COMIC STRIPS ® KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE

PUBLISHER Kenzer and Company 10 Get Me to the Game EDITOR-IN-CHIEF On Time Jolly R. Blackburn • [email protected] 14 Game Time ASSISTANT EDITOR Barbara Blackburn • [email protected] 16 Pre Game Jitters KODT DEVELOPMENT TEAM 17 Tune In Jolly R. Blackburn • Steve Johansson David S. Kenzer • Brian Jelke • Barbara Blackburn (+1) 22 The Sub HACKMASTER EDITOR Steve Johansson • [email protected] 26 The Course Correction KODT STRIP ART Jolly R. Blackburn 31 A Tempting Morsel COVER ART Fraim Brothers CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS 33 A Thief at Hand Brendon Fraim • Brian Fraim 63 One-Two Punches Larry Elmore • Carolyn Stogdill Bill “Indy” Cavalier • Jolly Blackburn Cheesepawz CONTRIBUTING WRITERS OTHER TOONS Kenneth Newquist • Noah Chinn Barbara Blackburn • Jim Davenport 61 SnarfQuest™ Jolly R. Blackburn • Larry Elmore Larry Elmore J.L. Duncan • Alan Hume • Andy Miller 64 Additional Cartoons SALES/MARKETING/ADVERTISING Steve Johansson • [email protected] • 847-858-6847 Bill “Indy” Cavalier, Carolyn Stogdill, Jolly Blackburn, Cheesepawz SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES [email protected] CHARMED PERSONS 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 Another Fraim Brothers World Wide Web: www.kenzerco.com reimagining of a classic Submissions: We accept submissions for strip ideas, jokes, cartoons, comic book cover. etc. We are interested in running anything that other gamers and fans would enjoy. Check out our website for writer’s guidelines. Can you guess Subscriptions: A standard 12-issue monthly subscription is only which one..? $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, . 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 KODT Perhaps that’s why he was just as surprised as anyone that soon was Back Issues: KODT overshadowing everything else he’d ever done and that the created was now Older issues and other 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 (, 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 242 issues and over 72 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® #242 3 IT’S ABOUT COMMUNITY

here’s something I love about game conventions I’ve not had the chance to attend, but, my husband and his besides all of the excitement, the costumes, the friends all rave about. And, then, it will be good old Origins Tchances to sling dice and eat at good restaurants. It’s in Columbus, Ohio and Gen Con, in Indianapolis. I hope to being WITH other gamers, game designers and geeks. We attend Origins, and possibly Gen Con this year. They are are, in spite of our differences, a community. Conventions always a lot of fun. are a great way for us to reconnect and remember that There will be more character stories to share, I’m sure. tabletop gaming is a social activity. There will be new products to drool over, new dice to buy. It’s one of the reasons I prefer tabletop over video games. And, there will be chances to create new character stories. Video games are fun, don’t get me wrong. But, gaming Some of my funniest character stories come from games at around a table with my friends is just about the most fun I conventions. Not sure why, but game convention games have in life and it isn’t all about the game. I think I could play are so wild sometimes! just about any game if I was around the people who make It is for these reasons that I love the story arcs Jolly writes it fun. about the Muncie crew traveling to, and attending, game I never will forget my first convention. It was Dragon Con, conventions. It gets me excited as I remember, and look for- in Atlanta, in the 90s (I think it was 95 or 96). I was ward to all that is involved with attending them: packing up overwhelmed. The crowds, the costumes, the celebrities! It (and trying not to forget your favorite dice), piling into over- was a bit of a culture shock for this small-town Indiana girl, crowded vehicles, driving for hours and finally arriving at let me tell you. the convention center where we will stand in line. And then stand in another line. While waiting in those lines, we will But, now, more than 20 years later, I feel comfortable at rub elbows and talk to gamers we’ve never met before but gaming conventions. I get to see people I love, some who somehow it won’t seem like we’re strangers. live far away. I also get to walk around and see what other That’s because we have shared experiences. We are a companies are offering. There are so many goodies and not large, creative, caring, enthusiastic geeky community and nearly enough money in my wallet or space in my car. that is what makes the hobby so great. We, as a great big And, unlike a lot of other industries, I think it’s cool that gaming family, make each other better somehow. game companies, while we do compete with each other, Now, I hope you enjoy another KODT issue and really have much mutual respect. There is a feeling that we remember to look us up if you are at a convention this year. are all in this together. We look forward to seeing you. By the time this comes out, Gary Con will have comeSample and Until file next time, warm up your dice and game on! May all gone. I’m sure I will come back from it with more warm your hits be crits!!! memories, like I do every year. This will probably not be out before Jolly goes to Gem City Comic Con in Dayton. I am sure he will enjoy his time there, though it will be a new convention for him. Barbara Blackburn Up ahead should be Nexus, a wonderful convention that March 5, 2017

Twenty Years Ago This Month: Dave finds a relic that increases the power of his HackMaster +12 sword. From a KenzerCo product catalog. Spring 1997

4 Knights of the Dinner Table® #242 Sample file

bit.ly/Acesand8s just THINK on it sara. trust me, pete when \ say this. where’s the HARM in that...? even if \ wANTED to \ KNOW you STASHED ‘im in a SAFE — which, \ don’t, PLACE — the PRUDENT thing would be to FETCH him and bring him it’s just not along with — just in case. * a POSSIBILITY. **

Above: KODT #240. Is Weird Pete suffering from memory loss...? Some readers want to know

Take this as a compliment, Jolly but each departure, Pete confronts Sara telling her he issue of Knights of the Dinner Table KNOWS what she did. She doesn’t deny it. EDITOR’S NOTE: The mail just makes me wish I lived in their cartoon world, So the question is.... never seems to stop. While we strange behavior and personality quirks and What’s the deal bro...? Am I missing make every effort to read each and all. I want to pal around with Dave and Bob. something or is this a goof? Normally every letter, it is not always possible Kathy Vee 7 to give a personal reply. Even if your letter wouldn’t blink an eye but you guys have doesn’t happen to be published or if you don’t historically done an amazing job with get a direct response, rest assured you are DOES PETE SUFFER continuity, so I’m curious. being heard. FROM MEMORY LOSS..? Keep up the good work. Remember, KODT is an interactive Jolly, I have a question about issue 240. Todd Lamb 7 magazine. We want you, the reader, to be Did Pete forget that he saw Sara hand Fitz Hey, hey, hey — let’s get something involved. So keep your suggestions, thoughts over to Gary Jackson back in issue 222? Or straight here. I don’t make mistakes. Typos, and opinions (constructive and otherwise) did YOU as the writer forget it? Happy maybe, but never continuity errors. coming. Opinions expressed by readers are Sample file Gaming! I’m pretty sure a nameless intern (who has not necessarily shared by the editor or Kenzer Jeff Conner 7 since been branded with runes of shame and and Company. Please be aware that due to driven off into the northern wastes) deleted space considerations, some letters have been (through malice or incompetence) the ending edited and/or trimmed. — Jolly FITZ THE PC DOZER to that strip. In it the reader would have clearly I had a bit of a rubber neck moment in seen, Weird Pete had a momentary lapse of issue 240. Sara is leaving for Hard Eight to KODT 240 memory (anyone buying this?). play the match and Pete pulls her aside. He Really great issue as always. Was so much suggests to her that she fetch, Fritz the die Okay, you got me. One of the reasons we fun looking in on Gary and JoJo discussing from his hiding place and take it to the footnote each issue so heavily is that it forces B.A.’s campaign notes. Really looking game. Sara insists it’s impossible to do so both me and my assistant editor to reference forward to the Golden Ticket events. without giving him details. There’s even a back issues and do continuity checks. The reason so many readers caught this error in Rooting for Bob to somehow be the MVP handy footnote to issue 222 where Sara fact is the footnote on the page directed the in the match pulling off the win and then gave Gary the die to bribe him into leaving reader to the previous strip. cleaning up on the shopping spree and the Pwn Brian Express battle. winning Sheila back. No idea what you have Problem is, in issue 222 right after Gary’s Call one too many late nights of chasing the planned but that’s my vote. deadline rabbit but somehow we both failed

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 — @kenzerco FB: via Facebook — Kenzerco

6 Knights of the Dinner Table® #242 to remember those final panels of that strip the Black Hands and the H8 crews. a sense of greater responsibility. When they where Pete confronted Sara and she fessed up. Then when I read it again I saw the play they play for everyone after all. But do not fear. For the first time ever we differences. The Black Hands are playing to No rule or character type is ever used or run have errated the offending page and turned win but of them all only Gordo is a true team by any player anywhere unless someone in back the hand of time for a do over. player. Pete, Stevil and Newt (and Cody) view the H8 crew runs it first. I don't think they Feel free too snip out the panels below and a win in the game as themselves having all of realize it consciously but everyone at the paste them over the page in #222 for the the loot. table including Gary must feel future players correct continuity (the PDF edition of this issue Nitro feeds them little chances for treach- looking over their shoulder with every roll of has been updated to incorporate this change). ery and they go for it. The Black Hands are a the dice and every rule written down. Okay, obviously I’m having a bit fun but true pirate crew. I don't think Gary would They might not have at first, but as the seriously — yes, it was a flub. And in the allow the in-fighting. The H8 crew are all years have gone on and they've seen how the world of print it is unfortunately forever there. going for the treasure and the experience rules and scenarios can spiral out of control I will now go walk the walk of a thousand points they do work together and they are I'm sure they do now. four-siders. — Jolly willing to learn. It was fun to see Gary and Zeke actually KODT 240 Nitro has made the BH trade characters to being fanboys over BA's notes. teach them a lesson, but I doubt it took, while Snarf Quest was fun as always. Reminds First reading on this issue and I thought I'm sure the lesson Gary laid out to his players me of the early issues of Howard the Duck. that the two games showed a similarity with will take. Part of that may be that they all feel Skytower ^

Snip-n-Tuck KODT ERRATA™ Cut along dotted line and insert in your issue of KODT.

that DIE could REALLY come in HANDY, sara. that may be. know what \’m sayin’...? but if THEY had it... yeah. \ do, pete. oh my they wouldn’t stars.... \ suppose but even if it WERE hesitate to use it. they wouldn’t possible — it’d be wrong. \ don’t all \’m suppose so it’s a sayin’. they... MOOT subject. Sample file well, \ need to RUN, pete. sure, sara. thanks. good luck.

SIX AND A HALF HOURS LATER... HEY — -pop- wait a j cotten pickin’ minute... she gave that DAMN DIE to GARY!

Knights of the Dinner Table® #242 7 outlawed in institutions particularly in the State of Wisconsin. This is due to draconian rules set in place from obscure incidents of L.A.R.Ping, or miseducated imaginary fears connecting “devil worship” with the spells of character spellcasters. Rules all tailored to justify the suppression of gaming, and to support denial of access to gaming books and materials. Meanwhile, the many fertile minds trapped and held dormant behind these walls of reality slowly deteriorate and degrade for lack of engaging their imagination, and not being able to exercise the critical decision making skills gaming so enshrines. I witness men from age 18 to 50 years old with 20, 30 even 100+ years of sentencing with no hope of things to look forward to. No constructive outlets to personally engage in other than idealizing street life or gang activity. This breeds a certain kind of mindset which can neither grow or productively develop! I determined that by cunning measures I would GUEST create a role-playing game using no dice, that incorporates Urban Life Style but is geared to EDITORIAL teach the players Math, Investment Strategies, Business Skills and legal corporation formation. Today hundreds of inmates of every age play this game I call “City XL” or “R.I.S.E.” (Realizing Editor’s Note: We received this hand written letter Individual Self Empowerment!) from an inmate at the Waupun Correctional Since last year, May, I founded a group of gamers Institution. Because it’s of interest to gamers we decid- called: Inmate Gamer Coalition (and our ed to run it as a guest editorial/opinion piece. From C.O.R.E. past discussions we know the community isSample divided campaign file is called (Card Or Roleplaying when it come to inmates gaming and having access to Endeavorists.) books, dice. I’m sure this piece will generate some inter- We have openly written complaints and set the esting comments as well. Just wanted to add a dis- ground work to do away with every single rule that claimer before readers dive into this one. We do not prohibits gaming in prisons not only here, but know the writer personally nor the details behind his Everywhere! incarceration. The letter did indeed come from the pen- itentiary above. We are not advising people to contact Four of my comrades and I undertook a 90 Day the writer nor are we discouraging them from doing so. Hunger Strike to bring attention to our cause and Use your own judgement. — Jolly challenge our gaming material theft and confiscation. “Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a I am proud to say that as of today we are in talks matter of choice. It is not a thing to be with the administration here at Waupun waited upon, but a thing to be achieved.” Correctional Institution to place revisions on the rules prohibiting gaming. Any progress we make is a milestone for other y name is Russell and I write you today prisons to follow in affecting change in their because I wish to ask the gaming M prisons. community for help in a serious endeavor. In America there are over 3 million A little known fact is that prison has one of the people incarcerated in prisons and county jails biggest number of roleplayers in its underground across this country. Historically for over 2 decades then ever realized. And we play at great risk to our role playing and card gaming has been virtually future parole dates and personal property. Possession of a Character Sheet is 60 days in

8 Knights of the Dinner Table® #242 and draw out an idea. That some fertile ground exists here in prison. The power of the unleashed imagination created all that Gamers hold dear. That power must be here supported, that hidden genius must be given room to develop. And the support of each and every one of you alone can help harvest the gamers of tomorrow. We need public advocacy and I would like to share our 3 point plan to coordinate action out in the free world to support our endeavor. We must end rules restricting gaming in every jail as soon as possible! I obtained a copy of your magazine (KODT) from an inmate that supports our efforts. Because of its comic book nature it is fortunately allowed in. And while I am not financially stable enough to make an immediate purchase of a subscription today, I would like to barter my lifelong talents as a cartoonist and Segregation (in The Hole). D.M.ing material is 1 writer/author to contribute to year solitary confinement which I have done KODT. Please send me all guidelines for before for a fantasy map and D20 carved out of artistic/written contribution to this important Ivory Soap. magazine. The future survival of gaming is threaded into We are asking everyone who are willing to open the C.O.R.E. of our fight. their hearts and minds to help our cause to feel Samplefree file to write me immediately at my address below. I am humbly asking everyone at Knights of the Dinner Table magazine to please aid our As our cause is every gamers cause, we warmly campaign. welcome everyone to become an Endeavorist. Since in the eyes of non-gamers our agenda might The suppression of our First Amendment rights, seem trivial, we seek all the help we can get to not to mention our basic need for human achieve our most desired goal. expression is at issue here. Please feel free to use our logo and spread this The gaming community suffers by lack of message of hope for prison gamers everywhere. connectivity to the thousands of Gamers behind Our motto, “Game or Die Tryin’!! walls. Long live the Sword and Staff! Contact me at Not to mention that the average inmate spends your earliest convenience please. Thank you so $1,500 dollars a year on books, magazines and very much for your time and consideration. other property that hardly does anything to Continued success to the staff at Knights of the cultivate their genius. Dinner Table. This lost source of revenue could fuel gaming Sincerely written, shops, add subscribers to staples like KODT, etc. Instead – even zines, Inquest, Name Withheld by Editor Wizard, Preview are outright refused to us. P.S. Contact me at: Prisoner #283240 I grew up in Lake Geneva, the home of D&D and Waupun Correctional Institution those 7 friends that sat down to test the idea that P.O. Box 351 Waupun, WI 53963 would become a legendary world phenomenon started by someone having the time to sit down Knights of the Dinner Table® #242 9 Get Me to the Game On Time by jolly r. blackburn

all right, HARD EIGHT STUDIOS: at LONG LAST folks. QUIET — “GOLDEN TICKET WEEKEND” is here!! quiet please. hey — where’s ticket holders and their guests* have JAKE BERLIN...? \ arrived to play HACKMASTER with the thought he was DESIGNERS and to participate in an all \ STILL have some doing SIGNINGS. free WAREHOUSE SHOPPING SPREE...* ANNOUNCEMENTS to make... QUIET!!

he’s setting up with NORMAN BOWZER for the PODCAST... let TULEY get through this, folks.

after that — we will BREAK for DINNER. first thing on the then — at precisely 7:30 the schedule are the HOODY HOO!!! GOLDEN TICKET GAMES. GOLDEN TICKET groups will meet just outside the WAREHOUSE. \ hope we go we’ve set aside a FIVE FIRST — before HOUR BLOCK of time SHOP TIL all the GOOD for those games. there each TICKET YOU DROP!! STUFF is gone. HOLDER will ROLL OFF — to see what ORDER the teams will go on their SHOPPING SPREES.

oh man, oh man, oh man. it’s really HAPPENING guys, Sample file

just a REMINDER, boys and girls. but there are RULES!!! damn — so much for EACH TEAM will have ONE HOUR those LEAF BAGS, no NETS, SACKS, FOLDABLE LUGGAGE to SHOP!! anything you can \ STASHED in my CARTS, LITTERS, MITTS, HEFTY TRASH CARRY OUT or FIT in the SHOPPING WHEELCHAIR. BAGS or improvised TRAVOIS. CART provided — is YOURS to keep. -sigh- looks any VIOLATIONS like they’ve of those THOUGHT it RULES... through.

and you LOSE it all.

take that as a FRIENDLY warning. -tug- -tug-

* Hard Eight placed five Golden Tickets into boxes of Hackerjacks. (although a sixth gold ticket was eventually added after a forgery turned up). The finders (with four chosen guests) won an opportunity to play HackMaster with the Hard Eight staff as well as a free shopping spree in the Hard Eight warehouse. (see KODT #211: I’ve Got a Golden Racket and KODT #228: The Golden Ticket Acquisition Society.)

10 Knights of the Dinner Table® #242