Stonehenge is an enduring mystery. What is it? Who built it, and why? The good news is we've found the King of Stonehenge. The bad news is he's been dead for 4,300 years. Still, you'd be amazed what the
Amesbury Archer has been able to tell Wessex Archaeology.
-- Andy
 Pete Abrams (seated) and the rest of the Sluggy Freelance crew |
Well, not as expected. For several reasons, the most dramatic of which involved two feet of snow and the declaration of a state of emergency . . . A con which had expected 2,000 people got about a quarter of that number. Those 500, though, got to play a lot of games, even during the snowed-in period. (I don't know whether it was ever literally impossible to leave the hotel, but it might as well have been as far as the majority were concerned.)
At any rate . . . lots of games. Due to a great effort by a large MIB contingent, lots of SJ Games stuff in particular. Including (ta-da) the finals of the National Munchkin Championship.
Our winner was Chris Cavender of Clifton, NJ. He was playing an Orc, and won by wiping out a batch of Flying Frogs and going up two levels at once. His opponents had forgotten about his special power! A perfect munchkin victory. Chris won a load of prizes, including the alpha set of playtest cards for the upcoming Munchkin expansion, Clerical Errors. (No, you won't find much about Clerical Errors on the website; we have not announced a release date. But it's a-comin, oh, my, yes.)
Second place, and no prizes at all (after all, this is Munchkin) went to Eileen Duffy of Boonton, NJ. But we are hereby waving to her and saying "Good try!"
The other very cool thing about UberCon was meeting the other guests. I'll tell you about that tomorrow.
-- Steve Jackson
It's a great glimpse into the very earliest days of roleplaying. I especially liked the claim that this type of gaming could work over the phone or by mail, but would break down if you played it face-to-face, and the notion that the boxed set was overpriced at $10. Check it out.
-- Scott Haring
He can show us joy. Sorrow. Anger. Surprise. Can he do perplexed bemusement? You're welcome to ask. Watch in idle fascination (or watch his idle fascination) as Eric Conveys An Emotion.
-- Suggested by Jens 'Spacejens' Rydholm
These are giggles of sympathy you hear. And cheers of sorrow. And howls of laughter engendered by great regret. Really . . .
-- Steve Jackson
"We're proud to be associated with a product line as fine as Issaries', and it's a great privilege to work with Greg Stafford," said Steve Jackson. "We're a couple of 'gaming graybeards' -- two of the last few to make it this long while remaining independent."
Steve Jackson saw his first game design published in 1976, and started the company that bears his name in 1980. Greg Stafford founded Chaosium, Inc. and published White Bear & Red Moon, a boardgame set in the world of Glorantha, in 1975. "That's 55 years of combined experience," Jackson said proudly.
Stafford's RuneQuest roleplaying game was first published in 1978, and legions of Glorantha fans have been devoted to gaming in this rich, distinctive game world ever since. "The opportunity to get our products into more outlets is a win-win situation," Stafford said. "Like Steve and his GURPS, we have a roleplaying game for people who want to move beyond the d20 craze -- we just need to get it in front of more fans. This deal lets us do that. The real winners are gamers everywhere."
Stafford founded Issaries, Inc. four years ago as a company specializing in games set in his mythic world of Glorantha. The company was incorporated in 1998 through the blessings of Issaries, the Gloranthan god of trade and mercantilism; the good graces of the state of California; and, most importantly, with the support of loyal fans around the globe who raised money through the Glorantha Trading Association (GTA).
Diceland: OGRE is scheduled to release in early June. It will retail for $15.95, and yes, of course we'll carry it in Warehouse 23!
Those of you who are retailers and distributors should be able to see it at the GAMA show next month, right after James demonstrates it to ME . . . I'm looking forward to this!
All the units in Diceland: Ogre (including the Ogre itself!) are compatible with other Diceland expansions, and the set contains additional rules and scenarios specific to the Ogre universe.
-- Steve Jackson
"For as long as I have copies of Rocket Flight to sell, $2 from each mail order sale will be donated to the Space Access Society.
If you already have a copy of the game, I can think of no more fitting memorial to the seven astronauts who died over Texas than to take the game out and teach it to the children who will follow in their footsteps.
The human race has always reached for the stars just beyond our grasp. Sometimes, we fall, and bloody our noses.
It's not the bloody nose that counts. It's getting back up off the ground, grabbing that next rung, and getting us, the collective US of humanity, a little higher up. A little farther along. A little farther out...
If it is within my power, what happened to the dinosaurs will not happen to us. I have a game company. I can persuade people that the futures I portray are not only plausible, but desirable and achievable.
Thus, it's within my power, and yours.
Let's keep that hand outstretched, and not forget that next rung."
Ken Burnside, President, Ad Astra Games
They say the whole world is going to hell, so the United Kingdom will probably see a lot of tourism this year. They have several Entrances to Hell to choose from. Descend into the ground, pass through the gates, or make use of public works.
-- From multiple submissions
Munchkin Level Counter
You've been telling us that Munchkin deserves its own level counter. Here it is!
The Super Munchkin with his chainsaw stands atop a metal disc showing levels 1 through 10. And if you want to play to higher levels . . . or if you're playing Some Other Game . . . flip the disc over for levels 11-20!
Use it as is or paint it to please your own munchkinly tastes.
Bonus! Includes new "Epic Munchkin" rules . . . for longer, wilder games full of really VILE Munchkining . . . and two BLANK Munchkin cards to customize your game!
Metal level counter, with Epic Munchkin rules and two blank cards.
Stock #1413,
ISBN 1-55634-700-6.
$9.95.
In Nomine Ethereal Player's Guide
These Dreams . . .
Once they were gods who ruled the lands of sleep. Once they were spirits who sent their images to slumbering mortals. Once they were elves, unicorns, dragons, and more.
The angels tried to kill them. The demons tried to enslave them. But the ethereal spirits survive -- and are born anew from human dreams! The War may be about Heaven and Hell, but humans aren't the only ones caught in the crossfire.
Now you can play those mysterious "neutrals," the ethereal spirits -- pagan gods, creatures of myth, and even the dancing toothbrushes from the last time you ate anchovies on your pizza. Woven from essential strands of concept, they have their own supernatural powers, Song affinities, and personalities. They also have their own weaknesses and flaws. But whether you wish to assume the mantle of a god or a minor spirit of the Marches, this book has what you need to make your ethereal character more than just a collection of Forces.
144 pages.
Stock #3318,
ISBN 1-55634-430-9.
$24.95.
GURPS Magic Items 3
Enchanted handguns . . . sorcerous spaceships . . . clockwork golems . . . from the Ice Age to the distant future, GURPS Magic Items 3 is full of intriguing and exciting artifacts for magical adventures. There are "generic" items, suitable for a range of settings, as well as creations specifically for popular game settings like GURPS Technomancer, GURPS Steampunk, and GURPS Warehouse 23!
Also included are several more weird and wonderful ways to create magic items, a dozen new guilds, organizations, and corporations involved in the magic item trade, and much more!
128 pages.
Stock #6531,
ISBN 1-55634-418-X.
$22.95.
Transhuman Space: In The Well
In the Inner System, the worlds are closer together. Hotter. Full of promise and adventure. This book includes:
144 pages.
Stock #6702,
ISBN 1-55634-482-1.
$24.95.
Dragons: Valor and Snarl
Dragons Rule!
They're the ultimate power in any fantasy game, the stuff of legends -- the mighty dragons. And now sculptor extraordinaire Richard Kerr has worked his magic and brought gorgeous, fearsome dragons to Steve Jackson Games' line of miniatures.
Snarl and Valor are for play as well as display. They're sized for the game table . . . each one is about 6" long and stands 3/4" to 1 1/2" high, depending on neck pose. And these two dragons are completely modular. You can mix and match bodies, wings, necks, and heads for dozens of different possibilities. Also included is an extra neck, allowing you to create whatever poses suit you: proud and talkative, sneaky and stalking, or fire-breathing rage!
Two dragon bodies with interchangable heads, necks, tails, and wings, in a reusable plastic box.
Stock #13-0500,
ISBN 1-55634-702-2.
$24.95.
The folks behind UberCon are fans, but they are still trying to run it like a business, and if their highly professional (and funny) website is any indication, they're succeeding. Check out the animated banner at the top of their home page, with guest appearances from Phil's and Pete's characters . . . (Heh! I just hit the site again and saw a different animation with a different theme. Wonder how many they've got? Evil, evil.)
Steve gets on his soapbox for a minute: This hobby needs more professionally managed cons. Done right, this means that everybody has a good time and gets their money's worth AND the con makes enough money to happen again. Cross your fingers. And if you're in the area, come by and play games with us this weekend.
-- Steve Jackson
For my personal machine, I use a brute-force backup system . . . I copy the entire contents of the hard drive onto an external drive, and do it again the next day, and so on. The theory is that this eliminates the question of what to back up - the answer is "All of it!" - and will make a restore relatively simple. (Yes, I use the office's regular network backup system too. Belt and suspenders.)
I have been using a BusLink hard drive. It has performed flawlessly since I got it. But when I changed over to OSX, the system could no longer see the drive. I checked with BusLink. Nope, sure enough, it was not OSX-compatible, and there was no driver available that would make it so.
Well, fooey.
But then the good news. The BusLink tech wizard said "But I know how to make it work. Send it here and we'll take care of it."
And he did. He made a hardware mod to make it work with OSX. For free, not that I wouldn't have paid for it. On a drive that wasn't even in warranty any more!
You had better believe that BusLink has just become this office's preferred source for external storage devices. Check them out.
-- Steve Jackson
It's a nice place to visit, but they wouldn't want you to live there. The Hawaiian Kingdom wants to see the American occupation of their island nation end.
-- Suggested by Loren Wiseman
We'd love to claim Baker as our own discovery, but he actually got his big freelance break with our friends at Atlas Games. His
56-card boxed supplement.
Stock #1333,
ISBN 1-55634-450-3.
$9.95.
56 cards in "apartment" box.
Stock #1336,
ISBN 1-55634-562-3.
$16.95.
No. Not hopelessly. A Vorkosigan never gives up. And when the fragile, dwarfed, odd-looking Miles charges headlong against the universe . . . Miles may break, but he's used to breaking. And he'll pay that price, for his Emperor's honor and his own, because when Miles hits it hard enough, the universe gives way.
Now you can enter the world of Miles Vorkosigan. Play his soldiers, his agents, his comrades. Play Miles himself, if you're up to the challenge . . . and if you think you can dare as much, and talk as fast, as the "little Admiral."
128 pages.
Stock #6719,
ISBN 1-55634-577-1.
$24.95.
This 48-page book includes a summary of the war as seen, and endured,
through Italian eyes; descriptions of Italian military organization and
tactics with a roster of Italian land, naval, and air units during the war;
distinctly Italian character concepts, including the elite and cutting-edge
underwater commandos; Italian small arms and fighting vehicles from the
reliable Beretta to their hopelessly outdated armor; campaign seeds and
suggestions, and much more!
Written by Italian WWII enthusiast Michele Armellini, this small book
provides a wealth of detail about Italy's supremely competent, but little respected military rarely found in English-language references.
Rally under the banner of Il Duce and explore the quixotic Italian war
today!
48 pages.
Stock #8010,
ISBN 1-55634-641-7.
$8.95.
Duties will include writing art specifications, based on those
submitted by project designers; matching artists to projects;
contracting artists and following their progress; ensuring that the
submitted art matches what was commissioned; working with the Sales
and Marketing Department on ad design; and evaluating portfolios from
new artists in a timely fashion.
The ideal candidate will possess at least two years' experience in
similar work, but we would consider an otherwise qualified candidate
with less. Any candidate will need excellent organizational and
administrative skills, a general knowledge of art, and the ability to
be critical and assertive when appropriate! Illustration experience
is not required, but is a very definite plus. The Art Director
administers artists, but does not have to be an artist.
It doesn't hurt, but administrative skills are far more important.
Physical Requirements: Some typing is necessary. A candidate should
not suffer from any condition which makes typing difficult or painful
(and should take appropriate ergonomic precautions to avoid the
possibility of repetitive stress injury).
For more information, or to send in your resume, please contact Andrew Hackard at andrew@sjgames.com.
The heroes on Columbia knew the dangers and were proud to accept them. The team that built and launched the shuttle, no less heroes, did their best -- more than their best. We could build a better shuttle if we started from scratch today, and perhaps we should. But what we must not do is get bogged down in hand-wringing, finger-pointing, and blame-shifting.
We must continue toward space. Not because heroes died. Merely in spite of it. No frontier was ever explored without risk, and to insist that all possible risk be avoided is the same as saying "Give up and stay home." And we absolutely must not give in to those who will seize upon this tragedy as an excuse to further gut our space program. The future is out there. Resources, knowledge, a home for humanity other than this one fragile planet . . . we must reach space, while we still can.
We lost seven heroes yesterday. Mourn them, but honor their dream. Close ranks and go on.
Warehouse 23 News: Study Up!
The Slayer's Handbook is a supplement for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer roleplaying game and includes background on being a Slayer, new character creation ideas and archetypes, guidelines for alternative settings in a Slayer-oriented game, three ready-to-play mini-settings, and a complete episode.
February 5, 2003: Ogre Mk. IV Review
OgreCave.com has a review of the Ogre Mk. IV by the prolific Matthew Pook. And while you're there, check out the interview of Steve Jackson himself.
Warehouse 23 News: Pierce the Darkness
Will to Power, the first supplement for Godlike, details the Nazi program to exploit its super-human population.
February 4, 2003: Coming In May
The following products will be released in May 2003 from Steve Jackson Games:
Chez Geek 2 - Slack Attack
(Reprint)
Chez Geek is the award-winning card game that throws open the door on apartment life - the cheap booze, the interrupted sleep, the shrieks of your roommate's S.O. Now add even more stress to your living situation with Chez Geek 2: Slack Attack. This 56-card expansion adds new stuff, new activities, new annoying "friends" - and, yes, new nookie! - to the all-important quest for Slack.
Chez Geek 3 - Block Party
(Reprint)
Chez Geek is back! This new supplement - illustrated, of course, by John Kovalic - has 53 new cards (and three of those blanks you've been asking for). More people, more crummy jobs, more pets, more food, weed, and nookie!
Special bonus: The box is oversized, to hold ALL your Chez Geek cards. The outside of the box shows the Chez Geek apartment building . . . take the lid off, and the inner box shows what's happening INSIDE . . .
GURPS Vorkosigan
From the award-winning science fiction stories of Lois McMaster Bujold comes this worldbook . . . set in a future universe of honor and betrayal, war and intrigue, great victories and great defeats. Miles Vorkosigan is brilliant, charismatic, the heir to a noble house on a warrior planet . . . and hopelessly crippled.
GURPS WWII: Grim Legions
Join the brave, proud, and doomed men carrying Mussolini's "8 million
bayonets" into battle in GURPS WWII: Grim Legions, a sourcebook on the
Italian armed forces.
Warehouse 23 News: Limitless Adventure
The Scaum Valley Gazetteer is a comprehensive and beautifully illustrated guide to the most famous river in the Dying Earth.
February 3, 2003: Job Opening: Art Director
SJ Games is looking for a full-time Art Director in our Austin
office. (Ideally, this position only occupies 25 to 30 hours a week,
so as you settle into the job, we will find other work for you to
fill the a full 40 hours per week.)
Recursive
This is clever.. More than a minute of it might make you long for the comparative relief of Chinese water torture or a 24-hour Roseanne marathon . . . so don't watch that long. Note that you cannot subject yourself to this at all unless you have Flash.
Warehouse 23 News: Faith and a .44!
The Way of the Righteous is the Deadlands d20 class book for the Blessed.
February 2, 2003: Columbia's Heroes
There's no such thing as "routine" in space. The Columbia was only a few minutes from landing when . . . what? Maybe we'll never be sure. Frontiers are dangerous.
-- Steve Jackson
February 1, 2003: New GURPS Lite Version Posted
A "new" GURPS Lite has been posted. I put "new" in quotation marks, because it's dated October 2001 . . . and for a while we had it up . . . but somehow it got replaced by an older version. OK, fixed now.
-- Steve Jackson
Warehouse 23 News: Top 10 for January
Check out Warehouse 23's best selling items for January on the Warehouse 23 Top
10 page.
