Issue #203 Vol. XVIII, No. 9 March 1994 SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS Publisher TSR, Inc. Where science and fantasy collide Associate Publisher 9 Climb aboard for a wild ride of imagination. Brian Thomsen More Gamma Goodies Kim Eastland Editor-in-Chief 10 Equip your GAMMA WORLD® PCs with laser pens Kim Mohan and wrist rockets. Associate editor Terribly Twisted Technology Robin D. Laws Dale A. Donovan 14 Add these weird-tech items to an OVER THE EDGE* Fiction editor campaign. Barbara G. Young Lookin for work, chummer? Gregory W. Detwiler Editorial assistant Run these missions in FASAs SHADOWRUN* game. Wolfgang H. Baur 22 Art director Larry W. Smith BONUS The AMAZING ENGINE System Guide Production staff Tracey Isler 41 These rules explain the basics of the AMAZING ENGINE gameincluding the innovative player core Subscriptions concept. Janet L. Winters U.S. advertising Cindy Rick FICTION U.K. correspondent and U.K. advertising Spencers Peace Kurt Giambastiani Wendy Mottaz 96 A tale on the burdens of leadership. DRAGON® Magazine (ISSN 0279-6848) is published tion throughout the United Kingdom is by Comag monthly by TSR. Inc., P.O. Box 756 (201 Sheridan Magazine Marketing, Tavistock Road West Drayton, Springs Road) Lake Geneva WI 53147, United States Middlesex UB7 7QE United Kingdom telephone: of America The postal address for all materials from 0895-444055 the United States of America and Canada except Subscriptions: Subscription rates via second-class subscription orders is DRAGON® Magazine, P.O. 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Newsstand distribu- change without prior notice The issue of expiration of 2 MARCH 1994 REVIEWS Eye of the Monitor Sandy Petersen 59 DOOM! DOOM! DOOM! Role-playing Reviews Rick Swan 82 Check out the next generation of science-fiction games. Role of Books John Bunnell 90 Read about iron thanes and toxic spell dumps. Through the Looking Glass Bob Bigelow 112 Bob returns from a successful mission. FEATURES First Quest James M. Ward 8 Introducing a new column: game pros talk about their role-playing beginnings. 34 Arcane Lore Leonard A. Schmidt Presenting lightning spells to spark interest in wizard PCs. COVER A Colorful Collaboration The staff If you havent noticed, this months 71 Tim Bradstreet and Fred Fields talk about this issues striking cover art, Nailed to the Gun, cover art. is the result of the collaborative efforts of veteran illustrators Timothy The Plane Truth, Part One David Zeb Cook Bradstreet and Fred Fields. Turn to 74 page 71 for the details on how two Pages from the codex of infinite planes brought to you by artists produce one illustration. the designer of the new PLANESCAPE campaign setting. This painting is dedicated to the memory of Anneliese D. Wahrenburg, Rumblings The staff Fred Fields mentor and teacher. Her 88 Catch up on all the latest in the gaming industry with our recent passing was a tremendous loss to many. news column. DEPARTMENTS 4 Letters 79 Sage Advice 6 Editorial 102 Dragonmirth 29 Convention Calendar 104 Twilight Empire 64 Libram X 108 Gamers Guide 68 Forum 120 TSR Previews each subscription is printed on the mailing label of stamped envelope (9½” long preferred) to: Writers’ Registration applied for in the United Kingdom. All each subscriber’s copy of the magazine. 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In the United found game world, but many gamers are obviously States and Canada, write to: Letters, DRAGON® concerned over the fate of a favorite campaign Magazine, P.O. Box 111, Lake Geneva WI 53147, setting. To answer your question, let me relate U.S.A. In Europe, write to: Letters, DRAGON Dear Dragon, TSR’s corporate plan regarding the D&D game Magazine, TSR Ltd., 120 Church End, Cherry Im writing in reference to the magical items and the MYSTARA setting, as I see it. Hinton, Cambridge CB1 3LB, United Kingdom. mentioned in Jonathan Foxs letter in DRAGON TSR is revamping its product lines to be more issue #200. All the items Mr. Fox refers to can accessible to novice gamers The first step in this was to create mass-market games that be found in the book, Fantastic Treasures, Vol. I, A legal faux pas a ROLE AIDS* product from Mayfair Games.