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Illuminated Site of the Week
Our offices are fairly empty right now. But not completely. Spare a thought for the Warehouse 23 staff . . . while you're vacationing, they're taking inventory.
As for me, I'm managing a certain amount of goofing off. (Can you say Age of Mythology?) But some things are getting done. My "Report to the Stakeholders" for 2006 is already drafted and will be up early in January! I've worked on a couple of new Munchkin projects, helped push UltraCorps incrementally closer to release, and . . . Hmm. That's about all so far. But there are a couple of days left!
-- Steve Jackson
I was given a copy of this incredibly neat book for Christmas (thank you, thank you, you know who you are!). The full title is Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs: The Definitive Pop-Up. It's a 2"-thick book, and from the outside you might think for a moment that it's a serious text. But then you open it . . . and it's pop-ups! Huge dramatic pop-ups, and smaller ones around the edges of each page. Beautiful and clever. And then you read . . . and it is a serious text. It's not deep, but it talks intelligently about the dinosaurs and their world. I gleefully recommend this for any dinosaur fan in your life, though if those fans are very young you'll want to supervise their enjoyment, as pop-ups are delicate!
-- Steve Jackson
Warehouse 23 News: Chicks Dig The Car
Long before BattleMechs came along, humans used the automobile to assert their masculinity. With the Classic BattleTech: Technical Readout - Vehicle Annex, your MechWarriors shouldn't have any trouble finding cars to impress members of the opposite sex. Or finding boats. Or airships. Or exoskeletons. Or . . . well, it just sorta goes on like that for a while . . .
December 29, 2006: Illuminated Site of the Week: Blocks Of Knowledge
LEGO is always good for a clever site, and Andrew Lipson's LEGO Page is nothing if not clever. With everything from devices to impossible Escher-inspired sculptures to Dilbert statues, you'd think he was trying to build a brand new career. And new co-workers. And a new office. And . . . -- Suggested by Paul May
Warehouse 23 News: Honor, Secrets, Cheeseburgers
Ninja Burger: The RPG has been under review for some time now, and we are proud to announce it's promotion to 2nd edition. Purchase the book today or your dishonored ancestors will rise of their graves and, with their soul-reaving katana of fiery doom (forged from their shame made manifest), slay you.
The reprint of the Campaigns book of the GURPS Basic Set is on the boat . . . and the bill of lading even told us WHICH boat. Well, ship, actually. And thanks to Google Images, we found it. So here's the NYK Phoenix, whose doughty crew, even as we speak, is making its way to our shores from Thailand. With our books, among many, many other things. Cheers!
(As I wrote this, the phrase "ivory, apes, and peacocks" occurred to me, and I realized that no ship bearing that fabled cargo could make it through Customs. And I started to type "alas!" and then realized that anybody collecting ivory or apes nowadays is probably a bad guy. And peacocks no doubt carry bird flu. I do believe that I'm now overanalyzing. But the ship picture is neat.)
-- Steve Jackson
Warehouse 23 News: In Space No One Can Hear You Overuse A Joke
Tired of being stuck without a map every time your players say "let's turn on the broken, spastic space fold engine?" Need to work out just where the heck everything is in that sci-fi epic you're writing? Got forty bucks to blow and a lot of time on your hands? AstroSynthesis v2.0 is just what you've been looking for.
At an airport newsstand, I bought Douglas Preston's Tyrannosaur Canyon to read on the plane. You will note that the title is not a link. Normally, when I talk about a book, I link to Amazon, to make it easier for you to buy it and to take a commission for the business. But in this case, I hope you don't buy the book, and if you do, I don't want any of your money.
The front cover says it's a New York Times bestseller, and has a Tyrannosaurus-skull motif. The back cover has glowing quotes from Library Journal and the Washington Post. The pages inside have . . . a leaden series of events without enough causal connection to dignify with the term "plot," acted out by a cast of two-dimensional loons who do pointless things for pointless reasons. Occasionally someone dies messily, to qualify for the "thriller" label.
The publisher is Forge, a Tom Doherty imprint. Looks like Tom Doherty, the Times, and the Library Journal are all very happy to see a weak, incoherent imitation of Michael Crichton. I am not happy, and I recommend that you give this book a wide berth and be cautious about those who praised it!
-- Steve Jackson
Warehouse 23 News: Epic. And Then Some.
Medieval Europe is neat, right? We've all pretty much agreed on that. But that doesn't mean it couldn't use a little spicing up. A dash of dwarves, a pinch of goblins, a handful of giants . . . Ah! That's better. And that's BattleLore, the hexy wargame of medieval mayhem.
December 26, 2006: Heartlessly Teasing The "Casey & Andy" Fans
We are sorry to have to tell you that this book does not actually exist. Not . . . quite. There is no giant hardback GURPS Casey & Andy book. Darn it.
There is, however, a real GURPS Casey & Andy, written by David Morgan-Mar. It's an e23 PDF. And until Andy starts updating again, you might as well create your own adventures and make the characters do whatever you want. Muahahaaa!
Warehouse 23 News: A Dominar Of . . . Plush?
Foul-smelling, back-stabbing, gluttonous, cheating, greedy, selfish, egotistical, and an all around complete frellnik. With qualifications like that, Rygel practically begs to be plushified. And so he has. Join his over 600 billion subjects by purchasing a Farscape: Plush Rygel the XVI today!
We've been sneaking pages out of the upcoming GURPS Ultra-Tech and posting them on the book's web page. Right now, you can see the complete table of contents, index, and introduction chapter -- a great way to check out what Ultra-Tech will cover, long before it hits the shelves.
We've also posted the entry for Ladar (featuring one of my favorite illustrations from the book), and Castles in the Sky, which has more to do with superscience structures than the movie of the same name.
Watch for more previews, coming soon!
-- Paul Chapman
It may be a little late for this year, but it's not too early to be the coolest kid on your block next year. The Munchkin Christmas Ornament helps remind us all that if you kill enough dungeon dwelling beasties, you will eventually get what you wanted for Christmas. And isn't dungeon diving what the holiday is really all about?
As you may have noticed, the forum formerly known as "GURPS Character Assistant and Vehicle Builder" has changed its name to just "GURPS Character Assistant." There are now separate support forums for GURPS Vehicle Builder and GURPS Character Builder. All three forums will serve the same purpose -- to provide support for their respective software packages, and to allow users to trade tips and templates -- but now the information will be much easier to find.
-- Paul Chapman
To make a scientific omelette, you gotta break a few eggs. Well, cadavers, actually. The police think you're merely Graverobbers, but the fools will soon see the true genius of your plan. And then, you will rule dinner theater! Er, I mean the world! Ah ha ha ha ha ha!
As is tradition around the office, we'll be avoiding work more often than normal next week. We'll be Officially Closed December 25 through January 1, returning to normal on January 2, 2007. We'll be at home, making gleeful noises at friends, family, and toys. And food. Oh, the food . . . .
I'll note that some of us are quite bad about "not working," especially with telecommuting so darned convenient, but we won't be in enough to be considered "open."
That said, Warehouse 23 will be open every weekday except Monday, December 25 and Monday, January 1. They'll be happy to take your order during their normal hours during the rest of the holiday season. They're such troopers!
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: Just Don't Drink The Punch
Normally, cults are to be avoided at all costs. If they can offer you phenomenal cosmic power, however . . . over 50 such organizations await in the pages of RuneQuest: Cults of Glorantha Volume 1.
December 22, 2006: Illuminated Site of the Week: Now You Think You See It, Now You Think You Don't
Who knows how the brain works, or what sort of misfires are necessary for it to recognize things that aren't there? Optical Illusions & Visual Phenomena is willing to take a crack at deciphering some of these mysteries. They take a hands-on approach to what you have your eyes on. You may not have the chops to understand all the technical jargon, but playing with all the pretty colors is fun. -- Suggested by W. Blake Smith
My proposal for a GDC presentation has been accepted. Woot! This will be interesting. So, if you come to the Game Developers' Conference, and the subject interests you at all, come see my talk on Blindtesting.
-- Steve Jackson
The universe speaks in many languages but only one voice. Unfortunately, all that noise makes understanding the universe tricky at best. Fret not! Babylon 5: Heroes & Aliens will break up all those chatter boxes into stat boxes for both your gaming convenience and your mental health.
Most of you have finished your holiday shopping, but for those with a last-minute need, don't forget that Warehouse 23 offers expedited shipping. That's right - if you select a Next Day Air method, even orders that are shipped on Thursday, December 21st will arrive in time for Christmas.
Orders placed on Wednesday, December 20th will ship automatically on the 21st, so long as all items remain in stock. But even orders placed on the 21st can be shipped, so long as you call or e-mail us us before 3:00 pm, Central, to let us know that time is of the essence.
Need something for a New Year's party? Now is the time to order: most areas of the United States will receive shipments in no more than 5 days, so orders placed on the 20th should arrive before 2007 slips in the door. For more accurate shipping times to your area, please take a look at the UPS Transit Map.
Not sure what to buy? The following items are guaranteed in stock through Christmas:
And if none of those are quite what you're looking for, our staff is available from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Central, to check stock levels, help decide what to buy, and take your orders.
-- Shadlyn Wolfe
Warehouse 23 News: Dream Pod Nine Clearance Continues!
Warehouse 23 is currently clearancing all Dream Pod Nine merchandise. So check out the remaining stock, because when it's gone, it's gone.
. . . and thinking about a game I'd like to do someday . . . not with hobbitses as such. Just . . . nice people in a village, who resist when the forces of Vulgar, Stupid Greed come calling. And having resisted, how do we keep them from overreacting and locking their little quasi-shire down so tight that no random Strider or Gandalf can ever get in to disturb the peace again?
-- Steve Jackson
CNN headline: "Leahy wants FBI to help corrupt Iraqi police force."
No, Senator Leahy! That's not how it works. The FBI is a domestic agency. If you want someone to corrupt the Iraqi police force, call the CIA.
Warehouse 23 News: Conan The Collected
Pulled from the pages of gaming magazine Signs & Portents, Conan: The Compendium is sure to make the Conan player in your life considerably happier than a Conan player that . . . um . . . doesn't have Conan: The Compendium.
In the grand tradition of radio and television shows throughout the ages, the Fnordcast presents its First Annual Holiday Shopping Special.
Basically, we all tell you what we think you should be buying for Christmas.
Download the mp3 here, and give us feedback here.
'Cause if you finish shopping too early, you lose Geek Points.
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: Not Just A Clever Name
Fantasy Hero: Nobles, Knights, and Necromancers is, as one might expect from the title, a rogues gallery of fantasy baddies. It's very thoughtful of them to use such a title. Just think how confusing it would have been if they'd called it The Big Book of Railroad Spikes instead.
December 16, 2006: Illuminated Site of the Week: Death In Small Doses
If you need radioactive substances at discount prices (and discount sizes), contact United Nuclear - Radioactive Isotopes. They sell small slivers of the stuff to the public. No, they're not looking for you to fill out a lot of paperwork - they're not that strict - but you need to be a citizen (gotta have some limits). Select your purchases by the sort of radiation you want to emit, or just put something futuristic-sounding into your E-cart. Though if they're going to sell the topical Polonium, they might want to spell it consistently . . . -- Suggested by Martijn Vos
Warehouse 23 News: Crime Scene Instigation
Face it, an orc with a sword in his back, lying in a pool of his own blood isn't even a third as interesting as a doddering old fool laying in a pool of his own blood. In the parlor. With a lead pipe near by. GURPS Mysteries (now available in corporeal form) is the most generic and universal guide to accusing butlers and writing "murder" you will ever find. Ever. We promise.
Yesterday, Warehouse 23 had a pile of GURPS Mysteries phase into the warehouse. After removing the leftover radiation, they promptly dove right in, and started shipping the preorders.
What does this mean? If you preordered the POD version of GURPS Mysteries, there's a 50/50 chance your book has already shipped; the crew managed to clear about half the queue yesterday. The remainder will ship today (unless there's another item holding it, of course). If you were waiting for the books to hit the warehouse before ordering, go order now!
Remember, most locations in the US can be delivered to in three to five business days with standard ground shipping, and much faster with air options -- so you've got time to get it before Christmas! Check out the UPS Transit Map for more information on shipping times to your state.
-- Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: A Deluge Of Disease
From leukocytes to lyme disease, and all manner of itty bitty irritants inbetween, a whole new batch of bacterial buddies are here from that paramount plush proprietor GIANTmicrobes!
Forbes Magazine's website is currently featuring a long, multifaceted special report on games . . . including a short interview with Steve. Here's a direct link . . . but there are a lot of interesting articles in that feature, so take a look at them.
Ars Magica: City & Guild contains at least twice as much information about towns and tradespeople in the medieval Europe than your average renaissance festival at a mere fraction of the usual odor!
 We recently got a BIG box of stuff from Pegasus Spiele, the publisher that has translated most of our main products into German over the years. So we filled, and I mean FILLED, one shelf in our lobby "trophy case." Here you see their new huge-box edition of Deluxe Illuminati, some Chez Geek, and lots and lots of Munchkin, including the wooden "Sammlerbox," or "Collector's Box," that they released at Essen. (Yes, we would like to do a Sammlerbox release in the US. No, we don't have an actual plan for it, let alone a schedule. Watch this space.)
Anyway . . . Merry Christmas, Pegasus, and thanks for all the great translations!
-- Steve Jackson
And two legs. And an assortment of other little dangling bits. But a complete and mostly functional anatomy does not a hero make. No, my friends, heroes need stuff, things, gear! The heroes of RuneQuest are no exception. Lucky for them there's a book all lined up specifically for that very purpose called RuneQuest: Arms & Equipment.
 We decorated the new offices inside and out for the holidays . . . the hanging decorations at the front corners are big clunky things when you pick them up, but in scale to the building they're perfect.
In my younger days I was intolerant of metal Christmas trees, but in the right setting, I now think they're sort of spiffy. And the white lights go very well with the rope-light "presents" (I want to find some more of those!). You can't see them, but there are old-fashioned non-lighted non-shiny decorations hanging from the tree.
-- Steve Jackson
Warehouse 23 News: Today Is A Great Day . . .
. . . for science! The latest tale in the continuing saga of Agatha Heterodyne is now available for madfolk the world over! Thrill as Agatha learns the amazing secrets of an "ordinary" circus in Girl Genius Book Four! Chill as she faces a royal family gone mad in Girl Genius Book Five! Or catch up with the rest of us by reading the Omnibus Edition Volume 1! (Warning: May cause delusions of grandeur, maniacal laughter, and obsessive gloating. Experiment responsibly.)
I had the pleasure, only a week or so ago, of being interviewed on the geek-culture podcast Otaku Generation. An unexpected surprise was that one of the hosts was Jon Kilgannon, who writes A Miracle of Science. (I like his work, and I've still never met him, but at least now we've talked.)
It was a long interview, lasting some 40 minutes, about all kinds of things. I enjoyed it. They asked good questions! Unfortunately, in the last half we strayed into topics that the world is not ready for, so naturally the Illuminati stepped in. Both the main and backup recorders suffered mysterious failures.
But go listen to the part we got, and read between the lines!
-- Steve Jackson
Warehouse 23 News: The Prestige . . . Classes
Nobody cares about the man in the box. They care about the man who's casting a maximized fireball spell at the group of hobgoblins charging down the hall. To that end, we recomend picking up True20: True Sorcery, lest you all end up in boxes before the adventure is through.
(1) Last week we showed you a giant whirling spiky bucket machine. Thanks to a tip from Tom Smith (yes, that one), we can bring you . . . the Lego giant whirling spiky bucket machine.
(2) NASA now says that manned flights to the moon will resume by 2020. Now, the distance to the moon averages about 238,900 miles. If you're in good health, you could WALK that far by the end of 2020. Do the math and weep.
-- Steve Jackson
The stars got a little . . . wonky, and now everyone's favorite Elder God has blue shifted! The Blue Velvet Plush Cthulhu is a great addition to any collection of blasphemous idols and will really compliment those blue spots you'll be seeing after prolonged exposure.
December 9, 2006: Illuminated Site of the Week: And The Best Part Is You Don't Have To Refold Them
If you find yourself somewhere that doesn't exist, do you still count as being lost? Strange Maps shows that the map is not the territory - in some cases it couldn't possibly be - but that the trip is still worth taking. Alternate layouts for the United States, the fictional towns of Stephen King, George Lucas' Tattooine, and the Texas that might have been . . . these are but the tip of a bizarrely documented iceberg. Some are historical, some fanciful, others just wishful thinking, but they'll all keep your attention in ways that geography class never did. -- Suggested by Matt "Toads" Cira
Warehouse 23 News: Illuminating And Entertaining
For centuries, Zen Buddhism has been gleefully confusing people the world over. Icehouse: Zendo Cards lets you get in on the action without a large capital investment.
Transhuman Space: Changing Times has exceeded all sales expectations, and has blown through the entire . . . .
Wait a minute! Changing Times is an e23 product -- it is never sold out!
Regardless, Changing Times, Phil Master's guide to Transhuman Space for both players and GMs, has broken every sales record previously set for a GURPS digital product. As of this writing, it has jumped into the Top 20 Downloads of All Time list, arriving at the #9 spot. We fully expect it to move up, but will it break into the Top 5 before the holidays?
Stay tuned!
-- Paul Chapman
Update! We've broken 212 sales. Could this mean a POD version is on its way?
Warehouse 23 News: Warehouse 23 Top Ten
Warehouse 23 has posted an updated Top 10 page for November. Check it out, and see what all the cool kids are buying . . .
Yep, Episode Five of the Fnordcast is ready to download here. SJ talks about Lucca, the convention he attended in Italy, and we gloat about the games we played in the office on Halloween. Plus, Jan Hendriks reports about his Essen experiences. All this, topped off with Munchkin Theater!
Special thanks to our guest fnorder, Steven S. Long.
As always, give us feedback on the forums, or via email at fnordcast@sjgames.com.
--Paul Chapman
Warehouse 23 News: When In Rome . . .
Strike down your enemies like the foolish simpletons they are! Sorry, got carried away there. Caesar, Pompeius, and Crassus have each decided that the others smell funny, and thus brought about The End of the Triumvirate. Now comes the fun part: all the battling and conquering and triumphing and what have you.
Just released - Transhuman Space: Changing Times for GURPS, Fourth Edition on e23!
(Actually, it was released last night - a record-breaking number of sharp-eyed vigilants have already noticed and purchased their copy - but roll with me on this one.)
Changing Times is a GM guide, campaign book, and GURPS Fourth Edition conversion for Transhuman Space, written by Phil Masters (author of GURPS Discworld, Transhuman Space: High Frontier, GURPS Arabian Nights, and many other favorites of mine).
Neither utopia nor dystopia, Transhuman Space is a place of hopes, fears, and new frontiers - Changing Times lets you explore it in Fourth Edition!
Try out the 8-page preview, and then get your copy!
-- Thomas Weigel
Warehouse 23 News: Same Old Song And Danse Macabre
It's not about power. It's about ultimate power. Or at least as close as you're going to get in this unlifetime. Vampire: The Requiem - Dark Influences is all about those games vampires play: seduction, betrayal, subterfuge, politicking, and the occasional orgy of blood.
The 5th of December marks the fourth Day of the Ninja, the holiday that encourages you to don your mask, strap on your weapons, and engage in all sorts of ninja-related activities.
Not feeling up to climbing sheer walls or engaging in a duel? Spread the Ninja Word to family, friends, or co-workers. Wear a ninja mask to work, blog about ninja stuff, or play some ninja games.
What's that you say? You have no ninja games? Do not despair, for even at this last minute you can purchase the Ninja Burger RPG from e23, to enjoy some black-clad delivery fun. And for those who like to super-size things, don't forget to grab the comic.
And while you're at it, consider picking up some Ninja Burger gear from Warehouse 23, to help support the company that brought you the stealthiest holiday ever.
-- Shadlyn Wolfe
Warehouse 23 News: Learn Ancient Stuff Or Die
On this Day of the Ninja, we must reflect on what ninja do for us. How they avenge the deaths of friends, family, and electronic pets. How they assassinate pesky insurgents or businessmen. How they make a dang tasty burger. In fact, that last one is so important that it bears making a book on the subject: Ninja Burger Honorable Employee Handbook. Appreciate the ninja, for today, you are surrounded by them, and they know what you're thinking.
We've updated our online policy to address the use of our art in avatars for various online communities. The relevant section is:
Fans are welcome to use graphic images from SJ Games releases as avatars for online communities, with one limitation: Please do not use any trademarked images. Our eye-in-the-pyramid logo, in its various forms, and the image of the Ogre are registered trademarks. (Our staff and official volunteers can use these images as avatars, since they represent the company, but we ask that others not do so.)
Warehouse 23 News: Keep Your Friends Close . . .
And your enemies just north of you. Sure, we all say we love our canuck brethren. But we've really just been biding our time, waiting for Canada to ripen before we unleash our hordes upon them and claim the frozen north as our own! Or maybe we're just thinking of Counter Strike Wargame: War Plan Crimson.
I really, really want to see a model of this on a miniatures table, advancing relentlessly - very, very slowly, but relentlessly - on the besieged city.
Warehouse 23 News: Kiss And (Tattle) Tell
It's the classic tale of boy meets girl, girl runs away from boy, boy chases after girl across the playground, nun chases boy to chastize him for premarital smooching. It's Recess, the 3-5 player game of schoolyard silliness.
December 2, 2006: Illuminated Site of the Week: The Lost World: Destination Denmark
The lines between fantasy and reality, history and legend, blur in Beowulf: Fiction or History? Was the epic hero a Biblical construction, or a poetic representation of a historical figure? Who cares . . . he hunts dinosaurs, and that's way cool.
-- Suggested by sej
What do you get when a gamer is bored? Tired of games that they once adored? Why look so far when the answer's right here? In a game called Enemy Chocolatier!
After innumerable delays, GURPS Mysteries is at the printer. Warehouse 23 will have copies mid-December.
This version will be slightly different from the print run we released at GenCon this August. While the content hasn't changed (unless we fixed a couple of errata when I wasn't looking), we adjusted some of the graphics to be more readable without color.
This printing will remain softcover with black and white interiors, and will sell for $19.95.
-- Paul Chapman
We don't need no stinkin' dice for our Settlers of Catan games. We got Settlers of Catan: Event Cards! Not only do they feature the random number generation you've come to know and love from dice, but you also get a set of exciting, mysterious, otherwise neato random events! You'll never look at polyhedrals quite the same way again.
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