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<blockquote data-quote="(un)reason" data-source="post: 5734145" data-attributes="member: 27780"><p><strong><u>Dragon Magazine Issue 254: December 1998</u></strong></p><p></p><p></p><p>part 8/8</p><p></p><p></p><p>TSR Previews: Christmas is busy, but no-where near as busy as a couple of years ago. The Forgotten realms reprints an old novel, and brings out a new one. Elminster takes centre stage in both Elminster in Myth Drannor and The Temptation of Elminster. Once again, you have a chance to see how he got to be the way he is. </p><p></p><p>Planescape continues to draw to a close, with The Inner Planes. At least, like Birthright, they get to go out with all the bases properly covered. Actually, they've generally been pretty good about that, unlike many other companies. Really should count my blessings. </p><p></p><p>Dragonlance bounces forward in time again, with a 5th age supplement covering Palanthas. See how this place has changed since the old magic went away. </p><p></p><p>We get two generic AD&D products this month. The monstrous compendium annual 4 continues to make it easier to get hold of all the gribleys scattered around strange supplements. The Lost Shrine of Bundushatur takes us into another old skool dungeon for some traditional tournament style play. Another opportunity to die repeatedly, yay! </p><p></p><p>Alternity gets another novel. On the Verge by Roland Green. More wild frontiering in the StarDrive setting. </p><p></p><p>Marvel Super Heroes gets A guide to Marvel Earth. More stuff they've done before, updated for the new system and developments in comic books. Ahh, the wonders of being able to recycle ideas for every new gameline. </p><p></p><p></p><p>ProFiles? Another stupid attempt to be cool. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite11" alt=":rolleyes:" title="Roll eyes :rolleyes:" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":rolleyes:" /> Anyway, this month's profilee is another returning one. Jeff Easly, last interviewed in issue 109. Rather more sensibly dressed than last time around, he remains in much the same position, only older, greyer, balder, and more entrenched. He's still quiet, yet holds the office together with his wit and he still collects all sorts of crap and decorates his office with it. By now one of the stalwarts of D&D illustration, he's contributed to all the current corebooks, and most of the monstrous compendia. As you would expect, we get rather less info on his early life than last time. But we do get more useful info on his inspirations, and how he approaches his work. It all balances out this time. </p><p></p><p></p><p>One of those issues that starts out very strong indeed, but gradually loses steam along the way, this has both excellent articles and some very annoying formulaic rehash. Really, this hammers in that it's the regular columns, the bestiary in particular, that are really running out of ideas. They stepped up the frequency of them over the last couple of years due to demand, but that's now wearing thin. Too much of any one thing will bore people. Modules were huge in the 80's, the 90's saw settings reign supreme, while the 00's had splatbooks and new crunch for players become the most common type of supplement. Doing the same thing year in year out will eventually fail even if the actual quality remains the same simply due to the vagaries of fashion and advancements in technology. People said focussing on adventures was a foolish choice for Pathfinder, and now it seems to be outselling 4e some quarters. But they too will become subject to diminishing returns with too many adventure paths. Anyway, let's hope they have a few more changes to make next year, and the annual won't be another regularfest like the first one was.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="(un)reason, post: 5734145, member: 27780"] [B][U]Dragon Magazine Issue 254: December 1998[/U][/B] part 8/8 TSR Previews: Christmas is busy, but no-where near as busy as a couple of years ago. The Forgotten realms reprints an old novel, and brings out a new one. Elminster takes centre stage in both Elminster in Myth Drannor and The Temptation of Elminster. Once again, you have a chance to see how he got to be the way he is. Planescape continues to draw to a close, with The Inner Planes. At least, like Birthright, they get to go out with all the bases properly covered. Actually, they've generally been pretty good about that, unlike many other companies. Really should count my blessings. Dragonlance bounces forward in time again, with a 5th age supplement covering Palanthas. See how this place has changed since the old magic went away. We get two generic AD&D products this month. The monstrous compendium annual 4 continues to make it easier to get hold of all the gribleys scattered around strange supplements. The Lost Shrine of Bundushatur takes us into another old skool dungeon for some traditional tournament style play. Another opportunity to die repeatedly, yay! Alternity gets another novel. On the Verge by Roland Green. More wild frontiering in the StarDrive setting. Marvel Super Heroes gets A guide to Marvel Earth. More stuff they've done before, updated for the new system and developments in comic books. Ahh, the wonders of being able to recycle ideas for every new gameline. ProFiles? Another stupid attempt to be cool. :rolleyes: Anyway, this month's profilee is another returning one. Jeff Easly, last interviewed in issue 109. Rather more sensibly dressed than last time around, he remains in much the same position, only older, greyer, balder, and more entrenched. He's still quiet, yet holds the office together with his wit and he still collects all sorts of crap and decorates his office with it. By now one of the stalwarts of D&D illustration, he's contributed to all the current corebooks, and most of the monstrous compendia. As you would expect, we get rather less info on his early life than last time. But we do get more useful info on his inspirations, and how he approaches his work. It all balances out this time. One of those issues that starts out very strong indeed, but gradually loses steam along the way, this has both excellent articles and some very annoying formulaic rehash. Really, this hammers in that it's the regular columns, the bestiary in particular, that are really running out of ideas. They stepped up the frequency of them over the last couple of years due to demand, but that's now wearing thin. Too much of any one thing will bore people. Modules were huge in the 80's, the 90's saw settings reign supreme, while the 00's had splatbooks and new crunch for players become the most common type of supplement. Doing the same thing year in year out will eventually fail even if the actual quality remains the same simply due to the vagaries of fashion and advancements in technology. People said focussing on adventures was a foolish choice for Pathfinder, and now it seems to be outselling 4e some quarters. But they too will become subject to diminishing returns with too many adventure paths. Anyway, let's hope they have a few more changes to make next year, and the annual won't be another regularfest like the first one was. [/QUOTE]
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