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<blockquote data-quote="(un)reason" data-source="post: 5969465" data-attributes="member: 27780"><p><strong><u>Dragon Issue 285: July 2001</u></strong></p><p></p><p></p><p>part 3/7</p><p></p><p></p><p>Fiction: Enchantment by Ben Bova. The reign of Arthur might have been long and impressive in most versions, but it always inevitably has to end. No matter how many times Orion wins a battle, he only has to fail once. And while he can win the straight up-fights, he can't stop Arthur from having sex with the wrong woman, and producing Mordred, who we all know will eventually be instrumental in his downfall. This advances the overall plot by a fair chunk, but isn't as standalone as the previous stories in this series. Like Fool Wolf's story, I get the impression that this tale may reach it's conclusion in just a few more instalments, and then what will replace it? Still, at least the final twists and turns are likely to be pretty dramatic. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Campaign Corner: This month, we have a Zhentil defector in the Realms, some demons trying to retrieve a magic item on Oerth, some missing Factols in Sigil, and a piece of parchment that's diagonally upside-down, and unreadable at this resolution for Birthright. So while each of the plot hooks is once again fairly specific, most of them are easily adaptable, apart from the planescape one, which really needs that detailed factional structure. Maybe you could replace it with feuding guilds or religions in a place with a different focus. These hooks are too short to write about much, so like the portraits, I worry I may run out of things to say. I guess it all depends how specific they keep them as much as anything. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Class Acts: Monte takes an interesting tack to this month's theme. The lightbearer, bringer of the comforts of home, hearth and community to the dark places adventurers roam. Their abilities are primarily defensive, with all good saves, a bit of magical healing, a bit of ability to drive away evil creatures. If you want your halflings to feel LotRish, huddled in the wilderness and driving away nazgul by words rather than swords, this is actually a surprisingly appropriate prestige class to take. Obviously, in terms of combat power they're a bit weak, but they're so thematic that I can forgive them anyway. Perfect for that wandering NPC who doesn't get involved in the fighting, but still manages to save the day. </p><p></p><p></p><p>The Bestiary: More new school Greyhawk creepies this month, courtesy of James Jacobs. This time, we head to the Gnarley forest and the temple of elemental evil. If you're at all surprised they went around creating corrupted elementals and domesticating whatever weird creatures they found, you don't know evil cultists very well. </p><p></p><p>Breathdrinkers are formed from air ripped from people's lungs, and keep on killing in this fashion to sustain their existence. Another dark fairytale monster, as is very much this writer's wont. </p><p></p><p>Rukarazyll are another SAN lowering abomination that delights in assuming a human form and tricking you into various depravities and misfortunes. And then probably laughing in a deep distorted voice that sounds like a stereotypical anime tentacle monster. <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" /> Yes, they're finally getting a proper foothold in D&D. Bad game designers! Baka no eechi! :thwacks with hammer: <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>Firetongue frogs aren't nearly as powerful, but they're still sadistic taunting creatures with tricks far in excess of their HD. Throw them in the drink to kill them. </p><p> </p><p>Orlythys are another gross monster from the oceanic depths of the abyss. Ok, you're starting to get predictable now. Randomly distributed tentacles and other organs are losing their scariness factor. Please to be finding a new gimmick. </p><p></p><p>Tralusk also have far more eyes in odd places than they ought to, but are closer to a conventional body shape otherwise. They're also another one which uses music as a luring tool. Man, the number of monsters that do that over the years, you could make a whole orchestra with them.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="(un)reason, post: 5969465, member: 27780"] [B][U]Dragon Issue 285: July 2001[/U][/B] part 3/7 Fiction: Enchantment by Ben Bova. The reign of Arthur might have been long and impressive in most versions, but it always inevitably has to end. No matter how many times Orion wins a battle, he only has to fail once. And while he can win the straight up-fights, he can't stop Arthur from having sex with the wrong woman, and producing Mordred, who we all know will eventually be instrumental in his downfall. This advances the overall plot by a fair chunk, but isn't as standalone as the previous stories in this series. Like Fool Wolf's story, I get the impression that this tale may reach it's conclusion in just a few more instalments, and then what will replace it? Still, at least the final twists and turns are likely to be pretty dramatic. Campaign Corner: This month, we have a Zhentil defector in the Realms, some demons trying to retrieve a magic item on Oerth, some missing Factols in Sigil, and a piece of parchment that's diagonally upside-down, and unreadable at this resolution for Birthright. So while each of the plot hooks is once again fairly specific, most of them are easily adaptable, apart from the planescape one, which really needs that detailed factional structure. Maybe you could replace it with feuding guilds or religions in a place with a different focus. These hooks are too short to write about much, so like the portraits, I worry I may run out of things to say. I guess it all depends how specific they keep them as much as anything. Class Acts: Monte takes an interesting tack to this month's theme. The lightbearer, bringer of the comforts of home, hearth and community to the dark places adventurers roam. Their abilities are primarily defensive, with all good saves, a bit of magical healing, a bit of ability to drive away evil creatures. If you want your halflings to feel LotRish, huddled in the wilderness and driving away nazgul by words rather than swords, this is actually a surprisingly appropriate prestige class to take. Obviously, in terms of combat power they're a bit weak, but they're so thematic that I can forgive them anyway. Perfect for that wandering NPC who doesn't get involved in the fighting, but still manages to save the day. The Bestiary: More new school Greyhawk creepies this month, courtesy of James Jacobs. This time, we head to the Gnarley forest and the temple of elemental evil. If you're at all surprised they went around creating corrupted elementals and domesticating whatever weird creatures they found, you don't know evil cultists very well. Breathdrinkers are formed from air ripped from people's lungs, and keep on killing in this fashion to sustain their existence. Another dark fairytale monster, as is very much this writer's wont. Rukarazyll are another SAN lowering abomination that delights in assuming a human form and tricking you into various depravities and misfortunes. And then probably laughing in a deep distorted voice that sounds like a stereotypical anime tentacle monster. :p Yes, they're finally getting a proper foothold in D&D. Bad game designers! Baka no eechi! :thwacks with hammer: :D Firetongue frogs aren't nearly as powerful, but they're still sadistic taunting creatures with tricks far in excess of their HD. Throw them in the drink to kill them. Orlythys are another gross monster from the oceanic depths of the abyss. Ok, you're starting to get predictable now. Randomly distributed tentacles and other organs are losing their scariness factor. Please to be finding a new gimmick. Tralusk also have far more eyes in odd places than they ought to, but are closer to a conventional body shape otherwise. They're also another one which uses music as a luring tool. Man, the number of monsters that do that over the years, you could make a whole orchestra with them. [/QUOTE]
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