Dragon Magazine 229 PDF

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think it all started on December 8, 1980. While Mark David
Chapman fired four bullets into John Lennon in the entrance
way to the Dakota Apartments, I was being fitted for my first
pair of glasses. That night I had the first of what became a
recurring nightmare. Im in the cafeteria waiting in the lunch line.
Ifs 11:30 A.M. on a Tuesday. I know this because I look at the clock
that hangs above the sign that reads, Todays Special - Sloppy
Joes. Im wearing knit pants with a matching brown vest and a
turtleneck. The older, okay-looking football player standing behind
me says, Guys dont make passes at girls who wear glasses.
Without turning to look at him, I take my lunch tray from the heavy-
set woman with purple hair and sit down by myself. Then the name
calling starts, Hey four eyes! Metal mouth! Did your mommy dress
you this morning? I open my mouth to say something but only end
up spitting out partially chewed sloppy joe. Suddenly I cant breathe,
and my jaw feels wired shut. The cafeteria erupts in laughter. I wake
up gasping and coughing. That was when it began. That was
when I realized I was a nerd.
When I reached high school, I tried to hide my true nerd self.
I played varsity soccer and tennis. I was a member of the stu-
dent government. I wore preppy clothes and even, gasp,
permed my hair. My braces came off, and my parents finally let
me get contacts. I fit in so well that the anti-social club didnt
ask me to be a member. But that lasted only a year and then
I met some people who were just like me and we were tired
of hiding. I cut my hair, I wore pieces of brown packaging tape
on my jeans, and my friends and I printed T-shirts that read
Misfits of Society. We wore them with pride.
In college, my friends and I organized all-day gaming ses-
sions of the AD&D game or Chaosiums
Call Of Cthulhu. During summer break
we drove to Teri Andre State Park
and played war games in the
sand dunes, complete with water balloons as our weapons. We
watched Star Trek: The Next Generation religiously. The comic
book shop became a hangout, and we openly admitted to lik-
ing the film version of Dune. We were not afraid.
I need no longer be uneasy with my geekdom; the geek is
now a pop culture icon. About a month ago, the local paper
even ran an article about the fashionability of geeks. Its cool
to look uncool, and were scoring big all over the place. If you
dont believe me, just look around you. Cable television now
has a channel devoted to nothing but science fiction. You can
watch four variations of the Star Trek series. TheX-Files is one of
the most popular shows in the country. Forrest Gump was one
of the highest grossing films of 1994. Nerdy pocket protectors
have evolved into fanny packs. Wearing glasses is trendy. The
ultimate geek anthem, Gary Numans Cars, has matured into
He Thought of Cars by Blur. And last August, 30,000 of us
descended upon Milwaukee for four days of fun, fantasy, and
science fiction.
I now have a different recurring dream. Im walking down an
aisle in a crowded auditorium wearing hush puppies, brown cor-
duroy trousers, and an argyle sweater. I work my way up to the stage
and stand in front of the podium. I lean in toward the microphone
before me and I say Hi, my name is Michelle, and Im a geek. The
crowd stands and applauds.
PuIlicIer
TSR, Inc.
1JiIor
Dave Gross
AccocioIe PuIlicIer
Brian Thomsen
AccocioIe eJiIor
Michelle Vuckovich
1JiIor-in-CIief
Pierce Watters
SuIccripIionc
Janet L. Winters
1JiIor
Anthony J. Bryant
I.S. oJierIicing
Cindy Rick
ArI JirecIor
Larry W. Smith
I.K. correcponJenI/oJierIicing
Carolyn Wildman
PrinIeJ in IIe ISA
DRAGON
#
229 3
Steve Berman
Its finders keepers for mages
who
specialize in divining and dousing.
The
Rhabdomancer
Page 12
Magic Miscibility
James Collier
So youve got all this magic.
What can go wrong?
Page 8
Illusions of Grandeur
Rogers Cadenhead
Hear Emil Duli Wonk tell you what you
really need to know for your PC illusionists.
Page 20
Curses
Ed Rice
When you want to do your very worst. . .
Page 28
A Wizards Three
Chris Perry
Three new mages: frost wizards, fiend
slayers, and spiritualists.
Page 40
The
Dimensional
Wizard
Barry A.A. Dillinger
A new kit for wizards specializing in
dimensions and planar travel.
Page 50
Survival of the Smartest
Lloyd Brown III
Heed your instructor and keep those 1st-level mages alive.
Page 66
MAY 1996
D c p a r t m c n t s
Bazaar of the Bizarre:
The Magic of India
Michael Selinker
Magical items from the India of song
and legend.
Page 33
Rogues Gallery: Tylk
Skip Williams
Meet Til-Kyrmeldur ap Puirdoch, Tylk to
his friends. This half-elven druid/ranger
believes in the goodness of all.
Page 47
Cn!umns
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Wyrms Turn
Geeks of the world, unite. We have nothing to
lose but our pocket protectors.
6 . . . . . . . . . . D-Mail
Readers letters on our new look, Krynn, and
Toril.
61 . . . . . . . . . . . Role of Books
John C. Bunnell reads the newest novels.
89 . . . . . . . . . Sage advice
Skip Williams answers questions on spell work-
ing and some optional rules.
93 . . . . . . . . . Cons & Pros
We let you know where the conventions are
and whos going to be there.
95 . . . . . . . . . RPGA Network News
Network coordinator Scott Douglas presents a
few of his 297 Rules of Convention Attendance.
97 . . . . . . . . . Forum
Letters this month contain advice for DMs and
players, as well as a discussion on women in
gaming.
108 . . . . . . . . . . Role-playing Reviews
Rick Swan takes a virtual vacation.
120 . . . . . . . . . The Current Clack
Allen Varney talks about the industry.
Campaign Classics:
The Wu Jen
Dave Zeb Cook
The powerful mage from the Oriental Adventures
gets a facelift for 2nd Edition.
Page 54
Dungeon Mastery:
A is for NPC
Keith Strohm
Tips on making a Grade-A NPC
Page 85
Magic Doesnt
Always Go Boom
Christopher Byler
Not all magic has to be flashy.
Page 72
Other Material
9 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . Knights of the Dinner Table
1 0 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DragonMirth
1 0 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gamers Guide
1 0 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Floyd
1 1 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TSR Previews
76 The Taking of Mount
Nevermind
(DragonLance: Tales of the Fifth Age)
David Wise
Pyrothraxus the Great, a mighty red dragon, claims
his new home. Theres just one tiny problem.
DRAGON
#
229 5
More on the new look
Dear DRAGON Magazine:
I havent opened a current issue of
DRAGON Magazine for the last three years,
since I let my subscription run out. For
some reason, the articles ceased to be
relevant to me and my campaigns. I
noticed the January (#225) and February
(#226) issues on a bookstore rack and
the new format captured my curiosity. I
purchased both issues and promptly
began perusing the articles.
I must commend you for your efforts
in revamping the magazine they have
really paid off.
The format and layout of the maga-
zine are much friendlier and more
importantly the articles are better.
There is a definite sense of purpose and
direction in the articles and in the
themes of both issues, two qualities I felt
were lacking three years ago. There
were an unprecedented six articles
between the two issues that were well-
presented and actually useful, well
above the traditional one article per
issue that I am used to. If you continue
turning out magazines as worthwhile as
issues #225 and #226, you will win
back an old subscriber. I hope that you
are successful.
For your information, the articles that
I found noteworthy were Secret Origins
and Motivations of Player Characters,
Im Okay, Youre One-Dimensional,
Dungeon Mastery: What to Do When
Your Party Wants to Split Up, The
DRAGON Magazine (ISSN 0279-6848) is published monthly by TSR, Inc.,
201 Sheridan Springs Road, Lake Geneva, WI 53147, United States of
America. The postal address for all materials from the United States of
America and Canada except subscription orders is: DRAGON Magazine,
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Distribution: DRAGON Magazine is available from game and hobby
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book trade in the United States is by Random House, Inc., and in Canada
Magic Goes Away, Off-the-Cuff NPCs,
and Improve with Improv.
David L. Kinney
Chicago, IL
I have not read DRAGON Magazine with
any regularity since 1989. I picked up
issue #225 (January) with a little hesita-
tion, but I heard the magazine was
regrouping, and I thought I would give it
a try. I was not disappointed.
The reason I hadnt bought a DRAGON
Magazine in so long is that it had noth-
ing to offer me as a DM or a player. In
issue #225, however, I will be able to
use almost every article in some way
(except for the PLAYERS OPTION rules).
I have, however, one strong criticism.
I do not like polybagged magazines.
Considering DRAGON Magazine has not
been useful to me for seven years, I
questioned buying #225. I dont like
buying products sight unseen. Although
I am filled with hope for DRAGON
Magazines future, I will pay $4.95 for a
polybagged magazine only to find it is
of no use to me once or twice before I
stop buying it altogether.
Ed May
As a player of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
for over 15 years, I had to write and com-
ment on your recent changes. Rogues
Gallery goes back to your old Giants in
the Earth series. You change, but still
keep basics the same. I was also pleased
to see Campaign Classics. I am and
will always be a a GREYHAWK player. I
also fell in love with the combined
SF/Fantasy aspect of spelljamming. For
all of us long-playing, hard-core adven-
turers who grew up in the alley-ways of
Greyhawk City and one day made it to
the stars on an elven man-o-war, I thank
you.
Larry W. Cofferen
Abilene, TX
Thanks for the kind words, guys. Your
checks are in the mail. Its really satisfying to
know that people appreciate the final prod-
by Random House of Canada, Ltd. Distribution to the book trade in the
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Methods of payment include checks or money orders made payable to
uct. Were hoping to continue to make it
even better in the coming months.
Soth is back on Krynn?
In the novel Dragons of Summer
Flame, Lord Soth makes an appearance.
In the novel Knight of the Black Rose, Lord
Soth is supposedly drawn into the land
of Ravenloft. How could he be in both?
Im asking because I run a RAVENLOFT
campaign and my brother runs a
DRAGONLANCE campaign, and we cant
figure out which one Soth belongs to.
Oh... in the short story Kindling
(issue #225), who was the red dragon,
and where does she come from?
David Alden
Palmdale, CA
Reread Dragons carefully. Lord Soth
himself is not seen on Krynn. He is rumored
to be there, reported to be leading his legion
of undead knights. Dont trust rumors. Soth
is the dark lord of Sithicus, and dark lords
cant leave their realms. So unless you have
some phenomenal planar shift that alters all
sorts of realities (which, granted, the Chaos
god may have created), Soth is stuck in
Demiplane of Dread for the present time.
Your brothers out of luck.
The red dragon in Jean Rabes story was
Malystrix, Malys to her friends. As to exactly
who she is, where she comes from, and
what her arrival means to Ansalon. . . youll
have to wait and see.
The good, the bad,
and the ugly
Congratulations on the revamp; its
definitely a smoother and slicker pack-
age. The polybag is no doubt a benefit
for subscribers and allows the occa-
sional freebie, so no objections here. On
the other hand, the new logo resembles
some sort of grotesque blob falling from
the sky. Oh, good call on reproducing
the cover art sans copy!
As for the interior, Im pleased with
TSR, Inc., or charges to valid MasterCard or VISA credit cards; send
subscription orders with payments to TSR, Inc., P.O. Box 5695, Boston MA
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ACCESS or VISA credit card; send subscription orders with payments to
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uninterrupted delivery.
Submissions: All material published in DRAGON Magazine becomes the
exclusive property of the publisher, unless special arrangements to the
contrary are made prior to publication. DRAGON Magazine welcomes unso-
6 MAY 1996
the attention to discontinued worlds (a
necessity, since no new releases support
these treasured campaigns), but so far
all weve seen is spellbooks (enough
already!) and spells. Lets see new back-
grounds, encounters, and even some
monsters.
A true return to DRAGON Magazines
roots should include lots of alternate
classes for PCs and NPCs, adventuring
locales from commonplace to exotic,
and background material.
Industry news and RPGA Network
News are fine, informative additions.
I have one more minor complaint.
Sometimes it seems every article has to
begin with a cute scenario or planar
traveling informant. It is high time for
the editor to wield his power and
declare these seemingly ceaseless intro-
ductions to be welcome no longer.
Mark Wade
Salt Lake City, UT
Thanks, Mark. Your comments are
noted, although you may want to look at
Campaign Classics again. So far weve
had spellbooks (January), magical sands
(February), and a revisited wizard kit (May).
Thats hardly all spellbooks and spells.
Future installments of Campaign Classics
will feature all you have suggested and
more. Keep reading.
What about the rest
of Faern?
I recently acquired Wizards and
Rogues of the Realms and Warriors and
Priests of the Realms. I am, as always,
pleased by the quality. I added them to
my ever-growing collection of FORGOTTEN
REALMS material. I am starting to grow
disappointed, however, in the one-sided
view of the materials that are being pro-
duced. I have all published material
available for the Realms, including
Maztica, The Horde, and Kara-Tur. I find
these as interesting (if not more so) as
western Faern. I think it is safe to say
that almost 90% of the materials detail
this one region. Are there any projects in
the works to include these fascinating
areas? The two aforementioned pur-
chases would have been true treasures
if they had included even a token sec-
tion for those three areas.
Thanks for the outstanding products
that TSR consistently puts out, but
please in the future try to remember the
adventurers who would like to explore
the other 75% of Faern.
Michael Brock
Niantic, CT
I agree with you 100%. I would like to see
more submissions for the magazine on other
aspects of the Realms, as well. Writers?
The
dealer
issue #
ber is
4877.
How to contact us
lf you have a comment, opinion, or ques-
tion for the editors of DRAGON Magazine,
write us a letter. Wed like to hear from you.
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Correction
telephone number to find a TSR
near you which was printed in
227 is incorrect. The actual num-
1-800-384-4TSR, or 1-800-384-
On thc Cnvcr
Over the past couple of years,
cover artist Dan Frazier has been
quick to let me know that hes
not happy with me when I refer
to him as a dwarf artist. This is
not to say that Dan is very short
(although hell never play pro
basketball), but rather that Im
particularly fond of his renderings
of them. He hasnt done anything
here to change my perception.
Dan has the abi l i ty to get
mo r e p e r s o n a l i t y i n t o h i s
dwarves than just about anyone I
know, and, as long as he keeps
sending them to me, Ill probably
keep publishing them.
Dan has been keeping himself
busy painting for the collectible
card market and is currently
working on several for the
SPELLFIRE card game.
You can also send e-mail to tsrmags@
genie.com.
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DRAGON
#
229 7
ly }anes R. CoIIier
illustrated by David Horne
MIxIng magIca! Itcms can bc bad fnr ynur hca!th. . .
ack in the original AD&D game, a rule stated, Only
two magical rings can be worn at any one time. This
rule was designed to preserve game balance. Although
only rings were mentioned in the rule, this rule may have been
a precedent. The game has always had a lot of magical rings,
and back when that rule was made, the list of other magical
items was much shorter. Today, there are four volumes of
amulets, bracers, cloaks, diadems, eyes, footwear, and girdles
all of which can apparently be worn and used at the same
time.
Interestingly, the rule limiting usage of rings was accompa-
nied by a second rule, this time for potions, concerning misci-
bility. This rule stated that if you activated the magic of two
potions at once, bad things might occur. This, too, set a prece-
dent. We now had two rules aimed specifically at preventing
player characters from activating several magical items at
once. All that is left is the final step.
If we expand these rules to cover all magical items, we can
take a step toward ending the Monty Haul campaign, not to
mention restoring the game to a contest of wits, instead of a
which item should I use now? competition.
DMs, please note that these tables were meant for two pur-
poses. On one hand, they penalize PCs who collect and try to
use too much magic, but they do it in such a way as to provide
some humor and role-playing possibilities. Do not use them as
player-killers, having a PC grab a dead fish when a vampire
strikes. Dont use them as rewards, either, or ways to get rid of
cursed items. Even the most benign effect should have draw-
backs.
Miscibility rules
The rules are fairly simple. Here are two tables,
a ring, amulet, girdle, or other device (as opposed to merely
carrying in a pouch or backpack); drinking a potion; rubbing on
an oil, perfume, salve, or ointment; or activating a rod, staff or
wand.
Whenever a player character has more than two constant
items active at once (that is, devices that do not have a speci-
fied duration), the player (or DM) must roll a d100 on Table 1:
Continuous Conditions. Thereafter, every time a new item is
put on or activated, the previously rolled condition is discarded
and a new one is determined.
Whenever the PC is already acting under two or more mag-
ical effects and commands a charged item to function, drinks a
potion, or employs a one-shot magical device for a further
magical effect, a roll is made on Table 2: Temporary Conditions.
The conditions from this table last only as long as the duration
of the potion, dust, etc., and can be dispelled, although with a
50% chance of dispelling the magic of the potion, dust, or what-
ever as well.
There are several important modifiers and exceptions that
must be noted.
For every active item over three, a cumulative -5% penalty
is imposed. (This modifier does not apply to rolls on Table 2.)
Items that do not affect the owner, such as a wand of fire or
a necklace of missiles, do not require rolls. Spells cast upon some-
one wearing multiple magical items do not require a roll to be
made unless these spells cause some permanent enchantment.
(It is up to the DM to determine what he considers appropriate.)
If so, roll on Table 2, and if the roll indicates non-function, the
enchantment is dispelled before it can even take effect.
Priestly items such as phylacteries of faithfulness do not count
toward rolls, but they should function only with other priestly
items dedicated to the same faith. In addition,
used whenever a PC activates more than two
magical effects. This can be done by wearing
priestly items should function only with
aligned weapons and devices that match
DRAGON
#
229 9
their own alignments exactly. A mace of
disruption owned by a PC who picks up a
lawful good sword +1 becomes merely
an enchanted mace, magical but impart-
ing no bonuses to attacks or damage, (a
mace +0) until the sword is discarded,
while the sword will also seem to be
non-magical in combat. (It is up to the
DM to decide if the sword and mace are
still at least magical for purposes of
striking special creatures.) For these
charts, healing potions, salves, and heal-
ing devices other than rings of regenera-
tion are considered priestly items.
Field effect items, such as a ring of pro-
tection (which gives a +1 save bonus to
everyone within 5), cause everyone
within that area with two active magical
items to roll on Table 2. This condition
cannot be dispelled, but it ends when the
PC becomes clear (or steps out) of the
area of effect. Another roll must be made
every time a PC moves back into the
field.
Items that perform the same function
impose a further -10% penalty per item.
For instance, bracers of defense, magical
armor, and a cloak of protection all have
the effect of enhancing ones Armor
Class, so a fighter wearing the first two
and then donning the latter must roll on
Table 3, with a -20% roll. If the fighter
were wearing a ring of regeneration and
magical armor, however items confer-
ring benefits in two different areas
and then put on the cloak, the roll would
be only at -10%.
An example: A PC wears a cloak of pro-
tection, bracers of defense, an amulet of the
planes, a scarab of holy turning, and a gir-
dle of giant strength. On his left hand is a
ring of protection, and on his right is a
ring of jumping. He has a wand of wonder,
a potion of extra healing, and a crystal ball
in his backpack, and is trying on a pair
of boots of dancing. (His DM loves him.)
Because he is wearing and using more
than three items, there is a -5% penalty
for each of them. Note that three magi-
cal items he wears are there to enhance
his Armor Class. They receive the sec-
ondary penalty for being multiple items
performing the same function.
The cumulative penalty on the roll is
-65%, broken down thusly: -5% each
for for an excessive quantity of active
items (total: -35%); -10% for the sec-
ond AC-enhancing magical item; and
-20% for the third AC-enhancing item.
The wand of wonder and the crystal
ball, as they are in the backpack, do not
effect the wearer and are not counted.
The potion is dormant until drunk, and
the scarab is a priestly item; they dont
effect the roll, either. Since the PC is try-
ing on the boots, he rolls on Table 1.
Further rolls must be made whenever
the wand or crystal ball is used or the
potion consumed; but these rolls are
made on Table 2.
If resulting conditions are contradic-
tory, the temporary condition takes
precedence. (If the DM wishes, he may
call for a re-roll.) Once the temporary
condition has run its course, the contin-
uous condition resumes. Only adding or
removing a device changes that perma-
nent condition, though the DM may
consider remove curse or wish spells to
return the PC to his status quo ante.
Table 1: Continuous Conditions
(roll 1d100)
1-19. All magical items carried or worn,
including cursed items, cancel each
other out. An item must be added or
removed before any work at all.
20. One item glows as though a continu-
al light spell has been cast on it. The
item need not be one of the PCs
magical items. Decide randomly, or
DMs choice.
21. The next time the wearer is hit by a
magic missile, a volley of magic missiles
explodes from his body, hitting every-
one within 10 for 4d6 hp damage.
22. All magical items adhere to the
wearer. Only adding an item ends
this condition.
23. Dogs howl when within 50 of this
character.
24. Drinking any liquid even water
causes the wearer to become intoxi-
cated for 1d4 rounds.
25. Mice appear and tug at magical
amulets, rings, or similar items when-
ever the PC sleeps. Roll 1d6 for each
turn of sleep. On a 1, the tugging
awakens the PC, and he suffers a +2
penalty on initiative the next day due
to lack of sleep. The mice never suc-
ceed in removing anything.
26. A strange, melodious humming
emanates from the PCs person (think
of the monolith in the film 2001: A
Space Odyssey).
27. Any and all foodstuffs carried by the
PC become crystallized salt.
28. The PC begins to itch unbearably if
he has to ride any animal. Dexterity
is reduced to 3, spellcasting is impos-
sible, and he makes quite a spectacle
of himself.
29. The PC smells like bacon.
30. The PC sees all opponents as giant
rats. (What do you mean the giant
rat energy drains me?) He can
attempt to disbelieve at -4.
31. An illusory member of the opposite
sex (ideally an old flame from a messy
split) follows the PC constantly, period-
ically shouting yoo-hoo! and waving.
No one else can see the illusion.
32. The PCs voice becomes squeaky.
Reaction rolls have a penalty of -5.
33. The PC sweats profusely. His effects
begin to rust. Every 5 rounds he must
drink a cup of water or temporarily
lose 1 point of Constitution. If his
Constitution reaches zero, he dies.
34. Any music affects the PC like Ottos
irresistible dance spell.
37. The PC has an irresistible urge to put
on yet another magical item. If there
are no more in his possession, he
must save vs. spell or become bel-
ligerent with his comrades, demand-
ing they give him something else. If
he saves, he continues to be uncom-
fortable and bellicose and makes a
grab at the first enchanted item he
sees.
38. Any magical items possessing the
power of speech whisper the name
of the PC in awed tones when they
are within a 20 radius of him.
39. The PC cannot understand any writ-
ten language he otherwise knows;
any scroll or spellbook he attempts to
read looks like scribbling to him.
40. Whenever the PC comes to a fork or
other form of divergent path, an
unearthly voice whispers to him
which way he should go. (It is at ran-
dom, however, and has nothing to
do with his destiny, safety, goals, or
desires although he may well think
it does.)
41. The PCs food and water supply
never runs out; they mystically
replenish themselves.
42. A ghostly head floats above the PC,
frowning down on him.
43. Moss grows on the PCs clothing and
armor. It can be removed, but it
grows back in one day.
44. One charged item (ring, wand, staff,
etc.) that the PC carries goes off
when jostled. DM decides when the
jostling occurs.
45. Speaking more than three words at
a time gives the PC hiccoughs for
1d10 turns. Spellcasting is impossible,
missile attacks are made at -4, regu-
lar attacks at -2.
46. If a spellcaster, the PCs spells all
10
MAY 1996
function at maximum capacity
(range, duration, damage, etc.).
47. The PCs reflection, in a pool or a mir-
ror, is of the PC at age 100 (or the
demi-human equivalent).
48. Protective magics are reversed (e.g.,
a ring of protection +2 becomes -2).
49. The PC projects an aura of invinci-
bility such that villagers wherever he
goes beg him to deal with the local
pack of werewolves, vampires, family
of frost giants, evil tax officials, etc.
Unfortunately, things hostile to the
PC do not detect this aura.
50-59. The newest item functions, but
the other items become inert.
60-100. No effect; everything functions
normally.
Table 2: Temporary or
Instantaneous Conditions
(roll 1d20)
1-3. All items carried, including cursed
ones, are nullified.
4. All spells and magical devices within
15 of the PC become inert for one
turn.
5. A random monster appears, shouts
Give me my ---! and attacks, try-
ing to gain possession of some item
the fight against the PCs party.
(DMS choice) of the PCs until the
6. The PCs charged items are energized
condition ends. If the PC should give
so that the next one used expends
half its total charges in one massive
the monster the item, it disappears,
discharge (e.g., a wand of magic mis-
siles with 20 charges would launch 10
only to reappear during the PCs next
missiles). The rest of the charges or
charged items function normally after
melee. There is a 60% chance it
that.
fights for the PC; otherwise it joins
7. Charged items function, but, due to
magical forces in flux, they fail to
expend their charges while this con-
dition lasts effectively giving the PC
free uses of the item.
8. The next time the PC successfully hits
in a melee, a loud disembodied cho-
rus sounds, Ta-daaaah!
9. All one-shot items (potions, dusts, etc.)
are permanently spoiled, their magic
dispelled.
13. Whenever the PC reaches into a con-
tainer, trunk, pouch, pocket, or hole
Dexterity is reduced by 3 points until
for something, all he withdraws is a
this condition ends.
dead fish. Containers must be emp-
tied upon the ground for him to be
12. All charged items gain 1d6 charges.
able to get their contents.
14. A 5-year-old child appears and hugs
the PC about the waist, sighing My
Items whose maximum number of
hero! It is an illusion that vanishes
charges is exceeded explode, causing
after 1 round.
10d6 hp damage to all within 10.
10. The PC appears to be 100 years old
(or the demi-human equivalent) to
everyone but himself.
11. The PC begins to itch all over.
15. The newest item activated or other-
wise brought into use functions,
while the others become inert.
16-20. No effect; everything functions
normally.
James R. Collier lives in Ontario, Canada.
This is his first appearance in DRAGON
Magazine.
DRAGON
#
229 11
by Steve Berman
I!!ustratcd by Bnb K!asnIch
ivination, as the ancients knew it, came in many forms.
Some would inhale incense and reveal what it inspired.
Others used augury, the examination of birds entrails, to
predict the future. And then there are those who carried a big
stick; practitioners of rhabdomancy.
In 16th century Germany, the study of rhabdomancy (divina-
tion by means of a rod or dowsing stick) became popular. Rather
than just being a local custom, dowsing was practiced on a very
large scale and enjoyed great popularity in the villages around
the countryside. With time, the skill was ingeniously applied to
prospecting at mines and mountainsides, with the magicians
searching for beds of coal or exploring the soil for fresh water
springs.
The usual dowsing rod is a forked stick, commonly hazel
wood, held in both hands with the angle of the fork foremost.
The rhabdomancer walks over the ground, and, supposedly,
the rod twists as soon as it passes over the desired mineral or
water. That the divining rod was so freely employed in
Germany during this period can be seen in the many woodcuts
of mining operations that showed its practice.
The role of rhabdomancy was expanded by the French in the
17th century. The divining rod became the latest novelty and
was used not only to discover water, mines, and hidden treasure,
but also to trace robbers and murderers.
With such a history, rhabdomancy is the perfect addition to
the AD&D fantasy realm. At first glance such a character seems
limited. True, not too many adventures take place around mine-
shafts. But then, it is logical to assume that the lure of the
Underdark would quickly command the attention of mages well
suited and experienced to working underground.
The rhabdomancer
Description: A rhabdomancer (or rhabdomere) is a wizard
learned in the use of a dowsing rod, a seemingly ordinary wood-
en stick with which he can hone divinatory magic. Most rhab-
domancers come from rural backgrounds, as urban wizards
scoff at the practice. In such areas, guilds of rhabdomancers
exist, but they are small and represent the trade as prospectors,
the members eager to be hired to find valuable sources of water
and precious metals and minerals. Some of these
their own ends. They might even adopt the role of guides to the
caverns. Such a mage can be of any alignment.
Though most rhabdomancers are human, certainly there is
room for other races to learn the trade. Because of the tie with
mining and underground exploration, a DM may well consider
that some exceptional dwarves or Stoutish halflings would adopt
a career as rhabdomancers. Whether such mages can be chosen
as player characters must be decided.
Role: Most rural communities will welcome a rhabdomancer
for his abilities, which seem wondrous to common folk. Using his
divination powers, he can solve the mystery of stolen jewels,
find a child lost in the woods, or discover a new site for a thirsty
villages new well. Even in the Underdark, the native races know
something of a rhabdomancers ability to find new caves and
lost treasure.
Weapon proficiencies: Required: None. Recommended: dag-
ger, dart, small pick (much like a smaller version of the mining
tool, it inflicts 2-5/1-4 hp damage).
Nonweapon proficiencies: Required: dowsing (new), prospect-
ing (new). Recommended: direction sense, endurance, engineer-
ing, mining, reading/writing, stonemasonry.
Spells: As specialists in the school of Greater Divination, rhab-
domancers cannot use spells from the school of Conjuration/
Summoning. However, the guilds offer to teach several unique
spells to rhabdomancers, including spells that deal with tapping
magical energies through the dowsing rod.
Special benefits: 1) All rhabdomancers begin the game with
an additional language, which must belong to a mining race
(dwarven is the most common, though some learn deep gnome,
and those of an evil bent may even study kobold). 2) A rhabdo-
mancer substitutes his divining rod for the material component
in divination spells (except the revised locate object found below).
Also, when using the divining rod, the mage may receive an
increase in effectiveness in certain divination spells (see below).
Starting at first level, a rhabdomancer receives a +1 bonus on all
saves vs. rods, staves, or wands. This benefit increases by an
additional +1 for every five levels of ability gained.
Special hindrances: As these mages practice the art of Div-
ination only through the use of rhabdomancy, any attempt by
them to cast a Divination spell without a divining rod results in
a penalty of double the normal casting time and a
magicians eventually seek out new applications
for their craft, exploring underground for
10% unmodified chance of failure. Also, a
rhabdomancer can never cast a reversed
13 DRAGON
#
229
Divinatory spell that would obscure or
hinder detection, as such practices are
beyond his understanding. Related to
this, spells of illusion are rarely practiced,
so the chance to learn any such spell is
halved.
Dowsing: The character has been
trained in the use of a divining rod. While
all rhabdomancers begin with the spell to
craft an effective rod, this proficiency
covers the insight necessary to interpret
the finer meanings of the woods tugging
and twitching. Apprentice rhabdo-
mancers are taught in the guild the fol-
lowing tenant:
The fork is held by the two limbs, one
in each hand, with the point going first
and the rod held horizontally. Then the
rhabdomancer walks gently over the
places where he seeks an object or affec-
tion. He should walk with care to not risk
dispersing the emanations that rise from
the spot where these things are and
cause the rod to slant. For example, if the
magician is seeking a deposit of gold ore,
upon finding a vein a successful dowsing
check reveals the purity of the metal. The
proficiency also affects the casting of var-
ious divination spells. Some of these are
blocked by stonework, thick wood, or
metal deposits. A skilled rhabdomancer is
able to pierce these walls with a suc-
cessful dowsing check (note the below
listing of common Divination spells for
those cases in which a dowsing check is
required). Otherwise, a DM may call for
the rhabdomancer to make a proficiency
roll to see if any obscure or additional
information is discovered.
Also, using this proficiency, a rhabdo-
mancer can locate the proper sapling
with which to craft a suitable divining
rod. Rare wood types that could be used
in making a rod could quite possibly
require a successful Dowsing check. At
the DMs discretion, a rhabdomancer
may forgo learning a new nonweapon
proficiency in order to become better
skilled at Dowsing. Each abandoned slot
adds 1 to the characters proficiency roll.
This allows an edge for high-level rhab-
domancers who remain true to their craft.
Prospecting: This proficiency grants
knowledge in the practice of searching
for valuable metals and minerals. There
are many techniques available, and the
character is fairly familiar with those
practiced by his culture (or the culture
wherein he was taught prospecting). This
includes using metal or wood pans and
fine meshes to sift through riverbeds and
dirt. A successful check performed on a
daily or weekly basis indicates that some-
thing of worth was found, though usual-
ly such results yield only small gains at
most.
Rhabdomancer magic
Here are a few spells that rhabdo-
mancers use in pursuit of their craft and
while exploring mineshafts and caverns.
Craft Divining Rod
(Alteration, Enchantment)
Level: 1
Range: 0
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: 1 hour
Area of Effect: See below
Saving Throw: None (but see below)
The first task a rhabdomancer must
undertake in his career is the finding and
crafting of a suitable divining rod. A
forked branch of hazel or filbert (the
woods of choice) must be found. The
length of the rod should be 1, the
whole no thicker than a finger, and the
tree it was cut from not more than a year
old. Over the next hour as the mage
slowly intones the words of the spell, he
gently shapes and smooths out the wood
with the simplest of tools. At the end of
this time, the divining rod is ready to be
used. It bears a slight dweomer, as if
residual magic is retained by the wood.
Of course, the rod can easily be broken,
thus sending the rhabdomancer on the
search for another sapling. At the DMs
discretion, certain woods have different
effects when crafted into a divining rod.
For example, ash has long been held to
be associated with storms and lightning,
and perhaps a rod fashioned from this
wood may be used to predict bad weath-
er. Magical trees may be sought after by
adventurous rhabdomancers to give
them an edge; in such cases the mage
must succeed in a saving throw vs. magic
while casting this spell. Failure means
that the rod is flawed and useless, while
success will impart some measure of the
woods magic to the divining rod.
The guilds ensure that all apprentice
rhabdomancers learn this spell.
Shield Flame
(Alteration)
Level: 1
Range: 10 yds.
Components: V
Duration: 1 turn + 1 turn per level
Casting Time: 1
Area of Effect: One torch-sized flame
Saving Throw: None
Most miners and cavern explorers
consider this simple spell far more impor-
tant than your average mage. When cast,
it protects an open flame from exposure
to drafts and volatile gases. For the dura-
tion of the spell, nonmagical gusts or
breezes are unable to extinguish the
torch. Any vapors that would normally
explode upon contact with fire (such as
black damp or carbon monoxide) have
no effect on a shielded flame. Of course,
the spell may also be applied above
ground to areas too windy to hold aloft a
lit torch or candle.
Locate Object
(Divination)
Level: 2
Range: 20 yds. per level
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 round + 1 round per level
Casting Time: 2
Area of Effect: Special
Saving Throw: None
Rhabdomancer Nonweapon Proficiencies
Name Group Slots Relevant Check
Required Ability Modifier
Dowsing Wizard 2 Wisdom - 1
Prospecting General
1
Dexterity
- 1
Two unique nonweapon proficiencies are listed as part of a rhabdomancer's
training. While anyone can learn the trade of a prospector, only the guilds and
other rhabdomancers teach the skill of dowsing.
This spell aids in locating a known or
familiar object or site. The rhabdomancer
casts the spell while holding aloft his
divining rod. As he slowly turns, he feels
a tug along the rods length when he is
facing in the direction of the sought-after
commodity or place, provided it is within
range. The spell can locate such objects
as coal, water, tools, or even find a mine-
shaft or tunnel entrance. Note that
attempting to find a specific site requires
an accurate mental image; if the image is
not close enough to the actual, the spell
may lead the caster astray to the nearest
similarity (at the DMs discretion). Unique
14 MAY 1996
items desired cannot be located by this
spell unless they are known by the cast-
er. The spell can be blocked only by
magic (such as the normal reverse,
obscure object).
The material components are the
rhabdomancers divining rod and, in
cases where a physical object is sought, a
small sample of the substance, which is
rubbed along the rods length.
Lesser Rhabdomancy
(Divination)
Level: 3
Range: See below
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1, turn + 2 rounds per level
Casting Time: 3
Saving Throw: None
This is a more powerful variant of the
locate object spell, one known and prac-
ticed only by rhabdomancers in their pur-
suit of adventure. Whereas that spell will
only dowse for objects and sites, lesser
rhabdomancy allows the wizard to divine
for creatures, individuals, and locations.
During the spells casting, the rhabdo-
mancer must decide upon what he is
seeking. If he is divining for a certain race
or creature, the dowsing rod will point
and lead to any such if within range of 20
yards per level. An individual or specific
place may be named during the casting.
No real range is necessary as the dows-
ing rod will begin tugging to lead in the
direction that person or site can be
found; if not reached by the end of the
spell the rod becomes still. Note that
though the caster need never have met
or seen either the person and location
sought after, he or it must be referred to
by name. Thus, using lesser rhabdoman-
cy to hunt down the captain of the city
guard or the nearest armory causes the
spell to fail; rather Captain Jenkins or
The Shrine of Exegete would lead the
wizard onward.
Protection from Clebes
(Abjuration)
Level: 3
Range: See below
Components: V, S
Duration: 3 rounds + 1 round per level
Casting Time: 3
Saving Throw: None
In the early days of mining, it was dis-
covered that certain creatures that
seemed to be made from the earth itself
would often attempt to halt any digging.
At this time, the elemental theory was
not well-known, and such creatures were
classified as glebes (from the Old Tongue
word for earth). Nowadays, scholars
realize that such entities are actually
minor earth elementals. But to the
ancients, they were a threat that needed
to be protected against. The first rhabdo-
mancers developed this spell, with its
multiple aspects and uses. First and fore-
most, protection from glebes can be cast to
provide a globe of protection 10 wide
that is centered on the rhabdomancer
and moves with him. Any protected indi-
vidual within this area may break the
warding effects by meleeing with a glebe.
Otherwise, no creature originating from
the elemental plane of earth (whether or
not this protects against the para- and
quasi-elemental planes alongside is
unknown) with eight or less Hit Dice can
intrude upon the protected area. In addi-
tion, any magical or spell effects cast
upon those inside the globe by a glebe
are saved at +3. The second application
of this spell is to create a ward that pre-
vents egress. The caster merely draws a
line (no more than 10 long) before him
on the ground and incants the spell.
Thereafter for the duration of the spell,
no glebe can cross this line, and this
includes bypassing it by flight or burrow-
ing. Minor protection may also be offered
to any item. In such a case, the ward is
placed. directly on the object, and any
glebe that touches the item suffers 1d6
hp damage plus an amount equal to the
casters level, no saving throw allowed. A
side effect of this spell that the latter-day
rhabdomancers discovered is that indi-
viduals so protected receive a +5 on all
saves vs. all petrification attempts,
whether this be from a creatures gaze or
by spell.
Detect Ensorcellment
(Divination)
Level: 4
Range: See below
Components: V, S
Duration: 1 turn
Casting Time: 4
Area of Effect: One creature or object
per round
Saving Throw: See below
With this spell, a rhabdomancer can
not only determine if a person or object
is either charmed or cursed, but also may
gain some insight into the origin of such
ensorcellment. The creature (or object in
some cases as determined by the DM) is
allowed a saving throw vs. spell modified
by the difference in levels between the
caster of the enchantment or curse and
the rhabdomancer (thus a minotaur
under the influence of a 7th-level evil
wizards charm monster would save at -2
if this spell is cast by a 9th-level rhabdo-
mancer). If the saving throw is successful,
then the caster only learns of the pres-
ence, if any, of ensorcellment but nothing
more. A failed saving throw reveals the
exact nature of the spell, including
effects, duration, and sphere of origin. In
addition, the rhabdomancer has a 5%
chance per level of further discerning the
identity of the ensorcellments caster. The
information discovered would be that of
race, class, relative magical strength, and
alignment. A dowsing check may also be
rolled then and if successful, the location
and (common, not true) name of that
spellcaster is also learned. Should a crea-
ture or object be under more than one
magical effect, a dowsing check is neces-
sary to pierce each such spell. A failed roll
means that nothing more can be learned
after the first charm or curse has been
discovered.
Tap Menhir
(Evocation)
Level: 4
Range: See below
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 day per level
Casting Time: 1-3 rounds
Area of Effect: Caster
This is the first of the spells known to
rhabdomancers which allows them to
use their dowsing rod to tap into an
existing supply of magical energy. Rural
traveling mages enjoy the benefits of
this particular spell in regions that har-
bor rings of stone or monoliths. Such for-
mations are often known to contain
latent arcane power. Upon casting this
spell, the rhabdomancer has a time peri-
od of one day per level to find a suitable
menhir, with his dowsing rod leading
him in the proper direction. Once at such
a site (the spell must be cast again
should the duration have run out), the
mage can use his rod as a channel
between his person and the menhir. Due
to the unnatural energies that coarse
through his person drawn from the men-
hir, a system shock roll is required. A
failed roll means that the caster could
not contain the arcane energy in his per-
son and suffers a loss of half his current
hit point total. But should the rhabdo-
mancer be successful, the tapped energy
grants him several benefits.
Firstly, the instant recollection of any
1st-level spells used in the past 24 hours.
16 MAY 1996
Next, the caster grows in Strength 1-4
points, while he recovers a number of hit
points equal to double that amount.
Finally, the mage makes all saving
throws at a +1 bonus. The additional
might and saving throw bonus last only a
number of days equal to half the casters
level. No benefits are gained if this spell is
intoned again before the benefits of first
casting have yet to expire. Not all men-
hirs contain a reservoir of magic neces-
sary for this spell. Some may even have a
limited pool to draw from and may be
drained after only a few castings.
Greater Rhabdomancy
(Divination)
Level: 5
Range: See below
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Special
Casting Time: 5
Saving Throw: None
A more potent version of the lesser
rhabdonmcy spell, this spell allows the
wizard to search for a desired physical
object, a place or person or creature, a
magical effect, or even an affection or
quality not discovered by normal divina-
tory means. Thus, the rhabdomancer
may use his rod and this spell to seek out
a silver vein in a mineshaft, ferret out
thief in a town, discover the site of a
dimensional vortex, or even find true
love. The caster need only hold out his
divining rod, mentally picture the desired
end of the spell, intone the words, and
rotate until he feels the tuggings in the
wood that show the direction he must
travel to find what is sought. Obviously,
certain applications of this spell require
the forethought and attention of the DM.
Due to this, and the fact that greater
rhabdomancy is infallible unless dis-
turbed or dispelled by other magic, the
duration of the spell can be as long as the
DM feels necessary; while the desired
end may be found, the hunt may take far
longer than the wizard wishes or can
handle. But many an adventure has
occurred along the trail to whatever is
being sought.
Dweomer Divest
(Evocation)
Level: 6
Range: 20 yds.
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: 1 round
Saving Throw: Negates
This is perhaps the most infamous spells and lifts the dweomer from a con-
spell in a rhabdomancers possession. tinual light sphere, he cannot choose to
Using this powerful magic, the wizard can memorize that stolen spell. A potion that
steal away the dweomer from an has been divested loses the equivalent of
enchanted object and use it for his own one dose, while charged items lose one
ends. The caster must aim his dowsing charge with each successful casting of
rod at the magical item and intone this this spell. All other items become non-
spell. Then he must make a saving throw operational for 1d4 rounds following the
vs. magic adjusted as listed below: casting should their dweomer be lifted.
Item Adjustment
wand or rod none
staff -2 on save
potion -2 on save
ring -4 on save
miscellaneous -4 on save
arms/armor -6 on save
artifact spell fails
The rhabdomancers saving throw
determines the spells effects. An abysmal
failure, a roll of 1 (which may be a modi-
fied roll), means that the magic was
stolen, but the power cannot be con-
tained or controlled by the caster, and the
magic detonates on the caster. Offensive
spells are resolved normally, though the
rhabdomancer still receives any relevant
saving throws. Other magical effects are
twisted so as to be detrimental in some
fashion to the mage (for example, an
invisibility spell divested from a ring may
only cause the caster to be invisible to his
own sight!). A failed saving throw, but not
an abysmal roll, results in no power being
divested, and the caster suffers a -2 on all
saves against that item should it later be
used against him for a period of 24 hours.
A successful saving throw indicates that a
small portion of that items power is taken
by the rhabdomancer. Defensive magic
(like that of a cloak of protection) is auto-
matically applied to the caster. All other
magic is released immediately in the seg-
ment following the dweomer divest, with
the subject/target of the spell at the rhab-
domancers whim. All stolen magic func-
tions at a level of ability equal to 6th for
wands, 8th for rods, 12th for potions,
rings, staves, and miscellaneous items;
this affects duration, range, and possible
inflicted damage (though some offensive
spells, like fireball, will still have an instan-
taneous effect).
Mine the Earthspark
(Evocation)
Level: 8
Range: See below
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 2-5 rounds
Area of Effect: Caster
This rare spell shows obvious dwar-
ven influences; indeed, it can be cast only
in the dwarven tongue. It leads a rhab-
domancer toward scarce areas under-
ground where magical power is held
deep within the earth. Some sages may
call such deposits Nodes or Sarsens, and
they can be magically tracked down via
the lines of power and emanations radi-
ating from them. The dwarves have
another name for them: Hordask
Thardik, or Seat of the Earthspark.
Should the rhabdomancer finally
arrive at such a site and the spell duration
has not expired, he may seek to draw out
some of the vast arcane energy of the
sarsen through his dowsing rod and into
his person. This is dangerous, as a mortal
shell was not built to contain such power.
The wizard must make an immediate sys-
tem shock roll to survive tapping the
Earthspark. Failure means death, as the
body is blackened from the vast power
drawn.
A phenomenal success, a natural roll
of 20, means that the rhabdomancer has
greater control of the magic. As long as
the dweomer is not from the schools of
Conjuration/Summoning or Illusion, and
the DM can assign it a spell level that has
been already mastered by the mage, the
caster may choose to memorize the
magic rather than immediately cast it. Of
course, if the rhabdomancer has already
in mind his full complement of 2nd-level
Should the roll be successful, the ben-
efits are many. The rhabdomancers
Strength and Constitution instantly are
increased to 18. Any wounds the caster
may have suffered are healed, scars van-
ish, and even lost fingers, toes, ears, or
eyes are regenerated. The rhabdomancer
seems to seethe with an unnatural power
that can cause awe or fear (depending
upon the characters actions) in any indi-
vidual or creature below 4th level or four
Hit Dice.
Because the Earthspark is connected
with the energies of the elemental plane
of earth, all spells cast by the rhabdo-
mancer that deal with earth, dirt, or stone
have double the normal area of effect
and duration. Also, creatures from that
plane will not attack the caster, either out
of respect or fear (if an opposing align-
DRAGON
#
229 17
ment), except in self-defense. Any
attempt to petrify the caster ends in fail-
ure. The power of the Earthspark remains
with the rhabdomancer for a number of
days equal to his level halved. No bene-
fits are gained if this spell is intoned
again before the benefits of first casting
expire. Some dwarven scholars have sug-
gested that continued exposure to the
Earthspark corrupts a man, turning him
miserly and mean-spirited. This may be
true, for obviously, the location of any
sarsen is a prize much sought after by
high-level rhabdomancers, and such
mages jealously guard the site with traps
and even creatures, hoping to protect
their claim from other rhabdomancers
seeking power.
Other spell use
Spells useful and not
As mentioned in the kit description,
rhabdomancers may gain additional ben-
efits to some Divination spells when cast
with the aid of a divining rod as follows:
Detect magic: The rhabdomancer has a
20% chance per level to recognize the
type of magic (alteration, conjuration,
etc.), if any, present. With a successful
dowsing check, he may recognize a
spell/magical effect encountered before.
Detect undead: Rhabdomancers have a
5% chance per level of discerning the
exact nature and number of undead, any,
present.
ldentify: Normally, a rhabdomancer
has no benefit in the casting of this spell,
except that due to his specialization in
the use of a divining rod, he has a slight
edge in the identification of magical rods
and wands (staves are not included); the
loss of Constitution due to casting is only
4 points.
Read magic: There is no additional ben-
efit when this is cast by a rhabdomancer.
Detect evil/good: With a successful
dowsing check, the rhabdomancer can
discern the exact sort of evil (cunning,
murderous, necromantic, treacherous,
unholy, etc.) or good (blissful, generous,
holy, kind, etc.) present.
Detect invisibility: As long as the rhab-
domancer holds his divining rod, the
invisible or hidden is revealed to him.
ESP: Rhabdomancers gain no benefit
in casting this spell so they rarely learn it.
Know alignment: The subject of this
spell receives a penalty on his saving
throw equal to the rhabdomancers level.
Locate object: See the reworked spell
listed above.
Clairaudience and Clairvoyance: Rhab-
domancers gain no benefit in casting
these spells so they rarely learn them.
Detect scrying: The scryer suffers a
penalty to their saving throw to resist
being revealed equal to half the rhabdo-
mancers level (round fractions up).
Magic mirror: Few rhabdomancers use
this spell, so there is no benefit to casting
this spell. (Actually, casting this spell may
harm the mages reputation!)
Contact other plane: Rhabdomancers
rarely have much dealings with extrapla-
nar creatures, though they certainly wel-
come insight from the elemental plane of
earth. As such, they have no benefit in
casting this spell. With a successful dows-
ing check, the rhabdomancer gains some
small insight into the sort of being con-
tacted (relative power, intelligence, align-
ment, etc.).
False Vision: Since rhabdomancers cannot
fathom magic that distorts or obscures divina-
tion, this spell cannot be learned.
Legend Lore: Rhabdomancers gain no
benefit in casting this spell.
True Seeing: Only as long as the rhab-
domancer holds his rod, he has true sight
Vision: Rhabdomancers gain no bene-
fit in casting of this spell, so they rarely
learn it.
Screen: Since rhabdomancers cannot
fathom magic that distorts or obscures
divination, this spell cannot be learned.
Foresight: Only while the rhabdo-
mancer holds his rod, he gains the insight
the spell offers. He may also choose to
switch the object of the spell once a
round, but each time this is done it
lessens the spell duration by one round.
Rhabdomancer guild spells
Exploring mineshafts and caverns reg-
ularly means that certain spells become
more useful than others. Here follows a
listing by level and name of some wizard
spells that a rhabdomancer may be
offered by the guilds, and their most
common uses. The list does not include
spells greater than 4th level, as they are
often of such power that they are not
always taught by the guild, and their
effectiveness underground is often more
obvious (a passwall spell for example, or
dig).
First level
Affect normal fires: This may help to illu-
minate large areas without the need for
many lamps.
Light: This spell provides the perfect
illumination, one that is proof against
flammable gases and holds no risk of suf-
focating the user.
18
Mending: This can be used to repair
cracks in support beams.
Reduce (the reverse of enlarge): This
spell is perfect for the removal of debris
and loose rock.
Tensers floating disc: This is a useful
means for bearing any ore or precious
findings out of the earth without a cart.
Second level
Continual light: See light, above.
Levitate: This is useful for lifting heavy
rocks and the like.
Strength: As many of the endeavors
underground may be physical and
require additional strength, this can be of
assistance.
Third level
Feign death: This may be used to effect
a cataleptic state when threatened with
harmful gases or a lack of oxygen.
Gust of wind: This is an excellent
means to flush away harmful vapors and
provide fresh air to mineshafts.
Infravision: This spell provides an obvi-
ous means for sight in the Underdark.
Item: This allows for inventive uses
such as turning a stout beam into a
portable brace when needed or carrying
great lengths of rope or chain without
encumbrance.
Slow: This spell affects a targets
breathing, thus allowing the individual to
operate in places with less oxygen.
Windwall: This presents yet another
means to keep harmful gases at bay.
Fourth level
Dig: This spells usefulness is clear.
Polymorph self: When escape is neces-
sary or for exploration of the caverns, an
animal form may be best.
Vacancy: After the discovery of a rich
vein or sarsen, this spell allows the cast-
ers claim to go unmolested by tres-
passers.
Like all magic, the usefulness of a
divining rod is, in truth, limited only by
the determination and imagination of its
wielder. With the challenges that explor-
ing underground offers, a rhabdomancer
finds not only his skills but also his per-
sonality a welcome asset to an adventur-
ing party.
Steve Berman is a freelance writer bused
in New Jersey. His work has been published in
many gaming magazines; this marks his
third appearance in the pages of DRAGON
Magazine.
MAY 1996
20
MAY 1996
PhantastIc advIcc frnm
EmI! Du!I Wnnk's travc!Ing I!!usInnIst scmInar
by Rogers Cadenhead
illustrated by Robert Lessl
racky the Hooded One hurried to the meeting hall, a printed
invitation clutched in his hands. Friend, youre missing the
opportunity of a lifetime if you miss Emil Duli Wonk, the invita-
tion stated. The master mesmerist will be appearing before the East
Westgate Illusionists Guild tonight to present his seminar, How to
Fool Most of the People All of the Time. Duli Wonk will also be giv-
ing a practical demonstration of his techniques. Carrot cake and
drinks will be served. Only a geas should prevent you from attend-
ing this special event.
Handing 50 gold coins to a sleepy dwarven usher in the lobby,
Kracky strode excitedly into the speaking hall. He had never attend-
ed an event in the building before, but it was packed with his phan-
tasmal peers. Were just about to start, the dwarf told him. Sit any-
where you like, and by all means have some cake.
Kracky found a seat and was chowing on cake as a lean, gray-
haired gentleman stood up before the members of the guild.
Greetings, people of East Westgate. My name is Emil Duli Wonk.
Some call me genius. Others call me visionary. Some terribly mis-
taken children in cities I have visited even call me dad. But none shall
ever call me illusionist.
The crowd quieted down as Emil Duii Wonk ushered a dwarf
onstage and continued to speak.
Practice your delusions
Youre probably asking yourselves why I stand before you
and deny my chosen profession. We are illusionists, are we
not? Masters of mesmerism! Poets of perception! I brought my
associate onstage to explain myself better. This dwarf is my
friend Dave. Before he came to work for me, he was a thief.
Dave robbed people to make his living.
Back in those days, when someone asked Dave
watch your things while you go and powder your nose. Or
could it have been, Howdy, chum. I burgle and mug. Nice ring
you got there.
As you may have theorized, both of these guesses are incor-
rect. Dave lied about his job because honesty was terrible for
his business. He told strangers that he was self-employed in
the acquisitions industry.
By the same principle, you should not be calling yourselves
illusionists. You are in the business of fooling people. Every
person who knows you fiddle with phantasms is a harder per-
son to fool.
Thats bad for you. Its bad for all of us, in fact. Youve made
it even worse here in East Westgate with the name of your
guild. Ill bet your group has trouble getting people to accept
your payments. Its probably even harder to find dates for your
club socials. No one wants to kiss a prince who turns into a
frog when he ceases to concentrate.
The first lesson I would like to teach tonight is this: You are
not an illusionist. The biggest phantasm you will ever cast is
not a spell. Its the trickery you use to hide your chosen pro-
fession.
Moonlight as a mage
I call myself a mage. This is easy to do. First off, I learn non-
illusory spells and I put them to use often. Im not able to cast
spells of necromancy, abjuration, invocation, or evocation, but
theres plenty of other magic available. My personal favorites
are enchantment spells.
Secondly, I carry around lots of spell components my
pockets are stuffed with insect parts, powdered gemstones, and
other tidbits. One thing I always keep on hand
about his job, what do you think he said? Was
it, Hi, Im in thievery. Id be happy to
is plenty of bat guano.
Yes, guano.
DRAGON
#
229 21
I keep it with me for two reasons.
First, guano convinces people youre
a mage, because no one else would
carry this stuff around. Guano also
keeps people at a distance, since no one
wants to pal around with an adventurer
who smells.
That explains a lot, those of you in
the front row must be thinking. Feel free
to change seats at any time. Distance is
one of the best friends of an illusionist.
The less you know about me, the more
Im able to play inside your head.
In addition to posing as a mage, you
can also put together a decent impres-
sion of a cleric. It can be effective to por-
tray a priest or perhaps find a real one
to team up with.
Priests are able to use their spiritual
connections to cast spells, and many of
these acts are nothing short of miracu-
lous.
Think of how healing would be per-
ceived if accompanied by an illusion of
holy significance. In the right environ-
ment such as a rural enclave of inbred,
impressionable gnolls or any universi-
ty campus illusions may be perceived
as religious visions.
By delivering miracles on demand to
a superstitious group, you can attract
hordes of true believers who are recep-
tive to your whims. Train them as a
strike force. Keep them as pets. My per-
sonal favorite is to bankrupt them.
When youre able to create visions,
youre also able to collect offerings. This
can be a lucrative operation if you are
willing to accept the possible downside.
Getting caught in this effort can result in
charges of heresy, a guided tour of a
sacrificial altar, and a spot on the busi-
ness end of divine intervention. Take it
from me Ive been through all three,
and they make pockets full of guano
look pretty good by comparison.
As an alternative to mimicking spell-
casting professions, you might want to
adopt a guise with a lower profile. Being
a merchant can be lucrative, especially if
youve got something to sell.
The best part of sales is that your
products dont have to be good, and
your prices dont have to be competi-
tive. With a few well-timed illusions and
an enchantment spell like charm person,
you could peddle summer homes in
Gehenna and fresh fruits hand-picked
by unsanitary svirfneblin. Its the best
high-margin sales opportunity since life
insurance policies in Ravenloft.
There are other professions to hide
behind, but the point ought to be clear
by now: Anyone who says he is an illu-
sionist is either a liar or a fool. People
who actually are illusionists should be
only liars.
When disbelief
isnt suspended
My fellow illusionists, we should also
be paranoid. I have been tossing out
phantasms for more than four decades,
and l have spell components older than
most of you. No one gets to be an old
illusionist without a healthy amount of
self-doubt, outright cowardice, and good
foot-speed.
To illustrate my point, I would like to
introduce my associate, Frampton the
Brave. Dave, please bring me that tar-
nished silver urn.
These ashes are all that remain of
Frampton. He and I were adventuring
together back in the days when the
Caves of Chaos were just the Pair of
Neutral Caves with Chaotic Tendencies.
I remember the details as if it were
yesterday. Frampton, I, and a small band
of edged-weapon fanatics were heading
into a kobold enclave near Green Plume
Mountain. The kobolds had allegedly
been hoarding women and kidnapping
gold. We raided their lair, but after
things got bad, our warriors beat a hasty
retreat. I beat an even hastier one.
Frampton, however, believed that he
could stem the onrush of little hairy
antagonists with an elaborate illusion of
a rival band of orcs broad-snouted
pig-men with arms the size of legs and
hairy moles bigger than some of the
kobolds.
It was a wonderful, captivating phan-
tasm displaying a full palette of colors
and a good use of white space.
Frampton had been working on it for
weeks.
How could he have known that these
kobolds were from a rare subclan that
had championed the use of home
schooling? The kobolds sent Framptons
remains back to us in this urn after we
returned their valuables and signed a
contract assuming legal responsibility
for all repairs required to fix their lair.
Im still making payments.
If Frampton were here, he would tell
you one simple truth. As it is, I must use
the lid of this urn to paraphrase him:
Less is more, Frampton says to us! A
moderately difficult, plausible illusion is
usually better than an elaborate, implau-
sible one.
The appearance of a phantasmal bat
dropping from a cavern ceiling can dis-
tract an opponent and provide an
advantage in combat. It isnt likely to be
doubted, and if the illusion is disbe-
lieved, it may seem as if the bat simply
flew away.
A phony fire-breathing dragon is
much more likely to be discovered. An
illusionist usually doesnt get to spend
quality time around these monsters eye-
balling their movements and manner-
isms. This makes it more likely for some-
one to disbelieve what theyre seeing.
An even bigger concern is if the illu-
sion is dispelled and this fact becomes
readily apparent to everyone in the
vicinity. Losing a grandiose phantasm is
like painting a big sign on your forehead
that reads, Illusionist here: Unarmored
and Mostly Harmless.
When this happens, it is often fortu-
itous to have included the illusionist in
the illusion. You ought to know how to
fake your own movements, since youve
gotten a pretty good look at yourself
over the years. I spend many an hour
casting admiring
the mirror, and
glances
though
marriage it helped my
deal.
at
it
myself
cost me
in
a
abilities a great
I never choreograph a complicated
phantasm without including myself in
the scene. If the star of the illusion flubs
a line or makes some other revealing
mistake, theres a chance that the angry
audience will turn its wrath on my phan-
tom duplicate. Im happy to let him take
the blame, and it often gives me time to
let my sprinting ability do its magic.
We illusionists think of our craft as
coming strictly from the brain yanking
wonderfully convincing visions out of it
like a stage magician pulls land-based
mammals from a hat. This is a good atti-
tude to have if one likes to travel Iight.
No muss, no fuss, no
nents to lug around.
large spell compo-
The real brainwork, however, comes
from using raw materials to comple-
ment the illusion.
The proper use of props
If you make your surroundings a part
of the spell, anyone who doubts the sur-
roundings will find them to be real. This
leaves them more susceptible to the
stuff thats fake.
A case in point: Every beginning
phantasmist dreams of casting an illu-
sory bridge over a chasm, fooling ene-
mies into getting halfway across before
revealing the ruse. In my own youth, I
22 MAY 1996
5pc!!s frnm thc tnmc nf EmI! Du!I Wnnk
Ever-changing Self
(Illusion/Phantasm)
Level: 4
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: 1 hour/level
Casting Time: 1
Area of Effect: One creature
Saving Throw: None
This spell gives the spellcaster or a
creature touched a physical appearance
that slowly changes over the full dura-
tion of the illusion. The alterations in
appearance can include shifts in facial
feature, hair color, weight, clothing, and
equipment. The creatures race can
even be changed, though both the orig-
inal and altered forms must be human,
demi-human, or humanoid.
At the time of the casting, the spell-
caster must decide what changes in
form will occur for instance, a fair-
skinned, thin rogue could end up as a
portly, bearded merchant. There can be
more than one major shift during the
duration of the spell, so a dwarf could
shift into a gnome and then an elf dur-
ing the span. If the spell has been cast
upon a creature, the spellcaster does
not need to be present after ever-chang-
ing self has been cast. Unwilling crea-
tures get a save vs. spell to prevent the
illusion from being cast upon them. If
the save fails, a recipient might not be
aware of his ever-changing self without
looking into a mirror or consciously
looking over his appearance.
Those seeing an ever-changing self
do not get a chance to disbelieve the
illusion unless one of two conditions is
met: They are in constant sight of the
individual for at least one hour, or they
are of high enough Hit Dice to have a
chance to notice invisible creatures. In
either case, a saving throw vs. spell
reveals the true form of the individual
underneath a semi-transparent vision of
the ever-changing self.
Like change self however, this spell
cannot be used to mimic a specific indi-
vidual, and it does not convey any abil-
ities of the altered form.
Fools Copper
(Alteration, Illusion)
Level: 2
Range: 10 yards
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 hour/level
Area of Effect: 10 cubic inches per level
Saving Throw: Special
This spell is the reverse of fools gold,
making items appear less valuable to
creatures viewing them. The disguise
does not alter the nature of the item
(gold is still gold, diamonds are still dia-
monds), but it lowers the perception of
an items quality. A jewel-encrusted
golden ring could be made to look like
a plain iron band with this spell, and a
rune-carved paladins long sword could
appear as a rusty peasants blade. The
saving throw and other elements of the
spell are the same as fools gold, includ-
ing the use of powdered gemstones to
make the spell harder to detect.
Nystuls Magical Mask
(Illusion)
Level: 2
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M
This spell has the opposite effect of
Nystuls magical aura, covering up the
aura of a magical item of five pounds
weight per level of the spellcaster. If an
identify spell or other similar means is
used to determine whether the item is
magical, there is a 50% chance that the
ruse is revealed. If not, all examinations
of the item find it to be non-magical in
nature. This spell does not work on
extremely powerful magical items such
as artifacts.
The components for this spell are a
lump of coal and a drop of sour milk.
Phantasmal Pose
(Illusion)
Level: 1
Range: 60 yds. + 10 yds. per level
Components: V, S
Duration: 10 seconds per level
Casting Time: 1
Area of Effect: The caster
Saving Throw: None
The phantasmal pose spell creates a
simple illusion of the spellcaster stand-
ing still, in either a battle ready or disin-
terested-looking pose, at the point
where the spell was cast. If the caster
stays within a 5-radius of his illusory
duplicate, he is invisible and inaudible
during the duration of the spell. This
provides an opportunity to cast a spell
or take another action without being
seen or heard. Once this action has
been completed, or the duration is
reached, the duplicate vanishes. It also
vanishes if the spellcaster moves farther
than 5 away from the illusion.
The illusion of the spellcaster is only
visual and limited to one of the two
poses. As stated above, it makes the
actions of the spellcaster silent within a
5 radius of the spot where the duplicate
stands. No others are affected by this
silence. There is no saving throw.
Spectral Farce
(Alteration, Illusion)
Level: 3
Range: 60 yds. + 1 yd. per level
Components: V, S
Duration: Special
Casting Time: 3
Area of Effect: 40 cube + 10 cube per
level
The spectral farce spell is an illusion
that makes images appear less believ-
able, whether the images are real or illu-
sory. If the images are real, the spell
gives onlookers a reason to believe that
they are fake. For example, spectral farce
could make a charging red dragons
movements seem unrealistic, and also
silence the sound of its claws raking
against stone as it landed in a cavern.
This could make enemies of the dragon
believe that its an illusion and take
actions to disbelieve its existence.
If the images are illusory, the spectral
farce spell can be highly effective at pro-
moting disbelief. It grants a +4 saving
throw when determining whether a
viewer believes an illusion is real. If the
viewer has already failed a saving
throw, there is a chance that another
saving throw will le allowed after spec-
tral farce is cast. The chance is equal to
50% plus the level of the spellcaster.
This spell can have all of the ele-
ments utilized in a spectral force spell,
including sight, sound, smell and heat.
Sometimes these are used primarily to
mask an element, such as the case
above where a dragons claws were
silenced.
DRAGON #229 23
spent many days dreaming of methods
to turn my enemies into canyon pasta.
Sadly, the bridge trick does not work,
because we cant fool gravity.
An illusionist can, however, make an
unsturdy bridge appear like one that is
safe to cross. This has the same effect as
the fully illusory bridge, especially if the
illusionist has taken the time to sabo-
tage it!
If you travel with companions, you
can also supplement their homicidal
tendencies. One of my favorite uses of
real props is to give an archer pinpoint
accuracy. Back in my days with
Frampton, we were accompanied by a
crossbow-wielding mercenary who
called himself lgor the Intimidator.
A better name would have been igor
the Inaccurate, because head injuries
had done something terrible to his
depth perception. When it appeared that
lgor had little chance to connect with his
crossbow such as any time he took
aim at groups of fewer than 12
Frampton and l liked to better his odds
with phantasmal force spells.
Igor supplied the whirr of a bolt head-
ing toward the enemy, and the intimi-
dating grunt of a warrior with the
utmost confidence in his abilities. Our
illusions supplied the sight of a bolt that
connected in an ugly and particularly
damaging manner.
This gambit could only be used when
it was extremely important, but lgor
began to think that he was a gamer
who came through in clutch situations.
Others came to believe it as well Igor
is now conducting his own speaking
tour for aspiring archers.
The use of your surroundings can
have other practical applications for an
illusionist. Since I spend a great deal of
time fleeing, Ive found a way to avoid
even the tracking ability of a ranger.
The vacancy spell makes it much
harder to be followed. All tracks in an
area 70 in radius or more can be wiped
out by this spell, because it makes the
affected area appear long unused. The
likelihood of a tracker disbelieving is
slim, because the lack of tracks is hardly
a surprising occurrence. Hallucinatory ter-
rain is another spell that is useful in this
instance.
The common element to ail of these
suggestions is to think small. You will
never believe how successful you can be
if you lower your expectations. My ex-
wives would have been happier women
if they had learned this valuable truth.
With that in mind, you are in the right
frame of mind to buy my spell collection.
Dave and the rest of my associates are
passing around order forms for illusions
that I have compiled over the years.
None is particularly powerful, but each
should give you ideas for their use.
Unfortunately, I have yet to come up with
something that increases my time in the
40-yard dash. Ive got a team of gnomes
working on that one as we speak.
For a limited time only
The spell book is only 399 gold
pieces, and theres a foreword to this
edition penned by the hand of Bigby
himself! if you act now, Ill toss in a ship-
ment of guano from the Isle of Dread.
You wont get better results from any
other bats, for the fiber-rich diet of these
rodents is the stuff of legend!
Be all that you can see
Now that youve had some time to
look over the spell list, and all of the car-
rot cake is gone, its time to bring this
seminar to a close. If you take nothing
else home with you from this event, and
you might not, take home a heightened
sense of what is possible in your profes-
sion.
Illusionism is something greater than
a specialized field of magic it is a way
of looking at the world. Sometimes, the
best spells you can cast are those that
increase your own perceptive abilities.
One of my favorites, the 2nd-level spell,
Lorloveims creeping shadow, grants the
ability to see, hear and speak through
the vantage point of the casters own
shadow.
With this spell and a common house-
hold lantern, you can make a pretty
good living in the eavesdropping busi-
ness. You can also get a better look at
things you want to recreate with a spell.
A great bard, Wilhelm of Stratfjord,
once said, There are more things on
heaven and earth, Alphatia, than are
dreamt of in your imagination. This
may be true for everyone else, but it is
decidedly false for the practitioners of
the arts phantasmal.
Anything you may envision can
come to be, my friends. if you can see it,
you can be it. If you can view it, you can
do it. If you can bespy it, you can try it.
if you can observe it, you can... well, I
had better wrap this up.
Youve been a terrific audience, East
Westgate. Good night, and dont forget
to tip your server!
As his ushers filed out of the hall, Emil
Duli Wonk bowed before the hearty
applause of the East Westgate Illusionists
Guild. Before you go, we have to resolve
the matter of my speaking fee, he said.
But we already paid, stammered
Kracky the Flustered One, his hood resting
on his shoulders and the invitation in one
hand.
Admission was paid for Emil replied.
Departure will cost you. The wooden walls
of the meeting hall vanished as the master
mesmerist let some phantasms terminate.
Iron bars were revealed underneath, and it
became obvious that the guild members
had wandered into a prison cell built inside
a spacious warehouse. Dave the acquisi-
tions expert slammed shut the gate to the
cell.
If youll each kindly donate, say, 10
additional gold coins to the Emil Duli Wonk
Aged Illusionist Relief Fund, my entourage
and I will be off to our next engagement,
Emil announced. Toss the coins through
the bars, and if you dont have the hard cur-
rency, give something of comparable value.
Dont be stingy, or well make you toss out
spell books.
Emil Duli Wonk stood on the podium
while the illusionists of East Westgate emp-
tied their pockets, belt pouches, satchels and
handbags. One man overturned the con-
tents of his hollowed-out wooden leg. Short
of coins, Kracky tossed out with much reluc-
tance his lucky rabbits foot with gold
embossing. As Kracky watched Dave pocket
the item, Duli Wonk continued to speak.
This situation brings to mind a point
about creating illusions that no one has a
reason to disbelieve. I mustve skipped over
that notecard this evening
Kracky the Frenzied One pulled up his
hood and leapt onstage to throttle the guest
speaker like a wrinkled gray maraca. He
leapt right through Emils body and it van-
ished.
Thank you, East Westgate! Emils dis-
embodied voice echoed throughout the
warehouse. Emil has left the building.
After he got home, Kracky ordered Emil
Duli Wonks spell collection.
Rogers Cadenhead is an Illinois-based
gamer and freelance writer.
24 MAY 1996
FnI!Ing fnr a spItc
by Ed Rice
I!!ustratcd by Tnm Baxa
hat blasted paladin has thwarted my
plans for the last time, Cletus! the lich
fumed. Im going to make his life com-
pletely and utterly miserable.
What horrible fate shall you visit upon him this time,
master? his quasit familiar asked.
Ill kidnap his loved ones.
Master, the quasit said, You have already done this.
Then, Ill simply annihilate them.
Once again, you have already done this.
A blight upon his homeland?
Did that.
A debilitating pox upon his person?
Yup.
Report him to His Majestys Tax Collector for income fax eva-
sion?
The quasit smiled. I still remember the expression on the knights
face when they showed up.
So how about a curse? the lich suggested.
Oh, sure, the demonling sneered. Minus two to hit and minus
two to his saving throws; thats sure to kill him.
A snap of the lichs fingers sent the familiar flying across the room,
crashing info the cold stone wall. The undead mage rubbed his skele-
tal hands together and glared menacingly at the quasit. No, Cletus, I
have something more sinister in mind for the meddlesome crusader
this time.
Has this ever happened to you? You want a villain to throw
a curve into a player characters well thought-out plans, so you
have the villain cast a curse upon him. While a small change in
the PCs attack rolls and saving throws causes a few problems
once in a while, it never seems to be quite as devastating as
you intended.
With this in mind, lets take a new look at curses and
how they work. A bestow curse spell currently exists as
the reverse of the remove curse spell. For the sake of
this article, we will assume them to be different
spells.
Two new spells are needed to make
curses function properly. They are bestow
minor curse (a replacement for the exist-
ing 3rd-level priest and 4th-level wizard
bestow curse spells) and bestow major
curse (a new 7th-level spell for priests and
a 9th-level spell for wizards).
Minor curse spells are not life threaten-
ing, nor are they able completely to
physically incapacitate a character. Major
curse spells, while not necessarily life
threatening to the cursed character, can
be so to others around him. They are
also usually permanent.
The attached tables list the curses,
minor and major, in their appropriate
categories.
The tables are not to be used as a
method of random determination for a
curses effect. It is up to the spell caster to
determine what curse the recipient
receives. Furthermore, it is up to the DM
to decide which curses he allows in his
campaign. DMs should also consider all
the possible repercussions of allowing
the PCs the ability to cast these spells.
The only exception to the tables, as
far as determining curse effects goes,
would be a curse that changes its bane-
ful effect at randomly determined inter-
vals so that one day the victim suffers
from X and the next day Y. This variation
is available in both the major and minor
curse spells. The DM must determine the
time periods of each effect and what
new effect is gained at the end of each
time period.
several mi nut es. Adheri ng t o
large objects can result in the
accursed becoming stuck
fast. This curse can be
designated to affect
ei ther the whol e
body or just part of
it.
When considering the game effects,
the DM should keep in mind the likely
effects of the various curses. Many curs-
es would make it either impossible (or
very difficult) to attempt concealment,
silence, or other such clandestine activi-
ties. Curse effects likely to affect spell-
casting would just as likely affect fighting
ability, thieving abilities, or other actions.
Bestow Minor Curse
(Abjuration/reversible)
Level: W4/P3
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: One month per level of the
caster
Casting Time: 4
By touching a victim, the caster
bestows a minor curse upon him. The cast-
er can choose whatever effect or para-
meters he wishes from the list above. The
Minor Curse Effects
1. Adherence 20. Filthiness
2. Animal features 21. Floral hair
3. Appendage growth 22. Forgetfulness
4. Appendage shrinkage 23. Generosity
5. Arthritis 24. Greed
6. Babbling 25. Hair growth
7. Baldness 26. Halitosis
8. Barkskin 27. Hiccuping
9. Belching 28. Insatiable appetite
10. Body odor 29. Insatiable thirst
11. Brooding 30. Insomnia
12. Casting requirement 31. Invisibility
13. Change, skin color 32. Itching
14. Chills 33. Kleptomania
15. Continual smiling 34. Lethargy
16. Disrobing 35. Metal allergy
17. Double vision 36. Myopia
18. Drooling 37. Narcissism
19. Elasticity 38. Nausea
39. Pathological lying
40. Profuse sweating
41. Serpent hand
42. Serpent hair
43. Shaking
44. Slurred speech
45. Smoldering
46. Sneezing
47. Spike Growth
48. Stumbling
49. Truth
50. Uncontrollable laughter
51. Unintentional insult
52. Vulgarity
53. Wart growth
54. Weariness
55. Weight gain
56. Weight loss
57 Whistling
spell; if successful, the curse is negated.
The reverse of the spell negates the
effects of any one of the following curses.
Effect explanations
Adherence: The cursed one is very
sticky. This means that everything that
he touches adheres to him. Alcohol topi-
cally applied negates this effect for
Animal features: This curse causes
the recipients features (ears, nose, etc.)
to become animal-like. Which animals
features are gained is entirely up to the
spellcaster.
Appendage growth: One of the
accurseds appendages grows to a dis-
proportionate size.
victim is allowed a saving throw vs.
Appendage shrinkage: This is the
opposite of appendage growth.
Arthritis: The victim suffers from
painful arthritis. The DM must determine
the effect on the PCs actions.
Babbling: The cursed individual con-
stantly talks and chatters, unable to
remain silent for more than a moment.
This causes a 25% chance of spell fail-
ure.
Baldness: Rather obvious in its intent,
it can also be cast to cause those around
the cursed one for any great length of
time to suffer baldness.
Barkskin: This causes the accurseds
skin to take on the texture and appear-
ance of tree bark. This actually increases
the recipients Armor Class to a base of 6.
It also relays a particular weakness to
fire, increasing damage by all fire-based
attacks by +2 on all dice rolls and lower-
ing saving throws against such attacks
by -2.
Belching: As this is uncontrollable, it
causes a 25% chance of spell failure dur-
ing casting attempts. This also makes it
hard to Move Silently or remain quiet.
Body odor: The recipient is the unfor-
tunate victim of a repugnant body odor.
While not affecting him physically, it low-
ers Charisma by 4 points.
Brooding: The recipient is continually
downcast and suffers from melancholia.
This also lowers Charisma by 4 points.
Casting requirements: This sets a
series of events (dancing a jig, knocking
on wood, etc.) that a spellcaster must
perform before or during spell casting for
the spell to be effective. (There are unlim-
ited options available for humor and
challenge here, especially if you require
your player to do the jig his PC is doing.)
Change skin color: This changes the
color of the recipients skin to any tone
of the casters choice.
Chills: The cursed one suffers chills, as
with a fever. This lowers his reaction
time and drops overall Dexterity by 2
points.
Continual smiling: While not seeming
much of a curse, this can result in many
a skirmish. Many will be offended by the
accurseds constant grin.
Disrobing: The cursed individual will
unknowingly take off his clothing during
the most inopportune of moments. If this
happens while spell-casting, there is a
25% chance of spell failure.
Double vision: This causes attack rolls
to be made at -2 and lowers effective
Dexterity by 2 points.
Drooling: Uncontrolled drooling low-
ers a victims Charisma by 4 points.
Elasticity: This allows the cursed indi-
vidual to stretch his body beyond its nor-
mal parameters. Unfortunately, the body
does not return to its normal shape
immediately; it takes 1d4 hours to do so
after being stretched, during which time
Dexterity is reduced by 4 points.
Filthiness: Poor hygiene in the
extreme. Regardless of how many times
the accursed bathes, he remains dirty.
Furthermore, this filthiness extends to
the cursed persons clothing. A variation
of this curse causes the accursed simply
no longer to care about personal
hygiene.
Floral hair: This causes ones hair to
become like weeds, grass, twigs, and
flowers. While possibly raising Charisma
toward woodland creatures, it lowers the
accurseds Charisma by 4 points in the
view of all others.
Forgetfulness: Lapses of memory trig-
gered by certain events or contact with
particular objects or creatures incur a
25% chance of spell failure. It can also
be bad for non-spellcasters,
Generosity: The cursed individual
feels a need to give away everything of
value that he owns.
Greed: This persuades the accursed
individual to covet anything of value that
anyone else owns. Often this leads him
to theft.
Hair growth: The cursed person is
beset by rapid, uncontrollable hair
growth. Regardless of how often the per-
son tries, he cannot control the growth
or keep it properly groomed. It should be
noted that this hair growth is all over the
entire body, not just the head.
Halitosis: The afflicted person is beset
with bad breath. This not of the normal
variety, though. The bad breath is equal
in its effect to a stinking cloud spell.
Hiccoughing: This increases chances
of spell failure by 25%. It is similar to
belching in that it is difficult to be silent
and discrete when one is constantly hic-
coughing.
Insatiable appetite: The accursed can
never satisfy that feeling of overwhelm-
ing hunger.
Insatiable thirst: This curse has the
same effect as the insatiable hunger
curse, except that it causes a thirst that
cannot be quenched.
Insomnia: Other than making the PC
tired and edgy all the time, insomnia
takes away his mental edge. This leads
to a 25% possibility of spell failure dur-
ing casting.
Invisibility: There is no need to
describe this curses effect. However,
consider what it would be like to remain
invisible permanently. This causes no
physical impairments other than a 2
point penalty when attempting actions
requiring a measure of hand-to-eye coor-
dination, and it places a horrible mental
strain upon the individual.
Itching: Two forms of this curse are
possible. The first involves constant, non-
stop itching. The second involves itching
only when a set series of events occurs
or when the PC is under duress. Both
instances reduce Dexterity and attack
chances by 2 points and cause a 25%
chance of spell failure during casting.
Kleptomania: The victim suffers an
irresistible urge to pilfer from others. If he
is not a thief, he will not be very good at
it, and this could cause problems.
Lethargy: The PC suffers from
extreme drowsiness either all the time or
under circumstances of extreme duress.
Once again, there is a 25% chance of
spell failure during spell casting and a -2
penalty to Dexterity and attack rolls.
Metal allergy: Every time the PC
touches metal his hand breaks out in
hives and blisters.
Myopia: (Extreme near-sightedness.)
This reduces attack rolls by 4 points and
can wreak havoc when determining the
placement of area-effect spells. Be wary
of myopic wizards lobbing fireball spells!
Narcissism: The PCs extreme vanity
causes problems. He is quick to point out
his own looks to everyone else while
pointing out their flaws. When persons
spend any length of time around the
cursed PC, they perceive the PC as having
a Charisma 4 points lower than normal.
Nausea: The nausea only arises when
specific requirements set by the caster of
the curse are met (e.g., entering a small
room, meeting a dwarf, etc.) reduces the
PCs attack rolls by 4 points and creates
a 25% chance of failure during spell cast-
ing.
Pathological lying: No explanation is
necessary to portray what an inability to
tell the truth can cause.
Profuse sweating: While not causing
any detrimental effects of a physical
nature, this curse might have deleterious
effects on Charisma.
Serpent hair: A person afflicted with
this curse is often mistaken for a medusa
by others, who may be prone to attack
first and examine the corpse later. The
accurseds hair changes into locks of liv-
ing serpents. These snakes are indeed
poisonous to all but the PC, making
them hazardous to all who are close to
him.
28 MAY 1996
Serpent hand: This curse causes one
or both of the victims appendages to
become the maw of a living, poisonous
snake. The type of snake is decided by
the caster of the curse. The snakes can-
not harm the PC, but are not under his
control, attacking any who venture too
close.
Shaking: Body spasms reduce the vic-
tims Dexterity and attack rolls by 4
points, and cause a 25% chance for error
in casting spells with a somatic portion.
Slurred speech: This curse does not
affect a character physically, but causes
a 25% chance of spell failure during cast-
ing.
Smoldering: The curse recipient con-
stantly emits smoke from his skin and
hair. This can cause some visual impair-
ment, reducing attack rolls by 2 points
and causing errors in distance judgment
for spell casting. Furthermore, anyone
suffering from this curse has no chance
of going undetected unless he is stand-
ing downwind in a gale.
Sneezing: Sneezing fits, set to trigger
when a particular event occurs or the PC
is in a stressful situation, cause a 25%
chance of spell failure during casting.
Spike growth: Once cursed, the victim
sprouts numerous spikes from all over
his body. While the spikes are no danger
to the accursed, they can cause serious
damage to others (1-4 hp damage per
spike.)
Stumbling: This affects manual
Dexterity regarding movement. Any
walking or running requires a successful
Dexterity check made at -2 to avoid
tripping over ones own feet. This is in
addition to a penalty of -2 to normal
Dexterity.
Truth: This is the opposite of patho-
logical lying.
Uncontrollable laughter: Many peo-
ple find being laughed at insulting. What
appears to be a minor curse can have
some serious repercussions when the
curse causes problems with the wrong
persons in the wrong places.
Unintentional insulting: The cursed
individual has no control over his tongue
when around others. It usually only
takes a few curse-inspired insults to
cause the PC some major problems.
Vulgarity: Insults can be forthcoming
with this curse, but unlike the uninten-
tional insulting curse, profanity is uttered
in some form with every breath.
Wart growth: The cursed person
becomes covered from head to toes with
warts. This reduces Charisma by 4
points.
Weariness: The accursed individual is
always tired. This causes a -2 penalty to
attack rolls. Furthermore, this curse
reduces the PCs Constitution by 2 points.
This makes wearing armor or equally
heavy objects for long periods of time
nearly impossible.
Weight gain: The cursed individual
immediately begins to gain weight at a
rate of 5 Ibs. per day. The curse causes
weight gain until the afflicted one is 100
Ibs. over his original weight. Of course,
clothing and armor no longer fit.
Weight loss: the exact opposite of the
weight gain minor curse spell.
Whistling: This curse appears at ran-
dom times. When it does, it has a 25%
chance not only of interrupting the
accurseds spell casting but also of inter-
rupting the spell-casting of those in the
cursed individuals direct vicinity. This is
not likely to build friends among wizards.
It also makes it difficult to hide.
Bestow Major Curse
(Abjuration/reversible)
Level: W9/P7
Range: Touch
Alteration, sub-race: This change
involves an alteration within the same
genus, as in a change from gold elf to sil-
ver elf or green elf to drow. Note the sub-
races of humanity fall into this category.
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: 8
Amnesia: This is a total loss of mem-
ory (not survival and self-preservational
skills associated with being an adult).
By touching a victim, the caster
bestows a major curse upon him. The cast-
er can choose whatever effect or para-
meters he wishes from the list of major
curse effects. The victim is allowed a sav-
ing throw vs. spell; if successful, the curse
is negated. The material component
required is a personal possession of the
target, which is not consumed in the
casting. Only a wish or the reverse of this
spell, remove major curse, eliminates any
Aura, antipathy: The cursed person
radiates an aura that causes creatures
surrounding him to have hostile feelings
towards the PC. Charisma is virtually 10
points lower than normal, even among
close friends and family. All reaction
checks register as hostile.
of the major curse effects.
Aura, attraction: Aside from attracting
the unwanted affection of everyone the
PC comes in contact with, the cursed
individual might find himself in the mid-
dle of many an armed confrontation
between two such creatures wanting the
PCs attentions. Note that it is not healthy
for some creatures to be to friendly
toward the accursed (needle men, etc.)
Effect explanations
Age progression: This curse ages the
PC from 10-60 years (10d6) or the demi-
human equivalent.
Age regression: This curse makes the
PC younger by 10-60 years (10d6).
While this may not seem so bad, imag-
ine having an adult mentality trapped in
the body of an infant.
Agonizing pain: The PC is wracked by
continual pain. This reduces Dexterity,
reaction time, attack rolls, and any sav-
ing throws involving Dexterity, all by 6
points. Hit points are reduced by 25% so
long as the curse is in effect. Further-
more, any spell-casting has a 50%
chance of failure.
Alteration, gender: The permanent
change of ones sex can be most discon-
certing.
Alteration, race: An elf may become a
dwarf; a human a halfling, etc.
Major Curse Effects
1. Age progression 14. Conditional petrifica- 26. Polymorph
2. Age regression tion 27. Shrinkage
3. Agonizing pain 15. Confusion 28. Touch, chilling
4. Alteration, gender 16. Deafness 29. Touch, flora wilting
5. Alteration, race 17. Deafening voice 30. Touch, petrifaction
6. Alteration, sub-race 18. Disfigurement 31. Touch, poison
7. Amnesia 19. Gelatinous form 32. Touch, scorching
8. Aura, antipathy 20. Growth 33. Touch, shocking
9. Aura, attraction 21. Halitosis, deadly 34. Touch, withering
10. Blindness 22. Insanity 35. Undeath
11. Breathing, air 23. Lycanthropy 36. Vulnerability
12. Breathing, water 24. Multiple personalities 37. Weakness
13. Conditional death 25. Muteness 38. Withering
DRAGON
#
229 29
Blindness: Much like the spell of the
same name, this cannot be dispelled by
any means other than a wish or a remove
major curse spell.
Breathing, air: Imagine its effect on a
sea dweller, especially if the recently
cursed person or creature is underwater
at the time the spell is cast.
Breathing, water: This works the
same as the air breathing curse, but
affects those dwelling on land and
breathing air.
Conditional petrification: If the
cursed person does a certain act, he
turns to stone. The caster decides which
effect and the trigger. For example, the
PC might turn to stone if he is exposed to
direct sunlight. Depending on the nature
of the casting of the curse, the PC may or
may not know the nature of his problem.
A stone to flesh spell dispels the effect of
this curse.
Conditional death: This is similar to
conditional petrification, but it is fatal.
Confusion: Whenever the PC comes
under circumstances of extreme duress
(which, consequently, is often found
while adventuring) he acts as if under the
effects of a confusion spell.
Deafness: Not being able to hear
what is said, having to learn to read lips,
and having to discover new ways to be
aware of ones surroundings are not
enough to stymie any adventurer. The
inability to hear ones own words (when
unused to being deaf) creates a 25%
chance of spell failure during casting. He
is also easily surprised (95%) unless he is
looking exactly in the direction someone
is coming from (in which case he is sur-
prised normally).
Deafening voice: Every word that
leaves the PCs mouth comes out deaf-
eningly loud. A whisper sounds like 10
men shouting, a yell like a flight of drag-
ons roaring.
Disfigurement: This is a serious defor-
mation of the cursed person or crea-
tures body.
Gelatinous form: Nearly every being,
with the exception of the Tanarri lord
Juiblex and his contingent of slimes and
oozes, agrees that it is a horrible fate to
become a blob. Spell casting and
weapons use are all but impossible.
Growth: Being giant-sized isnt a
problem? What if youre a halfling and
are suddenly the size of a hill giant? It is
up to the DM whether a PCs clothing
and gear grow with him.
Halitosis, deadly: This atrocious case
of bad breath has an effect equal to that
of a cloud kill spell.
Insanity: Often confused with a sim-
ple feeblemind spell, this curse is much
more powerful. Any person attempting
to remove the curse by any other means
is also affected by the curse if they fail a
saving throw vs. magic. One who suc-
cessfully saves still has a chance of
becoming confused, as per the spell of
the same name. Of course, they are
allowed a saving throw to prevent this.
Lycanthropy: This is the familiar, age-
old curse. The caster chooses what type
of were-creature the accursed becomes.
Multiple personalities: The cursed
person might mistakenly assume that he
is having bouts of temporary amnesia.
Each of his 3-12 personalities has no
knowledge of the others existences nor
recollection of memories gained by
them.
Muteness: This eliminates ability to
cast spells that have a verbal compo-
nent.
Polymorph: This is another typical
curse. Only a wish or a remove major curse
spell can return the PC to normal; one
cannot use a polymorph other spell to
return the accursed to his original form.
Shrinkage: This curse turns a man-
sized person into a pixie-sized person,
etc.
Touch: Several different major curses
involve the effect of the PC touching
another. While some of these may have
beneficial functions in combat, they vir-
tually eliminate social interaction. If there
is misuse of the curse (e.g., someone
deliberately giving himself or an ally the
major curse shocking touch and dispelling
it after combat), DMs may have the PC
feel nauseated, unable to perform any
actions for 1d4+1 rounds after each
deliberate use of touch major curses. In
any case, gloves or gauntlets do not pre-
vent the curses effects from being trans-
mitted. DMs may even extend the
touch to any physical contact, not just
hands.
Touch, chilling: The accursed persons
touch causes 1-10 hp of freezing dam-
age. This cannot harm undead or crea-
tures immune to cold. While this can be
used as a weapon, it causes problems in
normal social interaction.
Touch, flora wilting: Often called the
druids bane, this curse is sure to attract
the hostile attention of nature lovers,
druids, and forest dwellers, and end any
career plans in gardening or horticulture.
Touch, petrification: The accursed
can turn flesh to stone by a simple touch.
As with other touch curses, the target of
the spell has no control over whom is
petrified by his touch. While this may
seem a benefit in combat, it soon proves
to be a curse.
Touch, poison: The accurseds touch
is instant death. The creatures touched
get a saving throw vs. death magic, but
this is at a penalty of -4. Undead are not
affected.
Touch, scorching: The PCs touch
causes 1d10 hp of flame damage and
ignites any exposed combustibles.
Unfortunately, the cursed PCs clothing
and equipment are not immune to the
effects of the flames that envelope the
PCs hands.
Touch, shocking: The PCs grasp
delivers a jolt of electricity to the person
or creature touched. This causes 1d10 hp
damage. Combustibles on or in close
proximity to the PC are ignited.
Touch, withering: The accurseds
touch acts exactly like that of a staff of
withering.
Undeath: This is believed to be how
skeleton warriors originated. This curse
transforms the PC instantly into an
undead creature. He retains all intelli-
gence and former abilities The accursed
is under the casters control unless the
caster does not specify it as so or the
caster dies. A raise dead spell reverses the
curse. DMs may choose to make the
undead PC unable to function in day-
light, or apply other effects, such as hav-
ing the PCs body begin to decay or
dessicate.
Vulnerability: Supermans bane was
kryptonite; what will the PCs be? It is up
to the DM to decide what substance
weakens and destroys the cursed PC.
Weakness: Similar to the minor curse
weariness, this is a much more potent
spell. The cursed PC is unable to do any-
thing for himself. Constant attention by
another will be necessary for daily sur-
vival.
Withering: Regardless of how much is
eaten or if magical items are employed
(such as a ring of sustenance), the PC con-
tinues to lose weight until he perishes
from starvation.
Ed Rice is an optician who lives in Oak Hill,
Ohio, with his wife, Dawn, and their two chil-
dren, Jessi and Charlie. This is his first appear-
ance in DRAGON Magazine.
If you send queries to DRAGON
Magazine and expect a reply, dont
forget to enclose an SASE (self-
addressed, stamped envelope).
30 MAY 1996
MagIca! nbccts
frnm thc IndIa
nf snng
and !cgcnd
by Michael Selinker
I!!ustratcd by Bnb K!asnIch
he following items can be used in a
campaign based on an Indian cul-
ture (or can enter other campaign
settings, as well). In such campaigns,
most items in the AD&D hardcover
books can be used, perhaps with a few
modifications (e.g., a manual of stone
golems may create a juggernaut, which is
from Indian history). Items that recreate
spells like rope trick and snake charm are
common. Magical weapons and armor
are plentiful in Indian legend, including
many flaming swords. The Dungeon
Master is encouraged to add magical
weapons and armor based on items in
the article Rhinos Armor, Tigers Claws
from DRAGON Magazine issue #189.
Abkari lotus wine
of negotiation
This fruit beverage is used by wine
sellers (abkari) to ensure smooth business
transactions, especially with reluctant
partners. When drunk by partners in
business dealings, it imparts to all partic-
ipants a powerful clarity in forging
agreements. Anyone under the wines
effects must make a saving throw vs.
spell to stall, change the subject, intro-
duce irrelevant issues, or leave the dis-
cussions before either a contract is
reached or an hour has passed. After an
agreement is signed under the influence
of the wine, no partner can break the
agreement without suffering severe
headaches (-2 to Dexterity and Cha-
risma) until the agreement is restored. All
effects of the wine can be terminated
with a neutralize poison spell.
XP Value: 600.
Amrita paste of immortality
If eaten each week and downed with
soma-juice (Legends & Lore, page 132), this
semi-sweet paste of garlic and honey
ensures the character will never die of old
age. If a week passes without the
DRAGON
#
229
33
taste of the amrita, all benefits of eternal
life are lost, and if the ingester has
exceeded his maximum lifespan, he dies.
While on the paste regimen, no other
aging magic affects the character, regard-
less of whether it adds or subtracts years.
The character is still subject to death by
disease or murder. Note that the paste
does not guarantee eternal youth; the
character will look as old as he is.
XP Value: 10,000.
Animated rumal
This 20 strangling cloth of the Thugs
can be worn as a kerchief but also can
be commanded to attack on its own. It
strikes as a 10th-level thief and inflicts
2d4 hp damage on a hit and every
round thereafter until destroyed or
ordered to cease. The rumal can also be
programmed to attack the first person to
enter an area, but it cannot distinguish
between targets in this case. The rumal
has AC 6 and 20 hp, which can be
repaired by a mending spell. When ani-
mated, the rumal has the leverage of an
18 (76) Strength for pulling riders from
horses and other maneuvers. It cannot
harm non-breathing creatures or those
without necks.
XP Value: 1,250.
Anklet of fiery retribution
This jeweled anklet is given by one
lover to another. If the recipient is killed,
fire pours from the heavens in the area
of the death. The heavenly flame causes
8d8 hp damage to all within 50 of the
body (half on a successful saving throw
vs. spells). The super-hot flame is likely to
spread very quickly. The wearers body is
always consumed by the flame. The
effect occurs regardless of whether the
slaying takes place inside or outside.
When this happens, the giver of the
anklet knows it has occurred, but not
where or how.
XP Value: 1,300.
Bell of announcement
When this small handbell is rung by
someone on a journey, the peal is heard
at the destination as well. Those experi-
enced with this device can determine the
approximate distance of the traveler by
the volume of the peal. No other infor-
mation can be imparted, though each
bell has a unique pitch. The bells power
can be activated once per day.
XP Value: 800.
Bow and axe
of conflicted righteousness
These +3 weapons may be touched
only by good characters; others suffer
2d6 hp damage. The longbows string
shakes when brought within 100 of any
baatezu, tanarri, rakshasa, or other evil
outer planar creature. An arrow from the
bow hitting such a creature inflicts triple
damage; it also causes the creature to
make a successful saving throw vs. spells
or return to its home plane.
The great axe causes a base damage
of 2d6, and can only be wielded by good
characters with Strengths of at least 17.
The axe is Lawful Good, has an
Intelligence of 13 and an Ego of 10, and
is empathic. The axes special purpose is
to defeat paladins and Kshatriya. It can
detect paladins and Kshatriya within 10,
heal the wielder once per day, and disin-
tegrates paladins or Kshatriya who fail
saving throws vs. spell. The weapons are
almost never found together.
XP Value: 5,000 for each.
Conch of rending
This massive seashell trumpet is
designed for use against extra-planar
creatures, especially avatars of deities.
When blown, everyone within a half-mile
(including the user) must make a saving
throw vs. spell or be stunned for 6d6
rounds. Avatars, devas, vampires, and
other beings that occupy two planes at
once must make a magic resistance
check; if the being has, standard magic
resistance, there is no save. Unless a suc-
cessful magic resistance check is made,
the being is ripped from the Prime
Material Plane and sent to the other
plane it inhabits. This usually angers
creatures of this level of power, so the
user should expect a return visit. If the
user fails his saving throw, the conch van-
ishes.
XP Value: 20,000.
Dhoti of nonviolence
This white dhoti, a 5 unsewn cloth
which is wrapped around the lower
torso, can produce a sanctuary - like effect
around a person who wears it as his only
garment. The dhoti instills an aura of
nonviolence (ahimsa) toward the wearer
in all within 50; those desiring to attack
the wearer must make a saving throw
vs. spell to do so. Unlike the sanctuary
spell, the nonviolence aura does not
cause the affected creatures to lose track
of the wearer. However, the wearer must
remain totally allied in the situation; the
34 MAY 1996
effect is immediately canceled if the
wearer takes any action to help or harm
anyone.
XP Value: 3,000.
Ebony mace of wavering
This black great mace +3 causes a
base damage of 2d6 but requires at least
a 17 Strength to use. When wielded by a
lawful character, the mace also saps one
point of karma from anyone it hits,
regardless of alignment. (This assumes
the character follows karma points; if
not, there is no additional effect.) Actual
level is unaffected by the mace.
XP Value: 5,000.
Figurines of wondrous power
These figurines are in addition to
those listed in the DUNGEON MASTER Guide
and ENCYCLOPEDIA MAGICA tome. Each has
an XP Value of 100 per Hit Die.
Ashokas lion kings: At the com-
mand word, four smiling lions appear.
They are normal adult male lions (AC
5/6, 5+2 HD, normal attacks), but they
do not attack unless attacked. Each lion
is exceptionally intelligent, Lawful Good,
and as versed in the art of oratory as
was the wise king for whom they are
named. In addition to providing enlight-
ening discourse on kindness and justice,
the lion kings can benefit their owner by
serving as guards, obstacles, or messen-
gers. The lion kings remain in existence
for up to a week, but they can be called
only once a month.
Bandicoot mount: This figurine
appears as a normal-sized rat when
called. A contingency effect then casts
reduce on the owner, shrinking him to 6
tall (a saving throw is allowed if the char-
acter is unwilling). The character may
then ride the rat through areas too small
for normal passage with little chance of
detection. The bandicoot mount can be
ridden once a day for up to two hours; if
it is damaged, both rat and rider revert to
their original state instantly.
Hanuman monkey: On command,
this representation of the primate gener-
al Hanuman turns into a slender, long-
tailed monkey. The monkey has an 18
Dexterity and a 95% rating in all thieving
skills except Read Languages. The mon-
key (AC 3, 2 HD, 1 d6/1d6 damage) per-
forms one spying or thieving mission for
its owner, retrieving an item or a bit of
information before reverting to block
form. It can be used once a day.
White bull: When activated, the fig-
urine transforms into a huge white bul-
lock. It has AC 4, and 6+6 HD, and it
inflicts 2d6/2d6 hp damage on goring
attacks, but it fights only in self-defense.
A yoke or plow can be attached to the
bull, which can pull up to 10,000 Ibs. at a
Movement Rate of 12. The bull can be
used once a day and transforms back to
rock at sundown.
Flute of silence
When a proficient flautist of any class
plays this instrument, it plays a music that
can be heard only by the dead. This play-
ing has the effect of encouraging undead
to move on to their final rest. If the play-
er makes a successful proficiency check,
the number rolled is compared to a
priests turn undead roll at the characters
level. Any undead against whom the roll
is successful must make a saving throw
vs. spell or be released from unlife, free to
be reincarnated or reach eternal peace.
Undead who are released either disap-
pear completely or abandon their corpo-
real frames. This effect works even
against undead tied to specific places or
wedded to curses and can also eliminate
undead in possession of living creatures.
The flautist must play the flute for a sin-
gle round, and any undead creature not
released by the playing may attack the
flautist.
XP Value: 6,000.
Linen armor of displacement
This black Iinen armor has a base AC
of 9 with a bonus of +2. Better than most
light quilted linen armors (see the article
Rhinos Armor, Tigers Claws), it adds
+15% to a rogues Move Silently and
Climb Walls abilities. In addition, the
magic on the armor allows the wearer to
dimension door through any opening he
can enter to another opening of the
same type within sight. Thus, a wearer
could jump through one open window in
a room and enter through another, or
hop into one large basket and appear in
another. The magic works only if the
character is completely out of everyones
sight for at least an instant. A rogue may
use the magic of this armor at the end of
a round where he has attacked.
XP Value: 1,200.
Mandala of psychic devotion
Representing the cosmos, this man-
dala is a 5 diameter red wheel contain-
ing several concentric circles and other
shapes, each bearing an image of a dif-
ferent god. An ascetic, Yogi, or other
psionic character uses this to show his
devotion (bhakti) to unlocking the secrets
of the human mind. When sitting in this
mandala, the user gets a Wisdom check
to gain a new spell or psionic devotion
when advancing a level. These advance-
ments cannot raise the maximum num-
ber of spells per level, nor award new
psionic sciences or disciplines.
XP Value: 1,800.
Rani of Jhansis saddle
(This item is named for the princess,
or rani, who fought against the British Raj
until she was killed in her saddle.) This
saddle allows the rider to continue fight-
ing even after he is slain. The saddle ani-
mates the rider as long as the battle is
joined, allowing combat until the enemy
is slain, surrenders or retreats, the riders
side retreats, or the riders mount is inca-
pacitated. Once any of these conditions
occurs, the rider drops dead immediately
if he is at zero or fewer hit points. While
under the saddles animating effects, if
the rider stops fighting for any reason,
he dies instantly.
XP Value: 3,000.
Rod of monsoon control
This powerful and dangerous rod can
be used only by a mage or a priest with
access to the Weather sphere. It cannot
be recharged and can only be used in
areas conducive to monsoon conditions,
generally tropical or subtropical areas
near coastlines.
The rod creates an ultra-powerful con-
trol weather effect over an area of
between 100 and 1,000 square miles, at
the casters discretion. On the hour after
the spell is triggered and every hour
thereafter, the precipitation, wind and
temperature can each be moved one
step in the same direction. The condition
of monsoon (one step beyond heavy
rain, sweltering heat, and hurricane) may
be reached or dispelled. Monsoons
cause siege damage as by a screw or
drill on all structures and trees in the
area of effect, and unmoored ships must
all make seaworthiness checks (see
DUNGEON MASTER Guide, pages 105 and
170).
Creatures that cannot take adequate
cover on high ground must make
Constitution checks to avoid drowning.
At this level of storm, the rod user will be
playing with the most powerful elemen-
tal forces, and must maintain absolute
concentration. The caster must make a
Wisdom check every hour; if the caster
fails the check or is interrupted, the effect
either ceases or stays at monsoon level
for 1d12 days, if this condition was in
effect during use. The caster may expend
36 MAY 1996
another charge and try again in an hour.
Monsoons can kill thousands and
destroy entire cities, so caution is urged.
XP Value: 15,000.
Sapling wand
This wand appears to be a thin and
flexible sapling branch, though it has the
strength of adamantite. The wand allows
the user to expend a charge and ignore
all effects of natural or magical wind,
from a gust of wind spell to an air ele-
mentals whirlwind for 3d4 turns. If two
charges are expended, the user can elim-
inate the wind effect in question; air ele-
mentals and such creatures must save
vs. wand or be banished. The sapling
wand may be recharged.
XP Value: 3,000.
Shakuntalas ring of memory
This ring is named for the forest
nymph who wore a nonmagical version
of it in a classical Indian story. When
anyone touches the ring on the wearers
hand, it telepathically communicates to
both parties the complete details of all
previous meetings. The DM should pro-
vide both with any details they cannot
remember.
XP Value: 1,000.
Sitar of clarity
A bard or sitarist who makes a profi-
ciency check can use this double-gourd-
ed stringed instrument to weave an effect
similar to an om spell (see Arcane Lore:
Monsoons and the Power of Om in
DRAGON Magazine issue #226). The
soothing music can fill an enclosed space
or a 100 radius outside. Anyone in that
space who is focusing on reading or
prayer can do so at a 50% faster pace
(including regaining spells). However,
anyone who is trying to hear any other
sound must make a Wisdom check;
otherwise, all he can hear is the sitar. The
effects cease when the sitarist stops
playing.
XP Value: 1,500.
Spinning wheel of dharma
Thread from this skein can be woven
into a garment keyed to an individual. If
one dies wearing such a garment, the
garment can be rewoven into another
that will mystically be the exact size for
his reincarnation. (See Legends & Lore,
page 126.) Various spells and items
crystal balls, reincarnation sight, clairvoy-
ance and so on can then be used to
locate the reincarnation if focused upon
the garment. If the garment is then worn
by the individual, he receives all memo-
ries of his previous incarnation.
XP Value: 4,000.
Spirit whisk
This brush-like whisk can be used to
clear an area of unseen spirits. The
whisker may brush clean a 10 x 10 area
per round. After this occurs, any invisible
or intangible creature must move out of
the area and cannot move back while
the wielder is present. For example, a
wielder about to be attacked by an invis-
ible stalker can whisk himself a shelter
from that monster, who cannot attack
until the wielder moves from the area.
Those actively trying to stay are entitled
to a saving throw vs. spells. The whisks
effect does not work on a creature tied to
a specific area, such as a haunt; such a
creature will not be able to attack the
wielder as long as he holds the whisk,
however.
XP Value: 2,000.
Tandava drum and
tambourine of deva presence
When both of these percussion instru-
ments are played by proficient priests or
their disciples, all monsters of up to Semi-
Intelligence within hearing must make
saving throws vs. spell. Those failing
believe that the PCs are guarded by pow-
erful divine creatures and do not attack
unless attacked first. Even if attacked, the
creatures will seek to flee at the first
opportunity. If the playing ceases, the
awe effect wears off and the creatures
will most likely attack with fervor.
XP Value: 3,500 for both.
Tome of spying
The Artha Shastra (Textbook of
Material Matters) is an ancient hand-
book on counter-espionage against
those within ones own ranks, especially
spouses and close allies. It describes
thousands of ways the owners confi-
dantes might betray him. If the owner
writes on one of its 32 blank central
pages the name of someone who claims
to be an ally, an unseen servant is created.
The servant follows the person in ques-
tion until called back, at which time it
reports all activity which could be consid-
ered traitorous. The servants are as creat-
ed by the spell, and they can be detected
and destroyed in the manners described
there. In this manner, the owner can
have up to 32 persons at once followed
and observed. Once an owner has
inscribed a page with a name, that page
cannot be rewritten. But when the book
changes hands, the pages return to their
blank state, and all previously created
unseen servants are destroyed. It should
DRAGON
#
229 37
come as no surprise that the Artha Shastra
has been handed down through the ages
through theft and murder.
XP Value 5,000.
Trees, magical
Though not actually magical items,
certain trees are laden with magic pow-
ers that can be harnessed. They cannot
be created but can be carefully grown
over time (XP Value: 4,000 each). Several
varieties exist:
Flame-of-the-woods tree: This short
madder tree has five-bulbed red flowers
that shake and glow when the roots can
find water. If carefully clipped and
wrapped in honey-soaked leaves, these
bulbous flowers can be thrown as mis-
siles from the fire seeds spell. The flowers
remain potent for up to a full day if they
are kept damp.
Moksha mango tree: The sweet fruit
of this tree may be eaten only by one
who believes he has been faithful to his
calling and faith; the slightest doubt
causes a permanent loss of a point of
Wisdom. An ingester without doubt sub-
mits himself for summary divine judge-
ment. If the gods agree that the eater
has been true through his life, he is killed
and given release (moksha) from rein-
carnation; this ends his journey. If the
gods have reasons for keeping him
incarnate, the character suffers no ill
effects. Note that this works both for the
pure paladin and the dark Thug.
Wool tree: First reported in India by
the Greek traveler Herodotus, the wool
tree bears an exceptionally strong type
of wool where other trees have fruit or
flowers. The wool, which otherwise
resembles that of a white sheep, can be
spun into cotton cloth with the strength
of plate mail. This cotton is especially
ripe for enchantment and gives a +1
bonus to all rolls on enchant an item
spells cast upon it.
distance of 30. Everyone looking at the
front of the pinwheel must save vs. spell
or be blinded for 4d4 rounds. In addition,
each evil creature struck by the light
must make another saving throw vs.
spell or suffer 1d4 hp damage for each
of its points of karma. (For non-
Indiankit characters or monsters, use
Level or Hit Dice.) This effect does not
harm neutral or good creatures.
XP Value: 2,500.
Wrist threads of
spirit protection
Vajra arrows
These +3 vajra arrows turn into bolts of
lightning when fired. When an arrow
strikes a target, it delivers 2d6+3 hp elec-
trical damage and creates a thunderclap
which requires the victim and all within
20 to save vs. paralyzation or be
stunned for 1d4+1 rounds. The vajra
arrows are usually found in batches of up
to five, and each can be used once
regardless of whether it hits the target.
The raksha threads are worn about the
wrists in various rituals, especially in
summer. These magical threads are
wards against evil spirits, acting as a per-
manent protection from evil. In addition,
the threads allow the wearer to see
through the illusions of evil spirits,
including the similarly named rakshasa.
The wrist threads cannot be touched by
evil spirits or their magic.
XP Value: 750.
XP Value: 400 each.
Wheel of light rays
This cross with bent spokes (the
Sanskrit su-asti) can be spun like a pin-
Michael Selinker is a game designer who
wheel. When so spun, the wheel emits a
lives in Seattle, Washington.This is the final
blinding kaleidoscopic array of light to a
installment in his trilogy of articles based on
an Indian culture.
38 MAY 1996
By Chris Perry
I!!ustratcd by 5cntt Rnscma
Ncw kIts:
Frnst WIzards, FIcnd 5!aycrs, and 5pIrItua!Ists
n todays AD&D game, there are many kits available to wiz-
ard PCs. There is still room, however, for a few more kits a
few more choices for those whore bored perhaps jaded with
what they have. This article presents the frost wizard, fiend
slayer, and spiritualist. The frost wizard bears special mention
as it as a sub-class of wizard rather than a kit, so it is handled
somewhat differently.
The frost wizard
Description: The frost wizard is a rare kind of elementalist
mage, one who specializes in a mixture of two schools of ele-
mental magic. In this case, the mixture is air and water, which
he uses to create spells of ice, frost, and cold. Since the ele-
mental planes of air and water meet to form the para-
elemental plane of ice, many consider frost wizards to be para-
elementalists rather than elementalists, but this is more a sub-
ject of syntactic debate among sages. What matters to frost
wizards is that their brand of magic has a power all its own.
Until recently, ice magic wasnt really a specialty. There were
shamans among the Viking-like peoples who possessed some
skill with it, but they were few and far between. Now mages
calling themselves frost wizards, with skills equal to those of
other elementalists, have begun making their way through the
northern land.
Their school is rather limited, making frost mages careful
about how they operate. It should come as no surprise that the
northlands are where the school is strongest.
Requirements: None.
Races Allowed: Elves, half-elves, and humans.
receive a +2 bonus on saves against cold-based spells, and
opponents suffer a -2 penalty on saves against such spells
when cast by frost wizards.
Spell Learning: Frost wizards gain a +25% bonus to learn
spells of elemental ice, with a +15% bonus to learn spells of ele-
mental air and water. Unlike their more conventional elemen-
talist cousins, they suffer no penalty to learn non-elemental
magic, but they are expressly forbidden to use spells of ele-
mental earth and fire.
Benefits: Frost wizards can memorize an extra spell per spell
level so long as at least one of the spells is of their specialty.
Ice-based spells are reduced by one level with regard to dif-
ficulty when researched by frost wizards. Frost wizards above
15th level need not concentrate on summoned ice elementals
to control them. The 5% chance of elementals turning upon
them remains in effect until they reach 20th level.
Damage from cold-based spells cast by frost wizards is
increased by one point/die of damage. Damage to frost wizards
from cold-based spells is decreased by 1 hp per die of damage.
Disadvantages: Frost wizards are forbidden to learn spells of
elemental earth and fire. Also, since their school of magic has
only recently risen from its primitive origins, frost wizards are
limited in their choice of cold-based spells (see below for list
and new spells). They have the unfortunate distinction of hav-
ing an even more limited range of spells than necromancers.
Suggested Kits: Anagakok, Amazon Sorceress, Militant
Wizard, Savage Wizard, Witch, Wu Jen.
Spells: The frost wizards specialty, the elemental school of
ice, is provided here in full. Some are new, others are already
well-known, and the rest are reversals of stan-
Saving Throw Modifiers: Frost wizards
dard spells.
DRAGON
#
229
41
School of Elemental Cold
1st Level:
Chill (new)
Endure cold (adapted clerical spell)
Freezing hands (reversal/Burning
Hands)
Ice burst (reversal/fireburst, Tome of Magic)
Snillocs snowball (FORGOTTEN REALMS
Adventures)
2nd Level:
Chill metal (reversal/heat metal, adapt-
ed clerical spell)
Frost sphere (reversal/flaming sphere)
Ice knife (Complete Wizards Handbook)
Resist cold (adapted clerical spell)
Snillocs snowball swarm (FORGOTTEN
REALMS Adventures)
Snow tread (new)
3rd Level:
Freeze tire (new)
Frost trap (reversal/fire trap)
Ice claws (new)
Icelance (FORGOTTEN REALMS Adventures)
4th Level:
Control temperature 10 Radius (adapted
clerical spell, cant raise tempera-
ture to above 55F using this spell)
Frost shield (reversal/chill form of fire
shield only)
Ice storm
Wall of ice
5th Level:
Cone of cold
Conjure elemental (no ice needed to
summon ice elemental)
6th Level:
Ice Magic (new)
Otilukes freezing sphere
7th Level:
Ice mephits (new)
8th Level:
Laruins blinding blizzard (new)
9th Level:
Elemental aura (Tome of Magic)
Ice swarm (reversal/meteor swarm)
Chill
(Evocation)
1st level:
Range: 30
Components: V, S
Duration: 2-5 rounds
Casting Time: 1
Area of Effect: One creature
This spell creates an area of intense
cold around the target, causing it to
shiver regardless of how much clothing
or fur is worn. For the duration of the
spell, the target moves at half-speed and
suffers a -2 penalty on attack and dam-
age rolls provided he fails a saving
throw vs. magic. An interesting side-
effect of the chill spell is that, if it is cast
on a target under the effects of a chill
metal spell, the target suffers a -2 penal-
ty on Armor Class as well. Note that a
resist cold spell (or any other related pro-
tective magic) prevents this from
working.
Snow Tread
(Alteration, Enchantment)
2nd level
Range: 10
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 hour per level
Casting Time: 5
Area of Effect: One creature per level
Saving Throw: None
This rather simple but valuable spell
allows those affected to tread through
snow without fear of slipping and at
their normal movement rate, thus mak-
ing it possible for the recipients to travel
through terrain covered with ice and
snow without being bogged down
(ignore modifiers for snow when deter-
mining the daily movement rate for the
party, including the approximate time
needed to complete the trip). Another
benefit offered by this spell is that it
makes it harder for others to follow the
party, for it magically brushes snow into
the tracks behind them (-3 penalty on
top of all other tracking modifiers).
Up to five creatures can be affected
by the snow tread spell, plus one addi-
tional creature per level of the caster
over 5th level (a total of 10, maximum).
The material component of the spell is
the snow or ice that is to be traversed, in
which the caster traces the last words of
the spell (a sure sign that the spell is in
effect is that the traced words are swept
away by its magic).
Freezefire
(Alteration)
3rd level
Range: 5 per level
Components: V, S
Duration: Special
Casting Time: 3
Freezefire is an unusual spell that
allows the caster to freeze one or more
fires within range, whether natural or
magical, into inert blue ice, thus allow-
ing it to be touched or handled without
harm. Up to one 5 x 5 sphere of flame
(normal or magical) is transformed into
blue ice for every four experience levels,
and its duration is permanent with
regard to normal fire. As for magical fire,
it is affected in the following ways: If it
hasnt manifested yet (e.g., a fireball fly-
ing through the air), it stays inert for 3-5
rounds (the aforementioned fireball
would fall to the ground as a lifeless
lump of ice and sulphur); If the magical
fire is already in effect (e.g., a wall of fire),
the spell causes it (or a part of it, if it is
too large for the caster to affect com-
pletely) to turn to blue ice for the space
of 1 round per level of the caster. While
frozen, it can be physically touched,
even broken, without ruining the spell.
Thus, part of a wall of fire that has been
frozen could be broken down and one
could pass through unscathed, while the
frozen lump that was a fireball could be
picked up and thrown a few rounds later
for the usual effects. It doesnt affect fire-
based spells of 5th level or higher, nor
does it prevent a dragon or chimera
from breathing flame unless it was cast
1 round previously. In that case, the
creature is allowed a saving throw vs.
spell to resist its effects, and, if the save
is failed, it is unable to breathe flame for
2-3 rounds.
Ice Claws
(Conjuration, Evocation)
3rd level
Range: 0
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 round per level
Casting Time: 3
Area of Effect: The caster
Saving Throw: None
Casting this spell brings into being a
disembodied pair of icy, clawed hands,
totally under the control of the caster.
The caster can attack twice per round
with these claws as a fighter half his
level, causing 1-3 hp damage each plus
an additional 1-4 hp cold damage
(those with resistance to cold suffer no
additional damage from the cold). They
can be used to attack someone up to 30
yards away from the caster, and on a
natural roll of 20 the claw(s) have
secured a hold on the target, causing
automatic claw and cold damage every
round thereafter. The material compo-
nent of this spell is a pair of crystal claws
connected to a small brass chain, all of
which is worth 5 gp.
42 MAY 1996
Ice Magic
(Alteration, Elemental Ice)
6th level
Range: 120 yds.
Components: V, S
Duration: Special
Casting Time: 6
Ice magic is a special spell that allows
the caster to shape ice and snow, to for-
tify current ice-based spells, or to control
ice-related creatures within the casters
range. The caster must choose how he
wishes to use it, with the following
effects:
1. To shape ice: The caster can shape
existing ice into bridges, ladders, and the
like, up to one 10 x 10 square per level.
If there is enough ice on the ground, he
can choose to create sharp jags of ice
with the same damaging effects as the
spike stones spell, while large ice stalac-
tites on the ceiling could be formed that
would cause 1-8 hp damage each (no
more than one large ice stalactite per
three experience levels). The effects last
1 turn per level.
2. To fortify ice and cold spells: The
duration of all such spells (such as wall of
ice) can be doubled, except for those
with instantaneous effects. Ice spells that
cause damage are deadlier (+1 hp dam-
age per Hit Die of damage). The spell
must be cast 3 rounds before the spell to
be fortified is cast.
3. To control ice creatures: Beings
from the para-elemental plane of ice can
be dominated by the caster (as the 5th-
level wizard spell), one target per round.
Once one being fails its save, it serves
the caster unquestioningly until he
chooses to dominate some other such
creature. This lasts for 1 round per level.
The material component of this spell
is ice, which is required for all castings
except when the second option is cho-
sen (some spells to be fortified are
instantaneous, so they cannot be cast
beforehand).
Summon Ice Mephits
(Conjuration/Summoning)
7th level
Range: 30 yards
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 5 rounds + 1 round per level
Casting Time: 6
Saving Throw: None
This spell is very similiar to the more
common monster summoning spells,
except that it summons 2-7 ice mephits.
These little fiends arrive in 1-2 rounds
through a small portal from the Para-
elemental plane of ice, ready to wreak
havoc upon the summoners enemies.
Theres an 80% chance that the mephits
come as desired, a 10% chance that an
equal number of ice trolls come through
instead, and a 10% chance that another
ice or arctic-related creature comes
through (see below):
Anomaly Table (d10)
1 Cryohydra (1)
2-3 Frost Giant (1-2)
4-7 Ice Toad (2-5)
8 Remorhaz (1)
9-10 Winter Wolf (2-4)
The material component for this spell
is a cup of snow or ice (this, as with
many other ice-related spells, isnt nec-
essary if the caster is a frost wizard). It
should also be noted that wizards cast-
ing this spell in the FORGOTTEN REALMS
campaign can choose to summon 2d8
frost sprites instead.
Laruins Blinding Blizzard
(Alteration, Conjuration/Summoning)
8th level
Range: 0
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 2-6 hours
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Area of Effect: 2-5 mile radius
Saving Throw: None
This variant of the control weather
spell allows the caster to more reliably
bring about chilly, snowy weather, for it
summons magical cold through a tem-
porary conduit connected to the ele-
mental plane of ice.
In the first half-hour black and gray
clouds begin forming and the tempera-
ture drops by 5F per turn. The winds,
meanwhile, start picking up within 3
turns of casting the spell, increasing from
a strong breeze in the first hour to a gale
by the second hour. Snow begins to fall
within 1 turn of the spells casting, very
light at first, but increasing to a blinding
fury at the end of the second hour (1 of
snow drops to the ground per hour).
Creatures caught within the blizzards
2-5 mile radius can move at 1/6 their nor-
mal rate at best, will have their vision
limited to 10 in front of them, and must
either have very thick clothing or be
impervious to the cold or else suffer a -1
penalty to attack and damage rolls as
well as 1-2 hp cold damage per turn
(Those with padded armor, hide, and
heavy armors with AC values of 4 and
below suffer 1-2 hp damage every other
turn, but the attack penalties remain).
NPCs without adequate protection must
make Morale checks before attempting
to enter the blizzards area of effect. The
caster, meanwhile, is protected from the
blizzards effects in a 15 radius, his
vision unhampered, and can move
through the snow at his normal move-
ment rate (these benefits also accrue to
his companions, if theyre within the 15
radius). The blizzard begins to lessen
only during the last half-hour of the spell,
and if the conditions were already favor-
able then the snow continues (lightly) for
another 2-3 hours. Lastly, there is a 10%
chance per hour that an ice elemental or
some other cold creature is encountered
(choose from the list of creatures found
under the summon ice mephits spell, or
roll on the Arctic Encounters table). The
material component of Laruins Minding
blizzard is a ring of silver enclosed
around a piece of smoky white quartz.
The fiend slayer
Description: Fiend slayers are wiz-
ards who have taken it upon them-
selves to learn about the lower planes
and their denizens; and it is fiend slayers
who have chosen to combat them.
While many such mages choose this kit
out of sense of duty (perhaps getting
involved initially due to curiosity), many
more become fiend slayers due to per-
sonal loss at the hands of tanarri,
baatezu, or other fiends, and are not
about to let it happen again.
Preferred/Barred Schools: This kit is
best suited for conjurers, but all wizards
New Proficiency
Lower Plane Knowledge
(2 slots, Intelligence, -2) This proficiency gives the character some knowl-
edge about a particular lower plane who lives there, whats needed to survive
or get there, etc. The character doesnt have automatic knowledge of spell keys,
but he does have some knowledge of what kinds of magic may be affected
(proficiency check required).
Note that if the PLAYERS OPTION: Skills & Powers book is being used, this skill
costs 4 slots and starts at a base score of 7.
DRAGON
#
229 43
are eligible to take this kit.
Ability Score Requirements: An min-
imum of 16 in Intelligence or Wisdom.
Secondary Skills: None.
Weapon Proficiencies: Any weapons
normally allowed to wizards.
Non-Weapon Proficiencies: Bonus:
Lower plane knowledge (new). Required:
Ancient/modern languages (choose one
that would aid in researching extrapla-
nar matters), reading/writing. Recom-
mended: Ancient history.
Equipment: Fiend slayers start out as
any other wizard, but they are required
to purchase an extra spellbook (about
200 gp value), most of which is set aside
for writing down what they learn about
the planes and planar creatures they
specialize in. Holy water and silvered
weapons are also useful.
Special Benefits: Major/Minor Studies:
At the beginning of their careers, fiend
slayers must choose to concentrate their
studies on one plane in particular: the
Abyss, Baatezu, Gehenna, etc. By doing
so, they gain certain bonuses with
regard to that particular plane or its
inhabitants. They receive a +2 on
netherworld knowledge checks when
seeking knowledge about that plane.
Fiend slayers also have an easier time
learning how to cast magic properly
there (if the PLANESCAPE campaign set-
ting is used, fiend slayers know two ran-
dom spell keys of their choice at the
start, and are allowed one Intelligence
check to learn another spell key for
every two experience levels attained
beyond 1st level). At 11th level, a fiend
slayer is considered an expert on sub-
jects related to his major plane (equal to
a sage). He may choose another plane of
existence to specialize in at 15th level.
Fiend Detection: This ability is equal
to the extra-dimensional detection spell
found in the Tome of Magic (as per the
3rd-level priest spell). This ability can be
used once a day for every two levels of
experience and is double-range when
the fiend slayer is attempting to detect
the type of creature he gets a bonus
with (see below).
Creature Bonus: Because of their
expertise, fiend slayers gain certain
bonuses when dealing with a specific
race. This is often a race that the wizard
holds a grudge against, and one which
must be native to or common on the
plane the mage has majored in. In com-
bat with this chosen creature, the fiend
slayer receives a +1 bonus on all saving
throws against attacks made by the
race, and the magic resistance of such
44 MAY 1996
creatures is lowered by 10% in magical
attacks made by the fiend slayer (includ-
ing summonings, charming attempts, or
other castings that the creature would
view in as hostile). Creature types
include baatezu, gehreleth, mephit,
tanarri, etc. At 9th level, fiend slayers
receive a +2 bonus (total) on saves
when attacked by the creatures in ques-
tion (penalties to fiends remain
unchanged).
Special Hindrances: Fiend slayers suf-
fer from the great expense of their
researches, even as compared to other
magical studies. Reference materials are
hard to come by, so they must either pay
through the nose (at a 200% mark-up) or
spend double the time compiling this
knowledge. In addition, fiend slayers are
required to slay at least one specimen of
their chosen enemy in order to advance
each level beyond 7th level (number of
Hit Dice equal to the wizards level). This
must be done each time the fiend slayer
receives enough experience points to
advance to another level.
Races Allowed: Any race that has
wizards.
The Spiritualist
Role: The spiritualist is a wizard who
has been gifted with the ability to sense
unseen spirits and to communicate with
them. Most are born with this ability
choose to become psionicists or priests,
but the spiritualist finds that it helps the
cause of wizardry equally well, particu-
larly that of necromancy.
Spiritualist know that something
more exists beyond their own existence.
They believe that that some form of
order exists in the netherworld, regard-
less of the culture they come from. As
such, only Lawful or Neutral characters
may take this kit.
Preferred/Barred Schools: Necro-
mancers are most likely to be spiritual-
ists, and they make excellent ones.
None are barred, except for enchanters,
illusionists, and transmuters.
Abilility Score Requirements: 16
Wisdom.
Secondary Skills: None.
Weapon Proficiencies: Any.
Nonweapon Proficiencies: Bonus:
Religion. Required: Ancient history, read-
ing/writing, spellcraft.
Equipment: Same as other wizards.
Special Benefits: Spirit Sense: Spiritual-
ists have the ability to sense and see spir-
its within 15 yards. As the spirit comes
closer, the surroundings dim in the wiz-
ards sight, and the spirit glows (if sight is Chris Perry is pursuing a political science
blocked by walls and such, the objects degree. He lives in Northern California on a
dim even further and a faint glow can be small orchard farm with 12 cats. This is his
seen upon the obstructing object). If the fourth article in the pages of DRAGON
DM uses The Complete Psionicists Magazine.
Handbook, it can be treated as a wild tal-
ent, replete with psionic points and
such. If not, this ability can be used once
each day for each three experience lev-
els of the wizard, each use lasting 1 turn
per level.
Invisibility to undead: Once a day, spir-
itualists can render themselves invisible
to undead (as per the cleric spell), lasting
1 round per level.
Speak with dead: Beginning at the
3rd level, spiritualists gain the abil-
ity to speak with the dead three
times a day. No material compo-
nents are needed, and the dead
spirit can be communicated with
even if the skull lacks a lower jaw.
(No bones are needed, if noncorporeal
undead are the target of this spell).
Protection from spirits: At 7th level, the
spiritualist has enough knowledge of
spirits that he can pen a protection scroll
that protects against ghosts, poltergeists,
wraiths, and other noncorporeal undead.
It costs 750 gp and takes a month to
write, and it protects against 17 Hit Dice
worth of spirits. Only one such scroll can
be in the spiritualists possession at any
time, and it can only be used once a day
Special Hindrances:
Spiritualists have abilities that some
priests feel overlaps into their own
province, and as such they some-
times receive more negative reac-
tions from them than is normal. Thus,
they suffer an initial -2 reaction roll
penalty when dealing with priests. Also,
spiritualists sometimes suffer from haunt-
ings, whereupon a (more or less) harm-
less lesser spirit decides to attach itself to
the wizard, most likely taking residence
in some object he possesses (or perhaps
his home). The spirit may pop up at odd
hours to talk to the wizard, rearrange his
spell components as a prank, etc., and
stays unless it is destroyed or driven
away by a priest. Theres a base 15%
chance per level gained beyond 3rd level
(non-cumulative) that a spirit latches on.
This can be very disconcerting or hilari-
ous, according to the DMs wishes, and
such spirits could become val-
ued NPCs to interact with).
Races Allowed: Humans
and half-elves.
DRAGON
#
229 45
by Skip Williams
10th level ranger, 10-level druid
STRENGTH: 18/29
INTELLIGENCE: 13
WISDOM: 18
DEXTERITY: 15
CONSTI TUTI ON: 16
CHARISMA: 16
AC: -1 (2 from the rear)
THAC0: 11 (10 w/ Str. bonus)
HIT POINTS: 81
ALIGNMENT: NG
SPECIAL ATTACKS: 3/2 rnds
SPECIAL DEFENSES Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: immune to woodland creature charm
spells, +2 to saves vs. fire/electrical
(Druid); + 4 magical defense (Wis.)
Special Abilities/Bonuses: +1 to hit, +3 dmg (Str.); shape-
change 3 x/day (Druid).
Weapon proficiencies: Club, sickle, dart, spear, scimitar,
sling, staff.
Nonweapon proficiencies: Musical instrument (recorder), rid-
ing (horses), swimming, healing, animal lore, read/write com-
mon, read/write elvish, tracking.
Languages: Common, elf, dwarf, druid, gnoll, centaur, green
dragon, nixie, pixie, sprite, treant.
Spells per day: 6, 6, 4, 4, 2.
Magical items: Scimitar +5 defender, dagger +1 flametongue,
elven chain mail +3, shield + 1, ring of free action, ring of warmth,
dust of disappearance (4 packets), boots of elvenkind, pouch of
accessibility, amulet of the planes.
Equipment: Tylk keeps his elven chain mail hidden under a
loose blouse with long sleeves and a pair of baggy trousers. He
doesnt care if people notice his armor, but he doesnt want the
metal glinting in the sun and making him visible from a dis-
tance outdoors. He also carries a sling and a pouch of 20 bul-
lets in his pouch of accessibility, along with several darts. He
keeps three normal daggers strategically placed behind his
neck, behind his right thigh, and in his right boot. He carries his
magical dagger strapped to his left wrist. He almost always has
a small supply of goodberries (from the 2nd-level priest spell)
with him, and he is never without his apple wood recorder. He
usually carries about 2,000 gp worth of assorted coins, gems,
and jewelry.
When traveling on the Prime Material Plane, Tylk is usually
accompanied by an adult cooshee (elven dog) named Sir
Gawain, and he rides a bay light war horse named Parzifal.
Appearance: Tylk is a 39-year-old half elf who stands 5 7
tall and weighs 151 pounds. He is very muscular and even
stronger than he looks. Tylk has a strong, square chin, high
cheekbones, and almond-shaped, green eyes. His shoulder
length hair is silver blond and wavy. His locks usually cover his
pointed ears, but that does nothing to conceal his elven her-
itage.
Background: Tylk was born and raised on his wealthy
human fathers farm. When Tylk was still a child, his mother
grew tired of being married to a human and slipped away one
night. Though the family servants took care of him, he was not
a happy child. As soon as he was old enough to play with the
children on the neighboring farms, he learned he was different.
Worse, he was slow to mature because he was a half-elf, and
he was always a little slower, a little weaker, and a little less
clever than human children his age. Even his father tended to
be impatient with him, because he didnt understand that Tylk
needed a little extra time to develop.
When Tylk was an adolescent, he did a favor for a crusty old
ranger who took a liking to the troubled youth. The man
became Tylks friend and mentor, teaching him the rudiments
of combat, outdoor skills, and priestly magic. Tylk also learned
not to be ashamed of his race and not to allow himself or any-
one else to be mistreated.
Role-playing Notes: Tylk remembers the lessons of his child-
hood well. He is race-blind, seeing every person as a unique
individual. He is not easily fooled or bluffed, and he can never
be bullied. Though hes not exactly claustrophobic, he dislikes
enclosed places. (He once spent the better part of a day locked
in a trunk as the result of a prank). Tylk prefers the open sky to
a roof over his head. He respects authority, but only when it
acts responsibly and sensibly. Tylk tends to treat everyone he
meets as an equal.
DRAGON
#
229 47
ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
Friday, May 31 is going to be here
sooner than you think. Thats the last day
you can call the ADVANCED DUNGEONS &
DRAGONS TRIVIATHLON: The Arcane
Challenge Clue Line for assistance in cor-
rectly answering the 100 trivia questions
in TSRs biggest contest ever. Then youve
got just two more weeks to get your
answers to TSR.
All entries must be received by TSR by
the close of business on June 15, 1996.
No faxed or mechanically reproduced
entries will be accepted.
If youre like many players, you prob-
ably found many of the questions a cinch
to answer. If youre having trouble,
though, please do not ask TSR employ-
ees (including Rob Taylor and TSR online
staff members) for answers.
Instead, call the AD&D TRIVIATHLON
Clue Line TSR has established for every-
one who needs a clue or two. Each day
you will receive a different, prerecorded
clue for one, or possibly two, of the 100
TRIVIATHLON questions in sequential order.
The Clue Line began on March 1, 1996
with the clue for Question #1. The last
day you can get a clue, which will be the
clue for Question #100, is May 31, 1996.
These clues are available for one day
only and will not be repeated on any
other day.
You can get a new clue (or two) every
day beginning at 8 A.M. Eastern Standard
Time.
Think of the incredible prizes:
First Prize is your choice of a trip for
two to either the Spanish GENCON Game
Fair in Barcelona held in November,
1997, or the Euro GENCON Game Fair in
England in September, 1997 First Prize
includes airfare, accommodations, free
admission, and $500 in spending money.
It's a racc
agaInst tImc tn
wIn fantastIc
prIzcs!
by Jeanine N. Mielecki
Second Prize is a trip for two to the
U.S. GENCON Game Fair in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin in August, 1997. Second Prize
includes airfare, accommodations, free
admission, $500 in spending money, and
first chance at participating in all TSR-
sponsored gaming events.
Third Prize is the Great Red Dragon,
a solid pewter, limited-edition Ral Partha
miniature, with a retail value of $125. It is
a rare flight of the imagination that cap-
tures in magnificent detail the great red
dragon as popularized by TSR artist Jeff
Easley.
Of course, no purchase is necessary to
enter or win the contest.
Print your answers legibly in blue or
black ink on your AD&D TRIVIATHLON
Contest Entry Poster, and mail it to this
address AD&D TRIVIATHLON Contest, TSR,
Inc., 201 Sheridan Springs Road, Lake
Geneva, WI 53147 with plenty of time
for TSR to receive it by June 15, 1996.
The winners will be selected at ran-
dom from entries containing correct
answers to all 100 AD&D TRIVIATHLON
questions on or about August 10 at the
1996 GENCON game fair in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin.
If no entry contains correct answers
to all 100 questions, winners will be
selected at random from the entries con-
taining the highest number of correct
answers.
For complete contest rules and details,
see the AD&D TRIVIATHLON: The Arcane
Challenge Contest Entry Poster that was
included with the polybagged March
issue of DRAGON Magazine (issue #227)
and was distributed by TSR DRAGON
Month retailers in March.
The ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS TRIVIATHLON: The Arcane Challenge is open only to residents of the continental United States.
48 MAY 1996
By Barry A. A. Dillinger
I!!ustratcd by Frcd FIc!ds
Bringing a new dimension to your mage
he dimensional wizard has been around for quite some
time but is only now beginning to surface, much like
that of the elemental wizard (see the Tome of Magic for
information on the elementalist). These specialist wizards, like
the elementalists, are not predisposed to accepting the magi-
cal classification system of schools (necromancy, alteration,
invocation/evocation, etc.) and favor a more natural under-
standing of magic. The result is dimensionalism.
Dimensionalism is not a school but an area of specialization
focusing on extraplanar spells. Dimensionalists (as wizards of
this specialization are known) adhere strictly to the teachings
of this branch of magic and are apt to be very serious in their
philosophy and attitude.
History of dimensionalism
Dimensionalists follow the teachings of a rather aloof half-
elf mage named Deverick Abraxas, who founded the ideals
upon which dimensionalism is based. It is for this reason that
some fanatically devoted followers often refer to themselves
as Abraxites.
Abraxas was an extremely open-minded individual and
accepted students of varying races, including humans, half-
elves, elves, and gnomes. The mage was especially attuned to
the demi-plane of shadow, and this eventually led to his stud-
ies in the field of dimensionalism.
Strictures of the dimensionalist
When an individual makes the decision to become a dimen-
sionalist, he is bound by certain restrictions. The indi-
and an Intelligence of at least 9 to be considered for this
branch of magic.
Dimensionalist spells
Dimensionalist spells may be chosen from any of the nine
schools of magic: abjuration, alteration, conjuration/summon-
ing, enchantment/charm, greater divination, illusion, invoca-
tion/evocation, lesser divination, and necromancy. The shadow
form spell, for example, belongs to the necromancy school; but,
according to the dimensionalist, it is also a spell of the negative
material plane. Like the elementalist, the dimensionalist may
learn and cast spells of any school, although he is not bound by
the restrictions regarding opposition schools. Dimensionalism
has no opposition. Furthermore, dimensionalists suffer consid-
erable penalties when learning and casting spells that do not
relate directly to extraplanar magic. The dimensionalist has a
-25% chance to learn spells outside the list of extraplanar
magic. Exceptions are spells for the school of lesser divination,
which all wizards may learn without restriction.
Although the dimensionalist repertoire is small, they are
potent wizards, for they gain the following advantages when
utilizing extraplanar magic:
When applicable, an enemy of the dimensionalist suffers a -2
penalty to his saving throw vs. extraplanar magic.
When extraplanar magic is employed against the dimension-
alist, he saves at a +2 against these spells.
Dimensionalists have a +30% chance to learn spells listed as
extraplanar magic (see the following list of dimensional
spells).
vidual must be a human, half-elf, elf, or gnome
and must have a minimum Wisdom of 16
One extra dimensionalist spell is granted at
each spell level.
51
DRAGON
#
229
Once daily, the dimensionalist may
cast one extraplanar spell as if he
was 1d6 levels higher.
At 17th level, the dimensionalist may
cast a maze spell once per day.
cast a contact other plane spell twice
per day.
cast a gate spell thrice per day.
Dimensional spells available
The following list of spells covers the
Players Handbook, Tome of Magic,
Complete Wizards Handbook, Drow of the
Underdark, Unearthed Arcana, and
DRAGON Magazine (issues #167 and
#187).
Players Handbook
2nd-level spells: deep pockets, detect
invisibility, rope trick
3rd-level spells: blink, wraithform
4th-level spells: dimension door, minor
creation, shadow monsters
5th-level spells: conjure elemental,
contact other plane, demi-shadow
monsters, dismissal, Leomunds secret
chest, major creation, shadow magic,
summon shadow
6th-level spells: demi-shadow magic,
ensnarement, invisible stalker, move
earth, shades, true seeing
7th-level spells: banishment, Drawmijs
instant summons, Mordenkainens
magnificent mansion, Morden-
kainens sword, shadow walk, tele-
port without error, vanish
8th-level spells: binding, demand,
maze, trap the soul
9th-level spells: astral spell, energy
drain, gate
Tome of Magic
5th-level spells: Khazids procurement
6th-level spells: Lorloveims shadowy
transformation
9th-level spells: estate transference
Complete Wizards Handbook
8th-level spells: shadow form
Drow of the Underdark
9th-level spell: black blade of disaster
Unearthed Arcana
5th-level spells: dolor
7th-level spells: torment truename
DRAGON Magazine (#167 and #187)
1st-level spells: liquid orb
2nd-level spells: shark bolt, stone sleep
3rd-level spells: skulltrap, searing
serpent, steam blast
5th-level spells: stone drill
7th-level spells: flame chase, wings
8th-level spells: airball, deep delve
9th-level spells: power word: liquefy,
wind war
When a dimensionalist attempts to
create a new spell relating to extrapla-
nar magic, the DM should count the
new spell as one level lower (for deter-
mining difficulty). In addition, DMs
should consult the PLANESCAPE cam-
paign setting or Manual of the Planes for
complete information on extraplanar
worlds and familiarize themselves with
the effects of magic on those specific
planes.
New dimensionalist spells
Mask light
(Abjuration, Illusion/Phantasm)
Level: 4
Range: 1 yd per level
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 hour per level
Casting Time: 1 turn
Area of Effect: 40 cube
Saving Throw: None
By means of this spell, the wizard
provides the ideal environment for
encampments by masking from passers-
by the light of the campfire. When the
caster invokes this spell, he causes an
extra-dimensional rift to open and tem-
porarily cover the area of effect.
Throughout the duration of the spell, the
party exists simultaneously on the Prime
Material and the border ethereal planes.
The light of the campfire is also affected,
and passing travelers are totally oblivi-
ous to the partys location because no
illumination is emitted into the Prime
Material plane.
Although the party members and the
light source are invisible to beings of the
Prime Material plane, those affected by
the spell have the ability to see out of
the border ethereal and clearly into the
Prime Material. There is no chance of
attack by prowling ethereal creatures
due to the simultaneous existence of the
spell recipients. Prime Material beings
using true seeing, detect invisibility, or
other similar spells, will see the masked
individuals and their campfire, albeit as
though through a hazy, translucent
shade.
The material component of this spell
is a small, black cloth.
Ethereal walk
(Alteration)
Level: 7
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: 6 turns per level
Casting Time: 1
By use of this spell, the wizard and
any creature(s) he touches are transport-
ed immediately to the border ethereal
plane. In this region, the wizard can see
into the Prime Material plane and may
then travel along the border to reach a
desired location on the Prime Material.
While in the border ethereal, the wizard
may also enter into adjoining planes as
well, including the ethereal (deep), the
four known demi-planes, the inner
planes (elemental, para- and quasi-
elemental), alternate ethereal and alter-
nate Prime Material planes. Remaining
in the border ethereal also keeps the
wizard safe from ether cyclones (see
Manual of the Planes or the PLANESCAPE
setting for details).
Any creatures touched by the wizard
when this spell is cast also make the
transition to the border ethereal plane.
They may opt to follow the wizard, wan-
der off into the border ethereal, or stum-
ble back into the Prime Material plane
(50% chance for either result if they are
lost or abandoned by the wizard).
Creatures that are unwilling to accompa-
ny the wizard into the border ethereal
receive a saving throw, negating the
effect if successful.
Dimensional schools
As future generations of dimensional-
ists appear, there may come the time
when sub-specialties develop within the
class, owing to the birth of etherealists,
astralists, para-elementalists, quasi-
elementalists, and demi-planists, as well
as others. Opposition schools may then
crop up, but only time will tell.
Players and DMs are encouraged to
come up with new ways to explore
extraplanar magic and its patron-mage,
the dimensionalist.
Barry A.A. Dillinger is a horror novelist
from Pennsylvania. His book, When
Booklore Ends, will be out this summer
from North west Publishing.
52
MAY 1996
by David Zeb Cook
I!!ustratcd by JIm Hn!!nway
ordrose, wizard for hire, sneered. He
was having a good day a very
good day. Terrorizing townsfolk was
fun, made more fun because he was being
paid for if, and rendered truly enjoyable
since he smeared their four best champions
all over the street. So when the old man
with the long wispy beard and caterpillar-
thick eyebrows hobbled into the street and
announced his challenge, Mordrose
couldnt possibly imagine a fight worth
even one spell.
Prepare to d
The old man was gone. One second he
was there, the next not.
Over here, dishonorable one, cackled a
voice behind him. Mordrose turned just in
time to see the old man, capering gleefully
on the rooftop, launch a fiery mass of flame
straight at his chin.
One of my favorite pieces of ancient
history is Oriental Adventures, the first
rulebook I wrote for the AD&D game
back before there was a 2nd Edition
attached to the name. It presented the
game with a uniquely Eastern point of
view, trying to capture the sometimes
elusive feel of Oriental fantasy. It includ-
ed new races, character classes, equip-
ment, spells, and magical items, along
with the first appearances of many
things that later made it into the 2nd
Edition rules.
Alas, time and the 2nd Edition rule-
book have passed that work by. Much
Wu-cn:
thc OrIcnta!
magc rcvIsItcd
of the material in Oriental Adventures has
been made obsolete or so modified by
the 2nd Edition that it is hardly worth
the effort of most players to make the
changes needed to play in that setting
today. Now, this could be mourned as a
terrible loss or a big inconvenience; I
prefer to see it as a golden, shining
opportunity. Its time to introduce a wu
jen for the nineties.
A woo what?
Wu jen are lone wizards of awesome
physical ability, strange habits, and mys-
tical power. Wu jen were the Oriental
Adventures equivalent of the standard
mage, men of mysterious power who
often lived as hermits and who terrified
sensible folk by their mere presence.
(For those who want to know, wu jen
were originally a mix of Taoist hermits,
Chinese sages, and the mountain her-
mits of Japan, among others.) The origi-
nal wu jen as described in Oriental
Adventures was little more than a spe-
cialist wizard with a few special powers
(ki) and some amusing restrictions. Since
that time, specialist wizards have
cropped up all over the place, and the
world has gotten more exposure to the
inspired hyper-activity of Asian fantasy
films. Its definitely time for the wu jen to
change.
Thus, wu jen are now wizards with a
difference: wu jen are mages of physical
action. Wu jen are not mages who clutch
puny daggers and cower behind fighters.
Wu jen are men of physical strength,
weapon prowess, and mystical skill. Wu
jen magic is hard and physically
demanding. Its power comes from both
arcane ritual and the casters own
strength.
Wu jen characters are available to
any race also open to mages. (If your
DM is trying to run an Oriental-styled
campaign, check to see which races are
allowed first.) Wu jen must have an
Intelligence of at least 9 and a
Constitution of at least 12. Characters
with a 16 or greater Intelligence gain a
10% bonus on all experience earned. (A
high Constitution is its own reward, as
shall be seen.) Wu jen can be of any
alignment. Their abilities cannot be
combined with kits or multi-classed. Wu
jen use the same experience tables as
wizards. Wu jen start at first level with
2-5 hit points; thereafter they gain 1d6
hit points per level.
Unlike wizards, wu jen are not limited
in their choice of weapons. They can use
any weapon available, although they
still use the wizard THAC0 progression.
Like wizards, wu jen cannot wear any
armor or use shields. They can use mag-
ical items available to wizards or war-
riors except, of course, magical armor.
All wu jen are automatically followers
of a school. This does not mean every
wu jen has an academy where the char-
acter trains, although some do this. A
wu jens school is the collected wisdom
of a great sage or immortal whom he
has chosen to follow. Such schools are
DRAGON
#
229 55
Wu-jen spells allowed by school
Earth
1st Level
Detect magic
Grease
Hold portal
Mending
Read magic
Spider climb
2nd Level
Bind
Fools gold
Glitterdust
Locate object
Magic mouth
Shatter
Wizard lock
3rd Level
Melfs minute meteors
4th Level
Dig
Elemental turning
Stoneskin
5th Level
Conjure elemental
Distance distortion
Fabricate
Passwall
Stone shape
Transmute rock to mud
Wall of iron
Wall of stone
6th Level
Disintegrate
Glassee
Move earth
Stone to flesh
Transmute water to dust
7th Level
Mordenkainens magnificent
mansion
Statue
8th Level
Glassteel
Sink
9th Level
Crystalbrittle
lmprisonment
Meteor swarm
Air
1st Level
Dancing lights
Detect magic
Feather fall
Message
Read magic
Tensers floating disc
Wall of fog
2nd Level
Blur
Fog cloud
Stinking cloud
Whispering wind
3rd Level
Fly
Gust B wind
Wind wall
4th Level
Elemental turning
Solid fog
5th Level
Airy water
Cloudkill
Conjure elemental
6th Level
Control weather
Death fog
8th Level
Incendiary cloud
Fire
1st Level
Affect normal fires
Burning hands
Detect magic
Light
Read magic
2nd Level
Continual light
Flaming sphere
Pyrotechnics
3rd Level
Fireball
Flame arrow
4th Level
Elemental turning
Fire charm
Fire shield
Fire trap
Wall of fire
5th Level
Conjure elemental
6th Level
Fire breath
7th Level
Delayed blast fireball
8th Level
Incendiary cloud
9th Level
Internal fires
Water
1st Level
Chill touch
Detect magic
Wall B BC
Read magic
2nd Level
Fog cloud
Melfs acid arrow
3rd Level
Water breathing
4th Level
Elemental turning
Ice storm
Wall B E?A
5th Level
Airy water
Cone B cold
Conjure elemental
Transmute rock to mud
6th Level
Death BC
Lower water
Otilukes freezing sphere
Part Water
Transmute water to dust
9th Level
Tsunami
Nature
1st Level
Change self
Charm person
Detect magic
Detect undead
Enlarge
Hypnosis
2nd Level
Alter self
Detect evil
Detect invisibility
Scare
3rd Level
Clairaudience
Clairvoyance
Feign death
Vampiric touch
Wraithform
4th Level
Detect scrying
Polymorph self
Shout
Stoneskin
5th Level
Contact other plane
Domination
Sending
Telekinesis
Teleport
6th Level
Legend lore
Mass suggestion
Project image
Tensers transformation
True seeing
7th Level
Duo-dimension
Power word, stun
Statue
vision
8th Level
Demand
Mass charm
Power word, blind
Sertens spell immunity
9th Level
Energy drain
Foresight
Power word, kill
Shape change
56 MAY 1996
typically handed down in books con-
taining work of the founding great mas-
ter, along with all the commentary,
debate, and expansion done by later
students of that great master. (A proper
wu jen is always a student of the great
master, even if the master died 700
years ago. Only when others come to
seek him out does a wu jen ever hope to
become a great master himself. In any
case, it is bad form for a wu jen to
announce himself as a great master.)
There are five common schools that
match the five elements earth, air, fire,
water, and nature. The spells of each
school are listed on Table 1. In addition,
the DM can create other schools that
suit his campaign.
Unlike specialist wizards, a wu jen
can learn only spells of his school; All
other schools are strictly off-limits to the
character. Furthermore, his working
selection is very limited. A wu jen does
not learn a massive number of spells
which he keeps in a massive tome.
Instead, a wu jen can only learn one
spell per level regardless of his
Intelligence. This spell can be of any
level the character can cast.
All this may sound odd, but it is the
casting of spells where wu jen truly differ.
First off, wu jen do not memorize spells
to cast them. They do not spend their
mornings poring over spellbooks to pre-
pare for the days adventure. Indeed, a
wu jen has no need for a spellbook. He
has already studied the writings and
from that and his own mental skill has
learned how to invoke the power held
within the spells components.
Instead, a wu jen can cast any spell
he knows at any time he wishes pro-
vided he can pay the cost. For a wu jen,
casting a spell is to tap into his own
physical power and release the energy
from within. In game terms, a wu jen
suffers damage every time he casts a
spell. The amount of damage suffered is
triple the level of the spell. Casting a
magic missile costs the character 3 hp, a
wu jen casting a fireball loses 9 hp.
These hit points lost are treated as nor-
mal damage. A wu jen can never cast a
spell requiring more hit points than he
has available at the instant the spell is
cast. Tsao (with 4 hp) plans to cast magic
missile (at a cost of 3 hp) but loses the ini-
tiative and is struck by an arrow for 3 hp
damage. He only has 1 hp remaining
less than the magic missile requires so
the spell is impossible. A wu jen can
deliberately cast a spell that reduces his
hit points to exactly zero. In this case he
falls comatose and the optional rules
allowing survival into negative hit points
are used.
Because of the intense physical
power a wu jen must store and tap from
within himself, the benefits a wu jen
receives from magical healing are
halved (rounding up). A cure light wounds
that would heal 7 hp for another char-
acter only heals 4 hp for a wu jen.
Normal healing for a wu jen character is
unaffected.
As with the old wu jen of Oriental
Adventures, the new wu jen must also
abide by a number of personal taboos.
The magic drawn from within the char-
acter can be tapped only if certain
seemingly trivial rituals and restrictions
are observed by the character. These
serve to protect the characters inner
energy from contamination. At first level
the character must observe one prac-
tice; thereafter he must add another at
every level divisible by five. Failure to
observe these practices results in a loss
of spell-casting ability for 2d4 days.
There is no set list of restrictions and
players and DMs are encouraged to cre-
ate their own. The restrictions should be
minor, features to enhance the person-
ality of the character and not detriments
to the enjoyment of play. Restrictions
should also relate to the purity or
cleansing of the body. Suggested obser-
vances include such as the character:
is a strict vegetarian
Cannot touch a dead body
cannot touch a member of the
opposite sex
Cannot drink alcohol
must bathe frequently (at least
every other day)
cannot bathe
cannot wear shoes
cannot sit facing a certain direction
As part of their mastery over the
power of the self, wu jen develop over
time a number of physical abilities of
fantastic proportion. All wu jen are able
to enter into a yogic trance. This trance
is as restful and refreshing as sleep;
however, the wu jen suffers no penalties
to his awareness of immediate sur-
roundings. Thus a wu jen can sense if
something enters the room or camp
where he is meditating and can imme-
diately react as if he had been awake all
that time. Meditating wu jen are never
groggy or disoriented, nor do they sleep
through events unless they choose to.
At 6th level, wu jen are able to
enhance any one physical attribute
(Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution) by
1d4 points for 2d4 rounds. This requires
intense effort and concentration on the
part of the wu jen, costing 1d6+2 hit
points whenever the power is used
regardless of the amount of increase or
duration. The character can choose the
attribute affected but has no control
over amount or duration. Abilities can-
not be increased beyond the characters
racial limits, but the Exceptional
Strength rating for fighters is used. Any
adjustments are applied immediately
but are not retroactive. Increasing
Constitution does not gain additional hit
points. Characters can use this ability
multiple times, summoning up the
power once per round. Thus a wu jen
could increase his Strength several times
over or raise his Strength and Dexterity
near simultaneously if he wants to
spend the hit points.
Upon attaining 10th level, a wu jen
attracts 1d4 pupils, all 1st-level wu jen,
who come to study his teachings. The
pupils are generally faithful unless ill-
treated or severely tempted (such as by
a superior master). With each level they
gain, there is a 5% cumulative chance of
leaving to pursue their own studies.
Those who leave are quickly replaced
by new 1st-level pupils (unless they left
due to mistreatment). Wu jen do not
automatically build strongholds or
attract fighting men, although they can
do these things should they so choose.
At 12th level, the wu jen can leap and
spring to up to 30 in any direction,
again by summoning up his physical
reserves. Each leap costs the character
one hit point, even if only a portion of
the distance is traveled. Furthermore,
the wu jen can perform a series of such
leaps within a single round, up the limit
of his normal movement.
New wu-jen spells
The following spells are adapted
from the Oriental Adventures rulebook,
updated for use with the new wu jen.
Elemental turning
(Earth school)
Level: 4
Range: 0
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 4 +1d4 rounds
Casting Time: 5
Area of Effect: 60 radius
Elemental turning creates a powerful
ward against creatures from the various
Elemental Planes. Upon casting, the
DRAGON
#
229 57
spell-caster must name the plane ward-
ed against (fire, water, lightning, ooze,
etc.). All elemental creatures of that
plane must immediately make a saving
throw vs. spell if they are within the area
of effect. Those who fail must immedi-
ately flee the area of effect by the most
direct route. Such creatures cannot reen-
ter the area for the duration of the spell.
Elemental creatures outside the area of
effect must save vs. spell before they
can enter; those who fail are kept out-
side the area.
The spell centers on the caster and
moves with him. If an elemental crea-
ture is forced to enter or remain within
the spells effect against its will, the
magics power of it is automatically bro-
ken and it may act freely. The spell does
not break the concentration of a mage
controlling an elemental; it affects only
the creatures behavior.
The component for this spell is a
small bottle holding a sample of the ele-
ment being affected.
Fire Breath
(Fire school)
Level: 6
Range: 0
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 5
Area of Effect: 30 cone, 15-wide base
Saving Throw: Halves
The spell allows the wu jen to exhale
a blast of scorching fire similar to a red
dragons breath. All within the area of
effect must save vs. breath weapon or
suffer 1d6 hp damage per level of the
caster. Those who save successfully
reduce the damage suffered to half. As
with dragons breath, the flames ignite
combustible material in the area of effect.
is a cinder clenched in the teeth of the
caster.
Internal fires
(Fire school)
Level: 6
Range: 60
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 9
Saving Throw: None
Internal fires is a fearsome spell that
conjures raging flames from within the
bowels of its victims. The spell affects
one or more creatures whose total lev-
els or hit dice are no greater than the
caster. All targets must be within 20 of
a single point and within range of the
caster. Within these limits, the spell
leaps from target to target as chosen by
the caster. The hit dice or levels of the
victim are subtracted from the spells
total strength and if no hit die (or levels)
remain, the victim instantly erupts in all-
consuming flames. Death is instanta-
neous. Magical items or spells that con-
fer any sort of protection from fire auto-
matically negate the effect for the pro-
tected individual only.
is an iron brazier filled with hot coals.
Tsunami
(Water school)
Level: 6
Range: 1 mile
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 2 turns
Casting Time: 1 turn
Area of Effect: Wave 10 yds. long x 5
high per level
Saving Throw: Halves
This spell, which can only be cast
upon large bodies of water such as seas
or oceans, summons up a enormous
roiling wave of water, a tsunami. Upon
casting the spell, the sea begins to rock
and churn as if heaving in its bed. After
two turns, an enormous wave boils forth
to the maximum height of the casters
ability. This wave moves in a straight
line in the direction chosen by the cast-
er. It travels 500 per round and each
round drops by 10 in height at sea or
20 upon striking dry land. Vessels and
wooden buildings caught in the wave
have a percentage chance to be
destroyed equal to the current height of
the wave, while stone buildings have
only one quarter this percentage. Land
and air dwelling creatures caught in the
wave suffer damage equal to 1d10 per
10 of height. A saving throw vs. breath
weapon reduces this damage by half.
is the scale of a dragon turtle and a drop
of water.
David Zeb Cook is a veteran game
designer and alumnus of TSR, inc. Zeb lives
in California and works for a computer
game company.
58 MAY 1996
1996 John C. Bunnell
The Perfect Princess
Irene Radford
DAW $5.50
The plot twists cleverly, the charac-
ters are shrewdly drawn, and the politi-
cal intrigues in particular are all too
plausible.
But this second novel in Irene
Radfords Dragon Nimbus series is a
struggle to read because the names
she assigns to people, places, and things
jangle on the ear like a roomful of musi-
cians all playing in different keys.
This is also why the present review
starts with the second book in the
series. I started reading its predecessor,
The Glass Dragon, not long after it
appeared a year or so ago but put it
down, shaking my head, after discover-
ing that much of its plot involved the
search for a magical herb called
Tambootie.
Tambootie?
Fortunately, although Tambootie
reappears in the present volume, it
doesnt do so until the narrative is well
underway. Nonetheless, the term is
symptomatic of the larger problem with
Radfords naming conventions, insofar
as they can be established.
And thats the difficulty: few of the
individual names sound like they belong
on the same continent with each other.
At the geographic level, matters are
not too discordant; the three major king-
doms that figure in the story are
Coronnan, Rossemeyer, and Selenicca.
Of these, Selenicca, with the odd inter-
nal capital is the least well-matched, but
if that was the extent of the naming
problem, thered be little reason to raise
a fuss.
But then we hit character-names, and
the discordancy escalates. There are at
least three separate conventions in use:
the typical invented fantasy world
standard (Senior Magician Baamin,
witch-woman Brevelan); the borrowed
from Earth standard (Sir Holmes, Fred
the bodyguard, possibly Prince Darville);
and the cute wordplay standard
(archvillain Krej, whose name is jerk
spelled backward). And there are further
complications; many of Rossemeyers
nobles use Rosse as part of their own
names the Princess Rossemikka, for
example.
Any one of these general patterns
might work on its own, especially if the
Earth-borrowings carried any sort of cul-
tural resonance, but Coronnan and the
lands around it seem entirely free of
Earthly mythic influence. The result is a
mishmash of epic proportions, and it
makes it very difficult for readers to get
hold of and identify with the world in
which Radfords story occurs.
Thats frustrating, because if one can
somehow look past the names, theres a
solid, cogently conceived tale in these
pages.
Prince Darvilles struggle to reconcile
a balky royal council, bring several sorts
of loose magic under control, and nail
down a sticky political alliance all in
the face of opposition both from Krej
and from another less obvious enemy
is unfolded with considerable skill, and
Radfords characters are far from stereo-
typical. Structurally and thematically, the
tale is a good deal more ambitious than
it appears from its packaging.
But the names do get in the way. An
herb called Tambootie and a crown
known as the Coraurlia dont fit into the
same world with an apprentice-mage
called Yaakke and a guardsman named
Fred.
The real tragedy is that Radford is
now stuck with this ill-assorted montage
for the duration of the series, so that
future entries, however well-crafted, will
still be hidden behind the slapdash
appearance given by the nomenclature.
One for the Morning Glory
John Barnes
Tor $22.95
A gentle, elegant cross between a
swashbuckler and a fairy tale is about
the last thing one would expect from a
writer whose specialty to date has been
hard-edged, dynamic, carefully extrapo-
lated science fiction. But thats what
John Barnes delivers in One for the
Morning Glory, and its as fine an exam-
ple of its kind as Barnes highly-regarded
SF novels have been.
The keystone of the tale, though not
its sole protagonist, is Prince Amatus,
who suffers a unique accident at the age
of two. A child who tastes the Wine of
the Gods too early, goes the saying, is
only half a person afterwards. And so it
proves, for when Amatus drinks a glass
of the rare beverage, the left side of his
body vanishes utterly not merely
invisible, but missing entirely.
As this is a fairy-tale kingdom, how-
ever, all is not completely lost. A set of
Companions appears and is taken into
the Kings service: an alchemist, a witch,
a guard captain, and a personal maid
for Amatus. And as time passes, there
are omens and portents and adven-
tures, and gradually three things hap-
pen: the Companions fulfill their individ-
ual destinies, the princes body is
restored, and the Prince himself reaches
manhood just in time to right a long-
simmering wrong and fulfill his own des-
tiny in the process.
Yet though the broad outline is
squarely in classic fairy-tale tradition,
the execution is something else again.
The narrative style Barnes adopts is a
light, musing scholars variant of the old
once upon a time storytelling mode
a tone that looks effortless on the page
but which is exceedingly difficult to sus-
tain effectively. Barnes pulls it off beau-
tifully, though, always incisive and
insightful but never intrusive.
One of the results of this is that the
DRACN
#
229 61
novel is often highly amusing, yet not in
the broad slapstick or pun-laden sense
often typical of funny fantasy. Rather,
Barnes humor has the sometimes wry,
sometimes wise air of a favorite grand-
father looking back on youthful mis-
deeds with a self-deprecating chuckle.
There is wit and wordplay, to be sure,
but its of a subtle and sedate character
that makes even The Princess Bride look
raucous.
Another is that characterization,
which in fairy tales is frequently a matter
of archetype and ritual, is in Barnes
hands much more subtle and well-devel-
oped than is the norm. In part, he man-
ages this by allowing his players to
know that they are part of a story, which
lets them play slightly against their pre-
scripted roles and adds dimension to the
narrative. Again, though, the effect is
handled with fine, deft strokes and used
only sparingly, so that it remains an
atmospheric touch rather than degener-
ating into farce.
The third of the novels distinctive
qualities is that it expertly balances a
strong sense of pattern against an
equally strong sense of mystery. All the
fairy tale and folk tale conventions are
strictly observed traditions of quest
and sacrifice, romance and rescue,
witchery and wonder. But theres no
sense of dominoes merely being
knocked over in the proper order, and
the means by which the tale proceeds to
its resolution are never entirely clear cut.
Surprises unfold right up to the closing
pages, and yet ultimately fit into the
overarching design of the tale so that
they look as if they belonged there all
along.
One for the Morning Glory is, in short,
a genuine masterpiece of craftsmanship
and more, its the rare sort of craft-
work where seeing how its held togeth-
er only enhances its attractiveness. And
it establishes John Barnes as a writer
whose versatility is as impressive as his
sense of invention. This is a book thats
going to be around for a very long time,
and deservedly so.
Caverns of Socrates
Dennis L. McKiernan
Roc $14.95
The idea isnt as new as you might
think; its been fully five years since Wm.
Mark Simmons In the Net of Dreams
crossed virtual-reality adventure gaming
with a spirited exploration of the ethics
of artificial intelligence. But Dennis
McKiernans new novel takes the
premise in a slightly different direction,
and while it offers few answers, it asks a
host of very good questions in lively and
engaging fashion.
Our heroes in McKiernans near-
future setting are the Black Foxes, role-
players whove been away from gaming
since winning a world championship
some years prior to the tales opening.
Their job is to test the limits of a brand-
new VR technology, administered by the
synthetic intellect known as Avery.
Avery has been programmed with the
full history of the Black Foxes gaming
campaign and assigned to develop a
quest which will test both the Foxes
skills and his own mind-interfacing abil-
ities.
What happens next wont surprise
experienced readersan electrical acci-
dent damages the research facilitys
power systems, and its uncertain
whether the Foxes can be successfully
pulled out of the game. Worse, Averys
own actions are growing unpredictable,
and its unclear whether the problem is
hardware damage, a fatal programming
flaw, or Averys possible lack of a soul to
go wi th hi s si l i con-based mi nd.
Meanwhile, though, the fantasy adven-
ture goes on inside the system, with the
Black Foxes entirely submerged in their
game-personas.
Readers expecting the occasionally
florid, ornate prose of McKiernans
Mithgar stories will be surprised by this
book. The Avery-world in which
McKiernan deposits the Foxes is a light-
ly drawn, straightforward place a
refreshing departure from much VR-fan-
tasy fiction, in which the game settings
are often kitchen-sink realms full of
anachronisms and tortuous puns. And
while its ostensibly a game-setting, its
remarkably free of the echo of dice-
rolling or other RPG mechanics. On the
flip side of the narrative, the real-world
chapters smoothly capture the sophisti-
cated bickering of high-tech academia,
made tense and strained by the rapidly
escalating crisis of Averys malfunctions.
Though theres a fair amount of pure
lecture in the early going, as McKiernan
sets up his metaphysical conflict, even
this is briskly and amiably delivered.
If theres a criticism to be leveled at
Caverns of Socrates, its that McKiernan
very deftly, to be sure avoids
answering any of the thought-provoking
questions he raises about the nature of
souls and consciousness. Circumstances
in the tale resolve themselves, or appear
to, just in time to prevent an ultimate
test from taking place. And Averys final
legacy to the Black Foxes is a puzzle as
well, making the nature of their achieve-
ment something of a mystery The end-
ing is therefore less decisive than it
might be, and there are definite fore-
shadowings of a sequel.
Then again, though, McKiernans
subject matter is ambiguous by nature.
This is easily his strongest and most
entertaining work to date, and its per-
haps unfair to expect him to resolve,
even in a fictional context, questions
about which humanity has been specu-
lating since the days of the Socrates
himself.
The Spirit Gate
Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff
Baen $5.99
Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoffs newest
novel is intriguing on two counts. First of
these is its setting, which looks very
much like a rather odd alternate version
of medieval Poland. Secondly, the sys-
tem of magic Bohnhoff invents for the
tale is an intriguing construct, at once
traditional yet distinctive, and the
novels exploration of its boundaries is
conducted with measured thoughtful-
ness.
On one hand, The Spirit Gate reads
much more like traditional fantasy than
alternate history. But although the
magic-rich if beleaguered realm of
Polia is clearly Bohnhoffs invention,
the world around it is very like that of
historical Europe during the age when
Frankish forces, hand in hand with the
Roman church, were rapidly asserting
dominance over most of that continent.
But the Franks are not Polias only rivals;
there are also Turkish forces beyond
one border, and the Mongol hordes past
another.
The key to Polias long-term security,
it seems, is a young widow named
Kassia, who has a rare form of magical
talent known as the shai gift. Properly
trained, her abilities can complement
those of the lands formal mage-priests,
the Mateu, permitting the use of spells
long thought impossible because of the
Mateus inability to control all of the ele-
mental forces required to make the
magic work.
But while Kassias training and mas-
tery are the novels focus, Bohnhoff has
more in mind than a typical mage-in-
training tale. The emphasis in Kassias
studies is on research and theory rather
62 MAY 1996
than life in a wizards academy, and
political intrigues quickly vie with magi-
cal puzzles for Kassias attention.
In addition, the characterizations are
gentler and more subtle than one might
expect. Theres no doubt, from the first,
that Frankish Bishop Benedict is an
enemy, but Kassias mentor, Master
Lukasha, is a complicated figure whose
priorities shift markedly as the story pro-
gresses. And Kassias relationships with
a fellow apprentice and with the Polian
ruler are given ample space to grow and
develop.
Last but not least, the elementally
based magic system is cleverly and care-
fully thought out, with careful attention
to matters of balance and the costs of
power. More, the gradual discovery of
forgotten or unrecognized aspects of the
system is itself integral to the unfolding
plot, so the theoretical matter has solid
narrative impact rather than being mere
window-dressing.
So while The Spirit Gate is in many
respects a very sedate traditional fan-
tasy, its also a good deal richer and
more subtle than many of its less well-
rooted cousins. Bohnhoffs attention to
details of history, character, and magic
makes this book stand out.
The Instrument of Fate
Christie Golden
Ace 5.99
Christie Goldens name will be famil-
iar to many readers as the author of sev-
eral justifiably well-regarded tales set in
the dark realms of the RAVENLOFT set-
ting. With The lnstrument of Fate, how-
ever, Golden strikes out on her own,
crafting a lyrical and mesmerizing novel
of compelling music, reclusive elves, and
deadly pursuit.
The elves of Goldens world are of a
breed increasingly rare in modern fan-
tasy; they are for the most part distrust-
ful of humanity and inclined to set
themselves deliberately apart from
human influence. Indeed, one group of
elves may be considering an open
offensive against a nearby human king-
dom as the tale begins which prompts
a more tolerant elven lord to dispatch a
warning.
That, however, is merely the pro-
logue. The body of the novel is the story
of how that warning is delivered, for
when the original courier is intercepted,
his burden falls into the hands of one
Gillien Songespynner. Suddenly marked
for destruction by forces that have
already killed one elf and done away
with her family, she quickly realizes that
her only hope of survival is to success-
fully deliver the murdered couriers lute
to the queen of Byrn, herself an elf in a
human-dominated land.
Golden brings two major strengths to
bear on her chronicle: first-rate charac-
terization and an equally sure hand with
matters musical. Like the briefly seen
courier Jencir, readers will be drawn
firmly into Gilliens grasp by the song-
performance that marks her entry into
the adventure; not only are the lyrics
compelling, but so is Goldens descrip-
tion of Gilliens delivery.
Additional song-fragments scattered
through the narrative reinforce the
impression, as do the scenes in which
Gillien forms a bond with the mysterious
elven-crafted lute.
But its not just that Gillien is an
appealing character.
Goldens entire cast is equally well-
drawn and intriguing, from reluctant
bodyguard Daric all the way down to a
feisty horse aptly named That Damned
Beast. There are no spear-carriers in
this novel; even characters who appear
only briefly are made to seem realistic
and lifelike, so that were genuinely sorry
when several of them are ruthlessly dis-
patched by Gilliens enemies.
And ruthless isnt too strong a word;
before the adventure is done, theres a
rather long trail of death in Gilliens
wake, and Gillien herself endures con-
siderable abuse at the hands of her foes.
But while theres no shortage of dark-
ness in The Instrument of Fate, it is ulti-
mately a novel about the persistence of
hope even though not all of that hope
seems destined to be realized.
The breathlessly-staged climax is
both ingenious and bittersweet, with a
cluster of expertly sprung revelations
that lay the groundwork for a happily
ever after ending that nonetheless
holds its share of sadness. Christie
Golden has written a thoroughly memo-
rable novel that deserves a wide and
appreciative audience.
Recurring Roles
After a significant hiatus, former com-
puter-guru Wiz Zumwalt returns in Rick
Cooks The Wizardry Consulted (Baen,
$5.99).
This isnt the series strongest entry,
but Cooks mix of Silicon Valley satire
and logically defined magic is still rea-
sonably sharp, with the emphasis this
time on the satire; one plot follows Wiz
as he goes into the consulting business,
while another has the FBI investigating
certain real-world adjuncts to the magi-
cal enterprise going on in Wizs new
reality.
Dragons Honor (Pocket, $5.99) is one
of the strongest Star Trek: The Next
Generation novels in some time. Collab-
orators Greg Cox and Kij Johnson pre-
sent a clever and frequently very funny
scenario in which Picard and company
must interact with a culture much like
that of Imperial China in all its bureau-
cratic and artistic glory. Cox and
Johnson find room for all the major Trek
characters to spread their wings, and do
better than many Trek novelists at cap-
turing the casts voices on the printed
page.
This is one of the rare novels that
would make a solid filmed adventure as
well, and the comedy is balanced by a
solid political-intrigue plot.
Another first-rate feat of juggling
shows up in Wishing Season (Baen,
$5.99), substantially expanded by Esther
Friesner from its previous appearance as
a young-adult yarn. This is an Arabian
Nights tale with a highly acerbic wit, in
which there are genies aplenty and
more wishes than any mortal should be
allowed to have (but which some mor
Continued on page 75
64
MAY 1996
by Lloyd Brown III
I!!ustratcd by ChrIstIna Wa!d
What gnnd Is a fIrst-!cvc! wIzard, anyway?
n the AD&D game, no opponent is more feared than a
high-level wizard. They can slay with a word, travel the
planes, conjure efreet and fiends, and stop time itself. The
trouble is getting there. The average novice wizard has less sta-
mina than the town baker, no armor, and no weapon better
than a tree branch. Comparatively, they are almost the equal
of a kobold in combat but must amass the equivalent of 358
victories over kobolds to earn enough experience points to
reach second level. How do they ever survive?
By their wits, of course.
By the time a 0-level PC or NPC has cast his first magic spell
and earned the right to call himself a wizard, he has learned
quite a few things, but his studies have consumed much of the
time he could have spent learning other things, like intensive
weapons studies. First observe the things a wizard cant do,
and try to make the most of it. Then catalog the considerable
things a novice mage can do, and see how they make their
way in the world.
Would-be wizards are advised to listen to the words of the
Archmage Tallus, Guildmaster and Dean of the University of
Candlekeep, who was a surprise speaker for the College of
Magic graduating class of 1321. His experience is vast, and his
intellect astounding. His anecdotes tend to involve intricate
technical details, some of which go past the heads even of his
peers, who have learned to nod their heads and murmur
agreement rather than to ask for an explanation. For this rea-
son, large parts of his speech are not repeated here,
Armor
The best armor youre going to find is a good suit of plate mail.
Polish it, enchant it if you can, then put it on somebody else and keep
him between you and anybody that wants to hurt you. If the armor
isnt good enough, use your spells to help out the man wearing it. If
a fight goes very badly, youre probably not strong enough to run in
50 pounds of steel, including 10 pounds on your head that limits
your sight to a 30 degree arc. A shield spell costs nothing, protects
you from magic missiles, doesnt inhibit your vision, and never
slows you down. There. I think my opinion of armor is clear.
A wizard cannot wear armor. The restrictions are pretty
clear here, and any attempt to fiddle with this rule will most
likely lead to abuse. For characters in arctic weather conditions,
some DMs may allow heavy clothing to count for AC 9 or
even AC 8, but it will almost certainly apply movement or
Dexterity penalties as well, probably resulting in a net loss to
the PC. Whenever possible, a mage should hide around cor-
ners, snipe from a prone position, kneel behind a low wall, or
use natural cover to deflect missile attacks and enemy spells.
The best way to compensate for not being able to wear
armor is to support the fighters between the novice wizard and
the enemy. An enlarge spell does this well. (See the cantrip ideas
listed below for elaborations on this tactic.)
The only advantage here is that the wizard is virtually guar-
anteed first selection of any magical protections that the party
may come across. Magically protective rings, bracers, cloaks,
etc. are almost always given first to wizards. These items weigh
little and most provide saving throw bonuses as
well as Armor Class bonuses.
and notes are given and details explained for
the layman.
DRAGON
#
229
67
Weapons and combat tactics
Whenever possible, stay away from the
enemy. This may sound like telling you to
stay out of the blast radius of a fireball, but
youd be surprised how many graduates
perish trying to be brave. If you can attack
by dart, by spell, or better yet, by someone
else, then by all means do it! Just because
you dont attack by sword or spear doesnt
mean that you dont contribute to the fight.
Far from it.
According to the Players Handbook,
the mage is allowed to choose from five
weapons: dagger, dart, knife, staff, and
sling. Five weapons makes for poor ver-
satility. Receiving only one proficiency at
1st level makes the decision a tough
one. One possibility for improvement is
to take a kit that allows the use of dif-
ferent weapons. Ask the DM if the
weapons allowed to wu jen, either from
the old Oriental Adventures book or The
Complete Wizards Handbook, are
allowed. Barbarian mages may also be
allowed different tribal weapons. While
this may offer variety, few of these
weapons are really an improvement
over those already available to mages.
Another option is to petition the DM
to allow some other weapons. The choic-
es are restricted to weapons that require
little strength or skill. A club hardly
requires a great deal of skill, although
some degree of strength is required. A
net should probably be allowed to wiz-
ards, especially if the player is willing to
take the fishing non-weapon proficiency
in order to justify knowledge of how to
use it.
Even choosing among the basic
weapons is tricky. Each offers a distinct
advantage. First, consider the melee
weapons. The staff is a likely choice: it
inflicts the most damage of any of the
wizards weapons and costs the least. A
good bargain. If lost, a staff is easily
replaced. It is also likely to be found in
magical form. If the DM allows for it, a
fine quality or exceptional quality staff
able to provide non-magical attack or
damage bonuses could be commis-
sioned at low cost if a weapon maker
skilled at constructing staves can be
found. For that matter, a better quality
weapon of any sort allowed by a wizard
should not be too expensive.
A knife or dagger can be used either
as a melee or missile weapon. Although
it causes less damage than a staff, a
dagger, too, is frequently found in mag-
ical form. Knives and daggers have the
benefit of being easily concealed.
Several should be carried and at least
one kept handy in case the character is
caught in a net or in close quarters.
Both the dart and the sling are effec-
tive missile weapons. The sling is cheap,
highly concealable, inflicts good dam-
age if bullets are used, has virtually lim-
itless backup ammunition in the form of
stones, and has excellent range.
Darts, however, are the weapon of
choice in close combat. Despite their
seemingly puny damage, their high rate
of fire means both higher total damage
than the sling and multiple target capa-
bility. Also, if a wizards attack or dam-
age capability is magically enhanced in
any way, the higher rate of fire capital-
izes on that improvement. Improving
damage by +1 means only one more
point of damage each round with a
sling, but potentially three more points
of damage with the darts.
Of course, nobody ever said that
since a wizard can be proficient with
one weapon that he cant carry others.
Hard-pressed fighters, acrobatic thieves,
and clumsy clerics can all lose weapons
sometimes. If a wizard is handy to toss a
club or dagger to the newly-unarmed
comrade, his companion may not have
to face the enemy empty-handed.
These arent all the weapons allowed
by wizards. This survey exhausts the list
in the Players Handbook text on mages,
but there are others available for the
resourceful. Greek fire, holy water, vials
of acid, torches, nets, marbles (detailed
in The Complete Thiefs Handbook) and
other equipment can all be used to
harm or hamper the enemy. Wizards
should stock up on these items when-
ever they can afford them. None of
them weigh much, and most can be
used to affect undead and certain other
nasties that cant be hit by nonmagical
weapons.
There is still more a wizard can attack
with. Some animals have natural attacks
more effective than a wizards dagger or
staff. Even a beginning mage can proba-
bly afford a trained war or hunting dog.
Sturdy (1+1 to 2 HD), fast (MV 12), keen
of sense (difficult to surprise), and intelli-
gent, a dog makes a loyal companion. If
treated well, he can be a loyal compan-
ion for years. A couple of animals can
even be bred, and pups trained, espe-
cially if the character is skilled in these
areas. Characters who buy dogs solely
for cannon fodder are warned: even
these domestic beasts have their protec-
tive deities.
All of these tactics can be applied by
any member of the party. What makes
the wizard unique is that each day he
can choose a different selection of spells
with which to arm himself. When con-
sidering which spells he can use to harm
the enemy, two things should be
remembered. The first is that enemies
are often allowed a saving throw or
magic resistance check to reduce or
avoid damage. Allies dont or wont
resist these spells. The second is that
indirect attacks can usually be directed
against more than one enemy. Consider
an enlarge spell, a common first-level
alteration. Burning hands could be used
to attack one enemy, if he is within 3
(something most sensible mages avoid).
An enlarged fighter, even if his damage
potential is improved only by one point,
can do more damage before the spells
expiration, can attack different targets,
and gains other benefits as well (greater
reach, overbearing benefits, etc.). Spells
like enlarge work well on animal com-
panions also. In general, spells that
enhance the partys ability to inflict
damage are better than those that
attempt directly to damage the enemy.
Freedom from front-line combat also
puts the wizard in an excellent position
for a hands-off leadership role. The wiz-
ard can direct the combat and throw his
strength where it is needed, acting as a
tactical reserve, or he can give com-
mands, serving the party as a combat
coordinator.
Starting money
So youve spent all of your money on
books, tuition, and material components.
Big deal. What else do you need? You have
it all, right there in your hands! Your spell-
book and what you put in it are your keys to
success. Youre the smartest men and
women in this city. Use those brains. Money
is the least of your worries. Trust me.
Looking at the starting money for the
different character groups, it seems that
the wizard has the least of the four
groups. Instead of looking at starting
money, compare what is left over after
the necessities are purchased. They
actually have the most spending money
left over after purchasing weapons and
armor. Priests must have a holy symbol,
thieves must have lockpicks if they wish
to use those abilities that require them,
and good weapons and armor for war-
riors are not cheap. Wizards begin play
with a free spellbook, cannot wear
armor, and their most expensive
weapon costs 2 gp. That leaves quite a
68 MAY 1996
bit left over for other things, like the
grenade-like missiles or animals men-
tioned earlier. This money can even be
loaned to other characters who come up
a little short when buying expensive
weapons or armor. Mages who lend
money to these characters are virtually
guaranteed a little extra protection in
battle.
If a character feels the need for more
money, the wizard is in an excellent
position to earn more. This is a case
where a player must become aggressive
with the game and not wait for the DM
to drop the next adventure in his lap.
Certain spells have great commercial
value, even those available to beginning
mages. Detect magic, erase, read magic,
comprehend languages, and identify all
have obvious uses and are sometimes
commissioned by those without these
abilities. If a mage lets it be known that
he is willing to perform these services
for money, customers may seek him
out. Some other spells have applications
to a more select market, mostly shady or
questionable. The thieves guild can be a
good customer for these spells. Armor,
for example, gives a thief the benefits of
an Armor Class better than he can
achieve by wearing the armor types
allowed for thieves, and it still gives him
ability benefits of not wearing armor. A
thief fearing violence would be wise to
have this spell cast on him.
On the other side of the law, wizard
mark can be used to identify property in
case it is stolen. Revealing an invisible
wizard mark can spell doom for a would-
be thief who claims a stolen item
belongs to him. Rich merchants or
nobles might wish to have their valu-
ables protected in this way. The same
rich merchants would pay a bundle to
have mending cast on an antique vase
worth over 3,000 gp that had been
knocked over by a careless servant. The
servant himself might even bring the
vase to the caster, hoping to fix the
damage before his master came home
and noticed it.
It is common procedure to ask that
the purchaser provide his own material
components, which the spell-caster
always overstates, as part of his mark-
up. This can provide the caster with
valuable material components for spells
that he could not normally afford to
cast, like the aforementioned wizard
mark.
If a wizard character is ever really,
really in great need of cash, all wizards
are assumed to begin with a spellbook.
A blank spellbook has 100 pages, val-
ued at 100 gp per page a 10,000 gp
asset! Hocking your only spellbook, buy-
ing piles of armor, weapons, and good
quality equipment for the party, hoping
for a successful adventure before the
due date on the pawn, than buying back
that spellbook, is about as risky as
chancing a game of chess on a queen
sacrifice but what a story if you pull it
off!
Spellcasting between
adventures
Any mage who waits for a written invi-
tation before casting a spell ought to be
drawn and quartered. lf you have the ability
to protect yourself or your friends, do it in
the safety and privacy of your home.
Waiting until you see the whites of their eyes
may be fine for attack, but its suicide for a
defensive position.
Spellcasting should not be limited to
active adventuring periods. Some spells,
like armor, mentioned above, have no
set expiration time. If this spell is known,
it should be cast on the wizard, his pets
or familiar, the party thief, and any
priests who are not allowed to wear
heavy armor. Between adventures is the
time the character casts a detect magic
spell, item by item, on all of those poten-
tial magical things picked up in the last
adventure and then casts identify on
those that turn up positive. Spells that
are commonly cast for others for money
can be cast for the wizard and his party,
as well. Scrolls can be read, broken
weapons can be mended, and valuable
property wizard marked.
Finally, new spells can be chosen. A
wise spellcaster remembers which spells
went unused, which were useful only in
certain situations, and which were enor-
mously successful. This critical feedback
at low levels makes all the difference
when a wide selection of spells is avail-
able at higher levels.
Spell selection
So now you have the things you think
youll need. You are loaded down with spell-
book, food, water, volatile compounds,
incendiary missiles, pungent material com-
ponents, daggers, darts, and a staff. You
have it all, right?
Wrong. What spells are you going to
use? Figure youll just make that part up as
you go, huh? Bad idea. Right now is the time
for you to decide what spells are the most
important, because you dont have much
choice. If you take one spell and never use it,
youre worse than useless youre in the
way. Dont wait until you see your enemies
before you cast a spell. Good spellcasting
may mean you never have to meet the
enemy. The only combat youre guaranteed
not to get killed in is the one you dont
fight.
When a caster has only one or just a
few spells, selection is vital. Between
gaming periods, as mentioned earlier,
the spells memorized are not important,
unless the DM likes to spring adventures
on you without warning. When a set
goal is known, and the party has time to
pack up before leaving the safety of the
inn or boarding house, spells should be
chosen with care.
Most 1st-level attack spells cause
damage less than or equal to a single
sword thrust. Choosing these attack
spells (magic missile, shocking grasp, burn-
ing hands) means that the wizard has
one attack in which he is as effective as
a fighter for a single round. Shocking
grasp and burning hands especially
require the caster to get uncomfortably
close to his opponent. Given the choice,
these should be avoided.
If a player wishes to choose an attack
spell, consider color spray, sleep, or charm
person (to attack with an intermediary).
These all have advantages: color spray
and sleep both affect multiple targets
with no saving throw, and charm person
can have an extraordinary duration.
All things considered, the beginning
mage is best suited to let the rest of the
party attack. Looking at the numbers, an
orc armed with a spear or short sword is
likely to kill a 1st-level wizard with aver-
age hit points and AC 10 after only two
rounds of combat. For this reason,
defensive spells should take priority
over attack spells.
Good defensive spells include armor,
as already discussed, shield (which pro-
vides a good Armor Class plus total
immunity to magic missiles), and protec-
tion from evil (which can provide com-
plete protection against certain mon-
sters). The latter two, while providing
good protection, have a duration limit-
ing their usefulness to one battle or frac-
tion of a battle. Other defensive spells
are either too specific (like gaze reflection)
or less effective than the normal, non-
magical way of doing things (hold por-
tal). Wall of fog provides adequate cover
for the entire party to make a retreat, or
confound an enemy, giving time to pre-
pare an ambush or light Greek fire, heal
wounded, or some other action. Feather
DRAGON
#
229 69
fall, in addition to its conventional
usage, can save a single party member
from a single missile attack that might
hit. Once.
The problem with these spells is their
limited duration. If the enemy also beats
a hasty retreat from the wall of fog, or
waits until the protection from evil is
expired, the spell allowed for only a
momentary respite from battle. This
may be useful, but the caster now has
no spell to cast to save the party again.
The only 1st-level spell that circum-
vents this one-shot usage hindrance is
cantrip. With a duration of one hour per
level, it can affect multiple combats and
the important non-combat situations in
between.
Using the cantrip
Let me tell you about my first adventure.
I dont recall exactly what we were there for,
but that old wooden hill fort stands out
clearly in my mind. I had chosen cantrip for
my only spell, and my companions thought
I was crazy. When the goblins started pour-
ing out of their little trapdoors, I heard, Put
em to sleep!, Charm one!, Magic missile
the leader! Well, I couldnt do any of that, so
they formed an arc, backed me into a cor-
ner, and told me to stay alive so they could
kill me themselves later.
Xavier, our war-priest, stood in front of
me, waving a huge axe. Attacking those lit-
tle vermin made him look like a giant slug
on a cold day. I used a quickblade to help
him out a little. I alternated that with the
opposite, leadblade
2
, on the goblins he was
fighting. One of the squirmy little monsters
snuck in under his legs and tried to attack
me. I turned my hands black so they
looked leprous with a blackhands and
reached out to touch him. He backed up
enough to run into Xaviers backswing.
After that, their slingers started targeting
me. I used an evocation, minor shield
4
, to
deflect their arrows as much as possible.
Then I noticed a dark elf standing in
their midst, directing their attack. Standing
on his shoulder was a beady-eyed little rat. A
familiar: perfect target for a cantrip. Sure
enough, the rat jumped off and started run-
ning around, squeaking here and scurrying
there. I put a minor slow
5
on him when he
got close and told Shadow, our thief, to go
get him. Holding him hostage, we made the
dark elf pull back his goblins and made our
escape, were able to convince the regular
army to make it a military operation and
wiped the goblins out. Ive memorized at
least one cantrip ever since.
Before discussing the myriad applica-
tions of the cantrip, the exact limits of
the spell need to be defined further than
in the Players Handbook. The rules gov-
erning cantrips say that they are com-
pletely unable to cause a loss of hit
points. This rule is pretty clear and
needs little elaboration. The DM must
decide, however, whether he will allow
for adding to hit points lost by other
means. The cantrip cannot affect the
concentration of spellcasters. This also
is clear, but it must be noted that con-
centration need not be affected to effec-
tively ruin a spell. Many spells are sight-
targeted, and impeding the casters
vision may make using the spell impos-
sible, even if it is successfully cast. The
cantrip can only create small, obviously
magical materials. How big is small?
One pound per level of the caster, up to
10 Ibs., is not unreasonable. As for vol-
ume, small should fit in the casters
hand.
The last restriction, that a cantrip
lacks the power to duplicate any other
spells effects needs the most clarifica-
tion. Read strictly, a phantasmal force
can create any visual illusion, so a
cantrip cannot. A ventriloquism or audible
glamor can create an auditory illusion,
so a cantrip cannot. An unseen servant
can move things, so a cantrip cannot. A
Iight can create illumination, etc. A more
appropriate reading is that the cantrip
cannot duplicate the exact extent of
another spell. Illusions must be a limited
to certain size (10 square feet, for exam-
ple) and will fool only the stupidest
observers, as they will be semi-transpar-
ent and wavering, at best. Sound vol-
ume should be limited to a human voice
at conversational levels, ability to move
objects should be equal to a Strength
score of 3, and light should be no more
than the output of a single candle.
As they are introduced, DMs should
make other decisions about cantrip
applications. Some are very strong for
one-shot uses, and should be restricted
to one use per casting. Others should be
allowed to maintain as long as the cast-
er concentrates. Some other restrictions:
no more than one application at a time
can be maintained. Beginning a new
one cancels the previous application.
Effect on chances to succeed at any feat
should never be more than 5% or +1.
Defensive applications should never
reduce damage by more than one hit
point.
Magic item use
In the desert, they have a saying: the
best place to keep your water is in yourself.
In other words, dont save it. Use it. lf any of
you graduates dies with spells uncast, Ill
personally raise you and beat you for it.
That goes double for unused magic items
that your non-spellcasting companions
cant use.
Wizards have the greatest number of
magic items available to them. Even at
1st level, a wizard can use nearly any of
these items. Any charged or one-shot
magical items found should be used in
an appropriate situation, without consid-
ering saving it for later. The only excep-
tion is if you know in advance that the
party must face an enemy that cannot
be harmed by any other means you cur-
rently possess. Again, this rule itself is
invalid if it looks like youre going to die
before you get there. If youre saving the
scroll of Melfs minute meteors for use
against a gargoyle (which can be hurt
only by magical items or magic spells),
but it looks like the ogre you cant avoid
now will wipe you out, there is no sense
saving the scroll. This applies to all
wands, staves, scrolls, potions, certain
charged rings, and non-permanent mis-
cellaneous items.
Im sure youre itching to start spell-cast-
ing and get to trying all these ideas, so Ill let
you get on with your ceremony after one
more word of advice. Well, praise, maybe.
Youve made a wise choice to become a
wizard. None of your companions has the
potential that you do. When you get older,
youll be a major power in the world. Until
then, be careful, and good luck!
Lloyd Brown III is a gamer who lives in
Florida. He has written for DRAGON
Magazine before.
1. Reduced his speed factor by one, that is.
2. Raised speed factor by one. The goblin
received a saving throw (standard when a
cantrip is used on an unwilling target).
3. This is especially effective if the potential vic-
tims see the caster touch a companion,
who shrieks horribly and keels over.
4. Improves AC by one against missile attacks
coming from 10 yards or greater. It is too
slow to be useful in other situations
5. Slows by one animal of size T. Normal
save allowed.
70 MAY 1996
by Christopher Byler
I!!ustratcd by Larry 5mIth
72
MAY 1996
Nnt a!! magIc has tn bc
hIgh-pnwcrcd,
!Itt!c thIngs
cnunt,
tnn.
on the non-proficiency skills available
to some classes and kits. Practical magic
encompasses the myriad other aspects
of life and the ways magical inventors
have made life easier.
Proficiency magic
Players and DMs frequently overlook a
characters nonweapon proficiencies. Abilities
such as brewing, juggling, carpentry, and astrol-
ogy take a backseat to spells and combat
prowess. If DMs make nonweapon proficiencies
more important in the game, the door to new
magic items swing wide open.
Proficiency magic items work in one of two ways.
Items of proficiency grant any person using them the
ability to perform as if he were truly proficient. Thus a
pair of gloves of juggling give its wearer a proficiency in
juggling equal to his Dexterity score -1 (see page 76 of
the Players Handbook for proficiency tables). If he is a
skilled juggler, the gloves confer no extra benefit.
he heroes
i n y our
g r o u p
have finally defeated Flabbert
Megamage. The bard was petrified
before the villains berserker bodyguard
reduced her to powder, one of the fighters was vapor-
ized by a misdirected lightning bolt, and the wizards cat
familiar was eaten by Flabberts poodle. Now the sur-
vivors sift through the rubble. Theyre expecting magical
items, and due to their heavy losses, you want to oblige.
However, a vorpal sword and a robe of the archmagi seem
a bit much to give to 5th- to 7th-level player characters.
The problem with the current list of magical items is their
emphasis on battle applications. Weapons, armor, staves, cloth-
ing, even most potions and miscellaneous magic items, either by
design or player ingenuity, find use primarily during combat.
Herein lies the source of campaign imbalance. PCs become
more heavily armed than a battleship, and character sheets are
soon overloaded with attack, damage, and AC bonuses. Mid-level
PCs are lethal opponents for even the deadliest foes. Much to the
Dungeon Masters chagrin, the campaign has become a Monty
Haul horror. Players doze during random encounters. Combat,
while no challenge to the PCs, becomes a nightmare for the DM
as he secretly adds hit points to a monster that was, technically,
dead four rounds ago.
Campaign problems like this arise when players see the game
as a string of battles because the DM allows little time to role-play
other aspects of the characters lives. The players choose different
character classes because some aspect of each class appeals to
them. The DM should tailor magical treasures as well as adven-
tures to all abilities and interests present in his group.
Most campaign worlds are infused with enough magic that it
should find its way into most aspects of life. Three types of such
magic are herein introduced.
Proficiency magic can make even an average practitioner of a
nonweapon proficiency seem like a master. Skill magic capitalizes
Items of mastery increase a characters chance of perform-
ing admirably in a proficiency he already has. This bonus, like
magical weapons and armor, is expressed as a plus. Instead of
affecting attack rolls or saving throws, the plus gives the PC a
bonus to his proficiency checks. If a PC is a proficient angler with
a Wisdom of 13, he requires a roll of 12 or less on a d20 (Wisdom
-19 to be successful. If he uses a fishing Iure +2, he needs to roll a
14 or less (Wisdom -1 +2) to make a catch.
Items of proficiency and items of mastery can be used in con-
junction, though the instances of a PC having access to both
types of items for the same proficiency should be rare. A hummer
of stonemasonry could be used with a masons chisel +1 by a non-
proficient character for a final proficiency check of the PCs
Strength -1. Similar items of different proficiencies may not be
used in conjunction to combine their effects. A hammer of carpen-
try cannot be used with a masons chisel +1, nor can a saddle of
horsemanship be used with a Pegasus bridle +2.
Items of proficiency created for the same proficiency, if used
together, confer no bonuses beyond the use of that non-weapon
proficiency. However, two items of mastery created for the same
proficiency may be used together, combining their bonuses.
Again, this should be rare. For example, a PC who is a proficient
cobbler could use a shoeform + 1 with a cobblers hammer +2, alter-
ing her check by +3, to her Dexterity score +3. This only works if
the items were not created as a set.
Proficiency magic items are occasionally created as sets. A
toolbox full of enchanted carpentry tools, a sewing kit +3, or a ham-
mer and anvil of blacksmithing, if found as a complete set, must be
used without other tools or the magic is not passed to the user.
Unless the DM decides otherwise, individual items are assumed
to have been created singly, for use independent of a set.
It should be noted that items of proficiency do not perma-
nently bestow proficiency upon a character, nor do items of mas-
tery grant a permanent bonus to proficiency checks. The magic
functions only while the items are used in the performance of
their designated proficiency.
No more than two proficiency magic items may be used by a
PC at a time. As with magical rings, attempting to use more than
two at once causes them all to simply cease functioning. A set is
considered to be a single item.
It is suggested that the enchantment of any item of mastery
DRAGON
#
229 73
not exceed +3. After all, the character, not
the item, should do most of the work.
Below is a list of nonweapon proficien-
cies with suggestions for magic items that
can be used to enhance the proficiency of
each. This list is far from complete, and a
little research and ingenuity can inspire
endless possibilities.
(The following abbreviations are: PHB,
Players Handbook; CTH, The Complete
Thiefs Handbook; CBD, The Complete Book
of Dwarves; CRH, The Complete Rangers
Handbook; CSH, The Complete Shairs
Handbook).
Animal Noise (CTH) Bird whistle +1,
chatterbox of the squirrel.
Artistic Ability (PHB) Paintbrush of
artistry, sculptors chisel + 1.
Astrology (PHB) Orrery +2, star charts
of the astrologer
Cartography (CRH) Mapmakers kit
+3.
Cooking (PHB) Skillet of frying, spice
rack +2, chefs hat.
Determine Grade or Slope in Passage
(CBD) Dwarven level +2.
Diagnostics (CPH) Forensic gloves +2,
medical kit of diagnosis.
Dwarven Weaponsmithing (CBD)
Forge of the dwarven axesmiths.
Falconry (CRH) Gauntlet of falconry,
falcon hood +3.
Navigation (PHB) Astrolabe +1, navi-
gators star charts.
Numeracy (CSH) Abacus of computa-
tion +3.
Pottery (PHB) Wheel of pottery pot-
ters kiln + 1.
Reading/Writing (PHB) Eyes of read-
ing, quill of writing. (These items are
attuned to a specific language, and
may be found as a set. Unlike other
proficiency items, these are never
made as items of mastery.)
Seamstress/Tailor (PHB) Thimble of
tailoring, needle +2.
Tattoing (CSH) Needle and pigments
of tattoo artistry.
Trailing (CTH) Eyes of trail perception,
trailing dust + 1.
Ventriloquism (PHB) Dummy of ven-
triloquism, voice thrower +3.
Knowledge is power
DMs who like placing books in trea-
sure hoards but cringe at ability score or
level enhancement may find these ideas
welcome. These tomes, though magical,
dont create super-characters. They give
the PCs an edge through knowledge.
Books of proficiency, when studied for
eight hours a day for two weeks, give the
PC a free knowledge proficiency such as
agriculture, engineering, languages, and
spellcraft. The magic of the book perma-
nently inscribes the information in the char-
acters mind, so no proficiency slots need to
be available to gain the proficiency. The
characters proficiency score in this free
ability is the same as if the character had
spent a slot on it. The exception to this is if
the PC already has the proficiency the
book covers. In this case, the study of the
book increases the characters understand-
ing of the field, granting the character a
permanent +1 bonus to his proficiency
checks, just as if he had spent an addition-
al slot on it. A PC may benefit from study of
the book only once in his lifetime, and if
another book on the subject is ever found,
study confers no additional benefit.
Books of the bards are tailored to the
unique talents of this class. Whether the
book is a collection of inspired poetry, off-
color goblin jokes, or eloquent historical
narrative, it expands the bards repertoire.
After two weeks of study, the bard can use
the knowledge magically bestowed to
modify saving throws against his attempts
to influence reactions (+ or -1 on a d20)
or improve his chance of knowing about
a magical item (+5% on d100). Variations
may exist, at the DMs option, for the kits
listed in The Complete Bards Handbook.
Skill magic
While typically receiving more atten-
tion than nonweapon proficiencies, the
skills granted by a characters race, class,
or kit also find themselves glossed over in
favor of combat and spell-slinging. Skill
magic brings these abilities into the lime-
light.
Class items are most frequently created
for use by rogues, due to the large num-
ber of non-proficiency skills at their dis-
posal, though other classes enjoy their
own unique items.
Pages 90-102 of The Complete Thiefs
Handbook contain a list of additional
equipment used by thieves to gain non-
magical bonuses to thief skills. Any of
these may be enchanted for even greater
effectiveness. This enchantment is
expressed as a plus, though each plus
actually represents a 5% bonus to the skill
roll. The magical bonus is cumulative with
the equipments typical, nonmagical bonus.
Class items that improve a skill usable
by more than one class may be used only
by a character for whose class the item
was created. For example, a pair of thiefs
scissors +1 grants its +5% bonus to a thief
using it to pick pockets, but a bard cannot
7 4 MAY 1996
use it as effectively, and will not receive
the bonus. Conversely, a rangers shadow-
cloak +3 will not impart its 15% bonus to
a thief trying to hide in shadows. If the DM
desires, the bonus granted to the items
class may become a penalty if used by
another class.
Another type of skill magic, though
rare, does occasionally turn up. Race
items are designed to improve a charac-
ters racial abilities or to impart these abil-
ities to a member of a different race. A
race item is always keyed to the race for
which it was created. A character of any
other race is entirely unaffected by its use.
For example, if a monocle of infravision was
made for a human, only a human can use
it even a half-elf gains no benefit from
the item.
Here is a short list of skill magic items
to get your creative juices started:
Boots of muffled footfalls +1 (Move
Silently).
Dwarven goggles of enhanced infravi-
sion +1: Items of this nature extend
infravision 10 per plus, to a max-
imum of 60 (+6).
Elven helm of doors + 1 (gives an elf +1
bonus on any die to his chance of
finding a secret or concealed door.
Such an item which may also be
a tiara, hairpin, or even just a hat
may never be enchanted with more
than one plus).
Forestcloak +1 (Hide in Shadows).
Gloves of light-fingeredness +3.
Hacksaw of speed (cuts sawing time
in half).
Horn of hearing +2 (Detect Noise).
Infravision Spectacles (this type of
item, created for people normally
lacking infravision, imparts an
infravision range of 30).
Magnifying lens +2 (Find/Remove
Traps).
Thiefs lock picks +2.
Shadowcloak +3 (Hide in Shadows).
Practical magic
The remaining aspects of a characters
life provide a near infinite source of ideas
for practical magic items.
A bard with a penchant for mead who
wishes to drink nothing else, a dwarf
whose stubby fingers make fire-starting
difficult, and a traveling mage who enjoys
soaking in a hot bath while studying
spells all have problems not easily solved
with existing magical items.
Practical magic items have no actual
pluses. They move, work, transform, or
create things in minor ways for conve-
nience. Their applications are only limited
by the imaginations of the players and the
rulings of the DM. Therefore, it may be
possible to impress a band of superstitious
kobolds with flint and steel of instant flame,
but not to blind them.
Here is a short list of ideas, a kind of
imaginative jump-start for DMs:
Steins and goblets that transform any
liquid into ale, spirits, mead, wine, cham-
pagne, etc., preserve a small portion of a
PCs weekly expenses. Imagine doorknobs
that sound an alarm (as the first-level spell)
when they are touched. Animated chairs or
bathtubs (complete with running hot and
cold water) allow mages to memorize
spells and clerics to pray on the go. Spice
containers that never run out or a jar that
pickles anything put into it are an innkeep-
ers dream.
How about saddles and bridles that
fasten themselves onto the PCs steed, or
an hourglass that turns itself over on the
hour? Barrels that roll when tipped, even
uphill, provide transport for equipment or
strong-stomached PCs? Steel chains that
weigh close to nothing might come in
handy. Boots that never allow the wear-
ers feet to get wet, or self-erecting tents
would be boons to campaigners.
Merchants will welcome a scale
weighted in their favor, with magic mask-
ing the bias. Parents clamor for clothing
that never gets dirty. Busy bureaucrats
value a quill pen that takes perfect dicta-
tion. Collapsible ladders, blankets that
keep their user magically warm, saddles
that ensure comfort for both rider and
steed, and self-heating frying pans can all
make life easier without creating cam-
paign imbalances.
Many more magic items can be creat-
ed if the players and DM dont concen-
trate on combat, specific spells, and relat-
ed game bonuses. Intelligent furniture,
floating books, self-lighting candles, even
an outhouse equipped with small disinte-
gration chambers (under the seat, of
course) add to the sense of wonder nec-
essary for a fantasy campaign.
Dont ignore combat magic after all,
you want your PCs to have a fair chance
in a fight but never forget the peaceful
applications of the art that would flourish
in a fantasy setting.
Christopher Byler lives and games in
California.
Ccn|inuc frcn pagc $"
tals get anyway). For sly comedy, sharp-
tongued talking cats, and devious appli-
cations of magic, Friesner cant be
matched and never disappoints.
Kingdom of sorrow (Boulevard, $5.99)
qualifies as a Recurring Role because
half of author Kenyon Morr is actually
Mark Sumner, known under his own
name for several excellent teen thrillers
and for work in the Magic: the
Gathering* milieu. With collaborator
Marella Sands, Sumner presents the sec-
ond tale in a series set in the Kings
Quest computer-game universe, and
delivers a novel that shouldnt be over-
looked even by those unacquainted with
that setting. Sumner and Sands tell a
smoothly understated tale involving
faerie magic, an ensorcelled giant, and a
strong sense of royal duty. Those who
complain about the quality of tie-in fic-
tion should read this novel, and may
change their minds afterward.
John C. Bunnel lives, writes, and reads in a
Portland, Oregon apartment containing too
many books and too few bookcases.
Correspondence regarding The Role of
Books can be sent to him at 6663 S.W.
Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, Portland, OR
97225-1403.
*indicates a product produced by a company
other than TSR, Inc.
Subscribe now
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DRAGON )K=
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If you subscribe to DRAGON
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you will receive free with your
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DRAGON
#
229 75
MAY 1996
76
DRAGON
#
229 77
Pyrothraxus couldnt believe his luck!
He perched atop the conical, sheared-off summit
of a dead volcano that rose out of the Sirion Sea,
just west of Ergoth, and bared his teeth in a dra-
conic grin. From his commanding vantage point he
circled again and again, coiling as he rotated,
searching in every direction for any sign of another
dragons presence on the great island. The great
red wyrm peered down the rocky folds of the
mountains flanks looking for bones and other
scraps of a dragons repast, or maybe an old hide,
sloughed off and cast aside but he spotted noth-
ing beyond wisps of mist among the woods that
clung to the precipitous slopes. He squinted into
the depths of the volcanos stony maw, lined with
great crumbling walls of scree, and discerned no
evidence of his kind there either. Fairly satisfied
that the island lay unoccupied, Pyrothraxus inhaled
deeply and then roared at the top of his lungs, dar-
ing any dragon within earshot to answer his claim.
His howl shook loose a half-dozen rock slides in
the gigantic bowl below before it rumbled across
the water to the shores of Ergoth and beyond
and it left him clutching his head with both fore-
claws.
Pyrothraxuss high-crested, horned crown, all
knotty and covered with vermillion-and-black
scales, had been throbbing torturously for hours, as
it always did after he killed and absorbed the
magical power of rival dragons. Today he had
vanquished no less than three of them: two blacks
and another red! Assimilating their arcane essences
left him feeling as though his brain had been filled
with fire ants, and now his bellicose roar had
aggravated that pain. No matter; to the victorious
Pyrothraxus, it was worth every twinge.
Pyrothraxus, you are so-o-o powerful, your
voice itself is pain, he declared. What creature
would be foolish enough to answer that call, hmm?
None! Pyrothraxus is lord and master of this land!
he said, savoring the sound of his own name.
Pyrothraxus the powerful, Pyrothraxus the great!
Pyrothr-r-r-raxus! Destiny grants you this prime
territory!
Still, could it be possible that no other wyrm
claimed this island? Six years had passed since the
Great Dragons come back to Ansalon from across
the sea, and surely in that time at least one of
them must have found this choice spot, even
though it was on the far side of the continent.
There had to be something wrong with it, some rea-
son no one else inhabited the region, let alone
defended it from him (albeit fruitlessly, of course).
Pyrothraxus knew he should investigate further
before settling in, but he was tired. Dead tired.
Asleep on the wing, and a little hurt from his bat-
tles today.
In several places across his dark orange belly,
claw marks sliced through three and four of his
wide, crimson-edged scales. Gory meat within
swelled malignantly, pushing apart the seeping
wounds. Acid burns spattered his crimson wings,
leaving great expanses of the leathery webbing
charred and porous. On the back of his neck, the
jagged gouge of a murderous bite festered and
burned infectiously. On top of all that, his throat felt
raw from too much fire breathing.
Sleep was what he really needed right now.
Sleep, as precious as a hoard of maroon sapphires.
Pyrothraxus waited as long as he could for the
answering cry of a rival dragon, until the only thing
that kept him awake was the steady pounding
behind his slitted yellow eyes. With a final glance
around, he spread his wings, slipped from the pin-
nacle, and glided into the hollow of the dead vol-
cano, seeking some cleft to crawl under. Sure
enough, when he floated to the base of the stony
bowl an overhang revealed itself to him, under
which an ample cavern led into darkness. The
dragon settled to rest at its mouth and sniffed sus-
piciously at an odd odor that tickled and flared his
fire-blackened nostrils. Something lived down there,
but he couldnt quite place the scent. Pyrothraxus
was too exhausted to care. This was his island now,
and whatever lived in the mountain might make a
good breakfast after he slept. He entered the cool
darkness and shimmied on his belly, careful of his
tender wounds, until he found a nice, level area
about a dozen tail-lengths in. Gratefully he coiled
up and settled in for a nice nap.
Pyrothraxus, he uttered with a sigh, noting how
the sound bounced off the walls. No rival could
approach him unheard down here. At last, he nes-
tied his snout under a wing and drifted off to sleep.
As he slipped through the silken veil of slumber,
some distant noise drifted behind Pyrothraxuss
receding consciousness, agitating his distrustful
mind. The sound had no immediate identity just a
faint rustling and clanking, perhaps like something
being dragged along. With fading care, the dragon
decided it must be nothing more than a coming
dream, woven of natural echoes in the caves under
him. Nevertheless, his angular ears instinctively rose
slightly to draw in the disturbance....
I think its this way, based upon my calculations
of how sound travels in confined spaces, modified
by the type of rock, the general texture of the
wails, floor, and ceiling, with compensations for the
general vertical structure of the passageways, not
to mention the average volume of the dragons
78 MAY 1996
breathing, which, if measured against this scale that
I have constructed (which can tell you the approxi-
mate size of the creature as well, by the way), and
also
I beg to differ, I beg to differ! You have forgot-
ten to account for the density of the air, and,
besides, the caverns in that direction are much too
small to accommodate a dragon, and if you spent
as much time as I have mapping the upper reaches
since the Great Remodeling,* then you would know
that...
Pyrothraxus cracked an eyelid.
...this is the only way in which it could possibly
lie. Why, if you put your hand to your ear and cup
it no, no, no! Not over your ear, you rube! Like
this. As I was saying, if you cup your hand by your
ear and stand with your head at a forty-five degree
angle, then you can tell that the tangent of the
echo comes off of the ceiling, which means that it
bounced off that wall there, which means
You are wrong, sir. You are wrong. If you will
kindly put your head against this wall and rock it
back and forth, you will note that the breathing
Whoever you are, interrupted Pyrothraxus,
youll both find me soon enough if you follow the
sound of my voice.
Why, thank you! responded not two but six
high-pitched voices, which continued with six sepa-
rate, simultaneous soliloquies on theories of sound,
the density of volcanic stone, some apparatus
designed to climb stone surfaces, devices that could
make a large bodys location plain to anyone,
materials that receive and transmit vibrations, and
a way to illuminate the darkness using an elabo-
rate system of bat-powered windmills.
Shut up! snarled the dragon, beginning to feel
a grating in his aching skull.
Hes talking to you! whispered one of the
approaching strangers.
No, you!
No, you!
No, you!
Im talking to all of you! bellowed Pyrothraxus,
wincing at the sharpness of his own voice. His
headache was deepening. Whatever they were, he
would kill them instantly if they were foolish
enough to come within reach. Come to the sound
of my voice, he added soothingly. Come and view
the magnificent Pyrothraxus the Red.
The voices continued in a hushed debate, further
muffled by the knock and grind of whatever they
were bringing with them. Soon, the first beams of
their lanterns broke the crest of the caverns floor
where it dropped away, leading deeper into the
volcano. Moments later, the intruders poked their
heads into view and peered with shining, inquisi-
tive eyes at the great red. Curly white hair and
beards glowed against light cocoa skin that glis-
tened with sweat in the light they brought with
them. As the trespassers climbed fully into view,
they grew still more dazzling with their bright-
colored clothing and polished tools that swung
from belts around their pudgy paunches and from
backpacks, which seemed even larger than their
bearers. Over their collective shoulders, the six of
them slung a long, fat cord of some sort.
Pyrothraxuss snout wrinkled in disgust. Now he
realized why no other dragon had claimed this
island: It was infested with gnomes! That was the
odd smell hed noticed. Pyrothraxus hadnt crossed
paths with a gnome since he was a punk lizard,
when his mother tricked him into eating one by
telling him they tasted like chicken. He wouldnt
make that mistake again, but he couldnt have the
little pests crawling all over him while he slept,
either. Where there were six of these gnats, there
were bound to be six thousand more!
Three of them immediately began to spread the
cord along the floor while the other three busied
themselves unloading their packs and setting up
some sort of peculiar contraption. Welcome to
Mount Nevermind, good dragon sir! Be right with
you, said the fattest one, who then turned his back
to supervise the rest of the party, arguing and
ordering them about. Pyrothraxus blinked and
stared while the gnomes worked, befuddled by
their boundless gall in his exalted presence. Surely
the mere sight of a 300-foot-long red dragon
would scare almost anything to death, yet these
creatures cheerfully constructed their machine,
obviously thrilled rather than terrified before a
reptile large enough to swallow them all at once.
(Not that he would, but they didnt know that.)
They busily attached bladderlike bags to each end
of the cord and ran hoses out them, which con-
nected to wooden containers at either side, and
then strung a series of ropes and pulleys back and
forth along the entire length of the thing.
Shortly, two of the gnomes began to jump up
and down on the bladders while two more yanked
at the ropes, engaging the pulleys. A misty spray
hissed out of tiny holes in the fat cord and quickly
began to fill the air. Pyrothraxus sniffed defensively
but realized it was just oily water.
What, in the name of the Dark Queens talon, is
that? he asked.
* The Great Remodeling is a reference to the explosion touched off by the gnomes during the Summer of Chaos.
DRAGON
#
229 79
Just a little something I invented especially for
this occasion, responded the stout one, who
approached the dragon and bowed deeply, teeter-
ing precariously. The sixth meddler pulled out a
tablet and began furiously to scribble notes in it,
looking back and forth from the machine to
Pyrothraxus.
It is my belief, continued the speaker, that a
cool mist of water combined with extract of aloe
and a few other, secret ingredients I have con-
cocted will thwart the effects of ahem dragon
breath (if youll pardon the expression). I thought
that, after a few questions and answers, you might
be so good as to make fire, as you dragons do. You
see, weve been looking for a reliable source of
power to drive some of our machines, and your
apparent ability to generate extraordinary heat at
will might be just the thing! Now, if you dont mind,
we have just a few short questions to ask you
thirty or forty ought to do it for this first visit, and
then Id like you to Squish!
Pyrothraxus lifted his claw and curled his lip at
the remains of the creature under it. He hoped he
could sleep with that decomposing near by; these
little bugs were so aromatic alive, he couldnt
imagine what they smelled like dead. The dragon
lifted his eyes toward the rest of the gnomes. The
jumpers paused in their jumping, and the pulley
workers paused in their pulleying, apparently not
having considered protection against being stepped
on, and scratched their heads in annoyance. The
writer looked up from his scratching and cried,
Hey! You killed Talimorrandorfinlindle...
The massive beast drew breath, and the scribe
paused in mid-name.
This is it! shrieked the gnomes, and the lot of
them scrambled for cover. Pyrothraxus inhaled
deeply, allowing the heat to swell a few extra
moments in his belly before heartily disgorging it
in a gout of blistering fire. Radiant white flames
rolled across the cavern floor like raging thunder,
flooding the vault and rushing down its
labyrinthine throat. As the infernal tidal wave swept
over the fleeing gnomes, the mist they had created
hissed and thickened into a steam that blotted out
the chamber, blinding Pyrothraxus in spite of his
ability to see in perfect darkness.
Somewhere in the void, one or two cries of
mingled panic and elation went up, alerting
Pyrothraxus that some of them were getting away,
so he sprang to his feet and leaped after them,
bent upon smearing every last one of the impudent
little brutes across the walls of his caverns.
Impulsively the giant wyrm hurled himself forward
with all of his might, howling to inject terror into
their souls and drove his head full-force into a
plunging overhang of solid granite!
The crack of his skull rang like an immense, dull
bell and reverberated through the volcano, even
triggering a small landslide outside. Brilliant white
stars streaked behind Pyrothraxuss eyes, and he
fell to the floor like a tree struck by lightning. In
every passing second of the ensuing virtual
eternity, the throb intensified, until he could do
nothing but helplessly coil up and retch. The
writhing dragon desperately wished he could just
black out, yet his pealing torment would have no
part of it.
Somewhere in the throes of anguish, it occurred
to Pyrothraxus that he should leave this place
immediately. Sweet as the location might be,
gnomes were as difficult to eradicate as stirges in
the weeds, and they were thrice as pesky. They
had no sense, no fear of impending death, no
respect for their betters. One might as well hunt
roaches until he dropped. Definitely, the best thing
to do was leave.
But how many dragons had heard his roaring
claim upon this Mount Nevermind? And what sto-
ries might the little gadflies spread about his retreat
from their caves? How far would word travel, that
Pyrothraxus the Red had tucked tail and flown the
nest? Was he not Pyrothraxus the Magnificent?
Pyrothraxus the Unvanquished? Pyrothraxus, mas-
ter of all he surveys and desires?
Yes!
To leave now would be to admit defeat in the
face of a puny adversary. He could bear all the
teeth of all the dragons of all the world of all time
and laugh, but the scorn of wyrmlings as he slunk
from the holdings of unworthy, scrawny bipeds
was cold, wet ruin to his heart. He must not give up
this mountain, this island, this kingdom of his! He
must never yield so much as a dew claws width to
the mightiest Knight of Solamnia, let alone a rabble
of wag-tongued minikins! No! He would never
leave!
Pyrothraxus gingerly drew himself up and
rejoiced at the return of his senses. It must have
been the headiness of his newly absorbed magic
(and, of course, that awful headache) that
temporarily robbed him of his brilliance. Why, he
was omnipotence itself, after all. Wonderful was
much too short a word, splendid too common on
the tongue, superb too offensive to the truth! He
was Pyrothraxus, and that was all in all.
The dragons course was plain: He would simply
have to find his way into the heart of these
gnomes territory and snuff them all... but first, he
had to sleep, if only for a few hours. Certainly the
8 0
MAY 1996
little troublemakers would think long and hard
before they came snooping around again, so he
obviously had the time. A little peace and quiet
now, a little carnage and mayhem later, and hed
be a new wyrm, so Pyrothraxus settled back to his
side and cradled his belly wounds. He pulled his tail
up and wrapped it around his body, then gently
laid his head upon it for a pillow.
Ahh, he sighed. Sweet, sweet sleep....
Heave to, boys, and keep it quiet, mind you!
snapped a voice in the distant darkness, just as the
dragon was beginning to snore. Thats it. Careful
not to drop it!
The grunting march of a host of bodies crept
into Pyrothraxuss listing ears. Still, he stubbornly
clung to his slumber, vainly trying to convince him-
self that he was not hearing anything, and almost
succeeded. He was just about to slip into a deep
sleep when somewhere in the caves, not far below,
the tumultuous din of something wooden under
construction began to rattle and bang through his
tender brain. Pyrothraxuss scarlet eyelids retracted,
his eyes rolled down, and the slitted irises fully
widened in the utter blackness.
What! Are you back again? he growled omi-
nously through the tunnels, and the hammering
halted.
I think its awake, muttered a gravelly voice in
the void.
Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh!
hissed a cluster of others. There was a moment of
dead silence... then the banging resumed, furiously.
That was it; they were fried lemmings now!
Pyrothraxus uncoiled and slithered down the sink-
ing shaft, toward the despicable little nuisances
beyond. The way divided so he sniffed at each
passage, but both were scented with the gassy reek
of gnomes. Furthermore, the head-splitting ham-
mering and sawing down there echoed through
every corner and cubbyhole, confusing and further
enraging him. Pyrothraxus made an arbitrary
choice and followed it. Immediately the path
fragmented again, and again and again, until the
dragon could only resolve to take the low road at
every turn.
As he drew closer to the din, the tunnels grew
narrower, impeding his progress, so he reached
into his precious reserve of magical power and
conjured a blanket of energy that wrapped about
his body, and he began to shrink. Soon he had
diminished to about four times the height of a
gnome as he stood on all four feet, and he began
to descend again. Within the cloak of arcane
power, his body tingled pleasantly it felt good to
use magic, and Pyrothraxus fleetingly yearned for
the past Age, when magic was abundant. Now he
crept easily along the cavern floor and down its
steepening pitch, toward the noisy swarm beyond.
DRAGON
#
229 81
Abruptly, the shaft turned vertical and opened
on the ceiling of a vast volcano-carved chamber of
shiny obsidian and fire-hardened granite.
Pyrothraxus clung easily to deep faults in the glassy
walls. He hung upside down, stuck his head
through the hole, and looked about. On the floor,
several hundred feet below, in the light of dozens
of torches on tripods, a host of gnomes were
putting the finishing touches on a huge tangle of
scaffolding, ropes, wheels, pulleys, levers, poles,
hinges, counterweights, hatches, frames, gutters,
slides, teeter-totters, nets, gears, crates, and a
colossal metal disk that must have required a
hundred gnomes to lift it, let alone carry it!
Pyrothraxus was dumbfounded by the structures
dimensions and dizzying complexity, but he was
even more flabbergasted by the speed at which
they had erected it.
What?. . . he blurted, in spite of his plan to
attack with surprise. Below, the gnomes looked up
and pointed, inexplicably crying to each other as if
they had just spotted a vein of diamonds.
What, indeed! answered a sinewy old coot
among them. Allow me to explain! We are very
intelligent people, your dragonship. We know when
we have offended, and we are known for our
offense to offense (if you will), so we do not wish to
disturb you if you do not wish to be disturbed, so
we have brought you a doorbell so you will know
when we are stopping by for a chat and will have
the opportunity to invite us in! I have personally
A doorbell? interrupted Pyrothraxus, focusing
upon the speaker, a blue-clad termite with a nose
twice as long as his face. A doorbell?
Precisely, precisely, a doorbell! I invented it
years ago but never dreamed I would have the
chance to use it. Do you want to know what makes
it different from all the rest of the doorbells out
there? The explosive power. Thats a touch of class!
And now, allow me to demonstrate.
Pyrothraxuss eyes widened, zooming in upon
the convoluted structure, as the little man
vigorously tugged at a rope before him. A web of
spring-loaded pulleys of myriad sizes spun back
and forth as he yanked, translating the small yanks
into long draws. The ropes opposite end activated
a gigantic pendulum, which swung ever more
prodigiously while the gnome pulled, until its tip
gingerly knocked a large, black, smooth sphere
from a tee, whereupon the ball rolled down a long,
spiraled track complete with several jumps and a
loop-the-loop and ultimately fell with a splash
into a huge barrel of water. A thick wave slopped
over the barrels rim and sloshed to the floor,
where a cat sat in a cage, fastidiously bathing itself.
Upon being doused with water, the cat yowled
loudly and indignantly, which frightened the heart
out of a mouse in another cage nearby. The floor
of the rodents pen proved to be a treadmill lined
with chunks of flint, which rapidly struck against a
block of steel underneath as the mouse ran in ter-
ror, causing sparks to fly hither and yon.
Pyrothraxus squinted at the little fire, able to detect
with his keen eyes the ignition and flash of a piece
of twine, which burned in hissing spurts toward the
tail of a long, heavy-nosed iron rod that lay in an
upward-angled tray. With a flare and a flash, the
tail of the baton burst to life and shot it through
the air with a streak of brilliance. The projectile
sailed across the wide, empty space in a long,
graceful arc all heads, including Pyrothraxuss,
turned in unison to watch it in flight and finally
smashed squarely into the great metal disk, now
hanging from hastily erected uprights, which pro-
duced an astounding, low-pitched bo-o-o-o-o-ong-g-
g-g-g. An ecstatic cheer went up from the floor.
The resonant toll of the doorbell smashed
through Pyrothraxuss sensitive head like a black-
smiths sledge and then shivered through the
mountain overhead. With a wince, the great red
roared, enraged, abruptly stifling the celebrating
gnomes. Death upon all of you, all of you! he
screamed. You have taxed the exalted Pyrothraxus
beyond endurance! He paused momentarily, to
enjoy their unfolding terror before swooping in for
the massacre and at that moment perceived a
queer rumbling behind him.
High above, the mountainous walls of the vol-
cano were crumbling and coming down.
Avalanche! screamed dozens of gnomes, and the
cavern below dissolved into chaos.
Behind and above Pyrothraxus, the thunderous
flow smashed through the cavern entrance, rushing
to fill the empty space, and drove onward, blasting
free even more stone as it descended through the
caves, toward the dragon, who presently clung
inverted to a wall in its path. Quickly Pyrothraxus
released his hold and dropped from the opening,
yet even as he flipped over and got his feet under
him, a column of falling scree spouted from the
aperture and nailed him squarely in the head!
Pyrothraxus fell as if he were a bag of rocks,
himself. He crashed through the scaffolding of the
doorbell, while dozens of gnomes scattered madly
to make room for him, and the whole mess col-
lapsed on top of him. Mercifully, the avalanche
choked to a sudden halt as larger boulders clogged
the tunnels above, but a rain of hefty rubble clat-
tered against the lumber piled over Pyrothraxuss
body, sending up a dense cloud of dust. The
82 MAY 1996
rumbling faded to silence, and for a few moments
there was utter stillness in the cavern.
Pyrothraxus burst through the pile of wreckage,
sat up, and coughed with a cloud of soot. He
seized his poor, aching head and cradled it as it
pounded more violently than ever. Even worse,
seething indignation swelled in his plated breast,
sorely aggravated by frustration he had never
known and humiliation he dreaded worse than
death.
I am Pyrothraxus the Great! he bellowed to the
cavern, expecting to incite a riot, yet there were no
gnomes in sight. I am mighty! he insisted anyway.
I will not be defeated by a swarm of bloated
insects! You will not evict Pyrothraxus! You will not
make Pyrothraxus the butt of dragonmirth! 1 am
coming for you, coming for you all!
The great red squinted at the cavern around him
and sniffed at the air. Across the uneven, faceted
black floor, strewn with rubble, lay a large, natural
arch whose base had obviously been paved flat. He
climbed to his feet and extracted himself from the
remains of the doorbell, then crossed to the arch
and looked in, discovering a wide throughway that
spiraled downward and out of sight. Distant,
gnomish cacophony wafted up to his forward-
pricked ears, and he ground his teeth in anticipa-
tion. Pyrothraxus fully elongated his body and
wormed his way into the tunnel, then sped down,
down, down to the heart of the old volcano. Along
the way, the wrathful beast overtook gnome after
gnome, but he simply crushed them with a snarl as
he rushed onward, seeking the population center
at the bottom.
At last, Pyrothraxus found the bottom of the
shaft and burst into the grand cavern at the base
of Mount Nevermind. He drew up on his haunches,
wheeled around in search of his first target and
froze, gawking at the ludicrous, impossible specta-
cle before him: The ceiling of this sub-mountainous
chamber rose out of sight, lost in a tangle of plat-
forms, chains, ropes, and netting that filled the
space occasionally streaked with flying gnomes
in hooded suits that sheathed them from head to
toe! Tumbling through the air like rotten eggs
tossed from a nest, the gray-wrapped little people
sailed along wobbling arcs, only to land upon
some aerial platform or plummet into expansive
nets (most of the time). Pyrothraxus sighted back
along the flight path of one and discovered that
they were actually launching themselves with
bizarre catapults!
What...?
W-what, indeed! answered a nearby gnome,
who had been locked in immobile terror when the
dragon rushed in. (Apparently a question was the
only thing needed to get these flap-jaws started.)
W-w-w-were testing our flying suits, mighty
d-d-d-d-dragon sir, he stuttered, then brightened.
And judging by how often the testers overshoot
their targets, I believe we can declare success!
The gnome cast down his eyes and took a step
closer, adopting a fawning tone of voice. Now it
will be easier than ever to visit and talk with you,
mighty dragon sir! You fly, dont you? As long as
youre here, would you mind answering a few
questions about making safe landings? Its the one
part of the equation we havent worked out yet.
The gnome began to probe him with inquiries,
but Pyrothraxus had stopped listening. Could it be
that these creatures were actually trying to find
ways to spend more time with him? The very idea
threatened to unhinge him completely. For a
moment, he considered the possibility that he had
fallen asleep the first time he laid down, and this
was all some magic-driven nightmare. This scene
could not be happening to him: Pyrothraxus the
Great, Pyrothraxus the Magnificent, Pyrothraxus
the Undaunted; Pyrothraxus, Pyrothraxus,
Pyrothraxus!. . .
At that moment, a pair of obese gnomes,
unusually confident that their flying suits were fully
functional, decided to buzz on over and say hello.
They leaped upon a single gnomeflinger, barked out
orders to adjust the trajectory, and hit the trigger.
The catapult uncoiled smoothly, launching them
skyward toward Pyrothraxus, who presently was
absorbed in his own thoughts. Too late, the
gnomes realized that they had not yet incorporated
course alterations into the suits workings.
Together they descended, flailing and screaming
madly, and together they tumbled down upon of
course the dragons poor head. Pyrothraxus
looked up only in time to receive an elbow directly
between the eyes, and he went down like a weak-
ling glass-jawed and feather-horned.
Excuse me! I was talking to the dragon!
protested the nearby researcher. The fat fliers rolled
to their feet, wrung their hands as they looked
down upon their reptilian guest, and began to
argue with each other over whos fault it was.
Pyrothraxus the Red arose like a blood storm, in
agony beyond sanity and completely bereft of so
much as a fangs tip of control over himself. He
became a thing solely driven by instinct, and that
instinct commanded him to kill, to breathe fire! The
dragon reared, drew wind, and then expelled con-
flagration upon the nearest moving things: the two
fat gnomes. They had no chance to run, so they fell
to the floor and curled up helplessly. Flames
DRAGON
#
229 83
washed over them and blotted them from sight, but
when Pyrothraxus interrupted his attack to inhale,
the flying gnomes untucked and looked at each
other! Pyrothraxus held his breath momentarily,
coherent enough to understand that breathed-on
gnomes should not be moving anymore, and then
belched fire at them again. The flames died away,
and despite considerable charring, the little vermin
seemed to be fine!
The suits! they squealed, leaping to their feet.
The flying suits are flameproof! Breathe on us
again, sir dragon! Breathe on us again!
The room began to spin around Pyrothraxus as
he was surrounded by throngs of creatures in
hooded suits who all chanted, Breathe on us,
breathe on us! He howled insanely and responded
to their demands, blowing fire in every direction
again and again, staring at them from somewhere
outside himself as they leaped up and down and
begged to be breathed upon once more. Their
voices blended into an echoing clamor of squeaky
voices, relentlessly shouting, Breathe! Breathe!
and he complied mindlessly.
Pyrothraxus reeled drunkenly, exhausting his
breath weapon, and was about to collapse when a
voice somewhere parted the general chant with the
words, Dont breathe over here! Dont breathe over
here... Desperate to accomplish just one thing
that would displease anyone besides himself, he
leaned in that direction and expelled his last gout
of flames, just as he heard the words, ... this is
explosives storage!
The blast went off in Pyrothraxuss face.
Had the dragon not been red, the fire ball would
surely have incinerated him on the spot. On the
other hand, red dragons are not immune to the
concussion of an explosion, so Pyrothraxus was
cast across the great chamber like a gnome on a
flinger. Meanwhile, the initial blast touched off
another one, deeper underground, roughly jolting
the cavern, and that in turn was answered by a
quake that shook the mountain to its roots.
The city began to shudder and fall apart. Great
slabs of stone broke free of the walls and ceiling,
and smashed to the floor of the cave, dangerously
near the dragon. Gnomes began to run in all direc-
tions, some of them scrambling right over
Pyrothraxus, on their way along the shortest dis-
tance between two points. Huge platforms over-
head listed and dumped their contents, creating a
rain of trinkets and gizmos around the prostrate
wyrm, followed by falling rocks.
Now, Pyrothraxus clung desperately to con-
sciousness, certain that he would never waken
again if he gave in to his impulse to sleep right
now. Feeling deaths grip on his tail, he shut his
eyes tight and concentrated with all his might on
summoning up magic. The effort shot slicing pain
through his head as he mentally ripped open his
reserves of magical essence and willed a shield to
solidify above him.
As soon as some feeling returned to his limbs,
he labored to his feet and staggered for the exit by
which most of the gnomes had fled. Meanwhile,
the city crashed around him as he tripped along
the quaking ground. His magical shield moved with
him, but each blow of falling debris upon it drained
the barrier and sent piercing shock waves through
Pyrothraxuss battered skull. At last he cleared the
grand cavern and struggled along a winding corri-
dor. Light appeared ahead, so he bore down and
heaved himself toward it, even as the tunnel col-
lapsed at his haunches.
The brightness of a new morning stung his eyes
and inflamed his headache to yet new torment as
Pyrothraxus broke free of Mount Nevermind. At
the lip of the exit he stumbled over his own feet,
fell, and rolled down a short slope which ended in
a sheer drop-off. The Great Dragon plunged head-
long into a grove of trees, cracked his way through
the thick branches, and eventually came to a blunt
stop in a gigantic clump of thorn bushes. As he lay
there with the wind knocked from him, each scale
of his tubular body cried out to him, fruitlessly
striving to distract him, even for an instant, from
the leaden tolling in his skull.
One last explosion shook the island, and a thick
spout of yellowish ash sprayed skyward beyond
the mountain ridge. Pyrothraxus gazed through
blurred vision at the rising plume of smoke and
then squinted against the hail spray of dirt and
stones that pelted him in the wake of the eruption.
The sharp odor of sulfur filled his nostrils.
Perhaps the volcano was not as extinct as it
seemed....
In the forest around him, gnomish cries went up,
and Pyrothraxus chuckled despite his pain. The
dismay of the runty survivors, just now realizing
they were completely homeless, was victory
sweeter than destroying a rival dragon. Thus,
Mount Nevermind becomes the lair of Pyrothraxus
the Red, he concluded.
But something was not quite right. Those voices
sounded somehow happy! He raised his head
and craned his ears forward, seeking to hear them
more clearly.
At last! At last! he heard one yell. Its a
miracle! shouted another. Now we finally have an
inexhaustible source of heat! cried several others.
Ccn|inuc cn pagc 88
84 MAY 1996
by Keith Strohm
M: Okay, your party has just returned to
the trade city of Baronvea after a suc-
cessful foray against Fenrik the
Wolflord. What are your characters doing?
Thanduz (a priest): Umm. . . is there a
temple dedicated to my deity anywhere in
the city? I took a nasty bite from Fenrik, and
I want to make sure I havent been inflicted
with lycanthropy.
DM (smoothly): Yes there is. You ask
around a bit and are told to follow the large
street north of Market Square.
Solach (a thief): Im going to take a stroll
into Market Square. Do I see any signs of
local guild activity?
DM (rolling dice): Well, you look around
the bustling marketplace and manage to
spot two nondescript-looking gentlemen
stealthily approaching an obviously suc-
cessful merchant.
Sir Pelthan (interrupting): Never mind
about that no-good thief! Im going to ride
out and pay my knightly respects to the
Duke of Baronvea; its been a while since Ive
seen another Knight of the Star. I also need
to talk to him about the strange disappear-
ance of the Knight-General of our order.
DM (hesitantly): Umm... if appears that
the duke is out hunting.
Sir Pelthan: Hunting? But the dukes keep
is practically surrounded by swampland!
DM: Well, would you believe he was
called away on a diplomatic mission?
Sir Pelthan: This is ridiculous! I thought
you just said he was hunting?
DM (sheepishly): Dukes are usually pret-
ty busy people, you know.
Play stops as the players begin to
grumble about that new collectible card
game theyve been dying to try.
Unfortunately, nothing spoils a play-
ers enjoyment of the game like a DM
whos obviously unprepared, especially
How many times during your travels
through many different campaign
worlds have you run into a slightly
befuddled mage who eventually renders
some assistance? That particular NPC
"A Is fnr NPC
when NPC encounters are involved. In a
perfect world, Dungeon Masters have all
the time they need consistently to create
believable NPCs who live in a complex
and engaging campaign world. The real
world, however, is far from ideal. School,
work, relationships, and the responsibil-
ities of life in general often curtail exten-
sive campaign development.
How, then, can an aspiring Dungeon
Master successfully create an array of
fully developed NPCs and avoid the
embarrassment and confusion of being
unprepared? The answer is simple. By
paying close attention to the three As
Appearance, Attitude, and Aspiration
a Dungeon Master can easily develop
an important and recurring NPC in mere
moments.
Appearance
The first stage of NPC generation is
simply to describe how an NPC looks.
Appearance includes the NPCs physical
attributes from build to hair color as
well as any relevant statistics. It is not
usually necessary to provide complete
statistics for non-adventuring NPCs.
DMs who are pressed for time should
fudge these numbers or simply deter-
mine those statistics they feel will have
the greatest impact on gameplay.
has become a stock character in fantasy
gaming and literature, so presenting
your PCs with yet another kindly old
mage will mute the impact of the story
you are trying to tell. The stock NPC
may even appear as an obvious flag to
your experienced players: Oh, a kindly
old man in robes. Well, I talk to him for
a while to see if he has a wand or other
item that will help us deal with the
trolls. Instead of an exciting encounter
with a unique individual who deepens
the storyline, the whole event becomes
a transparent facade; the players are
thrust out of their adventuring person-
aes and realize that they are Jim, Marlo,
and Eugenia, three college students try-
ing to solve a puzzle before the pizza
delivery arrives.
If, on the other hand, you tell them
that the old mage speaks with a slight
rasp and has a pulsating chromatic orb
in place of his left eye, youve made that
stock NPC much more interesting and
memorable. The mages pulsating orb,
and the tale of how he came by it, may
even provide an intriguing story hook
for a future adventure.
Another element to consider during
this stage of NPC generation is the actu-
al physical location of the NPC. Where
does he live? People are often shaped
by their surrounding environment, so
why should your NPC be any different?
Rough, unsettled territories rarely pro-
duce foppish courtiers or errant rogues
used to making some easy money.
Rather, these harsh environments are
often home to those brave of heart and
strong of arm. Consider the ruler of a
small area located in a frozen waste. It is
probable that this ruler has little time for
DRAGON
#
229 85
the niceties of courtly life, since eking an
existence from the bitter elements that
plague his land, and combating the
fierce creatures of the wastes occupy
much of his time. This NPC is likely to be
an imposing figure, possessing a muscu-
lar frame and a squint made permanent
from many travels across the sun-
reflecting ice.
Other locations may also provide
important elements for NPC develop-
ment. Cities have their dark alleyways
and bustling marketplaces, forests and
rural areas have their own particular
pace of life, and temples have musty
vaults and dimly lit libraries. Just about
any locale can aid a DM in the creation
of an NPC. The key is to imagine the
Non-Player Character interacting with
the environment. What effect will it
have on him physically? Will harsh con-
ditions harden his body? Will these con-
ditions possibly be detrimental to the
NPCs health? These are all questions
that a DM should ask when creating a
Non-Player Character.
Another factor to consider during this
phase of NPC development is the char-
acters profession. What does he do for a
living? Your answer will have a great
impact upon the NPCs appearance. It is
quite difficult to pick a butcher out of a
crowd (provided he is not covered in
animal gore), and not every student
looks bookish or emaciated, but certain
professions do leave telltale marks on
its adherents physical appearance. For
instance, a blacksmith is likely to have a
well developed upper body, especially
his arms, and a heat-reddened face. The
aforementioned student may have to
squint a bit from reading musty tomes
by candlelight.
These physical cues may be more
pronounced on those NPCs who choose
travel and adventure as a way to make
a living. Adventuring is dangerous busi-
ness, and those brave few who call the
road their home more than likely bear a
number of scars to prove it. In addition,
an NPCs area of expertise will eventual-
ly leave its mark upon him. While it is
not impossible for a rogue to have a
muscular physique much like a warrior,
years of training the hands and eye for
subtle manipulations and acts of fine
coordination leave little time for studying
the arts of war and bodily development.
Likewise, all mages do not have to
resemble the gaunt and physically pow-
erless form of the young Raistlin from
the DRAGONLANCE novels; however, wiz-
ards do spend most of their time plumb-
ing the uncharted depths of mystic lore.
Such a legacy will remain apparent even
on those who have long since left their
studies behind. Again, it is important to
consider the physical ramifications of an
NPCs profession during the initial cre-
ation process.
Finally, a DM should consider an
NPCs age. Is the NPC enjoying the first
flush of youth, or has he long since
abandoned those carefree younger
days walking, as it were, in his more
mature years? Perhaps the NPC teeters
on the threshold of senility and dodder-
ing old age.
The answers to these questions have
a profound impact upon the physical
makeup of the NPC as they provide the
DM with fuel for description. For exam-
ple, a DM interested in the development
of a memorable old shopkeeper rarely
relies on just a simple adjective like
old. Instead, the DM may describe the
wizened crows feet that flair out like
webbing from the sides of the shop-
keeps eyes, or he may concentrate on
the slight quaver that marks the shop-
keeps voice. Again, an extremely rigor-
ous attention to detail may be impossi-
ble for a time-pressed DM; however, a
few moments spent examining the age
of a developing NPC can easily yield
one or two physical cues that make
the NPC in question much more memo-
rable.
The Duke of Baronvea revisited
Using the methods discussed in this
stage, a DM can quickly generate the
Appearance of the (unfortunately)
incomplete Duke of Baronvea. The DM
knows from the example that the duke
resides in a keep surrounded by swamp-
land a rather hazardous terrain to set-
tle. Furthermore, he knows that the
duke is also a knight of some renown.
These two simple facts open up a
wealth of possibilities for the DM:
His Grace, Duke Willym Lonsold, lord of
Baronvea and knight of the realm, enjoyed
a noble upbringing immersed in the practi-
cal arts of statecraft and warfare. His father,
a wealthy baron and knight, sponsored the
young lad info the knightly orders. There,
Willym received further training in the noble
arts of war. Soon, the gifted squire received
his knightly spurs and began a long adven-
turing career. Willyms long and tireless pur-
suit of justice, as well as his heroic deeds, did
not go unnoticed.
Several years ago, the king elevated Sir
Willym to the Dukedom, granting him as his
86 MAY 1996
fief the growing trade city of Baronvea, as
well as all the lands within a weeks ride
from the city. Duke Willym then set about
clearing his lands of dangerous beasts and
fierce monsters that would imperil his sub-
jects. Under his guidance, the city of
Baronvea has prospered.
The road to knighthood is an
involved one indeed, requiring many
years of training and preparation.
Furthermore, Sir Willym must have
adventured for a while in order to reach
at least 9th level the minimum level
required before a fighter may gain fol-
lowers. Therefore, we can assume that
Willym is no longer a young man.
Finally, such intense training and obvi-
ously dangerous adventuring experi-
ences must have left their marks on the
knight. All of these factors provide ample
inspiration for the DMs continued char-
acter generation:
Although no longer in his fighting prime,
Duke Willym still remains a fierce fighter. His
fall, muscular body has not run to fat like so
many other rich nobles; he keeps himself in
shape by accompanying his men-at-arms
on some dangerous expeditions. Willym
has thick graying hair which he wears long,
and a well trimmed salt and pepper beard. A
long scar, reputedly given to Willym by a
dying red dragon, runs across his often fur-
rowed brow. The duke never goes any-
where without Krystom, his sun blade +2.
Attitude
Attitude is the second stage in NPC
generation; it covers not only an NPCs
personality but his entire worldview as
well. How does the NPC view himself in
relation to others? Does he have any
strong loves or hates? What, if anything,
does he believe in? Is there anything
that truly frightens or horrifies this NPC?
Does he have any strange quirks or idio-
syncracies? These are all questions that
should be asked when developing this
aspect of your NPC.
The DUNGEON MASTER Guide provides a
highly useful table for generating NPC
personalities which offers ideal assis-
tance to overworked DMs. Such game
aids can often become a crutch, howev-
er. Besides introducing the all-too-capri-
cious effects of chance into campaign
creation (imagine the dice determining
that our noble and courageous Duke of
Baronvea was actually a craven,
immoral, lying scoundrel), most tables
generate the what, not the why,
offering a merely one- or two-dimen-
sional quick fix to questions of cam-
paign creation.
A random table may determine that
an NPC displays laconic tendencies, but
the player lacks any sort of clue as to
why he acts laconically. It is very difficult
to role-play a believable NPC without
any sort of insight into his personality.
Alignment is a key factor in determin-
ing an NPCs personality and idealogy.
Once the DM decides on the alignment
of a particular NPC, it provides him with
a developmental framework on which
to build a personality of some depth.
This does not mean that alignment
automatically determines an NPCs per-
sonality. Experienced gamers know that
alignment is not a straightjacket. Lawful
Good characters are not always kind
and helpful people willing to risk their
lives to aid an adventuring group;
rather, they can sometimes come across
as arrogant, churlish, and petty.
Likewise, Chaotic Evil NPCs do not
always manifest themselves as the latest
incarnation of pure evil; sometimes
these individuals can be gentle and
even kind.
The amibiguities found within align-
ment groups provide the DM with a great
deal of freedom to shape an NPCs per-
sonality without resorting to tired stereo-
types. For example, a DM knows that a
Chaotic Good NPC will in some way
value personal freedom and the concept
of the individual over highly developed
and highly rigid concepts and structures
that promote the good of the many.
This may manifest itself in a myriad of dif-
ferent ways. The NPC may demonstrate
nothing but contempt for anything and
anyone that represents or supports rigid
concepts of Law, or he may quietly toler-
ate a perceived injustice, all the while
silently working towards its eventual
abolishment. Perhaps the NPC is just
plain lazy and does not wish to be both-
ered by civic responsibility and duty.
The list of possibilities extends as far as
the imagination of the DM.
When examining alignment in rela-
tion to an NPCs personality, it is impor-
tant to return to that characters occupa-
tion. Certain professions strengthen and
support alignment tendencies. For
example, a cleric NPC will probably
involve himself more deeply in the
struggle between good and evil. If this
cleric serves the powers of Law and
Goodness, he may be more intolerant of
chaos or evil. Holy fighters, such as pal-
adins and all those who ally themselves
with temples and deities, naturally take
matters of alignment very seriously.
Even certain wizard and rogue kits may
strengthen the degree to which align-
ment shapes the development of an
NPCs personality.
Once the DM creates an initial frame-
work, he can begin to flesh out the NPCs
personality. Does the Non-Player Char-
acter have any strong love or hatred for
particular. individuals, creatures, or
issues? Perhaps the Chaotic Good mer-
chant in your campaign despises the
high taxes that are levied to support the
overly institutionalized (from his perspec-
tive) beauracracy of the city. Player char-
acters who interact with the merchant
during any sort of official business (a mis-
sion or quest undertaken on behalf of
the government, for instance) may expe-
rience a rather frosty reception. On the
other hand, an otherwise unfriendly
Neutral woodsman with a fascination for
the faerie-folk might happily divulge
some much needed information if
approached by an elven PC.
The DM should also explore other
areas of the NPCs personality, such as
the existence of any deep seated fears or
intense phobias. In the hands of an
imaginative DM, these factors not only
add realism and depth to an NPC, they
also influence the development of per-
sonality, and color the NPCs interac-
tions.
Consider the affect that a phobia of
heights might have on a fierce and
proud warrior. Will he try to hide it in an
effort to maintain his dignity and repu-
tation? Does the proud fighter carry
around deep-rooted feelings of shame?
How will he react to a group of PCs who
try to enlist him for a dangerous quest
that will lead to the top of an immense
mountain. Will the warrior act defen-
sive? Will he greet the PCs warmly or
belligerently? The answers to these
questions will profoundly shape the
NPCs personality.
A DM should also consider whether
or not a particular NPC possesses any
idiosyncracies. Adding some strange
habits or mannerisms to an NPC defi-
nitely brings him to life in a very effec-
tive way. Ideally, these idiosyncracies
should stem from particular elements
found in other areas of the NPCs devel-
opment. Perhaps the phobic fighter dis-
cussed above refuses to travel any-
where without wearing a brightly col-
ored (and easily detectable) fez-like hat
which he believes to be permanently
enchanted with a feather fall spell. The
scope and range of these strange habits
is practically limitless. It is important,
however, to include them sparingly in
any campaign.
A constant array of twitchy, quirky,
and bizarre NPCs dampens their overall
effect on players.
Duke Willym a case study
The duke, besides his granted member-
ship in an organized and hierarchical gov-
ernment, also belongs to a strictly regiment-
ed society of warriors dedicated to the
defense of the weak and helpless against
the cruel forces of evil. The DM decides that
these factors dictate the dukes alignment as
lawful good, then continues:
The Duke of Baronvea believes strongly
in the principles of justice and in the wisdom
of structured government. Nobles have a
sacred duty to protect and fairly rule all who
dwell within their lands. Likewise, serfs, citi-
zens, and vassals have an obligation to
obey and serve their liege. In the dukes
view, the fulfillment of these duties repre-
sents the very fabric of a just society.
As a Knight of the Star and a devout fol-
lower of Palamabron, god of justice, Duke
Willym has little tolerance for the injustices
that stem from selfishness and greed. His
judgments are swift, and his justice is often
harsh. Despite this, the dukes vast experi-
ence adventuring in distant lands has tem-
pered the steel of his righteousness with
compassion. All good-hearted people who
gain audience with Willym are treated with
warmth and the courtesy that befits their
station.
Unbeknownst to most of his subjects,
Duke Willyms last quest ended in tragedy. A
fierce encounter with the red dragon,
Khaerinoth, left his entire party dead.
Willym slew the dragon by himself in one-
on-one combat; the battle, however, left his
brow, and his psyche, deeply scarred. Duke
Willym is now absolutely paranoid about all
things draconic; he is convinced that the off-
spring of Khaerinoth will hunt him down.
No matter what season, Willym sends a
cadre of men across his lands on dragon
watch. He may even hire the player char-
acters to track down a draconic beast which
he believes lurks even now in the dank
swamp around my castle. Any attempt to
dissuade him of his paranoid beliefs will be
met with fierce denial and possibly anger.
Aspiration
This third and final stage of develop-
ment deals primarily with the NPCs
motivations, dreams, plans, and desires.
In many respects, the outcome of this
third section will grow naturally from the
DRAGON
#
229 8 7
information developed in the first two
stages of generation. By now, the DM
should know the NPCs appearance, per-
sonality, and basic philosophy; all other
considerations of the Non Player
Characters aspirations must remain con-
sistent with that basic information. It
would not make sense for a faithful
priest of a dwarven war god to champi-
on a peace treaty with a large communi-
ty of derro. Likewise, it is extremely
unlikely that the noble and just Duke of
Baronvea would involve himself in a plot
to overthrow a fair and effective ruler.
This required consistency actually
renders the final stage of NPC genera-
tion fairly straightforward. The DM need
only do two things to develop the NPCs
aspiratons. First, the DM should consider
the ultimate role that the NPC will play
in the campaign. Is he a featured villain
for an adventure or series of adven-
tures? Perhaps the NPC acts as a story
hook or introduces an important ele-
ment or theme into the campaign?
Maybe he is merely meant to add color
to a scene or particular encounter?
Clearly identifying an NPCs role will go
a long way towards developing their
aspirations, and it just might save the
harried DM some time. After all, it is
hardly necessary to create an elaborate
set of motivations for a one-shot NPC
no matter how prominent he figures
in a particular adventure.
Once the NPCs role is clearly identi-
fied, the DM should re-examine the
results of the first two stages of charac-
ter development. Areas like age, loca-
tion, occupation, alignment, and espe-
cially strong loves, fears, and hates, all
affect the development of an NPCs
motivation.
Continued from page 84
Consider, once again, the example of
the CG merchant. His hatred for the
unjustly high taxes of the tyrannical
city government has already been
developed, The DM might pursue this
aspect of the merchants personality
when developing his aspirations.
Perhaps the merchant plots the downfall
of the city government and plans to hire
some PCs to extract damaging personal
information about members of the rul-
ing council. Or maybe he hopes to
recover his financial tax losses by over-
charging on some or all of his goods.
The DM can easily expand this initial
development by re-examining some
other components of the NPCs appear-
ance or attitude; once again, the permu-
tations are practically limitless
Noble ambitions
The Dungeon Master, realizing that
Sir Pelthans player is extremely excited
about the dissappearance of the Knight
General of the Star, decides to expand
that sub-plot to include the Duke of
Baronvea. He then takes a look back at
the other stages of the dukes develop-
ment to see if there might be something
he can use:
Despite Duke Willyms fierce loyalty to
the king, the proud and noble warrior is not
exactly happy with the primitive (and smelly)
location of his castle. The Swampland of
Kador is not a suitable residence for the Lion
of Lonsold. Secretly, Willym hopes that the
king will once again recognize his superior
accomplishments and grant him more hos-
pitable lands upon which to rule.
The recent disappearance of Lord Brion,
Knigh-General of the Star, could be the
opportunity Willym has been seeking. Lord
Brion left several months ago on a quest to
destroy Dornuea, the Witch-Queen of
Gwyryth. He should have returned at least
two weeks ago; it is probable that the
witchs enchantments proved too great for
the aging knight. This leaves the Knights of
the Star without a strong leader. lf Willym
could somehow recover Clarion, the
Knight-Generals traditional sword, and
defeat Dornuea, he would be elevated to
lead the knights. Duke Willym would then
be granted rulership of Tharndor Keep, a
magnificent militant castle located to the
north of Baronvea. Willym could then
appoint his nephew, Geoffrey, to rule the
lands around the Kador Swamplands in his
name.
These thoughts have been running
through Willyms head for some time now,
and he will do everything within the bounds
of honor and justice to see them come to
fruition.
NPCs are the ultimate tools for a DM;
they are often the means through which
he guides, confounds, amuses, and
rewards his players. In addition, NPCs
add depth and flavor (always valuable
in a continuing campaign) to any set-
ting. It is easy to see, then, why such
important elements must be more than
just bland, cardboard cutout figures.
An examination of the three As
Appearance, Attitude, and Aspiration
offers the DM a quick and effective way
to create memorable, three-dimensional
NPCs.
Keith Strohm is a game editor at TSR,
Inc. He is a wonderful person and hopes one
day to effect world peace.
Excitement turned to glee, and glee to euphoria.
Pyrothraxus let his head fall limply back, banging it
against a boulder, which extracted a clipped Ow!
from him. He sighed dejectedly. Let them come and
slay him now; he was done.
Suddenly, the great red wyrm decided he would go
to sleep right there, without moving a single claw.
Maybe the gnomes would even forget about him for
awhile. They had their stinking power source, after all,
and there was one heck of cleanup in front of them if
they planned to stick around (and somehow he knew
they would). Besides, they couldnt see him down
here, lying in these (Ow!) bushes. Definitely, the time
and place of rest had come. His eyes glazed over and
eased shut, and his breathing slowed to an easy,
rhythmic pace.
Through the haze of fast-approaching, blissful sleep,
his keen ears instinctively pricked and harkened to the
whispery buzz of a half-dozen perky little voices, draw-
ing near...
David Wise is director of creative services at TSR, Inc. He
lives in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, with his wife and her cat, a
worthy and almost gnomelike adversary.
88 MAY 1996
by Skip Williams
lf you have any questions on the games
produced by TSR, Inc., Sage Advice will
answer them. In the United States and
Canada, write to: Sage Advice, DRAGON
Magazine, 201 Sheridan Springs Road,
Lake Geneva, WI 51347, U.S.A. In Europe,
write to: Sage Advice, DRAGON Magazine,
TSR Ltd., 120 Church End, Cherry Hinton,
Cambridge, CB1 3LB, U.K. You can also e-
mail questions to tsrsage@aol.com. We are
no longer able to make personal replies.
Please send no SASEs with your question.
SASEs are being returned with copies of the
writers guidelines.
ticulars of some optional rules.
Join the Sage for a look into the inner
workings of a few spells from the
AD&D 2nd Edition game and the par-
I run a FORGOTTEN REALMS campaign.
Recently, the PCs discovered and
explored an ancient illusionists crypt.
Within, they found more that 80 stone
tablets that comprised the dead illu-
sionists spell books. The tablets were
too heavy to move, so the party came
back later and did rubbings of the
tablets. All the spells were written in the
secret language of illusionists. From
what I can gather from the FORGOTTEN
REALMS boxed set, this language pos-
sesses some dweomer. My impression
is that it is resistant to comprehend lan-
guages and similar spells, and thus
unreadable to all but actual specialty
wizard illusionists. I would think that a
secret language of wizards would not
be susceptible to something as simple
as this or other low-level spells. Is this
correct?
The High-Level Campaigns book
states on page 144 that monsters have
no THAC0 limits, but their THAC0 table
stops at 16+ Hit Dice. Can they improve
past the 16+ Hit Dice level?
Yes. Just extend the progression from
Table 39 of the DUNGEON MASTER Guide.
does allow characters to read Ruthlek.
The 1st-level wizard spell comprehend
languages cannot decipher magical writ-
ing or magically warded writing (see
spell description, Players Handbook,
Appendix 3, page 172). Insofar as
Ruthlek (the secret script used by illu-
sionists in the FORGOTTEN REALMS world) is
dweomer guarded, a character using
comprehend languages should not be able
to read it. A read magic spell, however,
On the other hand, copying spell
books is a difficult process that takes
time (one to two days of work per level
of the spell being copied) and materials
of the highest quality. Simple tracings or
rubbings cannot duplicate a spell book.
The DM Option: High-Level Cam-
paigns book said mortals can go no
higher than 30th level. Do phaerimm (of
the FORGOTTEN REALMS setting) really
have wizard abilities to 40th level?
While mortals hit their limit when
they reach 30th level, the phaerimm
arent necessarily cut from the same
cloth as normal mortals are. The upcom-
ing Arcane Age products provides the
definitive answer to your question.
Monsters with 17 or 18 hit dice have
THAC0s of 3, monsters with 19 or 20 hit
dice have THAC0s of 1, monsters with
21 or 22 hit dice have THAC0s of -1,
and so on. Note that the monster still
misses if it rolls a 1 on its attack die, no
matter what its THAC0 is
The High-Level Campaigns book did
not show any special abilities gained by
druids after 20th level. Do they still gain
abilities to travel to the plane of
Shadow, alternate worlds, and the
Outlands (Concordant Opposition) from
21st to 23rd level?
Youre referring, I assume, to the extra
abilities granted to the highest level
hierophant druids in the old Unearthed
Arcana tome. When I wrote High-Level
Campaigns, I hadnt intended to allow
druids the extra planar access or ele-
mental summoning abilities they gained
in Unearthed Arcana. Druids do receive all
the abilities listed in High-Level Campaigns
for priests of levels 20 and up, except for
improved undead turning at 21st level. If
you like, you can replace improved
undead turning with the power to enter
the para-elemental planes.
Is it possible to cast a true dweomer
(from the High Level Campaigns book)
whose final difficulty rating is more
than 100?
No. To cast a true dweomer, a char-
acter has to complete preparations for
the spell and roll the final difficulty num-
DRAGON
#
229 89
ber or higher on 1d100. Obviously, if the
spells final difficulty is more than 100,
the spell cant be cast (because you cant
roll more than 100 on 1d100). Currently,
there is no skill or item in the game that
grants characters bonuses to difficulty
rolls, but the spell caster can modify the
spell by adding special conditions and
material components that reduce the
difficulty number.
Using material components and spe-
cial conditions to reduce a spells diffi-
culty has some limits, as explained on
pages 130 through 133. If the caster
cant provide enough conditions and
components to lower the final difficulty
to 100 or less, he can double the spells
preparation time and reduce the spells
final difficulty by half. If that still doesnt
do the trick, the caster has to go back to
the drawing board and redesign the
spell or go looking for enough exotic
spell components to get the difficulty
down to a workable number; theres no
limit to the number of exotic material
components used in a true dweomer.
Casting true dweomers requires
patience, dedication, and imagination
from both the player and the DM. A
powerful true dweomer could take years
of game time to complete as the caster
scours the land for components. If either
the DM or player doesnt feel up to it, its
best not to use true dweomers at all.
I have been wondering, can a drag-
on use its breath weapon if its mouth is
shut? What if someone was in the drag-
ons mouth? How much damage would
the person suffer? How much would
the dragon suffer?
Whether any monster can use a
breath weapon with its mouth shut is
entirely up to the DM. Common sense
suggests that a dragon (or any other
creature with a breath attack) would
have to open its jaws at least a little to
loose a breath weapon. But, it is also rea-
sonable to assume that a creature can
use its breath weapon if it can breathe. It
doesnt matter which option you choose,
so long as you use it consistently.
Note that just tying a creatures
mouth shut probably wont guarantee
that it cant use its breath weapon, it
might break the bonds or work them
loose and blast away when its captor
least expects it.
In any case, a creature with its mouth
clamped shut suffers no ill effects when
it tries to loose a breath weapon.
A creature loses all Dexterity adjust-
ments to saving throws and suffer a -4
saving throw penalty if its unfortunate
enough to be stuck in a dragons or
other monsters mouth when the mon-
ster uses a breath weapon. A creature
stuck in a monsters mouth never blocks
a breath weapon; the breath affects the
stuck creature and fills its normal area of
effect, too.
Does the +1 bonus to damage from
the chant and prayer spells apply to
damage that spells inflict? If so, does
the bonus apply to each die of damage
or to the whole total?
The damage bonuses or penalties
apply to any attacks the spell recipients
make, including spell attacks. The bonus
or penalty applies to the damage roll,
not to each die used in the roll. If an
attack, such as a fireball spell, affects mul-
tiple creatures at once, the bonus or
penalty is applied once to the damage
roll. If an attack is split up so that it
affects several creatures individually,
such as a magic missile spell, the bonus or
penalty is applied to the damage each
creature receives. Attacks that inflict no
damage arent subject to the damage
bonus or penalty. Damage that results
indirectly from an attack is not subject to
the bonus or penalty. For example, if
someone pushes a creature off a cliff or
into a tire, the resulting falI or burn dam-
age is not affected. The attack was the
push, which inflicted no damage.
The 8th-level wizard spell spell
engine from the FORGOTTEN REALMS set-
ting absorbs spell energy from any spell
or spell-like effects cast in its area. The
spell description says symbols, glyphs,
and abjuration spells already operating
in the engines area when it activates
are not neutralized. This implies that
other spells in the area are. For instance,
a wall of force (an evocation spell),
would be negated if a spell engine acti-
vates in its area. Is that correct?
Yes, thats correct. Note that a spell is
already operating if it is cast outside the
spell engines area of effect and then
brought into the area. For example, an
90 MAY 1996
antimagic shell created outside the spell
engines area and then moved so that its
radius overlaps the spell engines area is
not neutralized. Instead it temporarily
negates the spell engines effects within
the area of overlap. If the antimagic shells
area of effect overlaps the spell engines
area at the time of casting, however, the
antimagic shell is negated; the spell engine
prevents the shelI from forming. Note
that only symbols, glyphs, and abjura-
tion spells have this property. Other
mobile spells end when brought within a
spell engines area. Note also that a dispel
true dweomer (from the High-Level
Campaigns book) can destroy a spell
engine.
What sort of limits apply to the con-
tingency spell? Does contingency acti-
vate another spell only once? Or does a
contingency activate a spell an unlim-
ited number of times while the contin-
gency duration (one day per caster
level) lasts? If the latter is true, one
might cast contingency and designate
an armor spell as the contingent effect
with the trigger being whenever the
armor spell currently protecting me
runs out. The contingency caster would
get continuous armor protection for
many days, right? What kind of triggers
can the contingency caster specify?
Can he bring a contingent spell into
being just by snapping his fingers? Also,
does the casters situation have any
effect on a contingent spell? For exam-
ple, if the caster is bound and gagged
when the trigger occurs, does the con-
tingent effect still occur?
The contingency spell must be cast
simultaneously with one other spell. The
companion spell is essentially precast
and takes effect only when the contin-
gency triggers it. Once the companion
spell is triggered, the whole spell com-
plex ends. The caster cannot load multi-
ple spells into the contingency nor can he
add new spells once the original spell
has been triggered. If the caster wants to
duplicate a particular effect, he must
cast the contingency and the companion
spell all over again (but note that a char-
acter can have only one contingency
operating at a time). The contingency
spells duration really should read one
day per caster level or until triggered.
The condition that triggers the contin-
gency can be just about anything the
caster can imagine, but it has to be fairly
simple. Generally, it must be a single
event or condition, not a series of things.
When the DM decides a contingency
might fail, he is free to decide how likely
the failure will be. It could be automatic,
or there could be a saving throw, ability
check, or other die roll involvedwhat-
ever the DM thinks is reasonable.
Because the companion spell is cast
along with the contingency spell, the
casters state of being when the contin-
gency is triggered doesnt matter, the
caster can be bound, gagged, uncon-
scious, or even dead when the spell
takes effect.
What is the duration, and area of
effect of the 4th-level priest spell call
woodland beings? Is it okay to use the
duration and area of effect from the
wizard monster summoning spells?
Dont use the statistics for any of the
monster summoning spells call wood-
land beings works in a different way.
Unlike the monster summoning spells,
call woodland beings only summons crea-
tures that are within the spells range.
Also unlike the monster summoning
spells, the summoned creature (or crea-
tures) doesnt appear in some location
the caster designates it travels to the
casters location, which can take quite
some time. Call woodland beings has no
definite duration. The creature remains
just long enough to render the caster
some service, then it departs. Note that
the creature might depart immediately if
the caster asks it to fight (see spell
description, Players Handbook, Appendix
4, page 274). In any case, the creature
called leaves the caster under its own
power; it doesnt vanish when the spell
ends or when killed as a summoned
monster does.
In the PLAYERS OPTION combat sys-
tem (from the Combat & Tactics book) is
failing to turn to meet an enemy
attacking from behind the same as
turning your back on that enemy? Lets
say a character is engaged in fighting a
couple of bugbears, and another bug-
bear comes up from behind and
attacks. Does that bugbear get an
attack of opportunity if the character
doesnt turn around? Would the bug-
bear get another attack of opportunity
the next round if the character still
doesnt turn around?
No, failing to turn and meet an oppo-
nent is not the same as deliberately
turning ones back on an opponent.
Creatures are assumed to make some
kinds of defensive maneuvers even
against opponents attacking from
behind unless theyre completely help-
less. Note, however, that many actions
provoke attacks of opportunity. Firing a
missile, for example, provokes an attack
of opportunity, even when the oppo-
nent is standing behind the character fir-
ing the missile.
In the Combat & Tactics rules, how
many attacks of opportunity would a
character armed with a long weapon,
such as bardiche, which has a melee
reach of two, receive if he has chosen
the guard action and someone charges
him from the front?
None. The guarding character would
get his normal melee attack the
moment the charging opponent came
within reach, but wouldnt get an attack
of opportunity unless the opponent did
something to provoke it, such as turning
its back on the bardiche wielder or leav-
ing the area the bardiche wielder threat-
ens. Just moving around within an area
an opponent threatens does not pro-
voke attacks of opportunity.
Whats the difference between
offensive and defensive disarms in the
Combat & Tactics rules? Why would
anyone choose an offensive disarm
when defensive disarms work just as
well?
The difference lies in when the dis-
arming attempt is resolved. Offensive
disarms are resolved during one of the
disarming characters own attack phas-
es. Defensive disarms are resolved
when the disarming characters oppo-
nent attacks. Offensive disarms have
two potential advantages. First, if the
character attempting to disarm is enti-
tled to multiple attacks during a round,
he can automatically cover a disarmed
opponent with the remaining attacks,
which should allow him the first strike if
his disarmed opponent doesnt surren-
der. Second, if the character gains the
first action during the round and suc-
ceeds with an offensive disarm, the
opponent will be weaponless when his
turn comes to attack. Even if the charac-
ter who made the disarm doesnt have
another attack he can use to cover the
disarmed opponent, he might get an
attack of opportunity when the oppo-
nent tries to retrieve his dropped
weapon.
Skip Williams is a game designer and
editor at TSR, Inc. Questions can be
addressed to him at tsrsage@aol.com.
DRAGON
#
229 91
Convention Calendar
Policies
This column is a service to our read-
ers worldwide. Anyone may place a
free listing for a game convention
here, but the following guidelines
must be observed.
In order to ensure that all conven-
tion listings contain accurate and
timely information, all material
should be either typed double-spaced
or printed legibly on standard manu-
script paper. The contents of each list-
ing must be short and succinct.
The information given in the listing
must include the following, in this
order:
1. Convention title and dates held
2. Site and location
3. Guests of honor (if applicable)
4. Special events offered
5. Registration fees or attendance
mation and confirmation can be
obtained.
Convention flyers, newsletters,
and other mass-mailed announce-
ments will not be considered for use
in this column; we prefer to see a
cover letter with the announcement
as well. No call-in listings are accept-
ed. Unless stated otherwise, all dol-
lar values given for U.S. and
Canadian conventions are in U.S. cur-
rency.
WARNING: We are not respon-
sible for incorrect information sent to
us by convention staff members.
Please check your convention listing
carefully! Our wide circulation
ensures that over a quarter of a mil-
lion readers worldwide see each
issue. Accurate information is your
responsibility.
Copy deadlines are the first
Monday of each month, four months
prior to the on sale date of an issue.
Thus, the copy deadline for the
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must be mailed to: Convention
Calendar, DRAGON Magazine,
201 Sheridan Springs Rd., Lake
Geneva WI 53147, U.S.A.
Announcements for Europe must be
posted an additional month before the
deadline to: Convention Calendar,
DRAGON Magazine. TSR Limited. 120
Church End, Cherry Hinton,
Cambridge CB1 3LB, United Kingdom.
If a convention listing must be
changed because the convention has
been cancelled, the dates have
changed, or incorrect information has
been printed, please contact us
immediately. Most questions or
changes should be directed to the
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changes concerning European con-
ventions should be directed to TSR
Limited, (0223) 212517 (U.K.).
requirements, and,
6. Address(es) where additional infor-
May Conventions
Conjuration
May 3-5 O K
Holiday Inn South, Broken
Arrow. Events: role-playing,
card, board, and miniatures
games. Patricia Conner, 1825
E. 16th, Tulsa, OK 74104.
Mage Con North 2
May 3-5 SD
Best Western Ramkota
Inn, Sioux Falls. Guests:
Margaret Weis. Events: role-
playing, card, board, and
miniatures games. Other
activities: dealers, and cos-
tume, art, and painting con-
tests. Mage Con North, P.O.
Box 84828, Sioux Falls, SD
57118-4828 or e-mail: con@
aol.com.
Lehicon 6
May 3-5 PA
Days inn Conference
Center, Allentown. Events:
role-playing card, board, and
activities: demonstrations,
dealers, art and miniatures
contests, food drive, and
blood drive. Registration: $20
preregistered, $25 on site.
Write to: Lehicon 6, P.O. Box
556, Horsham, PA 19044.
Monadnocon
May 3-5 NH
Franklin Pierce College,
Rindge. Guests: George Takei,
Ben Nunn, Jeff Menges, and
Australian convention
Canadian convention
European convention
* indicates a product produced by a com-
pany other than TSR, Inc. Most product
names are trademarks owned by the com-
panies publishing those products. The use
of the name of any product without men-
tion of its trademark status should not be
Edward Beard Jr. Events: role-
miniatures games. Brian Hess,
60 Clooege Road, Rindge, NH
03461.
At-Last-a-Con 2
May 4-5 MO
Knights of Columbus Hall,
Ferguson. Events: role-play-
ing, card, board, and minia-
tures games. Other activities:
a raffle and a painting con-
test. Registration: $6 preregis-
tered, $10 on site. SAGA, P.O.
Box 297, St. Ann, MO 63074.
Roc of Ages
May 10-12 NC
Sheradon Airport Plaza,
Charlotte. Guests: James
Doohan, Cunnar Hansen,
Barbara Leigh, Doug Bradley,
and Allan Handelman. Events:
role-playing, card, board, and
activities: tournaments, an
auction, films, and an art
show. Registration: $15 pre-
registered, $25 on site. Write
to: GOTH, 105 Honeywood
Ct., Kissimmee, FL 34743
Fantasy Fair 6
May 12
Cresset Exhibition Centre,
Peterborough, Cambridge-
shire. Events: role-playing,
games. Other activities: deal-
ers and films. Bruce King, 1
The Hallerds, Eaton Socon, St.
Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19
3QW, U.K.
Saga
May 17-20
Mamas Two in Sussex,
New Brunswick. Events: role-
miniatures games. Saga, P.O.
Box 695, Sussex, NB, Canada
EOE 1PO.
Eclipse 96
May 24-26 MO
Holiday Inn Convention
Center in Columbia. Guests:
Tom Dowd, Tony Diterlizzi,
Zeb Cook, and Lester Smith.
Events: role-playing, card,
board, and miniatures games.
Other activities: tournaments,
dealers, anime, and a murder
mystery. Registration: $18
Eclipse 96, 27 N. 10th St.,
Columbia, MO 65201.
SciFi Dreamin
May 24-26 PA
Lycoming College Campus,
Williamsport. Guests: Michael
OHare, Tom Woodruff, Dr.
Richard Erikson, Louise Kleba,
and lnge Heyer. SciFi
Dreamin, 1738 E. Third St.
#197, Williamsport, PA 17701,
or visit the web site at: http://
www.hway.net/dreamin.
Gamex
May 24-27 CA
LA Airport Wyndham
Important:
DRAGON Magazine does not publish phone numbers for conventions. Be cer-
tain that any address you send us is complete and correct.
To ensure that your convention listing makes it into our files, enclose a self-
addressed stamped postcard with your first convention notice; we will return the
card to show that it was received. You also might send a second notice one week
after mailing the first. Mail your listing as early as possible, and always keep us
informed of any changes. Please do not send convention notices by fax, as this
method has not proven reliable.
DRAGON
#
229
93
Hotel, Los Angeles. Events:
role-playing, card, board, and
activities: a flea market, an
auction, and dealers. Registra-
tion: $25 preregistered, $30
on site. Write to: Strategicon,
333 N. San Fernando Blvd.,
Burbank, CA 91502.
3 Rivers Game Fest
May 24-27 PA
Pittsburgh Greentree Mar-
riott Hotel, Pittsburgh. Guests:
Peter Bromley, Dave Frank,
and John Bohrer. Events: role-
activities: tournaments. Regis-
tration: $19.95 preregistered.
Andon Unlimited, Three
Rivers Game Fest, P.O. Box
1740, Renton, WA 98057
Twin Con 96
May 25-27 MN
Thunderbi rd Hotel &
Convention Center, Bloom-
ington. Events: role-playing,
games. Other activities:
RPGA Network events, deal-
ers, and demos. Write to: Jeff
Hammerlund, 107 West
Chicago St., Algonquin, IL
60102.
June Conventions
Magnum Opus Con/War
June 13-16 GA
Radisson Hotel, Atlanta.
Special guests: Vernon Wells,
Charlie Dierkop, and Robert
Zubrin. Events: role-playing,
games. Other activities: tour-
naments and computer
games. MOC-11, P.O. Box
6585, Athens, GA 30604, or
e-mail: moc@ix.netcom.com.
Future
Conventions
ATSea 97
*Cruise
April 5-12
ATSea sails from New
Or l eans on t he Com-
modore Cruise Line and
stops on Playa del Carmen,
Cozumel, Grand Cayman,
and Montego Bay. Events:
role-playing, card, board,
and mi ni atures games.
Other activities: tourna-
ments, guest speakers,
seminars, a costume party,
an aucti on, and more.
Package prices vary. A
deposit of $250 is due by
11/1/96. There is a 20%
discount off the deposit
amount if it is received
before 7/1/96. Contact
G.O.A.T. (Gamers of Austin
Texas), P.O. Box 3116,
Austin, TX 78764.
Con Games
June 15-16 FL
Camberl y Inn Hotel ,
Tampa. Events: role-playing,
ers, a charity raffle, and tour-
naments. Registration: $10/
day, $18/weekend. Con
Games, 2 Water Track Radial,
Ocala, FL 34472 or e-mail:
necconrep@aol.com.
Con Games
June 15-16 FL
Camberly Inn, Tampa.
Registration: $5. Necro-
nomicon Inc., P.O. Box 2076,
Riverview, FL 33569.
Dragon Con 1996
June 20-23 GA
Atlanta Hilton and Towers,
Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel,
and the Atlanta Civic Center
in Atlanta. Guests: Kevin J.
Anderson, William Gibson,
James OBarr, R.A. Salvatore,
Larry Elmore, and Bruce
Sterling. Events: role-playing,
ers, films, anime, tournaments,
and workshops. Registration:
$50 preregistered. Dragon
Con, P.O. Box 47696, Atlanta,
GA 30362, or e-mail: drag-
oncon@dragoncon.org, or
check out the web site:
ht t p: / / www. dscga. com\
~dragoncon.
ManaFest
June 21-23 CA
Cathedral Hill Hotel, San
Francisco. Events: over 25 dif-
ferent Magic: the Gathering*
tournaments and other trad-
ing card tournaments. Regis-
tration: $20 preregistered,
$30 thereafter. ManaFest,
Khalsa Brain Games, P.O. Box
170436, San Francisco, CA
94117, or visit the web site:
ht t p: / / www. i bar . com/
manafest.
ATCon II
June 27-30 TX
Ramada Inn, Austin.
Other activities: RPGA tourna-
ments, an auction, and a cos-
tume contest. Registration:
$25 on site. G.O.A.T., P.O. Box
3116, Austin, TX, 78764.
Michicon 96
June 28-30 MI
Van Dyke Park Hotel and
Conference Center, Warren.
Other activities: dealers and
an auction. Registration: $18
Metro Detroit Gamers, P.O.
Box 656, Wyandotte, Ml
48192 or e-mail: dolphin2@
oeonline.com.
PolyCon XIV
June 28-30 CA
California Polytechnic, San
Luis Obispo. Events: role-play-
ing, card, board, and minia-
tures games. Other activities:
tournaments Registration:
$25 on-site. PolyCon Com-
mittee, University Union Box
168, Cal Poly State University,
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407,
or e-mail: polycon@polycon.
punk.net.
July Conventions
Origins
July 4-7 OH
Greater Columbus Conven-
tion Center, Columbus. Special
guests: Phil Foglio, Doug
Niles, Jeff Grubb, and Kate
Novak. Events: role-playing,
naments, the Magic: the
Gathering* national champi-
onship, and an auction.
Registration: $34.95 preregis-
tered. Andon Unlimited, P.O.
Box 1740, Renton, WA
98507, or e-mail: Andon@
aol.com.
Gamefest
July 6 IL
Holy Innocents Church,
Chicago. Events: role-playing,
naments. Registration: $5.
John Kavain, 857 North
Hermitage, Chicago, IL
60622.
Hexacon
July 12-14 AZ
Arizona State University
Memorial Union, Tempe.
Other activities: dealers, tour-
naments, an auction, a minia-
tures painting contest, and a
computer room. Registration:
$15 preregistered before
7/1/96, $20 on site. Hexacon
6, P.O. Box 62613, Phoenix,
AZ 85082.
Dark Con III
July 19-21 OK
Central Plaza Hotel,
Oklahoma City. Events: role-
activities: tournaments, com-
puter gaming, and RPGA
Network events. Darkmore
Inc., 624 SW 24th, Moore, OK
73160.
Quincon Xl
July 19-21 IL
The Signature Room in the
Franklin Square, Quincy.
Other activities: RPGA events,
demos, and an auction.
Registration: $15/weekend,
$5/day. Quincon XI, P.O. Box
3892, Quincy, IL 62305.
* indicates a product produced by
a company other than TSR, Inc.
Having a convention?
Send us your
information!
94 MAY 1996
y and large, the RPGA Network
supports more conventions than
any other organization in the
world. Last year the Network sent tour-
naments to over 200 conventions. We
estimate that over 100,000 game fans
attended those events.
Why do so many people go? What
happens at a convention?
Many have asked the same ques-
tions. As a decorated veteran of 171
conventions, let me tell you how I found
the answers.
I was a game addict. (Things havent
changed much.) At one point in my
gaming career, I decided I wanted to
meet some of the people responsible for
the creation of the games and novels to
which I was hooked. I also thought it
might be fun to play with someone out-
The RPGA Network is the
worlds largest game club, with over
9,500 members around the world.
Network members often meet through
gaming activities at conventions, and
through forming their own clubs either
in their communities or on-line.
Network members receive the
POLYHEDRON Newszine monthly; the
newszine helps keep members
informed, with articles both from
members and from well-known indus-
try authors. In addition, the Network
sanctions member-written tourna-
ments at local conventions and game
shops, tournaments in Call of
Cthulhu*, Shadowrun*, Star Wars*, the
AD&D game, and many other popu-
lar game systems.
For more information about any of
the Networks programs, write to:
RPGA Network, 201 Sheridan Springs
Rd., Lake Geneva, WI 53147, or e-mail
rpgahq@aol.com.
*indicates a product produced by a company
by Scott Douglas
side of my regular group, so I started
looking in DRAGON Magazines conven-
tion announcements section for a local
convention. I found one 90 miles away.
It turned out to be science-fiction-relat-
ed, with just a few games to play. I drove
away more than a little disappointed.
But I was persistent; the next conve-
tion turned out to be a great event, with
all sorts of games and lots of willing
DMs. There were gorgeous miniatures
events, rare and complex board games,
and many role-playing games to choose
from. There were seminars on game sys-
tems, scenario creation, and game mas-
tering. There was an art show, and an
auction with actual art (no prints). There
was a con suitecommonly called a
hospitality suitewhere the soft drinks
flowed like rivers, and the nachos never
ran low, all for the price of convention
admission. It was a great find.
In addition, I made another wonder-
ful discovery: the dealers room. The
dealers room is a sort of gamers flea
market; lots of new merchandise is
available, but the best deals are in the
scratch-and-dent/used category. But
what I like best about a dealers room is
the range of unusual items some mer-
chants bring to sell: juggling balls, chain
mail shirts, sword replicas, nifty jewelry,
and cool pewter fantasy sculptures. This
is not stuff you can find at the local
game store.
Despite my first experience, I have
had more fun and made more friends at
conventions than I could ever hope to
relate. I never regretted that first con-
vention, however, as it taught me a lot
about the convention experience.
In order to make first-time conven-
tion attendees more familiar with the
process, I present but a few of my 297
Rules of Convention Attendance. This I
offer as advice to be followed when one
is considering attending or actually
attending a gaming convention:
Before the Convention
Rule #26: Choose wisely. Announce-
ments appear in many gaming publica-
tions. Learn the focus of the convention.
Knowing exactly what youre getting into
helps you enjoy the weekend. If you
have any questions, write the contact.
Rule #49: Start small; think big. Its
great to find a con in your home town,
but avoid driving more than a couple of
hours to your first con. The more time
you spend actually attending the con-
vention the better.
At the Convention:
Rule #63: Be comfortable. Convention
sites vary. Some conventions are spread
out over a wide area, others are com-
pact. Some game rooms are drafty; oth-
ers are saunas. Be prepared with com-
fortable clothes and shoes.
Rule #64: Dont overprepare. A knap-
sack of basic rulebooks, dice, pencils,
and paper generally will suffice. One of
the marks of a novice con attendee are
several milk crates full of game material.
Rule #134: Take breaks. The 24-hour
gamers get a glassy-eyed stare that
lingers after the convention. They usual-
ly enjoy the con on Friday but become
more dissatisfied as the weekend pro-
gresses, and body functions diminish.
Rule #228: Try something new. You can
play your favorite game at home. Pro-
vide yourself the opportunity to try
something youve been curious about.
Visit all the convention areas, and take
the time to game with new people.
Rule #297: Enjoy yourself. You have
invested some money and a weekend.
You deserve to reap the reward fun.
Come to the convention not to win, but
to have a good time. Folks who play for
enjoyment tend to win more often, any-
way.
Scott Douglas, the RPGA Network
Coordinator, juggles in his office when he
thinks no one is looking.
DRAGON
#
229
95
Forum welcomes your comments and
opinions on role-playing games.
In the United States and Canada, send
any correspondence to Forum, DRAGON
Magazine, 201 Sheridan Springs Road,
Lake Geneva, WI 53147 U.S.A. In Europe,
send mail to Forum, DRAGON Magazine,
TSR Ltd., 120 Church End, Cherry Hinton,
Cambridge CB1 3LB, U.K. You can also send
e-mail to tsrmags@aol.com.
We ask that all material be neatly typed
or handwritten. You must give us your full
name and mailing address if you expect
your letter to be printed (we will not consider
a letter sent anonymously), but we will with-
hold your name if you ask us to do so, and
we will not print your full address unless you
request it.
was inspired to write by Christopher
Myers letter on dual classes in Forum
in issue #225. What he says rings true
and raises a similar complaint about
multi-classing and level limits. Only
demi-humans suffer from level limits.
They are supposed to be there to bal-
ance the advantages they get. This
would have an effect if they get to that
stage, but most campaigns wont last
that long. If they do, it doesnt help
much. Which player is going to enjoy
seeing his character stop dead while
humans continue to advance? Until that
happens, the demi-human has all the
bonuses of his race with no penalty.
Another thing. Why do humans have
to dual class, while demi-humans can
multi-class? Mr. Myers has shown the
shakiness of the dual-class rules. The
best thing would be simply to get rid of
them. I dont see what overwhelming
difference there is about demi-humans
that lets only them do two different
things from the word go.
My solution is quite simple: let
humans multi-class if they wish, and
abolish demi-humans level limits. Demi-
humans advantages will be roughly
canceled out by humans being able to
multi-class. If DMs feel they have to
compensate human characters, give
them each a magical item or an addi-
tional point in a stat.
Andrew Pearce
Essex, England
For the past couple of issues, a lot of
the letters in the Forum have been
about a lack of female gamers. I think
then, that my groups are a minority.
Everyone I play with is female. In fact,
I only know one male gamer, and he
and I never really played together. It
isnt that I dont welcome men. To be
honest, I would love it if some of them
showed up on my doorstep one day and
asked to play.
Just thought Id present the opposite
end of the spectrum to you.
Oh, by the way, does any one have
any adventure ideas for young gamers
(seven and ten years of age)? Theyre
my little sisters, and they were bugging
me for the past couple of years to let
them play. I was going to wait until they
were a little older and more mature, but
I finally gave in around Christmas.
Theyve been having fun so far, but
you can only rescue so many baby
whats-its from evil wizards before it gets
kind of boring. (Thats not the only thing
weve done, but rescuing babies seem to
be their favorite adventure plot.) I would
really appreciate adventure ideas.
The 7-year-old plays a water mage,
and the lo-year-old is a sorceress of
sand and flame in the AL-QADIM setting.
Thanks much.
Jessica Beals
via e-mail
I wished to respond to several letters
in the February issue (#227) of DRAGON
Magazine,
First, in regards to Tim Nuttings prob-
lem with overzealous rules lawyers,
sometimes you must decide whether
you wish to allow the player to continue
to dominate your game. You mention
that the other gamers in the group are
complaining about his actions and you
also mention that you do not wish to
hear about ostracizing the individual as
he is a friend. My question is, do you
place your friendship, which seems
non-existent, above the enjoyment of
your other players? Sometimes an ulti-
matum must be handed down, or you
will lose the other players. He must learn
that you run the world and the game,
not him. My only other suggestion is
that you let him run a game of his own
choosing to allow him to use the rules
as he desires. Of course, everyone can
choose whether to play with him or not.
Second, yet another comment about
women in role-playing games. I agree
with Eleanor Clarke to a certain degree.
I commend her for her rational
approach to the problem. However, I
would suggest entering all games with
the assumption that one will encounter
a sexist attitude. It is far too prevalent an
occurrence ever to assume that the atti-
tude isnt there. This comment may be
seen as extremely cynical, but I have
never been in a game where at least
one player/character wasnt looking to
chat up the female players/characters
or worse. It is unfortunate, but its true.
Im not encouraging women to be para-
noid, just to know what they are getting
into so that they may stop such conduct
early. And as an aside to William
Valentine, who commented, Its just us
males getting together once a week to
talk, brag, and joke with the freedom of
not having to watch what we say, or
worrying about who may hear us. I
have no problem with the guys going
out; my husband has interests that I do
not share. What do you say during these
gatherings that you dont want others to
hear?
Andrea McCormick
Harrisburg, PA
I am writing in response to Ceordie
Keefes letter in issue #224. As a DM, I,
too, have been faced with the challenge
of how to handle introducing new play-
ers to a long-running game. No solution
is simple, and the judgment of the DM
comes into play. Here is what I do:
Brand new and inexperienced play-
ers, especially a group of them, are eas-
iest to handle. I just start a new game
with them. All PCs are 1st level. This
gives them experience in the game and
the full enjoyment of developing their
characters. Trying to introduce these
players to medium- or high-level games
tends to scare them away from gaming.
Better to take the time with them and
teach them the ropes.
Handling experienced players new to
a campaign is a bit trickier. First, I famil-
iarize them with the house rules, so they
know what to expect. If they have no
PC, I work with them to create a charac-
ter. That PC is started two levels lower
than the lowest level PC of the same
class in the game. No magical items or
DRAGON
#
229
9 7
powers are given, and it is up to the
player to develop the character from
then on. If they already have a charac-
ter, I first discuss the PCs goals and
motives with the player. If necessary, we
make any changes, including stripping
of items as appropriate to make them
conform to house rules. I do not strip
capriciously or indiscriminately; I give
my players a rationale for any changes.
This gives them an immediate goal, for
anything I strip I explain to be mis-
placed: on the world somewhere
during their transition. It also gives
them a basic reason to play my game.
Geordie, your treatment by this DM
is, in my opinion, appalling, and it
angers me. DMs have the responsibility
to provide an entertaining game for
their players, and they should provide
opportunity fairly for all players to con-
tribute to the game. They should listen
to the players. They must be flexible.
They should provide an environment in
which players feel welcome. A DM who
does not even do just this is abusing the
key element that makes the game work:
the players themselves
My advice is two-fold: First, find a
game where the DM and players accept
you as a gamer, not a sideshow attrac-
tion. Second, have your DM friend read
this letter. It might give him pause to
think about his treatment of new players.
Remember that games are supposed
to be fun, and this is a game. If your DM
friend ignores or refuses to realize that
his treatment of new players is unac-
ceptable, he will lose not only new play-
ers (he lost you!), but veteran players as
well. He would end up alone.
Anton J. Uselmann
P.O. Box 492
Gold Beach, OR 97444
I am writing in response to the letters
of Linda Edwards and Geordie Keefe in
issue #224.
Miss Edward wrote about not being
allowed to role-play because of an
extremely high-level drow and being a
girl. Your latter problem shouldnt be an
issue; Id just find another party. As to
the former, I also have a mega-charac-
ter, a hero-status priest. One solution
Ive worked out with my new DM is to
play him like a low- to mid-level charac-
ter (as appropriate to the campaign) and
only use spells like heal/harm as a sur-
prise for the other less powerful players
when the entire party is in mortal dan-
ger. You could also just take some levels
off the character and drop the more
powerful magical items. By the way, a
50th-level character probably should be
retired.
Mr. Keefe had the opposite problem,
which Ive seen numerous times in my
five years of role-playing. Starting new
characters in a developed campaign can
be a problem, but if your DM invited you
to play, then he should start you on a
par with the other characters at least as
far as net power goes. This net power
could be anything political, financial,
and magical to make you even with
the others.
Dustin Batson
Madrid, Spain
This is in response to Paul Frasers
article, The Magic Goes Away (issue
#226).
Magic is the basis of most things in
fantasy role-playing. Of course your
campaign is going to be balanced if
your whole world is full of 0-level peo-
ple, fighters, and thieves, but its also
going to be dull. Magic is what makes
the AD&D game fun. Its also why you
cant make an exact re-creation of
medieval Europe: there was no magic
there. How many people would play if
your characters couldnt be a wizard or
a priest or your fighter couldnt have his
plate mail +1 or his sword of sharpness?
The writers of the Players Handbook
certainly thought magic was important
if they dedicated half the book to spell
descriptions. Add that to all the other
spells in the books and magazines.
In the unlikely event that mages do
unbalance your game, make a monster
that is totally immune to magic and let it
loose.
Without magic, how do you explain
the planes, or the gods themselves? I
think Mr. Fraser was just trying to get out
of a lot of the responsibility that goes
along with DMing. If you like his
premise, more power to you. Just dont
invite me to your gaming session.
Nick Spear
7421 Windsor Woods, Apt. 2A
Canton, Ml 48487
I have played AD&D for over 18
years now. After reading Forum in
issue #223, a letter from Karrie Huff
caught my interest.
Sorry, Im not of the female gender.
Still, I thought Karrie and other female
gamers might take interest in my com-
ments. Id like to address certain points
about male-dominated role-playing.
In my campaign, now 12 years along,
Ive always found female characters to
be as important to the storyline as
males, for the basic fact that in every
culture, human interaction is a main-
frame upon which everything else
revolves. I understand your disappoint-
ment with most games youve played,
with the treatment of females as sec-
ond-class people or even just back-
ground extras.
Some of the strongest and most
respected personas in my game worlds
are women.
Overall, neither male nor female
gamers have the edge. A gender mix at
any gaming table enhances the role-
playing aspect. Still, a skilled DM and an
active game group should be able to
accommodate any player mix. An ability
to do so attests to group integrity, cohe-
sive functioning, and positive play. To
alienate others or make them uncom-
fortable with innuendo that obviously
transcends good manners simply
defeats the purpose.
Each game session, particularly those
of new or mixed groups, provides chal-
lenges above and beyond the game
itself, in that getting this awkward group
to function with teamwork creates fun
for everyone.
Problems in a game group should
not reflect societal problems: fantasy is
escapism, not a psycho-social therapy
session.
Nathan Kirschenbaum
Pomona, CA
I must disagree with James Mieritzs
criticism (in D-Mail, issue #226) of
Jeffrey Allen Pauls article The Castle
Designers Guide to Coping With Magic
and the Supernatural in issue #224.
It has always struck me that, in fan-
tasy, we have never really managed to
instill in the castle the same level of
impregnability and awe that it achieved
in Europe during the Middle Ages. We
spend days creating fiendish dungeons,
traps, and monsters for PCs to face, but
then just stick in a basic castle for them
to use and abuse. Jeffrey Pauls article
provides a perfect redress for this.
I think that James Mieritz mistakes
the historical use of castles. Castle walls
exist because they are the primary
defense once diplomacy fails. His argu-
ments about sending soldiers out would
be valid only in very exceptional cases
where a walled city needed time to
bring in crops or there was favorable
Ccn|inuc cn pagc 116
98 MAY 1996
RAGON #229
''
100 MAY 1996
DRAGON
#
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101
102
MAY 1996
MAY 1996
DRAGON
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106
MAY 1996
ArrIvc wIthnut travc!Ing:
tnur thc mu!tIvcrsc wIth thcsc
fantasy snurccbnnks
Role-playing games rating
Not recommended
May be useful
Fair
Good
Excellent
The BEST!
I hate to travel. An agoraphobic and
proud of it, I never leave the house with-
out kicking and screaming, and I go on
vacations only at gun point. The way I
see it, why hassle with flight schedules
and hotel reservations when a role-play-
ing game can take you anywhere you
want to go? Sure, an airplane can get
you to Monte Carlo. But it cant get you
to Middle-earth.
The Shire
Middle-Earth Role-Playing* game sup-
plement
280-page softcover book, one dou-
ble-sided 16 x 21 map sheet
Iron Crown Enterprises
!
Design: Wesley Frank
Development: Jessica Ney-Grimm
Editing: Suzanne Young and Jessica
Ney-Grimm
Illustrations: Liz Danforth, Glen
Michael Angus, Eric David Anderson,
Storn Cook, Edward Johnson, Eric
Knowles, April Lee, Stephan Peregrine,
and Ellisa Mitchell
Cover: Liz Danforth
Angmar
Middle-Earth Role-Playing* game sup-
plement
160-page softcover book, one dou-
ble-sided 16 x 21 map sheet
Iron Crown Enterprises
$25
Design: Graham Staplehurst and Heike
Kubasch, with Jessica Ney and Peter
Fenlon
Development: Jessica Ney and Peter
Fenlon
Editing: Suzanne Young, Jessica Ney,
and Peter Fenlon
Illustrations: Glen Michael Angus, Rick
Britton, Liz Danforth, James A. Fallin,
Pete Fenlon, and Arnie Swekel
Cover: Angus McBride
108 MAY 1996
Iron Crown has spent more than a
decade mining gold from J.R.R. Tolkiens
Lord of the Rings trilogy. Theyve cranked
out board games, poster maps, minia-
ture figures, everything but Hobbit-
flavored ice cream. Ironically, Middle-
Earth Role-Playing (MERP), the center-
piece of the Iron Crown line, is one of
their more troubling efforts. Though
MERP boasts a solid system, it never
quite nails the fairy tale ambiance of the
novels and tends to emphasize the
wrong elements. Combat and magic, for
example, play much larger roles in the
game than in the books. Still, despite my
reservations about MERP, Im crazy
about the sourcebooks, noteworthy for
their stunning attention to detail. When
Tolkien fans die and go to heaven, theyll
likely find themselves in a library stuffed
with MERP books. The Shire and
Angmar, two volumes in the Realms of
Middle-earth series documenting spe-
cific locales in the Tolkien universe,
typify what Iron Crown does best.
The Shire, the lighter of the two, fea-
tures the land of the Hobbits. Angmar,
the darker one, describes the eerie
realm of the Witch-king. The books fol-
low the same format, more or less, with
long chapters devoted to culture, his-
tory, politics, personalities, and land-
marks. Tolkien aficionados will probably
feel more at home with The Shire,
arguably the most memorable locale in
the novels. Designer Wesley Frank pro-
vides vivid depictions of Hobbiton,
Sackville, and other Hobbit hideaways,
along with in-depth profiles of Bilbo
Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, and Gandalf
the Grey. The brainy treatise on Hobbit
magic includes a generous list of magi-
cal items unique to Middle-earth, such
as the vantage stick and Lestines pipe
of creature comforts. A five-page time-
line brings newcomers up to date, a
chapter-long glossary explains the dif-
ference between mathom (a gift with
sentimental value but no practical use)
and muck (sheep droppings). Angmar
covers less-familiar territory, requiring
the designers to fill in a lot of blanks;
while casual players wont find that a
problem, Middle-earth scholars might
take issue with some of the second
guesses. Though not as character-
focused as The Shire and hence a bit
drier a Angmar impresses with its analy-
sis of military affairs (Agmaran fortifica-
tions, siege equipment, and chains of
command) and imaginative essays (herb
lore, orcish nomenclature, and castle
design).
Both books are well-organized and
tightly edited, and contain a surplus of
informative, clutter-free maps. Neither
has an index, however, reducing their
value as references; if you want to find
Bilbos biography, youll have to recruit a
search party. The writing is generally
strong, more so in Angmar. The Shire,
though comprehensible, is stilted in
spots (Hobbits possess a subtler
panache than most legendary beings),
as if Frank were trying too hard to
impress his English teacher.
But its the content thats important
here, not the execution. Frank so skill-
fully evokes the pastoral landscapes of
the Shire that you can almost smell the
daisies. He takes us on a whirlwind tour
of Bywater, the Bridge of Stonebows,
and Hardbottle, spinning enchanting
tales of the fairy spirits of Brocken
Borings and how the Hobbit Bandobras
invented the game of golf. He gives us a
taste of the Hobbits pastries (made with
maple drippings and fresh plums) and
opens their dresser drawers (proper gen-
tlehobbits prefer linen bedding to straw).
If Bilbo fractures his leg, he can mend
the bone with an arfandas flower poul-
tice; if he burns his lip on a hot pastry,
5cckIng
fcar!css wrItcrs
Do you have a good idea for
an article? Wed like to see it.
Remember to send a business-
sized SASE for our writers
guidelines, and be sure to send
us a query letter before you
write the article. That way we
can tell you if your idea is right
for DRAGON Magazine before
you write it.
he can ease the pain by nibbling on a
klaven berry.
Angmar is an equally riveting place.
Designers Graham Staplehurst and
Heike Kubasch conjure a world of bar-
ren plains, gray skies, and random
DRAGON
#
229 109
death. Here, a description of the slave-
city of Litash: The remains of some [of
the slaves] could still be seen, skeletons
wrapped in wind-dried skin like parch-
ment, nailed with barbed spikes to the
clay walls of their dwellings. Trolls infest
the hills, dwelling in garbage-strewn lairs
riddled with lice and fleas. Minions of
the Witch-king protect their fortresses
with pit traps coated with jegga, a pasty
black poison made from bat venom.
If the books share a flaw, its that
they tend to emphasize the whimsical a
bit too much. The blissfully serene Shire
seems more like a place youd go for a
vacation than a place youd go for a
fight. Angmar oozes gloom but doesnt
seem particularly menacing. Angmar
bad guys spend too much time fortifying
their strongholds and not enough stir-
ring up trouble. The trolls dont seem to
be up to much other than wallowing in
garbage. Were told of a mighty dragon
called the Worm, greedy, devious, and
selfish. Sounds promising. But what
kind of greedy, devious, and selfish stuff
does the Worm do?
A more troubling drawback for
Angmar is the absence of adventure
hooks. Thats a drawback hard to over-
look considering the formidable task fac-
ing a referee attempting to put together
campaign from all these bits and pieces.
(Lets see... Ill use the Cult of the Dark
Lord from Chapter Five, add the
Storugoruz Orc-hold from Chapter Eight,
and maybe throw in a few trolls from
Chapter Three.) By comparison, The Shire
serves up 30 pages of adventures;
though none are earth-shattering,
theyre complete, theyre playable, and
best of all theyre there.
Evaluation: The Shire and Angmar
are first-rate sourcebooks, meticulously
researched and staggeringly complete.
Iron Crown did just about everything
right, even sequestering most of the sta-
tistics in the appendices to make the
books accessible to those whove never
heard of MERP. If I could have only one
of the two, Id take The Shire; Angmar
loses a pip for skimping on adventure
ideas. Still, both volumes are worth a
look from anyone drawn to the con-
cepts in Lord of the Rings. And if youre a
fan of the AD&D game which, like
just about every fantasy game thats
ever wriggled its way out of a word
processor, owes a heavy debt to
Professor Tolkien that means you.
DRAGON
#
229 111
RIFTS Japan
RIFTS* game supplement
216-page softcover book
Palladium Books $20
Design: Kevin Siembieda with Patrick
Nowak and C.J. Carella
Editing: Alex Marciniszyn with James
A. Osten, Kevin Kirsten, and Julius
Rosenstein
Illustrations: Vince Martin, Wayne
Breaux, Randy Post, and Kevin Siem-
bieda
Cover: John Zeleznik
RIFTS South America: 2
RIFTS* game supplement
Palladium Books $20
Design: Carlos J. Martijena-Carella
with Kevin Siembieda
Editing: Kevin Siembieda with Alex
Marciniszyn, James A. Osten, Kevin
Kirsten, and Julius Rosenstein
Illustrations: Vince Martin, Wayne
Breaux, R.K. Post, and Kevin Siembieda
Cover: Kevin Long
I live in Des Moines, Iowa. If I were
writing about it, Id tell you about the
insurance companies, the skywalks, and
the minor league baseball team. When
Palladium gets around to publishing
RIFTS Des Moines, theyll probably tell
you about the death bomb factories, the
vampire militia, and the corpse recycling
centers. If youve read any of the previ-
ous RIFTS world books, such as RlFTS
Africa or RIFTS England, you know that
Palladium, to put it mildly, takes a some-
what eccentric approach to geography.
Japan and South America: 2 continue
the tradition. Of the pair, Japan is the
more conventional conventional, that
is, in the sense that Elvis sightings are
more conventional than UFO abduc-
tions. Japan imagines a futuristic society
where warmongering scientists are at
odds with spirit-worshipping mystics.
The book emphasizes robotic mon-
strosities (Ninjabots, Fire Tiger Light
Infantry Support Vehicles, Underwater
Crab Walkers) and high-tech gizmos
(Neural Disrupter Arrowheads, Particle
Beam Pistols, Exploding Shuriken).
Designer Kevin Siembieda promises to
tackle oriental magic and mythology in
another 200-plus page supplement.
Thatll bring the page count for Japan
close to 500. Yikes!
South America: 2 builds on the con-
cepts introduced in Rifts World Book 6:
South America, but it works just fine all by
itself. Like Japan, SA: 2 features a bizarre
blend of ancient history (the Inca civi-
lization) and science-fiction craziness
(the Arkhons, alien invaders who pilot
mile-long space ships). C.J. Carella also
throws in some psionic mummies, a race
of telekinetic giants, and a band of
transdimensional mercenaries called the
Megaversal Legion. For the trigger-
happy, Carella devotes about 60 pages
to Tri-Beam Energy Rifles and Backpack
Mortar Systems. Thats more weaponry
than I want, certainly more than a part-
time RIFTS player like me will ever get
around to using. But the RIFTS fanatics
in my circle of acquaintances love noth-
i ng better than bl owi ng stuff to
smithereens; SA: 2 should have them
weeping with joy.
Both books are well-written, with
even the most arcane topics clearly
explained. There are no indexes, but the
Quick Find Tables make it a breeze to
locate key topics. The maps, however,
are perfunctory at best, good for pin-
pointing the relative locations of large
land masses but not much else. Japans
full-page Ley Lines map, for example,
contains exactly 15 words of text and
thats counting the title.
Though fundamentally sound, the
setting descriptions in Japan couldve
used more development. Siembieda has
a flair for capturing the sweep of history
and the nuances of culture. But his
attention seems to drift when he gets
down to the details of daily life. Take, for
instance, his handling of Kyoto, the cap-
ital city of the New Empire. Were told
how the ravages of civil war were
reduced by the formation of an eight-
man council, each member given the
power to veto any proposal he felt
wasnt in the nations best interests.
Were told how the anti-technology doc-
trine of the New Empire served to pre-
serve agrarian traditions. Were told
about the Robotics Corporation of lchto
[sic], the imperialistic schemes of the
Ototmo [sic] Shogunate, and the spiritual
significance of the Millennium Trees. But
its a tale told mostly at a distance; were
shown plenty of panoramic views but
not many close-ups. A diary of a typical
citizens routine, the floor plan of an
average residence, and a street map or
two wouldve made Japan easier for
first-timers to get their bearings.
The diligent, however, will find plenty
to keep them busy. Though Japan has
no adventures a common frustration
in RIFTS books Siembieda has loaded
the text with enticing concepts, bursting
with possibility. The H-Brand Corpora-
tion maintains a private army of cyber-
samurai and ninja crazies, poised to
exterminate their competitors. Incidents
of industrial sabotage and assassination
are so common, they barely merit a
mention in the daily news. To satisfy
their insatiable lust for power, close to
80% of the citizens have submitted to
some form of cybernetic enhancement,
risking mutilation and insanity from illic-
it procedures. Its a tense, exciting set-
ting, ripe for exploitation.
SA:2 has many of the same strengths
and weaknesses of Japan. On the plus
side, Carella makes the pulse race with
his chilling descriptions of the City of the
Dead, the Imperial Capital of Cuzco, and
other creepy locations. On the minus
side, he tends to favor generalities over
112 MAY 1996
specifics, making the descriptions of
dubious value to all but the most deter-
mined explorers. Another negative: no
adventures. Another positive: a fascinat-
ing magic system, based on line draw-
ings. Yet another: fantastic adversaries,
like the Pucara Mind Mage and the
Blood Weeper. And yet another: terrific
player characters (anyone for blood
lizard PCs?).
Evaluation: Both Japan and South
America:2 teem with rules and statistics,
making them tough sledding for every-
one but RIFTS veterans. If youre a neo-
phyte, youll likely discover that reading
a RIFTS book is like walking into the
middle of a movie make that a movie
with Sanskrit subtitles. Palladium could
probably expand their customer base if
they took a tip from Iron Crown and
confined more of the rules to the back
of the books (or included some kind of
universal conversion tables to make it
easier to translate RIFTS into other game
systems). But if youre sold on the RIFTS
system and youre comfortable design-
ing your own adventures, youll get a
kick out of these. Japan is more accessi-
ble; South America: 2 is nuttier.
Editing: Sam Shirley
Illustrations: Arnie Swekel
Cover: Stephen King
GURPS Greece
GURPS* game supplement
Steve Jackson Games
Design: Jon F. Zeigler
Editing: Susan Pinsonneault
Illustrations: Jean Martin and
Shea Ryan
Cover: Jeff Koke
&
So you want to design your own fan-
tasy setting, just like the pros, but you
dont know where to begin? Nothing to
it. All you have to do is choose a real-life
historical era, transcribe some relevant
passages from an encyclopedia (chang-
ing the occasional sentence to avoid a
plagiarism suit), throw in a few fairies,
and presto! Instant setting. Odds are,
of course, itll be about as fun to read as
the tax code, but dont feel bad. The
majority of pro-produced settings are
awful, too.
So what distinguishes the superstars
from the snooze-fests? Lets learn some
lessons, courtesy of GURPS Greece and
Beyond the Wall.
1. Begin with an interesting era. The
eras most suitable for fantasy gaming are
rich with legend and rife with conflict.
Stable governments and staid popula-
tions make for dreary settings, which is
why the number of sourcebooks about
feudal Japan outnumber those covering
contemporary Canada. GURPS Greece,
focusing on the Heroic Age of 1600-1150
B.C. and the Classical Age from 800-323
B.C., couldnt have a stronger foundation;
Achilles, Medusa, the Trojan War what
more could you want? Similarly, Beyond
the Wall draws on one of the most
volatile periods of European history, the
rise of the savage Picts in northern
Britain. With their militant outlook and
barbaric traditions, the Picts make perfect
foils for the courtly knights of Pendragon.
(Incidentally, if youre unfamiliar with
Pendragon, youd do well to check it out.
A brilliant recreation of the days of King
Arthur, its one of the few RPGs that qual-
ifies as a work of art.)
Beyond the Wall:
Pictland & the North
Pendragon* game supplement
128-page softcover book, one 11" x
15" map sheet
Chaosium, Inc. $19
Design: Chris Lampard, Roderick
Robertson, Tom Rogan, Eric Rowe, and
Dave Williams
DRAGON
#
229 113
2. Follow a sensible format. Both
Greece and Wall include the expected
material historical backgrounds,
mythologies, key personalities but
present it in different ways. Greece
employs the multi-tiered format pio-
neered in previous GURPS sourcebooks,
such as GURPS Vikings and GURPS
Middle Ages I. This format gives equal
weight to history and legend, serving it
up in a smorgasbord; referees can
choose what they like and ignore what
they dont. Thus, an adventure can be as
accurate as a textbook (employing the
Realistic style, one of several options
detailed in the campaign chapter) or as
outrageous or as a B-movie (the Mythic
style, where the gods take an active
role). Alternately, the referee can opt for
a hybrid of reality and fantasy (the
Fantastic style, where magic exists but
doesnt predominate). In contrast, Wall
offers only one campaign option, closest
in spirit to Greeces Fantastic style. Spells
are real, gods tinker in human affairs,
wizards are as common as they are in
AD&D.
How do the formats stack up? Greece
offers more choices, but the lack of
focus means more work for the referee,
while Wall is easier to use but locks the
referee into a single style. Further, with
its liberal references to Caledonian poli-
tics and the Celtic Christian church, Wall
presumes familiarity with the Pictish era;
if you slept through history class, you
may find much of this baffling. Greece,
on the other hand, is a great teacher,
even those for who think ancient Greece
is something you scrub off a frying pan.
3. Dont regurgitate. Uh... let me put
that more delicately: dont parrot the
stuff you got from the library. Large
chunks of Greece an account of the
Peloponnesian War, the merits of an
ogliarchic government, the cultural life
of the Hellenic society read like notes
for a term paper. Its interesting, but hey,
I know how to use an encyclopedia, too,
and could probably have found most of
this myself. Designer Jon Zeiger does
better with the supernatural than with
the history, mixing well-chosen excerpts
of Greek mythology with adroit role-
playing tips. He explains how to portray
Olympian gods (as entities of limited
omnipotence with an obsessive interest
in human affairs), points out the best
skills for a Courtesan player character
(Sex Appeal, Carousing, and Fast-Talk),
and suggests offbeat rewards for victori-
ous warriors (arrows dipped in the blood
of the Lernaean Hydra). He also tells
how to stage an Athenian trial and pro-
vides remarkably complete information
about triremes, penteconters, and other
war ships. But once you launch your
ships, however, you wont find many
places to explore. The overviews of
Athens and Sparta are too general to be
of much use in a campaign.
Like Greece, Wall also falls short in
the locale department. Though Chapter
Six lists dozens of locations, none of
them receive more than a paragraph of
description. The entry for Achavanich
reads: A group of sixty standing stones
that form a truncated oval open to the
south-east. Beside the most northerly
stone is a stone cyst. Thats essentially
it. Curious about the stone cyst? Too
bad.
The illuminating peeks at Pict culture
make up for the absence of fully-devel-
oped locales. We learn how the Picts
construct circular dwellings of peat and
wood called wheelhouses, how adoles-
cents celebrate maturity with a spiritual
journey to the Otherworld, and how
they forge bonds with the Samhladh,
ghostly guardians who take the form of
reindeer, salmon, and blackbirds. Adults
mark themselves with ornate tattoos
that indicate status and serve as links to
the Samhladh. Time, represented by the
Mythic Spiral, is considered cyclical
rather than linear, where the past, pre-
sent, and future exist simultaneously. Its
a smart, compelling take on an age
rarely visited by game designers.
4. Give us something to do. In other
words, give us some adventures, or at
least give us some guidelines and a few
springboards. Greece comes up short.
There are no complete scenarios. The
skeletal campaign outlines arent likely
to inspire many memorable adventures.
I guess well have to wait for GURPS
Greece II. Beyond the Wall, though, is a
referees dream. It includes a chapter
crammed with campaign tips, three
excellent introductory adventures, and a
full-length adventure titled The
Treacherous Pict that not only brings
the sourcebook material to life, but
stands as one of the best Pendragon
scenarios to date.
Evaluation: Neither Greece nor Wall,
alas, translate easily into other systems.
AD&D gamers may find Greece a bit
more palatable, as a good half of the
book is relatively statistic-free; unfortu-
nately, its the least interesting half (the
historical summaries). Wall relies so
heavily on the Pendragon rules that,
short of a rewrite, I dont see how it
could accommodate a different game.
That said, GURPS Greece and Beyond the
Wall stand as solid examples of history-
based role-playing, must-haves for seri-
ous fans of GURPS and Pendragon. And
if you want to learn the basics of setting
design, youd be hard-pressed to find
better blueprints. Class dismissed.
Short and sweet
Ham World, by N. Robin Crossby, Tom
Dalgliesh, and Edwin King with Brad
Carter, Brian Clemens, Rob Duff, Mike
Dwyer, John Frazer, Doug Gillanders,
John Greer, Stephen Hinchcliffe, David
Kowan, Sharon MacLeod, Simon
Matthews, Brad Murray, Gene Siegel, and
Garry Steinhilber. Columbia Games, $25.
Speaking of great settings, heres a
golden oldie thats been keeping fantasy
fans entranced and impoverished
since 1982. A generic environment
adaptable to any RPG, Harn World has
spawned dozens of supplements and
mountains of commentary, making it a
hobby unto itself. This revised entry-level
package consists of a 72-page Intro-
ductory Book, an 80-page Master Index,
and a gorgeous full-color poster map,
sheathed in a plastic binder. The
lntroductory Book consists of three long
essays devoted to Kethira (the Earth-like
planet otherwise known as Harn World),
the island of Harn (a barbaric land with a
handful of civilized settlements), and the
continent of Lythia (Kethiras largest land
mass, home to a diverse range of cul-
tures and races). The Master Index lists
every major locale, tribe, and oddity in
Kethira, complemented by evocative
illustrations and elegant maps. Harn
World emphasizes culture and econom-
ics at the expense of magic and mon-
sters, making it less appealing to hack-
nslashers than to veterans who take
their games seriously. Unwieldy?
Perhaps. To call Harn World ambitious is
like calling the Grand Canyon a large
hole. But if youve outgrown dungeon
crawls, you might be ready to jump in.
Information: Columbia Games, Box
3457, Blaine, WA 98231.
Players Secrets of Roesone, by Rich
Baker. Players Secrets of Endier, by
Colin McComb. Players Secrets of
Medoere, by Bill Slavicsek. Players
Secrets of Tuornen, by Dave Gross.
Players Secrets of Ilien, by Kevin Melka.
Players Secrets of Talinie, by Allen
Varney. Players Secrets of Ariya, by
Allen Varney. TSR, Inc., $7 each.
114 MAY 1996
You say you like the BIRTHRIGHT set-
ting for AD&D, but you dont know
which of the domain sourcebooks to
buy? Thats no surprise. They look alike,
they follow the same format, and truth
to tell, they share more similarities than
differences. So I spent a day pouring
over the first seven, including the two
that were touched on in DRAGON
Magazine issue #224, and heres my
report. Roesone has a nice rural feel,
clear goals, and an engaging environ-
ment for warriors. Endier, one of the
smaller domains, emphasizes politics,
diplomacy, and trade; its challenging
but manageable. With hostile neighbors
and a shaky economy, the unstable
theocracy of Medoere looks like a tough
government to control over the long
haul. Tuornen seems shell-shocked from
civil strife; I liked the knights, but the
administrative squabbles gave me a
headache. Swashbuckling pirates, mys-
terious cults, and the Isle of Ghosts
make the theocratic Ariya an irresistible
setting for magic-minded rulers. Despite
its wizards and prosperous farms, theres
nothing much out of the ordinary in
Ilien, another small domain. Ecologically
inclined players might go for Talinie,
with its surplus of natural resources and
deforestation problems. The best for
beginners: Roesone, Endier, and Ariya.
Youre welcome.
Planes of Conflict, by Dale Donovan,
Colin McComb, and Monte Cook. TSR,
Inc., $30.
This lavish PLANESCAPE setting pack-
age completes the trilogy that began
with the Planes of Chaos and Planes of
Law boxes. And its a doozy. I was
impressed by the graphics (again by
DiTerlizzi, perhaps TSRs finest illustra-
tor), the posters (six in all, including
maps of the City of the Star and the
yugoloth Wasting Tower), and the
adventures (four nail-biting extravagan-
zas). But what really floored me were the
number of ways to knock off PCs. If the
Labyrinth of Fiery Doom or the World
Ash of Yggdrasil doesnt get em, the
darkstrike aeserpent or the carnivorous
vaath the probably will. Whod have
thought the neutral planes would turn
out to be so dangerous?
Living Legends, by Diane Piron-
Gelman, Chris Hartford, and Bryan
Nystul. FASA Corporation, $10.
A team of Explorer Corps PCs
attempts to sabotage a Clan Smoke
Jaguar Warship and escape in one piece
in this action-packed adventure for the
Mechwarrior* game. Stunstick-toting
guards complicate the teams efforts, as
do a flock of alien dinosaurs that com-
bine the nastiest characteristics of ptero-
dactyls and velociraptors. Its good,
goofy fun, well-paced and easy to run.
But theres a catch. Before he gets start-
ed, the referee is advised to investigate
the following Battletech* game products:
BattleTech Compendium Rules of Warfare,
BattleTech Map Set 4, Technical Readout
3050, Technical Readout 3055, and the
MechWarrior Companion. Thats a lot of
homework.
Wizards and Rogues of the Realms,
by William W. Conners. TSR, Inc., $15.
If your AD&D campaign could use
some new characters, welcome to cen-
tral casting. This handy supplement pro-
vides statistics, descriptions, and role-
playing notes for wizards and rogues
from every corner of the FORGOTTEN
REALMS setting. Thus, we have the
rugged Dalelands wizards, the war
mages of Cormyr, the crafty Sembian
merchant wizards, and were just to
page 27. Some new spells wouldve
been nice. So wouldve a set of pregen-
erated characters. But with such a gen-
erous number of archetypes were
talking close to three dozen character
kits only a sourpuss would complain.
Illuminati: New World Order* game
Blank Cards. Steve Jackson Games, $2.
Tastefully understated, this set
includes striking illustrations of an Arctic
snowstorm, the Invisible Man, and the
bank account of a card collector.
Rick Swan has designed and edited more
than 50 role-playing products, including the
The Complete Wizards, Handbook, The
Complete Rangers Handbook, The
Complete Paladins Handbook, and The
Complete Barbarians Handbook for TSR,
Inc. You can write to him at 2620 30th
Street, Des Moines, IA 50370; enclose a self-
addressed, stumped envelope if youd like a
reply.
* indicates a product produced by a company
other than TSR, Inc. Most product names are trade-
marks owned by the companies publishing those
products. The use of the name of any product with-
out mention of its trademark status should not be
DRAGON
#
229
115
continued from page 120
has lapsed. But the Iicensor, Capcom,
continues work on its Werewolf* com-
puter game. (Contact: WWolfMail@
aol.com)
Notes from the field
After last months split between Hero
Games and its longtime publisher, Iron
Crown Enterprises, Hero has found a
new home for its Champions* and Hero
System* game lines. A new publisher,
Gold Rush Games (Elk Grove, CA),
already licensed to produce Hero adven-
tures, will now produce sourcebooks
and genre books too. (Contact: gol-
drushg@aol.com; herogames@aol.com)
Steve Jackson Games (Austin, TX)
planned to collect all the new GURPS*
game rules introduced in festoons of
supplements and release them as a 192-
page update. It turns out that 192 pages
isnt enough, so GURPS Compendium I:
Character Creation (192 pages, $21.95)
will appear in June, with a second vol-
ume (combat, role-playing, and cam-
paigns) scheduled for November.
Theres still no planned release date for
continued from page 98
the In Nomine* game, and dont even
ask about the Hot Lead* game....
(Contact: sjgames@io.com)
One more game designer breaks into
fiction: Phil Masters (Kingdom of
Champions, GURPS Arabian Nights) got a
story idea while researching the recently
published GURPS Places of Mystery, which
he co-authored with Allison Brooks.
Masters has just sold the resulting story
to the prestigious British science fiction
magazine Interzone.
Arrrgh
Two errors from issue #225: The first
Castle Falkenstein* game-based novel,
From Prussia With Love, is by John
DeChancie, not George Alec Effinger.
Robin D. Laws was credited as the
designer of the Barsaive boxed set for
FASAs Earthdawn* RPG; Laws actually
wrote the Parlainth boxed set for that
game.
Correcting and updating issue #227s
story on White Wolfs layoffs: WW pres-
ident Stephan Wieck says fewer than 15
employees were laid off, and manage-
ment absolutely did not spend several
days after the announcement deciding
which employees would be let go.
[...W]ithin a couple hours after the
meeting, everyone who was being let
go was notified. The entire process was
handled in one day. To suggest that
Jennifer Hartshorn or anyone else was
singled out during the layoffs is totally
inaccurate, and such false reports imply
malice on the part of myself and White
Wolfs management that is entirely con-
trary to the sorrow we felt concerning
the layoffs. WWs financial position has
improved considerably after record-
breaking sales months in January and
February.
Allen Varney has written 15 roleplaying
supplements, including the Binsada, Ariya,
and Talinie domain sourcebooks for the
BIRTHRIGHT campaign setting. Send news
to tsrmags@aol.com.
* indicates a product produced by a company
terrain for battle. Otherwise, scarce man-
power was just being wasted on need-
less sorties. All fortifications including
castles, forts, towers, and fortified cities
relied upon their strong walls to pro-
tect defenders and tie up besiegers.
Castles allow a small force much
greater power and should not be wasted.
Indeed, fortifications were often used
offensively in this way by siting them so
that a small force protected by strong
walls was placed to control enemy terri-
tory (trade routes, crossings, pastures,
etc.).
The point is that castles, however
employed, were ultimately defensive
spaces. Jeffrey Pauls article reflects this
perfectly for a fantasy setting.
Tim Eccles.
Middlesex, England
In Sage Advice in issue #226, Skip
Williams says Chaotic psionicists have
never been allowed on Athas (or any-
where else for that matter...) at least not us
player characters.... The chaotic psionicists
from The Will and the Way are anomalies;
exactly how they managed to become
psionicists and retain their chaotic align-
ments is unrevealed. (Emphasis mine)
If one is to construct a believable fan-
tasy world, there must be an internal
logic to support the structure. You can-
not have the rules one way for one class
(player characters) and one for another
(non-player characters).
In the 20 years I have been playing
the D&D and AD&D games, I have
noticed plenty of example of restrictions
on player characters that are not applied
to non-player characters. The above
example is only the most recent. In a
fantasy setting, what logic there is can-
not be overstressed.
The only solid rule of fantasy is con-
sistency. If the rule applies to one, it
applies to all.
Gary Stahl
Dearborn, MI
A note from the editor:
We get many Ietters that wed like to
print here in Forum.
Unfortunately, many writers fail to pro-
vide an address on the letter, and some
even fail to sign the letter. Remember that
we will not print letters sent anonymously or
without an address; however, we will not
print your address unless you ask us to. If
you hope your comments may lead to cor-
respondence with others, please remember
to tell us it is all right to print your full
address. We wont print e-mail addresses,
either.
Note that we will not publish personal
attacks against authors, other letter writers,
fictional characters, other companies, game
worlds, or the editors pets.
It is also important that letters be typed
or neatly written. There are letters that have
come in that we think might have been bri-
illiant epistolary excercises... but we just
couldnt read them. Typing your letter
increases the chance that we will read it and
use it in Forum.
Thank you.
116 MAY 1996
New for May
Treasure Tales
An AD&D accessory
by Loren Coleman
The North
A FORGOTTEN REALMS campaign
expansion
by slade
This campaign expansion details one
Running out of ideas in your cam-
paign? Treasure Tales contains 16 fun-
filled adventure hooks to jump start
your game. Each hook is open-ended
and can be easily tailored to fit any
campaign world.
$12.95 U.S./$16.95 CAN./7.99 U.K.
TSR Product No. 9518
ISBN: 0-7869-03899
of the last great frontiers of Faern.
Finally, the areas beyond Waterdeep are
described and their inhabitants fleshed
out in full detail. The North is a savage
wilderness just waiting to be conquered!
$25.00 U.S./$32.00 CAN./15.99 U.K.
TSR Product No.: 1142
ISBN: 0-7869-0391
RAVENLOFT
MONSTROUS COMPENDIUM
Appendix I & II
A RAVENLOFT accessory
This new compendium includes all
your favorite horrors from the first two
RAVENLOFT MONSTROUS COMPENDIUM books
and introduces some new nasties as
well!
$20.00 U.S./$26.00 CAN./11.99 U.K.
ISBN: 0-7869-03929
War
A BIRTHRIGHT hardcover novel
by Simon Hawke
A sweeping epic of war and anarchy
as rivals vie for the throne of Anuire.
$21.99 U.S./$27.99 CAN./12.50 U.K.
ISBN: 0-7869-0495X
The Dragons at War
A DRAGONLANCE anthology
Edited by Margaret Weis and Tracy
Hickman
The companion volume to The
Dragons of Krynn is a new collection of
stories by the sagas finest talents.
$5.99 U.S./$6.99 CAN./4.99 U.K.
ISBN: 0-7869-04917
Sword Play
A FORGOTTEN REALMS novel
by Clayton Emory
Discover the Arcane Age of Netheril,
the most powerful magical empire in
the history of the FORGOTTEN REALMS,
when a bold barbarian becomes the
pawn of quarreling archmages.
$5.99 U.S./$6.99 CAN./4.99 U.K.
ISBN: 0-7869-04925
DRAGON
#
229
117
F.R.E.E. Fall
A TSR novel
by Mel Odom
Ancient inventions team up with new
technologies to endanger the fate of the
world!
$5.99 U.S./$6.99 CAN./4.99 U.K.
ISBN: 0-7869-04933
New for June
PIAYR'S OPTION: Spells & Magic
An AD&D Rule Book
by Rich Baker
Included in this 192-page addition to
the core rule books are new rules for
spells and magic, new schools of magic,
and brand-new spells for both priest and
wizard players. A must for serious role-
players!
ISBN: 0-7869-03945
$22.00 U.S./$28.00 CAN./12.99 U.K.
The Rjurik Highlands
A BIRTHRIGHT Campaign Expansion
by Anthony Pryor
In the rugged land of Rjurik, subter-
ranean orogs and marauding goblins
wage constant war against human
farms and towns. Its the perfect place
for princes and kings of the BIRTHRIGHT
campaign.
$20.00 U.S./$28.00 CAN./14.99 U.K.
ISBN: 0-7869-03953
Halskapa Domain Sourcebook
A BIRTHRIGHT accessory
by Dan Wenger
ISBN: 0-7869-03961
This is the first Rjurik sourcebook for
ruling a domain in the lands of these
advanced Viking-like people. The
sourcebook includes detailed informa-
tion on geography, the political struc-
ture, and adventure hooks.
$7.95 U.S./$10.00 CAN./4.99 U.K.
Baruk-Azhik Domain Sourcebook
A BIRTHRIGHT accessory
by Anne Brown
Baruk-Azhik is a mountain land ruled
by dwarves, and no one enters this
domain without fear of their power. This
sourcebook is packed with details and
offers new insight on Cerilias dwarves
and their unique culture.
$7.95 U.S./$10.00 CAN./4.99 U.K.
ISBN: 0-7869-03767
Undermountain
Trilogy I: The Lost Level
A FORGOTTEN REALMS
DUNGEON CRAWL adventure
by Steven Schend
Another deadly complex has been
discovered in the ruins of Under-
mountain. The only entrance to this
stone fortress is guarded by beholders.
Are your players brave enough and
crazy enough to take them on?
$7.95 U.S./$10.00 CAN./4.99 U.K.
ISBN: 0-7869-03996
118
Vilhon Reach
A FORGOTTEN REALMS accessory
by Jim Butler
A long bay surrounded by feuding
city-states, the Vilhon Reach contains
tribes of Amazons and a waking dragon
lurking in the shadows. Its a wild and
lawless land, ripe for conquering by
those who have the strength to keep
what they take!
$15.95 U.S./$19.95 CAN./9.99 U.K.
ISBN: 0-7869-04003
RAGON 1C
Kicker Pack #3: Undead
Armies of undead make per-
fect additions to the DRAGON DICE
game, and these horrifying creatures
will forever change the structure of
power.
$6.95 U.S./$10.95 CAN./4.99 U.K.
ISBN: 0-7869-04623
Murder in Tarsis
A DRAGONLANCE hard-
cover novel
by John Maddox Roberts
A military consul in the army
of Ansalon is sent to quell an
uprising and stumbles upon an
conspiracy that will turn the tides
of combat but may risk hundreds
of lives.
$18.99 U.S./$23.99 CAN./
10.99 U.K.
ISBN: 0-7869-0500X
Abyssal Warriors
BIOO WARS Trilogy #2
by J. Robert King
Aereas rescued his uncle but lost
Nina. Now they struggle on opposite
sides of an escalating conflict where
Nina heads an army of evil!
$5.99 U.S./$6.99 CAN./4.99 U.K.
ISBN: 0-7869-05018
Silver Shadows
Harpers #13
by Elaine Cunningham
Arilyn Moonblade embarks on a mis-
sion to save a band of forest elves and
finds that her quest endangers those she
loves. Will she risk everything to win
freedom for the forest elves?
$5.99 U.S./$6.99 CAN./4.99 U.K.
ISBN: 0-7869-04984
The Gully Dwarves
DRAGONLANCE Lost Histories, Vol. 5
by Dan Parkinson
When the gully dwarves get mixed
up in the worst sort of trouble, they
emerge victorious over the slimiest of
villains!
$5.99 U.S./$6.99 CAN./4.99 U.K.
ISBN: 0-7869-04976
The Hags Contract
A BIRTHRIGHT novel
by John Bettancourt
This is the story of the legendary
pirate king Ulrich, who made an unholy
pact with the Abomination known as
the Hag to free his kingdom from the
savage orog and goblin tribes.
$5.99 U.S./$6.99 CAN./4.99 U.K.
ISBN: 0-7869-04968
Unless otherwise noted:
designates registered trademarks
owned by TSR, Inc.
designates trademarks owned by
TSR, Inc.
1996 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Coming Next month. . .
DRAGON Magazine #230
20th Anniversary Issue!
Cover art by R.K. Post
Theme: Great Wyrms
Dragonslayers by Wolfgang
Baur
Ecology of the Wyvern by
Spike Y. Jones
A new regular feature by Ed
Greenwood: Wyrms of the North.
Orbs of Dragon Kind by
Roger E. Moore
Plus all our regular such
as Sage advice, Cons & Pros,
Forum, Knights of the Dinner
Table, and Floyd.
$4.95 U.S./$5.95 CAN,/2.95 U.K.
TSR Product No. 8112-05
T5R Annnunccs
New Customer Service Lines
TSR, Inc.. proudly announces its
new Consumer Services and Store
Locator phone lines. If you have a
brief question about TSR's products,
call: 1 (414) 248-2902. To find the
store nearest you that carries TSR
products, call: 1 (800) 384-4TSR.
DUNGEON Adventures #59
Cover art by Tony Szczudlo
This issue's adventures include:
Seeking Bloodsilver
(Birthright Adventure; levels 2-4)
by Christopher Perkins
Wedding Day
(Light-hearted AD&D Adventure
levels 1-2) by Paul Culotta
$4.95 U.S./$5.95 CAN./1.95 U.K.
TSR Product No. 8199-05
DRAGON
#
229 119
Interplay AD&D computer
game division
Interplay Productions (Irvine, CA),
which acquired the AD&D FORGOTTEN
REALMS and PLANESCAPE computer
game licenses from TSR last year, has
announced its first product in the line. A
real-time strategy game set in the
Realms, BLOOD & MAGIC, designed by
Vas Nokhoudian and developed by
Tachyon Studios, is scheduled for
release this summer in both PC and
Macintosh versions.
Two later games are being designed
in-house for release by years end.
Descent to Undermountain uses the
engine from Interplays bestselling
Descent game. The DRAGON DICE com-
puter game is based on TSRs tabletop
dice game, and Interplay will handle
customer support and rules questions
for both computer and table versions.
(World Wide Web: www.interplay.com)
Ars Magica*/Everway* sold
Three months after cancelling its
role-playing game lines, Wizards of the
Coast (Seattle, WA) announced the dis-
position of two lines. The Ars Magica
game has gone to Atlas Games
(Roseville, MN), publisher of the Over
the Edge* RPC and On the Edge* trading
card game. Pagan Publishing (Seattle),
producer of licensed Call of Cthulhu*
game supplements and The Unspeakable
Oath magazine, will take WotCs
Everway game.
Atlas
John Nephew started Atlas Games in
1990 to publish Ars Magica game sup-
plements licensed by the games origi-
nal publisher, Lion Rampant, where he
once worked. Nephew says the ArM
acquisition is personally thrilling and
very positive for our bottom line. The
acquisition underlines our credibility as
a game publisher in for the long haul.
1996 Allen Varney
Nephew plans to take a pretty firm
guiding hand in the (re)development of
Ars Magicas fourth edition, aiming for a
cleaner and tighter style, a return to the
second editions literate and literary
approach, removal of the third editions
True Reason, and reduction of the past
emphasis on diabolism. Nephew is
arranging extensive playtesting and
hopes to release the new edition by
years end.
WotC had planned an ambitious for-
mat for the fourth edition four full-
color volumes in a slipcase but Atlas, a
small company of seven employees,
plans a more traditional format, which
makes reprinting of short runs practical.
Support plans remain sketchy, but
Nephew believes a fairly modest quar-
terly release schedule of substantial
sourcebooks best serves the devoted
ArM audience. This game is blessed with
a base of fans who are astoundingly lit-
erate and reasonable, he says; he
intends to rely on their feedback, espe-
cially via the Internet.
(Contact: atlasgames@aol.com.)
Pagan:
Pagan Publishings John Tynes, who
worked at WotC as a role-playing editor
and Dominia Continuity Coordinator
(1994-95), says, I enjoyed the [Everway]
game a lot when I worked at WotC.
Heretofore essentially a basement oper-
ation of four employees, Pagan is con-
tracting with two freelancers to maintain
the Everway game line. Tynes expects to
finance the new hires through sales of
the games Spherewalkers supplementary
cards, printed and ready to ship since
December. Pagan paid nothing for the
cards and game line.
Pagan first intends to complete
WotCs projected support products, such
as the Spherewalkers Sourcebook. There-
after, Pagan plans two types of Everway
game support: scenarios and source-
books aimed at the core gaming audi-
ence, and a line of free-standing pecu-
liar worldbooks on offbeat fantasy sub-
jects, intended for a broader audience.
Tynes continues to wear two hats
he also edits the Feng Shui* role-playing
game line for Daedalus Entertainment in
Seattle. (Contact: paganpub@aol.com)
Vampire TV show
Press deadlines last issue prevented
timely announcement of the new Fox
network TV series based on the
Vampire: The Masquerade* RPG pub-
lished by White Wolf Game Studio
(Atlanta). Titled The Kindred, the series
began with a two-hour movie on April 2
and is continuing on Wednesday nights
at 9 P.M. (EST), after the popular show
Beverly Hills 90210. Both shows are pro-
duced by legendary hitmaker Aaron
Spelling.
The Kindred focuses on the endless
intrigues of five of the games vampire
Clans (Brujah, Gangrel, Nosferatu,
Toreador, Ventrue) in San Francisco.
Vampire game designer Mark Rein-
Hagen served as a consultant and wrote
one of the eight episodes.
In other vampiric news, White Wolf
shipped the Vampire: The Dark Ages*
game in February, ahead of schedule, to
excellent response. Set in the Middle
Ages, V:DA is the first of five historical
games, to be published annually, based
on WWs five modern-day Storyteller
games. Other periods planned include
the Wild West (for the Werewolf* game),
the Age of Exploration (Mage* game),
and periods still undecided for the
Wraith* and Changeling* games. Each
game includes appendices allowing play
of the other Storyteller games in that
era, and each will have its own support
line.
White Wolfs license for its fine intro-
ductory RPG, the Street Fighter* game,
Ccn|inuc cn pagc 116
120 MAY 1996

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