— The Magazine of Fantasy, Swords & Sorcery, and Science Fiction Game Playing — This issue marks the beginning of the new assistant editor’s tenure, and his touch is already evident. I won’t detail his innovations, nor will I detail which are mine; This new combined format is a combined effort. Other than various ad- ministrative duties, the only division of labor that we practice is that I tend to read and validate the historical pieces, as my background in history is more extensive than his. At the end of this piece, I have asked Jake to write a little introductory bit to give you, the readers, an idea of both where he is coming from, and what you can expect from him. His joining the magazine has already been advantageous. As can be expected with any infusion of new ideas, we already have dozens of plots and schemes simmering away, all designed to improve the quality of the magazine and to sell more copies of it. Vol. III, No. 12 June, 1979 This issue marks the introduction, or re-introduction in some cases, of some FEATURES different components of the magazine. We have returned the old FEATURED CREATURE, having renamed the column THE DRAGON’S BESTIARY. This System 7 Napoleonics — system analysis . 4 will now become a regular monthly feature. If you note this month’s entry care- Giants in the Earth — fictitious heros . 13 fully, you will note a new authenticity. GIANTS IN THE EARTH is another new D&D, AD&D, and Gaming — Sorcerer’s Scroll . 28 entry, designed to add some spice to your D&D or AD&D campaign. Each How to Make a Lich — first of new D&D columns . 36 month it will contain a few characters from legend and literature, with fighters The Dragon’s Bestiary . 44 leading off, to be followed by some magic users later in the summer. The series is VARIANTS co-authored by Lawrence Schick, newest member of TSR Hobbies Design Dept., and therefore fully compatible with the game. We will be starting another And What of the Skinnies — Starship Troopers Variant . 17 new column soon, when we have enough material for it, entitled DASTARDLY Chinese Undead — Celestial Stags are never in season . 20 DEEDS & DEVIOUS DEVICES. This will be for original tricks, traps and other Boot Hill — additions, revisions, and trivia . 22 nasty surprises. Readers wishing to submit material of this nature are invited to; Alignment — another view of the nine-point scheme . 23 send it to DD&DD, c/o THE DRAGON. Traps and such should be illustrated. Deck of Fate — the Tarot deck in D&D . 24 Some time ago, someone submitted two or three nasty little traps, but I have EPT Birth Tables . 33 since misplaced them. One was a nifty little device that chopped off feet at the Strength Comparison Table . 38 ankle; if the author is reading this, PLEASE contact us, and send us more DESIGN/DESIGNERS FORUM sketches. We are also planning to start up another column similar to the old MIGHTY System 7 — designer’s comments . 7 MAGIC MISCELLANY. This time, though, besides magical items, we want to System 7 — Q&A . 8 get into new and original spells, as well as such exotica as research methods, Lords and Wizards — the placement of castles . 16 recipes for magical inks, etc. Solo Berserker for William the Conqueror — 1066 . 19 Titled “Bazaar of the Bizarre”, it debuts this month with a recipe for a lich. Hirelings Have Feelings, Too . 26 Next month, we will present some new magical bags. Notes from a Very Successful D&D Moderator . 27 Last month’s RUMBLES got fouled up by the typesetter, and the final paragraph made less sense than usual. As you will notice, there is no letters page Impromptu Adventuring Groups — putting one together . 37 this month. I have but one letter in hand, as I write this, and that requires a The Thief — a deadly annoyance . 46 response from the publisher, and as he is in Canada as I’m writing this, the letter REVIEWS will have to wait. It is amazing; TD has amassed a stable of perfect writers. No one System 7 — Napoleonics for the Masses . 6 ever disagrees, so they must be perfect, right? Not only that, they write every- The Dragon’s Augury — Tribes of Crane, Ice War thing there is to know about their topics. If you feel that either of those statements Mercenary, Battle of Monmouth, Grenadier Figure is wrong, how can you back it up? We never get letters arguing points, nor do we Packs, and Battle Sphere . 40-43 get letters expanding upon articles. Generally, the only letters we get either deal with subscription matters, or are short notes enclosed with subscription renewals, HUMOR neither of which are exactly what we want on a letters page. If you want to be Mugger! — bizarre role playing for today . 31 heard, or disagree, or expand upon an article, this is your only shot. As I write Caption Contest Winners . 31 this, next month’s column will be the last, unless we get grist for the mill. I do not Finieous Fingers . 45 cont. on pg. 39 BACKGROUND D-Day 35 Years Later — personal commentary . 18 D&D Meets the Electronic Age . 26 NEWS Publisher’s Statement Gen Con Status Report . 3 THE DRAGON is published monthly by TSR Periodicals, a division of TSR Hobbies, Inc., P.O. Box 110, Lake Geneva, WI 53147 Convention Schedules . 3 It is available at better hobby shops and bookstores, or by subscription Subscription rate is $24 per 13 issues. Single copy price is $2.10, back issue $2.60, but availability of back issues is not guaranteed Sub- Publisher E. Gay Gygax Art Dept. Dave Sutherland scriptions outside the U.S. and Canada are $28 per 6 issues, and are air-mailed overseas. (Payment must be Editor made in U.S. currency or by international money order.) All material published herein becomes the exclu- T.J. Kask Tom Wham sive property of the publisher unless special arrangements to the contrary are made. Subscription expiration Assistant Editor Gay Jaquet Circulation Gay Jaquet is coded onto the mailing list. The number to the right of the name, prefixed by “TD” is the last issue of the subscription. Notices will not be sent. Change of address must be filed 30 days prior to mailing date. Unsolicited material cannot be returned unless accompanied by a stamped return envelope, and no If your mailing label says TD 26, responsibility for such material can be assumed by the publisher in any event. All rights on the entire contents of this publication are reserved, and nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written this is your last issue . resubscribe. permission of the publisher. Copyright 1979 by TSR HOBBIES, INC. Second-Class Postage paid at Lake Geneva, WI 53147 June, 1979 GENCON XII Status Report It seems to be the nature of the business that when anybody in the Judges/Events Wanted Gaming Hobby makes a prediction on a release date, it always seems to For GenCon XII be — shall we say — over-optimistic. Such has been the case with the GENCON XII Information Packet. We have been promising this eight Many of you complained that there were not enough mini- page brochure since April, and it now looks like June will be here before ature games, boardgames, role-playing games, computer the it gets out. games et cetera etal at last year’s GenCon. If you think We have some good news for those of you awaiting the convention GenCon needs more of Something, why don’t you help brochure. The Dragon (which has already donated much time and make sure it’s available in large quantities in GENCON XII. space to promoting GENCON XII) has agreed to include the brochure Small tourneys can be just as fun as large ones for the avid as an insert in the July issue of The Dragon. This, added to our mailing, gaming crowd. Prizes can be arranged by us costing a po- will guarantee wide dissemination of important information about tential judge little or nothing. So come on! Give your fellow GENCON. gamers a break, and have a good time too! Contact us at: Talking about important information, the PAW, after lengthy re- GenCon XII -Tourneys, search, has come across several inexpensive motels in the Parkside area POB 110, Lake Geneva, WI 53147 that will provide accommodations for about the same price as a dorm Judges get FREE admission to GENCON. See the entire room. These motels will be listed in the brochure, and will be connected convention for free! Recognized events only. to Parkside by special busses running to the convention in the morning and from the convention at night. Important Announcement: GENCON XII posters are available Convention Schedule NOW! These posters (drawn by Elrohir — who has done several The GLASCON IV (June 15-17) sponsored by CSUN Simulation Gamers Dragon covers, and the box cover art of TSR’s new release Divine Association. $3.00 Pre-registration Fee. $5.00 at the door. For more Right) uses the same art as our full page GENCON XII ad appearing in information write CSUN-SA 7133 Reseda Blvd. Reseda CA 91335. The Dragon. Any person who would like to pick up a poster for himself NANCAON II -88 (June 30 - July 1) at luxurious Houston Marriott. need only send $1.00 for postage and handling or promise to put up Largest Dungeons and Dragons Tournament at the Southwest.