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]

June 22, 2026: Igor Could Use Your Help

If you're a fan of beloved Munchkin artist John Kovalic and/or his long-running Dork Tower comic (or long out-of-print game), you probably have feelings of some kind for Igor (mentioned not too long ago right here on the Daily Illuminator).

Well, John Kovalic based that character on one of his oldest friends: Scott Olman. Scott's been going through a rough patch, and so John has set up a GoFundMe to help him through this difficult time. Check out the link and consider giving it a share or donation as you're able.

-- Steven Marsh

June 21, 2026: More Lorescape News: Battletech!

I've mentioned the really nice moduar hex-terrain tiles that Lorescape is turning out. And I've mentioned that I'm so much of a fan that I invested in the company. I'm still very happy about that.

Some news updates, all good:

Lorescape has an official license for Battletech! The hex tiles are perfect, and now they won't be "suitable for use" – they'll be official. Video here!

And they've launched a Kickstarter project for space games, including transparent tiles. Funded in 5 minutes! Campaign here!

-- Steve Jackson

Previous Illuminators • Steve's Appearance Schedule

The traitor from the Watergate Hotel will go to the Last National Bank. 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] June 22, 2026: Igor Could Use Your Help If you're a fan of beloved Munchkin artist John Kovalic and/or his long-running Dork Tower comic (or long out-of-print game), you probably have feelings of some kind for Igor (mentioned not too long ago right here on the Daily Illuminator). Well, John Kovalic based that character on one of his oldest friends: Scott Olman. Scott's been going through a rough patch, and so John has set up a GoFundMe to help him through this difficult time. Check out the link and consider giving it a share or donation as you're able. -- Steven Marsh June 21, 2026: More Lorescape News: Battletech! I've mentioned the really nice moduar hex-terrain tiles that Lorescape is turning out. And I've mentioned that I'm so much of a fan that I invested in the company. I'm still very happy about that. Some news updates, all good: Lorescape has an official license for Battletech! The hex tiles are perfect, and now they won't be "suitable for use" – they'll be official. Video here! And they've launched a Kickstarter project for space games, including transparent tiles. Funded in 5 minutes! Campaign here! -- Steve Jackson Previous Illuminators • Steve's Appearance Schedule		Latest Videos You are the 778th cyborg here today. (33180689 since August 1, 1995)