DRAGON 1 CONTENTS Magazine Issue # 122 Vol. XII, No. 1 June 1987 REGULAR FEATURES Publisher 16 The Ecology of the Rot Grub Ed Greenwood Mike Cook Even the greatest should beware the very least. 18 A Step Beyond Shogun . David Bunnell Editor Roger E. Moore If you need Oriental Adventures information, youll find it here. 20 . And a Step Beyond That David Zeb Cook Assistant editor Fiction editor . Or else youll find it here, from the designer himself. Robin Jenkins Patrick L. Price 22 Out of Africa Charles R. Saunders Editorial assistants A collection of demons, beasts, and monsters from African myth and legend. Eileen Lucas Barbara G. Young Georgia Moore 27 Gaming the Dark Continent Roger E. Moore AD&D® game statistics for twelve of the most dangerous African monsters known. Art director 32 The Natural Order Arthur Collins Roger Raupp More spells for druids, for every season there is. Production Staff 40 The Sorcerers Scroll Gary Gygax Marilyn Favaro Gloria Habriga A few words and good-bye from one of the creators. Subscriptions Advertising 44 The GMs Ten Commandments Rig Volny Pat Schulz Mary Parkinson Ten helpful guidelines for keeping your game at its very best. 46 Marshalling the Martial Arts Wayne Goldsmith and Dan Salas Creative editors From aikido to wing chun: a world of hand-to-hand warfare. Ed Greenwood Jeff Grubb 50 Operation: Zondraker Merle M. Rasmussen Contributing artists Part 1 of a two-part article on espionage on the Moon. Denis Beauvais Richard Cameron Larry Elmore Ernie Guanlao 58 The Leader of the Pack Steven E. Williams Paul Jaquays Dwain Meyer Leadership and carousing in STAR FRONTIERS® games. David Nolte Brandon Peterson Joseph Pillsbury Leslie Taha 62 The Princes Birthday Keith Minnion David Trampier Richard Tomasic What do you get for a cheerful, adorable, and thoroughly evil child? Rusty Watkins Marvel Bullpen 72 The Marvel®-Phile Jeff Grubb If you like a character with brains, try one with a corner on the market. 74 A Big Book of Little Heroes John C. Bunnell A special review of a British tome on miniatures painting. 76 The Role of Computers Patricia Lesser A close look at Might and Magic, and a few other games as well. 82 The Ultimate Addenda David Edward Martin Got a copy of The Ultimate Powers Book? Get out your red pen. DEPARTMENTS 3 Letters 67 Index to Advertisers 96 Dragonmirth 4 World Gamers Guide 68 TSR Profiles 98 Snarfquest 6 Forum 88 Gamers Guide 101 Wormy 4 2 Sage Advice 9 0 Convention Calendar COVER We wanted to set our 11th anniverary issue off with a bang, but we had no idea that Denis Beauvaiss cover would literally set the issue on fire. Denis wrote that he sketched over 40 dragons before settling on this one, which we like to think of as our hallmark. As the convention button says: THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL MAY BE AN ONCOMING DRAGON. 2 JUNE 1987 The spy game LETTERS that came in from the cold Among the other letters we received last month was a two-pager player who would be allowed in? I have several from a reader in Oceanport, N.J. He Comics and films friends who would also like to know. I have had just finished reading “The Game heard that some (all?) conventions have a mini- Wizards” column from issue #120 Dear Dragon: mum age for each player. Does this age differ if you wish to have your own scenario? and, as he put it, “almost had a cow.” In a previous issue, you asked for some The revised TOP SECRET® game thoughts thoughts on future goals of the magazine. Here Ryan Smalley are some ideas which pertain not just to the Lock Haven, PA system is still in the works, and Doug Niles has noted that it will magazine, but are other things to consider. Have ® ® Frankly, the GEN CON Game Fair staff and I you ever thought of putting out a D&D -game essentially be a new game system. comic book? And, about the [D&D] movie — were surprised to her that any game conven- The Oceanport reader was con- what’s the situation on that? Has TSR been able tion would limit its participants by age. If you cerned because he has a long- to find a company to finance such a film? are concerned about this, call or write to the established TOP SECRET game staff of the game convention that you and your Celia Kendrick campaign in progress (with himself Rehoboth MA friends wish to attend, and ask about age limits. I think that most conventions are pleased to as the Admin), and the campaign is The comic-book idea is interesting, and it has have anyone of any age attend them. The gam- entirely based upon the original been mentioned to us before. What would you ing world would be a poorer place without a rules for the game. “My question is,” particularly like to see if such a thing were to little something from everyone. We have no he wrote, “will I suffer under the come about? Would you like to see it previewed information on the average age of convention- revision? Will I have to re-do my in DRAGON® Magazine? goers; the range is quite broad. — RM charts? Are the articles [on the As for the movie — to my knowledge, all plans original rules from DRAGON® Maga- for a D&D movie have been shelved — but you Expand ecologies zine] still good?” can still rent videos of The Seventh Voyage of From my viewpoint as the maga- Sinbad and Conan the Destroyer for your gam- zine’s editor, my answers would be ing group’s entertainment on Saturday after- Dear Dragon noons — RM One of your monthly articles has helped me no, no, and yes. No, no one need and my campaigners more than many others. suffer a complete campaign rear- That is your “The Ecology Of…” articles. I rangement due to the revision. No, Copies, anyone? absolutely love them, for I often use that the charts won’t need revision. And column to create more detail and fun in my yes, the articles on the TOP SECRET Dear Dragon: campaign. Even the jocks and aces here want to ® game are still going to be good One night while playing an AD&D game, my stop the boring routine of monsters. because we’re going to do our best But, as the fantasy role-playing world does not friend had a few DRAGON Magazines and let to cover both editions of the game in me borrow one of them. It was Vol. IX, No. 11, consist of the ADVANCED DUNGEONS & April 1985. In the letters section was a letter DRAGONS® game (even only if it is the major this magazine. written to you from Howe Audacious, entitled league of fantasy role-playing,) could you please No other espionage role-playing “One good turn…” He asked if you could have more variety in “The Ecology Of…” game produced has sold as well or photocopy all of the pages of all the old monsters? I would clearly love to see monsters had as loyal a following as the TOP DRAGON Magazines and send them to him. from some of the other TSR games, especially SECRET game. Many TOP SECRET Since most of the old issues are sold out, I was the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game, playing game players have happily admitted wondering if you could do the same for me; I special attention to the Immortals Set. It would to purchasing modules and accesso- would really appreciate it if you would photo- be a dream come true to have more than one ry packs for other espionage game copy them for me. monster in that column in each issue. (Name and address withheld by editor) That column has added great detail and varie- systems, particular those for the ty to my game. Please, I ask again, add more JAMES BOND 007 game from Victo- Occasionally we receive letters like this from monsters from other games into “The Ecology ry Games, because they convert all eager gamers who want back issues. Sorry, Of…” column. of the material into TOP SECRET folks; the original letter was actually a joke. David Cord game statistics. One gamer went as “Howe Audacious” did not exist. However, the Versailles IN far as to call the Q Manual for the RPGA™ network is operating a photocopy JAMES BOND 007 game “the finest service, and interested readers may contact that Your idea has a lot of appeal. Very well, we TOP SECRET accessory ever pro- department for more information. Write to: declare the Ecology articles open to submissions Photocopy Service, RPGA Network Headquar- concerning other TSR, Inc., games. The D&D duced.” With loyalty like that, how ters, TSR, Inc., P.O. Box 509, Lake Geneva WI STAR FRONTIERS®, and GAMMA WORLD® can we stop our coverage of the 53147. — RM games might prove to be fertile ground for such game now? creations. Go to it! — RM Whether you look forward to the new edition of the game or wish to Con age limits continue playing by the original Game of kings rules, you will want to keep your Dear Dragon: eyes on these pages in the future. I would like to know more about game con- Dear Dragon: ventions. I am 13 years old and have been I just got a back issue of DRAGON Magazine We have a wide assortment of playing DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® games for issue #100 and I liked the DRAGONCHESS™ original-set game articles sitting in the past three years.