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Fantasy Gamer #4

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Fantasy Gamer #4 Editor: Christopher Frink Assistant Editor: Richard Steinberg News Editor: Scott Haring Contributing Editors: W.G. Armintrout William A. Barton Matthew J. Costello Ronald Pehr Publisher: Steve Jackson NUMBER 4 Editor-In-Chief: Warren Spector Art Director: Pat Mueller FEBRUARY/MARCH 1984 Assistant Art Director: Richard Steinberg Production Manager: Monica Stephens Production Artists: C. Mara Lee ADVENTURE GAME Kim Strombo The Solimar Quest * W.G. Armintrout & Bill Jackson Business Manager: Pat Conteen A fantasy adventure in which the prize the players seek is godhood . 14 Advertising Manager: Gerald D. Swick Circulation Manager: Creede Lambard FICTION Vampire Trap * Timothy Zahn Djinn sword meets vampire in a battle ... to the death 9 24 ARTICLES Christians and Lions Designer's Notes * D. Woods & S. Davidson 12 TFT Gaming Notes for "Vampire Trap" * Steve Jackson Djinns in The Fantasy Trip 28 Solo Undead * Steve LaPrade The life of a vampire can get pretty lonely. Here's how to cope 30 The Thing in the Darkness Keeper's Notes * M. Costello & W. Spector Everything you always wanted to know about "The Thing" . 32 REVIEWS Warn * Steve Jackson A featured review of Columbia Games' new fantasy world 3 ART IN THIS ISSUE Dragonriders of Pern * Aaron Allston Cover: "Dragon Dance" by Taylor Blan- Mayfair Games' boardgame adaptation of Anne McCaffrey's SF novels 7 chard. Christians and Lions * Scott Haring Line Art: Niels Erickson: mailer cover. C. Christians? Lions? Irreverent? You bet! 11 Mara Lee: 16, 18, 20. Denis Loubet: 24. Richard Mather: 35. Rick Pearson: 8. Kim Capsule Reviews 36 Strombo: 11, 14, 15, 17, 19, 22. J.D. Webster: GAMES: City States of Arklyrell. SUPPLEMENTS: Big Rubble, Pursuit to Kadath. 34. J.D. Webster, courtesy of Letters: 1, 35, 36, MINIATURES: Dark Horse Miniatures. PUBLICATIONS: The Armory's Guide to Fantasy 42. Miniatures, Weapons and Assassins. Photographs and Game Art: Columbia Games: 3, 4. Grenadier Models: 32. Denis Loubet, courtesy Steve Jackson Games: 30. COLUMNS Mayfair Games: 7. Nova Games: 42. Theatre of the Mind Enterprises: 38. Murphy's Rules * Ben Sargent 33 Letters 34 TRADEMARK NOTICE Blood On My Typewriter * Christopher Frink 35 Keeping Posted / PBM Update 44 Most game names are trademarks of the companies publishing those games. In particu- lar: Dragon Quest, Dungeons & Dragons, and THE VILLAGE IDIOT Advanced D&D of TSR, Inc.; Call of Cthulhu of The Chaosium; Ham of Columbia Games, News Briefs 42 Inc.; Dragonriders of Pern of Mayfair Games; New and Upcoming 42 Christians and Lions of Omicron Games; The Convention Calendar 43 Fantasy Trip of Metagaming, Inc.; and Empire of the Petal Throne of Gamescience and Prof. Advertisers Index 44 M.A.R. Barker. Use of a trademark to identify a product commented upon in this magazine should not FANTASY GAMER (ISSN 0740-3429) is published bimonthly by Steve Jackson Games, be construed as implying the sponsorship of the Box 18957, Austin, TX 78760-8957. Second-class postage is paid at Austin, TX. POST- trademark holder. All names of games publish- MASTER: Send address changes to Box 18957, Austin, TX 78760-8957. ed by Steve Jackson Games are trademarks of All material is copyright ©1983 by Steve Jackson Games. All rights reserved. Steve Jackson Games, or used under license by Printed in USA by Futura Press, Austin. MEMBER OF Steve Jackson Games. Use of Subscription rates, effective 5/15/83: In the US — 6 months (3 issues) $8; one year the name for any product (6 issues) $13; 2 years (12 issues) $23; lifetime subscription $200. In Canada, add 500 per without mention of trademark issue for postage and handling; for addresses outside the US add $1 per issue for surface mail. status should not be construed International rates subject to change as postal rates change. Note: All payments must be in as a challenge to such status. US dollars, made by International Money Order, or checks drawn on a US or Canadian bank. into the river. There was only the usual border warfare on the Kalatian frontier. It was ru- mored that the Kalatians were having internal difficulties. Duke Ardon had driven his kinsman, PB M Update Val, from his lands. Val took refuge at the court of Artak. Ardon refused to aid Artak un- til the exiled Val was turned over to him. It was heard that Lord Morbet Mataran still remained uncrowned. To add to the problems of the Ex- PBM Update reports on professionally-moderated play-by-mail iles, the neighboring realm of Varata be gan to games. Notices are monthly. Copy deadline is 60 days previous attack their borders, claiming the throne of the Greys for the Varatan Queen, Belmella. From to the first of the month for the issue in which the notice is to the Manatarian lands it was heard that Feargus appear. All copy should be typed and double-spaced. Notices of Tamra was captured by his enemy, Hasket of should not exceed 200 words in length. FG reserves the right to K inn on. edit copy as necessary. Clemens & Associates Terra II Welcome to "Keeping Posted," our new reg- were repulsed with heavy casualties. First Em- With the long winter in the north coming to ular PBM column. "Keeping Posted" isn't a nor- pire war fleets are expected to converge on the a close, many tribes have barely been able to mal column — one staffer won't be writing it area to destroy the Moonfish and attempt to survive. Some were caught in the frigid moun- every issue. It's open to anybody who's inter- intercept the invasion fleet's transports. tain passes with continuing snow storms making ested in PBM and can coherently express them- Crane II: At the city of Zadar, the Dark movement almost impossible. They saw their selves. Even if you hate play-by-mail there's Union city leader, Caravan Merchant Shaman herds dwindle to the point where starvation was room for your opinion too! Ravage, recently launched a bloody purge of a distinct possibility. Beginning next issue, "Keeping Posted" will the city leadership to eliminate all possible The Mailed Fist alliance has issued a proc- feature strategy articles and reviews of PBM enemies and their allies. He and his allies de- lamation that the area west of Diwal between games. For now, on with PBM Update: stroyed the infamous Summers People, veterans the mountains and the sea belongs to them. If of the original siege of Zadar, and several other Schubel & Son their threat is carried out, it will mean much of enemy tribes. In addition, Ravage arrested and the lucrative trade between Diwal and Ecaio Company News: We are pleased to an- executed Wandering Shaman Al-Ka, War Sha- will cease. nounce after four long years our third world of man Arioch, and City Councilman Spear. Only Heavy trading of silver in Vinchu has re- The Tribes of Crane, Crane III, which will offer Sea Shaman Barabbas, the original commander sulted in the price of silver being reduced. This new or inexperienced players the chance to en- of the armies that had captured Zadar several will probably mean that more silver will be years before, escaped. Barabbas has powerful ter new and unconquered worlds without old shipped to Diwal and Nayin. allies and unless he is eliminated soon, he will established empires or alliances. In addition, The first attack upon a tribal village has oc- several changes were made to Crane III to im- seriously threaten Ravage's dominance of the curred. Unfortunately, the village was inade- prove the game system. city. quately protected. The warriors of the Wolfram- ite tribe quickly overran the defenses and killed The Tribes of Crane The Round Table most of the villagers. The remainder were made Crane I: The First Empire's capital city of slaves, and all the weapons and supplies taken. Fax was recently blockaded by the navy of ren- World of Angrelmar Many tribes have chosen the path of aggres- egade Moonfish People. The Moonfish had Angrelmar is a pseudo-medieval world using sion to achieve their aims. Some of those on the traded in Fax for many months and had sworn imaginary geography and personalities but attack are the Ultara, Deiran, Les Trois Francais, loyalty to the First Empire but they were ap- comparable in concept to ninth century Europe. and the infamous Raging Violet. Several tribes parently loyal to the evil Blood Trust and act- Players operate noble families, competing have found that it is not enough to just attack. ing to isolate the city in preparation for an up- churches or barbaric kingdoms with the goal of To be rewarding enough to pay for the loss of coming siege. The city warriors of Fax responded surviving generations of history. Each turn is a life great care should be made in the formulat- to the blockade by attacking the Moonfish but year of game time. Over 10 years of Angrelmar ing of attack orders. have been played to date and there are now In the southern hemisphere, the Southern over 80 players participating. Tribal Confederacy continues to grow. It is the The annals of Angrelmar are compiled by the largest alliance in the south and is gathering in- Advertisers Index good monks of the Temple of Mantor on Eerie formation rapidly. Most of the tribes in the Advent Games 41 in the Book of Jammak. Here is their entry for south are hung up in the mountains that run be- A lnav co 32 the year 875: Again the churchmen met on the tween Halda and Wirka. Several tribes have Argonaut Games 38 Isle of Ara to solemnize the union of the four wandered far away from the well-traveled routes Avalon Hill 6 churches into the Imperial Church.
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