Winter Fantasy 1990

An Old Favorite Returns to Southeastern Wisconsin Winter Fantasy 1990

January 5th-7th The Ramada Airport - Milwaukee, WI Winter Fantasy 1990 is sponsored by the RPGA™ Network.

Featuring Network-sanctioned events: AD&D® Game Grand Masters AD&D Game Masters AD&D Game Feature AD&D Game Benefit Tournament MARVEL SUPER HEROES™ Game Feature Tournament TOP SECRET/SI™ Game Tournament Paranoia And Others

Gamers don't live by dice alone, so we also are offering Saturday morning breakfast at 7:00 AM for the paltry sum of $7.50. (Gaming starts promptly at 8:30.) And on Sunday we offer brunch and a Network Members meeting. Brunch is served at noon, meeting to follow. Cost for the brunch is $10.00.

A writer's seminar, hosted by the POLYHEDRON™ Newszine's editorial staff will be held late Saturday afternoon. Bring your ideas and manuscripts for Newszine articles and tournaments.

Admission at the door for the weekend is $15.00 (plus meal fees). Discount Pre-registration for Network Members Only is $10.00 before November 1st, 1989. (Pre-registration for non-members is $12.00.)

All gaming is free - except the benefit tournament, which requires a $5.00 donation . Games are available on site on a first come, first served basis. Limited Pre-registration for games is available to Network Members. The fee is $2.00 for the weekend. Your $2.00 guarantees you four games of your choice, indicate choices on the form below.

Rooms at the Ramada cost $56.00 a night for double occupancy. For reservations call the Ramada at (414) 764-5300. Be sure to mention Winter Fantasy.

,------7WINTER FANTASY 1990 PRE-REGISTRATION FORM Membership No . ______I

0 Network Member Pre-registration ($10.00) 0 Non Member Pre-registration ($12.00) I Q Saturday Breakfast ($7.50) Q Sunday Brunch ($10.00) I Q Network Member Game Pre-registration I ($2.00 for four games. indicate choices below) I AD&DGames I O Grand Masters O Masters QFeature QBenefit ($5.00 donation) I 0 MARVEL SUPER HEROES Game QTOP SECRET/SI Game O PARANOIA Game I Name: ______I I Address'------Sample file I I I Send convention registration to: Winter Fantasy 1990, PO Box 515, Lake Geneva, WI 53147 I L Enclose a check or money order for the appropriate amount. Do not send cash. ______J Sample file 2

RPGA,.. Network Open and Masters events. Network tournaments include the AD&D game, MARVEL SUPER HEROES"' game, TOP SECRET /SJ.'"" game, and GAMMA WORLD®game. Four tracks CONTACT 7, Car Wars, Diplomacy (Youngstown 10- of panels and work shops are planned, September 29th-October 1st player variant), Champions, Runequest, along with a masquerade, art show and Come to the Ramada Inn . Hwy. 41 and many more FRP, boardgame, and print shop, video rooms, art and con­ North in Evansville, IN. Guest of Honor miniatures events. Also offered are a signment auctions, con suite, and more! is Andrew J. Offutt . Other guests in­ miniatures painting contest and an For information on attending or judg­ clude George "Lan" Laskowski, Rick auction. Advan ced regi stration is $10 ing, send a self-addressed, stamped Dunning, and Arlan Andrews as 'Toast­ for the weekend; registration at the envelope to: DRAGON CON '89, Box master. Events include Network sanc­ door is $15. 'lb receive pre-registration 47696 , Atlanta, GA 30362. tioned gaming, closed-circut television information send your address and a programs, art show, dealers ' room , 24- stam p to: Eric Paperman , Con Dir ector, OCTOBERFEST GAMING, hour hospitality suite, and a masquer ­ 418 Vliet Blvd , Cohoes, NY 12047. For October 21-23 ade. Membership is $15 until lodging information contact the Detroit 's yearly Halloween game con­ September 1st , $20 thereafter. For more Schenectady Ramada Inn 518-370-7151. vention will be sponsored by the Detroit information write: Contact 7, P.O. Box Gaming Center and the City of Detroit 3894, Evansville, IN 4 7737-3894 , or call DRAGON CON '89, October 6-8 Recreation Department . The location is 812-853-5730 . This event will be held at the OMNI the Lighthouse Recreation Center in Intern at ional Hot el and Convention Detroit. Meet Erick Wujcik, designer of COUNCIL OF FIVE NATIONS 15, Center in Atlanta , Georgia. Guests the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, October6-8 include: Anne McCaffrey, Wes Craven, Revised RECON, and Ninjas & Super­ The Schenectady Wargamers Associa­ Michael Whelan , Andrew Greenberg, spies role-playing games. Events in ­ tion will host this convention at the Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman, Gary clude a variety of role-playing games, Ramada Inn in Schenectady, NY. It Gygax, Richard Garriott, Robert seminars, and a role-playing costume offers Network events, includin g a Mas ­ Asprin, Lynn Abbey, and Larry Elmore. contest. There will be no dealers. Ad­ ters tournament. There also will be Pre -registration (through September mission is free. For more information several AD&D® game tournaments and 15th ) is $30.00. Fantasy role -playing, write: Erick Wujcik , P.O. Box 1623, single -round events. Also featured are strategic , miniatures, and computer Detroit, MI 48231, or call 313-833-3016. Battl ete ch miniatures battles , a Star gaming is offered in more than 100 Fleet Battle s tournament, Civilization, featured tournaments including

General Gamers, we want you! Join Dragonslayers Unlimited, a nationwide , RPGA Network club ofrole players and play -by-mail gamers! The club publi shes its own newszine and runs contests and member -sponsored PBMs. Dues are $14 Michigan 15-year-old male gamer North Carolina Wanted: RPGA Net­ a year. However , to preview the club seeks pen pal. Interested in the work members to form official Network through it s newszine without obliga­ STAR FRONTIERS ®game, club. Contact: Dave Hill, P.O. Box tion, send $2 to: Jeff Young, 88 Mallard GAMMA WORLD® game, D&D® game, 21003, Greensboro, NC 27420. Run , Maumee , OH 43537. Traveller, and Traveller 230Q. I'm will ­ General I'm looking for used RPG s at ing to learn others . Contact: Peter In­ Ohio Wanted: Someone who lives in low prices. If you've got graham, 5944 S. Hogenson Rd, the Wellington or Oberlin area to start Scottville, MI 49454 . GAMMA WORLD game, Star Wars, a club for the AD&D game or D&D Teenage Mutan t Ninja Turtles , game. Write Jake Millspaw , 18123 TOP SECRET /SJ.'"" game, or the Minnesota Creative 14-year-old male Quarry Rd., Wellington , OH 44090. looking for players and GMs. I play the FORGOTTEN REALMS'"" Campaign AD&D® game, GAMMARAUDERS'"" Setting, contact: Ian Eller, RD 112,Box Virginia Lost in the wilderness. Two 161-B, Upper Blade , Eddy, PA 18972. game, MARVEL SUPER HEROES'"" adventurers are looking for a DM and game, Nehwon, Teenage Mutant Ninja play ers. We play the D&D game, AD&D General DRAGON®Magazine s­ Turtles, Jame s Bond , and Twilight game, GANGBUSTERS ® game, massive collection of mint condition 2000. I amSample looking for more. I have had STAR FRONTIERS game, back issuesfile from /11to current, and almost five years experience with the GAMMA WORLD game, and large collection of role -playing items. D&D game, four years with th e AD&D DAWN PATROL® game. Contact Claire Send self-addres sed-stamped-envelope to game. Contact: Mike Scholl, 12135 50th and Bill Bri"\rton, 4001 C Spring Pond receive price list. Write to: Tim Stabosz, Avenue North, Plymouth, MN 55442, or Pl., Apt. 202, Fairfax, VA 22033. 45 Country Manor Lane, Orland Park, call 612-559-3258 . IL 60462, or call 312-361-2999. 0

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Volume 9, Number 5 Issue #49, September, 1989

SPECIAL MODULE FEATURE

7 Cataclysm, Part Two - by Michael Sellnker Illustrated by Angela Bostick.

FEATURES

16 The Mutant 's Armory Part Ill - by Kim Eastland Now that you have equipped your GAMMA WORLD® game PCs with gun s, About the Cover grenades , and explosives , it 's time to put them into armor. A halfling caretaker deals with an 19 The New Rogues Gallery - by Matthew Taylor unwelcome vis itor outside of The The Heroes of Shadowguard, a stalwart bunch brought together by a vam ­ For -Rest Inn, a Living City estab ­ pire, are waiting to move into your campaign. lishment . Art by Keith Parkinson. 21 Glathrlcon Photo Page - by Skip WIiiiams and Jean Rabe 2 2 Ghostbusters Revisited West End Games announces the release of Ghostbuster s International. 2 3 Step by Step - by Fran Hart Planning a gaming convention is a manageable task when following a step ­ by-step plan for success. 2 4 Cure Light Wounds - by Steve Winter Steve, who has been involved with the AD&D® 2nd Edition game project for the past two years , looks at the new Player's Handbook. Publisher 26 Screening The Game - by Brad Probert Mike Cook Making your own game master screens will personalize your cam paign. 2 8 The Living City - by Michael Sellnker Editor The For-Rest Inn, an un usual establishment nestled in a garden, is filled Jean Rabe with whimsical and magical personalities. Assistant Editor 31 The Bard 's Corner - by Jeff MIiis and Toni Cobb Skip Williams Inside Back Maller Cover - Jack Mooney & Sons Circus A contest for Network members who have a little sawdust in their vein s. Contrib uting Editor Guy McLimore

Production Staff EDITORIAL Angelika Lokotz 4 Notes From HO - by Jean Rabe Paul Hanchette The Gateway 'lb Ravens Bluff, The Living City opens. Sylvia Deering Sharon Simonis 5 Letters - from the members Debbie Poutsch DEPARTMENTS

2 Convention Announcements and Classified Advertisements Sample6 With Great Power - by WIiiiam Tracy file More inte rna tiona l superheroes are offered up for your adventures . 18 On Your Feet - by Peter Hague Our columni st analyzes role-playing characters in tournaments.

<>1989 TSA. Inc. All Aigh1s Reserved.

p 0 L y H E D R 0 N 4-- Notes From HO The Gates of Ravens Bluff The RPGA"' Network 's first major Renewal Notices Happy Anniver sary product: Gateway To Ra vens Bluff, Th e Living City, premiered at the Severa l Network members have been Next issue marks a milestone for the GEN CON® Game Fair this year. It ha s calling HQ concerne d because they have Newszine. It is our 50th issue, and we 64 pages filled with city official s, per ­ received a renewal notice after they are celebrating by increasing this issue sonalities, businesses and their proprie­ already paid their renewal fees . to 40 pages and adding a full color tors, information about the city and its This is happening because HQ has cover. Skip and I already hav e selected government, encounter charts, two begun sending out more than one re ­ the article s for the issue, such as a cou­ adventures, and submission guidelines. newal notice in an effort to get more ple of Living City features that will add The product also features a big, beau ­ members to renew. a new dimension offun and myste ry to tiful, full -color map of the city. Best of We send out an initial renewal notice your city campaigns. all, everything in Gateway To Ravens about six weeks before a group of mem­ Bluff was written and drawn by Net ­ berships is set to expire. We send out a Playing Fair work members. second notice three to four weeks later Gateway To Ravens Bluff will not be directed at the members who have not The Network cannot send out brand new tournament s to every convention in availab le in gaming stores. You can yet sent back their renewal fees. How­ purcha se it at the RPGA Network booth ever, some members send their renewal the world. We only have a few dozen at conventions such as the GEN CON fees back at the same time we're send ­ new tournaments to work with each year -t hat numbe r depends on the num ­ Game Fair. It also is available through ing our second mailing. The letters the Mai l Order Hobby Shop or Network cross in the mail , and the member gets ber of tournament submissions we re ­ ceive from members . That means if we HQ, and you can use the form on the a second renewal notice shortly after he back of the mailer cover to send for it. sent in his money and re newal form. use a tournament in the Midwest, we are likely to use it in the North, South, The cost is about $10 to non-members Whew! that was a lengt hy way to say if East, and West. HQ has not iced that and about $8 to members (you have to you get a second re newal notice after some Network members who are able to show your membership card at the you just renewed, don't worry about it. convention or provide your membership attend conventions across the country are repeated ly playing in the same tour ­ number when ordering to get the dis­ The Slush Pile count price). This is a limited edition naments. Maybe those mem bers don 't product. The Network gets quite a few submis ­ know that HQ has a record of what The Network staff alrea dy has begun sions for tournaments and the N ewszine tournaments each member has played work on a second Living City product. shortly before GEN CON Game Fa ir. in . You don't get credit for taki ng first Let us know soon what you thought of We appreciate the submissions, an d we place twice in the same tournament; our first effort. nee d more. But because the HQ staff is you only are awarded points for the first so invo lved with the Game Fair and all time you play in it. the events and activites we sponsor May be those members go to a conven­ Numerou s New szine s there, we aren't able to get to those sub­ tion only to discover the featured tour ­ Also featured on the back mailer cover missions as readily as we would like. nament is one they played in on the is our introd uctory POLYHE DRON"' So, we apologize for not replying to sub­ opposite coast; and they play again for Newszine. This 32-page issue is being missions faster, an d as soon as the something to do. There is a remedy: call mailed in new members ' kits. We also Game Fair is past, we will devote our HQ. We keep a file on every convention are making it availab le by mail or at energies to responding to authors. with Network events. We'll tell you conventions to all members. The issue what tournaments are scheduled for has an AD&D® Game adventure , two Tournam ent Deadlin e what conventions. That way you won't Living City features, The New Rogues be faced wit h reruns . Gallery, and game advice columns. This , The dead line for tournament submis­ too, is a limited edition, as most of the sions for GEN CON Game Fair, 1990, is Thank s copies are being reserved for new mem­ January 5th. If you want to have one of ber s' kits. your tournaments considered, mark the The HQ staff and I extend our thanks to As an added bonus , we are offering deadline on your calendar. The dat e all the volunteers who helped the Net ­ back issues of the Newsz ine at a dis­ seems far in advance of the Augu st, work before and during the Game Fair. We'll report on the ga me fair in our count price . HQ has an abundance of 1990 convention. However, it takes lots certain issues, which we would like to of time and work to read submissions, next issue . clear out to Samplemak e room for other thing s. and to select, develop, and schedu le file So, for a limited time, we are giving you them. For example, at this Game Fair Tak e Care , the opportunity to pick up some of these we scheduled 38 tournaments and more issue s at bargain prices . than a dozen sem inars an d activitie s. Tournament writing guidelines are available by writing to HQ. J ean □

p 0 L y H E D R 0 N 5 Letters Non-Members Have Members' Privileges I am a new member to the RPGA"' Net­ friendships that make the problem more POLYHEDRON'" Newszine (the official newsletter work, and in the first issue of the complex. Thi s sort of "cheatin g" always ol TSR, lnc.'s ROLE PLAYING GAME ASSOCIA­ POLYHEDRON"' Newszine that I re­ will occur, and the only remedies that TION'" Network) is published bi-monthly by TSA, ceived you expre ssed your dismay about come to mind are to promote the bene­ Inc. The mailing address for all correspondence 1s: P.O. Box 5 15, Lake Geneva, WI 53 147. Tele­ the lack of ambition among member s in fits that only individual members can phone: (4 14) 248-3625 . regard s to recruiting new members. enjoy, such as Network ranking , and to promote the benefit s that the Network POLYHEDRON Newszine is mailed free to all First, let me say that not all member s RPGA'" members. US membership rates are $ 15 are being lazy; I myself do not know and the hobby receive from increa sed per year (bulk mail delivery only); foreign rates are anyone who would want to be a mem ­ membership - benefit s that will trickle $25 per year (surface maiQor $4 5 per year (air ber. The people I play the AD&D® game down to the member s them selves. maiQ. All prices are subject to change without notice. Changes of address for the delivery of with either are members or are only In closing, let me say that the Net­ membership materials must be received at least 30 occasional player s who do not invest work advertisements in DRAGON ® days prior to the effective date of the change to Magazine and DUNGEON ®Adv enture s insure uninterrupted delivery. much tim e and money into the game. In POLYHEDRON Newszine welcomes unsolicrted fact, I joined the RPGA Network in have been excellent ; they made me submissions of written material and artwork. No hopes of findin g players who are more aware of the Network and caused my responsibility for such submissions can be as­ initial intere st. HQ is certainly doin g sumed by the publisher in any event. No submos­ devot ed to the game than some I know. s,ons will be returned unless accompanied by a So, there are some people with legiti ­ its part , and I think that more member s sell-addressed, stamped envelope ol sufficient mate excuses. Nevertheless, I was sur­ will start doing their part by recruiting SIZe. others. Unless special arrangements to the contrary are pri sed that only 33 members were made prior to publication, materials submitted to involved in the drive. However, I think Alan J. Block the Publisher for publication in POLYHEDRON there might be a couple of reasons for Newszine are accepted solely upon the condrtion Beloit, WI that the materials may be edited and published in the lack of involvement. You mentioned POLYHEDRON Newszine or used in RPGA'" that some members sai d they did not Alan, you may be righ t about recruit­ Network sanctioned tournaments. conventions. parti cipate in the drive because they ment problems and non-members bene­ and events wrthout cost to the Publisher. All other thought they had no chance of winning. publicatoonrigh ts may be reserved by the author fiting from membership materials and except that, upon publication, the Publisher os This is a common excuse, but I think services. We share your optimism that granted a first right ol refusal to purchase any and all such publication rights offered for sale by the that your statement about participa ting members will increase their efforts to get for the benefit of the Network and the author. Solely for purposes of submissions for others to jo in. publication in POLYHEDRON Newszme and upon hobby instead of ju st "wi nnin g" help s to We will continue to urge members to prior written agreement. authors may be granted a remove this excuse. As you said in non-exclusive right to use TSA copyrighted mate­ get their friends to join. It is essential "Notes From HQ;' all efforts that help rial with proper acknowledgement;however. any tha t the Network grows and becomes use ol such copyroghted material 1n the submission the Network and the hobby ultimately more of a force in the hobby industry. beyond the newszine wrthout TSR's further prior help the members themselves. wrrtten approval is prohibrted. The more members we have, the more I think another reason for the lack of In the event an article submitted for publication 1n funds the Net work has to work with and POLYHEDRON Newszinecontains material copy­ involvement ste ms from the current the more product s and services it can righted by TSA, Inc., to such an extent as to make rt impractical to separate those materials from the non-members . For example, if one provide. We know you've all heard us player in a campaign is an RPGA Net­ submission, TSR will retain copyroght ownership ol make that speech before. But we really the article upon submission for publication. work member and the other player s are mean it. However, if TSR makes use of the materials not , it is in the economic interest of We'd like to hear from other members contained in the article for any product or commer­ those non-member s to remain non­ cial purpose beyond RPGA'" Network use, TSA will about this topic. Do you have ideas to pay the author the then current fee for such member s. While the member is the only recruit more members? Do you want us product or purpose. one who pay s the membership fee, all of All letters addressed to the RPGA Network or to to offer another membership drive? And hi s or her friends can enjoy the same TSR. Inc .. will be considered as submissoonsand if we do, would more than 33 members may be printed in whole or 1n part at the discretion benefits. They can read his or her participate? We're a little too nervous to of the edrtor unless the sender specif,cally requests POLYHEDRON Newszine and order otherwise in wrrting. put up such big prizes like we did the product s through him or her and get the Unless otherwise stated, the opinions expressed last go around, considering the little in POLYHEDRON Newszine are those of the member 's 10% discount through TSR 's response we had to that drive. However, individual authors, and do nol necessarily reflect Mail Order Hobby Shop. As long as the the opinions of TSA, Inc., the RPGA Network, or ~s we will come up with good priz es. We staff. member allows the non-members to want to know what you think about all benefit from the Network for free, they • designates registered trademarks owned by of this, and we'd like to print some of TSR, Inc. will see no reason to join. your feelings in this letters column. ,. designates trademarks owned by TSA. Inc. Of course, the question is "how do you Most other product names are trademarks Sample0 owroedby file the companies publishing those remedy this problem? " You might say that the member should not allow the products. Use of the name ol any product without mention ol trademark status should not be con­ non-members to read his or her strued as a challenge to such status. POLYHEDRON Newszine or enjoy the 0 1989 TSA, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 10% discount, but that is up to the member , and the situation may involve

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