Daily Illuminator Archive for July 2012

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July 1, 2012:
As record-breaking heat sweeps across parts of the world, one question hangs on the lips of most people: "How does this heatwave compare to a demon-ruled city built inside a volcanic crater?" We at e23 have the answer, with the hot-off-the-presses GURPS Locations: Hellsgate. Written by Matt Riggsby (author of GURPS Dungeon Fantasy 8: Treasure Tables and GURPS Fantasy-Tech 1: The Edge of Reality), with additional GURPS goodness from Assistant Line Editor Jason "PK" Levine, this guide to the fantastic city of Hellsgate gives you everything you need to inject an amazing locale into any suitably epic campaign . . . read article

July 2, 2012:
We're all off frolicking in the balmy Texas summer. (For "frolicking," read "roasting," and for "balmy," read "searing.") We'll be back next Monday . . . read article

July 3, 2012:
On Thursday, July 5th I'll be headed up to Minneapolis with Munchkin artist John Kovalic for a fun science fiction convention dubbed "Convergence." When we're not on panels or hanging out with other artists and writers, we'll be handing out Munchkin bookmarks and coins, talking with fans, and hanging out in the demo area with our Men In Black. The show lasts for four days and many of our other friends in the gaming industry will be there . . . read article

July 4, 2012:
According to tradition, today is the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. The date is suspect, but the holiday isn't . . . read article

July 5, 2012:
Next Tuesday, July 10, I'll be at Game Empire in San Diego between 6 and 8 p.m. (and maybe later) to teach Castellan, give away a dungeonload of Munchkin promo cards and bookmarks, and try to answer as many questions as I can . . . read article

July 6, 2012:
It probably goes without saying that just about everyone at Steve Jackson Games is a huge gamer geek. Every week someone comes into the office with a shiny new toy or game they think is cool, and we all get to nerd out about it for a bit . . . read article

July 7, 2012:
Remember, there are only two days left to get free dice included with your order from Warehouse 23. The dice will be rolling out of our warehouse and into your orders as soon as we get back from break . . . read article

July 8, 2012:
With the release of GURPS Power-Ups 5: Impulse Buys, players have more things than ever to spend their bonus character points on! There are so many new options, in fact, that the GM might need to revisit how these points are handed out in the first place. Why They Earn Points (and How Many) GURPS Campaigns recommends giving out 0-5 points each session, for good roleplaying and successfully advancing the mission -- both reasonable criteria . . . read article

July 9, 2012:
Over the last few weeks two more containers set sail across the ocean, each loaded down with so many games that I'm sure we'll have a tough time deciding which package to open first. Currently on the water (and set for release in late July and early August) are the new Munchkin Zombies 3 - Hideous Hideouts and Munchkin Skullkickers expansions . . . read article

July 10, 2012:
Shadowrun was my second RPG experience: I have fond memories of playing it in one of the study rooms in the library during lunch hour in my freshman year of high school. No other game setting gives you the chance to play a cybered-up Troll Street Samurai bopping around the shadows of a dystopian future where magic has returned to the world and mega-corporations rule the populace while trying to undermine each other through various unsavory means . . . read article

July 11, 2012:
It seems like we just got back to the office, and some of us are flying out again. San Diego Comic-Con is this weekend, and we'll have a full team working the show . . . read article

July 12, 2012:
This weekend I'll be attending FeenCon in Bonn, Germany. FeenCon, which translates to FairyCon, is the major convention of the mighty GFR, the German Guild of Fantasy Roleplaying Gamers, a 250-strong organization of gaming enthusiasts who devote a significant amount of their free time to run events for gamers all over Germany . . . read article

July 13, 2012:
If you're in the San Diego area or can get there fast, you may want to check out Geek & Sundry's event today at Belo (919 Fourth Avenue). Wil Wheaton's going to be there from 1 to 5 PM PST, playing Zombie Dice, Munchkin, and other games that have been featured on Geek & Sundry's TableTop show! . . . read article

July 14, 2012:
In the wake of the hugely successful Kickstarter campaign for Ogre Designer's Edition, I'll be running Ogre demos, and a casual drop-in competition with nifty prizes, at the following events: Continuum: July 20-21 (Friday 2-6pm, Saturday 10am-6pm) ManorCon: July 22-23 (Sunday, 10am onward) I'm totally psyched up, as these will be my first cons as the shiny new Ogre Line Editor. I'd love to see you there! . . . read article

July 15, 2012:
Did you know Bastille Day was celebrated yesterday? While I am not French (apart from a bit of supposed Huguenot heritage), I can appreciate a good revolution every once in a while . . . read article

July 16, 2012:
From the first dusty room to the last glittery vault, most dungeons are full of danger. Before now, the only sensible thing to do was to trod in fearlessly on your own . . . read article

July 17, 2012:
What is the best way to have fun? Play more new games, of course! . . . read article

July 18, 2012:
On Friday, July 13, I was thrilled to learn that not one, but two GURPS Fourth Edition supplements were nominated for the 2012 ENnie Awards. GURPS Horror was selected for three categories and GURPS Social Engineering was chosen for one. When I found out that both of our submissions made the final cut, I was so excited I immediately got in touch with Sean Punch, our GURPS line editor . . . read article

July 19, 2012:
Remember when we taught you to never pick up a duck in a dungeon? Well now you can! . . . read article

July 20, 2012:
Are you a hobby gamer? Love GURPS Fourth Edition? . . . read article

July 21, 2012:
Lots of Ogre components are coming together, and every day they take over more of the office. Here's the Wall of Counters . . . read article

July 22, 2012:
Wil Wheaton, host of TableTop on the Geek & Sundry channel, has started a new Tumblr called As Seen On TableTop. He's posting pictures of gamers -- like YOU! -- enjoying their favorite games that have been featured on episodes of TableTop . . . read article

July 23, 2012:
From the dawn of time to the edge of tomorrow, monsters have been lurking in the shadows for a long time. Pyramid #3/45: Monsters -- the latest installment of Pyramid magazine -- celebrates all types of terrors . . . and those who fight their unnatural natures. This issue showcases two features well suited for GURPS Monster Hunters (but great for many other campaigns) . . . read article

July 24, 2012:
We recently backed the Casual Game Insider Magazine on Kickstarter. This new publication was developed by Chris and Melanie James, our friends over at Stratus Games . . . read article

July 25, 2012:
As promised last time: the Vulcan! With its huge grabby arms! . . . read article

July 26, 2012:
Heading to GenCon in Indianapolis? So are we! . . . read article

July 27, 2012:
The weekend after next -- August 10-12 -- I will be at Space City Con in Houston. This is a first-year event that has a lot of potential to grow . . . media, gaming, comics, and lots of general geekery! . . . read article

July 28, 2012:
The ENnie Award nomination for GURPS Social Engineering was a delight I hadn't anticipated. I'm pleased, not just on my own behalf and that of Steve Jackson Games (whose support for this project deserves this kind of recognition), but at seeing the gaming community recognizing a book with this special focus . . . read article

July 29, 2012:
A Universe at War: It's the 31st Century and we as a species have colonized the stars. But now, due to greed and the worst parts of human nature, the entirety of human-occupied space is caught up in an unending war . . . read article

July 30, 2012:
It can be very difficult to tell what drives a man. It's much easier to tell what a man drives -- for example, the Joseph Special, with its front-mounted anti-tank gun and rocket launcher or its rear-mounted minedropper . . . read article

July 31, 2012:
Munchkin Zombies 3 -- Hideous Hideouts is due to come to stores later this year, but you can get your hands on one now! We'll randomly pick one customer who places an order at Warehouse 23 between 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 p.m . . . read article

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