March, 1980 Players Handbook, and Dungeon Masters Guide will find here, for the first time, a complete listing of all addenda and errata that will be incorporated in all future editions. However, there will be two new appendices in the DMG, only one of which (the encumbrance table) is listed in the errata section. The other, “Creating a Party on the Spur of the Moment,” appeared as an article in The Dragon #26 (June 1979). For fiction, this month, we present a writer new to the pages of The Dragon: Cynthia Frazer. We hope you enjoy reading her story s you know, each issue of The Dragon is planned and “Oasis” as much as we enjoy bringing it to you. laid out long before the month in which it actually appears. This is especially true with the selection of Traveller continues to be one of the more popular science fiction cover art. This month’s cover, “Snowmen of Doom” role-playing games, and each day our mailbox seems to contain a new by Hugo-winning artist Phil Foglio, was commis- variant. So, for you Traveler fans, we have five new variants, from new sioned back in the late fall of ‘79. So, we’re not making any political branches of military service to the effect of black holes. statements or commentary, but, you know, the kid does look a little Afghani. TSR President and publisher of The Dragon Gary Gygax is back this month with The Sorcerers Scroll, having a look at where TSR has As promised, this month we have the official errata and addenda for been and where we’re going. And Gary will be back again next month AD&D. Those of you with early editions of the AD&D MonsterManual, with a look at Conan a la our “Giants in the Earth” series. Up on a Soap Box this month we have veteran gamer Terry Kuntz. Terry examines wargaming from somewhat of a philosophical angle, and his piece should be read by gamer and non-gamer alike. FEATURES The Official AD&D Errata— All three books! . 4 Of course, we have our regular monthly columns, and this month we Oasis— Cynthia Frazer . 6 introduce a new one, and have the return of another. New in the Sorcerer’sScroll— Gary Gygax . 12 Leomund’sTinyHut— Lenard Lakofka . 14 column department is Simulation Comer by John Prados. Those of SageAdvice— JeanWells. 17 you who read the design credits on your games will recognize John’s UpOnASoapbox— Theron Kuntz . 16 name, and those of you who don’t may be quite amazed at the number Angels in Dungeons&Dragons— William Fawcett . 18 of games you own which were designed or developed by John. Topic of Giants in the Earth— L.Schick & T. Molduay . .20 discussion for John’s first column is the past decade of gaming—where Dastardly Deeds & Devious Devices . .23 it’s been and where it’s going. The AD&D National Player Rating System . .24 Returning this month after a brief sabbactical we have Giants in the Masters III: The Search for the Armadillo Amulet . .25 Earth, featuring Cecelia Holland’s Muirtagh the Bowman, H. Rider Fantasysmith— The Mystery of the Bow . .26 Haggard’s Umslopogaas, and Henry Kuttner’s Edward Bond and The History of Hothior— G. ArthurRahman . .27 Simulation Comer— John Prados . .47 Ganelon. Len Lakofka has more to say about experience points in Leomund’s VARIANTS Special Traveller Section: Tiny Hut, and Jean Wells, as always, has more Sage Advice. IBIS: Profit and Peril— Kenneth Burke . 7 Dastardly Deeds & Devious Devices continues with more DM delights and player headaches. Useful Skills— Alexander von Thorn ....................... 8 The “Other” Options— C. Ahner & R. Stuart. ............... 9 New to the pages of The Dragon this month, but to appear on a More Clout for Scouts— A. Previte & J. Cavaliere ............ 10 semi-regular basis, is the TSR Hobbies AD&D National Player Black Holes!— James Hopkins ............................ 11 Rating System. It will take awhile for the system to become fully operational (at the moment, only players from the three Invitational REVIEWS AD&D Masters Tournaments are ranked), but as the system gains more Gangster— Kenneth Burke . 50 input, it could possibly become a very significant factor in national Titan Strike— Van Norton . 50 competition. Double Star— William Fawcett . 50 War In The Ice— Roberto Camino . 51 Ever wonder about miniatures and the accuracy of their production in Short Takes & First Impressions— T.J. Kask . 52 any other sense than scale? The Fantasysmith does! This month’s Mystery of the Bow is food for thought even if you don’t have a thing DRAGON MIRTH to do with miniatures. Clarence the Cleric— L. W. Boelman ......................... 56 Inert Weapons— D. Patric Shaw ............................. 56 Glenn Rahman continues the series he started last month on the Ripples in the Fabric of the Multiuniverse— Mark Cummings ...... 57 history of Minaria (Divine Right). This month he details the history of Finieous— byJ.D. ..................................... ..58 Hothior. NEWS/VIEWS OK, all you Finieous fans —Finieous is back! J.D. winds up the DragonRumbles . 2 adventure of Dragonquest in a special two-page spread. Wormy is on a Out on a Limb . 3 brief hiatus somewhere on the west coast and will be returning (hope- ConventionSchedule1980.................................48 fully) soon. Classified ads . 54 ORIGINS Update . .60 Coming attractions: Next month will see a new Niall of the Far Travels adventure (including a cover based on the story); another installment of The Electronic Eye, our computer gaming column; an If your mailing label says TD 35 excellent Stellar Conquest article; the start of a series of Squad Leader this if your last issue . resubscribe scenarios: and much, much more— Jake Vol.IV,No.9 What was once an esoteric pastime practiced come so diverse, and we have so many irons in the by an avant-garde few has given rise to the newest fire, that I am no longer able to spend the majority trend in the toy and hobby industries. I refer, of of my time on TD. In fact, I now spend only a tiny Vol. IV, No. 9 course, to gaming, whether it is called simulation fraction of my working hours on TD. This has not March, 1980 gaming, hobby gaming, war gaming, role-playing, been an easy or pleasant transition for me. TD will or military miniatures or adventure gaming. always be my magazine, in that I had the pleasure Publisher Judging from the 43rd Hobby Industry of of starting it on its way. Today, though, the plain E. Gary Gygax America trade show, held Jan. 27-30 in Anaheim, fact is that it has become our magazine; each of the Calif., our once lonely pastime has arrived with a staff members has reason to claim part of it as his. Managing Editor vengeance. According to what the buyers and store There is an old newspaper joke that when the T.J. Kask owners were saying, adventure gaming (for want of editor does more managing than editing, it’s time to another term) is booming, with the heavy emphasis kick him upstairs to Managing Editor. on fantasy. Sales of Advanced D&D DMG bear this So now I pass on my gilded blue pencil to Jake, Editor out; it is the best-selling game/gamebook of all confident that he will continue to put out the finest Jake Jaquet time. The phenomenon is not limited to what is magazine possible each month. He is ably assisted considered the “hobby” industry; numerous man- by Kim, and I have every confidence that they will Assistant Editor ufacturers were showing at the Toy Show in New continue to please you, our readers. In some ways, Kim Mohan York that ran from Feb. 11-20. there will be no change at all, as I do retain the final Adventure-gaming materials are now being say over what is printed. Circulation & Sales sold in every kind of store except grocery stores. I Moving farther down the masthead, there is yet Corey Koebernick personally talked to dozens of store owners who another change evident, in the listing of artists. did not carry any toys or hobby items, specializing From now on, we will list all artists whose work in crafts, yet were heavily into games. Virtually appears in that issue. This month’s every store owner I talked to who was already into In the future, this column will be used solely to contributing artists: toys and hobbies was also into adventure gaming make policy statements or to address some inter- Phil Foglio or getting into it at that show. What was once only esting or noteworthy problem or article in the par- Robert Garcia available at certain stores, and you had to know ticular issue. My strange wanderings will be appear- Erol Otus who and where they were, can now be found in at ing in another place from now on, unless it deals Dave LaForce least 75% of all toy and hobby stores, according to with a matter of TSRP policy, or a philosophy that Jeff Dee my own poll at the show. the magazine wishes to address. Titled, appropri- Kenneth Rahman The commercial success of gaming has given ately enough, Off the Wall, the new column will rise to dozens of companies involved in the manu- serve as my personal vehicle to address matters of Alan Burton facture of games and figures where once there was interest to the hobby, as well as some of the more THE DRAGON is published monthly by TSR only one game company, and figures had to come bizarre and esoteric workings of my mind.