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<blockquote data-quote="(un)reason" data-source="post: 5706829" data-attributes="member: 27780"><p><strong><u>Dragon Magazine Issue 250: August 1998</u></strong></p><p></p><p></p><p>part 5/8</p><p></p><p></p><p>Wyrms of the north: Looks like for a second time, Volo has actually had an interesting love life as a result of his draconic investigations. Just goes to show, a little confidence makes up for a lot of practical shortcomings. Family is once again a strong theme in this article, as we not only have talk about Volo's illegitimate offspring, but another dragon who's decided to form a bond with a family of humans and see what happens to them over the centuries. As a Bronze dragon, he's able to assume human form with ease, and is relatively benevolent in his approach to manipulating them, although as he takes the long view, he won't save individuals from their own stupidity, and may even cull them if it would be for the better. There's some more seriously sloppy editing in this article, with two nasty discontinuities in the writing chopping away parts of sentences. So it seems that Ed is finally starting to repeat himself in this column, and the editors are continuing to make large, easily noticed mistakes. Put that together, and it does drag this article down quite a bit. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Dragon's bestiary: Once again they show that the rate and frequency with which they rehash topics is increasing in this era, with another bunch of aquatic monsters, last given an article a mere 15 issues ago. It's really not good enough, you know. If you haven't got anything of significance to say, you shouldn't say anything at all, and let someone else speak instead. </p><p></p><p>Black slime brings old skool ooziness to the oceans, turning you into more of it just as green slime does in caverns. And so another previously untouched symmetry was filled in. </p><p></p><p>Giant clownfish are a pretty direct conversion of the real life creature, only bigger. They're basically an excuse to pass on a bunch of real world ecological info to the rest of us philistines, as if we hadn't been eagerly devouring that stuff for 15 years. This is veering into patronising territory. Johnathan may write good ecologies, but he's not much cop at thinking up new monsters. </p><p></p><p>Giant diving beetles see the formula wheels churn once again, upscaling an existing creature while hardly changing it to reflect it's new circumstances. Yawn. </p><p></p><p>Sea cows get somewhat more fantasy info, with people farming them, and plenty of magical uses for their stuff. But they aren't really much use for adventurers, and the whole thing feels like setting-building for it's own sake. It's an excellent example of the stuff that would be brutally purged next edition, and in this mood, I can quite understand why. The pendulum really has swung too far to the froofy side this time. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Arcane Lore: Hmm. An al-qadim spellbook. Haven't had one of those here before, which is surprising, since it's part of Toril, and lots of the most interesting variant wizard types come from there. I suppose sha'irs, clockwork mages, ghul lords, jackals, etc, don't use conventional spellbooks, so they aren't going to be contributing to the greater lore stores of the multiverse. This is interesting for another reason, as it draws upon the same real world vein of lore as the Sons of ether in M:tA. Say hello to the Kitab al-Asfr. The work of a powerful geomancer, it's unsurprisingly focussed on earth spells. </p><p></p><p>Dusting the Rock makes any small particles of dust and gravel in the vicinity all fly towards you. This is obviously not very pleasant to experience, and may be immobilising in the right terrain. </p><p></p><p>Cone of Earth is a reskinned cone of cold, doing plenty of damage, and impeding the victims. You could also probably make use of the raw material created. It's certainly more lasting than a fireball. </p><p></p><p>Entombment sucks you in, but doesn't preserve you for eternity like the 9th level version. No, it's a slow suffocating death for you, unless there happens to be a dungeon immediately beneath where you're standing. And what are the odds of that? <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /> </p><p></p><p>And that's your lot. Rather short compare to most of these articles. Oh well, better to leave you wanting more than to wear out their welcome with repetition like far too many of the department articles do these days.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="(un)reason, post: 5706829, member: 27780"] [B][U]Dragon Magazine Issue 250: August 1998[/U][/B] part 5/8 Wyrms of the north: Looks like for a second time, Volo has actually had an interesting love life as a result of his draconic investigations. Just goes to show, a little confidence makes up for a lot of practical shortcomings. Family is once again a strong theme in this article, as we not only have talk about Volo's illegitimate offspring, but another dragon who's decided to form a bond with a family of humans and see what happens to them over the centuries. As a Bronze dragon, he's able to assume human form with ease, and is relatively benevolent in his approach to manipulating them, although as he takes the long view, he won't save individuals from their own stupidity, and may even cull them if it would be for the better. There's some more seriously sloppy editing in this article, with two nasty discontinuities in the writing chopping away parts of sentences. So it seems that Ed is finally starting to repeat himself in this column, and the editors are continuing to make large, easily noticed mistakes. Put that together, and it does drag this article down quite a bit. Dragon's bestiary: Once again they show that the rate and frequency with which they rehash topics is increasing in this era, with another bunch of aquatic monsters, last given an article a mere 15 issues ago. It's really not good enough, you know. If you haven't got anything of significance to say, you shouldn't say anything at all, and let someone else speak instead. Black slime brings old skool ooziness to the oceans, turning you into more of it just as green slime does in caverns. And so another previously untouched symmetry was filled in. Giant clownfish are a pretty direct conversion of the real life creature, only bigger. They're basically an excuse to pass on a bunch of real world ecological info to the rest of us philistines, as if we hadn't been eagerly devouring that stuff for 15 years. This is veering into patronising territory. Johnathan may write good ecologies, but he's not much cop at thinking up new monsters. Giant diving beetles see the formula wheels churn once again, upscaling an existing creature while hardly changing it to reflect it's new circumstances. Yawn. Sea cows get somewhat more fantasy info, with people farming them, and plenty of magical uses for their stuff. But they aren't really much use for adventurers, and the whole thing feels like setting-building for it's own sake. It's an excellent example of the stuff that would be brutally purged next edition, and in this mood, I can quite understand why. The pendulum really has swung too far to the froofy side this time. Arcane Lore: Hmm. An al-qadim spellbook. Haven't had one of those here before, which is surprising, since it's part of Toril, and lots of the most interesting variant wizard types come from there. I suppose sha'irs, clockwork mages, ghul lords, jackals, etc, don't use conventional spellbooks, so they aren't going to be contributing to the greater lore stores of the multiverse. This is interesting for another reason, as it draws upon the same real world vein of lore as the Sons of ether in M:tA. Say hello to the Kitab al-Asfr. The work of a powerful geomancer, it's unsurprisingly focussed on earth spells. Dusting the Rock makes any small particles of dust and gravel in the vicinity all fly towards you. This is obviously not very pleasant to experience, and may be immobilising in the right terrain. Cone of Earth is a reskinned cone of cold, doing plenty of damage, and impeding the victims. You could also probably make use of the raw material created. It's certainly more lasting than a fireball. Entombment sucks you in, but doesn't preserve you for eternity like the 9th level version. No, it's a slow suffocating death for you, unless there happens to be a dungeon immediately beneath where you're standing. And what are the odds of that? :D And that's your lot. Rather short compare to most of these articles. Oh well, better to leave you wanting more than to wear out their welcome with repetition like far too many of the department articles do these days. [/QUOTE]
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