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www.neoncon.com CREATE. EDUCATE. CELEBRATE. GEEK LIFE. www.twitter.com/neoncon Tom lloyd’s TwilighT Reign seRies Book Four: The ragged Man CoMing augusT 2010

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agicalO creatures and high “M speed action scenes... show how high the bar has been raised with its sheer vision and inventiveness.”O —SFX

Pyr®, an imprint of Prometheus Books • www.pyrsf.com • 1-800-421-0351 artwork © Todd Lockwood Contents

Sample file Contents Editorial Ring-Givers 4 Letters From the Mines 5

Features Aasimar 8 by Kolja Raven Liquette The blood of heaven runs in these veins. Prince of Wolves 12 by James L. Sutter The Pathfinder novels begin with a big, big smile. The Ecology of the Tengu 18 by R. William Thompson with James Jacobs Mimics, guardians, blademasters; tengu are complex creatures. Healing Hands 26 by James Graham New paladin powers to answer the prayers of the purest knights On the Cover Nicole Cardiff painted "The Perfumes of Bourgund 32 Paladin's Treasure" for the by Stefen Styrsky Summer issue, combining gold The smell of magic is surprisingly strong. and glory in a picture that tells a fine story. Paladins don't really Skill Battles 35 do it for the loot. by Matthew J. Hanson Taking 4th Edition skill challenges into combat!

Characters Columns Men of Honor: Sample 42 Interview file with Rob Heinsoo 48 Alternate Paladin Codes by Jeremy L.C. Jones by Dan Voyce Book Reviews 56 How to Create Memorable Characters 60 by Ask the Kobold: Bleeding, 63 Invisibility, Suggestion Ancient Tongues 70 by Skip Williams by Michael Kortes Mini-Adventure: Amber Heart 90 The Reign of Men 80 by Tim & Eileen Connors by John Wick and Jesse Heinig Coming Next Issue 89 Art & Expertise 84 by Scott A. Murray Free City of Zobeck: Birdfolk of Zobeck 96 Design and DMing by Wolfgang Baur Game Theories: Dice Versus Story 46 Treasure Trove by Monte Cook Hoard Magic 39 by Michael Furlanetto How to Create Feats 66 by Sigfried Trent Paper Treasures 52 by John Baichtal Moral Choices That Matter 76 Middle Class Magic 54 by Jeff Tidball by Adam Daigle Courtly Games of the Wizard Prince 72 Figurines of Wondrous Power 86 by Mario Podeschi by Phillip Larwood Editorial: Ring-Givers

he leaders of men among the Vikings had a code This is a roundabout way of getting to our theme this to live up to. You can read some of the details issue, which is treasure. As a game designer and a GM, I Tin this issue’s “Alternate Paladins” article (and I have a huge blind spot: I always forget to put the treasure recommend that you do!), but for my purposes, it’s enough in until right near the end of the design process, and—for to point out that generosity was not really optional for some strange reason—the treasure side of things always Viking jarls, chiefs, and leaders. If you wanted to lead a strikes me as less compelling than it is on the player side of crew of bloodthirsty berserkers, you had better be what they the screen. This issue, we’re hoping to make amends for my called a ring-giver in those times: an open hand, generous decades of insufficient loot with a sampling of many fine to a fault, always finding a way to reward followers. Only a and unusual treasures including paper treasures, magical fool fails to reward a gang of berserks openly and often. perfumes, new figurines of wondrous power, dragon treasure hoards, and more. This description of generosity as a crucial element of leadership has stuck with me since high school, when my If you have a tale of treasure, loot, and rewards (or lack of English teacher explained kennings, such as “the whale- same), please send it to [email protected]. I’d love road”(the ocean) and “ring-giver” (a lord, a leader). The to hear from you! contrast with our modern age is somewhat disappointing: say what you like about our political classes, the patronage And remember, give out that treasure with an open hand, system of rewarding your inner circle of followers is no O Ring-Giver, lest you be torn apart by your berserk crew longer regarded as honorable or noble. In fact, it’s more of gaming Vikings! likely to bring you a federal indictment than it is to bring you the treasure of the Nibelungen.

Sample file Kobold in Chief Letters: From the Mines

Now at Back List Books Since our Friendly Local Gaming Store closed its doors, I’ve been pretty bummed. But today I walked into the book store and saw Kobold Quarterly on the shelf. True, I’ve been bugging him for a month. He’s even opening up to the I especially appreciate the idea of letting me run a game there on ecologies and guest writers. Wednesday nights. It also helps when the I will visit your web page magazine looks so good on the shelf. I’ve soon and sign up for a year had access to PDF review copies, but I or two subscription of the still like having something to hold onto. print copy! Keep up the good work industrious Thanks for the sample, Kobolds, and many thanks to Fred at and I will definitely Back List Books. recommend this to my —Tom Allman fellow gamers. —Randy Williams, Tom, thanks you so much for talking to MSgt, USAF articles based on games other than the the local bookstore about KQ. Getting USAF Academy, CO core game demographic would be a the magazine into local shops makes a recurring trend. huge difference for us, and every store that Thank you for the kind words, and we are Anyway, I understand the need to focus decides to give us a chance means another very happy to have another subscriber. Every on the core games, but please note that step closer to moving KQ to more frequent subscriptionSample is, as we may have file mentioned the expanded coverage was appreciated. publication. I hope your Wednesday night previously, one step closer to a bigger, more Keep up the great work. game there goes well! colorful, and more frequent KQ. Kobold —Ron Vargas world domination needs your help! Into the Air, Around Ron, we are in fact covering Dragon the World Wondrous Non-Core Age again this issue (by the DA line I recently found an issue of your Imaginings developer and RPG legend Jeff Tidball, magazine while stationed at Blad AB in On the Wondrous Imaginings blog, no less!), and we may have one or two Iraq, and I LOVED it. It gave me the they quoted from your email where non-core articles in the Fall issue as well. gaming fix I really needed out here. you had mentioned that you had only I’m sure we’ll get some complaints and —Senior Airman Daniel Burns- one request for OSR related articles. some compliments. McKernan I’d like to make request number two; Shaw AFB however, I would also expand that No No, Thank YOU request to other RPGs as well. Wolfgang! You continue to rock! I don’t We’ve printed letters from folks in the service I was on the fence on whether or not play Pathfinder, and I don’t play 4th before, but I gotta say, it’s a huge kick to I would renew my KQ subscription Edition, but there’s always something know that kobolds are so widely travelled. as I don’t play 3/3.5/4 or Pathfinder. for me in Kobold Quarterly. However, the inclusion of the Dragon —Brett Andersen A New Golden Age Age article persuaded me to renew I have had a chance to review the because, even though I don’t play Thanks! Our writers do a great job download issue, and I have to say, Dragon Age currently, it was refreshing providing advice, hints, and materials. it’s as good or better than the old to have another game represented. I We’re always happy to see the inventive Dragon and Dungeon magazine days. also renewed on the hopes that having queries and polished articles. Ω