Sample file Table of Contents Runes by Stewart Wieck 3 Stewart gives us insight into WHITE WOLF's future.

From the Pack 4 Letters written by you in a column put together for you.

Raiko by Nigel D. Findley 6 As Storm Knights quickly learn in this Torg adventure, Nippon corporations can sometimes fall victim to their own machinations.

Curse by Richard Worzel 18 Time is proven a fickle beast in this short story based on the Time and Time Again roleplaying game.

New Shamanic Totems by Berin Kinsman 23 Expand your spiritual devotions in this addition to the rules. Feature Review: Darksun by Berin Kinsman 26 Take a detailed look into the deadly and wondrous new world from TSR. Pulling No Punches by Greg Porter 28 If you've ever wanted to take a martial arts class, now's your chance, through the teachings of theSample designer offile CORPS. The Silicon Dungeon by Jim Trunzo 35 With reviews of some Christmas computer releases, you can now fly through space and become Conan!

Deadly Legacy by Clay Gibson 40 Family members look disconcertingly alike in this AGE of RUIN adventure set in the American south. Items For Any Realm by Robert Wilson 46 A collection of magical items that can be incorporated into any fantasy game. The Scope of Magic by Christopher Barley 50 Some fun new spells that might save your life in the NightLife roleplaying game. Capsule Reviews by Line Reviewers 53 In this issue we take a look at new releases for AD&D, Shadowrun and WFRP. Credits Advertiser's Index February 1992 Publisher: White Wolf Chameleon Eclectic 69 Editor-in-Chief: Stewart Wieck Dream Park 68 Assistant Editor: Ken Cliffe Earthly Possessions 38 Contributing Editor: Stephan Wieck Empire Wargames 53 Art Director: Richard Thomas Emprise Game Systems 36 Cover Artist: Jeff Echevarria FASA (back cover) Cartographer: Chris McDonough, Rick Krampe, Ken Game Systems, Inc. 39 Cliffe, Sam Chupp Typesetting: Sam Chupp GDW 26 Advertising Director: Stewart Wieck Imaginative Mail Order 26 Staff Writer: Jim Trunzo Koplow Games 57 Line Reviewers: Gene Alloway, Donnie Collette, Steve Lance and Laser 37 Crow, Christopher Earley, Keith Eisenbies, Jim Foster, Mayfair 47 Matthew Gabbert, H. Paul Haigh, Phillip Hessel, Chris Hind, Midnight Games 52 Sean Holland, Daniel Huber, Wayne Ligon, Allen Mixson, Museum Replicas 60 Charles Peirce, Herb Petro, Thomas Riccardi, David L. Pulver, Anthony Ragan, S. John Ross, and John Setzer. Pegasus Productions 55 Art Credits: Richard Thomas, Tony Santo, Josh Tim- Prince August 48-49 brook Redcap 56 Licensed to Kill: Mark Rein-Hagen Seventh Street Games 59 Spel and Sant 37 Printed in the United States of America. SQ Productions 38 Steelcraft 15 Special thanks this issue to: Stellar Games 16 Blacksburg Tactical Research for the CORPS martial arts Summit Games 16 article. Timeline, Ltd. for the Time and Time Again short Timeline 22 fiction. Twin Engine 25 Sample Underworlfile d 67 Walnut Group 58 West End Games 17 White Wolf inside covers, 72,71 Yellowseed 27

WHITE WOLF Magazine (ISSN 0897-9391) is published bimonthly by White Wolf. The mailing address for all administrative items is: White Wolf, 4153 Indian Manor Drive, Stone Mountain, GA. 30083. The phone number is (404) 292-1819. WHITE WOLF is distributed through subscription and distribution services throughout the United States, Canada, England, France, Germany, Spain, Australia and Japan. Overseas subscriptions are available. All subscriptions are priced as follows: any U.S. address= $22, any Canadian address= $32, overseas via surface mail= $45, overseas via airmail= $80. All rates are for twelve issues. Checks or money-orders should be made payable to White Wolf. Subscribers are given constant notification of the last issue of their current subscription by the number following their name on the address label. WHITE WOLF Magazine, Are Magica, The Challenge, Campaign Book, Storypath Cards, Whimsy Cards, Vampire, The Order of Hermes, The Stormrider, JumpStart Kit, Covenants, The Broken Covenant of Calebais, The Tempest, Saga Pack, White Wolf Adventures and White Wolf are all trademarks and copyrights of White Wolf. All material printed in these pages is the exclusive property of White Wolf unless prior arrangements have been made with the author/artist. None of the material may be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission from the publisher. Third Class postage is paid at Carrollton, GA. Postmaster: Please send address changes to White Wolf, 4153 Indian Manor Drive, Stone Mountain, GA. 30083. The mention of or reference to any companies or products in these pages is not a challenge to the trademarks or copyrights concerned. . 2 WHITE WOLF Magazine Well, that's it. We're become regular features closing up shop. Just for a presenting material for while, that is. You're holding use with all sorts of the last issue of WHITE games. We'll also be WOLF Magazine that will adding new columns. The appear in this current format. most exciting is as yet By "current format" I mean untitled, but will feature this rather plain, functional an interview with a format that the magazine has famous game designer in maintained over the last every issue. Another fun couple years. column will provide you We've made format with inside information changes in the past, some by Stewart Wieck about all the game large, some small. The cover companies. changed with WW18. —^^^^^——^^———— Overall, the magazine Perfect-binding was added will be much more with WW21. The most dramatic, of course, was from WW7 to attractive. We will return to the saddle-stitch format we WW8. That's when the magazine suddenly gained a full-color abandoned with WW20, and will also print on glossy paper. cover. Believe it or not, I think the change you'll see between While our covers won't be as heavy and sturdy as in the past, WW30 and WW31 will be just as impressive. they won't be the flimsy film that wrapped WW19 and WW20. Changes like this take time, though. Thankfully, they We'll continue to look out for those of you who like to collect won't take as long as the ones between issues seven and eight. WHITE WOLF Magazine, and want your issues to have a That took a period of almost a year, plus heartaches that still chance of staying in good condition. The biggest addition, cause me to wake up at night in horror. The story's a good one, though, is that of interior color. I mentioned screen shots of though, as it involves investors, fire, crime, cranky artists, and computer games, above, but that's only the beginning. There more. will also be color art, color ads, and cute little color graphics. This time, the transition will only take a few months, but Each issue will continue to feature some game specific the changes are so sweeping that extra time is needed. articles and adventures; for example, WW31 will feature an Therefore, this will be the last issue of WHITE WOLF adventure for Avalon Hill's Tales From the Floating Magazine until we present the new look with WW31, which Vagabond, as well as the first in a series of Shadowrun articles will be a May/June issue. Some planning and a lot of work has and adventures. However, there will also be an adventure in already been done, and that's why this issue has run so late. In each issue presented in a format similar to that of "The King fact, we toyed with the idea of delaying this issue until March Beneath the Hill," from WW26. It will be an adventure for a or April, making it the first of the new format, but there were rotating genre with statistics for several of the major games of too many loose ends to tie up, including a second letteSampler from the filegenre. For example, a adventure might have Kevin Siembieda at Palladium and the last of our six adventure stats for Cyberpunk, Shadowrun, GURPS: Cyberpunk and series for Torg (don't worry, there will be more Torg down the others. road). Other articles we feature will be of a more informational What sort of changes are we planning? No, there won't be bent. For example, we have a really fun article for WW31 that a price increase. The cover price will stay at $3.50. However, discusses how superheroes and their activities could be viewed the subscription rate will be increasing to $25 for twelve issues. under Constitutional law. Does the "right to bear arms" allow The rate has been $22 since WW8, when the cover price was heroes (or villains) to carry around laser cannons? Articles like $2.50. An increase has been due for some time. The page count this will not simply be filler material. Rather, they will be very will remain the same as well. Eighty pages seems to be a good interesting pieces capable of shaping your gaming style and size. content. We have several specific plans for the content. I apologize We will be printing a 4-page promotional very soon that to miniatures-lovers, but 'Tabletop News" is being cut. Our will announce the new magazine to those who do not currently other two regular columns, "Silicon Dungeon" and "The PBM read WW. Look for this promo in stores near you by the end of Corner," will remain. Jim Trunzo will continue to write March. Current subscribers will receive this promo in the mail Dungeon, though the column will be much more attractive, as soon as it's available. with color screen shots of the games being reviewed. We will WHITE WOLF Magazine is about to storm the hallsj also be going outside the staff for the PBM material. At this roleplaying community, so be ready. writing we haven't filled the position, but we hope to find someone in touch with the PBM community to provide current information and reviews. Other columns that have appeared sporadically in the past, like "People of the Land" and "The Scope of Magic," will

Runes From the Pack

News and Games Do Mix Last Words on the Matter Dear White Wolf, Right here, right now, we are exercising our freedom Dear People, of speech, as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the I'm writing in response to the editorial and letters Constitution. I have the freedom to write this letter, and WW published in White Wolf number 29. The purpose for this has the freedom to publish it. Recently, however, this freedom letter is to clarify the points and purpose of my previous letter. has faced serious threats, of which I have observed no mention That previous lettter was not a petty shot at bashing White in White Wolf. Specifically,. I refer to the 1 March raid by the Wolf Magazine, but meant to express my serious concerns Secret Service of the offices of , in over the apparent policies and, what I percieve as misrepresen- Austin, Texas. Armed with a search warrant, the Secret tations, in the way of hype, favoritism, and self promotion. My Service confiscated computers, books, equipment, and drafts concern is that the magazine has become biased regarding its of GURPS Cyberpunk, which was in the process of develop- coverage of their parent company and other "favorite" ment. Furthermore, they confiscated Steve Jackson Games' companies. I see the magazine hyping the same BIG compa- computer BBS (Bulletin Board System) and all the private nies every single issue with less and less space and coverage message it contained. Allegations were that the BBS was given to little companies. Yet all the while, White Wolf really being used to exchange illegally obtained information (which plays up on the hype that they are the only guys who care it was not), and that GURPS Cyberpunk was a "manual in about the little guy. I don't believe this is true. I feel that computer crime," in the words of one agent This would White Wolf has sold out to promote their favorite companies almost be funny if it were not so serious. The actions of the and themselves. I tried to point this out in my letter. Secret Service (I don't know why the Secret Service, which is Unfortunately, for legal and professional reasons, I could a part of the Treasury Department, has jurisdiction in this area, only sight my company's own, personal experiences and but I mean to find out) vitually shut down Steve Jackson's observations. Anything else is hear-say or subjetive conclu- company, costing him an estimated $125,000. The fact is, sion which might be construed to be libelous and/or slander- Steve Jackson Games was guilty of no crime (no one was ever ous. I wrote the letter to try to insure that the small companies charged or indicted) and was unjustly wronged by thSamplee US di dfile continue to get the coverage they so badly need. I hoped government as a result of its misunderstanding of the function that by bringing the issue to the attention of the magazine's of computer bulletin board systems and the agents' confusion readers, that it would make the editorial staff more conscious of the Cyperspace of GURPS Cyberpunk with reality. about who was getting coverage. In case your wondering, no, I am in no way affiliated with Perhaps because I'm more aware of the industry than Steve Jackson Games; I don't even like GURPS. But I have most fans, I know that there are lots of small copanies who are observed a distinct lack of publicity of this event in the not getting much coverage form anybody and it irks me that gaming media, and think gamers who haven't noticed the WHite Wolf is pretending to be the champion of those small coverage in Scientific American (September, 1991) or The companies. Maybe in the early days, but not in many recent Humanist (September/October, "Civil Liberties in issues. Personally, I don't think that West End, GDW, ICE, Cyberspace" 1991) should be informed. In fact, I urge you to Steve Jackson Games, and Chaosium are little companies, yet write to your congressmen and senators to protest the actions these these are the guys getting the lion's share of each and of the Secret Service. every issue (as well as White Wolfs own RPGs). I don't care Matthew DeBell if the magazine becomes a house organ, or hypes the products Woodside, CA published by their buddies or advertisers, but they should be honest about it I understand that the publisher must feature [Matthew — You're right, there has been very little about this disturbing matter in game magazine. It may seem odd, but popular games in order to sell the magazine, but at least be candid about your motives. Sorry, I'm just a big believer in when people are putting together a magazine about fun stuff, truth and honesty. it's sometimes hard to remember that there is really newswor- thy information that should be reported as well. WHITE I don't understand Mr. LaFond's comment about my WOLF Magazine is about to grow up in a major way with the definition of "small companies" as those who makes less next issue, so hopefully our dedication to the big picture will millions than others. My point was that a company like improve as well. Palladium, GDW, ICE, SJG, and the others I have mentioned are not small companies. Which is why I don't understand -Stewart Wieck]

WHITE WOLF Magazine why these guys get the lion's share of White Wolfs coverage have significant player bases in order to provide enough every single issue. I went on about Palladium's size and sales readers for an independent game magazine to survive. Can to point out my contention of coverage on favorite companies you imagine supporting a magazine exclusively with articles or companies that advertise in the magazine, because obvi- about games like Legendary Lives, AGE of RUIN, and ously being a big company, like Palladium Books, was not a Justiflers (just to mention the smaller games we have covered criteria for coverage, since we rarely get coverage. I was using recently with adventures, not to mention reviews for those and my company as an example. other systems)? I also agreee with Mr. Ragan that the number of reviews Our coverage of Torg in the last year was by plan. We tends to reflect the rate at which a company puts out product. printed one adventure for each of the cosms. Our coverage of It also reflects the company's size. Which is why you'd think Shadowrun over the next several issues will follow a similar that the smaller companies that only publish two to six plan — we're going to develop New Orleans as an SR setting. products a year would get coverage on every single product To extend our planned continuing coverage of a few such they release. But it doesn't happen. Too bad, since the favorite major systems to the rest of the industry is absurd. It's as if big guys have already had a multitude of game products you base your idea of WHITE WOLF Magazine on one or two reviewed or featured in EVERY issue of White Wolf. issues alone. Mr. Barley defends White Wolf by observing that GDW, Let's look at the degree to which we've covered some of SJG, and ICE already have houe organs, so why would they the "big" companies, to which you say we dedicate all of our need more coverage. Good question. If these companies are so space. This summary is for the entire history of the maga- thoroughly represented in their own house magazines, why do zine! This list doesn't include reviews, but I think there's no they get sooo much coverage in White Wolf. Perhaps one can way to dispute that we've covered small companies extremely never get enough advertizing/promotion. Too bad the so- well in this respect. called "little companies" can't afford to publish a house GDW: The only article ever printed for games by this magazine nor get the extensive coverage as those companies company was the one page Dark Conspiracy/Vampire previously mentioned. companion piece in WW29. However, you can look for I'm concerned because Palladium Books has always been coverage of DC to continue. a champion of creator rights and the small, dedicated game/ ICE: This is why I think you haven't looked at too many company. We've given helpful information and suggestions to issues of WW. Our only coverage of ICE games was in the many small companies. In fact, I told the then Lion Rampant issue you attacked, WW25. It just so happens that we have an and White wolf people (when they were seperate companies) article for both of their major systems, Rolemaster and about our excellent book printer which they now use. I passed Champions, in the issue. this information along to several other notable competitors as SJG: As far as I can recall, we've only printed three a sincere gesture of helpfulness, especially to small, beginning GURPS articles. One was back in WW17, while the others companies. I see few new companies being created and even have been more recent than your first letter, spells in WW28 some of the old companies seem to be floundering. It worries and another adventure in WW29. me for our hobby industry. A magazine that fairly representeSampled file the entire industry would be a wonderful means to keeping the Chaosium: Other than a yearly Call of Cthulhu adventure industry diverse and well-represented. Unfortunately, I think in our Halloween issues, the only other article for products politics and favortism makes this impossible; very sad. That's from this company was way back in WW4! all I really have to say on this subject This sort of coverage (twelve pieces in 29 issues) is Kevin Siembieda hardly the "lion's share" that you describe, even if it's supplemented by a few articles I may have forgotten or President, Palladium Books, Inc. overlooked. [This is the last issue of our current format, and hopefully And how about ourselves? Before the merger with Lion this matter will settle down before we are ready to release the Rampant, we printed an article for Ars Magica in almost newly formatted WHITE WOLF Magazine, so it's very every issue, but since WW24, we have printed only two important to remind everyone, including the people at Palla- articles, and one of those was in WW24 and had been ac- dium, that our goal of covering the small companies and their cepted and planned before the merger was even finalized. products will not be lost in the process of updating the We've been perhaps a little more regular with Vampire, but magazine. then there have only been two issues released since the game Concerning your letter specifically, Mr. Siembieda, it became available. Our GenCon issue featured a long adven- seems you continue to labor under some misconceptions. This ture, but last issue there was only a two page article. There's is entirely in regard to the companies you say we cover. Yes, it nothing in this issue. is necessary to cover games like Shadowrun and Torg that I respectfully submit that we are doing a hell of a good job covering small companies and new games. - Stewart Wieck]

From the Pack