The Last Alliance The Last Alliance was the great coalition of Numenoreans and Elves He rallied what forces he had, and struck at the besieging host, catching it at the end of the Second Age in Middle-earth. The alliance won a unawares and driving it back to the Ephel Duath. This respite allowed the great war against Sauron, but with a victory which was itself to cast Numenoreans to recover their nerve and Elendil took council with Gil-galad, a long and fateful shadow into the future. high king of the Elves in Middle-earth. They concluded that Sauron could only When Numenor was destroyed, the defeated spirit of be defeated if the Elves and Numenoreans, both his hated foes, would unite Sauron fled east to his ancient fortress of Mordor. The longships of against him. Thus was the Last Alliance made, and its riding out from Lindon to Elendil and the Faithful also sailed to Middle-earth from the wreck of Imladris, was more splendid than that of any host that ever gathered in Middle- westernesse, and founded the Kingdoms in exile. When Sauron earth, save for the Valar at Thangorodrim. perceived the men of the west setting up their realms in Middle-earth, The Alliance passed through the Hithaeglir and south to Dagorland, he resolved to strike them down before their Kingdoms could take where the army of sauron was drawn up to meet it. The forces of the Dark-lord root. His strength returning, the Dark-lord summoned to Mordor were defeated and withdrew back into Mordor. those Kings of the South and East who were still in thrall to the The Alliance carried the war to the plain of Gorgoroth itself, and Ruling ring. Great hosts of Haradrim, Easterlings and Drcs were held what remained of Sauron's army under siege in Barad-dur. It was a bitter mustered in Gorgoroth in readiness. struggle of seven years. Finally Sauron himself, his force nearly spent, emerged Striking before his enemies were prepared, Sauron sent in terrible form and fought with Gil-galad and Elendil. The Dark-lord was his host through the Western pass of the Ephel Duath to Gondor's eventually slain by Elendil's sword Narsil, and both Elendil and Gil-galad were city of Minis Ithil. It fell to Sauron while lsildur its commander mortally wounded. escaped by ship. Thence, while Gondor still reeled at its defeat, the Thus both the spirit of Sauron and the Second age of the World Dark-lord pressed his advantage and laid siege to Gondor's capital, passed away. Isildur, Elendil's son, ignorant of the momentous fate which his Osgilaith. actions would bring to pass, refused to cast Sauron's Ruling Ring back into the Osoilaith was held bv Anarion. brother of Isildur, who flames of Orodruin, but took it as weregeld, and thus unknowingly bequeathed thwarted the enemy's attempts io take it. its terrible legacy to the future.

M271 Elendil the tall 211278 Numenorean Infantry Erstwhile leader of the Faithful of Numenor, Elendil (Isildur) escaped its destruction and led the remnant of his This figure represents the mail clad "Man-at-arms" of people to Middle-earth where he founded the early Arnor. He wears a long mail coat with leather kingdoms in exile. His armour like that of the Noldor reinforcements and has full plate armour covering both is of mostly plate but with a chainmail coif. The shoulders and arms. His horned helm is yet another breastplate is decorated with a single star, a Motif of -- variant of the debased Karma design. The Northern Numenor, and similar small star shapes form his Kingdom, unlike Gondor, did not intermarry so readily cloak-clasps. In his hand he carries the sword with the native Northmen population. This caste system Narsil., probably the most famous weapon in the produced a much more fuedal society, which reflected in history of Middle-earth, It was wrought by the great its armed forces. This man-at-arms would lead a Dwarven smith Telchar in ancient times and passed warband of less well armed native Northmen levies, an to the Lords of Andunie in the west of Numenor: Sample file arrangement which caused an increasing weakness in the thence to Elendil. infantry arm of the army. Its mounted kniahts were the pride of Arnor's forces.

M269 Gil-galad, High-king in exile The leader of the Noldo and Sindar Elves of Lindon. Gil-galad became High-king after the death of Turgon. Of all the races of the Elves the Noldo are the most warlike and the most skilled in the making of fine things Their armour and weaponry are unsurpassed GiI-galad wears Elven made plate armour, which is lighter and more articulate than its mannish counterpart- The plates are a series of overlapping panels which together form the required torso shape The shoulder plates are of an inverted leaf design Like all Elves his hair is long and unusually for the Noldor it is fair in colour He carries in his hand his legendary spear Aeglos b

M272 Isildur, the first Ring-bearer lsildur was the eldest son of Elendil, though by all accounts not such an able soldier as his father or brother Anarion. lsildur wears Numenorean plate mail with the star of Numenor motif on his breastplate. His helmet is of the distinctive Karma design, a pattern which was to have many derivatives in both western and southern Middle-earth in the years to come. Though much of the culture of Numenor derived from the Elves the "Karma" seems to be entirely indigenous to the men of Westernesse. In origin it was the distinctive headgear of the Uinendili, the mariners of Numenor. M270 Elrond, M276 Numenorean Infantry Herald of (Anarion) Gi1-gal ad In this figure can be seen the embryonic Gondorian soldier Elrond was the herald of Gil-galad His helmet is a somewhat the high King, in both Beleriand and more modest version of the Middle-earth Karma He is probably of His plate mail like that of the mixed blood (Ithilieni King is of Noldor design, though the Numenorean) scallop-shell shoulder plates are a born during sea motif of the Sindar, and is the 120 years badge of his descent from the since the foundation of the people of Elwe. Plate mail was kingdoms His armour is a almost exclusively worn by the mailcoat with plate Noldor of high descent, others of reinforcements at the the race wearing a fine chain and shoulder The more rapid plate, while the grey elves preferred intermixing of the popula- only chain armour. At his side he tions in the Southern kingdom meant that infantry was already wears his famous sword becoming the most important arm of Gondor's forces, and this He1kaluine. figure represents the core troops, the heavy spear-armed infantry which would later be the means by which Gondor won it's great empire. His shield depicts the Numenorean star motif.

M275 Oropher, M273 Cirdan at El ven-king Gorgoroth Lord of the Elves in Greenwood the Great (later Mirkwood), Oropher led After the destruction of Beleriand his people to fight with the Host of Gil Cirdian was held to be the wisest of all the Eldar remaining in galad. Unlike the Noldor, Oropher's folk were not steeped in the traditions Middle-earth Since the beginning of war, being more or less isolated of the second age he dwelt in from the upheavals of Beleriand and Lindon Both he and GiI-galad later Eregion. Oropher's folk fought were bearers of Celebrimbor s with stealth and cunning, and in the great rings he of Narya and the way of forest hunters, lightly clad and king of Vilya bow-armed When GiI-galad set out Oropher s costume to join the Last Alliance Cirdan comprises a short leather tunic with leaf motifs patterned into it His accompanied him and fought beside him until the latter s death headwear is a stylised pattern design, and is peculiar to the people of Mirkwood He is armed with a light spear and short sword in Goraoroth SampleThough file an elf of the Teleri, Cirdan stands more than seven feet in hieght and wears Noldor plate armour but with a Sindar plant motif as the breastplate decoration. Most unusually for an Elf Cirdan wears a beard, which is white. He is armed with a Noldo two-handed M277 Numenorean Dunnish sword. scout M274 Anarion The youngest and most able of Elendil's sons, When Elendil founded the Kingdoms in exile there were a Anarion is depicted here, rallying his troops number of Dunnish communities in the white mountains and during the siege of Osgilaith. He wears a coif of the land of the Seven rivers The bulk of Gondor s new fine-mail over which would normally have been population would have settled in the richer country of lthilien worn the "Karma" helmet, his mail, like that of and the little competition lsildur and Elendil is of plate, with a slightly for land would have different star design on his breastplate. It is the occured in the poorer badge of the Numenorean Faithful, the central western seaboard lower star representing the undying lands, and Relations therefore those encircling, the realms of Numenor, Gondor between the Dunlending and Arnor It was largely due to Anarion's peoples here and their generalship and steadiness that the Dark-lord did new overlords are likely not win his Lightning victory over the southern to have been cordial at kingdom before the Last Alliance could be least for a while The formed. Dunlendings would be invaluable to Gondor. 11 not only to bulk out her oi embryonic armies but also knowing I This text is support material for Middle-earth I figurines manufactured by Mithril Macroom the land well as scouts and so Co Cork Ireland under licence from Tolkien trackers This figure wears the ubiquitous Dunnish Moustaches with hair Enterprises Inc tied at the back He has been given a short Gondorian mail shirt and short sword These figures are available from good hobby and game stores Trademarks and copyrights 1992 Tolkien Enterprises lnc Merp IS copyright of iron Crown Enterprises Inc 1992 P

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2 WHITE WOLF MAGAZINE 1 CONTENTS RUNES Y STEWARTDISCUSSES THE MERITS OF LIVE-ACTIONROLEPLAYING 4

FROMTHE PACK OUR READERS SPEAK OUT ON KEVINSIEMBEDA 5 PLAY#BY+MAILCORNER A FIRST TIMER'S VIEW OF PBM 8 BY ANDREWGREENBERG ITEMSFOR ANY REALM A SHADOWRUNNERSGUIDETO ENCHANTEDOBJECTS 10 BY CLINTBLACK THEWORLD OF FUTUREDARKNESS DEIRDREBRCOKS BRINGS us PUNKED-UP CYBER-KINDRED 14

THESILICON DUNGEON THEDUNGEON RETURNS WITH CAPSULE REVIWS 26 BY JIMTRUNZO

IDENTIFICATION:FRIEND OR FOE ANADVENTURE FOR MILLENNIUM'SEND 32 BY ITS CREATOR, CHARLESRYAN PEOPLEOF THE LAND A DIFFERENTDww 42 BY CHRISSampleHIND file FEATUREREVIEW A DETAILED LOOK AT WESTEND'S NEW SHATTERZONEGAME 48 BY CHRISHIND ARISTSPOTLIGHT THEBEST OF DAVID0. MILLER 52 DICENOT INCLUDED SALTY SEA DOGS ON THE TRAIL OF A MURDERER 54 IN CAPTAINREINALD'S BURIED TREASURE BY RCGERSPENDLOVE CAPSULEREVIEWS BRIEFREVIEWS OF RECENT GAME RELAESES 65 TOPTWENTY LISTS A SPECIALTOP 40 FOR MARCH 79 WOLFPACK UPDATE THESAD LOSS of THE 35 PACK 79 ONTHE HORIZON WHAT'S IN STORE FOR NEXT ISSUE 80 WHITE WOLF MAGAZINE 3 Live-Action stories have become a And this issue’s “Captain Reinald’s fixture in WW since the upgrade the Buried Treasure” is also a sort of a modifica- magazine saw with issue #31. Readers have tion of “Goddess’s Eye” (and remember, I voiced varying opinions of this material. said that one was the epitome of the kind of Some appreciate the additional diversity the Live-Action I thought was easy to stage, so stories bring to our game coverage, while look for most stories in “Dice Not Included” others feel the space would be better spent to be of this format). This time, while the on more reviews or roleplaying coverage. action is still at one location and each Just for the record, no more reviews would character operates on his own any way he be possible. We’ve cut a few reviews because chooses, the story is propelled by the threat of space limitations, but in general every of the storm, an external event. Capsule Review received is printed in the This is all to demonstrate that there are next available issue. It’s not like I turn many different ways to stage a Live-Action reviews - or articles for that matter - story. The fun of playing Live-Action, I away. think, is partially because of this changeable Either way, the Live-Action material format. Tabletop roleplaying always has the will stay unless we hear a predominance of same format. A Stowteller sits at the head opinion against it. I of the table and think our Live- leads the show. Action coverage has Some variations been good, too. have been intro- Author Roger duced, like Troupe- Spendlove, who has Style roleplaying in now been added to Ars Magica, but this the “Staff Writer” format is the norm. listing, has demonstrated a wide range of Only the story changes in tabletop Live-Action possibilities. roleplaying. Admittedly, the story is the “Goddess’s Eye” in WW3 1 was a good, most important facet of a game, but it takes solid story, one I feel is the epitome of the a great Storyteller to change both the kind of Live-Action game people can content and style (or format) of a story. actually run. It involved a good-sized group, Live-Action harkens players back to but all of the action took place at one playing games as a kid. Cops and Robbers. location. The scenario called for each player Cowboys and Indians. This is pure to work for himself, though deals were roleplaying. Perhaps it is a little more rough- possible so character interaction was easy. and-tumble than we can promote in good The open-ended nature of the story allowed faith for older folks with more developed players to move in any direction they bodies and more mass to hit the ground wanted, and potentially that meant no hard, but those are the good times the best direction at all. Live-ActionSample recalls. file WW32’s “Infiltration of the Mind Then along came wargaming. It’s great Maggot from Planet V” created a situation in its own right, but the rules are meant for where the characters worked as two teams moving battleships and infantry units, not pitted against one another. This one was individual people. The question that Live- very simple to stage because players Action games pose (as will virtual reality in portrayed themselves, but it did call for the future) is whether or not mature people multiple locations. can accept games of imagination without WW33 had “The Peculiar Path of a complexity. There is little complexity to the Perilous Parcel,’’ a good example of the kind life of a child (or at least there shouldn’t be of story I think the majority of Live-Action -too many tragedies occur these days) and organizations put together for weekend they often perceive no limits to their game games. In it, a cooperative group works reality, so when they play a game they can toward a common goal but passes through just go crazy. However, while they may not several events and locations along the way. mind arguing for several minutes over the “Court-Martial of a Prince” in WW34 accuracy of a gunshot (“I hit you!” “Did had a framework similar to that of not!”), older folks don’t have the patience “Goddess’s Eye,” but it directed the action for this. So some rules are obviously needed. much more by calling for players to perform I think the Live-Action format solves specific duties as particular characters. It’s this problem reasonably well. This once the kind of story that groups comfortable again shows that the format of Live-Action with Live-Action could be ready to tackle games are their true strength. Now if the after the practice of several other stories. rules could just be a little less obtrusive... Last issue’s “The Calling of Craxuul- Thk” presented yet another permutation of Live-Action possibilities. This time the players again played themselves, except this time cooperatively.

4 WHITE WOLF MAGAZINE guy? He doesn’t want articles on his games appearing in any of the magazines and he’s taken legal action against Wizards of the Coast for including guidelines for converting a “Primal Order” deity into a Palladium one. Does he want to alienate himself from the hobby? As you pointed out in White Wolf 34 just about every other game company appreciates a good article on their game system or systems, but Kevin? He’d rather hide up there in his silent stony tower and moan about how unappreciated he is. I recall the great GygaxlGAMA feud of the late ’70s in which Gary G. declared a one man boycott of the Dear Mr. Wieck, time with other games. If I manage to rest of the industry that certainly To say Mr. Siembieda is acting a spend the rest of my life without livened up the ‘zines. Since then E. bit unpredictably is about the safest reading anything about the Palladium Gary Gygax has mellowed and the way of putting it in this lawsuit happy system, my life won’t exactly be industry as a whole (with the excep- society we live in. However, your changed. It is a bit more pressing to tion of Palladium Games of course,) magazine is not the only one to have the hard-core Palladium system fan has settled down to produce games received this “No coverage would be who can’t get additional Palladium and support material along with appreciated” letter. Challenge, materials with the “ban” in effect. promoting it though ads and articles. Journeys, and Gamer all note they In the long run, this hurts them. So, what do you say we let Kevin will not accept Palladium specific Getting their game name plastered Siembieda stew in his own juices and submissions at the request of Palla- over several pages of article is as good :o on to more mature subjects? dium games. No doubt other maga- or better than a page of advertising. That last sentence notwithstand- zines have as well. Someone thinks highly enough of the ing I do have a bone to pick with Mr. On one level, the request makes game to take the time to write about Tom Grant of Irvine, CA. some sense. Using (A)D&D as an it, and an editor thinks highly enough Hi, Tom. You know, when most example, I can cite a number of cases of the game to give it magazine space. 3eople eat socks they take their foot where “unofficial”material introduces Unless the article is highly ]ut first. “rules” that have caused trouble for a negative,Sample or just exceptionally file bad., it I get the impression that when it number of games played over the is a net gain for the game, at no cost :omes to the Dangerous Journeys year. I can specifically list a White to the game’s publisher. But it’s your jystem your beef isn’t so much with Wolf adventure where my paladin system, Kevin. If having such :he design as it is with the designer. became a creature that spoke to any absolute control over it is that Yes, Gygax has done some things in sentient race via a form of telepathy. important to you, I’m glad for you. :he past I didn’t agree with, but I am At the end of the adventure, I S.D. Anderson able to admit that a person can retained this “universal translator” Norwalk, CA :hange, and for the better. power. How is Dangerous Journeys Things like that can stack up and [S.D. All the way back to “The lverly complex?In my experience turn a game into a mess. Limiting Sylvan Gate” in WW9 for that adven- rith the system I have found the published Palladium adventures ture, eh? I agree that any coverage in a iechanics run smoothly and quickly reduces that situation from occurring. magazine is good for a game. We’ve my emphasis) with few, if any, It’s stupid, but it works. Games received many letters here from garners litches during play. True, it does get out of hand like that only if the who have read an adventure in the lave vague spots and mistakes - GM screws up and lets them occur. magazine and then proceeded to how me an RPG that doesn’t- but It’d be more efficient to include purchase the game for which it was aving some experience at running better GMing instructions with the intended. I’ve only played Palladium his kind of game I find them of little game rules than to eliminate material. games myself on a couple occasions, but loment and easily overcome. A GM without a good sense of “game I know there are thousands of people out I will admit GDW did overhype balance” will screw up whether there who play zealously. Palladium has ne system, much as West End Games unofficial Palladium material is maintained a more prolific release verhyped Torg, in both cases a printed or not. Best to deal with the schedule of late so magazine support isn’t uieter ad campaign would’ve done disease than a peripheral to it. as nucial as it once was. -SD W] lore good. Admittedly, it’s nothing of major For your information, Mr. Grant, concern for me. I skimmed through a Editor, ;DW is hard at work on Traveller: Palladium rule book once, wasn’t Re Kevin Siembieda and ne New Era, preparing new prod- particularly impressed, and spend my Palladium Games: What’s with this cts for the DJ line, (including a WHITE WOLF MAGAZINE 5