Dragon #296 arrived

[Aitch Eye]

...and I just noticed it's the 26th anniversary issue. Dragons are the theme this month.


Dragon Hunters: Four Foolhardy Prestige Classes, by Keith Strohm with Dragon staff. The Dragonscribe (scholar that learns to summon and bind dragons), Knight of the Scale (holy dragon slayer), Heartseeker (akin to arcane archers) and the Vengeance Sworn.

Wing, Fang, and Spell: Notes for Dragon Hunters, by Skip Williams and Andy Collins. Three feats for dragons: Clinging Breath, Rend and Wingstorm. The Dragon Mystic, a five-level dragon prestige class allowing them to metamagic their breath weapons. Two dragon NPCs. Notes on dragon senses.

Worshipers of the Forbidden: Monster Cultist Prestige Classes, by Eric Cagle. Humanoids that venerate monsters. The Sphere Minion (slaves of the beholders), Illithidkin (slaves of the mind flayers that act as psionic agents), Snake Servant (run rackets for the medusas) and Waker of the Beast (worship the Tarrasque). All five-levels.

The Tomb, by Thomas Harlan. Fiction set in crusader-era Jerusalem from the author of The Oath of Empire quadrology.


The Bestiary "Wurms of the Far Reaches," by Will McDermott. Wingless cousins of dragons that cast druidic spells. Twelve types related to the terrain or element they inhabit (such as tundra wurm, river wurm, storm wurm). New druid spells to summon them.

Guild Secrets "Using and Designing Guilds, Secret Societies, and Cults," by Andy Collins. Uses a system similar to the DMG's town generator. Includes a sample organization, The League of Scrolls, a semi-secretive order of sages and such.

Class Acts "Acolyte of the Fist," by Monte Cook. 10-level monk prestige class that focuses on the single minded pursuit of goals.

Elminster's Guide to the Realms "Starfall Pool," by Ed Greenwood. Glade north of Silverymoon where a shield floats in the air.

Up on a Soapbox "All I Need to Know I learned from D&D, Lesson #10: Place It, and They Will Come," by Gary Gygax. The first appearance of the portable hole.

Epic Level Countdown "Epic Monsters," by Mat Smith. The Thorciasid, a life-draining insectoid designed by Bruce Cordell.

Chainmail "The Ebon Glaive," by Chris Pramas. Dragonslaying artifact of Stratis.

Command Points "The Adept's Variations," by Rob Heinsoo. Warbands for the Hobgoblin Adept from Set 3.

The Play's the Thing "Killer Communication Problems," by Robin D. Laws. When a playing group doesn't talk about problems with the game.

DM's Toolbox "Killing Campaign Stoppers," by Johnn Four. Getting stalled games moving.

Silicon Sorcery "Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance," by Will McDermott. The end-of-section "bosses" statted. Also details how to unlock Drizzt for play.

Sage Advice, by Skip Williams. Focuses on Song and Silence, spells and magic.


Living Greyhawk Journal

Living Greyhawk Gazetteer Index, compiled by Jason Zavoda.

 

[Aitch Eye]

...and 297 will arrive next month!

Here's part of the blurb for the next issue, which will tie in with the Epic Level Handbook:

"See if your character has what it takes to take on epic-level villains. Give your character an epic boost with eight new epic-level prestige classes. Discover the epic-level items of earth: use Stonehenge, the Rosetta Stone, and the Sphinx in your game!"

The non ELH stuff:

"...new planetouched races for your game, a primer for the goblin language, and special chests to contain your treasures."

 

[Eternalknight]

Thanks Aitch Eye!!! How big are the wurms? What CR are they?

 

[Upper_Krust]

Thats disappointing they only revealed the Thorciasid monster - especially since they had already released its stats almost a year ago (at Gencon).

 

[Aitch Eye]

They handle the wurm sizes like dragons:

Wurmling=small dragon, CR 5

Adult Wurm=medium-size dragon, CR 9

Greater Wurm=large dragon, CR 15

Elder Wurm=huge dragon, CR 23


Most tend towards the neutral alignments, though there are a couple of good and three evil. All but one are attached to the environment they live in and try to protect it in various ways -- though that may be by burying it lava or culling the week.

I quite liked the illustrations by Darell Richie, though some of them might not be dragon-like enough for some. The Forest wurm is particularly nice.

 

[Nightfall]

Well I guess no epic level dragons for me. Still it's nice to see some new feats AND a new Dragon Pr-class. Think maybe I'll have to make one ESPECIALLY for a certain rainbow colored dragon. Think maybe you'll like that eh Krusty?

About the Monk Pr-class, does it talk about the goals themselves or is this just about what ever Roleplay the DM/GM wants?

And what's the deal with Vengeance Sworn? What type of Pr-class does this one claim to be?

 

[Claude Raines]

The Bestiary "Wurms of the Far Reaches," by Will McDermott. Wingless cousins of dragons that cast druidic spells. Twelve types related to the terrain or element they inhabit (such as tundra wurm, river wurm, storm wurm). New druid spells to summon them.

So are these guys the 3E conversion of the linnorms, or are they something different?

 

[Aitch Eye]

With the Acolytes of the Fist, the order's central premise is "see what you want and take it." However, "...to want something you cannot or should not have is insane, and to want something that you cannot or should not have is insane, and to want something that could bring harm...to yourself or others is foolish." and they tend toward neutrality. The goals are individual, and they and they seldom work together.

Their determination is channeled into their fists, which most of their special abilities relate to. They're not limited to monks, but it might be difficult for other than a rogue to get in.



The Vengeance Sworn must have been killed or had a family member killed by dragons, and are relentless and obsessive about destroying them. This gives them and their companions a number of benefits against the frightful presence ability, as well as extra rage and other stuff. The most likely candidates are barbarians multiclassed with cleric or druid, and there's limited spell advancement.



I can't reference the linnorms to check, but the wurms were created by druids and their special abilities are keyed to their favored habitat (including sand, lava, grassland), where they also have camouflage skills.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Nightfall mate!

Well I guess no epic level dragons for me.

Ah well mate; theres always the Epic Level Handbook itself...

Still it's nice to see some new feats AND a new Dragon Pr-class. Think maybe I'll have to make one ESPECIALLY for a certain rainbow colored dragon. Think maybe you'll like that eh Krusty?

...I heard a rumour there was a very colourful dragon therein!

 

[Nightfall]

Well I'll email you the details tonight Krusty mate. Would like your input as it DOES pertain to your creature. I guess though I'll be waiting to see if the Epic Level Handbook has some example of epic level dragons. I do like em you know!