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<blockquote data-quote="(un)reason" data-source="post: 5770754" data-attributes="member: 27780"><p><strong><u>Dragon Magazine Issue 260: June 1999</u></strong></p><p></p><p></p><p>part 6/7</p><p></p><p></p><p>Arcane Lore: We've had plenty of birthday issues where dragons get new toys. How about a little something for us poor schmucks who actually have to kill them? There's been plenty of people who've lost their lives to dragons, you'd think a few of them would become wizards in their relentless quest for vengance instead of going the knightly route. Yup, I think I approve. This column hasn't suffered nearly as much from topic moribundity as the Bazaar or Bestiary. </p><p></p><p>Dust Shield is a minor but useful shielding effect that'll keep the environment from messing with you, and annoying swashbucklers from throwing sand in your eye. Since flying dragons can make a mess, this is pertinent, if the least of your worries once they're about to breathe on you. </p><p></p><p>Chain Invisibility is a sneaky little trick designed to rile up a dragon or other greedy fool. Your stuff isn't really gone. But taking the time to realise that mid-combat'll make you vulnerable. </p><p></p><p>Fizzlebreath is another one that'll make them waste a few rounds, and quite possibly panic. Remember, they can often kill you in one hit, so don't even let them get that off. </p><p></p><p>Body Reunion is an interesting sympathetic magic that's useful for hunting not only dragons, but all sorts of missing creatures. A scale, a lock of hair, an old baby tooth, whatever it takes. </p><p></p><p>Lockjaw is another one to make sure they can't even attack. Now what we need is something to blunt their claws and clip their wings, and enough wizards to unleash them all at once. </p><p></p><p>Soften Scales is another pretty obvious defence reducer. After all, they do have huge negative AC's. Even an experience warrior will struggle to get hits in if you don't help them. </p><p></p><p>Earth Magnet is pretty much what I expected it to be. If you're flying, it grounds you, if you're earthbound, it sticks you there. Since Draconic mobility is underused by too many DMs, consider if you want to bother. </p><p></p><p>Temporary Youth is really mean for dragons, but pretty neat for the rest of us. A bit longer would be nicer though, as with a tiny duration, it's only good for combat, not social tricks. Maybe a higher level variant then. Still, it's good that this stuff isn't totally focussed on one monster. It's definitely more PC friendly than the last few years. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Role models: This column serves a dual purpose, as seems to have become it's formula. The majority of it is devoted to the rules disputes that are far easier to resolve when you have minis, questions of positioning and how far characters can move in a round, which lets you know if characters can attack other ones, and what ranged modifiers they're likely to be facing. This becomes especially important if you split the party, and one hears the other in trouble, or some similar inconvenience. Meanwhile, the second, shorter sidebar is about painting faces. The secret here is to imply, not overdetail, as minis are small, and you won't be able to make out details unless you get really close. When it comes to faces, the human mind has an amazing ability to extrapolate and fill in the blanks. So once again, it does two things in two pages, and doesn't go into much depth on either. Does White Dwarf still do painting advice at this point? I know they went from covering all sorts of systems into pure house organ as well, but is that still within their remit? And are they only pandering to the new kids, or do they still produce material aimed at long-term fans? If only those threads hadn't stalled in the low double digits. So anyway, while Dungeoncraft is steaming ahead adding new depths to our roleplaying design skills, this column is not keeping up with respect to minis. It all remains a bit basic. </p><p></p><p></p><p>PC Portraits: Not too surprisingly, this column goes for the dragonslayer option. As with the sci-fi one, I think showing their bodies would allow the artist more ability to accurately represent this specialisation. As it is, the main thing they share is a certain intensity of expression. Well, we have had quite a few dragonslayer kits over the years, and they don't have that much in common either, particularly the spellcasting ones. Given how smart dragons are, that's probably for the best. If they know what's coming, they will have prepared a countermeasure. So as usual, this doesn't give me a huge amount to talk about, and you could easily use the portraits for other purposes. Meh. Give it a year or so more to wear out it's welcome.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="(un)reason, post: 5770754, member: 27780"] [B][U]Dragon Magazine Issue 260: June 1999[/U][/B] part 6/7 Arcane Lore: We've had plenty of birthday issues where dragons get new toys. How about a little something for us poor schmucks who actually have to kill them? There's been plenty of people who've lost their lives to dragons, you'd think a few of them would become wizards in their relentless quest for vengance instead of going the knightly route. Yup, I think I approve. This column hasn't suffered nearly as much from topic moribundity as the Bazaar or Bestiary. Dust Shield is a minor but useful shielding effect that'll keep the environment from messing with you, and annoying swashbucklers from throwing sand in your eye. Since flying dragons can make a mess, this is pertinent, if the least of your worries once they're about to breathe on you. Chain Invisibility is a sneaky little trick designed to rile up a dragon or other greedy fool. Your stuff isn't really gone. But taking the time to realise that mid-combat'll make you vulnerable. Fizzlebreath is another one that'll make them waste a few rounds, and quite possibly panic. Remember, they can often kill you in one hit, so don't even let them get that off. Body Reunion is an interesting sympathetic magic that's useful for hunting not only dragons, but all sorts of missing creatures. A scale, a lock of hair, an old baby tooth, whatever it takes. Lockjaw is another one to make sure they can't even attack. Now what we need is something to blunt their claws and clip their wings, and enough wizards to unleash them all at once. Soften Scales is another pretty obvious defence reducer. After all, they do have huge negative AC's. Even an experience warrior will struggle to get hits in if you don't help them. Earth Magnet is pretty much what I expected it to be. If you're flying, it grounds you, if you're earthbound, it sticks you there. Since Draconic mobility is underused by too many DMs, consider if you want to bother. Temporary Youth is really mean for dragons, but pretty neat for the rest of us. A bit longer would be nicer though, as with a tiny duration, it's only good for combat, not social tricks. Maybe a higher level variant then. Still, it's good that this stuff isn't totally focussed on one monster. It's definitely more PC friendly than the last few years. Role models: This column serves a dual purpose, as seems to have become it's formula. The majority of it is devoted to the rules disputes that are far easier to resolve when you have minis, questions of positioning and how far characters can move in a round, which lets you know if characters can attack other ones, and what ranged modifiers they're likely to be facing. This becomes especially important if you split the party, and one hears the other in trouble, or some similar inconvenience. Meanwhile, the second, shorter sidebar is about painting faces. The secret here is to imply, not overdetail, as minis are small, and you won't be able to make out details unless you get really close. When it comes to faces, the human mind has an amazing ability to extrapolate and fill in the blanks. So once again, it does two things in two pages, and doesn't go into much depth on either. Does White Dwarf still do painting advice at this point? I know they went from covering all sorts of systems into pure house organ as well, but is that still within their remit? And are they only pandering to the new kids, or do they still produce material aimed at long-term fans? If only those threads hadn't stalled in the low double digits. So anyway, while Dungeoncraft is steaming ahead adding new depths to our roleplaying design skills, this column is not keeping up with respect to minis. It all remains a bit basic. PC Portraits: Not too surprisingly, this column goes for the dragonslayer option. As with the sci-fi one, I think showing their bodies would allow the artist more ability to accurately represent this specialisation. As it is, the main thing they share is a certain intensity of expression. Well, we have had quite a few dragonslayer kits over the years, and they don't have that much in common either, particularly the spellcasting ones. Given how smart dragons are, that's probably for the best. If they know what's coming, they will have prepared a countermeasure. So as usual, this doesn't give me a huge amount to talk about, and you could easily use the portraits for other purposes. Meh. Give it a year or so more to wear out it's welcome. [/QUOTE]
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