Dragon Magazine #167
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S PECIAL ATTRACTIONS Issue #167 The wilderness awaits you. Vol.XV,No. 10 9 A collection of wild animals-and even wilder plants. March 1991 See the Pomarj- and Die! Joseph Bloch A typically dangerous wilderness in the GREYHAWK® campaign. Publisher 10 James M. Ward Back to the Age of Mammals David Howery 15 The largest mammalian land carnivore of all time is back (and fantasy Editor heroes are its prey). Roger E. Moore The Ecology of the Su-Monster Matthew Schutt Fiction editor 20 Most call it a myth. Some call it a nightmare. Barbara G. Young The Dragons Bestiary Gregg Chamberlain Assistant editor 23 Blood-drinking flowers, sword grass, and man-eating plants. Dale A. Donovan Art director O THER FEATURES Larry W. Smith Curses Are Divine Mark Keavney 28 What can an angry deity do to your character? Anything he wants! Production staff Gaye OKeefe Angelika Lokotz Arcane Lore Jeffrey Pettengill Tracey Zamagne 36 Necromancy is a dead art, but these spells will bring it to life again. Subscriptions The Voyage of the Princess Ark Bruce A. Heard Janet L. Winters 41 The admiral meets the soul of his ship (and the ships worst enemies). U.S. advertising The Role of Computers Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser Roseann Schnering 47 Want to play only the best computer games? Here they are! Dragons Blood fiction by Bryan Haught U.K. correspondent 58 An alchemist can always use more dragons blood. and U.K. advertising Bronwen Livermore Just give me money! Peter Trueman 62 Now make change in kopeks, gulden, sovereigns, and sequins. Milestones & Free Miles Jean Rabe 68 How would you like to visit England? Read on and find out! The MARVEL®-Phile Steven E. Schend 71 Spider-foes are everywhere-and now theyre across the Atlantic! Lords of the Warring States Thomas M. Kane 77 Five intriguing characters for your Oriental AD&D® campaign. The Game Wizards Ed Greenwood 88 Just how big can a dungeon be? Visit Undermountain and find out. The Role of Books John C. Bunnell 90 Some dragons sit on their piles of gold, but some invest them. Through the Looking Glass Robert Bigelow 103 The Star Wars rebels receive reinforcements. D EPARTMENTS 5 Letters 56 Sage Advice 94 Dragonmirth 6 Editorial 74 Forum 96 Twilight Empire 34 TSR Previews 82 Convention Calendar 100 Gamers Guide COVER This month, our cover artist, Fred Fields, takes a sharp look at ecology. Our treant has obviously decided that his forest has one too many axe-wielding barbarians, and it has decided to take matters into its own, um, limbs. 4 MARCH 1991 DRAGON® Magazine (ISSN 0279-6848) is published monthly by TSR, Inc., P.O. Box 756 (201 Sheridan Springs Road), Lake Geneva WI 53147, United States of America. The postal address for all materials from the United States and Canada except subscription orders is: DRAGON Magazine, P.O. Box 111 (201 Sheridan Springs Road), Lake Geneva WI 53147, U.S.A.; telephone: (414) 248-3825. The postal address for all materials from Europe is: DRAGON Magazine, TSR Ltd, 120 Church End, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge CB1 3LD, United Kingdom; telephone: (0223) 212517 (U.K.), 44-223- 212517 (international); telex: 818781; fax: (0223) 248066 (U.K.), 44-223-248066 (international). Distribution: DRAGON Magazine is available from What did you think of this issue? Do you have a reading, however, and is available in paperback game and hobby shops throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and through a limited question about an article or have an idea for a from Ballantine Books. number of other overseas outlets. Distribution to the book new feature youd like to see? In the United Propriety demands that I limit my comments trade in the United States is by Random House, Inc., and States and Canada, write to: Letters, DRAGON® on your closing remarks to the following: Ive in Canada by Random House of Canada, Ltd. Send Magazine, P.O. Box 111, Lake Geneva WI 53147, orders to: Random House, Inc., Order Entry Department, heard various epithets applied to me over the Westminster MD 21157, U.S.A.; telephone: (800) 638- U.S.A. In Europe, write to: Letters, DRAGON years, but seldom gentleman. Of course, you 6460 toll-free except Alaska (call (800) 492-0782 toll-free Magazine, TSR Ltd., 120 Church End, Cherry are referring to The Sage, who is a fictional in Maryland). Newsstand distribution throughout the Hinton, Cambridge CBl 3LD, United Kingdom. character created by my editor and me. The United Kingdom is by Seymour Press Ltd., 334 Brixton Road, London SW9 7AG, United Kingdom; telephone: Sage becomes a bit more genteel after my editor 01-733-4444. (who really is a fine fellow despite what I said in Subscriptions: Subscription rates via second-class Chain mail mail issue #156) finishes tinkering with my prose. mail are as follows: $30 in U.S. funds for 12 issues sent to an address in the U.S. or Canada; £16 for 12 issues sent to an address within the United Kingdom; £24 for 12 Dear Dragon, issues sent to an address in Europe; $50 in U.S. funds This is in response to the person who wrote to In the dark for 12 issues sent by surface mail to any other address; Sage Advice [about chain and scale mail] in or $90 in U.S. funds for 12 issues sent airmail to any other address. Payment in full must accompany all issue #162, page 32: Dear Dragon, subscription orders. In the U.S. and Canada, methods of Scale mail in general, and metallic scale in I am writing in regard to the editorial in issue payment include checks or money orders made payable particular, was quite frequently cursed by the #164. The quote, Character is what you are in the to TSR, Inc., or charges to valid MasterCard or VISA credit cards; send subscription orders with payments to: soldiers who had to wear it. Without mentioning dark, was originally said by Dwight L. Moody. TSR, Inc., P.O. Box 5895, Boston MA 02206, U.S.A. In its discomfort, it was a less useful armor than Sean Burd the United Kingdom, methods of payment include chain. Its plates were frequently cracked apart or Pt. Pleasant NJ cheques and money orders made payable to TSR Ltd, or cut away entirely after facing troops with com- charges to a valid ACCESS or VISA credit card; send subscription orders with payments to TSR Ltd, as per that mon weapons. May the gods help the wearers if Well take your word for it, but that does leave address above. Prices are subject to change without prior they had to face bearded or noble weapons us with one question: Who is Dwight L. Moody? notice. The issue of expiration of each subscription is the next day. (Common weapons were of iron; printed on the mailing label of each subscriber’s copy of the magazine. Changes of address for the delivery of bearded weapons each had a steel edge welded subscription copies must be received at least six weeks to the cutting surface, making it extremely Ive an idea.... prior to the effective date of the change in order to assure deadly; noble weapons were made with good uninterrupted delivery. steel and excellent craftsmanship.) Dear Dragon, Back issues: A limited quantity of back issues is available from either the TSR Mail Order Hobby Shop The chain-mailed warrior, while possibly I have an idea for a product that I believe TSR (P.O. Box 756, Lake Geneva WI 53147, U.S.A.) or from bruised and sore, could look forward to the next would perhaps be interested in. Assuming you TSR Ltd. For a free copy of the current catalog that lists days battle confidently, at least in regards to his take ideas from free-lancers, how would I go available back issues, write to either of the above armor. It took about five minutes to hammer in a addresses. about proposing my idea and protecting it at the Submissions: All material published in DRAGON replacement rivet, if someone held your armor. same time? I would tell you my idea now in this Magazine becomes the exclusive property of the pub- Chain mail was, historically, the most affordable letter, but Im afraid someone may steal it. lisher unless special arrangements to the contrary are (in more ways than one) common armor. Steel This is the first time I have done anything of made prior to publication. DRAGON Magazine welcomes unsolicited submissions of written material and artwork; was extremely difficult for our ancestors to work this nature, so any advice you may have would however, no responsibility for such submissions can be with on a bulk scale (they didnt have dwarves, be appreciated. I think this idea I have is a assumed by the publisher in any event. Any submission gnomes, and elves to help them). pretty good one, and it could become a very accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope of A few other books that people could look into sufficient size will be returned if it cannot be published. popular item. It is not a new game system or We strongly recommend that prospective authors write are: the Osprey Men-At-Arms series; Froissants anything that grand. It is a simple aid for RPGs. for our writers’ guidelines before sending an article to us. Chronicles, and A Distant Mirror, by Barbara W. Name and address withheld In the United States and Canada, send a self-addressed, Tuchman. at writers request stamped envelope (9½” long preferred) to: Writers’ Guidelines, c/o DRAGON Magazine, as per the above Also, here is a free piece of advice from three address; include sufficient American postage or Interna- DMs.