you might be just the person we want to help playtest the forthcoming GURPS Armor Design, written by the inimitable David L. Pulver.

Details are on our forums. You have until June 30 to give it a shot. Don't be intimidated! If you think you'll have insight we can use and love to play GURPS, we may well want you as part of the playtesting team. When you're hewn on the thigh / but the wound you defy / that's armor, eh?

-- Steven Marsh

June 23, 2026: Shuffling With Dice

I feel like I might have shared this tip before, but I'm not finding it on the Daily Illuminator archives, so hopefully it's new to you.

I play a lot of games that use small decks of "shuffled" cards. I put "shuffled" in quotes because mixing up a small number of cards is actually really hard for me to do. One issue I have – which may be entirely a psychological one – is that I feel like I know where the cards are . . . or, at least, I suspect. I've had many games where my enjoyment was hampered because I've tried to shuffle One Interesting Card into a pack of nine other cards, and too often, it seems to have ended up in a place that hampers my enjoyment: the very first card, or on the bottom.

I stress this could be all in my mind! If you're "shuffling" six cards, then there's a one in three chance it'll end up on the top or bottom. Yet in my experience, it feels . . . [more]

Previous Illuminators • Steve's Appearance Schedule

Captain Ahab was seen in the Vatican and mates with the mouse. June 27, 2026: GURPS Ring Of Fire Podcast Interview I talked with Mitch Reed of No Dice, No Glory about Ring of Fire. Well, that was where we started. We talked about a LOT of things. It was a good interview. Guest co-host was Doug Glover of the Lead Pursuit podcast. Enough fun was had that we ran over time . . . sorry, sorry! (Actually not sorry.) The Ring of Fire BackerKit campaign is almost over, and if it all sounds interesting, you can get the book by supporting here. -- Steve Jackson June 26, 2026: Evil Plans For Gen Con 2026! The team from Steve Jackson Games is headed to Gen Con next month, and you can visit us at booth 1401!  At our booth, you can pick fan favorites like Car Wars, Wanderhome, and Munchkin, plus newer releases like Brigand's Bluff and Purrfect Potions. We'll even have custom cat ears (FREE!) that you can wear to show your love for the feline-friendly game. Gen Con will also be your first chance to secure a copy of Munchkin Second Edition in person. We'll have a limited supply, so be sure to stop by early to get yours. If you haven't signed up yet, there are still tickets available for our gaming events. You can join a pirate crew in Brigand's Bluff, attempt to take the Last Shot, eat imaginary cheese dip with Groo, and compete to be the Ultimate Munchkin in the Year of the Munchkin Championship.  Click here to buy your event tickets. We can't wait to see you! -- Michelle Richardso . . . [more] June 25, 2026: Generative AI? A Hard No! I have just revised our illustration contract with a flat prohibition against the use of generative AI. I'll work on our writing contracts next. The problem is carving out a clear exception for those old-school spelling and grammar checkers which don't try to write the next dozen words for you. (I have accepted, with angst, that some truly fine writers will never learn to spell, and they need this.) Anyway: No generative AI. If that's not blunt enough: This company will not knowingly publish AI slop (except, perhaps, to mock it), and any "creator" who tries to foist it on us will be rejected, blacklisted, and quite possibly named and shamed. Don't do it. -- Steve Jackson June 24, 2026: Call For Playtesters: GURPS Armor Design Do you like to contemplate your plate? Do you love email about scale? Are you a fannish inspector of weapon deflectors? Then you might be just the person we want to help playtest the forthcoming GURPS Armor Design, written by the inimitable David L. Pulver. Details are on our forums. You have until June 30 to give it a shot. Don't be intimidated! If you think you'll have insight we can use and love to play GURPS, we may well want you as part of the playtesting team. When you're hewn on the thigh / but the wound you defy / that's armor, eh? -- Steven Marsh June 23, 2026: Shuffling With Dice I feel like I might have shared this tip before, but I'm not finding it on the Daily Illuminator archives, so hopefully it's new to you. I play a lot of games that use small decks of "shuffled" cards. I put "shuffled" in quotes because mixing up a small number of cards is actually really hard for me to do. One issue I have – which may be entirely a psychological one – is that I feel like I know where the cards are . . . or, at least, I suspect. I've had many games where my enjoyment was hampered because I've tried to shuffle One Interesting Card into a pack of nine other cards, and too often, it seems to have ended up in a place that hampers my enjoyment: the very first card, or on the bottom. I stress this could be all in my mind! If you're "shuffling" six cards, then there's a one in three chance it'll end up on the top or bottom. Yet in my experience, it feels . . . [more] Previous Illuminators • Steve's Appearance Schedule		Latest Videos You are the 1661st superior mutant here today. (33186166 since August 1, 1995)