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Review of Kobold Quarterly Issue #21 (Spring 2012) by Open Design
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<blockquote data-quote="Neuroglyph" data-source="post: 7648374" data-attributes="member: 85633"><p><span style="font-size: 12px">A surprisingly meek winter has faded away, and what can only be called a frightfully tempestuous springtime has roared its way in for much of the United States. And with the storms, the newest edition of <strong><em>Kobold Quarterly</em></strong> has blown into town, full of new articles for RPG gamers to ponder safely away from wind and rain!</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Open Design’s</strong> <strong><em>Kobold Quarterly</em></strong>, independent fantasy role-playing magazine, offers a wide range of content articles drawn from authors and gamers from the 3rd and 4th Edition <strong><em>Dungeons & Dragons</em></strong>, <strong><em>Pathfinder</em></strong> and <strong><em>Dragon Age</em></strong> role-playing game communities. It earned the nickname of the “Switzerland of the Edition Wars” for being open to all types of FRPG systems.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">As in my previous reviews of <strong><em>Kobold Quarterly</em></strong>, I’ll discuss each article and try to rate its potential use for the game system for which it was written, by measuring both its “crunch” and “fluff” content. </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><u>Kobold Quarterly Issue 21</u></strong></span></p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Editor: Wolfgang Baur (Kobold in Chief)</span></span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Illustrations: Kieran Yanner (cover), Fred H. Ball, Nicholas Bercham, Emile Denis, Rick Hershey, Frank Heβefort, Chris McFann, Jeremy Mohler, Russ Nicholson, Claudio Pozas, Cory Trego-Erdner (interior)</span></span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Publisher: Open Design LLC</span></span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Year: 2012</span></span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Media: PDF (80 pages) </span></span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px">Price: $5.99 (PDF available from the <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/101106/Kobold-Quarterly-Magazine-21&amp;filters=0_0_0_31813_0?affiliate_id=270466" target="_blank"><strong>RPGNow</strong></a>) </span></li> </ul><p><span style="font-size: 12px">[align=right]http://www.neuroglyphgames.com/rpgblogs/home/neurogly/public_html/rpgblogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/kq-21-cover-jpg.jpg[/align]<strong><em>Kobold Quarterly Issue #21</em></strong> is the second issue for 2012 of Open Design’s independent fantasy role-playing game magazine. <strong><em>KQ #21</em></strong> is available in both hardcopy and PDF formats, and contains 13 articles for use with <strong><em>Pathfinder</em></strong>, <strong><em>Dungeons & Dragons</em></strong>, and <strong><em>Dragon Age RPG</em></strong>. The issue also includes an editorial, an interview with Bill Slavicsek, an OGL advice column, and a game theory discussion by Steve Winter. </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">The PDF has a good presentation in three-column format, and has both a table of contents and bookmarks to make navigating through the articles a fairly easy process. This issue’s cover art by Kieran Yanner depicts a voluptuous and scantily clad wood nymph striking a pose, which presumably 9 out of 10 male adventurers would find dangerously irresistible. Editor Wolfgang Bauer discusses the use of “cheesecake” in fantasy with an editorial entitled “Women, With or Without Reasonable Armor”, and hints that the Summer issue of KQ might show some “beefcake” to balance the scales for those female adventurers out there. </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">Personally, I like the artist’s style for this “siren of the forest”, reminding me a bit of DC’s Poison Ivy, although her skin coloring seems just a shade shy of an Orion Slave Girl – but I’d guess their poses would be about the same.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><u>The Articles</u></strong></span></p><p></p><p><em><span style="font-size: 12px">The Shaman</span></em><span style="font-size: 12px"> by Marc Radle is a new Pathfinder article detailing a new class. The class, at first glance, appears to be a Druid sub-class, but I noted that it also incorporates some of the elements of a 4E Shaman, including a spirit animal and some totemic influences. Overall, it’s a pretty interesting combination, although the class might not fit into every Pathfinder campaign.</span></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 12px">Fluff</span></strong><span style="font-size: 12px">: 4</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Crunch</strong>: 4</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><em>Daughters of Lilith</em> by Sersa Victory details “An Ecology of the Succubus”, and while small amount of “crunch” is all 4E, the article’s “fluff” could be used in any fantasy gaming system. The author pulls few punches about the life cycle of this sexy demonic temptress, and the new class powers, monster traits, and curse (of uncontrollable lust) can make for some nice additions to a 4E campaign.</span></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 12px">Fluff</span></strong><span style="font-size: 12px">: 5</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Crunch</strong>: 3</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><em>It’s a Mystery</em> is a game system neutral article by David “Zeb” Cook which discusses how to make religions more interesting and profound in a campaign setting by using facets of a “mystery cult”. The author discusses mystery cults in our own history, and then gives a step-by-step format to adding them to existing religions in almost any campaign setting. Great stuff here for world-builders!</span></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 12px">Fluff</span></strong><span style="font-size: 12px">: 5</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Crunch</strong>: NA</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><em>Clerical Conflicts</em> by Tim and Eileen Connors is a Pathfinder article about giving cleric player-characters a major religious dilemma to deal with during the course of a campaign. The authors detail five different scenarios and personal hooks which can have a profound effect on the life of a PC cleric, and while the crunchy parts of the article are Pathfinder based, the ideas put forth could make for enjoyable role-playing in any game system which includes clerics and a hierarchical church/pantheon.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Fluff</strong>: 4</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Crunch</strong>: 3</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">This quarter’s <em>Howling Tower</em> column by Steve Winter asks and tries to answer the sticky question of “<em>Why No Monotheism</em>” in role-playing games. The author delves into a number of issues which makes the polytheism versus monotheism question a sometimes troubling one for game masters and players, and offers some ideas for how monotheism might be approached in a campaign setting.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Fluff</strong>: 4</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Crunch</strong>: NA</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><em>Fun Happens Here</em> is an interview with Bill Slavicsek by Jeremy L. C. Jones, and the former head of WotC’s R&D department gives some amazing insight into his experiences with D&D, as well as working for Wizards of the Coast. Personally, I found the interview a really remarkable read, although not as revealing on some topics as I would have liked.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Fluff</strong>: 4</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Crunch</strong>: NA</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><em>From the Mines…</em> is a selection of letters and feedback to the editor regarding previous Kobold Quarterly issues and articles. </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Fluff</strong>: NA</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Crunch</strong>: NA</span></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><em>A Background in Magic</em> is a DragonAGE article by Rodrigo Garcia Carmona with four new magical character classes – Alchemists, Druids, Illusionists, and Seers. The classes are fully detailed including Benefit Tables and play tips.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Fluff</strong>: 3</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Crunch</strong>: 4</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><em>Ask the Kobold</em> is is Skip Williams Q&A column for advice on running Pathfider and OGL D&D games. This article discusses two questions regarding Dexterity bonuses in combat – armor penalties and flat-footed adjustments.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Fluff</strong>: NA</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Crunch</strong>: 4</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><em>The Scrivners of Allain</em> is a new 4E article detailing a cult of scibes devoted to a devil lord called Titivillus. The author includes backgrounds on these entities, which are designed for the high Paragon Tier, including information on a summoned Aspect of Titivillus himself.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Fluff</strong>: 4</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Crunch</strong>: 3</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><em>Nine Treasures of Deep Midgard</em> contains information about strange objects of value which might come from the underdark area in Midgard. This Pathfinder article by Nicholas Milasich includes some rare oddities such as Drow Brandy and poisonous Warpweed, and includes stats, descriptions, weights, and values for these treasures.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Fluff</strong>: 3</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Crunch</strong>: 3</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><em>Saints of Mavros</em> by Christina Stiles is a Pathfinder article detailing two saints which achieved godhood in the world of Midgard. The author goes into great detail about these divine figures, including their domains, favored weapons, worshippers, and other details needed to include them in a campaign setting.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Fluff</strong>: 3</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Crunch</strong>: 3</span></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><em>White Tongue, Black Heart</em> by David Schwartz is a Pathfinder bestiary of a vile creature called a witch louse, which some casters can bind to themselves for power. The author includes a stat block for this icky critter, as well as a couple of dark NPCs which have allowed the witch louse to become their symbiotic familiar.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Fluff</strong>: 4</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Crunch</strong>: 3</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><em>The Shadow Lodge Insurgency</em> is a Pathfinder Society Organized Play article by Nicholas Gray, recounting information found in the Pathfinder Chronicles. The author goes into considerable detail about the history and actions during the insurgency, and the article will no doubt help GMs looking to include adventure hooks for their own campaigns from this content.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Fluff</strong>: 3</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Crunch</strong>: NA</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><em>Deadly Tolls and Honest Challenges</em> is a content piece by Wolfgang Bauer with more details of the City of Zobeck. The article includes information about the Robber Knights, the Darakhul of the Margreve, and the Dwarf-Bandits of the Lowland Road.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Fluff</strong>: 4</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Crunch</strong>: NA</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Overall Score</strong>: 3.9 <em>out of</em> 5</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><u>Conclusions</u></strong></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">This issue of <strong><em>Kobold Quarterly</em></strong> has a lot of great stuff in it, and there’s noticeable improvement in article quality, even if there are fewer than last issue. There’s definitely more crunch content here for <strong><em>Pathfinder</em></strong> and <strong><em>Dragon Age RPG</em></strong>, but the few <strong><em>D&D 4E</em></strong> articles were markedly better than the batch we saw in the <strong><em>KQ #20</em></strong>.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">What’s really great here is the caliber of the system-neutral articles, which were real powerhouses this time around from Steve Winter and Zeb Cook. But what I noticed most was how even several of the system-specific articles still contained decent fluff usable in any game system. By my thoughts, that increases the value of the magazine for all role-playing gamers, and makes the Spring Issue of <strong><em>Kobold Quarterly</em></strong> a well-recommended buy.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><em>So until next review… I wish you Happy Gaming!</em></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Editor’s Note</strong>: This Reviewer received a complimentary copy of the product in PDF format from which the review was written.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><u>Grade Card (Ratings 1 to 5)</u></strong></span></p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Presentation</strong>: 4.0</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px">- Design: 4.0 (great layout, a good to excellent read for the articles)</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px">- Illustrations: 4.0 (sexy cover, and cool illustrations and sidebar art)</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Content</strong>: 3.75 </span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px">- Crunch: 4.0 (lots of good crunch for all three systems)</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px">- Fluff: 3.5 (some cool ideas here, would have liked to see more fluff in a few of the artcles0</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Value</strong>: 4.0 (a lot of good stuff here for all three systems – lots of crossover articles)</span></li> </ul></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Neuroglyph, post: 7648374, member: 85633"] [SIZE=3]A surprisingly meek winter has faded away, and what can only be called a frightfully tempestuous springtime has roared its way in for much of the United States. And with the storms, the newest edition of [B][I]Kobold Quarterly[/I][/B] has blown into town, full of new articles for RPG gamers to ponder safely away from wind and rain![/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Open Design’s[/B] [B][I]Kobold Quarterly[/I][/B], independent fantasy role-playing magazine, offers a wide range of content articles drawn from authors and gamers from the 3rd and 4th Edition [B][I]Dungeons & Dragons[/I][/B], [B][I]Pathfinder[/I][/B] and [B][I]Dragon Age[/I][/B] role-playing game communities. It earned the nickname of the “Switzerland of the Edition Wars” for being open to all types of FRPG systems.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]As in my previous reviews of [B][I]Kobold Quarterly[/I][/B], I’ll discuss each article and try to rate its potential use for the game system for which it was written, by measuring both its “crunch” and “fluff” content. [/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B][U]Kobold Quarterly Issue 21[/U][/B][/SIZE] [LIST] [*][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3]Editor: Wolfgang Baur (Kobold in Chief)[/SIZE][/FONT] [*][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3]Illustrations: Kieran Yanner (cover), Fred H. Ball, Nicholas Bercham, Emile Denis, Rick Hershey, Frank Heβefort, Chris McFann, Jeremy Mohler, Russ Nicholson, Claudio Pozas, Cory Trego-Erdner (interior)[/SIZE][/FONT] [*][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3]Publisher: Open Design LLC[/SIZE][/FONT] [*][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3]Year: 2012[/SIZE][/FONT] [*][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3]Media: PDF (80 pages) [/SIZE][/FONT] [*][SIZE=3]Price: $5.99 (PDF available from the [URL="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/101106/Kobold-Quarterly-Magazine-21&filters=0_0_0_31813_0?affiliate_id=270466"][B]RPGNow[/B][/URL]) [/SIZE] [/LIST] [SIZE=3][align=right]http://www.neuroglyphgames.com/rpgblogs/home/neurogly/public_html/rpgblogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/kq-21-cover-jpg.jpg[/align][B][I]Kobold Quarterly Issue #21[/I][/B] is the second issue for 2012 of Open Design’s independent fantasy role-playing game magazine. [B][I]KQ #21[/I][/B] is available in both hardcopy and PDF formats, and contains 13 articles for use with [B][I]Pathfinder[/I][/B], [B][I]Dungeons & Dragons[/I][/B], and [B][I]Dragon Age RPG[/I][/B]. The issue also includes an editorial, an interview with Bill Slavicsek, an OGL advice column, and a game theory discussion by Steve Winter. [/SIZE] [SIZE=3]The PDF has a good presentation in three-column format, and has both a table of contents and bookmarks to make navigating through the articles a fairly easy process. This issue’s cover art by Kieran Yanner depicts a voluptuous and scantily clad wood nymph striking a pose, which presumably 9 out of 10 male adventurers would find dangerously irresistible. Editor Wolfgang Bauer discusses the use of “cheesecake” in fantasy with an editorial entitled “Women, With or Without Reasonable Armor”, and hints that the Summer issue of KQ might show some “beefcake” to balance the scales for those female adventurers out there. [/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Personally, I like the artist’s style for this “siren of the forest”, reminding me a bit of DC’s Poison Ivy, although her skin coloring seems just a shade shy of an Orion Slave Girl – but I’d guess their poses would be about the same.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B][U]The Articles[/U][/B][/SIZE] [I][SIZE=3]The Shaman[/SIZE][/I][SIZE=3] by Marc Radle is a new Pathfinder article detailing a new class. The class, at first glance, appears to be a Druid sub-class, but I noted that it also incorporates some of the elements of a 4E Shaman, including a spirit animal and some totemic influences. Overall, it’s a pretty interesting combination, although the class might not fit into every Pathfinder campaign.[/SIZE] [B][SIZE=3]Fluff[/SIZE][/B][SIZE=3]: 4[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Crunch[/B]: 4[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][I]Daughters of Lilith[/I] by Sersa Victory details “An Ecology of the Succubus”, and while small amount of “crunch” is all 4E, the article’s “fluff” could be used in any fantasy gaming system. The author pulls few punches about the life cycle of this sexy demonic temptress, and the new class powers, monster traits, and curse (of uncontrollable lust) can make for some nice additions to a 4E campaign.[/SIZE] [B][SIZE=3]Fluff[/SIZE][/B][SIZE=3]: 5[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Crunch[/B]: 3[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][I]It’s a Mystery[/I] is a game system neutral article by David “Zeb” Cook which discusses how to make religions more interesting and profound in a campaign setting by using facets of a “mystery cult”. The author discusses mystery cults in our own history, and then gives a step-by-step format to adding them to existing religions in almost any campaign setting. Great stuff here for world-builders![/SIZE] [B][SIZE=3]Fluff[/SIZE][/B][SIZE=3]: 5[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Crunch[/B]: NA[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][I]Clerical Conflicts[/I] by Tim and Eileen Connors is a Pathfinder article about giving cleric player-characters a major religious dilemma to deal with during the course of a campaign. The authors detail five different scenarios and personal hooks which can have a profound effect on the life of a PC cleric, and while the crunchy parts of the article are Pathfinder based, the ideas put forth could make for enjoyable role-playing in any game system which includes clerics and a hierarchical church/pantheon.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Fluff[/B]: 4[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Crunch[/B]: 3[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]This quarter’s [I]Howling Tower[/I] column by Steve Winter asks and tries to answer the sticky question of “[I]Why No Monotheism[/I]” in role-playing games. The author delves into a number of issues which makes the polytheism versus monotheism question a sometimes troubling one for game masters and players, and offers some ideas for how monotheism might be approached in a campaign setting.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Fluff[/B]: 4[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Crunch[/B]: NA[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][I]Fun Happens Here[/I] is an interview with Bill Slavicsek by Jeremy L. C. Jones, and the former head of WotC’s R&D department gives some amazing insight into his experiences with D&D, as well as working for Wizards of the Coast. Personally, I found the interview a really remarkable read, although not as revealing on some topics as I would have liked.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Fluff[/B]: 4[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Crunch[/B]: NA[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][I]From the Mines…[/I] is a selection of letters and feedback to the editor regarding previous Kobold Quarterly issues and articles. [/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Fluff[/B]: NA[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Crunch[/B]: NA[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][I]A Background in Magic[/I] is a DragonAGE article by Rodrigo Garcia Carmona with four new magical character classes – Alchemists, Druids, Illusionists, and Seers. The classes are fully detailed including Benefit Tables and play tips.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Fluff[/B]: 3[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Crunch[/B]: 4[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][I]Ask the Kobold[/I] is is Skip Williams Q&A column for advice on running Pathfider and OGL D&D games. This article discusses two questions regarding Dexterity bonuses in combat – armor penalties and flat-footed adjustments.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Fluff[/B]: NA[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Crunch[/B]: 4[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][I]The Scrivners of Allain[/I] is a new 4E article detailing a cult of scibes devoted to a devil lord called Titivillus. The author includes backgrounds on these entities, which are designed for the high Paragon Tier, including information on a summoned Aspect of Titivillus himself.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Fluff[/B]: 4[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Crunch[/B]: 3[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][I]Nine Treasures of Deep Midgard[/I] contains information about strange objects of value which might come from the underdark area in Midgard. This Pathfinder article by Nicholas Milasich includes some rare oddities such as Drow Brandy and poisonous Warpweed, and includes stats, descriptions, weights, and values for these treasures.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Fluff[/B]: 3[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Crunch[/B]: 3[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][I]Saints of Mavros[/I] by Christina Stiles is a Pathfinder article detailing two saints which achieved godhood in the world of Midgard. The author goes into great detail about these divine figures, including their domains, favored weapons, worshippers, and other details needed to include them in a campaign setting.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Fluff[/B]: 3[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Crunch[/B]: 3[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][I]White Tongue, Black Heart[/I] by David Schwartz is a Pathfinder bestiary of a vile creature called a witch louse, which some casters can bind to themselves for power. The author includes a stat block for this icky critter, as well as a couple of dark NPCs which have allowed the witch louse to become their symbiotic familiar.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Fluff[/B]: 4[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Crunch[/B]: 3[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][I]The Shadow Lodge Insurgency[/I] is a Pathfinder Society Organized Play article by Nicholas Gray, recounting information found in the Pathfinder Chronicles. The author goes into considerable detail about the history and actions during the insurgency, and the article will no doubt help GMs looking to include adventure hooks for their own campaigns from this content.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Fluff[/B]: 3[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Crunch[/B]: NA[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][I]Deadly Tolls and Honest Challenges[/I] is a content piece by Wolfgang Bauer with more details of the City of Zobeck. The article includes information about the Robber Knights, the Darakhul of the Margreve, and the Dwarf-Bandits of the Lowland Road.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Fluff[/B]: 4[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Crunch[/B]: NA[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Overall Score[/B]: 3.9 [I]out of[/I] 5[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B][U]Conclusions[/U][/B][/SIZE] [SIZE=3]This issue of [B][I]Kobold Quarterly[/I][/B] has a lot of great stuff in it, and there’s noticeable improvement in article quality, even if there are fewer than last issue. There’s definitely more crunch content here for [B][I]Pathfinder[/I][/B] and [B][I]Dragon Age RPG[/I][/B], but the few [B][I]D&D 4E[/I][/B] articles were markedly better than the batch we saw in the [B][I]KQ #20[/I][/B].[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]What’s really great here is the caliber of the system-neutral articles, which were real powerhouses this time around from Steve Winter and Zeb Cook. But what I noticed most was how even several of the system-specific articles still contained decent fluff usable in any game system. By my thoughts, that increases the value of the magazine for all role-playing gamers, and makes the Spring Issue of [B][I]Kobold Quarterly[/I][/B] a well-recommended buy.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][I]So until next review… I wish you Happy Gaming![/I][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Editor’s Note[/B]: This Reviewer received a complimentary copy of the product in PDF format from which the review was written.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B][U]Grade Card (Ratings 1 to 5)[/U][/B][/SIZE] [LIST] [*][SIZE=3][B]Presentation[/B]: 4.0[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3]- Design: 4.0 (great layout, a good to excellent read for the articles)[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3]- Illustrations: 4.0 (sexy cover, and cool illustrations and sidebar art)[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3][B]Content[/B]: 3.75 [/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3]- Crunch: 4.0 (lots of good crunch for all three systems)[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3]- Fluff: 3.5 (some cool ideas here, would have liked to see more fluff in a few of the artcles0[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3][B]Value[/B]: 4.0 (a lot of good stuff here for all three systems – lots of crossover articles)[/SIZE] [/LIST] [/QUOTE]
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Review of Kobold Quarterly Issue #21 (Spring 2012) by Open Design
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