July 15, 2020: Munchkin Musings: July 2020

This doesn't really feel like we're already halfway through this year, does it? Or maybe it just feels like this year is more like a decade. Let's forget all our stress for a bit and talk about Munchkin!

Schedule Updates

Good news first! The third Munchkin Warhammer 40,000 expansion, Cults and Cogs, is on its way to distributors and should be available by the end of this month. Last month, we announced the third Munchkin Warhammer Age of Sigmar expansion, Guts and Gory, and it still looks like we'll see that this fall. Plus, I had a conversation with Alain and Phil recently, and Alain assures us that Games Workshop wants even more Munchkin Warhammer, so I've started some early thoughts for a couple of 2021 expansions – it's way too early for any announcement, or even hints, but keep your eyes on this space in the coming months!

CMON has confirmed that they are close to having all of the Kickstarter copies of Munchkin Dungeon to their backers (and it may be completed by the time this posts) and they're getting ready to ship out remaining stock to retailers. If you missed the Kickstarter last year, here's your chance to pick up the hot new Munchkin board game!

We have a lot of reprints coming in the second half of this year, including the staggering FORTIETH printing of original Munchkin and a second printing of the game that is spanning the Globe, Munchkin Shakespeare. Don't make a tragic mistake; pick up your copy when it reaches your friendly store, or watch Warehouse 23 for the updates from our home office.

Now for the bad news: some projects we had intended for later this year are being pushed into next year. There are a couple of reasons, but the most important is that I had things ready for playtesting (or actually being playtested) and suddenly had a severe shortage of available playtest space and people to wrap them up. Rather than send things to print that might need more seasoning, we decided to hold them off. This decision came about the same time that the economy went for a deep underwater spin, so it all worked out for the best. Between our already scheduled new titles and reprints, and our existing backstock at Warehouse 23 and our distribution partners, we think we have enough to hold on until the world gets back on a promising upward trend.

Speaking of Alain

I buried the lede a little bit earlier, but I wanted to give Alain her own space to shine in this section. Many of you have seen Alain Dawson's messages about our licensed games (not just Munchkin, either!) but she is also a talented designer in her own right, and I'm pleased that we're going to be working with her on some Munchkin goodies that you'll start seeing in 2021. No deals yet, but Alain brought several ideas to Steve and me that we hadn't thought of, and we picked one that is dear to all of our hearts. I can't wait for y'all to see it! (And it frees up a little more time for Steve and me to work on projects that we've had to put aside the past few months, which is a win for everyone.)

A Reminder From Your Friendly Munchkin Team

COVID isn't over. In Texas, after a brief respite, it's been getting a LOT worse this month. Steve has made it clear to all the Austin staff that we're officially working from home unless our presence at the office is required, and we're being extremely strict about office rules for the people who have to go in. We're all getting good at Google Hangouts and other ways of cooperating over the internet, and it sure doesn't look like it's going to stop for quite some time. 

If you don't have to go out, it's a good time to stay home. If you do have to do out, maintain appropriate social distance from others and wear a mask. It's for your protection as well as everyone else's. And if one of your local stores or restaurants doesn't seem to be taking the rules seriously, don't go there and tell all your friends why. We can get through this if we all work together as a team.

-- Andrew Hackard