May 24, 2024: Off To UKGE

This morning I head to England for, among other things, the UK Games Exposition. My first visit! By all accounts, it's big and fun. I will be running the TFT adventure The Effigy of the Oil Wastes, participating in a couple of panels, and catching up with some old friends. I will also be doing some signings at the Catalyst booth. Look me up there, if you are in the neighborhood, or catch me elsewhere. I will be one of the ones wearing a "Steve Jackson" nametag . . .

-- Steve Jackson

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May 23, 2024: Inventory On The First Play?

Am I alone in taking inventory of new games as I open 'em? When I'm enjoying that new-game smell, I'll generally do a quick count of the cards, parts, etc., and compare them with the parts list in the game itself. If I'm really feeling my oats (especially if I'm the one who has to put the game away), I'll do an inventory after the game as well. If a game doesn't have a complete parts list, I'll often whip up my own before the game gets sequestered back into its cardboard home. There's nothing more frustrating than discovering one has lost a die, pawn, chit, or card a few months down the road, long after vacuum cleaners or free-roaming house rabbits have made a tasty snack of something irreplaceable.

I'm especially grateful when publishers provide detailed inventory lists. If I'm looking for a complete card list for (say) Munchkin 9 — Jurassic Snark, it's awesome to get it straight . . . [more]

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May 22, 2024: The Impossible Is Daily With GURPS Infinite Worlds: Atlantropa

Welcome to Atlantropa-1, a timeline where the mega-project to dam the Mediterranean and create 250,000 square miles for settlement came to fruition. And thus new land, new sources of energy, and new geopolitical problems became the norm.

Book your passage to an amazing world with GURPS Infinite Worlds: Atlantropa. This supplement includes the history, geopolitical situation, and near-future challenges faced by its residents. It also offers adventure ideas, hints of other worlds where Atlantropa came to be, and suggestions for how to add the setting to a GURPS Infinite Worlds campaign.

Whether you're admiring an incredibly ambitious global achievement, researching its unusual global challenges, or trying to defuse a five-way Cold War, Atlantropa is your ticket to the improbable but amazing. Download it today, only from Warehouse 23!

-- Steven Marsh

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May 21, 2024: Dive Deep Into CARnage 2 With Videos, Podcasts, And More

CARnage 2, the sequel to the first CARnage STL set, is now live on Kickstarter!

The files for CARnage 2 contain an unbelievable amount of new cars, terrain, accessories, and more, and they are compatible with all Car Wars 6th Edition games. We are excited to announce that the first stretch goal has been unlocked!

We previewed the venture on our Daily Illuminator last week, and now you can learn even more about this exciting project by watching the amazing videos below.

Several of our friends have hosted streams during which they painted cars from CARnage 2, and we would like to share a few with you.

The Band of Badgers, based in the United Kingdom, have already completed three streams, and one featured Will from the SJ Games team! They will also be hosting another one on May 23rd, and we highly recommend you check it out. The first two can be found here and her . . .

[more]

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May 20, 2024: Mmmm . . . Playmats

There are certain parts of modern gaming that are commonplace nowadays but nearly unheard of when I started. Like playmats. I have dozens of the things, and just about any game we play – especially card games – has a playmat that we use each session. Sure, I could probably get away with one plain playmat for all my games, but where's the fun in that? It's great to have something different, thematic, and colorful each time we play.

We have a number of playmat options available at Warehouse 23. I selected The Fantasy Trip Spiral Arena as one to showcase because 1) the color red is awesome, and 2) it's a neat pattern but one that doesn't distract too much from most games.

Are there any other commonplace bits of gaming goodness you find indispensable nowadays that weren't around when you began gaming? Feel free to share your insights on the forums!

-- Steven Marsh

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Previous Illuminators • Steve's Appearance Schedule

Zaphod Beeblebrox must take the mutant boat from the U.S. Attorney's Office. May 24, 2024: Off To UKGE This morning I head to England for, among other things, the UK Games Exposition. My first visit! By all accounts, it's big and fun. I will be running the TFT adventure The Effigy of the Oil Wastes, participating in a couple of panels, and catching up with some old friends. I will also be doing some signings at the Catalyst booth. Look me up there, if you are in the neighborhood, or catch me elsewhere. I will be one of the ones wearing a "Steve Jackson" nametag . . . -- Steve Jackson Share this post! May 23, 2024: Inventory On The First Play? Am I alone in taking inventory of new games as I open 'em? When I'm enjoying that new-game smell, I'll generally do a quick count of the cards, parts, etc., and compare them with the parts list in the game itself. If I'm really feeling my oats (especially if I'm the one who has to put the game away), I'll do an inventory after the game as well. If a game doesn't have a complete parts list, I'll often whip up my own before the game gets sequestered back into its cardboard home. There's nothing more frustrating than discovering one has lost a die, pawn, chit, or card a few months down the road, long after vacuum cleaners or free-roaming house rabbits have made a tasty snack of something irreplaceable. I'm especially grateful when publishers provide detailed inventory lists. If I'm looking for a complete card list for (say) Munchkin 9 — Jurassic Snark, it's awesome to get it straight . . . [more] Share this post! May 22, 2024: The Impossible Is Daily With GURPS Infinite Worlds: Atlantropa Welcome to Atlantropa-1, a timeline where the mega-project to dam the Mediterranean and create 250,000 square miles for settlement came to fruition. And thus new land, new sources of energy, and new geopolitical problems became the norm. Book your passage to an amazing world with GURPS Infinite Worlds: Atlantropa. This supplement includes the history, geopolitical situation, and near-future challenges faced by its residents. It also offers adventure ideas, hints of other worlds where Atlantropa came to be, and suggestions for how to add the setting to a GURPS Infinite Worlds campaign. Whether you're admiring an incredibly ambitious global achievement, researching its unusual global challenges, or trying to defuse a five-way Cold War, *Atlantropa* is your ticket to the improbable but amazing. Download it today, only from Warehouse 23! -- Steven Marsh Share this post! May 21, 2024: Dive Deep Into *CARnage 2* With Videos, Podcasts, And More CARnage 2, the sequel to the first CARnage STL set, is now live on Kickstarter! The files for CARnage 2 contain an unbelievable amount of new cars, terrain, accessories, and more, and they are compatible with all Car Wars 6th Edition games. We are excited to announce that the first stretch goal has been unlocked! We previewed the venture on our Daily Illuminator last week, and now you can learn even more about this exciting project by watching the amazing videos below. Several of our friends have hosted streams during which they painted cars from CARnage 2, and we would like to share a few with you. The Band of Badgers, based in the United Kingdom, have already completed three streams, and one featured Will from the SJ Games team! They will also be hosting another one on May 23rd, and we highly recommend you check it out. The first two can be found here and her . . . [more] Share this post! May 20, 2024: Mmmm . . . Playmats There are certain parts of modern gaming that are commonplace nowadays but nearly unheard of when I started. Like playmats. I have dozens of the things, and just about any game we play – especially card games – has a playmat that we use each session. Sure, I could probably get away with one plain playmat for all my games, but where's the fun in that? It's great to have something different, thematic, and colorful each time we play. We have a number of playmat options available at Warehouse 23. I selected The Fantasy Trip Spiral Arena as one to showcase because 1) the color red is awesome, and 2) it's a neat pattern but one that doesn't distract too much from most games. Are there any other commonplace bits of gaming goodness you find indispensable nowadays that weren't around when you began gaming? Feel free to share your insights on the forums! -- Steven Marsh Share this post! Previous Illuminators • Steve's Appearance Schedule		Latest Videos You are the 586th covert operative here today. (29868034 since August 1, 1995)