D RAGON 1 Publisher: Mike Cook Editor-in-Chief: Kim Mohan Editorial staff: Marilyn Favaro Were listening Roger Raupp Patrick L. Price Hmmm. With 1984 more or less around Mary Kirchoff the corner, maybe thats a bad way to start Roger Moore a column. But Ill let it stand, because it Vol. VIII, No. 3 September 1983 Business manager: Mary Parkinson sums up the point of this months ser- Office staff: Sharon Walton mon: Why All of You Should Fill Out SPECIAL ATTRACTION Mary Cossman and Return the DRAGON Magazine Layout designer: Kristine L. Bartyzel Readership Survey (pages 55-56). KING OF THE TABLETOP . .33 Contributing editor: Ed Greenwood National advertising representative: As is always the case with a magazine A new game, not about furniture, Robert Dewey and its readers, you know us, the maga- from Tom and Rob and Tramp 1409 Pebblecreek zine, a whole lot better than we know Glenview IL 60025 you, the group who reads us. We think Phone (312)998-6237 we know what you like, and we try to fill OTHER FEATURES This issues contributing artists: up the magazine with Good Stuff. If Jerry Eaton Phil Foglio youre happy, we all win. If youre not, Roger Raupp Dave Trampier vice versa. The Tarot of Many Things . .6 Tom Wham We think we know you based on two All decked out and ready to play things we get a lot of: Letters, and re- sponses to other readership surveys weve Curses! .................................................. 18 DRAGON Magazine (ISSN 0279-6848) is pub- published. The letters expressing indi- Greenwood at his most devious lished monthly for a subscription price of $24 per year by Dragon Publishing, a division of TSR, vidual readers opinions, numerous Inc. The mailing address of Dragon Publishing though they are, represent only a small for all material except subscription orders is P.O. fraction of you. And its been a while Creative cursing . .20 Box 110, Lake Geneva WI 53147. Magic to make characters sorry since we printed a survey; a lot of you DRAGON Magazine is available at hobby werent even with us the last time. (But stores and bookstores throughout the United those of you who were with us helped Elemental Gods . .22 States and Canada, and through a limited number of overseas outlets. Subscription rates are contribute to a couple of tremendous Deities that almost defy description as follows: $24 for 12 issues sent to an address in response totals. Keep it up.) the U.S. or Canada; $50 U.S. for 12 issues sent via surface mail or $95 for 12 issues sent via air mail We need to know more, about all of A new game with a familiar name . .26 to any other country. All subscription payments you, than weve ever known before. We Frank words on D&D® game revisions must be in advance, and should be sent to Dragon Publishing, P.O. Box 72089, Chicago IL 60690. need to ask some standardized questions, because thats the best way to get exact A limited quantity of certain back issues of Spys Advice. .32 DRAGON Magazine can be purchased from the readings of fact and opinion from a large For TOP SECRET® game players Dungeon Hobby Shop. (See the list of available group of people. And the larger, the bet- issues printed elsewhere in each magazine.) Pay- ment in advance by check or money order must ter. The more people we hear from, the DRAGON Readership Survey . .55 accompany all orders. Payments cannot be made more sure we can be that you are really through a credit card, and orders cannot be taken talking to us. Fill it out and fill us in nor merchandise reserved by telephone. Neither an individual customer nor an institution can be The picture of you that we get from billed for a subscription order or a back-issue analyzing the returned surveys will be purchase unless prior arrangements are made. used to shape the future of this magazine. REGULAR OFFERINGS The issue of expiration for each subscription is You better believe that we are listen- printed on the mailing label for each subscribers copy of the magazine. Changes of address for the ing, and well try to do whatever you say Out on a Limb ............................................3 delivery of subscriptions must be received at least you want. Letters from readers six weeks prior to the effective date of the change No, I cant say well be able to handle in order to insure uninterrupted delivery. everything you, the individual, might All material published in DRAGON Magazine want us to do. But well try to give the The ecology of the Unicorn ...................14 becomes the exclusive property of the publisher Previously known only to a few upon publication, unless special arrangements to greatest benefit to the greatest number, the contrary are made prior to publication. because (a) it seems like the lawful good DRAGON Magazine welcomes unsolicited sub- thing to do, and (b) its worked pretty Figure Feature ................................................30 missions of written material and artwork; how- ever, no responsibility for such submissions can well so far. be assumed by the publisher in any event. Any We know our readership has changed submission which is accompanied by a self- Game reviews: addressed, stamped envelope of sufficient size will and continues to change. We try, by pay- HARN campaign package ...................66 be returned if it cannot be published. ing attention to letters and doing some Plague of Terror module .....................67 DRAGON® is a registered trademark for educated guessing, to keep changing with Dragon Publishings monthly adventure playing you. But sometimes we have to make a aid. All rights on the contents of this publication Gamers Guide ................................................68 are reserved, and nothing may be reproduced really formal check of our position. We from it in whole or in part without prior permis- need you to help us navigate when the sion in writing from the publisher. Copyright© horizon starts to look too much the same Whats New..............................................74 1983 by TSR, Inc. let us sight on you, like a star, to keep Second-class postage paid at Lake Geneva, ourselves on course. And, to complete the Wis., and additional mailing offices. Snarfquest ..................................................77 nautical analogy, then we can all really POSTMASTER: Send address changes to start sailing. KM Dragon Publishing, P.O. Box 110, Lake Geneva Wormy....................................................................80 WI 53147. USPS 318-790. ISSN 0279-6848. DRAGON, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, ADVANCED D&D, TOP SECRET, BOOT HILL, and GAMMA WORLD are registered trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. designates other trademarks owned by TSR, Inc., unless otherwise indicated. 2 SEPTEMBER 1983 ou may have been King of the Mountain when you were a little kid. If youre one of our older readers, you may have been King of the Drive-In once upon a time. But not until now has anyone ever had the chance to be KING OF THE TABLETOP. Our latest game offering, in the center of this magazine, is a mixture of things: a combat game, an economic game, and above all a prestige game. (Youll see what we mean.) It is brought to you by a He or she? a tournament event, called Into the Lair of the Minotaur but that is where the similar- mixture of people: Tom Wham, who has Dear Editor: ity ends. We know that to be absolutely true, more game designs in his head than most I enjoyed Mr. Greenwoods article concern- and I hope that any of you who might also people have in their houses; Rob Kuntz, ing the Nine Hells [issue #75]. However, I have been wondering about what happens to known throughout the land for his work found one apparent mistake. In the article, contest entries will believe us. A module sub- on Greyhawk articles and the DEITIES & Sekolah is described as a female. The Deities & mitted to the Dragon Publishing contest DEMIGODS book; and Dave Trampier, Demigods Cyclopedia states that the deity is a doesnt leave our hands in any way, unless and author of Wormy, who will illustrate male. Can you explain? until it is published in the magazine. KM every counter sheet we publish from now Greg Lewis on if I have anything to say about it. North Augusta, S.C. Weve heard from people who think the Yep, the article was technically in Weather words games we print would be fun, but they error. But I think we can figure out where Ed never play them because they dont want Greenwood was coming from when he referred Dear Kim: to destroy the magazine by pulling out to Sekolah as a female shark (see page 31 of I enjoyed reading the various letters youve the innards. Well, this is one time when issue #75). In the entry for sahuagin in the published in issues #70 and #73 about my arti- anyone who feels that way should make Monster Manual, it is noted that the religious cle on the weather of Greyhawk in issue #68. an exception its a regally good game. life of these creatures is dominated by the For one thing, I (like any author) cannot help If the scene on the cover reminds you of females. The reference to females in that but take pleasure in the knowledge that there something from your minds eye, that passage specifically concerns female sahuagin, are people out there who have read my work, who are the clerics of the race. even if only to then disagree with it. Id like to means artist Jerry Eaton did his job to But, carrying the interpretation of that respond to some of the comments, both gener- perfection.