The Dragon Issue 12 was published in February 1978. It is 32 pages long, with a cover price of $1.50. This issue saw the appearance of great Cthulhu!
Editor Tim Kask proudly points to the magazine's first statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation, printed in compliance with US postal law. It shows that the Dragon has a circulation of 7500 as of the most recent issue. Kask says:
He also states that the magazine is soon moving to monthly issues, with this important caveat:
There are fewer articles this issue than last time, though still a good mix of content. There is an excerpt from Andre Norton's upcoming novel, Quag Keep, which is set in the World of Greyhawk. Quag Keep was the first ever RPG-based novel, and so was the forerunner of a multi-million dollar industry.
An article called "The More Humorous Side of D&D" shares some mildly funny actually play reports. There is a somewhat interesting variant on the illusionist class, as well as a table giving options for ship's cargo. And Jim Ward has an article discussing how a wizard can take down a fighter in one-to-one combat.
There are two articles with a strong historical bent, which hearkens back to the very earliest issues of the magazine. One of them gives background on the real-life Druids, while the other stats out various creatures from the Persian mythos.
One small but interesting article, presumably written by Tim Kask, gives a review of the just-released Monster Manual:
Rob Kuntz returns in the Sorcerer's Scroll, this time with some new game material. He introduces it thus:
He then stats out 15 creatures from the Cthulhu mythos and also gives information on the Elder Sign. All entertaining stuff, and further evidence (as if it were required) of how significant an influence Lovecraft has had over the RPG industry.
But great Cthulhu is not to be trifled with, and that slumbering star spawn went on to create a lot of trouble for TSR. In 1980, TSR published "Deities & Demi-gods" written by Jim Ward and Rob Kuntz (and featuring one of my favorite covers). This edition had stats for 17 pantheons, including Michael Moorcock's Melnibonéan mythos, and Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. Moorcock had given verbal permission to TSR to use his material, and the company was under the impression that Lovecraft's material was public domain.
However, a relatively new player in the RPG arena named Chaosium had signed licensing agreements with Moorcock and also Arkham House, who claimed (controversially) to own Lovecraft's work. Chaosium threatened legal action, and it was finally agreed that TSR would include an acknowledgment in the book, and so it happened in the second printing.
Brian Blume, one of TSR's owners, was unhappy at mentioning a competitor in this book, and so the third printing of the book removed the Melnibonéan and Cthulhu mythoi. However, the acknowledgment was not removed, and so Chaosium continued to be thanked though none of their material was in the book! It took another 1 or 2 printings for it all to be sorted out, proving that Cthulhu has agents everywhere.
In the next issue, Rob Kuntz talks Tolkien while Jim Ward tells us how to win D&D!
This article was contributed by M.T. Black as part of EN World's Columnist (ENWC) program.M.T. Black is a game designer and DMs Guild Adept. Please follow him on Twitter @mtblack2567 and sign up to his mailing list. We are always on the lookout for freelance columnists! If you have a pitch, please contact us!
Editor Tim Kask proudly points to the magazine's first statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation, printed in compliance with US postal law. It shows that the Dragon has a circulation of 7500 as of the most recent issue. Kask says:
"Your support has made TD the largest non-organ in the field and placed it behind only The General, S&T and MOVES. We are quite satisfied with that position, particularly in light of the fact that all three of those magazines have had many years to get where they are."
He also states that the magazine is soon moving to monthly issues, with this important caveat:
"However, if we don’t receive the articles we can’t print them. Therefore, we are making our bi-annual appeal for good quality material. We need good material on all FRP (fantasy role playing) games that are popular, including additions, variants, etc. We also need some good reviews, as well as some good analysis-type articles on currently popular fantasy, S&S and S-F games. We can also use good satire and humor pieces, as well as art."
There are fewer articles this issue than last time, though still a good mix of content. There is an excerpt from Andre Norton's upcoming novel, Quag Keep, which is set in the World of Greyhawk. Quag Keep was the first ever RPG-based novel, and so was the forerunner of a multi-million dollar industry.
An article called "The More Humorous Side of D&D" shares some mildly funny actually play reports. There is a somewhat interesting variant on the illusionist class, as well as a table giving options for ship's cargo. And Jim Ward has an article discussing how a wizard can take down a fighter in one-to-one combat.
There are two articles with a strong historical bent, which hearkens back to the very earliest issues of the magazine. One of them gives background on the real-life Druids, while the other stats out various creatures from the Persian mythos.
One small but interesting article, presumably written by Tim Kask, gives a review of the just-released Monster Manual:
"The long talked about MONSTER MANUAL is now out in the shops and available by mail. The wait was worth it; the finished product is a radical departure from the norm in wargame publishing... The book is HARD bound, and stitched, and has a full color cover, an alphabetical table-of-contents and an index and contains over 200 illustrations! The hard binding makes it ideal for a mapping surface, and insures that it will hold up a long time. The illustrations are outstanding and profuse, and in themselves would warrant the cover price of $9.95. An absolute must for every D&D enthusiast everywhere."
Rob Kuntz returns in the Sorcerer's Scroll, this time with some new game material. He introduces it thus:
"Those of you who have read H.P. Lovecrafts stories based around his fallen gods, The Great Old ones, will know what it means to finally get them into a form which in they are understood and compatible with the D&D system. J. Eric Holmes (known for his work with Basic Dungeons & Dragons) with additions by my humble self bring you parts of the Cthulhu Mythos. They are laid out to be compatible with Dungeons & Dragons supplement IV “Gods Demi-Gods & Heroes.” For all of you Lovecraft enthusiasts here’s what you’ve been waiting for. For all of you not familiar with the Cthulhu cycle here’s a new experience.
He then stats out 15 creatures from the Cthulhu mythos and also gives information on the Elder Sign. All entertaining stuff, and further evidence (as if it were required) of how significant an influence Lovecraft has had over the RPG industry.
But great Cthulhu is not to be trifled with, and that slumbering star spawn went on to create a lot of trouble for TSR. In 1980, TSR published "Deities & Demi-gods" written by Jim Ward and Rob Kuntz (and featuring one of my favorite covers). This edition had stats for 17 pantheons, including Michael Moorcock's Melnibonéan mythos, and Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. Moorcock had given verbal permission to TSR to use his material, and the company was under the impression that Lovecraft's material was public domain.
However, a relatively new player in the RPG arena named Chaosium had signed licensing agreements with Moorcock and also Arkham House, who claimed (controversially) to own Lovecraft's work. Chaosium threatened legal action, and it was finally agreed that TSR would include an acknowledgment in the book, and so it happened in the second printing.
Brian Blume, one of TSR's owners, was unhappy at mentioning a competitor in this book, and so the third printing of the book removed the Melnibonéan and Cthulhu mythoi. However, the acknowledgment was not removed, and so Chaosium continued to be thanked though none of their material was in the book! It took another 1 or 2 printings for it all to be sorted out, proving that Cthulhu has agents everywhere.
In the next issue, Rob Kuntz talks Tolkien while Jim Ward tells us how to win D&D!
This article was contributed by M.T. Black as part of EN World's Columnist (ENWC) program.M.T. Black is a game designer and DMs Guild Adept. Please follow him on Twitter @mtblack2567 and sign up to his mailing list. We are always on the lookout for freelance columnists! If you have a pitch, please contact us!
