January 1982 Dragon 1 Dragon Vol. VI, No. 7 Vol. VI, No. 7 January 1982 Publisher. Jake Jaquet Season’s greetings from the staff of then, and while the marketplace for Editor-in-Chief. Kim Mohan Dragon Publishing, and for all you time- games may have existed, who could af- Editorial staff . Bryce Knorr travelers out there, welcome to 1982. ford to start a new game company? And Marilyn Mays Certain milestones of the passage of another factor enters into the recent ex- Gali Sanchez time — most notably putting up a new pansion of gaming as a hobby and a pas- Sales. Debbie Chiusano calendar in my office in the winter, and time: The creation of the DUNGEONS & Circulation . Corey Koebernick adding one to the volume number of DRAGONS® type open-ended role-play- Office staff . Cherie Knull DRAGON™ Magazine in the summer — ing games. Monopoly, as good as it is, is Roger Raupp Contributing editors. Roger Moore tend to make me reflective, and this Jan- still essentially the same game each time Ed Greenwood uary is no exception. it is played. There are only a finite number Looking back over the happenings of of properties to purchase, cards to draw, This issue’s contributing artists: 1981 as they relate to games and gaming and hotels to build. And after a few hours Dean Morrissey Chris Cloutier makes one forcefully aware of the growth the game, by its design, must come to an Roger Raupp Bruce Whitefield and evolution of the hobby. New game end. Role-playing games, on the other James Holloway David Trampier titles are appearing on the market with hand, offer a virtually infinite number of Harry Quinn Phil Foglio ever-increasing frequency. Supplements, environments and opportunities, where DRAGON magazine is published monthly by play aids, and accessories to existing any event can happen and any move can Dragon Publishing, a division of TSR Hobbies, games have become almost a market be made. And it need never end. Inc. The mailing address of Dragon Publishing is P.O. Box 110, Lake Geneva WI 53147; tele- unto themselves. A recent listing in one Well, the Jake Jaquet theory of game phone (414) 248-8044. of the trade magazines showed over 60 economics may or may not be accurate, DRAGON magazine is available at hundreds different companies now making books but the fact is undeniable that games and of hobby stores and bookstores throughout the and magazines on games. For a year that gaming have ascended to a new level of United States and Canada, and through a limit- also exhibited a frightfully high unem- popularity. And I suppose the best ex- ed number of overseas outlets. The magazine can be purchased directly from Dragon Publish- ployment rate, outrageous interest rates, ample to date of this fact was shown on ing by subscription. Rates are as follows, with all and an overall depressed economy, the the Simon & Simon television show on payments to be made in advance: $24 for 12 issues sent to a U.S. or Canadian address; $50 expanding industry of hobby gaming Dec. 8. The writers of the show created a U.S. for 12 issues sent via surface mail or $95 for nearly defies logic and reason (did I hear plot which revolved in part around an 12 issues sent via air mail to any other country. someone mention the word “fantasy?”) imaginary fantasy role-playing game A limited quantity of certain back issues of itself. called “Angels and Demons,” which the DRAGON magazine can be purchased directly There are real reasons for the growth young protagonist refers to as “...better from the publisher by sending the cover price plus $1.50 postage and handling for each issue of the gaming industry in the midst of a than Dungeons and Dragons.” ordered. Payment in advance by check or mo- depressed economy. As an individual’s Now, there was no reference or expla- ney order must accompany all orders. Payments cannot be made through a credit card, and spendable income “shrinks,” he becomes nation given as to what “Dungeons and orders cannot be taken nor merchandise “re- very conscious of the value of any given Dragons” was, and while I’m sure most served” by telephone. Neither an individual cus- purchase — measuring value in terms viewers didn’t give it a second thought, I tomer nor an institution can be billed for a sub- scription order or back-issue purchase unless other than simply monetary cost. History nearly fell off my chair when I heard it. prior arrangements are made. bears this out: During the depression of My limited academic exposure to radio The issue of expiration for each subscription the 1930’s an individual’s entertainment and TV broadcast writing in college is printed on the mailing label for each sub- budget had one of the lowest priorities, pounded one thing into my head: If there scriber’s copy of the magazine. Changes of ad- dress for the delivery of subscriptions must be and any money so spent had to bring the is any doubt that a listener or viewer will received at least 30 days prior to the effective highest possible return in value. Motion not understand a term or name, either date of the change in order to insure uninter- pictures, spectator sports, and the like explain it or don’t use it at all. That the rupted delivery. had a relatively low value; while the event writers of the show simply used the All material published in DRAGON magazine may have been very enjoyable (another phrase “Dungeons and Dragons” as a becomes the exclusive property of the publisher upon publication, unless special arrangements measure of value), when it was over, it passing remark in dialogue indicates the to the contrary are made prior to publication. was over. The money was gone, leaving assumption that most of the show’s view- DRAGON magazine welcomes unsolicited sub- missions of written material and artwork; how- only an intangible memory. Games, on ers would be familiar with the term. ever, no responsibility for such submissions can the other hand, were not only enjoyable, An insignificant observation to most be assumed by the publisher in any event. Any but were tangible items, and could be people, perhaps, but a very large one to submission which is accompanied by a self- addressed, stamped envelope of sufficient size used again and again by the purchaser me. If network television in December will be returned to the contributor if it cannot be and his fellow players. Enter Monopoly™ 1981 finds “Dungeons and Dragons” to published. — perhaps the first “fantasy” game. Not be a generally known term, it should be DRAGON™ is a trademark for Dragon Publish- only could it be played again and again, interesting to see where things stand by ing’s monthly adventure playing aid. All rights on the contents of this publication are reserved, but the subject of the game, buying and December 1982. and nothing may be reproduced from it in whole selling real estate, really was a fantasy to or in part without prior permission in writing the players at the time the game was first from the publisher. Copyright 1981 by TSR Hobbies, Inc. USPS 318-790. ISSN 0279-6848. released. But the 1930’s did not spawn the vast Second class postage paid at Lake Geneva, gaming industry that exists today. Cer- Wis., and at additional mailing offices. tainly the economy was much worse 2 January 1982 Dragon ere’s hoping you don’t have to trek through a forest In addition, Mark Mulkins makes a case for a new bureau in the to get to the store for this issue of DRAGON™ Mag- TOP SECRET system designed specially for agents who have azine. As far as we know, the only forest that con- visions of 007 in their heads, with his essay entitled “In Search tains moving trees is the one around which Mike of James Bond.” Malone’s module was created. But it’s probably best AD&D enthusiasts will appreciate the latest edition of Leo- not to take any unnecessary chances... mund’s Tiny Hut, wherein Len Lakofka proposes some variant “The Wandering Trees” was the second-place winner in the rules for shields and offers a means to determine a character’s ADVANCED D&D® division of International Dungeon Design weapon skills. Those of you who have a campaign running in Contest II. It’s a change of pace, in a lot of respects, from what the WORLD OF GREYHAWK™ setting will be more informed we have come to call a “normal” module. (Which is about as about goings-on in that world after perusing From the Sorcer- hard to define as a “normal” game player...) And it worked out or’s Scroll by AD&D creator Gary Gygax. And for those of you sort of nice that our special inclusion for the chilly month of who think the world can never have enough enchanted objects, January is an adventure through a forest that is alive with Pete Mohney presents a system for “Random magic items.” greenery (and other things besides!). There’s a two-part Up on a Soapbox column inside, wherein This issue’s cover painting is by Dean Morrissey, whose Brian Blume puts forth his opinions on why it doesn’t pay to be name will be familiar to veteran readers as the creator of many an evil character, and contributing editor Roger Moore offers of our previous covers. Perhaps this is a scene which would some thoughts on the continually controversial subject of fe- have been better presented around the Fourth of July — but males and fantasy role-playing.