Knights of the Dinner Table #254

CONTENTS ISSUE 254: SAMURAI HACK REGULAR COLUMNS

46 Tales from the Table DEPARTMENTS Actual Tales from the Gaming Table

57 Web Scryer 4 Cries from the Attic by Ken Newquist Drawing Fantasy Maps Editorial of a madman

GAMEMASTER’S WORKSHOP 5 Table Talk: Letters Page 39 Denizens of Tellene Our readers talk back Hezra and Dajel Weynot by Barb Blackburn 48 All Things Magic 60 Back Room at the Games Pit Dwarven Caltrops by Nate Parker An opinion arena where Bait & Tackle readers can sound off 49 Adventure hooks on the fly 62 Weird Pete’s Bulletin Board 51 Deadly Trappings Classified ads, personals and other strangeness Push Wall by J.L. Duncan

SPECIAL FEATURES

31 REVIEWS Companions Through Necessity Sample file 52 Lost Game Safari A solo fantasy adventure by Alan Hume by Mark Dowson Time Tripper 55 Indy Game Scene by J.L. Duncan 41 Blood Shadows 3rd ed. 58 Off the Shelf Gaming the by Noah Chinn Comics Artemis

Terminal City 59 Brian’s Picks by James Davenport The Resistance, Machi Koro, Down Darker Trails

LEGAL NOTICE: Knights of the Dinner Table, HackMaster and Kingdoms of Kalamar are registered trademarks of Kenzer and Company. Samurai Hack™, All Things Magic, Back Room at the Games Pit, Bait and Tackle, Board Squawk, Brian’s Small Press Picks, Celebrity Hack, Cries from the Attic, Deadly Trappings, Disks of Wondrous Power, GameMasters’ Workshop, Game Mechanic, Gamer Pulpit, GameVine, Gaming the Movies, Gary Jackson Files, Hacklopedia of Beasts, Hard Eight Enterprises, kenzerco.com, KODT, Lookin’ at Comics, Off the Shelf, One-Two Punches, Parting Shots, Players’ Advantage, Radio Free KODT, Retro-KODT, RFKODT, Rustlers of the Night, SpellJacked, Summon Web Scryer, Table Talk, Tales from the Table, The Gamer’s Rant on the Movies/TV. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, The “Indy” Game Scene, the Kenzer and Company Logo, The Quotable Gamer, Weird Pete’s Bulletin Board, W.W.A.G.D. and all promi- nent characters and likenesses thereof are trademarks of Kenzer and Company.

2 Knights of the Dinner Table® #254 COMIC STRIPS ® KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE

PUBLISHER Kenzer and Company 9 Pleased to Meet You EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jolly R. Blackburn • [email protected] 15 My Little Power ASSISTANT EDITOR 17 Glad We Had This Talk Barbara Blackburn • [email protected] 18 Wild Card KODT DEVELOPMENT TEAM Jolly R. Blackburn • Steve Johansson 23 The Tic to the Tock David S. Kenzer • Brian Jelke • Barbara Blackburn (+1) 28 Three Klicks HACKMASTER EDITOR Steve Johansson • [email protected] KODT STRIP ART Jolly R. Blackburn 63 One-Two Punches COVER ART Ben Sharef CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Brendon Fraim • Brian Fraim Bill “Indy” Cavalier Jolly Blackburn • Neal Byles David Milburn CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kenneth Newquist • Noah Chinn • Nate Parker Barbara Blackburn • Jolly R. Blackburn • James Davenport J.L. Duncan • Alan Hume • Chris Wilkes OTHER TOONS Mark Dowson • Andy Miller SALES/MARKETING/ADVERTISING 64 Additional Cartoons Steve Johansson • [email protected] • (847) 858-6847 Bill “Indy” Cavalier, Neal Byles, SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES [email protected] David Milburn. CHARMED PERSONS Sample file Kevin Vance • Jack Grayson • Craig Zipse

PRINTED IN U.S.A. ABOUT Postmaster: Send address changes to: THE COVER Knights of the Dinner Table 1659 N CLAREMONT AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60647 This month’s cover by Ben E-Mail: [email protected] • Phone: 847.858.6847 Sharef tickled us when it World Wide Web: www.kenzerco.com came across our desk. Submissions: We accept submissions for strip ideas, jokes, cartoons, Serene yet disturbing. etc. We are interested in running anything that other gamers and fans would enjoy. Check out our website for writer’s guidelines. Dave looks the part of a Samurai and anything but Subscriptions: A standard 12-issue monthly subscription is only — all at the same time. $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, Shadis. 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 available 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 (David Kenzer, 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 254 issues and over 78 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® #254 3 OLD MAN TAKE A LOOK AT MY LIFE...

elcome back! It might be an indication of As I’ve written many times before, every month when how my mind thinks, but as I sat down to I sit down to pen this page, I’m aware this could be the Wwrite this editorial I did some quick math last. And it very well might be if not for the fact so many and realized that this is the 275th editorial I’ve written of you pick up this comic every month — be it at your under the moniker of, “Cries From the Attic” in the last favorite local gamestore or from your mailbox (courtesy twenty-eight years. (Twenty one in SHADIS and SHADIS of our subscription option.). So thank you. present and 254 issues of Knights. Wait— there are No, seriously. Thank you for deeming this publication scores of such editorials in Bundles of Trouble, Tales and our hard work worthy of your six bucks month after from the Vault and various special issues. Okay — I’ve month. written a LOT of editorials under the banner above over the years (math was never my strong suit). Because of you, we are fortunate because we are able I suppose my mind thinks like it does because regard- to do what we love. Write and draw comics, create and less of how long I’ve been doing this job, the thought play games, mingle and fellowship with other gamers at that it can all end at any time never really stops naggin’ cons — continually meeting and making new friends. me in the back of my mind. Publications come and go as I don’t have to think hard to realize that most of the interest in them wax and wane. I know. Because too good friends, I count in my life today were made either many of my favorite comics and zines have disappeared directly through playing games, making them or writing over the years. about them in this comic. KODT has been a blessing. Especially in these times. Print advertising is all but And this editorial seems vaguely familiar — it’s dead, and the tug of war between dead tree and ebook because I’ve probably expressed the same sentiments seems to be forever fraught with pitfalls. Then there’s here over the years more than a few times. the enormity of the content glut out there — on every It’s because the sentiment is real, and it’s often on my front! mind. With that said, I sincerely hope you enjoy this Be it music, blogs, television, movies, games, comics issue. and on and on. Add to the pile patreon, kickstarter, online subscriptions... There is a LOT of competitionSample for Until file next time — may all your hits be crits! eyeballs as well dollars. The brightest minds wrestle with that dilemma. Jolly R. Blackburn Which brings me back to this editorial. March 28, 2018

Twenty Years Ago This Month: KODT #17. Technically the first appearance of Squirrely in the comic. Prior to this he was only mentioned by name. — Jolly

4 Knights of the Dinner Table® #254 right you are, ba.

something HAS gone wrong. ABANDON SHIP...¿¡¡

that RINGING in your EARS....? lookin’ for a WEAPONS \-\ CHECK the LOCKER, here, sara. SOP to see what you now realize it’s we should do. an EMERGENCY KLAXON. checkin’ the is there one COMPUTER of those CONSOLE. all but drowning were we EVACUATION out the voice of the TRAINED ROUTE charts MARGOLLA which on this...? on the door? do we have any has been saying... COMMUNICATIONS? “WARNING! ABANDON SHIP!”

Looking like this is going to be more than Chapter 9, pg 106, first sentence: a just a few installments, which is good. It’s "Sergeant Robert Herzog was sweating nice to have the gang tossing dice and bullets." seated again and it’s also nice that they are EDITOR’S NOTE: The mail just playing in the scifi genre. never seems to stop. While we As for Sara’s gamemastering style, I love make every effort to read each and it. She’s not the push over B.A. is at times but every letter, it is not always possible she’s also fair. Refreshing that the boys to give a personal reply. Even if your letter didn’t immediately trample her. doesn’t happen to be published or if you don’t get a direct response, rest assured you are Looking forward to the next issue. being heard. Jeff Fields 7 KODT Remember, is an interactive DGE OF MY SEAT magazine. We want you, the reader, to be E ... involved. So keep your suggestions, thoughts Just finished issue 253 and I’m on the and opinions (constructive and otherwise) edge of my seat. Not what I was expecting coming. Opinions expressed by readers are from Sara.Sample Really enjoyed thefile way she sal- not necessarily shared by the editor or Kenzer vaged things and came back with a and Company. Please be aware that due to vengeance. Nice work guys. space considerations, some letters have been Really enjoying the retro strips too. Been a edited and/or trimmed. — Jolly while since you’ve published any of those in the monthly. ISSUE 253 Then a bit later in chapter 9, pg 109; name withheld 7 Okay, Sara’s campaign has really piqued “0700 Sunday — "Growing up in the hills my interest. It’s off to one hell of a start and KODT CAMEOS outside of Landing, Major B.A. Felton had I find myself wishing I was a player. Adding always loved the woods." I'm a bit "fuzzy" with the flu or something Patty as a fifth player is a lot of fun. Looking As I read just read a few more pages in and today and I've been laying here in bed read- forward to seeing how that goes. more of the KODT gang keep showing up!!! ing David Weber's and Timothy Zahn's new The colony ship Margolla was a nice nod And I missed "Nitro" somehow when Bob "Honorverse" prequel, "A Call to to the group’s ship Margo from the old was talking to him. Vengeance” that I just bought. (book 3 of Space Hack story arc years ago (Good lord, the prequel series) Back to the book. That's as far as I got wasn’t that like 20 years ago...?). before I had to log on to let you know.

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 — kenzerco or jollybgood FB: via Facebook — Kenzerco OR Jolly Blackburn

Knights of the Dinner Table® #254 5 GARY CON X March 8-11 2018 PHOTO GALLERY

KenzerCo attended GaryCon once again — the tenth one, since Gary’s passing. We have missed a single one. it’s been amazing to see the show grow each year. This one was the largest to date. Fun and games for all!

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6 Knights of the Dinner Table® #254 Sample file

Knights of the Dinner Table® #254 7 I find it intensely "COOL" that one of my EMPTY CHAIR top favourite SF authors seems to be a KODT fan and I never realized it before. My brother Frank Talberd was an avid Now I have to go back and reread his last 6 gamer all his life and a fan of your comic, books and look to see if he's inserted any Knights of the Dinner Table. He passed other little "tributes" to KODT in his away in January after a prolonged illness. writings. One of his requests was that your empty Anyone else notice little things like that in chair poem be published in his honor. I’m their recent readings that I probably missed? not sure how to go about that. A big thank you to David Weber and Frank was known as “Gas” among his Timothy Zahn for cheering me up. friends. He was fond of board games, Magic the Gathering Gurps Mack77 7 and . But most of all he enjoyed being around friends. Hardly a Well thanks for that, Mack. That really week went by when he was hosting for a made my day. Timothy Zahn has been a long large group. Some of his game nights would time reader of KODT and we’ve lampooned The Empty Chair run from Friday through Sunday with people him a few times in the strips, tongue in cheek. just crashing on the floor. Eulogy for a Gamer Nice to see he returned the favor. Thanks in advance. Now to secure a copy and get him to sign it. There is an empty chair, — Jolly Cindy Talberd 7 q at the table this day. A hallowed place where, a friend once played. The roll of his dice, my ears long to hear. GASLANDS Or perhaps it would suffice, if he should suddenly appear. Post-Apocalyptic Vehicular Combat With character sheet in hand, Shoot, ram, skid and loot your way through the ruins of civilisation with Gaslands — a tabletop and a bag of wargame of car-on-car destruction in a post-apocalypticSample wasteland. Players control file small fleets of armed vehicles in battles for resources, dominance and survival. With rules for multiple vehicle Cheeze-doodles to share. types (from motorbikes to big rigs), varied special weapons and accessories (including oil slicks, cal- All his friends would stand, trops and nitro boosters), and a host of options for scenarios, environmental conditions, crew and campaigns, players can tailor games to match their own visions for an anarchic future. as he sat in the empty chair. I was a huge Car Wars fanatic back in the day and this game takes the concept up a few notches. I hear his voice a-callin’, It’s been getting a lot of buzz recently and for good reason. It’s a blast. Players are encouraged to and it ties my heart in a knot. gather up cheap diecast cards (Matchbox, Hotwheels, etc) and trick them out with weapons, defenses and armor plating and then grind gears as they duke it with out vehicles. And if you have access to a For he cries, 3D printer? You’re cookin’ with gas. Loads of fun. Lends itself well to house ruling. From Osprey “Though a comrade has fallen, games. https://ospreypublishing.com/gaslands — Jolly You must play for those who cannot.” We conquered worlds on the run, he and I in the name of fun. And as others may come and go, I make both friend and foe. But what I long for most, is our past now long a ghost.

Frank “Gas” Talberd

8 Knights of the Dinner Table® #254 Pleased to Meet You by jolly r. blackburn

RECAP: the FELTON HOUSEHOLD — sara is running her rebooted now — as \ was saying... HACKWURLD CAMPAIGN. last issue the PLAYERS learned they have just AWAKENED from a FOUR CENTURY nap and are onboard the colony ship, YOU ARE STRANGERS. MARGOLLA — which is mere HOURS from BURNING UP as it falls from orbit. and you’ve just AWOKEN as we rejoin the group, the KNIGHTS have just received thier to find yourselves in GRAVE PRE-GENS from their gamemaster and are about to pick up DICE... and IMMINENT PERIL!

okay, so now you must ACT — that EACH of you and SWIFTLY to have your assigned have any HOPE characters — a few of surviving the GROUND RULES... next few hours. since you’re STRANGERS to what the hell — one another at my guy doesn’t this point, we’re have any WEAPON going t0... whoa, whoa PROFICIENCIES — hold up listed. SCREEN with that in mind — PRINCESS.. until you’ve had an opportunity, IN-GAME, this can’t be \ thought it was to share personal right — did you hand just ME — this details about yourselves me an NPC SHEET one hardly has with one another... by mistake...? any SKILLS listed. \ want you to keep coz THIS your CHARACTER character INTRODUCTIONS brief. royally SUCKS! sure. makes guys — the sheets sense to me. you have ARE the got it? characters you’ll totally. be running.

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oh c’mon — this guy’s not PC MATERIAL. no frickin’ way.

says here his BACKGROUND is CIVIL SERVANT: low level manager. seriously — \’m not seein’ much of ANYTHING here in the way of USEFUL SKILLS or talents. -sputter- a SEVEN STRENGTH? are you kiddin’ me...?

oooo! my guy was a CHIEF um - \ don’t and AGAIN — CUSTODIAL ENGINEER! “two pack a day think you finished SMOKING habit”...? rolling this no WEAPON one up, SARA... proficiencies. kewl beans!

^ “well of course he’s PISSED OFF… you shot his character in the FACE with a GLOCK.” —Sara Felton, KODT Issue #147, One-Two punches

Knights of the Dinner Table® #254 9