Issue #224 SPECIAL Vol. XX, No. 7 ATTRACTIONS December 1995 The Castle Designers Guide to Publisher 10 Coping with Magic and the TSR, Inc. SupernaturalJeffrey Allen Paul Associate Publisher Medieval architects never had to worry Brian Thomsen about attackers riding dragons, or with wands of fireballs. How can a Editor-in-Chief Pierce Watters fantasy castle designer cope? Elven Cities & SettlementsSteve Miller Editor 18 Anthony J. Bryant This random generator provides a quick solution to designing customized elven cities. Associate editors Sleep of AgesSteven Schend Dave Gross Michelle Vuckovich 26 Explore dwarven tombs built by master architects, and learn the secrets of their deadly traps. Fiction editor Barbara Young FICTION Art director Larry W. Smith The Third Law of Power Richard Parks 86 Marta sought wisdom, and thereby power; but would the Production staff Basilisk Oracle grant her request? Tracey Isler Subscriptions Janet L. Winters REVIEWS U.S. advertising Cindy Rick Role-Playing Reviews Rick Swan 34 Rick looks at WotC’s Everway and TSR’s BIRTHRIGHT™ U.K. correspondent and U.K. advertising From the ForgeKen Carpenter Carolyn Wildma 56 A double feature this month: Horrific holdovers from Halloween, and a year-end look at the best in the business. Dragon® Magazine (ISSN 0279-6848) is published Kingdom is by Comag Magazine Marketing, Tavistock monthly by TSR, Inc., 201 Sheridan Springs Road, Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE, United Lake Geneva, WI 53147, United States of America. Kingdom; telephone: 0895-444055. 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Payment in full telex: 818761; fax (0223) 248066 (U.K.), 414-223. must accompany all subscription orders. Methods of 238066 (international). payment include checks or money orders made Distribution: DRAGON Magazine is available from payable to TSR, In., or charges to valid Mastercard game and hobby shops throughout the United States, or VISA credit cards; send subscription orders with Canada, the United Kingdom, and through a limited payments to TSR, Inc., P.O. Box 5695, Boston MA number of other overseas outlets. Distribution to the 02206, U.S.A. In the United Kingdom, methods of book trade in the United States is by Random House, payment include cheques or money orders made inc., and in Canada by Random House of Canada, payable to TSR Ltd., or charges to a valid ACCESS Ltd. Distribution to the book trade in the United or VISA credit card; send subscription orders with Kingdom is by TSR Ltd. Send orders to: Random payments to TSR Ltd., as per that address above. House, Inc., Order Entry Department, Westminster Prices are subject to change without prior notice. The MD 21157, U.S.A.; telephone: (800) 733-3000. issue expiration of each subscription is printed on the Newsstand distribution throughout the United mailing label of each subscriber’s copy of the 2 DECEMBER 1995 FEATURES FIRST QuESTSteve Jackson 8 Fond memories of brigand-bashing and puzzle-pondering. DESCENT TO UNDERMOUNTAIN : The Flame Sword of 23 LlothM.D. McConnohie Take an early look at Interplay’s soon-to-be-released 3-D computer game, in which you can battle Lloth’s minions. A Thousand and One WordsMike Shema 42 Don’t just say “I hit the orc”. it’s dull. Being colorful in your descriptions can add a whole new dimension to your game. Bazaar of the Bizarre: Natural Endowments 53 Steve Berman Magical items for the more nature-oriented or primitive sets. The History of the Rod of Seven PartsSkip Williams 66 Here’s the inside story of the AD&D® game’s best-known artifact, from the man who may—or may not—have created it in the first place. The Chronology of KrynnHarold Johnson and 72 Sue Weinlein COVER Ever wonder about which of those DRAGONLANCE® stories came This painting was hanging in the art show ® first, and what happened when? at the GEN CON Game Fair last year. As impressive as it is on our cover, it was Sage AdviceSkip Williams completely overwhelming hanging on a 100 This month, the sage tackles questions on the DRAGONLANCE® wall in all of its glory. I was never able to connect with Florida artist Alan Prior campaign, and on gaming and Real Life. during my 4 days in Milwaukee but was The Ecology of the LammasuBelinda G. Ashley fortunate to run across someone who had found one of his business cards. The rest, 114 These lion-men, powerful protectors of law and good, stand as they say, is history. watch over those who need protecting. DEPARTMENTS 4 Letters 95 Floyd 6 Editorial 106 DragonMirth 42 Forum 108 Yamara 76 Rumblings 110 Gamers Guide 83 Convention Calendar 119 TSR Previews magazine. Changes of address for the delivery of address; include sufficient American postage or part without first obtaining permission in writing from subscription copies must be received at least six Internation Reply Coupons with the return envelope. the publisher. Material published in DRAGONS weeks prior to the effective date of the change in In Europe, write to: Writers’ Guidelines, c/o DRAGON Magazine does not necessarily reflect the opinions of order to assure uninterrupted delivery. Magazine, TSR Ltd., include sufficient International TSR, Inc. 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USPS 318-790, ISSN stamped envelope (9½” long preferred) to Writers’ rights to the contents of this publication are reserved, 0279-6848. Guidelines, c/o DRAGON Magazine, as per the above and nothing may be reproduced from it in whole or in DRAGON 3 averse to putting small games in DRAGON® Thanks. And oops. Magazine. Weve done it before, and well be doing it again. Make sure, though, that any game article include the TSR disclo- Dear Dragon, sure form that accompanies our writers It has been a while since youve revised guidelines. your great magazine, but when I opened issue #222, I found some good changes. First, I want to congratulate the new Some Ideas editor. I hope he stays longer than his Game Designing 101 predecessor. Dear Dragon. I have some questions: What happened My friends and I have been thinking up to Yamara and the Forum Section? Did Dear Dragon, ideas for DRAGON magazine.