Wheres My Magazine? he theme of the last DRAGON® Magazine to appear was, However, as in many campaigns, we came away with a Tappropriately enough, “Faith and Hope.” Since that issue, new gaming buddy and friend. TSR, Inc. has been bought by you have been waiting patiently, demonstrating faith that Wizards of the Coast, Inc. What better ally could we have than the next issue was forthcoming — and hope that it would be a company named after an AD&D® campaign? soon. Well, here it is, DRAGON Magazine #237. It has survived a When undertaking an AD&D adventure, a mixed party is long and grueling dungeon, emerging slightly battleworn but most viable. Clerics heal, warriors fight, and mages wield victorious. magic. Complementary skills enhance the group. One player’s The “next issue” previews are now incorrect. The “Cons & weakness is another player’s strength. Pros” and “TSR Previews” sections are very much out of date. its Wizards of the Coast and TSR match up incredibly well. TSR kind of like showing up at a wedding straight from a dusty cam- produces the world’s most popular role-playing games and paign, smelling more like a moose than a wedding guest with books, and Wizards of the Coast produces the world’s most hair dirty and unkempt. Well, this is the “Something Wild” issue, successful trading card games. We are both different, but what with new articles and fiction, and familiar friends like “Knights we do, we do well. We complement each other. Of course, of the Dinner Table,” “DragonMirth,” and “Sage Advice.” DRAGON Magazine is the periodical of AD&D game material for So, the father of the bride says, “Why didn’t you tell us you’d role-playing gamers, and we will continue to give you the best be late? And where have you been?” Well, we didn’t realize we articles about role playing that we possible can. would be this late. We were certain there would be plenty of We know that you have many questions about the current time to clean up and change clothes. We were wrong, and we changes, so we’re compiling a Frequently Asked Questions list apologize. If we had any idea that issue #237 would be this late, about the sale of TSR to Wizards of the Coast. The answers to you most certainly would have been notified. What we do know all those questions will appear with the next issue of DRAGON is that we have survived many problems and crises over the past Magazine. five months — have lost some hit points — but we are here. Under the Wizard’s protection, we will grow and thrive. As Furthermore, we have built up experience points, and we positively as the relaunch of DRAGON Magazine was received, we promise that we will never go away again. Once a month, like anticipate giving you an even better DRAGON Magazine in the clockwork, we’ll be there, in your mail box, at the hobby shops, future. Join us on this new campaign. Who knows what and in the bookstores. All subscriptions will be fully honored, wonders and sights are yet to come? and in November, with the publication of the DRAGON Magazine Annual #2, you will see us twice. Pierce Watters Publisher Associate Publisher Editor-in-Chief Editor Art Director TSR, Inc. Brian Thomsen Pierce Watters Dave Gross Larry Smith Associate Editor Editorial Assistant Subscriptions Advertising Michelle Vuckovich Lizz Baldwin Linda Baerbock Cindy Rick Printed in the USA # DRAGON 237 3 Volume XXI, No. 8 Issue #237 Wild at Heart Steve Berman Four new wilderness kits for every class, including new wizard and priest spells. Page 8 Man’s Best Friend Clayton R. Beal What are you saying, Lassie? Timmy’s being attacked by orcs? Page 18 On a Waterless Sea Todd Stigliano Hidden Talents Big wheels for the William W. Connors heroes of Athas. A simple skills system for the SAGA™ rules. Page 23 Page 38 I’m a What?! Lachlan McQuarrie Fun with reincarnation. Page 65 Columns Wyrms of the 3 ....................... The Wyrm’s Turn North: Eldenser Flames and feedback. 6 ........................................... D-Mail Ed Greenwood What’s on your mind about what’s in the Is that a dragon in your sword? magazine. Page 32 82 ........... RPGA® Network News It starts at the WINTER FANTASY™ convention, but the "Visions of Destiny” tournaments won’t stop there. 90 .............................. Cons & Pros Can’t find anyone to play all those great new Dragon’s games you got over the holidays? Try a local Bestiary: game convention. Venomous! 92 ........................... Sage Advice Walls of force can stop pretty much anything Kevin Melka but the Sage’s answers to this month‘s AD&D® Poisonous reptiles from the jun- game questions. gles of the real world, plus more poison types for your own new 108 ........ monsters. Role-playing Reviews Page 42 Fantasy from the DRAGONLANCE®: FIFTH AGE™ campaign to the Necromunda* board game. Game Wizards: 120 ................ The Current Clack ALTERNITY Game The state of the industry. Bill Slavicsek and Rich Baker A first peek at the new science-fic- tion game by TSR. Other Material Page 60 ............... Campaign Classics: 99 Knights of the Dinner Table Lupins of the 100 ........................................... DragonMirth 102 ................................. MYSTARA® Setting Gamer’s Guide Bruce Heard 104 ........................................................ Floyd The many breeds of lupins 116 ........................................ TSR Previews make fine canine PCs. Page 70 Bazaar of the Bizarre: Long Shots Brian Dunnell New magical items to set your archers aquiver. Page 96 DRAGON #237 5 survival skills to make it through a cross- Online reunions country midwinter trek, and try to catch Dear DRAGON Magazine, thieves who steal their magic in towns, I have been playing the AD&D game to name only a few of the non-dungeon for about five years now. Unfortunately crawls that have been part of my six- our group has begun to split up due to year-long campaign in the FORGOTTEN some of the members moving to differ- REALMS® setting. However, the adven- ent cities and the like. However, since tures we all keep rehashing and never we all own computers and that we are tire of discussing are the monster-bash- all on the internet, we were wondering if ing dungeon crawls! Whether we are there were rooms on the internet where talking about the running battle with the we could continue to play. Any informa- Triumvirate and their pet umber hulk tion that you could provide us would be who took the ground out from under greatly appreciated. Thank you their feet, or their near-fatal brawl with a James Thornbrugh small drow enclave deep in the via e-mail Underdark, these are the adventures that live on in our minds long after For five years or more, the DMs in the they’ve forgotten their “thrilling” conver- TSR Online area of Genie have been run- sation with Elminster. I’m sorry, but ning a variety of AD&D campaigns. As I type nothing beats a well-designed dungeon these words, the chat-based games in the lf you have a comment, opinion, or ques- crawl for sheer gaming excitement! TSR Online area on America Online are tion for the editors of DRAGON® Magazine, Mr. Swan’s attitude makes me won- kicking into high gear, with more DMs start- write us a letter. We’d love to hear from you. der if that is why there are so few dun- ing new games all the time. While most In the United States and Canada, send geon crawls on the market today. What folks who join these games end up making letters to “D-Mail,” DRAGON Magazine, 201 do my fellow players think? Is my group new friends rather than meeting old ones, Sheridan Springs Road, Lake Geneva, WI the only one that still enjoys dungeon this could be the perfect way for old gaming 53147 USA. In Europe, send letters to “D- crawls?! Is the game doomed to become pals to reunite after the years and miles Mail,” DRAGON Magazine, TSR Ltd., 120 nothing but war games (as in the have grown long. (Hey, Bob! When’re we Church End, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge CB1 BIRTHRIGHT® setting), horror stories going to start up a game again?) 3LB, United Kingdom. (RAVENLOFT® setting), and slave rebellions You can also send e-mail to us at (DARK SUN® setting)? Oops! [email protected]. Requests for writers Say it isn’t so, Joe! Dear DRAGON Magazine, guidelines should go to [email protected]. Steve Shawler Congratulations on another fine Please use regular mail for change of address 3306 Radiance Road issue, and the Annual to boot. I found a notices or subscription orders. Louisville, KY 40220 point of interest, though. While reading the “Mage on Deck” article, I noticed that Shocked, I tell you! Thanks from down under the Wild Jibe spell on page 42 has a list- Dear DRAGON Magazine, Dear DRAGON Magazine, ing of “Components: V, S, M.” In the I, for one, was shocked by Rick Greetings! I have received my copy of description of the spell, however, there Swan’s review of the instant classic Night the first DRAGON Magazine annual. It’s an is no mention of a material component. Below and of Undermountain: The Lost excellent idea to have something like Is this a typo for the components, or an Level in DRAGON Magazine #234. It wasn’t this. And to release it in November omission of the material component? really the review that got me so much as instead of waiting ’til December is tops.