Dragon Magazine #247
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HEROES FEATURES Rakasta of Myshra Bruce Heard Add these feline heroes to your campaign. DEPARTMENTS 26 56 Wyrms of the North Ed Greenwood Silver Miirym guards The Taltos Candlekeep as “The Sentinel Wyrm.” Tom Moldvay 74 Rogues Gallery Spirit-hunting rogues, the taltos combine Kate Novak “The Crew of the magical and martial power. Realms Master” return to your campaign. 38 82 Bazaar of the Bizarre Sebastian Dietz Look here for some Heroes of Cerilia “Magic That Works.” Ed Bonny 88 Dragons Bestiary Johnathan M. Richards Skills & Powers rules for the BIRTHRIGHT™ setting Before kiss- or any AD&D® campaign. ing for princes, study these “Anurans.” 46 94 Dungeon Mastery Brent Knowles Before giving up on language barriers, “Give Them Pidgins.” COLUMNS THE WYRM’S TURN™ .............. .4 D-MAIL™ ....................... .6 FORUM ....................... ..10 SAGE ADVICE ................... .18 OUT OF CHARACTER ............. .24 BOOKWYRMS™ ................... .72 Fiction CONVENTION CALENDAR .......... .98 Reunification: Body and Soul DRAGONMIRTH™ ............... .100 Jeff Grubb ROLEPLAYING REVIEWS .......... .104 The captain of the Realms Master makes KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE ... .114 his last stand, but not alone. TSR PREVIEWS ................. .116 62 PROFILES ..................... .120 STAFF Publisher Wendy Noritake Executive Editor Pierce Watters Production Manager John Dunn Editor Dave Gross Art Director Larry Smith Associate Editor Chris Perkins Editorial Assistant Jesse Decker Advertising Sales Manager Bob Henning Advertising Traffic Manager Judy Smitha ON THE COVER On this month’s cover, TSR’s own rk post reminds us that heroes come in unlikely forms, and from origins as varied as the countless worlds of the PLANESCAPE® multiverse. DRAGON 247 • 3 DRAGON® Magazine (ISSN 0279-6848) is published monthly except November (twice monthly) by TSR, Inc., 1801 Lind Avenue S.W., Renton, WA 98055, United States of America. Periodical-class postage paid at Lake Geneva, WI, U.S.A., and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to DRAGON Magazine, P.O. Box 469086, Escondido, CA 92046, U.S.A. USPS 318-790, ISSN 0279-6848. The postal address for all materials from the United States of America and Canada except subscription orders and change-of- address notices is: DRAGON® Magazine, 1801 Lind Avenue S.W., Renton, WA 98055, U.S.A.; telephone (425) 226-6500; fax (425) 204-5928. DISTRIBUTION: DRAGON Magazine is available from game and hobby shops throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and through a limited number of other overseas outlets. Distribution to the book trade in the United States is by Random House, Inc., and in Canada by Random House of Canada, Ltd. Distribution to the book trade in the United Kingdom is by TSR Ltd. Send orders to: Random House, Inc., Order Entry Depart- ment, Westminster MD 21157, U.S.A.; telephone: (800) 733-3000. Newsstand distribution throughout the United Forgotten Realms Kingdom is by Comag Magazine Marketing, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE, United King- dom; telephone: 0895-444055. One of my favorite TV series is the the show, and it has double meaning SUBSCRIPTIONS: Subscription rates via periodical- class mail are as follows: $34.95 in U.S. funds for 13 issues now-defunct Robin of Sherwood, created for DRAGON® Magazine this month. sent to an address in the US.; $41.95 in U.S. funds for 13 issues sent to an address in Canada; £34.95 for 13 issues by the BBC and brought to the U.S. via For our theme of Heroes, the sent to an address within the United Kingdom; £41.95 for Showtime and various PBS stations. It phrase serves as a reminder that no tale 13 issues sent to an address in Europe; $57.95 in U.S. funds for 13 issues sent by surface mail to any other address. was a sometimes sappy, new-age is truly heroic while it is happening. Its Payment in full must accompany all subscription orders. Methods of payment include checks or money orders version of the popular story, but its the retelling, the remembering, that made payable to TSR, Inc., or charges to valid MasterCard virtues far outweighed its failings. The elevates a story beyond adventure and or VISA credit cards; send subscription orders with pay- ments to DRAGON Magazine, P.O. Box 469086, Escondido, shows Marion was a formidable into legend. Even your weekly AD&D CA 92046, USA; email [email protected]; phone 1-800-395-7760. In the United Kingdom, meth- woman, much more than an object to game becomes heroic only in the ods of payment include cheques or money orders made be rescued every third episode. The retelling, months or years later. payable to TSR Ltd., or charges to a valid ACCESS or VISA credit card; send subscription orders with payments to villains, at first glance flamboyant and Likewise, AD&D settings grow to TSR Ltd., as per that address above. Prices are subject to change without prior notice. The issue expiration of each often comic monsters, evolved into heroic proportions only after theyve subscription is printed on the mailing label of each sub- well-rounded but no less evil human endedor seemed to end. Never was scribers copy of the magazine. Changes of address for the delivery of subscription copies must be received at least six characters. The show introduced many the GREYHAWK® campaign so fiercely weeks prior to the effective date of the change in order to assure uninterrupted delivery new elements to the original tales: revered until it appeared to be discon- SUBMISSIONS: All material published in DRAGON witches and sorcerers, magical swords tinued forever. (And like many heroes Magazine becomes the exclusive property of the publisher, unless special arrangements to the contrary are made prior and earth cults, mercenary berserkers of legend, it rises from seeming death to publication. DRAGON Magazine welcomes unsolicited sub- and a noble saracen assassin (the last of this summer.) missions of written material and artwork; however, no responsibility for such submissions can be assumed by the which Prince of Thieves borrowed to The MYSTARA® campaign has not publisher in any event. Any submission accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope of sufficient size will be lesser effect). In the most radical depar- burned in memory quite so long as did returned if it cannot be published. We strongly recommend ture from the original story, in the the GREYHAWK setting, but its fans will that prospective authors write for our writers guidelines before sending an article to us. In the United States and prime of his youth and only half-way enjoy another visit to that world in Canada, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope (9½ long preferred) to Writers Guidelines, c/o DRAGON Magazine, at through the series, Robin dies. (Its all Bruce Heards Rakasta of Mystara the above address; include sufficient American postage or right, though; they make another one.) this issue. International Reply Coupons (IRC) with the return enve- lope. You can see already that Robin of Though the comic series ended years ADVERTISING: For information on placing advertise- ments in DRAGON Magazine, ask for our rate card. All ads Sherwood is a perfect show for AD&D® ago (much to my dismay, as it was are subject to approval by TSR, Inc. TSR reserves the right game players. While it lacked the spe- another of my favorites), the crew of the to reject any ad for any reason. Contact: Bob Henning, DRAGON Magazine, 1801 Lind Avenue S.W., Renton, WA cial effects and, ah, other attributes of Realms Master return to our pages this 98055, U.S.A., (425) 204-7262. Advertisers and/or agencies of advertisers agree to hold todays Hercules and Xena, the show month. First, read about them in Kate TSR, Inc. harmless from and against any loss or expense had a lot of character. As with most Novaks Rogues Gallery, then see the from any alleged wrongdoing that may arise out of the publication of such advertisements. TSR, Inc. has the right good series, Robin of Sherwood devel- heroes deal with the impending death to reject or cancel any advertising contract for which the advertiser and/or agency of advertiser fails to comply oped its own set of familiar actions and of their captain in Jeff Grubbs short with the business ethics set forth in such contract. phrases. For instance, whenever the story, Reunification: Body & Soul. DRAGON is a registered trademark of TSR, Inc. Registra- tion applied for in the United Kingdom. All rights to the outlaws lost one of their own to the None of this is to say that we wont contents of this publication are reserved, and nothing may be reproduced from it in whole or in part without first sheriff and Sir Guy of Gisbourne, the also continue to present the best, most obtaining permission in writing from the publisher. Material survivors would launch flaming arrows useful articles for new TSR games. Its published in DRAGON® Magazine does not necessarily reflect the opinions of TSR, Inc. Therefore, TSR will not be held into a hidden pond in their own cere- just a reminder that, at DRAGON accountable for opinions or misinformation contained in such material. mony of remembrance. And during a Magazine, nothings forgotten. ® designates registered trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. crisis of faith, Robin or one of his com- designates trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. Most other product names are trademarks owned by the companies panions would reassure the doubter, publishing those products. Use of the name of any prod- uct without mention of trademark status should not be Nothings forgotten. Thats the construed as a challenge to such status. phrase that always makes me think of ©1998 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved. All TSR characters, character names, and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc.