COMIC STRIPS ® KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE

PUBLISHER Kenzer and Company 10 Occupied EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 11 Roof Top Jolly R. Blackburn • [email protected] ASSISTANT EDITOR 12 Proxy Moxy Barbara Blackburn • [email protected] 16 The Pitch KODT DEVELOPMENT TEAM Jolly R. Blackburn • Steve Johansson 24 Dry Run David S. Kenzer • Brian Jelke • Barbara Blackburn (+1) 30 You Lookin’ at Me...? HACKMASTER EDITOR Steve Johansson • [email protected] 63 One-Two Punches KODT STRIP ART Jolly R. Blackburn COVER ART George Vrbanic CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Brendon Fraim • Brian Fraim Larry Elmore • Carolyn Stogdill Bill “Indy” Cavalier • Ken Harrison • Anthony Cervino OTHER TOONS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 61 SnarfQuest™ Kenneth Newquist • James Davenport Larry Elmore Noah Chinn • Barbara Blackburn • Benjamin Lomax Jolly R. Blackburn • Larry Elmore • 64 Additional Cartoons J.L. Duncan • Alan Hume • Paul Dunford SALES/MARKETING/ADVERTISING Bill “Indy” Cavalier, Carolyn Stogdill, Steve Johansson • [email protected] • 847-858-6847 Anthony Cervino, Ken Harrison 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: 847.662.6600 Longtime KODT World Wide Web: www.kenzerco.com cover artist, George Submissions: We accept submissions for strip ideas, jokes, cartoons, Vrbanic is back etc. We are interested in running anything that other gamers and fans this month with would enjoy. Check out our website for writer’s guidelines. this spoof of Subscriptions: A standard 12-issue monthly subscription is only Planet of the Apes. $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 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 (, 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 238 issues and over 71 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® #238 3 WHERE ART THOU, MONA...?

ell last issue, I kind of sorta wrote out a care. (My guess is most won’t. But I’ve been wrong character from the pages of KODT. Only the before). W second time I’ve ever done that (Well, three I will say that part of the reason is for the very reasons if you count Gary’s death years ago. Edmund Finley was my wife loved the character. I just felt she didn’t add the second). I feel like I have blood on my hands. much to the table dynamic and mix of characters. She My wife and I were riding along in the car while I was was something of a creative speed bump. And to be making voice recorder notes on the strips lined up for honest — I’ve long wondered how the table dynamic #237. Just little mental pegs to hang ideas on so they would change if I swapped someone else in to fill her weren’t forgotten. seat. When I flipped on the recorder and said, “Remember to include Moe’s exit from Patty’s table...”, I could see my Who...? A lot of people seem to have their favorite wife turn toward me as she looked at me in shock. candidates but you’ll have to wait to see. “What....?” Before closing this month, I want to thank each and “I have to get rid of her,” I confessed. every reader who subscribes or who nags their FLGS to It’s one of the few times my wife and I have disagreed carry the magazine. You guys keep the lights on and on a development in the comic. bellies full here. You allow us to keep doing what we love From her point of view, Moe (a woman) is one of the — making games and writing comics. A privelege none few characters who seems ‘normal’. No glaring character of us take for granted. flaws. She gets along with everyone. She seems pleasant. Hope you enjoy the issue in hand. And as always — I should point out that neither character’s exit is may all your hits be crits!! irreversible. Both have simply moved on, to somewhereSample file “else”. Naturally, readers usually want to know why. So why would I want to get rid of her...? I’m not going Jolly Blackburn to give my full reasons here. That strip/issue hasn’t hit the October 20, 2016 street yet as I write this, so it’s still unclear if readers even

20 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH: This strip appeared in Dragon Magazine issue #234 October 1996)

4 Knights of the Dinner Table® #238 teve Johannson and myself were invited out to NukeCon in Nebraska this past month. nzercon was a hit this September. Great con, well organized Sand jut the size we like — right there where there plenty of events and things to do but not too many people that it begins to feel crowded. We ran demos of HackMaster and the Great Space Race, and held the first Knight of the Dinner Table Live Reading we’ve offcially held in a few years to boot. We haven’t had a lot of opportunities to visit cons in this neck of the country but we’re happy to report they roll their dice the same as the rest of us. ;) It was great seeing new faces and making a few friends. We hope to be back. — Jolly.

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Knights of the Dinner Table® #238 5 WILL DUTY, sir. GREYLOND...? isn’t that’s right sir. that the guy who aka GREYLOND. WANDERS the he’s like the country — going JOHNNY APPLESEED he’s actually from GAMESHOP of TABLE TOP RPG. darn good. to GAMESHOP?

he runs a “THE GAMING TOUGH but NOMAD” friendly table. \ think they call him.

not a BAD choice, actually — unfortunately no one and their knows how to get in THIRD TOUCH with him. pick...? or where he’ll pop up next.

Wizards RPG. But here’s the kicker, I’m looking at I write to you now because last issue you got the Wizards book and it was published by who...? me right in the feels, Mr. Blackburn. First, your Whit Publications. Written by.... yep. Ken editorial on the passing of Will Duty was so fitting. Whitman — the guy who failed to deliver the Like you, I didn’t know Will well — only at the EDITOR’S NOTE: The mail just never KODT Live Action Series kickstarter. Talk about gaming table. But he seemed kind hearted and seems to stop. While we make every nine degrees of separation. The folded ad has passionate about gaming and we spent quite a effort to read each and every letter, it is literally been in that book for twenty years. not always possible to give a personal few hours looking across the gaming table at each reply. Even if your letter doesn’t happen to be I just had to share that. other battling wits. published or if you don’t get a direct response, rest Chad Williams 7 Then I got to the strips and was surprised to read his name fall from the lips of Gary Jackson assured you are being heard. That is indeed a blast from the past, Chad. himself. What a marvelous tribute. I know Will Remember, KODT is an interactive Thanks for sending that scan. I haven’t thought of was a huge Knights fan and I know he would magazine. We want you, the reader, to be involved. that ad (or seen it in years). Those ads ran in Shadis So keep your suggestions, thoughts and opinions as part of my buy out agreement with AEG. It also have approved. Thanks for that. (constructive and otherwise) coming. Opinions ran in Dragon Magazine as part of my payment One other thing I wanted to relate to you that expressed by readers are not necessarily shared by for the strp when it moved there. It was a strange I’ve been meaning to write you about. I really the editor or Kenzer and Company. Please be aware but wonderfulSample time. I thought perhaps file I could make enjoy your editorials. And I also love it when your that due to space considerations, some letters have KODT work as a monthly for a few years before wife steps in to do them for you. Someone else been edited and/or trimmed. — Jolly turning to something else. Who knew? — Jolly commented on it before in the magazine but it always seems like you are talking to me personal- FOUND THIS... ly, as if it’s a fireside chat. Just thought it worth THE JOHNNY APPLESEED mentioning because some of my other favorite Hey Jolly, don’t know if you remember me but I OF TABLE TOP RPG magazines have been dropping the editorial page was one of the first subscribers to KODT. Back in and I think it’s a shame. 1995 I ran across the attached ad in Shadis Long time reader here. I picked up issues 2 Magazine and immediately sent out a check to through 10 years ago after getting hooked on the I enjoy, Barbara’s various articles as well. Has you when I learned there was a KODT subscription strip in Dragon magazine. she ever considered writing an adventure for available. I even ordered the B.A. Felton pin Huge fan. I’ve been meaning to write to you for HackMaster? Off hand I can’t think of any (which I still have). years to thank you for the laughs and entertain- women who have written one for your game. Reason this ad came up is because I ripped the ment. You guys and gals have brightened up This is the part where I encourage you to keep page out of a friends copy of Shadis to take home many a dreary day. And you’ve made me laugh up the good work, though I have little doubt you with me. I found it last night folded and tucked in when I didn’t think it possible to do so due to real will continue to do so. Loving all the story arcs. a copy of the rulebook for Ralph Bakshi's life hardships. George Farley 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, 309 S Dilger Ave, Waukegan, IL 60085 z: via TWITTER — jollybgood FB: via Facebook — Jolly Blackburn

6 Knights of the Dinner Table® #238 Sample file

Above: Ad for KODT Enteractive Factory that ran in Shadis and Dragon Magazine in 1995 to 1996. Many thanks to Chad Williams who scanned a copy and sent it in. This was certainly an interesting period in the history of Knights of the Table as I turned my attention toward working on the strip full time and turning it into a monthly comic book. At the same time this ad was running, I was busy prepping issues 4, 5 and 6 before kicking things off. Fortunately, (both for myself and KODT fans) the opportunity to bring KODT on board with Kenzer and Company came along — bringing additional help, talent, ideas and resources into play. — Jolly

Knights of the Dinner Table® #238 7 what a GREAT WAY to CATCH UP MAKES A Get 1, 2 or 3 years of KoDT and COMPLETE GREAT GIFT your COLLECTION!!! for the back issues in a single box. GAMER in your LIFE!! 1 Year $34.99 2 Years $49.99 3 Years $59.99 bit.ly/backissuemadness

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THIS DEAL WONʼT LAST LONG — HURRY!! no way in HELL, dude. t-this d20... what’s the big deal...?

it wasn’t it’s probably a CAST OFF. HERE we when NO —\’m TELLING ya. we LEFT to eat... IT’S HER!! HAA-HAAA!! MY GAWD¡¡¡ there’s the little BUBBLE I-IT’S HER¡¡¡ in the resin on the 20 face. yeah... IT’S SISTER say sister is a ONE of a b-but that’s a CRAWLER. BLISTER¡¡* WHAT..?!! kind — \’d know her IMPOSSIBLE! sheen ANYWHERE.

Thanks, George. The editorial on Will was from And yes, just as I’m reaching the end and and the Knights don't need that now with the the heart if nothing else. It has recieved a lot of com- regretting there is no more I come across an ad grudge match coming with the Hacksmiths. ments and I’m glad it has tocuched people. As for announcng a second volume is coming — only adamantyr ^ Barb writing an adventure... You know, the subject all Blackhands taking on the wild riled west. has never come up. I’m not sure if the itch is even Hoody Hoo. Take my money, please! NITRO’S BEHAVIOR (235) there. Since she edits these pages after my pass, I’ll Aldo Fine 7 Got my copy of 235 today. leave it to her to squeeze in her own remarks. I’ll just be surprised. ;) — Jolly Nitro — Usually, I like this guy, but his behav- iour this issue really set my teeth on edge not once SISTER BLISTER but several times. He's ticked off at his group, sure, What a nice surprise, 236 was. So Brian is not a but (as 'someone' put it on the quiet) "in dick GM complete ass and at least some shred of good still mode", and I cannot disagree with that line at all. survives in his dark heart. He’s capable of regret it But what REALLY rubbed me wrong is Nitro's atti- seems and apparently a yearning to fix what he’s tude that HIS game automatically takes prece- broken. I have no idea where it is all leading but I dence over all other games. have my ticket and eagerly await that the ride. Confronting BA over the "borrowing" of Gordo I’ve been wondering how Shiela has been tak- Sample file was very hypocritical - he did that himself awhiles ing the split. I suspected she was over Bob and the ago, as I recall, and as for 'picking up bad habits', I break up was a permenant thing. But now... would love to ask Nitro. She’s hurting and missing the little guy. "On the subject of 'Bad Habits', WHOSE group Interesting. My one concern is that Bob doesn’t just self-inflicted a TPK?" (Which I found hilarious, seem to be taking stock of himself and changing THE INCIDENT BTW, but I also put that 'problem' primarily on the for the better. Like Patty pointed out, “he really is GM). It's good to see Brian making restitution for his becoming Weird Pete”. Brian's journey continues. I'm glad that Pete is behavior (236). His choked-up attempt to tell Bob working on him, and what the heck is the geo- Bob needs Shiela. She was the polish and grit that he "hasn't been a good friend" was very mov- caching all about? that kept his edges smooth. It’s a just matter of ing. And good to see that Shiela misses Bob as time I suspect before the share a panel again in well. We all love Bob, the giant man-child that he The obvious assumption is that this is part of the comic and I’m wondering if it will be sparks is! Brian's efforts to make things up (assuming it isn't (as in romance or fireworks (as in a clash/brawl). just BA's dream, of course). Jolly, I think it may be time now to come full- Jeff Witt 7 disclosure on "the Incident". Also wondering about Shee's vengeance. She did state at least once in recent issues that she is I know that it has more power thematically still seeking vengeance on Brian. Given the sepa- CATTLEPUNK CHRONICLES when it's never defined, just vaguely alluded to. ration from Bob and previously-demonstrated But it's clear that it's related to his recent behavior, Absolutley loved the CattlePunk Chronicle: complete lack of regard for "collateral damage", and just from Sara's perspective, it would be frus- Outlaw Trail trade paperback. Some interesting this could get nasty for all the Knights. “director’s cut’ decisions, all good in my opinion trating NOT to know what happened back then so ^ although some surprised me. Would be interest- you could be prepared to deal with him now. 7thsealord ing to read your thinking process and how you He stopped gaming for a year after the Incident, q pulled it all together. Knights of the Dinner Table® #238 9 Occupied by jolly r. blackburn

one early evening at the GAMES PIT... all \ said was, “NO TABLE HOPPING...!!”

what the HELL did, \ things have been ENTIRELY too lax SAY to him...? around here the past few years.

PLAYERS jumpin’ from ONE table he’s a little to ANOTHER — all WILLY NILLY. — TOUCHY it didn’t used isn’t he...? \ know. to be like \ know. that, pete.

bob’s you KNOW it. dealin’ with you’re preachin’ to the CHOIR. a LOT as you HURT it is. his FEELINGS, victor — SNAPPIN’ at him lke that.

whatta ya want me to say...? yeah — well between HIM an’ huh? kid’s TENSE — ya know? he heard ya had about FIVE other an EMPTY seat * — guys — been getting TEXTS all weeks. he’s got a BROKEN HEART — only he TRIES to mask it. he was just hrrmph — well if you ASK me lookin’ for a he’s better off WITHOUT her. FEW hours so it COMES out of distraction. in oTHER ways. GIRL had him by the SHORT ONES — if you KNOW what \ mean. the whole BREAK UP that’s but that’s none of my business. thing is all. WEIGHIN’ no, victor on him. - it’s not. fine... when \ BOB’S still SEE him... SWEET on SHEILA.

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\’ll APOLOGIZE and you mean the WHO THE HELL IS IT...? SMOOTH things over. BACKROOM is OCCUPIED...? oh no — you’re just now if you’ll gonna have to go in and EXCUSE me - \ FIND OUT for yourself. need to got SET UP for the game. but it’s OUR night have that ROOM. oh \ think \ will.

you SERIOUS...?!! someone’s to get a BOOT \ wanna go over my up their ASS!! NOTES before we pick up dice.

oh, say — that’s right. w-what..?!! this is gonna \ meant to tell ya. be awesome.

‘fraid someone’s already in there.

* See KODT#237: Rescue Me — Newt informs the group he can’t make the next two sessions,

10 Knights of the Dinner Table® #238