D RAGON 1 the point of using 29.92% of our space every month for new non-player charac- ters, just because that was the percent- age of respondents who said they want more NPCs. Rather, we’ll take all your preferences into consideration and try to give you more— or, at least, not any less — of everything you said you like. For the record, we promised free one- year subscriptions to five respondents Those of you who saw a copy of the SF as one of their favorite game topics. chosen at random. The lucky winners December 1981 issue of DRAGON™ Another point of interest, particularly are Chris Hunt, Bethesda, Md.; Evan Magazine may recall a readership survey to aspiring lawyers and Sage Advice Franke, Carmel Valley, Calif.; Robert form attached to the center of that issue. fans, is the subject of interpretation of Simpson, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Jeff Some of you — about 7,000 at last count rules. For board games, 61% of the re- Rentsch, Mendham, N.J.; and Edward — even filled it out and sent it in. We spondents said rules should be followed Rigdon of Chicago. Our congratulations thought you might be interested in the as closely as possible, and only 17% had to them — and, before we run out of results.... the opposite opinion. For role-playing room, there are a few people who de- Mr./Ms. Average DRAGON Reader is games, the percentages were 42% to serve credit for composing the survey usually male (95% of the time, at least) 37% in favor of following rules as closely and compiling the results— Gordon Gile and a little over 16½ years old. Get a as possible — but only 35% said their of the TSR marketing department and group of five DRAGON readers together, gamemaster actually followed the offi- Bryce Knorr of our staff for figuring out and four of them will be students. cial rules as well as possible, compared what questions to ask, and Jim Curtis DRAGON readers have been playing to 34% who felt the opposite way. and Maude Reek of the TSR Hobbies games on the average for a little more The single most important fact we computer department for totaling all the than two years, and most also serve as a “learned” (which we always suspected answers. And I’d also like to thank the DM for half the time they spend gaming. but never knew for sure before) is that members of the Academy.... Not surprisingly, heroic fantasy was you, the reader, want information on the the most popular topic for games among D&D® and AD&D™ games — as much, our readers. But science fiction showed and as detailed, as we can possibly give some strength we didn’t know it had; you. And we’ll aim to please. However, two-thirds of the respondents marked we won’t follow your likes and dislikes to ragons don’t care much about how old they are, at least not on a year-by-year basis. But we humans who create and distribute DRAGON™ Magazine like Contents to celebrate every chance we get — and this is one of those times. DRAGON issue #62 marks the sixth SPECIAL ATTRACTION anniversary of our first publication. We’re glad to still be Chinatown: The Jaded Temple — An adventure around, and we’re glad that so many of you like it that way. for TOP SECRET® agents .......................... 35 Leading off this month’s features is an anniversary tradition — we call it our “full-blown dragon section,” for reasons that OTHER FEATURES should be obvious once you see the painting on page 5. Our annual full-blown dragon section .................... 5 This month’s cover art doesn’t have a dragon in it, but nobody Faerie Dragon ...................................... 6 on this end is complaining. Larry Elmore’s striking scene of a Steel Dragon ....................................... 8 mighty knight ganging up on a group of orcs goes well with the Grey Dragon ........................................ 9 latest installment of our series on the humanoid races by Con- Bazaar of the Bizarre — Evil dragon armors .......... 10 tributing Editor Roger Moore. The “rude, crude” half-orcs are GANGBUSTERS!™ Designer’s Notes .................... 11 examined in detail, along with five new orcish deities that are Pages from the Mages — Long-lost spell books .......... 16 even ruder and cruder than the ruffians who worship them. The Scribe — A non-player character class .............. 21 With two exceptions, every article inside this issue pertains to Half-orcs — They’re rude and crude ..................... 26 the D&D® and AD&D™ game systems. One of those exceptions The gods of the orcs — And they’re even worse!. ......... 28 is a big one — Chinatown: The Jaded Temple, an original The Feline Phantom — A tale that won’t fade away ....... 52 adventure written by Jerry Epperson for the TOP SECRET® Zadron’s Pouch of Wonders — What’s in it for you? ...... 62 game. The other is about the new GANGBUSTERS!™ game from TSR Hobbies, outlined for you by designer Mark Acres. REGULAR OFFERINGS In From the Sorceror’s Scroll, Gary Gygax makes amends for Out on a Limb — Letters from readers .................... 3 the lack of official information about AD&D spell books. Follow- From the Sorceror’s Scroll — All about spell books ....... 14 ing that is Contributing Editor Ed Greenwood’s imaginative Sage Advice ........................................... 24 piece describing some spell books that just might turn up in a Convention schedule ................................... 50 treasure trove some day. Ed also provided The Scribe, a new Leomund’s Tiny Hut — Magic for merchants ............. 56 and expanded version of a non-player character type that was Dragon’s Augury: first described ‘way back in issue #3 of DRAGON Magazine. The Fifth Frontier War ................................ 70 As proof of the fact that things are not always what they seem, The Free City of Haven ............................... 72 check out Leomund’s Tiny Hut, on the topic of “Magic for Off the Shelf — The latest in literature ................... 74 merchants,” and Zadron’s Pouch of Wonders, a grab bag that Wormy.. .............................................. 76 you might not want to be left holding. Maybe it would make a What’s New ............................................ 78 good birthday present — if you’re not overly concerned about Dragon Mirth .......................................... 80 making it to your next birthday.... — KM DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, ADVANCED D&D, and TOP SECRET are registered trademarks owned by TSR Hobbies, Inc. ™ designates other trademarks owned by TSR Hobbies, Inc.. unless otherwise indicated. 2 JUNE 1982 Vol. VI, No. 12 June 1982 Publisher. Jake Jaquet Editor-in-Chief. Kim Mohan rule system. The expansion volume will al- Editorial staff . Bryce Knorr “Welcome addition” most certainly contain some new player char- Marilyn Mays acter classes — such as Gary’s version of the Gali Sanchez Dear Editor: Barbarian, which will be previewed in the July Sales. Debbie Chiusano I was pleased to find BEST OF DRAGON issue of DRAGON™ Magazine. For Hugh and Circulation . Corey Koebernick Vol. II for sale in my local hobby store. I was everyone who feels the same way, that should Office staff . Cherie Knull even more delighted to find NPC’s such as the be something to look forward to. — KM Roger Raupp Anti-Paladin, Samurai and Berserker. “The Contributing editors. Roger Moore Sorceror’s Scroll” held great interest for me Ed Greenwood and “Poison: From AA to XX” was a must! Has anyone ever thought of making a sec- ‘Gone too far’ This issue’s contributing artists: ond Players’ Handbook containing a few of Larry Elmore Jim Holloway the best NPC’s published in DRAGON Maga- Dear Editor: Phil Foglio Kyle Miller zine as player characters? That, of course, With regard to the article about science in a Paul Sonju Roger Raupp would require a sequel to the DMG with new fantasy world in DRAGON #60: While I do Harry Quinn Dave Trampier combat tables and miscellaneous rules. This agree that all of Mr. Holthaus’ examples are David Larson would be a welcome addition to the AD&D correct and just, I think he has gone too far. family. Water running downhill is one thing, but cal- DRAGON Magazine (ISSN 0279-6848) is pub- Many times I have tried to play an Archer- culating the water pressure on a “normal” door lished monthly for a subscription price of $24 per year by Dragon Publishing, a division of TSR Ranger or Bounty Hunter in various cam- is something quite different, especially in a Hobbies, Inc., P.O. Box 110, Lake Geneva WI paigns, but the DM either didn’t have suffi- world where gods, demons, and ultra-power- 53147. cient information, or in some cases, he just ful magic take a hand in everyday affairs. wouldn’t try; thus, out comes the old Fighter, What actually happens as Malrob casts his DRAGON Magazine is available at hundreds of hobby stores and bookstores throughout the Cleric or Thief. Fly spell? Does the magic slow his descent as United States and Canada, and through a limit- In my opinion these rules need to be broad- it builds up power, but give him control only ed number of overseas outlets. Subscription ened. Don’t misunderstand me, I think the after the spell is completed? rates are as follows, with all payments to be made in advance: $24 for 12 issues sent to a U.S. AD&D game is the best role-playing game As for the CO and methane questions, any or Canadian address; $50 U.S. for 12 issues sent ever created and it takes up a great deal of my self-respecting dwarf or gnome should know via surface mail or $95 for 12 issues sent via air time, but I guess I am just suffering from the of these dangers and how to handle them.