COMIC STRIPS KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE ®

11 Alley Chat 14 Let’s All Go to the Movies PUBLISHER Kenzer and Company The Nudge EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 16 Jolly R. Blackburn • [email protected] 18 Settle for the Moon ASSISTANT EDITOR Barbara Blackburn • [email protected] 20 Secret Angel KODT DEVELOPMENT TEAM 22 Midnight Crawler Jolly R. Blackburn • Steve Johansson David S. Kenzer • Brian Jelke • Barbara Blackburn (+1) 24 The War Council HACKMASTER EDITOR Steve Johansson • [email protected] 29 Piddle Patter KODT STRIP ART Jolly R. Blackburn 31 The Mapless One COVER ART Luke Ahearn 63 One-Two Punches CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Brendon Fraim • Brian Fraim Larry Elmore • Carolyn Stogdill Bill “Indy” Cavalier • Kurt Wilcken CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kenneth Newquist • Bill Cavalier • Nate Parker OTHER TOONS Noah Chinn • Barbara Blackburn • Benjamin Lomax Jolly R. Blackburn • Larry Elmore • 50 Fuzzy Knights J.L. Duncan • Alan Hume • Beth Martin Noah Chinn SALES/MARKETING/ADVERTISING SnarfQuest™ Steve Johansson • [email protected] • 847-858-6847 61 Larry Elmore Additional Cartoons SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES [email protected] 64 Kurt Wilcken, Bill “Indy” Cavalier, CHARMED PERSONS Carolyn Stogdill, Jolly Blackburn Sample file Kevin Vance • Jack Grayson • Craig Zipse

PRINTED IN U.S.A. Postmaster: Send address changes to: ABOUT Knights of the Dinner Table THE COVER 1659 N CLAREMONT AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60647 E-Mail: [email protected] • Phone: 847.858.6847 This month’s cover World Wide Web: www.kenzerco.com is another awesome Submissions: We accept submissions for strip ideas, jokes, cartoons, retro tribute by the etc. We are interested in running anything that other gamers and fans Fraim Brothers. would enjoy. Check out our website for writer’s guidelines. Subscriptions: A standard 12-issue monthly subscription is only $77.99 (or $65.99 for slower bulk mail shipping). [US $92.99 for Canada or US $117.99 for other foreign locations.] 6- and 24-issue subscriptions are also available. To subscribe, order by credit card at our online store at HTTP://WWW.KENZERCO.COM or send a check or money order (made payable to Kenzer and Company) to: NIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE™ was accidentally created by Jolly R. Blackburn Kway back in 1990 as ‘filler’ for his small press magazine, Shadis. It was Kenzer & Company KODT Subscriptions, something of a ‘creative burp’ and Jolly really didn’t give it much thought. 1659 N Claremont Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 Perhaps that’s why he was just as surprised as anyone that soon KODT was overshadowing everything else he’d ever done and that the created was now Back Issues: Older issues and other KODT merchandise are avail- able for direct purchase on our website at HTTP://WWW.KENZERCO.COM controlling the creator. The Knights have gone far beyond anything Jolly or the D-Team (David Kenzer, Brian Jelke, Steve Johansson and Barbara Blackburn) ever imagined. In 2006, Jolly was ATTENTION RETAILERS: If you are having difficulty getting our inducted into the Hall of Fame. Now, with over 236 issues and over 60 trade paper backs under product (including back issues and RPGs) please call or e-mail us. their belts, it’s been a wild ride and we look forward to seeing where the Knights take us next.

Knights of the Dinner Table® #236 3 THE EMPTY CHAIR his isn’t the editorial you were supposed to read. A few Will had taken to calling himself “The Gaming Nomad” and was days ago while readying this issue for press, I logged onto a man with a mad plan. Explaining he could do his job ‘from any- TFacebook and was blindsided by the news that one of my where” he had hit the road. friends had passed unexpectedly. . He was driving from con to con, gameshop to gameshop, across I’m going to confess, this one hit me pretty hard. Not just the country. Running demos of Aces and Eights and Hackmaster, because it was out of the blue. But because..., well, taking in the country and sights. Rubbing elbows more on that later. with other gamers. His eyes lit up as he explained Will Duty, aka Greylond (on the KenzerCo forums) how much he was enjoying his life of adventure. He was a gamer at heart through and through. And had even started a Road Blog chronicling his travels. one of his passions was HackMaster, along with Will told me he had learned to ‘let things go’ and Aces and Eights. not take things so serious. I tested him by bringing We met virtually years ago on the KenzerCo up the latest new Star Trek movie. forums and eventually face to face. I ran several “Haven’t seen it...” he said, holding up the palm of games for him. He ran quite a few for me. his hand. “And I won’t!” he added with a laugh, “But Now Greylond was a man with a lot of opinions I’m glad people love it” and he was as passionate about giving them as he He shared some other things and the more he was about tossing dice. talked the more I realized this was no doppelganger. RAW (rules as written) was one of his mantras — It was clear, Will was genuinely happy and looking play by the rules!!! He was a huge Star Trek fan but forward to life and his new outlook on things. He hated the new Trek movies (I happen to love them). Long story was also looking forward to reconnecting with old friends. short, Will loved a good debate and he butted heads with myself And it was contagious. It was inspiring. When we parted, Will and many others frequently. had taken up my offer to stay with us the following month and run In fact there is still a Trouble Ticket folder in the admin section of games at our Open House at the warehouse. our forums detailing infractions incurred from some of the heated Sadly that wasn’t to be. debates that he was both involved in and often helps start. Now I can’t say I knew, Will well. My only contact with him was Regardless, he was a nice guy at heart and despite the occasion- online, at cons and at the gaming table on rare occasion. But I al head butting, Will always seemed to rally and was a valuedSample part wanted file to talk about him here because he touched me. of our community. And he is right — life is too short. So much of our lives as geeks Then, suddenly, a few years ago, I noticed Will had begun to and gamers is wrapped up with arguing and tearing down and los- change. He didn’t seem happy. At time he even seemed bitter. It ing sight of the fact that what REALLY draws us together — is each was clear he had troubles in his real life. And when he dropped other. It’s not the game you’re playing, but those you are tossing from sight and we hadn’t heard from him in months, friends began dice with. reaching out to see if he was okay. I’m glad Will found a good place at the end and I wish he had There were assurances he was — but Will essentially dropped had an opportunity to continue his travels and waking up each day out of sight for most of us who weren’t local to him and didn’t have with a new view outside his window. a window into his life. And that’s why news of his passing hit me harder than I would Fast forward two years... have imagined it would. Recently, Will popped in again. He posted, “I’m Back” on our I said above he was inspirational to me, and he was. He’s a boards. After reading it, I immediately issued a doppelganger reminder that we’re never finished growing as human beings. And check — this wasn’t the Will I knew. He was happy, upbeat.. He that our actions and attitude toward life can influence others in a was optimistic. positive way. When Will told me he was going to GenCon this year, I was And there we are — I had planned on running the Empty Chair excited. I was anxious to see him and curious about what was poem for Will on this page but I suppose my thoughts on him will going on with him. In Indy he hung out at our booth quite a bit. I suffice. even had lunch with him — and later dinner. We even managed to get in a game of Zombie Dice. Game on, folks. Hope your dice are true and the company at your table is good. The new Will was a pleasure to be around. He explained to me he had gone through a very rough patch (details aren’t important) and that he reached a point where he decided, life is too short. “I’m Jolly Blackburn not that guy any more he said.” August 26, 2016

4 Knights of the Dinner Table® #236 I SAID GET w-wait... OFF MY WAIT!! PORCH¡¡¡ you WHAT...?!!! \-\ BROUGHT GAAAAA¡¡¡ BEAT IT¡¡ ya a CHECK!!

I love how Gordo was driven to tears after Pete for his Dawg games, while Brian is not only giving tore the big guy a new one in 233. And I loved out more refunds, but also buying a disguise (fat how Pete built him back up a wee bit in 234 telling Deadpool: hardly a rarity at conventions) to avoid EDITOR’S NOTE: The mail just never him to do the right thing. Great writing all around. the wrath of people suffering the gastrointestinal seems to stop. While we make every I’m sometimes embarrassed I worry so much effects of very old HackerJacks. effort to read each and every letter, it is about these characters. Please don’t change a At least Brian got to face off with Troy: The two not always possible to give a personal thing you are doing. of them are almost mirror images of each other! reply. Even if your letter doesn’t happen to be Again, I think the most liked character was published or if you don’t get a direct response, rest Legba P. 7 assured you are being heard. Crutch. He knew what Bob was going through, he offered both his support and time, and he showed Remember, KODT is an interactive KODT 234 an interest in more than just the game. Crutch has magazine. We want you, the reader, to be involved. really become the nice guy in KODT. So keep your suggestions, thoughts and opinions Just wanted to say that I just finished KODT 234 (constructive and otherwise) coming. Opinions AND IT WAS GREAT. After all these decades, Brian I wonder why Bob told "the entire group" about expressed by readers are not necessarily shared by finally starts apologizing! the Hacksmiths' offer when B.A. wasn't there. the editor or Kenzer and Company. Please be aware EasilySample the best story arc since file the Marvin saga, I would have thought he'd be included in any that due to space considerations, some letters have possibly even better (I don't know, but I can't wait sort of discussion; then again, if B.A. is the GM for been edited and/or trimmed. — Jolly for the next one to come out!) their face-off (Gary Jackson did compliment B.A.'s Thanks for making such a great comic! running of the adventure) maybe it's best he not THE SHEE-BEAST be involved in their negotiation. Ben Clinger 7 Issue 234 was a great read. It just felt so good I think Dawg would be the best game for their seeing Brian groveling before Sheila and apologiz- LYNCH REPORT 233 duel: the Knights wouldn't have to deal with ing and her having none of it. God, I love that Gary changing the rules mid-game, while Gary woman. Greetings! I thought this issue was a nice could use the publicity to sell more copies of Last few issues it seems like Brian’s chickens breather from all the melodrama of Bob and Dawg. We shall see. were about to come home to roost but I was a lit- Sheila, and the Brian-bashing and scheming And kudos on using GaryCon to bring together tle afraid he’d somehow pull ‘a Brian’ and dodge we've seen so much of recently. We got some- a wide number of supporting characters together the bullet he has coming for him. For now at least, thing simpler: the Knights and the others hang- again! ing out and playing games. it appears he’s taking some lumps. Is there any- Let the dice keep rolling, body who isn’t mad at him...? Yes, Gordo. It was a nice twist that things are going well for B.A. and poorly for Brian. B.A. has lots of players Jim Lynch 7

HOW TO CONTACT US ^: Via ONLINE FORUM — Just pop over to www.kenzerco.com and visit our discussion forums 7: via E-MAIL — Send your strip ideas, reader mail, back room fodder and questions to [email protected] . via SNAIL MAIL — Or write to us at KODT c/o KenzerCo, 511 W Greenwood Ave., Waukegan, IL 60087 z: via TWITTER — jollybgood FB: via Facebook — Jolly Blackburn

Knights of the Dinner Table® #236 5 what a GREAT Get 1, 2 or 3 years of KoDT WAY to CATCH UP MAKES A and COMPLETE GREAT GIFT back issues in a single box. your COLLECTION!!! for the GAMER in 1 Year $34.99 your LIFE!! 2 Years $49.99 3 Years $59.99 bit.ly/backissuemadness

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THIS DEAL WONʼT LAST LONG — HURRY!! REMINDER: REVIEW MATERIAL, KODT ART/ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR GO TO: 309 S. Dilger Ave, Waukegan IL 60085

A GAMER NO MORE...? RE: 234 with Sarah being a "closeted" gamer. What hap- pens if the other Knights decide to "out" her, or Just saw the cover for issue 235 and it broke my So, just read KODT 234... trying not to say any just show up at her bookstore and inadvertently heart. Sure, Brian is a grade A #$##@@@ but spoilers... but at this point, Brian has become such get her in trouble? There's a lot of possibility there. there’s something about him that has always a classic sociopath that it's impossible for me to Jimthered ^ tugged at my heart strings. believe he's doing anything more than saying what he knows people want him to say. RE: 234 We've seen, many times, how he's played the This is the best issue I've read in a long time. All indignant "how dare you think that of me" card stories are on point, no throwaways and space (selling Bob's mini back to him, using Dave as a consuming stories, just A, B, and C storylines. stalking horse for coupons) while claiming his Love it. motives were pure. I personally don't think Brian gets it yet, not He's been pushed harder this time than he has really, not yet. Just a little bit more than his fake been before, but he's always had a self-serving girlfriend intervention, but we'll see where this angle in the past, and I just can't see him genuinely goes. changing. Is that special compilation coming out soon That said, I am totally rooting for Bob & Sheila that I read about in the last issue. I don't want to to reconcile. miss it since I get everything in hardcopy. Ian Harac ^ When I was buying my copy at the FLGS the counter monkey was saying he couldn't believe CONSEQUENCES (234) Sample file this was still going and still good. I told him I was I was surprised how much of the issue was reading since Dragon and the beginning (issue #7 The images of him spending Christmas alone at devoted to Brian and the consequences of his was the new one when I started, fortunately it home (after bragging to his friends his Uncle was actions -- but that was both well done and was easy enough at the time buy all the previous taking him on a cruise), the peeks at his childhood appropriate. issues). where he cowered under the shadow of an Instead of the usual in-game hijinks, Bob faced He then went on to say "half the nerds here" abusive father. Coming to Sara’s aid and ‘taking some pretty dire real-world events -- losing both don't even know what Dragon was. He then called out the trash’ when her boyfriend jerked her his long-term girlfriend (who he'd proposed to) over the other employee and said Hey, do you around. And of course, the story B.A. told Patty and his place to live — so it makes sense that this know what The Dragon is? about Brian fending off the bullies when they would be treated far more than what happens to The guy though for a second and didn't know were in grade school. their characters. but another guy said it was Wizard's version of I hope he finds his way back to the table and his I think when Brian finally faced up to his role in White Dwarf. Counter monkey and I shared a friends. I hope Brian can be fixed. But the way you Bob's problems (I don't think he's ever passed on knowing look, and I said yes, after they bought it guys constantly pull out the twists and evolve playing before), he made a genuine attempt to fix from TSR. things, I can’t but wonder if we won’t see Brian at things — notably by paying Sheila, since Brian's I headed on home contemplating just how old I the table for a long while. notoriously cheap and before all this offered was. Keep up the great work KODT team!!! Hanging onto my seat here. Rooting for Bob to everything but money when he wanted Minionhunter ^ repair the damage he’s done to his relationship something. Yes, Cattle Punk: The Outlaw Trail is now avail- with Sheila and also looking forward to where the I think he will make up with Bob (since able. Both through distribution and direct on our Patty-B.A. thing goes. otherwise, one or the other will be notably absent webstore (see the ads this issue on page 1). Good job. from the Knights). — Jolly q Kira Jacks 7 It could also be interesting what Jolly & Co. do

Knights of the Dinner Table® #236 7 no one leaves this room, ALIVE. no - wait. he’s any questions...?!! i think he’s gonna putting it back damn. we BUY it boys. down. we’re we’ve got one. should’ve sprung losing him. for BOOTH BABES. yeah. are you talking about US — or our CHARACTERS?

what...?!!! it NEEDED a home. it was calling OUT to me.

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AK AK AK

best four days of gaming EVER!!

8 Knights of the Dinner Table® #236 i don’t want your AUTOGRAPH you MORON — i want i thought maybe, to challenge you to i’d get a TATT a KNIFE FIGHT!! someday — not BECOME one.

you never should have listed E-PEES for GAME DESIGNERS in the book.

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don’t interrupt me - i’m making this up as i go.

Knights of the Dinner Table® #236 9 what’s a matter, BUNKY...?!! facing HARD TIME because you MISSED the LATEST ISSUE of KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE..?

hop on over to WWW.KENZERCO.COM. not only can you SUBSCRIBE but you can pick up BACK ISSUES (both digital MAKE and dead tree) and have them delivered RIGHT to your BUNK! BAIL!!

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