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is a STEAL SUBSCRIBE NOW —FREE ISSUE! New subscribers get 5 issues for the price of 4! Print+PDF $36 PDF-only $16

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ISSUE 1 ISSUE 2 ISSUE 3 ISSUE 4 ISSUE 5

Ecology of the Derro Ecology of the Barghest Ecology of the Lich Ecology of the Cloaker Ecology of the Homunculus Prince of Hell Baron of Hell Ed Greenwood Interview Angel of Hope Princess of Hell Erik Mona Interview Wayne Reynolds Interview Star & Shadow Magic Gangs of Zobeck 4E Designers Speak PDF ONLY PDF ONLY PDF ONLY PRINT & PDF PRINT & PDF www.KoboldQuarterly.com

KQ-Ads#5.indd 1 28/05/2008 2:29:10 PM Sample file

Kobold Quarterly 5 3 contents

Editorial 6 New Math Letters 9 From the Mines

Princess of Hell 12 Jezebel, Princess of Poison Winters by James Jacobs She has such a friendly face.

Ecology 18 Ecology of the Homunculus by Joshua Stevens On the Cover Small creations with big dreams. Darren Calvert brings us a golden look at our mascot, Jiro, and a scaly friend Mega-Super-Dire-Fiendish of his. Room enough for big and small 28 It Came from Monster Isle! here, apparently. by Matthew J. Hanson You might think that this is an One kaiju is all it takes to kick your ass. expanded version of our premiere Kobold Diplomacy issue’s cover, and you’d be right. 32 4th Edition Designers: Collins, Heinsoo, Wyatt Toe-to-toe with the 4E designers. Triumph or wipeout?

Flashing Blades 40 Make Your Action Points Awesome by Roger Carbol Sample file 44 Ask the Kobold: Q&A by Skip Williams Dungeon Design 48 Improving Your Improvisation by Nicolas Logue Reviews 52 Unique Altars Book Reviews 42 by Phillip Larwood by Cynthia Ward and Pierce Watters Character Design Maximize Your Monk 56 Cartoons by Stan! by Ross Byers 10’ by 10’ Toon 46 59 Horn of Triumph: Magical Instruments Bolt & Quiver by Stefen Styrsky 51 Bestiary 62 V is for Vermin by Aeryn Rudel The Free City 66 The Kobold Ghetto by Wolfgang Baur 4 Kobold Quarterly 5 ™

Sample file HSlR9NTQ7NQKC.NV From the crumbling spires of the ancient runelords in distant Varisia to the bustling merchant kingdoms of the Inner Sea, the Pathfinder Chronicles campaign setting forms the panoramic backdrop for Paizo Publishing’s innovative Pathfinder fantasy roleplaying supplements, modules, and Adventure Paths. The world’s most popular roleplaying game is always changing, but the Pathfinder Chronicles campaign setting is designed to be great right from the start. Your next great adventure is about to begin. It’s your world now.

Pathﬁnder Chronicles Supplements ã $17.99

Kobold Q_covers ad.indd 1 3/6/08 5:16:55 PM New Math

obold Quarterly, or KQ if you like, is one year old. Thank you to all of you—readers, Kdesigners, artists, and everyone who has in the new edition of my favorite RPG, when I know Editorial contributed—for making it happen. Jack Vance was a founding influence on Gygax and the It’s a sad fact that most new magazines don’t survive, original editions the game. There’s no more gnome PCs and KQ has at least as many foes as your typical kobold. in the players’ book. Like our wily mascot, though, we’re beating the odds. That one actually kind of hurts. We’ve outsmarted them and outlasted them, and I’m I love gnomes, because one of the defining characters happy to say this coming year looks even brighter. Or at in my high school campaign was a gnome who always least as bright as it gets, down in the mines. thought he could beat the odds. Gotta respect him for This issue is our Midsummer Madness issue, appearing trying. And for running an illusionist/thief. Man, the on or around the summer solstice, the longest day of the weird thing isn’t the new math involved in a new edition, year. I’ve always treasured the long summer days since it’s fighting off the nostalgia for the way it used to be. moving to the Seattle area 10 years ago. The sun stays up I digress. Kobold Quarterly is heading to GenCon long past bedtime, until 10 or 10:30 at night, and people and I will have a surprise for those subscribers who stop get a little strange around this time of year. Everyone stays by and visit the Open Design booth there, near either up late because, well, it’s light out and it’s hard to sleep. the Green Ronin or Paizo booth. Ask all you like about And frankly, I’ve been staying up late as well, workingSample the subscriberfile prize, there will be no hints until 10 AM on the magazine and finalizing the most recent Open on Thursday, August 14th, when the dealer’s hall opens. Design project, Nicolas Logue’s Blood of the Gorgon, Kobolds love to spring surprises and I promise no traps which went off to its patrons about the time KQ went are involved in this one. to press. It’s glorious, with beautiful maps, a rich and engaging storyline full of cults, blood, and all the If you have comments on this issue’s articles, the entertainment that a madman villain can bring. state of the RPG field, or an opinion on whether the The next Open Design project, Tales of Zobeck, will next issue should be 3rd Edition or 4th Edition, direct be just as exciting. It provides an anthology of about your couriers, message spells, sealed letters, and email to eight adventures written by a both professional designers [email protected] or to Kobold Letters, PO and promising Open Design patrons. It also includes a Box 2811, Kirkland, WA 98083. gazetteer on the city of Zobeck itself, by yours truly. Tales Until then, I look forward to serving you nothing but of Zobeck will be the short version of the larger setting the best in independent Wizards & Warlocks for another book I’ve been wanting to write for about two years, and year, and thank you for your patronage. I’m up to my eyeballs in it and loving it. The summer madness has also brought new and weird experiences this summer. There’s no more Vancian magic

Kobold in Chief

6 Kobold Quarterly 5 !.DV0@SG"DFHMR

While the old King of Korvosa lays dying, a new ruler gathers power, sending shockwaves through a populace already plagued by unrest. In the face of anarchy, new heroes gather at the call of a mysterious patron which sets them on a path of magic and prophesy against a common foe. Amid the intrigues of kings and generals, knights and thieves, it’s up to these heroes to decide if the new monarch will bring Korvosa an age of glory or a reign of terror.

Curse of the Crimson Throne, the second Pathfinder Adventure Path, has begun. Sample filePathfinder$GYHQWXUH3DWKãPRQWKO\ Pathfinder&XUVHRIWKH&ULPVRQ7KURQH3OD\HUÜV*XLGH 3DFN ã

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paizo.com/pathﬁnder $OOWUDGHPDUNVDUHSURSHUW\RI3DL]R3XEOLVKLQJ®, //&k3DL]R$OO5LJKWV5HVHUYHG Kobold Quarterly 5 7

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