Reading Dragon Magazine

[outlander78]

I am flipping through digital Dragon issues tonight, looking for inspiration for what to add to my game.

Issue 1 - the bulette.  Classic nasty monster.  Happy memories from some gold box game - was it Dark Queen of Krynn they were in?  FRUA?

[outlander78]

Issue 2 - more that I like in this one.

Monkish martial arts combat.  I like the little illustrations of various strikes.  Still think my jiu jitsu sensei would take these strikers to school. 

Joe Fischer's article on dungeon design was good.  I like his chest trap ideas.  Pipeweed of Stoning though?  Really? Good for helping the monks relax I guess.  Ring of Magic Missiles?  Bag of Infinite Wealth?  Yes please!

Remorhaz - another classic I only personally recall in computer games.

Ends with fighter weapon specialization increasing damage rolls.

Lots of good stuff in this issue.

[Serian]

The "pipeweed of stoning" effect is petrification. It's the "pipeweed of Acapulco" that is for monk relaxation.

[outlander78]

You are right.  Tell me it wasn't a joke, though!

[outlander78]

Issue 3

A lot of content I strongly disliked, but do not want to waste time commenting on.

I am going to steal a great idea from the samai class though:  if an attack role is sufficiently higher than the target, roll for extra damage, which is expressed as a fraction of the targets total hit points.  For example, 50% chance of doing 25% damage, 25% chance of doing 50%, 12% chance of doing 75% damage etc.

[outlander78]

Issue 4

Empire of the Petal Throne issue.  Looks like fun, but I am too tired to get into a new system and world tonight - just skimming for crunch at the moment.

[outlander78]

Issue 5

I like the opening witchcraft article.  The mysterious unknown author is intriguing.  I wonder if they were ever identified?

Creature Feature:  the anhkheg.  Another classic monster.  Loved these guys in Baldur's Gate!

This is also the issue with the classic article claiming Gandalf was 5th level.

[outlander78]

Issue 6

Very simple trading rules that allow players to run a trading business on the side.  I have wanted something like this for a long time - very happy to find it!

Creature:  Death Angel.  Sounds like the Grim Reaper (black robes, scythe).   I will definitely use this.

[outlander78]

Issue 7

D&D origin article by Gary, fun dice alternative article, and a really horrific Alien Queen like creature feature. 

[outlander78]

Issue 8 & 9

More good articles.  None of the crunch I am seeking, but fun reading.

[outlander78]

Issue 10

Here is a fun bit of crunch - tables for rolling up random monsters.  Size, attacks, abilities and so on.  That's more like it!

[outlander78]

Issue 11

Articles on grappling and non-lethal quarter staff fighting.  I see these topics have been around a long time.

[outlander78]

Issue 12

Stats for Lovecraft's monsters.  Gold!  I know most adult gamers are appalled at treating the 'gods' as mere high level monsters, but as a slash and hack style gamer I do, and this was great for me.

I have always found these stories with their horror, weirdness and made up words to be wankerish, so I look forward to an underwater romp with Cthulu as the big bad appearing in my game one day.

[outlander78]

Issue 13

More gold!

A write up of Japanese mythos - with stats - and random demon generation tables.  Also, player tips from the great James Ward.

[outlander78]

Issue 14

Good articles.  The last one had some crunch to it - making lycanthropes playable characters with a berserker aspect to them.  I like it!