Issue #202 Vol. XVIII, No. 8 SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS February 1994 Rogues: Reaching for riches Publisher 9 The lovably larcenous take center stage (and TSR, Inc. whatever they can carry). Associate Publisher Brian Thomsen 10 Magic to a Different Beat Lisa Smedman Add these exotic instruments to your bard PCs Editor-in-Chief Kim Mohan repertoire. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Wolfgang Baur Associate editor 16 Dale A. Donovan Live for the moment, but always plan ahead. Fiction editor 22 The Legends Say. Fraser Sherman Barbara G. Young Exactly how does your bard PC know that? Editorial assistant 26 The Masters Hand David Zeb Cook Wolfgang H. Baur Tricks of the trade for the fantasy rogue. Art director Larry W. Smith FICTION Production staff Tracey Isler Thieves Justice David J. Schwartz 88 Beware a rogues revenge. Subscriptions Janet L. Winters U.S. advertising REVIEWS Cindy Rick Eye of the Monitor Sandy Petersen U.K. correspondent 61 Are computer programmers obstinate, and does that hurt and U.K. advertising the games they produce? Wendy Mottaz Role-playing Reviews Rick Swan Editorial Contributions 81 Exploring the latest in fantasy: White Wolfs MAGE* and Janis Wells Lisa Neuberger FASAs EARTHDAWN* games. DRAGON® Magazine (ISSN 0279-6848) is published tion throughout the United Kingdom is by Comag monthly by TSR, Inc., P.O. Box 756 (201 Sheridan Magazine Marketing, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Springs Road), Lake Geneva WI 53147, United States Middlesex UB7 7QE, United Kingdom; telephone: of America. The postal address for all materials from 0895-444055. the United States of America and Canada except Subscriptions: Subscription rates via second-class subscription orders is: DRAGON® Magazine, P.O. 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Newsstand distribu- change without prior notice. The issue of expiration of 4 FEBRUARY 1994 Through the Looking Glass Ken Carpenter 112 Miniatures under the eye of our guest reviewer. FEATURES Attack of the Little People! Steve Winter 30 Introduce 15-mm miniatures to your games. Even Wilder Mages Joel E. Roosa & Andrew Crossett 36 Variety truly is the spice of life for a wild-mage PC. The Preservers Choice L. Richard Baker III 42 In the DARK SUN® setting, will your preserver PC turn to defiling magic to save herself? Mythic Races of Africa Michael John Wybo II 46 How will your PCs react to animal spirits, snake-men, and zebrataurs in your campaign? COVER This months cover painting, Elminsters Notebook Ed Greenwood & Gary Williams Firebird by Robin Wood, has quite a 86 El encounters a mysterious, magical sword. history. The concept was one of the first sketches Robin sent to us way The Dragon Project Stephan Michael Sechi back in 1984. It took ten years to get on 88 Uncover the Iron Dragon of Quaran for WotCs our cover, but the wait was surely worth it. Robin's inclination to TALISLANTA* game. anachronisms is present in this piece too, including two other birds of fire. Campaign Journal Gregory W. Detwiler 96 These adventure seeds reap a bushel of excitement for any ALQADIM® campaign. DEPARTMENTS 6 Editorial 92 Forum 8 Letters 102 Dragonmirth 52 Convention Calendar 104 Twilight Empire 56 Libram X 108 Gamers Guide 67 Sage Advice 120 TSR Previews each subscription is printed on the mailing label of stamped envelope (9½” long preferred) to: Writers’ Registration applied for in the United Kingdom. All each subscriber’s copy of the magazine. 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I I wanted to scare the socks off them. I scene where our characters met our pa- also hear about numerous campaigns that thought the game went reasonably well tron, Zeb turned off all but one of the die premature deaths. They die for many only two of the five PCs died. Imagine my lights in the house (He didnt need to say reasons, from player apathy or scheduling surprise when the players didnt have our patron was in a darkened room.), conflicts to Monty Haulism or even a few much interest in playing again. While wrapped himself in a blanket (Zeb didnt botched dice rolls. The majority of these there could have been other contributing have to tell us the PCs patron was very deaths are preventable, though.