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<blockquote data-quote="(un)reason" data-source="post: 5746734" data-attributes="member: 27780"><p><strong><u>Dragon Magazine Issue 256: February 1999</u></strong></p><p></p><p></p><p>part 5/8</p><p></p><p></p><p>Fiction: The span by Diane Duane. Youuuuuuu. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite7" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue :p" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":p" />oints: Actually, no, I'm thinking of someone else, as my look back over the archive shows she's responsible for some of the better regarded Star Trek books. It's other people who were responsible for the characterisation violating, idiot ball juggling abominations we saw slated several times in the book reviews column (RIP <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite3" alt=":(" title="Frown :(" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":(" /> ) Instead we have a rather interesting bit of writing full of nuanced social interaction, and magic involving sex as an integral part of the plot line, with all the complications and worries arising from that you'd imagine. In short, this is one that'd never have been published a few years ago, with the TSR code of conduct in full force. There's a little bit of cosmological detail and magic as science stuff, but it takes a back seat to the human element here. So this once again shows the difference in quality between the mainstream writers who contribute and the staff guys doing Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance stuff. They could do with a little more cross-promotion if they want to grow their fanbase again. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Wyrms of the north: Ah yes, Mercury Dragons. The draconic equivalent of Kender. :spits: Whizzing around the place, dazzling people, and generally being good-naturedly mischievous. Here we combine that with a pulp daredevil flyer, the kind who crashes into a scene, makes a nuisance of himself, and then takes off again and leaves other people to deal with the consequences. He also has an awesome secret hideout filled with traps and monsters that'll be the envy of every evil wizard who tries to penetrate it. Plenty of detail is also gone into his treasure, but unusually for Ed, he doesn't have any unique spells. So like a lot of these dragons, he might serve as an ally or an enemy, depending how much tolerance the PC's have for whimsy and pranks. So this really reminds us that Ed is as cheesy as ever, and that's unlikely to end when this column does. If you want to adventure in the Realms, you're going to have to live with that, or spend a lot of time cleaning out the goofier elements. </p><p></p><p></p><p>PC Portraits: This has some roguish characters. They seem to skew slightly younger-looking than the recent instalments of this series, but there's the usual wide range of races, sexes, and personality types. They might trick you, they might go unnoticed while stealing, or they might use force to get what they want. Probably the safest thing to do is to not trust anyone. But that in itself can condemn you to a lonely paranoid life. Oh, the dilemma. Best to at least try and make people think you trust them. It does help a little bit, given that most people do adhere at least a little to do as you would be done by. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Dragon's bestiary: Hmm. 4 issues ago, we got a collection of monsters based on the works of M R James. This time they're converting stuff from the computer game Heretic II. This is an interesting development. We saw plenty of characters converted in the old GitE articles, but monsters were less likely to be direct rips. I wonder if this trend will continue. In any case, it'll give us some interesting visuals, even if the monsters may occupy the same niche as existing D&D ones. </p><p></p><p>Plague sidhe are elves infected with a deadly and highly contagious disease that makes them attack all noninfected people in the vicinity. A great justification for enemies that attack on sight, and need to be taken out from a distance. </p><p></p><p>Plague spreaders are the mid level bads behind the disease, ensuring it spreads with rather more intelligence and some neat technomagical devices. Take them out and things become more manageable, but you may have to be put down after fighting them. It does add rather a tragic edge to proceedings. Looks like like many books, they're going for accurate conversions rather than fair, which I generally approve of. </p><p></p><p>Parthoris Gorgons are adorable little dinosaur like creatures that'll leap at you and get blown away. Watch out for back attacks, because that'll be rather unpleasant to say the least. </p><p></p><p>G'Grokon just look strange. Semi-bipedal bug things, they're pretty weedy, but spit acid balls with a very high RoF, so if you're standing still, your life meter'll go down fast. Another case where I can see the game tropes showing through and contrasting with the usual D&D design ones to interesting effect. </p><p></p><p>Parthoris harpys fly around and dive on you. Another one that seems like a decent challenge, but not too spectacular or imaginative in terms of abilities. Not a bad conversion, overall, and they've added a nice amount of ecological data. This is rather better than the endless rehashes lately.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="(un)reason, post: 5746734, member: 27780"] [B][U]Dragon Magazine Issue 256: February 1999[/U][/B] part 5/8 Fiction: The span by Diane Duane. Youuuuuuu. :points: Actually, no, I'm thinking of someone else, as my look back over the archive shows she's responsible for some of the better regarded Star Trek books. It's other people who were responsible for the characterisation violating, idiot ball juggling abominations we saw slated several times in the book reviews column (RIP :( ) Instead we have a rather interesting bit of writing full of nuanced social interaction, and magic involving sex as an integral part of the plot line, with all the complications and worries arising from that you'd imagine. In short, this is one that'd never have been published a few years ago, with the TSR code of conduct in full force. There's a little bit of cosmological detail and magic as science stuff, but it takes a back seat to the human element here. So this once again shows the difference in quality between the mainstream writers who contribute and the staff guys doing Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance stuff. They could do with a little more cross-promotion if they want to grow their fanbase again. Wyrms of the north: Ah yes, Mercury Dragons. The draconic equivalent of Kender. :spits: Whizzing around the place, dazzling people, and generally being good-naturedly mischievous. Here we combine that with a pulp daredevil flyer, the kind who crashes into a scene, makes a nuisance of himself, and then takes off again and leaves other people to deal with the consequences. He also has an awesome secret hideout filled with traps and monsters that'll be the envy of every evil wizard who tries to penetrate it. Plenty of detail is also gone into his treasure, but unusually for Ed, he doesn't have any unique spells. So like a lot of these dragons, he might serve as an ally or an enemy, depending how much tolerance the PC's have for whimsy and pranks. So this really reminds us that Ed is as cheesy as ever, and that's unlikely to end when this column does. If you want to adventure in the Realms, you're going to have to live with that, or spend a lot of time cleaning out the goofier elements. PC Portraits: This has some roguish characters. They seem to skew slightly younger-looking than the recent instalments of this series, but there's the usual wide range of races, sexes, and personality types. They might trick you, they might go unnoticed while stealing, or they might use force to get what they want. Probably the safest thing to do is to not trust anyone. But that in itself can condemn you to a lonely paranoid life. Oh, the dilemma. Best to at least try and make people think you trust them. It does help a little bit, given that most people do adhere at least a little to do as you would be done by. Dragon's bestiary: Hmm. 4 issues ago, we got a collection of monsters based on the works of M R James. This time they're converting stuff from the computer game Heretic II. This is an interesting development. We saw plenty of characters converted in the old GitE articles, but monsters were less likely to be direct rips. I wonder if this trend will continue. In any case, it'll give us some interesting visuals, even if the monsters may occupy the same niche as existing D&D ones. Plague sidhe are elves infected with a deadly and highly contagious disease that makes them attack all noninfected people in the vicinity. A great justification for enemies that attack on sight, and need to be taken out from a distance. Plague spreaders are the mid level bads behind the disease, ensuring it spreads with rather more intelligence and some neat technomagical devices. Take them out and things become more manageable, but you may have to be put down after fighting them. It does add rather a tragic edge to proceedings. Looks like like many books, they're going for accurate conversions rather than fair, which I generally approve of. Parthoris Gorgons are adorable little dinosaur like creatures that'll leap at you and get blown away. Watch out for back attacks, because that'll be rather unpleasant to say the least. G'Grokon just look strange. Semi-bipedal bug things, they're pretty weedy, but spit acid balls with a very high RoF, so if you're standing still, your life meter'll go down fast. Another case where I can see the game tropes showing through and contrasting with the usual D&D design ones to interesting effect. Parthoris harpys fly around and dive on you. Another one that seems like a decent challenge, but not too spectacular or imaginative in terms of abilities. Not a bad conversion, overall, and they've added a nice amount of ecological data. This is rather better than the endless rehashes lately. [/QUOTE]
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