Dragon Magazine #215
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Issue #215 Vol. XIX, No. 10 March 1995 SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS Publisher Putting Evil to Good Use Johnathan M. Richards TSR, Inc. 10 NO, thats okay, Ill take that cursed item. Associate Publisher Brian Thomsen Gaming with Style Thomas Kane 16 What style of role-player are you? Editor-in-chief Kim Mohan The Beginners Game John Nephew 22 Peat your novice garners right and theyll stick around. Associate editor Dale A. Donovan Fiction editor FICTION Barbara G. Young Where Thingies Rush In J. Robert King Editorial assistant 72 In this tale, . no, I cant describe itjust read it. Wolfgang H. Baur Michelle Vuckovich Art director REVIEWS Larry W. Smith Eye of the Monitor Jay & Dee Production 57 It takes more than just science to make a great SF Renee Ciske computer game. Tracey Isler The Role of Books John C. Bunnell Subscriptions 66 Read the review of Elminsters early days. Janet L. Winters Role-playing Reviews Rick Swan U.S. advertising 82 Explore West End Games MASTERBOOK* products with Cindy Rick Ricks expert guidance. U.K. correspondent Through the Looking Glass Bob Bigelow and U.K. advertising 112 Carolyn Wildman Figure on following Bobs advice. DRAGON® Magazine (ISSN 0279-6848) is published Magazine Marketing, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, monthly by TSR, Inc., 201 Sheridan Springs Road, Middlesex UB7 7QE, United Kingdom; telephone: Lake Geneva WI 53147, United States of America. The 0895-444055. postal address for all materials from the United States Subscriptions: Subscription rates via second-class of America and Canada except subscription orders is: mail are as follows: $30 in U.S. funds for 12 issues DRAGON® Magazine, 201 Sheridan Springs Road, sent to an address in the U.S.; $36 in U.S. funds for 12 Lake Geneva WI 53147, U.S.A.; telephone (414) 248- issues sent to an address in Canada; £21 for 12 issues 3625; fax (414) 248-0389. The postal address for all sent to an address within the United Kingdom; £30 for materials from Europe is: DRAGON Magazine, TSR 12 issues sent to an address in Europe; $50 in U.S. Ltd., 120 Church End, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge CB1 funds for 12 issues sent by surface mail to any other 3LB, United Kingdom; telephone: (0223) 212517 (U.K.), address, or $90 in U.S. funds for 12 issues sent air 44-223-212517 (international); telex: 818761; fax (0223) mail to any other address. Payment in full must accom- 248066 (U.K.), 44-223-248066 (international). pany all subscription orders. Methods of payment Distribution: DRAGON Magazine is available from include checks or money orders made payable to TSR, game and hobby shops throughout the United States, Inc., or charges to valid MasterCard or VISA credit Canada, the United Kingdom, and through a limited cards; send subscription orders with payments to: number of other overseas outlets. Distribution to the TSR, Inc., PO. Box 5695, Boston MA 02206, U.S.A. In book trade in the United States is by Random House, the United Kingdom, methods of payment include Inc., and in Canada by Random House of Canada, Ltd. cheques or money orders made payable to TSR Ltd., Distribution to the book trade in the United Kingdom is or charges to a valid ACCESS or VISA credit card; by TSR Ltd. Send orders to: Random House, Inc., send subscription orders with payments to TSR Ltd., Order Entry Department, Westminster MD 21157, as per that address above. Prices are subject to U.S.A.; telephone: (800) 733-3000. Newsstand distribu- change without prior notice. The issue of expiration of Printed in the U.S.A. tion throughout the United Kingdom is by Comag each subscription is printed on the mailing label of 2 MARCH 1995 FEATURES First Quest Bill Slavicsek 8 With the great power of being the rules guy, comes great responsibility. The Ecology of the Amphisbaena Johnathan M. 32 Richards This is one instance where two heads are worse than one. Donning a New Masque William W. Connors 41 Presenting new kits and a PC sheet for Masque of the Red Death campaigns. The Deities of Africa Michael John Wybo II 48 Use these gods to flesh out your African campaign pantheons. Rumblings The staff 54 Peruse the latest scoops on all the topics were allowed to COVER talk about. On this month's cover is Gareth Hind's exciting cover painting which Sage Advice Skip Williams illustrates the point that it really isn't a 88 Follow along as Skip dives into the mailbag. good idea to poach the king's deer. The Game Wizards Steven E. Schend 97 Get all the dope on the new BLOOD WARSTM card gameincluding a complete card list. DEPARTMENTS 4 Letters 103 Libram X 6 Editorial 106 Dragonmirth 27 Convention Calendar 108 Gamers Guide 92 Forum 120 TSR Previews each subscriber’s copy of the magazine. Changes of Guidelines, c/o DRAGON Magazine, as per the above rights to the contents of this publication are reserved, address for the delivery of subscription copies must be address; include sufficient American postage or and nothing may be reproduced from it in whole or in received at least six weeks prior to the effective date of International Reply Coupons with the return envelope. part without first obtaining permission in writing from the change in order to assure uninterrupted delivery. In Europe, write to: Writers’ Guidelines, c/o DRAGON the publisher. Material published in DRAGON® Maga- Back issues: A limited quantity of back issues is Magazine, TSR Ltd; include sufficient return postage zine does not necessarily reflect the opinions of TSR, available from either the TSR Mail Order Hobby Shop or IRCs with your SASE. Inc. Therefore, TSR will not be held accountable for (201 Sheridan Springs Road, Lake Geneva WI 53147, Advertising: For information on placing advertise- opinions or mis-information contained in such material. U.S.A.) or from TSR Ltd. For a free copy of the current ments in DRAGON Magazine, ask for our rate card. All ® designates registered trademarks owned by TSR, catalog that lists available back issues, write to either ads are subject to approval by TSR, Inc. TSR reserves Inc.™ designates trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. Most of the above addresses. the right to reject any ad for any reason. In the United other product names are trademarks owned by the Submissions: All material published in DRAGON States and Canada, contact: Advertising Coordinator, companies publishing those products. Use of the name Magazine becomes the exclusive property of the TSR, Inc., 201 Sheridan Springs Road, Lake Geneva of any product without mention of trademark status publisher, unless special arrangements to the contrary WI 53147, U.S.A. In Europe, contact: Advertising should not be construed as a challenge to such status. are made prior to publication. DRAGON Magazine Coordinators, TSR Ltd. ©1995 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved. All TSR char- welcomes unsolicited submissions of written material Advertisers and/or agencies of advertisers agree to acters, character names, and the distinctive likenesses and artwork; however, no responsibility for such sub- hold TSR, Inc. harmless from and against any loss or thereof are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. missions can be assumed by the publisher in any expense from any alleged wrongdoing that may arise Second-class postage paid at Lake Geneva, Wis., event. Any submission accompanied by a self- out of the publication of such advertisements. TSR, U.S.A., and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: addressed, stamped envelope of sufficient size will be Inc. has the right to reject or cancel any advertising Send address changes to DRAGON Magazine, TSR, returned if it cannot be published. We strongly recom- contract for which the advertiser and/or agency of Inc., 201 Sheridan Springs Road, Lake Geneva WI mend that prospective authors write for our writers’ advertiser fails to comply with the business ethics set 53147, U.S.A. USPS 318-790, ISSN 1062-2101. guidelines before sending an article to us. In the forth in such contract. United States and Canada, send a self-addressed, DRAGON is a registered trademark of TSR, Inc. stamped envelope (9½” long preferred) to: Writers’ Registration applied for in the United Kingdom. All DRAGON 3 What did you think of this issue? Do you have a question about an article or have an idea for a A monstrous Goldtree uprooted new feature you’d like to see? In the United States and Canada, write to: Letters, DRAGON® gathering Magazine, 201 Sheridan Springs Rd., Lake Dear Dragon, Geneva WI 53147, U.S.A. In Europe, write to: Anyone trying to reach Goldtree Enterprises Letters, DRAGON Magazine, TSR Ltd., 120 Dear Dragon, (producers of the KINGSPOINT* city campaign Church End, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge CB1 As a player and occasional DM, I am always software reviewed in DRAGON issue #209) 3LB, United Kingdom. If you wish your letter to interested in seeing new and unusual monsters should be advised that the company’s address be published, you must sign it. We will not and creatures for the AD&D® game. Since has changed. Interested parties can write to: publish anonymous letters. We will withhold DRAGON Magazine publishes monsters often, I Goldtree Enterprises, 3401 Ridgelake Dr., Suite your name if you request it. was wondering if there are any plans to condense #103, Metairie LA 70002; or you can place an all of the monsters that have appeared in DRAGON order by calling the following phone number: issues over the years into one compendium. l-800-746-3772. The office phone number is Also, the RPGA® Network published four (504)833-7678, and the fax number is Another country accessories for Raven’s Bluff, the Living City.