Issue #205 Vol. XVIII, No. 12 May 1994 SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS Publisher Secrets abound in the wilderness TSR, Inc. 11 Uncover hidden lore as we spend some time in the great outdoors. Associate Publisher Brian Thomsen The People David Howery Editor-in-Chief 12 Explore a fantasy America-complete with Native Kim Mohan Americans. Associate editor Getting Back to Nature Jon Pickens Dale A. Donovan 26 Improve the distinctive flavor of the druid with these Fiction editor re-aligned spell spheres. Barbara G. Young Arcane Lore Jon Pickens Editorial assistant 34 Add these new (& old) spells to the druids repertoire. Wolfgang H. Baur Art director Larry W. Smith FICTION Production staff Cap Renvoorts Luck Daniel Hood Tracey Isler 76 Making your own luck is a risky proposition. Subscriptions Janet L. Winters REVIEWS U.S. advertising Cindy Rick The Role of Books John C. Bunnell 44 Read this column before Nightfall. DRAGON® Magazine (ISSN 0279-6848) is published tion throughout the United Kingdom is by Comag monthly by TSR, Inc., PO. 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, PO. Box mail are as follows: $30 in U.S. funds for 12 issues 111, (201 Sheridan Springs Road), Lake Geneva WI sent to an address in the U.S.; $36 in U.S. funds for 12 53147, U.S.A.; telephone (414) 248-3625; fax (414) issues sent to an address in Canada; £21 for 12 issues 248-0389. 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Box 5695, Boston MA 02206, U.S.A. In book trade in the United States is by Random House, the United Kingdom, methods of payment include Inc., and in Canada by Random House of Canada, Ltd. cheques or money orders made payable to TSR Ltd., Distribution to the book trade in the United Kingdom is or charges to a valid ACCESS or VISA credit card; by TSR Ltd. Send orders to: Random House, Inc., send subscription orders with payments to TSR Ltd., Order Entry Department, Westminster MD 21157, as per that address above. Prices are subject to Printed in the U.S.A. U.S.A.; telephone: (800) 733-3000. Newsstand distribu- change without prior notice. The issue of expiration of 2 MAY 1994 Eye of the Monitor Sandy Petersen 59 Hack your way through dungeons to the world of Athas. Role-playing Reviews Rick Swan 98 A terrific selection of horrific supplements. Through the Looking Glass Bob Bigelow 114 Learn the latest on the lead controversy. FEATURES The Plane Truth, Part Three David Zeb Cook 50 In this finale, Fallendor and Ambran meetsort of. Its Never Too Early The staff 68 Start planning for the GEN CON® Game Fair now. 12 Secrets of Survival Spike Y. Jones 84 Survive in the harshest wilderness with magical help. The Game Wizards Dori Hein 89 Get the lowdown on the revised and expanded RAVENLOFT® campaign setting. 92 Dragon Slayers Bill Slavicsek Get a first look at the Council of Wyrms setting and an Our cover this month requires expanded version of the dragon-slayer kit. some explaining. The wonderful work that graces this magazine is by TSRs own Fred Fields. This same artwork will appear as the new cover DEPARTMENTS to the revised FORGOTTEN REALMS® campaign setting, originally pub- 4 Letters 64 Libram X lished in 1993. The contents of said 6 Editorial 71 Sage Advice boxed set are not changing, just the 8 First Quest 104 Dragonmirth cover. We are able to explain the fact that the FR boxed set is going to look 41 Convention Calendar 106 Twilight Empire different, but the interior material 48 Rumblings 110 Gamers Guide will remain the same, and at the 54 Forum 124 TSR Previews same time, run a way-cool Fred Fields piece on our cover. Quite a bonus, eh? 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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TSR. returned if it cannot be published. We strongly recom- contract for which the advertiser and/or agency of Inc., P.O. Box 111, Lake Geneva WI 53147, U.S.A. mend that prospective authors write for our writers’ advertiser fails to comply with the business ethics set USPS 318-790. ISSN 1062-2101. guidelines before sending an article to us. In the forth in such contract. United States and Canada, send a self-addressed, DRAGON is a registered trademark of TSR, Inc. DRAGON 3 What did you think of this issue? Do you have a question about an article or have an idea for a Africa #2 One heck of a new feature youd like to see? In the United States and Canada, write to: Letters, DRAGON® commute Magazine, P.O. Box 111, Lake Geneva WI 53147, Dear Dragon, U.S.A. In Europe, write to: Letters, DRAGON I have noticed many articles regarding an Magazine, TSR Ltd., 120 Church End, Cherry African campaign setting in the magazines Dear Dragon, Hinton, Cambridge CB1 3LB, United Kingdom. pages. Why are these articles being published if If TSR, Inc., (and DRAGON Magazine) is based the material probably will be published in a in Lake Geneva, Wis., and all submissions must hardcover later? Since I would buy the hard- be sent there, why are subscriptions sent to cover if it were published, as would many other Boston, Mass.? Africa #1 readers of DRAGON Magazine, I feel like I am Conrad R. Geist paying twice for the same material. I further- Ft. Morgan CO more feel that if a hardcover is published, the Dear Dragon, precious space in DRAGON Magazine is being Ahh, a simple question—the kind I can answer The various articles on Africa have been wasted So, why do you print African setting even with a deadline breathing down on me.